2020-07-12: News Headlines

_____ (2020-07-12). US Blockade Over Cuba Grows During The COVID-19 Pandemic. popularresistance.org Havana, Cuba – The US does not skimp on means to stop Cuba's development by imposing unilateral measures of extraterritorial blockade, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) denounced. | So far the year, a period marked by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as a strengthening of calls to end the US economic and commercial blockade against Cuba, Washington applied another eleven regulations, noted Johana Tablada, deputy director for the United States at MINREX. | With those restrictions, the White House obstructed banking operations and limited the arrival in this country of medical supplies, fuel, donation…

Tamika C.B. Zapolski, Ukamaka M. Oruche (2020-07-12). Racism in the U.S. Healthcare System Is Costing Black Lives. commondreams.org As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the U.S., the virus hit African Americans disproportionately hard. African Americans are still contracting the illness—and dying from it—at rates twice as high as would be expected based on their share of the population.

yenisafak (2020-07-12). Education Secretary wants US schools open, offers no safety plan. yenisafak.com Education Secretary Betsy DeVos kept up the administration's push to reopen U.S. schools in the fall on Sunday, but failed to embrace any blueprint – including federal health guidelines – for how that could be done safely."We know that children get the virus at a far lower rate than any other part of the population. There is nothing in the data that would suggest that kids being back in school is dangerous to them," DeVos told CNN's "State of the Union."She did not offer any details on how her department would advise or help school districts and states with their reopenings amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases…

teleSUR (2020-07-12). Trump Suggested To Sell Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria. telesurenglish.net Former U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Elaine C. Duke revealed that President Donald Trump suggested selling Puerto Rico to avoid the US from having the burden of helping it recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September 2017. | RELATED: | "In the face of the devastation in Puerto Rico Island, Trump thought like a businessman. He asked if it was possible to 'sell the island or outsource the electricity ¥,…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-07-12). Adding Insult to the 'Injury of Colonialism,' Trump Suggested Selling Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria, Former Advisor Says. commondreams.org According to a New York Times interview with Elaine Duke, who served as Homeland Security Secretary from 2017 to 2018, the president suggested selling Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria when it became clear the federal government would have to assist with a major recovery effort. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/hurricane_maria_puerto_rico_1.jpg

teleSUR (2020-07-11). COVID-19 Cases Soar in Latin America and the Caribbean in July. telesurenglish.net In the first days of July, Latin America registered over 650,000 new positive COVID-19 and 23,000 deaths, which shows that the disease has accelerated significantly in the region. | RELATED: | Latin American and Caribbean's governments informed that this area has so far 3,236,063 infections and 139,809 deaths. | This means that in July alone, COVID-19 had a jump of 662,140 infected patients and 23,652 new deaths in the a…

teleSUR (2020-07-11). Russia Offers Latin America a Drug to Cure COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Russia's Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) director Kiril Dmitriyev Saturday announced Latin American countries will be the firsts to receive the drug Avifavir for COVID-19 treatment. | RELATED: | The Russian Embassy in Guatemala, along with with the RDIF, officially presented Avivafir for Latin America and the Caribbean. | "Many countries don't have any antiviral drugs, and Russia is prepared to meet those nations' needs," Dmitriyev assured…

Mickey Gallagher (2020-07-11). Baseball and Socialism in Cuba. dissidentvoice.org What is a million dollars worth compared to the love of eight million Cubans? — 3-time Olympic heavyweight boxing champion Teofilo Stevenson on why he never signed a contract to become a professional boxer On April 2, 2019, the Cuban Baseball Federation published a list of 34 players between the ages of 17 and 25 …

Peter Koenig (2020-07-11). Bill Gates and the Depopulation Agenda. Robert F. Kennedy Junior Calls for an Investigation. globalresearch.ca Robert F Kennedy Jr, an avid Defender of Children's Rights and anti-vaccination , has launched a petition sent to the White House, calling for "Investigations into the 'Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation' for Medical Malpractice & Crimes Against Humanity"

news.un (2020-07-11). World Population Day: 'No time to waste' in empowering women. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone, everywhere, "but it does not affect everyone equally", the UN chief said in his message for World Population Day, on Sunday.

