Monthly Archives: July 2020

2020-07-19: News Headlines

David Swanson (2020-07-19). Legislation in Congress Would Require Flying Flag With Pentagon on It. zcomm.org While war monuments are being toppled, a war flag is being raised.

Mario Carbonell (2020-07-19). The Electoral College: protecting the rich from democracy since 1787. liberationnews.org The Electoral College is designed to protect the U.S. government from excessive influence from the "unruly mob."

Fight Back (2020-07-19). Milwaukee: Northside marches against WE Energies and for green jobs. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – On July 16, Northside Rising held a rally seeking divestment from WE Energies (also known as Wisconsin Electric), a waiver of their planned moratorium on energy assistance, and investment in green, net-zero carbon jobs that are not monopolized by the company. Investing more in a climate justice plan, as well as a solution to the depletion of job opportunity for Milwaukee's Northside, would be a step in the right direction for the city's Black residents. | The rally began at the Victory Garden Park in the Harambee neighborhood. Speakers included Pastor Jonathan Barken, Supreme Moore Omukunde, Dana…

Dean Baker (2020-07-19). Prescription drugs & American exceptionalism. zcomm.org It would be a great thing for humanity if a low-priced coronavirus vaccine became the first example of a new prescription drug policy in America.

Irwin Redlener (2020-07-19). America Is on Track for $1M Covid Cases a Day and 800K Deaths. zcomm.org Until we have effective and safe medications, a proven vaccine and better testing, our best shot at getting control would be to again close many businesses and activities…

Laura Flanders (2020-07-19). The racist reality of who is dying of Covid-19. zcomm.org The institutionalized bias that reflects this is even more of a national shame—or it should be—than that distractor-in-chief, our president…

news.un (2020-07-19). 'My children ask me when I am coming home': stranded seafarers share their frustrations. news.un.org Hundreds of thousands of seafarers are finding themselves stranded at sea, sometimes for over a year, and with no end in sight, as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions. The uncertainty and long spells away from home are taking a heavy mental toll.

Ali Salam (2020-07-19). Dozens of Palestinians Choke on Tear-gas in Hebron Protests. imemc.org Dozens of Palestinian youths suffered the toxic effects of tear-gas inhalation, on Saturday, when they confronted Israeli forces in the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron, the Jerusalem Press reported. Local sources said that hundreds of Palestinian youths were protesting Israel's annexation plans, at the "Shuhada Street" military roadblock, …

Ali Salam (2020-07-19). Israeli Army Detains Palestinian Youths from Ramallah, Jerusalem. imemc.org The Israeli army, at dawn Saturday, stormed al-Jalazoun refugee camp in the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and detained three Palestinian teens, the Palestinian Information Center reported. According to Asra Media Office, members of a special Israeli military unit detained three teenagers from their homes in al-Jalazoun camp. The …

Ali Salam (2020-07-19). Israeli Forces Injure Many Palestinians, Including Medic at Peaceful Demonstration Near Nablus. imemc.org Two Palestinian civilians were injured, on Saturday, and many others choked on tear-gas fired by the Israeli forces, at a nonviolent protest in the village of Beita, Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported. WAFA correspondent stated that Palestinians held a demonstration, south of Nablus City in the northern occupied West Bank, …

Ali Salam (2020-07-19). Palestinian Family Forced to Demolish Their Homes in East Jerusalem. imemc.org By order of the municipality of West Jerusalem, the Palestinian Abu Turki family, on Saturday, continued to self-demolish their two homes in the Jabal al-Mokabber village in occupied East Jerusalem, according to local sources. The Abu Turki family told the Wadi Hilweh Information Center (Silwanic) that they began to demolish …

Thom Hartmann (2020-07-19). The Disastrous Handling of the Pandemic Is Libertarianism in Action. zcomm.org Will Americans Finally Say Good Riddance?>

Mike Hastie (2020-07-19). Homeless in Portland, Oregon. zcomm.org Old Town Portland looks like a huge refugee settlement. I deliver lunches to 4 homeless encampments three days a week. It is like walking into a poverty war zone…

Terry Everton (2020-07-19). Burger Chef And Dan Died On The Same Day. zcomm.org If you're like most 16 year old males, there's a better than average chance that the suit inventory in your wardrobe consists of a total of one. And by suit I mean the matching sport coat and pants that was purchased on clearance from a discount warehouse that has as much chance of staying in

