newswars--2020-08-17--Why Americans Should Adopt the Sweden Model on Covid-19

Figure 1 illustrates the daily mortality attributed to covid-19 in Sweden , New York , Illinois , and Texas .
The figure plots the daily number of deaths per million population .
This figure illustrates the rise and fall of deaths from covid-19 in four different policy environments .
The data were obtained from Worldometer .
Sweden ( blue dots ) has served as a control group to compare policies intended to decrease deaths from covid-19 .
Sweden has been unfairly criticized for its policy despite having an outcome more favorable than places with authoritarian lockdown policies .
Sweden did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopping gatherings of more than fifty people , the Swedish government left decisions of closing businesses , using masks , and social distancing to the Swedish people .
The government encouraged the use of masks and social distancing , but there were no requirements and there were no penalties for those who declined to follow the advice .
Mortality attributed to covid-19 hit a peak value of 11.38 deaths per day per million population on April 8 , 2020 .
This mortality was matched on April 15 , and mortality has decreased since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one death per day per million population for the previous eighteen days .
Cases are very low .
For all practical purposes , the covid-19 epidemic is over in Sweden .
Almost certainly herd immunity has been achieved in Sweden irrespective of any antibody test results .
Testing is usually only for IgG antibody and the herd can become immune via IgA antibody or cellular mechanisms that are not detected by the usual testing .
Whether covid-19 will reappear this next fall or winter remains to be seen .
New York : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horse Has Already Left New York ( brown dots ) has been a catastrophe .
On March 20 , 2020 , a full lockdown was implemented .
Nonessential businesses were ordered to close .
Workers in nonessential businesses were ordered to work only from home .
Pharmacies , grocery stores , liquor stores , and wine stores were deemed to be essential and allowed to remain open .
Restaurants and bars could only deliver to homes .
In addition to the lockdown , nursing homes were ordered on March 25 , 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in transfer from hospitals .
On May 10 , this order was changed such that patients had to test negative for the virus before being transferred to nursing homes , but the damage had already been done .
By April 7 , 2020 , within three weeks of the nursing home order , a daily mortality of over fifty deaths per day per million population had been reached .
This daily mortality rate was almost five times the peak rate observed in Sweden , where no lockdown was implemented .
The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry the same risk of death by covid-19 .
The New York data clearly shows that interactions among young and healthy people have a much different risk than interactions between the young and elderly and interactions among the elderly .
By facilitating the transmission of the virus from hospitals to nursing homes , the rate of spread within the elderly population was maximized , and any possible benefit from lockdown of the young and healthy population was rendered moot .
The general population was kept locked down after the virus had been broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline of deaths from the peak levels in New York , with its harsh lockdown , has followed roughly the same time course as what has been observed in Sweden without any lockdown .
It is unclear whether the lockdown interfered with herd immunity or not .
This will not be known until after the economy and schools are completely reopened for at least a month .
Illinois ( gray dots ) has more subtle differences from Sweden than does New York .
Illinois also implemented a harsh lockdown on March 20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order as in New York .
The daily mortality rate increased more slowly than it did in New York and Sweden , reaching a peak of over fifteen deaths per day per million population on May 17 , 2020 .
The daily mortality has declined more slowly than it did in New York and Sweden , and it remains significantly higher than the rates in those places .
The most likely explanation for the Illinois data is that the lockdown did indeed slow the rate of transmission among the young and healthy but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from young people to elderly people .
The lockdown appears to have made more deaths from covid-19 in Illinois than would have occurred without it .
Almost certainly herd immunity has not been achieved and will not be achieved until the schools and economy are reopened .
Texas : The Ox Is Slow , but the Earth Is Patient Texas ( gold dots ) had very few deaths following a less harsh lockdown than was implemented in New York and Illinois .
Nonessential businesses were closed on March 31 .
Outdoor activities were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not required .
Governor Abbott was criticized for not squeezing hard enough , but predictions that Texas health care would be overwhelmed by late April failed to materialize .
Texas appeared to be a success story , with a much lower mortality , and the state began a phased reopening of the economy on May 1 , 2020 .
By late June , however , cases of covid-19 were increasing and the daily mortality rate was creeping up .
The general reopening was paused , and some relaxations of measures were rescinded on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily mortality rate hit a peak of over ten deaths per day per million population on July 31 , 2020 .
The Texas mortality peak is almost bad as the peak rate seen in Sweden , but Texas still has a largely closed economy .
Texans are debating whether schools should be reopened or not .
Sweden does not have to worry about its schools , because it never closed its schools .
Texas will eventually have to reopen its schools and economy .
It would appear that covid-19 deaths were deferred rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overall covid-19 mortality is lower in Texas ( 293 deaths per million population ) than in Sweden ( 570 ) , the current daily mortality in Texas is much higher than in Sweden , so covid-19 mortality in Texas may catch up to Sweden over the next 30–60 days .
Furthermore , the situation in Texas will likely get worse when the schools and economy are reopened , as they eventually must be .
Like the ox and the Earth , the lockdown slowed the transmission of the virus among the young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be very patient and will spread when it is able to .
The data suggest that lockdowns have not prevented any deaths from covid-19 .
At best , lockdowns have deferred death for a short time , but they can not possibly be continued for the long term .
It seems likely that one will not have to even compare economic deprivation with loss of life , as the final death toll following authoritarian lockdowns will most likely exceed the deaths from letting people choose how to manage their own risk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ account , history will likely judge these lockdowns to be the greatest policy error of this generation .
Covid-19 is not going to be defeated ; we will have to learn how to coexist with it .
The only way we can learn how best to cope with covid-19 is to let individuals manage their own risk , observe the outcomes , and learn from mistakes .
The world owes a great debt to Sweden for setting an example that the rest of us can follow .

Figure 1 illustrates the daily mortality attributed to covid-19 in Sweden, New York, Illinois, and Texas.
The figure plots the daily number of deaths per million population. This figure illustrates the rise and fall of deaths from covid-19 in four different policy environments. The data were obtained from Worldometer.
Sweden: The Control Group
Sweden (blue dots) has served as a control group to compare policies intended to decrease deaths from covid-19. Sweden has been unfairly criticized for its policy despite having an outcome more favorable than places with authoritarian lockdown policies. Sweden did not close its schools. Other than stopping gatherings of more than fifty people, the Swedish government left decisions of closing businesses, using masks, and social distancing to the Swedish people. The government encouraged the use of masks and social distancing, but there were no requirements and there were no penalties for those who declined to follow the advice. Mortality attributed to covid-19 hit a peak value of 11.38 deaths per day per million population on April 8, 2020. This mortality was matched on April 15, and mortality has decreased since then. Daily mortality has been less than one death per day per million population for the previous eighteen days. Cases are very low. For all practical purposes, the covid-19 epidemic is over in Sweden. Almost certainly herd immunity has been achieved in Sweden irrespective of any antibody test results. Testing is usually only for IgG antibody and the herd can become immune via IgA antibody or cellular mechanisms that are not detected by the usual testing. Whether covid-19 will reappear this next fall or winter remains to be seen.
New York: Locking the Barn Door Shut after the Horse Has Already Left
New York (brown dots) has been a catastrophe. On March 20, 2020, a full lockdown was implemented. Nonessential businesses were ordered to close. Workers in nonessential businesses were ordered to work only from home. Pharmacies, grocery stores, liquor stores, and wine stores were deemed to be essential and allowed to remain open. Restaurants and bars could only deliver to homes. In addition to the lockdown, nursing homes were ordered on March 25, 2020, to accept patients positive for the covid-19 virus in transfer from hospitals. On May 10, this order was changed such that patients had to test negative for the virus before being transferred to nursing homes, but the damage had already been done. By April 7, 2020, within three weeks of the nursing home order, a daily mortality of over fifty deaths per day per million population had been reached. This daily mortality rate was almost five times the peak rate observed in Sweden, where no lockdown was implemented.
The New York policy assumed that all human interactions carry the same risk of death by covid-19. The New York data clearly shows that interactions among young and healthy people have a much different risk than interactions between the young and elderly and interactions among the elderly. By facilitating the transmission of the virus from hospitals to nursing homes, the rate of spread within the elderly population was maximized, and any possible benefit from lockdown of the young and healthy population was rendered moot. The general population was kept locked down after the virus had been broadly disseminated among the elderly population. The decline of deaths from the peak levels in New York, with its harsh lockdown, has followed roughly the same time course as what has been observed in Sweden without any lockdown. It is unclear whether the lockdown interfered with herd immunity or not. This will not be known until after the economy and schools are completely reopened for at least a month.
Illinois: A Flattened Curve Led to More Deaths
Illinois (gray dots) has more subtle differences from Sweden than does New York. Illinois also implemented a harsh lockdown on March 20, 2020. There was no nursing home order as in New York. The daily mortality rate increased more slowly than it did in New York and Sweden, reaching a peak of over fifteen deaths per day per million population on May 17, 2020. The daily mortality has declined more slowly than it did in New York and Sweden, and it remains significantly higher than the rates in those places. The most likely explanation for the Illinois data is that the lockdown did indeed slow the rate of transmission among the young and healthy but also allowed a longer time for transmission from young people to elderly people. The lockdown appears to have made more deaths from covid-19 in Illinois than would have occurred without it. Almost certainly herd immunity has not been achieved and will not be achieved until the schools and economy are reopened.
Texas: The Ox Is Slow, but the Earth Is Patient
Texas (gold dots) had very few deaths following a less harsh lockdown than was implemented in New York and Illinois. Nonessential businesses were closed on March 31. Outdoor activities were permitted. Social distancing was advised but not required. Governor Abbott was criticized for not squeezing hard enough, but predictions that Texas health care would be overwhelmed by late April failed to materialize. Texas appeared to be a success story, with a much lower mortality, and the state began a phased reopening of the economy on May 1, 2020. By late June, however, cases of covid-19 were increasing and the daily mortality rate was creeping up. The general reopening was paused, and some relaxations of measures were rescinded on June 26, 2020. The Texas daily mortality rate hit a peak of over ten deaths per day per million population on July 31, 2020. The Texas mortality peak is almost bad as the peak rate seen in Sweden, but Texas still has a largely closed economy. Texans are debating whether schools should be reopened or not. Sweden does not have to worry about its schools, because it never closed its schools. Texas will eventually have to reopen its schools and economy. It would appear that covid-19 deaths were deferred rather than prevented by the lockdown. Although the overall covid-19 mortality is lower in Texas (293 deaths per million population) than in Sweden (570), the current daily mortality in Texas is much higher than in Sweden, so covid-19 mortality in Texas may catch up to Sweden over the next 30–60 days. Furthermore, the situation in Texas will likely get worse when the schools and economy are reopened, as they eventually must be. Like the ox and the Earth, the lockdown slowed the transmission of the virus among the young and healthy, but the virus appears to be very patient and will spread when it is able to.
Conclusions
The data suggest that lockdowns have not prevented any deaths from covid-19. At best, lockdowns have deferred death for a short time, but they cannot possibly be continued for the long term. It seems likely that one will not have to even compare economic deprivation with loss of life, as the final death toll following authoritarian lockdowns will most likely exceed the deaths from letting people choose how to manage their own risk. After taking the unprecedented economic depression into account, history will likely judge these lockdowns to be the greatest policy error of this generation. Covid-19 is not going to be defeated; we will have to learn how to coexist with it. The only way we can learn how best to cope with covid-19 is to let individuals manage their own risk, observe the outcomes, and learn from mistakes. The world owes a great debt to Sweden for setting an example that the rest of us can follow.


