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WHO urges Russia NOT to impose new lockdown due to mental health concerns, Kremlin had no plans to


RT
Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:18 UTC
russia mask
© Sputnik / Alexander Galperin
Passengers of the St. Petersburg metro in masks.
Despite a dramatic spike in daily reported coronavirus infections over the past week, the World Health Organization's representative in Russia has cautioned against the idea of re-introducing harsh restrictions in the country.

Melita Vujnovic warned on Friday that prolonged lockdowns influence the human mental state, and therefore should be avoided at all costs. Russia imposed one of world's toughest quarantines following the first serious outbreaks of Covid-19 in March, and many Russians fear the harsh winter in most of the country will make a repeat hard for people to bear.

"The local authorities know the current epidemiological situation better (than I do). But a major lockdown must be avoided at all costs. People must realize and bear their personal responsibility: keep maximum social distance, disinfect hands, wear masks," Vujnovic told news outlet Forbes. "This is also a business's task to protect employees and clients, to increase distance between them and so on. Local restrictions may be a solution, but, of course, we cannot rule out introduction of other necessary measures,"

Comment: See also: Man breaks out of quarantine using bedsheet, later detained by police, in Auckland, New Zealand

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Penis Pump

'Forgive me, Father, for I am white': UK Labour leader absolves himself of the sin of whiteness with unconscious bias training

Frank Furedi
RT
Fri, 02 Oct 2020 17:35 UTC
Keir Starmer
© Twitter / @Keir_Starmer
The British Labour leader enthusiastically prostrated himself before the gods of woke to purge his soul of racism, but this is not harmless virtue-signaling, it is promotion of dangerous indoctrination.

When it comes to taking pride in your achievement, the leader of the British Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, sets the bar rather low. This is why his spokesman has actually bothered to inform the world that Starmer has passed his unconscious bias training course.

In reality, anyone who is prepared to humiliate themselves and listen to a moral entrepreneur lecture them about their bias and unwitting racism can pass their unconscious bias training.

All you have to do is nod your head, acknowledge that you, along with all white people, are unwittingly racist and confess to a time when you used your white privilege, and you will get your course certificate. As Starmer no doubt understands, what's important about the ritual of unconscious bias training is your willingness to participate and subjugate yourself to a few hours of humiliation.

Comment: Meanwhile in the US, Trump is rightly pulling all funding from this divisive, nonsense: Trump bans 'divisive, anti-American' diversity training

See also:

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Snakes in Suits

Bullying legal threat shows that frustrated EU is being outmaneuvered by UK dirty tricks in Brexit negotiations

Damian Wilson
RT
Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:31 UTC
EU Union jack flag britain
© Getty Images / Bloomberg Creative
As the Brexit endgame moves ever closer, the EU says it will sue the British government over its intention to breach the Withdrawal Agreement. But it's a hollow threat borne out of exasperation over the UK's tactics.

As the European Union launches legal proceedings against the UK over its stated intention to breach the agreement, in reality the bullies of Brussels are simply trying to pile on the pressure until a deal is finalized or we leave without one.

Hollow threats are a go-to weapon in the EU arsenal.

Because it looks like a deal of some description will happen after all the ill humor of 2020. Despite sticking points, behind-the-scenes briefings and a broad disagreement about how to approach an agreement, this latest move is really just for show.

Comment: See also: Still Confused About Brexit? It's Actually Pretty Simple...

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Snakes in Suits

Macron drafts new 'secularism' laws that outlaw homeschooling, claims to be fighting 'Islamic separatism'


France24
Fri, 02 Oct 2020 09:49 UTC
Macron
© Eric Feferberg / AFP
FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron poses in the courtyard of the Zitouna mosque in the Tunisian capital Tunis. February 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said his government will unveil a proposed law to fight "Islamist separatism" later this year, a particularly sensitive issue in a country strongly attached to secularism.

In a keenly-awaited speech in the Paris region, the French president detailed plans for a law to fight what he identifies as the favouring of religious laws over France's republican, secular values - a stance he calls "separatism".


Comment: So these laws target ALL religions, not just Islam?


Macron described Islam as "a religion that is in crisis all over the world today" as he focused his keynote address on the battle against Islamic radicalism in France.

Comment: And how best to focus on the secular French republic than to provide opportunities for students to learn Arabic:
More Arabic will be taught in French schools and extra resources will be directed at studying the Muslim civilization, the country's leader Emmanuel Macron said. The measures are part of the strategy to fight Islamic radicalism.

