News Burst 29 February 2020

• Coronavirus – CoviD psyop all over the people…
• A surge in production has seen Laos increase the export value of bananas by 76%. The export value of bananas to neighboring countries, mainly China and Thailand, increased to about USD 198 million in 2019 from USD 112 million in 2018.
• Over the past few weeks, snow around Ukraine’s Vernadsky Research Base, located off the coast of Antarctica’s northernmost peninsula, has started to take on a red tinge, courtesy of an algae that thrives in freezing weather. Because of the red tinge, the snow is often dubbed “watermelon snow”. The Greek philosopher Aristotle is believed to be one of the first to give a written account of watermelon snow over 2,000 years ago. In the “History of Animals”, Aristotle has mentioned, “And, by the way, living animals are found in substances that are usually supposed to be incapable of putrefaction; for instance, worms are found in long-lying snow; and snow of this description gets reddish in color, and the grub that is engendered in it is red, as might have been expected, and it is also hairy.”
• MSM Big Style in Syria: Turkey attacks terrorists, Syria attacks terrorists, Russia attacks terrorists [but… who are the terrorists?]
• In order to be considered as a developing country, according to the US approach, the trade share must be lower than 0.5 percent of the world’s total trade. Meanwhile, according to the WTO’s data, Vietnam’s total export and import turnover in 2018 accounting for 1.3 percent and 1.19 percent of the world’s trade. “Therefore, Vietnam and many other countries are not listed among developing countries.”

• A massive fire has broken out in southeastern Paris near the Gare de Lyon train station. The fire has prompted police to evacuate the area. The cause of the fire is not clear, it seems immigrant protest.
• A lawmaker who represents the people of Rasht in northern Iran in the parliament says the real COVID-19 death toll in Iran is far higher than official figures. Iran’s Health Ministry on Friday rose the coronavirus death toll to 34 but BBC’s Persian Service says according to information it has received from sources in Iranian hospitals, the tally of the death toll in various Iranian cities until Thursday is at least 210.
• The Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre laboratory where researchers published the world’s first genome sequence of the deadly coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has been shut down. It was ordered to close for “rectification” on January 12, a day after Professor Zhang Yongzhen’s team published the genome sequence on open platforms. The release of the data helped researchers develop test kits for the virus.
• Tonga has limited whale watching and swimming licences for the 2020 whale watching season for the management, protection and conservation of whales, effective on 25 February, after record number of applications for licences was received. Professor Orams suggested more regulations are needed to safeguard the whales as well as tourists and operators. This includes banning swim-with-whales activities with mothers and new-born (less than three week old) calves; and having “rest periods” during the day where whales are given breaks from vessels approaching and people entering the water to swim with them (eg. 12noon-2pm each day). In addition, a ban on the use of under-water scooters or other propulsion devices; place much tighter restrictions on the use of underwater photography equipment; and mandate training for all licences operators (skippers and guides).
• After weeks of avoiding travelling due to fears, many people have started travelling again thanks to improvements in epidemic prevention in Vietnam.

• Nearly 900,000 Pangolins are believed to have been trafficked across Southeast Asia in the past two decades, a wildlife watchdog said Thursday, highlighting the challenge in tackling the illicit trade. As the world’s most heavily trafficked mammal, the creatures are targeted for their body parts which are highly valued in traditional medicine in countries including China and Vietnam, and their meat is seen as a delicacy.
• Nine residents of Greater Jakarta have died as a result of the widespread flooding that has inundated the Indonesian capital and surrounding cities over the past few days, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency has reported.

Sun Activity

The sun has been blank (no sunspots) for 26 consecutive days. This is a sign that Solar Minimum is still underway despite recent signs of life from Solar Cycle 25. During Solar Minimum, auroras are confined mainly to the Arctic. The next episode of Arctic auroras is expected on March 2-3 when a minor stream of solar wind reaches Earth. spaceweather.com

Active Weather

• Tropical Cyclone Ferdinand – N of W Australia’s coast – 45/65 kts↓ – 991 hPa↑ Moving W 4 kts – Weakening

Strongest EQ in Europe M3.2 Croatia
Strongest EQ in North America M3.5 Alaska
Strongest EQ on the Planet M5.8 Neiafu, Tonga
Deepest EQ M4.1 460 km Off Japan News Burst 29 February 2020