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Bezos: Disinformation board should investigate Biden tweet

Caroline Vakil
The Hill
Sat, 14 May 2022 10:44 UTC
Bezos
© AP/Pablo Martinez MonsivaisJeff Bezos
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos criticized President Biden for a tweet the president wrote suggesting that taxing wealthier corporations could help bring down inflation, calling lumping the two topics together a "misdirection."

"You want to bring down inflation? Let's make sure the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share," Biden tweeted on Friday evening.

"The newly created Disinformation Board should review this tweet, or maybe they need to form a new Non Sequitur Board instead. Raising corp taxes is fine to discuss. Taming inflation is critical to discuss. Mushing them together is just misdirection," Bezos shot back, quote-tweeting Biden's statement on the platform.

Since the announcement of the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board last month, the new board has drawn the ire from a number of Republicans who have called it the "Ministry of Truth" and alleged it would censor free speech.
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Stock Up

Strong ruble not all good news: Economist points to downside


RT
Mon, 23 May 2022 19:42 UTC
strong ruble russia
© Valeriya Luzina/Dreamstime.com
The Russian currency's strength may negatively affect other sectors of the economy

The combination of a strong ruble and high oil prices will temporarily tame inflation, however, it also could accelerate consumer prices in the future, according to Doctor of Economics Denis Domashchenko, as quoted by the Russian business daily RBC.

The analyst warns that the dominance of energy sector revenues along with a firm national currency may evoke the so-called 'Dutch disease'.

In economics, the 'Dutch disease' is the seemingly causal relationship between the increase in economic development of a specific sector and a decline in other sectors. It could emerge as the negative consequences that can arise from a spike in the value of a nation's currency due to the rapid growth of the export of goods of one dominant industry, most commonly fossil fuels. At first, the influx of foreign currency reduces inflation in the country, but at the same time, it slows down the development of other industries and hinders economic growth, leading to price acceleration.

Comment: Ruble stronger than before Ukraine crisis, Russia needs just 6 months to offset impact of sanctions

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Bad Guys

Why does the US Census Bureau keep hiring "unsuitable individuals" with criminal records?


Judicial Watch
Tue, 17 May 2022 19:30 UTC
U.s. census bureau
© U.S. Department of CommerceUnited States Census Bureau, Suitland MD
Thirteen years after a federal investigation blasted the U.S. Census Bureau for hiring criminals to enter American homes to gather statistics for the decennial count, a new audit reveals the disturbing practice continues. In fact, more than a decade after the problem was exposed, workers for the 2020 count were not properly vetted and many with criminal records had direct interactions with the public. The most recent probe, conducted by the Department of Commerce Inspector General, found that "dozens of employees who worked on address canvassing in advance of the 2020 census had major issues flagged on their investigations, which typically means employees are automatically disqualified from their federal jobs."

Chunks of the 28-page report are redacted but the gist is well conveyed, that the Census Bureau has long failed to screen its workforce and therefore endangers the public. It's not like there isn't a vetting system in place. When one of the 248 regional offices recruit a candidate, the Census Investigative Services (CIS) at the agency's headquarters in Suitland, Maryland is charged with conducting a pre-employment suitability review. The process includes sending fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and a credit history as well as self-disclosed criminal record to CIS for review. Nevertheless, the Bureau still hires felons — including sex offenders — at regional offices nationwide. As an example, a few years ago the Charlotte, North Carolina Area Census Office (ACO) employed a man convicted of a felony involving sex with a child as a regional recruiting manager because despite his criminal record, he passed the Census Bureau's background check.
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Handcuffs

Detained Ukrainian opposition leader Medvedchuk testifies against ex-president


RT
Mon, 23 May 2022 18:54 UTC
Viktor Medvedchuk
© YouTube / Security service of UkraineViktor Medvedchuk has asked Putin and Zelensky to exchange him for the "defenders" of Mariupol in a video by the Security Service of Ukraine
Viktor Medvedchuk has outlined alleged corruption schemes perpetrated by former Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has published a video in which captured Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk testifies against former president Petro Poroshenko, accusing him of privatizing a fuel pipeline and conducting business with the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk during his time in office.

