bonginoreport--2020-12-30--U.S. Bombers Fly Over the Persian Gulf to Caution Iran

WASHINGTON -- The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf on Wednesday for the second time this month , a show of force meant to deter Iran from attacking American or allied targets in the Middle East .
One senior U.S. military officer said the flight by two Air Force B-52 bombers was in response to signals that Iran may be planning attacks against U.S. allied targets in neighbouring Iraq or elsewhere in the region in coming days , even as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office .
The officer was not authorized to publicly discuss internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on condition of anonymity .
The B-52 bomber mission , flown round trip from an Air Force base in North Dakota , reflects growing concern in Washington , in the final weeks of President Donald Trump 's administration , that Iran will order further military retaliation for the U.S. killing last Jan. 3 of top Iranian military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
Iran 's initial response , five days after the deadly U.S. drone strike , was a ballistic missile attack on a military base in Iraq that caused brain concussion injuries to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , has appeared wary of Trump 's intentions in his final weeks in office , given his focus on pressuring Tehran with sanctions and other moves that have further damaged the Islamic Republic 's economy .
“ Trump will bear full responsibility for any adventurism on his way out , ” Iran 's foreign minister , Javad Zarif , wrote on Twitter Dec. 24 .
Adding to the tension was a Dec. 20 rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad by Iranian-supported Shiite militia groups .
No one was killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - possibly 21 , with about nine landing on the Embassy compound - was unusually large .
Days later , Trump tweeted that Iran was on notice .
“ Some friendly health advice to Iran : If one American is killed , I will hold Iran responsible .
Think it over , ” Trump wrote on Dec. 23 .
He added , ” We hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq.
“ Because of the potential for escalation that could lead to a wider war , the U.S. has sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculations on both sides are further complicated by the political transition in Washington to a Biden administration that may seek new paths to dealing with Iran .
Biden has said , for example , that he hopes to return the U.S. to a 2015 agreement with world powers in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions .
In announcing Wednesday 's bomber flight , the head of U.S. Central Command said it was a defensive move .
“ The United States continues to deploy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area of responsibility to deter any potential adversary , and make clear that we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at Americans or our interests , ” said Gen. Frank McKenzie , the commander of Central Command .
“ We do not seek conflict , but no one should underestimate our ability to defend our forces or to act decisively in response to any attack.
” He did not mention Iran by name .
In advance of the announcement , the senior U.S. military officer who spoke on condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detected recent signs of “ fairly substantive threats ” from Iran , and that included planning for possible rocket attacks against U.S. interests in Iraq in connection with the one-year anniversary of the Soleimani killing .
The U.S. is in the process of reducing its troop presence in Iraq from 3,000 to about 2,500 .
Trump ordered that the reduction be achieved by Jan. 15 ; officials say it is likely to be reached as early as next week .
The United States also has picked up signs that Iran may be considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader attacks against American targets or interests in the Middle East , the senior U.S. military officer said , adding that it represented the most concerning signs since the days immediately following the Soleimani killing .
The officer cited indications that advanced weaponry has been flowing from Iran into Iraq recently and that Shiite militia leaders in Iraq may have met with officers of Iran 's Quds force , previously commanded by Soleimani .
The U.S. officer said Iran might have its eye on economic targets , noting the September 2019 missile and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iran denied involvement but was blamed by the United States for that attack .
In recent weeks the U.S. military has taken a range of steps designed to deter Iran , while publicly emphasizing that it is not planning , and has not been instructed , to take unprovoked action against Iran .
Last week , a U.S. Navy guided-missile submarine made an unusual transit of the Strait of Hormuz , the strategic waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula .
Earlier in December , a pair of B-52 bombers from Barksdale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military calls a “ presence ” mission over the Gulf - a demonstration of U.S. force and a signal of U.S. commitment to the region , but not an attack mission .
That flight was repeated this week , with two B-52s flying nonstop from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and heading home Wednesday after cruising over the western side of the Gulf .
Tensions with Iran escalated with the killing in November of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , an Iranian scientist named by the West as the leader of the Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran has blamed Israel for the killing , but U.S. officials are concerned that any Iranian retaliation could hit U.S. interests .

WASHINGTON -- The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf on Wednesday for the second time this month, a show of force meant to deter Iran from attacking American or allied targets in the Middle East.
One senior U.S. military officer said the flight by two Air Force B-52 bombers was in response to signals that Iran may be planning attacks against U.S. allied targets in neighbouring Iraq or elsewhere in the region in coming days, even as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office. The officer was not authorized to publicly discuss internal assessments based on sensitive intelligence and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The B-52 bomber mission, flown round trip from an Air Force base in North Dakota, reflects growing concern in Washington, in the final weeks of President Donald Trump's administration, that Iran will order further military retaliation for the U.S. killing last Jan. 3 of top Iranian military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Iran's initial response, five days after the deadly U.S. drone strike, was a ballistic missile attack on a military base in Iraq that caused brain concussion injuries to about 100 U.S. troops.
Iran, however, has appeared wary of Trump's intentions in his final weeks in office, given his focus on pressuring Tehran with sanctions and other moves that have further damaged the Islamic Republic's economy.
“Trump will bear full responsibility for any adventurism on his way out,” Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, wrote on Twitter Dec. 24.
Adding to the tension was a Dec. 20 rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad by Iranian-supported Shiite militia groups. No one was killed, but the volume of rockets fired - possibly 21, with about nine landing on the Embassy compound - was unusually large. Days later, Trump tweeted that Iran was on notice.
“Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over,” Trump wrote on Dec. 23. He added, ”We hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq.“
Because of the potential for escalation that could lead to a wider war, the U.S. has sought to deter Iran from additional attacks. Strategic calculations on both sides are further complicated by the political transition in Washington to a Biden administration that may seek new paths to dealing with Iran. Biden has said, for example, that he hopes to return the U.S. to a 2015 agreement with world powers in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
In announcing Wednesday's bomber flight, the head of U.S. Central Command said it was a defensive move.
“The United States continues to deploy combat-ready capabilities into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to deter any potential adversary, and make clear that we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at Americans or our interests,” said Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of Central Command. “We do not seek conflict, but no one should underestimate our ability to defend our forces or to act decisively in response to any attack.”
He did not mention Iran by name.
In advance of the announcement, the senior U.S. military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said that U.S. intelligence has detected recent signs of “fairly substantive threats” from Iran, and that included planning for possible rocket attacks against U.S. interests in Iraq in connection with the one-year anniversary of the Soleimani killing.
The U.S. is in the process of reducing its troop presence in Iraq from 3,000 to about 2,500. Trump ordered that the reduction be achieved by Jan. 15; officials say it is likely to be reached as early as next week.
The United States also has picked up signs that Iran may be considering or planning “more complex” and broader attacks against American targets or interests in the Middle East, the senior U.S. military officer said, adding that it represented the most concerning signs since the days immediately following the Soleimani killing. The officer cited indications that advanced weaponry has been flowing from Iran into Iraq recently and that Shiite militia leaders in Iraq may have met with officers of Iran's Quds force, previously commanded by Soleimani.
The U.S. officer said Iran might have its eye on economic targets, noting the September 2019 missile and drone attack on Saudi oil processing facilities. Iran denied involvement but was blamed by the United States for that attack.
In recent weeks the U.S. military has taken a range of steps designed to deter Iran, while publicly emphasizing that it is not planning, and has not been instructed, to take unprovoked action against Iran.
Last week, a U.S. Navy guided-missile submarine made an unusual transit of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Earlier in December, a pair of B-52 bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana flew what the military calls a “presence” mission over the Gulf - a demonstration of U.S. force and a signal of U.S. commitment to the region, but not an attack mission. That flight was repeated this week, with two B-52s flying nonstop from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and heading home Wednesday after cruising over the western side of the Gulf.
Tensions with Iran escalated with the killing in November of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, an Iranian scientist named by the West as the leader of the Islamic Republic's disbanded military nuclear program. Iran has blamed Israel for the killing, but U.S. officials are concerned that any Iranian retaliation could hit U.S. interests.


bonginoreport--2020-12-30--Coronavirus Relief Bill Includes 180-Day Deadline for a UFO Report

Many have been complaining of “ pork ” or special interests in the COVID-19 relief and Omnibus bill , but @ @ @ @ @ see that it also includes a deadline requiring that a report on UFOs ( Unidentified @ @ @ @ @ .
Nick Pope , who is the former head of the UFO division in the @ @ @ @ @ The New York Post that the bill states that disclosures be produced within 180 days @ @ @ @ @ act that ’ s now been signed is the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year @ @ @ @ @ it language on UFOs and specifically… UAP… Unidentified Aerial phenomena and specifically there is a @ @ @ @ @ Committee to the Director of National Intelligence that a report be produced about the phenomenon @ @ @ @ @ ” The deadline started on Sunday , when President Donald Trump signed the bill .
@ @ @ @ @ Committee , the report must include “ observed airborne objects that have not been identified.
@ @ @ @ @ request the following :

