Geert Wilders' questionable American patron
US American donations to the hairshirt crusader's legal defense fund are tax deductible.

#BREAKING AU calls for calm as what some say is the beginning of a "Caucasian Spring" sweeps across the Western world, threatening and toppling governments in its wake; says Africa will continue to intensify support for pro-democracy efforts in North America and Off-white Europe.

— gathara (@gathara) January 22, 2021

#BREAKING The unrest in Canada comes just days after the country's troubled southern neighbour and former fellow British colony, US, also defenestrated its far-white tyrannical ruler who fomented the violent Orange Rebellion and Jan 6 Day of Pigs putsch in which at least 5 died.

— gathara (@gathara) January 22, 2021

23 January 2020: First COVID case in Europe.

In Bordeaux, Laurent Chu was the first Covid patient in Europe

It is, officially, the first Covid patient in Europe.

The Bordeaux native of Chinese origin Laurent Chu, 49, sales advisor in the wine world, was hospitalized on January 23, 2020 at the Bordeaux University Hospital, while returning from Wuhan, the focus of the epidemic in China, in the part of his work.

His Covid was officially declared the next day, January 24.

A year later, he tells how he "trembled" from his isolation room, seeing "the panic of the world".

"I didn't infect anyone," he insists.

I was the first patient, yes, but I did not infect anyone, "he said in an interview with the daily Sud Ouest on Friday.

Transferred to the Bordeaux University Hospital, in the infectious diseases department of infectious disease specialist Denis Malvy, Laurent Chu found himself 25 days in an isolation room, in intensive care, once the Covid was confirmed.

"We did not know the disease at that time, explains Professor Denis Malvy at 20 Minutes, we did not have information on the level of contagiousness, so we treated the very first patients in negative pressure rooms.

This is why we placed him in a sheave, with maximum precautions, since we dressed as if it were an Ebola, whereas from February this type of patient was taken care of on an outpatient basis... "

"They didn't know how to treat me," recalls "patient zero".

23 January 2020: Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province enters lockdown.

Wuhan marks its anniversary with triumph and denial - BBC

On 23 January last year, the Chinese authorities severed transport links out of Wuhan and confined the city's population to their homes.

The tough lockdown coincided with the annual spring festival celebrations and came too late to prevent the global spread of the disease - five million people had already left the city ahead of the holiday.

Doctors' warnings had gone unheeded and, in an outpouring of anger on the Chinese internet, the authorities stood accused of covering up the initial outbreak in the interests of political stability.

One year on, there's little sign of that anger in Wuhan today. In fact it's the humdrum normality that is striking - the traffic jams, the bustling markets and busy restaurants.

The Biden win before he fell ill.

The Trump Covid-19 virus caught up with Larry - RIP.

pic.twitter.com/x0Hl0X6vqU

— Larry King (@kingsthings) January 23, 2021

Larry King Dead at 87 | RollingStone |

And that's that. pic.twitter.com/PKwLPv1Sxf

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 20, 2021

@JohnKerry:Yes,Mr Kerry.But You supported ISIS and Al Nusra against President Assad in Syria.And they are financed by Qatar and Saudi-Arabia

— Armin Laschet (@ArminLaschet) August 20, 2014

Very badly, unsurprisingly: Eurostar is one of the main sources of income for Getlink, the company running the tunnel, along with train shuttles for cars and trucks. Getlink is in trouble too, and is calling for support.

`Arm wrestling' to save the Eurostar  - Politico.eu

Getlink, the Paris-based company which owns the Channel Tunnel, is also calling for government support for Eurostar, touting the operator's green credentials to the British government and making comparisons with the aviation sector.

"In the long term, Eurostar is the transport of the future: fast, frequent, low carbon and with great potential to expand to other destinations. Their business and leisure passengers will be back as soon as conditions allow," said John Keefe, Getlink's director of public affairs.

If Eurostar goes under, it leaves a big hole in Getlink's finances, one that's unlikely to be filled by replacing passenger trains with cargo ones.

What I find surprising is that both Getlink and Eurostar are majority owned by French shareholders. You'd think that people living on an island would have at least a passing interest in the smooth and continuous operation of the only terrestrial link to the Continent, especially in times where empty supermarket shelves are a major concern for the British public.

