Pfizer shot less effective in children: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pfizer-shot-is-far-less-effective-in-5-to-11-year-olds-than-in-older-kids-new-data-show/ar-AAUq6J8?ocid=hponeservicefeed . Problem is, this is the only vaccine approved for children under 12. Two obvious issues have emerged: (1) the dose is only one-third that for older children; and (2) the vaccine was developed for pre-Omicron variants. The dosage adjustment can be tested in a relatively short trial. And Omicron-targeted vaccines are on the way.
Pandemic fears fade with Omicron: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-pandemics-public-health-only-on-ap-eaaf9967f97089f6e869b08573c292b9 . So we are over 2 years in, and most Americans have essentially no understanding of how disease transmission works. These people may be behind this financial assistance to Ukraine: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/bars-liquor-stores-pulling-russian-vodka-shelves-boycott-171835959.html . At the very least, this is an odd way to win the war.
The pivot to COVID therapeutics: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-las-vegas-nevada-reno-d73c3346bb16d535e30627bf06869889 .
West Coast ends school mask mandates: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-health-california-public-health-c0be203235ff50532167173623e56b59 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-oregon-washington-to-end-school-mask-mandates-on-march-12-11646076621 .
Free COVID test kits contain toxic chemical: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/poison-centers-around-the-country-sound-alarm-on-chemical-in-some-covid-19-at-home-tests/ar-AAUqMm6?ocid=hponeservicefeed . Well, obviously. That’s why they’re free. Seriously, though, how did the government fail to let us know of this danger?
Details of the new evidence pegging Wuhan seafood market as source of COVID: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/28/1083580988/physical-evidence-indicates-that-the-coronavirus-emerged-at-wuhan-seafood-market .
WSJ: FDA approves cancer therapy developed in China: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-approves-cell-based-multiple-myeloma-therapy-discovered-in-china-11646091257 .
One million Russian Sputnik COVID vaccines expire in Guatemala: https://wtop.com/latin-america/2022/03/1-million-sputnik-coronavirus-vaccines-expire-in-guatemala/ .
WSJ: African enforcement of vaccinations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-some-african-nations-armed-police-enforce-covid-19-vaccinations-11646056306 .
WSJ: Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks fail: https://www.wsj.com/articles/kyiv-and-moscow-hold-talks-as-ukrainian-troops-repel-russian-attacks-11646046458 .
Half a million refugees flee Ukraine: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-migration-united-nations-454ae620724d3b91208ce63c0128fa69 . About 60% are in Poland. They include third party nationals who can prove Ukrainian residence. The European Union now estimates there may be 7 million Ukrainian refugees: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220227-europe-must-prepare-for-millions-of-ukrainian-refugees-eu-commissioner-says .
WSJ: Meanwhile, Ukrainian expats return to fight: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukrainians-return-home-to-fight-russia-i-have-to-go-11646045875 .
The situation in Kyiv: https://www.aol.com/news/kyiv-under-curfew-russians-shell-150006178-161329597.html . Forty-mile-long Russian convoy (!) nears Kyiv: https://www.aol.com/news/ukraine-meet-russia-belarusian-border-090442289.html . This can’t be good.
74% of Americans see invasion as unjustified: https://www.aol.com/news/poll-74-percent-americans-call-142128877.html . We need to pay the other 26% to emigrate. Anywhere. However, Russia’s lovely this time of year, especially if you like white.
Europe donates Russian fighter jets to Ukraine: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/28/ukrainian-pilots-arrive-in-poland-to-pick-up-donated-fighter-jets-00012560 . Will these be used to attack the convoy?
Russian news outlets hacked: https://www.aol.com/news/handful-russian-media-websites-display-151713937-181549313.html . WSJ: Russian stock exchange hacked: https://www.wsj.com/articles/volunteer-hackers-join-ukraines-fight-against-russia-11646082782 .
Russian climate official apologizes for Ukraine invasion: https://news.yahoo.com/russian-official-apologizes-for-ukraine-invasion-at-ipcc-meeting-201410559.html . So apparently this guy wants to study climate change in Siberia in person.
