It is the week before the Lunar New Year Holiday. In normal times this would be a slow, happy, celebratory few days ahead.

The outbreaks in Xi’an, Henan and Tianjin are under or nearly under control per official actions and data. Beijing’s outbreak is not, and that is clearly causing a lot of stress given the Olympics start in less than two weeks.

Today’s Essential Eight:

1. Outbreak

2. Covid and the Olympics

3. Politburo meeting

4. Purging the pernicious influence of Sun Lijun

5. Report on July 2021 Henan floods

6. Ukraine

7. Energy conservation and emissions plan

8. Uproar in Australia as PM’s Wechat account sold and rebranded

Thanks for reading.