fortune--2019-05-28--Brainstorm Health Athersys Stem Cell Treatment Alexa in Medicine Oklahoma Opioid Suit

Brainstorm Health: Athersys Stem Cell Treatment, Alexa in Medicine, Oklahoma Opioid Suit

The world of stem cell-based medicine has had its fair share of disappointments and regulatory recriminations over wildly inflated claims. But Athersys CEO Gil Van Bokkelen says the stem cell field isn’t getting a fair shake.  “It’s a misconception to say stem cells haven’t really delivered,” he tells Fortune in an interview. “This is a very hot field right now, and things have really changed.”  Van Bokkelen points to his own company’s recent achievements, including a number of cell therapies in mid- or late-stage clinical trials. Just two weeks ago, Athersys’ experimental MultiStem treatment received the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) coveted fast track designation in a devastating lung-wasting disease called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These designations speed the regulatory process and is typically granted for products that treat disorders with a dearth of available treatments.  And devastating ARDS surely is. It’s a consequence of trauma to the lungs in patients who are typically already in the hospital for some kind of severe injury or illness, and it results in fluid leaking in to the lungs, making the very act of breathing even more difficult (or impossible) in patients who are already extremely sick, according to the American Lung Association.  Athersys’ studies of MultiStem found that patients who received the treatment “within several days after being diagnosed with ARDS and being placed on a ventilator experienced lower mortality, increased ventilator-free days, and increased ICU-free days” compared to a placebo group. Those preliminary results led to the FDA fast track.  What makes the MultiStem platform intriguing is, well, what puts the “Multi” in the name. Van Bokkelen says that Athersys is trying to avoid the main problem many stem cell upstarts face: Scaleability and multi-faceted uses. Rather than requiring an individual, perfect donor match, Athersys is attempting to create a product that’s an “off-the-shelf” version of regenerative stem cell treatment that can help repair tissue.  “The drug isn’t just doing one thing, it’s doing a bunch of different things,” says Van Bokkelen. For instance, it’s being tested out in late-stage trials for ischemic stroke patients (yet another program with FDA fast track designation). “Market opportunity is way bigger in this space than pretty much any other one,” he adds.  We should find out soon enough whether Athersys can succeed where so many others have failed.  Read on for the day’s news.


fortune--2019-11-22--Which Medicines Have Transformed Drug Development in the Past Decade?

Boeing Quietly Rolls Out the New 737 Max 10, All Other Max Models Remain Grounded


fortune--2019-11-25--Novartis Bets Big on Cholesterol Drug With $9.7 Billion Buyout of Medicines Co.

There Has Been an Insane Number of Billion-Dollar Deals in the Past Few Days


instapundit--2019-10-18--MEDICINE:  PDE5 Inhibitors Like Viagra, Cialis Associated With 35% Reduction In Colorectal Cancer….

MEDICINE: PDE5 Inhibitors Like Viagra, Cialis Associated With 35% Reduction In Colorectal Cancer.


nationalreview--2019-04-24--The Democrats Get a Taste of Their Own Medicine

The lies, deceptions, and cover-ups of Clinton’s and Obama’s operatives will soon come to light.  It is not now clear whether the Democrats’ pathological attachment to the fantasy that they have some chance of destroying the Trump presidency legally is based on continuing hysteria and frenzy, or addiction to continued harassment of the president even as the credibility of doing so plummets, or is an attempt to forestall the investigation and exposure of the malfeasance of the Obama administration and the Clinton campaign in producing the fraud of Trump–Russian collusion. All serious observers can (and do) agree that there is no chance of removing this president from office by impeachment. It requires considerable perseverance and selectivity in canvassing the American media to elicit this fact, but the special counsel, Robert Mueller, despite his glaring anti-Trump biases and obscenely partisan group of investigators, found the president (and all other Americans) to be blameless on the charge of illegal collusion with anyone in Russia to rig the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.  In the circumstances, it need hardly be emphasized that the entire Trump–Russia collusion gambit, based on the infamous Steele dossier’s pastiche of lies and defamations, was the dirtiest political trick in American history and is in the process of transmogrification into one of the greatest fiascos in the history of American political skullduggery. (One of the most rabid Trump-hating Democratic congressmen, Eric Swalwell, still professes to believe all of the Steele dossier, as if it were a catechism.) Though there is an elaborate psychopolitical effort underway to pretend otherwise, investigations already taking place by the inspector general of the Justice Department, a special counsel, and the attorney general of the United States, about to be joined by the Senate Judiciary Committee, will call upon the chief intelligence and law officers of the Obama administration, along with Hillary Clinton and members of her campaign staff, to account for their conduct. These include lies under oath to congressional committees, lies to federal officials, and misleading the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court. This is a series of dishonest statements and illegal acts that can only, at least provisionally, be seen as a coordinated campaign to influence the results of the presidential election and then to compromise the unwished-for outcome of that election. It will not be long before we hear the still familiar words, in reference to President Obama: “What did the president know and when did he know it?”  What is occurring now is an unprecedented and almost unbelievable episode of political theatrics. The Democrats are pretending that their fraudulent attempt at what amounted to a coup d’état against the election of an administration of the other party still possesses the legitimacy to be continued and taken seriously after it has been largely unmasked by its own chosen investigators for what it was. At the same time, the machinery of dispassionate justice is already turning towards the identification and eventual punishment of the Democrats for subverting the justice and intelligence apparatus of the former administration in order to influence the results of the election of the succeeding president and vice president of the United States. It is an elemental rule of nature that the longer and the more febrile the efforts of the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives and the Democratic party generally, abetted by their media echo chamber, to delay the exposure of their wrongdoing, the more complete and overwhelming the defeat and discreditation of the entire effort to destroy the Trump administration will be.  The surest barometer of the coming political weather is provided by Bob Woodward, the principal bloodless assassin of Richard Nixon, still celebrated and triumphant in the indispensable role that he personally played in destroying one of the most successful administrations in American history. He is now warning of the malign influence of the Steele dossier in the whole anti-Trump removal movement (for such it has become). Even as his Watergate sidekick of 45 years ago, Carl Bernstein, inflicts upon viewers his insane theory that President Trump is so mentally debilitated that he is incapable of functioning as president under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Woodward has disembarked from the foundering cause of Trump impeachment and clambered aboard the accelerating bandwagon of probing and revealing the sources of this monstrous attempt to derail constitutional government with the Steele dossier.  It is particularly irritating that House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), while acknowledging that impeachment (which he has been demanding and predicting for over two years) will not be successful without Republican collaboration, declares Trump’s conduct to be more odious than Nixon’s. Trump has committed no offenses, and Mueller didn’t write that he had — he just invited the House Democrats to look at obstruction of justice, although he did not allege it, presumably to give a decent interval before this nonsense collapses completely.  In fact, there is little probative evidence that Richard Nixon participated in a conspiracy to obstruct justice, though some of his staff did. For complicated reasons connected to the psychological makeup of President Nixon at that time (1972–74), he lost his formerly acute sense of political self-preservation and effectively collaborated with his enemies in his own destruction. He subsequently made, and posthumously continues, the greatest of all his political comebacks, and he is steadily rising in the esteem of American presidential historians as the forces of cant and political emotionalism subside. Schiff obviously knows nothing about Nixon. If he were a more accomplished, nonpartisan, and esteemed legislator, he would be a primary confirmation of Victor Davis Hanson’s brilliant remark this week that these Trump–Russian collusion matters show that “America’s best and brightest are our worst and dumbest.”  It seems that the Democrats in the House of Representatives are now under the comparatively sobering influence of Speaker Pelosi. They seem unlikely to try to impeach, knowing there is no chance of conviction, and will try to continue their investigations and dominate the news with Mueller excerpts that their media lackeys will amplify as much as possible, to continue this gigantic fraud. This won’t fly. The country recognizes that the attempt to unseat the president has failed, and that it deserved to fail. If he is to be removed from his office, it will be by the electors, and not by a Democratic lynch mob cheered on by the now largely disgraced national political media.  Their day of reckoning is about to begin. They will gag and balk at the evidence as it emerges that the Clinton campaign and the Obama Justice Department, the FBI, and the intelligence services were up to their eyeballs in an unprecedented unconstitutional attempt to manipulate and then undo the result of a presidential election. They have shown almost superhuman self-discipline in ignoring and implicitly denying the existence of the evidence of this wrongdoing. The failure of elected officials, and of the journalists and commentators upon whom the nation has a right to rely for serious and fair reporting and analysis of important political events, will weigh very heavily upon them. The Democrats will pay for their dishonesty at the polls in 2020. And the national political media will require a very long time to recover the confidence of the American people that they have so energetically squandered.


abcnews--2019-01-10--From missing paychecks to unemployment claims The latest on the government shutdown

From missing paychecks to unemployment claims: The latest on the government shutdown

