VIDEO: Joe Biden Clarifies That He Is Not ‘Hiding People And Sucking The Blood Of Children’

 https://nationalfile.com/video-joe-biden-clarifies-that-he-is-not-hiding-people-and-sucking-the-blood-of-children/

The President made a clarifying statement on CNN denying that he and Democrats are "sucking the blood of children."

Joe Biden made a statement clarifying that he and his fellow Democrats are not “hiding people and sucking the blood of children” during a Presidential Town Hall on CNN.

During a CNN Presidential Town Hall, Joe Biden made a strange statement denying that he and Democrats are hiding people and sucking blood out of children. CNN host Don Lemon was initially discussing Democrats being “unprepared” for the events that occurred on January 6 when the President began to ramble about having “faith” in the American people and his Republican critics. However, Biden specifically referenced the Qanon movement, condemning the belief that he and the Democrats could be partaking in wicked and nefarious activities.

“I sometimes get myself in trouble for what I’m about to say, not that I ever get in trouble,” Biden chuckled. “As you’ve heard me say before, no one ever doubts I mean what I say, the problem is I sometimes say all that I mean. But all kidding aside, I have faith in the American people. I really do, to ultimately get to the right place, and by the way, many times Republicans are in the right place. I don’t mean that the Repub-it’s always a Democratic point of view, but some of this stuff, I mean Qanon,” Biden said.

“The idea that the Democrats or the Biden is hiding people and sucking the blood of children, no I’m serious, that’s the — Now you may not like me and that’s your right,” Biden explained to Lemon, adding that both parties are contributing to these beliefs. “The kinds of things that are being said of late, I think we are beginning to see some of the, and both and by Democrats as well, sort of the venom, get, sorta sorta leak out of a lot of it. We got to get beyond this.”

Biden made it clear that he thinks it’s a bad thing that Americans from both sides of the aisle believe that he and the Democrats suck the blood out of children and secretly hide people. “What do you say to your grandchildren, or your children about what’s happening? Do you ever remember a time like this before, the entire history, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican? This is not who we are,” Biden assured the viewers.

'Bald-Faced Lie': Snowden Confident That Even Biden's Phone Could be Hacked by Pegasus Spyware

 

'Bald-Faced Lie': Snowden Confident That Even Biden's Phone Could be Hacked by Pegasus Spyware

The NSO Group says that it is technologically impossible to spy on phone numbers with a +1 country code as well as foreign ones operating within the United States. The “Pegasus Project” has revealed that the spyware was used by the Israeli firm’s clients to possibly target US phone numbers as well, raising national security concerns in Washington.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden has claimed that even American phone numbers could be subjected to spying using Pegasus malware, as he called out Israel’s NSO Group for claiming that its surveillance technology doesn’t work against smartphones based in the US.

“NSO's claim that it is 'technologically impossible' to spy on American phone numbers is a bald-faced lie”, Snowden, a former computer intelligence consultant with the US National Security Agency (NSA), tweeted.

​In a follow-up tweet, the former American intelligence contractor explained that the NSO’s “country code targeting prohibition” could be easily bypassed.

​Snowden says that the only solution to stop illegal surveillance using such spyware is to “ban the trade” altogether.

​In an interview with The Guardian, Snowden claimed that “ordinary people” could do nothing to keep their phones from being hacked.

“There are certain industries, certain sectors, from which there is no protection, and that’s why we try to limit the proliferation of these technologies. We don’t allow a commercial market in nuclear weapons”, he told the British daily.

According to a joint investigation conducted by Forbidden Stories and human rights group Amnesty International, Pegasus has targeted more than 50,000 phone numbers in more than 50 countries since 2016.

The list of possible targets also includes phone numbers with the “+1” country code, including in the Washington, DC area. These reportedly include those of US’ Iran Nuclear Deal negotiator Robert Malley and United Nations (UN) diplomats based in the country.

Forbidden Stories has shared the details of the alleged surveillance operation with 16 news organisations globally, including The Guardian, The Washington Post, and Le Monde.

 

Snowden’s claims were made against the background of revelations that French President Emmanuel Macron’s phone number was reportedly on the list of potential targets of the NSO Group’s clients, which include at least 10 governments across the world.

French news publication Le Monde has reported that Macron’s phone was identified as a potential target by the Moroccan intelligence service. Besides Macron, the NSO Group’s clients are said to have identified Iraqi President Baram Salih, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, and the prime ministers of Egypt, Morocco, and Pakistan as potential targets.

France has opened an investigation into the snooping claims.

