And the hits keep on coming...

Mastercard to raise fees by at least 400% for EU firms selling to UK customers  - Guardian

Mastercard is to increase the fees EU firms face to take payments from online shoppers from the UK by at least 400%, in a move that could mean higher prices for consumers.

When a credit or debit card is used, a percentage of the purchase price is paid by the retailer to the bank that issued it as an interchange fee, which is set by a payments firm.

And the kicker?

Since 2015, the EU has capped these fees across the European Economic Area (EEA), including within the UK.

Also, Harris being herself a woman of color, couldn't miss the underlying racism aimed at Obama by Johnson. I agree that ethnic background does not explain everything (else, what would the son of a Jewish judge do with a 6MWE mob?), but being part of a minority group which is one of the main targets of racism, makes you quite sensitive to it.

Biden will recognize Guaido as Venezuela's leader, top diplomat says, 19 Jan

Blinken told members of the U.S. Senate that Biden would seek to "more effectively target" sanctions on the country, which aim to oust President Nicolas Maduro - who retains control of the country. Blinken said the new administration would look at more humanitarian assistance to the country. [...] "We need an effective policy that can restore Venezuela to democracy, starting with free and fair elections," Blinken said.

Samantha Power + blockades

Let's recap: In the month across the imperial basket (USD, GBP, EURO), simultaneous SURGE of SAR-CoV-2 cases AND COVID-19 deaths messed the curves; Pfizer supply chain discipline has collapsed; "experts" have detected purported statistically insignificant cases of SAR-CoV-2 "variants" circulating in S. Africa and UK (initially, more transmissible/not more deadly, now more transmissible AND deadly); purchasing authorities are re-allocating orders of Pfizer-substitute, Phase III trial vaccines which have not been officially licensed for general use.

Moderna says it believes vaccine will work against new variants
"Moderna said it plans to publish data from its tests against the variants on the website bioRxiv."

...to be fair, Turkey is about as isolated as the UK on that chart...

Rioters looted stores, set fires and clashed with police in several Dutch cities, resulting in more than 240 arrests, after tougher coronavirus restrictions, including a night curfew, prompted demonstrations nationwide [_link] pic.twitter.com/qiePTB0VKm

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 25, 2021

Riots have broken out in the Netherlands after the first night-time curfew since the Second World War was imposed in a bid to tackle #COVID19.

Click here to read more: [_link] pic.twitter.com/6gLbLwyAo6

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 25, 2021

US authorities named new directors for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, after firing Trump era appointees.[_link]

— DW News (@dwnews) January 25, 2021

Perhaps it is because she is half Indian, half Jamaican.

Maybe because she's American? I seem to remember they had some disagreements back in 1776 and 1812.

It is the most profound irony that Georgia, which is the only state in the union where a Jew was lynched, and also the site of the bombing of a synagogue, has sent a Jew to the US Senate. pic.twitter.com/nPezNM2FeG

— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) January 25, 2021

Corrupt Israeli blood diamond plunderer, Dan Gertler, hired Alan Dershowitz and Louis Freeh to lobby Trump to ease sanctions place on him. They succeeded & yet another grifter-thief gets to run rampant. [_link]

— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) January 25, 2021

Tennessee Justice Way Too Lenient

Is participation in an insurrection not sufficient to keep alleged domestic terr

Release of alleged "zip tie guy" from Capitol riot blocked [_link]

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 25, 2021

Man charged in DC riot reportedly has brother in Secret Service who led Michelle Obama detail

Scott Kevin Fairlamb of Stockholm, N.J., who fought under the name "Wildman,"  was charged in federal court in Washington, DC, according to court documents.

You will note I used the word "plebiscite" rather than referendum. Thus holding a non-legally binding popular vote need not be a direct challenge to Westminster authority. However if the SNP were to win such a plebiscite, they would have the upper hand in any negotiations with London. (Even the Brexit referendum was only politically, not legally binding).

They could then enter into a formal period of negotiation with London, and informal discussions with the EU, and put any outcome of those discussions - currency, national debt, military bases, border management etc. to a formal referendum vote for final approval.

The unspoken threat would be that either London agrees to an orderly process of separation, or Scotland goes its own way anyway - but the key issue is democratic legitimacy. London trying to over-ride a Scottish popular vote would inflame the situation to a degree even the Brexit process never did.

Indyref2: SNP reveal 'roadmap' to another independence referendum

It states that if the SNP take office, the Scottish government will request from the UK government a section 30 order - part of the Scotland Act 1998 which allows Holyrood to pass laws normally reserved to Westminster.

It says "there could be no moral or democratic justification for denying that request" and adds that if the UK government did adopt such a position it would be "unsustainable both at home and abroad".

The document goes on to say that if it has a parliamentary majority it will introduce and pass a bill allowing a referendum to take place after the pandemic.

It says that will leave the UK government with three options:

  *  agree that the Scottish Parliament already has the power to legislate for a referendum
  *  agree the section 30 order - as happened ahead of the 2014 vote
  *  take legal action to dispute the legal basis of the referendum

"Such a legal challenge would be vigorously opposed by an SNP Scottish government," it adds.

I read the current statements as not willing to commit to Catalonia-style referendum, at least not yet.

However, having decided to fight this fight in the court of public Scottish opinion last time, London really doesn't have any leg to stand on except "We don't want to and we have the power". Which they will probably argue, and if it is settled in London courts I expect the London government to win. Which in turn will likely increase support for independence - nothing like a perfidious overlord to get independence thoughts going - and then we shall see if the Scottish government folds or goes for independence anyway (with or without referendum). Maybe re-establish the Auld Alliance? Or just argue that it was never revoked, and therefore in place, so if England invades (ie, refuses to leave) Scotland, then France is treaty-bound to come to the aid of independent Scotland.