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). VIDEO: protest against Netanyahu. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — Police used water to disperse demonstrators around Zionist regime's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence on Saturday as protests mounted against him over alleged corruption and his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). Covid-19 claims 209 lives in past 24 hours in Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — Iran's Health Ministry spokesperson announced on Sunday that in the past 24 hours the lethal coronavirus has claimed 209 lives in Iran.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). Iran-Turkey flight canceled due COVID-19 restrictions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) —According to reports the Iranian Mahan and Qeshm airlines announced the cancellation of the flights to Turkey.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). Iran sends medical aid to Iraq concurrent with Zarif's visit. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — Islamic Republic of Iran sent medical aid, as weigh as 1 ton, to neighboring Iraq concurrent with the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to Iraq.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). Zarif, Hakim hold meeting in Baghdad. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met and held talks with Leader of the National Wisdom Movement of Iraq Seyyed Ammar al-Hakim on Sunday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). Iranian elite abroad cooperating with country: official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) -An official in the vice presidency of science announced the statistics of the definite return of elites to the country, adding that "More than 8,000 Iranian elite abroad are cooperating with the country."

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). Zarif holds meeting with Iraqi officials. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Baghdad on Sunday morning to meet with Iraqi officials.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). FM Zarif, Iraqi President discuss regional, intl. issues. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Iraqi President Barham Salih hold a meeting in Iraq's capital on Sunday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). 'Goodby Olymbic' goes to Chinese film festival. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — Iranian short 'Goodbye Olympic' directed by Mojtaba Pourbakhsh has made it into the competition program of Beijing International FICTS Festival.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-19). Hunger increases across world: FAO. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) — The United Nations agencies say that the world is not on track to achieve Zero Hunger, warning if recent trends continue, the number of people affected by hunger will surpass 840 million by 2030.

Zach Conti (2020-07-19). G20 Finance Ministers Kick COVID Crisis Decisions to Fall. indybay.org Washington DC – Chaired by Saudi Arabia, G20 Finance Ministers met virtually and focused on the global health and economic impacts of the coronavirus. A communiqué issued by the Ministers suggested most decisions on the crisis will be made later in the year.

By Lynda Carson (2020-07-19). Housing wage for 2 bedroom unit is $43.06 for Oakland-Fremont area. indybay.org COVID-19 Guidance for Multifamily Residential Buildings:…

RT (2020-07-19). Florida officials admit counting MOTORCYCLE death as Covid-19 fatality, remove it from list after media scrutiny. rt.com Officials in Orange County, Florida have confirmed that a motor accident death was initially included into the coronavirus death toll. It was later struck off the list, but not until authorities were challenged by the media. | Florida Department of Health in Orange County announced on Saturday that it no longer counts the death of a man aged in his 20s in a motorcycle accident as a coronavirus fatality. | The case "was reviewed and he was taken off the list for Covid fatalities," Kent Donahue, spokesman for Orange County Health Officer Dr Raul Pino, told Fox35, which initially broke the story after perusing li…

RT (2020-07-19). Activists call for Harvard University's Board of Overseers to be renamed due to racist connotations in latest wokeness crusade. rt.com Harvard University is again caught up in controversy over a name that some students and alumni have found to be racially offensive, as an activist group is pressing the Ivy League school to rename its Board of Overseers. | The Coalition for a Diverse Harvard is taking issue with the word "overseers" because it harks back to slavery. The men hired by plantation owners to supervise and violently control slaves were called overseers. | The activist group has been urging individual members of Harvard's second-highest governing body to get rid of the word "overseers" in its name since 2017, and with anti-racism pro…

yenisafak (2020-07-19). UK's Raab says clear Uighurs in China suffered human rights abuses. yenisafak.com British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Sunday it was clear the Uighur minority in China had suffered abuses of their human rights."It is clear that there are gross, egregious human rights abuses going on, which is why in Geneva at the UN we raised this with 27 partners … to call out the government of China for its human rights abuses of the Uighurs, also of Hong Kong," Raab told the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show.Beijing's ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming told the same programme that most Uighurs were living happily and that ethnic minorities in China were treated as equals.

yenisafak (2020-07-19). Turkey has suspended flights to Iran amid coronavirus outbreak. yenisafak.com Turkey has suspended flights to Iran amid a coronavirus outbreak in the Islamic Republic, a spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, Reza Jafarzadeh, said on Sunday, according to the official IRNA news agency.The suspension of flights had begun on Saturday, he said.

