Pfizer is Funding Facebook’s Fact-Checking Partner.

Another conflict of interest emerges, as Big Tech takes Big Pharma cash to censor critics.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. is sponsoring journalism training programs utilized by Facebook to train its “fact-checking” partners and censor stories and posts critical of COVID-19 vaccines.

The International Center For Journalists (ICFJ) – itself funded by the Open Society Foundations amongst others – is partnered with Meta, Facebook’s parent company, on its “Journalism Project” initiative. In turn, Facebook relies on the journalists funded and trained by ICFJ to “combat misinformation” on its platform through its controversial fact-checking operation.

Together, Facebook and the ICFJ have funded news outlets based in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East with a focus on COVID-19 reporting.

Facebook’s fact-checking partner ICFJ, however, also receives financial backing from Pfizer, with its recently announced 2022 Arthur F. Burns Fellowship – named after a former Federal Reserve chairman – lists the pharmaceutical giant as one of the program’s sponsors.

“ICFJ’s longest-running program, the Arthur F. Burns Fellowship provides talented young U.S., German and Canadian journalists the opportunity to live and work in each other’s country,” explains a program summary. The program has produced dozens of alumni who “now work as foreign correspondents in 20 countries for well-known news outlets, such as The Washington Post, Reuters, CNN, ARD, Deutsche Welle and the Süddeutsche Zeitung,” according to the ICFJ.

The financial relationship with Pfizer dates back to at least 2008, as the center partnered with the pharmaceutical firm on a “training workshop on journalistic coverage of health issues” across Latin America.

“The objective of the workshop is to generate greater awareness about the importance of coverage of health issues in the region and to remember how the media can become leading actors when it comes to informing and educating the public about health issues. that directly affect your health and quality of life,” explains a summary.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2022/02/25/pfizer-funds-facebook-fact-checking-partner-combatting-covid-19-misinformation/

Germany finally sends 5K helmets to Ukraine — two days into Putin’s invasion

The 5,000 helmets Germany committed to sending to Ukraine last month are finally on their way to the Eastern European country on the second day of Russia’s invasion.

On Jan. 26, Germany Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced Berlin would be sending the headgear to support Ukraine’s armed forces.

At the time, Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv – Ukraine’s capital city – slammed the commitment as a joke.

“The behavior of the German government leaves me speechless,” Klitschko, who was elected mayor of Kyiv in 2014, told German tabloid Bild, according to Reuters. “The defense ministry apparently hasn’t realized that we are confronted with perfectly equipped Russian forces that can start another invasion of Ukraine at any time.”

“What kind of support will Germany send next?” Klitschko added. “Pillows?”

On Friday, German media company Der Spiegel confirmed the shipment of helmets was now on its way to Ukraine. The handoff is expected to happen outside the country.

Unlike its fellow NATO allies including the United States, Germany said it would not send weapons to Ukraine despite the growing tensions with Russia.

“We are standing on Kyiv’s side,” Lambrecht said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. “We have to do everything to de-escalate. Currently, arms deliveries would not be helpful in this respect; there is agreement on this in the Germany government.”

In January, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated the government’s stance, saying: “In recent years, the German government has repeatedly decided not to supply lethal weapons. There are reasons for this, which are of course also based on all the developments of recent years and decades.”

This week, Germany has moved forward with sanctions against Russia, including halting the certification of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline – which would have transported gas and fuel from directly Russia to Germany.

The shipment of helmets comes on the second day of Russian attacks in Ukraine, seizing control of multiple villages and cities, as well as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

While more than 100 people have died and hundreds more have been wounded, the US has observed at least 200 missile launches since the invasion began, according to a senior defense official.

https://nypost.com/2022/02/25/germany-finally-sends-helmets-to-ukraine-after-putins-invasion/

Kim Guilfoyle’s Virtual Meeting with Jan. 6 Committee Goes Sideways When Notorious Leaker Adam Schiff Appears on Call

Kimberly Guilfoyle’s virtual meeting with the January 6 Committee went sideways on Friday morning when notorious leaker Adam Schiff appeared on the call.

