Where to Drop Off Supplies for Hurricane Harvey in Jacksonville

GOLD PRICE: UP $12.85 TO $1801.40

SILVER UP 29 CENTS TO $22.80

ACCESS PRICE CLOSING PRICES FOR GOLD AND SILVER

GOLD: 1803.70

SILVER: 22.80

Bitcoin: morning price: 48,657 up $1313

Bitcoin: afternoon price: 48,995 up $1651

Platinum price: closing up $30.05 to $968.25

Palladium price; closing up $87.95 at 1885.10

END

end

DONATE

Click here if you wish to send a donation. I sincerely appreciate it as this site takes a lot of preparation.

Goldman Sachs stopped: 0

NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED TODAY FOR DEC. CONTRACT: 122 NOTICE(S) FOR 12200 OZ (0.3794 TONNES)

total notices so far: 34576 contracts for 3,457,600 oz

SILVER//DEC CONTRACT

191 NOTICE(S) FILED TODAY FOR 955,000 OZ/

total number of notices filed so far this month 8726 : for 43,600,000 oz

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

GLD

WITH GOLD UP $12.85

NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD:

WITH RESPECT TO GLD WITHDRAWALS: (OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS)

GOLD IS "RETURNED" TO THE BANK OF ENGLAND WHEN CALLING IN THEIR LEASES: THE GOLD NEVER LEAVES THE BANK OF ENGLAND IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE BANK IS PROTECTING ITSELF IN CASE OF COMMERCIAL FAILURE

ALSO INVESTORS SWITCHING TO SPROTT PHYSICAL (phys) INSTEAD OF THE FRAUDULENT GLD//

THIS IS A MASSIVE FRAUD!!

GLD 978,57 TONNES OF GOLD//

Silver//SLV

WITH NO SILVER AROUND AND SILVER UP 19 CENTS:

With silver up 29 cents today: a huge deposit into the SLV of 2.728 million oz/

A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 1.202 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/

INVESTORS ARE SWITCHING SLV TO SPROTT'S PSLV

CLOSING INVENTORY SLV/ TONIGHT: 538.883 MILLION OZ

Let us have a look at the data for today

SILVER//OUTLINE

SILVER COMEX OI ROSE BY A FAIR 523 CONTRACTS TO 141,119 AND CLOSER TO THE NEW RECORD OF 244,710, SET FEB 25/2020.. WITH THE $0.19 GAIN IN SILVER PRICING AT THE COMEX ON TUESDAY. OUR BANKERS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN KNOCKING THE PRICE OF SILVER DOWN (IT ROSE BY $0.19) AND WERE QUITE UNSUCCESSFUL IN KNOCKING OUT ANY SILVER LONGS AS WE HAD A STRONG GAIN OF 923 CONTRACTS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES .

WE MUST HAVE HAD:
I) HUGE BANKER SHORT COVERING AS THEY ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO GET OUT OF DODGE!!/. II)WE ALSO HAD SOME REDDIT RAPTOR BUYING//. iii) A FAIR ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS iiii) A HUGE INITIAL SILVER STANDING FOR COMEX SILVER MEASURING AT 47.535 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY'S 315,000 OZ QUEUE. JUMP V) FAIR SIZED COMEX OI GAIN.

I AM NOW RECORDING THE DIFFERENTIAL IN OI FROM PRELIMINARY TO FINAL:

THE DIFFERENTIAL FROM PRELIMINARY OI TO FINAL OI SILVER TODAY: CONTRACTS -62

HISTORICAL ACCUMULATION OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS DEC 16 ACCUMULATION FOR EFP'S SILVER/JPMORGAN'S HOUSE OF BRIBES/STARTING FROM FIRST DAY/MONTH OF DEC:

TOTAL CONTACTS for 17 days, total contracts: 15,364 or …average per day: 903 contracts or 4.518 million oz per day.

TOTAL NO OF OZ UNDERGOING EFP TO LONDON 15,364 CONTRACTS X 5,000 PER CONTRACT:

EQUATES TO: 76.820 MILLION OZ

LAST 7 MONTHS TOTAL EFP CONTRACTS ISSUED IN MILLIONS OF OZ:

MAY 137.83 MILLION

JUNE 149.91 MILLION OZ

JULY 129.445 MILLION OZ

AUGUST: MILLION OZ 140.120

SEPT. 28.230 MILLION OZ//

OCT: 94.595 MILLION OZ

NOV: 131.925 MILLION OZ

RESULT: WE HAD A FAIR SIZED INCREASE IN COMEX OI SILVER COMEX CONTRACTS OF 523 WITH OUR 19 CENT GAIN SILVER PRICING AT THE COMEX// TUESDAY THE CME NOTIFIED US THAT WE HADA FAIR SIZED EFP ISSUANCE OF 400 CONTRACTS( 400 CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR MAR AND 0 CONTRACTS ISSUED FOR ALL OTHER MONTHS) WHICH EXITED OUT OF THE SILVER COMEX TO LONDON AS FORWARDS THE DOMINANT FEATURE TODAY:/ AS WELL AS TODAY /HUGE BANKER SHORT COVERING AS THEY GET OUT OF DODGE//// WE HAVE A GOOD INITIAL SILVER OZ STANDING FOR DEC OF 47.535 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY'S 315,000 QUEUE JUMP .. WE HAD STRONG SIZED GAIN OF 923 OI CONTRACTS ON THE TWO EXCHANGES FOR 4.615 MILLION OZ//

WE HAD 191 NOTICES FILED TODAY FOR 955.000 OZ

GOLD//OUTLINE

IN GOLD, THE COMEX OPEN INTEREST FELL BY A SMALL SIZED 1160 CONTRACTS TO 500,846, AND FURTHER FROM OUR NEW RECORD (SET JAN 24/2020) AT799,541 AND PREVIOUS TO THAT:(SET JAN 6/2020) AT 797,110.

THE DIFFERENTIAL FROM PRELIMINARY OI TO FINAL OI IN GOLD TODAY. 1118 CONTRACTS.

THE SMALL SIZED DECREASE IN COMEX OI CAME WITH OUR LOSS IN PRICE OF $7.65//COMEX GOLD TRADING/TUESDAY/.AS IN SILVERWE MUST HAVE HAD HUGE BANKER/ALGO SHORT COVERING ACCOMPANYING OUR FAIR SIZED EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE. WE HAD ZERO LIQUIDATION AS THE TOTAL GAIN ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES TOTALLED A SMALL SIZED 1279 CONTRACTS…

WE ALSO HAD A HUGE INITIAL STANDING IN GOLD TONNAGE FOR DEC AT 98.000 TONNES, FOLLOWED BY TODAY'S STRONG QUEUE JUMP OF 54,300 OZ//, NEW STANDING 109/496 TONNES

YET ALL OF..THIS HAPPENED WITHOUR LOSS IN PRICE OF $7.65 WITH RESPECT TO MONDAY'S TRADING

WE HAD A TINY SIZED GAIN OF 161 OI CONTRACTS (0.500 PAPER TONNES) ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES

E.F.P. ISSUANCE

THE CME RELEASED THE DATA FOREFP ISSUANCEAND IT TOTALLED A SMALL SIZED 1321 CONTRACTS:

FORFEB 1321 ALL OTHER MONTHS ZERO//TOTAL: 1321

The NEW COMEX OI FOR THE GOLD COMPLEX RESTS AT 501,964.

IN ESSENCE WE HAVE A TINY SIZED INCREASE IN TOTAL CONTRACTS ON THE TWOCONTRACTS OF 161, WITH 1160 CONTRACTS DECREASED AT THE COMEX AND 1321 EFP OI CONTRACTS WHICH NAVIGATED OVER TO LONDON. THUS TOTAL OI GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES OF 161 CONTRACTS OR 0.500 TONNES.

CALCULATIONS ON GAIN/LOSS ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES

WE HAD A SMALL SIZED ISSUANCE IN EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS (1321) ACCOMPANYING THE SMALL SIZED LOSS IN COMEX OI (1160): TOTAL GAIN IN THE TWO EXCHANGES 161CONTRACTS. WE NO DOUBT HAD 1) HUGE BANKER SHORT COVERING ,2.) HUGE INITIAL STANDING AT THE GOLD COMEX FOR DEC. AT 98.000 TONNES/FOLLOWED BY TODAY'S QUEUE JUMP OF 54,300 OZ TO LONDON////NEW STANDING OF 109.496TONNES//. 3)ZERO LONG LIQUIDATION,4) SMALL SIZED COMEX OI LOSS 5) SMALL ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL

SPREADING OPERATIONS(/NOW SWITCHING TO GOLD) FOR NEWCOMERS, HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

SPREADING LIQUIDATION HAS NOW COMMENCED AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE NEW ACTIVE FRONT MONTH OF NOV.WE ARE NOW INTO THE SPREADING OPERATION OF GOLD

HERE IS A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF HOW THE CROOKS FLEECE UNSUSPECTING LONGS IN THE SPREADING ENDEAVOUR;MODUS OPERANDI OF THE CORRUPT BANKERS AS TO HOW THEY HANDLE THEIR SPREAD OPEN INTERESTS: HERE IS HOW THE CROOKS USED SPREADING AS WE ARE NOW INTO THE NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF OCT HEADING TOWARDS THE ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF NOV, FOR GOLD:

YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT THE COMEX OPEN INTEREST STARTS TO RISE BUT SO IS THE OPEN INTEREST OF SPREADERS. THE OPEN INTEREST IN WILL CONTINUE TO RISE UNTIL ONE WEEK BEFORE FIRST DAY NOTICE OF AN UPCOMING ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH (DEC), AND THAT IS WHEN THE CROOKS SELL THEIR SPREAD POSITIONS BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME OF THE DAY. THEY WILL USE THE SELL SIDE OF THE EQUATION TO CREATE THE CASCADE (ALONG WITH THEIR COLLUSIVE FRIENDS) AND THEN COVER ON THE BUY SIDE OF THE SPREAD SITUATION AT THE END OF THE DAY. THEY DO THIS TO AVOID POSITION LIMIT DETECTION. THE LIQUIDATION OF THE SPREADING FORMATION CONTINUES FOR EXACTLY ONE WEEK AND ENDS ON FIRST DAY NOTICE."

HISTORICAL ACCUMULATION OF EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS IN 2021 INCLUDING TODAY

DEC

ACCUMULATION OF EFP'S GOLD AT J.P. MORGAN'S HOUSE OF BRIBES: (EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL) FOR THE MONTH OF DEC : 38,974 CONTRACTS OR 3,897,400 oz OR 121.23TONNES (17 TRADING DAY(S) AND THUS AVERAGING: 2292 EFP CONTRACTS PER TRADING DAY

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS TO THE SIZE OF THESE EFP TRANSFERS : THIS MONTH IN 17 TRADING DAY(S) IN TONNES:121.23 TONNES

TOTAL ANNUAL GOLD PRODUCTION, 2020, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD EX CHINA EX RUSSIA: 3555 TONNES

THUS EFP TRANSFERS REPRESENTS 121.23/3550 x 100% TONNES 3.40% OF GLOBAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION

ACCUMULATION OF GOLD EFP'S YEAR 2021 TO DATE

JANUARY: 265.26 TONNES (RAPIDLY INCREASING AGAIN)

FEB : 171.24 TONNES ( DEFINITELY SLOWING DOWN AGAIN)..

MARCH:.276.50 TONNES (STRONG AGAIN/

APRIL: 189..44 TONNES ( DRAMATICALLY SLOWING DOWN AGAIN//GOLD IN BACKWARDATION)

MAY: 250.15 TONNES (NOW DRAMATICALLY INCREASING AGAIN)

JUNE: 247.54 TONNES (FINAL)

JULY: 188.73 TONNES FINAL

AUGUST: 217.89 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE.

SEPT 142.12 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE ( LOW ISSUANCE)_

OCT: 141.13 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE (LOW ISSUANCE)

NOV: 312.46 TONNES FINAL ISSUANCE//NEW RECORD!! (INCREASING DRAMATICALLY)//SIGN OF REAL STRESS//SURPASSING THE MARCH 2021 RECORD OF 276.50 TONNES OF EFP

DEC. 115,71 TONNES//INITIAL ISSUANCE

WHAT IS ALARMING TO ME, ACCORDING TO OUR LONDON EXPERT ANDREW MAGUIRE IS THAT THESE EFP'S ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO WHAT ARE CALLED SERIAL FORWARD CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS AND THESE CONTRACTS ARE LESS THAN 14 DAYS. ANYTHING GREATER THAN 14 DAYS, THESE MUST BE RECORDED AND SENT TO THE COMPTROLLER, GREAT BRITAIN TO MONITOR RISK TO THE BANKING SYSTEM. IF THIS IS INDEED TRUE, THEN THIS IS A MASSIVE CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD AS WE NOW WITNESS A MONSTROUS TOTAL EFP'S ISSUANCE AS IT HEADS INTO THE STRATOSPHERE .

First, here is an outline of what will be discussed tonight:

1.Today, we had the open interest at the comex, in SILVER, ROSE BY A FAIR SIZED 523 CONTRACTS TO 141,119 AND CLOSER TO OUR COMEX RECORD //244,710(SET FEB 25/2020). THE LAST RECORDS WERE SET IN AUG.2018 AT 244,196 WITH A SILVER PRICE OF $14.78/(AUGUST 22/2018)..THE PREVIOUS RECORD TO THAT WAS SET ON APRIL 9/2018 AT 243,411 OPEN INTEREST CONTRACTS WITH THE SILVER PRICE AT THAT DAY: $16.53). AND PREVIOUS TO THAT, THE RECORD WAS ESTABLISHED AT:234,787 CONTRACTS, SET ON APRIL 21.2017 OVER 4 1/2 YEARS AGO.

EFP ISSUANCE 400 CONTRACTS

OUR CUSTOMARY MIGRATION OF COMEX LONGS CONTINUE TO MORPH INTO LONDON FORWARDS AS OUR BANKERS USED THEIR EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO ISSUE:

MAR 400 ALL OTHER MONTHS: ZERO. TOTAL EFP ISSUANCE: 400 CONTRACTS. EFP'S GIVE OUR COMEX LONGS A FIAT BONUS PLUS A DELIVERABLE PRODUCT OVER IN LONDON. IF WE TAKE THE COMEX OI GAIN OF 585CONTRACTS AND ADDTO THE 400 OI TRANSFERRED TO LONDON THROUGH EFP'S,

WEOBTAIN A STRONG SIZED GAIN OF 923 OPEN INTEREST CONTRACT FROM OUR TWO EXCHANGES.

THUS IN OUNCES, THE GAINON THE TWO EXCHANGES 4.615 MILLION OZ,

OCCURRED WITH OUR $0.19 GAIN IN PRICE.

1/COMEX GOLD AND SILVER REPORT

(report Harvey)

2 ) Gold/silver trading overnight Europe, Gold

(Peter Schiff, Egon von Greyerz///Matthew Piepenburg via GoldSwitzerland.com,

3. ASIAN AFFAIRS

i)WEDNESDAY MORNING/TUESDAY NIGHT

SHANGHAI CLOSED DOWN 2.51 PTS OR 0.09% //Hang Sang CLOSED UP 131.00 PTS OR 0.57% /The Nikkei closed UP 44.62 PTS OR 0.16% //Australia's all ordinaires CLOSED UP 0.21%/Chinese yuan (ONSHORE) closed UP 6.3711/Oil UP TO 71,16 dollars per barrel for WTI and UP TO 73.87 for Brent. Stocks inEurope OPENED MOSTLY GREEN //ONSHORE YUAN CLOSED UP AT 6.3711 AGAINST THE DOLLAR. OFFSHORE YUAN CLOSED UP ON THE DOLLAR AT6.3804:/ONSHORE YUAN TRADING ABOVE LEVEL OF OFFSHORE YUAN/ONSHORE YUAN TRADING STRONGER AGAINST USA DOLLAR/OFFSHORE YUAN TRADING STRONGER AGAINST THE DOLLAR /TRADE DEAL NOW DEAD..TRUMP RAISED RATES TO 25%

A)NORTH KOREA//USA/OUTLINE

b) REPORT ON JAPAN

OUTLINE

3 C CHINA

OUTLINE

4/EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

OUTLINE

5. RUSSIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS

OUTLINE

6.Global Issues

OUTLINE

7. OIL ISSUES

OUTLINE

8 EMERGING MARKET ISSUES

OUTLINE

COMEX DATA//AMOUNTS STANDING//VOLUME OF TRADING/INVENTORY MOVEMENTS

GOLD

LET US BEGIN:

THE TOTAL COMEX GOLD OPEN INTEREST FELL BY A SMALL SIZED 1160 CONTRACTS AND FURTHER FROM THE RECORD THAT WAS SET IN JANUARY/2020: {799,541 OI(SET JAN 16/2020)} AND PREVIOUS TO THAT: 797,110 (SET JAN 7/2020). AND THIS COMEX DECREASE OCCURRED WITH OUR LOSS OF $7.65 IN GOLD PRICING TUESDAY'SCOMEX TRADING. WE ALSO HAD A SMALL EFP ISSUANCE (1321 CONTRACTS). . THEY WERE PAID HANDSOMELY NOT TO TAKE DELIVERY AT THE COMEX AND SETTLE FOR CASH. LOOKS LIKE OUR BANKERS ARE FINALLY BAILING OUT

WE NORMALLY HAVE WITNESSED EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS ISSUED BEING SMALL AS IT JUST TOO COSTLY FOR THEM TO CONTINUE SERVICING THE COSTS OF SERIAL FORWARDS CIRCULATING IN LONDON. HOWEVER, MUCH TO THE ANNOYANCE OF OUR BANKERS, THE COMEX IS THE SCENE OF AN ASSAULT ON GOLD AS LONDONERS, NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND ANY PHYSICAL ON THAT SIDE OF THE POND, EXERCISE THESE CIRCULATING EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICALS IN LONDON AND FORCING DELIVERY OF REAL METAL OVER HERE AS THE OBLIGATION STILL RESTS WITH NEW YORK BANKERS. IT SEEMS THAT ARE BANKERS FRIENDS ARE EXERCISING EFP'S FROM LONDON AND NOW THEY ARE LOATHE TO ISSUE NEW ONES.

EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE

WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF DEC.. THE CME REPORTS THAT THE BANKERS ISSUED A SMALLSIZEDTRANSFER THROUGH THE EFP ROUTE AS THESE LONGS RECEIVED A DELIVERABLE LONDON FORWARD TOGETHER WITH A FIAT BONUS.,

THAT IS 1321EFP CONTRACTS WERE ISSUED: ;: , DEC : 0 & FEB. 1321 & ZERO FOR ALL OTHER MONTHS:

TOTAL EFP ISSUANCE: 1321 CONTRACTS

WHEN WE HAVE BACKWARDATION, EFP ISSUANCE IS VERY COSTLY BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE SCARCITY OF METAL AND IT IS FAR BETTER FOR OUR BANKERS TO PAY OFF INDIVIDUALS THAN RISK INVESTORS ESPECIALLY FROM LONDON STANDING FOR DELIVERY. THE LOWER PRICES IN THE FUTURES MARKET IS A MAGNET FOR OUR LONDONERS SEEKING PHYSICAL METAL. BACKWARDATION ALWAYS EQUAL SCARCITY OF METAL!

ON A NET BASIS IN OPEN INTEREST WE GAINED THE FOLLOWING TODAY ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES: A SMALL SIZED 161 TOTALCONTRACTS IN THAT 1321LONGSWERE TRANSFERRED AS FORWARDS TO LONDON AND WE HAD A SMALL LOSS COMEX OI OF 1160 CONTRACTS..

// WE HAVE A STRONG AMOUNT OF GOLD TONNAGE STANDING FOR DEC (109.496),

HERE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT STOOD FOR DELIVERY IN THE PRECEDING 9 MONTHS OF 2021:

NOV. 8.074 TONNES

OCT. 57.707 TONNES

SEPT: 11.9160 TONNES

AUGUST: 80.489 TONNES

JULY: 7.2814 TONNES

JUNE: 72.289 TONNES

MAY 5.77 TONNES

APRIL 95.331 TONNES

MARCH 30.205 TONNES

FEB. 113.424 TONNES

JAN: 6.500 TONNES.

TOTAL SO FAR THIS YEAR (JAN- NOV): 488.996 TONNES

THE BANKERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN LOWERING GOLD'S PRICE ////(IT FELL $7.65)

BUT THEY WERESUCCESSFUL IN FLEECING ANY LONGS AS THE TOTAL GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES REGISTERED 3.978 TONNES,ACCOMPANYING OUR HUGE GOLD TONNAGE STANDING FOR DEC (109.496 TONNES)…

WE HAD – 1118 CONTRACTS REMOVED FROM COMEX TRADES. THESE WERE REMOVED AFTER TRADING ENDED LAST NIGHT

NET GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES 161 CONTRACTS OR 16100 OZ OR 0.500 TONNES

COMMODITY LAW SUGGESTS THAT COMMODITY FUTURES OPEN INTEREST SHOULD APPROXIMATE 3% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION. IN GOLD THE WORLD PRODUCES AROUND 3500 TONNES PER YEAR BUT ONLY 2200 TONNES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE WEST (THUS EXCLUDING RUSSIA, CHINA ETC..WHO KEEP 100% OF THEIR PRODUCT.THUS IN GOLD WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING: 506,187 TOTAL OI CONTRACTS X 100 OZ PER CONTRACT = 50.61 MILLION OZ/32,150 OZ PER TONNE = 15.74 TONNES

Estimated gold volume today: 103,664 extremely poor

Confirmed volume on Friday: 142,141 contracts extremely poor

DEC 22

Gold	Ounces
Withdrawals fromDealers Inventory in oz	nil oz
Withdrawals fromCustomer Inventory in oz	nil oz
Deposit to theDealer Inventory in oz	nilOZ
Deposits to theCustomer Inventory, in oz	nil
No of oz served (contracts) today	122 notice(s)12,200 OZ0.3794 TONNES
No of oz to be served (notices)	627 contracts 62700 oz 1.950 TONNES
Total monthly oz gold served (contracts) so far this month	34,576 notices 3,457,600 OZ107.608 TONNES
Total accumulative withdrawals of gold from theDealersinventory this month	NIL oz
Total accumulative withdrawal of gold from theCustomerinventory this month	xxx oz

DEC 22 COMEX INVENTORY MOVEMENTS//AMOUNTS STANDING

For today:

No dealer deposit 0

No dealer withdrawal 0

No customer deposit 0

zero customer withdrawal

ADJUSTMENTS 0

CALCULATIONS FOR THE AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DECEMBER.