In its defence, the NSO Group has said that its software was only intended to be used against criminals and terrorists. The Israeli firm claims that Pegasus has only been made available to vetted governments, law-enforcement, and intelligence agencies with good human rights records.

https://sputniknews.com/world/202107211083428891-bald-faced-lie-snowden-confident-that-even-bidens-phone-could-be-hacked-by-pegasus-spyware/

 

US Life Expectancy Drops 1.5 Years, Driven by COVID-19 Pandemic

Gilberto Arias, 15, (R) and Javier Dominguez, 13, place flowers on the casket of Gilberto Arreguin Camacho, 58, who died due to COVID-19

Life expectancy in the United States dropped by a year-and-a-half in 2020 versus a year prior, researchers said Wednesday.

The decrease of life expectancy at birth from 78.8 years to 77.3 years was largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated America and many other countries.

“The decline in life expectancy between 2019 and 2020 can primarily be attributed to deaths from the pandemic. COVID deaths accounted for nearly 75 percent of the decline. More than 609,000 Americans have died in the pandemic so far, roughly 375,000 of those lives were lost last year,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Cases of the illness first appeared in China in late 2019 and in America soon after.

The report detailing the statistics (pdf) came from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC. Researchers used death certificates received and processed by the center, as well as birth records and population estimates.

A rise in unintentional injuries, murder, diabetes, and chronic liver disease, and cirrhosis were named as other contributors to the life expectancy decline, which was sharper than a provisional estimate of the first six months of 2020.

According to the new, full-year provisional estimate, life expectancy for males has declined nearly 2 years to 74.5 years while females saw a decline of 1.2 years to 80.2 years.

The male life expectancy dropped to a level not seen since 2003; the female level is the lowest since 2005.

“Life expectancy has been increasing gradually every year for the past several decades,” Elizabeth Arias, a CDC researcher who co-authored the report, told Reuters. “The decline between 2019 and 2020 was so large that it took us back to the levels we were in 2003. Sort of like we lost a decade.”

Life expectancy decreased by 3 years for Hispanics, nearly 3 years for blacks, and 1.2 years for whites.

Memorials hang from the front gate of Greenwood Cemetery during an event and procession organized by Naming the Lost Memorials to remember and celebrate the lives of those killed by the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City on June 8, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Other countries also saw life expectancy driven down by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Life expectancy in Brazil dropped by 1.3 years in 2020, according to a study published in Nature last month. Officials in Belgium said last week that life expectancy declined by one year in 2020.

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths started falling late last year and reached lows not seen since March 2020 in recent months.

At the same time, the number of Americans vaccinated against the CCP virus has continued rising.

But officials are warning about the Delta virus variant, especially as the number of cases jumps across the nation.

“The message from CDC remains clear—the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 variants is to prevent the spread of disease and vaccination is the most powerful tool we have,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told members of Congress on Tuesday. “We must continue to expand vaccine coverage.”

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, though, is significantly less effective against some variants, including Delta, a new study suggests. Additionally, some researchers have noted the growing body of evidence showing people who recover from COVID-19 enjoy immunity from the disease.

“They are at very low risk for repeat infection,” Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, clinical professor of preventive medicine and medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, told The Epoch Times in a recent interview.

“Some experts, including myself, believe that protection is equal to vaccination,” he added.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_breakingnews/us-life-expectancy-drops-1-5-years-driven-by-covid-19-pandemic_3911361.html

 

Researchers identify 14 living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci's family

Decades-long research into Leonardo da Vinci's purported remains has revealed how many people currently alive can claim to be descendants of the family of the Renaissance genius and "Mona Lisa" painter: It's 14.

The findings, published in the journal Human Evolution this month, comes from a new genealogical tree going through 21 generations and four branches.

The research is part of the Leonardo Da Vinci DNA Project, which aims to confirm remains thought to be his and to "better understand his extraordinary talents and visual acuity through genetic associations."

The researchers behind the study wrote these results are "eagerly awaited from an historical viewpoint," as they will help academics to "scientifically explore the roots of his genius, to find information on his physical prowess and on his possibly precocious aging, on his being left-handed and his health and possible hereditary sicknesses, and to explain certain peculiar sensory perceptions, like his extraordinary visual quality and synesthesia."

Researchers gathered data from historical documents in public and private archives, and direct accounts by descendants of Leonardo's family members.

While the study provided little information about the living descendants, in order to protect their privacy, project researchers Agnese Sabato and Alessandro Vezzosi told CNN that the individuals vary in age from 1 to 85.

"There are very young children and retirees who previously carried out various activities: employees of both public and private bodies, surveyors (and) traders," the pair said over email, adding: "For us, they are all extraordinary people ... from a human point of view. They live in Tuscany. However, the research continues on other branches and in other countries."

As Leonardo is not known to have had any children, Sabato and Vezzosi focused their research on the artist's father and his descendents, identifying what they called "some hitherto unknown branches of the lineage." They looked at "thousands of unpublished documents," as well as reexamining evidence that was "known but not understood," they wrote.

