10 pm MDT
"America had been called 'the melting pot,' with good reason. But America did not melt men into the grey conformity of a collective: she united them by means of protecting their right to individuality.”
*“In its great era of capitalism, the United States was the freest country on earth — and the best refutation of racist theories. Men of all races came here, some from obscure, culturally undistinguished countries, and accomplished feats of productive ability which would have remained stillborn in their control-ridden native lands. Men of racial groups that had been slaughtering one another for centuries, learned to live together in harmony and peaceful cooperation. America had been called 'the melting pot,' with good reason. But few people realised that America did not melt men ... more »
In the News
In Russia Russia suffered 10,633 new Covid cases in 24 hours giving it fastest-growing rate in Europe with total infections at 134,687 and deaths at 1,280 – as 2,000 frontline Moscow medics test positive. As has been reported here in the past month or so, Russia would seem to have had the most vulnerable population […] The post In the News appeared first on Virtual Mirage.
DHS Report: China Hid Virus’ Severity to Hoard Supplies
U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it.
Fear and Loathing of the COVID-19 Economy
[image: undefined] Let me begin by saying I don’t know anything definitive about the origin of COVID-19. I don’t know if it is a natural mutation or a manmade biological weapon. I don’t trust the government and its media corporations to report the truth on the virus or the actual number of victims it has claimed. The WHO—owned by Merck, the GAVI Alliance, and the Gates Foundation—and the CDC—allowed to receive “gifts” from Big Pharma and corporations—are corrupt institutions that have lied about pandemics in the past, so why should we believe them now? Despite revised numbers and ... more »
Knock, Knock. We’re from the Government, and We Want Your Family’s Blood
[image: undefined] Talk about creepy. The Georgia Department of Public Health has announced that it, the United Sates Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and county health boards are together sending teams of government agents to randomly selected homes in two Georgia counties. These teams of government agents are charged with asking questions, including about household members’ health, and extracting blood from all the people living in the homes. The reason given for the home visits is — you may have guessed it — coronavirus. J. Scott Trubey writes at the Atlanta Jou... more »
They don't genetically engineer viruses, do they?
*Synthetic* biologists have been modifying the DNA of pathogens with alarming speed and efficacy over the last decade, Reid notes, opening up a new frontier in virology, public health and global security. "I'm a big SynBio fan," says Reid, who believes in the promising applications of DNA modification, such as solutions for climate change and breakthroughs in life extension. "But there's a dark side to it." https://www.newsweek.com/2019/11/01/synthetic-biology-manmade-virus-terrorism-1467569.html …………………..................… 5-15-2018 *the* team is relying on tools from synthe... more »
"2020 Is The Beginning of the 2nd Great Depression"
*"2020 Is The Beginning of the 2nd Great Depression"* by HarbingersRefuge *"Background: *There’s a 2007 study on the economy during, and the economic recovery following, the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic (sourced here). The study concluded that employment increased in the US during the pandemic due to a plethora of new jobs created specific to the problem. There was no shutdown of the economy. I then looked at historical unemployment figures. It’s clear to me now that there’s absolutely no basis for a quick recovery of employment, especially following black swan events. The V-shap... more »
Sea Ice Extent (Global Antarctic and Arctic) – Day 123 – 2020
Originally posted on sunshine hours: South / North
'We can't wait for another virus': COVID-19 exposes gaps in Aboriginal health care
Just In - 6 hours ago
Official data indicates no Aboriginal people in the NT have tested positive to COVID-19, and as restrictions start to ease, health leaders say it's time to address some of the fundamental holes in Aboriginal health care.
Live: Jacinda Ardern to join Australia's National Cabinet meeting
Just In - 6 hours ago
The New Zealand Prime Minister will sit in — remotely — on tomorrow's National Cabinet meeting between Scott Morrison and the state and territory heads. Follow live.
'You can't change the nappies from 2m away': The reality for those left behind in the working-from-home experiment
Six weeks into the biggest shakeup of the Australian workplace since World War II, one economist is warning the adjusted work arrangements could be widening inequalities among workers.