yenisafak (2020-07-19). Germany's Merkel warns of summit failure on EU recovery fund. yenisafak.com European Union leaders toiled in search of a coronavirus stimulus deal for a third day on Sunday but German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the mounting acrimony over the level of spending might not easily be overcome.Germany and France, the EU's powerbrokers, are seeking a deal on a 1.8 trillion euro ($2.06 trillion) economic recovery package to rescue the bloc's economies that are facing their worst recession since World War Two.Sticking points are the size of the new recovery fund and what proportion should be in grants and loans, with some "frugal" richer states led by the Netherlands pushing to limit it,…

yenisafak (2020-07-19). Pakistan's COVID-19 daily tally continues to drop. yenisafak.com Pakistan's daily coronavirus tally continued to fall, as the country recorded only 1,579 new cases over the past 24 hours, the lowest single-day sum since May, Health Ministry data said Sunday.With the new cases, the total number of infections reached 263,496, with 1,763 of them in critical condition, the data showed.Another 46 patients lost their battle against the disease across the country in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll to 5,568. Nearly 70% of patients, or 204,276, have recovered so far.Health experts, however, cautioned that a sharp fall in the number of COVID-19 cases could be the result of fe…

yenisafak (2020-07-19). Greek PM calls for deal on COVID stimulus, says EU cannot appear weak. yenisafak.com Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday he hoped the third day of EU leaders' summit will manage to ove…

yenisafak (2020-07-19). Blast at power plant in Iran's central Isfahan province. yenisafak.com An explosion occurred at a power plant in Iran's central Isfahan province on Sunday but there were no casualties, the official IRNA news agency reported.The blast was caused by the wear and tear of a transformer at the power plant in Islamabad, the managing director of the Isfahan power company told IRNA.There have been several explosions and fires around Iranian military, nuclear and industrial facilities since late June.

yenisafak (2020-07-19). Iraqis protest power outage in Karbala. yenisafak.com Hundreds of protesters shut down a power plant in Iraq's southern Karbala province on Sunday over repeated power outages.Angry protesters barred employees from entering the plant in the al-Jammaliya area in the province until their demands are met."Hours of electricity cuts have increased at a time when temperatures are very high," Yasir al-Hakim, a protester, told Anadolu Agency.Iraqis suffer shortage in power supplies, especially in camps where thousands of displaced Iraqis live.Iraq generates around 13,500 megawatts and plans to increase its capacity with an additional 3,500 megawatts this year, according to t…

yenisafak (2020-07-19). Turkish steel exporters hail US ruling against Trump. yenisafak.com A US court ruling striking down US President Donald Trump's high tariffs on steel imports from Turkey is being welcomed by Turkish exporters and experts alike.In 2018 and 2019 the Trump administration raised tariffs up to 50% on steel imports from Turkey, causing major losses for Turkish steel exporters.The US Court of International Trade last week ruled that the move was unlawful.Turkish exporters hailed the ruling, adding that they would file a claim for compensation.Ismail Gulle, head of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), said the court's decision was belated but right.Trump's decision to double tariffs la…

Andre Vltchek (2020-07-18). U.K. and Hong Kong: Mutually Reinforced Ignorance. dissidentvoice.org Three years ago, I visited Old Supreme Court Building in Hong Kong, also known as The Court of Final Appeal, together with my friend, an Afghan-British lawyer, who was on a personal mission of 're-discovering Asia.' Coming from a prominent, highly educated family in Afghanistan, my friend was extremely well aware that both the United …

Naomi Klein (2020-07-18). Naomi Klein on Juice Podcast. zcomm.org Interview on the lessons we're learning during this historic period, Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, and why the liberals are going to get us all killed…

Inés M. Pousadela (2020-07-18). Stories from the youth climate movement in the Global South. nationofchange.org Young people who had mobilized for the climate across the world in 2019 were right: Much environmental damage is the result of human action, and as such, can also be reversed through human initiative.

