newswars--2020-02-22--S.Korea Coronavirus Cases Go Exponential As New Infections Soar By 70%; 10 Towns In Northern Italy P

S.Korea Coronavirus Cases Go Exponential As New Infections Soar By 70%; 10 Towns In Northern Italy Put On Lockdown

• South Korea reported 142 new cases , up 70 % in one day , to 346 ; The country also reported its second death .
• China reported 397 new cases , bringing the total cases to 76,288 , and an additional 109 new deaths or 2,345 in total .
• China pledges to build 19 new hospitals in Wuhan • Hawaii hasn ’ t tested any suspected cases in the state • 253 more passengers depart the diamond princess as 11 of 13 American evacuees in Nebraska test positive • Local authorities in China warn people will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered • CDC says virus tremendous health threat , warns more human to human transmission of the virus in the US likely • South Korea reported massive jump in cases on Friday as total climbed to 204 • Global Times insinuates that US might be covering up coronavirus cases Update ( 2020ET ) : Earlier today , when describing the ludicrous lengths to which China has gone to mask the severity of the Coronavirus pandemic , after five definition changes of what a Coronavirus infection means , and which saw another major jump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Hubei admitted it hadn ’ t tracked the recently unveiled prison cases , we said that there was a certain irony to China ’ s data massaging , namely that the more China manipulates the data , the less anyone will believe a positive outcome for the epidemic as a result of lower cases and will instead claim that this is just the result of Chinese propaganda : “ It points to a rather concerning confusion over how best to officially report the number of cases , leading to a loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oanda analyst Jeffrey Halley told Bloomberg .
“ That could mean that internationally , the rest of the world keeps China in lockdown for longer , which will not be good for the ‘ V-shaped recovery ’ projections.
” We then said that as China scrambles to goal seek its propaganda number , the world ’ s attention has shifted to what has emerged as the second coronavirus hotspot , South Korea , where the number of cases is certainly not doctored , pardon the bad pun , and where there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are now doubling with every passing day in a terrible , if accurate , representation of what indeed happens when there is a viral epidemic .
Late on Friday we got painfully clear example of just this when China reported that on Feb 21 , there were just 397 new Coronavirus cases bringing the total to 76,288 , a plunge of more than 50 % from the previous day ’ s adjusted increase of 889 and a number which is now completely meaningless in light of what has become a daily adjustment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths , which China has so far failed to revise ( but will surely try before this is all over ) , rose by 109 to 2345 , and with the number of cases barely rising , it also means that the mortality rate his now hit a new lifetime high of 3.0 % .
Which also means that China has to pick : keep fabricating the number of cases while the real deaths keep rising and the mortality rate creep ever higher , or change the definition of death .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the only thing that matters is if and when its economy will come back on line ) , there is South Korea , and it is here that things have turned south quick .
Or rather north if one follows the latest number of cases , because one day after total South Korean cases doubled ( having doubled the day before that , and again the day prior ) , on Saturday South Korea reported that there was another stunning increase in the total number of cases which rose by 142 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the prior day , to a new high of 346 ; Putting this stunning increase in context , China , which officially has over 76,000 cases , had just 397 cases , while South Korea with just 204 cases , had an increase of 142 , or about a third of all of China ’ s new cases !
Mike Adams joins The Alex Jones Show to bring the censored information about the coronavirus outbreak to the public .
South Korea also reported its second coronavirus linked death .
With the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus surging to 5,481 , up from 3,180 last night , it is virtually certain that this exponential increase in new confirmed cases will last for quite a while , perhaps even longer than China ’ s , unless of course , South Korea learns from Beijing just how to change the “ definition ” of cases and fast .
Thanks to South Korea , the number of cases in the top 7 countries outside China with the most cases , including Iran , and excluding the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And so , as at least one cluster of new coronavirus cases has emerged in South Korea , and many are waiting for a similar emergence in Japan where the fallout from the early breach of the Diamond Princess quarantine will hit the hardest in the coming days , more and more are finally asking : “ can it still be contained ?
” If the answer is no , Rabobank ’ s “ unthinkable ” coronavirus scenario comes into play , which for those who may have missed it , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Italy ’ s Corriere has just reported the first death from Covid-19 – a 77 year old man in Padua , Veneto region .
Authorities in northern Italy on Friday ordered the closure of schools , bars and other public spaces in 10 towns following a flurry of new coronavirus cases .
After 5 doctors and 10 other people tested positive for the virus in Lombardy , IBTimes reports that over 50,000 people have been asked to stay at home while all public activities such as carnival celebrations , church masses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a week .
In a desperate attempt to reassure a public beginning to panic , Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said “ everything is under control ” , and stressed the government was maintaining “ an extremely high level of precaution ” .
In Casalpusterlengo , a large electronic message board outside the town hall read : More polite than the full martial law forced upon the people of Wuhan for sure .
Update ( 1645ET ) : Earlier this week , we reported that a Japanese man who had recently visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular destination among Chinese and Japanese tourists .
Since then , things have been oddly quiet .
For those who have been hoping that this is because authorities found no evidence that the patient was infected in Hawaii or spread the virus to anyone else he came into contact with , well , we ’ re sorry to disappoint you .
Because journalists with the Star Advertiser discovered that the reason that officials haven ’ t had any news is because nobody has been tested .
And nobody has been tested , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kits .
This report hit before today ’ s CDC press conference , where the agency once again noted the shortage of tests , and the lack of preparedness among most US states ( only three : Cali , Texas and Illinois are sufficiently prepared they said ) .
Until this changes , the CDC said it will centralize ‘ surge ’ testing at the CDC .
More likely than not , this means there ’ s probably a huuuuuge backlog of cases from around the country waiting to be tested .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to new cases from the Diamond Princess .
Perhaps the next round of infections might involve human-to-human transmission in the US .
Update ( 1615ET ) : As the week draws to a close , we ’ d like to share a video with readers that we found particularly helpful while trying to put the outbreak in context : Additionally , we ’ d like to add a little levity for readers who have grown weary of all the videos depicting terrifying scenes on mainland China , we saw this report in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the only thing a cruise ship is good for right now is transporting doctors to coronavirus hot spots .
Update ( 1455ET ) : The New York Times is reporting that at least 34 people in the United States are infected with the new coronavirus spreading from China , federal health officials said on Friday .
These include 21 cases among repatriated individuals , as well as 13 US cases .
This is a dramatic increase from the last reported case count of 16 , and Dr. Nancy Messonnier , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diseases , said at a news briefing , more infections are expected .
The Epoch Times reports that 8 CCP leaders were removed from their positions following the discovery of 207 cases of the virus inside Rencheng Prison in Shandong , one of three provinces where prison cases have been detected .
Just the latest reminder that officials can only hide things for so long with the coronavirus .
Any lies or dissembling will be exposed by the onslaught of COVID-19 .
Update ( 1240ET ) : As we mentioned below , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American public during a press conference on Friday .
During the 12:15pm ET update , the organization warned that it had centralized ‘ surge ’ virus response due to a lack of testing kits and the fact that every state but three is unprepared for the epidemic .
During the press conference , the CDC described the virus as a “ tremendous public healht threat ” and warned that human to human transmission in the US is “ very possible , even likely.
” The announcement comes after the Washington Post reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Department ’ s decision to bring the 14 Americans confirmed to have been infected with the virus aboard the ‘ Diamond Princess ’ back to the US with the other ~300 evacuees – thereby breaking the quarantine and risking a broader outbreak , and exposing many of the passengers on the flight who hadn ’ t been infected to the virus .
The CDC was so mad , it reportedly asked for its name to be removed from a press release about the evacuation .
We also noted at the time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring the 14 infected persons back seemed idiotic .
So far , it ’ s looking like that ’ s exactly what ’ s happening : As we noted earlier , 11 of 13 people quarantined in Nebraska have now tested positive .
Just imagine what happens if it hits Omaha , or Chicago .
Or New York ( which has already had a few scares ) : Earlier , WHO Director General Dr. Tedros warned that the “ window is narrowing ” to suppress the virus before it ’ s too late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the language he used during the press conference late last month where the organization finally declared the virus a global pandemic .
At the time , he assured the public that the number of cases was still small .
“ Even now there ’ s a window of opportunity , ” he said.
” Update ( 1230ET ) : Remember those two hospitals that China slapped together in Wuhan that some have compared to prisons , and which have reportedly been rife with problems ?
Well , now China is planning to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected patients in Wuhan .
So far , the city of 11 million has converted 13 existing venues into hospitals , with a total of 13,348 beds .
The 19 new hospitals would create 30,000 beds , according to China ’ s Global Times .
In other news , minutes ago , two more coronavirus cases were confirmed in northern Italian region of Lombardy , bringing the country ’ s total announced on Friday to 16 .
Italy now has some 19 cases .
It ’ s unclear whether the patients were infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 250 others are in isolation awaiting testing results .
Most of the cases have been found in northern Italy .
In the US , the CDC has warned that only three states , California , Nevada and Illinois , have the testing capacity needed to confront a coronavirus outbreak .
Until more become available , the CDC will be handling any necessary ‘ surge testing ’ .
They added that future human to human transmission in the US is possible , even ‘ likely ’ ( which is why the US probably should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Japan ) .
Meanwhile , here ’ s what we ’ re looking at so far for cases ex-China in Asia .
Update ( 1215ET ) : It looks like Beijing is adopting a new media strategy : Imply that the US is concealing a massive outbreak .
The US is actually using some pretty scary surveillance tech to screen flu patients who seek treatment in American hospitals to root out any possible coronavirus cases that might have slipped through .
Update ( 1140ET ) : Japanese health officials and Carnival Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mix of passengers and crew , presumably – who tested negative for the virus have disembarked from the ‘ Diamond Princess ’ on Friday .
It looks like the company has extended the de-boarding process by a day , as there are still some passengers on the ship who won ’ t leave until tomorrow .
Health experts and local officials ( probably all the way up to PM Shinzo Abe ) have been fretting about the possibility of an outbreak in Japan , especially with the Tokyo Olympics this summer .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like you can cancel the Tokyo Marathon .
This comes after US media reported earlier on Friday that 11 of the 13 ‘ Diamond Princess ’ evacuees taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center ended up testing positive for the virus , which means more individuals must ’ ve caught it either just before departing , or in transit , as 14 individuals who tested positive at the last minute were allowed aboard the flight that some say broke the quarantine .