In the blink of an eye coronavirus has turned the property market upside down
Within the space of a month, the coronavirus pandemic has upended the property market for buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords.
'Cataclysmic': This data reveals how we dodged a coronavirus catastrophe
For now, Australia appears to have kept the virus in check and avoided a full-blown coronavirus crisis. This data shows how we did it.
This week you can see one of 2020's best sky shows (but you'll need to set your alarm)
Rug up, set your alarm clock and get ready to see the Eta Aquariid meteor put on one of the best sky shows over Australia this week.
Intensive care saves lives — but it comes at a 'huge cost' to our bodies
Patients who end up on ventilators often face a long, slow and traumatic period of recuperation, which often includes relearning how to swallow, speak, breathe and walk.
On World Press Freedom Day, Malaysia investigates journalist over 'provocation'
Police in Malaysia confirm they are investigating a journalist over her reporting on mass raids targeting migrants and refugees amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The great Australian dream is over for millennials. And we're not talking houses
Locked out of a housing market that blew out beyond their means, young Australians have embraced a different way of living. That's now beyond reach as well.
The Media and Dr. Fauci defined by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
“The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.” Justice Holmes wrote this in his opinion in the case of Schenck vs. United States 1919, this opinion holding that the defendant’s speech in opposition to the draft during World War I was not protected Free Speech under the First Amendment. I feel that all this yelling about “CORONAVIRUS” by the media and Dr. Fauci is no less an incitement to panic the American public. These entities must be brought before a jury and held accountable. There has … Continue read... more »
Newsweek: Fauci’s Virus Outfit Subsidized Wuhan Virus Lab. Famed Virus Fighter Backs Controversial Research
[image: newsweek-fauci-s-virus-outfit-subsidized-wuhan-virus-lab-famed-virus-fighter-backs-controversial-research] At least some of the U.S. tax subsidies that went to the Wuhan Institute of Virology came from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Trump Scores Big With Independents in Latest Gallup Poll
[image: trump-scores-big-with-independents-in-latest-gallup-poll] Nearly half of Independents now support President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, the highest number for that group to date.
Twitter Suspends Candace Owens Over Criticism of Michigan Governor
[image: twitter-suspends-candace-owens-over-criticism-of-michigan-governor] Big tech censors are at it again as conservative firebrand Candace Owens was suspended from Twitter for encouraging the people of Michigan to go back to work.
Circuit Court Blocks Kentucky Governor’s Limit on Church Services
[image: circuit-court-blocks-kentucky-governor-s-limit-on-church-services] A three-judge panel of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Saturday, prohibiting Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear from enforcing his edict banning attendance at church services.
U.S. Army Testing Its Artillery, Missiles, And Its 'Super Gun'
The prototype M1299 armoured howitzer test-firing at Yuma Proving Ground on March 6, 2020. *Breaking Defense*: *Army Tests New A2/AD Tools: Howitzers, Missiles & 1,000-Mile Supergun* This spring’s successful test shots of the Precision Strike Missile and Extended-Range Cannon are just two pieces of a rapidly evolving portfolio of new long-range weapons. WASHINGTON: As the Army urgently rebuilds its long-neglected artillery branch, it’s test-firing some impressive hardware in the southwestern desert and over the Pacific. But all those technologies, the Army’s artillery modernizat... more »
Who are the essential workers? Congress or Walmart, guest blogger David Meyers
"This strikes me as funny-sad. In this time of national crisis, who are the essential workers? The House of Representatives or Walmart employees? Since the reps are staying home, it must be the Walmart workers. But are they staying home because they feel it's not worth risking their health or they just don't have anything of value to contribute? On the flipside, do they consider Walmart workers expendable whereas they are not? Every time I have gone into a grocery store, I have thanked each worker I have encountered for being there for us. I do the same when I cross paths wit... more »
What or who are you going to believe?