Jeremy Loffredo (2020-07-18). Why the Bill Gates Global Health Empire Promises More Empire and Less Public Health. Gates Foundation Owns the WHO! globalresearch.ca Behind a veil of corporate media PR, the Gates Foundation has served as a vehicle for Western capital while exploiting the Global South as a human laboratory. The coronavirus pandemic is likely to intensify this disturbing agenda. | *** | President Donald …

Dr. Jack Rasmus (2020-07-18). What Lies Ahead: Permanent Job Losses, Poverty in America, Financial and Political Instability. globalresearch.ca On July 6, 2020 I posted my extended view and analysis why the 3rd quarter US GDP would falter—and lead to a W-shape recovery, as it typical of all Great Recessions. The current recession's scenario was compared with 1929-30 and …

Lawrence Wittner (2020-07-18). Making America Feared Again: The Trump Administration Considers Resuming Nuclear Weapons Testing. commondreams.org "The Trump administration now seems to be preparing to ignore treaty constraints and world opinion by reviving nuclear weapons explosions," writes Lawrence Wittner. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/nuclear_weapons.jpeg

Doug Brown (2020-07-18). A Constitutional Crisis in Portland. aclu.org I've been documenting violent and militarized police responses to protests in Portland for more than four years, but nothing prepared me for the unrestrained brutality I've witnessed and experienced in recent days. , , Night after night, since the police killing of George Floyd, people have been taking to the streets to demand an end to racist policing and a new vision of public safety for our community, one that protects the safety of our Black community members. Police in Portland, who have their own history of killings, have been meeting those demands with violent attempts to silence the protests. | On Jun…

Staff (2020-07-18). Climate Crisis: Biden Climate Plan Will 'Double Down' On Oil; Dakota Access Lives On. therealnews.com Joe Biden released his climate policy plan, Trump attacks a bedrock environmental law, and an appellate court says oil can still flow through the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Vijay Prashad (2020-07-18). COVID-19: Rot exposed by pandemic augurs a future of fear. mronline.org Vijay Prashad raises deep questions about the exhaustion of the global capitalist system in a time of great human suffering.

Eds. (2020-07-18). Call for investigations into federal operatives in Portland. mronline.org "The jarring reports of federal law enforcement officers grabbing peaceful protestors off the street should alarm every single American. This is not the way a government operates in a functioning democracy."

Eds. (2020-07-18). 1978: Ernest Mandel — Rosa Luxemburg and political economy. mronline.org The Accumulation of Capital was published in 1913, and it was probably only after completing her magnum opus that Luxemburg resumed writing her Introduction to Political Economy. Interrupted once again, now by the outbreak of war, she continued to work on the Introduction during her stay in prison in Wronke, in the German province of …

The Canary (2020-07-18). Boris Johnson to reward people who backed Brexit with life peerages. thecanary.co Boris Johnson is to mark his first year in Downing Street by rewarding Brexit supporters with life peerages, it has been reported.Former England cricketer Ian Botham is among 30 new peers to be announced later this month, according to the Times. The list is also said to include four ex-Labour MPs — including Frank Field and Gisela Stuart — who both supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.Botham publicly supported the Brexit campaign, appearing alongside Johnson before the referendum.Rewards and peace offerings: There will be peerages also for MPs and former Labour members Ian Austin and John Wood…

RT (2020-07-18). Four German soldiers probed for links to Turkey's shadowy ultranationalist Grey Wolves group — media. rt.com The German army's counterintelligence service, MAD, is investigating four suspected followers of the Grey Wolves, a far-right, pan-Turkist youth organization the members of which were allegedly trained for urban guerilla warfare both at home and abroad. That's according to Germany's ARD broadcaster, citing a confidential government The document also reportedly discussed the supposed ties between the Grey Wolves' German branch…

RT (2020-07-18). France, Germany & Italy threaten 'sanctions' against countries that interfere in Libya. rt.com Paris, Berlin and Rome have urged foreign powers to respect the UN Security Council arms embargo on Libya or face repercussions, in a joint statement issued by the EU leaders. | "We are ready to consider the possible use of sanctions should breaches to the embargo at sea, on land or in the air continue," France's President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte warned. | Oil-rich Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a NATO bombing campaign ousted long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, and the country is now being run by two rivaling governments. | In rece…

2020-07-18: News Headlines

Andre Vltchek (2020-07-18). U.K. and Hong Kong: Mutually Reinforced Ignorance. dissidentvoice.org Three years ago, I visited Old Supreme Court Building in Hong Kong, also known as The Court of Final Appeal, together with my friend, an Afghan-British lawyer, who was on a personal mission of 're-discovering Asia.' Coming from a prominent, highly educated family in Afghanistan, my friend was extremely well aware that both the United …

Naomi Klein (2020-07-18). Naomi Klein on Juice Podcast. zcomm.org Interview on the lessons we're learning during this historic period, Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, and why the liberals are going to get us all killed…

