2020-07-01: News Headlines

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-07-01). July 1st 1867: Canada's National Sovereignty: America's Plan to Annex and Invade Canada. globalresearch.ca In the late 1920s, Washington formulated a top secret plan to invade Canada, entitled "Joint Army and Navy Basic War Plan — Red". The plan was approved by the US War Department under the presidency of Herbert Hoover in 1930.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Phyllis Bennis (2020-07-01). The Police and the Pentagon Are Bringing Our Wars Home. commondreams.org This militarism at home is linked inextricably to U.S. militarism abroad. (Photo: Shutterstock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/shutterstock_346794716.jpg

Alan Macleod (2020-07-01). Public Outcry Follows Gilead Decision to Charge $3000 for COVID Drug that Costs Pennies to Produce. mintpressnews.com To make matter worse, Remdesivir is a drug that "has had its development costs paid for, in large part, by independent donors like governments and ministries of health in China, the WHO, and the US government."

Alan Macleod (2020-07-01). Afghan Bounty Scandal Comes at Suspiciously Important Time for US Military Industrial Complex. mintpressnews.com The latest scandal, like others before it, is based on scant testimony by anonymous officials and has had the effect of pushing liberal opinion on US foreign policy into a far more hawkish direction.

Kent Paterson (2020-07-01). Crisis After Crisis on the Border. counterpunch.org Ciudad Juarez has a long history of crises—foreign invasions, revolutions, economic recessions tied to the United States, the 9-11 border constriction and transnational gangland wars. Then there's the perpetual crisis of putting food on the table in a high-priced, low-wage city while staying safe in a place where violence can surge at any moment. Heaped atop the struggles of daily life, the Mexican city of an estimated 1.5 million residents bordering El Paso, Texas, now grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vijay Prashad (2020-07-01). Venezuela's borderlands have been assaulted by COVID-19. peoplesdispatch.org Over 70,000 Venezuelan migrants have returned to the country due to the uncontrolled coronavirus outbreaks in the neighboring countries. Venezuela has welcomed them and provided free testing and treatment…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-07-01). Coronavirus comeback boomerangs into a disaster. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON — The coronavirus pandemic is roaring back with Dr. Fauci warning now that we may see 100,000 new COVID-19 cases per day. Some 45 states are now reporting hikes in daily infection rates, after a wave of sharp hikes first appeared recently in Southern and Western states that reopened too early. The push to …

Tanya Wadhwa (2020-07-01). Indignation in Colombia amid spree of assassinations and the rape of an Indigenous girl by soldiers. peoplesdispatch.org The wave of assassinations and acts of sexual violence carried out by security forces and paramilitary groups against Colombian civilians in the past week has shaken the country…

Melvin Goodman (2020-07-01). De-Militarizing the United States. counterpunch.org More than a half-century ago, exactly one year before he was assassinated, Martin Luther King Jr. brilliantly identified the keys to the American political, economic, and social crisis that has worsened over the years. At the Riverside Church in New York City, King linked the militarism of the Vietnam War; the racism of American society; and the inequality and materialism of the American economy to demand a movement toward social justice that we seek today.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-07-01). Global protests against Israel's 'Annexation Plan'. peoplesdispatch.org Protests, both on the ground and on the virtual platforms, were organized on Wednesday July 1 across the world to denounce the proposed Israeli annexation of parts of the occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank. Several organizations are also demanding international sanctions against Israel if it goes ahead with the move. | Civil society movements, including the Palestinian Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS), organized protests in countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and Spain, among several others. | Israel had announced that it would start the process of annexation of the parts of the occupied…

Staff (2020-07-01). This is Not a Drill: LIVE, July 1st. therealnews.com What lessons does the long arc of Black political struggle bring to bear on the Bernie Sanders movement? In this moment of Black-led uprising, the shortcomings of the campaign are stark. And yet, Bernie's campaign popularized socialism and organized tens of thousands of people, many of whom are still in motion. What are the real…

Jordan Davidson (2020-07-01). House Democrats unveil strong climate plan linked to racial justice. peoplesworld.org

Staff (2020-07-01). International Pressure Kept Canada From Joining Security Council. therealnews.com Despite Canada's liberal reputation, its international affairs are built around support for empire and corporate interest.