University of Nebraska Medical Center representative Taylor Wilson said 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facility ’ s National Quarantine Unit , while three others are in the biocontainment unit , according to USA Today .
Earlier this week , before they tested positive , Dr. Mike Wadman , the co-medical director of the National Quarantine Unit , said that all 13 would spend at least 2 weeks quarantined in Omaha .
By that time , one male patient had already been transferred to the hospital ’ s biocontainment unit because of severe symptoms including cough , fever and shortness of breath .
At the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibiting ‘ minor symptoms ’ .
As of last night , there were 634 confirmed cases of the virus stemming from the ‘ DP ’ , while 2 Japanese passengers passed away in Japan .
Update ( 1130ET ) : Epidemiologist had already warned that patients could be reinfected with the virus .
But the Epoch Times ’ Jennifer Zeng is sharing a report about a patient in Sichuan ( notably one of the provinces visited by WHO experts ) who was reinfected with the virus after recovering .
UPI reported earlier that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from hospitals after making a full recovery have been reinfected , citing reports in the People ’ s Daily on Friday .
One patient in Chengdu was discharged from a local hospital and was quarantined for 14 days at home , but somehow became reinfected .
And doctors quoted in the story said her case isn ’ t unique .
It ’ s also possible to catch the flu twice in one season , but that is rare .
Update ( 1100ET ) : Epoch Times ’ Jennifer Zeng is reporting that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signaled to workers that they will be “ punished ” if they don ’ t report back to work .
And for everyone who gets infected , don ’ t expect your employer to deal with it , Zeng adds .
“ if you get infected , it is not a work-related injury .
You are on your own.
” That ’ s pretty chilling stuff , but as we pointed out yesterday , there ’ s an ongoing debate in parts of the country where case numbers aren ’ t as high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s figures ) about whether keeping the economy on lockdown might be doing more harm then good .
And in order to prevent a repeat of what happened last time ( when millions just simply didn ’ t show up ) , it ’ s upping the ante for citizens who don ’ t abide by the state ’ s command .
The New York Times is reporting that , for the first time since the outbreak began , Chinese health officials acknowledged on Friday that their constant changes to the ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed case ’ have sown confusion and mistrust .
As we have assiduously reported , officials in Hubei have revised their case tallies three times now because of these shifting definitions .
in the province hardest hit by the coronavirus acknowledged for the first time on Friday that their methods of confirming and reporting infection numbers had sown confusion and mistrust .
They added that they would no longer subtract cases from the total .
The message comes just hours after state media reported new breakouts in a handful of Chinese prisons .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily press conference from Switzerland , Director-General Dr. Tedros commented on the new cases and deaths reported in Iran , as well as Lebanon , which reported its first case this morning though hasn ’ t yet recorded a death .
Asked whether the situation is at a “ tipping point , ” Dr. Tedros replied that the “ window of opportunity ” for humanity to prevent an even more massive outbreak is rapidly closing .
“ The window of opportunity is narrowing , ” Dr. Tedros said , and humanity is running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before things get much , much worse .
You know , just some reassuring words to kick off the weekend with a little levity .
We ’ re starting to suspect that Dr. Tedros may have recently purchased some out-of-the-money S & P puts .
Seemingly responding to the growing number of ‘ armchair cranks ’ and ‘ conspiracy theorists ’ questioning why a WHO team of experts – a team that includes two Americans – hasn ’ t yet traveled to Wuhan , Dr. Tedros added that the team is planning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday .
So far , the team has traveled to Beijing , Sichuan and Guangdong provinces .
The NYT has published an interesting interactive illustrating the huge drop in flights departing from China to the US and other major economies .
The disappearance of tens of thousands of flights leaving China shows “ how the coronavirus has hobbled a nation , ” the NYT said .
As the NYT reports , Oxford Economics said in a recent report that the outbreak could wipe $ 1.1 trillion from global output , which kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on CNBC about this not being a ‘ US story ’ : It ’ s difficult to imagine a scenario where the US economy would walk away unaffected by this .
See it here .
In other news , Beijing continues to push the ‘ everything ’ s fine ; we ’ re winning ’ narrative .
Update ( 0725ET ) : Lebanon has confirmed its first case of COVID-9 .
The tiny Levantine state , which has swollen with refugees from nearby Syria in recent years , is in the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is presently weighing whether to default on an upcoming loan payment , which could lead to deeply unpopular austerity measures , as Al Jazeera reports .
Earlier , Israel ’ s Health Ministry confirmed that an Israeli citizen contracted the virus while aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship ( 1 of 11 Israeli passengers ) .
She is currently under supervision and isolation in Israel .
All 11 were flown out of Japan and sent directly Friday into isolation at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital , where they will remain during a 2-week quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s government announced a temporary travel ban on all foreign nationals who had traveled to Thailand , Singapore , Hong Kong and Macao during the past 2 weeks .
Following reports yesterday that two Beijing hospitals had been put under quarantine amid fears of a wider outbreak , WaPo reported that one district in Beijing has been found to have an “ infection density ” second only to Wuhan on mainland China .
This has served to further intensify concerns about what might happen when millions of Chinese return to work next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 outbreak , they ’ ll remember this week as an important turning point in the crisis , when international public-health experts and investors started to focus their attention on South Korea , Japan and other countries in the region that have seen the number of new cases accelerate markedly in recent days .
Put another way , evidence that the virus is spreading more rapidly within other Asian countries outside mainland China has become impossible to ignore , which is probably why US futures are pointing to a lower open for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminds us , South Korea has seen its total cases soar past 200 as the number of infections doubled in 24 hours .
Meanwhile , cases in Singapore and Japan have topped 85 , and let ’ s not forget the 600+ from the ‘ Diamond Princess ’ who have been excluded from the ‘ Japan ’ total .
At least as far as deaths are concerned , the numbers outside of China remain small : out of 2,247 deaths , only 13 have occurred in other regions ( this includes 2 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
But there ’ s no getting around it : the spread of the virus will undoubtedly worsen the economic blowback , as one economist explained to BBG .
Last night , we reported on the latest case numbers out of South Korea , and more have already been recorded .
The current total is 204 .
Earlier this month , the WHO said China ’ s approach to tackling the virus should be a “ model ” for other governments facing similar outbreaks .
At the time , experts criticized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it looks like they might have been on to something .
Because as we reported late last night , the Blue House has ordered a ‘ special management zones ’ in the cities of Daegu and Cheongdo , or what appears to be a kind of ‘ soft ’ quarantine .
The government said that since they ’ ve failed to prevent an outbreak , they ’ re pivoting decidedly to a strategy of containment .
Just a few hours ago , Chinese state media reported that 500 cases – roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China on Friday – involved prisoners at a handful of jails across the country , according to the Washington Post .
Infections have been confirmed at five prisons in Shandong , Hubei and Zhejiang , according to China ’ s Ministry of Justice .
A prison in eastern Shandong province showed 207 out of 2,077 inmates and staff were infected , and the provincial justice department ’ s Communist Party secretary was dismissed as a result , the province announced .
Another jail in Zhejiang province found 34 cases .
Hubei province , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Friday it found 220 new cases inside penitentiaries .
According to the Washington Post , the prison outbreaks underscore the virus ’ s easy transmissibility in confined spaces .
Even the Global Times acknowledged that the prison outbreaks have “ weakened ” Beijing ’ s claims that the virus is receding.. …Even as local officials adopt ever-more bizarre and draconian restrictions on individual movement .
Tests at a prison in eastern Shandong province showed 207 out of 2,077 inmates and staff were infected , and the provincial justice department ’ s Communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the province announced .
Another jail in Zhejiang province found 34 cases .
Hubei province , at the center of the outbreak , said Friday it found 220 new cases inside penitentiaries .
The prison outbreaks underscored the SARS-CoV-2 virus ’ s high transmissibility in confined spaces after the disease ravaged the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan .
While overall numbers remain low , thousands who fear they may have come into contact with a ‘ super-spreader ’ in Daegu , a city of 2.5 million about 2 hours south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed she was suffering from a simple cold because she had not traveled abroad , reportedly attended four church services at a “ cult-like ” church with 1,100 members in the city , as well as branches in other cities , including Seoul , where the mayor has ordered the local church closed until further notice .
Communist Party leaders made yet another public misstep overnight when health officials said they would once again change their ‘ criteria ’ for what constitutes a ‘ confirmed ’ case of COVID-19 back to the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they decided on the switch because they couldn ’ t subtract already confirmed cases from the total , which sounds…almost plausible .
On CNBC Friday morning , Eunice Yoon , the network ’ s reporter on the ground in Beijing , interviewed the owner of a Beijing restaurant discussing his fears about going out of business .
But as China slouches back to work , millions are worried that Beijing might sacrifice the public welfare to get a few factories up and running .
Looks like the cat ’ s out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pyongyang Marathon , the country ’ s largest tourism money-maker , because of COVID-19 , according to the operators of several tour companies who spoke with AFP .
Beijing-based Koryo Tours , the official partner of the marathon , said on its website it had “ received official confirmation today that the Pyongyang Marathon 2020 is cancelled ” .
“ This is due to the ongoing closure of the North Korean border and COVID-19 virus situation in China and the greater region , ” it added .
North Korean officials have vehemently denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yalu River , evening becoming enraged at the US in response to an offer of assistance from the State Department .
Recently , a WHO official said there are “ no indications ” that the virus has arrived in North Korea , but considering that we ’ re talking about North Korea , that ’ s hardly surprising .
As the lockdowns in Beijing , Tianjin and other cities intensified over the last week , more Chinese were subjected to displays like this : On Friday , Japanese health officials and Carnival Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and crew from their 14-day quarantine aboard the ‘ Diamond Princess ’ despite criticisms from the CDC that Japanese officials had failed to maintain the quarantine .
Right now , infectious disease experts see Japan as one of the riskiest places outside China , according to BBG .
Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Sunday that Japan had lost track of the route of some of the infection cases , which have tripled in the past week to more than 90 .
Iran just confirmed 13 more cases and 2 new deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where some earlier cases had been detected , while also reporting that the virus has reached Tehran , according to Reuters .
So far , seven Iranians have been diagnosed in Qom , four in Tehran and two in Gilan , according to a tweet from the Iranian health ministry .
Iranian officials have acknowledged the possibility that the virus might have arrived in every major Iranian city .
Even in Korea , health officials say they their investigators can ’ t figure out how some of the outbreaks started .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the focus is on South Korea .
Last week , it briefly shifted to the UK before moving on to Japan .
Italy just reported another three cases , doubling its count from 3 to six .
Will they be next ?
Maybe Africa ?