Jeremy Loffredo (2020-07-18). Why the Bill Gates Global Health Empire Promises More Empire and Less Public Health. Gates Foundation Owns the WHO! globalresearch.ca Behind a veil of corporate media PR, the Gates Foundation has served as a vehicle for Western capital while exploiting the Global South as a human laboratory. The coronavirus pandemic is likely to intensify this disturbing agenda. | *** | President Donald …

Dr. Jack Rasmus (2020-07-18). What Lies Ahead: Permanent Job Losses, Poverty in America, Financial and Political Instability. globalresearch.ca On July 6, 2020 I posted my extended view and analysis why the 3rd quarter US GDP would falter—and lead to a W-shape recovery, as it typical of all Great Recessions. The current recession's scenario was compared with 1929-30 and …

Vijay Prashad (2020-07-18). COVID-19: Rot exposed by pandemic augurs a future of fear. mronline.org Vijay Prashad raises deep questions about the exhaustion of the global capitalist system in a time of great human suffering.

Eds. (2020-07-18). 1978: Ernest Mandel — Rosa Luxemburg and political economy. mronline.org The Accumulation of Capital was published in 1913, and it was probably only after completing her magnum opus that Luxemburg resumed writing her Introduction to Political Economy. Interrupted once again, now by the outbreak of war, she continued to work on the Introduction during her stay in prison in Wronke, in the German province of …

Alleen Brown (2020-07-18). What If All Native Treaties Were Upheld? zcomm.org The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision last week that altered the map of Oklahoma. The eastern half of the state, including much of Tulsa, is now, for legal purposes, Indian country…

Sam Pizzigati (2020-07-18). Will the Biden-Sanders Economic Task Force Report Rattle the Rich? zcomm.org Wish-lists of progressive public policies never change the world. But they sometimes do excite the people who can…

WSWS (2020-07-18). Brazil surpasses two million coronavirus cases as reopening drive continues. wsws.org "We cannot continue suffocating the economy," President Jair Bolsonaro said, as Brazil suffered the highest single day death toll in the world.

Richard Horton (2020-07-18). [Comment] Offline: COVID-19 and the dangers of Sinophobia. thelancet.com One of the most productive experiences editors at The Lancet have had during the past 6 months has been the intense collaborations with medical and public health scientists in mainland China and Hong Kong. Cooperation began early in the pandemic. During the last week of January, The Lancet published five research papers from mainland China and Hong Kong describing the clinical presentation of patients with COVID-19, human-to-human transmission, genomic relatedness to the SARS coronavirus, and the risks of a global pandemic.

WSWS (2020-07-18). US escalates economic warfare against Russia and China. wsws.org After securing a decision by the UK government to ban the Chinese firm Huawei from its 5G rollout, the US is pressuring the Merkel government in Germany to take the same decision.

news.un (2020-07-18). FROM THE FIELD: Frontline resilience in Somalia. news.un.org One hundred thousand households in Somaliland in northwest Somalia have better access to water, protecting them not just from the ravages of climate change but also against the spread of COVID-19, thanks to a project supported by the UN Development Programme.

Robert Hunziker (2020-07-18). The Sky Is Falling: Yes? No? dissidentvoice.org The sky is falling is one of the more disturbing thoughts in society today, as to whether climate change is on a fast track collision course with doomsday amidst a collapsing society. In that regard, according to the details of a scathing review by ScientistsWarning.org ("SW") of Jem Bendell's wildly popular "Deep Adaptation" the answer …

Lyudmila Nepomnyashchiy, Bernice Dahn, Rachel Saykpah, Mallika Raghavan (2020-07-18). [Comment] COVID-19: Africa needs unprecedented attention to strengthen community health systems. thelancet.com As the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Liberia, in March, 2020, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,1 among others,2 highlighted the need to adopt lessons learned from the response to the 2014—16 outbreak of Ebola virus disease in west Africa. Ebola claimed about 11‚Äà300 lives in 21 months across Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.3 Comparisons to Ebola benefit from remembering the key differences between the two viruses. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a respiratory virus and is infectious among asymptomatic carriers.

WSWS (2020-07-18). Australian medical experts call for workplace and school shutdowns as Victoria's COVID-19 surge escalates. wsws.org Despite the highest spike in Australian coronavirus infections since the pandemic began, the Victorian Labor government has implemented a "lockdown" that leaves schools and most workplaces open.

