2020-11-28: News Headlines

RT (2020-11-27). 'Dead to me': Eric Clapton slammed for collaborating with Van Morrison on anti-lockdown song. rt.com The announcement that Eric Clapton and Van Morrison have teamed up on a song critical of Covid-19 lockdowns has the legendary musicians facing a barrage of criticism on social media — before anyone has even heard the tune. | The single, titled 'Stand and Deliver,' was written by Morrison and performed by Clapton and will be released on December 4. Proceeds from the song will support Morrison's Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund, which provides assistance to musicians struggling financially due to lockdown measures preventing many live music performances. | Morrison's involvement should come as no surprise,…

John Pilger (2020-11-27). Britain's Class War on Children. counterpunch.org When I first reported on child poverty in Britain, I was struck by the faces of children I spoke to, especially the eyes. They were different: watchful, fearful. In Hackney, in 1975, I filmed Irene Brunsden's family. Irene told me she gave her two-year-old a plate of cornflakes. "She doesn't tell me she's hungry, she

Brad Reed (2020-11-27). Twitter tears down Marco Rubio for complaining about too much COVID news. salon.com "Yes, Marco. You're the victim. Not the 200,000+ dead due to inaction" responds one user…

Staff (2020-11-27). Differing Mask Mandates in Georgia Schools Put Teachers at Risk for COVID. truthout.org Masks were optional, and about half of the children wore them. So did the receptionist, but only sporadically, according to several teachers. | Within a couple of days, the receptionist was out sick. Another receptionist called in sick as well. Both had caught the coronavirus, according to social media posts. In the ensuing weeks, a wave of cases would rush through the building — an outbreak for which district leaders blamed the community rather than the lack of a mask mandate in the schoo…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-27). Court in Tunisia sentences blogger to two years in prison over social media posts. peoplesdispatch.org Blogger Wajdi Mahouechi was reportedly arrested after he criticized the public prosecutor in Tunisia. On November 12, the Tunis First Instance Court convicted him of all charges and sentenced him to two years in prison along with a fine of 1,000 Tunisian Dinars (USD 300)…

Alex MacDonald (2020-11-26). Egyptian human rights activist dies after contracting Covid-19. middleeasteye.net Egyptian human rights activist dies after contracting Covid-19 | Hafez Abu Seada, co-founder of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-November | Thu, 11/26/2020 – 16: 35 | Hafez Abu Seada and his wife Nehad Abo El Komsan (Facebook) | Hafez Abu Seada, a Leading Egyptian human rights activist, has died after contracting Covid-19, his wife announced on Th…

Alex MacDonald (2020-11-26). Egyptian rights activist Hafez Abu Seada dies after contracting Covid-19. middleeasteye.net Egyptian rights activist Hafez Abu Seada dies after contracting Covid-19 | Co-founder of Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-November | Thu, 11/26/2020 – 16: 35 | Hafez Abu Seada and wife Nehad Abo El Komsan (Facebook) | Hafez Abu Seada, a leading Egyptian human-rights activist, has died after contracting Covid-19, his wife said on Thursday. | Seada, co-f…

Alex MacDonald (2020-11-26). Egyptian human-rights activist dies after contracting Covid-19. middleeasteye.net Egyptian human-rights activist dies after contracting Covid-19 | Hafez Abu Seada, co-founder of Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-November | Thu, 11/26/2020 – 16: 35 | Hafez Abu Seada and wife Nehad Abo El Komsan (Facebook) | Hafez Abu Seada, a leading Egyptian human-rights activist, has died after contracting Covid-19, his wife said on Thursday. | Sea…

teleSUR (2020-11-26). Chile: 7 Arrested Amid Protest for Political Prisoners' Release. telesurenglish.net Seven people Wednesday were arrested during a protest for the release of hundreds of political prisoners who were captured during the 2019 social outbreak against Chile's President Sebastian Piñera. | RELATED: | Thousands of people took to the streets to "demand the freedom of the young people who remain in custody for their participation in the protests that followed October 18, 2019," protestor Ana Bohemia tweeted. | Pi…

sputniknews (2020-11-26). McDonald's 'Last Happy Meal' Post Triggers Depressing Thoughts Among Netizens. sputniknews.com The food-chain giant apparently meant that at some point, everyone outgrows the happy meal, typically ordered by children, but many Twitter users sensed a deeper meaning in the controversial post.

