Senators call for probe of hydroxychloroquine use in nursing homes


Recent state inspection reports have revealed that nursing homes in Pennsylvania and Texas treated residents with hydroxychloroquine without state authorization and without the informed consent of those it was being administered to. Photo by Caroline Blumberg/EPA-EFE

Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Three Democratic senators on Thursday called for an investigation into the experimental use of hydroxychloroquine in nursing homes to treat COVID-19 patients following reports its was administered to residents without their informed consent and proper approvals.

In a letter sent to Christi Grimm, inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; requested she investigate whether the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services properly monitored the drug's off-label use to treat COVID-19 in nursing homes, whether proper steps were taken to ensure the patients were protected and to see to what extent it was administered without proper approval or consent.

Citing recent state inspector reports, the senators said a Pennsylvania nursing home administered the medicine without proper state approval to 205 of its 435 residents. In Texas, state inspection officials found a nursing home treated a cognitively impaired patient for COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine without the consent of the individual's guardian.

The senators said that with regular inspections suspended and visits restricted by families and the ombudsman due to the pandemic, other such instances of the drug's improper use may have occurred without notice.

"The use of this experimental treatment on patients without proper approval and without their consent is a violation of patient rights," they wrote.

A drug used to treat Lupus and malaria, hydroxychloroquine gained national attention after President Donald Trump mentioned it as a possible medicine to be used to combat COVID-19 in March and in May said that he was taking the experimental treatment.

The senators have called for Grimm to investigate whether nursing homes received informed consent to administer the drug, whether staff tracked and reported adverse effects caused by the drug, whether CMS acted to ensure the nursing homes followed all Medicare and Medicaid requirements and whether

They also sent letters to the heads of the Food and Drug Administration and CMS requesting information concerning hydroxychloroquine.

In the letter, the senators accused the Trump administration of issuing "misleading statements" concerning hydroxychloroquine, stating it is "doubling down" on its promotion of it early in the pandemic despite growing scientific evidence demonstrating it is not an effective treatment against COVID-19.

"This mixed messaging from the administration, coupled with an absence of clear guidance, has led to the drug's continued use, even after the FDA issued warnings about its safety," the letter to Stephen Hahn of the Food and Drug Administration said.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urges India to end use of coal

Haze from air pollution is seen in New Delhi, India. Guterres said Friday that investments in clean energy in India can create millions of jobs and expand electricity access to hundreds of millions.

Aug. 28 (UPI) -- United Nations Secretary-general Antonio Guterres called on India Friday to stop using coal as a source of affordable energy, saying it must end the fossil fuel if it truly wants to be a global superpower.

Guterres made his comments virtually during the annual Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture.

The U.N. chief said India needs to cease building any new coal-fired plants after 2020 and begin phasing it out altogether. He said India is in an ideal position to profit economically and fight climate change.

"Investments in renewable energy, clean transport and energy efficiency during the recovery from the [COVID-19] pandemic could extend electricity access to 270 million people worldwide -- fully a third of the people that currently lack it," Guterres said.

"These same investments could help create 9 million jobs annually over the next three years. Investments in renewable energy generate three times more jobs than investments in polluting fossil fuels."

Guterres added that nations like Britain, South Korea and Germany, plus the European Union, have all increased the pace of removing carbon emissions from their economies.

"They are shifting from unsustainable fossil fuels to clean and efficient renewables, and investing in energy storage solutions, such as green hydrogen," he said. "And it is not just developed economies stepping up. Many in the developing world are leading by example -- countries such as Nigeria, which has recently reformed its fossil fuel subsidy framework."

Navroz Dubash, a professor at the Center for Policy Research, said a departure from coal in one of the largest nations on Earth would be difficult.

"Instead of more targets and pledges, India needs to actively plan to hasten and smoothen the path from coal to renewable energy," Dubash said. "This means planning for new livelihood opportunities in coal mining areas to ensure a just transition, ensuring the robustness of the grid, and making sure the costs of transition are not borne by poor consumers."