In his speech on Friday, the president highlighted the importance of preventing radicalization in the country's Muslim communities. He said that "more Arabic language will be taught in schools or as part of extended day programs." Macron explained that authorities must put an end to young people learning the language "from groups that offer them the worst and manipulate them."

"Arabic, just like many other languages, is a treasure of our children, of their families," Macron said, stressing that the state must support "the emergence of a better understanding of Islam."

The president announced that the government will create the "Scientific Institute of Islamology" along with new positions in higher education to conduct research on "the Muslim civilization, the Mediterranean Sea region and Africa." On top of that, more funding will go to the Foundation of Islam for France, which was established in 2016 to promote "progressive Islam," according to its mission statement.

Aside from various outreach initiatives, Macron vowed to continue defending secularism as one of the key principles of modern France. He said that the government would prepare a bill that would strengthen a 1905 law that officially separated the church from the state.
As with most of Macron's manoeuvres it's likely that these laws will be used to target all kinds of groups and introduce various oppressive measures. And it seems that homeschooling is the first victim.

See also:

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Handcuffs

AG Barr told prosecutors to charge violent protesters with sedition

Jeffrey Mordock
The Washington Times
Wed, 16 Sep 2020 22:29 UTC
AG William Barr
© AP Photo/Bob Christie
In this file photo, U.S. Attorney General William Barr speaks at a news conference, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Phoenix.
Attorney General William P. Barr told federal prosecutors last week to charge violent demonstrators with a range of offenses, including sedition, a charge usually reserved for someone plotting to overthrow the government, according to a report Wednesday.

Citing people familiar with the conversation, The Wall Street Journal reported Mr. Barr issued the instructions in a conference with U.S. attorneys across the country.

Also in the call, Mr. Barr warned that the violent protests across the country could get worse as the Election Day approaches, according to the report. Mr. Barr urged the prosecutors to consider a number of federal counts when lodging charges, including sedition, a rarely used law, the Journal reported.

Mr. Barr also urged prosecutors to file federal charges whenever possible, according to the report.

Comment: The mayors, district attorneys and governors that facilitate rioting and looting, ignoring the rule of law should also be charged with sedition.

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Dollar

Why doesn't anyone ask Joe Biden why he's dodging Obamacare taxes?

Christopher Jacobs
The Federalist
Wed, 30 Sep 2020 21:10 UTC
joe biden presidentential nomination acceptance speech
Chris Wallace ignored Donald Trump's answer about paying "millions" in taxes during Tuesday night's debate, repeatedly demanding that the president answer a question he'd already answered. Meanwhile, the person who really should answer for his tax returns is Joe Biden.

A few hours before the first presidential debate of the 2020 general election campaign, and amid a full-blown media kerfuffle over Trump's taxes, the Democratic nominee released his 2019 tax returns. The timing of the release seemed far from coincidental: ahead of the debate, so Biden could say he made his returns public, but without giving reporters and moderator Chris Wallace time to absorb the returns prior to the debate. It seems Biden was hoping the details of his returns would become old news immediately after Tuesday evening.

Reporters should dig into Biden's tax returns, however, in the same way they have shown a seemingly unquenchable curiosity regarding Trump's, for one reason: Biden claims to support Obamacare — but has consistently avoided paying Obamacare taxes.
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Dollars

Fact check: Treasury reports disprove Biden's 'totally false' claims about Hunter's cash haul

Rowan Scarborough
The Washington Times
Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:00 UTC
Joe and Hunter Biden
© AP Photo/Nick Wass
In this Jan. 30, 2010, file photo, Vice President Joe Biden, left, with his son Hunter, right, at the Duke Georgetown NCAA college basketball game in Washington.
Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden flatly denied at Tuesday night's debate that his lawyer son took huge sums of money from corrupt oligarchs and Chinese communists during his vice presidency, but Treasury Department reports show that Hunter Biden did receive the money.

President Trump chose to make an issue of Hunter Biden's cash haul from Russia, Ukraine and China with the implication that unsavory figures were trying to buy Vice President Biden and the Obama administration.

"When somebody gets 3½ million dollars from the mayor of Moscow," Mr. Trump said.