The two men are the most significant political rivals to incumbent President Volodomyr Zelensky.

Medvedchuk, the leader of Ukraine's second-largest party, 'Opposition Platform - For Life', was detained by the SBU on April 12 after being charged with treason. His group, along with other opposition parties in Ukraine, has been banned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for "collaborating with Russia" and engaging in "anti-Ukrainian" activities, such as opposing the government's policies on Western integration.

Comment: It seems that Medvedchuk know where an awful lot of the bodies are buried. No wonder Zelensky's handlers want him out of the way.

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Black Cat

Pressure mounts on UK Home Secretary Patel over Assange extradition decision

Joe Lauria
Consortium News
Mon, 23 May 2022 17:51 UTC
priti patel assange
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and Julian Assange
The British home secretary is under pressure as she's about to decide whether to extradite WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.

At some point during the next nine days, British Home Secretary Priti Patel will decide whether or not to extradite imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange to the United States to face espionage charges for publishing accurate information revealing U.S. war crimes.

Pressure is building from both sides on the home secretary. Press freedom and human rights organizations, a Nobel laureate, the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, journalists and Assange supporters have appealed to Patel to let Assange go.

While it would be deemed improper for outside influence to be brought on judges, it would not be fanciful to imagine that behind the scenes Patel is getting the message from the U.S. Department of Justice and possibly from U.S. and U.K. intelligence services about what is expected of her.

Comment: The never-ending process is just another form of torture for Assange. Freedom of speech and the press are now hanging in the balance

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Bad Guys

Biden says would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan

Trevor Hunnicutt and Sakura Murakami
Reuters
Mon, 23 May 2022 10:40 UTC
joe biden fumio kishida
© David Mareuil/Pool via REUTERS
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, in a series of critical comments about China he made in Tokyo that an aide said represented no change in U.S. policy on the self-ruled island.

Biden's comment, made during his first visit to Japan since taking office, and as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida looked on, appeared to be a departure from existing U.S. policy of so-called strategic ambiguity on Taiwan.

China considers the democratic island its territory, part of "one China", and says it is the most sensitive and important issue in its ties with the United States.

Comment: See also:

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Bizarro Earth

WHO Stealth Coup to Dictate Global Health Agenda of Gates, Big Pharma

F. William Engdahl
New Eastern Outlook
Wed, 18 May 2022 00:00 UTC
Tedros
Acting on an initiative from the Biden Administration, by November 2022, conveniently at the onset of the next flu season in the northern hemisphere, the World Health Organization, barring a miracle, will impose an unprecedented top-down control over the national health regulations and measures of the entire planet. In what amounts to a stealth coup d'etat, WHO will get draconian new powers to override national sovereignty in 194 UN member countries, and to dictate their health measures with force of international law. It is sometimes referred to as the WHO Pandemic Treaty but it is far more. Worse, most of the WHO budget comes from private vaccine-tied foundations like the Gates Foundation or from Big Pharma, a massive conflict of interest.

Draconian New WHO Powers

Doing something with stealth means doing it in a secretive or concealed manner, to prevent it being widely known and possibly opposed. This applies to the proposal given by the Biden Administration to the Geneva WHO in January 18, 2022 according to official WHO documents. The WHO hid the details of the US "amendments" for almost three months, until 12 April, just a month before the relevant body of the WHO meets to approve the radical measures. Moreover, rather than the previous 18 month waiting time to become treaty in international law, only 6 months are used this time. This is a bum's rush. The US proposal is backed by every EU country and in total 47 countries ensuring almost certain passage.
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Arrow Down

Monkeypox: 'Fool me twice, shame on me'

Mike Whitney
Unz.com
Sat, 21 May 2022 06:10 UTC
Monkeypox & Covid
© Unz.com
"I can't believe it's monkey-pox season already and I haven't even taken my Ukrainian decorations down." Robin Monotti
Bill Gates prediction that the world would face an unexpected smallpox outbreak is miraculously unfolding. Should we be surprised?

