(2020-04-27). Thinking caps on: Chinese school kids return to classroom with the help of 'social distancing hats' (PHOTOS). rt.com 
Elementary schoolers in the Chinese megacity of Hangzhou have returned to school, sporting an unusual addition to their regular uniform: a winged cardboard hat reminding them to maintain distance from each other. | The longest ever winter vacation for Hangzhou's elementary students ended this week, as first to third grades returned to the classroom. One school in the city, Yangzheng Primary School, gave its students an early assignment: fashion their own homemade "one-meter hats," to remind the youngsters to stay a meter apart at all times. | Photos of the headwear have circulated on Chinese social media platf…
(2020-04-27). 'Possible terrorism': Car RAMS French motorcycle police, seriously injuring two officers. rt.com 
Two police officers in a Paris suburb have been seriously injured after they were rammed by a car, apparently on purpose. The driver has been arrested and authorities are investigating the possibility it was a terrorist attack. | A BMW drove into two mounted officers and proceeded to crush one of their vehicles against another police car in Colombes, just northwest of Paris, on Monday afternoon. | Photos of the scene quickly surfaced on social media. | Deux motards de la
(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). Canadian autoworkers resist Unifor and Detroit Three rush to restart operations. wsws.org While Unifor has been meeting with the Detroit Three to plot a return to work, autoworkers have deluged social media sites with messages opposing a precipitous reopening of the plants.
(2020-04-27). OPD arrests two outreach volunteers in East Oakland Collective's parking lot. indybay.org This Is How Police Treat Unhoused Outreach Volunteers in East Oakland…
(2020-04-27). How to use Social Media to Drive Environmental Change: Become an Influencer of Change. indybay.org Online via livestream…
(2020-04-27). How to use Social Media to Drive Environmental Change: Climate Change. indybay.org Online via Livestream…
(2020-04-27). GM contract worker victimized over COVID warning speaks about his case. wsws.org Travis Watkins, a contract worker and local United Auto Workers bargaining chairman was fired March 18 after he made a Facebook post alerting workers to possible infections at his plant in western Michigan.
(2020-04-27). Have Nepal's People Managed a Healthy Breakthrough in the Covid-19 Crisis? counterpunch.org "We're all going to die!" This feeble appeal came in a Facebook phonecall with B. Thapa from his village in the Nepal's eastern hills. Our conversation was in early March when news headlines from Italy and the U.S. began to alarm Nepalis. With no information about the spread of the disease in his country, this
(2020-04-27). 'It's a national catastrophe': BoJo ridiculed upon return after claiming many are looking at UK's 'APPARENT SUCCESS' on Covid-19. rt.com 
British PM Boris Johnson drew widespread criticism on his official return to work following his illness, after suggesting the UK's response to the Covid-19 crisis will be the envy of "many people" around the world. | During his public address to the nation outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, Johnson ostensibly attempted to quell people's anxieties by reeling off a number of UK 'achievements' concerning coronavirus statistics, tempered by an insistence that lockdown measures — which have been in place since March 23 — cannot be lifted just yet. | However, what riled many on social media was his rathe…
(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,…
(2020-04-27). Cuba Plans National Production of Drug Against COVID-19. telesurenglish.net The Cuban pharmaceutic Company MedSol Laboratories develops antiretroviral Kaletra; this drug has been effectively used to treat COVID-19 infected patients. | RELATED: | MedSol research and development group, Novatec, is because of Kaletra's testing and production. According to Adalberto Izquierdo Castro, Novatec's manager, the drug is in the development stage. So far, Cuban laboratories produced three pilot batches and ca…
(2020-04-26). Sunday's Andrew Marr Show was even more of a clusterf*ck than usual. thecanary.co 
It was quite the Sunday morning for the Andrew Marr Show. Because it managed to let a Tory minister off the hook, treat the Scottish First Minister completely differently, and leave it to a scientist to warn about the government's Nicola Sturgeon: cool, calm, collected: | First out of the blocks was Nicola Sturgeon. Some people on social media thought her appearance showed that of a "true leader"; the "best" in the UK apparently: | Nicola Sturgeo…
(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…
(2020-04-26). Facebook Says Israeli Spyware Company Ran Vast Hacking Operation in the United States. strategic-culture.org Lawsuit reveals extent of Israeli spyware company's U.S. operation | Michael ARRIA | In 2019, nearly 1,400 WhatsApp users were hacked with a number human rights advocates and journalists targeted. The attack was allegedly the work the NSO Group, an Israeli spyware company. | Last October, Facebook (which owns WhatsApp)
(2020-04-26). Mission Creep — Yet more intrusive surveillance powers given to government. truepublica.org.uk By TruePublica: Back in 2016 — TruePublica wrote: "One should wonder where the universal surveillance system dubbed the 'snoopers charter' being installed by Britain's government is heading for eventually. Recently described by Edward Snowden in tweets as the "most intrusive and least accountable surveillance regime in the West" and its "a comprehensive record of your …
(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
(2020-04-25). #KimJongUnDead Sparks Concern Over Whereabouts of North Korean Leader. telesurenglish.net Following the public absence of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this week, rumors began to surface that he might be seriously ill or even dead, which triggered a global speculation Saturday when a fake social media hashtag, #KIMJONGUNDEAD, quickly went viral. | RELATED: | The 36-year-old leader of the isolated nation has not been seen publicly in over two weeks. Amid reports that he was facing a health crisis following recen…
