(2020-02-07). Syria: With an Eye on Energy Dominance, Russia is Aligning with Israel Against Iran. mintpressnews.com 
In the second of a three-part series, Agha Hussein investigates Russia's financial motivation for teaming up with Israel and wealthy Gulf Arab states to curb Iran's influence in post-war Syria.
(2020-02-07). Russia to drop dual citizenship restriction, make acquiring passport easier with 'revolutionary' new bill — Kommersant. rt.com 
Have you always fancied a Russian passport, but had doubts about relinquishing your current citizenship? Well, you may be in luck under new proposals apparently being drafted in Moscow. | Newspaper Kommersant, citing sources in a working group to reform state migration, says the Kremlin is poised to ditch its long-standing restrictions on dual citizenship. | The primary target is people from what Moscow considers "fraternal states," such as Belarus, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics — many of which are mired in poverty. Russia, facing its own demographic issues, sees them as a convenient source o…
(2020-02-07). Pope Francis and World Leaders Call for Inclusive Economy. indybay.org Pope Francis addressed a small group of Finance Ministers, the head of the IMF and noted economists urging the creation of new global debt and tax policies that can reduce inequality and end poverty.
(2020-02-07). In Spite of Economic Gains, Wage Growth Is Slowing. truthout.org The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the economy added 225,000 jobs in January. With modest upward revisions to the prior two months' data, this brought the three-month average to 211,000 jobs. While the unemployment rate edged higher to 3.6 percent, the employment-to-population ratio (EPOP) rose 0.2 percentage points to 61.2 percent, a new high for the recovery. The EPOP for prime-age workers (ages 25 to 54) rose by 0.2 percentage points to 80.6 percent, also a high for the recovery. | The January data a…
(2020-02-06). Republicans Have Weakened Congress in Order to Protect Trump. truthout.org In the United States, money is synonymous with merit. There is a presumption at the core of capitalism's narrative that if you are wealthy, you earned it through virtue and "hard work," not theft or nepotism. This mythology helped fuel the deregulation that led to the financial crisis, and it is also part of President Trump's rise. Trump's wealth earned him prestige in the eyes of millions, who in turn handed him the power of the presidency. And Trump's wealth and power has now led Congress to declare him ab…
(2020-02-05). The US Is 'in Denial' About Levels of Poverty: Ocasio-Cortez. telesurenglish.net Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) testified Wednesday before her House committee about the United States government's intentional denial to acknowledge how many U.S. citizens are living in poverty. | RELATED: | AOC joined several anti-poverty campaigners in testifying at a hearing on the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's policies on child poverty, hunger, homelessness, and healthcare. | She called on the…
(2020-02-03). 'Spectre of poverty' hangs over tribes and indigenous groups: UN labour agency. news.un.org Indigenous and tribal communities are around three times more likely to face extreme poverty than others with women "consistently at the bottom of all social and economic indicators", UN labour experts said on Monday.
(2020-02-02). Marinette, WI: Workers at Aurora Medical Center Bay Area stand up to union busting. fightbacknews.org Marinette, WI – 300 workers at Aurora Medical Center Bay Area in Marinette, Wisconsin are fighting back against management's attacks on their right to organize. These attacks include using the expiration of their contract to cease dues check-off, offering poverty wages, and consistently extending bargaining by conveying misleading and inaccurate information to workers. These tactics are a vicious attack on working people and our ability to provide for our families. | AFSCME Local 3305 represents medical and professional support staff at the hospital, which was purchased by Aurora Health Care Inc. in 2019. Aurora…
(2020-01-30). Anti-Trump-themed 'Immigrant Food' restaurant owned by lobbyists for right-wing Latin American coup leaders who fueled migration crisis. thegrayzone.com The shocking story of how wealthy Latin American regime-change hitmen exploited immigrant rights, international food, and a pliant DC media…