I know I'm not. Here's the money-quote that was delivered by Gates 6 months before the first case was recorded.
"It'll take probably about a billion a year for a pandemic Task Force at the WHO level, which is doing the surveillance and actually doing what I call 'germ games' where you practice... You say, OK, what if a bioterrorist brought smallpox to 10 airports? You know, how would the world respond to that?" Bill Gates, Sky News, November 6, 2021
One can only marvel at Gates' extraordinary powers of perception. He's like some kind of Software Soothsayer able to divine the future from the entrails of animals. Is that it, or does he have a crystal ball tucked-away somewhere in the bowels of his Lake Washington mansion? Whatever it is, it's truly astonishing. Here's more from the World Socialist Web Site:
"An unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox virus has officially spread to 10 countries outside of Africa, with 107 confirmed or suspected cases reported as of this writing, in the United Kingdom (9 cases), Portugal (34), Spain (32), France (1), Belgium (2), Sweden (1), Italy (3), Canada (22), the United States (2), and Australia (1)."

Much remains unknown about what is causing the outbreak, which is the most geographically dispersed and rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1958. In the coming days and weeks, more data and scientific understanding will emerge, but already there is profound concern within the scientific community and among the public, which has found wide expression on social media." ("Over 100 monkeypox infections detected in 10 countries as unprecedented outbreak spreads globally", World Socialist Web Site)
Repeat: The most "rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1958."

I wonder if that "rapidly spreading" part has something to do with the way that researchers have been tweaking the gain-of-function of these unique pathogens in order to make them more contagious and more lethal? Is that what's going on?

We'll probably never know.
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Cardboard Box

Egypt's finance minister echoes warning of looming global famine where 'millions could die', intends to remove country's bread subsidies


Middle East Eye
Sun, 22 May 2022 20:30 UTC
empty shelves bare
© AFP/File photoA sign is placed on almost empty shelves of bread and other wheat-based food products that reads in French 'one bag per person', at a supermarket in the Tunisian capital Tunis, on 13 March
Increases in food prices triggered by Russia's war in Ukraine could kill "millions" of people globally, Egypt's finance minister has cautioned, echoing warnings made by the UN and G7 countries over the worldwide wheat shortage.

Mohamed Maait expressed concern regarding "food insecurity" around the world in an interview with Financial Times in London while insisting that Egypt has enough wheat to last until the end of the year.

Ukraine and Russia are among the biggest producers and exporters of wheat, corn and cooking oil, the global supplies of which have been threatened since Russia's 24 February invasion.

Comment: See also: The imminent global food crisis is being blamed on Russia, but the truth is rather more complex

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Question

Monkeypox outbreak simulation was run at Munich biosecurity conference just last year

Michael Senger
Brownstone Institute
Fri, 20 May 2022 12:00 UTC
monkey
Elite media outlets around the world are on red alert over the world's first-ever global outbreak of Monkeypox in mid-May 2022 — just one year after an international biosecurity conference in Munich held a simulation of a "global pandemic involving an unusual strain of Monkeypox" beginning in mid-May 2022.

Monkeypox was first identified in 1958, but there's never been a global Monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa until now — in the exact week of the exact month predicted by the biosecurity folks in their pandemic simulation. Take these guys to Vegas!

Ed Yong, who's penned dozens of hysterical articles on Covid for The Atlantic including such gems as COVID-19 Long-Haulers Are Fighting for Their Future, Even Health-Care Workers With Long COVID Are Being Dismissed, How Did This Many Deaths Become Normal? and The Final Pandemic Betrayal, is hot on the scene of the new Monkeypox outbreak.
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