Comment: And half the country calls Trump a liar - when it is Joe Biden who is as crooked as they come. See also:

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Bad Guys

Macron is right, Europe must come out of America's shadow and reject the bipolar, Cold War era world view pedalled by Washington

Rachel Marsden
RT
Fri, 02 Oct 2020 14:08 UTC
Macron
© REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
French President Emmanuel Macron
The French president is showing signs that he's willing to follow the path first forged by General De Gaulle, who kicked US forces out of France and pulled the country out of NATO to preserve sovereignty and independence.

It was a remarkable statement from a modern European leader. During a visit to Lithuania this week, French President Emmanuel Macron said,
"We, some countries more than others, gave up on our strategic independence by depending too much on American weapons systems. We cannot accept to live in a bipolar world made up of the US and China."
Macron has shown repeated signs of wanting to lead an effort to reject global models that are now as outdated as the Berlin Wall. And that includes Europe's role in the world as a third major pole in this multipolar world now divided primarily into East and West. But it has been an uphill battle. Old institutions that depend on outdated paradigms have shown that they're willing to sacrifice peace, prosperity, and progress, rather than be forced to take a hard look in the mirror.

Comment: Though correct about this one point, when it comes to other issues of geopolitics and economics his neoliberal policies would seem to be a dismal failure:

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Eye 1

'Operation Hotel': New details of sophisticated spying operation on Julian Assange emerge at Old Bailey

Tareq Haddad
tareqhaddad.com
Wed, 30 Sep 2020 18:03 UTC
assange surveillance embassy spying UC global

'Operation Hotel': Surveillance captured by Spanish security firm UC Global shows Julian Assange walking in the Ecuadorean embassy in London.
New revelations about the extensive spying that took place while Julian Assange sought political asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy in London have emerged at the Old Bailey on Wednesday (September 30).

Vast details of the U.S.-backed surveillance operation had already been made public after whistleblowers from the Spanish security firm UC Global had approached Assange's lawyers and charges were henceforth brought in the Spanish High Court, however, previously unreported information on the extent of the operation has now been brought forward.

The two whistleblowers - who have been anonymised to protect them out of fear of repercussions - both joined the Spanish contractor in 2015 when it had been a "meagre" start-up launched by David Morales, watching as the firm became embroiled in one of the most high-profile assaults on a political prisoner in recent history.

Comment:

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Snakes in Suits

Senate Democrats and Republicans strike deal to subpoena Big Tech CEOs

Robby Soave
Reason
Thu, 01 Oct 2020 12:35 UTC
Zuckerberg
© CNP/AdMedia/SIPA/Newscom
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
The Senate Commerce Committee voted on Thursday to subpoena various "Big Tech" CEOs in advance of the U.S. presidential election. The unanimous decision — supported by all of the committee's Republicans and Democrats — shows that bipartisanship isn't dead, sadly.

Democrats were initially wary of supporting the subpoena, according to National Journal's Brendan Bordelon. But they came around after Republicans agreed to also question the CEOs about the spread of disinformation on social media — a concession to Democrats — in addition to questions about anti-conservative bias.


Comment: Sadly? With the nation in a state of increasing divide - especially with elections a month away - unanimity is not a sad thing!


Comment: Tech companies got themselves into this mess. They have assumed the liberty to divide and conquer, make up rules as they go along that interfere, manipulate or cancel First Amendment rights via their social networks. Constitutional mandates define parameters - for everyone. The question: Can the Rs & Ds remember how to cooperate, civilly investigate big tech overreach and come to realistic agreement on how to move forward in service to the public as their first priority?

Another issue is unfolding: Facebook prohibits ads that 'delegitimize the outcome of an election'
Facebook updated its advertising policy on Wednesday and announced additional prohibitions on advertisements about the upcoming election and the census.

The change is yet another update to the policy Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Sept. 3 that banned any political ads from appearing on the social media platform the week before Election Day, according to Fast Company.

The policy was followed by a Sept. 23 update when Facebook said it would not accept any ads from President Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden claiming victory before the results of the election are finalized, which Senate Democrats say could be days after Election Day because of mail-in ballots.

Rob Leathern, the director of product management at Facebook, clarified the updated policy on Twitter:

"Last week we said we'd prohibit ads that make premature declarations of victory. We also won't allow ads with content that seeks to delegitimize the outcome of an election," Leathern tweeted. "For example, this would include calling a method of voting inherently fraudulent or corrupt, or using isolated incidents of voter fraud to delegitimize the result of an election. ... These changes apply to ads across Facebook and Instagram, and are effective immediately."
And, once again, the Lords of Social Media have spoken.

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