The ongoing government shutdown is about to turn into the longest one in U.S. history and that's raising questions about what will happen next.  By Friday, many of the 800,000 federal workers affected are expected to have missed their first paycheck since the shutdown began three weeks ago. And by Saturday, the funding lapse will be the longest in history at 22 days, surpassing the 21-day holiday shutdown that stretched into 1996.  The missing paychecks are likely to trigger at least some unemployment claims with states, as well as possible resignations by federal workers who have grown tired of the instability. That could include airline security personnel, prison guards, food inspectors, Coast Guard personnel and border patrol officers.  Already, an estimated 4,500 people have filed for unemployment in the nation's capital. Airline workers are showing up on Capitol Hill urging Congress to reach a deal, and a separate major union rally is planned for Thursday.  For now, most agencies say there haven't been any major disruptions to government operations because workers deemed essential -- about 420,000 -- have been ordered to keep working despite not being paid. At least two lawsuits have been filed on their behalf, with major unions arguing that requiring work without pay isn't fair.  But as one agency official put it, if the shutdown extends past February, "we'll be digging into the couch cushions" to keep the most important operations afloat.  Here's a look at the latest shutdown developments and what could happen next:  Washington's city government estimates that about 4,500 people -– 3,745 federal workers and 822 federal contractors -- already have filed for unemployment as a direct result of the shutdown.  That's likely just the beginning. Federal workers can file for unemployment benefits where they worked, and, according to one major union, some 85 percent of the federal workforce exists outside Washington.  Rules vary from state to state. But it's generally expected that employees would have to repay any unemployment benefits if they receive back pay once the shutdown ends.  There is one small comfort for federal workers though: The Office of Personnel and Management on Wednesday said that employees required to work during the shutdown will be able to reschedule any paid time off they may have lost.  Food stamp recipients will have access to their full benefits for February, even if the partial government shutdown continues, the Agriculture Department told reporters late Tuesday.  The department said it will work with states to load benefits onto recipients' cards by Jan. 20, just within the deadline for a provision that allows them to pay out benefits, even without a budget.  Still a concern are expiring contracts for a program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that subsidizes rent and utilities for 1.2 million low-income families. HUD announced that some 1,150 contracts with private landlords have expired since the shutdown, with another 500 set to expire later this month and 500 more next month.  The agency sent the landlords letters earlier this month urging them to dip into any reserves, and an agency spokesman said he didn't expect any evictions to take place because landlords know they will eventually get paid when the shutdown ends.  "There have never been evictions of any kind because of government shutdowns," HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan said.  Worth noting though is that if the shutdown stretches into February, which is possible considering the lack of progress in budget talks, HUD and other agencies would be working in uncharted territory.  The local water provider in Washington said the federal government is short $5 million of the $16.5 million it owes, according to a recent letter it received from the Treasury Department.  Matthew Brown, chief financial officer at the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, known as D.C. Water, said they usually don't charge late fees to customers like the federal government and the delayed payments won't immediately hurt the water authority's pocket books.  "It would probably be, just off the top of my head, approximately a year before it begins to be a real problem," Brown said.  Also a concern are the air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. This week, nearly 100 air traffic controllers went to Capitol Hill to call for an end to the shutdown. An association of the workers said they're already at a 30-year staffing low nationwide. They expect their first missing paycheck around Jan. 15.  After the shutdown, routine domestic food inspections were suspended by the Food and Drug Administration, although foreign food inspections continued along with what the agency called surveillance of "high-risk" foods and facilities.  Food and Drug Administrator Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday that the agency is "taking steps" to expand domestic food safety inspections further during the shutdown, focusing on high-risk facilities that make up a third of regular inspections.  Gottlieb tweeted that he wants to bring food inspectors back to work as early as next week, though they still would not be paid until the government reopens.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is calling back employees to staff 38 national wildlife refuges across the country under a temporary 30-day plan that will rely on leftover money from its 2018 budget.  Similar to the National Park Services, refuges were accessible to the public, minus the staff or access to visitors centers. The workers that come back will be carrying out prescribed burns to manage the areas and minimize wildfire risk. They will also staff visitors centers and conduct maintenance, as well as continue working on environmental rules they hope to complete before next fall's hunting season.  So far, the biggest visible impact of the shutdown for the general public has been at the national parks, where the absence of staff has meant a pileup of trash and safety violations.  But, the parks have said they are working to restore basic services including trash pick up using money previously collected from entrance fees and campground fees. One site, Joshua Tree National Park in California, had announced it planned to close temporarily Thursday to deal with sanitation and safety issues. But it later said it was able to avert that shutdown using recreation fees.  The parks though will still take a financial hit even when the shutdown ends. Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee have estimated that NPS could lose $400,000 a day in fees if there isn't staff available to collect from visitors. Also, parks may have to pay to repair damage done by visitors not following park rules during the shutdown.

Anne Flaherty,, Stephanie Ebbs , Quinn Owen


abcnews--2019-01-10--The latest on the government shutdown from missing paychecks to unemployment claims

The latest on the government shutdown, from missing paychecks to unemployment claims

The ongoing government shutdown is about to turn into the longest one in U.S. history, and that's raising questions about what will happen next.  By Friday, many of the 800,000 federal workers affected are expected to have missed their first paycheck since the shutdown began three weeks ago. And by Saturday, the funding lapse will be the longest in history at 22 days, surpassing the 21-day holiday shutdown that stretched into 1996.  The missing paychecks are likely to trigger at least some unemployment claims with states, as well as possible resignations by federal workers who have grown tired of the instability. That could include airline security personnel, prison guards, food inspectors, Coast Guard personnel and border patrol officers.  Already, an estimated 4,500 people have filed for unemployment in the nation's capital. Airline workers are showing up on Capitol Hill urging Congress to reach a deal, and a separate major union rally is planned for Thursday.  For now, most agencies say there haven't been any major disruptions to government operations because workers deemed essential -- about 420,000 -- have been ordered to keep working despite not being paid. At least two lawsuits have been filed on their behalf, with major unions arguing that requiring work without pay isn't fair.  But as one agency official put it, if the shutdown extends past February, "we'll be digging into the couch cushions" to keep the most important operations afloat.  Here's a look at the latest shutdown developments and what could happen next:  Washington's city government estimates that about 4,500 people -– 3,745 federal workers and 822 federal contractors -- already have filed for unemployment as a direct result of the shutdown.  That's likely just the beginning. Federal workers can file for unemployment benefits where they worked, and, according to one major union, some 85 percent of the federal workforce exists outside Washington.  Rules vary from state to state. But it's generally expected that employees would have to repay any unemployment benefits if they receive back pay once the shutdown ends.  There is one small comfort for federal workers though: The Office of Personnel and Management on Wednesday said that employees required to work during the shutdown will be able to reschedule any paid time off they may have lost.  Food stamp recipients will have access to their full benefits for February, even if the partial government shutdown continues, the Agriculture Department told reporters late Tuesday.  The department said it will work with states to load benefits onto recipients' cards by Jan. 20, just within the deadline for a provision that allows them to pay out benefits, even without a budget.  Still a concern are expiring contracts for a program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that subsidizes rent and utilities for 1.2 million low-income families. HUD announced that some 1,150 contracts with private landlords have expired since the shutdown, with another 500 set to expire later this month and 500 more next month.  The agency sent the landlords letters earlier this month urging them to dip into any reserves, and an agency spokesman said he didn't expect any evictions to take place because landlords know they will eventually get paid when the shutdown ends.  "There have never been evictions of any kind because of government shutdowns," HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan said.  Worth noting though is that if the shutdown stretches into February, which is possible considering the lack of progress in budget talks, HUD and other agencies would be working in uncharted territory.  The local water provider in Washington said the federal government is short $5 million of the $16.5 million it owes, according to a recent letter it received from the Treasury Department.  Matthew Brown, chief financial officer at the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, known as D.C. Water, said they usually don't charge late fees to customers like the federal government and the delayed payments won't immediately hurt the water authority's pocket books.  "It would probably be, just off the top of my head, approximately a year before it begins to be a real problem," Brown said.  Also a concern are the air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. This week, nearly 100 air traffic controllers went to Capitol Hill to call for an end to the shutdown. An association of the workers said they're already at a 30-year staffing low nationwide. They expect their first missing paycheck around Jan. 15.  After the shutdown, routine domestic food inspections were suspended by the Food and Drug Administration, although foreign food inspections continued along with what the agency called surveillance of "high-risk" foods and facilities.  Food and Drug Administrator Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday that the agency is "taking steps" to expand domestic food safety inspections further during the shutdown, focusing on high-risk facilities that make up a third of regular inspections.  Gottlieb tweeted that he wants to bring food inspectors back to work as early as next week, though they still would not be paid until the government reopens.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is calling back employees to staff 38 national wildlife refuges across the country under a temporary 30-day plan that will rely on leftover money from its 2018 budget.  Similar to the National Park Services, refuges were accessible to the public, minus the staff or access to visitors centers. The workers that come back will be carrying out prescribed burns to manage the areas and minimize wildfire risk. They will also staff visitors centers and conduct maintenance, as well as continue working on environmental rules they hope to complete before next fall's hunting season.  So far, the biggest visible impact of the shutdown for the general public has been at the national parks, where the absence of staff has meant a pileup of trash and safety violations.  But at least one park appears to have had enough. Joshua Tree National Park announced it planned to close temporarily Thursday to deal with sanitation and safety issues.  Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee have estimated that NPS is losing $400,000 a day in fees.


themanchestereveningnews--2019-07-02--Tameside to get new 10m science park which will bring 200 new jobs

