04/02/20
Daily Archives: 2. April 2020
Coronavirus Update: Gov. Cuomo Says Peak Could Be As Soon As Week Away
Cuomo said the peak, or “battle of the mountaintop,” could be as soon as seven days away.
Porto rejects lockdown plan as ‘useless’
Officials said cutting off Porto would be “absurd” when the COVID-19 epidemic has spread widely through communities across the region and the country.
Porto Town Hall added it no longer recognises the authority of the general health director and considers her statements a slip of the tongue due to fatigue
Despite isolation, Uusimaa accounts for 61% of new coronavirus cases
Despite government orders to restrict movements, tighten controls at airports and isolate the capital area to contain the spread of the virus, the number of infections registered in the region of Helsinki increased to 934.
This is 38 cases more than those reported on Tuesday and this amount also represents 61% of the total of new infections detected in Finland.
Glenn Greenwald warns government is expanding power amid coronavirus
Greenwald also noted that proponents of the Patriot Act in the wake of 9/11 had assured civil libertarians the law had a sunset provision. Yet, the law remains in effect nearly two decades later as a “permanent part of our political framework.”
“That is the great concern, how do you temporarily vest power in the hands of the state that might be necessary to preserve these liberties in the long term without simultaneously giving them those powers realistically even if you intend for it to be temporary in a way that becomes permanent?” he added.
“Shoot them dead”: Philippine President Duterte threatens coronavirus lockdown violators
After some people in the Philippines defied a coronavirus lockdown to protest a lack of food, the country‘s president, Rodrigo Duterte, took to the airwaves declaring that he will order the military to shoot troublemakers dead.
Umfrage: Sieben von zehn Wählern wollen bei Parlamentswahl unbedingt wählen gehen
72,7 Prozent antworteten, dass sie unter allen Umständen ihre Stimme abgeben würden. Das sind 8,8 Prozentpunkte mehr als bei einer Umfrage bei der letzten Parlamentswahl
Demokraten verschieben Nominierungsparteitag
Der Parteitag in Milwaukee im Bundesstaat Wisconsin solle nun in der Woche vom 17. August stattfinden, teilte die Oppositionspartei heute mit. Bei der Konferenz soll der Herausforderer von US-Präsident Donald Trump bei der Wahl im November gekürt werden.
Anti-Deutschen-Stimmung in Italien: „Immer noch gnadenlos arrogant“
Bitterer Sarkasmus angesichts des deutschen Neins zu den sogenannten Eurobonds – Staatsanleihen, für die in der Europäischen Union alle Steuerzahler gemeinsam haften würden. Italien will unter anderem mit diesen Eurobonds den Neustart seiner Wirtschaft nach der Corona-Krise finanzieren.
Dass die Bundesregierung dies ablehnt, empört selbst den traditionell deutschlandfreundlichen „Corriere della Sera“, der kritisiert: In der Not sei auf Freunde kein Verlass.
Democrats to delay convention until August
The Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee will be delayed for a month because of the coronavirus pandemic, the host committee announced on Thursday.
NASA selects new mission to study giant solar particle storms
The new mission, called the Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE), will help understand how the solar system works to protect astronauts traveling in space by providing better information on how the Sun‘s radiation affects the space environment, said the release.
Dutch propose EU corona medical fund, will contribute up to €1bn
The Netherlands has proposed establishing an EU emergency fund to cover the immediate health costs associated with the coronavirus outbreak and, according to Trouw, is prepared to contribute around €1bn.
The fund, prime minister Mark Rutte said during Wednesday’s debate in parliament, would be filled by contributions by member states and would be a ‘gift to those in need’ rather than a loan or a guarantee.
CIRCLE IN THE DARKNESS – Memoir of a World Watcher
Circle in the Darkness is a veteran journalist’s lucid, uncompromising tour through half a century of contemporary history intended especially for those who may aspire against all obstacles to change its course for the better. Diana Johnstone recounts in detail how the Western Left betrayed its historical principles of social justice and peace and let itself be lured into approval of aggressive U.S.-NATO wars on the fallacious grounds of “human rights”. Subjects range from caustic analysis of the pretentious confusion of French philosophers to the stories of many courageous individuals whose struggle for peace and justice ended in deep personal tragedy, with a great deal in between.