Harry Rutter, Richard Horton, Theresa M Marteau (2020-07-18). [Comment] The Lancet—Chatham House Commission on improving population health post COVID-19. thelancet.com The health of populations across the planet is in a perilous state during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 550‚Äà000 deaths worldwide as of July 10, 2020.1 The disease burden is falling mainly on the most disadvantaged groups worldwide and there are major impacts on health systems across high, middle, and low-income countries. In parallel with these direct health impacts, the economic effects of lockdowns are leading to an unprecedented global recession which will have ramifications well into the future.

WSWS (2020-07-18). Australia: Hundreds of health workers in Victoria contract COVID-19. wsws.org A national survey of 500 healthcare workers found that half were experiencing PPE shortages and some were having to source their own supplies.

WSWS (2020-07-18). US hits record 74,987 new daily COVID-19 cases. wsws.org The number of daily new cases in the United States has tripled from a month ago amid a massive resurgence of the pandemic.

Esther Choo (2020-07-18). [Perspectives] Seven things organisations should be doing to combat racism. thelancet.com In the USA, the racial disparities in COVID-19 health outcomes collided with national conversations about racism sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. These events stimulated many organisations, including health-care institutions, to scramble to vocalise their stances on racial equity. The coming years will show if these statements translate into fundamental, lasting change. There are seven actions I hope to see from health-care organisations committed to addressing structural racism and building equitable environments.

Nicole Hassoun (2020-07-18). Putting ethics before profits. zcomm.org Ending the pandemic will take global access to COVID-19 treatment and vaccines…

The Lancet (2020-07-18). [Editorial] No more normal. thelancet.com Do you long for a return to normal after COVID-19?

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II (2020-07-18). A Multi-Racial Coalition Is Necessary For This Moment. zcomm.org Interview on seizing this moment with a broad-based, multi-racial movement to change an 'impoverished democracy.'

Kit Knightly (2020-07-18). The "Russian Vaccine Hack" Is a 3-for-1 Deal on Propaganda. globalresearch.ca The Guardian, and all the other predictable voices, are currently reporting that Russian At this stage they offer no substantiation, but it does serve as good …

Ali Salam (2020-07-18). 8 Palestinians Detained by Israeli Forces, All Former Detainees. imemc.org Israeli forces, Thursday evening, detained a Palestinian astro-physicist at the entrance of Anata town, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, said Palestinian WAFA News Agency correspondent. He reported that Israeli soldiers ordered Imad Barghouthi, 56, an astrophysics professor at Al-Quds University in East Jerusalem, out of his vehicle at the entrance …

Ali Salam (2020-07-18). Several Palestinians Suffocate at Kufur Qaddoum, Nablus and Salfit Protests. imemc.org Three major demonstrations were held by Palestinians, on Friday, to express their objection to Israel's continued colonial settlement activities in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces opened fire, on Friday afternoon, towards Palestinians during a peaceful protest north of Nablus city, in Asira Ash-Shamaliyya town, northern West Bank, according to …

Raija Silvennoinen, Caroline A Heckman (2020-07-18). [Comment] A candid view of CANDOR. thelancet.com Investigations into new myeloma therapies have included combinations of up to four drugs containing a proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulating agent, monoclonal antibody, and dexamethasone.1,2 However, increasing efficacy requires careful balance with toxicity. In The Lancet, Meletios Dimopoulos and colleagues3 report the initial results of the randomised, phase 3 CANDOR study, investigating a three-drug combination excluding an immunomodulator; carfilzomib, daratumumab, and dexamethasone (KdD) was compared with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had rec…

WSWS Repost (2020-07-18). SEP candidates respond to California state officials in ballot access lawsuit. indybay.org Joseph Kishore and Norissa Santa Cruz respond to California officials who would have Socialist Equality Party (SEP) signature gatherers run a deadly COVID-19 "minefield" to gain them ballot access in November. In federal court they argued that putting the signature gatherers and the public at risk during the pandemic is unconstitutional and unacceptable.

RT (2020-07-18). CBP says Portland protester in viral 'kidnapping' clip was assault & vandalism suspect, denies officers wore no insignia. rt.com The US Customs and Border Protection agency has taken credit for a Portland protester's hot-button arrest this week, saying the man was a criminal suspect, while refuting claims he was 'kidnapped' by agents wearing no insignia. | The CBP sought to address the incident in a statement on Friday, noting that the protester arrested one day prior was suspected of vandalism and attacks on agents amid anti-police brutality demonstrations, which it said were organized by "violent anarchists." | "CBP agents had information indicating the person… was suspected of assaults against federal agents or destruction of feder…