"Our original question was: Is it possible that there are no biological heirs from the descendants of the numerous sons of Ser Piero, Leonardo's father?" they said, adding: "We have always tried to investigate the story of Leonardo the man, as well as (Leonardo the artist), to ... explain the reasons for his genius. Now, with the help of science, we hope that we can add some significant answers."

Born in 1452, Leonardo is known for his paintings "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." Leonardo also dedicated his time to science, math, architecture, design, engineering, geology, cartography, sculpting and drawing.

His artwork continues to elicit hefty payments from collectors.

Last year, an online bidder paid $98,000 to attend the annual examination of the Mona Lisa, when the Louvre museum in Paris takes the painting out of its case for inspection.

Earlier this month, a new auction record was set when a tiny sketch of a bear sold for more than $12 million.

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/leonardo-da-vinci-descendants-trnd-scn/index.html

Leeds city council probes slave trade roots of ‘parkin cake’ due to traditional treat being made with SUGAR

 

Leeds city council probes slave trade roots of ‘parkin cake’ due to traditional treat being made with SUGAR – media

21 Jul, 2021 14:00

Yorkshire parkin cake 

Parkin is said to be facing scrutiny in Leeds after a city council document reportedly flagged the centuries-old Yorkshire delicacy for containing sugar – apparently exposing the cake’s slave-trade origins.

The gingerbread cake, which dates back to the 18th century, was flagged along with other local favourites, including Yorkshire Tea, over their potentially problematic ingredients, the Telegraph reported, citing a city council document. 

“Historically, some of the ingredients used to make these ‘local’ products were gained through the triangular slave trade (for example, sugar),” the eye-opening internal report observed. To be fair, 18th-century parkin likely used sugar imported from Britain’s sugar plantations in the Caribbean.

Leeds’ city council purportedly hopes to dig into parkin’s sweet but colonial origins as part of activity “in relation to Black Lives Matter.” The proposed anti-racist sleuthing aims to reveal “how local products such as Yorkshire Parkin and Yorkshire tea are, in fact, reliant on global trade.” Eventually the council’s findings may be used to create teaching material for primary school pupils in the city, the Telegraph said. 

The council’s planned curriculum changes will highlight how, while Yorkshire delicacies put the county “on the map,” some ingredients for these items “would have been sourced from around the empire and would have involved the labour of enslaved people as well as exploitation of resources and communities around the world.” The document stressed that its criticisms of parkin reflect a “contemporary perspective” on the cake and its sugary cohorts. 

The report is part of a study launched by the Labour-controlled council which seeks to identify “examples of how racism continues to be prevalent in everyday life.” It’s possible that the city’s leaders may have taken aim at cake after determining that there was a lack of problematic statues in the city ripe for removal. Unlike in cities such as Bristol – where a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was toppled – Leeds is without memorials that honour individuals linked to the slave trade, the report concluded. However, “themes of empire and colonialism are still prominent within the city’s heritage” and much can be done to promote greater “diversity” in the municipality. 

The BLM-inspired culinary research could mark a turning point in parkin’s history. As the Telegraph noted, the cake’s origins are very much in dispute, with Lancashire also claiming ownership of the treat. Notably, the county has not yet launched its own probe into the cake’s allegedly racist past. 

https://www.rt.com/uk/529824-parkin-leeds-sugar-slave-trade

Fudgy Nutella brownie

 

Fudgy Nutella brownie

This quick and easy recipe will satisfy those chocolate cravings within minutes. Served hot, the centre is rich and fudgy and pairs best with fresh fruit and ice cream for a contrast of flavours.

INGREDIENTS

⅓ cup Nutella

2 small eggs

2 tbs flour

METHOD

Spoon Nutella into a bowl, add the eggs and whisk until smooth.

Add the flour and fold into the Nutella until you have a smooth batter.

Pour the batter into two mugs.

Bake each in the microwave on high for 1 minute, check if done. If not, cook for another 30 seconds on high.

Serve hot with a dollop of whipped cream and your choice of fruits.

By @cookwith_harsha

https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/food-drink/recipes/3-ingredient-recipes-to-try-when-youre-low-on-groceries-ee3ef704-a70b-4267-ac8b-60a601c79ffe

 

How Frelimo betrayed Samora Machel’s dream of a free Mozambique

                          Samora Machel, Mozambique’s founding president.

Forty-six years ago, Samora Machel, the leader of Mozambique’s liberation movement and the country’s first president, stood before a euphoric crowd at Machava Stadium and declared the

complete and total independence of Mozambique.

He inspired the people of Mozambique to imagine and build a new nation in which development, social justice, and solidarity with – and care for – the oppressed took centre stage.

Four decades later, Machel’s declarations ring hollow. His words and the new dawn they heralded have since disintegrated.S

I’m a Mozambican political sociologist. I have been a keen observer of the country’s changing economic, social and political structures since the early 1990s.

