Daily Archives: July 31, 2020

2020-07-31: News Headlines

Richard D. Wolff (2020-07-31). The Consequences of Inequality Can Be Fatal. counterpunch.org Capitalism, as Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century shows, relentlessly worsens wealth and income inequalities. That inherent tendency is only occasionally stopped or reversed when masses of people rise up against it. That happened, for example, in western Europe and the U.S. during the 1930s Great Depression. It prompted social democracy in Europe and

news.un (2020-07-31). Health must come before the economy, insists top UN official for Latin America and the Caribbean. news.un.org In Latin America, where much of the region has dealt with years of sluggish growth, the economic crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing millions more into poverty, says Alicia Bárcena, the head of the UN regional body for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Fight Back (2020-07-31). Federal $600 a week addition to unemployment insurance runs out. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – 25 million Americans or more are losing their additional $600 a week in unemployment insurance benefits even as the number of people applying for unemployment benefits continues to rise. Up to one-third of all renters have already lost eviction protection from the federal government, and the Republican proposal does not include extending it. Millions of other households are under threat of losing their electrical power for not paying their bills. | The depth of the economic crisis stoked by the uncontrolled COVID-19 pandemic was shown this morning, July 30, in the Commerce Department's report on Gr…

Staff (2020-07-30). Chomsky on Cuba's "Internationalist" Response to Pandemic & Need to Make Vaccine Globally Accessible. democracynow.org As the world races to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Noam Chomsky says any successful treatment must be accessible to everyone, and he warns that President Trump's withdrawal from the World Health Organization will hamper the international body's efforts to distribute medicine in countries racked by poverty and war. "There's at least one country in the world that is showing genuine internationalism, providing medical aid and support for people that need it," Chomsky says, and that is Cuba.

RT (2020-07-30). 'A momentary lapse of honesty?' WATCH US Defense Secretary Esper saying NATO must 'avoid PEACE in Europe'. rt.com US Defense Secretary Mark Esper seemingly mistook the word 'peace' for 'war' when he made a gaffe in the middle of a speech on the relocation of American troops in Europe. | Esper was delivering important news to reporters: the Pentagon has laid out a plan to withdraw nearly 12,000 American soldiers from its NATO ally Germany. | The blunder occurred just when Esper was arguing that Germany, as the "wealthiest country in Europe," can and should boost its defense spending. | I've said that very publicly, I've said that very privately to my counterparts as well — about the importance of NATO, any alliance, s…

The Canary (2020-07-30). Boris Johnson has made several inaccurate statements on child poverty, investigation finds. thecanary.co The government has been accused of being in denial about a rising level of child poverty in the UK.It comes after the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) concluded Boris Johnson has made several inaccurate claims on the issue since being elected in December last year.The OSR responded to a complaint from the End Child Poverty Coalition over three incidences when the prime minister made what the coalition described as "misleading" statements.A complaint was lodged by the End Child Poverty coalition over the Prime Minister's use of statistics (Danny Lawson/PA)Writing to the OSR, the coalition said Johnson's clai…

news.un (2020-07-30). COVID-19: UN chief outlines path to sustainable, inclusive recovery in Southeast Asia. news.un.org Tackling inequality, bridging the digital divide, greening the economy, and upholding human rights and good governance will be critical for Southeast Asia to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Secretary-General said on Thursday.

Robert Reich (2020-07-30). The Clock Is Ticking: 5 Key Demands for the New Coronavirus Bill. commondreams.org Extend unemployment benefits to help people survive the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. (Photo: Screenshot) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-07-30_at_3.18.36_pm.png

Alexander Reed Kelly (2020-07-30). Here's How We Remake the Economy. commondreams.org Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., at a news conference on Capitol Hill on Friday, July 24, 2020, on the extension of federal unemployment benefits. (Photo: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-07-30_at_3.05.54_pm.png

Charles Pierson (2020-07-30). How Bad is the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act? counterpunch.org Somehow, Congress couldn't find the time last week to renew extended unemployment benefits or the federal moratorium on evictions. Congress had something more pressing to think about than 30 million unemployed Americans: the Pentagon budget. On July 21 and 23, the House of Representatives and the Senate approved their versions of the Pentagon's annual spending

Matt Sedlar (2020-07-30). Stimulus Checks in Next Coronavirus Package Shouldn't Penalize One-Parent Households. cepr.net Both the HEROES Act passed by the House in May and Senate Republicans' HEALS Act announced this week would provide a new round of stimulus in the form of one-time cash payments to most Americans, but with some major differences. One of these differences is in how the bills treat one-parent households with children, the …