Rioting Dutch youths torch COVID testing center
"Last Sunday, COVID lockdown skeptics clashed with riot police on horseback in a central square in Amsterdam. A total of 143 people were detained."

Most UK voters believe Scotland will be independent by 2030

In Scotland, the poll found 49% backed independence compared to 44% against - a margin of 52% to 48% if the undecideds are excluded.

In Northern Ireland, 47% still want to remain in the UK, with 42% in favour of a United Ireland and a significant proportion - 11% - undecided. However, asked if they supported a referendum on a United Ireland within the next five years, 51% said yes compared to 44% who were against.

In Wales, where support for independence is traditionally weakest, 23% still backed leaving the UK while 31% supported a referendum.

The survey findings indicate Boris Johnson faces a struggle to keep the UK together following its departure from the European Union.

Across all four nations, more voters expected Scotland to be out of the UK within 10 years than thought it would still remain.

In England, the margin was 49% to 19%, in Northern Ireland it was 60% to 28%, in Wales 49% to 23% and in Scotland itself 49% to 30%.

With crucial elections to the Scottish Parliament coming up in May, the poll found the SNP way ahead on 70% - up seven points since the last elections in 2016 - while the Tories were down six points on 25%, with Labour down five points on 19%.

- Panelbase polled 1,206 adults resident in Scotland between January 19-22. YouGov polled 1,416 English adults between January 19 and 20, and 1,059 people in Wales aged 16 and over between January 18 and 21. Lucidtalk polled 2,392 people in Northern Ireland aged 16 and over between January 15 and 18.

Biden and Emmanuel Macron pledge to strengthen ties in first phone call [_link]

— The Independent (@Independent) January 24, 2021

Covid: Police and protesters clash during Dutch curfew demo [_link]

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 24, 2021

Misschien in Den Haag wat minder focussen op #duindorp waar het gister stil was na 21:00. #avondklok #Schilderswijk pic.twitter.com/wjttP8B5qo

— Kelsey Fieret (@kelseyfieret) January 24, 2021

Police use tear gas to stop protest in Eindhoven; Amsterdam police also resort to drastic measures [_link]

— NL Times (@NL_Times) January 24, 2021

Zo verliep de demonstratie op het Museumplein: 'Ik sta hier voor de kinderen'[_link] pic.twitter.com/J0ql43zdfH

— AT5 (@AT5) January 24, 2021

Johnson is withholding Diplomatic Status for the EU Ambassador to the UK.
His argument? The EU, unlike its 27 Member States, is not Sovereign. That's right - he's arguing that the EU27 are all independent Sovereign states.
Just think about that for a moment...... 🤔

— hopbin #FBPE🇪🇺 Proud collaborator (@hopbin) January 23, 2021

The UK government has successfully managed to convince the majority of the public (e.g. 80% of Tory voters) that the public is at fault because it's not adhering to the rules. Nothing to do with the slow inept government response, of course.

Early on, @sturdyAlex said that the govt was trying to manage this crisis like a PR issue rather than a global health crisis & that has stuck with me ever since, not least because repeated polls like this show that, from a PR management perspective, it's absolutely working. https://t.co/JU1RNbtZb0

— Greg D Smith (@GregDWordSmith) January 11, 2021

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Dutch `Intelligent' Lockdown Turns Violent

Youths protesting on the first night of a nationwide curfew torched a coronavirus testing facility and threw fireworks at police in a Dutch fishing village.[_link]

— DW News (@dwnews) January 24, 2021

Continued today in Eindhoven, Rotterdam and Amsterdam ...

Second Day: Dutch COVID curfew protests turn violent

Move to EU to avoid Brexit costs, firms told - Observer

Referring to discussions with a senior DIT adviser on trade, Moss said: "This guy talked complete sense. What I said to him was, have I got another choice [other than to set up a company abroad]? He confirmed that he couldn't see another way. He told me that what I was thinking of doing was the right thing, that he could see no other option. He did not see this as a teething problem. He said he had to be careful what he said, but he was very clear."

There is another way to interpret such events:

"My Lord, I have a cunning plan" pic.twitter.com/ToLEe43Fbx

— Chris Kendall (@ottocrat) January 24, 2021

The bill for Boris Johnson's Brexit is coming in and it's punishingly steep | Andrew Rawnsley [_link]

— Guardian Opinion (@guardianopinion) January 24, 2021

All those acquainted with Mr Johnson and his casual relationship with the truth will have taken that with a juggernaut of salt. Consider the prime minister's specialist subject of cake. Anyone trying to take a fresh cream cake across the Channel now does so at the risk of having it impounded at customs because it is a dairy product.

A Dutch TV report, which has since gone viral, shows border officials confiscating sandwiches from motorists arriving in the Netherlands from the UK. One driver agrees to surrender the meat in his sandwich, but pleads to be allowed to hang on to the bread. The frontier guard responds: "No, everything will be confiscated. Welcome to the Brexit, sir."

Guardian front page, Monday 25 January 2021: No guarantee schools will open after Easter, government warns pic.twitter.com/2AErGc7wem

— The Guardian (@guardian) January 24, 2021

Eight nuclear-capable Chinese bombers and four fighter jets entered the southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defense zone. The US has urged China to stop pressuring Taiwan.[_link]

— DW News (@dwnews) January 24, 2021

"A nasty look, physical assault, being tripped in the subway."

Anti-Muslim racism and discrimination is a problem in Germany. Lawmakers have held a debate in the Bundestag on trying to curb rising Islamophobia. pic.twitter.com/kJztPHmssJ

— DW Politics (@dw_politics) January 24, 2021