(2020-04-29). Finding Humor When 'Shit Is So Terrible': A Conversation With Samantha Irby. thenation.com 
| We talked to the writer and comedian about privacy, blogging, chronic illness, and how to actually enjoy social media.
(2020-04-29). NYC mayor blasted for 'anti-Semitism' after threatening to arrest Jews for flouting Covid-19 distancing rules at rabbi's funeral. rt.com 
A tightly-packed funeral procession of Orthodox Jews attracted the ire of Bill de Blasio, but netizens had something to say about the mayor's own distancing policy and said his outburst had "invited anti-Semitism." | The New York City mayor tweeted his anger at members of Brooklyn's Jewish community who gathered on Tuesday night for the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Mertz. "My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed," he wrote. | Photos of the procession were circulated in the media, with many of the participants visibly defying social distancing rules, w…
(2020-04-29). 'You misspelled censorship!' YouTube expands 'fact checks' to protect Americans from coronavirus 'misinformation'. rt.com 
YouTube will now "fact check" US search queries, expanding a feature tried in other countries last year in an effort to eradicate "misinformation" about Covid-19 — but some netizens are seeing hints of Orwell in the project. | The video-sharing giant rolled out the new feature on Tuesday, announcing that its "fact check information panels" will now appear on American searches, in which "authoritative sources" will show up below the search bar to correct claims that YouTube deems suspect. | "We're now using these panels to help address an additional challenge: misinformation that comes up quickly as part…
(2020-04-29). Demanding Women: Quarintine Conversations About Gun Violence w/ Sen. Elizabeth Warren. indybay.org Facebook livestream…
(2020-04-28). Minnesotans protest Trump's threats on Iran. fightbacknews.org St. Paul, MN – Over 30 cars occupied the parking lot of Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, April 26, to call on her to denounce President Trump's attacks and sanctions on Iran. Trump has escalated the threats against Iran by announcing on Twitter, April 22, that he told the Navy "to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Unlike Minnesota's Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Smith has remained silent while Trump again threatened Iran with further acts of war. | The safe-distance car protest was the first Twin Cities anti-war action during the coronavirus pandemic. It was o…
(2020-04-28). 'Did Biden's lawyer write this?' WaPo receives 'Noble' for 'embarrassing' attempt to obfuscate sexual assault claim in headline. rt.com 
The Washington Post was lambasted on social media after running a bizarrely tortured headline that took great pains to avoid direct mention of sexual assault allegations dogging Joe Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee. | "Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior," read…
(2020-04-28). Ukraine denies Armenian genocide, refers instead to 'tragic events of April'. rt.com 
Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar has urged government agencies to refrain from using the term 'genocide' when referring to the slaughter of Armenians a century ago, as it would go against Kiev's political interests. | An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1922. Bodnar outlined reasons for refusing to recognize the events as genocide in a letter to government officials, which was subsequently leaked on Facebook by a member of the Verkovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. | According to Bodnar, these events do not fit the UN definition of genocide, which…
(2020-04-28). Matt Hancock asked for apology by son of doctor who died after PPE warning. thecanary.co 
Matt Hancock has been asked for a public apology by the son of a doctor who died after warning the government about a lack of PPE.On Tuesday morning the health secretary took part in a live radio phone-in with Nick Ferrari on LBC, taking questions from members of the public.The first question came from Intisar Chowdhury, the son of Dr Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, who died earlier this month with Covid-19.Five days before he was admitted to hospital, Dr Chowdhury wrote a Facebook post asking Boris Johnson urgently to provide every NHS worker with personal protective equipment (PPE).Dr Chowdhury died on April 8 with Covi…
(2020-04-28). Drama erupts after half-naked woman photobombs broadcast of Spanish celebrity journalist. rt.com 
Spanish journalist Alfonso Merlos is in hot water after a beauty wearing only a top walked into the background of an interview he was broadcasting from home. His jilted girlfriend dubbed the sordid affair "shameful." | Merlos is a journalist, model and celebrity in his native Spain, but now his tangled private life is being torn apart by the Spanish-speaking media. | He was speaking as a guest on journalist Javier Negre's 'State of Alarm' YouTube channel last Friday, when a semi-naked woman casually sauntered into the frame, causing Negre's jaw to drop. | Esto es una auténtica maravilla: Javier Negre hace un S…
(2020-04-28). France: Unions Call for May 1st Demonstration. telesurenglish.net French Union organizations convoked members to celebrate Workers Day, despite the current COVID-19 pandemic. The groups stated they would demonstrate through social media to comply with COVID-19 preventive measures. | RELATED: | The General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the United Federation of Trade Unions (FSU), the Union Syndicale Solidaires (USS), the National Union of Students of France (UNEF), the Union Nationa…
(2020-04-28). Why It's Ugly To Criticize Trump For Dodging The Vietnam Draft. thealtworld.com popular tweet going around saying "Do you know what the 58,220 American Dead from the Vietnam War will have in common with the 58,220 American dead expected this midweek? Donald Trump refused to fight for either one of them." | The tweet has thousands of shares and While it is certainly legitimate to criticize Trump for his
(2020-04-28). Long-Acting Injectable HIV Therapy Noninferior to Daily Pills. jamanetwork.com A pair of trials in the New England Journal of Medicine found that long-acting monthly injectable therapy for HIV-1 infection was noninferior to standard daily oral regimens for maintaining viral suppression.
(2020-04-27). 'Does sarcasm ever work?' Trump brushes off 'Noble Prize' blunder, says it was a dig at media's lack of morals. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump fired back at detractors on Sunday, saying that mixing up the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize, and making a spelling mistake in a tweet attacking the media, was a deliberate play on words. | "Does anybody get the meaning of what a so-called Noble (not Nobel) Prize is, especially as it pertains to Reporters and Journalists? Noble is defined as, 'having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals,'" Trump tweeted shortly after taking a swipe at the "fake news" media in a series of tweets that threw the platform into full-blown meltdown. | "Does sarcasm ever…
(2020-04-27). Coronavirus-related syndrome among children may be emerging, alert suggests. thecanary.co A coronavirus-related syndrome among children may be emerging in the UK, a health alert sent to doctors suggests. | The UK Paediatric Intensive Care Society tweeted an alert from NHS England which says that, in the "last three weeks, there has been an apparent rise in the number of children of all ages presenting with a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care across London and also in other regions of the UK". | It said the effects had been seen in children both with and without coronavirus (Covid-19) but there was evidence that some patients had had coronavirus previously. | Prof Russell Viner,…
(2020-04-26). 'The hardest working president in history': Trump goes on Twitter rant against 'fake media' with Nobel Prizes for Russia stories. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump blasted the media over reports about his laid-back work schedule, and suggested taking Nobel Prizes away from journalists who pushed Russia collusion stories, mistaking the award for the Pulitzer. | "The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history," Trump wrote on Sunday afternoon, kicking off a firestorm of anti-media tweets. | The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history. I don't know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten more…
(2020-04-26). 'I never said it was a hoax!' Trump unloads on media in fiery rant, says coronavirus briefings 'not worth the time and effort'. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump fired off a scathing broadside at the mainstream media, accusing them of peddling the false claim that he called the coronavirus a hoax, and suggesting the Covid-19 briefings are a waste of time. | "What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately," the president tweeted on Saturday evening. | What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accu…
(2020-04-25). #KIMJONGUNDEAD is a rumor, but political jokes at North Korean leader's expense are already here. rt.com 
Rumors of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's declining health have inspired a bevy of mocking and agenda-driven tweets from both the left and right. | The hashtag #KIMJONGUNDEAD began trending on Twitter shortly after Reuters reported that China had dispatched a team of medical experts to the country to advise on his well-being. Although next to nothing is known for sure, social media went into a frenzy with memes and posts that had less to do with North Korea and more to do with US politics. | 'Dilbert' creator and political author Scott Adams used the news to take a shot at former Vice President Joe…
(2020-04-25). Covid-19 vaccine may be far away, but these alternate treatments are next best thing — study. rt.com 
While numerous clinical trials are currently fighting for a vaccine to the coronavirus, one new study suggests promising treatments that can be used in the meantime to battle the spread. | The study, titled 'The Current and Future State of Vaccines, Antivirals and Gene Therapies Against Emerging Coronaviruses' and
(2020-04-24). Dr. Rashid Buttar Interview — Why COVID-19 Is Not What You Think. thelastamericanvagabond.com Joining me today to discuss further some of the very relevant and important points we went over during our recent roundtable (www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2Fh3ThKoE) is Dr. Rashid Buttar. We discuss the very obvious way in which it seems we are all being deceived, and the many and varied ways in which that deception is taking place. (d.tube/c/tlavagabond) …
(2020-04-23). Oath Keepers Chaplain Quits Over Leader's COVID Response. splcenter.org Chuck Baldwin, who has served as the national chaplain of the antigovernment Oath Keepers since 2013, announced his resignation early Tuesday morning on Facebook.
(2020-04-22). Is Trump's "Shoot Down And Destroy" Tweet About Boosting Oil Prices Or A Harbinger Of War With Iran? thelastamericanvagabond.com Trump's recent tweet to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships" has sparked concern over a new war in the Middle East. However, the more immediate effect of Trump's tweet has been a big boost in oil prices and a rise in the stock market. Was that Trump's …
(2020-04-16). Hate Groups and Racist Pundits Spew COVID-19 Misinformation on Social Media Despite Companies' Pledges to Combat It. splcenter.org Hate groups and racist pundits have pushed misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic on mainstream social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube throughout the crisis, despite companies pledging to fight fake news about the virus.