Rick Baum (2020-07-01). The Pandemic and Wealth Inequality. counterpunch.org The latest figures from the Federal Reserve Board on wealth inequality cover through the quarter ending in March 2020. They show a reduction in wealth inequality—something that has happened during economic downturns. More importantly, according to the Fed, wealth inequality has generally been increasing since the first covered period, the third quarter of 1989 to when it reached its highest level in the fourth quarter of 2019 during the Trump regime.

Ruth Fowler (2020-07-01). Then as Farce: the Commodification of Black Lives Matter. counterpunch.org Martin Luther King was arrested in April 1963 for publicly protesting, an act deemed illegal in Alabama at the time. While in jail, eight white clergy figures publicly admonished King, judging his actions "unwise and untimely". It was this which prompted King to respond with his little-shared letter about the "white moderate", a comment that

Kenneth Surin (2020-07-01). UK's Labour Leader Sacks the Most Left-Wing Member of His Shadow Cabinet. counterpunch.org As a Labour party member, it is unavoidable that I should have an opinion on the party leader Keir Starmer's sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey. RLB was shadow education secretary until her dismissal, as well as being Starmer's primary opponent for the party leadership when Jeremy Corbyn resigned after Labour lost to the Tories in December's general election.

Dan Wakefield (2020-07-01). Charles Webb Enters Heaven. counterpunch.org Charles Webb, author of The Graduate (an identity that dogged and bedeviled him his whole life). died a few days ago at age 81. I met Charles in early 1970, shortly after the release of his second novel, The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker. I was waiting for my own novel to come out that

James W. Carden (2020-07-01). The Return of the Anti-Antiwar Left. counterpunch.org In her recently published memoir, Circle in the Darkness, the author and journalist Diana Johnstone recalls that only "a few decades ago, "the Left" was considered the center of opposition to imperialism, and champion of the right of peoples to self-determination." Johnstone is part of a distinguished line of American expatriate writers, who, perhaps because

Kelli Potter (2020-07-01). What really happened? Provo, Utah counterprotest eclipses far right rally. liberationnews.org Protesters made their voices heard in an ultra-conservative city.

Ramzy Baroud (2020-07-01). Tearing Down the Idols of Colonialism: Why Tunisia Must Demand a French Apology. mintpressnews.com A debate is brewing in Tunisia on whether to demand an apology from France for the exploitation and trauma wrought by French colonialism, a move that could preclude a demand for compensation.

Tim Wheeler (2020-07-01). Imogene Williams, 89; A gentle soul with an iron will. peoplesworld.org SEATTLE—Imogene Williams, a gentle soul with an iron will to win progressive change died peacefully at her home May 24, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In her years as a political activist, she was arrested for worthy causes dozens of times. She door-belled for progressive candidates in Seattle including for Rep. Pramila Jayapal, …

RT (2020-07-01). Pentagon chief says 'no corroborating evidence' so far to back Russia bounty story. rt.com The US secretary of defense said that while the Pentagon takes all threats against US troops "very seriously," there is so far no proof for the ever-shifting story that Russia paid bounties for the killing of US soldiers. | In a statement on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the top military brass treats the security of military personnel, including in Afghanistan, as a high priority. | "I want to assure all of our service members that the Department takes very seriously any and all potential threats against US military personnel," he said. | Esper noted that while he and others in the US military…

Anand Naidoo (2020-07-01). The Heat: Hong Kong national security law. america.cgtn.com China's legislature passes a new law designed to protect Hong Kong's national security.

