Covid-19 impacts global alignments

27 May 2020 — Indian Punchline

By M.K. Bhadrakumar

Russia-China partnership challenges US global hegemony

The sluice gates have opened, as it were, on world politics after the ‘timeout’ through the past 2-3 months due to Covid-19. The spectacle of America’s epic war with Covid-19 under President Donald Trump’s watch creates a range of emotions in the world community — ranging from sympathy and pity to horror and derison. This will have consequences.

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BAME People Are More Likely to Have Been Fined for Breaking Lockdown Across the Country, FOI Data Shows

29th May 2020 — Novara Media

Nic Murray @nic__murray

BAME people living outside of London were 4.4 times more likely than white people to receive a £60 fine for breaking lockdown in the first full week that new police powers were in place, according to a freedom of information exercise to all British police forces.

Black people in particular were 8.7 times more likely to be fined.

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The government’s case for mandatory voter ID has taken another big hit

26 May 2020 — Electoral Reform Society

Josiah Mortimer
Author:
Josiah Mortimer

Recently-published analysis has dealt another blow to the government’s case for mandatory voter ID.

The government wants to force all voters to ‘show their papers’ at the polling station. But an assessment by the Electoral Commission of electoral offences in the UK shows the minuscule state of ‘personation’ fraud – the type that voter ID is meant to prevent.

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The Question Of Evidence When Governments Push Political Narratives

24 May 2020 — One World

The Question Of Evidence When Governments Push Political Narratives

Today, in the background of the risk of world conflict and threat to health and our way of life arising from Covid-19, it’s never been more important to be sceptical and understand evidence. Earlier in my career, I used to adjudicate financial disputes between two parties, weigh up the evidence, and decide the most likely scenario. So, in terms of what’s going on in the world, I’m interested in narratives which are open to challenge and the thinking and motives of those in power, the media, and experts behind them. And particularly how the public watching and listening process these messages.

New UK laws could criminalise journalism

30 May 2020 — Daily Maverick

By Richard Norton-Taylor

The British government is pushing ahead with “espionage legislation” that could criminalise the release of public information and impose even stricter controls on the UK media as part of an “epidemic of secrecy”.

British journalists and their sources are facing an unprecedented assault on freedom of speech, including the prospect of criminal prosecution. Threats aimed at whistleblowers and journalists were evident before the coronavirus crisis struck, but went largely unnoticed.

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Video: How to Start a Riot? Police Provocateurs Dressed up as “Activists” at Peaceful Anti-Globalization Rally

29 May 2020 — Global Research News

Quebec 2007 Antiwar Event

“About 1,200 protesters were in the small resort town near Ottawa as Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon at a two-day summit to discuss issues under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America pact.The police admitted they were their officers.”

CEP President Dave Coles confronts men with rocks and sticks.

In the footage, three burly men with bandanas and other covers over their faces push through protesters toward a line of riot police.

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