_____ (2020-07-30). Democrats Offer Half-Hearted Measures To Impending Eviction Crisis. popularresistance.org The best defense against a raging pandemic that has already claimed over 152,000 American lives is simply to stay home. But even this could soon become impossible for millions, as the United States is facing an impending eviction crisis of "biblical proportions," according to the Housing Rights Initiative. Earlier this week, the federal moratorium on evictions expired, meaning the nation's 12 million renters are now at risk of losing their homes. Renters tend to be poorer, many of whom are among the 52 million that have filed for unemployment benefits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. | Instead of extending t…

Staff (2020-07-29). Headlines for July 29, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Records Highest One-Day Coronavirus Death Toll Since May, Trump Retweets Doctor Who Warned of Sex with Demons and "Alien DNA", Twitter Suspends Donald Trump Jr. for Spreading COVID-19 Misinformation, Progressives Say GOP Coronavirus Bill Would Bring "Mass Poverty and Mass Hunger", Teachers' Union Prepared to Strike If Schools Aren't Made Safe from Coronavirus, World Health Organization Warns Summer Weather Isn't Slowing Coronavirus, Argentina Reports Record COVID-19 Death Toll as Guatemala Reopens Economy, Attorney General Barr Grilled over Police Violence Against Peaceful Protesters, Portland Demonstrators…

Eds. (2020-07-29). Forget basic income—In Canada, the new normal should bring a public housing revolution. mronline.org "I had like $500 left in my account," my friend Jordan excitedly tells me. "I was seriously fucked for rent." Like millions of others, Jordan had entered his final few weeks of eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the government's $2,000 per month unemployment program.

RT (2020-07-29). Libya-born diplomat Richard Moore to head MI6 intel service. rt.com Britain's overseas spy agency — better known as MI6 — has installed diplomat Richard Moore as its new chief, the UK Foreign Office announced on Wednesday. | Libya-born Moore succeeds Sir Alex Younger, who will relinquish duties as head of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) in the autumn. The 57-year-old will also be known as 'C' — a role made famous in the James Bond movies. | Moore's current role is Director General for Political Affairs in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), a position he has held since April 2018. He has previously worked in other director roles in the SIS and has…

Editor (2020-07-29). Impasse in Congress over CARES 2. workers.org As COVID-19 spreads exponentially in most of the United States where the ruling class has rushed to "open" the capitalist economy, unemployment has again exploded. Personal economic disaster looms for most working people. Congress must pass new emergency measures to aid the tens of millions of workers — disproportionately Black, . . . |

news.un (2020-07-29). Security Council: Poverty deepens, along with need, across Syria. news.un.org Humanitarian operations across war-shattered Syria are reaching 6.8 million people a month, but a worsening economic crisis is deepening poverty and pushing more and more Syrians into humanitarian need, the Security Council heard Wednesday.

Steve Topple (2020-07-29). The Tories getting a Dimbleby to advise them on poverty sums up the problem. thecanary.co Henry Dimbleby, a restaurant Dimbleb…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-07-29). South African government to release funds following BidAir workers' protest. peoplesdispatch.org Following a picket outside the labor department, the commissioner of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has committed to release funds for the payment of workers' wages for the month of May by July 30…

WSWS (2020-07-29). Congress prepares to scrap $600 weekly unemployment payment. wsws.org The expiration of the enhanced federal unemployment benefit this week will drive millions of working class people across the US into desperate financial circumstances.

William rivers Pitt (2020-07-29). New GOP Stimulus Bill Shows They Are Perfectly Happy to Watch You Die. zcomm.org We are being led by the worst people at the worst possible time, and the Republican reaction to this stimulus package debate is exactly the kind of thinking that will leave this nation a bowl of ashes far sooner than we think…

Staff (2020-07-29). Anti-Government Propaganda Is a Republican Ploy Meant to Disarm Progressives. truthout.org Social justice activists win myriad campaigns on specific issues each year, but when we step back, it still looks like we're losing the broader struggle for a livable future. | Despite our best efforts, we still face unprecedented concentrations of wealth and power, expanding economic insecurity (the "gig" economy), environmental catastrophe and systemic racism. | Why have progressives failed to mobilize a force capable of governing the U.S.? | Recently, I found a compelling explanation [mdas…

Staff (2020-07-28). Headlines for July 28, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Republicans Unveil Plan to Slash Unemployment Benefits as Pandemic Rages, Moderna Late Stage Vaccine Trial Starts, as Trump's NSA Tests Positive for Coronavirus, WHO: COVID-19 "Most Severe Global Health Emergency" as Global Death Toll Tops 654,000, AG Barr and National Guardsman to Testify Before Congress with Battling Narratives, John Lewis Lies in State in Capitol Rotunda as He Is Honored by Fellow Lawmakers, 100s of DNC Delegates to Oppose a Party Platform Without Medicare for All, DNC Members Vote to Support Israel's Illegal Annexation of West Bank, "Free Them All!": Immigrant Rights Activists Chain Th…