Tameside to get new £10m science park which will bring 200 new jobs

Town hall bosses have agreed to sell land to create a new science park which could bring an economic boost of £10 million investment into Tameside .  The executive cabinet approved the sale of two parcels of land covering more than three hectares at Hattersley Industrial Estate in Hyde to the RSK Group for £400,000.  The company, which provides engineering and environmental consultancy and testing services, received planning permission earlier this year for a new facility at the site which could create 200 extra jobs in the borough.  The new 4,700 sqm site will house geosciences laboratory firm Envirolab, part of the RSK Group, which tests soil and ground water for clients, including local authorities.  It currently operates from premises at Sandpits Business Park in Hyde, and the intention is to bring another RSK company to the new location.  The new director of growth at Tameside council, Jayne Traverse, told councillors the relocation would support the 'continued expansion' of the business.  "We visited the business last week and they're really packed out on their current premises, which is great news because it means that they are expanding and doing well and need more space," she said.  "We're talking about roughly £10m of inward investment coming into Tameside through this business.  "They have around 80 employees at the moment so there is a potential to create 200 jobs over the next five years as it continues to expand, so really good news from an economic growth perspective."  The new development will be known as Hattersley Science and Technology Park.  The 80 jobs that currently exist in the borough would be safeguarded by the expansion, the committee report states.  Currently the site is open grassland with scattered trees and bushes, and has been a target for flytipping.  The proposal, which has been approved by the planning committee, includes the creation of a two-storey laboratory for testing and analysis of soil and water samples, as well as general storage and a light industrial workshop.  There will be 127 car spaces created, with eight disabled spaces, as well as spaces for lorries and bicycle storage.


aljazeera--2019-01-31--India unemployment rate highest in 45 years Report

India unemployment rate highest in 45 years: Report

The unemployment rate in India has reached its highest in 45 years, according to a report in the Business Standard newspaper that cited an official survey withheld by the government.  The news comes only months before Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces a tough race in India's general elections.  A political controversy over the survey erupted after the acting chairman and another member of the body that reviewed the jobs data resigned, saying there had been a delay in its scheduled December release and alleging interference by other state agencies.  The survey, conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) between July 2017 and June 2018, showed that the unemployment rate stood at 6.1 percent, higher than the previous high point reached in 1972-1973, local media reported.  That year, when India was just coming out of a war with Pakistan and hit by global oil shocks like other oil-importing countries, the unemployment rate was 5.18 percent.  The government has questioned the report, saying it was "not verified".  "The government has not released data on employment as it is still being processed. When the data is ready we will release it," Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, a government policy advisory body, said at a press conference in New Delhi.  Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the main opposition Congress party who the polls show is closing in on Modi's lead in the May election, said the job report showed "a national disaster".  Over the last couple of years, India's economy has been growing rapidly by about seven percent annually, but uneven growth has meant that there are not enough new jobs to keep pace.  Young people make up a significant share of the unemployed, with 18.7 percent of urban males aged between 15 and 29 without work, and a jobless rate of 27.2 percent for urban females in the same age group.  The numbers show that Modi's ambitious Make-in-India project, which aims to lift the share of domestic manufacturing from 17 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to about 25 percent and create jobs for an estimated 1.2 million youth entering the market, has failed to take off.  The labour force participation rate, the proportion of the population that is working or seeking jobs, declined to 36.9 percent in 2017-2018 from 39.5 percent in 2011-2012, according to the report.  The report also provides the first numbers since Modi's decision in November 2016 to withdraw most of the country's banknotes from circulation overnight.  The survey comes a month after the All India Manufacturers’ Organisation released a report that said 3.5 million jobs had been lost since 2016.  That report said the job losses were mainly due to demonetisation and rising working costs after the launch of a national sales tax in July 2017, which led to hundreds of thousands losing jobs in small businesses.


bbcuk--2019-02-08--Labour row erupts over no confidence vote in Luciana Berger

A Labour MP has accused John McDonnell of "letting his allies go after" Luciana Berger after a row erupted over her future in the party.  Ms Berger is facing a vote of no confidence from local members for criticising Jeremy Corbyn.  Shadow chancellor Mr McDonnell said she should reject claims she supported a "breakaway party" to show members she was "sticking with Labour".  But Nottingham East MP Chris Leslie said his response was "ridiculous".  Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson also backed Ms Berger, telling the Commons she had "our solidarity and... our support as she battles the bullying hatred from members of her own local party".  And Labour MP Ian Austin - who faced suspension after a row over the party's anti-Semitism code - told PoliticsHome: "It's like something out of the Soviet Union's show trials where people were let off if they confessed their disloyalty and shouted 'Long Live Stalin'."  Ms Berger - an outspoken critic of the party's handling of anti-Semitism allegations and its stance on Brexit - said she would be not be "distracted from fighting for the interests of my constituents".  An extraordinary meeting has been called in the Liverpool Wavertree constituency next week to discuss two no confidence motions.  The motions accuse Ms Berger of being against Mr Corbyn, saying: "Instead of fighting for a Labour government, our MP is continually using the media to criticise the man we all want to be prime minister."  Votes of no confidence carry no official force within the Labour Party, but local activists could hold a "trigger ballot", where sitting Labour MPs can be forced to compete for selection as a candidate against all-comers, ahead of the next general election.  Ms Berger has been the target of online abuse and had a police escort at last year's Labour Party conference following death threats.  Earlier this week, she joined other MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party calling for details on the party's efforts to tackle anti-Semitism to be released.  In a statement, Ms Berger said she believed her constituents would judge her on her record and skills in representing them in Parliament.  She reiterated her "long-held view that Brexit will be a disaster for the people of Liverpool Wavertree and the wider country", saying she would "not shy away from standing up" for her Remain-voting constituency.  And she said she had made "no secret that, as a Jewish woman representing a city with a Jewish community, I have been deeply disturbed by the lack of response from Jeremy Corbyn as party leader and many in the wider leadership of the party to the anti-Semitism that stains our party".  Ms Berger added: "Nothing will deter me from exposing anti-Semitism wherever it festers, including in the Labour Party where it is being wilfully ignored."  Mr Leslie - a former shadow chancellor himself - told BBC Radio 4's World at One that Mr McDonnell had "demanded an oath of loyalty from her to those who are attacking her", adding: "I have never heard of such of a ridiculous situation.  "He should never have allowed his allies to have gone after Luciana like that in the first place. I have a feeling they will realise this is a terrible, terrible judgement."  Asked if he was considering whether to resign from the party, the MP did not rule it out, and said his "patience is wearing pretty thin" - namely around Labour's Brexit policy, as he supports a further referendum on whether to leave or remain in the EU.  He said had "serious worries" about the direction of the leadership of the party, adding: "Of course I have my issues with Jeremy Corbyn and the leadership, but the bigger point is there is a country and our constituents to put first here.  "If we keep getting told 'oh well get in line behind your party, shut up don't say anything, in fact, we're going to push you gradually out of the party for various reasons', don't expect us to just go quietly and say nothing. This is a serious moment."  A number of Labour MPs tweeted their support for Ms Berger after the news of the no confidence motions broke on Thursday night, including former leader Ed Miliband and prominent backbencher Yvette Cooper.  However, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr McDonnell said the motion came about because Ms Berger is "associated" with rumours of a new centrist party being formed.  "[The motion] is an expression of views," he said.  "If people are doing that because Luciana has stood up against [anti-Semitism] that is completely wrong.  "But from what I have seen on social media, it looks as though what has happened is Luciana has been in the media associated with a breakaway party and hasn't been clear that she rejects that."  He condemned a Facebook post from one of the local Labour members calling Ms Berger a "disruptive Zionist", saying it was "completely wrong".  But the shadow chancellor said: "My advice to Luciana is just tell people you are not supporting a breakaway party, you are sticking with the Labour Party, you are not jumping ship.  "And my advice to the Labour Party members there is if there are differences of opinion there, get together, talk about it and see how you can support the campaign alongside your local MP."  Other Labour MPs criticised Mr McDonnell's response, with Chuka Umunna tweeting to shadow cabinet members: "Are we going to act? Defend a colleague in the face of this outrage?"  Ms Berger is not the first Labour MP to have faced a no confidence vote from their local parties over their views on Brexit. Others include Frank Field - who now represents Birkenhead as an independent MP - and Kate Hoey.  Conservative Nick Boles also believes his constituency party in Grantham and Stamford is looking to oust him as a candidate at the next election.  Meanwhile, Labour activists from the "Another Europe is Possible" group are targeting the constituencies of MPs who broke the whip and voted with the government over Theresa May's Brexit deal, calling it a "moment of reckoning".  Seven Labour MPs backed an amendment supported by the government calling for "alternative arrangements" to the backstop element of Mrs May's plan - which aims to avoid a hard border returning between Northern Ireland and Ireland.  And a total of 26 MPs either abstained or voted against an amendment by Yvette Cooper, which was backed by the Labour leadership, which would have allowed for an extension of Article 50 - the mechanism seeing the UK leave the EU on 29 March - by up to nine months, with the aim of avoiding a no-deal.  The left-wing group, founded last summer, will campaign in around 30 constituencies to "apply pressure" to the MPs to vote against Mrs May's deal.  Gordon Watson, the Labour deputy leader of Rotherham Council, warned that the rebels could end up facing de-selection if they don't vote the deal down, adding: "Failing to vote against the Tory deal is essentially propping up a government that is wrecking our communities. People are running out of patience."


