Massive Hong Kong COVID outbreak may be peaking: https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/local_situation_covid19_en.pdf . Remember that many Hong Kong residents fled to China during this outbreak. With the virulence of new variants, Zero COVID is only workable as a short-term strategy.
Northwestern headlines selective COVID information: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2022/03/covid-infects-penis-testicles-and-prostate/ . So, penis news is always attention-grabbing. It’s true that COVID infects the penis, testicles and prostate – IN MONKEYS. A good alternative headline would have been “COVID attacks rhesus’ pieces”.
Ukrainian refugees near 1.5 million, and the pace is increasing: https://www.wsj.com/articles/refugees-fleeing-ukraine-now-represent-biggest-movement-of-people-in-europe-since-world-war-ii-11646493910 . The estimate of 7 million Ukrainian refugees continues to look reasonable.
Ukrainian-Russian ceasefire talks to resume Monday: https://www.aol.com/news/russia-cease-fire-two-ukraine-084238720.html . This continues to look like show. WSJ: Limited ceasefire in the south collapses: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-and-russia-agree-to-open-corridors-for-civilians-to-evacuate-mariupol-11646470358 . Well, yes, if you define “collapse” as Russia chooses to start shooting again.
Israel steps up to mediate between Russia and Ukraine: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-700429 .
WSJ: The Russia-Ukraine cyberwar: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-russia-ukraine-cyberwar-could-outlast-the-shooting-war-11646456442 .
IMF estimates on the war’s effect on the global economy: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/severe-impact-on-global-economy-from-war-sanctions-international-monetary-fund-warns/ar-AAUFsO9?li=BBnb7Kz . Note that they’ve cut the global growth estimate by 1%, and raised the global inflation estimate by 1%.
WSJ: Russia cuts fertilizer supplies, which s bad for Brazil: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-war-hits-worlds-farmers-as-russia-cuts-fertilizer-supplies-hurting-brazil-11646487815 . Gee, maybe Brazil will have to cut down less of the Amazon rainforest this year.
Russian military mistakes increase risk to Ukraine: https://www.aol.com/news/no-good-outcome-putins-unraveling-100129687.html . Stupid is not a strategy. It is a recipe for a bloodbath.
US, Poland consider providing Soviet era aircraft to Ukraine: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/05/white-house-deal-fighter-jets-ukraine-00014424 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukrainian-president-asks-congress-to-help-secure-russian-made-jet-fighters-11646511532 .
Finland warms to NATO membership: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60626536 . The Swedes are having the same discussion.
OJ’s stupidity on public display: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-campaigns-foreign-policy-4625a28e59996ff16085fdf30910a449 . So are these articles being written to try to educate the GOP base? This fool had 4 years of intelligence briefings. They obviously made no impression.
Two GOP Senators prove once again that they are arrogant idiots: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rubio-daines-share-photos-zelenskyy-call-asked-not-ukraine-rcna18841 . What an embarrassment the GOP has become. Apparently these morons don’t care to follow simple instructions when lives are at stake. Loose lips sink ships – hopefully Boobio and Daines will be on the next one.
However, here’s a Democrat who was standing behind the door when the brains were passed out: https://news.yahoo.com/democrat-wants-biden-to-defy-putin-by-staging-a-berlin-like-airlift-to-save-kyiv-032301868.html . Um, we should fly planes into an active war zone and specifically an encircled city? Are they armed military aircraft? So what does he suggest we do if a plane is shot down? World War III?: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/putin-warns-against-no-fly-zone-over-ukraine/ . Apparently both sides elect people with bricks for brains.
The Berlin airlift was not a war-time action. Also, the Russians would fear we might airlift Zelensky out. Use trucks with humanitarian identification painted on the top (still risky for each driver).
Will a Turkish billionaire buy the Chelsea soccer club?: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-reasons-behind-abramovichs-trip-to-turkey/ar-AAUEWFp?li=BBnb7Kz . Abramovich has said previously that he would donate the proceeds to Ukrainian relief. But there are other bidders: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/turkish-billionaire-reveals-bid-to-buy-chelsea-off-abramovich-but-duo-stand-clear-as-frontrunners/ar-AAUCKY4?li=BBnb7Kz . More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/muhsin-bayrak-claims-to-fly-flag-of-turkey-over-chelsea-mansour-drops-out-plus-10-credible-buyers-%e2%80%94-reports/ar-AAUDNLA?li=BBnb7Kz .
Meanwhile, the Chinese growl over Taiwan: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-warns-west-as-report-promises-to-resolve-taiwan-question/ar-AAUER9N?li=BBnb7Kz . I don’t think Xi is stupid enough to push this issue right now, but that is a possibility.
Look at me, look at me!: https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-launches-unspecified-projectile-off-its-east-coast-11646440083 . No thanks.
Stolichnaya rebrands: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/stoli-vodka-announces-rebrand-in-response-to-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/ar-AAUFCWn?li=BBnb7Kz . Who knew it’s now made in Latvia? But it has been marketed as a Russian vodka for a long time. However, this reminded me that OJ’s solution to Boeing’s 737 MAX crashes was to suggest they rebrand the plane. Because there’s nothing like a new label to raise safety confidence?