Summary:
South Korea reported 142 new cases, up 70% in one day, to 346; The country also reported its second death.
China reported 397 new cases, bringing the total cases to 76,288, and an additional 109 new deaths or 2,345 in total.
Italy reports 1st virus death, 15 additional cases, 10 cities on lockdown
34 cases in USA.
China pledges to build 19 new hospitals in Wuhan
Hawaii hasn’t tested any suspected cases in the state
253 more passengers depart the diamond princess as 11 of 13 American evacuees in Nebraska test positive
Local authorities in China warn people will be punished for not returning to work if ordered
WHO’s Tedros: Window for confronting virus rapidly closing
CDC says virus tremendous health threat, warns more human to human transmission of the virus in the US likely
First case declared in Lebanon
Iran confirms 9 more cases as virus reaches Tehran
South Korea reported massive jump in cases on Friday as total climbed to 204
Global Times insinuates that US might be covering up coronavirus cases
Health officials in Hubei ‘apologize’ for changing case confirmation ‘criteria’
* * *
Update (2020ET): Earlier today, when describing the ludicrous lengths to which China has gone to mask the severity of the Coronavirus pandemic, after five definition changes of what a Coronavirus infection means, and which saw another major jump in the last two days’ cases after Hubei admitted it hadn’t tracked the recently unveiled prison cases, we said that there was a certain irony to China’s data massaging, namely that the more China manipulates the data, the less anyone will believe a positive outcome for the epidemic as a result of lower cases and will instead claim that this is just the result of Chinese propaganda: “It points to a rather concerning confusion over how best to officially report the number of cases, leading to a loss of confidence in the true numbers,” Oanda analyst Jeffrey Halley told Bloomberg. “That could mean that internationally, the rest of the world keeps China in lockdown for longer, which will not be good for the ‘V-shaped recovery’ projections.”
Tu Yuanchao, deputy director of #Hubei’s Health Commission promises “transparency” after they added back the “deducted” #COVID19 cases. So far #China‘s criteria for #coronavirus diagnosis have changed 5 times according to how they need the numbers to be.
#CoronavirusOutbreak pic.twitter.com/E6rUlwxtxF — 曾錚 Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 21, 2020
We then said that as China scrambles to goal seek its propaganda number, the world’s attention has shifted to what has emerged as the second coronavirus hotspot, South Korea, where the number of cases is certainly not doctored, pardon the bad pun, and where there is a truly exponential increase in new cases, which are now doubling with every passing day in a terrible, if accurate, representation of what indeed happens when there is a viral epidemic.
Late on Friday we got painfully clear example of just this when China reported that on Feb 21, there were just 397 new Coronavirus cases bringing the total to 76,288, a plunge of more than 50% from the previous day’s adjusted increase of 889 and a number which is now completely meaningless in light of what has become a daily adjustment by China. Meanwhile, the number of deaths, which China has so far failed to revise (but will surely try before this is all over), rose by 109 to 2345, and with the number of cases barely rising, it also means that the mortality rate his now hit a new lifetime high of 3.0%. Which also means that China has to pick: keep fabricating the number of cases while the real deaths keep rising and the mortality rate creep ever higher, or change the definition of death.
So if Chinese data is now meaningless (and the only thing that matters is if and when its economy will come back on line), there is South Korea, and it is here that things have turned south quick. Or rather north if one follows the latest number of cases, because one day after total South Korean cases doubled (having doubled the day before that, and again the day prior), on Saturday South Korea reported that there was another stunning increase in the total number of cases which rose by 142 in one day, a 70% increase from the prior day, to a new high of 346; Putting this stunning increase in context, China, which officially has over 76,000 cases, had just 397 cases, while South Korea with just 204 cases, had an increase of 142, or about a third of all of China’s new cases!
Mike Adams joins The Alex Jones Show to bring the censored information about the coronavirus outbreak to the public.
South Korea also reported its second coronavirus linked death.
With the number of people in South Korea being tested for coronavirus surging to 5,481, up from 3,180 last night, it is virtually certain that this exponential increase in new confirmed cases will last for quite a while, perhaps even longer than China’s, unless of course, South Korea learns from Beijing just how to change the “definition” of cases and fast.
Thanks to South Korea, the number of cases in the top 7 countries outside China with the most cases, including Iran, and excluding the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship, is close to turning exponential as well.
h/t @jodigraphics15
And so, as at least one cluster of new coronavirus cases has emerged in South Korea, and many are waiting for a similar emergence in Japan where the fallout from the early breach of the Diamond Princess quarantine will hit the hardest in the coming days, more and more are finally asking: “can it still be contained?”
If the answer is no, Rabobank’s “unthinkable” coronavirus scenario comes into play, which for those who may have missed it, is the following:
This scenario is very short. The virus spreads globally and also mutates, with its transmissibility increasing and its lethality increasing too. The numbers infected would skyrocket, as would casualties. We could be looking at a global pandemic, and at scenarios more akin to dystopian Hollywood films than the realms of economic analysis. Let’s all pray it does not come to pass and just remains a very fat tail risk.
* * *
Update (1735ET): Italy’s Corriere has just reported the first death from Covid-19 – a 77 year old man in Padua, Veneto region.
Authorities in northern Italy on Friday ordered the closure of schools, bars and other public spaces in 10 towns following a flurry of new coronavirus cases.
After 5 doctors and 10 other people tested positive for the virus in Lombardy, IBTimes reports that over 50,000 people have been asked to stay at home while all public activities such as carnival celebrations, church masses and sporting events have been banned for up to a week.
In a desperate attempt to reassure a public beginning to panic, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said “everything is under control”, and stressed the government was maintaining “an extremely high level of precaution”.
In Casalpusterlengo, a large electronic message board outside the town hall read:
“Coronavirus: the population is invited to remain indoors as a precaution”.
More polite than the full martial law forced upon the people of Wuhan for sure.
* * *
Update (1645ET): Earlier this week, we reported that a Japanese man who had recently visited the US state of Hawaii, a popular destination among Chinese and Japanese tourists.
Since then, things have been oddly quiet. For those who have been hoping that this is because authorities found no evidence that the patient was infected in Hawaii or spread the virus to anyone else he came into contact with, well, we’re sorry to disappoint you.
Because journalists with the Star Advertiser discovered that the reason that officials haven’t had any news is because nobody has been tested.
And nobody has been tested, because the state doesn’t have any kits.
This report hit before today’s CDC press conference, where the agency once again noted the shortage of tests, and the lack of preparedness among most US states (only three: Cali, Texas and Illinois are sufficiently prepared they said). Until this changes, the CDC said it will centralize ‘surge’ testing at the CDC.
More likely than not, this means there’s probably a huuuuuge backlog of cases from around the country waiting to be tested.
The surge in cases reported earlier today was due to new cases from the Diamond Princess. Perhaps the next round of infections might involve human-to-human transmission in the US.
* * *
Update (1615ET): As the week draws to a close, we’d like to share a video with readers that we found particularly helpful while trying to put the outbreak in context:
Stunning and disturbing. #coronavirus compared to other virus outbreaks. pic.twitter.com/FYgjZzpomX — Coronavirus breaking NEWS كورونا فايروس عاجل (@novel_covid_19) February 21, 2020
Additionally, we’d like to add a little levity for readers who have grown weary of all the videos depicting terrifying scenes on mainland China, we saw this report in the People’s Daily.
Apparently, the only thing a cruise ship is good for right now is transporting doctors to coronavirus hot spots.
Is it a joke? China sends docs on a cruise ship? https://t.co/KkDR30AlAv — Russian Market (@russian_market) February 21, 2020
* * *
Update (1455ET): The New York Times is reporting that at least 34 people in the United States are infected with the new coronavirus spreading from China, federal health officials said on Friday.
These include 21 cases among repatriated individuals, as well as 13 US cases.
This is a dramatic increase from the last reported case count of 16, and Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said at a news briefing, more infections are expected.
“This new virus represents a tremendous public health threat,” Dr. Messonnier said.
* * *
Update (1315ET): The scapegoating continues.
The Epoch Times reports that 8 CCP leaders were removed from their positions following the discovery of 207 cases of the virus inside Rencheng Prison in Shandong, one of three provinces where prison cases have been detected.
Just the latest reminder that officials can only hide things for so long with the coronavirus. Any lies or dissembling will be exposed by the onslaught of COVID-19.
* * *
Update (1240ET): As we mentioned below, the CDC had some pretty chilling words for the American public during a press conference on Friday. During the 12:15pm ET update, the organization warned that it had centralized ‘surge’ virus response due to a lack of testing kits and the fact that every state but three is unprepared for the epidemic.
During the press conference, the CDC described the virus as a “tremendous public healht threat” and warned that human to human transmission in the US is “very possible, even likely.”
The announcement comes after the Washington Post reported last night that the CDC opposed the State Department’s decision to bring the 14 Americans confirmed to have been infected with the virus aboard the ‘Diamond Princess’ back to the US with the other ~300 evacuees – thereby breaking the quarantine and risking a broader outbreak, and exposing many of the passengers on the flight who hadn’t been infected to the virus.
The CDC was so mad, it reportedly asked for its name to be removed from a press release about the evacuation.
We also noted at the time that the decision to break the quarantine and bring the 14 infected persons back seemed idiotic.
So far, it’s looking like that’s exactly what’s happening: As we noted earlier, 11 of 13 people quarantined in Nebraska have now tested positive.
Just imagine what happens if it hits Omaha, or Chicago. Or New York (which has already had a few scares):
If this hits NY or Chicago…. schools close overnight and everything shuts down. Fed will be powerless.. just like 08… didnt matter if they were cutting rates… nobodoy was going to buy an overpriced house. — AGTrader (@ag_trader) February 21, 2020
Earlier, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros warned that the “window is narrowing” to suppress the virus before it’s too late. That’s in contrast to the language he used during the press conference late last month where the organization finally declared the virus a global pandemic. At the time, he assured the public that the number of cases was still small. “Even now there’s a window of opportunity,” he said.”
Soon, it’ll be a missed opportunity.
Update (1230ET): Remember those two hospitals that China slapped together in Wuhan that some have compared to prisons, and which have reportedly been rife with problems?
Well, now China is planning to build another 19 makeshift hospitals to quarantine more infected patients in Wuhan.
So far, the city of 11 million has converted 13 existing venues into hospitals, with a total of 13,348 beds. The 19 new hospitals would create 30,000 beds, according to China’s Global Times.
In other news, minutes ago, two more coronavirus cases were confirmed in northern Italian region of Lombardy, bringing the country’s total announced on Friday to 16. Italy now has some 19 cases.
It’s unclear whether the patients were infected in Italy, or abroad. Some 250 others are in isolation awaiting testing results. Most of the cases have been found in northern Italy.
In the US, the CDC has warned that only three states, California, Nevada and Illinois, have the testing capacity needed to confront a coronavirus outbreak. Until more become available, the CDC will be handling any necessary ‘surge testing’. They added that future human to human transmission in the US is possible, even ‘likely’ (which is why the US probably should have left those ‘DP’ passengers in Japan).
Meanwhile, here’s what we’re looking at so far for cases ex-China in Asia.
* * *
Update (1215ET): It looks like Beijing is adopting a new media strategy: Imply that the US is concealing a massive outbreak.
Coronavirus epidemic is getting severe in Japan and South Korea. Problems with coronavirus test in the US may impede full disclosure of outbreak there. Current flu season in the US is serious. Whether it is related to the coronavirus is worth vigilance. — Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) February 21, 2020
The US is actually using some pretty scary surveillance tech to screen flu patients who seek treatment in American hospitals to root out any possible coronavirus cases that might have slipped through.
* * *
Update (1140ET): Japanese health officials and Carnival Japan announced that 253 more individuals – a mix of passengers and crew, presumably – who tested negative for the virus have disembarked from the ‘Diamond Princess’ on Friday.
It looks like the company has extended the de-boarding process by a day, as there are still some passengers on the ship who won’t leave until tomorrow.
Health experts and local officials (probably all the way up to PM Shinzo Abe) have been fretting about the possibility of an outbreak in Japan, especially with the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
You can’t just cancel the Olympics like you can cancel the Tokyo Marathon.
This comes after US media reported earlier on Friday that 11 of the 13 ‘Diamond Princess’ evacuees taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center ended up testing positive for the virus, which means more individuals must’ve caught it either just before departing, or in transit, as 14 individuals who tested positive at the last minute were allowed aboard the flight that some say broke the quarantine.
University of Nebraska Medical Center representative Taylor Wilson said 10 of them are currently in isolation in the facility’s National Quarantine Unit, while three others are in the biocontainment unit, according to USA Today.
Earlier this week, before they tested positive, Dr. Mike Wadman, the co-medical director of the National Quarantine Unit, said that all 13 would spend at least 2 weeks quarantined in Omaha.
By that time, one male patient had already been transferred to the hospital’s biocontainment unit because of severe symptoms including cough, fever and shortness of breath. At the time, officials said some of the evacuees were exhibiting ‘minor symptoms’.
As of last night, there were 634 confirmed cases of the virus stemming from the ‘DP’, while 2 Japanese passengers passed away in Japan.
* * *
Update (1130ET): Epidemiologist had already warned that patients could be reinfected with the virus. But the Epoch Times’ Jennifer Zeng is sharing a report about a patient in Sichuan (notably one of the provinces visited by WHO experts) who was reinfected with the virus after recovering.
UPI reported earlier that everal patients in China who were discharged from hospitals after making a full recovery have been reinfected, citing reports in the People’s Daily on Friday.
One patient in Chengdu was discharged from a local hospital and was quarantined for 14 days at home, but somehow became reinfected. And doctors quoted in the story said her case isn’t unique.
It’s also possible to catch the flu twice in one season, but that is rare.
* * *
Update (1100ET): Epoch Times’ Jennifer Zeng is reporting that in parts of China, the government has signaled to workers that they will be “punished” if they don’t report back to work.
And for everyone who gets infected, don’t expect your employer to deal with it, Zeng adds. “if you get infected, it is not a work-related injury. You are on your own.”
#COVID2019 inspection officially ends. Employees who refuse to go back to work will be punished. In the meantime, gov. says if you get infected, it is not a work-related injury. You are on your own. #GDP is more important than human life in #China. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/vMLVobbx3S — 曾錚 Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 21, 2020
That’s pretty chilling stuff, but as we pointed out yesterday, there’s an ongoing debate in parts of the country where case numbers aren’t as high (not that anybody trusts the government’s figures) about whether keeping the economy on lockdown might be doing more harm then good. And in order to prevent a repeat of what happened last time (when millions just simply didn’t show up), it’s upping the ante for citizens who don’t abide by the state’s command.
The New York Times is reporting that, for the first time since the outbreak began, Chinese health officials acknowledged on Friday that their constant changes to the ‘criteria’ for what constitutes a ‘confirmed case’ have sown confusion and mistrust.
As we have assiduously reported, officials in Hubei have revised their case tallies three times now because of these shifting definitions.
in the province hardest hit by the coronavirus acknowledged for the first time on Friday that their methods of confirming and reporting infection numbers had sown confusion and mistrust. They added that they would no longer subtract cases from the total. The message comes just hours after state media reported new breakouts in a handful of Chinese prisons.
Moving over to the WHO’s daily press conference from Switzerland, Director-General Dr. Tedros commented on the new cases and deaths reported in Iran, as well as Lebanon, which reported its first case this morning though hasn’t yet recorded a death.
Asked whether the situation is at a “tipping point,” Dr. Tedros replied that the “window of opportunity” for humanity to prevent an even more massive outbreak is rapidly closing.
“The window of opportunity is narrowing,” Dr. Tedros said, and humanity is running out of time to stop this virus before things get much, much worse.
You know, just some reassuring words to kick off the weekend with a little levity.
We’re starting to suspect that Dr. Tedros may have recently purchased some out-of-the-money S&P puts.
Seemingly responding to the growing number of ‘armchair cranks’ and ‘conspiracy theorists’ questioning why a WHO team of experts – a team that includes two Americans – hasn’t yet traveled to Wuhan, Dr. Tedros added that the team is planning to travel to the epicenter of the outbreak on Saturday.
Senior @WHO team to travel to epicenter Wuhan on Saturday. https://t.co/W6dxhctgnQ — Eunice Yoon (@onlyyoontv) February 21, 2020
So far, the team has traveled to Beijing, Sichuan and Guangdong provinces.
* * *
Update (1000ET): Check this out.
The NYT has published an interesting interactive illustrating the huge drop in flights departing from China to the US and other major economies.
The disappearance of tens of thousands of flights leaving China shows “how the coronavirus has hobbled a nation,” the NYT said.
Jan. 23:
Feb. 13:
Put another way:
As the NYT reports, Oxford Economics said in a recent report that the outbreak could wipe $1.1 trillion from global output, which kind of undercuts Larry Kudlow’s stammering on CNBC about this not being a ‘US story’: It’s difficult to imagine a scenario where the US economy would walk away unaffected by this.
See it here.
In other news, Beijing continues to push the ‘everything’s fine; we’re winning’ narrative.
Update (0725ET): Lebanon has confirmed its first case of COVID-9.
BREAKING: Lebanon reports 1st case of coronavirus https://t.co/eUoE2b20hL — BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) February 21, 2020
The tiny Levantine state, which has swollen with refugees from nearby Syria in recent years, is in the middle of an economic crisis, and its government is presently weighing whether to default on an upcoming loan payment, which could lead to deeply unpopular austerity measures, as Al Jazeera reports.
Earlier, Israel’s Health Ministry confirmed that an Israeli citizen contracted the virus while aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship (1 of 11 Israeli passengers). She is currently under supervision and isolation in Israel. All 11 were flown out of Japan and sent directly Friday into isolation at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital, where they will remain during a 2-week quarantine period. Earlier this week, Israel’s government announced a temporary travel ban on all foreign nationals who had traveled to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao during the past 2 weeks.
Following reports yesterday that two Beijing hospitals had been put under quarantine amid fears of a wider outbreak, WaPo reported that one district in Beijing has been found to have an “infection density” second only to Wuhan on mainland China. This has served to further intensify concerns about what might happen when millions of Chinese return to work next week.
* * *
When historians look back at the COVID-19 outbreak, they’ll remember this week as an important turning point in the crisis, when international public-health experts and investors started to focus their attention on South Korea, Japan and other countries in the region that have seen the number of new cases accelerate markedly in recent days.
Put another way, evidence that the virus is spreading more rapidly within other Asian countries outside mainland China has become impossible to ignore, which is probably why US futures are pointing to a lower open for a second straight day.
As Bloomberg reminds us, South Korea has seen its total cases soar past 200 as the number of infections doubled in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, cases in Singapore and Japan have topped 85, and let’s not forget the 600+ from the ‘Diamond Princess’ who have been excluded from the ‘Japan’ total.
At least as far as deaths are concerned, the numbers outside of China remain small: out of 2,247 deaths, only 13 have occurred in other regions (this includes 2 more deaths in Iran announced just minutes ago).
But there’s no getting around it: the spread of the virus will undoubtedly worsen the economic blowback, as one economist explained to BBG.
“The sudden jump in infections in other parts of Asia, notably in Japan and South Korea, has sparked renewed concerns,” said Khoon Goh, Singapore-based head of Asia research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. “This points to a new phase in the outbreak, and one which will see continued disruption and more economic impact than previously thought.”
Last night, we reported on the latest case numbers out of South Korea, and more have already been recorded. The current total is 204. Earlier this month, the WHO said China’s approach to tackling the virus should be a “model” for other governments facing similar outbreaks. At the time, experts criticized the organization for appearing to parrot Chinese propaganda. But it looks like they might have been on to something. Because as we reported late last night, the Blue House has ordered a ‘special management zones’ in the cities of Daegu and Cheongdo, or what appears to be a kind of ‘soft’ quarantine. The government said that since they’ve failed to prevent an outbreak, they’re pivoting decidedly to a strategy of containment.
Just a few hours ago, Chinese state media reported that 500 cases – roughly half of the new cases reported in China on Friday – involved prisoners at a handful of jails across the country, according to the Washington Post.
Infections have been confirmed at five prisons in Shandong, Hubei and Zhejiang, according to China’s Ministry of Justice. A prison in eastern Shandong province showed 207 out of 2,077 inmates and staff were infected, and the provincial justice department’s Communist Party secretary was dismissed as a result, the province announced. Another jail in Zhejiang province found 34 cases. Hubei province, at the center of the outbreak, said Friday it found 220 new cases inside penitentiaries.
According to the Washington Post, the prison outbreaks underscore the virus’s easy transmissibility in confined spaces.
Even the Global Times acknowledged that the prison outbreaks have “weakened” Beijing’s claims that the virus is receding..
Coronavirus infection cluster emerged in several prisons in China with two prisons reporting over 200 infections each. It has left the impression that epidemic is rebounding, which has weakened public confidence to some extent. — Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) February 21, 2020
…Even as local officials adopt ever-more bizarre and draconian restrictions on individual movement.
My apartment complex told me I now need to apply for a pass that will allow me to enter/exit. Pass is linked to an individual ID- in my case my passport. Need to bring housing lease, too, as proof of residence. Each family gets 3 passes only. Those without cannot leave compound. — Eunice Yoon (@onlyyoontv) February 21, 2020
Tests at a prison in eastern Shandong province showed 207 out of 2,077 inmates and staff were infected, and the provincial justice department’s Communist Party secretary was dismissed as a result, the province announced. Another jail in Zhejiang province found 34 cases. Hubei province, at the center of the outbreak, said Friday it found 220 new cases inside penitentiaries.
The prison outbreaks underscored the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s high transmissibility in confined spaces after the disease ravaged the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan.
While overall numbers remain low, thousands who fear they may have come into contact with a ‘super-spreader’ in Daegu, a city of 2.5 million about 2 hours south of Seoul. The woman, who believed she was suffering from a simple cold because she had not traveled abroad, reportedly attended four church services at a “cult-like” church with 1,100 members in the city, as well as branches in other cities, including Seoul, where the mayor has ordered the local church closed until further notice.
Communist Party leaders made yet another public misstep overnight when health officials said they would once again change their ‘criteria’ for what constitutes a ‘confirmed’ case of COVID-19 back to the more inclusive and accurate definition. Officials said they decided on the switch because they couldn’t subtract already confirmed cases from the total, which sounds…almost plausible.
On CNBC Friday morning, Eunice Yoon, the network’s reporter on the ground in Beijing, interviewed the owner of a Beijing restaurant discussing his fears about going out of business. But as China slouches back to work, millions are worried that Beijing might sacrifice the public welfare to get a few factories up and running.
Looks like the cat’s out of the bag: North Korea has cancelled the Pyongyang Marathon, the country’s largest tourism money-maker, because of COVID-19, according to the operators of several tour companies who spoke with AFP.
Beijing-based Koryo Tours, the official partner of the marathon, said on its website it had “received official confirmation today that the Pyongyang Marathon 2020 is cancelled”.
“This is due to the ongoing closure of the North Korean border and COVID-19 virus situation in China and the greater region,” it added.
North Korean officials have vehemently denied reports that the virus had crossed the Yalu River, evening becoming enraged at the US in response to an offer of assistance from the State Department. Recently, a WHO official said there are “no indications” that the virus has arrived in North Korea, but considering that we’re talking about North Korea, that’s hardly surprising.
As the lockdowns in Beijing, Tianjin and other cities intensified over the last week, more Chinese were subjected to displays like this:
Meanwhile in Tianjin – It‘s just a flu. Everybody shut the door now. pic.twitter.com/3Gye4P4STR — Russian Market (@russian_market) February 21, 2020
On Friday, Japanese health officials and Carnival Japan will release the last batch of passengers and crew from their 14-day quarantine aboard the ‘Diamond Princess’ despite criticisms from the CDC that Japanese officials had failed to maintain the quarantine. Right now, infectious disease experts see Japan as one of the riskiest places outside China, according to BBG. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Sunday that Japan had lost track of the route of some of the infection cases, which have tripled in the past week to more than 90.
Iran just confirmed 13 more cases and 2 new deaths, mostly in Qoms, the same city where some earlier cases had been detected, while also reporting that the virus has reached Tehran, according to Reuters. So far, seven Iranians have been diagnosed in Qom, four in Tehran and two in Gilan, according to a tweet from the Iranian health ministry. Iranian officials have acknowledged the possibility that the virus might have arrived in every major Iranian city.
Even in Korea, health officials say they their investigators can’t figure out how some of the outbreaks started. That’s not exactly reassuring.
Right now, the focus is on South Korea. Last week, it briefly shifted to the UK before moving on to Japan. Italy just reported another three cases, doubling its count from 3 to six. Will they be next? Maybe Africa?


newswars--2020-02-22--DHS Whistleblower Against Obama Admin Found Shot Dead

A Department of Homeland Security whistleblower against the Obama administration was found shot dead in California on Friday .
Philip Haney had claimed in 2016 that the Obama administration ordered him to erase all data pertaining to Muslim terrorist ties in the United States .
We ’ ve received reports that Philip Haney , a DHS whistleblower on the Obama administration , has been found dead .
We have not yet received independent confirmation from the Sheriff ’ s Department , but sources within law enforcement have verified that there ’ s a death investigation underway .
If you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uniform or have ever watched Fox News , you probably recognize the name Philip Haney .
He was the DHS whistleblower that dropped the hammer on the Obama administration regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS .
Friends of Haney told us that they spoke with Haney earlier this week and he ’ d “ never been happier ” .
They ’ ve suggested there ’ s absolutely no way he would have taken his own life… and reinforce that he ’ s had many enemies since he blew the whistle on the Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with helping capture more than 300 jihadists , is best known for blowing the whistle on the Obama administration for shutting down an investigation he was leading that could have potentially stopped , among others , delete and scrub records the terrorist attack in San Bernardino .
Haney had also testified before the Senate in 2016 regarding the government ’ s willful ignorance of Islamic extremism in America and even in sections of the government .
As we reported , the Obama administration had deep ties to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama has his fingerprints all over the sabotage of the Trump Administration and ultimately the future of the United States .