newswars--2020-08-17--Occupy America Covid Lockdown Hoax Continues: Watch Live

Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video .
Alex Jones Show : The Lockdown is Permanent : Welcome to @ @ @ @ @ has publicly announced that the lockdown will never end and forced inoculations are on the @ @ @ @ @ learn how to stop the end of the world Tune in as we witness the @ @ @ @ @ The globalists are exploiting the Covid crisis to usher in a new technocratic era defined @ @ @ @ @ compliance of the population : Share the link to this highly censored transmission On this @ @ @ @ @ Knight Show , viewers will receive an update on the weekend ’ s top news @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ahead this week .
From the left Vs. right brawl in Michigan to @ @ @ @ @ who nearly killed a man over the weekend , tension between Americans continues to escalate @

Owen Shroyer hosts this LIVE edition of War Room, weekdays 3-6 p.m. CT.
Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video.
Alex Jones Show: The Lockdown is Permanent: Welcome to the Post-Industrial World
Bill Gates has publicly announced that the lockdown will never end and forced inoculations are on the way – tune in to learn how to stop the end of the world
Tune in as we witness the “Great Reset:” The globalists are exploiting the Covid crisis to usher in a new technocratic era defined by mass surveillance and forced compliance of the population:
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David Knight Show: Lockdown Initiates Civil Unrest and Economic Decline
Share the link to this highly censored transmission
On this Monday broadcast of The David Knight Show, viewers will receive an update on the weekend’s top news, as well as what’s ahead this week.
From the left Vs. right brawl in Michigan to the group of BLM rioters who nearly killed a man over the weekend, tension between Americans continues to escalate.


newswars--2020-08-17--The War on Landlords Has Begun

The War on Landlords Has Begun

As the widening gyre that that is 2020 continues to turn , it seems that every day some new disastrous and ill-thought-out proposal is made or policy implemented .
Among the chaos , the chorus to cancel rent in particular has stuck out for its sheer insolence and the ease with which it has entered the discourse as a sensible policy solution .
The idea of abolishing rent is not new , but until now it has never really been considered anything but a nutty pipe dream .
But with the economic carnage wreaked by the virus and ensuing government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be viewed as a conceivable policy option .
With tens of millions out of work , the ability to pay for basic necessities like housing is obviously a valid concern , but the callousness of the idea of simply expropriating housing from property owners is disturbing and indicative of darker trends coursing through the body politic in these turbulent times .
One of the most high-profile leaders of the cancel rent movement is Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar , who introduced legislation in April that basically amounts to nothing other than government extortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill would simply cancel all rent and mortgage payments for primary residencies across the entire country until a month after the federal state of emergency has ended .
Attempting to collect rent or reporting the nonpayment of rent to credit agencies results in increasing fines , including the seizure of one ’ s property .
After Omar had taken a baseball bat to landlords ’ knees everywhere , she generously extended a government crutch , with strings attached , of course .
Landlords who accepted federal aid in compensation would be required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , and they would not be able to take into consideration someone ’ s credit or criminal history when taking rental applications .
Additionally , landlords would be required to provide tenants with 10 percent equity in the property .
The mafia would be proud of such a blatant shakedown .
Fortunately , Omar ’ s bill has a snowball ’ s chance in hell of becoming law at the moment , but that doesn ’ t mean that people will not keep trying to cancel rent .
Since the crisis began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on people to simply stop paying their rent in an attempt to simply force its cancellation .
Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary wrote that “ this movement is not without merit , ” but at least pointed out that while many jurisdictions have put a moratorium on evictions , rent that is not paid now will still be owed if the tenant doesn ’ t want to face eviction when the moratoriums expire .
The United Neighborhood Defense Movement , which has a chapter agitating in Pittsburgh , has a manifesto chock full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capitalist system that oppresses everyone for failing to provide housing to them for free by virtue of their existence .
With the seriousness of a college freshman fresh off a bong hit , they declare that “ Housing should be collectively owned , managed , and built for the most benefit to those who live within them .
Housing is a people ’ s right , and should not be cause for private profiteering.
” Similarly , writing in Teen Vogue , Kandist Mallet launched a full-on socialist attack on the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privately owned housing causes “ economic violence ” and that the pandemic has exposed “ the cruelty of payment-based housing.
” According to Mallet , housing should be considered a human right that must be provided for everyone by virtue of their being born .
But instead the evil institution of property is defended by the state and its agents .
This is unsurprising , she declares , since the US is “ a country founded on the genocide and colonization of indigenous peoples.
” ” While rent should of course be canceled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end goal is “ a rejection of the construct that any one person should own this earth ’ s land.
” It is fitting that such a call for the abolition of property itself can be found in a fashion magazine like Teen Vogue , because it speaks to the heart of the issue true liberals are facing in the wider culture today .
Woke socialism has become fashionable , especially among the youth .
Some might say that Teen Vogue has moved away from its fashionable roots , but that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand that the Jacobin desire to tear existing institutions to the ground in the name of progress is “ in vogue , ” so to speak , and therefore promotes both sexual and socialist revolutionary fervor .
It does not bode well for our society when proposals to simply expropriate property are becoming more and more prevalent and discussed with more seriousness .
While it seems hard to imagine now , it is not out of the question that these antiproperty sentiments could continue to gain ground and eventually culminate in a genuine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was once the richest country in South America but is now a crumbling ruin thanks to the socialists who have been in power for two decades .
A similar fate awaits us unless we are able to prevent the continued erosion of the institution of private property in this country .