These days, I never believe anything until it's been rerun in a safe media source a few times. Masks don't help; masks do help; masks are mandatory; or maybe not, just kidding. Not enough ventilators; President's fault; ventilators found; ventilators turned out by millions; not enough people need ventilators; president's fault. The virus can live 3 days on surface; wrong, lives 15 days; wrong again, I'll get back to you on that. Pets can't get covid19; pets can get covid19. We need temporary hospitals and hospital ships; tent hospitals standing empty; President's fault--he should h... more »
Washington State Warns of Asian Giant Hornet Sightings
The Asian giant hornets can attack and kill a honey bee colony within hours, and scientists expect the hornet to emerge again this spring.
Man Arrested Trying to Quarantine on Private Disney Island
Florida deputies arrested a man who had been living out his quarantine on a shuttered Disney World island, telling authorities it felt like a “tropical paradise.”
Gotham City Digest
(Because your unfocused, incoherent rage is stronger than public safety.) ------------------------------ When caught in a lie just threaten to kill the messenger. ------------------------------ "No, the biggest story is so big as to be invisible. It’s so obvious as to be silent. The biggest political story of the year is the tens of millions of Americans sheltering in place for the sake of their own well-being and safety, and for the sake of all Americans." ------------------------------ I think by now we can conclude Trump's doing everything in his power to make sure Co... more »
Sunday Talks: Mockingbird Propagandist Chris Wallace Lies During Birx Interview….
We noted this last week, a specific and nuanced lie about the phase-1 gateway. Last week Jake Tapper and Chuck Todd were pushing it; this week it is Chris Wallace. When the original guidelines were rolled out by the White … Continue reading →
The Poet: Carl Sandburg, "Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind"
*"Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind"* "*The past is a bucket of ashes."* 1 "The woman named Tomorrow sits with a hairpin in her teeth and takes her time and does her hair the way she wants it and fastens at last the last braid and coil and puts the hairpin where it belongs and turns and drawls: Well, what of it? My grandmother, Yesterday, is gone. What of it? Let the dead be dead. 2 The doors were cedar and the panels strips of gold and the girls were golden girls and the panels read and the girls chanted: We are the greatest city, the greatest nati... more »
Pentagon Using Army IR Cameras To Check Temperatures At The Building’s Visitor Center
Using a modified thermal sensor to check a visitor’s temperature for fever. *Breaking Defense:* *Army IR Cameras Check Temperatures At Pentagon* *The Army plans to deploy more of the thermal sensors, originally developed to spot targets at night.* WASHINGTON: Pentagon security has been using thermal cameras on tripods to check temperatures at the building’s Visitor Center since April 22nd, the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force announced today. The REF, famous for fielding defenses against roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq, worked with the Army’s C5ISR Center lab and Program Execut... more »
Rutgers Prof: Whites Depraved, Trump Supporters Caused Chinese Virus Pandemic
[image: rutgers-prof-whites-depraved-trump-supporters-caused-chinese-virus-pandemic] The professor at Rutgers University who thinks time is a white construct advanced a new theory this week: Trump voters caused the Chinese Virus pandemic.
Lockdowns for Thee but Not for Me: Obama Driven 40 Miles for “Essential” Golf Outing
[image: lockdowns-for-thee-but-not-me-obama-driven-40-miles-for-essential-golf-outing] It seems as if the powerful and well-connected are not abiding by the same quarantine restrictions that they have placed upon the rest of us.
AP Was There: National Guard Kills 4 Students at Kent State in 1970
The Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed college students during a war protest at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. Four students were killed, and nine others were injured.
REAGANISM: IT'S STILL NOT DEAD
This weekend's email to Charlie Pierce's subscribers is an interview with former presidential candidate Julian Castro, who think Reaganism may finally be on the verge of dying a well-deserved death: CPP: I was ... thinking that you don't know the vast ramifications of inequality until something like this [coronavirus pandemic] that touches on everything. Touches on healthcare and education and food safety and everything. JC: That's true. You think about everything from the concrete effect of the digital divide that this has exposed to the long line we've seen at food banks around t... more »
Sunday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. - Jason Warick reports on the concern of doctors that Scott Moe's insistence on reducing protections against the spread of COVID-19 doesn't take into account the health of older or less healthy residents. And Sheri Lecker notes that the social isolation imposed so far - and continued in most existing plans - is particularly difficult for our most vulnerable neighbours. - Meanwhile, Alicia Bridges reports on the Saskatchewan Health Authority's choice to keep the public in the dark about a Lloydminster outbreak as Moe was pushing the "reopening... more »
Which Governors Have Learned The Least And Will Get The Most People Infected In Their States?