The Bear Steams East: The Amazing Journey of the Russian Baltic Fleet to the Pacific

"Historic": Dutch PM congratulates new U.S. Pres. Biden, VP Harris

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte issued a brief statement on Wednesday evening offering to work more closely with newly-inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The two were sworn in during a ceremony in Washington D.C. moments earlier.

"The Netherlands and the United States have long been close allies," Rutte said. "On behalf of the Dutch government, I would like to congratulate them on their historic inauguration."

Everyone's friend ... Mark Rutte

Don't criticize Trump -- we need him, Dutch prime minister says | WEF Davis - 2018 |

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte -- who told CNBC that the president could be a catalyst for much-needed reforms.
"The U.S. has voted and Trump is the president and maybe he will be re-elected ... So we have to work with him, and I think he is an opportunity," Rutte told CNBC's Geoff Cutmore at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Whiffs of the voyage of the Russian Baltic Fleet in 1905.

Like so many, infected by the Trump virus and feel of power near the White House ... a useless tool or should I say fool.

Psaski tells @stevenportnoy it's "an excellent question" if Dr. Deborah Birx is still on President Biden's COVID response team and she will "have to circle back on that one" [_link] pic.twitter.com/rA0yoqvSNb

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2021

Trump COVID task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx says she "always" considered quitting

... She told Brennan she plans to retire "within the next four to six weeks" from her current role at the CDC, capping a four-decade-long career in public service as an Army officer, administrator of PEPFAR AIDS research, and finally a tumultuous run as one of the top U.S. officials guiding the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

More than 400,000 Americans have since died from the virus, and millions have lost their jobs as a result of the economic fallout.

I know times are tough, but help is on the way. pic.twitter.com/BVi3b6NoBv

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 22, 2021

Experts praise Biden's Covid-19 plan, but warn that undoing Trump-era mistakes will take time

This is a hugely importantly ruling in the world of foreign corruption: 5 years jail for Beny Steinmetz over bribes paid to a wife of the former Guinean president to obtain iron ore rights. Jail time for corporate corruption remains incredibly rare [_link]

— Tom Wilson (@thomas_m_wilson) January 22, 2021

Israeli minerals magnate Beny Steinmetz convicted of corruption

A miracle someone like Steinmetz got his day in court ... 🇨🇭🇨🇭

Black Cube and Oligarchs in the Shadow

Ben Gurion Longed for a Zionist Thief, Now Israel is Run by Them

Pres. Biden pushes for swift action on more COVID relief: "We're in a national emergency. We need to act like we're in a national emergency...I don't believe Democrats or Republicans are going hungry and losing jobs. I believe Americans are going hungry and losing their jobs." pic.twitter.com/IvToUcKvB9

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2021

NEW: Newly-confirmed Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin sends "day one message to the force."

"I am honored to have this chance to serve again and to do so alongside you and your families...I am proud to be back on your team." [_link] pic.twitter.com/nFw3obeNLG

— ABC News (@ABC) January 22, 2021

Storming the Capitol: Trump's Last Stand

A presidency of rage and division ...

A documentary on Sky TV

Panel discussion UC Berkeley

Storming the Capitol: Trumpism's Last Stand

Livestream Q&A with OBI Director John A. Powell and law professor Ian Haney Lopez about the chaos in Washington, D.C. this week when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building demanding Congress halt the validation of presidential election results.

G7 2021 summit coming to Carbis Bay, Cornwall

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also invited Australia, India and South Korea to attend as guests, as he seeks to promote a green recovery from the crisis.

UK plans early G7 virtual meeting and presses ahead with switch to D10

51 nations sign UN treaty banning nuclear weapons. Every nuclear-armed nation refused to sign, including Israel. [_link]

— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) January 22, 2021

"First-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons enters into force" by EDITH M. LEDERER @AP with comments from UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres ICAN's @BeaFihn and ACA's @DarylGKimball [_link] #NuclearBan pic.twitter.com/A5JjKUbBbe

— Arms Control Assoc (@ArmsControlNow) January 22, 2021

A Start to Renew Talks and Diplomacy ...