A Department of Homeland Security whistleblower against the Obama administration was found shot dead in California on Friday.
Philip Haney had claimed in 2016 that the Obama administration ordered him to erase all data pertaining to Muslim terrorist ties in the United States.
From Law Enforcement Today:
We’ve received reports that Philip Haney, a DHS whistleblower on the Obama administration, has been found dead.
We have not yet received independent confirmation from the Sheriff’s Department, but sources within law enforcement have verified that there’s a death investigation underway.
If you have seen a few episodes of Behind the Uniform or have ever watched Fox News, you probably recognize the name Philip Haney. He was the DHS whistleblower that dropped the hammer on the Obama administration regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS.
Friends of Haney told us that they spoke with Haney earlier this week and he’d “never been happier”. They’ve suggested there’s absolutely no way he would have taken his own life… and reinforce that he’s had many enemies since he blew the whistle on the Obama administration.
Haney, who is credited with helping capture more than 300 jihadists, is best known for blowing the whistle on the Obama administration for shutting down an investigation he was leading that could have potentially stopped, among others, delete and scrub records the terrorist attack in San Bernardino.
Haney had also testified before the Senate in 2016 regarding the government’s willful ignorance of Islamic extremism in America and even in sections of the government.
RIP Philip Haney
pic.twitter.com/aKfjjqJjHK — Col Joe 🇺🇸 (@GKJoe) February 22, 2020
As we reported, the Obama administration had deep ties to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group and enacted foreign policies favorable to Iran.
Barack Obama has his fingerprints all over the sabotage of the Trump Administration and ultimately the future of the United States.


newswars--2020-02-22--The Democratic Immigration Plan To Destroy America

It ’ s called The New Way Forward Act .
The legislation spearheaded by the squad and Illinois representative Jesus Garcia would have American taxpayers pay to have violent deported illegal aliens flown back into the interior of the United States .
Foreign child molesters and murderers are VIPs to the Democratic party , subsidized by our hard-earned tax dollars .
HR 5383 is an abomination and a complete insult to American citizens .
American Taxpayers already shell out billions annually for public assistance and service programs as the Democratic candidates continue to pander to the illegals .
The Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration are comprehensive .
Even after deducting the $ 19 billion in taxes paid by illegal immigrants , the 12.5 million of them living in the country results in a $ 116 billion burden on the economy and taxpayers each year .
About two-thirds of this amount is absorbed by local and state taxpayers , who are often the least unable to share the costs.
” “ One of the major drivers of the increasing costs is the 4.2 million children of migrants , who automatically become American citizens .
Taxpayers are indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in state and federal education spending annually , not to mention the added burden of increased social welfare dollars .
Much of the almost $ 30 billion in medical and assistance funding is sparked by the fact that noncitizen families in the United States are twice as likely to receive welfare payments than native born families.
” After years of terror attacks and having their hands tied by the EU , Great Britain is following the United States lead .
As Sputnik reports , “ The United Kingdom will bar entrance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a post-Brexit immigration plan presented by the government .
Under the new plan migrants willing to work in Britain must speak English and have an offer of a skilled job .
This will earn them 50 points , but to be able to work in UK they need to have 70 , with points being rewarded for having qualifications , working in a sector where there is shortage of workers , or having a PhD in a subject relevant to the job.
” But tanking Democrat Candidate Joe Biden would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we might have about our disappearing tax dollars is bizarre .

It’s called The New Way Forward Act. The legislation spearheaded by the squad and Illinois representative Jesus Garcia would have American taxpayers pay to have violent deported illegal aliens flown back into the interior of the United States. Foreign child molesters and murderers are VIPs to the Democratic party, subsidized by our hard-earned tax dollars. HR 5383 is an abomination and a complete insult to American citizens. American Taxpayers already shell out billions annually for public assistance and service programs as the Democratic candidates continue to pander to the illegals.
The Hill reported, “The costs of illegal immigration are comprehensive. Even after deducting the $19 billion in taxes paid by illegal immigrants, the 12.5 million of them living in the country results in a $116 billion burden on the economy and taxpayers each year. About two-thirds of this amount is absorbed by local and state taxpayers, who are often the least unable to share the costs.”
“One of the major drivers of the increasing costs is the 4.2 million children of migrants, who automatically become American citizens. Taxpayers are indeed on the hook for over $45 billion in state and federal education spending annually, not to mention the added burden of increased social welfare dollars. Much of the almost $30 billion in medical and assistance funding is sparked by the fact that noncitizen families in the United States are twice as likely to receive welfare payments than native born families.”
After years of terror attacks and having their hands tied by the EU, Great Britain is following the United States lead. As Sputnik reports, “The United Kingdom will bar entrance to non-English speaking migrants and unskilled overseas workers, according to a post-Brexit immigration plan presented by the government. Under the new plan migrants willing to work in Britain must speak English and have an offer of a skilled job. This will earn them 50 points, but to be able to work in UK they need to have 70, with points being rewarded for having qualifications, working in a sector where there is shortage of workers, or having a PhD in a subject relevant to the job.”
But tanking Democrat Candidate Joe Biden would have us all believe that any concern we might have about our disappearing tax dollars is bizarre.


newswars--2020-02-22--Watch: Cartoon Alex Jones Explains The New World Order & Globalism

A compilation of hilarious animated clips show a cartoon version of Alex Jones break down globalism , the left ’ @ @ @ @ @ psychedelic clockwork elves , and more .
Check out how these gut-busting real rants by @ @ @ @ @ about the New World Order .
Here ’ s another video by the same artist @ @ @ @ @ Jones ’ brief conflict with top podcaster Joe Rogan last year .
Check out these @ @ @ @ @ Sadaka below : Go to https : //www.OperationWin2020.com to find out how to join the @ @ @ @

A compilation of hilarious animated clips show a cartoon version of Alex Jones break down globalism, the left’s attack on culture, psychedelic clockwork elves, and more. Check out how these gut-busting real rants by Jones still red-pill the world about the New World Order.
Here’s another video by the same artist, Brendan Sadaka, depicting Jones’ brief conflict with top podcaster Joe Rogan last year.
Check out these other funny animated shorts by Sadaka below:
Go to https://www.OperationWin2020.com to find out how to join the Second American Revolution!


newswars--2020-02-22--Devin Nunes Suing Washington Post Over “Garbage” Report

Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-Calif. ) announced Friday night that he is suing the Washington Post , accusing the paper of publishing “ demonstrably false ” “ garbage ” about him .
Nunes was appearing on Fox ’ s “ The Story ” ( with Faulkner filling in for Martha MacCallum ) to talk about a recent classified briefing to House intelligence members .
As has become expected , information ( and disinformation ) from that briefing was promptly leaked to the media .
On Thursday , the New York Times reported that Russia was actively trying to help President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegation few people outside of the never-Trump fever swamps takes seriously .
Then late Friday , the Washington Post reported—also based on anonymous leaks—that Russia is also trying to help the Bernie Sanders Campaign .
“ The most concerning part about all this is that we can ’ t talk about what happened in that meeting , ” Nunes explained .
“ So if anything in the Washington Post story or the New York Times story is true about either Bernie Sanders or Putin ’ s plans and intentions or anything else , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen this classified information should be talking about it.
” Nunes then tore into the Washington Post for claiming in a separate story that he told President Trump “ really bad things ” in an attempt to get him to fire his acting acting director of national intelligence , Joseph Maguire .
WaPo reported on Friday that a senior intelligence official told congress that Russia wanted to see him reelected .
The official , Shelby Pierson , said several times during the briefing that Russia had “ developed a preference ” for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her comments .
That conclusion was part of a broader discussion of election security that also touched on when the U.S. government should warn Democratic candidates if they are being targeted by foreign governments .
The analysis reportedly made the president unhappy with Maguire , and that , according to anonymous sources , is what spurred him to announce Wednesday that he was replacing Maguire with U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell .
Maguire , however , is leaving his post because his 200 day acting director term will be expiring soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anonymous sources said that Trump learned about Pierson ’ s remarks from Nunes , the Intel committee ’ s ranking Republican .
Nunes told Faulkner that he is suing the Washington Post because the story is a complete fabrication .
“ I didn ’ t talk to President Trump , Harris , ” Nunes said , calling the report “ the same garbage ” they reported about him sneaking to the White House three years ago .
The California Republican went over the timeline of events leading up to the fake news reports.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominated , the press went after him so John Ratcliffe said , ‘ hey , forget this ’ ; Maguire was put in temporarily—his time is coming up ; now they ’ re bringing our ambassador to Germany back , Mr. Grenell , to be in that position , ” he explained .
“ But you have CNN , the Washington Post , all the usual suspects claiming that I went somewhere that I didn ’ t go .
This has got to stop and this is why the courts have to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nunes : “ I want to congratulate the Democrats on the rollout of their latest information warfare operation against the president and their extraordinary ability to once again enlist the mainstream media in their campaign .
”

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) announced Friday night that he is suing the Washington Post, accusing the paper of publishing “demonstrably false” “garbage” about him.
“I don’t know what planet the Washington Post is on but they’ll have an opportunity in federal court in the next couple weeks to explain who their sources are because I’m going to have to take them to court,” Nunes told Fox News host Harris Faulkner.
Nunes was appearing on Fox’s “The Story” (with Faulkner filling in for Martha MacCallum) to talk about a recent classified briefing to House intelligence members. As has become expected, information (and disinformation) from that briefing was promptly leaked to the media.
On Thursday, the New York Times reported that Russia was actively trying to help President Trump win the 2020 election, an allegation few people outside of the never-Trump fever swamps takes seriously. Then late Friday, the Washington Post reported—also based on anonymous leaks—that Russia is also trying to help the Bernie Sanders Campaign.
“The most concerning part about all this is that we can’t talk about what happened in that meeting,” Nunes explained. “So if anything in the Washington Post story or the New York Times story is true about either Bernie Sanders or Putin’s plans and intentions or anything else, nobody on the committee that’s seen this classified information should be talking about it.”
Nunes then tore into the Washington Post for claiming in a separate story that he told President Trump “really bad things” in an attempt to get him to fire his acting acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire.
WaPo reported on Friday that a senior intelligence official told congress that Russia wanted to see him reelected.
The official, Shelby Pierson, said several times during the briefing that Russia had “developed a preference” for Trump, according to a U.S. official familiar with her comments. That conclusion was part of a broader discussion of election security that also touched on when the U.S. government should warn Democratic candidates if they are being targeted by foreign governments.
The analysis reportedly made the president unhappy with Maguire, and that, according to anonymous sources, is what spurred him to announce Wednesday that he was replacing Maguire with U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell.
Maguire, however, is leaving his post because his 200 day acting director term will be expiring soon.
One of the Post’s anonymous sources said that Trump learned about Pierson’s remarks from Nunes, the Intel committee’s ranking Republican.
Trump’s suspicions of the intelligence community have often been fueled by Nunes, who was with the president in California on Wednesday when he announced on Twitter that Grenell would become the acting director, officials said.
Nunes told Faulkner that he is suing the Washington Post because the story is a complete fabrication.
“I didn’t talk to President Trump, Harris,” Nunes said, calling the report “the same garbage” they reported about him sneaking to the White House three years ago.
“They build a narrative, they plant a narrative, they write fake news stories about it of things that shouldn’t even be talked about, you know, this classified information. And then they run these stories. Who the hell is leaking this?” he wondered. “How do you make up a story like this?” he asked plaintively.
The California Republican went over the timeline of events leading up to the fake news reports.”[Rep.] John Ratcliffe was nominated, the press went after him so John Ratcliffe said, ‘hey, forget this’; Maguire was put in temporarily—his time is coming up; now they’re bringing our ambassador to Germany back, Mr. Grenell, to be in that position,” he explained.
“So how on earth are people who are getting classified briefings—how does this end up in the Washington Post and the New York Times? All I can tell you is it’s total garbage and demonstrably false. I didn’t talk to the president,” he insisted.
“But you have CNN, the Washington Post, all the usual suspects claiming that I went somewhere that I didn’t go. This has got to stop and this is why the courts have to step in,” he declared.
Devin Nunes: “I want to congratulate the Democrats on the rollout of their latest information warfare operation against the president and their extraordinary ability to once again enlist the mainstream media in their campaign.”