For the front month of DECEMBER we have an oi 749 stand for December. for a LOSS ONLY of 65 contracts. We had 608 notices filed on TUESDAY so we GAINED A HUGE 543 contracts or an additional 54,300 oz will stand for delivery in this very active delivery month of December as our bankers search out for badly needed physical gold over on this side of the pond.

JANUARY LOST 89 CONTRACTS TO STAND AT 2409

FEBRUARY LOST 2941 CONTRACTS TO 376,274

We had 122 notice(s) filed today for 12,200 oz FOR THE DEC 2021 CONTRACT MONTH

Today, 0 notice(s) were issued from J.P.Morgan dealer account and 0 notices were issued from their client or customer account. The total of all issuance by all participants equates to 122 contract(s) of which 0 notices were stopped (received) by j.P. Morgan dealer and 31 notice(s) was (were) stopped/ Received) by J.P.Morgan//customer account and 0 notice(s) received (stopped) by the squid (Goldman Sachs)

To calculate the INITIAL total number of gold ounces standing for the DEC /2021. contract month,

we take the total number of notices filed so far for the month (34,576) x 100 oz , to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of (DEC: 749 CONTRACTS ) minus the number of notices served upon today 122 x 100 oz per contract equals 3,520,300,OZ OR 109.496 TONNES the number of TONNES standing in this active month of DEC.

thus the INITIAL standings for gold for the DEC contract month:

No of notices filed so far (35.203) x 100 oz+ (749) OI for the front month minus the number of notices served upon today (122} x 100 oz} which equals 3,466,000 ozstanding OR 109.496TONNES in this active delivery month of DEC.

This is a huge delivery for December.

We GAINED 543 contracts or an additional 54,300 oz WILL STAND FOR GOLD OVER HERE

TOTAL COMEX GOLD STANDING: 109.496 TONNES

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

COMEX GOLD INVENTORIES/CLASSIFICATION

NEW PLEDGED GOLD:

206,468.649, oz NOW PLEDGED /HSBC 6.42 TONNES

174,041.813 PLEDGED MANFRA 5.41 TONNES

54,339.114oz PLEDGED JPMorgan no 1 1.690

288,481,604, oz JPM No 2 8.97 TONNES

698,821.330 oz pledged June 12/2020 Brinks/27,96 TONNES

12,244.444 oz International Delaware: 0..3808 tonne

Loomis: 18,615.429 oz

total pledged gold: 1,653,017.372oz 51.42 tonnes

TOTAL REGISTERED AND ELIZ GOLD AT THE COMEX: 33,644.673.974 OZ (1046.458 TONNES)

TOTAL ELIGIBLE GOLD: 16,045,346.758 OZ

TOTAL OF ALL REGISTERED GOLD: 17,744,327.216 OZ

REGISTERED GOLD THAT CAN BE SERVEDUPON: 16,091,319 OZ (REG GOLD- PLEDGED GOLD)

I have compiled data with respect to registered (or dealer) gold taken on first day notice for each of the past 24 months

The data begins on first day notice for the May month taken on the last day of July 2018. and it continues to present day.

I then took, how many deliveries were recorded by the CME for each and every month. I also included for reference the price of gold on first day notice.

The first graph is a logarithmic graph and the second graph, linear.

You can see the huge explosion of registered gold at the comex along with deliveries. THE DATA AND GRAPHS:

END

SILVER COMEX DEC 22/2021

And now for the wild silver comex results

INITIAL STANDING FOR SILVER//DEC

Silver	Ounces
Withdrawals fromDealers Inventory	NIL oz
Withdrawals from Customer Inventory	798,501.608 oz HSBCManfra
Deposits to theDealer Inventory	574,739.969 ozOZManfra
Deposits to the Customer Inventory	nil oz
No of oz served today (contracts)	191CONTRACT(S) 955,000 OZ)
No of oz to be served (notices)	363 contracts (1,815,000 oz)
Total monthly oz silver served (contracts)	8726 contracts43,630,000 oz)
Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from theDealersinventory this month	NIL oz
Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from theCustomerinventory this month

we had 1 deposits into the dealer

Into Manfra: 574,739.969 oz

total dealer deposits: 574,739.969 oz

i) We had 0 dealer withdrawal

total dealer withdrawals: nil oz

We had 0 deposits to the customer account:

JPMorgan has a total silver weight: 184.665 million oz/356.804 million =51.75

TOTAL REGISTERED SILVER: 93.205 MILLION OZ

TOTAL REG + ELIG. 356.581 MILLION OZ

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

silver open interest data:

Total oi for the silver complex: 141,119 contracts GAINING 585 contracts on the day

FRONT MONTH OF DEC OI: 554 CONTRACTS GAINING 63 contracts on the day.

TOTAL NO OF CONTRACTS SERVED UPON THIS MONTH: 8726 CONTRACTS FOR 43,630,000 OZ

CALCULATION OF SILVER OZ STANDING FOR DECEMBER

For the front month of DECEMBER we have an amount of silver standing AT 554 CONTRACTS for a GAIN of 63 contracts. We had 0 notices filed on TUESDAY, so we GAINED 63 contracts or an additional 315,000 oz will stand for delivery in this very active delivery month of December. There is surely no silver on either side of the pond.

JANUARY GAINED 143 CONTRACTS TO STAND AT 2289

FEBRUARY GAINED 16 CONTRACTS TO STAND AT 52

NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED TODAY: 191 NOTICES OR 955,000 OZ

Comex volumes: 33,055 poor (est. today)

Comex volume: confirmed Monday: 49,182 contracts (poor)

To calculate the number of silver ounces that will stand for delivery in DEC. we take the total number of notices filed for the month so far at 8726 x 5,000 oz =. 43,630,000 oz

to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of DEC (554) and the number of notices served upon today 191 x (5000 oz) equals the number of ounces standing.

Thus the standings for silver for the DEC./2021 contract month: 8726 (notices served so far) x 5000 oz + OI for front month of DEC (554) – number of notices served upon today (191) x 5000 oz of silver standing for the DEC contract monthequates 45,445,000 oz. .

WE GAINED 63 CONTRACTS OR AN ADDITIONAL 315,000 OZ WILL STAND FOR DELIVERY

the record level of silver open interest is 234,787 contracts set on April 21./2017 with the price at that day at $18.42. The previous record was 224,540 contracts with the price at that time of $20.44

END

GLD AND SLV INVENTORY LEVELS:

GLD

DEC 22/WITH GOLD UP $12.85 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 978.57 TONNES

DEC 21/WITH GOLD DOWN $7.05 TODAY, NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 978.57 TONNES

DEC 20/WITH GOLD DOWN $9.65 TODAY; A BIG CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 1.37 TONNES INTO THE GLD///INVENTORY RESTS AT 977.20 TONNES

DEC 17/WITH GOLD UP $7.05 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 977.20 TONNES

DEC 16/WITH GOLD UP $33.05TODAY; A HUGE CHANGE IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.4 TONNES FROM THE GLD////INVENTORY REST AT: 977.20 TONNES

DEC15/WITH GOLD DOWN $7.80 TODAY/ A HUGE CHANGE IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.04 TONNES FROM THE GLD////INVENTORY RESTS AT 980.60 TONNES.

DEC 14/WITH GOLD DOWN $18.00 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 982.64 TONNES

DEC 13/WITH GOLD UP $3.20 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 982.64 TONNES

DEC 10.WITH GOLD UP $7.30 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 982.64 TONNES

DEC 9/WITH GOLD DOWN $9.10 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 982.64.

DEC 8/WITH GOLD UP $5.50 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 984.38 TONNES

DEC 7/WITH GOLD UP $5.15 TODAY; A HUGE CHANGE IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.74 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD////INVENTORY RESTS AT 984.38 TONNES

DEC 6/WITH GOLD DOWN $3.90 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 986.17 TONNES//

DEC 3/WITH GOLD UP $20.35 TODAY; A HUGE CHANGE IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.85 TONNES FROM THE GLD///INVENTORY RESTS AT 986.17 TONNES

DEC 2/WITH GOLD DOWN $19.80 TODAY; A HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.83 TONNES FROM THE GLD///INVENTORY RESTS AT 990.82 TONNES

DEC 1/WITH GOLD UP $7.05 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 992.85 TONNES

NOV 30/WITH GOLD DOWN $8.70 TODAY; NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESS AT 992.85 TONNES.

NOV 29/WITH GOLD DOWN $3.40 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 992.85 TONNES/

NOV 26/WITH GOLD UP $2.70 TODAY/A HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 1.76 TONES INTO THE GLD////INVENTORY RESTS AT 992.85 TONNES

NOV 24/WITH GOLD UP $.40 TODAY//NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD..INVENTORY RESTS AT 991.11 TONNES

NOV 23/WITH GOLD DOWN $21.85 TODAY: A HUGE CHANGE IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 6.11 TONNES INTO THE GLD////INVENTORY RESTS AT 991.11 TONNES.

NOV 22/WITH GOLD DOWN 54.10 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 985.00 TONNES

NOV 19/WITH GOLD DOWN $9.40 TODAY: A HUGE CHANGE IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF 8.13 TONNES INTO THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 985.00 TONNES.

NOV 18/WITH GOLD DOWN $8.40 TODAY:A SMALL CHANGE IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD: A DEPOSIT OF .88 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD///INVENTORY RESTS AT 976.87 TONNES

NOV 17/WITH GOLD UP $14.10 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 975.99 TONNES

NOV 16/WITH GOLD DOWN $10.30 TODAY; NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY RESTS AT 975.99 TONNES

NOV 15/WITH GOLD DOWN $1.55 TODAY: NO CHANGES IN GOLD INVENTORY AT THE GLD//INVENTORY AT 975.99 TONNES//

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Inventory rests tonight at:

DEC 21/ GLD INVENTORY 978.57 tonnes

Now the SLV Inventory/( vehicle is a fraud as there is no physical metal behind them

DEC 22/WITH SILVER UP 29 CENTS TODAY; A HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.202 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV////INVENTORY RESTS AT 538.883 MILLION OZ/

DEC 21/WITH SILVER UP 19 CENTS: A BIG CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 2.728 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV///INVENTORY RESTS AT 540.085 MILLION OZ

DEC 20/WITH SILVER DOWN 22 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 538.282 MILLION OZ

DEC 17/WITH SILVER UP 9 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV/INVENTORY RESTS AT 538.282 MILLION OZ//

DEC 16/WITH SILVER UP 91 CENTS TODAY; A HUGE CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.33 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV//INVENTORY REST AT 538.282 MILLION OZ

DEC 15WITH SILVER DOWN 38 CENTS TODAY; A HUGE CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV/: A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.48 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV///INVENTORY RESTS AT 541.612 MILLION OZ

DEC 14/WITH SILVER DOWN 38 CENTS TODAY; NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 543.092 MILLION OZ

DEC 13/WITH SILVER UP 11 CENTS TODAY; A HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.561 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 543.092 MILLION OZ//

DEC 10.WITH SILVER UP 19 CENTS TODAY; NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 546.653 MILLION OZ..

DEC 9/WITH SILVER DOWN 43 CENTS TODAY; A HUGE CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A DEPOSIT OF 2.96 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV///INVENTORY RESTS AT 546.653 MILLION OZ/

DEC 8/WITH SILVER DOWN 7 CENTS TODAY; NO CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 543.693 MILLION OZ///

DEC 7/WITH SILVER UP 24 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 543.693 MILLION OZ..

DEC 6/WITH SILVER DOWN 25 CENTS TODAY; A HUGE CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.110 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV///INVENTORY RESTS AT 543.693 MILLION OZ//

DEC 3/WITH SILVER UP 21 CENTS TODAY; A BIG CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.199 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV////INVENTORY RESTS AT 544.803 MILLION OZ//

DEC 2/WITH SILVER DOWN 6 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 548.002 MILLION OZ.

DECM 1/WITH SILVER DOWN 44 CENTS TODAY: A SMALL CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 740,000 OZ FROM THE SLV////INVENTORY RESTS AT 548.002 MILLION OZ//

NOV 30/WITH SILVER DOWN 3 CENTS TODAY; A SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF .555 MILLION OZ FORM THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 548.742 MILLION OZ///

NOV 29/WITH SILVER DOWN 25 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 549.297 MILLION OZ//

NOV 26/WITH SILVER DOWN 36 CENTS TODAY; A HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 2.038 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV.//INVENTORY RESTS AT 549.297 MILLION OZ///

NOV 24/WITH SILVER UP 5 CENTS //NO CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV..INVENTORY RESTS AT 547.261 MILLION OZ

NOV 23.WITH SILVER DOWN 81 CENTS TODAY: A HUGE CHANGE IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV/: A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.128 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV///INVENTORY RESTS AT 547.261 MILLION OZ//

NOV 22/ WITH SILVER DOWN 47 CENTS TODAY; A BIG CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A SURPRISE DEPOSIT OF 1.156 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV///INVENTORY RESTS AT 549.389 MILLION OZ/

NOV 19/WITH SILVER DOWN 14 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 548.233 MILLION OZ..

NOV 18/WITH SILVER DOWN 27 CENTS TODAY/ NO CHANGES IN SILVER STANDING AT THE SLV.//INVENTORY REST AT 548.233 MILLION OZ//

NOV 17/WITH SILVER UP 24 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER STANDING AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 548.233 MILLION OZ//

NOV 16/WITH SILVER DOWN 17 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER STANDING AT THE SLV//INVENTORY RESTS AT 548.233 MILLION OZ//

NOV 15/WITH SILVER DOWN 25 CENTS TODAY: NO CHANGES IN SILVER AT THE SLV/ INVENTORY RESTS AT 548.233 MILLION OZ

SILVER INVENTORY //SLV//538.883 MILLION OZ//

PHYSICAL GOLD/SILVER STORIES

PETER SCHIFF

Peter Schiff: Jim Rickards Is Wrong About Inflation And Cathie Wood "Believes Her Own Bullshit"

BY TYLER DURDEN

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 01:45 PM

Submitted by QTR's Fringe Finance

On my latest podcast, and my last podcast of 2021, I had the pleasure of speaking with my favorite economist, Peter Schiff. Peter is an American libertarian, stock broker, financial commentator, and radio personality. He is CEO and chief global strategist of Euro Pacific Capital Inc.

I'm glad I got to talk to Peter because I wanted to get his take on a couple of things. First, I wanted to get his take on this week's interview with Jim Rickards, where Rickards asserts that inflation has hit its peak, that the price of gold may stagnate next year and that the dollar has to get weaker in order for gold to rise.

Schiff told me:

"I think he's probably wrong. I don't think he has as good an understanding of inflation as he thinks. Is there a chance 2022 inflation can clock in below the 7.2% we're likely to get for 2021? I mean, it's possible. It's not going to be anywhere near 2%, but could it be lower? It could, but I think there's as good a chance that it'll be higher – and 2023 will probably be higher than 2022. I think we're in the early stages of a rather substantial inflationary period."

He continued:

"Inflation is the increase in the money supply, which Rickards acknowledges, but he just for some reason doesn't think the money is out there. That money is out there and it's making its way into the real economy. Look at our trade deficits. This is all money that's being printed and being spent."

In addition, Peter talked about fund manager Cathie Wood at ARK Invest, who I wrote about yesterday for secretly changing the language in one of her investor letters where she predicts her future returns. Schiff said about Cathie Wood:

"I don't think she's like, lying. I think she actually believes her own bullshit.That's the problem. She's been put up on this pedestal and everybody thinks she's so smart because she did something really dumb and it paid off. She just bought the most overvalued crap, and in doing that, the price went up. And now she thinks she's so smart and she has believed her own press clippings. She's completely irrational. The lawyers need to realize that their lawsuits are going to come. Investors are going to say 'I put my money into this fund' because she basically guaranteed me I was going to make 30-40% a year…"

He continued, talking about her recent 40% annual gain estimates:

"You don't make those kinds of forward looking statements with that degree of certainty in the litigious environment like we have in the United States. You're just asking for trouble.I think to me it's almost a sign of desperation on her part. She sees her funds going down, she has to plug up these holes..."

I also wanted to get Peter's take on Democrats' inability to understand basic economics, something I have been harping on since President Biden shut down U.S. oil projects and then spent the first 6 months of his term wondering where high oil prices were coming from.

This government idiocy was exemplified this week in Tweets by Elizabeth Warren, who has been blaming inflationnoton big oil,noton big tech,but on big grocery. Didn't know there was a "big grocery" to fear in this country? Boy, were you wrong.

"Giant grocery store chains force high food prices onto American families while rewarding executives & investors with lavish bonuses and stock buybacks. I'm demanding they answer for putting corporate profits over consumers and workers during the pandemic," Warren Tweeted earlier this week.

Schiff responded:

"It's flawed for so many reasons. Corporations are private enterprises, they're owned by their shareholders, who have invested in those companies because they're trying to earn a return on their investment. Corporations are supposed to put their owners first! That being said, the way to maximize profits for shareholdersisto put your customers first, because if you don't, you're going to lose them!"

He continued:

"Why do you think we have the expression 'the customer is always right?' This is the beauty of capitalism. It's the government – when the government tries to put the customer first, you get a lousy experience.When you go to the Post Office or the DMV – that's what you get. Because they're not profit seeking companies and they couldn't give a damn about the customer."

Schiff adds:

"Stores have to rise their prices because their costs are going up! If they don't, they'll go out of business!"

I also wanted to ask Peter his thoughts on Joe Manchin mansion choosing to vote no on the Build Back Better bill. Just a couple days ago, I wrote an article called "Joe Manchin Saves America" that argued that Manchin's "no" vote was exactly what Democrats deserved – and exactly what was best for our country right now. Peter offered his thoughts on my podcast.

Finally, we discussed the idea of whether or not "bond vigilantes" can come out of the woodwork to force the Fed's hand in hiking rates. This is something I wrote about days ago, and also asked my recent guest Jack Boroudjian about.

"The Fed has killed the bond vigilantes," Schiff tells me.

As a reminder, my podcast listeners usually always get 10% off a subscription to my blog. For the holidays, I am extending a 20% off subscription price thatliterally never changes for as long as you have your subscription, regardless of inflation:Get 20% off forever

Finally, you can listen to my podcast with Peter, here, for free:

END

LAWRIE WILLIAM//,//Egon von Greyerz///Matthew Piepenburg via GoldSwitzerland.com,James RICKARDS

END

Important gold commentaries courtesy of GATA/Chris Powell

* * *

OTHER GOLD COMMENTARIES:

OTHER COMMODITIES/LUMBER

END

CRYPTOCURRENCIES/

With China outlawing Bitcoin, Bitcoin miners have now gone underground to mine the stuff. This requires a lot of electricity. And they cannot find them?

(Bitcoin Magazine)

China Is Mining Bitcoin Underground: Report

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 09:40 PM

Submitted by Bitcoin Magazine

According to a report byCNBC, bitcoin miners have found ways to keep operating in China despite the country's comprehensive efforts to crack down on the industry.

China used to be the country with the most significant share of hashrate. But that began to change in May when Chinese authorities began cracking down on Bitcoin and bitcoin mining. The increased regulatory scrutiny led to tangible impacts on BTC miners and exchanges, which started limiting or putting an end to their activities. In under a month, the Chinese crackdown led ASIC maker Bitmain to stop sales, a sharp decline in Bitcoin's total hash rate, and an "ASIC exodus" to ensue as the bitcoin mining landscape began to change.Workers transferring cryptocurrency mining rigs at a farm in Sichuan province

By September, China had issued a complete ban on Bitcoin. Despite the prohibition, the peer-to-peer network saw nearly 145 Bitcoin nodes still running on Chinese soil after a few days. According to data from Bitrawr.com, there are currently 125 nodes in the Asian country. Similarly, it appears that not all bitcoin miners have fled China.

Ben, a Chinese miner, toldCNBC that he had gone underground, spreading his mining equipment across multiple locations to decrease the chances of being spotted on China's power grid. He has also taken steps to conceal his digital geographical footprint and go behind the meter, pulling electricity from small power sources unconnected to the country's larger grid.

"We never know to what extent our government will try to crack down…to wipe us out," Ben reportedly said.

The report said that as much as 20% of the world's bitcoin miners are estimated to still reside in China, scattered across the country in setups similar to Ben's. It cited a November report by Chinese cybersecurity company Qihoo 360, which estimates an average of 109,000 bitcoin mining IP addresses active in China daily. An estimate from Cambridge University, however, says there are no miners left in the Asian country.Workers transferring cryptocurrency mining rigs at a farm in Sichuan province

Whereas big miners quickly and effectively moved overseas into friendlier regulations in Kazakhstan and the U.S., medium-sized miners saw their hands tied. "They couldn't offload their equipment to recoup their losses, nor could they mine at full capacity again, because their electrical footprint is easy to pick out," per the report. But smaller miners could deploy their operations across small power grids in China and maintain part of the operations.

"Mining is no longer a big business" in China, another bitcoin miner toldCNBC. Instead, the miner said the activity is now scattered across the country, with "a couple thousand miners here, a couple thousand miners there. It's more like a sort of band-aid to make money to help move the miners out of the country."

According to the report, besides plugging into small power grids, far from government oversight, these smaller bitcoin miners often evade Chinese censorship by joining foreign mining pools willing to sign them up despite the ban and helping them uncover their activity.