RT (2020-07-01). UK turns to Germany in bid to finally get its Covid-19 contact tracing app off the ground, ambassador says. rt.com Germany's ambassador to the UK says British health services have reached out to their German counterparts to find a solution to the UK's embarrassing predicament over its yet-to-be-launched coronavirus contact tracing app. | Diplomat Andreas Michaelis made the remark while speaking to BBC Radio 4's 'Today' show about the success of Germany's domestic contact tracing app, which relies on Apple and Google tech to trace people who may have contracted coronavirus because of their proximity to a confirmed case. "It works," Michaelis said. | This is in stark contrast to the UK's own app which, far from working, has…

RT (2020-07-01). Over 77 percent of Russians back constitutional amendments, 21 opposed — preliminary results. rt.com After processing 85 percent of the ballots, the Russian election commission has announced that 77,8 percent of the voters approved the changes to the constitution, while 21,3 percent opposed. Nationwide turnout was at 65 percent. | Millions of Russians went to the polls on Wednesday to cast their vote for or against the 206 proposed amendments, already approved by the legislature. This was preceded by five days of early voting starting June 25 and even online voting in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod — all due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which delayed the vote from its originally scheduled date of April 22. | Al…

RT (2020-07-01). Zoom fails to publish transparency report, delays it until 'later'. rt.com Following months of privacy concerns raised by both state and private actors, online video company Zoom, which has seen its user numbers spike during the Covid-19 pandemic, has missed its own transparency report deadline. | Zoom announced last month that it would publish a transparency report on June 30. The move followed the company admitting that it had briefly suspended some US-based accounts and that of a Hong Kong activist at the behest of the Chinese government. | The accounts were suspended due to the content of the calls, with one speaking on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, which rema…

RT (2020-07-01). NYT columnist Paul Krugman wins internet's 'unhinged old crank' award for remarks on Covid surge hitting Florida. rt.com New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has been accused of exhibiting "symptoms of psychopathy" after seemingly cheering the possibility that a growing number of elderly Floridians could fall victim to coronavirus. | The acclaimed wordsmith and economist had a rather unusual take on the rise in Covid-19 cases in Florida. | "Reality is coming for white supremacists driving golf carts," Krugman declared in response to a Bloomberg report detailing how Florida's elderly population was likely at increased risk of perishing from the virus. | The provocative remark was possibly in reference to a viral video in which m…

RT (2020-07-01). Constitutional amendments vote in Russia: RT special coverage. rt.com Russians are heading to the polls on the last day of voting on amendments to the country's constitution. Citizens have plenty of time to express their will, as July 1 has been declared a holiday. | Among other things, the proposed amendments would transfer more power to Russia's two houses of parliament, as well as potentially allow Vladimir Putin to run for the presidency two more times. | Initially scheduled for April 22, the vote was postponed until July 1 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government allowed voters to go to their polling stations up to a week before the final date, in order to reduce crowds…

RT (2020-07-01). Trump resumes attack on NYT's 'Russian bounty' story, says 'secret source probably doesn't even exist'. rt.com US President Donald Trump has again attacked the "discredited" New York Times over its disputed story that Russia offered bounties for the killing of US troops in Afghanistan, blasting the story as a "fake news tale". | In a tweet on Wednesday morning Trump said the story was made up to damage him and the Republican Party. | "The Russia Bounty story is just another made up by Fake News tale that is told only to damage me and the Republican Party," the president wrote. | "The secret source probably does not even exist, just like the story itself. If the discredited @nytimes has a source, reveal it. Just another…

RT (2020-07-01). Career CIA officer made 'the right call' not to brief Trump on 'Russian bounties' — NSA O'Brien. rt.com A career CIA officer decided not to brief President Donald Trump about intelligence speculation that Russia was paying bounties for deaths of US troops in Afghanistan, his national security adviser Robert O'Brien has revealed. | "She made that decision because she didn't have the confidence in the intelligence that came up," O'Brien told reporters on Wednesday. "She made that call and you know what? She made the right call. And knowing the facts I know now, I stand behind that call," he added. | The New York Times published a story last week, sourced to anonymous intelligence officials, claiming that the "asse…