A light in the Darkness
Diana Johnstone’s just published book, Circle in the Darkness: Memoir of a World Watcher, is the best book I have ever read, the most revealing, the most accurate, the most truthful, the most moral and humane, the most sincere and heartfelt, and the best written. Her book is far more than a memoir. It is a history that has not previously been written. If you want the truth of the last 60 years in place of the contrived reality constructed for us by controlled explanations, it is in this book.
This book is so extraordinary in its truthfulness and conciseness that it is difficult for a less gifted writer to do it justice. It is a book without a superfluous sentence.
Herein I will provide some of the books message. In future columns I hope to present some of the history in the book.
System Update With Glenn Greenwald – Liz Franczak and Kyle Kulinski
In the debut episode of The Intercept‘s new weekly show, host Glenn Greenwald does an in-depth examination of the Bernie Sanders 2020 primary campaign and the reasons why Sanders is, once again, unlikely to become the Democratic Party‘s presidential nominee. Glenn interviews journalist and podcaster Liz Franczac, and Kyle Kulinski, host of the Kyle Kulinski show, about mistakes made by the Sanders 2020 campaign and larger structural issues in the Democratic Party that make it virtually impossible for insurgent campaigns to succeed.
Glenn Greenwald announces show ft Kyle Kulinski, how to balance authoritarian instinct in crisis
Co-founding editor of The Intercept Glenn Greenwald, shares why he and other staunch advocates for civil liberties are more open to government surveillance during the coronavirus pandemic.
Corporatists and the media treat leftists like enemies. But prominent leftists don‘t respond in kind. Seems like a giant blindspot to me.
Why Are Progressives Voting For Ultimate Screwing Of America?
(video)
What will be remembered is how our progressive leaders did worse than absolutely nothing during the ultimate screwing of America, you voted for it! and still have ZERO ideas for what to do right now. Progressive leadership is co-opted & worthless.
RentStrike/MortgageStrike
Could Trump delay the November election? Not without risking forfeit to a Democrat
(17.03.2020)
The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service reached the same conclusion when it investigated the question in the aftermath of 9/11.
Under the U.S. Constitution, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence cannot stay in office past their four-year terms without being reelected. If the election does not happen for any reason, constitutional rules of succession kick in.
That could mean a lawmaker down the line of succession who is not up for reelection could be the new president.
Biden Calls for Democratic Convention to Be Delayed Because of Virus
“I doubt whether the Democratic convention is going to be able to be held in mid-July, early July,” Mr. Biden told Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show.” “I think it’s going to have to move into August.”
Mr. Fallon had not asked Mr. Biden about the convention’s timing. The former vice president was responding to a question about how the virus would affect the election.
Trump resists pressure to declare nationwide stay-at-home order
President Trump is holding back on declaring a nationwide stay-at-home order, even as some governors resist imposing restrictions that Trump‘s top public health officials say are needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The president has been reluctant to wade into matters he argues are better left to governors.
Dozens Clash With Police in Jaffa After Teenager Detained for ‘Violating’ Coronavirus Restrictions
Dozens of Jaffa residents clashed with Israel Police Wednesday when the detention of a 16-year-old who refused to provide his identity to police escalated into a demonstration.
Four demonstrators were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct after they allegedly tried to help the teenager flee from the checkpoint where he had been stopped, which was set up near the neighborhood of Ajami to enforce movement restrictions in Israel’s coronavirus lockdown.
Israel: Unrest flares up as police enforce gov‘t restrictions
According to Hebrew media reports, four local residents were arrested during riots that kicked off over the arrest of another local, suspected of violating the government regulations.
Earlier in the day, six people were arrested in the ultra-Orthodox West Bank settlement of Modiin Illit, where police units arrived to disperse a prayer at a local synagogue.
The worshippers refused to comply and scuffled with the officers.
Will the Defendant Appoint the Judges?