bbcuk--2019-05-15--Labours energy plan last thing National Grid needs

Labour's energy plan 'last thing' National Grid needs

The Labour Party's plans to nationalise the country's energy networks would hinder the shift to green energy, National Grid has said.  The firm is the UK's largest transmitter of electricity and gas via its network of pylons and pipelines.  Labour said its pledge to return it to public ownership would "usher in a Green Industrial Revolution" and tackle climate change.  National Grid said the proposal was the "last thing" that was needed.  The Labour proposals are contained in a document entitled Bringing Energy Home, due to be presented on Thursday by leader Jeremy Corbyn and Rebecca Long Bailey, shadow energy secretary.  "In public hands, we can begin to address what is referred to as a 'trilemma' - providing energy that is low carbon, that is affordable, and that is secure," the report said.  "Energy networks that are owned by the public and responsive to the public interest will be able to prioritise tackling climate change, fuel poverty and security of supply over profit extraction, while working with energy unions to support energy workers through the transition."  However, after the report was leaked, National Grid said: "These proposals for state ownership of the energy networks would only serve to delay the huge amount of progress and investment that is already helping to make this country a leader in the move to green energy.  "At a time when there is increased urgency to meet the challenges of climate change, the last thing that is needed is the enormous distraction, cost and complexity contained in these plans."  Labour is committed to generating at least 60% of the UK's electricity and heat from renewable and low-carbon sources by 2030.  It would take the four licensed and regulated electricity and gas transmission companies, including National Grid Electricity and National Grid Gas, back into public ownership and "replace existing private monopolies with publicly owned and locally run institutions".  This is not the first time National Grid has hit out at Labour plans to nationalise the energy network.  In 2017 the party's manifesto committed it to "take energy back into public ownership to deliver renewable energy, affordability for consumers, and democratic control", prompting the company's boss to tell the Guardian newspaper: "Clearly we do not think it is a good idea."  The Conservative's vice chairman for policy, Chris Philp, said Labour's "ideological plan for the state to seize these companies would cost an eye-watering £100bn and saddle taxpayers with their debts".  "It would leave politicians in Westminster in charge of keeping the lights on and leave customers with nowhere else to turn.  "With no credible plan for how Labour would pay for this, more borrowing and tax hikes would be inevitable.  "Through measures like our energy price cap, the Conservative government will continue to protect people from unfair bill rises while increasing renewable electricity to a record high."


bbcuk--2019-05-21--British Steel should be nationalised urges Labour

British Steel should be nationalised, urges Labour

Labour has urged the government to nationalise British Steel in order to protect jobs and the steel industry.  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the collapse of British Steel would have a "devastating impact" on Scunthorpe.  British Steel is on the verge of administration as it continues to lobby for government backing, sources say.  The UK's second-biggest steel maker had been trying to secure £75m in financial support to help it to address "Brexit-related issues".  If the firm does not get the cash it would put 5,000 jobs at risk and endanger 20,000 in the supply chain.  "If an agreement cannot be struck with British Steel, the government must act to take a public stake in the company to secure the long term future of the steelworks and protect peoples' livelihoods and communities," said Mr Corbyn.  The government said it would leave "no stone unturned" in its support for the steel industry.  British Steel's main plant is at Scunthorpe, but it also has a site in Teesside.  Speaking in the House of Commons, Business Minister Andrew Stephenson said: "I can reassure the House that, subject to strict legal bounds, the government will leave no stone unturned in its support for the steel industry."  UK Steel's director general, Gareth Stace, said: "The statement from the business minister today provided a glimmer of hope for the Scunthorpe site.  "This does provide some breathing space for the company, its employees, and the wider steel sector, providing a potential route towards a stable and sustainable future."  The request for emergency financial support from the government is understood to have been reduced from £75m to about £30m.  In April, British Steel borrowed £100m from the government to enable it to pay an EU carbon bill, so it could avoid a steep fine.  Reports have said that British Steel shareholder Greybull Capital and lenders have agreed to pump new money into the firm.  However, unless a deal is reached by Tuesday afternoon, the firm could go into administration within 48 hours. EY would be expected to be appointed as administrators on Wednesday.  If a company goes into administration, then the insolvency practitioners appointed to run the business will try to rescue it by selling it, or parts of it, as a going concern.  But if that is not possible it will be liquidated, meaning that it will be closed down and its saleable assets will be sold.  For staff in Scunthorpe, it's a waiting game.  The BBC's consumer affairs correspondent Colletta Smith spoke to a British Steel staff member who was too worried to be named. He said that two of his colleagues have just got mortgages and are petrified they won't be able to make payments.  News that the company is in trouble isn't a surprise though, as there are piles of finished steel on the factory floor, with no customers to send it to, he said.  "We're doing a bit at work, but it's mostly sitting around doing nothing as the orders just aren't there".  He said staff feel let down by the owners.  "They've just stripped this company and now they're putting nothing back. Our only hope is a government bailout, but this time it feels different. I don't think they'll save us."  Sources close to Greybull Capital say its lenders have told them that unless they can secure a £30m lifeline they will pull the plug on British Steel tomorrow.  The timing of this could hardly be worse for the government coming as it does right before the European elections.  Cynics might suggest that Greybull is not unhappy with the timescale of the plea.  Business Secretary Greg Clark has a very tough decision, as I've already written.  The question may be whether the government can put this down to Brexit mitigation and tap the same source of contingency funds Chris Grayling disastrously used to procure emergency ferry capacity.  At least there would be an immediate dividend - to stave off the collapse of a firm that employs 4,500 people directly and has 20,000 more at risk in the supply chain.  However, having already lent £100m to cover a genuinely Brexit-related carbon emissions bill - further assistance to a private company struggling in a deeply challenged industry may be a precedent they would rather not set.  Last Thursday, British Steel said it had the backing of shareholders and lenders and that operations were continuing as usual while it sought a "permanent solution" from the government to its financial troubles.  It is understood that along with administration, nationalisation or a management buyout are being discussed as fall-back options for the company.  British Steel's troubles have been linked to a slump in orders from European customers due to uncertainty over the Brexit process.  The firm has also been struggling with the weakness of the pound since the EU referendum in June 2016 and the escalating trade US-China trade war.  One of its biggest customers is Network Rail, 95% of whose rails are supplied by British Steel's Scunthorpe plant.  In 2007, India's Tata conglomerate entered the UK steel market after it bought the Anglo Dutch group, Corus. In 2010, the business was renamed Tata Steel Europe.  After a difficult few years, Tata sold the Scunthorpe long products division to private equity firm Greybull Capital for a nominal £1.  Greybull's rescue came during the depths of the steel crisis in 2016 and saved more than 4,000 jobs.  It then rebranded the company as British Steel and recently returned it to profit.  On Monday, the government, trade unions and employers signed a UK Steel Charter in Parliament. The charter calls on the government and large companies to buy British to boost UK industry.


breitbart--2019-11-01--Italian Unemployment Rises to Nearly 10 Per Cent Under Leftist Coalition

The Italian unemployment rate is on the rise according to new statistics that put the rate up to 9.9 per cent under the leftist coalition of the Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Democratic Party (PD).  The Italian National Institute of Statistics has reported that the unemployment rate grew by 0.3 per cent in September and that youth unemployment, those aged 15 top 24, is now at a staggering 28.7 per cent, Italian newspaper Il Giornale reports.  “After the employment growth recorded in the first half of the year and the peak reached in June, starting from July the employment levels are in slight but constant decline, with the loss of 60,000 employed between July and September,” the report states.  The vast majority of employment growth took place under the previous coalition government of the Five Star Movement with Matteo Salvini’s League (Lega) which ended in mid-August when Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned as Prime Minister.  Italy has one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union, behind only Spain and Greece according to Eurostat figures released in early October.  Italy has also seen a “brain drain” of medical professionals in recent years as over 10,000 doctors and around 8,000 nurses have travelled overseas, further impacting the Italian economy as a whole.  During the previous coalition, Mr Salvini attempted to pass a flat tax in order to boost the economy and reduce unemployment but was unable to secure the legislation before the fall of the government in August.  Italy is not the only country in the EU to see a rise in unemployment numbers, with Sweden having also seen increases in unemployment and migrants having a far higher rate than native-born Swedes. The Scandinavian country now rivals countries like France and Italy in terms of joblessness.  Even Germany, the economic powerhouse of Europe, saw a rise in jobless numbers in July, with the German Federal Employment Agency noting a five per cent unemployment rate as some fear that Germany may have already entered a recession in September.


breitbart--2019-12-06--Trudeau's Canada Loses 71,000 Jobs, Most Since Financial Crisis, Unemployment Jumps to 5.9%

It looks like Donald Trump got the last laugh.  A few days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was caught having a laugh at the expense of the U.S. president, the U.S. economy was reported to have added 266,000 jobs in November while Canada lost 71,200 jobs, the biggest monthly loss since the financial crisis, according to Canada’s national statistics agency.  Unemployment in the U.S. fell to 3.5 percent, returning to the 50-year low hit earlier this year. Canadian unemployment jumped to 5.9 percent from 5.5 percent a month earlier.  The diverging economies show that the U.S. has better withstood the global economic slowdown than its neighbor.  The divergence also undermines the notion that Trump’s tariffs have weighed heavily on the U.S. economy. Canada has not imposed tariffs on China, yet its economy is underperforming.  Economists badly over-estimated the strength of the Canadian economy, forecasting a gain of 10,000 jobs and for the unemployment rate to hold steady at 5.5 percent.  Manufacturing jobs fell by 27,500 in Canada but rose by 54,000 in the U.S.


hotair--2019-10-04--Mixed bag from BLS Unemployment and new jobs both decline in September

