Federal Reserve Admits There Is A Coin Shortage

The Federal Reserve announced on June 11th that COVID-19 had caused a disruption in the normal flow and distribution of circulation of US coinage. The following week, Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve, spoke before the US House Committee of Financial Services. He informed the members that the partial shutdown had created a stoppage of the flow of coins in our economy. Consequently, some retailers are asking customers to use exact change. Mr. Powell also shared that he believes the condition will be only temporary because the economy is opening back up.

Another explosion in Iran

The latest in a series of unexplained blasts at sensitive sites in Iran, a further explosion reportedly killed two people and injured three at a factory in Tehran early Tuesday morning, the Times of Israel (ToI) reports. A local governor stated the blast was caused by human error but some have suggested it may be part of sustained sabotage campaign.

Michigan bill allows companies to implant microchips in volunteer employees

On 24 June, the Michigan House of Representatives passed a controversial bipartisan bill allowing companies to implant a microchip in employees who agree to it, Zero Hedge reports. The stated aim of the bill is to improve business efficiency while protecting employee privacy. Under the bill, only those in agreement can be given a chip and employers cannot make it mandatory. The bill now passes to the state Senate for consideration.

Unemployment Falls as US Adds 4.8M New Jobs

The U.S. economy added 4.8 million jobs in June as it struggles to recover from the business closures forced by the coronavirus pandemic, the government reported Thursday, even as it said another 1.4 million laid-off workers filed for unemployment benefits last week.

Assault weapons parts smuggled from China to US

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted a shipment of 10,800 assault weapon parts that was smuggled from China and destined for Florida last month, GreatgameIndia.com reported. The shipment was seized by border officials in Louisville, Kentucky on May 22.

EU extends sanctions on Russia

The European Union has decided to extend sanctions it imposed on Russia in 2014 following Russian military action against Ukraine. The decision to extend the economic measures was made by the Council of the European Union on June 29.

Almost half the US population was unemployed in May 2020

Almost half the US population was jobless last month, CNBC reported Monday. According to the Bureau of Labor data for May 2020, the number of employed people as a percentage of the US adult population was 52.8% last month, meaning 47.2% of Americans had no job. The figures for June will be published on Thursday this week.

Yazidis and Christians face existential threat in northeast Syria following Turkish intervention and US pull back of troops

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) heard last week that President Donald Trump’s partial withdrawal of American troops from northeast Syria in 2019 created a vacuum in which Turkey and Turkish-backed militia have been able to threaten local vulnerable civilian populations including Christians and Yazidis. Condemning Turkey’s latest airstrikes and ground operations in the region, the USCIRF called for the US government to “utilize all diplomatic and economic leverage to protect vulnerable religious minorities in northern Iraq — as well as neighboring northeastern Syria — from Turkey’s indiscriminate military operations,” the Christian Post reported.

US-Russia Agree On Talks To Prevent News Arms Race

U.S. and Russian negotiators have agreed to continue talks on how to prevent a new nuclear arms race. Still, concerns remain over China’s opposition to being included in the negotiations.

US-Russia Unfreeze Nuclear Talks Amid Cold War Tensions

The United States and Russia have restarted negotiations about their nuclear arsenals following a break of more than a year amid the worst military tensions between the two atomic superpowers since the Cold War. But the talks in Vienna, Austria, began Monday amid uncertainty over whether U.S. President Donald Trump wants to secure a nuclear arms control treaty in the last four months before presidential elections.

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