Mask mandates in parts of the US substantially reduced the incidence of Covid-19 in those parts, compared with the parts that didn't have mask mandates.

We should continue these mandates today.

The UK plans to subcontract the data management for the NHS to a company. That's bad enough, but they've chosen Palatir, a spying company, and want to give it all sorts of data about everyone.

Macron's neoliberal party has lost greatly in French legislative elections, and no longer holds a majority. He will probably try to make a coalition with the right-wing Republicans.

The left alliance has gained sets, but so has the extreme right-wing (which is not, at least not overtly, as extreme as the US Republicans).

*Cutting works by Russian artists is "stupid", says Pussy Riot member.*

I agree. We should not punish individual Russians for the crimes of their government.

In the UK, even an official warning from thugs to a teenager can blight a career for life.

It doesn't surprise me that this happens more often to blacks. Once there is a repressive system, little details where someone has discretion are easily warped into systemic racism.

The UK seems to be egregious in this regard. In the US, according to my understanding, even the criminal convictions of minors are usually erased from their records.