(2020-04-24). Illinois, Michigan governors hit Trump response to coronavirus pandemic. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—Democratic Govs. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan have been targets of GOP President Donald Trump's incendiary tweets during the coronavirus pandemic. Wednesday, they got a chance to hit back. They did, Whitmer politely, Pritzker less so. The two governors head states whose big cities, Chicago and Detroit, have been hard-hit by …
(2020-04-23). L4A bashes Trump – the visible enemy. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by the Legalization for All Network (L4A) | Monday night [April 20] Trump tweeted, "In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" The "Invisible Enemy" Trump is referring to is COVID-19. Deaths in the U.S. have risen to a staggering 45,318 at the time of writing this statement; the numbers are going up constantly. The blame however cannot be placed on immigrants, the blame is on Tru…
(2020-04-23). Chicago: Celebration of International Workers Day planned. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL — Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) will be marking International Workers Day virtually with talks from leaders of workers struggles in Chicago. The Sunday, May 3 forum will be streamed from the FRSO Chicago page via Facebook Live at 4 p.m. | Kobi Guillory of FRSO and an activist in the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, states, "'We're all in this together' has been a common message from corporate politicians over the past several months. The disproportionate damage the novel coronavirus has done to working and oppressed people while billionaires continue to…
(2020-04-27). Hungarian couple recreate scenes from 'Game of Thrones', 'Ghost' during lockdown. yenisafak.com Bored by the weeks-long coronavirus lockdown? Not Hungarian film buffs Fanni and Norbert who have recreated dozens of scenes in their flat from "Ghost", the "Game of Thrones", "Scarface" and other films using whatever household utensils they could find.The couple's photos quickly went viral on social media, and now they just can't stop, coming up every day with new ideas."Inspiration struck when we were in the kitchen cooking," said Norbert Hosszu, 30, as he prepared to put on a wig to act out a scene in which Tyrion Lannister pours himself a glass of red wine at his wedding in the "Game of Thrones".His partner,…
(2020-04-27). US: Joe Biden's run gets nod from House Speaker Pelosi. yenisafak.com US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday became the latest high-profile Democrat to officially endorse former Vice President Joe Biden's White House bid."Today, I'm proud to endorse Joe Biden for President of the United States because he will be an extraordinary president," she said in a pre-recorded video message attached to her tweet. "He knows how to get the job done."Praising Biden's work in various policy areas, Pelosi touted his character in an implicit dig at the current president, saying: "Joe Biden brings values and integrity to work every day because he never forgets his roots.""Now more than ever we nee…
(2020-04-27). Indians Ask Zuckerberg to Disable WhatsApp for Amitabh Bachchan, Anand Mahindra for Fake News Shares. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): With a user-base of over 400 million people, India is the largest market for WhatsApp, owned by Facebook. But there are fears that the app is also a conduit for fake news.
(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 …
(2020-04-27). Fans spot curious 'Russian' detail as Liverpool star Van Dijk pays tribute to healthcare workers with superheroes image. rt.com 
Eagle-eyed social media users have spotted a curious Russian detail in an image shared by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to honor frontline healthcare workers in the fight against the coronavirus. | Dutch defensive colossus Van Dijk shared the image with his 1.7 million Twitter followers, which features a row of superhero characters such as the Hulk, Superman and Spiderman, lining a hospital corridor and bowing as three masked healthcare workers pass. | pic.twitter.com/bhXyVESTQ5— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) (2020-04-25). Rumors and Fake #KimJongUnDead Hashtag Spark Concern Over Health, Whereabouts of North Korean Leader. commondreams.org "As of Saturday, it's all rumors and unverified reports. NOBODY KNOWS. But that hasn't stopped American Twitter from exulting in its favorite Kim death cult." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/kim_jong_un.jpg …
(2020-04-23). Facebook quietly stops letting advertisers target PSEUDOSCIENCE fans after years of boasting 'misinformation fighting' role. rt.com 
Having claimed to be a crusader against misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic, Facebook has only just removed the ability for advertisers to target users "interested in pseudoscience," journalists have discovered. | The social media behemoth finally removed the "pseudoscience" category from its advertising platform on Wednesday, several days after investigators at
(2020-04-23). Trump's threat to Iran has a hollow ring. It betrays angst. iranian.com A tweet by the US President Donald Trump on April 22 said, "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." The AP report on it added, "The White House had no immediate comment. The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet referred questions …
(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). Would you die for Wall Street? greenleft.org.au 
(2020-04-21). Overuse of Continuous Pulse Oximetry for Bronchiolitis. jamanetwork.com Bronchiolitis, a viral infection of the lower respiratory tract, is the most common cause of hospitalization among children younger than 2 years, and generated estimated direct hospital costs of $734 million in 2016. Clinical practice recommendations from the Choosing Wisely campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) specifically target medical overuse for children with bronchiolitis in an effort to improve value of medical care for the approximately 130‚ÄØ000 infants admitted each year with this disease. Amid recommendations related to prevention, diagnosis, and management of bronchi…
(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.