Mixed bag from BLS: Unemployment and new jobs both decline in September

Now has the summer of our middling economic content extended into the autumn. Job creation in September continued its slowing pace, only adding 136,000 jobs to the US economy, while wages stagnated. The good news is that the unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%, a change made even better since it isn’t tied to any exodus from the workforce:  The unemployment rate declined to 3.5 percent in September, and total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 136,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment in health care and in professional and business services continued to trend up. … In September, the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 3.5 percent. The last time the rate was this low was in December 1969, when it also was 3.5 percent. Over the month, the number of unemployed persons decreased by 275,000 to 5.8 million. … The labor force participation rate held at 63.2 percent in September. The employment-population ratio, at 61.0 percent, was little changed over the month but was up by 0.6 percentage point over the year.  The last time the unemployment rate hit 3.5% was when Richard Nixon was in his first year as president, CBS’ Mark Knoller observes. That’s unquestionably good news, as is the fact that it didn’t take a drop in the workforce numbers to achieve it. The Household survey does have some odd anomalies that might have contributed to it, such as a drop in 275K in the unemployed and an addition of 391K in the employed categories, which should have needed an additional 400,000 jobs or so to accomplish from the Establishment survey. However, it’s the civilian labor force number alone that provides the denominator for the U-3 measurement, and that looks relatively stable at +117,000.  The BLS provided more good news in the revisions, which added 45,000 jobs to the previous two months. As their chart shows, however, that’s not enough to move any of the last six months above the maintenance level for keeping up with population growth:  Job creation has been slowing since late last year, which makes the warning signs on wages look more ominous. Hourly earnings dropped slightly in September and hours didn’t expand, suggesting that the market has at least temporarily become static:  In September, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, at $28.09, were little changed (-1 cent), after rising by 11 cents in August. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.9 percent. In September, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 4 cents to $23.65. (See tables B-3 and B-8.) The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.4 hours in September. In manufacturing, the average workweek and overtime remained at 40.5 hours and 3.2 hours, respectively. The average workweek of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees held at 33.6 hours. (See tables B-2 and B-7.)  That annual wage-growth number is the lowest in 14 months, CNBC noted. Until now, the continued growth in wages appeared to indicate a healthy job market. This is only one month, but it’s still a warning about what the impact of a low-job-creation environment will eventually produce. The Trump administration needs that wage growth to keep pace in order to maintain consumer confidence and its political support.  CNBC’s Jeff Cox reported the results as a seriously mixed bag for the economy:  The jobless rate dropped 0.2 percentage points to 3.5%, matching a level it last saw in December 1969. A more encompassing measure that includes discouraged workers and the underemployed also fell, declining 0.3 percent points to 6.9%, matching its lowest in nearly 19 years and just off the all-time low of 6.8%. Also, the jobless rate for Hispanics also hit a new record low, while the level for African Americans maintained its lowest ever. At the same time, the economy saw another sluggish month of growth. The nonfarm payrolls count missed the 145,000 estimate from economists surveyed by Dow Jones; the expectation on the jobless rate was to hold steady at 3.7%. Wages also were a disappointment, with average hourly earnings little changed over the month and up just 2.9% for the year, the lowest increase since July 2018.  The AP’s Christopher Rugaber writes that this sense of slowing down has already begun to impact consumer behavior:  The job market is the economy’s main bulwark. As long as hiring is solid enough to keep the unemployment rate from rising, most Americans will likely remain confident enough to spend, offsetting other drags and propelling the economy forward. But a slump in hiring or a rise in the unemployment rate in coming months could discourage consumers from spending as freely as they otherwise might during the holiday shopping season. Consumers are still mostly optimistic, and their spending has kept the economy afloat this year. But they may be growing more cautious. Consumer confidence dropped sharply in September, according to the Conference Board, a business research group, although it remains at a high level. Americans also reined in their spending in August after several months of healthy gains. The 0.1% increase in consumer spending that month was the weakest in six months.  At some point, Donald Trump may have to decide which is more important to his re-election chances — winning a long trade war with China or a revitalized job-creation market with a jump in wages. That point is rapidly approaching.


aljazeera--2019-01-09--Japan Korea forced labour dispute deepens amid asset freeze

Japan, Korea forced labour dispute deepens amid asset freeze

Japan says it will seek talks with South Korea following a court decision's to seize the Korean assets of a Japanese company that has been ordered to pay compensation to victims of wartime slavery.  The Daegu District Court in the South Korean city of Pohang on Wednesday said it had approved a request to freeze the assets of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation because the company was refusing to comply with a landmark ruling to compensate the former labourers.  In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that Japan's government took the court decision seriously and that ministers would meet on Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to respond.  Last year, South Korea's top court ordered Nippon Steel to pay 100 million won ($88,000) each to four plaintiffs who had been forced to work for the company during the Japanese colonisation of the Korean Peninsula between 1910 and 1945.  Japan maintains all colonial-era compensation issues were settled by a 1965 treaty between the two countries, and the court decision could further chill diplomatic ties. Many South Koreans still harbour strong resentment against Japan for the abuses suffered during the occupation and World War II.  The Japanese company holds 2.34 million shares, a stake valued at around $9.7m, in its joint venture with South Korean steelmaker POSCO.  South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified official at the Pohang office, reported the district court decided to freeze 81,075 of the 2.34 million shares, rather than the entire stake.  Yonhap said the asset freeze would take effect once a related court document had been delivered to the joint venture.  The Associated Press news agency said the district court could not immediately confirm the Yonhap report.    In November, South Korea's Supreme Court ordered a second Japanese company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to compensate 10 former Korean workers, drawing a strong rebuke from Japan.


aljazeera--2019-01-16--Tunisias powerful labour union to stage strike over wages

Tunisia's powerful labour union to stage strike over wages

Tunisia's government and its powerful workers' union have failed to reach a deal to raise the wages for about 670,000 civil servants, officials said, making a nationwide strike this week likely.  A strike by the Tunisia General Labour Union (UGTT) would include all airports, ports and government offices.  Tunisia is under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to freeze public sector wages to help reduce the country's budget deficit.  "The negotiations with the government ended without any result, and we will go on strike on Thursday," Hafedh Hfaidh, an UGTT official, said.  A government source told Reuters news agency that the negotiations had failed despite a new proposal from the government, without providing any details.  It was not immediately clear whether more talks would be held on Wednesday - sometimes, strikes get averted at the last minute.  Tunisia's economy has been in crisis since the toppling of autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, with unemployment and inflation shooting up.  About 670,000 public sector workers went on strike and thousands protested across Tunisia last November to press the government to raise wages.  The government aims to cut the public sector wage bill to 12.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 from the current 15.5 percent, one of the world's highest levels, according to the IMF.  The public sector wage bill had doubled to about 16 billion dinars ($5.5bn) in 2018 from 7.6 billion dinars ($2.6bn) in 2010.  Tunisia struck a deal with the IMF in December 2016 for a loan programme worth around $2.8 billion to overhaul its ailing economy with steps to cut chronic deficits and trim bloated public services, but progress has been slow.  The government wants to cut the budget deficit to about 3.9 percent of GDP this year from about 5 percent last year and 6.2 percent in 2017.


aljazeera--2019-02-25--UK opposition Labour Party moves to back second Brexit vote

Britain's main opposition Labour Party has said it will back a second referendum on Brexit if parliament rejects its alternative plan for leaving the European Union.  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will on Monday evening tell his MPs the party is "committed to … putting forward or supporting an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory [Conservative] Brexit being forced on the country," a statement on Labour's website said.  Corbyn has been under pressure for some time from elements of his own party to support a second referendum. Last week, eight legislators quit Labour, in part owing to frustration over his handling of Brexit.  Labour's statement on Monday said the party would put an amended plan for Brexit to the British parliament this week and also support a separate cross-party motion which seeks to rule out the possibility of the United Kingdom exiting the European Union without a withdrawal agreement.  The alternative Brexit strategy would include a "comprehensive customs union with a UK say", "close alignment" with the EU's single market, protection for Britain's role in the bloc's various agencies and a wide-reaching "security agreement", the party's statement added.  Labour's Brexit Secretary Kier Starmer said in a tweet the party would back a second referendum on membership of the EU should MPs dismiss Labour's Brexit plan during a series of votes expected to take place in the British parliament on Wednesday.  The move is likely to cheer many of Labour's members who have backed calls for a so-called "people's vote" but could also threaten the party's popularity in pro-Brexit districts represented by Labour MPs, particularly in northern England.  British Prime Minister Theresa May's ruling Conservative Party, meanwhile, accused Corbyn of wanting to "betray the will of the British people and ignore the biggest democratic vote in our nation's history".  "Labour have ripped up their promise to respect the referendum result and are now pursuing a divisive second referendum that would take us back to square one," the Conservative Party said in a post on its official Facebook page.  Both of the country's major parties fractured last week, with parliamentarians quitting May's ruling Conservative Party and the main opposition Labour Party suggesting both were failed remnants of a political system in meltdown.  Nearly 52 percent of Britons - more than 17 million people - voted to leave the EU during the UK's June 2016 referendum on membership of the bloc.  Labour's announcement came after May postponed on Sunday an expected "meaningful vote" on her widely maligned Brexit plan, which had been expected to be held this week.  May said MPs would have their say on the divorce deal sometime before March 13 instead.  "It is still within our grasp to leave the European Union with a deal on the 29th of March and that is what we are working to do," she said.  With just 32 days until Britain is due to leave the 28-member EU, May is making last-ditch efforts to win concessions from the bloc on the divorce package, brokered after months of arduous negotiations between London and Brussels.  The EU has ruled out reopening the withdrawal agreement, though both sides are looking at a possible legal addendum to reassure MPs who worry the controversial Irish border backstop clause could keep Britain trapped in the EU's orbit for years to come.  The mechanism would guarantee no re-establishment of a hard border on the island of Ireland in the event that post-Brexit trade negotiations between the UK and the EU prove unsuccessful.  European Council President Donald Tusk said on Monday the EU was open to Britain postponing its exit from the bloc beyond March 29, adding he had discussed the "legal and procedural context of a potential extension" when he met Sunday with May on the sidelines of an EU-Arab summit in Egypt.  "I believe in the situation we are in, an extension would be a rational solution but Prime Minister May still believes she's able to avoid this scenario," Tusk told a closing summit press conference.  May has repeatedly ruled out delaying Brexit, arguing it would not solve the ongoing impasse shrouding British politics.


