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Very busy morning

Wuhan Virus -
Many of the various categories I’m following have now integrated effects from this pandemic, but I’m keeping them separate for clarity. Check numerous FR threads for more specific corona virus threads. We are entering uncharted waters as far as this pandemic goes. . . . . .

More lock downs starting in China, Suifenhe, a border town with Russia 1,000 miles from Beijing, people have been ordered to stay indoors, with some exceptions. The border is closed to people, although not goods, and a 600-bed isolation hospital is being built. Meanwhile China still claims that nearly all new cases are due to the infected coming from outside China. We all know how accurate they are about this. China is tentatively coming out of lock down after nearly 3 months.

In Russia there are reportedly 8,672 confirmed cases in Russia and 63 deaths. There believed to be far more undetected cases and deaths. Russia has shut down most businesses to deal with the epidemic and that has reduced economic activity. That loss, plus the much reduced oil income have created some problems. Given the current poor economic condition of Russia, that added expense hurts. Russia has $234 billion in reserves but by law this reserve cannot be drawn on freely when the price of oil falls below $42 a barrel. Oil currently is in the low to mid $20 range due to the price war with Saudi Arabia. The economic chaos continues to affect Russia’s expansionist and global influence goals. Less money for military for new hardware (ships, planes, etc) and proxy battle support (Ukraine and Syria).

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s condition is improving in the intensive care unit of a London hospital, British Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday. Johnson has been sitting up in bed and engaging with his doctors at St. Thomas’ Hospital, said Sunak, according to The Associated Press.

Economic repercussions continue to reverberate across the US and the world. Bloomberg reports that farmers are panic-buying to keep America’s 95 million cows and other livestock fed. This upstream instability in our food supply eventually will hit us at the supermarket. Worker shortages due to infections are eating away at truckers, warehouse workers and food production factories. This is making the already short supplies even more vulnerable to any additional food and supply runs. The old saying is still valid, we are just nine meals from social breakdown and unrest.

Afghanistan -
Islamic State (ISKP) claimed responsibility for this morning’s rocket attack against Bagram Air Base. Taliban came out with its own statement denying its responsibility for rocket attack. Katyusha rockets were reportedly used in the attack. Photographs show a destroyed car with a makeshift launcher visible in the trunk capable of holding 5 rockets. The car was probably destroyed by the rocket back blast. No reports of any damage to the base or any casualties so far, with at least two of the rockets falling far short of the base. The use of a ‘disposable’ covert launch vehicle is similar to the tactic used in Iraq by Iranian proxy groups.

Yemen -
A unilateral two-week ceasefire called by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior member of the Houthi movement’s Political Bureau, told Al-Mayadeen TV before the ceasefire began that the rebels wanted “a complete cessation of the war and the lifting of the siege once and for all”. Essentially the Houthi deman SA surrender its part in the war.

Iran -
The United States will block Iran’s request to the International Monetary Fund for $5 billion in emergency funding to help fight the corona virus. Last month it was revealed that the leaders of Iran diverted the bulk of a 1 billion euro grant to fund relief from the corona virus for their own purposes (and treatments). US also states Iran will divert the funds to support its regional disruption/wars in the region.

Iraq -
Iranian backed Popular Mobilization Unit announced operations to secure borders in southwestern Iraq. Location in question is Anbar Province, which is home to US military installation Ain Al Assad. Still looking at the extent of this operation as it could also be focused on ISIS rather than US forces.

N Korea -
Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Sinpo South Shipyard indicates a probable dummy missile ejection test likely occurred in recent days .

CW2/Civil Unrest -
DHS has issued advisories to churches warning that the stress brought on by extended shelter in place orders may cause an increase in attacks on churches as individuals strike out, blaming churches for the pandemic (See also NYT’s editorial “The Road to Coronavirus Hell Was Paved By Evangelicals” - title later changed). DHS specifically stated “When you begin efforts to reconstitute services and welcome congregants back into your houses of worship, please also review your security plans and ensure procedures are in place to protect your facilities and visitors. Although there are no imminent or credible threats at this time, there has been an increase in online hate speech intended to encourage violence or use the ongoing situation as an excuse to spread hatred.”

There is a movement called “Rent Strike 2020” being pushed in the urban areas of both coasts, goal to cease rent payments and extract concessions from owners. In what may be partially related, nearly a third of U.S. apartment renters didn’t pay any of their April rent during the first week of the month, according to new data to be released Wednesday by the National Multifamily Housing Council and a consortium of real-estate data providers.

More calls are also showing up for increased militancy in unions and workers. There is further resentment at the shelter in place orders and how authorities are enforcing those orders. Increased distrust of a proposal for more invasive/intrusive medical surveillance programs (pushed by Jared Kushner and the CDC). Add to this the polarization of the upcoming elections in November and conditions continue to be ripe for unrest - especially if the lock down continues much past the end of the month.

British PM Johnson was released from ICU yesterday and has good prognosis for recovery.

There have been a number of meat processing and packing plants temporarily shut down due to corona virus. For example Tyson Foods was suspended operations at a pork processing plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa this week, after more than 24 employees there tested positive for corona virus. Thursday, Smithfield Foods announced that it will close its processing plant near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after state officials said more than 80 employees there had tested positive for corona virus. JBS USA, another major meat processor, has stopped operations at its beef plant in Souderton, Pennsylvania due to sick employees there. The plant plans to reopen April 16, after two weeks. These shut downs represent a small but apparently growing percentage of overall meat production, and underscore an ongoing risk to the food supply.

Iran -
Iran’s Parliament Wednesday threatened European countries that it will resume uranium enrichment without international controls if Europe fails to follow the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the agreement that the US withdrew from. The underlying reason for the threat is that Europe must guarantee Iran’s access to its exports and oil revenues. Embargoes and current oil price wars have crippled the Iranian economy - i’ve been pointing this out a lot, and public unrest and out right rioting has gained roots in the country.

N Korea -
Communist party regular conference scheduled to go in-spite of potential corona virus issues.

CW2/Civil Unrest -
More and more protests against the continued shelter at home decrees are appearing on the scene. These range from churches planning services (even banned ‘drive in’ style ones), opposition to access to streams for fishing seasons, protesting state governors’ corona virus updates. Uncertainty over jobs, normal supplies and ever increasing soft police state measures are wearing people’s patience thin. Add to it an increasing distrust of the so called models that have grossly over predicted infection and death rates, well, it could get spicy.

San Francisco supervisors have passed a resolution condemning gun ownership and the recent sales spike caused by the corona virus. Containing all the typical progressive/Marxist bile it is no surprise. But it is another cog in the wheels to tear down the constitution one piece at a time.