Amnesty Int'l: India police 'indulged' in violence, torture during protests

A riot police officer is seen among debris at an area that was damaged by clashes between activists and police officers in New Delhi, India, on February 27. Activists protested a controversial citizenship law that offers amnesty to refugees from neighboring nations. File Photo by EPA-EFE

Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Amnesty International on Friday accused police in India of human rights violations in dealing with activists during mass demonstrators this year that resulted in more than 50 deaths, mostly among minority Muslims.

The protests in February opposed a controversial citizenship law in India that offers amnesty to refugees from neighboring nations, as long as they aren't Muslim. The law angered many in India's largest minority religious community


Amnesty International India said in a 20-page report Friday that it examined claims from dozens of activists, witnesses, attorneys and police officers.

"[Our] investigation has documented several human rights violations committed by the Delhi police," the report states. "These violations include Delhi police officers indulging in violence with the rioters; torturing in custody; using excessive force on protesters; dismantling protest sites used by peaceful protesters and being mute bystanders as rioters wreaked havoc."
The organization said it used open-source and digital investigation tools to corroborate the videos, and called on India's government to begin an impartial investigation.

Avinash Kumar, executive director of Amnesty International India, said there have been no efforts yet to punish officers who might have acted with excessive and unnecessary force.

"The Delhi police report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and it is shocking that there has been no attempt by the MHA to hold the Delhi police accountable [until] now," Kumar said in a statement.

"This, despite several of their violations being live-streamed on social media platforms. There have been several news and fact-finding reports published during these six months documenting the violations."

Dolphin die-offs on the rise in Mauritius following oil spill

A man holds open the mouth of a dead Melon-headed whale on Thursday. Marine animals including dolphins, fish and crabs have been found dead following an oil spill involving a Japanese-owned ship off the coast of Mauritius. File Photo by Laura Morosoli/EPA-EFE

Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Dead dolphins are washing onshore in Mauritius following a massive oil spill involving a Japanese-owned ship in July.

As many as 18 dolphins have been found dead along the coast of the island country, prompting calls for an investigation, Al Jazeera reported.

"This is a deeply sad and alarming day for the people of Mauritius," said Happy Khambule, the senior climate and energy campaign manager for Greenpeace Africa, on Wednesday.

"Greenpeace appeals to the authorities to carry out a swift, transparent and public autopsy on the bodies collected."

The ship MV Wakashio, was carrying about 3,800 tons of fuel oil when it ran aground. The vessel struck coral reef on the southeast coast of Mauritius on July 25.

Oil began to leak on Aug. 6. The ship later broke in half, spilling 1,000 tons of fuel oil.

Opinion is divided over whether the oil spill is responsible for the deaths of the dolphins.

Mauritius' fisheries minister said that "at first glance" the deaths appear to be unconnected to the oil, the BBC reported.

Oceanographer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo, who works with coastal fishing communities to prepare for climate change, said the dolphins smelled of fuel.

"In my opinion, this situation will continue to deteriorate as time goes on," Kauppaymuthoo said, according to local media in Mauritius.

Residents of Mauritius say they are devastated by the news of the dead dolphins. Fish and crabs have also been discovered dead by locals.

"Waking up this morning to witness so many dead dolphins on our seashore is worse than a nightmare," said Nitin Jeeha, according to the BBC. "I have seen around eight to 10 dead dolphins. Are there more in the lagoon?"

ACLU sues Trump administration over federal agents at Portland protests

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf testifies on the use of federal agents during protests in Portland on Aug. 6. On Wednesday, the ACLU sued the Trump administration over the actions of federal agents. Pool Photo by Alex Wong/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration stating that federal agents violated the rights of protesters in Portland, Ore.

The lawsuit was filed by ACLU Oregon on behalf of protesters who were allegedly beaten, tear-gassed, shot, abducted and sprayed with chemical agents by federal law enforcement during demonstrations in Portland.

The suit names President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security and its officials, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the federal agents involved as defendants, and seeks damages for the injuries sustained by the plaintiffs and a declaration that the Trump administration and federal agents violated the Constitution and federal law in their actions.

"President Trump, Chad Wolf and this administration have attempted to silence a movement that dares to realize the American dream of a nation where everyone, not just white people, can live free," said Kelly Simon, interim legal director of ACLU Oregon. "This lawsuit seeks to hold the Trump administration accountable for its dangerous and profoundly unconstitutional actions in Portland. Black lives matter."