The status of sanctions against Russia: https://news.yahoo.com/how-the-world-punished-russia-for-invading-ukraine-192732724.html . As of December 31, 2021, it took 74.8 rubles to buy a US dollar. As of February 28, 2022, it takes 104.2 rubles to buy a dollar, a decline of 28%. The Russian stock market has also crashed. So, international investors who own Russian assets will take an incredible bath to get out of those assets. WSJ: It might be time to sell your Citibank stock: https://www.wsj.com/articles/citigroup-has-nearly-10-billion-in-total-russian-exposure-11646066390 . Yes, I’m putting words in the Journal’s mouth. But it’s the obvious conclusion. To say that this “complicates” the sale of their Russian bank is wild understatement.
Even so, UK oil companies walk out of Russia: https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/28/business/shell-russia-gazprom/index.html . Certainly, their investments have lost value in the last week. But this remains a stunning act of ethics by these companies. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shell-to-exit-joint-ventures-with-gazprom-citing-russia-invasion-of-ukraine-11646071440 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bps-sudden-russia-exit-exposes-risks-for-western-companies-in-ukraine-crisis-11646070000 .
WSJ: Russian oil company shares tumble: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-energy-giants-gazprom-rosneft-fuel-moscows-state-coffers-11646043993 . This signals the detachment of Russia’s economy from the West: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-ruble-financial-markets-are-hammered-by-sanctions-11646038133 .
Entertainment companies pause movie releases in Russia: https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/disney-warner-bros-and-sony-are-pausing-theatrical-releases-in-russia-in-response-to-the-invasion-of-ukraine/ar-AAUrFVq?ocid=hponeservicefeed .
US expels 12 Russian diplomats at UN: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-diplomats-expelled-united-nations-espionage-activities/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-says-russian-u-n-diplomats-are-spies-and-orders-them-out-11646097926 .
US closes embassy in Belarus: https://sports.yahoo.com/russia-world-cup-fifa-ban-war-ukraine-165442530.html .
FIFA bans Russia from World Cup: https://sports.yahoo.com/russia-world-cup-fifa-ban-war-ukraine-165442530.html . Russia has achieved pariah status much more rapidly than Nazi Germany. These changes are going to last much longer than the invasion. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ioc-russia-roc-olympics-11646061256 .
Protests around the world against the invasion: https://www.yahoo.com/news/photos-protests-against-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-erupt-around-the-world-201330880.html . Presumably Red Julius realizes he has united the world against him. Smooth move, Ex-Lax. WSJ: The world order has changed in days: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-changed-the-world-in-days-11646053550 . Perhaps the world’s governments will learn that appeasement of an authoritarian aggressor has never worked. Never. But maybe some people will learn: https://www.wsj.com/articles/populist-embrace-of-putin-cools-after-ukraine-invasion-11646038429 .
WSJ: Some Russians, at personal risk, are also protesting the invasion: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-artists-pull-out-of-venice-biennale-to-protest-invasion-of-ukraine-11646072486 .
Meanwhile, Orange Julius is taking “asshole” to new lows: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-withheld-aid-from-ukraine-and-frequently-bashed-nato-despite-what-he-s-now-claiming-amid-russia-s-unprovoked-war/ar-AAUqX9i?ocid=hponeservicefeed . As the article helpfully reminds us, OJ’s original impeachment was over his withholding of aid to Ukraine. You really have to be stupider than OJ to continue to listen to this jerk.
WSJ: UN reports climate crisis continues to worsen more rapidly than predicted: https://www.wsj.com/articles/impacts-of-climate-change-now-severe-and-widespread-u-n-panel-says-11646046000 . Duh. What these experts fail to properly quantify is the nature of the feedback loops in the climate system. The deficiencies of their modeling have been apparent for decades. But regardless of all this, humanity has consistently been unable to do even the minimums required to halt further deterioration. For now, we remain doomed to suffer extinction until we can adopt meaningful long-term strategies to long-term problems.
WSJ: Richard Blum, husband of Dianne Feinstein, dies: https://www.wsj.com/articles/richard-blum-husband-of-dianne-feinstein-dies-at-age-86-11646069883 .