Daily Archives: August 11, 2020

2020-08-11: News Headlines

Staff (2020-08-11). Climate, crude, and COVID devastate Ecuador's Amazon. therealnews.com Unprecedented flooding, the COVID-19 pandemic, and catastrophic oil spills are wreaking havoc in Ecuador's Amazon and its Indigenous communities, one of the groups hardest hit by the climate-related emergencies fueled by unbridled drilling for oil and mining for minerals. | In April, as COVID-19 began to overwhelm the healthcare system, both of Ecuador's transnational oil pipelines ruptured, dumping thousands of barrels of oil into the Coca river and its tributaries that provide fresh water and livelihoods to native communities. Regarded as Ecuador's worst spill in a decade, the collapsed pipelines are still not…

Dr. C. Stephen Frost (2020-08-11). End Torture and Medical Neglect of Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca Repost, first published on February 11, 2020 | On Nov 22, 2019, we, a group of more than 60 medical doctors, wrote to the UK Home Secretary to express our serious concerns about the physical and mental health of Julian Assange.1 …

Staff (2020-08-11). Lebanon's Gov't Resigns Amid Public Rage over Beirut Blast, But Protesters Demand Structural Change. democracynow.org After days of protests, Lebanon's government has resigned following the devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut that killed 200 people and injured thousands. The port blast, the source of which was 2,700 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate left unattended in a warehouse for more than six years, occurred as Lebanon was already facing political, economic and public health crises. We speak with Ziad Abu-Rish, a historian and research fellow at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies and co-director of Bard College's Masters of Arts program in human rights and the arts, who says despite public outrage toppli…

Staff (2020-08-11). Headlines for August 11, 2020. democracynow.org Lebanese Gov't Steps Down in Wake of Catastrophic Beirut Explosion and Mounting Protests, Trump Mulls Barring Americans from Reentry into U.S.; Coronavirus Cases Rise in Kids, Russia Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine; New Zealand Goes Back into Lockdown, Unrest in Chicago Sparked by Police Shooting Leads to 100+ Arrests, 16 People Arrested in Portland, OR Protests, Including Hate Crime Survivor Demetria Hester, Belarus in Turmoil as Lukashenko Cracks Down on Protests, Opposition Candidate Flees to Lithuania, Bolivia Protests Against Interim Right-Wing Gov't Intensify; Union Calls for General Strike, Fires in Brazil…

Monica Moorehead (2020-08-11). Student-athletes organize for health, Black Lives Matter, labor rights. workers.org Since March 12, the coronavirus has impacted every sector of U.S. society, not only health but also social life. With all the suffering going on and with no national public health care system in the U.S., different sectors of society are seeking to protect themselves by preventing the spread of . . . |

The Canary (2020-08-11). Coronavirus vaccine registered in Russia, says Putin. thecanary.co Russian president Vladimir Putin says a coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine developed in the country has been registered for use and one of his daughters has already been inoculated.Putin emphasised that the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and has proven efficient, offering a lasting immunity from coronavirus.However, scientists have been sounding the alarm that the rush to start using the vaccine before Phase 3 trials — which normally last for months and involve thousands of people — could backfire.Speaking at a government meeting, Putin emphasised that the vaccine has undergone proper testing and p…

F. Douglas Stephenson (2020-08-11). Is Big Pharma more Interested in Profiteering than Protecting us from Coronavirus? zcomm.org Forty years of private corporatist Big Pharma and oligarch control of our economy has left the public totally exposed and ill-prepared to face the public health crisis of COVID-19…

Claudia Webbe (2020-08-11). Debt cancellation is vital for global recovery. zcomm.org Cancelling debt for poor countries is desperately needed to shore up public health systems, social protections and address global structural inequality…

Alex Lawson (2020-08-11). 34 Attorneys General Call to Bust Gilead's Pharma Monopoly on COVID Treatment Remdesivir. counterpunch.org On August 4, nearly three dozen attorneys general representing nearly 60 percent of the U.S. population published an open letteraddressing top federal health officials. Even by the standards of an increasingly heated and high-stakes debate over drug prices, the letter is a remarkable document. With clarity and urgency, the signatories push the federal government to

Zoe PC (2020-08-11). Two years of Duque's Colombia: deepening neoliberalism, increased violence and a public health crisis. peoplesdispatch.org Colombian social leader Milena Ochoa analyses the past two years of Iván Duque's government and explains how its functioning has been completely in favor of big business, landowners, paramilitaries and the corrupt…

Jordan Schachtel (2020-08-11). Sweden Debunks the Covid Hysteria: No Lockdown, No Masks, No Vaccine. globalresearch.ca Here in the United States, we have become inundated with tales of COVID-19 doom and gloom. In America, the mainstream narrative is rife with hopelessness. | We are told that there is simply no way to stop this virus without repetitive …

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Regional states should strengthen coop. in combating COVID19. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Health Saeed Namaki held talks with WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Mandhari on the expansion of regional cooperation in the fight against coronavirus via videoconference.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Over 331K people infected by COVID-19, death toll at 18,800. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Iran's Health Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that 184 more Iranians have died from coronavirus (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours, bringing the total deaths to 18,800.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Russia 1st country to register COVID-19 vaccine, says Putin. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia has become the first country in the world to register a vaccine against COVID-19.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-11). Iran to continue efforts to produce COVID-19 vaccine strongly. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that efforts to produce coronavirus, COVID-19, vaccine and drugs will continue vigorously until the final result is achieved.

imperial.ac.uk (2020-08-11). The global impact of Imperial's COVID-19 Response Team. imperial.ac.uk Imperial's COVID-19 Response Team have been working with health services and governments around the world to help plan responses to the pandemic.

_____ (2020-08-11). School Bus Drivers: 'No Reopening Without Safety First!'. popularresistance.org Boston school bus drivers say, "No school reopening without Union-planned and -designed health and safety procedures!" | Teachers, nurses, bus drivers and monitors, custodians, paraprofessionals, food workers demand a seat at the planning table, now! | First step: Nurses in every school, bus yard, and food and nutrition facility to ensure frontline Emergency COVID-19 Worksite Standard Operating Procedures. | Transdev: Stop the fraud! Hire professional bus and facility disinfecting companies, now!

Paul Craig Roberts (2020-08-11). Covid-19 Does Not Have to Be a Problem. thealtworld.com Here is the presstitute CNN's report on US Covid-19 cases— According to the report, the US has the most cases of all countries and the highest number of deaths. If this is correct, it says something about our health care system and the quality of leadership at CDC and NIH. Normally, CNN is very supportive of both. | There are people who, for whatever reason, claim that the pandemic is a hoax and that no one has died, much less the 1,000 daily deaths…

RT (2020-08-10). Lebanese PM Hassan Diab announces resignation of entire government amid protests triggered by Beirut explosion. rt.com Lebanese PM Hassan Diab has officially announced the resignation of his entire government following days of protests sparked by the catastrophic explosion which levelled parts of Beirut last week. | Earlier, Health Minister Hamad Hassan Addressing the nation on Monday evening, Diab said he was with the people calling for responsibility for the "crime." Diab said the explosion was the result of endemic corruption. | I thought I could remedy th…

RT (2020-08-10). Face masks become mandatory in Paris amid W. Europe heatwave. rt.com Face masks became compulsory in tourist hotspots in Paris on Monday amid warnings of a resurgence of coronavirus cases. | The requirement came as France along with much of Western Europe sweltered in a heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius (95 F), AFP reports. The heat sent crowds flocking to beaches at the weekend despite health warnings about the risk of infection. | In the Paris region, people aged 11 and over are now required to wear masks in crowded areas and tourist hotspots. These include the banks of the Seine River and more than 100 streets in the French capital. | Several Frenc…

The Canary (2020-08-10). Plan for more nursing apprenticeships falls short, union warns. thecanary.co A multi-million pound government plan to train more apprentice nurses falls short of what is needed, the Royal College of Nursing has said.The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said a package worth up to £172m will enable healthcare employers to take on up to 2,000 nursing degree apprentices every year over the next four years.The NHS and other healthcare employers will receive £8,300 per placement per year for both new and existing apprenticeships. | The government said the funding will enable employers to meet the costs of taking on apprentices, including staffing costs while apprentices a…

_____ (2020-08-10). After 300 Years, It's Time To End Capitalism, Not Reform It. popularresistance.org The United States is facing multiple crises with no signs of improvement on the horizon – a deep recession, high unemployment, millions of people soon to be displaced from their homes, a failed healthcare system in the midst of a pandemic, the climate crisis and more. We speak with Professor Richard Wolff, an economist and the author of "Democracy at Work", about the history of capitalism and how it is inherently unstable. Prof. Wolff posits that the United States is now in a situation where capitalism is unlikely to survive. He describes why that is and the lessons we must learn from the fatal mistakes made when…

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-10). Trump's Payroll Tax Deferral Aims to Weaken and Kill Social Security and Medicare. globalresearch.ca All politicians lie. Rare exceptions prove the rule. | Trump is Exhibit A, a serial liar never to be trusted, a menace to virtually everything just societies hold dear. | Last February 8 he tweeted: "We will not be touching your Social …

James Bovard (2020-08-10). COVID as a Pretext to Prevent the Reopening of Schools: Deceit and Demagoguery in Montgomery County, Maryland. globalresearch.ca Across the nation, politicians and bureaucrats have invoked the COVID pandemic to seize dictatorial power to ban activities they disapprove. One of the most brazen examples recently occurred in super-lefty Montgomery County (MoCo), Maryland, where local health czar Travis Gayles…

WSWS (2020-08-10). Unions' big lie to Quebec health care workers battling the pandemic: "The government will protect you" wsws.org With the unions unable and unwilling to defend them, health care workers must take matters into their own hands, to protect their own health and lives and those of the public.

Andrew Emett (2020-08-10). Bernie and colleagues introduce Make Billionaires Pay Act. nationofchange.org "As our country faces vast economic and health needs, billionaires continue to display their appetite for greed."

news.un (2020-08-10). WHO chief points to 'green shoots of hope' in COVID-19 pandemic. news.un.org Although COVID-19 cases are on track to hit 20 million worldwide this week, and 750,000 deaths, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed to "green shoots of hope" amidst the global crisis, while urging both governments and people everywhere to work to suppress the new coronavirus.

Jon Miltimore (2020-08-10). Masks Aren't Helpful in Beating COVID-19: Europe's Top Health Officials. globalresearch.ca Denmark boasts one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the world. As of August 4, the Danes have suffered 616 COVID-19 deaths, That's less

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-10). Iran records 2,132 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,132 people and claimed 189 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

Dan Bacher (2020-08-10). Senate Committee Votes Against Bill to Create Health and Safety Setbacks Around Oil Wells. indybay.org "The fact that dozens of Spanish speaking residents who are currently poisoned by the fugitive emissions coming out of oil wells near their homes and schools were denied the opportunity to express their support for AB345 during yesterday's hearing is just another example of the environmental racism that they have endured, being unheard," said Nayamin Martinez, Director of CCEJN and a member of the VISION coalition.

Register Peace & Freedom or Green (2020-08-10). Social Security & Medicare Cut to Be Permanent if Nazi Trump Reelected. indybay.org Nazi Trump signed an illegal order on 8/8/20 to cut the payroll tax for Social Security and Medicare and promised on national TV to make it permanent if he is re-elected. This is a long-standing Republican Party program, outlined in their platform as they want to privatize both programs.

sputniknews (2020-08-10). Tehran Claims European Insurers Responsible for Compensation of Downed Ukraine Jet. sputniknews.com The head of Iran's Central Insurance Organization is arguing that European insurance companies, rather than Tehran, should be responsible for covering costs related to the Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) plane downed shortly after takeoff by Iranian military personnel on January 8.

Staff (2020-08-10). Trump Executive Action on Unemployment Insurance Deliberately Leaves Out Poorest. truthout.org On top of serious questions about the directive's The language of Trump's…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Turkish official warns of mental impact of COVID-19. yenisafak.com A Turkish official, who has recovered from COVID-19, warned of psychological impact of the disease as well as its biological impact on human body."It is really troublesome psychologically. So take your measures," Osman Bilgin, the governor of northwestern Kirklareli province, told Anadolu Agency.Bilgin was diagnosed with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus on March 31 and he recovered on April 17."Some citizens are not aware because they did not experience it. But when you do, there are both biological and psychological impacts of the disease," Bilgin stressed.Recounting the ordeal, he said he was so sad…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Turkish expert weighs in on importance of face masks. yenisafak.com The slight discomfort that comes from wearing a mask on a hot summer day is a small price to pay for protecting oneself from the coronavirus, Turkey's pandemic task force member has said. Dr. Afsin Emre Kayipmaz, a member of Turkey's Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board, told Anadolu Agency that a rise in coronavirus cases was witnessed after the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday as people used the opportunity to flock to beaches and attend wedding ceremonies, flouting social distancing rules.Cases have risen 1.3 times compared to May when lockdown was still imposed in many parts of the country, Turkey's Health Minis…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Southeast Asia reports over 8,800 new coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com With 8,887 new coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia, the tally of cases in the region has crossed 333,300, authorities said Monday.The death toll in the region has hit 8,291, while recoveries are at 212,507.In Phillippines, the worst-hit in the region, total infections climbed to 136,638 after the country's health authority confirmed 6,958 new cases.The archipelago nation reported 24 more virus-related fatalities, raising the nationwide death toll to 2,292, while recoveries jumped by 633 to reach 68,306.Indonesia reported 42 more fatalities from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death t…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Gambia's health system near collapse amid pandemic. yenisafak.com The Gambia has seen over a 70% rise in coronavirus cases last week, and its health sector is crumbling under the weight of the deadly virus.The total number of confirmed cases in the country as of Aug. 7 stood at 1,235, with 23 deaths and 221 recoveries, according to the latest Health Ministry data released on Sunday. The Gambia's reporting of cases is two days behind due to lack of capacity to deal with the surge.The situation is "alarming" in the small West African country of around 2.4 million people, according to Modou Touray, communications director of the Gambia Red Cross Society, as the number of COVID-19…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Coronavirus: Iran reports 189 more fatalities. yenisafak.com As many as 189 new coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 18,616, the Health Ministry sai…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Iraq reports highest-ever daily virus case count. yenisafak.com With 3,484 new coronavirus cases, Iraq on Monday reported the highest-ever daily COVID-19 infections, according to the Health Ministry.Meanwhile, the ministry reported 72 additional fatalities from the virus.Monday's figures bring the total case count to 153,599 and the number of fatalities to 5,464, along with 109,790 recoveries.Health centers in Iraq face shortages of oxygen supplies and protective equipment, prompting the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety to direct the Health Ministry to provide support for investors wishing to build medical oxygen production plants.Security forces have also been…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). WHO urges action to contain virus as cases near 20M. yenisafak.com Behind the rising numbers of registered novel coronavirus cases and deaths — both expected this week to reach 20 million and 750,000, respectively — is "a great deal of pain and suffering," and leaders need to embrace new measures to turn the outbreak around, the top official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday.Addressing a bi-weekly COVID-19 webinar for journalists Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "I know many of you are grieving and that this is a difficult moment for the world.""But I want to be clear, there are green shoots of hope and no matter where a country, a…

yenisafak (2020-08-10). Eurasia countries report new COVID-19 cases. yenisafak.com Coronavirus cases and fatalities continued to rise across Eurasian and Central Asian countries on Monday.- UkraineHealth Minister Maksym Stepanov said 1,008 more people tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 81,957.He said 25 more fatalities raised the death toll to 1,922 while recoveries increased by 387 to reach 44,359. | Stepanov urged the public to strictly follow the government's COVID-19 restrictions, which have been extended until Aug. 31. | – KazakhstanKazakhstan reported 741 more virus cases, raising the total to 99,442, as recoveries rose by 250 to reach the total of…

WSWS (2020-08-10). Twenty percent of Australian health workers lack PPE as infections in the sector soar. wsws.org Some 400 more health workers in Victoria have contracted COVID-19 over the past two weeks, prompting warnings of a looming staffing crisis in the hospital system.

Sam Pizzigati (2020-08-10). Within Healthcare USA, Risk and Reward Have Never Been More Out of Kilter. commondreams.org Members of National Nurses United, the largest nurses union in the United States, protest in front of the White House April 21, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Mark Taliano (2020-08-09). Video: Dr. Judy Mikovits and the Real Plague Infecting Humanity. globalresearch.ca Dr. Judy Mikovits is a top U.S. scientist who has played key roles in saving millions of lives. Instead of lauding her achievements and honoring her, Western governments and their agencies have sought to destroy her. | Why? Because corruption infests …

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-09). Covid-19 and the "Greater Economic Depression" Exceeding the 1930s: Unemployment Armageddon. globalresearch.ca The COVID-19 crisis at a time of deteriorating economic conditions caused what in hindsight may be known as a Greater Depression — exceeding the worst of the 1930s. | For 20 straight weeks, new claims for unemployment insurance exceeded one million….

Sandipan Talukdar (2020-08-09). More evidence emerges of T Cell Immunity against novel Coronavirus in unexposed people. peoplesdispatch.org Aside from our immune response to COVID-19, another important factor in countering the disease are cellular reactions which offer immunity in case of an infection. Two important aspects have emerged in recent case studies. The first is the production of an antibody that kills the virus at different locations of the body that the virus has colonized. The other is the cellular immunity provided by T cells. The T cell immunity could be more important than antibody production as it produces a longer immunogenic response than antibodies — which can die off in a shorter period of time, even within a few weeks.

H. Ealy (2020-08-09). Covid-19: Questionable Policies, Manipulated Rules of Data Collection and Reporting. Is It Safe for Students to Return to School? globalresearch.ca Elected officials have enacted many questionable policies that have injured our economy, educational system, our country's mental and emotional health, and the American citizen's personal expression of Constitutionally-protected rights to participate in our own governance.

Dr. Pascal Sacré (2020-08-09). The COVID-19 Vaccine. The Imposition of Compulsory Vaccination with a Biometric Health Passport? globalresearch.ca The COVID-19 vaccine… | Is this THE final goal of this crisis, to impose a compulsory vaccination on everyone, with a biometric health passport and without it, the impossibility to move, to buy, to eat? | The near future will tell. | With …

Yanis Iqbal (2020-08-09). Covid-19 and the Health Crisis in Latin America. zcomm.org Latin America has surpassed more than 5 million Covid-19 cases to overtake North America, with 4.8 million Covid-19 cases, as the region worst-hit by the Coronavirus pandemic…

Prabir Purkayastha (2020-08-09). Trump's Withdrawal From WHO A Cover-Up for His Failure on COVID-19. zcomm.org The WHO, with its warts and all, still stands for global cooperation and fostering public health policies, and is the only instrument we have for global cooperation. It is hated by the right wing precisely for these reasons…