_____ (2020-07-18). 'Putin Hacked Our Coronavirus Vaccine' Is the Dumbest Story Yet. strategic-culture.org Caitlin JOHNSTONE | Today mainstream media is reporting what is arguably the single dumbest Russiavape story of all time, against some very stiff competition. | "Russian hackers are targeting health care organizations in the West in an attempt to steal coronavirus vaccine research, the U.S. and Britain said," "Hackers backed by the Russian state are trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research from academic and pharmaceutical institutions around the world, Britain's National Cyber…

yenisafak (2020-07-18). Israel 'relieved' as ICC adjourns war crimes probe. yenisafak.com The Israeli government breathed a sigh of relief after a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to adjourn without opening an investigation against Tel Aviv over possible war crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to Israeli media.The ICC pre-trial was supposed to assess if the court's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has the authority to open an investigation into war crimes by Israel along with defining the territorial boundaries within which the investigation will take place.In May, Bensouda said that there is a basis to launch an investigation into war crimes committe…

Meletios Dimopoulos, Hang Quach, Maria-Victoria Mateos, Ola Landgren, Xavier Leleu, David Siegel, Katja Weisel, Hui Yang, Zandra Klippel, Anita Zahlten-Kumeli, Saad Z Usmani (2020-07-18). [Articles] Carfilzomib, dexamethasone, and daratumumab versus carfilzomib and dexamethasone for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (CANDOR): results from a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study. thelancet.com KdD significantly prolonged progression-free survival versus Kd in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and was associated with a favourable benefit—risk profile.

Nicolien J Schepers, Nora D L Hallensleben, Marc G Besselink, Marie-Paule G F Anten, Thomas L Bollen, David W da Costa, Foke van Delft, Sven M van Dijk, Hendrik M van Dullemen, Marcel G W Dijkgraaf, Casper H J van Eijck, G Willemien Erkelens, Nicole S Erler, Paul Fockens, Erwin J M van Geenen, Janneke van Grinsven, Robbert A Hollemans, Jeanin E van Hooft, Rene W M van der Hulst, Jeroen M Jansen, Frank J G M Kubben, Sjoerd D Kuiken, Robert J F Laheij, Rutger Quispel, Rogier J J de Ridder, Marno C M Rijk, Tessa E H Rà∂mkens, Carola H M Ruigrok, Erik J Schoon, Matthijs P Schwartz, Xavier J N M Smeets, B W Marcel Spanier, Adriaan C I T L Tan, Willem J Thijs, Robin Timmer, Niels G Venneman, Robert C Verdonk, Frank P Vleggaar, Wim van de Vrie, Ben J Witteman, Hjalmar C van Santvoort, Olaf J Bakker, Marco J Bruno, Dutch Pancreatitis Study Group (2020-07-18). [Articles] Urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with sphincterotomy versus conservative treatment in predicted severe acute gallstone pancreatitis (APEC): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. thelancet.com In patients with predicted severe gallstone pancreatitis but without cholangitis, urgent ERCP with sphincterotomy did not reduce the composite endpoint of major complications or mortality, compared with conservative treatment. Our findings support a conservative strategy in patients with predicted severe acute gallstone pancreatitis with an ERCP indicated only in patients with cholangitis or persistent cholestasis.

Sebastian Bourn, Nick Dodds (2020-07-18). [Correspondence] Tranexamic acid for traumatic brain injury. thelancet.com We read about the CRASH-3 study1 with interest. The CRASH-3 collab ≠orators are to be congratulated for their endeavour and their integrated analysis. However, we ask, who exactly benefits from this treatment?

Geoff Watts (2020-07-18). [Obituary] Bertram S Brown. thelancet.com Influential leader in US mental health. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, USA, on Jan 28, 1931, and died of cardiovascular disease in Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA, on May 14, 2020, aged 89 years.

Yoshiko Iwai, Zahra H Khan, Sayantani DasGupta (2020-07-18). [Perspectives] Abolition medicine. thelancet.com Who do you serve, who do you protect? Doctors and nurses are not soldiers. Antibiotics are not bombs, hospitals are not the front lines, hard-working medical trainees are not "gunners", and neither disease nor patients are "the enemy". Militarised language valorises aggression and violence in medical training and the clinical encounter while obfuscating the loyalties of health workers who serve and protect individuals and communities in need.

Ann Danaiya Usher (2020-07-18). [World Report] New funds proposed to prevent pandemics. thelancet.com A new fund to prevent future pandemics has been proposed by the US Senate, and another by the World Bank. But some global health leaders have criticised the plans. Ann Danaiya Usher reports.

Alparslan Turan, Andra Duncan, Steve Leung, Nika Karimi, Jonathan Fang, Guangmei Mao, Jennifer Hargrave, Marc Gillinov, Carlos Trombetta, Sabry Ayad, Manal Hassan, Andrew Feider, Kimberly Howard-Quijano, Kurt Ruetzler, Daniel I Sessler, DECADE Study Group (2020-07-18). [Articles] Dexmedetomidine for reduction of atrial fibrillation and delirium after cardiac surgery (DECADE): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. thelancet.com Dexmedetomidine infusion, initiated at anaesthetic induction and continued for 24 h, did not decrease postoperative atrial arrhythmias or delirium in patients recovering from cardiac surgery. Dexmedetomidine should not be infused to reduce atrial fibrillation or delirium in patients having cardiac surgery.

Talha Burki (2020-07-18). [World Report] Cumberlege Review slams health care in England. thelancet.com The Review describes a culture of denial, institutional resistance to responding to safety concerns, and an absence of accountability. Talha Burki reports.

Federico Bilotta, Francesco Pugliese (2020-07-18). [Comment] The evolving clinical use of dexmedetomidine. thelancet.com In patients having cardiac and non-cardiac surgery, new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation and postoperative delirium have been associated with several adverse long-term outcomes, including increased cardiovascular, renal, and cerebral complications, worsened postoperative cognitive function, increased mortality, longer length of stay in hospital, and increased medical costs.1—3 Identifying effective therapies and modifiable factors that might reduce the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation and postoperative delirium is paramount.

Ian Roberts, Haleema Shakur-Still (2020-07-18). [Correspondence] Tranexamic acid for traumatic brain injury — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank the many correspondents for their comments about the CRASH-3 trial.1…

teleSUR (2020-07-18). US: Trump Sends Undercover Police to Quell Portland's Protests. telesurenglish.net U.S. Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) Thursday denounced that President Donald Trump has deployed federal agents in Portland, Oregon, dressed in camouflage but without any visible insignia, to round up and detain U.S. citizens. | RELATED: | "Multiple videos released on digital platforms show federal officials approaching people, arresting them and leaving without any explanation to justify the arrest," OPB said in a statement. | Since at least July 14, officials have dr…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-07-18). Unions thwart liquidation of South African Airways. peoplesdispatch.org The decision of stakeholders to approve a rescue plan for the crisis-ridden South African Airways ensures that it will not get liquidated as was feared earlier. Unions fought a long battle to prevent liquidation…

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Sixth Indian shipment to Afghanistan arrives at Iranian port. en.mehrnews.com CHABAHAR, Jul. 18 (MNA) — India's sixth consignment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has arrived at Chabahar's Shahid Beheshti Port, the director-general of Sistan and Baluchestan Ports and Maritime Department said on Saturday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Iran-China cooperation major challenge to US unilateralism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 18 (MNA) — Chinese TV in a report described Iran-China 25-year cooperation roadmap as the result of US maximum pressure, stressing it has posed major challenge to the US unilateralism in the international community.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Iranian researchers produce antivirus hospital clothing. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 18 (MNA) — Iranian researchers in a knowledge-based company designed and produced isolated antivirus hospital clothing, applicable in the fight against the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in particular.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Admitting defeat against Iran better than foolish bluffs. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 18 (MNA) — Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said accepting defeat against powerful Iran is better than foolish bluffs.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Iran-Syria military coop. to defeat Zionist Regime. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 17(MNA) — An Iranian Lawmaker said that military cooperation agreements must be signed between Iran and regional countries including Syria to strengthen Iran and the axis of Resistance and to defeat the Zionist Regime and other enemies.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Economic benefits needed for Iran's full compliance to JCPOA. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 18 (MNA) — EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs said on Saturday that expecting Iran to fully comply with JCPAO obligations without having the country benefit from the economic advantages of the deal is not acceptable.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Parl. investigating withdrawal form UN 'additional protocol'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 18 (MNA) — An MP informed on Saturday that the Parliament is investigating a new plan to have Iran out of the United Nations' additional protocol.

Mehr News Agency (2020-07-18). Saudi sponsored TV channel showed utter obscenity: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 18 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador to UK Hamid Baeidinjad reacted to the live broadcast of the gathering of MEK (Mujahedin-e Khalq) terrorist group on the Iran International Channel in his Twitter account.