So it continues:

At the invitation of the UAE and Iran governments, Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua will visit the UAE and Iran from December 10th to 14th.

So now the White House has contradicted the Pentagon by stating they do not encourage Ukraine to operate on Russian territory.

So the ECB is worried about the potential risks to financial markets from an EU cap on natural gas prices. They should also be concerned about the same risks associated with putting a cap on oil prices.

Beijing:

We support Saudi in maintaining its security and stability and affirmed its opposition to any actions that would interfere in Saudi internal affairs and rejects any attacks targeting civilians, civilian facilities, territories, and Saudi interests.

Pay close attention to current developments in Kosovo.

China, as per their request, is now in receipt of record volumes of gas from Russia, via the Power of Siberia pipeline, exceeding contractual obligations by 16.1% on a daily basis.

G7 leaders to hold conference call to discuss Ukraine’s current predicament, including severe blackouts.

Zelensky will also address G7 leaders but note, specific arms deliveries to Ukraine will not be discussed.

Indonesia is joining an ever growing and very long list of nations seeking to or already trading in non-dollar terms.

Splits between U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors are delaying the conclusion of a long-running criminal investigation into the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N3321X6

US people who have been cheerleading US foreign policy will soon enough have the rest of their lives to reflect upon why they were simultaneously cheerleading the end of US hegemony, the empire and their very way of life.

US winning again:

Federal Spending $501bn in November, 6% increase yoy

Government Receipts $252bn in November, 10% decrease yoy

Economic and fiscal realities are clear for all to see.

Bahamian authorities have arrested SBF after U.S. law enforcement filed charges.

Bahamas Attorney General Ryan Pinder said that the United States had filed unspecified criminal charges against Bankman-Fried and was “likely to request his extradition.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/12/ftx-founder-sam-bankman-fried-arrested-in-the-bahamas-after-us-files-criminal-charges.html

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, endured a wave of withdrawals on Monday amid concerns about its proof of reserve report.

https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2022/12/13/binance-withdrawals-surge-as-concerns-about-its-reserve-report-spook-traders/

There is now a potential refugee crisis in the making in Odessa, Ukraine due to the damage to critical infrastructure which could take months to repair.

The number of working days lost to strikes in October reached the highest in more than a decade.

Some 417,000 working days were lost because of labour disputes in October 2022 - the highest since November 2011.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63949151?at_ptr_name=twitter&at_medium=social&at_link_origin=BBCBreaking&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_id=D8C188D6-7AB5-11ED-97EE-DF6396E8478F&at_link_type=web_link

There are no European energy shortages apparently:

French Grid operator has been asked to cut its power exports to the UK by 50%, starting today.

Egypt has ratified its participation in the BRICS New Development Bank.

The Russian Finance Ministry stated that the budget surplus was 557bn rubles in the first 11 months of the year.

A senior US Treasury official warned that cuts to Social Security and Medicare would “decimate” the standard of living for American retirees.

So given annual massive US budget deficits that would mean endless money printing.

But it's all good in the US.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-13/us-treasury-warns-social-security-cuts-would-decimate-retirees?leadSource=uverify%20wall

Note the date:

US is supposed to invite Russia to take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco in November 2023.

Very telling on multiple levels.