And as expected, Guilfoyle’s Friday morning exchange with the January 6 Committee was leaked to the media.

Kim Guilfoyle is engaged to Don Jr. and a trusted confidant of the Trump family.

According to “four people familiar” with the meeting (leak), Guilfoyle’s lawyers were concerned about the ground rules after Democrat Reps. Adam Schiff and Jamie Raskin joined the call, CBS News reported.

CBS reported:

A tense confrontation between the House select committee investigating the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol and Kimberly Guilfoyle unfolded privately on Friday morning, with Guilfoyle and her lawyers abruptly ending her conversation with the committee over concerns about its ground rules, according to four people familiar with the exchange.

The four people familiar with Friday’s exchange requested anonymity, since they were not authorized to discuss the deliberations.

But, they said, when Guilfoyle appeared on Friday’s virtual meeting, she and her lawyers grew immediately concerned when they saw who else was on the call, including lawmakers on the committee such as Representatives Adam Schiff of California and Jamie Raskin of Maryland, both Democrats.

Guilfoyle spoke up and asked why members — and not just lawyers and committee staff — were on the call, three of the people said.

“Kim balked and said this isn’t my understanding,” one of the people said. A second person described her as “outraged,” since she believed this conversation was going to be more informative and not a formal deposition.

“This is not my understanding,” Guilfoyle told the committee, and then said she would cease to continue the conversation until her lawyers had further discussions with the committee about the format, the people said.

Kim Guilfoyle’s counsel blasted the January 6 Committee in a statement to CBS and accused the panel of leaking.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/02/kim-guilfoyles-virtual-meeting-jan-6-committee-goes-sideways-notorious-leaker-adam-schiff-appears-call/

US unveils sanctions against Putin, Lavrov

Washington has accused the Russian President and his FM of being “directly responsible” for an “unprovoked” attack on Ukraine

The United States has slapped sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, mirroring an earlier decision by the European Union and British government in retaliation for Moscow’s military action in Ukraine.

“President Putin and Minister Lavrov are directly responsible for Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state,” the department said in a statement on Friday, adding that it is “exceedingly rare for Treasury to designate a head of state.”

The newly-updated list of Russian officials sanctioned by Washington also includes Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov.

Eleven members of the Russian Security Council, including Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin and Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Nikolai Patrushev had already been subject to the US sanctions, with Washington saying that it ”will designate more in the future if Russia’s unprovoked campaign against Ukraine does not immediately conclude.”

The sanctions envision the freezing of any US-based assets of those targeted. American citizens were also barred from all transactions involving “any property or interests” of the blacklisted individuals. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki hinted at a press conference earlier on Friday that the penalties would include a travel ban to the United States, the Treasury Department did not mention any travel restrictions in its statement.

https://www.rt.com/russia/550671-putin-lavrov-us-sanctions/

The Russian Special Operation: An Early Strategic Overview

Now that we are just over 24 hours into the Russian Federation’s initiation of armed intervention on a massive scale in Ukraine, I wanted to take the opportunity to write down my initial thoughts and brief strategic analysis. At this point there is so much that is unclear, and much of this has to do with Russian EW efforts in the theater of operations (which encompasses most of the territory of Ukraine). There is also quite a bit of distraction/disinformation being utilized by both the Kiev regime and the Russian Armed Forces for varying reasons. Coupled with other elements of its attack, Russia will use the fog of war to its advantage, while Ukraine will attempt to paint as positive a picture as possible to mislead the public and its potential allies.

I’ll start by stating that despite the varying media commentary to the contrary, the official recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Luhansk Peoples Republics by Russian president Vladimir Putin was a long-drawn-out inevitability. The Russian leadership undoubtedly came to the correct conclusion that there was no point in attempting to negotiate with the US or NATO regarding their security concerns, legally binding security treaties, or even the successful resolution of the Minsk II Agreement. The final decision to conduct a military operation to liquidate the security threat to Russia that has grown in strength in Ukraine under the full patronage of US and NATO countries over the past eight years is no longer tenable.