(2020-04-15). [Correspondence] SARS-CoV-2 shedding and infectivity — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Barry Atkinson and Eskild Petersen for their comments on our Article describing the clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China.1 We agree that the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA in a respiratory specimen cannot be directly interpreted as a potential for disease transmission and infection.
(2020-04-15). [Correspondence] SARS-CoV-2 shedding and infectivity. thelancet.com Fei Zhou and colleagues1 estimated mean duration of viral shedding by assessing the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA in patient samples. Assessing potential infectivity is a labour-intensive process, but the presence of nucleic acid alone cannot be used to define viral shedding or infection potential, as the authors state is possible within their methods.
(2020-04-29). US: VP Pence violates hospital's COVID-19 mask protocol. yenisafak.com US Vice President Mike Pence has unleashed a storm on social media after he was seen on Tuesday violating the mask protocols of a private hospital in Minnesota.Pence, the head of White House Coronavirus Task Force, was the only person who chose not to wear a mask, despite warnings from the Mayo Clinic officials and its policy requiring them.Videos circulating in the local and social media showed the unprotected US vice president meeting with a hospital employee who has recovered from COVID-19, and maskless again when he visited one of its lab where coronavirus tests were conducted.He later joined a roundtable dis…
(2020-04-29). NYC mayor urges zero tolerance against large gatherings. yenisafak.com New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that large gatherings amid the fight against coronavirus will not be tolerated, adding "the time for warnings has passed."His remarks came late Tuesday following a major Jewish gathering for a rabbi's funeral in Brooklyn, where a large Jewish population resides."Something absolutely unacceptable happened in Williamsburg tonite: a large funeral gathering in the middle of this pandemic," the mayor said on Twitter. "When I heard, I went there myself to ensure the crowd was dispersed. And what I saw WILL NOT be tolerated so long as we are fighting the Coronavirus."The mayor sai…
(2020-04-29). Flooded With Birthday Cake Requests, Indian Official Plans to Block 'Direct Messages' on Twitter. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): On the one hand, police in India are trying to make sure that people obey the lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, but on the other hand, they are also working to make people feel special in these difficult times by bringing cakes on their birthdays.
(2020-04-22). Would you die for Wall Street? greenleft.org.au 
(2020-04-27). Zahedi, Shah's Ambassador to US Tells BBC He Is Proud Of Progress Made by Islamic Republic. iranian.com twitter.com/AliVaez/status/1254486590308712448…
(2020-04-26). US blocking Iran media outlet stark infringement of freedom of expression: Foreign Ministry. iranian.com Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a recent decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to block the domains of Iranian news outlets is in "stark infringement" of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and freedom of expression. In a Twitter post on Sunday, the Iranian ministry "strongly" condemned the US Treasury Department's …
(2020-03-19). [Correspondence] Use of antiviral drugs to reduce COVID-19 transmission. thelancet.com As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads, efforts are being made to reduce transmission via standard public health interventions based on isolation of cases and tracing of contacts. In their modelling study, Joel Hellewell and colleagues1 predict that such a strategy could contribute to reducing the overall size of an outbreak, but will still be insufficient to achieve outbreak control of COVID-19 when the basic reproduction number (R0) is higher than 1 ∑5 or the proportion of contacts traced is lower than 80%.
(2020-02-27). [Comment] COVID-19: combining antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatments. thelancet.com Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are characterised by an overexuberant inflammatory response and, for SARS, viral load is not correlated with the worsening of symptoms.1,2 In our previous Correspondence to The Lancet,3 we described how BenevolentAI's proprietary artificial intelligence (AI)-derived knowledge graph,4 queried by a suite of algorithms, enabled identification of a target and a potential therapeutic against SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; the causative organism in COVID-19).
(2020-02-24). [Correspondence] Viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples. thelancet.com An outbreak caused by a novel human coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first detected in Wuhan in December 2019,1 and has since spread within China and to other countries. Real-time RT-PCR assays are recommended for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.2 However, viral dynamics in infected patients are still yet to be fully determined. Here, we report our findings from different types of clinical specimens collected from 82 infected individuals.
(2020-02-24). [Comment] COVID-19 pneumonia: what has CT taught us? thelancet.com In late December, 2019, a cluster of cases of viral pneumonia was linked to a seafood market in Wuhan (Hubei, China), and was later determined to be caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; previously known as 2019-nCoV).1 The genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 is similar to, but distinct from, those of two other coronaviruses responsible for large-scale outbreaks in the past: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV; about 79% sequence identity) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV; about 50%).