*"Die For Me" by Nancy Ohanian* The centers of America's pandemic were New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Louisiana, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. The states where people have been the most lax about social distancing or where governors have decided to open up before its safe are going to be the centers of the next phase of the pandemic. These are the states where the number of infected per million is growing dangerously in states where the pandemic is not being taken seriously: *•* South Dakota- 2,994 per million *•* Colorado... more »
Velde on the 1918 Pandemic
Bottom line: It led to "a recession of 'exceptional brevity and moderate amplitude.'"
ICYMI: What? May?! Really??! Edition (5/3)
Well, here we still are, those of us who are fortunate enough to still be here. Let's read some things! *When teaching and parenting collide* I missed this when it landed at Chalkbeat a month ago-- Matt Barnum looks at teachers who have to balance virtual teaching and at-home parenting. *Teachers, parents and principals tell their story* Over at The Answer Sheet on the Washington Post, Carol Burris runs down some of the results of the big Network for Public Education pandemic stay-st-home education survey. *No To Race To The Top: Covid-19 * It shouldn't come as a surprise, b... more »
Middle Finger Symphony Sunday Matinee
~ NO TUXEDOS REQUIRED ~
Covid deaths, With lockdown vs No lockdown countries
It seems the hysteria lockdowns have little impact on the spread of the virus and early attainment of herd immunity. Some interesting materials: *Why Severe Social Distancing Might Actually Result In More Coronavirus Deaths* By Anonymous APRIL 3, 2020 https://thefederalist.com/2020/04/03/why-severe-social-distancing-might-actually-result-in-more-coronavirus-deaths/ *Swedish expert: why lockdowns are the wrong policy* Friday, 17 April 2020 Freddie Sayers https://unherd.com/thepost/coming-up-epidemiologist-prof-johan-giesecke-shares-lessons-from-sweden/ *Japan is gambling on a 'lockd... more »
NEC Director Larry Kudlow Discusses Economic Expectations…
National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow appears on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo to discuss what growth the relaunch of the economy can create. Additionally, Kudlow is questioned about a phase-4 legislative package containing bailouts for state and local governments. … Continue reading →
The Myth Of V-Shape Economic Recovery
The spin is in! Trump administration economic ‘message bearers’, Steve Mnuchin, US Treasury Secretary, and Kevin Hasset, senior economic adviser to Trump, this past Sunday on the Washington TV talking heads circuit launched a coordinated effort to calm the growing public concern that the current economic contraction may be as bad (or worse) than the great depression of the 1930s. Various big bank research departments predicting a GDP contraction in the first quarter (January-March 2020) anywhere from -4% to -7.5%, and for the current second quarter, a further contraction from -30%... more »
Update: Number Of Unemployed Now Over 30 Million
The number of workers applying for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits has risen to never-before-seen levels as a result of the coronavirus shock. In the last six weeks, nearly 28 million workers have applied for unemployment compensation. That is more than one in six workers, and over five times the worst period of the Great Recession. I should note that the Department of Labor (DOL) reports that 30.3 million workers applied for UI during the last six weeks on a “seasonally adjusted” basis, compared with 27.9 million on an unadjusted basis. Seasonal adjustments are typically hel... more »
Immigrants Making PPE Strike After Co-Worker Dies Of COVID
Today, Mexican immigrants making personal protective equipment LSL Healthcare in the suburbs of Chicago walked off the job, shutting down production as the workers demand paid time off to go into quarantine. The walk-off came off after a co-worker died of COVID. “The bosses didn’t inform the workers that there are sick people. They figured it out on their own,” says Maritere Gomez, an organizer with the worker center Arise Chicago, which is helping the workers organize. “If it were up to the bosses, the workers still wouldn’t know. They would put anyone live at risk cuz of profits... more »
This Might Be The Navy's Best Bet To Defeat China's Many Anti-Ship Missiles
*TNI Staff* *Security, Asia* The United States has to be willing to risk losing a carrier in a pitched battle. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *There are probably ways to break the Chinese kill chain using electronic or cyber-warfare that would allow a carrier strike group to fight inside the DF-26’s range. But once the missiles are en route, the key might lie in the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) battle network combined with the firepower of the carriers’ escort vessels. The U.S. Navy’s carrier fleet is increasingly challenged in the Western Pacific as ... more »
