Great Coronavirus Panic of 2020 -
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.
Most recent data dump from DoughtyOne 7/17/20
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3865677/posts
New England Journal of Medicine in an article stated that the Moderna coronavirus vaccine caused adverse events (side effects) in over 50% of clinical trial participants, including, “fatigue, chills, headache, myalgia, and pain at the injection site.” While it generates antibodies in the short term, studies indicate those antibodies fade very quickly, rendering the vaccine pointless in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
CW2 -
In a quick turn around that didn’t catch my radar until well after it happened, Portland Thursday morning closed down CLAT. After giving the occupants 10 minutes to leave the park, police moved in, arresting nine individuals for trespass and disorderly conduct. Antifa rioters are not giving up on the CLAT. They have already attempted to swarm the park to resurrect the CLAT, but so far police have been successful in stopping them. Rumor has it that the President applied some kind of ‘leverage’ to the Portland mayor - possibly the declaration of martial law or some other application of Federal forces - to get the mayor to clean up his mess.
Economy -
Initial weekly jobless claims came in at 1.3 million for the week ending July 11. It did mark the 15th straight weekly decline in initial claims.
U.S. retail sales increased a better-than-expected 7.5% in June.
That was on top of the 18.2% jump in May, which was the biggest gain since the government started tracking the series in 1992.
Strategic Deployments -
The USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz strike groups are back together operating in the South China Sea to continue naval exercises. The Ronald Reagan had broken off to conduct ops in the Indian Ocean.
China -
The Hong Kong Autonomy Act, signed Tuesday by U.S. President Donald Trump has some big teeth in that it targets Chinese banks for sanctions as well. Banks will loose access to the international reserve currency and could become unable to transfer U.S. dollars, both will severely impact international trade by China.
Israel -
Israel was reported to have been hit by new cyber attacks this week. The attacks targeted agricultural water pumps in the Upper Galilee and infrastructure in the center of the country. There was no significant damage caused. It is likely the culprit was Iran, with whom Israel have been engaged in an ongoing cyber battle over the course of the past year.
Israel is also moving forward to increase cooperation with Greece as an alliance to counter the growing aggression of Turkey in the region. Israeli and Greek generals met to discuss matters of mutual defense. Israel and Greece signed a deal in December for a $7 billion, 1,180-mile EastMed gas pipeline to run from Israel through Cyprus and Greece to Europe.
Iran -
Iranian MP Ardeshir Motahari, tweeting about the incidents that have been happening in his country, says that a foreign adversary recently attacked Iran using drones. He promises Iran will carry out revenge and says the age of “hit and run” attacks is over. Shortly thereafter, US intelligence detected ADA radar activation and the European Aviation Safety Agency has warned that passenger jets flying through Iranian airspace are at risk of being targeted by Iran’s air-defense systems.
In June, the IAEA said in a report to member states that there is a “serious concern that, for over four months, Iran has denied access to the Agency... to two locations.” IAEA has been a paper tiger, but a report like this will permit the US and allies to justify further sanctions on the country.
Major protests broke out in southwestern city of Behbahan, prompting internet shut down for the region and sever police response. Reportedly thousands gathered chanting “No to Gaza, no to Lebanon, my life for Iran”.
Hong Kong -
See Bank Impacts from US sanctions above
China/India -
Indications that India & China both have agreed at specific points to re-deploy towards their regular posts on respective sides of LAC. Will have to confirm but suggests that some of the talks have borne some fruit.
Miscellaneous -
Ok, now this little spat between two third world countries is about to get spicy. Azerbaijan has threatened to bomb the Atomic Energy Station in Armenia if Yerevan strikes Azerbaijani strategic sites.
Relatively short today, Biggest concerns are a blow up of CW2 going from ‘cold’ to hot as the election approaches, while current rioting simmers on the back burner.
Wuhan Virus -
DoughtyOne post as of 7/17/2020 (no new post as of when I put this together)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3865677/posts
Dozens of refrigerator trucks head to Arizona and Texas as the states’ coronavirus cases skyrocket and concerns that morgues will exceed their capacity.
Economy -
Reminder - Federal eviction moratorium expires in July, along with enhanced jobless benefits. At least 12 million didn’t make a payment last month and 24 million uncertain about the current month. This is probably the most explosive situation surrounding the pandemic shut down. Similar being mirrored in the commercial sector as closed businesses haven’t been paying rent/lease either.
Restruant bankruptcies are increasing among those who rely upon sit-down service. Food businesses that have a strong delivery component - such as pizza - have endured the corona virus shut down very well.
CW2/Civil Unrest -
What we’re seeing now is not democracy. It’s a classical marxist rebellion.
Denied their own “CHOP”, Portland rioters tried to focus on one a police precinct and shifted back towards the Federal court house. The attack on the Federal court house was particularly aggressive with rioters using fireworks and other explosives to try to keep federal law enforcement trapped inside the building. They also placed fencing and sandbags in front of doors. Portland police eventually came around to disperse the rioters and relieve the siege. Portland’s mayor’s call for removal of DHS marshals has emboldened the rioters.
There is a video circulating out there claiming to capture DHS arresting an antifa member well away from rioting and carrying them off in an unmarked minivan. My thoughts are this is dubious - no where near the rioting, antifa very passively submits to arrest (review other arrests - they go crazy screaming and resisting), vanilla “police” tactical uniforms, etc. Reports that DHS has confirmed the validity - but this comes through MSN sources.
In Chicago, a protest at the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park devolved into a violent riot, complete with assaults on police and an attempt to pull down the statue. Rioters initially were able to drive the police away but reinforcements arrived and they regained control of the scene.
MY OBSERVATIONS: Overall, activity like in Portland and Chicago has declined nationwide. However, smaller scale activity continues - the kind I think of maintaining the intimidation factor. These include the ability of small groups to block streets/intersection, mobilize smaller ‘peaceful’ protests in smaller communities with the underlying threat of violence. Now the legal arms are bending governments to enact demands of police defunding/disbanding. Not rocket science - no police then the rioters can act with impunity to exact revenge on what ever target they choose.
Second serious trend continues - increasing display of arms by both sides and increasingly violent threats. As the election approaches it will only take a small spark in some areas to ignite a shooting incident between the left and right.
China -
Epic flooding has renewed throughout the Yellow River Drainage. One dam has already failed. Saw a second (probably a spillway control structure) within a couple of feet from being overtopped. Three Gorges Dam under considerable scrutiny. This flooding is hitting a significant region of Chinese industrial centers - including Wuhan.