Thursday morning news - December 30, 2021

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

New COVID-19 infections hit record high » New cases of COVID-19 in the United States have soared to their highest level on record at roughly 270,000 infections each day. New cases per day have more than doubled over the past two weeks.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday…

WALENSKY: The rapid increase in cases we are seeing across the country is in large part a reflection of the exceptionally transmissible omicron variant. In a few short weeks, omicron has rapidly increased across the country, and we expect it will continue to circulate in the coming weeks.

The surge is largely due to omicron but not entirely. The CDC estimates that the new variant represented about 59 percent of cases last week. But that means the more dangerous delta variant is still spreading at a high rate.

White House virus response coordinator Jeff Zients said the federal government is working to support the efforts of states in battling the virus.

ZIENTS: More than 13,000 National Guard members have been activated in 48 states to support the COVID response, from vaccinations to testing to clinical care.

The surging caseload caused roughly a thousand flight cancellations again on Wednesday as airline workers call in sick with COVID-19.

U.S. goods trade deficit soars to record $97.8 billion » The U.S. trade deficit in goods jumped almost 18 percent in November to a record $97.8 billion. That’s up from just over $83 billion in October. That according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

And the United States is set to break the previous trade deficit record for a full year—set back in 2006.

Analysts say the soaring trade disparity is a sign that the U.S. economy has recovered more quickly than most other countries. But the deficit is likely to narrow as other countries catch up.

Violence breaks out along Israel-Gaza border » Palestinians and Israeli forces traded gunfire on Wednesday for the first time in months. The violence followed a rare meeting in Israel between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel's defense minister. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: The Israeli military said gunfire from the Gaza Strip wounded one Israeli civilian near the Gaza border. Israeli forces responded with tank fire at multiple military positions manned by Hamas militants.

Three Palestinians were also wounded. It’s unclear if they were civilians or fighters.

The incident occurred after Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved a series of measures aimed at easing tensions with the Palestinians.

On Tuesday, Gantz hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his home in Israel late Tuesday.

It was the first time Abbas met an Israeli official inside the country in 11 years. The two discussed security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Gantz's office said he approved measures including hundreds of new permits for Palestinian merchants and VIPs, the transfer of tax payments to the Palestinian Authority and approving residency status for thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Hong Kong pro-democracy news site closes after raid, arrests » The Chinese government continues its crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong.

A vocal pro-democracy website shut down Wednesday after police raided its office and arrested six current and former editors and board members.

Stand News said in a statement that its website and social media are no longer being updated and will be taken down. It said all employees have been dismissed.

It’s just the latest example of China using its new so-called national security law to silence dissent in what had been a semi-independent territory.

The outlet was one of the last remaining openly critical voices in Hong Kong after the government shut down the Apple Daily newspaper and arrested its top editors.

GasBuddy: Gas prices could to top $4 per gallon next year » Gas prices in the United States could soar next year above $4 a gallon. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: The fuel price tracking service GasBuddy says it projects that gas prices will spike early in 2022, peaking in June, $4.13 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

And major cities in California could top $5 dollars per gallon.

Demand for gas is soaring and refinery capacity is already sitting at a six-year low. GasBuddy is calling that “a perfect storm.”

But Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at the company says this is not necessarily bad news. He said "The higher prices go, the stronger the economy is,” and while no one wants to pay $4 dollars a gallon, “we’ll only get there on the back of a very strong economy.”

Right now, the national average is about $3.28 per gallon.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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