END

Your early currency/gold and silver pricing/Asian and European bourse movements/ and interest rate settings WEDNESDAY morning 7:30 AM

ONSHORE YUAN: 6.3711

OFFSHORE YUAN: 6.3804

HANG SANG CLOSED UP 131.00 PTS OR 0.57%

2. Nikkei closed UP 44.62 PTS OR 0.16%

3. Europe stocks MOSTLY GREEN

USA dollar INDEX DOWN TO 96;32/Euro RISES TO 1.1306-

3b Japan 10 YR bond yield: RISES TO. +.063/ !!!!(Japan buying 100% of bond issuance)/Japanese yen vs usa cross now at 114.24/ THIS IS TROUBLESOME AS BANK OF JAPAN IS RUNNING OUT OF BONDS TO BUY./JAPAN 10 YR YIELD IS NOW TARGETED AT .11%/JAPAN LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR BOND MARKET//

3c Nikkei now JUST ABOVE 17,000

3d USA/Yen rate now well below the important 120 barrier this morning

3e WTI:: 71.10 and Brent: 73.87-

3f Gold UP/JAPANESE Yen UP CHINESE YUAN: ON -SHORE CLOSED UP// OFF- SHORE UP

3g Japan is to buy the equivalent of 108 billion uSA dollars worth of bond per month or $1.3 trillion. Japan's GDP equals 5 trillion usa./"HELICOPTER MONEY" OFF THE TABLE FOR NOW /REVERSE OPERATION TWIST ON THE BONDS: PURCHASE OF LONG BONDS AND SELLING THE SHORT END

Japan to buy 100% of all new Japanese debt and by 2018 they will have 25% of all Japanese debt. Fifty percent of Japanese budget financed with debt.

3h Oil UP for WTI and UP FOR Brent this morning

3i European bond buying continues to push yields lower on all fronts in the EMU. German 10yr bund RISES TO -.0.288%/Italian 10 Yr bond yield RISES to 1.04% /SPAIN 10 YR BOND YIELD RISES TO 0.46%…ITALIAN 10 YR BOND YIELD/GERMAN BUND: 1.33: DANGEROUS FOR THE ITALIAN BANKING SYSTEM

3j Greek 10 year bond yield RISES TO : 1.29

3k Gold at $1792.75 silver at: 22.63 7 am est) SILVER NEXT RESISTANCE LEVEL AT $30.00

3l USA vs Russian rouble; (Russian rouble UP 18/100 in roubles/dollar) 73.82

3m oil into the 71 dollar handle for WTI and 73 handle for Brent/

3n Higher foreign deposits out of China sees huge risk of outflows and a currency depreciation. This can spell financial disaster for the rest of the world/

JAPAN ON JAN 29.2016 INITIATES NIRP. THIS MORNING THEY SIGNAL THEY MAY END NIRP. TODAY THE USA/YEN TRADES TO114.24DESTROYING JAPANESE CITIZENS WITH HIGHER FOOD INFLATION

30 SNB (Swiss National Bank) still intervening again in the markets driving down the FRANC. It is not working: USA/SF this morning.9224as the Swiss Franc is still rising against most currencies. Euro vs SF1.0428 well above the floor set by the Swiss Finance Minister. Thomas Jordan, chief of the Swiss National Bank continues to purchase euros trying to lower value of the Swiss Franc.

USA 10 YR BOND YIELD: 1.476 UP 2 BASIS PTS

USA 30 YR BOND YIELD: 1.879 UP 2 BASIS PTS

USA DOLLAR VS TURKISH LIRA: 12.48

Market Rally Fizzles As Volume Evaporates

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 07:50 AM

Tuesday's rally fizzled on Wednesday, as US emini futures were flat after erasing an earlier dip as attention again turned to news about the omicron variant as cases surged globally. Contracts on the Nasdaq 100 led declines, slipping 0.3% in thin trading ahead of holidays. In Europe, stocks were little changed as more omicron woes weighed on sentiment. Oil steadied as investors assessed mixed demand signals and the dollar fell. Elon Musk sold even more Tesla shares, one step close to his promise to sell 10% of his stake in the electric carmaker.

Markets have been volatile at the end of a year that has seen equities rally amid a recovery from the pandemic, before losing steam on worries about inflation, tighter policy and stricter curbs brought on by the omicron virus variant. Thinner trading volumes heading into the holidays could exacerbate market swings, leaving strategists reluctant to read much into day-to-day gyrations during the period.

"Despite the new restriction measures, many investors believe that omicron would only have a temporary impact on the economic activity and should not be a problem for the overall positive trend in equities," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Group. "Investors should remain cautious with big ups and downs into the Xmas break."

In the latest Omicron news, the U.K. not planning new restrictions before Christmas, while Germany stopping short of a full lockdown while imposing tighter curbs. In the US, Joe Biden said Tuesday omicron will result in more breakthrough infections among vaccinated Americans, potentially in large numbers, but that they are very unlikely to be severely ill. The top medical adviser to the world's airlines said aircraft passengers are twice or even three times more likely to catch Covid-19 during a flight since the emergence of the variant.

"While this variant is significant and the impact is powerful, I do still have my rose-colored glasses heading into the New Year because below the surface there is still a lot of opportunity" away from trades that are played out or frothy, Nicole Webb, Wealth Enhancement Group senior vice president, said on Bloomberg Television.

Elsewhere, on the fiscal stimmy front, Biden said there's still a chance he can make a deal with Senator Joe Manchin to drive his economic plan through Congress.

In U.S. premarket trading, Tesla rose after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk offloaded more of his stake in the electric-vehicle maker. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. shares fell with other Chinese ADRs also coming under pressure, after local media reports that a unit's cooperation with a government agency has been suspended. Online marketplace operator JD.com dropped -2.3%, ride-hailing firm Didi -2.2%, Bilibili -2.5%. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index of U.S.- listed Chinese companies has slumped 43% YTD amid worries over increasing regulatory oversight from both China and the U.S. Here are some other notable U.S. movers:

Apple (AAPL US) slips 0.4% in U.S. premarket trading, easing after Tuesday's 1.9% bounce. The iPhone maker's shares have again outperformed the market this year and positive drivers remain ahead, Citi writes in note reiterating a buy rating and upping its target to $200 from $170.
BlackBerry (BB US) shares fell 2.2% in U.S. premarket trading after the company's 4Q guidance disappointed, according to RBC Capital Markets.
Tesla (TSLA US) shares gain 2.3% in U.S. premarket trading after CEO Elon Musk offloaded more of his stake in the electric-vehicle maker.
Alibaba (BABA US) shares fall 3.2% in U.S. premarket trading, with other Chinese ADRs also coming under pressure, after local media reports that a unit's cooperation with a government agency has been suspended.
Magnachip Semiconductor (MX US) buyback plan represents ~8.6% of the company's current market value, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The stock rose in postmarket trading.
BioRestorative Therapies (BRTX US) rises as much as 70% in premarket trading after the company announced an agreement with contract research organization PRC Clinical for a phase 2 trial of its lead product.
AAR (AIR US) drops 8.3% in postmarket trading after the aerospace product supplier reported second quarter earnings that trailed the average analyst estimate.
Acasti Pharma's (ACST US) merger gives it "a diversified, late-stage, orphan drug pipeline and bench strength," writes Oppenheimer, launching coverage at outperform. Stock rallied 30% in postmarket.
Repro Med Systems (KRMD US) gains 7.8% in postmarket trading after reporting the FDA cleared the expanded on-label use of the Freedom60 infusion system to two additional subcutaneous Ig medications, Cutaquig and Xembify.

Most European equities were little changed in notably subdued volatility with Spain's IBEX outperforming, rising 0.4%; FTSE MIB lags. Tech and travel are the best performing sectors, utilities slip over 1%. Elsewhere,European power climbed to a fresh record as France faces a winter crunch.

Asian equities rose, on track for a second-straight day of gains, as investors assessed progress in the U.S. administration's spending plans in thin trading ahead of year-end holidays. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was up 0.3% as of 5:10 p.m. in Hong Kong, driven higher by consumer discretionary and IT shares. China's tech stocks advanced for a second day as traders rushed to unwind short bets ahead of the year-end holidays. Investors returned to riskier assets globally after Monday's selloff, as President Joe Biden said there's still a chance he can strike a deal with Senator Joe Manchin to get his Build Back Better economic plan through Congress. While rates are expected to climb in 2022 thanks to inflation and signaled hikes from the Federal Reserve, strategists expect the advance to top out in negative territory on an inflation-adjusted basis.

"Even as central banks look to tighten up monetary policy a little bit because inflation is high, people aren't looking at the bond market for an inflation hedge, that could still keep some attractiveness in the equity markets," Jason Schenker, president at Prestige Economics LLC, told Bloomberg Television. Benchmarks in India and Hong Kong rose the most in the region, while Japan's stocks edged higher. Singapore's Straits Times Index was down 0.1% as the country halted ticket sales for quarantine-free travel lanes.

Japanese equities closed slightly higher after swinging in a narrow range, as trading thinned heading into the year-end holidays. Gains in electronics makers offset losses in auto and food makers, pushing the Topix 0.1% higher. Tokyo Electron was the biggest contributor to a 0.2% gain in the Nikkei 225. Volumes on both gauges were more than 25% below 30-day averages

India's key indexes extended their rebound for a second day, tracking recoveries in regional peers, after the Nifty entered a correction earlier this week. The S&P BSE Sensex rose 1.1% to 56,930.56 in Mumbai, its biggest advance since Dec. 8. The NSE Nifty 50 Index also advanced by a similar measure. Reliance Industries was among the biggest contributors to both gauges. All 19 sector sub-indexes compiled by BSE Ltd. climbed, led by the realty group. The Nifty's two-day gain comes after the index entered a technical correction Monday, falling more than 10% from its record-high closing on Oct. 18, with the Sensex's earlier drop just short of that level. "Volumes would remain muted for the rest of December, since there are expected to be few triggers in terms of news flow," according to S. Hariharan, a sales trading head with Emkay Global Financial Services. He sees information-technology companies attracting interest from investors and bottom-fishing taking place in auto-related shares.

In rates, treasury yields rose modestly, led by the belly of the curve, and so did bund yields. The 10Y TSY traded at 1.4720% last. Gilts underperformed bunds and USTs, cheapening 3-4bps in a bear steepening move. Bunds and USTs bear flatten slightly. Much of the semi-core and peripheral space tightens to core; Italy underperforms, widening 1.5bps at the 10y point.

In FX, the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index slipped as the greenback traded weaker versus most of its Group-of-10 peers. Risk-sensitive currencies, led by the Norwegian krone, performed best; the euro hovered in a narrow 1.1264-1.1300 range. The pound edged higher against the dollar after revised data showed the U.K. economy has recovered from the pandemic faster than previously thought; gilt yields rose by 4-5bps across the curve. The Australian and New Zealand dollars weighed down in early trade before recovering ground, as rising Covid cases spur concerns about the economic outlook. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is urging state and territory leaders to move ahead with reopening plans even as omicron outbreaks push daily infections to record levels. Aggressive bets on rate hikes by the RBA are receding with the yield on 3-year bonds down 8bps to 0.84%. The yen slipped; concerns over debt supply and gains in overnight overseas yields capped bond prices. The world's most volatile security, the Turkish lira, held a tight range near 12.51/USD.

In commodities, crude futures hold in the green. WTI trades up 0.5% near $71.50, Brent near $74.25. Spot gold is little changed near $1,788/oz. Most base metals are in the green: LME zinc and aluminum are up over 2%, tin lags.

On today's calendar, we have the 2nd revision of Q3 GDP, the Conference Board sentiment index, and Existing home sales data.

Market Snapshot

S&P 500 futures down 0.2% to 4,632.75
STOXX Europe 600 up 0.2% to 474.88
MXAP up 0.3% to 190.50
MXAPJ up 0.5% to 617.81
Nikkei up 0.2% to 28,562.21
Topix little changed at 1,971.51
Hang Seng Index up 0.6% to 23,102.33
Shanghai Composite little changed at 3,622.62
Sensex up 1.1% to 56,927.27
Australia S&P/ASX 200 up 0.1% to 7,364.77
Kospi up 0.3% to 2,984.48
German 10Y yield little changed at -0.29%
Euro down 0.1% to $1.1273
Brent Futures up 0.4% to $74.30/bbl
Gold spot down 0.1% to $1,788.23
U.S. Dollar Index little changed at 96.54

Top Overnight news from Bloomberg

"We are well aware of the uncertainty around our inflation projections. There is a risk to the upside," European Central Bank Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel says in interview with Le Monde
It was supposed to be a year when volatility in the currency space would make a strong comeback as yield-starved investors from the world of bonds shifted focus to create alpha. Yet inflation made for such volatility in rates and equities, that FX found itself in relatively calm waters
Anyone gearing up for bond yields to surge in 2022 should think again. A global glut of saved cash has the potential to restrain an increase in rates, even as central banks dial back their pandemic stimulus.
In the months after Boris Johnson signed his post- Brexit trade deal with the European Union, the coronavirus masked the economic damage of leaving the bloc. As the pandemic drags on, the cost is becoming clearer — and voters are noticing
U.K. employer confidence plunged to the lowest level since the nation was still under lockdown earlier this year as the spread of the omicron variant and uncertainty about inflation and labor shortages dimmed the outlook
The green debt market is growing at a much faster pace than the real-world projects it was created to support, thanks to some financial engineering
A Chinese regulator has tightened rules regarding use of messaging tools in the nation's local bond and derivative markets, clamping down on anonymous accounts following similar moves globally in recent years
For Turkish sovereign and corporate debt, Monday's emergency measures to tackle the lira's meltdown have come too late to rescue a painful 2021. Investors have lost 7.8% on the country's dollar-denominated sovereign debt this year, compared to 2.9% across emerging markets in the worst performance since 2013

A more detailed look at global markets courtesy of Newsquawk

Asia-Pac stocks were indecisive overnight following the sharp rebound seen on Wall Street – which was spurred by the tech sector as Micron led the charge following solid earnings, whilst some reopening plays such as airlines and cruise lines saw substantial gains.The Russell 2000 saw gains of 2.9%, the Nasdaq rose 2.4% whilst the S&P 500 and DJIA closed higher by 1.8% and 1.6% respectively. US equity futures trade flat with a mild downside bias, whilst APAC stocks gradually trimmed earlier gains. The ASX 200 (+0.1) spent most of the session in modest negative territory, but gains in Tech cushioned losses. The Nikkei 225 (+0.1%) and KOSPI (+0.3%) opened with mild gains but the upside momentum petered out. The Hang Seng (+0.6%) initially outperformed amid a revival of large tech, with Alibaba, Tencent, NetEase and JD.com among the biggest gainers at one point. The Shanghai Comp (-0.1%) conformed to the indecisive tone, with the index caged to a tight range. US 10yr Treasury futures reflected the indecisiveness of markets overnight.

Top Asian News

Defaulter Sinic Says Unlikely to Repay January Bonds, Coupon
China's Xi Tells Lam Hong Kong Is Heading in the Right Direction
Asian Stocks Extend Gains Slightly as Investors Tread Water
Alibaba Shares, Chinese ADRs Drop in U.S. Premarket Trading

European bourses are essentially unchanged, with both the direction and magnitude of action in-fitting with the dull trading conditions seen overnight.Since the cash open, indices have meandered around the unchanged mark; there are modest regional differences but no convincing or enduring moves in either direction. Sectors are in the green, but the breadth of performance is contained with less than 1.0ppts separating the best and worst performers. News flow remains thin and focus continues to fall on COVID; albeit, the clamour for updates has slowed somewhat with the UK and US confirming no pre-Xmas restrictions, but the post-Xmas period remains uncertain. Individual movers include Delivery Hero (+6.5%) after updating on Foodpanda divestments, Rio Tinto (-1.3%) following the acquisition of Rincon Mining Lithium for USD 825mln.

Top European News

U.K. to Say Omicron Causes Milder Disease Than Delta: Politico
European Gas Drops After Surging on Constrained Russian Flows
Cargill Inks $1 Billion Deal for Croda's Tech, Chemical Unit
Delivery Hero Exits German Delivery Business in Reversal

In FX,newsflow and turnover is dwindling as the clock ticks down to Xmas, but the lack of depth in terms of trading volume is keeping price movement active or even lively for some financial market instruments and assets. Indeed, debt remains volatile and in the throes of a relatively pronounced, deep bull retracement, to the benefit of the Buck over lower yielders if not other rival currencies that are elevated or underpinned due to independent factors. As such, the Dollar index is holding around 96.500, and currently within a 96.361-604 range awaiting a decent line up of US data that may prompt a reaction and provide a fundamental distraction from the overriding focus on pandemic headlines/updates. Conversely, the Yen and Franc are lagging/underperforming, with the former now probing below its post-FOMC base and inching closer towards Fib support at 114.38, while the latter is trying to absorb more offers and soak up pressure at 0.9250.

GBP – The Pound has bounced further from recent lows across the board in wake of confirmation from UK PM Johnson that no new Omicron/COVID measures will be imposed this side of Christmas rather than final UK GDP data for Q3 that was somewhat mixed. Cable is eyeing edging through.3300 and Eur/Gbp is straddling 0.8500 irrespective of hawkish sounding comments from ECB's Holzmann who suggests there may be an extreme case for a rate hike in 2022.
NZD/CAD/AUD/EUR – Risk sentiment appears to have plateaued following Tuesday's significant revival in appetite, but the Kiwi, Loonie and Aussie have derived enough impetus to pare declines against the Greenback between 0.6773-40, 1.2924-04 and 0.7158-21 respective parameters, in keeping with crude, industrial and precious metals that are maintaining recovery momentum on the grounds that the latest pandemic waves might not be as damaging as prior episodes. Elsewhere, the Euro could be gleaning underlying support from decent option expiry interest at 1.1245-50 (1.3 bn) in the same vein as expiries capped the upside yesterday and on Monday, but the psychological 1.1300 level is still proving to be a tough hurdle even with the aforementioned ECB rhetoric.
EM – A new day brings more angst between Russia and the US, though the Rub is firmer alongside Brent and the Nok, while the Cnh and Cny are both on an even keel after another firmer PBoC midpoint setting. In Turkey, the Try seems to have topped out with little response to the first CBRT repo by quantity auction at 14% in Lira 38bn, maturing on December 29 that came at an official rate of 12.348 vs the Usd for time deposits. Indeed, the pair has rebounded from close to 12.0000 and is now nearer the upper end of a band reaching 12.6600, largely taking comments from President Erdogan in stride as well. However, for the record he declared in typical forthright fashion that the country has thwarted all games against the domestic economy, adding more dramatically that those calling to buy FX (Usd) have now had their 'brains watered out' (or washed presumably!).

In commodities,WTI and Brent are modestly firmer in a continuation of the general trend of APAC trade, though the benchmarks remain within fairly narrow parameters. Prior to Tuesday's private inventory report, some modest downside was seen, and while the API's weekly inventory data reportedly showed a larger-than-expected build, the internals were more mixed. Today's EIA release is expected to print a headline draw accompanied by mixed internals. Currently, the benchmarks are steady towards the top-end of the sessions range which stands at under USD 1.0/bbl. Natural gas prices remain in focus as reports once again indicated that the Yamal-Europe pipeline is operating in reverse mode. However, UK prices were subdued, retracing some of the upside seen yesterday on the referenced pipeline activity. Moving to metals, spot gold and silver are contained and have been pivoting the unchanged mark for this most part. Separately, base metals are modestly firmer deviating slightly from APAC pressure in copper, for instance.

US Event Calendar

7am: Dec. MBA Mortgage Applications, prior -4.0%
8:30am: 3Q GDP Annualized QoQ, est. 2.1%, prior 2.1%
8:30am: 3Q PCE Core QoQ, est. 4.5%, prior 4.5%
8:30am: 3Q GDP Price Index, est. 5.9%, prior 5.9%
8:30am: 3Q Personal Consumption, est. 1.7%, prior 1.7%
8:30am: Nov. Chicago Fed Nat Activity Index, est. 0.40, prior 0.76
10am: Dec. Conf. Board Consumer Confidenc, est. 111.0, prior 109.5
- Expectations, prior 87.6
- Present Situation, prior 142.5
10am: Nov. Existing Home Sales MoM, est. 3.0%, prior 0.8%

3. ASIAN AFFAIRS

i)WEDNESDAY MORNING/TUESDAY NIGHT

3 a./NORTH KOREA/ SOUTH KOREA

///NORTH KOREA

3B JAPAN

Just look at what supply issues have done to Japan. McDonald's rations fries

(zerohedge)

McDonald's Rations Fries As Supply Shortage Hits Japan

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 08:40 PM

A 'fry-tening' supply chain problem has materialized for McDonald's Holdings Co. Japan is forcing it to ration french fries for at least a week due to a potatoes shortage.

Beginning on Friday, Japanese consumers desiring a classic Big Mac will be barred from ordering medium- and large-sized french fries. They will be only allowed to order small french fries as the company blames massive flooding in Vancouver for its soggy mess and attempts to source spuds elsewhere.

About 2,900 McDonald's restaurants in the country will experience french fry rationing for at least this week "to ensure that as many customers as possible will have continued access to our french fries," according to Bloomberg.

McDonald's believes the shortage will be resolved by New Year's eve, and said meals that come with medium fries will be reduced by 44 cents to reflect the smaller portion. It said the rationing wouldn't affect hash brown.

The popular fast-food company didn't quantify the financial impact of the french fry shortage.

This is the second time in three years, McDonald's has experienced a french fry shortage. Cold weather and the impact of a hurricane in 2019 damaged potato crops across North America and led to supply woes for french fry processors.

The latest french fry shortage is an example of fragile global supply chains as weather volatility increases.

end

3B CHINA

China is imploding. They now are fining media stars huge money for "exploiting tax loopholes(zerohedge)

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 10:40 PM

Beijing's ongoing housecleaning of all things deemed anti-revolutionary by the principles of President Xi Jinping Thought has once again circled back to social media influencers, a class of business that, like video games, private tutoring, and the technology industry more broadly, is being shaken down for presenting a threat to the CCP's rule.

The latest crackdown involves China's ballooning live streaming business by targeting the individual streamers themselves, according to Bloomberg. On Monday,the State Taxation Administration fined Viya, a top live-streamer, $210MM, and accused her of concealing personal income and making false declarations in 2019 and 2020. It comes after authorities last month fined two live-streamers in Hangzhou nearly $15MM in total for allegedly illegally booking employment income as business income.