UPDATE:
In a significant turn of events, Attorney General Merrick Garland made a surprising announcement on Friday, elevating Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss to the role of special counsel. This decision marks a shift in focus towards the investigation of the Biden family’s financial matters. The probe, which encompasses Hunter Biden’s tax affairs and any potential connections his father, President Joe Biden, might have with his foreign associates, is slated to extend into the 2024 election cycle. Interestingly, this move comes as former President Donald Trump is simultaneously facing two federal indictments from the same department.
Garland stressed that the decision to appoint Weiss as an independent prosecutor aligns with the “public interest” and adheres to departmental regulations. Importantly, this transition was initiated by Weiss himself, who, earlier this week, conveyed his belief that the investigation had reached a point where he should proceed as a special counsel.
Weiss is no stranger to this intricate landscape. He is the federal prosecutor responsible for bringing charges against President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, in Delaware. Recent times have witnessed the unfolding of legal proceedings involving Hunter Biden, including a probation-oriented plea arrangement that was ultimately rejected by a judge. In June, Hunter Biden agreed to a deal with federal prosecutors, admitting guilt in two tax-related offenses and a firearm charge, potentially leading to the dismissal of the latter charge. This latest development underscores the intensification of scrutiny into the financial affairs of the Biden family and highlights the evolving legal landscape involving prominent political figures.
—
Attorney General Merrick Garland will speak to the public Friday afternoon. It is highly anticipated because I believe, as do many others, that he may be getting ready to announce the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate “Hunter Biden” and his financial dealings overseas. Although, welcome there are still too many concerns with the DOJ that need to be addressed and there is little faith among many Americans that anything will be done.
Americans have witnessed the makings and the result of a two tiered justice system since President Trump was elected and then the continuing targeting of Trump even after his term as president.
I’ve spoken about the need for an outside investigation into Hunter Biden and President Biden at length on my podcast, The Sara Carter Show and on Fox News. But I’ve been jaded by the failures of past investigations and the weaponization of the Justice Department to do its job. The failure of the DOJ to be blind and just has been devastating to our nation.
Will Garland appoint a special counsel? I don’t know but as Americans we must demand that our leadership, our bureaucracies and our law makers follow the rule of law without prejudice. If they do not, as we have seen over the past decade with the establishments attacks on President Donald Trump and the weaponization of the system to target him, then our foundation will not only be fractured but it will be irreparable.
Either way, the alleged crimes and obvious financial connections linked to the Biden family with adversarial nations like China and Russia must be thoroughly investigated and the investigation must be made public. The Biden connections and large sums of money taken from government connected energy companies in Ukraine must also be thoroughly vetted and any improprieties must be made public.


bonginoreport--2020-12-30--2020 Homicide Surge Sets Record Amid “Defund the Police” Hysteria

In the middle of the year the criminally insane “ defund the police ” movement gained traction after the death of George Floyd in police custody .
Sanity be damned , many cities did end up defunding their police departments this year , as if there were somehow some correlation between their departments and the actions of the Minneapolis Police Department .
The Baltimore City Council approved $ 22.4 million in cuts , while Portland ’ s cut $ 15 million .
Philadelphia took a planned $ 19 million increase in police funding , and allocated $ 14 million of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department by 10 % , and the list goes on .
Everyone hasn ’ t lived happily ever after .
According to data from 57 cities through at least September ( with some having data through November ) , murder is up 36.7 % overall this year in our big , Democrat-run cities .
As Jeff Asher , the co-founder of AH Datalytics notes , big city trends do overstate national trends ( for instance , a 5 % increase in murder rates in big cities tends to translate to a 2-3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36.7 % increase without even having all the data in for the year is set to increase rates nationally by a historic amount .
The previously largest increase the homicide rate in a single year was a 12.7 % increase in 1968 , meaning this year will set the new record ( since data began being collected in 1960 ) .
While murder rates are still significantly down from their most recent highs in the 1990s , they ’ re likely to increase at least 20-25 % this year .
Or in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 50 % since the beginning of the post-Ferguson era of Black Lives Matter in 2014 .

In the middle of the year the criminally insane “defund the police” movement gained traction after the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Sanity be damned, many cities did end up defunding their police departments this year, as if there were somehow some correlation between their departments and the actions of the Minneapolis Police Department.
The Baltimore City Council approved $22.4 million in cuts, while Portland’s cut $15 million. Philadelphia took a planned $19 million increase in police funding, and allocated $14 million of it elsewhere. Seattle trimmed their police department by 10%, and the list goes on.
Everyone hasn’t lived happily ever after. According to data from 57 cities through at least September (with some having data through November), murder is up 36.7% overall this year in our big, Democrat-run cities.
As Jeff Asher, the co-founder of AH Datalytics notes, big city trends do overstate national trends (for instance, a 5% increase in murder rates in big cities tends to translate to a 2-3% increase nationwide). Regardless, a 36.7% increase without even having all the data in for the year is set to increase rates nationally by a historic amount. The previously largest increase the homicide rate in a single year was a 12.7% increase in 1968, meaning this year will set the new record (since data began being collected in 1960).
The largest national % increase ever reported (data since 1960) was 12.7% in 1968 and the largest # increase was 1,938 in 1990. A 15% increase this year (and I think it'll be much larger) would mean 2,400 more murders & be the worst one year increase in murder ever recorded. — Jeff Asher (@Crimealytics) December 29, 2020
While murder rates are still significantly down from their most recent highs in the 1990s, they’re likely to increase at least 20-25% this year.
Or in other words murders in the U.S. are up nearly 50% since the beginning of the post-Ferguson era of Black Lives Matter in 2014.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Nearly Every Major American Media Outlet Has Attended Chinese Propaganda Events

The full list follows a National Pulse exposé on the China-United States Exchange Foundation ( CUSEF ) , founded by the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People ’ s Political Consultative Conference ( CPPCC ) , which has been identified by the U.S.-China Security and Economic Review Commission as a key component of the Chinese Communist Party ’ s United Work Front.T he effort , according to the U.S. government report , aims to “ to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party ” and “ influence overseas Chinese communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijing ’ s preferred policies.
” Evidenced through the Department of Justice ’ s Foreign Agent Registration Act ( FARA ) filings , a relationship spanning over a decade between establishment media outlets and CUSEF can be discerned .
With the assistance of BLJ , CUSEF has sponsored trips to China for the following outlets with the explicit goal of “ effectively disseminat [ ing ] positive messages to the media , key influencers , and opinion leaders , and the general public ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trips , ” the criteria for participants included “ effectiveness and opportunities for favorable coverage ” in order to secure “ favorable ” coverage ” In order to develop favorable coverage in key national media , BLJ will continue to organize and staff “ familiarization trips ” to China .
This includes recruiting top journalists to travel to China , selected for effectiveness and opportunities for favorable coverage .
In addition to CUSEF-sponsored travel , outlets also met with CUSEF officials and the BLJ CEO in various U.S. cities including New York , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Often times , the meetings were described as “ private dinners ” in FARA filings .
The National Pulse will continue its fearless reporting into the compromised nature of Western media and the reach of the Chinese Communist Party into U.S. institutions .
Please consider supporting this crucial work .

The full list follows a National Pulse exposé on the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), founded by the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which has been identified by the U.S.-China Security and Economic Review Commission as a key component of the Chinese Communist Party’s United Work Front. The effort, according to the U.S. government report, aims to “to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party” and “influence overseas Chinese communities, foreign governments, and other actors to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijing’s preferred policies.” Evidenced through the Department of Justice’s Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) filings, a relationship spanning over a decade between establishment media outlets and CUSEF can be discerned.
Sponsored Trips.
With the assistance of BLJ, CUSEF has sponsored trips to China for the following outlets with the explicit goal of “effectively disseminat[ing] positive messages to the media, key influencers, and opinion leaders, and the general public” according to FARA filings.
Dubbed “familiarization trips,” the criteria for participants included “effectiveness and opportunities for favorable coverage” in order to secure “favorable” coverage”
In order to develop favorable coverage in key national media, BLJ will continue to organize and staff “familiarization trips” to China. This includes recruiting top journalists to travel to China, selected for effectiveness and opportunities for favorable coverage.
Outlets:
Private Dinners.
In addition to CUSEF-sponsored travel, outlets also met with CUSEF officials and the BLJ CEO in various U.S. cities including New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Often times, the meetings were described as “private dinners” in FARA filings.
Outlets:
Washington Post
Associated Press
TIME Magazine
New York Times
CBS
Forbes
PBS
The Atlantic
The Economist
CNBC
Wall Street Journal
Financial Times
National Journal
NPR
Politico
Chicago Tribune
Bloomberg
BBC
Los Angeles Times
Quartz
Agence France Presse
McClatchy Newspapers
Congressional Quarterly
Businessweek
CNN
The Hill
Reuters
ABC
Nation
Yahoo!
Newsweek
The National Pulse will continue its fearless reporting into the compromised nature of Western media and the reach of the Chinese Communist Party into U.S. institutions. Please consider supporting this crucial work.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Rubio Op-Ed Accuses Dr. Fauci of Manipulating the American People

Sen. Marco Rubio accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of manipulating the public in an op-ed about the health expert ’ s public statements regarding COVID-19 .
The Florida Republican took umbrage with Fauci telling the New York Times that he increased the percentage of people that he believed needed to be inoculated in order to achieve herd immunity as polls began to trend more in favor of the vaccine .
“ I am sure that Dr. Fauci — the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — made the decision to mislead with nothing but good intentions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ op-ed published on Wednesday .
“ However , let ’ s be clear about what he was doing : lying to the American people in order to manipulate their behavior.
” “ The American people deserve the truth ; they also deserve accountability , ” the senator continued .
“ When elected representatives make decisions , they can be held responsible by the public .
But when public health officials with decades of experience and leadership within our nation ’ s institutions short-circuit the political process and make these decisions themselves , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and to change course if desired.
” Fauci acknowledged the effect polling had on his public statements in a recent interview , saying he upped the percentage of people he thought needed to be vaccinated by about 10 % from what he previously declared to the public .
“ When polls said only about half of all Americans would take a vaccine , I was saying herd immunity would take 70 to 75 % , ” Fauci said .
“ Then , when newer surveys said 60 % or more would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can nudge this up a bit , ’ so I went to 80 , 85.
” Fauci defended his remarks about herd immunity Sunday on CNN ’ s State of the Union .
He called the figures “ pure estimates ” and said that “ we have to realize that we have to be humble and realize what we don ’ t know.
” Rubio said the point he is making isn ’ t for people to stop trusting public health guidelines but rather to note that “ placing blind faith in unelected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that people shouldn ’ t be wary of calling them out .
“ I do not question Dr. Fauci ’ s motives — I trust they are noble — but I am appalled by his arrogance .
If he wants to lead the nation , he should run for office , ” the senator added .
Since the pandemic began earlier this year , there have been nearly 20 million confirmed infections in the United States and more than 340,000 deaths associated with COVID-19 .