America Spends Trillions On Nuclear Weapons That Aren't Useful In A War
*Robert Farley* *Security, * What's the use of a weapon you can't use? *Here's What You Need To Remember: *We very occasionally make veiled threats of the combat use of nukes, we often use nukes as diplomatic chips, and we certainly enjoy the deterrent umbrella than the strategic nuclear forces provide. But the weapons themselves haven’t helped us win a war since 1945, even then under arguable circumstances. “Overrated” is a challenging concept. In sports, a player can be “great” and “overrated” at the same time. Future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, for exa... more »
How This Marine Earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Tarawa
*Warfare History Network* *History, Asia* [image: By Daderot - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8775088] A hellish four day fight. Four Medals of Honor were awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry during the invasion of Tarawa atoll in the Pacific during World War II. It is perhaps indicative of that four-day ordeal that three of them were awarded posthumously. The citation most covered in the press at the time, which caught the imagination of the American public, was given to the family of U.S. Marine 1st Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman f... more »
Type 092: China’s First Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine Made History
*Caleb Larson* *Submarines, China* The Type 092, or Xia-Class submarine as it is alternatively known, is a lonely submarine, it is the only hull of its class, and was China’s first attempt at shooting nukes from underwater The Type 092, or Xia-Class submarine as it is alternatively known, is a lonely submarine, it is the only hull of its class, and was China’s first attempt at shooting nukes from underwater. *Type 092* China’s nuclear deterrence has historically centered not on an overwhelming first-strike capability like that of the United States or the Soviet Union, but rathe... more »
America And China Cannot Afford Another Fight Like The Korean War
*Robert Farley* *Security, Asia* It was truly hell. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *There was nothing good about the last Sino-American War, not even the “peace” that resulted from it. The experience of this war, now nearly forgotten on both sides, should serve as a grim lesson for policy makers in both Washington and Beijing. In November 1950, China and the United States went to war. Thirty-six thousand Americans died, along with upwards of a quarter million Chinese, and half a million or more Koreans. If the United States was deeply surprised to find itself at war with the... more »
American Jails Are Now Among the Deadliest Coronavirus Hotspots
*Clark Neily* *Politics, Americas* [image: A prison employee drives past a surveillance camera on the grounds of the Otay Mesa Detention Center, a ICE (Immigrations & Customs Enforcement) federal detention center privately owned and operated by prison contractor CoreCivic, amid the coronavirus dis] In the midst of a genuine emergency, it is no secret what will happen to most people who contract COVID-19 behind bars: They will be left to live or die with only token medical attention. America's jails and prisons are now among the deadliest environments on the planet. Most of them ... more »
Meet the XFY Pogo: This Plane Almost Flew from Navy Aircraft Carriers
*Caleb Larson* *Security, Americas* [image: Wikimedia Commons] But it only made one test flight. After the Second World War, the U.S. Army and Navy began research into vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft as a way to maximize aircraft carrier usefulness. Aircraft carriers had especially proven their worth during the Pacific Theater, where thousands of planes had taken off from American flattops. A viable VTOL aircraft could in theory perhaps double the amount of airframes an aircraft carrier could carry. Rather than needing a long flight deck with which to take off, a VT... more »
Beyond the F-22 or F-35: Meet Japan's F-3 6th Generation Stealth Fighter
*Charlie Gao* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Lots of plans, but will it ever fly. Here's all we know so far. Through April and March 2020, the choice of who Japan would partner with for their “F-3” next generation fighter jet has been reported on constantly, with seemingly contradictory headlines on who the partner would be. This may give the impression that Japan is waffling on their choice of partners in the project. However a deeper reading of the articles shows that Japan’s policy has been rather consistent, and recent developments are a simple narrowing down of optio... more »
Britain's New Unmanned Underwater Gliders Will Reveal Enemy Submarines