As the widening gyre that that is 2020 continues to turn, it seems that every day some new disastrous and ill-thought-out proposal is made or policy implemented.
Among the chaos, the chorus to cancel rent in particular has stuck out for its sheer insolence and the ease with which it has entered the discourse as a sensible policy solution.
The idea of abolishing rent is not new, but until now it has never really been considered anything but a nutty pipe dream. But with the economic carnage wreaked by the virus and ensuing government lockdown still ongoing it has disturbingly come to be viewed as a conceivable policy option. With tens of millions out of work, the ability to pay for basic necessities like housing is obviously a valid concern, but the callousness of the idea of simply expropriating housing from property owners is disturbing and indicative of darker trends coursing through the body politic in these turbulent times.
One of the most high-profile leaders of the cancel rent movement is Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who introduced legislation in April that basically amounts to nothing other than government extortion of landlords. Christian Britschgi reports that the bill would simply cancel all rent and mortgage payments for primary residencies across the entire country until a month after the federal state of emergency has ended. Attempting to collect rent or reporting the nonpayment of rent to credit agencies results in increasing fines, including the seizure of one’s property.
After Omar had taken a baseball bat to landlords’ knees everywhere, she generously extended a government crutch, with strings attached, of course. Landlords who accepted federal aid in compensation would be required to not raise the rent for five years, and they would not be able to take into consideration someone’s credit or criminal history when taking rental applications. Additionally, landlords would be required to provide tenants with 10 percent equity in the property. The mafia would be proud of such a blatant shakedown.
Fortunately, Omar’s bill has a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming law at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that people will not keep trying to cancel rent. Since the crisis began, groups around the country have called on people to simply stop paying their rent in an attempt to simply force its cancellation. Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary wrote that “this movement is not without merit,” but at least pointed out that while many jurisdictions have put a moratorium on evictions, rent that is not paid now will still be owed if the tenant doesn’t want to face eviction when the moratoriums expire.
The United Neighborhood Defense Movement, which has a chapter agitating in Pittsburgh, has a manifesto chock full of socialist buzzwords about the evils of the capitalist system that oppresses everyone for failing to provide housing to them for free by virtue of their existence. With the seriousness of a college freshman fresh off a bong hit, they declare that “Housing should be collectively owned, managed, and built for the most benefit to those who live within them. Housing is a people’s right, and should not be cause for private profiteering.”
Similarly, writing in Teen Vogue, Kandist Mallet launched a full-on socialist attack on the very idea of property itself, saying that privately owned housing causes “economic violence” and that the pandemic has exposed “the cruelty of payment-based housing.” According to Mallet, housing should be considered a human right that must be provided for everyone by virtue of their being born. But instead the evil institution of property is defended by the state and its agents. This is unsurprising, she declares, since the US is “a country founded on the genocide and colonization of indigenous peoples.””While rent should of course be canceled during the pandemic, she argues, the end goal is “a rejection of the construct that any one person should own this earth’s land.”
It is fitting that such a call for the abolition of property itself can be found in a fashion magazine like Teen Vogue, because it speaks to the heart of the issue true liberals are facing in the wider culture today. Woke socialism has become fashionable, especially among the youth. Some might say that Teen Vogue has moved away from its fashionable roots, but that is incorrect. Teen Vogue has come to understand that the Jacobin desire to tear existing institutions to the ground in the name of progress is “in vogue,” so to speak, and therefore promotes both sexual and socialist revolutionary fervor.
It does not bode well for our society when proposals to simply expropriate property are becoming more and more prevalent and discussed with more seriousness. While it seems hard to imagine now, it is not out of the question that these antiproperty sentiments could continue to gain ground and eventually culminate in a genuine unabashed socialist coming to power. Venezuela was once the richest country in South America but is now a crumbling ruin thanks to the socialists who have been in power for two decades. A similar fate awaits us unless we are able to prevent the continued erosion of the institution of private property in this country.


newswars--2020-08-17--WATCH: Antifa Arrives in Sturgis — And It Does Not Go Well

Antifa radicals discovered it was a bad idea to invade the 80th annual Sturgis motorcycle rally last week .
Footage @ @ @ @ @ , Saturday shows several Antifa members attempting to counter-protest the largely pro-Trump bike rally , @ @ @ @ @ wore face masks or practiced social distancing – much like at BLM protests .
Sturgis @ @ @ @ @ man , were forced to intervene to protect the leftists after one purple-haired Antifa protester @ @ @ @ @ ’ motorcycles , seen in the video below at 28:43 .
More from Newsweek on @ @ @ @ @ : A man has been arrested for allegedly kicking a biker at the Sturgis Motorcycle @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend during a largely peaceful protest .
Video posted on social media appears @ @ @ @ @ detaining the suspect while surrounded by a large crowd of bikers taking part in the @ @ @

Antifa radicals discovered it was a bad idea to invade the 80th annual Sturgis motorcycle rally last week.
Footage from Sturgis, South Dakota, Saturday shows several Antifa members attempting to counter-protest the largely pro-Trump bike rally, where few if any participants wore face masks or practiced social distancing – much like at BLM protests.
Sturgis police, who arrested one man, were forced to intervene to protect the leftists after one purple-haired Antifa protester kicked one of the bikers’ motorcycles, seen in the video below at 28:43.
More from Newsweek on the man’s arrest:
A man has been arrested for allegedly kicking a biker at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota rally over the weekend during a largely peaceful protest.
Video posted on social media appears to show several police officers detaining the suspect while surrounded by a large crowd of bikers taking part in the annual rally.


newswars--2020-08-17--NASA Researchers Track Slowly Splitting ‘Dent’ in Earth’s Magnetic Field

A small but evolving dent in Earth ’ s magnetic field can cause big headaches for satellites .
Earth ’ s magnetic field acts like a protective shield around the planet , repelling and trapping charged particles from the Sun .
But over South America and the southern Atlantic Ocean , an unusually weak spot in the field – called the South Atlantic Anomaly , or SAA – allows these particles to dip closer to the surface than normal .
Particle radiation in this region can knock out onboard computers and interfere with the data collection of satellites that pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA scientists want to track and study the anomaly .
The South Atlantic Anomaly is also of interest to NASA ’ s Earth scientists who monitor the changes in magnetic field strength there , both for how such changes affect Earth ’ s atmosphere and as an indicator of what ’ s happening to Earth ’ s magnetic fields , deep inside the globe .
Currently , the SAA creates no visible impacts on daily life on the surface .
However , recent observations and forecasts show that the region is expanding westward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is also splitting – recent data shows the anomaly ’ s valley , or region of minimum field strength , has split into two lobes , creating additional challenges for satellite missions .
A host of NASA scientists in geomagnetic , geophysics , and heliophysics research groups observe and model the SAA , to monitor and predict future changes – and help prepare for future challenges to satellites and humans in space .
The South Atlantic Anomaly arises from two features of Earth ’ s core : The tilt of its magnetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metals within its outer core .
Earth is a bit like a bar magnet , with north and south poles that represent opposing magnetic polarities and invisible magnetic field lines encircling the planet between them .
But unlike a bar magnet , the core magnetic field is not perfectly aligned through the globe , nor is it perfectly stable .
That ’ s because the field originates from Earth ’ s outer core : molten , iron-rich and in vigorous motion 1800 miles below the surface .
These churning metals act like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating electric currents that produce the magnetic field .
As the core motion changes over time , due to complex geodynamic conditions within the core and at the boundary with the solid mantle up above , the magnetic field fluctuates in space and time too .
These dynamical processes in the core ripple outward to the magnetic field surrounding the planet , generating the SAA and other features in the near-Earth environment – including the tilt and drift of the magnetic poles , which are moving over time .
These evolutions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time scale to the convection of metals in the outer core , provide scientists with new clues to help them unravel the core dynamics that drive the geodynamo .
“ The magnetic field is actually a superposition of fields from many current sources , ” said Terry Sabaka , a geophysicist at NASA ’ s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt , Maryland .
Regions outside of the solid Earth also contribute to the observed magnetic field .
However , he said , the bulk of the field comes from the core .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tilt of the magnetic axis together produce the anomaly , the area of weaker magnetism – allowing charged particles trapped in Earth ’ s magnetic field to dip closer to the surface .
The Sun expels a constant outflow of particles and magnetic fields known as the solar wind and vast clouds of hot plasma and radiation called coronal mass ejections .
When this solar material streams across space and strikes Earth ’ s magnetosphere , the space occupied by Earth ’ s magnetic field , it can become trapped and held in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Van Allen Belts .
The belts restrain the particles to travel along Earth ’ s magnetic field lines , continually bouncing back and forth from pole to pole .
The innermost belt begins about 400 miles from the surface of Earth , which keeps its particle radiation a healthy distance from Earth and its orbiting satellites .
However , when a particularly strong storm of particles from the Sun reaches Earth , the Van Allen belts can become highly energized and the magnetic field can be deformed , allowing the charged particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observed SAA can be also interpreted as a consequence of weakening dominance of the dipole field in the region , ” said Weijia Kuang , a geophysicist and mathematician in Goddard ’ s Geodesy and Geophysics Laboratory .
“ More specifically , a localized field with reversed polarity grows strongly in the SAA region , thus making the field intensity very weak , weaker than that of the surrounding regions.
” Although the South Atlantic Anomaly arises from processes inside Earth , it has effects that reach far beyond Earth ’ s surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-Earth orbit satellites that travel through it .
If a satellite is hit by a high-energy proton , it can short-circuit and cause an event called single event upset or SEU .
This can cause the satellite ’ s function to glitch temporarily or can cause permanent damage if a key component is hit .
In order to avoid losing instruments or an entire satellite , operators commonly shut down non-essential components as they pass through the SAA .
Indeed , NASA ’ s Ionospheric Connection Explorer regularly travels through the region and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SAA ’ s position .
The International Space Station , which is in low-Earth orbit , also passes through the SAA .
It is well protected , and astronauts are safe from harm while inside .
However , the ISS has other passengers affected by the higher radiation levels : Instruments like the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation mission , or GEDI , collect data from various positions on the outside of the ISS .
The SAA causes “ blips ” on GEDI ’ s detectors and resets the instrument ’ s power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryan Blair , the mission ’ s deputy principal investigator and instrument scientist , and a lidar instrument scientist at Goddard .
“ These events cause no harm to GEDI , ” Blair said .
“ The detector blips are rare compared to the number of laser shots – about one blip in a million shots – and the reset line event causes a couple of hours of lost data , but it only happens every month or so.
” In addition to measuring the SAA ’ s magnetic field strength , NASA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the region with the Solar , Anomalous , and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer , or SAMPEX – the first of NASA ’ s Small Explorer missions , launched in 1992 and providing observations until 2012 .
One study , led by NASA heliophysicist Ashley Greeley as part of her doctoral thesis , used two decades of data from SAMPEX to show that the SAA is slowly but steadily drifting in a northwesterly direction .
The results helped confirm models created from geomagnetic measurements and showed how the SAA ’ s location changes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particles are intimately associated with the magnetic field , which guides their motions , ” said Shri Kanekal , a researcher in the Heliospheric Physics Laboratory at NASA Goddard .
“ Therefore , any knowledge of particles gives you information on the geomagnetic field as well.
” Greeley ’ s results , published in the journal Space Weather , were also able to provide a clear picture of the type and amount of particle radiation satellites receive when passing through the SAA , which emphasized the need for continuing monitoring in the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garnered from SAMPEX ’ s in-situ measurements has also been useful for satellite design .
Engineers for the Low-Earth Orbit , or LEO , satellite used the results to design systems that would prevent a latch-up event from causing failure or loss of the spacecraft .
In order to understand how the SAA is changing and to prepare for future threats to satellites and instruments , Sabaka , Kuang and their colleagues use observations and physics to contribute to global models of Earth ’ s magnetic field .
The team assesses the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the European Space Agency ’ s Swarm constellation , previous missions from agencies around the world , and ground measurements .
Sabaka ’ s team teases apart the observational data to separate out its source before passing it on to Kuang ’ s team .
They combine the sorted data from Sabaka ’ s team with their core dynamics model to forecast geomagnetic secular variation ( rapid changes in the magnetic field ) into the future .
The geodynamo models are unique in their ability to use core physics to create near-future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mathematician in Goddard ’ s Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory .
“ This is similar to how weather forecasts are produced , but we are working with much longer time scales , ” he said .
“ This is the fundamental difference between what we do at Goddard and most other research groups modeling changes in Earth ’ s magnetic field.
” One such application that Sabaka and Kuang have contributed to is the International Geomagnetic Reference Field , or IGRF .
Used for a variety of research from the core to the boundaries of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collection of candidate models made by worldwide research teams that describe Earth ’ s magnetic field and track how it changes in time .
“ Even though the SAA is slow-moving , it is going through some change in morphology , so it ’ s also important that we keep observing it by having continued missions , ” Sabaka said .
“ Because that ’ s what helps us make models and predictions.
” The changing SAA provides researchers new opportunities to understand Earth ’ s core , and how its dynamics influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Kuang .
By tracking this slowly evolving “ dent ” in the magnetic field , researchers can better understand the way our planet is changing and help prepare for a safer future for satellites .
The mayor of Austin , Texas , has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19 .
So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up .

A small but evolving dent in Earth’s magnetic field can cause big headaches for satellites.
Earth’s magnetic field acts like a protective shield around the planet, repelling and trapping charged particles from the Sun. But over South America and the southern Atlantic Ocean, an unusually weak spot in the field – called the South Atlantic Anomaly, or SAA – allows these particles to dip closer to the surface than normal. Particle radiation in this region can knock out onboard computers and interfere with the data collection of satellites that pass through it – a key reason why NASA scientists want to track and study the anomaly.
The South Atlantic Anomaly is also of interest to NASA’s Earth scientists who monitor the changes in magnetic field strength there, both for how such changes affect Earth’s atmosphere and as an indicator of what’s happening to Earth’s magnetic fields, deep inside the globe.
Currently, the SAA creates no visible impacts on daily life on the surface. However, recent observations and forecasts show that the region is expanding westward and continuing to weaken in intensity. It is also splitting – recent data shows the anomaly’s valley, or region of minimum field strength, has split into two lobes, creating additional challenges for satellite missions.
A host of NASA scientists in geomagnetic, geophysics, and heliophysics research groups observe and model the SAA, to monitor and predict future changes – and help prepare for future challenges to satellites and humans in space.
It’s what’s inside that counts
The South Atlantic Anomaly arises from two features of Earth’s core: The tilt of its magnetic axis, and the flow of molten metals within its outer core.
Earth is a bit like a bar magnet, with north and south poles that represent opposing magnetic polarities and invisible magnetic field lines encircling the planet between them. But unlike a bar magnet, the core magnetic field is not perfectly aligned through the globe, nor is it perfectly stable. That’s because the field originates from Earth’s outer core: molten, iron-rich and in vigorous motion 1800 miles below the surface. These churning metals act like a massive generator, called the geodynamo, creating electric currents that produce the magnetic field.
As the core motion changes over time, due to complex geodynamic conditions within the core and at the boundary with the solid mantle up above, the magnetic field fluctuates in space and time too. These dynamical processes in the core ripple outward to the magnetic field surrounding the planet, generating the SAA and other features in the near-Earth environment – including the tilt and drift of the magnetic poles, which are moving over time. These evolutions in the field, which happen on a similar time scale to the convection of metals in the outer core, provide scientists with new clues to help them unravel the core dynamics that drive the geodynamo.
“The magnetic field is actually a superposition of fields from many current sources,” said Terry Sabaka, a geophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Regions outside of the solid Earth also contribute to the observed magnetic field. However, he said, the bulk of the field comes from the core.
The forces in the core and the tilt of the magnetic axis together produce the anomaly, the area of weaker magnetism – allowing charged particles trapped in Earth’s magnetic field to dip closer to the surface.
The Sun expels a constant outflow of particles and magnetic fields known as the solar wind and vast clouds of hot plasma and radiation called coronal mass ejections. When this solar material streams across space and strikes Earth’s magnetosphere, the space occupied by Earth’s magnetic field, it can become trapped and held in two donut-shaped belts around the planet called the Van Allen Belts. The belts restrain the particles to travel along Earth’s magnetic field lines, continually bouncing back and forth from pole to pole. The innermost belt begins about 400 miles from the surface of Earth, which keeps its particle radiation a healthy distance from Earth and its orbiting satellites.
However, when a particularly strong storm of particles from the Sun reaches Earth, the Van Allen belts can become highly energized and the magnetic field can be deformed, allowing the charged particles to penetrate the atmosphere.
“The observed SAA can be also interpreted as a consequence of weakening dominance of the dipole field in the region,” said Weijia Kuang, a geophysicist and mathematician in Goddard’s Geodesy and Geophysics Laboratory. “More specifically, a localized field with reversed polarity grows strongly in the SAA region, thus making the field intensity very weak, weaker than that of the surrounding regions.”
A pothole in space
Although the South Atlantic Anomaly arises from processes inside Earth, it has effects that reach far beyond Earth’s surface. The region can be hazardous for low-Earth orbit satellites that travel through it. If a satellite is hit by a high-energy proton, it can short-circuit and cause an event called single event upset or SEU. This can cause the satellite’s function to glitch temporarily or can cause permanent damage if a key component is hit. In order to avoid losing instruments or an entire satellite, operators commonly shut down non-essential components as they pass through the SAA. Indeed, NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer regularly travels through the region and so the mission keeps constant tabs on the SAA’s position.
The International Space Station, which is in low-Earth orbit, also passes through the SAA. It is well protected, and astronauts are safe from harm while inside. However, the ISS has other passengers affected by the higher radiation levels: Instruments like the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation mission, or GEDI, collect data from various positions on the outside of the ISS. The SAA causes “blips” on GEDI’s detectors and resets the instrument’s power boards about once a month, said Bryan Blair, the mission’s deputy principal investigator and instrument scientist, and a lidar instrument scientist at Goddard.
“These events cause no harm to GEDI,” Blair said. “The detector blips are rare compared to the number of laser shots – about one blip in a million shots – and the reset line event causes a couple of hours of lost data, but it only happens every month or so.”
In addition to measuring the SAA’s magnetic field strength, NASA scientists have also studied the particle radiation in the region with the Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer, or SAMPEX – the first of NASA’s Small Explorer missions, launched in 1992 and providing observations until 2012. One study, led by NASA heliophysicist Ashley Greeley as part of her doctoral thesis, used two decades of data from SAMPEX to show that the SAA is slowly but steadily drifting in a northwesterly direction. The results helped confirm models created from geomagnetic measurements and showed how the SAA’s location changes as the geomagnetic field evolves.
“These particles are intimately associated with the magnetic field, which guides their motions,” said Shri Kanekal, a researcher in the Heliospheric Physics Laboratory at NASA Goddard. “Therefore, any knowledge of particles gives you information on the geomagnetic field as well.”
Greeley’s results, published in the journal Space Weather, were also able to provide a clear picture of the type and amount of particle radiation satellites receive when passing through the SAA, which emphasized the need for continuing monitoring in the region.
The information Greeley and her collaborators garnered from SAMPEX’s in-situ measurements has also been useful for satellite design. Engineers for the Low-Earth Orbit, or LEO, satellite used the results to design systems that would prevent a latch-up event from causing failure or loss of the spacecraft.
Modeling a safer future for satellites
In order to understand how the SAA is changing and to prepare for future threats to satellites and instruments, Sabaka, Kuang and their colleagues use observations and physics to contribute to global models of Earth’s magnetic field.
The team assesses the current state of the magnetic field using data from the European Space Agency’s Swarm constellation, previous missions from agencies around the world, and ground measurements. Sabaka’s team teases apart the observational data to separate out its source before passing it on to Kuang’s team. They combine the sorted data from Sabaka’s team with their core dynamics model to forecast geomagnetic secular variation (rapid changes in the magnetic field) into the future.
The geodynamo models are unique in their ability to use core physics to create near-future forecasts, said Andrew Tangborn, a mathematician in Goddard’s Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory.
“This is similar to how weather forecasts are produced, but we are working with much longer time scales,” he said. “This is the fundamental difference between what we do at Goddard and most other research groups modeling changes in Earth’s magnetic field.”
One such application that Sabaka and Kuang have contributed to is the International Geomagnetic Reference Field, or IGRF. Used for a variety of research from the core to the boundaries of the atmosphere, the IGRF is a collection of candidate models made by worldwide research teams that describe Earth’s magnetic field and track how it changes in time.
“Even though the SAA is slow-moving, it is going through some change in morphology, so it’s also important that we keep observing it by having continued missions,” Sabaka said. “Because that’s what helps us make models and predictions.”
The changing SAA provides researchers new opportunities to understand Earth’s core, and how its dynamics influence other aspects of the Earth system, said Kuang. By tracking this slowly evolving “dent” in the magnetic field, researchers can better understand the way our planet is changing and help prepare for a safer future for satellites.
The mayor of Austin, Texas, has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19. So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up.


newswars--2020-08-17--The Protesters Can’t Vote In Person?

The Protesters Can’t Vote In Person?

Meanwhile , Russia announces a vaccine that threatens the Fauci/Gates rollout as the media heats up the race war .
@ @ @ @ @ by supporting an economic depression and unyielding lockdowns .
More and more people are being @ @ @ @ @ state disguised as public safety where the liberal Marxist army protests in the streets every @ @ @ @ @ disregard for the COVID hoax to the suburbs .
Yet they will be unable to @ @ @ @

The Covid-19 hoax rolls on.
Meanwhile, Russia announces a vaccine that threatens the Fauci/Gates rollout as the media heats up the race war.
The war on reality expands by supporting an economic depression and unyielding lockdowns.
More and more people are being slowly introduced to the police state disguised as public safety where the liberal Marxist army protests in the streets every day, even spreading their disregard for the COVID hoax to the suburbs.
Yet they will be unable to vote in person?


newswars--2020-08-17--Opioid Use Can Trigger Deafness

Opioid Use Can Trigger Deafness

Opioid use , particularly in high doses , can cause deafness , according to Rutgers researchers .
The study , published in The Journal of Medical Toxicology , reviewed records from the New Jersey Poison Control Center , based at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School , from 1999 to 2018 to determine the association between opioid use and degrees of hearing loss .
Researchers identified 41 people with opioid exposure who experienced full or partial hearing loss or tinnitus , likely caused by toxicity to the ear .
More than half had used heroin , followed by oxycodone , methadone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one known exposure .
Most people reported the condition affecting both ears , with 12 people experiencing deafness , 15 partial or total loss of hearing acuity , 10 tinnitus and four a mix of symptoms .
While some people may regain their hearing , the loss could be permanent with others — 21 percent of those reporting the condition had no improvement in hearing when they were discharged from the hospital .
“ The delicate structures of the inner ear are very susceptible to injury if oxygen supply is insufficient , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxins like opioids , ” said co-author Lewis Nelson , chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine .
“ Although the study found a link with heroin , toxicity to the ear can occur with every opioid , ” said Diane Calello , executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center .
“ This study supports what has been found in animal studies , which is that any opioid can cause hearing loss , ” she said .
“ This might be because we already have built-in opioid receptors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ear .
Activating them may trigger this injury in some patients.
” The researchers said health care providers should be aware of the association with opioid use when evaluating a patient with hearing loss .
The mayor of Austin , Texas , has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19 .
So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up .

Opioid use, particularly in high doses, can cause deafness, according to Rutgers researchers.
The study, published in The Journal of Medical Toxicology, reviewed records from the New Jersey Poison Control Center, based at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, from 1999 to 2018 to determine the association between opioid use and degrees of hearing loss.
Researchers identified 41 people with opioid exposure who experienced full or partial hearing loss or tinnitus, likely caused by toxicity to the ear.
More than half had used heroin, followed by oxycodone, methadone and tramadol; 88 percent had only one known exposure. Most people reported the condition affecting both ears, with 12 people experiencing deafness, 15 partial or total loss of hearing acuity, 10 tinnitus and four a mix of symptoms.
While some people may regain their hearing, the loss could be permanent with others — 21 percent of those reporting the condition had no improvement in hearing when they were discharged from the hospital. “The delicate structures of the inner ear are very susceptible to injury if oxygen supply is insufficient, as well as to the direct effect of toxins like opioids,” said co-author Lewis Nelson, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine.
“Although the study found a link with heroin, toxicity to the ear can occur with every opioid,” said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center. “This study supports what has been found in animal studies, which is that any opioid can cause hearing loss,” she said. “This might be because we already have built-in opioid receptors, or binding sites, in the inner ear. Activating them may trigger this injury in some patients.”
The researchers said health care providers should be aware of the association with opioid use when evaluating a patient with hearing loss.
The mayor of Austin, Texas, has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19. So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up.


newswars--2020-08-17--Infowars Hosts Flag Wave At Texas State Capitol

Infowars ’ Owen Shroyer hosted a flag wave protest at the Texas Capitol in Austin to celebrate America and to @ @ @ @ @ by mainstream media .
Owen encountered a self-described Marxist who came at him foaming out @ @ @ @ @ down and admitting he “ had a better time ” than he thought during the @ @

Infowars’ Owen Shroyer hosted a flag wave protest at the Texas Capitol in Austin to celebrate America and to counter the narratives being spread by mainstream media.
Owen encountered a self-described Marxist who came at him foaming out of the mouth before calming down and admitting he “had a better time” than he thought during the conversation.


newswars--2020-08-17--Watch: President Trump Warns That Joe Biden A “Puppet” Of The Radical Left

President Trump gave a speech in Mankato , Minnesota , about the future of the economy and the destruction Joe @ @ @ @ @ bring to America if brought into power .

President Trump gave a speech in Mankato, Minnesota, about the future of the economy and the destruction Joe Biden and the Democrats would bring to America if brought into power.


newswars--2020-08-17--Useful Idiots Celebrate Their Own Demise

Mockingbird media continues its promotion of the post-humanity globalist construct .
Like lemmings , they draw nearer to the cliff @ @ @ @ @ the bidding of the globalists they will no longer be needed .
The useful idiots @ @ @ @ @ own meaningless self-importance , happily project their own demise , celebrating the directives and announcements @ @ @ @ @ divides America and Bill Gates obsesses over putting a syringe in the American dream , @ @ @ @ @ a bag of dirty laundry to a nation chaotically bursting at the seams .

Mockingbird media continues its promotion of the post-humanity globalist construct.
Like lemmings, they draw nearer to the cliff because after they have done the bidding of the globalists they will no longer be needed.
The useful idiots, decked out in their own meaningless self-importance, happily project their own demise, celebrating the directives and announcements of eugenicists.
As Oprah divides America and Bill Gates obsesses over putting a syringe in the American dream, the bubble-headed bleach blonde sells a bag of dirty laundry to a nation chaotically bursting at the seams.


newswars--2020-08-17--Bannon: Democrats Want ‘Destruction Of American Way Of Life’

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon in a Sunday interview said that Democrats want the “ death and destruction ” of America ’ s economy and way of life .
“ I think this week is going to be great for the Trump campaign and the RNC [ Republican National Committee ] and the White House to let the American people see exactly what the [ Democratic ] policies are , ” Bannon told Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo , referring to the upcoming Democratic National Convention .
“ [ Democrats ] want the death of the American economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life , and I think if that ’ s highlighted by the end of the week , it ’ ll smoke Joe Biden out of his basement.
” Bannon noted that far-left figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) and Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) being keynote speakers at the Democratic National Convention will serve to help Trump highlight the stark ideological differences between his campaign and Biden ’ s .
“ I think this is perfect for President Trump , ” Bannon said .
“ In fact , if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would amplify the messages coming out of this convention and here is why : President Trump won in ’ 16 because he stood up for America , he stood up for working class and middle class people against a financial and political elite that was driving the managed decline of the United States , and you ’ re going to see it over the next four days.
” Democrats in contrast are advocating for the complete opposite platform , Bannon said .
“ [ Democrats will be ] talking about more globalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this kind of undergirding of this cultural Marxism and anarchy of Antifa and certain elements of the Black Lives Matter , ” he continued .
“ So I think it ’ s perfect because this is going to come down to a pretty bold choice between , do you want the America of globalization , do you want the America of Joe Biden and do you want the America of these political and financial elites ?
Or do you want the America-first economic nationalism and populism of Donald Trump ?
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until Thursday , with prominent Democrats like Michelle Obama , Govs .
Andrew Cuomo ( N.Y. ) and Gretchen Whitmer ( Mich. ) , and Sanders to speak on the first night of the virtual event .
Biden wants 3 months of mandatory masks declared by Governors – “ it ’ s patriotic ” .
Is it different than what Trump said last week ?
Both parties lock us down and put us on an allowance .

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon in a Sunday interview said that Democrats want the “death and destruction” of America’s economy and way of life.
“I think this week is going to be great for the Trump campaign and the RNC [Republican National Committee] and the White House to let the American people see exactly what the [Democratic] policies are,” Bannon told Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, referring to the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
“[Democrats] want the death of the American economy and the destruction of the American way of life, and I think if that’s highlighted by the end of the week, it’ll smoke Joe Biden out of his basement.”
Bannon noted that far-left figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) being keynote speakers at the Democratic National Convention will serve to help Trump highlight the stark ideological differences between his campaign and Biden’s.
“I think this is perfect for President Trump,” Bannon said.
“In fact, if I was the campaign or the RNC, I would amplify the messages coming out of this convention and here is why: President Trump won in ’16 because he stood up for America, he stood up for working class and middle class people against a financial and political elite that was driving the managed decline of the United States, and you’re going to see it over the next four days.”
Democrats in contrast are advocating for the complete opposite platform, Bannon said.
“[Democrats will be] talking about more globalization, more economic devastation, now coupled with this kind of undergirding of this cultural Marxism and anarchy of Antifa and certain elements of the Black Lives Matter,” he continued.
“So I think it’s perfect because this is going to come down to a pretty bold choice between, do you want the America of globalization, do you want the America of Joe Biden and do you want the America of these political and financial elites? Or do you want the America-first economic nationalism and populism of Donald Trump?”
The DNC kicks off Monday and will run until Thursday, with prominent Democrats like Michelle Obama, Govs. Andrew Cuomo (N.Y.) and Gretchen Whitmer (Mich.), and Sanders to speak on the first night of the virtual event.
Biden wants 3 months of mandatory masks declared by Governors – “it’s patriotic”. Is it different than what Trump said last week? Both parties lock us down and put us on an allowance.


newswars--2020-08-17--Major Exchange of Fire Between US & Syrian Armies Results in Casualties

Trump ’ s “ secure the oil ” policy in Syria is set to get increasingly costly as tensions rise and more such confrontations inevitably occur : on Monday US occupying forces and the Syrian Army exchanged fire in a rare direct clash , reportedly ending in casualties on the Syrian government side .
It happened in northeast Hasakah province just southeast of Qamishili , in an area where for the past couple years American special forces have bolstered Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) .
The Associated Press writes of the rare but not without precedent deadly encounter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the northeast on Monday , killing at least one soldier and wounding two others , state media said , while the U.S. military said it responded to small arms fire near a Syrian checkpoint .
It appears to have all started when a US military convoy approached a Syrian national checkpoint manned by soldiers .
Like with some prior confrontations , the Syrian soldiers refused to let the Americans through , given Damascus sees them as illegal occupiers of their sovereign soil .
This was similar to incident last month where bloodshed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles were forced to turn around .
In that prior instance pro-government forces threatened to fire on the Americans .
RT Arabic was the first to publish video from the confrontation on Monday .
Gunfire can be heard erupting , with spoke billowing from the government checkpoint : But in this instance , it appears firepower was unleashed .
A US helicopter was also reportedly part of the response , according to state-run SANA .
AP continues : State news agency SANA quoted an unnamed Syrian military official as saying a U.S. helicopter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ village of Tal Dahab , near the town of Qamishli , at around 9:45 a.m. ( 0645 GMT ) .
The official said a Syrian soldier was killed and two others were wounded .
The US ground convoy had been ordered by Syrian Army forces to turn around at “ Rasho Checkpoint , ” regional reports say .
There were initial reports that a major airstrike may have been conducted , but official Pentagon statements have denied this .
While some pro-Syrian government sources say the Americans took on casualties during the clash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the US military .
The mayor of Austin , Texas , has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19 .
So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up .

Trump’s “secure the oil” policy in Syria is set to get increasingly costly as tensions rise and more such confrontations inevitably occur: on Monday US occupying forces and the Syrian Army exchanged fire in a rare direct clash, reportedly ending in casualties on the Syrian government side.
It happened in northeast Hasakah province just southeast of Qamishili, in an area where for the past couple years American special forces have bolstered Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Associated Press writes of the rare but not without precedent deadly encounter:
U.S. forces clashed with Syrian troops in the northeast on Monday, killing at least one soldier and wounding two others, state media said, while the U.S. military said it responded to small arms fire near a Syrian checkpoint.
It appears to have all started when a US military convoy approached a Syrian national checkpoint manned by soldiers.
Like with some prior confrontations, the Syrian soldiers refused to let the Americans through, given Damascus sees them as illegal occupiers of their sovereign soil. This was similar to incident last month where bloodshed was barely avoided, and US armored vehicles were forced to turn around.
In that prior instance pro-government forces threatened to fire on the Americans.
RT Arabic was the first to publish video from the confrontation on Monday. Gunfire can be heard erupting, with spoke billowing from the government checkpoint:
But in this instance, it appears firepower was unleashed. A US helicopter was also reportedly part of the response, according to state-run SANA. AP continues:
State news agency SANA quoted an unnamed Syrian military official as saying a U.S. helicopter gunship attacked an army checkpoint in the village of Tal Dahab, near the town of Qamishli, at around 9:45 a.m. (0645 GMT). The official said a Syrian soldier was killed and two others were wounded.
The US ground convoy had been ordered by Syrian Army forces to turn around at “Rasho Checkpoint,” regional reports say.
Interesting. No airstrike conducted, according to OIR. #Syria-n govt’s Sana says helicopters attacked checkpoint with heavy machine guns. https://t.co/1DsnOzVWrT — Nabih (@nabihbulos) August 17, 2020
There were initial reports that a major airstrike may have been conducted, but official Pentagon statements have denied this.
While some pro-Syrian government sources say the Americans took on casualties during the clash, no official casualties have been reported by the US military.
The mayor of Austin, Texas, has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19. So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up.


newswars--2020-08-17--Social Media Celebrates Child Murder

Social Media Celebrates Child Murder

As the brownshirt millennials continue the expansion of their totalitarian abuse of the rights of American citizens , while Antifa @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats continue to ignore the blatant violations spreading like wildfire across the United States @ @ @ @ @ into territory they really shouldn ’ t , the shocking murder of white 5-year-old Cannon @ @ @ @ @ neighbor goes relatively unnoticed by the mockingbird media .
And the real statistics which are @ @ @ @ @ of a false divisive narrative that is tearing the country apart .

As the brownshirt millennials continue the expansion of their totalitarian abuse of the rights of American citizens, while Antifa and BLM target the suburbs and Democrats continue to ignore the blatant violations spreading like wildfire across the United States; As Antifa pushes further into territory they really shouldn’t, the shocking murder of white 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant by his 25-year-old black neighbor goes relatively unnoticed by the mockingbird media.
And the real statistics which are unbending remain hidden in favor of a false divisive narrative that is tearing the country apart.


newswars--2020-08-17--Austin, TX – Home Invasion Capitol Of The World Or Bust!

Communist sympathizer and District 4 City Council member Gregorio Casar has spearheaded the left ’ s inevitable engineered demise of Austin , Texas .
Casar and the totalitarian mob running the Austin City Council have signed off on ultimately cutting $ 150 million from the Austin Police Department that is already stretched thin by a metro area that is rapidly expanding and growing by 4 % on average every year and has a crime index that is higher than 83 % of other U.S. Cities .
Plus , a majority of Austinites oppose defunding the police , as a survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a majority of respondents ( 53 % to 40 % ) do not support reducing officers according to The Greater Austin Crime Commission .
But the safety of Austinites is obsolete to Marxist idealism as $ 21 million will immediately be reinvested into a re-imagining of housing programs and victim and mental health services , cutting cadet classes , overtime pay .
Another $ 80 million represents the forensics lab , communications , victim services , community partnerships that will be cut back and moved into other departments .
But the Austin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headquarters blown up .
Transforming the international destination of SXSW and the Austin City Limits Festival into a crime-riddled homeless shelter akin to Los Angeles and San Francisco .
Most of the country is currently fleeing in droves to cities like Austin , but before you know it cities like Austin will represent the hell holes those people rapidly fled from .

