Biopolitics is an intersectional field between human biology and politics. #Politics #Biology
tag > Politics
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The world after the pandemic - by Thierry Meyssan (voltairenet)
Europe in 1921, after the Spanish flu Geopolitics after the pandemic: The epidemic of hysteria that accompanies that of Covid-19 masks the political news. When the crisis is over and the people recover their spirit, the world may be a very different place. Last week we spoke of the existential threat that the Pentagon was making to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, both destined to disappear. The response of both was to threaten the United States with the worst calamities - the collapse of the shale oil industry for the former, a war with Russia for the latter; two very risky bets. These threats are so serious that they must be answered quickly and will probably not wait three months.
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New coronavirus infections may drop to zero by end-March in Wuhan: Chinese government expert (reuters)
Wuhan, the epicenter of China’s coronavirus epidemic, will likely see new infections drop to zero by the end of this month, an expert with the country’s top panel on battling the illness said on Thursday, even as the city reported a quicker rise in new confirmed cases.
In China, life returning to normal as coronavirus outbreak slows (aljazeera)
Even in Hubei, where some 10,000 cases remain, the pressure on front-line medical workers has eased. On March 17, the first batch of nearly 4,000 medical workers who were parachuted into Wuhan to help control the outbreak were able to leave. With so many provinces having downgraded their emergency response levels, China is slowly - and cautiously - returning to normal lif
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Democratic Party's donkey symbol replaced by a rat in Google search (Mashable)
Image: Screenshot / google A Google spokesperson suggested that if only the Democratic Party had taken the time to claim its Knowledge Panel then we wouldn't be in this mess. "Most images in Knowledge Panels are automatically generated from pages on the web," wrote the spokesperson over email. "When errors are reported, we fix them quickly. We encourage people and organizations to claim their Knowledge Panels, which allows them to select a representative image."
Social media giants warn of AI moderation errors as coronavirus empties offices (Reuters)
Alphabet Inc’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter warned on Monday that more videos and other content could be erroneously removed for policy violations, as the companies empty offices and rely on automated takedown software during the coronavirus pandemic. In a blog post, Google said that to reduce the need for people to come into offices, YouTube and other business divisions are temporarily relying more on artificial intelligence and automated tools to find problematic content.
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npm is joining GitHub/Microsoft
#Comment: The brute force attacks by the late capitalistic kleptocrats on the free software / open source movement is notably picking up speed. The famous saying "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win” comes to mind...
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Employee At BIS' Basel Headquarters Infected With Coronavirus, Nine Others Exposed (FT)
The Bank for International Settlements has said a member of staff working at its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, has tested positive for Covid-19. This afternoon the organisation reported that the individual had received medical treatment and was currently recovering at home. A further nine staff members who had been working in close proximity to the infected employees had been told to to work from home temporarily.
Italian army chief tested positive for coronavirus
Italian Chief of Army Staff Salvatore Farina has tested positive for the coronavirus and will remain quarantined in his home, with a replacement taking on his official duties. Farina announced he is self-isolating after not feeling well and then testing positive for the disease. He will be replaced in his role as chief of staff by General Federico Bonato, reported foreign media on Sunday.
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Apple fined a record $1.2 billion by French antitrust authorities (CNBC)
Attac activists protesting at an Apple Store in France (via) French antitrust authorities ordered Apple on Monday to pay a 1.1 billion euro ($1.23 billion) fine for anti-competitive behaviour. The French competition authority said the iPhone-maker was guilty of creating cartels within its distribution network and abusing the economic dependence of its outside resellers. Two of Apple’s wholesalers were also fined for agreeing on prices: Tech Data and Ingram Micro. The French authority said this penalty - totalling 1.24 billion euros - was the largest ever handed down in one case.
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Spanish king turns off the money tap to his father (alt)
Treasure of the Ancient Aztecs - Cortes and his Conquistadors plunder old Mexico
Felipe VI. ends the standing order to his father and predecessor Juan Carlos – and later renounces his legacy. The split is about Saudi millions and a dubious foundation.