*Peter Suciu* *Security, Europe* The unmanned system uses an array of cutting-edge sensors to send near real-time information on temperature, depth, salinity, ocean currents, oxygen levels and turbulence. The Royal Navy has announced it has begun tests of underwater gliders that can rapidly send vital information to provide an edge to its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. A Slocum Glider is being rigorously trialed in the North Atlantic off the coast of Scotland during a five-month deployment as part of Project Hecla, which was established to optimize the Royal Navy's abi... more »
Trump’s effusive praise of China’s coronavirus response
Politico has an article that outlines 15 different times that President Trump praised China for its handling of the coronavirus epidemic, between January 22 and February 29. More recently, Trump has become harshly critical of China: President Donald Trump yanked U.S. funding for the World Health Organization on Tuesday, complaining that the United Nations public […] The post Trump’s effusive praise of China’s coronavirus response appeared first on Econlib.
Could the losses of the 1992 recession be repeated? You can bank on it
If you believe the myths, Australia's financial system is the envy of the developed world but those myths are about to be put to the test, with unemployment about to hit double digits and the country tipping into recession, writes Ian Verrender.
Out-of-work apprentices considering ditching trades for new post-coronavirus careers
A love of cars drove Charlotte Graham towards a career as a mechanic. But three years into her apprenticeship, the coronavirus pandemic has put her life on hold.
'Troubled' teen to fire chief: The making of a leader
Shane Fitzsimmons was nicknamed the "nation's father" for his leadership during the catastrophic bushfire season. As he departs his post as NSW RFS chief, he explains how he went from a troubled teenager to a celebrated leader, earning respect and saving lives along the way.
Hong Kong's becoming 'Orwellian' under the cover of coronavirus
With mass gatherings cancelled because of coronavirus, Hong Kong's Government stands accused of using the pandemic to distract people from its alleged crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement.
Russia is developing new weapon to destroy enemy satellites: report
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:45 P.M.) – The U.S. publication, National Interest, which specializes in political and military affairs, wrote an article saying that Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon to eliminate hostile satellites or disrupt their work. According to the article, Russian specialists are creating a complex equipped with very small satellites and a small […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Turkish-backed forces bomb strategic airbase near Libyan capital
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:10 P.M.) – The Government of National Accord (GNA) forces, bombed a strategic airbase in the western countryside of Tripoli, today, the GNA’s official Facebook page announced. “The Air Force carried out 3 airstrikes a short time ago on Al-Watiyah Airbase, targeting the mechanisms and concentrations of the Haftar terrorist militia at the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
North and South Korea trade shots along border area
Speaking during the same interview, Pompeo commented on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The US State Secretary said that shots that were fired from North Korea towards the South in the demilitarized zone on Sunday were believed to be “accidental.” “Handful of shots came across from the north, we think those were accidental… South […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russian stealth jets flew ‘unnoticed’ over 6 US bases in Syria and Iraq: media
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:45 P.M.) – The Russian Su-57 stealth jets flew ‘unnoticed’ over several U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, the Russian publication Avia.Pro reported on Sunday. “The Russian Su-57 fighter managed to pass unnoticed over American military airbases in northern Iraq. The incident occurred during the last appearance of a fifth-generation Russian fighter in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Venezuela reports attempted naval invasion from Colombia
The Venezuelan armed forces and police have thwarted an attempted naval invasion by mercenaries attempting to enter the country by sea from neighbouring Colombia, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol has announced. “We would like to inform and denounce to the national and international community that early this morning, May 3, 2020, a group of terrorist […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Is This a Photograph of Biden with Tara Reade?
Tara Reade, who worked as an assistant helping manage interns for Biden's Senate office in 1993, has made an allegation of sexual assault against the former vice president.
