Joker's Google Blog: Business Intelligence Monitor 211220

※ Fed governor Waller says rate rise could be on the table for March meeting, while other officials declined to comment on when central bank should begin the three increases projected for 2022

• WSJ: Sen. Joe Manchin Says He Won't Vote for ‘Build Back Better' Bill in Blow to President Biden

※ The decision could doom Mr. Biden’s top domestic-policy priority

• WSJ: Biden’s Climate Plans Thrown Into Doubt by Manchin’s Rejection of ‘Build Back Better’ Bill

• WSJ: Pfizer Delays Plans to Seek Authorization of Covid-19 Vaccine for Young Children

• WSJ: Moderna Drops Pursuit of U.S. Patent for Key Component of Covid-19 Vaccine

• WSJ: Covid-19’s Omicron Variant Starts to Take Toll on Businesses

• WSJ: The Science Behind Omicron’s Rapid Spread

• WSJ: Fauci Warns Omicron Variant Will Likely Strain U.S. Hospitals

※ The country’s top infectious disease expert said he didn’t anticipate the U.S. moving toward broad shutdowns

• WSJ: For Day Laborers, Wages Are Booming and Jobs Are Plentiful

• WSJ: Vast Household Wealth Could Be a Factor Behind U.S. Labor Shortage

• WSJ: Global Coal Power Expected to Hit Record Despite Climate Fight

※ IEA: Coal 2021

• WSJ: Taiwan Voters Back Ruling Party in Referendum, Removing Obstacle to U.S. Trade Deal

※ The Democratic Progressive Party supports closer ties with Washington at the expense of Beijing

• WSJ: In China, Job Cuts Mount in Sectors Hit by Tighter Regulations

• WSJ: The World Wants Green Hydrogen. Namibia Says It Can Deliver.

• WSJ: U.S. Regulators Raise Concern With Stablecoin Digital Currency

• WSJ: U.S. Gas Exports Likely More Trickle Than Flood

• WSJ: Oracle in Talks to Buy Cerner

• WSJ: Supply-Chain Mess Threatens Holiday Sales, From Hot Sauce to Board Games

• WSJ: Shipping and Logistics Costs Are Expected to Keep Rising in 2022

• WSJ: Inflation Adds to Cost of Clean Energy Transition

• NYT: Scientists Are Racing to Gauge the Threat of Omicron

• NYT: With Omicron, U.S. Testing Capacity Faces Intense Pressure

• NYT: Doctors and Nurses Are ‘Living in a Constant Crisis’ as Covid Fills Hospitals

• NYT: Biden Struggles to Beat Back a Resurgent Virus Once Again

• NYT: As Covid Surges, Experts Say U.S. Booster Effort Is Far Behind

• NYT: Most of the World’s Vaccines Likely Won’t Prevent Infection From Omicron

※ They do seem to offer significant protection against severe illness, but the consequences of rapidly spreading infection worry many public health experts.

• NYT: The U.S. Labor Department extends its deadline for large companies to mandate vaccines.

• NYT: See Where 12 Million U.S. Employees Are Affected by Government Vaccine Mandates

• NYT: The Novavax vaccine wins emergency approval from the W.H.O.

※ The authorization could drastically increase the vaccine supply for low- and middle-income countries.

• NYT: In a France Fearful of Immigrants, Another Candidate Tacks Hard Right

• NYT: The Deals of the Year

• WP: Omicron outbreak inducing whiplash for many Americans

• WP: Hot economy thrown curve by another covid surge

• WP: Omicron fuels covid lockdowns in some countries as others start to loosen up

※ The Netherlands is imposing a snap lockdown. Meanwhile, Australia has loosened nearly all coronavirus measures.

• WP: Iran nuclear deal: Israel urges White House to take tougher line in talks

• WP: Highly vaccinated countries thought they were over the worst. Denmark says the pandemic’s toughest month is just beginning.