Sen. Marco Rubio accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of manipulating the public in an op-ed about the health expert’s public statements regarding COVID-19.
The Florida Republican took umbrage with Fauci telling the New York Times that he increased the percentage of people that he believed needed to be inoculated in order to achieve herd immunity as polls began to trend more in favor of the vaccine.
“I am sure that Dr. Fauci — the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — made the decision to mislead with nothing but good intentions,” Rubio wrote in a Fox News op-ed published on Wednesday. “However, let’s be clear about what he was doing: lying to the American people in order to manipulate their behavior.”
“The American people deserve the truth; they also deserve accountability,” the senator continued. “When elected representatives make decisions, they can be held responsible by the public. But when public health officials with decades of experience and leadership within our nation’s institutions short-circuit the political process and make these decisions themselves, they deny the American people that same opportunity — and to change course if desired.”
Fauci acknowledged the effect polling had on his public statements in a recent interview, saying he upped the percentage of people he thought needed to be vaccinated by about 10% from what he previously declared to the public.
“When polls said only about half of all Americans would take a vaccine, I was saying herd immunity would take 70 to 75%,” Fauci said. “Then, when newer surveys said 60% or more would take it, I thought, ‘I can nudge this up a bit,’ so I went to 80, 85.”
Fauci defended his remarks about herd immunity Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. He called the figures “pure estimates” and said that “we have to realize that we have to be humble and realize what we don’t know.”
Rubio said the point he is making isn’t for people to stop trusting public health guidelines but rather to note that “placing blind faith in unelected celebrity scientists … has its limits” and that people shouldn’t be wary of calling them out.
“I do not question Dr. Fauci’s motives — I trust they are noble — but I am appalled by his arrogance. If he wants to lead the nation, he should run for office,” the senator added.
Since the pandemic began earlier this year, there have been nearly 20 million confirmed infections in the United States and more than 340,000 deaths associated with COVID-19.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Michael Brown: 2020: A Crisis of Trust and a Crisis of Truth

If there is any one thing that strikes me looking back at this calamitous and difficult year it is that we are experiencing a deep crisis of trust .
Who can we believe ?
Who is telling the truth ?
On whom we can rely for accurate information ?
It is into this void that a flood of conspiracy theories has rushed .
And it is this crisis of trust that opens the door wide for all kinds of deception .
After all , if we completely write off certain sources of information and we immediately prejudge those who differ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable .
On the one hand , the mainstream , left-leaning media has earned our scorn , not simply for presenting a biased view of the news but for actually censoring news for partisan political purposes .
This is not just bad reporting , this is misreporting .
And what about the anonymous stories with unprovable accusations , which then spread like a plague online ?
How can we trust what these news sources say ?
“ Fake news !
” we shout dismissively , and for good reason .
Much of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-leaning media says is false , and not everything the right-leaning media says is true .
Far from it .
But rather than make an honest attempt to determine what the truth actually is , most of us find it easier to live in our own echo chamber , demonizing those who differ with us and applauding those who stand with us .
Where is the objectivity ?
Where is the “ searching out ” of a matter that is so prized in the Book of Proverbs ( see , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wisdom that is quick to hear , slow to anger , and slow to speak ( James 1:19 ) ?
I was interacting with a colleague recently regarding the question of election fraud , telling him that I saw a lot of evidence that pointed to widespread fraud , but I did not have the expertise to analyze it proficiently .
I also suggested he read some articles presenting the evidence against fraud , sending him one link I found very reasonable .
He replied , “ I researched the author of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Never Trumper .
Why should I listen to him ?
” With all respect to my colleague , that is a dangerous attitude to espouse .
When I can ’ t even take the time to objectively evaluate the position of someone with whom I differ , I virtually guarantee that I will have serious blind spots in my life .
Do we not have the security to get out of our own bubble ?
Even when you present factual , video or audio evidence , that too can be dismissed .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” ( Perhaps even , “ Shapeshifters !
” ) Isn ’ t this terribly dangerous ?
2020 has been the perfect storm for producing a crisis in trust , especially because of the pandemic .
Do we trust the medical profession , or are all the doctors sold out to Big Pharma ?
Is the WHO part of a dangerous one-world order ?
Is the vaccine the mark of the antichrist ?
Is Dr. Fauci a sinner or a saint ?
Who does China have in its pocket ?
The fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we have every reason to wonder who we can trust at this time , even if we believed everyone had the best intentions .
Does anyone really know what is best ?
As for the president , I have heard Christian leaders say that he is the only one they trust right now .
I have seen posts saying that “ all pastors ” have been bought out by “ the elites.
” And on and on it goes .
Trump , for his part , has made clear that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DOJ .
Or the FBI .
Or Congress .
Or the media .
Or the voting system ( he ’ s been saying that for years , for the record ) .
Or those who used to work in his administration .
“ Believe me , ” he says repeatedly , and many of us do , hook , line and sinker .
He alone can be trusted .
This too is very dangerous .
Added to all this is the crisis taking place right now in the charismatic church , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in absolute one accord , has proclaimed that Trump will serve a second consecutive term .
They prophesied this for many months before the election , and now , most of them have reaffirmed their prophecies , “ Joe Biden will not serve in the White House .
President Trump will be inaugurated .
The tables will turn.
” Can you imagine the fallout if this does not happen ?
Does it simply mean these individuals can not be trusted ?
Or is this an indictment on the entire charismatic movement ( of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or is this an indictment on the very idea of God and the Bible ?
If we are to be lovers of truth , we must follow that truth wherever it takes us , regardless of cost or consequence .
And we must be open to correction , learning to listen , to investigate , to search out all sides of a matter , and to walk in humility towards those with whom we differ .
In this new year , I encourage you to welcome challenges to your own points of view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth , researching both sides of the debate .
And to lean hard on the Lord , asking Him to guide you into all truth .
As Ambrose once said , “ Before God can deliver us , we must undeceive ourselves.
” To cite Proverbs again , “ Do not be wise in your own eyes ; fear the LORD and shun evil .
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones ” ( Proverbs 3:7-8 ) .
May 2021 be the year when the sword of truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And may we have the courage to follow the truth , come what may .
It will deliver us from a pandemic even more deadly than COVID – the pandemic of deception .

If there is any one thing that strikes me looking back at this calamitous and difficult year it is that we are experiencing a deep crisis of trust. Who can we believe? Who is telling the truth? On whom we can rely for accurate information?
It is into this void that a flood of conspiracy theories has rushed. And it is this crisis of trust that opens the door wide for all kinds of deception.
After all, if we completely write off certain sources of information and we immediately prejudge those who differ with us, we make ourselves totally vulnerable.
On the one hand, the mainstream, left-leaning media has earned our scorn, not simply for presenting a biased view of the news but for actually censoring news for partisan political purposes. This is not just bad reporting, this is misreporting.
And what about the anonymous stories with unprovable accusations, which then spread like a plague online? How can we trust what these news sources say?
“Fake news!” we shout dismissively, and for good reason. Much of it is fake.
Yet not everything the left-leaning media says is false, and not everything the right-leaning media says is true. Far from it.
But rather than make an honest attempt to determine what the truth actually is, most of us find it easier to live in our own echo chamber, demonizing those who differ with us and applauding those who stand with us.
Where is the objectivity? Where is the “searching out” of a matter that is so prized in the Book of Proverbs (see, for example, Proverbs 25:2)? Where is the wisdom that is quick to hear, slow to anger, and slow to speak (James 1:19)?
I was interacting with a colleague recently regarding the question of election fraud, telling him that I saw a lot of evidence that pointed to widespread fraud, but I did not have the expertise to analyze it proficiently.
I also suggested he read some articles presenting the evidence against fraud, sending him one link I found very reasonable.
He replied, “I researched the author of the article, and he’s a Never Trumper. Why should I listen to him?”
With all respect to my colleague, that is a dangerous attitude to espouse.
When I can’t even take the time to objectively evaluate the position of someone with whom I differ, I virtually guarantee that I will have serious blind spots in my life. Do we not have the security to get out of our own bubble?
Even when you present factual, video or audio evidence, that too can be dismissed. “False flags!” “Doctored videos!” (Perhaps even, “Shapeshifters!”) Isn’t this terribly dangerous?
2020 has been the perfect storm for producing a crisis in trust, especially because of the pandemic.
Do we trust the medical profession, or are all the doctors sold out to Big Pharma? Is the WHO part of a dangerous one-world order? Is the vaccine the mark of the antichrist? Is Dr. Fauci a sinner or a saint? Who does China have in its pocket?
The fact is, when it comes to COVID-19, we have every reason to wonder who we can trust at this time, even if we believed everyone had the best intentions. Does anyone really know what is best?
As for the president, I have heard Christian leaders say that he is the only one they trust right now. I have seen posts saying that “all pastors” have been bought out by “the elites.” And on and on it goes.
Trump, for his part, has made clear that we cannot trust the Supreme Court. Or the DOJ. Or the FBI. Or Congress. Or the media. Or the voting system (he’s been saying that for years, for the record). Or those who used to work in his administration. “Believe me,” he says repeatedly, and many of us do, hook, line and sinker. He alone can be trusted. This too is very dangerous.
Added to all this is the crisis taking place right now in the charismatic church, where a substantial chorus of prophetic voices, in absolute one accord, has proclaimed that Trump will serve a second consecutive term. They prophesied this for many months before the election, and now, most of them have reaffirmed their prophecies, “Joe Biden will not serve in the White House. President Trump will be inaugurated. The tables will turn.”
Can you imagine the fallout if this does not happen?
Does it simply mean these individuals cannot be trusted? Or is this an indictment on the entire charismatic movement (of which I am a part)? Or is this an indictment on the very idea of God and the Bible?
If we are to be lovers of truth, we must follow that truth wherever it takes us, regardless of cost or consequence. And we must be open to correction, learning to listen, to investigate, to search out all sides of a matter, and to walk in humility towards those with whom we differ.
In this new year, I encourage you to welcome challenges to your own points of view. To become a student of the truth, researching both sides of the debate. And to lean hard on the Lord, asking Him to guide you into all truth. As Ambrose once said, “Before God can deliver us, we must undeceive ourselves.”
To cite Proverbs again, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8).
May 2021 be the year when the sword of truth emerges to cut through the lies. And may we have the courage to follow the truth, come what may. It will deliver us from a pandemic even more deadly than COVID – the pandemic of deception.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Michigan County Board Votes to Impeach Gov. Whitmer