Don’t Criticize China
None of this blog’s readers will criticize the Worker’s Paradise, its bioweapons program, the People’s Liberation Army or the Chinese Communist Party if they know what’s good for them. Don’t even think about it. As for me personally, I’m never going to visit China again and whether or not MY voice is beyond their reach […] The post Don’t Criticize China appeared first on Virtual Mirage.
Islamic State Attacks Surge In The Middle East As The Coronavirus Pandemic Continues
ISIL attacks against government forces in Iraq have been on the rise since April compared with previous months this year [File: Achilleas Zavallis/AFP] *Daily Mail: **ISIS takes advantage of Covid crisis to launch attacks on military positions in Iraq and oil fields and civilians in Syria* * Intelligence officials estimate 2,500 to 3,000 ISIS fighters remain in Iraq alone * An additional 500 escaped from prisons in Syria last month, fuelling violence * Attacks have been recorded within 60 miles of Baghdad and inside Syria Iraq and Syria are battling a resurgence in attacks from ISI... more »
Coronavirus update: Brazil becomes first country in Latin America to record 100,000 cases
Just In - 10 hours ago
Brazil becomes the ninth country to reach 100,000 cases, Boris Johnson speaks about how doctors prepared for his possible death, and the US Secretary of State says China has a "history of infecting the world".
Iran denies allegations of torturing Afghan migrants
Just In - 10 hours ago
Iranian officials deny that their border guards have been torturing Afghan migrants and throwing them into a nearby river, resulting in several deaths.
South Korea doubts Kim surgery as Pompeo calls DMZ shooting 'accidental'
Just In - 10 hours ago
A South Korean official says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not have any surgery during his recent absence, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls shots fired in the demilitarized zone "accidental".
On Contact: Colonial War On Palestine
On the show this week, Chris Hedges discusses the long, disingenuous role the USA has played in the Israel-Palestine conflict with Professor Rashid Khalidi. Rashid Khalidi is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. His new book is ‘The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance.’ The post On Contact: Colonial War On Palestine appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.
A Federal Jobs Program For Contact Tracing
As of last Thursday, 26.5 million Americans had filed for unemployment in a five-week span, as businesses not deemed essential are scaling back or shuttering entirely. Yet perhaps the most essential work of all remains stubbornly undone. To safely reopen the economy without new waves of infection and death, virtually everyone who has written on the topic has been repeating the same urgent recommendation for months: The United States must ramp up testing, and with it employ a robust program of “contact tracing.” That is, we must reach out to those who test positive, determine who t... more »
Pushback: US Elites Use Russiagate Playbook To Blame China And Promote Hostility
The US establishment is demonizing China over the COVID-19 crisis with a familiar Russiagate playbook of specious claims, fear-mongering, and deflecting responsibility for homegrown dysfunction. The bipartisan US establishment has coalesced around increased hostility to China in response to the coronavirus pandemic. China has faced numerous allegations including that it covered up the pandemic at the world’s expense, developed the virus in a lab, and has spread disinformation. Journalist and attorney Ajit Singh debunks some of the most widespread claims lodged against China and ana... more »
Farewell To The God Of Plague
Old diseases of plague and cholera have largely been overcome in China thanks to the improvement in the standard of living; but new ailments have arrived, and some of these have been devastating. The novel coronavirus is one of these, and it has been the author of the Great Lockdown. The first real evidence of the virus came to the doctors of Wuhan in late December; they reported it to their hospital administrators, who then told their national health commissions; within days, the Chinese government informed the World Health Organization. Weeks into the outbreak, the government shu... more »
Fighting COVID-19 With Mass Action And A People’s Strike
The passionate debates surrounding the response to the COVID-19 pandemic are useless if they don’t lead to a larger fight against capitalism. The shut downs of business and schools intended to stop the spread of corona virus have created 22 million newly unemployed people. That means those workers have lost their health care. They may not be able to pay rent or mortgages or buy food. All efforts must be directed towards addressing their needs and working towards transformational change. COVID-19 has exposed the fraudulence of American democracy. The neo-liberal austerity regime e... more »
