Black swan as diversion.

"Chinese social media is buzzing with speculations that President Xi Jinping might step down from his position following the mismanagement of the stringent Covid-19 lockdowns accompanied by the economic slump in the country," ET. "The rising rumours about Xi Jinping stepping down started after a meeting of the party politburo standing committee, which is the collective leadership group that rules China." This is puzzling because it implies that China is ruled by a committee with powers to fire the top leadership. In 2018, "China has approved the removal of the two-term limit on the presidency, effectively allowing Xi Jinping to remain in power for life," BBC. "The constitutional changes were passed by the annual sitting of parliament, the National People's Congress." In 2016, "In a move that will further strengthen his grasp over the country, China's Communist Party...declared President Xi Jinping as 'core' leader," TIE. "Erstwhile leader Deng Xiaoping had coined the term 'core leader', which means the person concerned has almost absolute authority and should not be questioned at all. Xiaoping had said himself, Mao Zedong and Jiang Zemin were core leaders." In April, "The strictest Covid-19 lockdown in China since the pandemic began has resulted in container goods sitting at Shanghai's port for nearly two weeks, according to supply chain data provider project 44," ET. "China is tied to a zero-Covid strategy, wielding snap lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quaratines as part of unrelenting efforts to quash virus outbreaks," and "Among its arsenal of virus control in disinfectant spraying." Why? Is China trying to hide a new variant from the world? Next door, "North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Saturday the spread of Covid-19 had thrust his country into 'great turmoil' and called for all-out battle to overcome the outbreak, as 21 daily deaths were reported among people with fever," Reuters. Xi Jinping could make himself a hero by taking over Taiwan, especially with the US tied down with Ukraine. "In a recent attempt to provoke Japan and US, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy" has "reportedly dispatched and increased number of different types of warplanes and additional warships from the Chinese mainland  west of the island of Taiwan, effectively surrounding and enclosing the island," ANI. Nearer to India, "Spreading protests across Iran over a cut in state subsidies on food have turned political with slogans calling for top leaders to step down," Reuters. "Talks between Iran and the EU have stalled after it failed to clarify questions about the presence of nuclear material at undeclared sites in Iran," Mail Online. That will not please Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan has been elected President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Reuters. Should we expect a black swan event? Not that we can do anything.