All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Germany First (III) – GERMAN-FOREIGN-POLICY.com

(Own report) – At the euro finance minister’s video conference the German government blocked the introduction of “coronabonds,” in spite of massive pressure from other EU nations and recently even from within Germany. Whereas mainly Italy, Spain and France had insisted that this measure be taken, voices are now being raised from within the German establishment warning that the German government should stop blocking its implementation. The reason, as leading Green Party politicians are explaining, is that should Italy and Spain suffer economic collapse, Germany’s export industry would be seriously damaged by the loss of these important markets, and – should German assistance be refused – both countries could turn to China. This must be prevented. The “coronabonds” will cost Germany, however, specialists estimated years ago that the costs would be in the lower double-digit billions, while Germany is simultaneously reaping triple-digit billions in profits – annually.
— Read on www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/8243/

UK’s Raab says he has not spoken to Johnson since taking over – Reuters

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not had any contact with his deputy, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, since he stepped in to fill Johnson’s role, Raab said on Thursday, adding that he has enough power to make key decisions without his boss.
— Read on www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-raab/uks-raab-says-he-has-not-spoken-to-johnson-since-taking-over-idUSKCN21R3AP

Boris not gonna like that

Poultry Worker’s Death Highlights Spread of Coronavirus in Meat Plants – The New York Times

Some employees are coming in sick, and one woman died after being ordered back to work. “Our work conditions are out of control,” a longtime Tyson employee said.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/us/coronavirus-chicken-meat-processing-plants-immigrants.html

Tyson better get it’s act together – test workers as they come to work help them if they become ill. Or guess what happens to their reputation and certification…

Trump scapegoating of WHO obscures its key role in tackling pandemic | World news | The Guardian

The World Health Organization has a tiny budget – for which the US is in arrears – but experts have praised its response to the coronavirus crisis
— Read on www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/08/world-health-organization-coronavirus-donald-trump

Totally self-serving and wrong

A Company Promised Cheap Ventilators to the Government, Never Delivered and Is Now Charging Quadruple the Price for New Ones — ProPublica

Royal Philips N.V. agreed in September to sell 10,000 ventilators to the U.S. for $3,280 each. It did not deliver. But the Dutch company just announced a new deal with the government. This time, it’s charging roughly $15,000 each.

Source: A Company Promised Cheap Ventilators to the Government, Never Delivered and Is Now Charging Quadruple the Price for New Ones — ProPublica