Spanish king named on offshore fund linked to €65m Saudi 'gift' (telegraph)
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So how long until the Epstein Videos hit the internet? Weeks? Month?
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Defender 2020 is "frozen" Corona slows down NATO exercise in Europe (alt, alt)
Because of the corona virus pandemic, the large-scale maneuver "Defender Europe 2020" is apparently on the verge: After the "de facto suspension" of US military forces, the Bundeswehr canceled its participation in a joint military exercise on Friday. Instead of 20,000 US soldiers, only those 5,500 Americans who are already in Europe are now to take part. That was communicated by the US headquarters in Wiesbaden. The exercise was "frozen", no more troops and materials were moved to Europe.
Defender of Europe 2020: a Dangerous Provocation on Russia’s Border - by Ellen Taylor (counterpunch)
The largest military exercises in Europe in over 25 years. A massive US build-up in countries bordering Russia.
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Open Source Initiative bans co-founder, Eric S Raymond
Raymond made the following statement, on February 27, 2020, on his personal blog:
“I – OSI’s co-founder and its president for its first six years – was kicked off their lists for being too rhetorically forceful in opposing certain recent attempts to subvert OSD clauses 5 and 6. This despite the fact that I had vocal support from multiple list members who thanked me for being willing to speak out. It shouldn’t be news to anyone that there is an effort afoot to change – I would say corrupt – the fundamental premises of the open-source culture. Instead of meritocracy and “show me the code”, we are now urged to behave so that no-one will ever feel uncomfortable. The effect – the intended effect – is to diminish the prestige and autonomy of people who do the work – write the code – in favor of self-appointed tone-policers. In the process, the freedom to speak necessary truths even when the manner in which they are expressed is unpleasant is being gradually strangled. And that is bad for us. Very bad. Both directly – it damages our self-correction process – and in its second-order effects. The habit of institutional tone policing, even when well-intentioned, too easily slides into the active censorship of disfavored views.”
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“Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb enough to passively accept their situation.” ― George Carlin
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Coronavirus COVID-19: “Made in China” or “Made in America”? by Prof Michel Chossudovsky
200 American military personnel participating in the CISM Military World Games (Wuhan China, Okt.2019)
"Let’s be clear: The coronavirus pandemic is not the “cause” of this unfolding economic and social crisis. It is the “pretext” for the implementation of a carefully designed “operation” (supported by media disinformation) which destabilizes national economies, impoverishes large sectors of the World population and literally undermines the lives of millions of people. What we are dealing with is “An Act of War”."
More recent articles on the subject by Chossudovsky.
American Nazi Party marchers in 1937
According to the paper die Welt, Trump is trying to poach German scientists working on an experimental vaccine against a global health threat. Such a vaccine would be “only for the United States,” a source close to the German government told Die Welt, though Berlin would reportedly is looking to make offers of its own to biotech firm CureVac, based in the German state of Thuringia.
Who is the second biggest shareholder of CureVac? The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, of course.
CDC Shuts Down US Military’s Deadly Diseases Lab Over Safety Concerns (2019)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ordered temporary closure of a research facility at Fort Detrick in Maryland due to safety concerns. The lab handles some of the most dangerous pathogens and toxins in the world. The decision comes after an inspection in June found that the research lab failed to run sufficient systems that should decontaminate wastewater from the facility. The CDC suspended all research, including projects of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).
US Intel Agencies Played Unsettling Role in Classified and “9/11-like” Coronavirus Response Plan (Mintpress)
As coronavirus panic grips the world, concern over government overreach is growing given the involvement of US intelligence agencies in classified meetings for planning the U.S.’ coronavirus response.
Inside Jared Kushner’s coronavirus research: a wide net on a giant Facebook group (politico)
The president’s son-in-law and senior adviser takes a leading role in a variety of Trump challenges, this time responding to the escalating coronavirus outbreak. “In his role as a senior adviser to the president, Jared Kushner is, of course involved in the coronavirus response, but he is not in charge of coronavirus research," a White House official said.
Mike Pompeo slams ICC plan to probe U.S. officials for war crimes (washingtontimes)
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday slammed the International Criminal Court as an “unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body,” after the organization said its may soon open cases against American troops for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The Hague-based ICC announced that it would allow prosecutors to open an investigation targeting not only current and former U.S. military, CIA and diplomatic personnel, but also the Taliban, and Afghan government forces for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the nearly two-decade long conflict.
Americans preparing for the pandemic... (via)
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Bill Gates Leaves Microsoft and Berkshire Board (cnbc) - Yet another addition to the giant list of high level corporate executives which have all mysteriously resigned in recent weeks.
Microsoft announced on Friday that Bill Gates is leaving the board. CNBC reports: "I have made the decision to step down from both of the public boards on which I serve -- Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway -- to dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and my increasing engagement in tackling climate change," Gates said on LinkedIn. "The leadership at the Berkshire companies and Microsoft has never been stronger, so the time is right to take this step."
Pentagon 'Wishes To Reconsider' $10 Billion JEDI Contract Given To Microsoft (CNN)
The U.S. Department of Defense on Thursday said it wishes to re-evaluate its decision to award the Pentagon's multibillion-dollar cloud contract with Microsoft, signaling a potential victory for Amazon in its protest of the award. The department "wishes to reconsider its award decision in response to the other technical challenges presented by AWS," it said in a court filing, referring to Amazon Web Services. The agency said it does not anticipate needing to discuss the matter with either AWS or Microsoft. The contract -- called Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI -- involves providing cloud storage of sensitive military data and technology, such as artificial intelligence, to the Department of Defense, and could result in revenue of up to $10 billion over 10 years. Amazon Web Services lost the contract to Microsoft's Azure cloud business in October, a decision that surprised many industry experts given Amazon's leadership in the industry. Amazon filed a suit with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims contesting the decision, arguing that it was politically motivated by President Donald Trump's dislike of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and the Washington Post, which Bezos owns.
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Different Times, Different People - The tricks of psychopaths are timeless.
Pig Dicator, From Animal Farm "If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself." - Joseph Goebbels
"The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders...tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger." - Hermann Goring
The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But, we don't ask for their love; only for their fear. - Heinrich Himmler
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Vladislav Surkov: Russia's Putin dismisses secretive adviser (BBC)
The secretive strategist was known as the grey cardinal in Russia due to his perceived influence on the president behind the scenes. Surkov was widely seen as an aide who helped Mr Putin cement his hold on power.
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UK accounting regulator urges break up of Big Four firms KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, EY (The Guardian, 2018. Alt: The Irishtimes, 2019)
The UK audit regulator has outlined the plan to breakup the Big Four accounting firms in letters sent to the leaders of Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC. In what would amount to a far-reaching shake-up of the accounting industry, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) issued guidelines for the big four to separate their audit and consulting operations in Britain.
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Scoop: State-owned think tank floats China-led WHO alternative (axios)
In China, state-sponsored think tanks can double as diplomatic back channels, allowing leaders a low-risk means to float new ideas and explore how they might be perceived. Carice Witte, the founder and executive director of SIGNAL, told Axios the idea of a Beijing-led WHO alternative is "very interesting in the context of China's aim to reshape global governance, including setting up parallel institutions.
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King Willem-Alexander apologises for Dutch atrocities in Indonesia’s independence war
Dutch King Willem-Alexander apologised to Indonesia on Tuesday for “excessive violence” during the former colony’s independence struggle in the 1940s. Indonesia declared its independence on August 17, 1945 following a brief wartime occupation by the Japanese and several hundred years as a Dutch colony. “The past cannot be erased, and will have to be acknowledged by each generation in turn,” the king said in a joint statement.