The declaration of independence in 1975 proclaimed a social contract that contained the ideals of freedom. These included economic and social justice, eradication of hunger and poverty, health and education for all, equality of all people regardless of ethnicity, race and gender, emancipation of women, the rule of law and human rights.

But Frelimo has squandered the enormous political capital it enjoyed at independence. The party remains in power by using violence, intimidation, harassment and threats. Generalised lawlessness characterise Mozambique today.

Governance crises and deep rooted corruption permeate all aspects of political, economic and social life. Popular discontent with the Frelimo government is on the rise. This explains the armed conflict in central and northern regions.

The context

Mozambique was the first country in southern Africa to become independent through armed insurrection. This threatened the white minority regimes of Southern Rhodesia (today’s Zimbabwe) and South Africa. Both feared that Mozambique would become a haven for the liberation movement guerrillas of the respective countries. It was, therefore, in their interests to topple the Frelimo government.

As Mozambique celebrated independence the regime of Ian Smith in Zimbabwe conducted air raids in southern and central Mozambique. Civilians were killed and communication systems, bridges and crops were destroyed.

The Rhodesian regime also teamed up with Portuguese malcontents who still had interests in Mozambique, to create a surrogate terrorist movement, Renamo. When the Rhodesian regime fell and Zimbabwe became independent in 1980, the South African apartheid regime stepped in to finance Renamo’s operations. Its 16-year war of destabilisation consisted of acts of terrorism that produced profound psychological trauma.

The war of destabilisation and natural disasters created the need for foreign aid. Working with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Frelimo introduced structural adjustments in 1987. These programmes involved economic liberalisation and deregulation.

The programmes involved widespread privatisation of state-run companies, massive layoffs and unemployment and cuts in government spending on social services. The cost of food, water, housing, electricity, transport and telecommunications went up. Poverty and inequality increased.

At the same time Frelimo elites set about building an extensive patronage system.

Natural resources

In my view Frelimo political elites have presided over the natural resource mismanagement, looting and environmental crimes.

In the past 20 years many rural communities have been forcibly removed from their homes to make room for agribusiness, mining, oil and gas companies.

In addition, natural ecosystems have been plundered. The deforestation of central and northern regions has left areas subject to vicious cycles of droughts, cyclones and floods.

In 2013, the Environmental Investigation Agency investigation found that 93% of logging in Mozambique was illegal.

But the most marked exploitation of natural resources followed the discovery of large reserves of natural gas in Palma district, Cabo Delgado province.

Local rural communities have been dislocated and impoverished. The transfer of the Afungi peninsula in Palma district, where the French company Total has been constructing its liquefied natural gas infrastructure, was marked by government threats, intimidation, coercion and lack of transparency.

Without just compensation and meaningful free, prior and informed consent, communities that for centuries relied on fishing for their livelihood were evicted from their fishing grounds forever.

State of human rights

The Mozambican declaration of independence committed the new nation to upholding the rights enshrined in international and regional human rights covenants. Yet, human rights organisations document violations of fundamental human rights protected under international law year after year.

In Cabo Delgado, nearly 1 million internally displaced people are in desperate need of having their basic needs met. This includes shelter, water, sanitation and education.

Those suspected of aiding the enemy are disappeared, tortured and killed.

Journalists attempting to cover the conflict face intimidation and harassment, arbitrary arrests, and torture.

The 1975 declaration of independence also proclaimed the complete “emancipation of women”. But most women in Mozambique live under deplorable conditions, stripped of their rights, humanity and dignity.

Poverty and inequality

In the declaration of independence, Frelimo proclaimed that the new government would fight and eliminate all the “faces of colonialism and underdevelopment”. These included diseases, illiteracy and hunger. It said health services network would be extended throughout the country. Frelimo also promised to promote the spread of education at all levels.

These promises have not been met. The Frelimo government has overseen growing poverty and inequality. It presides over low human development indices, especially in rural areas, particularly in the central and northern regions. Among these are:

• health (child mortality, nutrition),

• education (years of schooling, enrolment),

• living standards (water, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, floor, assets), and

• unemployment (notably of youth).

Corruption is rife. An egregious example was the revelation of the country’s biggest ever financial scandal in 2016. Senior government officials acquired secret and illegal loans from Switzerland’s Credit Suisse International and Russia’s VTB Capital. It later emerged in court that more than US$17 million had been paid in bribes to the Frelimo party and two serving ministers at the time – defence and finance.

Conclusion

The ideals of the struggle for freedom outlined in the 1975 declaration of independence are lost and forgotten.

In my view Frelimo has made a mockery of the ideals of liberation. Mourning, not celebration, is suitable for the occasion.

1. David Matsinhe

   Losophone Research Specialist/Adjunct Professor in African Studies, Carleton University

https://theconversation.com/how-frelimo-betrayed-samora-machels-dream-of-a-free-mozambique-163435