At such an early stage in operations it is hard to make any detailed analysis of the Russian battle plan, only broad assumptions; however, a great deal has happened in the first 24 hours. The Russian naval and aerospace forces first suppressed and then effectively destroyed the Ukrainian air defense network, its military aviation on the ground, and eliminated its small navy in short order. This was achieved under an extensive EW umbrella that rendered command and control impossible by modern technical means. Precision munitions launched by Russian aircraft and cruise missiles employed by vessels of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian flotilla targeted and knocked out strategic leadership and command and control targets.

https://southfront.org/the-russian-special-operation-an-early-strategic-overview/

https://southfront.org/pdf.php?hash=157168&code=562be31a96913cce935b8a87e1e024c3

>>15723635

Britain rules out ‘active role’ in Ukraine

A junior defense minister suggested miscalculations could cause an unnecessary escalation

Following Russia’s attack on the Eastern European nation, Britain said on Friday that it would not play an “active role” in the conflict in Ukraine, warning that such action could lead to an unnecessary escalation.

“We must all in this house be clear that British and NATO troops should not, must not, play an active role in Ukraine,” the armed forces minister, James Heappey, told Parliament.

“We must all be clear what the risk of miscalculation could be, and how existential that could very quickly become if people miscalculate and things escalate unnecessarily,” he added.

The minister said any military clash between NATO and Russia posed an “existential” and unnecessary risk.

However, he announced that the UK would send extra troops to Estonia “earlier than planned” in an effort to reinforce its NATO ally’s defenses amid increased Russian aggression.

The Welsh battlegroup would soon arrive in the country, doubling troop numbers there, he said.

On Thursday, Russia announced the commencement of a special “operation” in the Donbass, after the leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk asked Moscow for military assistance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move came after his government recognized the independence of the two breakaway republics in response to Ukraine’s alleged failure to implement its obligations under the Minsk agreements struck in 2014 and 2015 to resolve its conflict with the separatists.

https://www.rt.com/news/550638-britain-rules-ukraine-active-role/

How will Western sanctions on Russian banks impact ordinary citizens?

Washington and Brussels approved sweeping measures targeting Moscow’s financial sector

https://www.rt.com/business/550606-western-sanctions-russian-banks/

>>15723702

Argh yes Mrs Goldberg

Sheryl Sandberg's husband, Dave Goldberg, died suddenly in 2015. He was 48.

>>15723784

kek

This is the latest

Duped: Biden WH Pled with China to Stop Russia, Then China Gave Biden's Own Intel Straight to Putin

In hopes of securing assistance in deterring a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration was reduced to providing China with military intelligence that Beijing in turn gave to Russia.

U.S. officials learned in December that China had provided American intelligence on Russian military activity to Moscow, The New York Times reported.

American officials believed that if any world leader could prove capable of convincing Russian President Vladimir Putin to rethink his invasion plans, it was Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Russia and China have strengthened their ties in recent years.

The Biden administration had sought to convince China that its international image would be damaged by a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a November meeting with Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang, American officials said the harsh economic sanctions Russia would incur would hurt the Chinese economy as well.

Successive attempts to influence Qin against Russia proved unsuccessful, with Qin asserting that Russia had legitimate security concerns in the region.

American officials also shared intelligence with the Chinese showing the Russian military buildup around Ukraine.

In addition to providing the information to the Kremlin, American officials believe China told Russia that the U.S. was attempting to sow discord between the two nations and pledged not to interfere in Russia’s plans in Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken failed in attempts to convince China to work against Russian plans in January and just days before Putin launched his attack.

In the lead-up to the invasion, President Joe Biden proved utterly incapable of effectively working with America’s NATO partners to deter Russian aggression.

Germany finally canceled the Russian Nord Stream 2 Pipeline this week, with European countries consistently refusing to back measures that would stymie trade and commerce between themselves and oil-rich Russia.