A county board in northern Michigan approved a vote to impeach current governor Gretchen Whitmer on Friday , voting 4-2 in favor of the motion .
The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners took the vote in favour of the impeachment proceedings , which now means that the resolution will be brought before the Michigan State Legislature , who will have to decide Whitmer 's fate as Governor .
According to The Hill , at issue are Whitmer 's `` unconstitutional '' executive orders .
which she claims are justified due the pandemic .
But now , the legislature will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her efforts and wound up breaching the Constitution in doing so .
County Commissioner for Kalkaska County , David Comai , said that these executive orders are the main reason for the current economic crisis the county is undergoing .
Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock said that there is a `` growing list '' of legislators in the state who are supporting this movement , since Whitmer has been enacting further draconian measures as of late .
According to Maddock , Whitmer has `` ignored court orders .
Violated our Constitutional rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislature .
Weaponized contract tracing databases to aid democrat campaigns . ''

A county board in northern Michigan approved a vote to impeach current governor Gretchen Whitmer on Friday, voting 4-2 in favor of the motion.
Michigan county board approves resolution in support of impeaching Whitmer https://t.co/vgr9FXg8Qf pic.twitter.com/HtLygHOcRj — The Hill (@thehill) November 24, 2020
The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners took the vote in favour of the impeachment proceedings, which now means that the resolution will be brought before the Michigan State Legislature, who will have to decide Whitmer's fate as Governor.
According to The Hill, at issue are Whitmer's "unconstitutional" executive orders. which she claims are justified due the pandemic. But now, the legislature will have to decide if Whitmer went too far in her efforts and wound up breaching the Constitution in doing so.
County Commissioner for Kalkaska County, David Comai, said that these executive orders are the main reason for the current economic crisis the county is undergoing.
Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock said that there is a "growing list" of legislators in the state who are supporting this movement, since Whitmer has been enacting further draconian measures as of late.
According to Maddock, Whitmer has "ignored court orders. Violated our Constitutional rights. Completely ignored due process and the legislature. Weaponized contract tracing databases to aid democrat campaigns."


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Betsy McCaughey: Move Cancer Patients to Front of COVID-19 Vaccine Line

More than a thousand “ critical ” Capitol Hill staffers will get ...

As COVID vaccines are being rolled out, an extremely vulnerable group is being overlooked: millions of cancer patients. Doctors are sounding the alarm that many state governments and the federal advisory committee charged with prioritizing who gets vaccinated should move cancer patients up to the front of the line, right after nursing-home residents and frontline health workers. Right now, they’re deemed a lower priority than “essential workers,” such as firefighters, mass-transit employees, possibly even supermarket clerks.
Yet cancer patients are getting decimated by COVID-19. New data from 360 US hospitals show that cancer patients are more at risk of catching the disease than the rest of the population. Once infected, they are nearly twice as likely to need hospitalization.
Even worse, they are three times as likely to die as other hospitalized COVID-19 patients, according to the new findings in the journal JAMA Oncology.
New York pulmonologist Daniel Libby explains that cancer patients probably get infected frequently because they tend to visit doctors’ offices. Also, their “defenses are low,” meaning their immune systems are weaker.
This week, the COVID Lung Cancer Consortium, a group of oncologists, is calling on the feds to reexamine priorities and pay “specific attention to this vulnerable population.”
Gov. Cuomo should do the same. Last week, Cuomo launched the “Vaccine Equity Task Force,” including immigrant advocates, civil-rights leaders, tenant associations, labor groups and churches, most of which are political allies of the governor. But not one cancer organization made the list.
“We’re now talking about who’s getting vaccinated, and let me be clear, there is no politics in the vaccination process,” Cuomo says. That’s hard to believe, governor, considering who’s on the task force and who’s missing.
In New York and most states, cancer patients are getting ignored. The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Cancer Society urged the federal advisory committee to make vaccinating cancer patients a top priority, but the committee’s recommendation, announced Dec. 20, prioritized essential workers and people ages 75 and over to be next in line. That means most cancer patients have to wait months longer.
Fred Hirsch, a renowned lung-cancer specialist at Mount Sinai Medical Center, is investigating whether cancer patients’ weakened immune systems will cause them to produce fewer antibodies when vaccinated.
They may need more vaccinations — three shots or even four, instead of the two shots currently prescribed for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. All the more reason to get them started.
Meanwhile, in New York, politically connected unions representing transit workers and supermarket employees are calling state officials and pushing to be considered “essential workers.”
But cancer doctors complain they’re in the dark about whom to call or when they’ll have vaccines. Ditto for doctors treating patients with other illnesses. A Westchester woman tells me she’s worried about her husband. He’s 71, with type one diabetes and two heart stents, and he commutes to Gotham on Metro North. His doctors don’t know when they will get vaccines. She says, “I can’t believe 20-year-old supermarket workers will get it before him.”
Both the federal vaccine committee and Cuomo defend prioritizing “essential workers,” because it will mean vaccinating more minorities. Cuomo claims that “black, Hispanic, Asian and low-income communities paid the highest price during COVID-19.” That’s a politically convenient exaggeration.
Minorities have been only slightly more impacted by COVID than other people, according to the data. In New York state, excluding the Big Apple, Hispanics constitute 12 percent of the population and 12 percent of COVID deaths, while blacks make up 9 percent of the population and 15 percent of the deaths. In New York City, blacks and Hispanic minorities have suffered more fatalities proportionally than whites, but only by a few percentage points. Asians experienced fewer deaths (7 percent) than their 14 percent share of the population.
COVID is an equal-opportunity killer. It is slaughtering cancer patients, no matter their skin color.
Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--European Stocks Close Down 3.8% for the Year

LONDON — European markets closed lower on Thursday , the final trading day of a year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic and extraordinary stimulus measures that have tried to mitigate the economic hit from the health crisis .
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 0.14 % lower on New Year 's Eve after a shorter trading session .
London 's FTSE index , which closes shortly , looks set to close 1.2 % lower on the final day that the U.K. is a de-facto member of the EU 's single market and customs union before Brexit is definitively implemented .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were among the stocks trading lower Thursday , with sentiment likely affected by both Brexit uncertainty and further restrictions on public life announced by the U.K. government on Wednesday due to the rate of coronavirus infection .
Year-to-date , the Stoxx 600 index is down 3.7 % , however it is up nearly 11 % for the quarter .
Looking at individual indexes , the FTSE is down almost 14 % year-to-date , the French CAC 40 down 6.3 % , German DAX up 3.5 % and Italy 's FTSE MIB down 5.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region has been Spain 's IBEX , down almost 15 % this year .

LONDON — European markets closed lower on Thursday, the final trading day of a year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic and extraordinary stimulus measures that have tried to mitigate the economic hit from the health crisis.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 0.14% lower on New Year's Eve after a shorter trading session. London's FTSE index closed 1.45% lower on the final day that the U.K. is a de-facto member of the EU's single market and customs union before Brexit is definitively implemented.
U.K. banks, retailers and home builders were among the stocks trading lower Thursday, with sentiment likely affected by both Brexit uncertainty and further restrictions on public life announced by the U.K. government on Wednesday due to the rate of coronavirus infection.
Year-to-date, the Stoxx 600 index closed down 3.8%, however it was up nearly 11% for the quarter. Looking at individual indexes, the FTSE was down over 14% year-to-date, marking its worst year since 2008.
Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 was down 7%, German DAX up 3.5% and Italy's FTSE MIB down 5.4%. The worst-performing market in the region has been Spain's IBEX , down almost 15% this year.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--John Stossel: 2020’s Good News

