(2021-02-05). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. counterpunch.org Since 2015, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has ruled the Senate with an iron hand, describing himself as "the Guardian of Gridlock." He was Senator "NO," except for confirming over 200 mostly corporatist federal judges. Now comes a new challenge for Mitch McConnell as he leads 49 other Republican Senators, twenty of whom are up
(2021-02-04). Anne Feeney, Folk Singer And Political Activist, Dies At 69. popularresistance.org Anne Feeney, the legendary Pittsburgh folk singer-songwriter and self-described rabble-rouser, has died of COVID at age 69. | Her daughter, Amy Sue Berlin, shared the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday night, writing, in part, "It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce the passing of our courageous, brilliant, beautiful mother, Anne Feeney. We were very lucky that she fought hard enough to open up her eyes, and give us a couple days to be with her before she finally decided it was time to let go." | "It is with a very heavy heart that we must announce the passing of our courageous, brilliant, beautifu…
(2021-02-04). NACOSH unveils comprehensive job safety/health strengthening plan. peoplesworld.org 
HOUSTON—One year after the coronavirus pandemic hit the country, Marcos Vasquez, a 20-year day labor construction worker in Houston, still toils for employers who won't provide him an anti-viral mask. Or gloves. Or other personal protective equipment. "There's not enough social distancing," he adds. "The bathrooms" on worksites "are dirty and they lack water and …
(2021-02-04). 'Let 'em die!' Doctor gets flamed over 'evil and twisted' tweet about maskless shoppers in Florida. rt.com 
A video showing unmasked shoppers in a Florida supermarket has gone viral due to an NBC reporter's complaining. Among the more extreme reactions was one now-deleted tweet by a doctor who seemingly thought they deserved to die. | In a video shared on Wednesday, NBC correspondent Sam Brock showed a crowd of customers in a supermarket in Naples, Florida. Few people were wearing a face mask or practicing social distancing, and everyone was going about their business as usual. Complaining about the spread of Covid-19 on a "massive scale," Brock claimed that the store allowed "medical exemptions" to mask wearing, an…
(2021-02-04). 'As fake as her tweets'? Police open conspiracy PROBE into Greta Thunberg's 'protest toolkit,' accuse creators of 'WAR ON INDIA'. rt.com 
Police in New Delhi have opened a conspiracy investigation into the creators of a "toolkit" with instructions on how to amplify the farmers' protests in India — a document that has been shared by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. | Thunberg took to Twitter on Wednesday to share a lengthy document outlining ways for activists to contribute to India's ongoing pro-farmer protests, including stock messages and hashtags to disseminate on social media, as well as advice on organizing rallies. Within hours, the "toolkit" was taken offline by its creators and replaced with a much shorter version, with Thunberg no…
(2021-02-04). Progressive journalist Jordan Chariton regrets calling for social media bans after 'seeing Silicon Valley's censorship onslaught'. rt.com 
After some of his own videos were pulled by YouTube, progressive reporter Jordan Chariton has had a change of heart about Big Tech's crackdown on extremist content, arguing that it's a pretext to purge all alternative views. | In a series of tweets, the popular pundit and co-founder of Status Coup News revealed that footage of the January 6 Capitol riots had been yanked from his YouTube channel, apparently for violating the platform's policies against "spam and deceptive practices." The video's deletion followed a similar incident in which a livestream of a right-wing rally held several days before Joe Biden's…
(2021-02-04). 'I am become meme, destroyer of shorts': Musk fires off market-wrecking omens & random thoughts, ending brief Twitter absence. rt.com 
The temptations of Twitter were apparently too great for Elon Musk, who ended his short-lived hiatus on the platform with a series of characteristically zany messages. | The world's richest man returned to his virtual soap box around 48 hours after he announced on Tuesday that he would be practicing Twitter abstinence. | Read more | | The social media relapse began innocently enough, with Musk retweeting a video of a SpaceX satellite…
(2021-02-04). HBO doc shows how it's easy to make "Fake Famous" influencers, whose job is to "make you feel bad" salon.com Filmmaker Nick Bilton appeared on "Salon Talks" to discuss the harmful effects of the false social media presence…