RT (2020-07-01). New York Times calls for punishing Putin over anonymous bounty claims but advised Trump to let ISIS kill Russian troops in Syria. rt.com The same New York Times reporting anonymous claims of Russian bounties on US troops in Afghanistan opined in 2017 that President Trump should let ISIS "bleed" Russian forces in Syria rather than help defeat the terrorists. | Thomas Friedman, who has won three Pulitzer prizes as a journalist and columnist for the Times, argued in an

RT (2020-07-01). Two asteroids to race past Earth as NASA pens deal with Space Force to bolster planetary defenses. rt.com Just one day after World Asteroid Day, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has warned of two space rocks due to soar through the Earth's backyard, as planetary defense preparations start to ramp up. | The first of the incoming objects is the 69-foot wide 2019 AC3, an Apollo-class asteroid travelling at roughly 8,000 miles per hour and due to fly past at a safe distance of 2.5 million miles away. | | © NASA | Later on Wednesday, at almost double the size and over twice the speed of its predecessor, the 135-foot, Aten-class asteroid 2020 MK3 will shoot past at 19,000 miles an hour. The ast…

RT (2020-07-01). 'We all miss Roger!' Trump recalls late 'friend' Roger Ailes in attack on Fox, gets schooled on his death by the #Resistance. rt.com In his latest salvo against Fox News, US President Donald Trump invoked the memory of the network's late CEO, Roger Ailes, to say the outlet had declined, drawing astute critics armed with Google to remind him the man had died. | Trump took to his favorite social media venue on Tuesday to decry a Fox panel discussion featuring disgraced CNN contributor Donna Brazile, who was caught passing debate questions to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 race, as was revealed in a WikiLeaks publication the same year. | "She gets fired by CNN for giving Crooked Hillary the debate questions, and gets hire…

RT (2020-07-01). 'We all miss Roger!' Trump recalls late 'friend' Roger Ailes in attack on Fox, gets schooled on his death by #Resistance. rt.com In his latest salvo against Fox News, US President Donald Trump invoked the memory of the network's late CEO, Roger Ailes, to say the outlet had declined, drawing astute critics armed with Google to remind him the man had died. | Trump took to his favorite social media venue on Tuesday to decry a Fox panel discussion featuring disgraced CNN contributor Donna Brazile, who was caught passing debate questions to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 race, as was revealed in a WikiLeaks publication the same year. | "She gets fired by CNN for giving Crooked Hillary the debate questions, and gets hire…

RT (2020-07-01). Fears dozens of local lockdowns are 'days away' prompts dismay among Britons, as UK battles to contain coronavirus flare-ups. rt.com As many as 36 regions in England which are seeing a rise in newly confirmed cases of coronavirus could be "just days" away from being forced into local lockdowns, according to reports, leading many Britons to voice their alarm. | Sources in Public Health England (PHE) and the Department for Health have reportedly told Sky News they are "working collaboratively," with local authorities in England where spikes in cases of the deadly disease are cropping up. | As a result, local lockdowns — like the one in Leicester which will see some restrictions re-imposed, such as the closure of non-essential shops and t…

RT (2020-07-01). Chris Cuomo attacks gun-toting St. Louis couple's self-defense claims without any hint of irony over own altercations. rt.com CNN's Chris Cuomo apparently forgot his own history of public aggression when he sparred on TV with a St. Louis man who said he feared for his life when he and his wife pointed guns at protesters marching by their home.