John Stossel: 2020’s Good News

Was 2020 the worst year ever ?
The media keep saying that .
We did have the pandemic , a bitter election , unemployment , riots and a soaring national debt .
But wait , look at the good news , says historian Johan Norberg .
His new book , `` Open : The Story of Human Progress , '' points out how life keeps getting better , even if people just do n't realize it .
2020 was `` the best year in human history to face a pandemic , '' he says .
Had the pandemic happened in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technology to create mRNA vaccines . ''
`` In 1990 , '' he continues , `` we would n't have a worldwide web .
If we had had this pandemic in 1976 , we would n't have been able to read the genome of the virus .
And ... in 1950 , we would n't have had a single ventilator . ''
These last 20 years , adds Norberg , have been especially good .
`` Mankind has attained more wealth than ever . ''
I push back : `` There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of this money went to the top 1 % .
Ordinary people think they 're doing worse . ''
`` If you look at specifics like global poverty , child mortality , chronic undernourishment and illiteracy , '' Norberg replies , `` they all declined faster than ever . ''
Those things : global poverty , child mortality , undernourishment , and illiteracy are pretty good measures of quality of life .
`` Literacy might be the most important skill , '' says Norberg .
`` It 's the skill that makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 've never seen literacy at these high levels ever before .
( Even ) in the most problematic countries around the world , it 's better than it was in the richest countries 50 , 60 years ago .
That 's most important for those who have the least . ''
Of course , there were bad trends in 2020 .
Murder rose in the United States .
Social media algorithms divided us further .
`` Suicide is up , '' I tell Norberg .
`` I can definitely see the problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once upon a time , if you ended up in the wrong school or neighborhood , you had nowhere to go -- no other community available to you .
Now there is , and that opens up a world of opportunity .
Some awful things as well , but some beautiful things . ''
That meant that even during this pandemic , people found new ways to help others .
Volunteers used the internet to find better ways to donate their time .
Young people brought food to the elderly .
Zoom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office sometimes works as well , or better .
Businesses had new tools with which to adapt .
Restaurants moved to takeout and delivery , aided by apps like UberEats and Grubhub .
Such healthy adaptation rarely makes news , because reporters seek out problems .
Many worry loudly about climate change .
Some claim the environment keeps getting worse .
A dismayed CBS correspondent mourned , `` Biodiversity is reportedly declining faster than any time ! ''
Even if that were true , says Norberg , `` We have never made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six leading pollutants , the ones that used to pollute our lungs and forests and rivers , they 've declined by some 70 % ! ''
In January of this year , when President Trump announced the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani , `` World War III '' trended on Twitter .
The Selective Service website crashed for fear there would be a draft .
`` People think there 's more war , '' I say to Norberg .
`` But we 've forgotten the wars that we had in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1980s , there were more wars , and battle death rates were four times higher . ''
Less war is one reason people keep living longer .
After COVID-19 , that trend will continue .
`` We have this tendency , for good reasons , to focus on problems , because that 's our way of solving problems , '' says Norberg .
`` But then there 's the risk that we 'll just despair and think it 's hopeless and we give up .
That 's not the solution to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be happy ? ''
I ask .
He answers , `` Be a little bit grateful for what we have . ''
John Stossel is author of `` Give Me a Break : How I Exposed Hucksters , Cheats , and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media . ''

Was 2020 the worst year ever? The media keep saying that.
We did have the pandemic, a bitter election, unemployment, riots and a soaring national debt.
But wait, look at the good news, says historian Johan Norberg. His new book, "Open: The Story of Human Progress," points out how life keeps getting better, even if people just don't realize it.
2020 was "the best year in human history to face a pandemic," he says.
Had the pandemic happened in 2005, "You wouldn't have the technology to create mRNA vaccines."
"In 1990," he continues, "we wouldn't have a worldwide web. If we had had this pandemic in 1976, we wouldn't have been able to read the genome of the virus. And ... in 1950, we wouldn't have had a single ventilator."
These last 20 years, adds Norberg, have been especially good. "Mankind has attained more wealth than ever."
I push back: "There's more to life than wealth! And lot of this money went to the top 1%. Ordinary people think they're doing worse."
"If you look at specifics like global poverty, child mortality, chronic undernourishment and illiteracy," Norberg replies, "they all declined faster than ever."
Those things: global poverty, child mortality, undernourishment,and illiteracy are pretty good measures of quality of life.
"Literacy might be the most important skill," says Norberg. "It's the skill that makes it possible to acquire other skills. We've never seen literacy at these high levels ever before. (Even) in the most problematic countries around the world, it's better than it was in the richest countries 50, 60 years ago. That's most important for those who have the least."
Of course, there were bad trends in 2020. Murder rose in the United States. Social media algorithms divided us further. "Suicide is up," I tell Norberg.
"I can definitely see the problems," he replies, "but once upon a time, if you ended up in the wrong school or neighborhood, you had nowhere to go -- no other community available to you. Now there is, and that opens up a world of opportunity. Some awful things as well, but some beautiful things."
That meant that even during this pandemic, people found new ways to help others.
Volunteers used the internet to find better ways to donate their time. Young people brought food to the elderly.
Zoom and Slack taught us that not being in the office sometimes works as well, or better.
Businesses had new tools with which to adapt.
Restaurants moved to takeout and delivery, aided by apps like UberEats and Grubhub.
Such healthy adaptation rarely makes news, because reporters seek out problems.
Many worry loudly about climate change. Some claim the environment keeps getting worse. A dismayed CBS correspondent mourned, "Biodiversity is reportedly declining faster than any time!"
Even if that were true, says Norberg, "We have never made this much progress against pollution. The six leading pollutants, the ones that used to pollute our lungs and forests and rivers, they've declined by some 70%!"
In January of this year, when President Trump announced the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, "World War III" trended on Twitter. The Selective Service website crashed for fear there would be a draft.
"People think there's more war," I say to Norberg.
"But we've forgotten the wars that we had in the past! When I grew up in the 1980s, there were more wars, and battle death rates were four times higher."
Less war is one reason people keep living longer. After COVID-19, that trend will continue.
"We have this tendency, for good reasons, to focus on problems, because that's our way of solving problems," says Norberg. "But then there's the risk that we'll just despair and think it's hopeless and we give up. That's not the solution to our problems.
"Just cheer up and be happy?" I ask.
He answers, "Be a little bit grateful for what we have."
John Stossel is author of "Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media."


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Companies Say Less In-Office Days Ahead

Companies Say Less In-Office Days Ahead

After working remotely for the better part of a year , employees have proven they can do it , and do it despite the difficulties being at home may have presented .
Going forward , that means that where people work may have changed permanently , according to chief information officers .
“ We do not see a return to the traditional five-day-a-week in the office likely happening again , ” said Brad Peterson , chief technology and information officer at Nasdaq Inc. Like many CIOs , Mr. Peterson says a hybrid of home and office work will likely become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Peterson was one of 45 IT executives who responded to CIO Journal ’ s annual end-of-year questionnaire on the future of the office and other topics .
Seth Cohen , global CIO at PepsiCo Inc. , said employees want to hang on to the flexibility they gained in the pandemic .
“ We don ’ t need to go to the office to write emails and attend virtual meetings , ” he said .
PANDEMIC RESHAPES US EMPLOYMENT , SPEEDING CHANGES ACROSS INDUSTRIES Although in-person collaboration is preferable , employees are just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Li , global CIO at Automatic Data Processing Inc. Employees would often rather work from home because it gives them the freedom to structure their day in whatever way works best for them , he said .
“ This has profound implications for the office model , as it is unlikely that we will ever go back to the way it was pre-Covid , ” Mr. Li said .
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Traditional office and desktop workspaces will become “ pre-Covid artifacts , ” said Chris Bedi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , employees will have the leeway to decide when , where and how they want to work , he said .
This new working approach will open new opportunities for technologies and new modes of transportation , CIOs predict .
More immersive technology will be required to improve collaboration and productivity , said Eric Johnson , CIO at SurveyMonkey .
He envisions virtual meetings where he can pull up a virtual whiteboard via an audio cue and easily conduct surveys during video calls .
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create content , including the ability to brainstorm on a whiteboard virtually , ” said Jacqueline Guichelaar , group CIO at Cisco Systems Inc. Home networks will adopt enterprise-grade features like internet traffic prioritization to avoid household arguments over bandwidth usage , she predicted .
Ms. Guichelaar doesn ’ t expect employees to return en masse to the office .
Instead , there will be greater acceptance of mixed location workforces , where teams work from different offices as well as remotely .
Many employees have found they are more productive at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commuting , she said .
The office of the future might be more a “ showcase ” than a workspace , she said .
“ When someone comes into the office , it should be a reminder of the company values and culture , ” she said .