The punishments mark what BBG described as"an escalation in President Xi Jinping's campaign against illegal sources of income as part of China's 'common prosperity' drive that aims to narrow the wealth gap." We can't help but wonder ifthey submitted that language to the CCP censors for approval ahead of time. We notice also that there is no byline attached to the story, suggesting that none of the reporters responsible for writing it wanted to take the credit.

This is hardly the first celebrity to be targeted for retaliation by the CCP. Celebrities have been targeted by tax authorities, largely as a pretext for promoting values that the CCP sees as antithetical to its interests. Bloomberg described it as the "improper" idol culture.

And there's of course the issue of tennis star Peng Shuai, who recently recanted her sexual assault accusations against a top CCP member.But we're sure that's all a coincidence, right?

Tax authorities have asked celebrities to report their wrongdoings in exchange for lighter punishment starting in September after announcing new tax checks. More than 1,000 live-streamers and other workers affected have reportedly paid back taxes since then, per the CCP.

Viya, also known as Huang Wei, issued an apology after the punishment was announced. She said on her Weibo account that she felt "deeply guilty" and would pay the fines by the deadline.

Her colleagues better pony up quick. Before it's too late.

end

4/EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

END

EUROPE//COVID VACCINE MANDATE

Now getting pretty bad! EU now sets for a 9 month expiration rate for vaccine passports.

(zerohedge)

EU Sets 9-Month Expiration Date For Vaccine Passports

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 04:15 AM

COVID case numbers are already starting to decline in southern Africa, seen as the epicenter of the omicron explosion, but that hasn't stopped the EU from further tightening restrictions related to travel.

Because according to Reuters, the European Commission on Tuesday agreed to new rules that will make the EU's COVID vaccine travel passport (what they call a "travel certificate") will be valid for nine months after the completion of the "primary vaccination schedule" – which right now only includes the first two doses.

The new rules will be binding for all 27 member states starting Feb. 1.

The decision, made by the bloc's governing commission, which has purview over issues related to intra-bloc travel, comes just as Germany's Robert Koch Institute, the primary source of public health policy, recommended on Tuesday that"maximum contact restrictions" should be imposed, starting immediately, to combat a looming tide of infections caused by this latest winter wave (to which the new omicron variant is now contributing).

As for the new EU-wide travel rules, they will replace a non-binding recommendation the EU Commission put forward in November.

Also, it's worth pointing out that the nine month timeline leaves the door open for the EU to require boosters, potentially as often as every six or nine months.

Interestingly enough, Reuters also pointed out thattravel measures restricting intra-bloc travel being imposed by a smattering of individual member states are helping to undermine the authority of the EU Commission. But the pass does leave room for governments to impose restrictions on indoor events and activities within their respective territories.

Still, once the new rule is in place,EU member states will in theory be obliged to let fully vaccinated travelers with a valid pass access their territory.Though they still could – as an exception justified by a deteriorating situation – impose further requirements, such as negative tests or quarantines, as long as they are proportionate.

END

AUSTRIA

Austria hiring people to hunt down vaccine refusers.

This is really bad!

(Watson/SummitNews)

Austria Hiring People To "Hunt Down Vaccine Refusers"

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 03:30 AM

Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Summit News,

The Austrian government is hiring people to "hunt down vaccine refusers," according to a report published by Blick.

Yes, really.

The burden for enforcing the fines unjabbed Austrians will have to pay as part of their punishment will fall to their employers, necessitating a new army of 'inspectors' to ensure that process is running smoothly.

The city of Linz, which is home to 200,000 inhabitants, has a relatively low vaccination rate of 63 per cent.

In response, "Linz now wants to hire people who are supposed to hunt down vaccine refusers," reports Swiss news outlet Blick.

The role of the inspectors will be to check on "whether those who do not get vaccinated really pay for it."

The vaccine refusenik hunters will receive a wage of 2774 euros, which will be paid 14 times a year, making an annual income of 38,863 euros.

Nice work if you can get it.

"The job includes, among other things, the creation of penal orders as well as the processing of appeals," according to the report, adding that workers need to be "resilient" and willing to work a lot of overtime.

The jobs are only open to Austrian citizens, all of whom will either have to be vaccinated against or fully recovered from COVID.

As we previously highlighted, the unvaccinated in Austria could find themselves imprisoned for a year under a new administrative law that would force them to pay for their own internment.

Austrians who don't get vaccinated by February face fines of up to €7,200 ($8,000) for non-compliance, and those who refuse to pay would also face a 12 month jail sentence.

END

idiotic!!

(Watson/SummitNews)

Absurd New COVID Rules Fine People For Going To Work, But They Can Go To The Pub

Authored by Paul Joseph Watson via Summit News,

The absurdity of new COVID rules introduced in Wales was exposed after it was confirmed that people can now be fined for showing up to work but are still free to go on pub crawls.

"No person may leave the place where they are living, or remain away from that place, for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services," states new guidance issued by the government.

Those who flout the new 'work from home' rules, introduced in the name of stopping the spread of the Omicron variant, face fines of £60 for each infraction, while companies could be hit with fines of up to £10,000.

While workers will be punished for showing up at the office, they will be free to get drunk in a packed pub at Christmas and on New Years Eve.

"From Monday, Welsh residents will be liable to a fine of £60 if they go to work in their office. They may, however, legally spend all day in the pub," Conservative MP for Clwyd West David Jones tweeted.

Jones questioned how police would even determine if a person could work from home instead of going to the office, since arguments for the necessity of being on site at the workplace are abundant.

"The Welsh Govt's approach to public health is unusual," he added. "You can't go to work but can sit in Wetherspoon's all day. You can't watch a football match from an open-air stand but can watch it on TV in a crowded bar. Are there some peculiarly antiviral properties that prevail in pubs?"

Meanwhile, in Scotland, visitors to nightclubs have been told that they must keep a distance of one meter away from the nearest person at all times, something that is virtually impossible on a crowded dancefloor.

This follows a recent update of the rules in Ireland, where authorities confirmed people didn't have to wear face masks on the dancefloor but would have to wear them if they left the dancefloor to go to the bar or the bathroom.

And if you're wondering how any of this makes sense, don't waste your time, because it doesn't.

The entire process appears to be just more social engineering to enforce compliance with rules and regulations that deliberately become increasingly more asinine and bewildering.

end

ITALY//ENERGY CRISIS

Now Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy warns of the energy crisis facing Europe

(zerohedge)

Mario Draghi Says "Urgent Policy Action" Needed To Tackle Europe's Energy Crisis

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 09:40 AM

European natural gas prices surged to new record highs this week as Goldman Sachs commodity analyst Samantha Dart explained the rally had been driven by declining flows from a critical Russian pipeline, nuclear outages in France, and cold weather across the continent.

On Tuesday, Dutch front-month futures gained 20% to close at 182 euros per megawatt-hour. On Wednesday, prices were slightly off the all-time high, trading around 178 euros.

On Wednesday, these parabolic moves to the upside prompted Italian Premier Mario Draghi to tell reporters at a year-end press conference in Rome that urgent policy action is needed to rein in Europe's energy-price crunch.

"The increase in energy prices requires urgent action, we can't wait.

"The EU Commission is working but we need to work at national level as well and support for families and businesses for gas price hikes will be there if necessary, as it seems, beyond what has already been decided.

"There are big producers and sellers of energy that are having fantastic profits. They will need to participate to support the economy, they too need to help families," Draghi said.

After months of dwindling Russian gas supply into Europe, Goldman's Dart told clients this week that volatile gas prices are primarily due to the Yamal-Europe pipeline, one of the major three routes that Russia's Gazprom supplies gas to north-west Europe, dropped to zero "for the past four days."

The latest rise in energy costs are rolling onto households and businesses across the continent adds to inflationary pressures. Draghi is eager to introduce support packages for "families and businesses" because if governments can't resolve the energy crisis, a wave of discontent might follow.

We explained on Tuesday that Europe's energy crisis is worsening, and power prices are smashing records. It's only a matter of time before politicians enact support packages to partially or fully shield consumers from dramatic energy inflation. The reason behind such a move is politicians want to get re-elected.

5. RUSSIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS

end

TURKEY

Zero hedge explains how the central bank rescued the lira with a slight of hand. This will end in failure

(zerohedge)

Here's How Erdogan Launched His Lira "Rescue" Plan, And Why It Spells Doom For Turkey

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 11:25 AM

Earlier this week, we dubbed Turkey's unprecedented, bizarre intervention in the FX market Erdogan's "Whatever it takes" moment in homage to Mario Draghi's similardeus ex machina, and according to a Reuters report, this is more or less exactly what happened.

As a reminder, almost a decade ago when the euro was collapsing and was widely viewed as reaching parity with the dollar in the near future, then-ECB president Mario Draghi unveiled his "whatever it takes" pledge to keep the Eurozone from falling apart due to the extreme widening of sovereign spread during the debt crisis. Indeed, even though Draghi's words birthed the OMT facility, the ECB has never had to invoke it.

Now, according to Reuters, something similar took place late last week when the Turkish lira was cratering every single day in response to Erdogan's crazy economic theories (where lowering rates is somehow expected to reduce inflation). It was then that Turkey's Treasury was working on "an ambitious but risky plan" to reverse a crash in the currency that would only be launched if it crossed the "absurd" threshold of 18 to the dollar, according to four people with knowledge of discussions, a threshold which was reached just days later.

The team of Treasury bureaucrats decided that lira depreciation beyond that level – which would damage the economy in ways that are "hard to repair", one senior Turkish official told Reuters, so they needed a scheme to avoid that if needed.

According to sources, the idea –to provide a government guarantee against FX losses on lira deposits, which is as ridiculous as it sounds as it merely shifts the risk to the government balance sheet– was also floated in the midst of the last currency crisis in 2018, but it was shelved at the time due to risks. This time the risks – which have already sent Turkey's CDS blowing out – were seen as acceptable.

Among the measures Erdogan announced in response to the recent Lira volatility, are:

A new Lira deposit instrument that will compensate depositors for losses from Lira depreciation. If the loss from Lira depreciation is higher than the interest gain on the deposit, the difference will be transferred to the depositor and will not be subject to withholding tax.
The TCMB will offer Lira forward rates to exporters having pricing difficulties due to the exchange rate volatility.
The withholding tax on returns from domestic government bonds will be removed. The withholding tax on corporate dividends will be reduced to 10%.
Exporters and industrialists will be given a corporate tax discount of 1pp.
The state contribution to the personal retirement system will be increased to 30%.

As Reuters reports, the Turkish Treasury team evaluated several other options but settled on the deposit scheme that was studied in 2018. At the time, then-Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak – Erdogan's son-in-law – decided against it, the source said.

So on Monday, President Erdogan's government pulled the trigger on the latest plan – just hours after the lira spiralled beyond 18 for the first time to a record low of 18.4 versus the USD. Another source with knowledge of the government's plan said the exchange rate – whose redline was 18 lira against the dollar and 20 to buy a euro – had reached "bubble" proportions necessitating an intervention.

"This situation was not sustainable – these were problematic and really absurd levels," the person said. After the relief rally, the person added, "if the dollar can fall to around 9, that will be a good level."

Which brings us to Erdogan's late Monday announcement – which was strategically timed to coincide with a period of low liquidity so that stops could be taken out quickly with another billion in FX intervention by the central bank – and which sparked the currency's biggest daily rally on record, to as far as 12 to the dollar, arresting a historic selloff that the president himself set off by engineering a series of aggressive interest rate cuts.

So far, the plan has worked as even the most experienced currency traders sift through the wreckage to figure out just what Turkey is doing. For its part, Turkey will do everything it can do push the lira higher even as Erdogan keeps cutting rates amid soaring, 20%+ inflation. A source told Reuters that the government hopes the lira will strengthen to the 9 range but expects it to remain between 12 to 14 to the dollar for a couple months.

That may well work but then the lira will only collapse that much faster and reach much lower levels (more on which shortly).

Central to Erdogan's promise was an effective tax-free guarantee, backed by the Treasury,that Turks would be made good on the difference between what they earn on their deposits through interest rates and any adverse exchange rate move,encouraging savers to sell dollars and buy lira. What is really happening is that Erdogan is transfering FX risk to the country's balance sheet, effectively a stealth rate hike, only one which could have catastrophic consequences for Turkey's balance sheet. Indeed, as Turkey's CDS shows, while the lira may have surged – however briefly – this has come at the expense of the country's surging default risk.

Erdogan has been pushing ahead with a "new economic model" he says will boost growth, exports and credit – despite the currency crash, soaring inflation of more than 21% and an erosion of Turks' savings and earnings. Turkish officials were clearly delighted with the outcome as a few more days of currency collapse and even Erdogan's regime was in danger of a revolt.

"The steps will raise the risk of inflation, but this can be compensated in the coming period," said an anonymous Turkish official scared to ggive his name over fears he would be disappeared by Erdogan. "For the state, this was preferred … because not acting could have posed much more serious and irreparable risks."

So where does this leave us, and will Turkey's whatever it takes moment be as successful as Draghi's?

The answer is no. As Goldman wrote overnight, the recent move is clearly very significant but it is also worth noting that the Lira only recovered the losses it made in the last two weeks and the depreciation year-to-date is still very sizeable.

Meanwhile, the details on how Turkey's new Lira deposit instrument will be implemented are still missing and questions on what type of deposits it will cover (retail vs corporate) and who will compensate the depositors for FX losses (the Treasury, the TCMB or the banks) remain. So far,market participants tend to think this instrument will be provided to retail depositors and the Treasury will cover the potential losses from exchange rate depreciation.

At this stage, Goldman emphasizes the following points:

Although the announcement had a notable impact on the Lira and may contribute to easing the concerns of depositors, the measures do not address the fundamental reason for the depreciation of the currency and rising inflation, in our view. Any institution or household with access to loans at rates close to the repo rate has the incentive to borrow to buy real assets or FX, given the current and expected inflation rates.
The measure appears to be mainly targeted at reducing the rate of dollarisation in the deposit market. However, we neither think that the pressure on the TRY originates from there, nor that the dollarisation of the deposit market is the main source of potential financial instability per se.It is not clear to us how the measure incentivizes savers who currently hold their savings outside the banks in FX or other assets to put more of their savings into the banks.
In the event of a Lira depreciation,compensating the depositors for their losses through Lira payments could lead to sizable losses for the institution compensating. Without knowing who will be compensated and by whom, it is hard to estimate the size of the risk.

Most importantly, assuming that the Treasury or the TCMB will compensate for the potential losses,this is a credit negative development as it puts additional FX risk on the public sector balance sheet.

Goldman's bottom line: "we think that this measure is unlikely to structurally stabilise inflation or the exchange rate."

We agree, and so does Bloomberg's Onur Ant agrees, who writes that Turkey's emergency measures to bolster the volatile liraare in effect an interest rate hike in disguise,steps that leave the government budget more vulnerable to future currency shocks.

Should the lira's decline against hard currencies exceed banks' interest rates, the government will pay holders of lira deposits the differential.But by putting a floor under the lira in that way, the government has raised rates without saying so while depriving lira-holders of the benefits,critics said.

"There has been an epic interest rate hike without calling it one," according to Refet Gurkaynak, a professor of economics at Bilkent University in Ankara. "There will be a big burden on the budget when there is a sharp increase in the foreign-exchange rate. This kind of burden usually gets monetized, which means even higher foreign-exchange and inflation rates."

As noted above, the plan is intended to suppress retail investors' demand for dollars, but skirting a formal rate hike comes at a cost:The Treasury will now underwrite losses in new lira deposits in the case of another run on the currency.That puts a strain on one of the few remaining bright spots in Turkey's economy — its fiscal position — andhighlights a growing trend among policy makers to lean on the public budgetto pay for the cost of misguided policies.

"We can say that the budget — the last remaining anchor — has been sacrificed to claim that a rate hike has been avoided,"according to Ibrahim Turhan, a former deputy governor of the Turkish central bank who is now an opposition politician. "In this way, the cost of the lira's depreciation has been put on the society as a whole."

Bingo, however while Erdogan knows well that this plan has only made the inevitable collapse even more painful, he has bought himself a few weeks and/or months of time. Which is why we expect that Erdogan will now rush to pull forward the 2023 elections and be "re-elected" because he is fully aware that his scheme will crash and burn, leading to hyperinflation and currency collapse, long before then.

Meanwhile, keep an eye not only on the Turkish currency – which within a few months will be trading at new all time lows – but also the country's CDS because now that it has transferred over FX risk to its balance sheet, expect a full-blown economic collapse in Turkey within the year.

TURKEY

Distraction?

In Need Of A Big Distraction, Turkey Arrests & Jails US Diplomat

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 01:31 PM

Turkey state media has announced that authorities with the Istanbul Security Directorate havearrested an American diplomat who stands accused of selling a fake passport. The Anadolu Agency detailed that a Syrian national was found with the passport while trying to fly from Turkey to Germany, after which an investigation pointed to the US diplomat who allegedly provided it.

Turkey alleges the American, who works for the US consulate in Lebanon, actually provided his own real diplomatic passport to the Syrian national while in Istanbul, and that the Syrian attempted to disguise and conceal their identity in order to get past passport control while flying out of Istanbul International Airport.US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, via AP

Turkey says it has video evidence of the passport being exchanged between the two individuals when the incident happened on Nov.11. Authorities say they were alerted to the scheme because the passport raised suspicion as soon as the "disguised" Syrian attempted to use it.

The American diplomat isnow in Turkish jail, and it's as yet unclear if the US Embassy and State Department's will issue an official response. Likely US authorities are still gathering the facts of the bizarre, perhaps hokey-sounding narrative being presented by Turkish authorities. According toThe Hill:

Anadolu Agency reported that$10,000 was allegedly found in an envelope along with a passport in the diplomat's name— who was identified by his initials, D.J.K. — after police officers conducted a body search, per the statement from the Istanbul Security Directorate.

The diplomat was jailed following the incident andremains in detention. The Syrian man was released pending a possible trial for falsifying documents, according to Anadolu Agency.

Crucially, foreign diplomats are typicallysupposed to be immune from arrest and prosecution, however in this case Turkey is arguing that since the American is based out of Lebanon – from which his credentials as a diplomat were originally authorized – he does not maintain immunity on Turkish soil according to local law.

While it's not the first time that a US consular employee has been arrested in Turkey – a prior 2019 case caused severe strain among the NATO allies – it does come after a series of outrageous major detention cases, most notably the Pastor Andrew Brunson detention saga which took up much US-Turkey dealings during the Trump era.Source: AP

If the allegations against the US diplomat prove true, it will be deeply embarrassing for the US State Department, and without doubt Erdogan will use the humiliation for leverage. As it stands the Erdogan regime definitely needs this as a big "distraction" from his overseeing the rapid collapse of the Lira amid his latest bizarre, failed interventions to halt its plummet.

RUSSIA/USA/NATO/UKRAINE

Russia's defense chief states that USA mercenaries preparing chemical provation in Eastern Ukraine.

(zerohedge)

US Mercenaries Preparing Chemical 'Provocation' In Eastern Ukraine: Russian Defense Chief

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 04:40 PM

Russia's defense chief is being widely cited as saying on Tuesday that American private military firms have positioned contractors in the war-town Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine where they are preparing a"provocation using unknown chemical components."

The allegation came from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu while addressing a defense ministry-wide conference attended by Putin, focused on the growing crisis with the West centered on Ukraine. He suggested that pro-Ukrainian forces with the help of US mercenaries are preparing tostage chemical attack false flag in order to draw in support from NATO – likely which would also invite a heavier Pentagon presence.Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, MoD photo

The scenario appears similar to how Russia has spoken about Syria in the past. For example the Kremlin has accused anti-Assad jihadist insurgents of staging 'chemical false flags' in order to invite US bombing campaigns against Damascus and government facilities.

Defense Minister Shoigu was quoted in the independentMoscow Times as follows on Tuesday:

"We have identified the presence ofover 120 members of U.S. mercenary groups in the cities of Avdiivka and Krasny Liman to commit provocations…Tanks filled withunidentified chemical components were deliveredto the cities of Avdeevka and Krasny Liman to commit provocations," the state-run TASS news agency quoted Shoigu as saying.

In addition to Western military contractors being in the region, the top Russian defense official further blasted the US military for "building up its presence" near Russia's borders.

However, he seemed to be responding to specific weekend reports that the US and NATO are mulling sendingadditional troops into Bulgaria and Romania.

"The United States is building up its military presence at Russian borders. In the countries of Eastern Europe, American units with a total number of about 8,000 servicemen are deployed on a rotational basis," the Russian defense chief said.

Already on multiple occasions over the past month the Kremlin has accused Ukrainian national forces of building up forces and munitions in the Donbass area. Kiev has been charged with seeking to provoke Russia, so that Moscow can be blamed for any possible escalation that follows. It's currently an accusation being hurled by both sides against the other.File image via CNN

Meanwhile, President Putin himself addressed Tuesday's defense conference, declaring that Russia isready and willing to respond in the instance of observed NATO military expansion close to Russia's borders.

"In case of clearly aggressive policy continued by Western colleagues, we will take adequate military-technical measures and respond toughly to unfriendly steps," he said. He added that Moscow "has the full right" to take actions ensuring security and sovereignty; but he also left the door open for urgent deconfliction negotiations with Brussels: "Russia stands for equal and indivisible security in the entire Eurasian space," he added.

END

Pat Buchanan is perfectly correct. The USA will never go to war on an invasion of Ukraine so get out of Russia's sphere of influence

(Pat Buchanan)

Buchanan: What To Do About That Russian Ultimatum

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 06:30 AM

Authored by Pat Buchanan,

"Get off our front porch. Get out of our front yard. And stay out of our backyard."

This might stand as a crude summary of two draft security pacts Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei A. Ryabkov delivered last week as Russia's price for resolving the crisis created by those 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine's borders.

Ryabkov's demands appear to be a virtual ultimatum, designed to be rejected by the U.S. and NATO and provide Moscow with a pretext for an invasion and occupation of part or all of Ukraine.