RT (2020-07-01). France stands back from NATO's Libya op after maritime face-off with Turkish Navy — media. rt.com Paris has "temporarily" suspended its role in Operation Sea Guardian off the coast of Libya. The French Defense Ministry sent a letter to NATO headquarters announcing the decision and calling upon allies to "solemnly reaffirm their attachment" to the arms embargo on the war-ravaged country. The Turkish envoy to France confirmed the news, saying the French Navy is calling off its frigate Courbet which engaged in a mid-sea standoff with Turkish warships escorting a civilian freighter on its way to Libya several weeks ago. The incident exacerbated already tense relations between the two NATO countries. French Pre…

RT (2020-07-01). Turkey accuses 'biased' France of allowing Libya embargo violations in support of Haftar. rt.com Ankara has taken aim at France for allegedly ignoring violations of an international arms embargo placed on Libya, claiming that illegal activity was being carried out to benefit commander Khalifa Haftar. According to Reuters, Turkey's ambassador to Paris, Ismail Hakki Musa, said on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates and Egypt were bypassing the UN blockade — and that "biased" France was doing nothing to stop it. | The accusation comes a day after Turkey slammed France's "dishonest approach" to the crisis in Libya. For its part, Paris has condemned Ankara for turning a blind eye to illegal arms shipm…

RT (2020-07-01). Trump promises to VETO defense budget bill if military bases honoring Confederate officers are renamed. rt.com President Trump threatened to reject next year's National Defense Authorization bill if lawmakers go ahead with Confederate name changes for army bases, including Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, and others. | "I will veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth 'Pocahontas' Warren (of all people!) Amendment, which will lead to the renaming (plus other bad things!) of Fort Bragg, Fort Robert E. Lee, and many other military bases from which we won two World Wars, is in the Bill!" US President Donald Trump tweeted. | I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren (of all people!

RT (2020-07-01). France warns Israeli annexation of West Bank won't be 'without consequences'. rt.com France has warned that any Israel annexation of the West Bank "could not be left without consequences" and said that it is "examining different options" at a national level and with its European partners. | "Annexation of Palestinian territories, whatever the perimeters, would seriously throw into question the parameters to resolve the conflict," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday. | Israel plans to annex as much as 30 percent of occupied Palestinian territory, which has been met with disapproval from much of the international community, including the UK and EU.

RT (2020-07-01). Social Justice League, assemble! Cancel brigade come for director Joss Whedon after vague abuse allegation. rt.com 'Justice League' actor Ray Fisher has accused director Joss Whedon of "abusive behavior" on the set of the 2017 movie, prompting calls to 'cancel' Whedon. However, Fisher gave no examples of the supposed abuse. | "Joss Whedon's on-set treatment of the cast and crew of Justice League was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable," Fisher tweeted on Wednesday, adding that former Warner Bros producer Jon Berg, and former DC Entertainment president Geoff Johns "enabled" the abuse. | Joss Wheadon's on-set treatment of the cast and crew of Justice League was gross, abusive, unprofessional, and comp…

The Canary (2020-07-01). PM swerves job loss prediction as Labour claims he is 'blind' to Covid-19 risks. thecanary.co Boris Johnson has refused to predict the scale of job losses facing the UK but he warned workers are at "very, very serious" risk.The prime minister defended his plans to boost the economy amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic before saying of Labour: "We're the builders, they're the blockers. We're the doers, they're the ditherers."His counter attack came after Labour leader Keir Starmer warned the PM is "blind to the risks" of easing lockdown restrictions in England and trying to "brush away" concerns raised by the Opposition.Labour leader Keir Starmer, left, questioned the PM on likely job losses caused by…

The Canary (2020-07-01). Government 'assumed' clueless over how many infected people could enter the UK once quarantine is lifted. thecanary.co Government officials may not have any idea how many people with coronavirus could come into the country once quarantine rules are lifted, MPs have heard.Commons Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper said it was "quite baffling" that senior Home Office civil servants were not able to confirm whether any assessments on estimated numbers had been carried out ahead of an anticipated relaxation of travel restrictions.The department's new permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft and second permanent secretary Shona Dunn were questioned by MPs on Wednesday about efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.Asked whether anyon…

