Tweet of the Weekend

Met Opera Cuts Ties With Pro-Putin Artists, Likely Ending Bolshoi Partnership

In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, the Metropolitan Opera has said it will no longer host or work with performers or companies “that support Putin or are supported by him.” In a Sunday statement, General Manager Peter Gelb said that while the company believed strongly “in the warm friendship and cultural exchange” between Russia and the U.S., the new policy would be in place “until the invasion and killing has been stopped, order has been restored and restitutions have been made.” The Times reported that Gelb’s announcement likely heralded the end of the Met’s five-year producing partnership with Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater. Gelb told the newspaper as much in a Sunday evening interview, saying the Met team was “scrambling” to figure out how to stage shows that had been scheduled to play in collaboration with the Russian company next season. Just two days prior, London’s Royal Opera House announced that it was shelving a planned Bolshoi residency this summer. “It’s terrible that artistic relationships, at least temporarily, are the collateral damage of these actions by Putin,” Gelb said.




https://www.thedailybeast.com/metropolitan-opera-says-it-will-no-longer-collaborate-with-pro-putin-artists-after-russias-ukraine-invasion?via=twitter_page

Bank of China's Singapore division has 'stopped financing deals involving Russian oil and Russian co

Sweden to send arms to Ukraine in break with tradition

Sweden announces it will break its doctrine of not sending arms to countries in active conflict and send military equipment, including anti-tank launchers, to Ukraine.

The decision to send 135,000 field rations, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 pieces of body armour and 5,000 single use anti-tank launchers is the first time Sweden has sent weapons to a country in armed conflict since the Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson tells reporters.




https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/sweden-to-send-arms-to-ukraine-in-break-with-tradition/

Norway says its sovereign fund will divest from Russia

OSLO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Norway's $1.3 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, will divest its Russian assets following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Norwegian prime minister said on Sunday.

The fund's Russian assets, consisting of shares in some 47 companies as well as government bonds, were worth 25 billion Norwegian crowns ($2.83 billion) at the end of 2021, down from 30 billion crowns a year earlier, the government said.




https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/norway-says-its-sovereign-fund-will-divest-russia-2022-02-27/

Democratic Socialists of America call on the US to withdraw from NATO

Bonus Tweet of the Day

EU shutting down airspace to Russian-controlled aircraft

fter Russian President Vladimir Putin put deterrence forces on high alert, the EU is shutting down airspace to all Russian-controlled and registered aircraft for the foreseeable future. NBC's Josh Lederman reports.



https://www.msnbc.com/weekends-with-alex-witt/watch/eu-shutting-down-airspace-to-russian-controlled-aircraft-134165573812?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

UPS and FedEx halting shipments to Russia and Ukraine

WASHINGTON — U.S.-based United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp., two of the world’s largest logistics companies, have said they are halting delivery service to Russia and Ukraine in light of the Russian invasion of its neighbor.

Both inbound and outbound services have been suspended to Ukraine, as well as deliveries to destinations in Russia, the companies said in online statements seen on Sunday.

Both Atlanta-based UPS and Memphis-headquartered FedEx had said on Feb. 24 that they were suspending services to Ukraine in light of the invasion.

It was unclear if both firms continue to use Russian airspace as part of their general operations. Neither responded immediately to requests for comment.






https://www.stltoday.com/business/national-and-international/ups-and-fedex-halting-shipments-to-russia-and-ukraine/article_16d14e3e-76b6-5ac1-881a-cae6965dd6a3.html

Albania refuses to play Russia in UEFA Nations League games

Albania's government joined the wave of European opposition on Sunday to playing any sports games against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

The move was notable as Albania is among the few national teams in men's soccer with games scheduled soon against Russia in official competitions.

Albania is due to host Russia in Tirana on June 2 in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League competition. The return game is on June 13 though UEFA ruled Friday that Russian teams must find neutral venues for its home games.

"Albania will not take part in any sport games with the Russian Federation until the end of Ukraine’s occupation," Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka said Sunday.



https://www.foxnews.com/sports/albania-refuses-to-play-russia-in-uefa-nations-league-games