conservativehome--2019-02-06--WATCH If they are worried about No Deal they have to vote for a deal Lidington tells Labour

WATCH: “If they are worried about No Deal, they have to vote for a deal”, Lidington tells Labour

“The government is in danger of sleepwalking the country towards no plan,” says @EmilyThornberry. @DLidington responds saying it’s time for Labour to put the “national interest first” and vote for a deal.


eveningstandard--2019-10-07--MP Stephen Hepburn suspended from Labour Party over sexual harassment allegation

A Labour politician has been suspended from the party following a complaint of sexual harassment.  Stephen Hepburn has been the Member of Parliament for Jarrow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, since 1997.  It is understood his case has been referred to the National Constitutional Committee and he has been suspended pending that process.  A Labour Party spokeswoman said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints of sexual harassment extremely seriously, which are fully investigated and any appropriate disciplinary action taken in line with the Party's rules and procedures.  "We are determined to challenge and overturn sexual harassment and misogyny within politics and across society as a whole. We cannot comment on individual complaints."


ipolitics--2019-02-12--Charities applaud efforts to end child and forced labour in supply chains

The Trudeau government must use recently announced consultations on corporate supply chain legislation to strengthen requirements for Canadian companies to report and respond to child labour, modern slavery and other human rights violations, a coalition of Canadian humanitarian organizations said Tuesday.  “We are excited that this is on the agenda of the Canadian government,” said Michael Messenger, president and CEO of World Vision Canada, a charity that supports children and their families abroad living in extreme poverty.  “But there is a sense of urgency for us to do our part to ensure we as Canadians are equipped to make good decisions and that Canadian businesses are equipped to report and take action (to make sure child and forced labour) are not contributing to the goods we use every day.”  Last week, the federal government announced it would initiate consultations this year on prospective legislation aimed at eradicating child labour in supply chains. It came in the government’s official response to the House foreign affairs and international development committee’s report on the issue.  “The Government of Canada will apply its existing platforms, networks, multilateral and bilateral tools to combat child and forced labour in supply chains involving Canada,” International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said in her response.  “We will further seize opportunities for advocacy and programming, where possible, to contribute to the global effort to address this issue and will begin a process in 2019 to consult on possible supply chain legislation.”  The file actually falls into the portfolio of Labour Minister Patty Hajdu, not Minister Bibeau’s office, according to Messenger.  The committee’s report issued seven recommendations to government to help eradicate all forms of child labour in supply chains, including prioritizing the elimination of child and forced labour in Canada’s international assistance programs, discussing these issues in free trade talks, and supporting the training of law enforcement in foreign countries to stamp out the practice.  It also called for Canada to improve access to educational resources for children and adults “affected by forced labour,” bolster the capacity of Canadian businesses to monitor their own supply chains and support initiatives to encourage businesses to eliminate child and forced labour.  World Vision, fellow charity Save the Children, Fair Trade Canada and the Canadian chapter of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, known more popularly as UNICEF, released a joint statement Tuesday applauding the Liberal government for beginning consultations, but calling for urgent action.  Messenger warned that the need for supply chain legislation is pressing, with more than $34 billion of products imported into Canada in 2016 potentially having been made by child or forced labour. He wants any legislation to strengthen reporting requirements from companies on potential exposure to child and forced labour in their supply chains, saying examples from other jurisdictions show that heightened public accountability has proven to be effective.  Messenger said World Vision and other partners worked tirelessly to get the issue on the radar of the Canadian public and federal government, organizing rallies, pushing through petitions, studying foreign examples and offering advice and insights.  World Vision appeared before the foreign affairs committee in November 2017.  When asked, Messenger said he didn’t know if the consultations would be able to lead to the development of legislation before the next election this fall but was buoyed by the attention and support the initiative has received from Ottawa. Either way, World Vision and its partners will continue to call for “tangible” steps to help stamp out child labour across the world.  “We’re not going to let up,” he added.


ipolitics--2019-12-17--New study says intergovernmental cooperation on labour market policy has improved

A new study suggests the provinces and Ottawa are enjoying a much improved relationship when it comes to developing labour market policy, as evidenced by new workplace development agreements and the establishment of Labour Market Information Council and Future Skills Centre.  The study, authored by Andrew McDougall and published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, details how the once-acrimonious relationship, marked by jurisdictional squabbles and regional politics, has improved as it has shifted more toward developing pragmatic solutions.  “In the last couple of years, you’ve really seen both Ottawa and the provinces put some of that politics aside a little bit,” McDougall, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Toronto Scarborough, told iPolitics in an interview Tuesday.  “And now you see a much more collaborative relationship than you had previously, and one that’s really started to be more focused on solutions to the problems that those orders of government have identified rather than focusing on jurisdictional disputes,” he said.  The long-standing jurisdictional issues over labour market policy essentially boils down to Ottawa’s push for a national public employment service that helps match supply and demand clashing with the province’s exclusive constitutional responsibility for education, according to the study. The provincial governments have long maintained that their own training and skills development are more effective because they respond to regional and local conditions.  In particular, Quebec has argued for decades that the federal government should not be providing training programs.  Finally, in response to the nail-biter 1995 Quebec referendum and pressure from some other provinces, Ottawa began devolving leadership for training and skills programs, leading to a series of intergovernmental agreements governing the transfer of responsibility and funds to the provincial governments.  Ottawa, though, remained involved in programs for Indigenous people, youth and people with disabilities.  READ MORE: Liberals focus on skills, housing, students and seniors in pre-election budget  During this devolution period, the study points to the forum for federal, provincial and territorial labour market ministers for playing an important role in intergovernmental relations in this sector.  McDougall credited pressure from constituents favouring more amicable relationships between the various orders of government and a cooling of some of the regional political tensions for helping to improve intergovernmental relations on the file.  But he also said a big factor was the development of certain norms and expectations around co-operation that have crystallized during the devolution period.  For example, he said Quebec has long had an interest in the devolution of federal programs and, now that it has achieved that, the other provinces and Ottawa have accepted this arrangement, thus cooling the politics behind the push.  “Now there are certain norms that have developed in this field around collaboration, which hadn’t existed previously. And it becomes much more difficult for an order of government to try to pull something unexpected,” McDougall explained.  “So it kind of evolved together into this more collaborative relationship. And then some of the politics that was behind (it) sort of faded a little bit.”  The development of new institutions and communications channels have also led to the creation of their “own norms,” which have a “constraining factor on what the expectations are and what’s possible,” according to McDougall.  Intergovernmental relations, he said, have been “notoriously flexible” when it comes to what governments want to do, but there is a “constraining force that comes in from these past practices that developed when you see the same people over and over again.”  While McDougall’s study credits developments in the labour market arena by the current federal Liberal government, such as reaching workplace development agreements with all the provinces and territories and collaborating to create the Labour Market Information Council and Future Skills Centre, he said this work towards improved intergovernmental relations has been a “long standing process.”  However, he said it has been helped by the Liberal government’s greater emphasis on skills training and working with the provinces, in contrast to the “open federalism” practised by the former Harper government that was more focused on the different orders of governments staying in their own jurisdictional avenues.  For example, the Liberals in the 2019 budget introduced a new personalized training benefit program, dubbed the Canada Training Benefit. The benefit includes a $250 non-taxable credit to help pay for training fees and four weeks of income support through the Employment Insurance program that will help workers cover living expenses while on training (and not receiving income).


aljazeera--2019-02-07--Qatar remains committed to labour reforms after Amnesty report