On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the U.S. is “the culprit of current tensions surrounding Ukraine.”

“If someone keeps pouring oil on the flame while accusing others of not doing their best to put out the fire, such kind of behavior is clearly irresponsible and immoral,” she said.

“When the U.S. drove five waves of NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia’s doorstep and deployed advanced offensive strategic weapons in breach of its assurances to Russia, did it ever think about the consequences of pushing a big country to the wall?”

Xi struck a neutral tone in a call with Putin on Friday, calling for respect for the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of all countries. Xi also said the U.S. and NATO had ignored Russia’s “reasonable” security concerns.

https://www.westernjournal.com/duped-biden-wh-pled-china-stop-russia-china-gave-bidens-intel-straight-putin/

Russian Space Chief Warns ISS Will Plunge From Orbit And Strike US If Biden Sanctions Implemented

The head of the Russian space agency has just threatened the US and NASA with some serious repercussions if the Biden Administration follows through with sanctions that would impact the cooperation between the two countries in space.

Should the US cut off Russia's access to certain space technologies needed to keep the International Space Station operational, then the end result might involve the Russians allowing the International Space Station to simply tumble out of orbit and come rocketing back toward Earth.

Russia is a key player in the 15-nation partnership that has kept the ISS orbiting Earth for 23 years, but bilateral ties between the US and Russia have deteriorated substantially over the past year.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden laid out new sanctions that he said would "degrade" Russia's "aerospace industry, including their space program", among other things.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russian-space-chief-warns-iss-will-plunge-orbit-and-strike-us-if-biden-sanctions

Youngkin stays on Virginia public schools, rescinds curricula found in violation of civil rights

Interim report rescinds policies, programs, resources that promote discriminatory, divisive concepts

Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday followed through on his first official initiative after taking office in January to review, then rescind what his considers "inherently divisive concepts including Critical Race Theory" in commonwealth public school curricula.

Youngkin announced the move in a 19-page report in which he states: "Executive Order One charged the [commonwealth's] superintendent of Public Instruction to begin the work of identifying and addressing inherently divisive concepts including 'Critical Race Theory. … This interim report rescinds certain policies, programs and resources that promote discriminatory and divisive concepts as directed by Executive Order One."

To be sure, Youngkin last year successfully campaigned on the idea that public school had gone to far in deciding curricula that some parents and others found discriminatory, or at the very least too liberal, without having a way to successfully question the choices of those in charge.

"The concepts have become widespread in the Virginia Department of Education and in Virginia school divisions," Youngkin continues in the report.

"And we will need to proactively review policies, practices and pedagogies around the state to uphold the Civil Rights Act and comport with Executive Order One. We must continue to ensure that no student in Virginia is taught to judge or treat others differently solely on the basis of their race, skin color, ethnicity, sex or faith. As the work continues, we will engage stakeholders in an ongoing dialogue."

He also said the report will be followed by a similar, 90-day report.

"As your governor, I will continually stand up for students and parents and look forward to signing the largest education budget in Virginia's history," Youngkin also said.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/education/glenn-youngkin-releases-report-reviewing-divisive-concepts-taught

Construction Company CEO Admits to Bribing APG Army Biochemist Researcher for Government Contracts

Defendant Financed the Purchase of Public Official’s Two Rental Properties and Paid for Home Improvements

https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/construction-company-ceo-admits-bribing-apg-army-biochemist-researcher-government

Civic groups call for human trafficking probe against PM

Five civic groups on Thursday petitioned the House committee on corruption and misconduct prevention and suppression to carry out an investigation on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and eight other officials in connection with a human trafficking case.

The case involved Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, former deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, and Lt Gen Manas Kongpan, senior army adviser. It was raised during the past general debate in parliament.

Pol Maj Gen Paween, who headed an investigation into the smuggling of Rohingya migrants into Thailand in 2015, had ended up seeking asylum in Australia, Campaign for Democracy secretary-general Metha Maskhao said on Thursday.

The group submitted the petition on behalf of five organisations, including the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma.