(2021-02-04). Turkey 'neutralizes' 5 YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces "neutralized" five YPG/PKK terrorists in a protected area across Turkey's southern border with Syria, the National Defense Ministry announced Thursday.The terrorists were trying to infiltrate the area of Turkey's cross-border anti-terror operations — Peace Spring and Euphrates Shield — to disrupt peace and security in the region, the ministry said on Twitter, adding that they had also opened harassing fire.Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-ter…
(2021-02-04). Myanmar military government cuts Facebook access. laprensalatina.com Yangon, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Facebook access in Myanmar was limited Thursday after the military junta ordered telecommunications providers to block the social network. The move comes after the military seized power on Monday in a bloodless coup. "All mobile operators, international gateways and internet service providers in Myanmar received a directive on 3 February 2021 …
(2021-02-04). Myanmar military cuts Facebook access as public opposition to coup grows. laprensalatina.com (Update 1: Adds Egeland comments.) Yangon, Feb 4 (efe-epa).- Facebook access in Myanmar was restricted Thursday after the military junta ordered telecommunications providers to block the social network, and as public opposition to the coup grew. The move to block Facebook came after the military seized power from the elected government on Monday. "All mobile …
(2021-02-04). 'We're Challenging Power': YouTube's Indie Media Crackdown Aims to 'Prop Up' Mainstream Channels. sputniknews.com In a widespread crackdown on Wednesday, YouTube demonetized several independent media and analysis channels, providing only the vaguest of explanations as to why. One of the affected analysts told Sputnik the move has come amid a decline in corporate news ratings and rising interest in independent reporting.
(2021-02-03). Misinformation market: Money-making tools Facebook hands to Covid cranks. truepublica.org.uk By Jasper Jackson, Alexandra Heal: The video on Facebook opens with a question: "Could this be bio-terrorism?" Talking directly into the camera, the unshaven young man continues in a sarcastic American drawl: "I'm sure that there's no possible way that somebody could play Frankenstein and create the monster that they didn't mean to, or in many cases, …
(2021-02-03). TikTok agrees to Italy's request to block underage users, after 10yo girl dies in social media challenge. rt.com 
TikTok has reached an agreement with Italian data protection regulators to block underage users there from using its app, after a 10-year-old girl died in Palermo in a failed attempt at a dangerous social media challenge. | In January, the Italian authorities launched an investigation into children using social media platforms, after a young girl who had attempted the so-called 'choking' challenge died. The trend, which had been circulating on TikTok, saw participants restrict their oxygen in an attempt to secure a high. | The state filed a legal notice against TikTok back in December, prior to the young girl'
(2021-02-03). Turkey: Twitter labels minister's 'LGBT deviants' post hateful amid university protest. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: Twitter labels minister's 'LGBT deviants' post hateful amid university protest | Interior minister angered over picture mixing LGBT symbols and Islamic images during protests against Istanbul rector's appointment | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 08: 19 | Police detained 159 students on Monday after breaking up a group planning an all-night vigil outside the rector's office (AFP) | Intensifying…
(2021-02-03). Warning labels: TikTok introduces Twitter-like censorship measures to curb 'misinformation'. rt.com 
Video sharing app TikTok will slap warning labels on videos it suspects contain "misinformation" and discourage users from sharing them. The move brings TikTok's policies closer in line with those of Twitter. | TikTok already removes videos that its fact-checkers deem to contain "false" information. However, the Chinese-owned company is expanding on this policy, and Starting…
(2021-02-03). Protests erupt over killing of Palestinian citizen of Israel during police shoot-out. middleeasteye.net 
Protests erupt over killing of Palestinian citizen of Israel during police shoot-out | The death of Ahmed Hijazi, a 22-year-old nursing student, has reignited anger over Israel's selective policing of Palestinian communities in the country | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 14: 29 | Palestinian protesters in the town of Umm al-Fahm carry a placard saying "We are killed while the police are laughing" (Twitter\@ume…
(2021-02-03). YouTube's Orgy of Censorship & Narrative Management w/Convo Couch & Franc Analysis. slownewsdayshow.com 
Franc Analysis | Convo Couch |
(2021-02-03). Remdesivir's History Shows How Americans Pay More for Drugs Than Others Globally. truthout.org 