newswars--2020-02-22--MSNBC Hopes A ‘Global Financial Crisis’ Will Help Democrats Win In 2020

Talking heads on MSNBC gleefully imagined how an economic disaster could derail President Trump ’ s reelection this November .
MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle and CNBC contributor Dan Nathan discussed Friday how the current positive state of the economy would effect Democrat odds in 2020 , with Nathan asserting with no evidence that a “ global financial crisis ” could give Democrats the leg up they need to defeat Trump .
“ The labor market is really tight , and economically , in an election year , that could pose a really big problem when you think about it here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sort of economic growth that you might expect at this stage of the recovery over the last ten years , ” Nathan said .
“ And so , if companies are having a hard time finding skilled workers , that means there ’ s going to be wage pressure which could weigh on profit margins .
And at this stage of the game , with valuations where they are , with a stock market at all-time highs , you could see that as a sort of sign at top that profit margins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those three things pose real issues for this administration in an election year because if you did have some sort of head wind to economic growth , it ’ s already facing coronavirus right now , and then really the head winds of the trade war , you have a really difficult situation , ” Nathan added .
But Ruhle pointed out that most indicators show the economy doing very well heading into November .
“ But do you have a difficult situation ?
…Look at the stock market , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the winning economy that the President needs from now until November , do you really see that changing ?
” Nathan assured her that the economy could still tank .
“ 2008 , at this time , nobody thought we would have a global financial crisis right on our shores , ” he said .
Nathan added happily : “ And that ’ s the thing that really sunk John McCain ’ s candidacy then.
” This isn ’ t the first time liberals called for an economic depression to stop Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maher said he hopes to “ crash the US economy ” if it means taking back the White House .
“ Can I ask about the economy because this economy is going pretty well ?
I feel like the bottom has to fall out at some point .
And by the way , I ’ m hoping for it .
Because I think one way you get rid of Trump is a crashing economy .
So , please , bring on the recession .
Sorry if that hurts people , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you lose your democracy , ” Maher said .
The Democrats are so desperate to win 2020 that they ’ re openly praying for an economic disaster in hopes of regaining power .
Go to https : //www.OperationWin2020.com to find out how to join the Second American Revolution !

Talking heads on MSNBC gleefully imagined how an economic disaster could derail President Trump’s reelection this November.
MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle and CNBC contributor Dan Nathan discussed Friday how the current positive state of the economy would effect Democrat odds in 2020, with Nathan asserting with no evidence that a “global financial crisis” could give Democrats the leg up they need to defeat Trump.
“The labor market is really tight, and economically, in an election year, that could pose a really big problem when you think about it here because we’re just not seeing the sort of economic growth that you might expect at this stage of the recovery over the last ten years,” Nathan said.
“And so, if companies are having a hard time finding skilled workers, that means there’s going to be wage pressure which could weigh on profit margins. And at this stage of the game, with valuations where they are, with a stock market at all-time highs, you could see that as a sort of sign at top that profit margins start declining.”
“So all of those three things pose real issues for this administration in an election year because if you did have some sort of head wind to economic growth, it’s already facing coronavirus right now, and then really the head winds of the trade war, you have a really difficult situation,” Nathan added.
But Ruhle pointed out that most indicators show the economy doing very well heading into November.
“But do you have a difficult situation?…Look at the stock market,” she said. “Look at corporate America….as far as the winning economy that the President needs from now until November, do you really see that changing?”
Nathan assured her that the economy could still tank.
“2008, at this time, nobody thought we would have a global financial crisis right on our shores,” he said.
Ruhle was suddenly relieved. “Oh, good point.”
Nathan added happily: “And that’s the thing that really sunk John McCain’s candidacy then.”
This isn’t the first time liberals called for an economic depression to stop Trump.
In 2018, HBO pundit Bill Maher said he hopes to “crash the US economy” if it means taking back the White House.
“Can I ask about the economy because this economy is going pretty well? I feel like the bottom has to fall out at some point. And by the way, I’m hoping for it. Because I think one way you get rid of Trump is a crashing economy. So, please, bring on the recession. Sorry if that hurts people, but it’s either root for a recession or you lose your democracy,” Maher said.
The Democrats are so desperate to win 2020 that they’re openly praying for an economic disaster in hopes of regaining power.
Go to https://www.OperationWin2020.com to find out how to join the Second American Revolution!


newswars--2020-02-22--Ingraham Mocks DNC Over Botched Nevada Voting: ‘Are We a Third World Country?’

Fox News host Laura Ingraham shredded the Democrat National Committee on Friday over more caucus voting malfunctions , this time in Nevada .
“ It looks like Democrats could be facing a repeat of the fiasco we saw in Iowa two weeks back , if you can believe it , ” Ingraham on her show “ The Ingraham Angle.
” “ Experts are warning of potential technical snafus.
” “ Now , the DNC already voided 1,000 early votes .
And party chair Tom Perez ?
He told the AP he won ’ t commit to same-day election results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Third World country ?
We can ’ t announce the election results the night of the election ?
” she added .
Ingraham also predicted that socialist candidate Bernie Sanders would win Nevada over any of the “ moderate ” candidates , and concluded the race would be a two-man showdown between Sanders and billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg .
“ Bernie is sure to win tomorrow , ” Ingraham said .
“ And after that , the order of finish doesn ’ t make that much of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tonight that this race is shaping up to be a two-man show : Sanders versus Bloomberg.
” On Friday , the Nevada Democratic Party notified about 1,000 early-voters that their ballots had been voided for errors , according to the Nevada Independent .
The voided ballots , from the first three of four days of early voting , make up about 2.8 percent of the 36,000 ballots cast over the three-day period , with party officials still processing the 39,000 ballots cast on the fourth day of early voting .
According to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots were voided for lacking a signature , with only about 60 ballots rejected for voters failing to make three presidential preference choices on their ballot .
Democrats were hoping to avoid a repeat of the Iowa caucus disaster that took place earlier this month , where a Clinton-linked app to collect votes malfunctioned , plunging the process into chaos with the final votes being tallied days after the event .
Voting in Nevada begins Saturday at noon local time , and Sanders currently leads the pack at 29 % with Biden trailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shadow ” corruption & connections to Buttigieg & Hillary behind the incompetent “ front ” displayed at the Iowa Democrat Caucus

Fox News host Laura Ingraham shredded the Democrat National Committee on Friday over more caucus voting malfunctions, this time in Nevada.
“It looks like Democrats could be facing a repeat of the fiasco we saw in Iowa two weeks back, if you can believe it,” Ingraham on her show “The Ingraham Angle.” “Experts are warning of potential technical snafus.”
“Now, the DNC already voided 1,000 early votes. And party chair Tom Perez? He told the AP he won’t commit to same-day election results,” she continued.
“Are we a Third World country? We can’t announce the election results the night of the election?” she added.
Ingraham also predicted that socialist candidate Bernie Sanders would win Nevada over any of the “moderate” candidates, and concluded the race would be a two-man showdown between Sanders and billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
“Bernie is sure to win tomorrow,” Ingraham said. “And after that, the order of finish doesn’t make that much of a difference. And I feel confident declaring tonight that this race is shaping up to be a two-man show: Sanders versus Bloomberg.”
On Friday, the Nevada Democratic Party notified about 1,000 early-voters that their ballots had been voided for errors, according to the Nevada Independent.
The voided ballots, from the first three of four days of early voting, make up about 2.8 percent of the 36,000 ballots cast over the three-day period, with party officials still processing the 39,000 ballots cast on the fourth day of early voting. According to a party official, the overwhelming majority of ballots were voided for lacking a signature, with only about 60 ballots rejected for voters failing to make three presidential preference choices on their ballot.
Democrats were hoping to avoid a repeat of the Iowa caucus disaster that took place earlier this month, where a Clinton-linked app to collect votes malfunctioned, plunging the process into chaos with the final votes being tallied days after the event.
Voting in Nevada begins Saturday at noon local time, and Sanders currently leads the pack at 29% with Biden trailing second at 16%.
The “Shadow” corruption & connections to Buttigieg & Hillary behind the incompetent “front” displayed at the Iowa Democrat Caucus


newswars--2020-02-22--Clint Eastwood Backs Mike Bloomberg for President

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal , libertarian superstar Clint Eastwood said he ’ s backing Mike Bloomberg over Donald Trump .
“ The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there , ” said the two-time Best Director winner who famously endorsed Mitt Romney in 2012 .
In a word , he ’ s uncomfortable with Trump ’ s temperament .
He explained it this way… As for the domestic political scene , Mr. Eastwood seems disheartened .
“ The politics has gotten so ornery , ” he says , hunching his shoulders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain things that Trump ’ s done ” but wishes the president would act “ in a more genteel way , without tweeting and calling people names .
I would personally like for him to not bring himself to that level.
” As he drives me back to my hotel , he expresses an affinity for another former mayor : “ The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there.
” So how do you square a libertarian like Eastwood backing a fascist nanny-stater like Bloomberg .
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside , the American people have a lot of faith in the American System .
Let me explain… In their infinite wisdom , the Founding Fathers created a system of government that makes change practically impossible .
The president is not a dictator ; he can only suggest laws to the legislature .
The legislature can be vetoed by the president .
The president and the legislature can both be overruled by the judiciary .
This was deliberate on the part of our Founders , who understood stability is the key to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t understand how the Constitution works instinctually understand that our government is stable because — well , the government is stable .
We don ’ t have revolutions .
Politicians roll in and out .
Change is incremental .
This gives Eastwood the confidence to back the Tiny Tyrant , the luxury to look at something other than Bloomberg ’ s rabidly anti-libertarian background — and in this particular case , Clint is looking at temperament .
Now we know why he wanted to skip the debates and run $ 400M in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the billionaire .
Call it socialism , communism or any other euphemism , it was total Bolshevik .