Deepak L Bhatt, Philippe Gabriel Steg (2020-07-11). [Correspondence] Differential effect of ticagrelor on irreversible harms in diabetes — Authors' reply. thelancet.com Gerald Chi and Jolanta Marszalek raise questions about subgroup analysis and interaction terms in the THEMIS trial. Interaction terms are generally underpowered. At the same time, when several subgroups are compared, interaction terms might be positive by chance because of multiplicity of testing. These are two opposing forces in the interpretation of interaction terms that have long been appreciated in clinical trials. With respect to our work, the THEMIS trial was a positive trial in which we found significant efficacy benefit of ticagrelor in the overall population of patients with stable coronary artery disea…

Thierry Passeron (2020-07-11). [Comment] First step in a new era for treatment of patients with vitiligo. thelancet.com Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation of the skin, which affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. The condition can profoundly affect the wellbeing and the social, sexual, and professional lives of affected individuals and thus induces a strong therapeutic demand.1 Actual treatments rely on the use of topical steroids or topical calcineurin inhibitors, and are better combined with sun exposure or phototherapy.1,2 The best results are achieved on the face, while some areas such as bony prominences and hands and feet show a very poor repigmentation rate.

Gerald Chi, Jolanta Marszalek (2020-07-11). [Correspondence] Differential effect of ticagrelor on irreversible harms in diabetes. thelancet.com We read with interest the Article by Deepak L Bhatt and colleagues1 on the incremental effect of ticagrelor to aspirin for patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease. The THEMIS trial suggested a reduction in ischaemic events but not irreversible harms in the overall population.2 The trial also hypothesised that patients with a history of previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) would show a favourable efficacy—safety tradeoff. The authors found a favourable net clinical benefit in patients with previous PCI but not in those without previous PCI (appendix).

news.un (2020-07-11). COVID-19 lockdown in Myanmar exposes precarious position of LGBTQI population. news.un.org In Myanmar, the COVID-19 lockdown has laid bare the stigmatization, discrimination and harassment faced by many LGBTQI people, particularly in rural areas. The United Nations is working to support those people.

teleSUR (2020-07-11). Venezuela Rejects U.S. Accusations About Drug Trafficking. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Interior and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol Saturday rejected the statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration which accused Venezuela of promoting drug trafficking. | RELATED: | "Venezuela has and will continue to fight against drug trafficking and will continue to ensure prevention and international cooperation," Reverol emphasized. | In the last 10 years, the tr…

Joe Emersberger (2020-07-11). Remembering the Venezuelan National Assembly vote lost by Guaidó in January 2019. zcomm.org The view of the US government and the pro-Guaidó faction of the opposition was summed up by a New York Times headline and subhead that on January 5 that said Venezuela's Maduro Claims Control of National Assembly, Tightening Grip on Power It was the last political institution in opposition hands. Now President Nicolás Maduro's has

teleSUR (2020-07-11). Trump Plans To Meet With President Maduro, Bolton Says. telesurenglish.net U.S National Security's Former Advisor John Bolton Friday said President Donald Trump plans to meet Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro if the White House leader is re-elected in November. | RELATED: | Bolton assured Trump plans to meet Nicolas Maduro regardless of "the damage to the opposition" that this may cause. | "I believe he will continue to support the opposition until November's elections. It remains to…

teleSUR (2020-07-11). Venezuela Extends the State of Alarm to Prevent COVID-19 Spread. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Vicepresident Delcy Rodriguez Saturday announced the State of Constitutional Alert's extension for another 30 days to prevent the COVID-19 spread in the country. | RELATED: | "As Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro requested, we are extending the quarantine for another month, as we make a special call to the Caracas' citizens to stay at home and comply with all the precautionary measures," Rodriguez…

Ricardo Vaz (2020-07-11). Trump Visits SOUTHCOM, Warns 'Something Will Happen' in Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com The US president praised the "historic sanctions" imposed against Venezuela.

_____ (2020-07-11). The US And UK Are A Wrecking Ball Crew Against The Pillars Of Internationalism. popularresistance.org Over the past few decades, Western countries—such as the United Kingdom, but more so the United States of America—have flouted international laws and failed to even try to uphold the high-minded principles of the charter. Most recently, the United States has attempted to muzzle the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it has pursued a perfectly reasonable investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan; and the United Kingdom has denied Venezuela its sovereign right to gold held in the Bank of England. In both cases, the United States and the UK have undermined the sovereignty of nations and mutilated i…

sputniknews (2020-07-11). Venezuela Receives Shipment of 840,000 Packages of Insulin Drugs From Russia. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A humanitarian shipment from Russia containing 840,000 packages of insulin drugs has arrived in Venezuela, the deputy health minister of the South American country Gerardo Briceno said during an appearance on the state-run VTV broadcaster on Saturday.

