BA2 dominant COVID variant worldwide: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/explainer-omicron-stealth-covid-variant-ba2-now-dominant-globally/ar-AAVBJcX?li=BBnb7Kz . This was inevitable, which was our reporting a week ago.
Latest news on COVID treatments’ effectiveness: https://health.usnews.com/conditions/coronavirus-and-your-health/articles/latest-treatments . BA2 is shifting the relative effectiveness of available treatments.
Shanghai enters lockdown: https://apnews.com/article/covid-china-locking-down-shanghai-b406df3a0113b9be99273324fec2c12e . Panic buying was reported Sunday in advance of the first 5 day lockdown, for half the city. Lockdown of the other half will then follow. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-imposes-staggered-lockdowns-to-keep-coronavirus-at-bay-11648399828 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-halts-production-in-shanghai-plant-amid-covid-19-lockdown-11648452052 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-covid-19-lockdown-poses-fresh-test-to-supply-chains-11648479923 . Also: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shanghai-lockdown-experiment-begins-as-officials-race-to-clear-covid-19-11648482912 . Still more: Remarkably, this lockdown is behind the recent fall in oil prices: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-prices-fall-as-lockdowns-in-china-weigh-on-demand-11648497631 . And: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-prices-fall-as-lockdowns-in-china-weigh-on-demand-11648497631 .
WSJ: US healthcare spending growth slowed to 4.2% in 2021: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-healthcare-spending-slowed-in-2021-after-covid-19-surge-11648497601 . COVID drove a 9.7% growth in 2021.
More discussion of Russia’s “shift in focus” to eastern Ukraine: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-shift-in-strategy-7386a5893a3b43bad7e438cfe45468c2 . This sadly suggests that no peaceful resolution of this war is possible until the stakes are clarified on the battlefield. Russia’s war crimes against civilians will continue and likely grow. The Ukrainians therefore must look to annihilate the Russian troops and materiel on their land, unless the troops somehow manage to surrender. I say “annihilate” because the Russians have many more soldiers and machinery they can throw at Ukraine if this becomes a slog.
Peace talks commence in Istanbul: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-ukraine-live-updates-kyiv-and-moscow-meet-for-peace-talks-in-istanbul-with-different-expectations/ar-AAVBOY5?li=BBnb7Kz . Again, the gulf between the parties is currently way too wide to expect any significant success at this time.
Abramovich and Ukrainian negotiators hit by suspected poisoning in earlier talks: https://news.yahoo.com/russian-billionaire-abramovich-ukrainian-peace-161430061.html . Here is the WSJ article referred to in the article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/roman-abramovich-and-ukrainian-peace-negotiators-suffer-symptoms-of-suspected-poisoning-11648480493 .
WSJ: Expanding troubles for Credit Suisse: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-launch-probe-of-credit-suisse-compliance-with-russia-sanctions-11648475239 . As we noted previously, Credit Suisse is now translated from the French as “le screw-up”.
WSJ: Ukrainian “researcher” exposes the Trickbot Group, pro-Russian hackers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trickbot-pro-russia-hacking-gang-documents-ukrainian-leaker-conti-11648480564 .
Holocaust survivors flee Ukraine for Germany: https://apnews.com/article/videos-ce26d3284ff8419c9ba31931940df14e . This story is both tragic and ironic. These people are almost all over 80. Who knew there were 10,000 of them living in Ukraine? Or that in their lifetimes, these people could come to view Germany as a safe haven?
WSJ: Increasing risk of debt defaults in less-developed countries: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-war-increases-risk-of-debt-defaults-by-developing-countries-11648494626 .
Ukraine divides Orange Julius “supporters”: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trumps-base-splinters-ukraine-rcna21723 . Here we see the consequences of a lack of critical analysis skills. These people do not hold OJ accountable for his lies and bizarre comments concerning Putin and the Ukrainian invasion. They simply blindly support this incompetent, uneducated fool because they are frustrated and he is disruptive. As we have noted here many times, there are no limits to stupidity.
Federal judge rules OJ “more likely than not” committed a felony in obstructing Congress on January 6: https://www.aol.com/news/trump-likely-committed-felony-obstructing-160842714-164427780.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jan-6-committee-seeks-to-talk-to-virginia-thomas-11648486335 .
Leopard enters Mercedes Benz factory in India: https://www.autoblog.com/2022/03/28/leopard-walks-in-shuts-down-a-mercedes-benz-plant/ . As bizarre as this sounds, it’s true. The factory was shut down for 6 hours while a wildlife rescue team rescued the animal. And the article gives an entertaining conspiracy theory about why the leopard went in there.
The Ginni Thomas lunacy isn’t going away any time soon: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/klobuchar-textbook-case-justice-thomas-recuse/story?id=83690256 . The January 6 Select Committee looks to interview her: https://abcnews.go.com/US/jan-panel-expected-request-interview-ginni-thomas-revelations/story?id=83720298 .
Speaking of lunacy, Lyin’ Ted Cruz: https://www.salon.com/2022/03/28/new-report-reveals-just-how-far-ted-cruz-went-to-keep-donald-in-office/ . What a moronic legal strategy from the former Attorney General of Texas! As we know, everything is bigger in Texas, including the Terds. Hilariously, OJ called Terd “the single biggest liar I have ever dealt with in my life”. In response, Terd said OJ was an “ignorant buffoon”. It’s hilarious because these comments will go down as the only thing either of them has ever gotten right.
And of course, lunacy fans, DeMentis signed the “Don’t Say Gay” garbage bill: https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-gov-ron-desantis-signs-bill-restricting-teaching-about-sexual-orientation-11648498840 . This culture war crap is just an incredible waste of time.
WSJ: Warhol paintings of Prince and the fair use doctrine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-to-consider-copyright-battle-over-warhol-paintings-of-prince-11648477727 . Reinterpretation of another artist’s work is a common practice in the artistic community.