ROME (Sputnik) – On July 30, in response to a fresh coup in Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended all financial aid, froze rebels’ assets and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country, as well as closed all borders. Nigeria, Niger’s southern neighbor, cut electricity supply to the nation.
EU Pleased Sanctions Cause Food, Medicine Shortages in Niger, Special Envoy Says
Video via Wongel Zelalem
The Rise and Reign of the Welfare Queen
Researcher links government assistance program to much earlier origins of welfare stereotypes
How Bill Clinton’s Welfare Reform Changed America
But based on several studies of TANF and its beneficiaries, “it barely reaches even the poorest Americans, and has all but ceased doing the work of lifting people out of poverty,” according to the Atlantic. “‘Welfare reform’ didn’t fix welfare so much as destroy it, and if similar changes were applied to Medicaid and food stamps, they would likely do the same.”
Americans believe benefits fraud is common for SNAP
Experts say that deliberate SNAP fraud is uncommon because of the rigorous application process and multi-step eligibility review. In 2016, the Congressional Research Service determined that for every 10,000 households participating in SNAP, about 14 contained a recipient who was investigated and determined to have committed fraud.
Who Is Really Responsible for Welfare Fraud?
In other words, don’t take a single example or casual observation of welfare fraud and claim it represents the tens of millions of poor who receive welfare benefits.
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While welfare fraud committed by the poor appears to be low, the federal government has long recognized businesses being the true criminals.
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While these are some of the better known examples of large scale welfare fraud, they are not the only ones. The above cases alone represent over $25 Billion in welfare fraud recovery. The criminals having the greatest impact committing welfare fraud against the government are not the poor, but the privately owned businesses that take advantage of them.
Brett Favre Is The Welfare Queen Republicans Warned Us About
Updates:
Biggest Perpetrators of Welfare Fraud Are Private Companies, Not ‘Welfare Queens’
Over the last few weeks, a flurry of diplomatic efforts in the West Asia region brought the Taliban to the fore. Last week, the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, traveled to neighboring Pakistan at the head of a large delegation. During the visit, many security issues were discussed, with the situation in Afghanistan seeming to be one of them. This is evident from the fact that Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s presidential envoy for Afghanistan, accompanied the foreign minister during the three-day visit.
Evil offer to Taliban
Related:
Taliban, US hold first official talks since Afghanistan takeover
Taliban Prepare Suicide Bombers in Water Dispute With Iran
Taliban rejects Iran claim leaders of ISIL sent to Afghanistan
South Africa’s support for Russia after its invasion of Ukraine has incensed some in Washington.
Inside the Desperate Diplomatic Efforts to Salvage U.S.-South Africa Ties
While on the campaign trail, President Joe Biden spoke with some “Syrian American activists” who favor increased sanctions on the country as well as regime change in Damascus, during a private fundraiser in Maryland last month. According to neoconservative columnist Josh Rogin – one of Bill Kristol’s protégés – Biden told these regime change advocates that, among other things, Assad must go. Rogin says these activists “took advantage of their audience with Biden… to implore him to do more to oppose” Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Biden Says Assad Must Go
Related:
Read More »President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Warsaw Airport in Poland ahead of the Peace Mission to Russia and Ukraine by seven African leaders.
Ramaphosa arrives in Poland ahead of Russia-Ukraine Peace Mission
Video via 2nacheki
Related:
African leaders to propose ‘confidence building measures’ to Russia, Ukraine
Those measures could include a Russian troop pull-back, removal of tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, suspension of implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Putin, and sanctions relief.
House Republicans’ “Default on America” Act would inflict devastating harm on America’s middle class.
House Vote on ‘Default on America’ Act a Major Political Liability for Republicans
Related:
See the impact of Republicans’ extreme demands and their default threats on your community.
ASWAN, Egypt (AP) — Sudan’s two warring generals sent their envoys on Friday to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at firming up a shaky cease-fire after three weeks of fierce fighting that has killed hundreds and pushed the African country to the brink of collapse, three Sudanese officials said.
Sudan’s warring sides send envoys for talks in Saudi Arabia
Related:
Role of US troops in Sudan to shift as Biden administration sees no quick end to fighting
H/T: Emil Cosman
Republican Ohio Senator J.D. Vance accused the Biden administration of “moralizing and lecturing” other countries in a floor speech opposing a new diplomatic nominee late Wednesday.
Vance: Biden Admin ‘Moralizing And Lecturing’ Other Countries While China Builds Roads And Feeds People
Video via African Diaspora News Channel
Related:
Get Progressive Politics Out of Foreign Policy, Says JD Vance
“Right now, you know that Joe Biden is not sending weapons to Taiwan, weapons that we promised the Taiwanese, because we’re sending those weapons to Ukraine or elsewhere,” Vance said.
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Though Vance said he admires the brave people of Ukraine, he said America should remove troops and resources from Ukraine.
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“It’s time to manufacture our weapons in the United States,” the Ohioan said. “And it’s time to send a message to the world that America is the arsenal of democracy, but we cannot do that unless you get out and stop the focus on Ukraine.”
“The great arsenal of democracy” came to specifically refer to the industry of the U.S., as the primary supplier of material for the Allied war effort [WWII].
Meanwhile, he wants to pull a Zelensky back home. /s
Sudan fighting erupts between rival military factions backed by external powers
Al-Burhan is backed by Egypt’s brutal dictator, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and layers close to the military that have long controlled Sudan’s sprawling military-industrial complex. He is reportedly supportive of the US and the European powers in the US/NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. Dagalo, who has become enormously rich based on Darfur’s gold, is backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Controlling the export of gold, he has close relations with Russia whose Wagner mercenaries operate in Sudan and neighbouring Central African Republic.
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Sudan’s military has close relations with Russia, which is trying to establish a base at Port Sudan, on the Red Sea; selling much of its gold that accounts for 40 percent of the country’s exports to Russia via the UAE; abstaining on the UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and infuriating the Biden administration. Washington is determined to sever Sudan’s relationship with Iran, Russia and China, close Port Sudan to the Russian navy, and strengthen its regional anti-Iran alliance to which Sudan had signed up earlier this year.
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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