As part of a special series in the new #ArmsControlToday, @KelseyDav offers the #BidenHarris administration recommendations on "Returning to Progress on Iran" and the #JCPOA.

Read her proposals at [_link] pic.twitter.com/kNoaH6w4ht

— Arms Control Assoc (@ArmsControlNow) January 22, 2021

Moscow welcomes news Biden admin wants to renew key nuclear treaty

How about replacing it with a bust of Parnell?

Shorter tabloids: How dare you remove the bust of Churchill from the Oval Office?

Reaction to Churchill bust removal muted for Biden after outrage for Obama - CNN

It had once been a transatlantic art scandal -- or at least various actors of questionable intent would have you believe it was.
Overheated, confusing and laden in the end with blatant racism, the case of the White House bust of Winston Churchill still persists.
President Joe Biden has removed it from the Oval Office after four years standing sentry under his predecessor, who thought he looked something like the wartime prime minister.

An Oval Office redesign brought in new busts instead: Latino civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Some British tabloids deemed it a snub. The US Embassy in London put out a video Friday morning underscoring the special relationship between the US and the UK -- emphasizing that it is not about a piece of sculpture.

Four years ago...

Former President Donald Trump's children and family appeared emotional during his farewell speech at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, January 20th. [_link] pic.twitter.com/g68yehAcix

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2021

Trump siblings aim to follow in the footsteps of dad. GOP SOS

COVID strain in South Africa shows huge resistance to antibodies from original virus [_link]

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2021

LATEST: Senate to receive Trump impeachment article Monday, Senate trial could begin next week. [_link]

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 22, 2021

NEW: WH says Biden has signed H.R. 335, which waives the law requiring a 7-year waiting period before Ret. Gen. Lloyd Austin can serve as defense secretary.

— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) January 22, 2021

Austin confirmed as defense secretary in bipartisan vote [_link] pic.twitter.com/satZ7dxl1R

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 22, 2021

Global coronavirus cases on Jan 23, 2020: 645 cases in 6 countries

Global coronavirus cases on Jan 22, 2021: 97,000,000+ cases in 200+ countries

Data: [_link] pic.twitter.com/XfTaBTPd2i

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 22, 2021

Yesterday, President Biden reversed the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization. And this morning, Dr. Fauci joined his first meeting as the head of our delegation. Here's what he said: pic.twitter.com/yvv2ojcfXh

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 22, 2021

Reversing the political decision by former president Trump in July.

Trump allies at VOA, as Biden admin. names new leadership. [_link]

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 22, 2021

Trump allies dismissed at VOA as Biden administration names new leadership | NBC News |

In its first full day in office, the Biden administration dismissed the director of Voice of America, Robert Reilly, and his deputy, Elizabeth Robbins, and replaced them with experienced journalists with long careers at VOA and other government-funded networks.

Reilly, a conservative commentator, is the author of such books as "Making Gay Okay: How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior is Changing Everything."

Even after Joe Biden was sworn in as president on Wednesday, Robbins and another former Trump administration political appointee at the agency, John Jaggers, continued efforts to try to fire several employees on Thursday.

Shortly after midnight early on Thursday, four employees received a letter from Jaggers telling them that they were being removed "as of the date of this letter," Seide said, who shared excerpts of the document with NBC News.

...
When Robbins was told by the new management that she was being fired, she responded that such a move would be illegal, citing recently adopted legislation on VOA's governance.

Islamic State Claims Suicide Attack on Iraqi Capital [_link]

— The Voice of America (@VOANews) January 22, 2021

The placidity, timidity, and establishmentarianism of the average Brit never fails to astound me. They seem to accept all sorts of outrages as normal. The blatant cronyism, corruption, and incompetence of their betters never seems to bother them too much.

Many actively support Boris and his cronies as being made of "the right stuff". Everyone else is being extremist or inconsiderate. The Queen is untouchable, as are many of the established institutions of the state. All are obviously "the best in the world" compared to those horrible foreign countries.

So no, I don't see a revolution any time soon, despite a precipitous decline which they seem barely aware of - a bit like the frog who was boiled alive because the water temperature only went up a little at a time. Instead they appear to live in a sea of WWII victories, 1966 World Cup wins, and Beatles nostalgia - back in the day when England was best in the world at something.