After working remotely for the better part of a year, employees have proven they can do it, and do it despite the difficulties being at home may have presented. Going forward, that means that where people work may have changed permanently, according to chief information officers.
“We do not see a return to the traditional five-day-a-week in the office likely happening again,” said Brad Peterson, chief technology and information officer at Nasdaq Inc.
COVID-19 VACCINE OUTLOOK PROMPTS BUSINESSES TO DUST OFF RETURN-TO-OFFICE PLANS
Like many CIOs, Mr. Peterson says a hybrid of home and office work will likely become the preferred option for most employees. Mr. Peterson was one of 45 IT executives who responded to CIO Journal’s annual end-of-year questionnaire on the future of the office and other topics.
Seth Cohen, global CIO at PepsiCo Inc., said employees want to hang on to the flexibility they gained in the pandemic. “We don’t need to go to the office to write emails and attend virtual meetings,” he said.
PANDEMIC RESHAPES US EMPLOYMENT, SPEEDING CHANGES ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Although in-person collaboration is preferable, employees are just as productive at home, said Max Li, global CIO at Automatic Data Processing Inc. Employees would often rather work from home because it gives them the freedom to structure their day in whatever way works best for them, he said.
“This has profound implications for the office model, as it is unlikely that we will ever go back to the way it was pre-Covid,” Mr. Li said.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Traditional office and desktop workspaces will become “pre-Covid artifacts,” said Chris Bedi, CIO of ServiceNow Inc. Indeed, employees will have the leeway to decide when, where and how they want to work, he said.
This new working approach will open new opportunities for technologies and new modes of transportation, CIOs predict. More immersive technology will be required to improve collaboration and productivity, said Eric Johnson, CIO at SurveyMonkey. He envisions virtual meetings where he can pull up a virtual whiteboard via an audio cue and easily conduct surveys during video calls.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
“We will need better tools to collaboratively create content, including the ability to brainstorm on a whiteboard virtually,” said Jacqueline Guichelaar, group CIO at Cisco Systems Inc. Home networks will adopt enterprise-grade features like internet traffic prioritization to avoid household arguments over bandwidth usage, she predicted.
Ms. Guichelaar doesn’t expect employees to return en masse to the office. Instead, there will be greater acceptance of mixed location workforces, where teams work from different offices as well as remotely. Many employees have found they are more productive at home because of the time they save on commuting, she said.
The office of the future might be more a “showcase” than a workspace, she said. “When someone comes into the office, it should be a reminder of the company values and culture,” she said.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Analysts See Higher Commodity Prices for 2021

Conditions are ripe for commodity prices to zoom higher in 2021 , according to Wall Street analysts .
A global economy that ’ s in recovery mode from a COVID-19-induced slowdown , a weakening U.S. dollar , unprecedented monetary stimulus and supply constraints is providing a favorable backdrop for everything from oil to copper to gold .
Signals are appearing that suggest the start of a “ sustainable positive feedback loop between commodities , the dollar and emerging-market growth that has driven past structural bull markets , ” wrote a Goldman Sachs research team led by economist Jeffrey Currie .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ global trade and larger emerging market trade surpluses , they said .
Those trade surpluses create credit availability that results in stronger demand and higher prices while at the same time putting pressure on the dollar and supporting prices .
Commodities have suffered through a “ super bear cycle ” for much of the past decade , said John LaForge , head of real asset strategy at Wells Fargo .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP However , West Texas Intermediate crude oil crashing to a record low - $ 36.73 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ watershed event ” needed to get investors interested in commodities again , he said .
Currie ’ s team at Goldman Sachs forecasts WTI crude oil will reach $ 55.90 per barrel next year , up 16 % from the $ 48 where the energy component settled on Tuesday .
LaForge predicts WTI could climb as high as $ 55 as travel via cars , airplanes and cruise ships will “ gradually improve ” next year while damage to U.S. oil wells will make it “ difficult ” to bring back supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to benefit from rising inflation expectations and a drop in the U.S. dollar in response to the large amounts of monetary and fiscal stimulus used to combat the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19 .
Currie sees the precious metal surging 22 % to $ 2,300 an ounce .
Analysts at Citigroup were a bit more cautious , forecasting a price of about $ 2,100 .
Bank of America sees gold ’ s upside “ limited moving into 2021 ” with the price ending the year at $ 2,063 .
Tight supplies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rein in stimulus will lift copper next year , according to a Bank of America research team led by commodity strategist Michael Widmer .
They say the red metal could reach $ 8,000 a ton on the London Metals Exchange , up from $ 7,814 currently .
Others say infrastructure spending from a Biden administration could boost prices .
David Rosenberg , chief economist and strategist at Toronto-based Rosenberg Research , thinks there are “ good arguments to be bullish ” on commodities , but also says there are “ reasons for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a “ reversal in risk appetite ” that results in a countertrend rally in the U.S. dollar and also believes renewed coronavirus lockdowns could curtail economic activity and demand for commodities .
“ The vaccines are clearly a very bright light at the end of the tunnel , but we continue to feel the path forward will be uneven and bumpy , ” he said .

Conditions are ripe for commodity prices to zoom higher in 2021, according to Wall Street analysts.
A global economy that’s in recovery mode from a COVID-19-induced slowdown, a weakening U.S. dollar, unprecedented monetary stimulus and supply constraints is providing a favorable backdrop for everything from oil to copper to gold.
Signals are appearing that suggest the start of a “sustainable positive feedback loop between commodities, the dollar and emerging-market growth that has driven past structural bull markets,” wrote a Goldman Sachs research team led by economist Jeffrey Currie.
LAST-MINUTE STIMULUS CHECKS SET TO JUICE US ECONOMY: GOLDMAN SACHS
Higher commodity prices add more value to global trade and larger emerging market trade surpluses, they said. Those trade surpluses create credit availability that results in stronger demand and higher prices while at the same time putting pressure on the dollar and supporting prices.
Commodities have suffered through a “super bear cycle” for much of the past decade, said John LaForge, head of real asset strategy at Wells Fargo.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
However, West Texas Intermediate crude oil crashing to a record low -$36.73 per barrel in April produced the kind of “watershed event” needed to get investors interested in commodities again, he said.
Currie’s team at Goldman Sachs forecasts WTI crude oil will reach $55.90 per barrel next year, up 16% from the $48 where the energy component settled on Tuesday.
LaForge predicts WTI could climb as high as $55 as travel via cars, airplanes and cruise ships will “gradually improve” next year while damage to U.S. oil wells will make it “difficult” to bring back supply.
REPUBLICANS FEAR BIDEN WILL DEMOLISH TRUMP'S ECONOMIC WINS
Gold prices, meanwhile, are expected to benefit from rising inflation expectations and a drop in the U.S. dollar in response to the large amounts of monetary and fiscal stimulus used to combat the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19.
Currie sees the precious metal surging 22% to $2,300 an ounce. Analysts at Citigroup were a bit more cautious, forecasting a price of about $2,100. Bank of America sees gold’s upside “limited moving into 2021” with the price ending the year at $2,063.
Tight supplies and growing global demand despite efforts by China to rein in stimulus will lift copper next year, according to a Bank of America research team led by commodity strategist Michael Widmer. They say the red metal could reach $8,000 a ton on the London Metals Exchange, up from $7,814 currently. Others say infrastructure spending from a Biden administration could boost prices.
David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist at Toronto-based Rosenberg Research, thinks there are “good arguments to be bullish” on commodities, but also says there are “reasons for caution.”
Rosenberg warns of the potential for a “reversal in risk appetite” that results in a countertrend rally in the U.S. dollar and also believes renewed coronavirus lockdowns could curtail economic activity and demand for commodities.
“The vaccines are clearly a very bright light at the end of the tunnel, but we continue to feel the path forward will be uneven and bumpy,” he said.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--U.K. Completes Exit From European Union

U.K. Completes Exit From European Union

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference about the ongoing situation with the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic , inside 10 Downing Street , in London , Britain , December 16 , 2020 .
LONDON — A new chapter has begun in the history of Britain 's relationship with the rest of Europe .
Britain officially left the European Union last January after 47 years of membership in the now-27 member bloc , but a transition period that has lasted through 2020 has also now expired — as of 11 p.m. local time on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way since the summer of 2016 , when a referendum on EU membership saw almost 52 % of British voters elect to leave the EU , and 48 % vote to remain .
The vote , taken against a backdrop of Europe 's migration crisis , was the result of deeper divisions in Britain over what were seen as the advantages and disadvantages of being in the EU .
For Remainers , the EU represented ( and still represents ) the triumph of European unity , peace and cooperation forged after the destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed British citizens to travel , work , study , live and move freely in the European Union .
For Leavers , however , exiting the bloc represented a chance to regain power over the U.K. 's decision-making , and to a large extent , its destiny .
The vote to leave was the fulfilment of years of doubts over the direction the EU was taking , its aim at `` ever closer union '' sending a shiver up the spines of long-standing euroskeptic politicians , mainly within the ruling Conservative Party , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For Leavers then , Brexit represented an opportunity to `` take back control '' ( a well-worn slogan for the Leave campaign ) and the chance for Britain to set its own rules free from Brussels .
Nonetheless , the process of leaving the economic and political bloc , a separation following decades of often-difficult relations , has claimed its own victims among the British political establishment .
David Cameron , British prime minister at the time of the referendum , resigned the day after the result .
Then , former Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed , messy attempts to get the British Parliament to approve the Brexit deal , or `` Withdrawal Agreement , '' she struck with the EU .

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference about the ongoing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, December 16, 2020.
LONDON — A new chapter has begun in the history of Britain's relationship with the rest of Europe.
Britain officially left the European Union last January after 47 years of membership in the now-27 member bloc, but a transition period that has lasted through 2020 has also now expired — as of 11 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Both sides have come a long way since the summer of 2016, when a referendum on EU membership saw almost 52% of British voters elect to leave the EU, and 48% vote to remain.
The vote, taken against a backdrop of Europe's migration crisis, was the result of deeper divisions in Britain over what were seen as the advantages and disadvantages of being in the EU.
For Remainers, the EU represented (and still represents) the triumph of European unity, peace and cooperation forged after the destruction of World War II. EU membership allowed British citizens to travel, work, study, live and move freely in the European Union.
For Leavers, however, exiting the bloc represented a chance to regain power over the U.K.'s decision-making, and to a large extent, its destiny. The vote to leave was the fulfilment of years of doubts over the direction the EU was taking, its aim at "ever closer union" sending a shiver up the spines of long-standing euroskeptic politicians, mainly within the ruling Conservative Party, and sections of the British press.
For Leavers then, Brexit represented an opportunity to "take back control" (a well-worn slogan for the Leave campaign) and the chance for Britain to set its own rules free from Brussels.
Nonetheless, the process of leaving the economic and political bloc, a separation following decades of often-difficult relations, has claimed its own victims among the British political establishment.
David Cameron, British prime minister at the time of the referendum, resigned the day after the result. Then, former Prime Minister Theresa May resigned in mid-2019 after several failed, messy attempts to get the British Parliament to approve the Brexit deal, or "Withdrawal Agreement," she struck with the EU.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--U.S. Votes Against UN Budget

