World roundup: March 27 2023

Stories from China, Nigeria, Finland, and elsewhere

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

SYRIA

You’ll no doubt be pleased to learn that, Friday’s clashes with various militias notwithstanding, the United States is staying the course in eastern Syria. Although the US has no legal basis on which to base its occupation of part of Syria and although there’s no clear benefit that the occupation offers to the Syrian people, even to Syrian Kurds who might well be better off negotiation some sort of accord with the Syrian government via Russia, it’s vital to remember that…well, actually, I’ve lost my train of thought. Anyway we must prevent an Islamic State resurgence, I guess, though bombing militias that are also opposed to IS seems like a weird way to do that. Or maybe we’re there to stop the Iranian Menace from sweeping across the Arab world? I don’t know, I feel like I’m getting my imperial excuses mixed up.