It was the end of April — just as the U.S. confirmed its millionth covid-19 case and 50,000 deaths — when White House adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci announced "highly significant" news about a drug called remdesivir. | That was surprising because the antiviral drug, owned by Gilead Sciences and developed with investment from the federal government, had languished for years with no apparent commercial use. It had struck out as a treatment for hepatitis C and Ebola. | But early in 202…
(2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. thealtworld.com Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world. | Everyone across the world is talking about social media censorship after former US President Trump was deplatformed last month by the world's largest companies in this sphere following the…
(2021-02-03). MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell gets his company banned from Twitter, provokes Newsmax host to WALK OFF SET with election-fraud claims. rt.com 
Twitter has banished MyPillow after company founder Mike Lindell used the account to reiterate claims of election fraud and accuse the social media platform's chief executive, Jack Dorsey, of being "tied into" the alleged crimes. | "Jack Dorsey is trying to cancel me (Mike Lindell) out," Lindell tweeted through MyPillow's account on Sunday, in a message thanking supporters who ordered pillows after Kohl's and other major retailers stopped carrying the company's products. "We are extremely busy and hiring as fast as we can to handle all the shipping. Jack (Dorsey) will be found out and should be put in prison w…
(2021-02-03). Washington joins crusade against free speech, backs Ukrainian crackdown on opposition media as EU & Zelensky's dad voice concerns. rt.com 
The US has waded into a row over media censorship in Ukraine, backing a ban on opposition TV channels as both the EU and President Volodymyr Zelensky's own father expressed grave concerns over the impact on free speech. | In a statement issued on Twitter Wednesday, the American embassy in Kiev wrote that it "supports efforts yesterday to counter Russia's malign influence." It described the shuttering of broadcasters as "in line with [Ukrainian law], in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity." | The US supports üá∫üᶠefforts yesterday to counter Ru…
(2021-02-03). Arrests in Syria's Latakia signal discontent among pro-Assad communities. middleeasteye.net 
Arrests in Syria's Latakia signal discontent among pro-Assad communities | Many of the president's most loyal supporters in his stronghold have started speaking out against corruption and poverty | Wed, 02/03/2021 – 17: 39 | A handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency Facebook page on 13 October 2020 shows President Bashar al-Assad touring the village of Kafr Dabil in Syria's Latakia pro…
(2021-02-03). Poor taste? Burger King SAVAGELY trolls injury-hit Hazard by joking he missed training to take advantage of 2-for-1 offer. rt.com 
Eden Hazard's time at Real Madrid has been plagued by injury and barbs about his weight, and fast food giant Burger King put the boot in amid a new setback by claiming the star missed training to indulge in their special offer.
(2021-02-03). The Struggle Inside Senator Mitch McConnell's Brain. commondreams.org Allowing the Trumpian half of his brain to overpower his judgment and vote to acquit Dangerous Donald would spell disaster for the Republican Party (assuming the Democratic Party doesn't go to sleep as it did after Obama's win in 2008). | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/mcconnell_biden_0.jpg …
(2021-02-03). Top Turkish, Norwegian diplomats discuss relations. yenisafak.com Turkish and Norwegian foreign ministers on Wednesday met virtually and discussed bilateral relations, regional and global developments.In a Twitter post, Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu said he discussed bilateral relations and recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Libya, the US, and the East Mediterranean with his Norwegian counterpart Eriksen Soreide.Turkey and Norway maintained its "bilateral trade volume despite the pandemic," Cavusoglu noted, and wished "further cooperation in every field, particularly energy."Meanwhile, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a Twitter post that Soreide had a "good and f…
(2021-02-03). Top Turkish diplomat attends 18th MIKTA meeting. yenisafak.com "Attended 18th FM Meeting of MIKTA with Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia," Cavusoglu said in a Twitter post.Established in 2013, MIKTA is an informal partnership consisting of Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia.Cavusoglu "thanked South Korea for her term and congratulated incoming Chair Australia.""MIKTA is a good model for multilateral diplomacy. Will continue our contributions," the top Turkish diplomat added.
