Navalny's Funeral, China's Slowing
EUROPE
Navalny's long goodbye — Admirers and supporters of opposition politician Alexei Navalny massed in Moscow for his funeral. The Terminator 2 theme song played as Navalny's casket was lowered into the ground — "he thought it was the best film in the whole world," his spokeswoman said — as thousands flocked to his grave, some chanting anti-Putin slogans. Riot police were out in force, and there was speculation that agents provocateurs were deployed in the crowd. But the somber occasion was not marked by any violence or disorder. (WaPo, BBC)
MIDDLE EAST
U.S. air-drop of aid seen as ass-covering by critics — President Biden authorized the United States to begin air-dropping food aid to Gaza in the wake of the tragic death of more than 100 Palestinians in a stampede perhaps triggered by IDF firing on the crowd. Critics said that the air-drops were unlikely to make much of a difference on the ground, and that the United States ought to pressure Israel to allow more aid in. (WaPo, Guardian)
ASIA
More signs of China's slowdown — Factory activity in China slowed in February according to official data, with the manufacturing PMI falling for the fifth consecutive month. The data suggests both businesses and consumers remain cautious, though consumption indicators were stronger. Most experts are calling for more stimulus from Beijing but it's unclear if a large "bazooka" package will be announced next week at the National People's Congress meeting. (FT)
Meanwhile, Japan is booming — Not only is Japan's stock market soaring. So are real estate prices in Tokyo, with the average price of new apartments surpassing ¥100m ($665,000) for the first time. The number of wealthy households in Japan has reached a record 1.5m. That increase, coupled with demand from wealthy Chinese buyers, has boosted demand for ultra-luxury condominiums in the city. (FT, Japan Times)
AFRICA
Climate change is coming for your chocolate — Cocoa production in top producers Ivory Coast and Ghana has declined by 11 percent this year due to poor weather and crop diseases exacerbated by climate change. This has caused cocoa prices to more than double. African farmers are struggling to adapt, since they operate under a cartel run jointly by the Ivorian and Ghanaian governments, which blunt price signals and are likely profiting from the lack of transparency. (FT)
AMERICAS
In Mexico, Sheinbaum holds an early lead — Campaigning for the presidential elections in June just kicked off last week, but Claudia Sheinbaum, AMLO's hand-picked successor, is already in the lead by around 30 points. AMLO's popularity is tied to his generous social programs, which Sheinbaum has vowed to continue. But having been very cautious up until now, she remains a bit of a cypher to voters. (NYT)
Kenyan peacekeepers cleared to go to Haiti — The Kenyan peacekeeping mission, agreed at the UN and financed by the U.S., has been delayed due to concerns from human rights groups and a Kenyan court ruling. However, the leaders of Kenya and Haiti are pushing ahead with the plan, and have signed a security deal to fast-track the deployment. A date for deployment has not been set. (NYT)