Among the maximalist Russian demands:

Written guarantees from NATO that it will not admit into the 70-year-old Cold War alliance any more ex-Soviet republics, specifically, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Offensive weapons are to be kept out of nations that border Russia.
The U.S. and Russia should keep their warships and strategic bombers away from each other's territory. The U.S. should forgo planting military bases in any of the five "stans," the Central Asian nations that once were part of the USSR.
NATO should withdraw military infrastructure it has placed in Eastern European states after 1997.

That date is significant. For not until 1999 did Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic join NATO. And the accession of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia came only in 2004.

Russia is calling for the creation of a security zone around its borders to include all of the former Soviet Union and beyond, where U.S. and NATO military bases would be prohibited.

That Ryabkov's demands were specific and made public suggests they are to be taken seriously and Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind them. The deputy foreign minister is calling for immediate negotiations over these security pacts to begin in Geneva.

Before dismissing these Russian demands outright, the U.S. should look closely to see if there are not some issues on which compromise is possible and common ground can be found so the Ukraine crisis might be defused.

One senior U.S. official has been quoted as indicating such:

"There are some things in those documents that the Russians know will be unacceptable … but there are other things that we are prepared to work with and merit some discussion."

The U.S. has already signaled, with President Joe Biden's warning to Putin about "severe … economic sanctions" should Russia invade, that we are ruling out war and confining any U.S. response to nonmilitary means.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said that the U.K. is also unlikely to send troops to defend Ukraine if Russia invades, as Ukraine is not a member of NATO.

Nor is the U.S. or NATO going to war for Georgia to validate its claims to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as we showed in 2008. That August, President George W. Bush sat immobile as Putin's Russia threw the invading Georgians out of South Ossetia.

Again, America is not going to war for Georgia or Ukraine. We have demonstrated that with our inaction in the Russian-Georgia war of 2008, in the Crimea and Donbass crises in 2014, and in the Ukraine crisis of 2021. So, why not find a way to convey this reality, to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine and war Kyiv would surely lose?

If Ukraine and Georgia are not going to be admitted to NATO or given Article V war guarantees, why not say so publicly now?

What is happening today is that, after decades of moving NATO east from the Elbe River to the Baltic states and borders of Russia itself,the chickens of NATO expansion are coming home to roost.

Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has doubled in size.

We now have outstanding U.S.-NATO war guarantees to 28 nations on the other side of the Atlantic, some of them tiny nations deep inside Eastern Europe, in the very shadow of Russia, the largest nation on earth.

The day cannot be far off when the U.S. is going to have to review and discard Cold War commitments that date to the 1940s and 1950s, and require us to fight a nuclear power such as Russia for countries that have nothing to do with our vital interests or our national security.

Ryabkov's call for U.S.-Russia negotiations at Geneva may be the place to begin a public reappraisal of our Cold War commitments.

For any concessions we make on not expanding NATO into Ukraine and Georgia, we can demand reciprocal Russian concessions. New arms agreements to limit U.S. and Russian missiles in Europe and to restrict the number of U.S. and Russia air and naval operations near the borders of our respective countries seem negotiable.

A Russian-Ukrainian war, which Kyiv would almost surely lose, would prove a disaster for both nations.

The winner would be China. For such a war would leave Russia no place else to turn for an economic, political and strategic partner. And U.S. interests are not served by the cementing alliance between Beijing and Moscow.

ISRAEL/US/IRAN

Israel belatedly admits direct role in helping USA assassinate Soleimani

(zerohedge)

Israel Belatedly Admits Direct Role In Helping US Assassinate Soleimani

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 05:45 AM

What was by far the boldest and most controversial foreign policy action of the Trump administration was the assassination of Iran's IRGC Quds force commander Qassem Soleimani, which could have easily sparked war with Iran. From the start, details of the drone strike as his entourage exited Baghdad International Airport, which also included Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, has been shrouded in mystery.

One key looming question has always been whether Israel was involved or had foreknowledge of the attack. That question has now been answered as on Tuesday it's been revealed that Israel's former military intelligence chief has confirmed his country's involvement.It's the first time Israel has confirmed it's role in the killing of the top Iranian general, which it must be recalled resulted in Iran firing dozens of ballistic missiles onto US bases in neighboring Iraq in retaliation.

According theThe Hilland theAssociated Press, "Maj. Gen. Tamir Heyman, who retired as the head of army intelligence in October, suggested in an interview with a Hebrew magazine thatIsrael was involved with two assassination attempts while he served the country — the first being Soleimani, who was killed in an American airstrike near Baghdad's airport."Former Director of Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Tamir Heyman (now retired), via Israeli Hayom.

His mention of a second assassination is a likely reference to Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was killed by an A.I. remote operated heavy machine gun in November 2020.

Speaking about Soleimani's death, Gen. Heyman described that"Assassinating Soleimani was an achievement, since our main enemy, in my eyes, are the Iranians," according to theAssociated Press. In the AP's description of the interview contents, the top Israeli general appears to confirm Israel's role as providing its US ally with Soleimani's precise whereabouts at the time of the operation:

"The first, as I've already recalled, is that of Qassem Soleimani — it's rare to locate someone so senior, who is the architect of the fighting force, the strategist and the operator — it's rare," he said. Heyman called Soleimani "the engine of the train of Iranian entrenchment" in neighboring Syria.

There were earlier hints at Israel's role such as in this NBC news report from shortly after the drone strike, but never a direct confirmation from an Israeli leader.

The interview "confession" begs the question of why admit Israel's role now. Likely it'stimed in order to create further friction between Iran and Western powers negotiating a restored nuclear deal in Vienna. Israel is actively lobbying for the US side to cut off all dialogue, arguing that the Vienna negotiations are a ruse so that Tehran can buy more time to advance it's nuclear program.

The next step is likely to be more Israeli covert sabotage operations against Iranian nuclear sites – something which the Biden administration has recently warned against.

end

6.Global Issues

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE//

Israel now rolls out plan for a 2nd booster shot. UK sees Omicron hospitalizations rise to 14

(zerohedge)

Israel Rolls Out Plan For 2nd Booster Shots, UK Sees Omicron Hospitalizations Rise To 14

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 07:00 AM

As far as COVID news Wednesday morning, the flow has been particularly heavy out of the UK, where the government's scientific advisors are reportedly ready to officially declare that those who become infected with the omicron strain are less likely to become severely ill, something that health experts in South Africa (where the variant was first identified) and around the world is likely true (though we only have a few weeks' worth of data to go on right now).

But despite this, the variant is still not mild enough to avoid causing large numbers of hospitalizations.

The data is culled from the UK Health Security Agency's upcoming report on the severity of the disease before Christmas, Politico reported.

And speaking of hospitalizations, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID caused by the omicron variant has climbed to 129 as of Wednesday morning, according to data released by HMG. Leaving aside the issue of the new variant's inherent infectiousness, governments around the world expect the coming winter wave to be milder than last year's – at least in terms of the number of deaths and hospitalizations threatening to overwhelm the system – because many more (literally billions) have been vaccinated since this time last year.

A notable exception to this is Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates, who tweeted just yesterday that the upcoming omicron-driven wave could be the worst yet. The UK has notably seen case numbers rise to record levels over the past week, while the US (and much of the rest of Europe) are still hanging on to their records from last winter.

Meanwhile, as complaints about tightening travel restrictions spread, the British government offered the people a small concession: it was reducing the COVID-19 self-isolation period to seven days from 10 days for people in England who get a negative result on a lateral flow test two days in a row.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the decision was an attempt to "reduce the disruption" caused by COVID (or rather, from measures imposed by the government for the purpose of supposedly stopping or slowing COVID). And even after, those who leave their self-isolation after only 7 days are advised to limit contact with others.

At this point, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and South Korea have reimposed partial or full lockdowns, or other social distancing measures.

Israel, meanwhile, is preparing to launch its guidance for doling out second booster doses to all of its people (starting with the most vulnerable), according to Reuters.

Speaking to the radio of the Israeli military, Arnon Shahar, a doctor on an Israeli Health Ministry expert panel, said "we are seeing a waning of protection against Omicron infection. This wave is growing in surprisingly high numbers…more than 80% of the panel supported this measure."

The tweet below nicely sums up the status of COVID in Israel.

To go into effect, the recommendations must be approved by the ministry's director-general, Nachman Ash. The ministry did not say when that might happen.

Finally, as the US FDA prepares to officially sanction new COVID pills produced by Pfizer and Merck, the British have decided to also put in an order to increase their stockpiles of the as-yet-unapproved drugs. NHS has secured 4.25M courses of the two COVID pills.

END

The following is an extremely important commentary from Mie Whitney as he discusses ballooning fatalities with specific lot batches.

a must read….

Report Links Ballooning Fatalities to "Specific Batches" of the Covid-19 VaccineMIKE WHITNEY • DECEMBER 19, 2021 • 2,800 WORDS • 270 COMMENTS • 31 NEW • REPLYTweetReddit1ShareShare5EmailPrintMore6SHARESShare to Gab

"Dr. Fauci is likely responsible for a preponderance of the total 802,000 US Covid deaths…. It was Dr. Fauci who organized the suppression of easily marshaled and inexpensive early treatments… Fauci who promoted the protocol of sending sick patients home from the ER without any treatment … Fauci who is responsible for the emergency use authorization on the mRNA "vaccines" that may have killed hundreds of thousands more Americans… And .. Fauci who wants to vaxx up all the children in America, despite evidence that the mRNA shots permanently disable children's innate natural immune systems and can cause lasting heart, blood vessel, brain, and reproductive damage…" James Howard Kunstler, "Where Do You Stand?"

Question– Can the deaths that are reported on VAERS be linked to specific batches of the Covid-19 vaccine?

Answer– Yes, they can.

Question– Are you sure of that? What you're suggesting is that particular lots of the vaccine are toxic.

Answer–That appears to be the case.

Question– I want to make sure I understand what you're saying: Are you accusing the drug companies of murder?

Answer–That possibility can't be ruled out, although it cannot yet be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt." Not surprisingly, however, neither industry leaders, regulators or the FBI have shown the slightest interest in examining the evidence that has been meticulously compiled by reputable researchers. The fact is, there is already sufficient statistical evidence that something very sinister is going on that requires an immediate and thorough investigation. It's a matter of gravest concern, after all, people are dying.

Question– I'm still can't believe what you're saying. Do you really think that corporations kill for money?

Answer–Have you ever heard of Vioxx, Paxil or Oxycodone or have you been living under a rock for the last 40 years? Are you at all familiar with the abysmal record of these serial felons that masquerade as respectable pharmaceutical companies but have inflicted horrible suffering and injury on the population? Yes, I realize that liberals love these drug companies and believe they operate with the purest of intentions, but I'm telling you that they'd cut your heart out in a split-second if they thought it would fatten their bottom line. I suggest you expand your reading and figure it out for yourself.

Question–Let's cut to the chase: What proof do you have that the drug companies are deliberately distributing these "toxic" batches of vaccines?

Answer–Wait a minute: What I'm saying is there's enough evidence to warrant an investigation. I'm also saying that if industry shills, like Fauci, were really on the up-an-up, they'd temporarily halt the vaccination campaign until this business is sorted out. Now check out this blurb from The Expose':

"An investigation of data found in the USA's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has revealed thatextremely high numbers of adverse reactions and deaths have been reported against specific lot numbers of the Covid-19 vaccines several times, meaning deadly batches of the experimental injections have now been identified.

But what's perhaps more concerning is thatthe "deadly" lots were distributed widely across the United States whilst other "benign" lots were sent to just a few locations." ("EXCLUSIVE – 100% of Covid-19 Vaccine Deaths were caused by just 5% of the batches produced according to official Government data", The Expose)

"The above chart on the left shows the number of deaths reported as adverse reactions to the Pfizer vaccine by lot number sent to 13+ states across the USA. This chart has identified the actual lot numbers of Pfizer vaccine that have caused the most deaths in the USA. The deadliest of which is lot number 'EN6201' causing almost 120 deaths." (The Expose')

Answer–Think about that for a minute. The "deadly" vaccines were widely distributed across the US but they're all identifiable by a simple lot number. That's astonishing, don't you think? So, we know that specific lot numbers are killing and injuring people but Fauci and Co. still haven't alerted the public, notified the FBI, called for an investigation or stopped the vaccination campaign. Why? And why is the media ignoring this story? If they were genuinely interested in saving lives, this would be headline news, wouldn't it?

Question– But that's all just speculation. You still have not produced a lick of evidence to back your claims.

Answer–You're right. So far, it's all just theory, so let's get back to the article:

"Scientists compared variability between Flu vaccine lots with variability between Covid vaccine lots, and were shocked to findEXCESSIVE and HIGHLY UNUSUAL degree of variation between different lots of the Covid vaccines. When 22,000 flu vaccine lots were examined, almost all of them produced 5 or fewer severe adverse reactions per lot…

When the same number of Covid vaccines were compared, there was found to be huge variation – withmany lots producing 5 or fewer severe adverse reactions , but many others producing 1000-5000 severe adverse reactions." (The Expose')

How does that happen? How does one batch generate almost zero adverse reactions and another batch generates 1,000-times that amount? Is it just a quality control issue or is there more here that meets the eye?

And this is not a trivial matter since it appears that these particular batches may be responsible for the bulk of the 20,000 fatalities listed on the VAERS reporting system. Also, as the author points out:

"Under FDA regulations, such high variation between different lots and between different manufacturersmeans the drugs are ADULTERATED, and carries significant legal penalties. Such variation may also negate EUA authorization – which is only granted based on consistency of the product." (The Expose')

Question– I agree that it's all very concerning, but you still haven't produced any hard evidence yet. Show me the proof of wrongdoing or admit that you're jumping the gun.

Answer–Look; we're building a case here without access to the labs where these vaccines were manufactured and without access to any forensic evidence whatsoever. The best we can do is provide circumstantial and statistical evidence that a thorough investigation is warranted. Got it? We don't have a smoking gun. What we have is compelling evidence that something very sinister is going on. People are dying and their deaths are directly connected to specific vaccine lots that can be positively identified and traced back to their source. Isn't that enough to justify an independent probe?

I think it is but, naturally, the people who have something to hide are not going to support an investigation.

Now, get a load of this video that gives an excellent rundown of what we're dealing with. The whole thing is worth watching, but for our purposes, we'll focus on minute 14: 35. Here's what they say:

https://www.bitchute.com/embed/4HlIyBmOEJeY/ Video Link

"With 2,244 batches shown on the graph, 40% had only 1 adverse reaction, whereasthe top 20% were causing over 1,000 adverse reactions per batch… Which shows that the top 20% is 1,000 times worse than the bottom 40%." That's exactly correct.Only a small percentage of lots are causing almost 100% of adverse events and deathsin our data sets.. There can be 1,000% difference in the experience of someone who gets a shot from one lot, than from someone who gets a shot from another." It's a very disturbing situation, no product should be varying like this when it is being given to masses of otherwise healthy people, (including) pregnant women and children. We are exposing them to a gigantic amount of risk. …

…People who think (these vaccines ) are safe and effective like all the traditional vaccines you are familiar with, you should think again, because this variability exposes a large number of people to excessive risk.

…Sometime manufacturers are exempt from good manufacturing practices if the FDA deems it is a public health emergency, but in that case, the public should be aware of what they are taking. They should not be equating these injections to traditional vaccines." ("Covid 19 Vaccines by Lot Number", Bitchute)

Answer– Allow me to state the obvious: "1,000% difference" is more than a rounding error. It suggests that certain lots are contaminated even though they are still being used. That is flat-out scary.

Also, while this analysis does not prove a criminal conspiracy, it certainly strengthens the case for those who– like myself– believe that that's exactly what's going on, a conspiracy. Naturally, any depopulation scheme would have to appear randomized and sporadic. Such a scheme would not play out in a year or even two years, but over the course of a decade or more. Vaccines would play a critical role in that scheme as they provide direct access to the physical biology of all 7 billion people on earth. A small portion of those people would die shortly after inoculation, which is what we are seeing here. The vast majority of fatalities, however, would only show up in the excess mortality data which has been steadily rising in all the countries that launched mass vaccination campaigns earlier in the year.The trajectory of these excess deaths suggest that the depopulation agenda will only be achieved over a protracted period of time, perhaps, a decade or more. What that shows, is that –while our rulers may be evil– they're not stupid, in fact, they are disturbingly calculating. Here's how analyst Steve Kirsch summed it up on his Substack account:

"It is exceptionally clear that criminal activity within the vaccine community has caused an adulteration of 1% of the vaccine batches, which is why overall we get such poor results…. This is exceptionally clear when you see that about 99% of the vaccine batches produce typically 0-3 adverse events in the VAERS database, whilst the other 1% produce typically hundreds to many-thousands of AE (Adverse Events), including almost all of the deaths and serious disabilities, which aren't present in the other 99%."

Repeat: "Criminal activity… has caused an adulteration of 1% of the vaccine batches."

As former Pfizer VP Mike Yeadon points out in another post, there are only two options we need to consider regarding this matter. Either:

1. No one noticed. (Not the manufacturers, nor FDA, nor CDC, HHS, insurers etc.)

2. (Or) They know. (what's going on, that is.)

Which is it?

Yeadon concludes that it would be impossible for the people in charge NOT to know. So, yes, they DO know; they know there are "adulterated" batches that are killing and injuring people, just as they know they're not going to do anything that would rock the boat and change the ultimate outcome. So, the fatalities will continue to mount; that's what we're left with. Here's more from Yeadon:

"Given VAERS is publicly accessible & is specified as a tool for detecting the unexpected, there must be someone in a three-letter agency tasked with monitoring VAERS…. The he adds this,"I don't care what your general view is of vaccines broadly or covid19 vaccines specifically, you cannot accept this huge degree of output vaccination from lot to lot. It's injected Russian roulette."

Not surprisingly, that's the term that keeps popping up everywhere:"Russian roulette"; spin the chamber and hope you don't blow your brains out. Is it too much to expect that vaccination should be more than a (potentially) life-ending roll-of-the-dice? Is that too much to ask?

Question–This might surprise you, but I actually agree with you for once. I think it would be perfectly reasonable for people to check the lot number before they get vaccinated. But I don't agree with your other wild assumptions which I think are totally off-base.

Answer–Fair enough. But I should mention that I was just as skeptical as you when I first read the article. I just couldn't imagine that there could be a such a huge discrepancy between vaccines that are supposed to be identical. Now we see that they're not identical, not even close. The differences are humongous and deadly. Which brings us to our next question: Is it intentional? If these lots are responsible for most of the vaccine-generated deaths on VAERS, and if there is up-to "1,000 to 1" difference in adverse events between these and the other batches; thenwe need to know whether or not this was done deliberately or not. So, is it all a big mistake or are we looking at premeditated murder?

Question– There you go again, stretching the facts to fit your theory. I still think there could be more benign explanation.

Answer– Let me get this straight: This analysis identifies certain batches of vaccines as a thousand-times more lethal than other batches, but you think there is a "benign explanation" for that? Please, tell me what that explanation might be?

Question– I don't know off-hand. I'd have to think about it for a while. But I don't think jumping to conclusions gets us any closer to the truth.

Answer– I wouldn't call statistical analysis "jumping to conclusions", but that's your call. Anyway, let's skip the debate and get back to the article:

"Butthe investigation of VAERS data also revealed that reported deaths due to the Pfizer vaccine were again only associated with certain batches of the jab. The chart above shows that 96% of the lots of Pfizer vaccine had zero death reports made against them. Meaning the2,828 reported deaths were associated with just 4% of the lots of Pfizer vaccine.

Five lot numbers were associated with 61-80 deaths each, a further 5 lot numbers were associated with 81-100 deaths each, and just 2 separate lot numbers were associated with over 100 deaths each….

The same can be seen for the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Ninety-five-percent of the lots of Moderna vaccine had zero death reports made against them. Meaning the 2,603 deaths were associated with just 5% of the lots of Moderna vaccine.

Thirteen lot numbers were associated with 41-60 deaths each, 2 lot numbers were associated with 61-80 deaths each and 1 lot number was associated with 81-100 deaths….This data therefore shows that each lot from the 130 different lot numbers of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine distributed to more than 13 states, harmed on average 639 times more people, hospitalised on average 109 times more people, and killed on average 22 times more people." (The Expose')

Answer–So, the same weird pattern applies to both major vaccine producers, but you still think there's a "benign explanation", right?

Question– Right.

Answer– And, even though "deadly batches of the experimental injections have now been identified", you don't think they were deliberately distributed across the country?

Question– No, I don't.

Answer–So, it's all just a "big accident" by well-meaning people doing their best in very trying circumstances, right?

Question– Yes.

Answer– And the fact that no one is investigating this situation– that continues to cause death and injury– is just a bureaucratic snafu of some kind, right?

Question– Right.

Answer– I think you're in denial. That's all. I think you're so attached to your own view that you refuse to see what is going on right beneath your nose. My guess is that if Anthony Fauci ordered the summary execution of all 60 million Americans who refuse to get vaccinated, you'd come up with some excuse for him. You'd say "That's okay, he's just doing his job, he's just fighting Covid."

That's true, isn't it?

Question– You always exaggerate.

Answer– One last thing: Do you know what the "perfect crime" is? The "perfect crime" is one in which there is no evidentiary link between the perpetrator and the victim. No proof, no apparent motive and no smoking gun. The plan to exterminate millions of people with toxic vaccines was supposed to be the perfect crime. But, guess what? Someone slipped up and we now have the lot numbers. That's right, the lot numbers. Someone carelessly left their fingerprints on the murder weapon and, now, all we have to do is track him down and bring him to justice.

It's not much, but it's a step in the right direction.

Postscript

I don't really like the tone of this article, and I think much of the criticism in the comments section is reasonable and fair. I usually base my pieces on the analysis of medical experts, scientists and other professionals. This article depends too much on the findings of a website that may have some credibility issues. (although, I hope not.)

Personally, I found the video extremely compelling and persuasive, and I also think that the topic deserves greater scrutiny and investigation. But I also think, overall, the article is a bit thin on facts and data and long on conjecture.

In short,I think the topic deserves better analysis than I provided, and I apologize to those who think the article is not up to snuff. I'll do better next time.

idiot!! Pilots are getting myocarditis and this guy wants unvaccinated to be ostracised from society.

(Watson/SummitNews)

Airline CEO Calls For Unvaccinated "Idiots" To Be Ostracised From Society

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 10:48 AM

Authored by Steve Watson via Summit News,

Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair has declared that anyone who remains unvaccinated should be completely cut off from society, including not being allowed to travel, go to the supermarket to get food, or the pharmacy to get medicine.

"If you're not vaccinated, you shouldn't be allowed in the hospital, you shouldn't be allowed to fly, you shouldn't be allowed on the London Underground, and you shouldn't be allowed in the local supermarket or your pharmacy either," the airline executive said, as reported by The Telegraph

"You can sit at home and you know, get your deliveries of medicines and food. But you should not, you know, go to work or go on public transport unless you have a vaccine certificate," O'Leary clarified.

O'Leary admitted that making vaccines compulsory is "an infringement of your civil liberties," but added that the way around it is "you simply make life so difficult. Or [make it that] there are lots of things that you can't do unless you get vaccinated."

Calling the unvaccinated "idiots," the Ryanir boss further stated "I don't think that governments should permit those people who are not vaccinated to go and infect everybody else."

O'Leary sardonically stated "We recognise the rights of everybody to decide not to get vaccinated if you so want. If you personally object to vaccination, because it's some huge government/big pharma conspiracy; apart from the fact that you would be plainly an idiot, we respect your right to be an idiot."

Ryanair was previously punished by the advertising standards agency in the UK after running a campaign promoting the sale of summer flights with a "Jab & Go!" gimmick despite having previously stated that it wouldn't require passengers to take a COVID vaccine before they fly.

As we previously reported, other airlines have indicated they will not allow passengers who haven't had the vaccine to fly, including Singapore Airlines, which became the first carrier to officially launch a COVID passport.

A year ago, UK travel agency announced it would be boycotting Qantas over its 'no vaccine, no flight' policy, saying travelers should have freedom of choice, now however, it appears that vaccine passes are becoming ubiquitous and will be adopted be every airline.

*end

Have fun with this: from Ohio!

COVID Early Treatment phone call to Ohio COVID-19 Call Center

Inbox

Hi Harvey,
Hope you are well. I made several calls to Ohio's COVID-19 Call Center seeking early treatment options, or physicians that practice early treatment.
I created several youtube videos with those calls.

I'm asking you if you would be willing to share one (or all) of those videos on your blog.
My youtube username is Marty Spehar and here's a link to the one where I was told that the call center attendant (Larry Justice) was unwilling to forward a website to his supervisor. www.c19protocols.com

Here's the youtube -> https://youtu.be/vfwxcLisI44

end

Fauci, Collins Shut Down Covid Debate working with the media to trash the Great Barrington Declaration three very respected scientist! WHY do FAUCI AND COLLINS HAVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS

https://www.wsj.com/articles/fauci-collins-emails-great-barrington-declaration-covid-pandemic-lockdown-11640129116

They worked with the media to trash the Great Barrington Declaration.

In public, Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins urge Americans to "follow the science." In private, the two sainted public-health officials schemed to quash dissenting views from top scientists. That's the troubling but fair conclusion from emails obtained recently via the Freedom…

How Fauci and Collins Shut Down Covid Debate

The Editorial Board Follow

Dec. 21, 2021 6:47 pm ET

Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins in 2018.

PHOTO: TOM WILLIAMS/ZUMA PRESS

Listen to article

Length 4 minutes

Queue

The tale unfolded in October 2020 after the launch of the Great Barrington Declaration, a statement by Harvard's Martin Kulldorff, Oxford's Sunetra Gupta and Stanford's Jay Bhattacharya against blanket pandemic lockdowns. They favored a policy of what they called "focused protection" of high-risk populations such as the elderly or those with medical conditions. Thousands of scientists signed the declaration—if they were able to learn about it. We tried to give it some elevation on these pages.

That didn't please the lockdown consensus enforced by public-health officials and the press. Dr. Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health until Sunday, sent an email on Oct. 8, 2020, to Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

"This proposal from the three fringe epidemiologists . . . seems to be getting a lot of attention – and even a co-signature from Nobel Prize winner Mike Leavitt at Stanford. There needs to be a quick and devastating published take down of its premises," Dr. Collins wrote. "Is it underway?"

These researchers weren't fringe and neither was their opposition to quarantining society. But in the panic over the virus, these two voices of science used their authority to stigmatize dissenters and crush debate. A week after his email, Dr. Collins spoke to the Washington Post about the Great Barrington Declaration. "This is a fringe component of epidemiology," he said. "This is not mainstream science. It's dangerous." His message spread and the alternative strategy was dismissed in most precincts.

Dr. Fauci replied to Dr. Collins that the takedown was underway. An article in Wired, a tech-news site, denied there was any scientific divide and argued lockdowns were a straw man—they weren't coming back. If only it were true. The next month cases rose and restrictions returned.

Dr. Fauci also emailed an article from the Nation, a left-wing magazine, and his staff sent him several more. The emails suggest a feedback loop: The media cited Dr. Fauci as an unquestionable authority, and Dr. Fauci got his talking points from the media.Facebook censored mentions of the Great Barrington Declaration. This is how groupthink works.

On CBS last month, Dr. Fauci said Republicans who criticize him are "really criticizing science, because I represent science. That's dangerous." He isn't "science." And it's also dangerous for scientific officials to mobilize to quash dissent, without which it's easy to make tragic mistakes. A scientific debate over pandemic policy was and still is in the public interest, especially during a once-in-a-century plague.

Focused protection of nursing homes and other high-risk populations remains the policy road not taken during the pandemic. Perhaps this strategy wouldn't have prevailed if a debate had been allowed. But it isn't enough to repeat, as Dr. Collins did on Fox News Sunday, that advocates are "fringe epidemiologists who really did not have the credentials," and that "hundreds of thousands of people would have died if we had followed that strategy."

More than 800,000 Americans have died as much of the country followed the strategy of Drs. Collins and Fauci, and that's not counting the other costs in lost livelihoods, shuttered businesses, untreated illnesses, mental illness from isolation, and the incalculable anguish of seeing loved ones die alone without the chance for a family to say good-bye.

Rather than try to manipulate public opinion, the job of health officials is to offer their best scientific advice. They shouldn't act like politicians or censors, and when they do, they squander the public's trust.

Gijsbert Groenewegen

Silverarrowpartners

+1.646.247.1000

end (special thanks to G for sending this important commentary to us!

This continues to be a big story! Dr Yan LI Meng, a COVID 19 whistleblower, states she will not be silent despite threats to her life

(Philipp/EpochTmes)

'I'm the Big Problem:' COVID-19 Whistleblower on Why She Won't Be Silent Despite Threats to Her Life

By Epoch Times Staff and Joshua Philipp December 21, 2021 Updated: December 21, 2021biggersmallerPrint

Her scientific conclusions about the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus are controversial. The jury is still out on her views that the CCP virus is the result of a secret 20-year-old bioweapons research program by the Chinese regime that includes coronaviruses.

But despite pushback from fellow scientists, her former employer, and even her now-estranged husband—who she said tried to poison her—COVID-19 whistleblower Dr. Yan Li-meng says it was "very easy" for her to risk her life and career to speak up about her observations of the initial outbreak.

"I'm the big problem," the virologist told EpochTV's "Crossroads" program. Yan was a member of the well-connected WHO influenza H5 Reference Lab based at the University of Hong Kong School of Public Health—a key emergency disease lab for the Chinese government. "They [the CCP] need to disappear me," she said.Play Video

On why she's considered such a threat to a communist regime that governs more than 1.4 billion people, Yan claimed, "The reason is very clear, because the things I'm telling the world actually reveal the top confidential plans of the Chinese government. They've spent over 20 years working on the novel bioweapons, including using coronavirus."

The CCP has already silenced other whistleblowers who might have had valuable knowledge and insight into the coronavirus outbreak.

With the nature of Yan's claims being difficult to verify, she knows she is putting her reputation on the line by sharing her views on the record so that the public can judge for themselves regarding what really happened in Wuhan.

Her bioweapon claims have received no support in publications by the international scientific community and have been dismissed by the U.S. intelligence community, which said in its August report, "We judge the virus was not developed as a biological weapon."

Chinese officials had no "foreknowledge of the virus" before the initial outbreak of COVID-19 emerged, the report said, which remains inconclusive regarding the origins of the CCP virus, while pointing to either a natural origin or a laboratory accident as the most likely scenarios for the emergence of SARS-CoV-2.

However, the rigors of the report met with some challenges, including that a lab leak does not rule out that the CCP was doing bioweapon research that inadvertently led to a leak, as argued by David Asher, former lead COVID-19 investigator at the U.S. State Department.

There is no evidence to date suggesting that the virus was intentionally released, contrary to Yan's claims.

There is intelligence supporting the existence of a CCP-led bioweapons program. In May, investigative reporter with The Australian, Sharri Markson, reported that the U.S. State Department had uncovered—during its investigations into the origins of COVID-19—a 263-page paper written by People's Liberation Army scientists and senior Chinese public health officials from 2015.

The paper, titled The Unnatural Origin of SARS and New Species of Man-Made Viruses as Genetic Bioweapons, outlined opportunities with SARS coronaviruses for a "new era of genetic weapons" in which the viruses can be "artificially manipulated into an emerging human disease virus, then weaponized and unleashed in a way never seen before."

The document, authored by 18 of the Chinese military's and academia's top people, also outlined a claim by Chinese military scientists that the SARS-CoV-1 virus, which caused many deaths in 2003, was developed by "terrorists" who released the man-made bioweapon on China.

Analysts have pointed to this as a potential motivation for Beijing to have an interest in developing its own bioweapons research.

Crossing The 'Red Line'

Yan said that because she'd crossed the "red line" of the CCP and its political interests, agents and informants of the CCP have been monitoring her movements and communications even on American soil, and spreading rumors to undermine her reputation. Her husband even acted on the regime's behalf in an attempt to take her back to Hong Kong where she can be charged under Beijing's new so-called National Security Law after a failed attempt to poison her breakfast before she defected to the United States in April 2020.

"My husband always tried to help the Chinese government and Hong Kong government to bring me back," she said, describing his efforts as typical of the CCP, which uses family members to pressure critics of the regime. "He told me that if you come back, the government [will say] you are innocent. They will give you a promotion when you go back; they will give you a lab; they will give you a lot of grants, like millions in money."

As the pandemic unfolded in January 2020, Yan said she "realized it was urgent at that time" to speak up.

She claims to have learned that Wuhan already knew of human-to-human transmission of a SARS-like virus on Dec. 31, 2019. Then, as January rolled in, Yan said she watched the CCP and WHO lie to the world about what they already knew about the transmission of the virus—which would later be proven a lie as the first cracks began to emerge—showing that the CCP was covering up the extent of the disease outbreak.

Yan added that at this stage, the CCP had already silenced or disappeared the whistleblower doctors—like Dr. Li Wenliang—in mainland China who were trying to warn the world about the virus. By Jan. 17, no more updates were coming out of Wuhan.

Yan then thought, "If I don't tell the world, they will keep covering [it] up and there will be [a] bigger outbreak and even a pandemic all over the world."

On Jan. 19, 2020, she decided to go public. She told The Epoch Times' "American Thoughts Leaders" that she first spoke to Mr. Lu De, who hosts a Chinese-language anti-CCP YouTube channel based in America. She had told Lu it was in the hopes of "giv[ing] pressure to [the] Chinese government to stop this evil plan."

"It delayed the outbreak and reduced the damage in some way," Yan told Crossroads of her efforts, as the CCP was "forced to admit the outbreak in Wuhan within four hours" of her comments.

"They were forced to admit for the first time to the world that human-to-human transmission exists within 24 hours of my revelation," she added.

She said that she was inspired to speak up after witnessing the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.

"I was in Hong Kong, and when I saw it happen in Hong Kong … I realized how evil the CCP can be. They want to grab the freedom, democracy, human rights—all these basic things—from poor people. And once people start to fight, they will just disappear them or kill them," she lamented of her country.

She said that one of the protest scenes that really struck her was where many of Hong Kong's seniors, who would have been over 70 or 80, stood on the front line to stop the army from harming the protesters. Most of the protesters were young people.

"They told the journalists, when we were young, 50 years ago, we didn't realize the CCP is so evil, so we didn't stop it," Yan said. "And now we realize that they are evil and we didn't do it when we were young, so we want to do it at this moment to help our next generations. This is the only thing we can do to stop them.

"So this is also what I think, this is the thing I want to do to stop it," she said of her efforts. "And I'm lucky I'm still alive now to share the things with people. So it's just very easy."

Meanwhile, Yan has been invited by the debating society of the University of Oxford, the Oxford Union, to speak on the motion: "This House Would Do Whatever Necessary." The Oxford Union has previously hosted figures such as Sir Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, and Mother Theresa

end

New Data Show Omicron Hospital Risk Significantly Lower Than Delta, FDA Approves Pfizer COVID Pill

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 03:20 PM

Just before the FDA announced that it had officially approved Pfizer's COVID pill for to patients age 12 and older (though the drug will likely only be used in more high-risk patients), new data arrived from both South Africa and Scotland showing the hospitalization risk from omicron is significantly lower than from delta.

Preliminary data from a Scotland study suggested the the newer variant is 2/3rds as likely to send somebody to the hospital. They did, however, warn that the variant could cause other issues due to its heightened infectiousness.

The Scotland study drew on the health records of 5.4M people in Scotland. A separate study published online by researchers at South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases – who have been releasing breadcrumb trails of data about omicron since first confirming its existence with the WHO. Similarly found people infected with Omicron were 70% to 80% less likely to need hospital treatment than people infected with earlier variants, including Delta.

One thing that is still unclear about omicron is whether it actually is less virulent than other strains. But the South African data did suggest that the omicron variant also lowered the risk of needing ventilation or something similarly invasive.

We reported yesterday that the FDA was just a day or two away from a decision, with the expectation then that it would arrive Wednesday (it did).

The Pfizer drug, called Paxlovid, is authorized for COVID patients age 12 and over who are vulnerable to becoming severely ill. Standards for who will qualify will likely remain high.

Paxlovid appears to be substantially more effective than a similar antiviral pill from Merck, known as molnupiravir, that is still awaiting authorization by the FDA, though the word on the street was that it was also supposed to be approved this week. The US and now the UK government have just ordered new batches of millions of pills from both manufacturers.

Vaccine Impact

Biden: "President Trump and I agree" on COVID Booster Shots – FEMA and Troops Deployed to Increase Vaccination Rates

December 21, 2021 5:26 pm

President Biden spoke from the White House today to try and convince all Americans to "get vaccinated" to protect themselves from the dreaded "Omicron COVID-19 virus." As has been his practice from the beginning, he started out by lying to the American people by stating that 400,000 Americans have now died from COVID this year, and that almost all of them were "unvaccinated." The CDC's own statistics show that tens of thousands of people have died, and hundreds of thousands have been hospitalized, following COVID-19 shots, so how can they then look at the American public in the eye and lie by stating that almost all the deaths associated with COVID-19 are among the unvaccinated? The people who have been fooled into taking these deadly shots are the ones filling the hospitals right now, and numerous whistleblowers from among healthcare workers working inside these hospitals have confirmed this. So the push right now is to get as many people as possible injected with booster shots, and President Biden stated in his address today that he and former President Donald Trump are in agreement on this. Biden also announced today that he was sending 1000 troops to hospitals across the country to get ready for the massive deaths and injuries that they will blame on "Omicron," but in reality will be due to massive vaccination campaigns for the booster shots. In addition to the troops being sent to "overwhelmed hospitals," Biden announced that FEMA will be deploying "10,000 new vaccination sites" with new "pop-up" clinics around the country. I suspect many of these "pop-up" clinics will be hosted in churches and run by Christian organizations, and there will undoubtedly be many of these "pop-up" clinics in elementary schools as well, as Biden urged parents to get their children injected with the bioweapon shots, and proudly announced that there have now been 6 million children between the ages of 5 and 11 injected

Bloom Where You're Planted: Prepping to Survive Where You Are RIGHT NOW

December 21, 2021 5:56 pm

Have you ever heard anyone utter some variation of one of these comments? "I'm going to start prepping as soon as I can move." "I can't prepare because I live in a tiny apartment." "Well, once we are able to get moved to our farm in two years I'll start prepping hardcore." "I'm saving the money for moving instead of using it for preps." "There's no point in prepping here because if the SHTF I'll be dead." Maybe you didn't overhear someone else saying it. Maybe you said it yourself. One of the most common excuses that people use for prepper procrastination is the unsuitability of where they currently live. This is the kind of thinking that will get people killed. Even if your situation is less than ideal, you have to get prepped.

IMF, World Bank & 10 Countries Held Alarming "Simulation" Of Global Financial System Collapse

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 11:20 PM

Earlier this monthReutersproduced a report which didn't receive nearly enough attention among the American public – its contents would be sure to alarm most people concerned with the outbreak of yet more 'global catastrophes'. At the very least it's curious timing: amid the recent pandemic induced disruption in global supply chains,powerful nations and banking institutions decided to get together to run a global economic collapse scenario.

The report described that Israel led a "10-country simulation of a major cyber attack on the global financial system in an attempt to increase cooperation that could help to minimize any potential damage to financial markets and banks." It was centered on a catastrophic scenario in which "hackers were 10 steps ahead of us," according to one official who took part.Collapse, illustrative image via Reuters

Dubbed "Collective Strength", the exercise was held in Jerusalem (after being moved from the original proposed location of Dubai) and included the participation also of the United States, UK, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Thailand. Officials from theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and Bank of International Settlements were also involved.

The financial-geopolitical gaming simulation was set amid a scenario where sensitive data wasleaked on the Dark Web, which combined with "fake news" reports going viral across societies, resulting in the collapse of global markets and an ensuing run on banks. Further, the simulation envisioned a series of devastating hacks targeting global foreign exchange systems, which also disrupted transactions between importers and exporters, according toReuters.

The simulation set out a severe crisis period lasting about a week-and-a-half. Events were guided by a film and narrator which related the fast moving 'live' events…

"These events are creating havoc in the financial markets," said a narrator of a film shown to the participants as part of the simulation and seen by Reuters.

Further the report detailed of the simulation hosted under the aegis of Israel's Finance Ministry:

"The banks areappealing for emergency liquidity assistance in a multitude of currencies to put a halt to the chaos as counterparties withdraw their funds and limit access to liquidity leaving the banks in disarray and ruin," the narrator said.

The participants discussed multilateral policies to respond to the crisis, includinga coordinated bank holiday, debt repayment grace periods, SWAP/REPO agreements and coordinated delinking from major currencies.

Simulation participant countries and institutions, Via Reuters

Ostensibly what was a "successful" ten day exercise was aimed toward each country being prepared to contain the global damage coming from some kind of major cyber event or threat. The key takeaway was that only through rapid global cooperation and open communication among nations, would there be opportunity to prevent total collapse of the global (or perhaps rather Western-led) financial system.

Interestingly, some participants said in reality they would in reality move faster than in the simulation in the instance of a cyber disruption of that scale. They said "in a real cyber attack situation governments would take action more quickly than in the simulation," according to Reuters. "One European financial official said that in the case of such of an attack, his country would not wait 10 days to act."

However,we doubt much of the Western public will feel "comforted" by global elites engaged in a simulated global meltdown 'readiness' scenario. Again, as if 2020 and 2021 under the pandemic weren't enough of a "real world" disaster and crisis scenario, one questions the need to game out a 'pretend' scenario in the first place.

end

7. OIL ISSUES

8 EMERGING MARKET& AUSTRALIA ISSUES

Australia//// NEW ZEALAND/ SOUTH AFRICA/BRAZIL//COVID/VACCINES/LOCKDOWNS

SOUTH AFRICA

As promised, new cases have plunged as the Omicron (or the common cold) has petered out!

(zerohedge)

South Africa Sees New Cases Plunge As Omicron Wave Peaks

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 02:40 PM

Barely a day has passed since President Biden announced his new measures to help the US brace for the coming omicron-driven COVID surge, and already, South Africa's case numbers are drawing scrutiny for a sharp drop in new cases.

After touching a new single-day high of nearly 27K new cases nationwide on Thursday, South Africa's numbers dropped to about 15.424K on Tuesday. According to the AP, South Africa – the "forefront" of the global omicron wave – could be ending before it even starts, despite relatively low uptake of vaccines. Scientists say acquired immunity through infection might have something to do with the trajectory, although distortions and an unevenness in number publishing between different regions of the country could also be a factor.

But there is one key detail to suggest this isn't due to some data quirk: In Gauteng province, South Africa's most populous with 16MM people, which has been closely watched since the omicron variant first emerged last month. In addition to being the most populous province in the country, its also home to the largest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria, the decrease started earlier and has continued.

"The drop in new cases nationally combined with the sustained drop in new cases seen here in Gauteng province, which for weeks has been the center of this wave, indicates that we are past the peak," Marta Nunes, senior researcher at the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics department of the University of Witwatersrand, told The AP.

"It was a short wave…and the good news is that it was not very severe in terms of hospitalizations and deaths," she said. It is "not unexpected in epidemiology that a very steep increase, like what we saw in November, is followed by a steep decrease."

Gauteng Province saw its numbers start sharply rising in mid-November. Scientists doing genetic sequencing quickly identified the new, highly mutated omicron variant that was announced to the world on Nov. 25.

And the country's R-naught rate, which has been falling since the start of December, has finally broken back below 1, seen as a critical divide between spreading and slowing.

In another sign that the country's omicron surge may be receding, a study of health care professionals who tested positive for COVID at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Soweto shows a rapid increase and then a quick decline in cases.

"Two weeks ago we were seeing more than 20 new cases per day and now it is about five or six cases per day," Nunes said.

But, she said, it is still very early and there are several factors that must be closely watched.

South Africa's positivity rate has remained high at 29%, up from just 2% in early November, one sign the virus is still circulating among the population at relatively high levels.

The big question now is whether the holiday season in South Africa, where people often travel and visit family, leads to increased viral spread across the country. If it does, cases could turn higher again in the New Year.

end

Your early currency/gold and silver pricing/Asian and European bourse movements/ and interest rate settings WEDNESDAY morning 7:30 AM

Euro/USA 1.1306 UP .0019 /EUROPE BOURSES //MOSTLY GREEN

USA/ YEN 114.24 UP 0.242 /NOW TARGETS INTEREST RATE AT .11% AS IT WILL BUY UNLIMITED BONDS TO GETS TO THAT LEVEL…

GBP/USA 1.3310 UP 0.0042

Last night Shanghai COMPOSITE CLOSED DOWN 2.51 PTS OR 0.07%

//Hang Sang CLOSED UP 131.00 PTS OR 0.57%

/AUSTRALIA CLOSED UP 0.31% // EUROPEAN BOURSES OPENED MOSTLY GREEN

Trading from Europe and ASIA

EUROPEAN BOURSES MOSTLY GREEN

2/ CHINESE BOURSES / :Hang SANG CLOSED UP 131.00 PTS OR 0.57%

/SHANGHAI CLOSED DOWN 2.51 PTS OR 0.07%

Australia BOURSE CLOSED UP 0.31%

Nikkei (Japan) CLOSED UP 44.62 PTS OR 0.16 %

INDIA'S SENSEX IN THE GREEN

Gold very early morning trading: 1792.60

silver:$22.66-

USA dollar index early WEDNESDAY morning: 96.32 DOWN 17 CENT(S) from TUESDAY's close.

This ends early morning numbers WEDNESDAY MORNING

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And now your closing WEDNESDAY NUMBERS 1: 00 PM

Portuguese 10 year bond yield: 0.37% UP 3 in basis point(s) yield from YESTERDAY/

JAPANESE BOND YIELD: +0.063% UP 0 AND 8/10 BASIS POINTS from YESTERDAY/JAPAN losing control of its yield curve/

SPANISH 10 YR BOND YIELD: 0.46%// UP 2 in basis points yield from yesterday.

ITALIAN 10 YR BOND YIELD 1.05 UP 3 points in basis points yield from yesterday./

the Italian 10 yr bond yield is trading 59 points higher than Spain.

GERMAN 10 YR BOND YIELD: RISES TO -..295% IN BASIS POINTS ON THE DAY//

THE IMPORTANT SPREAD BETWEEN ITALIAN 10 YR BOND AND GERMAN 10 YEAR BOND IS 1.34% AND NOW ABOVE THE 3.00% LEVEL WHICH WILL IMPLODE THE ENTIRE ITALIAN BANKING SYSTEM. AT 4% SPREAD THERE WILL BE A HUGE BANK RUN…

END

IMPORTANT CURRENCY CLOSES FOR WEDNESDAY

Closing currency crosses for WEDNESDAY night/USA DOLLAR INDEX/USA 10 YR BOND YIELD/1:00 PM

Euro/USA 1.1325 UP .0040 or 40 basis points

USA/Japan: 114.23 UP 0.236 OR YEN DOWN 24 basis points/

Great Britain/USA 1.3346 UP 66 BASIS POINTS)

Canadian dollar UP 77 pts to 1.2843

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The USA/Yuan, CNY: closed ON SHORE (CLOSED UP)..6.3699

THE USA/YUAN OFFSHORE: (YUAN CLOSED (UP)..6.3770

TURKISH LIRA: 12.40 EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LEVEL/DEATH WISH/HYPERINFLATION TO BEGIN.

the 10 yr Japanese bond yield at +0.063

Your closing 10 yr US bond yield DOWN 1 IN basis points from TUESDAY at 1.458% //trading well ABOVE the resistance level of 2.27-2.32%) very problematic

USA 30 yr bond yield: 1.863 DOWN 1 in basis points

Your closing USA dollar index, 96.14 DOWN 35 CENT(S) ON THE DAY/1.00 PM/

Your closing bourses for Europe and the Dow along with the USA dollar index closing and interest rates for WEDNESDAY: 12:00 PM

London: CLOSED UP 29.89 PTS OR 0.41%

German Dax : CLOSED UP 121.79 PTS OR 0.79%

Paris CAC CLOSED UP 75.09 PTS OR 1.08%

Spain IBEX CLOSED UP 72.30 PTS OR 0.86%

Italian MIB: CLOSED UP 134.56 PTS OR 0.50%

WTI Oil price 71.85 12: EST

Brent Oil: 74.50 12:00 EST

USA /RUSSIAN / RUBLE RISES: 73.69 THE CROSS LOWER BY .30 RUBLES/DOLLAR (RUBLE HIGHER BY 30 BASIS PTS)

GERMAN 10 YR BOND YIELD; -.291

CLOSING NUMBERS: 4 PM

EURO VS USA: 1.1333 UP .0047

BRITISH POUND 1.3358 UP .0089

USA DOLLAR VS JAPANESE YEN: 114.15 UP .137

USA DOLLAR VS CAN DOLLAR: 1.2839 DOWN .0083 (Cdn dollar up 83 basis pts)

WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE OIL: 72.83

BRENT: 75.40

USA 10 YR BOND YIELD: 1.463 UP 1 BASIS POINTS

USA 30 YR BOND YIELD: 1.856 DOWN 1 BASIS PTS

USA DOLLAR INDEX: 96.07 DOWN 42 CENTS.

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE: UP 261.19 PTS OR 0.74%

NASDAQ 100 UP 193.86 OR 1.21%

VOLATILITY INDEX: 18.65 DOWN 2.36PTS

GLD/NYSE CLOSING PRICE 168.59 UP $1.57 OR .94%

SLV/NYSE CLOSINGPRICE: 21.10/ UP 33 CENTS OR 1.54%

USA trading day in Graph Form

Dow, S&P Erase All 'Omicron' Losses; Dollar Dumps, Gold Jumps

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 04:01 PM

Another day, another buying-panic at the cash open in US equities. The Dow manged to 'get back to even' on the week and Nasdaq and Small Caps lead the week up over 2%…

The Dow and S&P are almost back to unchanged from the Omicron ledge…

Which makes sense as Omicron is already over in South Africa…

Source: Bloomberg

Well it is the time be jolly… or whatever…all happening as STIRs are now pricing in a 90% chance of rate-hike by May 2022 (you really think stocks are ready for that?)

Source: Bloomberg

Interestingly, 'shorts' were not squeezed today…

Source: Bloomberg

But bonds ain't buying what stocks are selling….

Source: Bloomberg

Explained at 1:00 (NSFW)…

Amid all the excitement, bonds snoozed, ending the day barely changed…

Source: Bloomberg

The dollar was clubbed like a baby seal back to the post-FOMC lows…

Source: Bloomberg

Bitcoin broke out of its recent pennant pattern, and pulled away from its 200DMA today…

Source: Bloomberg

We have seen this pattern before in bitcoin…

Source: Bloomberg

Gold pushed back above $1800….

And WTI crude is hovering at a key resistance level…

Finally, VIX has erased all the Omicron and Manchin 'BBB is done' risk…

Because hey – it's Christmas time..

Finally, breadth still stinks…

II)USA DATA

All of those stimulus cheques certainly helped raise Q#3 GDP. It rose in final estimate to 2.3%

(zerohedge)

Q3 GDP Rises 2.3% In Final Estimate, More Than Expected, Due To Upward Revision In Personal Spending

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 08:48 AM

While it's a remnant of a distant pass and will have zero impact on today's markets which are much more focused on slowing economic growth in 2022, moments ago the BEA reported the second estimate of Q3 GDP and it printed at 2.3% (2.290% to be precise), higher than both the previous estimate of 2.1% and the consensus forecast of 2.1%. GDP rose at a 6.7% annualized rate in Q2, so a slowdown but not as bad as previously expected.

The update primarily reflects upward revisions to consumer spending and inventory investment that were partly offset by a downward revision to exports. Imports, a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, were revised down. Here are the details:

Personal consumption added 1.35% to the bottom line GDP print, up from 1.18% previously
Fixed investment subtracted -0.16%, less than the -0.20% prior
Change in private inventories also boosted GDP modestly, rising from 2.13% in the first estimate to 2.20% currently.
Net exports were a bigger drag than previously expected, subtracting -1.27%, more than the -1.16% prior, due to a greater drag from exports (-0.59% vs -0.33% previously) while imports were a smaller drag at -0.68% vs -0.83% prior.
Government contribution to the bottom line GDP was flat at 0.17%, virtually unchanged from 0.16% last.

Of these, the biggest surprise was the increase in personal consumption which rose 2.0% annualized, more than the 1.7% expected.

On the inflation front, the GDP price index rose 6.0% in 3Q after rising 6.1% prior quarter – this was the highest print in almost 40 years; The deflator came in at 5.9%, in line with expectations.

Core PCE q/q rose 4.6% in 3Q after rising 6.1% prior quarter; it came just above the 4.5% expectation.

Looking at corporate profits, these rose 10.5% in the prior quarter; y/y corp. profits are up 19.7% in 3Q after rising 45.1% prior quarter. Financial industry profits increased 2.6% Q/q in 3Q after rising 10.9% prior quarter. Federal Reserve bank profits were up 12.5% in 3Q after rising 36.4% prior quarter, while nonfinancial sector profits rose 1.7% Q/q in 3Q after rising 13.8% prior quarter.

Finally, today's release includes estimates of GDP by industry, or value added—a measure of an industry's contribution to GDP. Private goods-producing industries decreased 5.5 percent, while private services-producing industries increased 3.9 percent, and government increased 5.1 percent. Overall, 14 of 22 industry groups contributed to the third-quarter increase in real GDP.

The decrease in private goods-producing industries was widespread, led by construction.
The increase in private services-producing industries primarily reflected increases in professional, scientific, and technical services; finance and insurance (led by securities, commodity contracts, and investments); accommodation and food services; administrative and waste management services (led by administrative and support services); and information (led by motion picture and sound recording industries).
The increase in government primarily reflected an increase in state and local government

Don't expect any of this news to move markets: after all, what happened in the third quarter is distant past. The question now is what happens next year now that the fiscal stimulus from the Biden's Build Back Better program isn't coming.

end

Consumer confidence rebounds only on hope

(zerohedge)

Consumer Confidence Rebounds Modestly In December, Thanks To Holiday 'Hope'

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 10:17 AM

After 'hope' unexpectedly falling back to post-COVID lows in November, analysts expected a modest rebound for The Conference Board's consumer confidence survey in December and they were right, thanks to a big bounce in 'hope'. The headline consumer confidence print rose from a revised higher 111.09 to 115,8 (well above expectations). This was thanks entirely to a rebound in expectations (up from a revised higher 90.2 to 96.9) while current conditions leaked lower (down from 144.4 to 144.1)…

Source: Bloomberg

There was a very small tightenig in the labor market, but all intent and purpose it remains the easiest job market in US history…

Source: Bloomberg

Meanwhile, despite soaring inflation prints and the new Omicron wave, The Conference Board claims thatconcerns about inflation declined after hitting a 13-year high last month as did concerns about COVID-19.

The Conference Board did add that:

"Looking ahead to 2022, both confidence and consumer spending willcontinue to face headwinds from rising prices and an expected winter surge of the pandemic."

Finally, we wonder just what the difference is between the respondents from UMich and The Conference Board…

It seems pretty clear that the Conference Board participants get a little over-excited by the up-trend.endExisting home sales disappoint in November as first time buyers struggle with the high cost(zerohedge0

Existing Home Sales Disappoint In November As First-Time-Buyers "Struggle In Divided Society"

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 10:08 AM

After slowing its acceleration dramatically last month, analysts expected a considerable 3.0% jump MoM in December, and while they were right in direction, the amplitude was considerably less with a mere 1.9% MoM rise.

That is third straight monthly gain and leaves existing home sales down 1.97% YoY.

Source: Bloomberg

The median selling price of an existing home rose 13.9% from a year ago to $353,900in November, reflecting in part more sales of higher-end properties, according to NAR's data.

This marks 117 straight months of year-over-year increases, the longest-running streak on record.

Total housing inventory at the end of November amounted to 1.11 million units, down 9.8% from October and down 13.3% from one year ago (1.28 million). Unsold inventory sits at a 2.1-month supply at the current sales pace, a decline from both the prior month and from one year ago. Inventory of homes priced less than $500,000 remains tight.

"Supply-chain disruptions for building new homes and labor shortages have hindered bringing more inventory to the market," said Yun.

"Therefore, housing prices continue to march higher due to the near record-low supply levels."

And its the most expensive homes that are seeing the biggest price rises…

Yun said sales this year are on pace to reach 6.1 million unit, which would be the best since 2006.

"Locking in a constant and firm mortgage payment motivated many consumers who grew weary of escalating rents over the last year," he said.

Finally, first-time buyers comprised just 26% of November transactions, down from 32% a year ago and matching the lowest share since 2014 as Wall Street increases its role as America's landlord.All-cash sales accounted for 24% of transactions in November, while investors — who make up many of the cash sales — comprised 15% of November contract signings.

"Determined buyers were able to land housing before mortgage rates rise further in the coming months," Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, said in a statement.

NAR's Yun admitted that "first time homebuyers are really struggling… reflecting a divided society."

Welcome to Renter Nation America.

b)USA COVID/VACCINE UPDATES//VACCINE MANDATES

Judge blocks Biden COVID 19 vaccine mandate for Federal contractors in 10 states

(Ly/EpochTimes)

Judge Blocks Biden's COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Federal Contractors In 10 States

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 07:00 PM

Authored by Mimi Nguyen Ly via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

A federal judge in Missouri has issued a temporary hold on the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors in 10 U.S. states while litigation plays out.

"We just beat the Biden Administration in court again," Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced on Twitter late Monday.

"This afternoon, we obtained a preliminary injunction against the vaccine mandate on federal contractors, halting enforcement of that mandate in Missouri and the other states in our coalition."

A COVID-19 vaccine is administered in Rosemead, Calif., on Nov. 29, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

The preliminary injunction, issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge David Noce, applies toAlaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Schmitt and Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, both Republicans, on Oct. 29 co-led the 10 states in suing the Biden administration over the mandate, calling it "unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise."

"It will not harm the federal government to maintain the status quo while the courts decide the issues of the President's authority and the implications for federalism. The Court concludes that, on balance, consideration of the harms and the public interest weigh in favor of a preliminary injunction," reads the Monday preliminary injunction order from U.S. Magistrate Judge David Noce.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mandate Currently Blocked Nationwide

A nationwide preliminary injunction is already in place blocking the Biden administration's vaccine mandate for federal contractors, after a federal court in Georgia on Dec. 7 granted the injunction in a separate seven-state lawsuit led by Georgia.

The court had decided to block the mandate for the whole of the United States because a national trade organization—Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)—was granted permission by the court to intervene in the case as a plaintiff. The states of Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia were the other plaintiffs.

"[G]iven the breadth of ABC's [nationwide] membership … limiting the relief to only those before the Court would prove unwieldy and would only cause more confusion. Thus,on the unique facts before it, the Court finds it necessary, in order to truly afford injunctive relief to the parties before it, to issue an injunction with nationwide applicability," U.S. District Judge Stan Baker wrote in the order (pdf).

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees and contractors was otherwise going to take effect on Jan. 4, 2022. The deadline was initially set for Dec. 8.

Under the vaccine mandate, issued via executive order by President Joe Biden on Sept. 9, regular COVID-19 testing wouldn't be an option, but religious or medical exemptions from vaccination may be granted.

Federal contractors that don't comply may lose out on government contracts.

Another separate ruling on Nov. 30 blocked Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors in three states—Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.

end

Exclusive: An interview with Fauci's nemesis – Robert F Kennedy — Very interesting how Fauci controls which drug succeed sand which not !!! NEEDS URGENT CHANGE !!!

Inbox

Biden extends moratorium on student loan payments through to May 1

(zerohedge)

Biden Admin Extends Moratorium On Student Loan Payments Through May 1

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 02:00 PM

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced the extension of a student loan moratorium – and will allow millions of Americans to continue putting off debt payments until May 1.

The moratorium had previously been set to expire Jan 31.

Under the action, interest rates will remain at 0% until the moratorium ends, and debt collection efforts will be suspended, according toNBC Washington.

"We know that millions of student loan borrowers are still coping with the impacts of the pandemic and need some more time before resuming payments," said Biden in a statement, adding that the financial recovery from the pandemic will take longer than job recovery, particularly for those with student debt.

The omicron variant of COVID-19 that has swept through the U.S. with a fury haslent a new urgencyto the question over whether the moratorium would be extended. Administration officials had initially said they expected the January extension to be the last. Buteven as the economy improves, there are concerns that borrowers are not ready to start payments again. Once the moratorium ends, those who were already behind on payments could have wages and benefits taken away as part of debt collection efforts. -NBC Washington

The moratorium applies to some36 million Americans who have student loans held by the federal government, totaling a collective $1.37 trillion according to the latest data from the Department of Education. Around 1/3 of borrowers are in default or delinquency, while the average payment stands around $400 per month.

According to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, the extension will allow for repayment plans that are the best fit for a borrower's situation – including an income-driven repayment plan.

The ongoing pause "will provide critical relief to borrowers who continue to face financial hardships as a result of the pandemic, and will allow our administration to assess the impacts of omicron on student borrowers," said Cardona.

Federal student loan payments were originally suspended by the Trump administration in March 2020 and extended through January 2021. Since then, the Biden administration has continued it twice, while the Education Department has raised concerns over forcing borrowers to quickly resume payments.

Which is strange, considering Biden's recent comments about how robust the economy has been doing.

That said…

Some Democrats are pushing for mass forgiveness of debt. But Biden has questioned whether he has the authority for that kind of mass cancellation, and legal scholars differ on that. Earlier this year, Biden asked the Education and Justice departments to study the issue. Officials have said that work is still underway.

Biden has previously said he supports canceling up to $10,000 in student debt, but he has argued it should be done by Congress.

Meanwhile, in October, the administrationrelaxed the rules for the student loan forgiveness program it has in place already, ditching some of the toughest requirements around the program that was launched in 2007 to steer more college graduates into public service. -NBC Washington.

It's never enough for some people when taxpayer money is on the line…

iii) important USA economic stories for you tonight

This is good: Senator Cotton demands a recall and removal and replacement of every last Soros porsecutor

(Tom Cotton/RealClearPolitics)

Sen. Cotton: Recall, Remove, & Replace Every Last Soros Prosecutor

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 09:00 PM

Authored by Senator Tom Cotton via RealClearPolitics.com,

Last year, our nation experienced the largest increase in murder in American history and the largest number of drug overdose deaths ever recorded.

This carnage continues today and is not distributed equally. Instead, it is concentrated in cities and localities where radical, left-wing, George Soros progressives have captured state and district attorney offices.These legal arsonists condemn our rule of law as "systemically racist" and have not simply abused prosecutorial discretion, they have embraced prosecutorial nullification. As a result, a contagion of crime has infected virtually every neighborhood under their charge.

Soros prosecutors refuse to enforce laws against shoplifting, drug trafficking, and entire categories of felonies and misdemeanors. In Chicago, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx allows theft under $1,000 to go unpunished. In Manhattan, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. refuses to enforce laws against prostitution. In Baltimore, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby has unilaterally declared the war on drugs "over" and is refusing to criminally charge drug dealers in the middle of the worst drug crisis in American history. For a time, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon even stopped enforcing laws against disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and making criminal threats.

All of these cities have paid a terrible price for these insane policies.Last year, the number of homicides in Chicago rose by 56%, and more than 1,000 Cook County residents have been murdered in 2021. In New York City, murder increased 47% and shootings soared 97%. In 2020, the murder rate in Baltimore was higher than El Salvador's or Guatemala's — nations from which citizens often attempt to claim asylum purely based on gang violence and murder—and this year murder in Baltimore is on track to be even higher. Murder in Los Angeles rose 36% last year and is on track to rise another 17% this year.

Soon after taking office in Boston, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins published a list of 15 crimes that she would refuse to prosecute except under special circumstances. Among the charges on her "do not prosecute" list was drug trafficking, malicious destruction of property, trespassing, driving with a revoked license, and resisting arrest. Rollins also declared that she was "going to battle" against the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts and has slandered Boston police officers as "murderers" before accusing the department of "white fragility."

Unsurprisingly, Boston's violent crime rate surged shortly after Rollins took over, as the number of murders in Boston skyrocketed by 38% in 2020. As Rollins implemented leniency for drug trafficking, opioid overdose deaths increased by 32% in Suffolk County. As a reward for her ineptitude and extremism, President Biden nominated her to run the U.S. Attorney's office in Massachusetts, the very office she had gone "to battle" against only months before. Every Democrat in the Senate voted to confirm her.

Another Soros prosecutor, Philadelphia's District Attorney Larry Krasner, came to office after suing the Philadelphia Police Department 75 times as a private citizen. He began his tenure by purging dozens of veteran prosecutors in his office and then slashed his jurisdiction's prison population by over 30%. In most cases, Krasner also refuses to seek bail for accused criminals and has maintained a highly antagonistic relationship with the police, once accusing the Fraternal Order of Police lodge president of being "with the Proud Boys."

The number of homicides in Philadelphia has increased every year that Krasner has been DA. Last year, the murder rate rose 40% and this year it reached an all-time high.

In San Francisco, the voters elected the son of two cop-killing terrorists as their district attorney. Chesa Boudin (pictured) has since unleashed chaos on the streets of a once-great city and inaugurated what the San Francisco mayor labelled the "reign of criminals." San Francisco's homelessness crisis has spiraled out of control, smash-and-grab looters are such a menace that the city had to close its downtown during Black Friday, and shoplifters have closed down retailers throughout the city. Since Boudin took over, car theft has increased by 27%, murder by 29%, arson by 36%, and burglary soared 38%.

The liberal mayor of San Francisco, as if struck by amnesia of her own tenure and complicity in the crime wave, recently emerged to condemn her city's appalling rise in crime. Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned the disorder and "attitude of lawlessness" in her city. However, in one of the great examples of "see no evil, hear no evil," Speaker Pelosi pretended to be baffled by what could have caused the crime wave. The answer is obvious: Liberal extremists like Nancy Pelosi and Chesa Boudin caused this crisis.

Unfortunately, soft-on-crime policies have been, at times, a bipartisan problem. In 2018, Republicans passed the pro-criminal First Step Act. That deeply flawed legislation reduced sentences for crack dealers and granted early release to some child predators, carjackers, gang members, and bank robbers. Ironically, this jailbreak bill even provided early release for those who helped prisoners break out of jail.