U.S. Votes Against UN Budget

The Trump administration on Thursday voted against the United Nations ' 2021 program budget , citing its continued support of an `` anti-Israel '' event and the failure to implement a mechanism to monitor Iran ’ s weapon use .
`` Today this body is poised to adopt a budget that reflects such an accommodation that extends a shameful legacy of hate , anti-Semitism , and anti-Israel bias , '' U.N .
Ambassador Kelly Craft said .
`` The United States rejects this effort and called for this vote to make clear that we stand by our principles , stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never accept consensus for consensus ’ sake . ''
UN HITS TRUMP OVER BLACKWATER PARDONS , SAYS MOVE 'CONTRIBUTED TO IMPUNITY' Craft gave a number of reasons for the U.S. nay vote , including the funding for an event commemorating the controversial 2001 Durban Declaration and Program of Action ( DDPA ) .
The U.S. has long opposed the Durban Declaration since it was adopted in Durban , South Africa in 2001 citing concerns that it is anti-Israel and anti-Semitic .
The declaration describes the Palestinians as being `` under foreign occupation '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a section on `` victims of racism , racial discrimination , xenophobia and related intolerance . ''
The Bush administration walked out of the 2001 conference over draft language that accused Israel of a `` new kind of apartheid . ''
`` Twenty years on , there remains nothing about the Durban Declaration to celebrate or to endorse , '' Craft said .
`` It is poisoned by anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias .
It encourages restrictions on the freedom of expression .
It exists to divide and discriminate and runs contrary to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrimination . ''
The vote was backed by Israel , which also voted against the budget .
UN AMBASSADOR CRAFT CALLS FOR REFORM OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL , AS BIDEN LIKELY TO REJOIN '' Today we must all speak out against commemorating the disgrace that was the Durban Conference , '' Israel ’ s Ambassador Gilad Erdan said .
`` Israel opposes any measure aimed at allocating a budget for this purpose -- we all know that such funds will not be used to support human rights but to spread even more antisemitism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Craft cited the U.N. ’ s decision not to implement the snapback mechanism of sanctions against Iran .
The U.S. triggered the mechanism , contained in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal , in August after it failed to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic dictatorship that expired in October as part of the accord .
The U.S. had requested an investigative mechanism to monitor the reimposition of sanctions , but it was not included in the budget .
`` As I stated in September when the Trump administration announced the restoration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t need a cheering section to validate its moral compass , '' Craft said .
`` We don ’ t find comfort based on the number of nations voting with us , particularly when the majority have found themselves in an uncomfortable position of underwriting terrorism , chaos , and conflict .
We refuse to be members of that club . ''
Craft praised certain parts of the budget , including funding for mechanisms in Syria and Burmaa and said that the vote reinforces the U.S. commitment to a United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its founding principles . ''
The `` no '' vote is the latest move by the Trump administration to push for American interests at the U.N. , moves that have also at times isolated the U.S. at Turtle Bay .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP The U.S. has pulled funding from the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency ( UNRWA ) and has left institutions like UNESCO and the U.N. Human Rights Council .
Craft recently said that the U.S. should only re-enter the Council if a number of reforms are enacted first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a radically different approach to the U.N. Biden has said he wants to re-enter the Human Rights Council , as well as the Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal -- two U.N. brokered agreements that the U.S. withdrew from under President Trump .

The Trump administration on Thursday voted against the United Nations' 2021 program budget, citing its continued support of an "anti-Israel" event and the failure to implement a mechanism to monitor Iran’s weapon use.
"Today this body is poised to adopt a budget that reflects such an accommodation that extends a shameful legacy of hate, anti-Semitism, and anti-Israel bias," U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft said. "The United States rejects this effort and called for this vote to make clear that we stand by our principles, stand up for what is right, and never accept consensus for consensus’ sake."
UN HITS TRUMP OVER BLACKWATER PARDONS, SAYS MOVE 'CONTRIBUTED TO IMPUNITY'
Craft gave a number of reasons for the U.S. nay vote, including the funding for an event commemorating the controversial 2001 Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA). The U.S. has long opposed the Durban Declaration since it was adopted in Durban, South Africa in 2001 citing concerns that it is anti-Israel and anti-Semitic.
The declaration describes the Palestinians as being "under foreign occupation" and put its "plight" under a section on "victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance." The Bush administration walked out of the 2001 conference over draft language that accused Israel of a ''new kind of apartheid.''
"Twenty years on, there remains nothing about the Durban Declaration to celebrate or to endorse," Craft said. "It is poisoned by anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias. It encourages restrictions on the freedom of expression. It exists to divide and discriminate and runs contrary to the laudable goal of combating racism and racial discrimination."
The vote was backed by Israel, which also voted against the budget.
UN AMBASSADOR CRAFT CALLS FOR REFORM OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, AS BIDEN LIKELY TO REJOIN
"Today we must all speak out against commemorating the disgrace that was the Durban Conference," Israel’s Ambassador Gilad Erdan said. "Israel opposes any measure aimed at allocating a budget for this purpose -- we all know that such funds will not be used to support human rights but to spread even more antisemitism and hate towards Israel."
Separately, Craft cited the U.N.’s decision not to implement the snapback mechanism of sanctions against Iran. The U.S. triggered the mechanism, contained in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, in August after it failed to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic dictatorship that expired in October as part of the accord.
The U.S. had requested an investigative mechanism to monitor the reimposition of sanctions, but it was not included in the budget.
"As I stated in September when the Trump administration announced the restoration of sanctions on Iran, the U.S. doesn’t need a cheering section to validate its moral compass," Craft said. "We don’t find comfort based on the number of nations voting with us, particularly when the majority have found themselves in an uncomfortable position of underwriting terrorism, chaos, and conflict. We refuse to be members of that club."
Craft praised certain parts of the budget, including funding for mechanisms in Syria and Burmaa and said that the vote reinforces the U.S. commitment to a United Nations that functions effectively and in line with its founding principles."
The "no" vote is the latest move by the Trump administration to push for American interests at the U.N., moves that have also at times isolated the U.S. at Turtle Bay.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
The U.S. has pulled funding from the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) and has left institutions like UNESCO and the U.N. Human Rights Council. Craft recently said that the U.S. should only re-enter the Council if a number of reforms are enacted first.
The incoming Biden administration is expected to take a radically different approach to the U.N. Biden has said he wants to re-enter the Human Rights Council, as well as the Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal -- two U.N. brokered agreements that the U.S. withdrew from under President Trump.
Fox News' Ben Evansky contributed to this report.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--President Trump Addresses Fight Against Coronavirus in New Year’s Eve Address

President Trump posted speech to Twitter on Thursday in which he outlined what has been achieved by his administration in the year 2020 .
The outgoing president spoke about the country 's efforts to fight the pandemic , including closing the border which against the advice of many top Democrats early on .
Democrats later called for this measure to have been implemented sooner—at which time they were decrying the president 's efforts .
President Trump spoke of the achievement of accelerated vaccine development program Operation Warp speed , calling it : `` ... .a truly unprecedented amazing medical miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to ten years .
Thanks to Operation Warp Speed , we developed a vaccine in just nine months . ''
Trump addressed the economy , which his administration took to new heights prior to the pandemic .
He noted that the US has bounced back quicker than experts predicted .
`` Before the pandemic , we built the greatest economy in the history of the world .
Now , we are doing it again .
We 've actually built , if you think about it , two great economies : before and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nobody can compete with us in terms of going down less and going up by far the fastest and the best . ''
`` Whenever America is challenged , we always rise to the occasion , '' Trump said .
The President mentioned the incredible and unexpected gains main toward peace in the Middle East , for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions .
The region has a history of deadly turbulence and upheaval , but in 2020 nations that were previously on the brink of war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are signing historic peace deals in the Middle East .
It 's all ending in the Middle East .
We have to hope it keeps going .
It 's easy , if you know what you are doing . ''
`` As long as we remain loyal to our nation , '' Trump advised , `` devoted to our citizens and faithful to Almighty God , we know that the best is yet to come .
God bless you , and God bless America . ''

President Trump posted speech to Twitter on Thursday in which he outlined what has been achieved by his administration in the year 2020.
The outgoing president spoke about the country's efforts to fight the pandemic, including closing the border which against the advice of many top Democrats early on. Democrats later called for this measure to have been implemented sooner—at which time they were decrying the president's efforts.
President Trump spoke of the achievement of accelerated vaccine development program Operation Warp speed, calling it: "....a truly unprecedented amazing medical miracle. Normally, developing a vaccine takes up to ten years. Thanks to Operation Warp Speed, we developed a vaccine in just nine months."
Trump addressed the economy, which his administration took to new heights prior to the pandemic. He noted that the US has bounced back quicker than experts predicted.
"Before the pandemic, we built the greatest economy in the history of the world. Now, we are doing it again. We've actually built, if you think about it, two great economies: before and after," Trump said.
"Nobody can compete with us in terms of going down less and going up by far the fastest and the best."
"Whenever America is challenged, we always rise to the occasion," Trump said.
The President mentioned the incredible and unexpected gains main toward peace in the Middle East, for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions. The region has a history of deadly turbulence and upheaval, but in 2020 nations that were previously on the brink of war have begun to cooperate.
"We are signing historic peace deals in the Middle East. It's all ending in the Middle East. We have to hope it keeps going. It's easy, if you know what you are doing."
"As long as we remain loyal to our nation," Trump advised, "devoted to our citizens and faithful to Almighty God, we know that the best is yet to come. God bless you, and God bless America."