The Canary (2020-07-28). Spain hits out at UK's 'error' over coronavirus travel warning. thecanary.co Boris Johnson's government faces a diplomatic storm with Spain and warnings that its policy on travel to the country risks major damage to business and confusion for holidaymakers.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned against all but essential travel to Spain's Balearic and Canary Islands, having already issued the same advice for the mainland.Travellers from all parts of Spain are required to quarantine for a fortnight on arrival in the UK, a change imposed at short notice over the weekend. | Travel advice for

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-07-28). As US Eviction Crisis Looms, Remember That Poverty Is Weaponized By The Elite. thealtworld.com CNBC News "On Friday, the federal moratorium on evictions in properties with federally backed mortgages and for tenants who receive government-assisted housing expired." CNBC reports. "The Urban Institute estimated that provision covered nearly 30% of the country's rental units." | "It's like nothin…

Rep. Ron Paul (2020-07-28). Fedcoin: A New Scheme for Tyranny and Poverty. globalresearch.ca If some Congress members get their way, the Federal Reserve may soon be able to track many of your purchases in real time and share that information with government agencies. This is just one of the problems with the proposed …

Stephen Lendman (2020-07-28). The Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act. The GOP's Let 'Em Eat Cake Stimulus Plan'. globalresearch.ca On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced the so-called Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act. | It's long on benefitting US business interests, woefully short on helping tens of millions of jobless, homeless, food insecure, and other …

WSWS (2020-07-28). Mass protests continue in Russian Far East. wsws.org Demonstrators expressed anger over social inequality and the federal government's infringement of regional authorities and laws.

Fight Back (2020-07-28). Republicans propose $400 a week cut from unemployment benefits. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – After months of delay and weeks of infighting, on Monday, July 27 the Trump administration and the Republican Senate put forward their proposal for more economic relief from the pandemic and recession. With the $600 a week in additional benefits expiring, the Republicans want to cut this by $400 a week, down to $200. With the national unemployment benefit averaging about $350 a week, this would mean a more than 40% cut in their benefits. | To make matters worse, it will hit the unemployed who have low-paying jobs the hardest. For example, a full-time worker in a small business that earns the minimu…

Thea M. Lee (2020-07-28). The GOP's Disgraceful HEALS Act Will Cost Millions of Jobs and Protect Bad Employers While Failing to Help People. commondreams.org Congressional leaders should reject it and immediately act to pass a package that will actually provide relief to the economy and the people and families who comprise it. (Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/unemployment_6.jpg

WSWS (2020-07-28). Egypt's el-Sisi approves troop deployment to Libya against Turkish-backed forces. wsws.org The eastern Mediterranean, including North Africa, has become the focus of ever widening conflicts, with all the imperialist and regional powers pursuing their own rapacious demands for control over the region's wealth and resources.

_____ (2020-07-28). Without Federal Aid To State And Local Governments, Millions Will Lose Their Jobs. popularresistance.org Because a weakening economy undercuts state and local tax revenues, and because states operate under balanced budget constraints, the coming months will see intense downward pressure on state and local spending. Reductions in this spending will in turn significantly slow recovery from the current economic crisis. This is not an abstract concern—the historically slow recovery in state and local spending following the Great Recession by itself delayed a recovery in unemployment to pre-crisis levels by four full years.

The Canary (2020-07-28). Closing furlough scheme 'a mistake' which could see unemployment surge. thecanary.co The government plan to shut the coronavirus furlough scheme this autumn "seems to be a mistake" which will result in a surge in unemployment, according to a leading economic thinktank. | The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has warned that the rate of unemployment is set to surge to around 10% of the country's workforce by the end of the year. | NIESR hailed the government's coronavirus job retention scheme but called on the chancellor to extend the scheme into next year in a bid to preserve jobs. | Around 9.5 million roles have been supported by the furlough scheme, but it will be wound…

Staff (2020-07-28). People of Color Are Facing Economic Devastation While Police Get a Blank Check. truthout.org Increasingly, activists are drawing connections between police killings and rising inequality across class and racial lines. | On July 20, thousands walked off the job for

Staff (2020-07-28). GOP Stimulus Bill Shows McConnell and Trump Are Perfectly Happy to Watch You Die. truthout.org Let us now turn our primers to the chapter titled, "Stuff That Should Have Happened Months Ago But Didn't Because Mitch McConnell Said 'No.'" | Two months and tens of thousands of corpses ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (