alanjjohnstone
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Nothing in capitalism comes free particularly for the poor
Tax experts have warned that Scotland’s poorest health and care workers could lose up to 75% of the £500 bonus pledged by Nicola Sturgeon because it will not be tax-free.
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) said the lowest-paid workers who receive universal credit would be penalised the most because the extra income would be deducted from their welfare payments. NHS and care workers on universal credit who earned the Scottish median salary of £25,200 could only get £123.95 after taxes and national insurance, because the welfare system deducts 63p from every extra pound of earnings.
Wales had been through a similar situation before with the Treasury. The Welsh government was the first to pay public employees a £500 Covid bonus by giving it to 65,000 social care workers in May. It also asked the Treasury to make it tax-free, but the Treasury said since Wales set and received its income taxes, it should increase the bonus to a level high enough to cover the tax take.
NHS staff could lose 75% of Sturgeon Covid bonus, say experts | Politics | The Guardian
Cultured meat, produced in bioreactors without the slaughter of an animal, has been approved for sale in Singapore which could open the door to a future when all meat is produced without the killing of livestock. Eat Just’s product are grown in a 1,200-litre bioreactor and then combined with plant-based ingredients. The cells used to start the process came from a cell bank and did not require the slaughter of a chicken because cells can be taken from biopsies of live animals. The nutrients supplied to the growing cells were all from plants.
130 million chickens are slaughtered every day for meat, and 4 million pigs. Of all the mammals on Earth, 60% are livestock, 36% are humans and only 4% are wild. A series of scientific studies have shown that people in rich nations eat more meat than is healthy for them or the planet. Research shows cutting meat consumption is vital in tackling the climate crisis and some scientists say this is the best single environmental action a person can take.
The global consultancy AT Kearney predicted that most meat in 2040 would not come from dead animals. Cultured meat would replace cuts of traditional meat, but that plant-based products, which were less expensive, were more likely to replace burgers and sausages.
Cultivated meat was unlikely to become mainstream for some years, until it matched the cost of conventional meat.
No-kill, lab-grown meat to go on sale for first time | Meat industry | The Guardian
More bad news
The UK’s 10-point climate plan won’t do enough to achieve his goal of curbing the country’s greenhouse emission. Cambridge Econometrics suggests Johnson’s plan will reduce emissions 59% per cent by 2030, based on 1990 levels. It says they should really fall by 70% by that date.
Yet another nail in the fraud claim coffin
Trump’s hand-picked Attorney-General, a Trump loyal apologist, declares the Justice Dept. found no mass fraud.
US attorney general finds ‘no voter fraud that could overturn election’ – BBC News
It seems that the hacks are out to shred Fisk’s reputation Jonathan Cook to the rescue of Fisk.
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to pay every NHS and social care worker in Scotland a £500 Covid bonus and has called on Boris Johnson to make the payment tax-free.
Nicola Sturgeon promises £500 for all NHS staff in Scotland | Politics | The Guardian
Yes, MS, it isn’t an original idea. India have been using free school dinners for years to counter malnutrition level in children.
Good News!
The goals of the UN Paris climate agreement are getting “within reach.”
The new climate promises from China and other nations, along with the carbon plans of US President-elect Joe Biden mean the rise in world temperatures could be held to 2.1C by the end of this century.
Bad News!
The optimism comes with caveats. The near-term plans to cut carbon by 2030 are just not up to the job. Also have a pipeline of coal plants has not gone away.
Climate change: Temperature analysis shows UN goals ‘within reach’ – BBC News
Pissing against the wind Progressives
Anti-war groups on Monday warned President-elect Joe Biden against selecting Michèle Flournoy as his defense secretary, characterizing the former Pentagon official’s ties to the military-industrial complex and record—specifically her support for Obama’s troop surge in Afghanistan and NATO assault on Libya—as unacceptable and disqualifying.
While his media allies continue the narrative that he is reaching out to the left with his diversity and progressive picks, some on the left cannot but help point out the truth.
Neera Tanden, head of the corporate-backed think tank Center for American Progress, to lead his budget office has a history of attacking policies such as Medicare for All and voicing support for Social Security cuts.
“Everything toxic about the corporate Democratic Party is embodied in Neera Tanden,” tweeted Briahna Joy Gray, former national press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“She advised the Clinton campaign against a $15 minimum wage, and argued ‘that Libyans should be forced to turn over large portions of their oil revenues to repay the U.S. for the costs incurred in bombing Libya
Cecilia Rouse, Adewale ‘Wally’ Adeyemo, Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey – All committed to full employment, boosting wages, reducing inequality – The Return of the Keynesians
I was once reminded by an Irish friend that the Irish Free State was not real independence, that came when Ireland formally became a Republic in 1948.
Helicoptering in money in Northern Ireland
£200 free shopping vouchers for every household.
£200 high-street vouchers to be given to every household in Northern Ireland | The Independent
Biden is praised for having selected an all-female communications team. Why should we be impressed?
Joe Biden announces all-female media team at his White House | Biden administration | The Guardian
Perhaps the media has forgotten already that Trump used predominantly women to present his lies to the public.
Go back in time and we’d find that Hitler used a woman to make his pro-Nazi movies.
Scott Ritter explains the assassination of the Iranian scientist
Israel’s Gift to Joe Biden, 52 Days Before He Even Takes Office: War with Iran | Common Dreams Views
, Israel is doing its best to ensure that, for Biden, military action is the only viable option available.
The assassination of Fakhrizadeh serves two main purposes.
First, it hardens the resolve of Iran when it comes to any potential flexibility it might have been prepared to have with Biden regarding a resolution to the nuclear standoff,
But the most important purpose behind the killing of Fakhrizadeh is to create a fait accompli when it comes to policy options being considered by a future Biden administration. Rejoining the JCPOA is likely a non-starter – Iran will never agree to the many preconditions sought by Biden and his advisers.
SNP continues its bribery
£100 before Christmas will be made to households in receipt of free school meals.
In February, the Scottish government is bringing in a £10 week a payment for children in low income families paid to families with children aged under six and could support up to 194,000 children this financial year.
SNP Conference: Winter payments of £100 for low income families in Scotland – BBC News
Janet, another article on the war-machine by Cook and i think a far better one.
The Planet Cannot Begin to Heal Until We Rip the Mask off the West’s War Machine | Dissident Voice