Communist sympathizer and District 4 City Council member Gregorio Casar has spearheaded the left’s inevitable engineered demise of Austin, Texas.
Casar and the totalitarian mob running the Austin City Council have signed off on ultimately cutting $150 million from the Austin Police Department that is already stretched thin by a metro area that is rapidly expanding and growing by 4% on average every year and has a crime index that is higher than 83% of other U.S. Cities.
Plus, a majority of Austinites oppose defunding the police, as a survey conducted from July 14 to 17 found, a majority of respondents (53% to 40%) do not support reducing officers according to The Greater Austin Crime Commission.
But the safety of Austinites is obsolete to Marxist idealism as $21 million will immediately be reinvested into a re-imagining of housing programs and victim and mental health services, cutting cadet classes, overtime pay.
Another $80 million represents the forensics lab, communications, victim services, community partnerships that will be cut back and moved into other departments.
But the Austin City Council literally calls to have APD headquarters blown up.
Transforming the international destination of SXSW and the Austin City Limits Festival into a crime-riddled homeless shelter akin to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Most of the country is currently fleeing in droves to cities like Austin, but before you know it cities like Austin will represent the hell holes those people rapidly fled from.


newswars--2020-08-17--Critics Cry Foul as Macron Calls on EU to Back Belarusians But Not Yellow Vests at Home

The French President called on the EU to throw its weight behind Belarusians demanding that their liberties be respected – but the online community was quick to remind him of fellow Frenchmen rallying for the same cause at home .
Emmanuel Macron tweeted his support for the growing anti-government sentiment in Belarus , writing on Sunday that Brussels must continue “ to mobilize alongside the hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who demonstrate peacefully for the respect of their rights , their freedom and their sovereignty.
” The demonstrations that caught Macron ’ s eye have been building since the controversial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sitting President Alexander Lukashenko being re-elected for a sixth term .
The outcome was rejected by the opposition , who insisted that the vote was rigged .
Notably , the French President ’ s appeal didn ’ t receive an overly positive response in the Francophone realm of Twitter .
He took quite a bit of heat online for prioritizing grievances of Belarusians over those of the French .
“ Haven ’ t you noticed that in France people also march for the respect of their rights ?
” one asked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reminding that “ the Yellow Vests demonstrated , and still demonstrate peacefully today for the same demands , before you had them knocked down and clubbed.
” Initially motivated by rising fuel prices and unaffordable cost of living , the Yellow Vests evolved into a nationwide grassroots movement for economic and social justice .
As it grew , political demands were added , with ‘ Macron demission !
’ ( Macron resign ! )
becoming one of the slogans frequently heard at the Yellow Vests demonstrations .
Netizens wondered if Brussels will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same manner Macron is calling for now .
“ Has the European Union mobilized alongside the hundreds of thousands of Yellow Vests in France who peacefully demonstrated for the respect of their rights , their freedom and their sovereignty ?
” some asked .
People also pounded Macron ’ s page with examples of popular unrest in Europe and elsewhere which have attracted little or no attention from the EU .
One Twitter user asked the president to express the same support for the people of Cote d ’ Ivoire , while another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU “ didn ’ t care about paramilitary violence against the civilian population.
” Macron ’ s tweet appears to be completely in line with the positions of the EU ’ s leadership .
This Friday , the bloc dismissed Lukashenko ’ s victory and promised sanctions against Belarusian officials .
Lukashenko himself brushed aside all calls to review the results of the election , repeatedly arguing that the wave of protests was orchestrated from abroad .
The mayor of Austin , Texas , has decided to close public nature trails because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springs to open the park back up .

The French President called on the EU to throw its weight behind Belarusians demanding that their liberties be respected – but the online community was quick to remind him of fellow Frenchmen rallying for the same cause at home.
Emmanuel Macron tweeted his support for the growing anti-government sentiment in Belarus, writing on Sunday that Brussels must continue “to mobilize alongside the hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who demonstrate peacefully for the respect of their rights, their freedom and their sovereignty.”
The demonstrations that caught Macron’s eye have been building since the controversial presidential vote in Belarus, that saw the sitting President Alexander Lukashenko being re-elected for a sixth term. The outcome was rejected by the opposition, who insisted that the vote was rigged.
Notably, the French President’s appeal didn’t receive an overly positive response in the Francophone realm of Twitter. He took quite a bit of heat online for prioritizing grievances of Belarusians over those of the French.
“Haven’t you noticed that in France people also march for the respect of their rights?” one asked.
Another used the President’s language, reminding that “the Yellow Vests demonstrated, and still demonstrate peacefully today for the same demands, before you had them knocked down and clubbed.”
Initially motivated by rising fuel prices and unaffordable cost of living, the Yellow Vests evolved into a nationwide grassroots movement for economic and social justice. As it grew, political demands were added, with ‘Macron demission!’ (Macron resign!) becoming one of the slogans frequently heard at the Yellow Vests demonstrations.
Netizens wondered if Brussels will respond to the French rallies in the same manner Macron is calling for now.
“Has the European Union mobilized alongside the hundreds of thousands of Yellow Vests in France who peacefully demonstrated for the respect of their rights, their freedom and their sovereignty?” some asked.
People also pounded Macron’s page with examples of popular unrest in Europe and elsewhere which have attracted little or no attention from the EU. One Twitter user asked the president to express the same support for the people of Cote d’Ivoire, while another reminded him that in Catalonia, the EU “didn’t care about paramilitary violence against the civilian population.”
Macron’s tweet appears to be completely in line with the positions of the EU’s leadership. This Friday, the bloc dismissed Lukashenko’s victory and promised sanctions against Belarusian officials. Lukashenko himself brushed aside all calls to review the results of the election, repeatedly arguing that the wave of protests was orchestrated from abroad.
The mayor of Austin, Texas, has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19. So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up.


newswars--2020-08-17--‘Justice for Darius Sessoms’ Facebook Group Set Up by Troll Attracts Thousands of Actual Supporters

A ‘ justice for Darius Sessoms ’ Facebook group that was apparently started by a troll to bait BLM supporters was shut down after numerous members began actually expressing sympathy with the African-American man charged with shooting a 5-year-old boy in the head .
Earlier this month , Cannon Hinnant was gunned down at point blank range by Sessoms for the ‘ crime ’ of riding his bike on the convicted felon ’ s property .
The story was ignored by every national media outlet bar Fox News for almost a week , with CNN finally reporting on it after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some leftists reacted by celebrating the brutal killing , with one asserting that Hinnant deserved to be killed because of his “ white privilege.
” According to National File , the ‘ justice for Darius Sessoms ’ page was likely started by an anti-Black Lives Matter troll , but the group soon garnered almost 20,000 members and became a forum for posts from BLM sympathizers genuinely expressing support for the murderer .
“ Darius Sessoms has been accused of a heinous act that he didn ’ t commit .
This is all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make black people look bad , ” said the group ’ s opening statement .
“ We can not sit idly by while our president plays fast and loose with the laws .
That ’ s why we need to back Darius against these outrageous allegations.
” Whether that statement was written by a pro-Trump troll or not , the page was then deluged with sick messages appearing to be from leftists that seriously sympathized with Sessoms .
“ Has a Go Fund Me been set up for Darius ?
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to donate .
We can ’ t sit idly by and let the system persecute him unjustly , ” one user commented .
“ I just sent 300 dollars to Darius ’ commissary .
Stay strong brother , ” wrote another .
Another person accused the parents of the boy of “ cashing in ” on his death by having a GoFundMe .
“ We ’ re going to find out later that he was provoked or somehow set up .
Good luck getting that refund , ” he remarked .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death if he didn ’ t have such a stupid name .
A “ cannon ” that gets shot ?
” asked another .
“ Seems like his dad was asking for it since day one.
” Others complained that while Sessoms was immediately arrested , the police officer involved in the death of George Floyd was given better treatment .
In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial that we stay in touch .
I need you to sign up for my free newsletter here .
Also , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A ‘justice for Darius Sessoms’ Facebook group that was apparently started by a troll to bait BLM supporters was shut down after numerous members began actually expressing sympathy with the African-American man charged with shooting a 5-year-old boy in the head.
Earlier this month, Cannon Hinnant was gunned down at point blank range by Sessoms for the ‘crime’ of riding his bike on the convicted felon’s property.
The story was ignored by every national media outlet bar Fox News for almost a week, with CNN finally reporting on it after massive pressure.
As we previously highlighted, some leftists reacted by celebrating the brutal killing, with one asserting that Hinnant deserved to be killed because of his “white privilege.”
According to National File, the ‘justice for Darius Sessoms’ page was likely started by an anti-Black Lives Matter troll, but the group soon garnered almost 20,000 members and became a forum for posts from BLM sympathizers genuinely expressing support for the murderer.
“Darius Sessoms has been accused of a heinous act that he didn’t commit. This is all propaganda from the far-right Trump propaganda machine to make black people look bad,” said the group’s opening statement.
“We cannot sit idly by while our president plays fast and loose with the laws. That’s why we need to back Darius against these outrageous allegations.”
Whether that statement was written by a pro-Trump troll or not, the page was then deluged with sick messages appearing to be from leftists that seriously sympathized with Sessoms.
“Has a Go Fund Me been set up for Darius? He’s a political prisoner and I would like to donate. We can’t sit idly by and let the system persecute him unjustly,” one user commented.
“I just sent 300 dollars to Darius’ commissary. Stay strong brother,” wrote another.
Another person accused the parents of the boy of “cashing in” on his death by having a GoFundMe.
“We’re going to find out later that he was provoked or somehow set up. Good luck getting that refund,” he remarked.
“I’d feel worse about his death if he didn’t have such a stupid name. A “cannon” that gets shot?” asked another. “Seems like his dad was asking for it since day one.”
Others complained that while Sessoms was immediately arrested, the police officer involved in the death of George Floyd was given better treatment.
———————————————————————————————————————
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In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial that we stay in touch.
I need you to sign up for my free newsletter here.
Also, I urgently need your finacial support here.
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newswars--2020-08-17--US Blacklists 38 Huawei Affiliates as Pompeo Calls on Allies to Take Similar Measures

Washington has added dozens of companies to a list that bars the firms from gaining access to certain US technologies , as part of its ongoing battle against Huawei .
Mike Pompeo has urged US allies to adopt similar restrictions .
The secretary of state released a press statement on Monday applauding the Commerce Department ’ s decision to expand regulations designed to restrict US exports to Huawei , claiming that the Chinese company has “ continuously tried to evade ” rules first implemented in May .
The new restrictions will prevent the telecommunications giant from obtaining chips made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Commerce Department will also add 38 Huawei affiliates to the government ’ s Entity List , which identifies foreign firms barred from utilizing US technologies .
Describing Huawei as “ an arm of the Chinese Communist Party ’ s ( CCP ’ s ) surveillance state , ” Pompeo said that the new measures aimed to protect national security and US citizens ’ privacy .
He urged US allies to impose similar restrictions on Huawei , claiming they were necessary to help ensure “ international stability.
” For months , Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties with Huawei , claiming that allowing the Chinese firm to help develop their 5G networks would create grave security risks .
However , the narrative has received a chilly response from many European states , with countries such as Germany stating that there ’ s no evidence to support Washington ’ s concerns .
Last week , Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis expressed similar hesitation to cut all ties with Huawei , noting that the issue should be discussed within the EU and that no final decision has yet been made on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Texas , has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19 .
So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up .