Wet'suwet'en land defenders (2020-11-26). Wednesday 11/25: Shut Down KKR Digital Day of Action — Divest from the Coastal GasLink pipeline. indybay.org Call, email and tweet at KKR all day on Wednesday. Let them know that their investment in the Coastal GasLink pipeline project is not a good one. KKR should divest now! | San Francisco: (415) 315-3620 | Investor-Relations@kkr.com | twitter.com/KKR_Co | [more contact info below]…

teleSUR (2020-11-26). Trump Announces Pardon for Ex Security Adviser Who Lied to FBI. telesurenglish.net U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he has pardoned Michael Flynn, his former National Security Adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). | RELATED: | "It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon," Trump tweeted, congratulating the retired Army lieutenant general while wishing him "a truly fantastic Th…

Akram Al-Waara (2020-11-25). Israeli soldiers attack medics treating injured Palestinian in Jordan Valley. middleeasteye.net Israeli soldiers attack medics treating injured Palestinian in Jordan Valley | The disturbing video footage of the attack went viral on Palestinian social media overnight, sparking an uproar by human rights advocates | Wed, 11/25/2020 – 14: 03 | "> | An Israeli soldier fires teargas against Palestinian protesters during a protest against Jewish settlements on 24 Nove…

Nadda Osman (2020-11-25). Israel-UAE deal: Netanyahu and Mohammed bin Zayed's Nobel Peace Prize nomination denounced. middleeasteye.net Israel-UAE deal: Netanyahu and Mohammed bin Zayed's Nobel Peace Prize nomination denounced | Social media users have called the nominations a mockery, citing human rights abuses by the leaders | Wed, 11/25/2020 – 14: 38 | Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been put forward for the Nobel Peace Prize (AFP) | The latest nomination for the Nobel…

RT (2020-11-25). WATCH: Australian teen choked UNCONSCIOUS by pub guard, head hits floor with a THUD, video used as ANTI-MASK political fodder. rt.com The sound of an Australian teenager's head hitting the floor in a video circulating on social media might be called the thud heard 'round the world, but the footage was spun falsely as the latest example of Covid-19 mask tyranny. | The video, which made the rounds on social media on Wednesday, starts with a skinny and unconscious teenager being carried from behind in a chokehold by a portly security guard. The guard throws the teen down, leading to his head hitting the floor with a loud thud, then picks him up like a ragdoll by his shirt and trousers, carrying his lifeless-looking body out the door. | It tu…

Daniel Hilton (2020-11-25). Libya: US sanctions Kaniyat militia suspected of killing hundreds. middleeasteye.net Libya: US sanctions Kaniyat militia suspected of killing hundreds | Armed group, which is part of Haftar's LNA, accused of human rights abuses in the Libyan town of Tarhuna | Wed, 11/25/2020 – 15: 27 | Mohammed al-Kani and his brother Abdul Rahman al-Kani (Social media) | The United States on Wednesday unilaterally sanctioned the Kaniyat, a militia accused of murdering hundreds of civilians in the…

MEE and agencies (2020-11-25). 'Faint and shaky' Loujain al-Hathloul transferred to Saudi terrorism court. middleeasteye.net 'Faint and shaky' Loujain al-Hathloul transferred to Saudi terrorism court | Family warns that women's rights activist looks visibly weak after more than two years in jail | Wed, 11/25/2020 – 16: 33 | Undated photograph released on 6 August 2019 on Facebook page of Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul shows her at undisclosed location (AFP) | Imprisoned Saudi women's rights activist Loujain…

_____ (2020-11-25). Framing Climate Change as a "National Security Priority" Isn't A Clever Maneuver To Get People To Care. popularresistance.org On November 23, President-elect Joe Biden announced that former Senator and Secretary of State John Kerry will serve as special envoy on climate and have a seat on the National Security Council. Kerry immediately followed the news with a tweet that declared, "America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is." | As laid out in Episode 122 of Citations Needed (the podcast I co-host), this "national security" approach to climate is loaded down with contradictions, PR spin, and potential dangers.

Kristen Lopez (2020-11-25). Ken Jennings' past tweets mocking the disabled surface after "Jeopardy" guest hosting announcement. salon.com This is not the first time Jennings has been cited for cruelty in his tweets…