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--President Trump Returns to D.C. Early to Contest Election Certification

President Trump flew back to Washington , D.C. , ahead of a week that he hopes could change the outcome @ @ @ @ @ The president and first lady Melania Trump departed on Air Force One from Palm Beach @ @ @ @ @ , according to three people familiar with his plans , as he attempts a last-gasp @ @ @ @ @ of the 2020 election , CNN reported .
Trump was expected to appear at his @ @ @ @ @ party in Florida , but those close to the president said that Trump 's sole @ @ @ @ @ overturning the election certification process in Congress on Jan. 6 .
The news comes a @ @ @ @ @ Josh Hawley said he would object to the election certification .
Trump also recently shared @ @ @ @ @ President Mike Pence to obstruct the election certification process next week .
Tens of thousands @ @ @ @ @ in Washington on Jan. 6 for protests that Trump said would be `` wild .
@

President Trump flew back to Washington, D.C., ahead of a week that he hopes could change the outcome of the 2020 election.
The president and first lady Melania Trump departed on Air Force One from Palm Beach International Airport earlier than expected, according to three people familiar with his plans, as he attempts a last-gasp effort to challenge the results of the 2020 election, CNN reported.
Trump was expected to appear at his annual New Year's Eve party in Florida, but those close to the president said that Trump's sole focus is on challenging and overturning the election certification process in Congress on Jan. 6.
The news comes a day after Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said he would object to the election certification. Trump also recently shared a tweet calling for Vice President Mike Pence to obstruct the election certification process next week.
Tens of thousands of Trump supporters are expected in Washington on Jan. 6 for protests that Trump said would be "wild."


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Apple Bans Nearly 40k Apps After Demands From CCP

Apple removed 39,000 game apps on its China store Thursday , the biggest removal ever in a single day , @ @ @ @ @ deadline for all game publishers to obtain a licence .
The takedowns come amid a @ @ @ @ @ Chinese authorities .
Including the 39,000 games , Apple removed more than 46,000 apps in @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
Games affected by the sweep included Ubisoft title Assassin ’ s Creed Identity @ @ @ @ @ to research firm Qimai .
Qimai also said only 74 of the top 1,500 paid @ @ @ @ @ the purge .
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

Apple Bans Nearly 40,000 Apps After Demands by Chinese Communist Party
Apple removed 39,000 game apps on its China store Thursday, the biggest removal ever in a single day, as it set year-end as deadline for all game publishers to obtain a licence.
The takedowns come amid a crackdown on unlicensed games by Chinese authorities.
Including the 39,000 games, Apple removed more than 46,000 apps in total from its store on Thursday. Games affected by the sweep included Ubisoft title Assassin’s Creed Identity and NBA 2K20, according to research firm Qimai.
Qimai also said only 74 of the top 1,500 paid games on Apple store survived the purge.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index Posts Biggest Annual Loss Since 2008

London ’ s FTSE 100 ( ^FTSE ) closed in early trading on Thursday down 1.5 % , marking the end of the index ’ s worst year since 2008 as it was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic .
The blue-chip index was lower 95.3 points on Thursday to 6460 points , taking its total losses for 2020 to 14.34 % .
Germany ’ s DAX ( ^GDAXI ) was closed in Frankfurt , while the CAC 40 ( ^FCHI ) slid lower down 0.9 % in Paris on Thursday .
US markets were rather muted with thin trading .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ open lowered 0.1 % and Dow Jones ( ^DJI ) also fell 0.1 % and the Nasdaq ( ^IXIC ) dropped 0.2 % .
“ 2020 has been an incredibly intriguing year for the stock market as we have seen one of the sharpest declines in the US stock market as the major indices plunged over 30 % in mid-March earlier this year , ” said Naeem Aslam , chief market analyst at AvaTrade .
“ And following that , we experienced one of the fastest recoveries for the US equity markets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ indices scoring several record highs.
” READ MORE : Major UK firms 'named and shamed ' for failing to pay minimum wage The dollar was also trading at its lowest point in 2.5 years overnight in London , giving a basket of currencies a step up , though a reversion may be likely .
The pound continued its ascent in mid-day trading in London on Thursday , up 0.3 % against the dollar , sitting at $ 1.3659 .
“ The US economic data isn ’ t giving any indications that the Fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its monetary policy stance and this is pushing the dollar index lower , ” said Aslam .
“ The index has touched the 2.5 year low and it is important to keep in mind that the index is due for a mean reversion trade which means a move back to the upside.
” Wednesday ’ s announcement that Oxford-AstraZeneca ’ s ( AZN.L ) COVID-19 vaccine had been approved by the UK government also boosted the value of the pound as it is considered an effective delivery method to execute mass immunisation programmes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and higher storage threshold than its peers — created by Pfizer ( PFE ) -BioNTech ( BNTX ) and Moderna ’ s ( MRNA ) .
If this holds true , exponential growth in COVID-19 case counts should start to recede , despite newer , more transmissible variants of the virus coming to the fore .
The UK ’ s House of Commons voted in favour of the Brexit deal on Wednesday , helping improve the long-term growth prospects for the badly beaten UK economy .
Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) reached another record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a record $ 28,500 ( £21,086 ) , quadrupling its value this year .
READ MORE : Bitcoin hits record high as it soars past $ 28,500 “ On the fundamental front , the Bitcoin price is still moving higher despite unfavourable regulatory headlines , ” said Aslam .
“ It is an assurance for Bitcoin lovers that the price is likely to continue its uptrend in 2021 .
The worst that could happen to the Bitcoin price is only a healthy correction.
” Chinese stocks outperformed , with the benchmark CSI 300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high after the country approved its first COVID-19 vaccine for general public use , as well as data showing a steady economic recovery .
Markets in Japan and South Korea are closed due to holiday .
Asian markets were largely in positive territory as they focused on the global economic recovery .
The Hong Kong Hang Seng ( ^HSI ) was higher 0.3 % at market close , and the Shanghai Composite ( 000001.SS ) gained 1.7 % at market close .

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Bitcoin Approaches $30,000

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) - The price of Bitcoin topped $ 29,000 on Thursday for the first time , with the digital currency almost quadrupling in value this year amid heightened interest from investors big and small alike .
The world 's most popular cryptocurrency touched $ 29,300 before pulling back , most recently down 0.67 % at $ 28,774.36 .
It has surged by nearly half since breaking $ 20,000 for the first time on Dec. 16 .
Bitcoin 's potential for quick gains , as well as expectations it could become a mainstream payment method , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as from traders who normally stick to equities .
`` You can buy a stock like Amazon , you can buy a stock like Apple , and you know what you got , '' said Dennis Dick , a proprietary trader at Bright Trading LLC .
`` Bitcoin you really just have digits on a screen and you 're really hoping that the guy behind you sees it as being worth more than what you just paid for it , so it 's a purely speculative view , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind bitcoin and the traction it was getting with institutional investors , he put 1 % of his net worth into a bitcoin fund around five weeks ago , which has doubled in value since then , and he sold half on Thursday .
`` When you double your money within five weeks , if you sell half of it , I figure now you ’ re playing with the house 's money , '' he said .
Recent gains have taken bitcoin 's market capitalization past $ 536 billion , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @


bonginoreport--2020-12-31--Some Will See $300 Weekly Unemployment Boost Start Next Week

Workers in some states , including New York , Minnesota and Rhode Island , could start seeing the latest $ 300 weekly unemployment boost hit their accounts starting next week .
The Department of Labor confirmed this week that workers will be entitled to the full 11 weeks of enhanced unemployment benefits laid out in the $ 900 billion Covid rescue package for periods of joblessness from Dec. 27 through March 14 , 2021 .
Payments for the first week covered in the act , which ends Jan. 2 or 3 depending on the state , will go out early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor experts worried President Donald Trump 's delay in signing the bill would cut aid for millions of jobless Americans down to 10 weeks , though that is no longer the case .
While some states expect to get new boosted payments out after this weekend , it could take others several weeks to reintroduce new payments to record-level numbers of claimants .
With that said , most states are expected to start issuing the $ 300 boost to workers in the next two to three weeks , writes Andrew Stettner , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freelancers and gig workers on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , and those who 've exhausted their state aid and moved to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation , may also have to wait several weeks before they resume aid as states reconfigure their computer systems to administer new payments ; however , benefits will be backdated to the signing of the bill .
Roughly 13.2 million Americans are currently drawing from one of these two programs , which have also been extended into March 2021 .

Workers in some states, including New York, Minnesota and Rhode Island, could start seeing the latest $300 weekly unemployment boost hit their accounts starting next week.
The Department of Labor confirmed this week that workers will be entitled to the full 11 weeks of enhanced unemployment benefits laid out in the $900 billion Covid rescue package for periods of joblessness from Dec. 27 through March 14, 2021. Payments for the first week covered in the act, which ends Jan. 2 or 3 depending on the state, will go out early next week.
Previously, lawmakers and labor experts worried President Donald Trump's delay in signing the bill would cut aid for millions of jobless Americans down to 10 weeks, though that is no longer the case.
While some states expect to get new boosted payments out after this weekend, it could take others several weeks to reintroduce new payments to record-level numbers of claimants. With that said, most states are expected to start issuing the $300 boost to workers in the next two to three weeks, writes Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow with The Century Foundation.
Freelancers and gig workers on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and those who've exhausted their state aid and moved to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, may also have to wait several weeks before they resume aid as states reconfigure their computer systems to administer new payments; however, benefits will be backdated to the signing of the bill. Roughly 13.2 million Americans are currently drawing from one of these two programs, which have also been extended into March 2021.