Washington has added dozens of companies to a list that bars the firms from gaining access to certain US technologies, as part of its ongoing battle against Huawei. Mike Pompeo has urged US allies to adopt similar restrictions.
The secretary of state released a press statement on Monday applauding the Commerce Department’s decision to expand regulations designed to restrict US exports to Huawei, claiming that the Chinese company has “continuously tried to evade” rules first implemented in May. The new restrictions will prevent the telecommunications giant from obtaining chips made by third parties using US software or technology.
The Commerce Department will also add 38 Huawei affiliates to the government’s Entity List, which identifies foreign firms barred from utilizing US technologies.
Describing Huawei as “an arm of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) surveillance state,” Pompeo said that the new measures aimed to protect national security and US citizens’ privacy. He urged US allies to impose similar restrictions on Huawei, claiming they were necessary to help ensure “international stability.”
For months, Washington has pressed its partners to cut business ties with Huawei, claiming that allowing the Chinese firm to help develop their 5G networks would create grave security risks. However, the narrative has received a chilly response from many European states, with countries such as Germany stating that there’s no evidence to support Washington’s concerns.
Last week, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis expressed similar hesitation to cut all ties with Huawei, noting that the issue should be discussed within the EU and that no final decision has yet been made on 5G tenders.
The mayor of Austin, Texas, has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19. So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up.


newswars--2020-08-17--Expert Warns of China’s ‘Financial Alliance’ With Russia

As the dollar continues its decline against the backdrop of an economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic , with the US Federal Reserve pushing for quantitative easing and nearly-zero interest rates to offset the impact of the health crisis , the greenback ’ s role as a universal store of value is now being questioned as never before .
Economists worldwide are being forced by the economic downturn generated by the coronavirus pandemic to re-assess the global role of the US dollar , which has lost ground against a range of currencies , dropping nearly 5 percent in July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 10 years .
Gold – a traditional safe haven in volatile times – marched higher , buoyed by investors ’ doubts and a jittery market .
In an attempt to offset the impact of the COVID-19-wrought devastation , some countries have resorted to other options in their bilateral transactions .
Russia and China , accordingly , are suggested as availing themselves of an opportunity to forge what has been hinted as a potential “ banking ” or “ financial ” alliance to boost “ de-dollarisation ” collaboration between the two trading partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited as saying by the Nikkei Asian Review .
A slew of current figures support the trend , as the US dollar ’ s share of trade between Moscow and Beijing dropped to a record low of 46 percent in the first quarter of 2020 , according to recent figures provided by Russia ’ s Central Bank and Federal Customs Service .
Less than half of transactions between the two countries were made in dollars in the first three months of 2020 , with 30 percent being euro-denominated and the remaining 24 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two nations .
In comparison , in 2015 nearly 90 percent of all transactions between Russia and China were conducted in dollars .
Last June , the two countries ’ officials penned an agreement to move away from the dollar in bilateral transactions in favour of national currencies – the ruble and yuan – instead .
Is the Dollar Headed for a Crash ?
The clout an “ alliance ” between Russia and China might wield in efforts to ditch the dollar is just one factor potentially driving down demand for the dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy have driven the US Federal Reserve to “ print ” money and inject it into the commercial banking system .
By the end of 2020 , the Fed is projected to have purchased $ 3.5 trillion in government securities with these newly created dollars , according to Oxford Economics , yet Wall Street experts warn that by unleashing the printing press , the government risks debasing the US currency , and hastening its crash .
The Fed has also cut its benchmark interest rate to near zero , vowing it will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus pandemic .
This comes as the federal deficit more than tripled in the first 10 months of the fiscal year , according to the Treasury Department .
The US budget gap totaled $ 2.8 trillion from October through July , 224 % larger than the $ 867 billion gap during the same period a year earlier .
Warnings were earlier issued by the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) in its August statement .
With the United States set to double down on its fiscal stimulus to boost economic recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Federal Reserve , there is a growing risk of a sudden loss of confidence in the US dollar , cautioned Zhu Min , Chinese economist who was deputy managing director of the IMF from 2011 to 2016 .
“ The concern isn ’ t whether the US dollar will see an accumulated decline of 30 percent in the future , but whether there will be a blow-up event that causes a sudden loss of confidence in the US dollar , and its market to collapse ” , said Zhu , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing .
Stephen Roach , former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia , has predicted a looming dollar crash , reported Bloomberg .
“ The US economy has been afflicted with some significant macro imbalances for a long time , namely a very low domestic savings rate and a chronic current account deficit ” , he said , forecasting that the dollar would plummet 35 percent against other major currencies .
“ The era of the US dollar ’ s ‘ exorbitant privilege ’ as the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end ” , stated the economist .
The mayor of Austin , Texas , has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19 .
So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up .

As the dollar continues its decline against the backdrop of an economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic, with the US Federal Reserve pushing for quantitative easing and nearly-zero interest rates to offset the impact of the health crisis, the greenback’s role as a universal store of value is now being questioned as never before.
Economists worldwide are being forced by the economic downturn generated by the coronavirus pandemic to re-assess the global role of the US dollar, which has lost ground against a range of currencies, dropping nearly 5 percent in July, marking its biggest monthly plunge in more than 10 years.
Gold – a traditional safe haven in volatile times – marched higher, buoyed by investors’ doubts and a jittery market. In an attempt to offset the impact of the COVID-19-wrought devastation, some countries have resorted to other options in their bilateral transactions.
Ditching the Dollar
Russia and China, accordingly, are suggested as availing themselves of an opportunity to forge what has been hinted as a potential “banking” or “financial” alliance to boost “de-dollarisation” collaboration between the two trading partners, Russian-American political scientist Dimitri Simes was cited as saying by the Nikkei Asian Review.
A slew of current figures support the trend, as the US dollar’s share of trade between Moscow and Beijing dropped to a record low of 46 percent in the first quarter of 2020, according to recent figures provided by Russia’s Central Bank and Federal Customs Service.
Less than half of transactions between the two countries were made in dollars in the first three months of 2020, with 30 percent being euro-denominated and the remaining 24 percent conducted in the national currencies of the two nations.
In comparison, in 2015 nearly 90 percent of all transactions between Russia and China were conducted in dollars.
Last June, the two countries’ officials penned an agreement to move away from the dollar in bilateral transactions in favour of national currencies – the ruble and yuan – instead.
Is the Dollar Headed for a Crash?
The clout an “alliance” between Russia and China might wield in efforts to ditch the dollar is just one factor potentially driving down demand for the dollar.
Attempts to prop up the ailing economy have driven the US Federal Reserve to “print” money and inject it into the commercial banking system.
By the end of 2020, the Fed is projected to have purchased $3.5 trillion in government securities with these newly created dollars, according to Oxford Economics, yet Wall Street experts warn that by unleashing the printing press, the government risks debasing the US currency, and hastening its crash.
The Fed has also cut its benchmark interest rate to near zero, vowing it will continue to do so until the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
This comes as the federal deficit more than tripled in the first 10 months of the fiscal year, according to the Treasury Department.
The US budget gap totaled $2.8 trillion from October through July, 224% larger than the $867 billion gap during the same period a year earlier.
Warnings were earlier issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its August statement.
With the United States set to double down on its fiscal stimulus to boost economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the actions of the Federal Reserve, there is a growing risk of a sudden loss of confidence in the US dollar, cautioned Zhu Min, Chinese economist who was deputy managing director of the IMF from 2011 to 2016.
“The concern isn’t whether the US dollar will see an accumulated decline of 30 percent in the future, but whether there will be a blow-up event that causes a sudden loss of confidence in the US dollar, and its market to collapse”, said Zhu, who is currently head of the National Financial Research Institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Stephen Roach, former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, has predicted a looming dollar crash, reported Bloomberg.
“The US economy has been afflicted with some significant macro imbalances for a long time, namely a very low domestic savings rate and a chronic current account deficit”, he said, forecasting that the dollar would plummet 35 percent against other major currencies.
“The era of the US dollar’s ‘exorbitant privilege’ as the world’s primary reserve currency is coming to an end”, stated the economist.
The mayor of Austin, Texas, has decided to close public nature trails because of COVID-19. So Action 7 visits Barton Springs to open the park back up.