Category Archives: Viva!

Brexiteers are subverting language to obscure the truth, Trump-style | Bobby McDonagh

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It started with fake news, but now any unpalatable fact is fair game for the ‘thought incinerator’

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes,” Mark Twain is said to have warned. In this era of social media, let’s make that all the way round the world while the truth is still looking for its socks.

Every day, including in the present Brexit chaos, we witness a phenomenon that subverts the truth yet remains nameless. Since naming things can sometimes help, I suggest we call the phenomenon a “thought incinerator”. The phrase may sound a bit Orwellian but then sometimes it feels like we are living in his 1984. Let me offer a definition and then give you an example. My definition of a thought incinerator is a phrase that public figures use to dismiss – out of hand and without any need for reflection – ideas they don’t like. The most obvious example I can give you is the phrase “fake news”.

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In Putin’s era it’s crazy to let a Russian lead Interpol. We must prevent it | Mikhail Khodorkovsky

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What kind of signal would appointing a member of Russia’s current security apparatus send about Interpol’s values?

This week, the 192 member countries of Interpol are due to appoint a new president of the organisation. Remarkably, the favourite is Alexander Prokopchuk, a representative of Russia’s law enforcement agencies, which have a long track record of abusing the Interpol system.

Prokopchuk holds the rank of major general in the Russian police, and worked in the Russian bureau of Interpol for 10 years from 2006, first as deputy head and later as head. During this time, Russian abuses of the Interpol “red notice” system became epidemic as the Putin system clamped down on its enemies. Political activists, business people, human rights defenders and others found themselves at risk of detention abroad and potential extradition to Russia because the Russian authorities claimed that there were justifiable grounds to detain them in Russia. These practices continue to this day.

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Mohammed bin Salman expected to attend G20 summit

Totally shameless – should be banned from attending.

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Argentinian government confirmed Saudi crown prince is on list of attendees but noted he may still change his mind

The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, widely suspected of ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, is expected to attend the G20 summit in Buenos Aires at the end of the month, the Argentinian government has confirmed.

Related: Trump inflated importance of Saudi arms sales to US job market, report says

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Easter Island governor begs British Museum to return Moai: ‘You have our soul’

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The museum has held one of the most spiritually important statues of the Chilean island’s stone monoliths for 150 years

The governor of Easter Island has tearfully begged the British Museum to return one of its famous statues, saying: “Give us a chance so he can come back.”

The museum has held the Hoa Hakananai’a – one of the most spiritually important of the Chilean island’s stone monoliths – for 150 years.

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