One of first jobs facing a Netanyahu-Gantz government will be to appoint a permanent state prosecutor. Netanyahu must not be allowed to control or have even the slightest influence over who gets this post, given the important role the state prosecutor will play both in managing Netanyahu’s trial and in potential future investigations.
In coronavirus pandemic, authoritarians around the world see opportunity to crack down
Leaders with authoritarian instincts may not cede their emergency powers.
Statement by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden
In this unprecedented situation, it is legitimate that Member States adopt extraordinary measures to protect their citizens and overcome the crisis. We are however deeply concerned about the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights arising from the adoption of certain emergency measures.
Emergency measures should be limited to what is strictly necessary, should be proportionate and temporary in nature, subject to regular scrutiny, and respect the aforementioned principles and international law obligations. They should not restrict the freedom of expression or the freedom of the press.
Dutch sign veiled statement condemning Hungary, sidestep outright criticism
The Netherlands is one of 13 EU member states which have signed a joint statement criticising Viktor Orban’s power grab in Hungary but which does not mention the country by name.
In the statement, EU foreign ministers say they are ‘deeply concerned about the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights arising from the adoption of certain emergency measures.’
Operation „Irini“: Start für neue EU-Mission im Mittelmeer
Die Einigung über die neue EU-Operation zur Umsetzung des Waffenembargos für Libyen ist ein wichtiger Schritt in unseren Bemühungen, die Zuflüsse von Waffen und Kämpfern durch das Ausland an beide Konfliktparteien in Libyen zu stoppen und so die Vereinbarungen der Berliner Libyen-Konferenz umzusetzen. Europa zeigt, dass es auch in der Krise handlungsfähig ist, wenn es um die Stabilität unserer Nachbarschaft geht.
Deutschland will sich an Operation auch militärisch beteiligen. Über den Umfang der deutschen Beteiligung wird nach einer Truppenstellerkonferenz der Deutsche Bundestag entscheiden.
Telefonschaltkonferenz der Bundeskanzlerin mit den Regierungschefinnen und Regierungschefs der Länder am 1. April 2020
Die Bundeskanzlerin und die Regierungschefinnen und Regierungschefs der Länder fassen folgenden Beschluss:
Die Dynamik der Verbreitung des Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Deutschland ist noch immer zu hoch. Wir müssen daher weiterhin alles dafür tun, die Geschwindigkeit des Infektionsgeschehens zu vermindern und unser Gesundheitssystem leistungsfähig zu halten. Eine entscheidende Rolle kommt dabei weiterhin der Reduzierung von Kontakten zu.
Open letter: Civil society urges Member States to respect the principles of the law in Terrorist Content Online Regulation
On 27 March 2020, European Digital Rights (EDRi) and 12 of its member organisations sent an open letter to representatives of Member States in the Council of the EU. In the letter, we voice our deep concern over the proposed legislation on the regulation of terrorist content online and what we view as serious potential threats to fundamental rights of privacy, freedom of expression, etc.
EU-Gesetz gegen Terrorpropaganda: Politisch motivierte Online-Zensur, leicht gemacht
Während EU-Länder wie Ungarn ihre Demokratie abbauen, will ihnen die EU-Kommission trotzdem mächtige Mittel in die Hand geben. Ursprünglich gegen die Verbreitung von Terrorpropaganda im Internet gedacht, könnte ein Gesetzesvorschlag zu unkontrollierter Zensur in ganz Europa führen. Ein zivilgesellschaftliches Bündnis will dies verhindern.
Maßnahmen in Corona-Krise – „Extreme Eingriffe in die Freiheit aller“
Der frühere Präsident des Bundesverfassungsgerichts, Hans-Jürgen Papier, warnt vor einem Eingriff in die Grundrechte. Er sehe die Gefahr einer „Erosion des Rechtsstaats“, sollten sich die „extremen Eingriffe in die Freiheit aller“ noch lange hinziehen, sagte er der „Süddeutschen Zeitung“.
„Wenn sich das über eine längere Zeit hinzieht, dann hat der liberale Rechtsstaat abgedankt.“