January 2021 – Page 3 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Journalism & Mass media

Reddit rebellion: amateur investors hold the line against Wall Street fat cats

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

A movement that formed on Reddit groups to challenge challenge billionaire hedge funders with coordinated buys of failing companies has exposed the un-democratic foundations of US capitalism … Read More >Reddit rebellion: amateur investors hold the line against Wall Street fat cats

USA

Obamacare is back: Biden signs executive orders on healthcare, reinstates abortion funding

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

President Joe Biden has signed two executive orders on healthcare. His decrees reopen enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and lift a Trump administration ban on funding for nonprofits that promote abortion. … Read More >Obamacare is back: Biden signs executive orders on healthcare, reinstates abortion funding

US freeze on F-35s sale to Abu Dhabi won’t hurt normalization between Israel & UAE – PM Netanyahu

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

The suspension by US President Joe Biden on selling F-35 fighter jets to the UAE won’t derail normalization between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi, as the process has gone too far already, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted. … Read More >US freeze on F-35s sale to Abu Dhabi won’t hurt normalization between Israel & UAE – PM Netanyahu

USA

‘Enemy within’: Pelosi calls for additional House security, claims members of Congress THREATENED by colleagues

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has demanded additional security for lawmakers, citing threats from “within” the House, while the temporary fence around the Capitol is on the way to becoming permanent. … Read More >‘Enemy within’: Pelosi calls for additional House security, claims members of Congress THREATENED by colleagues

USA

Trump’s going nowhere: Former president meets with Rep. McCarthy, vows to help Republican Party win upcoming House races

Posted on January 31, 2021By Editor

Even with an upcoming Senate impeachment trial and numerous Republican lawmakers more boldly criticizing him, Donald Trump is reportedly offering his help in getting Republicans control of the House. … Read More >Trump’s going nowhere: Former president meets with Rep. McCarthy, vows to help Republican Party win upcoming House races

World

UN chief ‘particularly worried’ about power of social media giants & calls for laws to keep them in check

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

Regulations are needed to reign in companies like Twitter so that their actions, such as the banning of former US president Donald Trump, are “in line with the law,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. … Read More >UN chief ‘particularly worried’ about power of social media giants & calls for laws to keep them in check

USA

So NOW walls work? Capitol police chief calls for PERMANENT security fencing to protect Congress

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

The US Capitol Police has called for permanent fencing and other beefed-up security measures in the wake of the January 6 riot, raising concerns the move will wall off the government from the American people. … Read More >So NOW walls work? Capitol police chief calls for PERMANENT security fencing to protect Congress

USA

Facebook BANS ‘Robinhood stock traders group’ with 150k+ members over ‘sexual exploitation’ amid GameStop craze – reports

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

A popular stock trading chat group has been booted off Facebook due to alleged violations of its “sexual exploitation” rules, claims the page’s founder, who accused “major institutions” of trying to avenge the GameStop debacle. … Read More >Facebook BANS ‘Robinhood stock traders group’ with 150k+ members over ‘sexual exploitation’ amid GameStop craze – reports

World

On Spotify, music listens to you: Streaming platform wins patent to surveil users’ emotions to recommend music

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

Streaming music platform Spotify has won a patent enabling it to snoop on users’ speech and even background noise in order to gauge emotional states and location types to serve up an appropriate soundtrack. Not creepy at all! … Read More >On Spotify, music listens to you: Streaming platform wins patent to surveil users’ emotions to recommend music

USA

Horn-wearing ‘QAnon Shaman’ charged over Capitol riot says he’s willing to testify at impeachment trial, feels ‘betrayed’ by Trump

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021By Editor

The man who showed up to the Capitol riot sporting fur and a horned headdress – known as the “QAnon Shaman” – is willing to testify at ex-president Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, his lawyer said. … Read More >Horn-wearing ‘QAnon Shaman’ charged over Capitol riot says he’s willing to testify at impeachment trial, feels ‘betrayed’ by Trump