Qatar remains 'committed' to labour reforms after Amnesty report

Doha, Qatar - The government of Qatar has vowed to treat labour reforms as "a journey and not an end in itself" in response to an Amnesty International report that warned the country it was "running out of time" to stamp out labour abuse.  "From the outset, we have said that we understood labour reform would be a journey and not an end in itself," said a statement released by the Qatari government on Wednesday.  Amnesty, in its report published earlier this week, said migrant workers continued to be "vulnerable to serious abuses including forced labour and restrictions on freedom of movement".  "Time is running out if the Qatari authorities want to deliver a legacy we can all cheer, namely a labour system that ends the abuse and misery inflicted upon so many migrant workers every day," said Amnesty's Stephen Cockburn.  Qatar and its labour laws have been under the spotlight ever since it was named the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. And while Amnesty acknowledged Qatar had undertaken a reform process, it added that work still needed to be done.  Qatar, a gas-rich peninsula in the Gulf, has said that it was committed to labour reforms, adding that "lasting changes" take time.  "Far from seeing time as running out, the Government of the State of Qatar understands further change is needed and we remain committed to developing these changes as quickly as possible, while ensuring they are effective and appropriate for our labour market conditions," the statement further said.  "Practical, efficient and lasting change takes time and that is what we have committed to."  The statement also added that the government "penalised or banned" almost 12,000 companies in the country for violating its labour laws.  Last year, Qatar amended its residency law to allow most migrant workers to leave the country without an exit visa, a move that was termed a "huge step" by the International Organization for Labour (ILO).  According to the head of the ILO Project Office in Qatar, Houtan Homayounpour, great progress has been made with regards to labour reforms in the country but the work is far from finished.  "There are remaining milestones to be achieved, such as the removal of the exit visa for domestic workers, a non-discriminatory permanent minimum wage, the removal of the NOC requirement, to name a few," Homayounpour told Al Jazeera.  "These are in line with the agreed priorities with the government as a work plan for 2019."  Although the Amnesty report focuses on conditions of the nearly two million migrant workers in Qatar, not just the 30,000 on direct World Cup projects, Amnesty said FIFA had an "ongoing responsibility" to prevent abuse.  In response, football's governing body welcomed Qatari labour reforms in recent months and its continued work with "stakeholders".  In late 2017, a number of contractors working for Qatar 2022 launched an initiative to partially reimburse workers, assigned to some World Cup projects, recruitment fee they had been unlawfully charged in the country of origin.  Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary-general of the World Cup 2022 organising committee, said it was the organisation's belief that "this World Cup can be a catalyst for change, both in Qatar and in other parts of the world".  "Unethical recruitment is a global issue and an area many countries struggle to manage. All too often, the very people who have left their home to provide for their families are the ones exploited," said al-Thawadi.


westernjournal--2019-02-08--Former Fox News Reporter Takes New Job at State Department

Former Naval combat aviator and journalist Lea Gabrielle is leaving journalism for the time being to take a position at the State Department. She will be leading its counterpropaganda efforts, according to The Hill.  Gabrielle worked at Fox News until last year and was employed with NBC News prior to that.  The journalist’s official position will be the head of the Global Engagement Center, working to stop the spread of terrorist messaging and debunk disinformation from foreign sources.  TRENDING: Major Claims from Stacey Abrams’ SOTU Rebuttal Don’t Fair Well in Fact Check  Gabrielle told Foreign Policy online that the top propaganda threats to the United States currently are China, Russia, Iran and various terrorist entities that wish to harm the U.S.  “We have to realize that we are under attack by adversary countries and international terrorist organizations that are using propaganda and disinformation as a weapon,” she told the magazine.  “They’re doing it because it’s cheap, and it’s easy, and because they can.”  The GEC, which was originally designed to combat false messaging from terrorists, has expanded to deal with all sorts of propaganda and disinformation, according to Foreign policy.  State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino announced during a press briefing that Gabrielle will work as the special envoy and coordinator of the Global Engagement Center, CNN reported.  “Lea will provide the permanent leadership we have needed to bolster the Global Engagement Center’s operations. And she will begin her duties on Monday,” Palladino said.  “Lea is a former CIA-trained human intelligence operations officer, defense foreign liaison officer, United States Navy program director, Navy FA-18/C fighter pilot, and national television news correspondent and anchor at two different networks,” Palladino added.  The department has previously suffered from a lack of funding, however, within the last year, politicians have insisted that the GEC once again receive the funding that it needs to function at peak performance.  Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who has been a champion of the GEC, said in a statement that he is “looking forward” to working with Gabrielle.  “As we fight to ensure that the GEC is fully funded and staffed, I hope she’ll be able to elevate the profile and importance of the work that the GEC does to combat propaganda and disinformation,” he said.  Gabrielle has requested $55 million in funding for the 2019 fiscal year, but that budget amount could increase to $115 million, according to Foreign Policy, who cited a State Department spokeswoman.  “Since Secretary Pompeo came into office the GEC has been a priority and has received its full funding,” the spokeswoman told Foreign Policy in an email.  We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


abcnews--2019-01-10--The latest on the government shutdown from missing paychecks to unemployment claims

The latest on the government shutdown, from missing paychecks to unemployment claims

The ongoing government shutdown is about to turn into the longest one in U.S. history, and that's raising questions about what will happen next.  By Friday, many of the 800,000 federal workers affected are expected to have missed their first paycheck since the shutdown began three weeks ago. And by Saturday, the funding lapse will be the longest in history at 22 days, surpassing the 21-day holiday shutdown that stretched into 1996.  The missing paychecks are likely to trigger at least some unemployment claims with states, as well as possible resignations by federal workers who have grown tired of the instability. That could include airline security personnel, prison guards, food inspectors, Coast Guard personnel and border patrol officers.  Already, an estimated 4,500 people have filed for unemployment in the nation's capital. Airline workers are showing up on Capitol Hill urging Congress to reach a deal, and a separate major union rally is planned for Thursday.  For now, most agencies say there haven't been any major disruptions to government operations because workers deemed essential -- about 420,000 -- have been ordered to keep working despite not being paid. At least two lawsuits have been filed on their behalf, with major unions arguing that requiring work without pay isn't fair.  But as one agency official put it, if the shutdown extends past February, "we'll be digging into the couch cushions" to keep the most important operations afloat.  Here's a look at the latest shutdown developments and what could happen next:  Washington's city government estimates that about 4,500 people -– 3,745 federal workers and 822 federal contractors -- already have filed for unemployment as a direct result of the shutdown.  That's likely just the beginning. Federal workers can file for unemployment benefits where they worked, and, according to one major union, some 85 percent of the federal workforce exists outside Washington.  Rules vary from state to state. But it's generally expected that employees would have to repay any unemployment benefits if they receive back pay once the shutdown ends.  There is one small comfort for federal workers though: The Office of Personnel and Management on Wednesday said that employees required to work during the shutdown will be able to reschedule any paid time off they may have lost.  Food stamp recipients will have access to their full benefits for February, even if the partial government shutdown continues, the Agriculture Department told reporters late Tuesday.  The department said it will work with states to load benefits onto recipients' cards by Jan. 20, just within the deadline for a provision that allows them to pay out benefits, even without a budget.  Still a concern are expiring contracts for a program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that subsidizes rent and utilities for 1.2 million low-income families. HUD announced that some 1,150 contracts with private landlords have expired since the shutdown, with another 500 set to expire later this month and 500 more next month.  The agency sent the landlords letters earlier this month urging them to dip into any reserves, and an agency spokesman said he didn't expect any evictions to take place because landlords know they will eventually get paid when the shutdown ends.  "There have never been evictions of any kind because of government shutdowns," HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan said.  Worth noting though is that if the shutdown stretches into February, which is possible considering the lack of progress in budget talks, HUD and other agencies would be working in uncharted territory.  The local water provider in Washington said the federal government is short $5 million of the $16.5 million it owes, according to a recent letter it received from the Treasury Department.  Matthew Brown, chief financial officer at the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, known as D.C. Water, said they usually don't charge late fees to customers like the federal government and the delayed payments won't immediately hurt the water authority's pocket books.  "It would probably be, just off the top of my head, approximately a year before it begins to be a real problem," Brown said.  Also a concern are the air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. This week, nearly 100 air traffic controllers went to Capitol Hill to call for an end to the shutdown. An association of the workers said they're already at a 30-year staffing low nationwide. They expect their first missing paycheck around Jan. 15.  After the shutdown, routine domestic food inspections were suspended by the Food and Drug Administration, although foreign food inspections continued along with what the agency called surveillance of "high-risk" foods and facilities.  Food and Drug Administrator Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday that the agency is "taking steps" to expand domestic food safety inspections further during the shutdown, focusing on high-risk facilities that make up a third of regular inspections.  Gottlieb tweeted that he wants to bring food inspectors back to work as early as next week, though they still would not be paid until the government reopens.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is calling back employees to staff 38 national wildlife refuges across the country under a temporary 30-day plan that will rely on leftover money from its 2018 budget.  Similar to the National Park Services, refuges were accessible to the public, minus the staff or access to visitors centers. The workers that come back will be carrying out prescribed burns to manage the areas and minimize wildfire risk. They will also staff visitors centers and conduct maintenance, as well as continue working on environmental rules they hope to complete before next fall's hunting season.  So far, the biggest visible impact of the shutdown for the general public has been at the national parks, where the absence of staff has meant a pileup of trash and safety violations.  But at least one park appears to have had enough. Joshua Tree National Park announced it planned to close temporarily Thursday to deal with sanitation and safety issues.  Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee have estimated that NPS is losing $400,000 a day in fees.