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, libertarian superstar Clint Eastwood said he’s backing Mike Bloomberg over Donald Trump.
“The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there,” said the two-time Best Director winner who famously endorsed Mitt Romney in 2012.
In a word, he’s uncomfortable with Trump’s temperament. He explained it this way…
As for the domestic political scene, Mr. Eastwood seems disheartened. “The politics has gotten so ornery,” he says, hunching his shoulders in resignation. He approves of “certain things that Trump’s done” but wishes the president would act “in a more genteel way, without tweeting and calling people names. I would personally like for him to not bring himself to that level.” As he drives me back to my hotel, he expresses an affinity for another former mayor: “The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there.”
So how do you square a libertarian like Eastwood backing a fascist nanny-stater like Bloomberg.
Well, here’s the thing… Deep down inside, the American people have a lot of faith in the American System. Let me explain…
In their infinite wisdom, the Founding Fathers created a system of government that makes change practically impossible. The president is not a dictator; he can only suggest laws to the legislature. The legislature can be vetoed by the president. The president and the legislature can both be overruled by the judiciary.
This was deliberate on the part of our Founders, who understood stability is the key to a lasting democracy.
Even people who don’t understand how the Constitution works instinctually understand that our government is stable because — well, the government is stable. We don’t have revolutions. Politicians roll in and out. Change is incremental.
This gives Eastwood the confidence to back the Tiny Tyrant, the luxury to look at something other than Bloomberg’s rabidly anti-libertarian background — and in this particular case, Clint is looking at temperament.
Read more
Now we know why he wanted to skip the debates and run $400M in TV ads. The millionaires came after the billionaire. Call it socialism, communism or any other euphemism, it was total Bolshevik.


newswars--2020-02-22--EU Poised to Create Massive Transatlantic Facial-Recognition Database, Link with US

The EU is laying the groundwork for a massive international facial recognition database that may someday hook into the one maintained by the US , according to leaked internal documents .
National police forces of 10 EU member states are calling for a legal framework to create a massive system of interlinked facial recognition databases “ as quickly as possible , ” a report leaked to the Intercept on Friday reveals .
Austria is leading the way on the project , which was still in its early phases as of November , when the report initially circulated among EU officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expand Prüm , the EU-wide database-cross-referencing system that already allows for all-at-once scanning of individual DNA , fingerprint , and vehicle registration databases , the report calls for EU legislation that would create and connect country-level facial recognition databases , potentially all the way to the US .
Because the US already has a Prüm-like exchange in place with countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program , including most EU member states , some – including the alarmed EU official who allegedly leaked the report to the Intercept – believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include the US by default .
Brussels is pouring significant resources into plotting out this layer of the surveillance state , involving both private and public sector .
Consulting firm Deloitte was paid €700,000 last year to deliver a report on upgrades to Prüm , focusing in part on facial recognition , while a €500,000 initiative bankrolled by the European Commission engaged a group of public agencies to “ map the current situation of facial recognition in criminal investigations in all EU member states ” with the goal of moving “ towards the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 2019 , legislation merged five EU databases holding fingerprints , facial scans , and other biometric data to create a single repository of information on 300 million non-EU citizens .
While Deloitte recommended the EU do the same with police facial recognition databases in its November report , law enforcement officials apparently balked .
However , linking the various countries ’ facial scan databases with a Prüm-like cross-check system would ultimately have the same privacy repercussions as merging them .
Because the US Department of Homeland Security has required participants in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever since 2015 , any facial recognition databases constructed going forward would presumably have their contents shareable with the US .
This has been something the US has pursued in Brussels since at least 2001 , when Washington negotiated a pair of agreements to share both analytical and personal data between Europol and US law enforcement agencies ; however , Europol ’ s inability to collect the data itself meant it was dependent on what was supplied by member states .
A facial recognition database in every nation , hooked into a central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trough at which everyone ’ s law enforcement can feed .
The rollout of facial recognition in Europe hasn ’ t been smooth , however .
Efforts to deploy it as a policing tool in Scotland were placed on hold earlier this month , after a parliamentary committee concluded human rights concerns made it unfeasible .
A pilot program in London is expected to begin this month , despite harsh criticism from civil liberties groups , after an earlier program was declared a failure last January .
The US has also hit a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ march toward a facial-recognition-enabled surveillance state .
In December , the Department of Homeland Security canceled a program that would have required all Americans to submit to compulsory facial scans at airports after concerns about both privacy and whether the technology was able to perform .
Meanwhile , the US is expanding and consolidating its own biometric databases , paralleling the EU ’ s streamlining of Prüm .
Last June , DHS added DNA profiles and “ relationship patterns ” gleaned from social media to its upgraded Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology ( HART @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – which already includes fingerprints , iris scans , and facial recognition – onto the Amazon cloud , where most other US government agencies already store their data .
Everyone is rightfully criticizing China ’ s crackdown on free speech & corporations like Apple , NBA , Hollywood studio , Tiffany ’ s etc kowtowing to the tyranny .
But most are blind to how rapidly the SAME censorship/surveillance/privilege systems are being rolled out here in the US .

The EU is laying the groundwork for a massive international facial recognition database that may someday hook into the one maintained by the US, according to leaked internal documents.
National police forces of 10 EU member states are calling for a legal framework to create a massive system of interlinked facial recognition databases “as quickly as possible,” a report leaked to the Intercept on Friday reveals. Austria is leading the way on the project, which was still in its early phases as of November, when the report initially circulated among EU officials.
Produced as part of a project to expand Prüm, the EU-wide database-cross-referencing system that already allows for all-at-once scanning of individual DNA, fingerprint, and vehicle registration databases, the report calls for EU legislation that would create and connect country-level facial recognition databases, potentially all the way to the US. Because the US already has a Prüm-like exchange in place with countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program, including most EU member states, some – including the alarmed EU official who allegedly leaked the report to the Intercept – believe any future facial recognition database network would include the US by default.
Brussels is pouring significant resources into plotting out this layer of the surveillance state, involving both private and public sector. Consulting firm Deloitte was paid €700,000 last year to deliver a report on upgrades to Prüm, focusing in part on facial recognition, while a €500,000 initiative bankrolled by the European Commission engaged a group of public agencies to “map the current situation of facial recognition in criminal investigations in all EU member states” with the goal of moving “towards the possible exchange of facial data.”
In April 2019, legislation merged five EU databases holding fingerprints, facial scans, and other biometric data to create a single repository of information on 300 million non-EU citizens.
While Deloitte recommended the EU do the same with police facial recognition databases in its November report, law enforcement officials apparently balked. However, linking the various countries’ facial scan databases with a Prüm-like cross-check system would ultimately have the same privacy repercussions as merging them.
Because the US Department of Homeland Security has required participants in the Visa Waiver Program to adopt data-sharing agreements ever since 2015, any facial recognition databases constructed going forward would presumably have their contents shareable with the US.
This has been something the US has pursued in Brussels since at least 2001, when Washington negotiated a pair of agreements to share both analytical and personal data between Europol and US law enforcement agencies; however, Europol’s inability to collect the data itself meant it was dependent on what was supplied by member states. A facial recognition database in every nation, hooked into a central data-sharing network, creates an enviable transatlantic trough at which everyone’s law enforcement can feed.
The rollout of facial recognition in Europe hasn’t been smooth, however. Efforts to deploy it as a policing tool in Scotland were placed on hold earlier this month, after a parliamentary committee concluded human rights concerns made it unfeasible. A pilot program in London is expected to begin this month, despite harsh criticism from civil liberties groups, after an earlier program was declared a failure last January.
The US has also hit a few bumps in the road in its march toward a facial-recognition-enabled surveillance state. In December, the Department of Homeland Security canceled a program that would have required all Americans to submit to compulsory facial scans at airports after concerns about both privacy and whether the technology was able to perform.
Meanwhile, the US is expanding and consolidating its own biometric databases, paralleling the EU’s streamlining of Prüm. Last June, DHS added DNA profiles and “relationship patterns” gleaned from social media to its upgraded Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART) System, bringing the existing database – which already includes fingerprints, iris scans, and facial recognition – onto the Amazon cloud, where most other US government agencies already store their data.
Everyone is rightfully criticizing China’s crackdown on free speech & corporations like Apple, NBA, Hollywood studio, Tiffany’s etc kowtowing to the tyranny. But most are blind to how rapidly the SAME censorship/surveillance/privilege systems are being rolled out here in the US.