This misguided push by Republicans to win applause from liberals strengthened the hand of radicals like George Soros. In a political environment where the parties compete for who can be more pro-criminal, the Democrats will always win.

As soon as the party of law and order endorses a law like the First Step Act, it surrenders the crime debate. Indeed, instead of running on tough-on-crime platforms, many Republicans championed further leniency towards criminals. Multiple states passed their own First Step Acts and some members of Congress are continuing to support weak-on-crime legislation like the Democrat's "EQUAL" Act, which would retroactively reduce sentences for crack dealers.

We must provide moral clarity, acknowledge that the First Step Act was a step backward in the administration of justice, and ensure that this first step was also the last.

The Republican Party must then join with independents and common-sense Democrats to wage an unrelenting war on crime. That war must begin with a campaign to recall, remove, and replace every last Soros prosecutor. Throw the bums out.

END

The upcoming settlement with the media for their false coverage of the Kyle Rittenhouse self defense issue can bring down the media. They have two major cases that they had to deal with. Nick Sandman and now Kyle Rittenhouse.

(zerohedge)

TUESDAY, DEC 21, 2021 – 08:20 PM

Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,

After he was recently acquitted on murder charges, Kyle Rittenhouse suggested certain media outlets may face legal consequences in the near future.

"There's going to be some media accountability coming soon," Rittenhouse told Fox News during an interview on Tuesday, without elaborating.

There has been speculation that Rittenhouse may file defamation lawsuits against certain media outlets and high-profile individuals for how they portrayed him and the accusations they made against him.

Rittenhouse, 18, then appeared to support lawsuits by Nick Sandmann, who settled with several media outlets over their coverage of a viral incident at Washington's Lincoln Memorial in 2019.

"Good for him," Rittenhouse told Fox News.

Earlier this week, the teen was given a standing ovation at a Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix where panelists talked about the 2020 shootings in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Rittenhouse was acquitted on all charges stemming from the incident after arguing he acted in self-defense.

During the event, Rittenhouse suggested that people should "be on the lookout" for a possible lawsuit against certain media outlets that he believes misconstrued the events in Kenosha, the NY Post reported.

Last month, a jury found Rittenhouse not guilty in the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz. The shooting occurred during nights of violence, protests, and riots following the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake, who had a warrant out for his arrest.

On that night last year, businesses in Kenosha were ransacked and burned after Blake's shooting, which came several months after an officer was seen kneeling on George Floyd, a convicted felon whose death sparked nationwide unrest, protests, and riots.

The two-week trial captivated the nation's attention as his defense attorneys said he acted in self-defense, an argument that was corroborated by video evidence. Prosecutors claimed he was the instigator of the violence because he brought a rifle to Kenosha on that night.

If he had been convicted on the most serious charges in the case, he could have faced life in prison.

At one point during the trial, Rittenhouse decided to waive his Fifth Amendment right and testified in his own defense.

"It's helped me grow a lot, it's helped me mature," Rittenhouse said of the trial.

"My mentors who have been in my life … they've helped make me the person I am today, so thank you for them."

When asked by Fox News on Tuesday about whether he would do things differently, Rittenhouse said he would.

"[With] what I was dragged through and what I had to go through – to facing life in prison – I wouldn't say it was worth it," he said, adding that "hindsight being 20/20."

end

iii)b USA inflation commentaries//LOG JAMS//

Biden Says Gas Prices Are "Coming Down To Historic Averages", There Is Just One Problem…

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 12:28 PM

Great News America!

National AverageGas prices at the pump are down around 10c from their highs since all-conquering President Biden unleashed his cunning SPR-release plan to ease the pain in Americans' pocketbooks.

Here's the infographic to provide it…

Furthermore, President Biden gloated that "shelves are only empty because of that highly wanted gift," and added that "gas prices are coming down to historic averages."

So let's go to the data…

The average price for gas over the past 20 years is $2.77which means at $3.29, Biden's price for Americans is 19% above average…

It turns out gas prices at the pump follow a more-or-less predictable seasonal pattern andthe current price of US gas has never, ever been higher for this time of year…

And, while this will be hard to swallow for some religious zealots,gas prices are 29% above the average price for this time of year.

Can we get a 'fact-check' please?

end

We knew that this will happen: more container business flees LA to the east coast

(Greg Miller/FreightWaves)

Escape From LA: More Container Business Flees To East Coast

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021 – 03:40 PM

By Greg Miller of FreightWaves,

If so many container ships are stuck in the Pacific Ocean, waiting for weeks for a berth in Los Angeles or Long Beach, why not reschedule calls to another port? Why not make like Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in the circa-1996 film and "Escape from LA"? Liner networks use Panama Canal route to Atlantic to get around LA/LB congestion (Photo: ACP)

It's not that simple, given how much warehousing and transloading capacity is built around the Southern California gateway — and congestion is affecting every port in America.Even so, shippers and carriers are indeed moving to sidestep Los Angeles/Long Beach.

In the ongoing battle for Asian imports between the West Coast and East Coast, the momentum is once again swinging back to the east. "November was the sixth straight month in a growing dichotomy in performance between the West Coast and East/Gulf Coast port ranges, with the latter performing markedly better," wrote consultant John McCown in the new edition of the McCown Container Volume Observer.

Containerized imports to the top West Coast ports fell 7.5% year on year in November, he reported. In contrast, imports to East/Gulf Coast ports rose 9.9%.

McCown also tracked year-over-year changes in imports to West Coast versus East/Gulf Coast ports on a three-month trailing average basis. These numbers confirm a significant shift from the Pacific, reversing the switch in favor of the West Coast seen in the earlier months of the pandemic.

'Anywhere but LA'

American Shipper asked consultant Jon Monroe about the potential to switch ports and avert Los Angeles/Long Beach congestion.

"It's happening already," said Monroe during a recent video interview. "I can't name specific companies, but I can tell you a company that's got huge facilities on the West Coast that normally calls LA/LB has moved to Houston and set up a transload center there.

"There are a lot of people saying, 'Anywhere but LA' — and yet you still see this long line of vessels coming in that are offloading in LA.

"You're seeing the East [and Gulf] Coast being more of an opportunity," said Monroe. "Let's face it, many of these big importers can deliver from anywhere because they have a national network, whether it's Los Angeles or Charleston or Norfolk or Jacksonville or Houston.

"I think a lot of people will adjust their network and are looking at their negotiations and trying to put more of their facilities or more of their containers outside of where they normally go in Southern California."

Carriers are making moves as well as shippers. One example: Mediterranean Shipping Company's Santana service previously sailed from Asia to Tacoma. In November, MSC switched the service to the East Coast: from Asia to Charleston and New York via the Panama Canal. The Santana service will add a Houston call starting next month.

East Coast vs West Coast

Pre-pandemic, imports from Asia were trending toward the East Coast. One driver was the West Coast labor dispute in 2014-15, which prompted importers to diversify their networks. Another was the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2016, allowing much larger container ships to call at Atlantic and Gulf ports. Complementing those two drivers was the fact that most of the U.S. population lives in Eastern states.

During a 2020 interview with American Shipper, Deutsche Bank transportation analyst Amit Mehrotra maintained that the pull of the East Coast was a secular trend. "Keep in mind that 60% of the population lives east of the Mississippi," he explained. "At the end of the day, if you come into the West Coast, you're going to have to rail a lot of it east, to where the demand centers are.

"With the expansion of the Panama Canal and the port projects on the East Coast that allow for bigger ships, and with the majority of the population in these states, it disproportionately favors the East Coast ports."

That secular trend was interrupted by COVID, which flipped the balance of power back to the west.

Passenger planes were grounded, slashing air cargo capacity. Air freight rates spiked at the very time locked-in Americans accelerated their use of e-commerce. Importers needed goods faster to accommodate surging consumer demand. Some that had previously used air shifted to premium, high-speed trans-Pacific ocean service. Others that had previously favored the East Coast switched to LA/LB to save two weeks in transit time.

Now, the West Coast's transit-time advantage has largely evaporated, offset by multi-week waits for berths. According to the Marine Exchange of Southern California, there were 94 container ships waiting for LA/LB berths as of Thursday. Thirteen of those ships had been waiting for a month or more. The vessel Wan Hei 516 had been waiting for more than two months, since Oct. 14.

According to new data from Shifl, average transit time from China to New York is now actually lower than from China to Los Angeles.

Advantage East Coast, yet again.

According to McCown, "The loads they are switching are destined for eastern points and the widely reported congestion at West Coast ports has made the additional time and uncertainty of intermodal moves across the country less attractive.

"Those decisions are made easier by the fact that linehaul transportation costs of moving containers to most eastern points are typically much lower with all or more vessel service to the East/Gulf Coasts compared to rail cross-country intermodal service via the West Coast."

King report/Courtesy of Chris Powell of GATA which includes the major swamp stories./ of the day

After a 30-minutes respite, ESHs rallied to new highs. There was NO news – except that the Big Guy was scheduled to hold a 'major press conference' on Covid at 14:30 ET. Was the manipulation a coincidence?

PS – Pfizer opened lower and tumbled 6.4% during the first hour of NYSE trading. Reports said the US FDA could approve Pfizer and Merck's Covid-19 pills as early as today.

The Big Guy was 15 minutes late for his 'major press conference'. He blamed the unvaxxed and test shortages for the Omicron pandemic. He stated, 'Americans' have a patriotic duty to get vaccinated.' Joe said the US has added 10,000 vaccination sites and will employ hundreds more vaccinators. He pled with parents to get their children vaccinated. https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1473381069705695240

Joe said more testing sites would be created and the federal government would purchase 500m rapid Covid tests to supply for free to Americans via home delivery, orderable on Google.

@ElectionWiz:Biden claims the unvaccinated are causing hospitals to become overrun
https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/1473382630309523462

@HeyTammyBruce:It's not exactly reassuring that Biden is coughing and hacking his way through the speech. As he lectures us about what we need to do to protect ourselves from Covid. This entire situation is unserious and untenable.

Joe pitched Build Back Better and claimed that Goldman said the economy would suffer without it. The Big Guy also asserted that spending trillions on his BBB would reduce inflation by creating more goods. Joe stated that stocks tumbled after Manchin killed his BBB. Who told him to say this, and why?

@townhallcom: Joe Biden just EXPLODED in a rant about his failed legislative agenda.
https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1473386046058606592

After a few questions, The Big Guy stated, " I'm not supposed to be having this press conference ." So, Joe bolted amid a cacophony of questions hurled by the media.
https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1473386340360278025

Republicans accuse Biden of controlling Americans with 'fear' as COVID cases spike
Biden gives somber address in plea with unvaccinated Americans
"Biden's press conference is a joke," wrote Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs. "The only plan he has for COVID is to continue manipulating mandates to maintain control over you."…
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-accuse-biden-controlling-americans-fear-covid

The COVID Scam:The Progressive Path toPower, and TyrannyBy: J. Deane Waldman, MD
Based on CDC data,the risk of death for children is less than 0.1 percent and for healthy adults less than 0.17 percent. COVID is dangerous only to a small segment of the population: the elderly, diabetics, and the infirm with serious pre-existing medical conditions such as immunocompromise, chronic lung disease, kidney or heart failure, often several of these illnesses in a single patient.
Since the true health risk could never justify the imposition of pseudo-martial law and taking away constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, Washington said COVID was an existential threat to all, like bubonic plague or Ebola… To provoke public panic, Washington reported "COVID deaths" on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis, claiming a total COVID death toll of more than 790,000. This mortality data is distorted. Only 12 to 23 percent of the deaths were actually due to the virus, based on autopsy data and medical demographics respectively. The majority died primarily because of their pre-existing conditions. Anyone who died with a positive COVID test was classified by the CDC as a COVID death regardless of the real reason they died, viz., a fatal motorcycle crash…https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/12/the_covid_scam_the_progressive_path_to_power_and_tyranny.html

Did Dismissals of Safe Outpatient Drugs Cause Needless Covid Deaths? Dissenting Doctors Say Yes
Researchers knew fairly early in the pandemic that COVID infections progressed through several stages marked by specific symptoms treatable with a slew of safe, FDA-approved medications…
By June 2020 it was known that COVID could cause major blood clotting. The blood thinner Plavix, another choice of Dr. DeMello, is commonly used to prevent and treat clotting… We see people getting clots, dying of coronary artery clogs, let's use a blood thinner ." Authorities have been slow to accept this "if, then" approach…U.S. tech giants censored much discussion of outpatient treatment, branding it "misinformation."… In India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, COVID cases and deaths declined rapidly with the implementation of door-to-door visits, during which infected patients were given kits including IVM and doxycycline …
"We could have prevented this tragedy for $1 . Dexamethasone, 5 cents. Ivermectin, 1 cent. Colchicine, 50 cents. Aspirin, 100 pills for four bucks…If we had given people aspirin, ivermectin, colchicine, and if they get complicated, a little dexamethasone,we could have saved the world with one dollar."https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2021/12/21/did_dismissals_of_safe_outpatient_drugs_cause_needless_covid_deaths_dissenting_doctors_say_yes_808045.html

Biden approval rating at historic low in NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist(all lean left)
Biden's approval rating has sunk to 41 percent, a historic low for the president in polls conducted by the groups. Fifty-five percent of adults in the U.S. disapprove of the job Biden is doing as president…
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/586542-biden-approval-rating-at-historic-low-in-npr-pbs-newshour-marist-poll

end

SWAMP STORIES //

none

Let us close out today with this offering from Greg Hunter interviewing Bill Holter

Only Second Coming Will Make Things Better in 2022 – Bill Holter

By Greg Hunter On December 22, 2021 In Market Analysis No Comments

By Greg Hunter's USAWatchdog.com

Precious metals expert and financial writer Bill Holter says huge lies and massive money printing have held the financial system together. His big prediction for 2022 is that both the lies and money printing are going to get much worse. Holter explains, "The risk for a meltdown from these levels, the risk has never been higher or could be higher than it is right now. You have got everything going in the wrong direction. . . . in the year 2022, I will say without the second coming of Jesus Christ, things are not going to get better. At this point, evil has its hand on too many controls. They control too many avenues. They control the media and just go right down the list. Evil has too much control at this point."

Holter says forget what the Fed is saying about "tapering" the easy money policies and raising interest rates to fight inflation. Holter contends, "They just cannot do it. . . . . We have an economy that it's clear it's beginning to slow. It's clear that inflation is raging. So, the Fed is stuck in a corner. They need to raise interest rates, and they need to fight inflation, but at the same time, if they do that, they will pop the debt bubble. That's the rock and the hard place the Fed is in between. . . . What they are saying is we are going to take the patient off life support, and with the biggest credit bubble of all time, they can't do it. If they do, you will see a credit temper tantrum turn into a credit meltdown."

Holter also sees the narratives of lies giving way to the truth. Holter says, "The narrative on so many things is blowing up. Senator Joe Manchin saying that he's not going to go along with spending another $2.5 trillion. . . . The White House is trying to pass off as truth that spending another $2.5 trillion is going to tame inflation. This is truly George Orwell 1984, animal farm or whatever you want to call this. Up is down, black is white and truth, well, you can't find truth today."

Holter is also predicting the vax injections and the narrative that they are working is going to collapse. Now, to be "fully vaccinated," you need a booster. Even those people are getting Covid. Just ask triple vaxed Senators Booker and Warren, who both recently tested positive for Covid. Holter explains, "That's one of the narratives that I believe will fail in 2022. The reason being is people can see with their own eyes what's happening. They know people who have had adverse reactions. They know people who have died. You can tell someone it's sunny outside, but when they walk outside, the moon is out. They know they are being lied to. That's where we are headed, and I think we are really close. I think in the first quarter of 2022, the vax narrative is going to completely collapse. With it will go a great deal of misplaced confidence. . . . Markets are held up by confidence. The dollar is held up by confidence. The credit markets are held up by confidence. Anything you do to ding or hurt confidence is going to have an adverse effect on assets, not hard assets, paper assets and all that runs on confidence."

Holter is predicting the Fed is going to be forced to start another round of QE in 2022 and not cut back.

Another 2022 prediction that Holter is seeing is "some type of failure to deliver in the of physical gold and silver markets because the stress in the gold and silver supply, I have never seen in my life."

There is much more in the nearly 1 hour interview, including predictions on Donald Trump being President again, Senator Joe Manchin leaving the Democrat Party, a coming false flag and even war. In short, Holter says, "This is good versus evil. It's really that simple."

Join Greg Hunter as he goes One-on-One with financial writer and precious metals expert Bill Holter of JSMineset.com. 12.21.21

(To Donate to USAWatchdog.com Click Here)

After the Interview:

Well that is all for today

I will see you THURSDAY

Where to Drop Off Supplies for Hurricane Harvey in Jacksonville

Source: https://harveyorganblog.com/2021/12/22/gold-closed-up-12-85-to-1801-40-silver-rose-29-cents-to-22-80-gold-tonnage-advanced-strongly-up-to-109-5-tonnes-silver-oz-standing-advances-to-45-4-million-oz-covid-commentaries-vaccine-mandate/

marty benzbonz.biz	2:23 PM (2 hours ago)
to me

Gijsbert Groenewegen	2:38 PM (5 minutes ago)
to Gijsbert

Where to Drop Off Supplies for Hurricane Harvey in Jacksonville

DONATE

NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED TODAY FOR DEC. CONTRACT: 122 NOTICE(S) FOR 12200 OZ (0.3794 TONNES)

total notices so far: 34576 contracts for 3,457,600 oz

191 NOTICE(S) FILED TODAY FOR 955,000 OZ/

1/COMEX GOLD AND SILVER REPORT

3. ASIAN AFFAIRS

b) REPORT ON JAPAN

3 C CHINA

4/EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

5. RUSSIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS

6.Global Issues

7. OIL ISSUES

8 EMERGING MARKET ISSUES

Peter Schiff: Jim Rickards Is Wrong About Inflation And Cathie Wood "Believes Her Own Bullshit"

China Is Mining Bitcoin Underground: Report

Your early currency/gold and silver pricing/Asian and European bourse movements/ and interest rate settings WEDNESDAY morning 7:30 AM

Market Rally Fizzles As Volume Evaporates

3 a./NORTH KOREA/ SOUTH KOREA

McDonald's Rations Fries As Supply Shortage Hits Japan

3B CHINA

4/EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

EU Sets 9-Month Expiration Date For Vaccine Passports

Austria Hiring People To "Hunt Down Vaccine Refusers"

Absurd New COVID Rules Fine People For Going To Work, But They Can Go To The Pub

Mario Draghi Says "Urgent Policy Action" Needed To Tackle Europe's Energy Crisis

5. RUSSIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS

Here's How Erdogan Launched His Lira "Rescue" Plan, And Why It Spells Doom For Turkey

In Need Of A Big Distraction, Turkey Arrests & Jails US Diplomat

US Mercenaries Preparing Chemical 'Provocation' In Eastern Ukraine: Russian Defense Chief

Buchanan: What To Do About That Russian Ultimatum

Israel Belatedly Admits Direct Role In Helping US Assassinate Soleimani

6.Global Issues

Israel Rolls Out Plan For 2nd Booster Shots, UK Sees Omicron Hospitalizations Rise To 14

Postscript

Airline CEO Calls For Unvaccinated "Idiots" To Be Ostracised From Society

COVID Early Treatment phone call to Ohio COVID-19 Call Center

Fauci, Collins Shut Down Covid Debate working with the media to trash the Great Barrington Declaration three very respected scientist! WHY do FAUCI AND COLLINS HAVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS

How Fauci and Collins Shut Down Covid Debate

Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins in 2018.

'I'm the Big Problem:' COVID-19 Whistleblower on Why She Won't Be Silent Despite Threats to Her Life

Crossing The 'Red Line'

New Data Show Omicron Hospital Risk Significantly Lower Than Delta, FDA Approves Pfizer COVID Pill

Vaccine Impact

Biden: "President Trump and I agree" on COVID Booster Shots – FEMA and Troops Deployed to Increase Vaccination Rates

December 21, 2021 5:26 pm

Bloom Where You're Planted: Prepping to Survive Where You Are RIGHT NOW

December 21, 2021 5:56 pm

IMF, World Bank & 10 Countries Held Alarming "Simulation" Of Global Financial System Collapse

7. OIL ISSUES

8 EMERGING MARKET& AUSTRALIA ISSUES

South Africa Sees New Cases Plunge As Omicron Wave Peaks

Your early currency/gold and silver pricing/Asian and European bourse movements/ and interest rate settings WEDNESDAY morning 7:30 AM

Your closing bourses for Europe and the Dow along with the USA dollar index closing and interest rates for WEDNESDAY: 12:00 PM

USA trading day in Graph Form

Dow, S&P Erase All 'Omicron' Losses; Dollar Dumps, Gold Jumps

Q3 GDP Rises 2.3% In Final Estimate, More Than Expected, Due To Upward Revision In Personal Spending

Consumer Confidence Rebounds Modestly In December, Thanks To Holiday 'Hope'

Existing Home Sales Disappoint In November As First-Time-Buyers "Struggle In Divided Society"

Judge Blocks Biden's COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Federal Contractors In 10 States

Mandate Currently Blocked Nationwide

Exclusive: An interview with Fauci's nemesis – Robert F Kennedy — Very interesting how Fauci controls which drug succeed sand which not !!! NEEDS URGENT CHANGE !!!

Biden Admin Extends Moratorium On Student Loan Payments Through May 1

Sen. Cotton: Recall, Remove, & Replace Every Last Soros Prosecutor

Biden Says Gas Prices Are "Coming Down To Historic Averages", There Is Just One Problem…

Escape From LA: More Container Business Flees To East Coast

'Anywhere but LA'

East Coast vs West Coast

Advantage East Coast, yet again.

Only Second Coming Will Make Things Better in 2022 – Bill Holter

0 Response to "Where to Drop Off Supplies for Hurricane Harvey in Jacksonville"

Post a Comment

Iklan Atas Artikel

Iklan Tengah Artikel 1

Iklan Tengah Artikel 2

Iklan Bawah Artikel