(2021-02-03). Turkish manufacturing industry starts 'strong' 2021. yenisafak.com All preliminary indicators show that the Turkish manufacturing industry made a "strong start" in 2021, the country's industry and technology minister said Wednesday."We will continue to keep our country's agenda on investment, employment, production, and exports," Mustafa Varank said on Twitter.He added that Turkey would make itself a winner of…
(2021-02-03). Viral Inequality and the Farmers' Struggle in India. counterpunch.org According to a new report by Oxfam, 'The Inequality Virus', the wealth of the world's billionaires increased by $3.9tn (trillion) between 18 March and 31 December 2020. Their total wealth now stands at $11.95tn. The world's 10 richest billionaires have collectively seen their wealth increase by $540bn over this period. In September 2020, Jeff Bezos
(2021-02-03). Facebook Is Meddling In Myanmar's Legally Implemented State Of Emergency. oneworld.press Facebook deplatformed the page for the Myanmar military's TV network on the basis that it spread "misinformation that delegitimizes the outcome of November's election" despite the social media giant having no right to arbitrate in a foreign country's domestic political dispute, especially not since the recently announced state of emergency was legally implemented in accordance with Chapter XI of the 2008 Constitution despite some abroad wrongly considering it to be an illegal "coup".
(2021-02-03). California YIMBY Comms Director Lies About Berkeley Parks. indybay.org Matthew Lewis, the Communications Director for the lobby group California YIMBY, has been spreading disinformation about available park space in Berkeley. The CAYIMBY Communications Director is messaging on social media for the purpose of riling public open against People's Park.
(2021-02-03). Examining The Ethics & Implications Of Twitter's Censorship Policy In India. oneworld.press Twitter caused a stir by complying with the Indian government's request to temporarily "withhold" access to dozens of accounts for users within the country in response to claims that they were "inciting violence" during the ongoing farmers' protests, which prompts some very important ethical questions that have a few disturbing implications for the freedoms of speech and assembly in Western-style democracies across the world.
(2021-02-02). Palestinian political activist and analyst Abdel Sattar Qassem dies of Covid-19. middleeasteye.net 
Palestinian political activist and analyst Abdel Sattar Qassem dies of Covid-19 | Qassem, 72, had announced in January that he would be running as an independent candidate for the presidency in the upcoming Palestinian election | Tue, 02/02/2021 – 11: 33 | Qassem was born in the village of Deir al-Ghusun in 1948, in the present-day occupied West Bank (social media) | Prominent Palestinian academic and politica…
(2021-02-02). Not so Innocent anymore: smoothie maker bends the knee, issues apology for following 'transphobe' pensioner on Twitter. rt.com 
British smoothie company Innocent Drinks was hauled before the court of social justice and issued a groveling apology for the crime of following one allegedly transphobic pensioner on Twitter. | Innocent Drinks may be guilty of charging an arm and a leg for their smoothies and juices, but the brand was never known for its bigotry. However, one eagle-eyed Twitter user looked through the 31,000 accounts the company follows last month and discovered with horror that 76-year-old Margaret Nelson was among them. | Nelson, the user complained, is a "clear transphobe," and following her was "too political" for a smoot…
(2021-02-02). Bill Gates calls for global alert system and 'pandemic fire squads' for post-Covid-19 world. rt.com 
Social media users are recoiling at Bill Gates' call for a global disease alert system, questioning why a tech billionaire with no medical expertise or elected office is plotting what they fear could become a platform for tyranny. | The Microsoft co-founder, who ranks as the world's third-richest person, took to Twitter on Monday to make his pitch for a new system that he said would help prevent future pandemics. This would include "mega testing diagnostic platforms" that could test 20 percent of the population every week, Gates said in a video promoting his plans. He added that future treatments, such as mono…
(2021-02-02). Elon Musk takes Twitter hiatus after publicly backing bitcoin & acknowledging his comments could affect markets. rt.com 
Elon Musk has announced that he is staying off Twitter for the time being, after a headline-grabbing week in which he made market-shaking comments about cryptocurrencies and the ongoing GameStop stock drama. | "Off Twitter for a while," the world's richest man tweeted, without elaborating on the reason for his social media sabbatical. | Off Twitter for a while— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) Although no stranger to the media limelight, Musk has had an unusually chaotic week, in which he voiced support for…
(2021-02-02). Acronyms are 'symptoms of white supremacy', says San Francisco public schools' art dept, after dropping its abbreviation. rt.com 
The San Francisco Unified School District Arts Department has decided to abandon its acronym, apparently in a bid to end racism — but many Twitter users have failed to appreciate this historic step forward for equality. | Formerly known as 'VAPA', short for 'Visual and Performing Arts', the department announced that going forward it would be referred to as the SFUSD Arts Department because "acronyms are a symptom of white supremacy culture," a local ABC affiliate
(2021-02-02). West Virginia Newspaper Company Accuses Google, Facebook of Digital Advertising Antitrust Violations. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | The state's largest newspaper company has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit …