Friday, July 31, 2020
USA vs China: A new Cold War? | To the point
Consulate closures. Trade war. Military manoeuvres. Tensions continue to rise between the superpowers USA and China. Is it the beginning of a new Cold War?
Portland protests: will Trump actually pull federal agents from the city?
Federal agents accused of behaving like an 'occupying army' are said to be pulling out of Portland, Oregon, in an embarrassing climbdown by the White House, but many protesters are sceptical over whether the agents will actually withdraw from the city.
The force, which have been dubbed by some as 'Donald Trump’s troops', were sent in by the president a month ago to end what he called 'anarchy' during Black Lives Matter protests sparked after the police killing of George Floyd.
The Guardian's Chris McGreal looks at what Trump was hoping to gain by sending paramilitaries into the city, if and how they will leave, and how their presence has fuelled anger among most residents
Facebook showed this ad to 95% women. Is that a problem?
How algorithmic ad targeting can segregate us.
In 2019, Facebook settled a lawsuit with civil rights groups following the revelation that advertisers using their platform could use the targeting options to exclude many specific demographics from seeing their ads. It's now more difficult for an unscrupulous advertiser to use Facebook's platform to discriminate.
What would a coronavirus second wave look like?
Covid-19 cases are climbing – in Germany and beyond. The attempt to return to normalcy has thwarted social distancing measures. Authorities fear holidaymakers will bring the virus with them. So there are now tests at airports to help curb that risk. No one wants a second wave of the coronavirus or another wave of pandemic lockdowns.
U.S. Homeland Security Is Literally Spying On Journalists
Physically attacking and arresting journalists just wasn't enough for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security they decided that spying on journalists covering the the protests in Portland should have intelligence dossiers created for further intimidation. As the first amendment protects journalists from government interference and oversight Homeland Security concluded that violating these guaranteed was the best way to combat negative reporting.
‘Intelligence reports’ distributed to other federal agencies decried as violation of constitutional right to a free press
‘Intelligence reports’ distributed to other federal agencies decried as violation of constitutional right to a free press
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been surveilling the work of American journalists reporting on the unrest in Portland, Oregon, circulating “intelligence reports” on them to other federal agencies in a move that has been decried as a clear violation of the constitutional right to a free press.
The Washington Post obtained the intelligence reports which were compiled by the unit within DHS known as the “office of intelligence and analysis”. The newspaper said the reports were distributed in the past week to law enforcement and other agencies.
They referred specifically to two prominent US journalists whose reporting had revealed the disarray within the Trump administration’s contentious deployment of federal agents to quell protests in Portland.
One of the journalists, Mike Baker of the New York Times, had disclosed a leaked DHS memo that discussed the confusion prevalent among the federal agents sent to Portland. The memo showed that the camouflaged officers had little understanding of the nature of the demonstrations they were being asked to police.
The second journalist was Benjamin Wittes, who edits the national security blog Lawfare. He had also published leaked DHS documents, one of which was a memo warning the department’s officials not to disclose information to reporters.
Trump's suggestion to delay election draws cross-party fire | US election 2020
US President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike after suggesting a possible delay to the 2020 election. Trump, who currently trails Democrat Joe Biden in opinion polls, has no authority to change the date, which is set by law.
The King Of Stupid and poor optics did this as a distraction from the countries poor economic performance, his complete failure in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, being way behind in the polls and because he craves the spotlight and a need to always dominate the news cycle.
Six In The Morning Friday 31 July 2020
Vietnam records first Covid-19 death
Vietnam has recorded its first Covid-19 fatality, in a devastating blow for a country proud of its zero deaths.
The 70-year-old man was from the central city of Hoi An, state media said on Friday.
No new infections had been reported for more than three months before an outbreak was reported in the nearby resort of Da Nang earlier this week.
Vietnam, which has a population of around 95 million, has reported just 509 cases since the pandemic began.
India arrests dozens of journalists in clampdown on critics of Covid-19 response
Reporters for independent outlets, many in rural areas, say pressure won’t deter them from covering embarrassing stories
Danish Raza in New Delhi
Published onFri 31 Jul 2020 06.00 BST
Facing a continuing upward trajectory in Covid-19 cases, the Indian government is clamping down on media coverage critical of its handling of the pandemic.
More than 50 Indian journalists have been arrested or had police complaints registered against them, or been physically assaulted.
The majority of those facing action are independent journalists working in rural India, home to more than 60% of the 1.35 billion population.
Hong Kong election delayed after opposition candidates barred
Carrie Lam calls decision 'necessary' after spike in coronavirus cases, but critics say this is an excuse for the government to avoid a humiliating defeat
Adam WithnallAsia Editor
Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam has announced the postponement of the city's key assembly elections, citing an ongoing spike in coronavirus cases.
The election was due to take place on 6 September, and had been seen as an opportunity for pro-democracy parties to win an historic majority amid public dissatisfaction at a new security law imposed by Beijing.
Ms Lam's government said the vote would be delayed for a year, and that the Chinese national parliament would need to decide on how to fill the resulting gap in the legislative programme.
Opinion: Turkey closing window on press freedom
Turkey is expanding its already strict regulation of social media sites. It's the latest move by President Erdogan to silence those few remaining critical voices, says Christian Mihr of Reporters Without Borders.
Turkey is taking steps to close the window on press freedom once and for all. News of more restrictions comes as no surprise: Dozens of journalists have been unlawfully detained and given long prison sentences in unfair trials across Turkey, especially since the failed coup attempt in July 2016. Media pluralism has been all but destroyed. Until recently, social media platforms represented the last safe haven for critical Turkish journalists.
How can we apply lessons from the Spanish flu’s second wave to Covid-19?
The Spanish flu has swept back into public consciousness thanks to Covid-19, ending its status as a “forgotten pandemic”. Experts emphasise that the infamous second wave of this flu from a century ago was a very different disease from Covid-19 – but also say that it provides historical lessons to help face fears of a resurgent coronavirus.
Covid-19 infection rates are soaring in a variety of countries, several months on from the gruelling lockdowns that characterised the spring across the globe.
In the US, the average daily number of new confirmed infections has skyrocketed since mid-June – while in Spain, one of the countries the virus hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic, a big rise in cases prompted the UK to impose sudden travel restrictions on Saturday. Several countries previously acclaimed for managing the pandemic deftly – such as Australia and Vietnam – have seen alarming new coronavirus clusters.
Women in Xinjiang shine a light on a campaign of abuse and control by Beijing
Updated 0735 GMT (1535 HKT) July 31, 2020
Zumrat Dawut said she was forcibly sterilized by the Chinese government for having one too many children.
A former resident of Urumqi, the capital of China's western Xinjiang region, the 38-year-old Uyghur woman said she was fined 18,400 yuan ($2,600) in 2018 for having three children, one more than she was allowed to under Chinese rule.
When she went to pay the fine, Dawut said she was told she'd also need to have a mandatory "birth control procedure."
Thursday, July 30, 2020
What it's Like "Working" at a Japanese Convenience Store
Are China and the US headed for a new Cold War?
Tensions are rising as the Trump administration wants the world to stop engaging with China.
Tensions are rising between Washington and Beijing after tit-for-tat consulate closures and a speech on "the China threat" by United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The US says it wants to disengage with China because it is stealing intellectual property and becoming aggressive with its neighbours in Asia.
In this episode of The Bottom Line, our guest is Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations.
England had worst excess death rate in Europe between March and June
New figures show that England suffered the highest rate of excess deaths in Europe between the end of February and the middle of June. The Office for National Statistics compared the number of deaths with the five-year average. The death rate in England was 7.5% higher than in recent years. Spain and Scotland had the second and third highest excess death rates.
Trump Praises Doctor Pushing Alien DNA Medical Theories
‘I thought she was very impressive’ — Pres. Trump promoted a doctor who made medical claims about witches, demons, and ‘alien DNA’
Trump-touted Covid-19 drug ineffective says Fauci
US President Donald Trump has again defended the use of hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus, contradicting his own public health officials. He said the malaria medication was only rejected as a Covid-19 treatment because he had recommended its use.
Is the coronavirus pandemic making us more aggressive? | COVID-19 Special
There's been a lot of rage – be it about toilet paper or masks – the coronavirus pandemic sometimes results in aggressive behavior. And that has even led to death. French bus driver Philippe Monguillot was killed by a group of teenagers after asking them to wear masks to get on his bus.
Six In The Morning Thursday 30 July 2020
About this announcement: Donald Trump has absolutely no authority to postpone or cancel an election in the U.S.
A baseless claim about a child sex-trafficking ring, a Washington, DC pizzeria, and Hillary Clinton has been passed around among conspiracy theorists for more than three years. No evidence has emerged to support any part of the story. But last month, British pop star Robbie Williams used his voice to argue that the claims deserved more attention.
"Yes there was no basement in the particular pizza place, that is not the debunking that I want as a civilian, as a human that is going: 'Hey, this bit, this bit is really f—king weird,'" he asked in a video clip, which has been viewed on Twitter more than half a million times. Williams' representatives declined to comment to CNN.
Donald Trump calls for delay to 2020 US presidential election
Donald Trump has called for November's presidential election to be postponed, saying increased postal voting could lead to fraud and inaccurate results.
He suggested a delay until people can "properly, securely and safely" vote.
There is little evidence to support Mr Trump's claims but he has long railed against mail-in voting which he has said would be susceptible to fraud
US states want to make postal voting easier due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
In a tweet, Mr Trump said "universal mail-in voting" would make November's vote the "most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history" and a "great embarrassment to the USA".
Hong Kong: outcry as activists arrested and pro-democracy candidates banned
Disqualification of opposition figures under security law imposed by China seen as political purge
The arrest of four students in Hong Kong’s first crackdown on political figures after the enactment of a sweeping national security law imposed by China and the disqualification of at least 12 pro-democracy candidates in the legislative election have prompted widespread public outrage.
Tony Chung, 19, the convenor of disbanded pro-independence group Studentlocalism and three other members were arrested late on Wednesday.
Without naming them, Hong Kong police’s newly-formed national security division said young people aged between 16 and 21 had been arrested under the new national security law for “organising and inciting secession” by their advocacy of independence.
Russian Mercenaries in Belarus: All You Need to Know
The Moscow Times spoke with Russian and Belarussian analysts about the latest shock development in Belarus.
Belarus has arrested 33 Russian mercenaries allegedly plotting to destabilize the country ahead of next month's presidential election.
Belarus' KGB security service said the detained men were members of the Wagner group, a shadowy private military firm reportedly controlled by an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin which promotes Moscow's interests in Ukraine, Syria, Libya and a number of other countries.
The shock announcement is just the latest twist in an extraordinary election campaign that has seen President Alexander Lukashenko, who has dominated Belarus for nearly three decades, jail his key would-be rivals ahead of the vote.
Switzerland launches investigation against FIFA President Gianni Infantino
A special prosecutor has launched criminal proceedings as part of an investigation of a meeting between the head of FIFA and Switzerland's Attorney General Michael Lauber, who had already offered his resignation.
FIFA chairman Gianni Infantino faces charges over his dealings with Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber, authorities said on Thursday. Swiss prosecutors have previously found indications of criminal conduct related to the meetings between the two men.
Last week, Lauber offered his resignation after a court found that, while Lauber's office was investigating FIFA-related corruption, the prosecutor had had tried to hide a meeting with the FIFA head and lied to his supervisors in the Swiss judiciary.
Last week, Lauber offered his resignation after a court found that, while Lauber's office was investigating FIFA-related corruption, the prosecutor had had tried to hide a meeting with the FIFA head and lied to his supervisors in the Swiss judiciary.
Lauber is now set to leave his post at the end of August.
A baseless US conspiracy theory found a foothold in Europe. New research shows how
Updated 1025 GMT (1825 HKT) July 30, 2020
A baseless claim about a child sex-trafficking ring, a Washington, DC pizzeria, and Hillary Clinton has been passed around among conspiracy theorists for more than three years. No evidence has emerged to support any part of the story. But last month, British pop star Robbie Williams used his voice to argue that the claims deserved more attention.
"Yes there was no basement in the particular pizza place, that is not the debunking that I want as a civilian, as a human that is going: 'Hey, this bit, this bit is really f—king weird,'" he asked in a video clip, which has been viewed on Twitter more than half a million times. Williams' representatives declined to comment to CNN.
Federal agents tear-gas Portland protesters again
Federal agents tear-gassed protesters again and made arrests as several hundred people demonstrated in downtown Portland late Wednesday and early Thursday, hours after state leaders announced federal agents would soon leave the city, CBS Portland affiliate KOIN-TV reports.
It was the 62nd night in a row of protests there.
Governor Kate Brown said early Wednesday that all Customs and Border Protection & ICE agents would depart Portland and be replaced by Oregon State Police beginning Thursday. But acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the agents would stay put "until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked."
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Jewish settlers annexing the West Bank | DW Documentary
Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank are deeply controversial. Meanwhile, radical Jewish settlers are establishing facts on the ground. Among them is Pinhas Attali, who has found a new home with his wife and their nine children near Hebron.
Congresswoman plays emotional account of small business owner to Jeff Bezos
In a historic congressional antitrust hearing, Democrat Lucy McBath played a recording to Amazon chief Jeff Bezos of the testimony of a bookseller who sold books via Amazon. The businesswoman had felt her sales were throttled by the tech giant.
In the recording, the seller pleads with Bezos to help her company, which supports 14 people. Bezos responded by saying he was surprised by the anecdote and expressed wanting to meet the woman
How Britain’s role in slavery and empire shaped modern America - BBC News
Two months after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, which sparked protests around the world, there’s fresh scrutiny of America’s history of slavery — and how it influences the country to this day.
Internet Expert Debunks Cybersecurity Myths | WIRED
Cybersecurity expert Eva Galperin helps debunk (and confirm!) some common myths about cybersecurity. Is the government watching you through your computer camera? Does Google read all your Gmail? Does a strong password protect you from hackers? Will encryption keep my data safe?
US Defense Sec. Esper details plan to pull troops from Germany
The United States will withdraw nearly twelve thousand troops from Germany. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced the move as part of a redeployment of forces in Europe he said was aimed at strengthening NATO. President Donald Trump had said previously he intended to take troops out of Germany, after accusing the government here of being 'delinquent' in defense spending.
However one chooses to look at this policy announced by Donald Trump one has to ask realistically; What Vladimir Putin knows about Donald Trumps businesses and private life? Is America really withdrawing its forces because Germany hasn't fully funded its participation in NATO or is it because Russia views the continued presence of those forces in Germany as a threat?
Super spreaders & second waves: News on the COVID-19 pandemic
As coronavirus cases rise in parts of Europe, governments have been reimposing restrictions just as many people take their summer holidays. Europe is looking for a more coordinated response as national governments act alone to contain the virus.
Six In The Morning Wednesday 29 July 2020
Coronavirus: Trump sticks by unproven hydroxychloroquine
US President Donald Trump has again defended the use of hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus, contradicting his own public health officials.
He said the malaria medication was only rejected as a Covid-19 treatment because he had recommended its use.
His remarks come after Twitter banned his eldest son for posting a clip promoting hydroxychloroquine.
There is no evidence the drug can fight the virus, and regulators warn it may cause heart problems.
Madonna's Instagram flagged for spreading coronavirus misinformation
The singer claimed a vaccine had been found but was being concealed to ‘let the rich get richer’
Published onWed 29 Jul 2020 11.52 BST
Instagram has censured a post by Madonna in which the pop star shared a coronavirus conspiracy theory with her 15 million followers.
She captioned the video with claims that a vaccine for Covid-19 has “been found and proven and has been available for months”. She continued: “They would rather let fear control the people and let the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”
The video shows Dr Stella Immanuel, a primary care physician in Houston, Texas, claiming to have treated 350 coronavirus patients with hydroxychloroquine. She was speaking with a group called America’s Frontline Doctors outside the US Supreme Court building.
5 deadly countries for environmental defenders
A new report reveals a spike in the murder of global land defenders, especially in Latin America. The failure to combat climate change is forcing the most vulnerable to the frontlines, and to pay with their lives.
Environmental activists are being murdered in ever-increasing numbers. According to a new report by London-based NGO, Global Witness, 212 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2019 alone, a 30% rise from the 164 killed in 2018. Around 40% were indigenous people and traditional land owners.
More than two-thirds of killings took place in Latin America, with Colombia topping the list with 64 murders due to the failure to implement the 2016 peace agreement with FARC and protect farmers transitioning from coca to cocoa and coffee to reduce cocaine production.
French police use 'legitimate violence', says new interior minister
France's recently installed interior minister dismissed on Tuesday the term "police violence" and told lawmakers the police exercise "legitimate violence".
"When I hear the term 'police violence', personally I choke," said Gérard Darmanin, whose predecessor lost his job three weeks ago after becoming embroiled in a controversy over police use of a restraint method known as a chokehold.
Deaths in custody of two men of African origin in separate incidents sparked widespread fury and led Darmanin's predecessor Christophe Castaner to ban police use of the chokehold.
Yemen separatists abandon self-rule but peace deal doubts remain
Southern separatists rescind declaration of self-rule, pledge to implement power-sharing deal with Hadi's government.
Yemen's southern separatists have pledged to abandon their aspirations for self-rule and implement a Saudi-brokered power-sharing agreement with the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
The Southern Transitional Council's (STC) announcement on Wednesday marked a big step towards closing a major front in Yemen's chaotic war, and came hours after Saudi Arabia presented a plan to "accelerate" the stalled peace deal's implementation.
Japan's air force faces a 'relentless' burden, imposed by China
Updated 0408 GMT (1208 HKT) July 29, 2020
Japanese fighter pilot Lt. Col. Takamichi Shirota says his country is under increasing pressure from the air. Analysts say it's a pressure faced by few other nations.
More than twice a day, Japanese fighter pilots hear a siren blare, bolt up from their ready-room seats, run to their jets, and scream aloft, ready to intercept a potentially unidentified incursion into Japanese airspace.
It happened to Japan's Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) 947 times in the last fiscal year ending in March. The culprit in most of those cases, warplanes from China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
How should the UK respond to Russian interference threats?
British parliamentary committee said Russia meddled in the 2014 Scottish referendum.
The UK is considering tightening its security laws after an intelligence report on Russian interference.
A parliamentary committee says no one in government asked about Moscow's attempts to interfere in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and the Brexit vote two years later.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected the assessment, while the Kremlin called it "Russophobia".
Second wave of pandemic may be underway in Europe warns Boris Johnson
There are signs of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in parts of Europe according to Boris Johnson, who's been defending his government's handling of the crisis and the sudden imposition of quarantine on travellers from every part of Spain. The Spanish prime minister is among those criticising the decision. Pedro Sánchez said tourists in most regions of Spain are less at risk from coronavirus than in the UK.
Super Soaker Inventor Faced Racism as a Black Engineer
Before he created one of America's most iconic toys, Lonnie Johnson had to earn respect as a Black engineer — now he's inspiring the inventors and scientists of the future.
Confirmed Covid-19 cases reaches more than 16 million
Covid-19 is "easily the most severe" global health emergency the World Health Organization (WHO) has ever declared, the agency has said The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases reaches more than 16 million - up by a million in just four days
Coronavirus: Fears returning travelers will spark second wave in Germany
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