Lt Gen Manas, who was a suspect in the human trafficking case, died while in prison, Mr Metha added.

"We requested the House committee to question Gen Prayut in his capacity as the chief of the police and security authorities in the handling of Rohingya migrants and human trafficking," he said.

The other eight officials in the petition were Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon in his capacity as the Police commission chair; Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda; former national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda; former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung; former deputy police chief Jumpol Manmai; current army chief Narongphan Jitkaewtae, current national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk and current 4th Army Region commander Kriangkrai Srilak

Mr Metha said the groups also wanted the committee to launch another investigation on the director-general of the Department of Corrections to determine whether Lt Gen Manas was murdered to silence him.

Lt Gen Manas was handed a 27-year jail term before it was later increased to 82 years for his role in trafficking Rohingya migrants.

He died of a heart attack at the Medical Correctional Hospital in June 2021 while serving his sentence.

Pol Maj Gen Paween's 2015 investigation into a Rohingya trafficking network in the South led to the prosecution of dozens of people.

The officer, however, decided to quit the force and fled to Australia after his request for a review of his transfer order to the deep South was rejected by Pol Gen Chakthip.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2269511/civic-groups-call-for-human-trafficking-probe-against-pm

PEDO BUN 25 February 22

Five Trafficked Jharkhand Girls, One Boy Rescued From Delhi

https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/city-news/five-trafficked-jharkhand-girls-one-boy-rescued-from-delhi.html

Ruston man accused of sex crimes involving juvenile

https://www.knoe.com/2022/02/25/ruston-man-accused-sex-crimes-involving-juvenile/

Couple facing several child sex charges, investigators fear there may be more victims

https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/couple-facing-several-child-sex-charges-investigators-fear-there-may-be-more-victims-local-news/273-53ed38e7-c8ea-42de-832c-b5018b3bebc0

Canadian Pastor Charged with Sex Crime Against a Minor

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/canadian-pastor-charged-sex-crime-against-minor

Cottage Grove Man Sentenced to Over 33 Years in Prison and Lifetime Supervised Release for Producing Child Pornography Online

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/cottage-grove-man-sentenced-over-33-years-prison-and-lifetime-supervised-release

McLaughlin Man Indicted for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/mclaughlin-man-indicted-abusive-sexual-contact-child

South Florida Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Exploiting Poor Children in the Philippines

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/south-florida-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-exploiting-poor-children

Father And Son Sentenced To Federal Prison For Scheme To Transport A Minor Child Between Croatia And Florida For The Purpose Of Engaging In Illicit Sexual Conduct

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/father-and-son-sentenced-federal-prison-scheme-transport-minor-child-between-croatia

Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation

https://www.justice.gov/usao-pr/pr/man-sentenced-14-years-prison-child-exploitation

Northumberland County Man Indicted For Production Of Child Pornography

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/northumberland-county-man-indicted-production-child-pornography

Beaver County Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Possessing Illegal Firearms and Images of Child Sexual Abuse

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/beaver-county-man-sentenced-4-years-possessing-illegal-firearms-and-images-child-sexual

District Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Exploitation and Child Sexual Abuse Offenses

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/district-man-sentenced-life-prison-child-exploitation-and-child-sexual-abuse-offenses

Raleigh Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/raleigh-man-sentenced-federal-prison-possessing-child-pornography

United States Attorney Announces a Turtle Mountain, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Child

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/united-states-attorney-announces-turtle-mountain-nd-man-sentenced-federal-prison-sexual

Turner Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/turner-falls-man-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offenses

Hmmm what's wrong with this picture? - Afghanistan 2.0?

Biden White House Asks Congress to Approve $6.4 Billion in Aid to Assist Ukraine

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/02/new-biden-white-house-asks-congress-approve-6-4-billion-aid-assist-ukraine/

Russian MoD: Large Amount of Weapons Supplied by West to Ukraine Has Been Seized

https://sputniknews.com/20220225/russian-mod-large-amount-of-weapons-supplied-by-west-to-ukraine-has-been-seized-1093374079.html