21stcenturywire--2019-08-07--UK COLUMN Boriss Brexit Blag Tulsi vs Twitter Politics of Mass Shootings

UK COLUMN: Boris’s Brexit Blag, Tulsi vs Twitter, Politics of Mass Shootings

This week: Boris’s Brexit blag, and Brussels’ new ‘EU Army’ becomes reality. Also, election meddling by Twitter as the Silicon Valley attempt to derail Tulsi Gabbard’s insurgent presidential run. Also, two back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton set the stage for an artificial civil war in America. All this and much more.  Watch as UK Column News hosts Mike Robinson and Patrick Henningsen break down this week’s top stories.  21WIRE.TV MEMBERS CAN ALSO WATCH OUR SPECIAL EXTRA SESSION HERE:   UKC Extra Time: Off-Air Discussion with Patrick & Mike


aljazeera--2019-01-07--Khmer Rouge fall still dominates Cambodian politics 40 years on

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Forty years ago on Monday, Vietnamese tanks rolled through Phnom Penh, a city that had been a near ghost town during the Cambodia genocide, to signal the overthrow of the regime of Pol Pot, the ultra-communists' leader who managed to escape in a jeep at the last minute.  It was the end of three years, eight months and 20 days of terror that had resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians.  Large celebrations will take place at the Cambodian capital's Olympic Stadium on Monday to mark "Victory Over Genocide Day". Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander who defected and helped overthrow them, is expected to deliver a speech lauding January 7 as the moment the country was saved from Pol Pot's murderous clutches.  But while on the surface the overthrow of one of the 20th century's most brutal regimes should be a reason to celebrate, Cambodian politics are not as straightforward.  The invasion had been in response to ruthless cross-border killings by the Khmer Rouge in Vietnam. Vietnamese forces, who were assisted by a far smaller group of former Khmer Rouge defectors, overthrew the Pol Pot regime with relative ease, although the civil war trudged on for another two decades.  But rather than see the day as a liberation, the ruling party's detractors, including Sam Rainsy, the exiled acting leader of the dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), have branded January 7 as the start of an occupation by an historic enemy.  Vietnamese forces did not leave Cambodian soil until 1989 and during that period installed Hun Sen as prime minister, a position he has retained since 1985.  "Whatever they might say in private, the country has virtually no political figure who acts and speaks independently of these two views," reads the 2017 paper Moving Beyond The January 7 Narratives by the Future Forum think-tank.  "Even today, Cambodian politicians, from Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy on down, spend much of their energy fighting an old civil war which has little relevance to the problems facing most of Cambodia's 15 million people."  "Without Vietnam, I was about to get killed right away because I was in jail already. At that time I told them I was a student, they put almost everybody in jail," Siphan said.  Siphan said Sam Rainsy, who has long taunted Hun Sen with accusations of being a Vietnamese puppet, had no understanding of the importance of January 7 due to not living under the Pol Pot regime.  "Sam Rainsy was living abroad; they never came across the suffering from the killings of the Khmer Rouge. They don't care," he said, pointing out that prominent opposition figures allied themselves with the Khmer Rouge in the 1980s.  Meas Nee, a prominent Cambodian political analyst, also has little doubt of his fate had the Vietnamese not invaded.  "My family's name was already on the blacklist to be killed," Nee said.  The reason for Nee and his family being targeted was simple. They were deemed "new people" and had been placed in a "re-education village" near the Vietnamese border due to being educated - a serious red flag in the eyes of the Khmer Rouge.  Nee and his family followed the Vietnamese for around 15km as forces poured across the border, sending the Khmer Rouge scarpering west.  "It was dark ... and later the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge passed during the night while we were in the bush. We were sitting, seeing hundreds of Vietnamese army trucks pass by," he said.  After a couple of nights hiding in the forest, Nee and his family returned to their village and started the task of rebuilding their lives.  Like many Cambodians, Nee believes the truth of January 7 can be found somewhere between the "liberation" and "occupation" narratives.  While appreciating the role some in Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party played in overthrowing the Khmer Rouge, many in the country do not look back on the ensuing occupation with fond memories, he pointed out.  "More people decided to escape to the refugee camps in Thailand because they were scared that another communist state would be installed in Cambodia," Nee said.  The Vietnamese would have occupied the country for longer than 10 years had it not been down to international pressure, he said.  A notable critic of the Vietnamese occupation was Pen Sovann, who was installed as prime minister of Cambodia by the Vietnamese in 1981 before being removed and jailed for 10 years. He later joined the CNRP in 2012 before passing away four years later.  "January 7 was a victory day but also a sad day [because] Vietnam violated Cambodian autonomy," Sovann told The Phnom Penh Post in 2001.  "After January 7, from year to year Vietnamese have put pressure on all kinds of freedom of expression in Cambodia and the fate of Cambodia was decided by Vietnamese."  Cambodia, including Phnom Penh, has changed beyond recognition from the devastation left in the wake of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.  Terms such as "stability" and "peace" have long been buzzwords for Hun Sen, who has presented himself as the national saviour and the only true representative of the Cambodian people.  But while there has been considerable economic growth on Hun Sen's watch, many young people have become tired of a lack of opportunities, widespread corruption and continued authoritarianism at the hands of a prime minister who has been accused of overseeing widespread human rights abuses.  The CNRP tapped into this discontent and came within seven seats of a shock victory in the 2013 general election, before making hefty gains in local elections four years later. Then, in what many saw as a cynical move to assure victory in the 2018 general election, the CNRP was outlawed and its president, Kem Sokha, thrown in jail on widely discredited claims he was attempting to wage a revolution.  Sam Rainsy, who has vowed to return to Cambodia despite facing jail on convictions widely thought to be politically charged, said that January 7 was becoming "more and more controversial in the eyes of the population".  "It is not like under the communist regime during the Cold War when the only possible reasoning had to be in line with the official propaganda," he said.  Sam Rainsy did, however, argue that January 7 rhetoric was losing its appeal with the younger generation.  Sophal Ear, a Cambodian-US professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College who escaped the Khmer Rouge as a child, agreed with Sam Rainsy, but pointed out that the acting opposition leader had also refused to drop the issue.  "I don't think he's ready to stop exploiting 7 January either as [a] trigger for Vietnam and the Vietnamese," Ear said.  But Hun Sen's efforts to paint himself as a national saviour did not make sense for young people who had never known war, genocide or the origins of the ruling party, he added.  "However, I think it's woven into the identity of the party," he said.  "Changing the narrative is, I guess, not an option."


aljazeera--2019-01-26--Mexico stays neutral in Venezuela political crisis

The crisis in Venezuela has divided Latin America, but Mexico has refused to choose a side.  President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador reiterated Mexico's commitment to non-interventionism, saying Mexico is neither in favour nor against anyone.  Mexico's neutrality could allow it to play the role of mediator between the sides, but the president said he will only do so if both sides can agree to participate in talks.


aljazeera--2019-01-30--Venezuelans call for humanitarian aid as political crisis deepens

Caracas, Venezuela - Doctors, businessmen and other workers protested in major cities across Venezuela on Wednesday, calling for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the country and for President Nicolas Maduro to step down.  Supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who last week swore himself in as the interim president, waved flags and banners. Guaido’s proclamation came after the opposition-controlled National Assembly declared Maduro’s second term "illegitimate".  Several smaller protests were held throughout the capital Caracas including in the neighbourhood of Altamira in the eastern part of the city.  "We are tired of so much misery, of not getting medicine, of spending the day looking for food from one place to another," 47-year-old Ana Bello told Al Jazeera, waving a flag. Bello, an office secretary, used her lunch break to join the protests.  In La Candelaria, in the centre of the city, protesters marched to the JM de los Rios Hospital, a paediatric centre. Some nurses and doctors left the health centre and joined the protest.  "We ask that they let humanitarian aid in," nurse Maria Alvarez told local media.  "Even though even our directors say it is not necessary, we know what it is like to see patients die due to lack of supplies," she was quoted as saying.  Millions have left Venezuela since 2015, fleeing hyperinflation, poverty and food and medicine shortages.  Protester Cesar Gonzalez, 55, said he wants his children and grandchildren to return to the country.  "We're becoming a country of old people. We have no future," he told Al Jazeera.  Guaido, who has the support of the United States, and several countries in the region, joined the protests outside the University Hospital of Venezuela's Central University where students chanted, "Guaido is here, Guaido is here and hope comes with him."  "We will recover the health system of Venezuela," he told the crowd, repeating his call for the military and police forces to support him.  Maduro accuses the opposition of staging a coup and says the US is waging an economic war aimed at removing him from power. On Monday, the US imposed sweeping sanctions on the state-owned oil firm, PDVSA. The US is also handing over control of some of Venezuela's bank accounts in the US to the opposition leader.  Maduro, on Wednesday, released a video in which he called on Americans to oppose US President Donald Trump's plans for Venezuela.  "We won't allow a Vietnam in Latin America," Maduro said in the video. "If the aim of the United States is to invade, they'll have a Vietnam worse than can be imagined."  A day earlier, he told Russia's state-owned RIA Novosti news agency that he would be willing to hold talks with Guaido "for the sake of Venezuela's peace and its future", backtracking from earlier comments.  Elsewhere in Venezuela, residents went about their daily routine.  "Things are hard, but I can't afford to stop working for two hours to go to Altamira to chant slogans," said Ana Gonzalez while trying to sell boxes of matches and retail cigarettes in a Caracas neighbourhood.  She didn't want to say if she was against Maduro or what she thought about Guaido. Instead, she talked about how her business has changed due to inflation.  Gonzalez said she now sells cigarettes, one stick at a time, adding that "not everyone has the money to buy a pack."  Others, including retired bricklayer Aldres Romero blame the opposition for the political crisis.  "They (the opposition) didn't want to go to the last May elections, it was their choice and now they cry fraud," he said. "I did vote, I voted for Maduro. The revolution gave me my pension and every month a box with food arrives to my house," said Romero, who was wearing a red shirt bearing the logo of former President Hugo Chavez.


aljazeera--2019-02-02--Venezuelan oil or Florida politics Why is Trump after Maduro

Venezuelan oil or Florida politics: Why is Trump after Maduro?

The United States has been quite transparent in its intentions regarding Venezuela - it is determined to get rid of the current government and install the unelected, self-declared president Juan Guaido.  The White House is very clear - it wants to overthrow the governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua; and the US control over the world's largest oil reserves.  However, there are concerns in Washington that the Trump administration has mistaken opposition to President Nicolas Maduro for support for US intervention, or for a candidate asking for military intervention.  Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi takes a look at how American domestic politics is shaping Washington's policy on Venezuela.