The plaintiffs include Chris David, a Navy veteran who was seen on video apparently being beaten and gassed by federal agents; Mark Pettibone, who said he was abducted by federal agents in an unmarked van; and Mac Smiff, who said he was temporarily blinded after being shot in the head with an impact munition.

"Protesting is supposed to be the bedrock of democracy, but when protests are about Black lives, it is shut down," said Shanice Clarke of the Black Millennial Movement, another plaintiff in the suit.

Trump sent federal police to Portland with an executive order aimed at protecting statues, monuments and other government property amid protests against systemic racism and police brutality, despite opposition from local leaders.A group of Oregon lawmakers and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum have also filed lawsuits regarding the actions of federal law enforcement.

Prosecutors charge 74 with crimes related to Portland protest

ACCORDING TO FOX NEWS IT IS CHAOS AND ANARCHY IN THE STREETS OF AMERICA AND AN UNREGISTERED DRONE

DANGEROUS USE OF A LEAF BLOWER

Activists protest against racism and police brutality and clash with local and federal officers at the Justice Center in Portland, Ore., on July 27. File Photo by David Swanson/EPA-EFE

Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors say they have charged at least 74 people with crimes associated with weeks of civil rights protests in Portland Ore., following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said Thursday the accused face charges for "crimes committed adjacent to or under the guise of peaceful demonstrations" in Portland since late May.

The Justice Department said more than 100 people have been arrested in the connection with the protests, of which 74 face counts of assaults on federal officers, arson, damaging federal government property, failing to obey lawful orders and unlawful use of a drone.
President Donald Trump sent federal police to Portland and other cities in the weeks following Floyd's death to guard federal property. Federal forces left Portland last month.

RELATED ACLU sues Trump administration over federal agents at Portland protests

"Violent agitators have hijacked any semblance of First Amendment protected activity, engaging in violent criminal acts and destruction of public safety," Williams said in a statement, adding that "agitators" have only delayed "real reform" and make communities "less safe by keeping law enforcement from responding to other critical calls for service."

"The nightly violence has to stop," added Russel Burger, U.S. Marshal for the District of Oregon.

Protests in Portland have been going for more than three months, both as part of the Black Lives Matter movement and to oppose the federal police presence. Since Trump deployed the officers, there have been numerous arrests and accusations of excessive force and detainment without probable cause

Recently, Portland police have declared the late-night protests unlawful assemblies or riots and have arrested hundreds for offenses like rock-throwing, window-breaking and vandalism.
Mayor Ted Wheeler, who was arrested and even tear-gassed at one rally last month, urged residents this week to unite and denounce violence at the demonstrations.

"My call to action tonight is for all of us in this community to come together and say that we do not tolerate the violence, that we want it to end, and that we want to get about the business of cleaning up our community," he said in a virtual town hall meeting.

"We are going to arrest and hold accountable that small group of people who are engaged in the nightly violence," he added. "It has gone on way too long."

THAT WOULD BE THE WHITE RIGHT WING PORTLAND COPS

MGM Resorts to lay off nearly 20,000 furloughed workers


An empty Las Vegas Boulevard is seen on March 29, in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, in Las Vegas, Nev. At left are the Excalibur Hotel and Casino and New York, New York. On the right is the MGM Grand. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 28 (UPI) -- MGM Resorts said Friday it will start laying off nearly 20,000 furloughed employees next week.

In a letter to employees, MGM President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle blamed the coronavirus pandemic for ongoing problems nationwide with the gambling and hospitality industry.
Hornbuckle said about 18,000 workers will be laid off.
MGM owns some of the Las Vegas' best-known properties, including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York New York and the Mirage -- in addition to casinos and hotels in Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Washington, D.C.

MGM has about 63,000 people in its global workforce.
"I understand the impact this will have on these employees and their families," Hornbuckle said. "Nothing pains me more than delivering news like this. [The] leadership team is working around the clock to find ways to grow our business and welcome back more of our colleagues."

MGM Resorts also said, however, it will extend health benefits for laid off workers through September. Employees rehired before the end of the year will retain their seniority, it added.
Tourism in Las Vegas fell by more than 60% in July, the first full month Nevada casinos were allowed to reopen following the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said there were no conventions last month and hotel occupancy was down by more than half compared to July 2019.

Grocers fight back against calls for a government enforced business code of conduct

Retail Council of Canada says intervention could lead to higher food costs for consumers

ONLY IF THE GOVT LETS THEM RAISE PRICES

Author of the article:Financial Post Staff
Publishing date:Aug 28, 2020 •

Advocates are calling for the government to step in and regulate the relationships between supermarkets and their suppliers. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER DILTS/BLOOMBERG FILES

TRENDING
Retail apocalypse now?: A day of reckoning may be approaching for two of Brookfield's property entities

The industry association representing Canada’s biggest grocers on Thursday pushed back against calls for the government to step in and regulate the relationships between supermarkets and their suppliers.

The Retail Council of Canada was responding to a group of associations representing farmers, food processors and independent retailers that on Wednesday wrote a letter asking the federal government to commit in the upcoming Throne Speech to start work on a grocery code of conduct.

Grocers fight back against calls for a government enforced business code of conduct

The letter to three federal ministers is part of the ongoing backlash against Walmart Canada’s recent move to charge its vendors more fees as a way of recouping some of the $3.5 billion it plans to spend on upgrading its infrastructure.

Advocates say a code of conduct would help by laying out rules and fair business practices, such as how stores charge fees to get products on their shelves and levy fines when products are late or insufficient. But the Retail Council of Canada said government intervention could lead to suppliers charging grocers higher prices, which would then lead to higher food costs for consumers.

Farmers, food processors and indie retailers team up to ask feds to rein in big grocers
Big grocers face more potential trouble as Dominion workers in Newfoundland strike
The flaw in the food system: Are Canadians ready for the consequences of paying farm workers more?
Food suppliers feeling pinched as grocers hike fees

“You want to be careful what you wish for,” said RCC spokesperson Karl Littler. “We’re not sure that government or Canadian citizens want to see food costs pushed higher for Canadian families, but, in effect, that’s what the food processors are asking for.”

In their letter to the government on Wednesday, eight major industry associations — representing a cross-section of the Canadian agri-food sector, from dairy processors and bakers to small grocers — complained that grocery sector consolidation had “distorted fair market practices,” thereby squeezing profit margins and making it harder for food producers to innovate and invest in their Canadian operations.

You want to be careful what you wish for
KARL LITTLER, RCC SPOKESPERSON

“When excessive concentration has distorted the free market, as in for example the payments or wireless industries, the federal government has responded by introducing Codes of Conduct that provide more fairness and accountability,” said the letter, which was sent to the ministers of industry, agriculture and small business. “In our view, there is no less a need for such a mechanism in our agri-food industry.”

Small Business Minister Mary Ng’s office said the government shares the suppliers’ concerns about fair market practices.

“We are listening and will continue to work with the industry on a level playing field for all businesses,” Ng’s spokesperson Eleanore Catenaro said in an email.

Food and Consumer Products Canada (FCPC), which represents suppliers, has for several years been the most vocal critic of supplier fees. It has also chastised Walmart’s proposed new fees for having “diabolical timing,” since manufacturers are still struggling with reduced capacity due to safety protocols related to the pandemic.
Walmart Canada says it will charge its vendors more fees as a way of recouping some of the $3.5 billion it plans to spend on upgrading its infrastructure. PHOTO BY KEVIN KING/WINNIPEG SUN/POSTMEDIA NETWORK FILES

FCPC, which has long advocated for a grocery code of conduct, was one of the signatories of Wednesday’s letter, along with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

“Some of the companies behind this push are amongst the world’s largest,” said Littler at RCC. “Go on the FCPC site and look at their membership. It’s Coca-Cola, it’s Nestlé, it’s Kraft-Heinz, it’s Johnson & Johnson.”

Littler also said supermarkets have operated on thinner margins than growers and food processors, citing 2018 Statistics Canada data that showed margins of 4.4 per cent for wholesale food sellers and 1.6 per cent for supermarkets.

“It’s not surprising that the food processors would like higher profits,” he said, “but it’s not something that we view the government should put its thumb on the scale on behalf of one party in this commercial negotiation.”

FCPC responded on Friday, stressing the code of conduct it is proposing is based on a model used in the United Kingdom, which would specifically address “unfair punitive behaviour” such as significant fines for minor delivery shortfalls, not “costing-related” negotiations between suppliers and grocers.

The move is “aimed at protecting our domestic food production and Canadian jobs,” FCPC spokesperson Anthony Fuchs said in an email. “If left unchecked, we will be faced with an environment in which we have shiny new retail stores but crippled manufacturing in Canada.”

Financial Post

Protesters set up a guillotine outside Jeff Bezos' mansion and demanded higher wages for Amazon workers after the CEO's net worth surpassed $200 billion

Aaron Holmes
Aug 27, 2020

Demonstrators set up a guillotine outside Jeff Bezos' house to protest Amazon workers' wages on Thursday.

The protest came the day after Bezos' net worth exceeded $200 billion for the first time, making him one of the richest people in history.

Protesters, led by former warehouse worker and outspoken Amazon critic Christian Smalls, called on the company to raise its minimum wage to $30 per hour.

More than 100 demonstrators gathered outside Jeff Bezos' Washington, DC, mansion on Thursday and constructed a guillotine outside his front door to protest Amazon workers' wages.

The protest came the day after Bezos' net worth surpassed $200 billion, making him the richest person in history, according to Forbes. His wealth has grown by about $85 billion since January, boosted by Amazon's soaring revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angelia Mathlin, an Amazon warehouse worker who traveled to D.C. from Jacksonville, Fla. for Thursday's protest, told Business Insider that she wanted to protest Amazon's enforcement of mandatory overtime during the pandemic. Mathlin, who is currently on medical leave, said she felt unsafe showing up to work amid spiking COVID-19 cases in Florida.
"While [Bezos is] off living his luxury lifestyle, the people in his warehouses are suffering," Mathlin said. "They make all this money off the backs of essential workers. They call us heroes, but you don't force a hero to be a hero. We aren't heroes. We don't have a choice."

The guillotine was just a prop and not functional, Maphlin added.

A video posted to Twitter by a Washington Examiner reporter shows former Amazon warehouse worker Christian Smalls, an outspoken Amazon critic, calling on the company to raise its minimum wage from $15 per hour to $30 per hour in light of Bezos' surging wealth. The protest was led by the Congress of Essential Workers, a group founded by Smalls.

"Give a good reason why we don't deserve a $30 minimum wage when this man makes $4,000 a second," Smalls said.

Smalls was fired from Amazon's Staten Island warehouse after calling for better safety standards amid the pandemic. He said he was fired as retaliation for organizing a walkout after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus, but Amazon denied this.

Since then, he has led multiple protests targeting Amazon and Bezos, including an August 10 protest outside Bezos' New York apartment building.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted some Amazon employees to speak out about working conditions, it's also been a financial boon for the company. It reported $88.9 billion in sales in the second quarter of 2020, a record for the company.

An Amazon spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Coca-Cola offers voluntary layoffs to thousands of workers
Coca-Cola said it will make severance offers "in many countries internationally" and that the plan will cost between $350 million and $550 million. File Photo by Billie Jean Shaw/UPI

Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Coca-Cola said Friday it will offer voluntary layoffs to 4,000 employees and hinted that involuntary job cuts would follow.
The announcement is part of the company's plan to restructure its workforce

Coca-Cola said the voluntary layoffs are intended to mitigate involuntary layoffs.

The company said the voluntary layoffs will be offered at its U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican operations.

"We have been on a multi-year journey to transform our organization," Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said in a statement. "The changes in our operating model will shift our marketing to drive more growth and put execution closer to customers and consumers while prioritizing a portfolio of strong brands and disciplined innovation framework.

"As we implement these changes, we're continuing to evolve our organization, which will include significant changes in the structure of our workforce."

Coca-Cola said it will make similar severance offers "in many countries internationally" and that the plan will cost between $350 million and $550 million.

The soft drink company, which has more than 80,000 employees worldwide, said it's creating nine new operating units. Coca-Cola said they will offer "more consistency in structure" and focus on eliminating repetition of resources.