How Profit And Incompetence Delayed N95 Masks While People Died
Before embarking on a 36-hour tour through an underground of contractors and middlemen trying to make a buck on the nation’s desperate need for masks, entrepreneur Robert Stewart Jr. offered an unusual caveat. “I’m talking with you against the advice of my attorney,” the man in the shiny gray suit, an American Flag button with the word “VETERAN” pinned to his blazer, said as we boarded a private jet Saturday from the executive wing at Dulles International Airport. It remains a mystery why the CEO of Federal Government Experts LLC let me observe his frantic effort to find 6 million... more »
Immokalee Workers Win Major COVID-19 Victories In Florida
During the past month, the strict criteria in place effectively limited the tests to those with severe symptoms, giving public health officials a very limited view into the path of the virus. Starting Sunday, as stated in the Department of Health’s press release, no referral will be needed for testing, opening testing to symptomatic and non-symptomatic people alike. This means that the number of people tested should increase significantly, and the ability of public health officials to track, understand, and predict the virus’s path should expand along with it. The new testing pr... more »
Military Spending In 2019 Hits Highest Increase In A Decade
Earlier this week a new analysis was reported showing the world’s military spent a combined $1.9 trillion last year with the U.S. being the top spenders. According to the most current annual report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the top military spenders after the U.S. were China, India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Total spending in 2019 was 3.6% higher than in the previous year and accounted for 2.2% of global gross domestic product (GDP). “This is the highest level of spending since the 2008 global financial crisis and probably represents a peak... more »
The Dangers Of COVID-19 Surveillance Proposals To The Future Of Protest
Many of the new surveillance powers now sought by the government to address the COVID-19 crisis would harm our First Amendment rights for years to come. People will be chilled and deterred from speaking out, protesting in public places, and associating with like-minded advocates if they fear scrutiny from cameras, drones, face recognition, thermal imaging, and location trackers. It is all too easy for governments to redeploy the infrastructure of surveillance from pandemic containment to political spying. It won't be easy to get the government to suspend its newly acquired tech an... more »
South Korea: Kim Did Not Have Surgery Amid Lingering Rumors
A senior South Korean presidential official told reporters that the government had determined that Kim did not have surgery or any other procedure,
U.S. Warns The Taliban To Curb Its Attacks
@Zabehulah_M33 You asked for clarity on Gen Miller’s calls for the Taliban to reduce violence. Let's clarify: The people of #Afghanistan want #peace. The world has asked the #Taliban to cease violence and focus on #COVID19. Now is the time to stop the violence. @suhailshaheen1 pic.twitter.com/9EUrUh67Bt — USFOR-A Spokesman Col Sonny Leggett (@USFOR_A) May 2, 2020 *The Guardian: **US warns Taliban to curb attacks after exit deal calls for 80% cut to violence* Previously secret agreement emerges as spokesmen for US military and Taliban clash on Twitter The US military has warned t... more »
Could Retroviruses Play a Role in COVID-19?
Story at-a-glance Cellular and molecular biologist Judy Mikovits, Ph.D. believes COVID-19 — the disease — is not caused by SARS-CoV-2 alone, but rather that it’s the result of a combination of SARS-CoV-2 and XMRVs (human gammaretroviruses) SARS-CoV-2 also appears to have been manipulated to include components of HIV that destroys immune function along with XMRVs […] The post Could Retroviruses Play a Role in COVID-19? appeared first on Health Nut News.
The World Is Facing An Unprecedented Hunger Crisis Due To The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic
*CBS:* *"I'm starving now": World faces unprecedented hunger crisis amid coronavirus pandemic* It's Friday morning in Alexandra township – a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of South Africa's largest city, Johannesburg – and dozens of people are gathered in a field outside a food distribution point, hoping today might be the day they get something to eat. "If you're hungry, it's easy to get sick from stress and everything," says Mduduzi Khumalo, who's been lining up every day for two weeks. To get food your name has to be on the list and, so far, despite registering multiple ti... more »
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