The Canary (2020-07-01). Four doctors reflect on 100th day of lockdown. thecanary.co Medics across Britain have risen to unprecedented challenges during the nation's first 100 days in lockdown.Frontline workers have been seen as coronavirus (Covid-19) superheroes by members of the general public and were applauded for their efforts every Thursday at 8pm for the first 10 weeks of the crisis.While people have faced restrictions on their movement and social lives, here four doctors from the British Medical Association (BMA) describe their experiences during the last 100 days for the PA news agency.— Stephanie Rees, a junior doctor at Glan Clwyd Hospital in north Wales, said seeing a patient die…

The Canary (2020-07-01). Doctors say local Covid-19 data is needed quickly to target outbreaks. thecanary.co Giving local authorities accurate and up-to-date data on spikes in coronavirus (Covid-19) cases could help save lives, leading doctors have said.The British Medical Association (BMA) implored the government to ensure that local leaders were given timely information about cases in their area to help contain the spread of the virus.It comes after ministers faced criticism for the handling of the surge of cases in Leicester. | The BMA urged the government to share "timely, comprehensive and reliable" information to all those involved in the management of new cases at a local level.It also called for clarity about ho…

The Canary (2020-07-01). Warning over Covid-19 'illusion' amid fears of more local lockdowns. thecanary.co It is an "illusion" that the UK is past the worst of the Covid-19 epidemic, a leading scientist has warned amid fears that other towns and cities could follow Leicester into lockdown.Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London — who quit as a government adviser after admitting breaking lockdown rules — said the UK should be braced for regional flare-ups.It comes amid criticism of the way Public Health England (PHE) and the government are handling data on coronavirus cases, with accusations of long delays in sharing figures with regional public health experts. | A PHE regional map for testing a…

The Canary (2020-07-01). Police officer warned after tweeting 'kicking down doors is our favourite thing'. thecanary.co An officer has been warned after tweeting from a police account that "kicking down doors is probably one of our favourite things to do". | The tweet, which was deleted a short time afterwards, came from the Homerton branch of the Metropolitan Police and showed officers using a battering ram to break down a door. | It continued: "Another warrant conducted on #Victoria ward with the assistance of @MSPHomerton @MPSKingsPark @MPSHackneyWick #knockknock #localpolicing." | @MPSHomerton! (And yes, this is real) — Owen Jones (@OwenJones84)

Staff (2020-07-01). Jamaal Bowman on NY Primary Upset, Rent Strikes, Police Brutality & Opposing West Bank Annexation. democracynow.org As a surge of a progressive candidates of color see victories in Democratic primaries across the country, we speak with former Bronx middle school principal Jamaal Bowman about his upset victory over New York Congressmember Eliot Engel, the 16-term Foreign Affairs Committee chair. Bowman ran on a Green New Deal, Medicare for All platform and recently joined protests demanding an end to racism and police brutality. He says his upset over Engel came down to mobilizing people who are "disenfranchised and ignored" by the political establishment. "We didn't just target those who consistently vote in primaries. We targ…

Staff (2020-07-01). Ed Yong on the "Disgraceful" U.S. Pandemic Response & How Medicare for All Could Have Saved Lives. democracynow.org As the United States experiences the world's worst outbreak of COVID-19, we speak with Ed Yong, science writer for The Atlantic, who warned of the country's unpreparedness for a viral outbreak in 2018. Now he says "it's truly shocking and disgraceful" how badly the pandemic has been handled in the United States, and blames a lack of federal leadership for most of the damage. "A country with the resources that we have should not be in this state," he argues, and adds that Medicare for All could have saved lives.

Joe Emersberger (2020-07-01). On Pablo Celi, Ecuador's super shady "Auditor General" counterpunch.org An interview with Andres Arauz about Pablo Celi, a hatchet man for Lenin Moreno's government. Lenin Moreno won Ecuador's presidency in 2017 by running as a loyalist to former President Rafael Correa, a leftist. Moreno immediately shifted hard to the right within weeks of taking office as described in previous articles on Counterpunch (here ,