sputniknews (2020-07-10). UNSC Fails to Adopt Russian Draft Resolution to Deliver Syria Aid via 1 Crossing for One Year. sputniknews.com The previous resolution submitted by Russia was also blocked in the UNSC, with the United States, UK, Germany, France, Estonia, Belgium, and the Dominican Republican voting against the measure.

teleSUR (2020-07-10). Chile: Indigenous People Face Discrimination Amidst Pandemic. telesurenglish.net Chile's head of indigenous health issues at Chile's Medical Union, Dr. Nelson Vergara, stated the government's pandemic-management strategy discriminates aboriginal people. | RELATED: | "The government said it was well prepared for the pandemic, but these preparations were designed for Euro-descendant urban populations," said Dr. Vergara. | Since the beginning of the pandemic, indigenous patients' data collection has not bee…

Marilyn Bechtel (2020-07-10). COVID-19 pandemic sweeps California prisons, San Quentin hit hardest. peoplesworld.org OAKLAND, Calif.—One of COVID-19's most dramatic consequences in California has been its impact on the state's prison population. As of July 8, nearly 2,300 of the 115,000 people incarcerated in the state's historically overcrowded prison system had tested positive for the disease, and at least 31 had died. Over 600 prison workers have also tested …

Marlee Kokotovic (2020-07-10). Bee populations are thriving in the UK as human lifestyle changed due to pandemic. nationofchange.org This news is definitely something to "bee" happy about and should give us hope that our actions really can make a difference and improve the Earth.

WSWS (2020-07-10). French-backed security forces in the Sahel guilty of mass extrajudicial executions. wsws.org The report exposes the Franco-German-led war as a neo-colonial intervention to subjugate the resource-rich and geo-strategically critical region and its population.

yenisafak (2020-07-10). Nearly 448M people live in EU: Statistics authority. yenisafak.com Calculated on Jan. 1, the population of the 27 EU member states was estimated at 447.7 million, the bloc's statistical authority said on Friday.Largely due to a one-off event, the number saw a steep drop of 12.8% compared with 513.5 million in the 28 member states on Jan 1, 2019, Eurostat said ahead of World Population Day on July 11."The decrease is mainly due to the withdrawal of the UK (on Feb 1), which led the population of the EU to decrease by 13%," it said.As more deaths than births were recorded in the EU since 2012, the natural change has been in a negative direction.In 2019 the bloc saw 4.7 million deat…

Paul Street (2020-07-10). Imperial Blind Spots and a Question for Obama. counterpunch.org The biggest of the many moral blind-spots that mar the politics of the Democratic Party is American imperialism. Biden Helped Lead the Charge into Iraq Look at the Inauthentic Opposition Party's[1] presumptive presidential nominee. Biden recently chided Donald Trump in not-so veiled terms for failing to overthrow the democratically elected socialist Maduro government of Venezuela?

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2020-07-10). US Plans to Invade Venezuela Through Colombia. globalresearch.ca Colombia is under a pro-Washington government. The country's current president, Iván Duque Márquez, has been noted for a series of policies of alignment with the United States, continuing the legacy of his predecessor, former president Juan Manuel Santos, …

_____ (2020-07-10). VenezolanosConBiden And MAGAzuela: Two Sides Of The Same Coin. popularresistance.org The Biden campaign held an online event on Wednesday, July 8 pitched as the former Vice President's "vision for Venezuela and Venezuelans in the U.S." Spoiler alert: his vision for Venezuela barely differs from President Trump. This event, which didn't merit an appearance from Biden himself, was aimed at getting Venezuelan-Americans to volunteer for "Uncle Joe", as Representative Darren Soto (D-Fl) called him. It was an hour and a half of shilling for votes and influence, and it demonstrated that when it comes to Venezuela, policies of regime change, sanctions and a refusal to engage in dialogue unite Venezolanos…

Ricardo Vaz (2020-07-10). [UPDATED] Venezuela: Oil Minister, PSUV Vice President Test Positive for COVID-19. venezuelanalysis.com The senior Chavista figures made the announcement on Twitter.

news.un (2020-07-09). Address 'unprecedented' impact of coronavirus on Latin America and the Caribbean, urges Guterres. news.un.org As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world, Latin America and the Caribbean have become a "hotspot of the pandemic", the UN chief said on Thursday, releasing a new policy initiative on how best to recover in a region already embroiled in poverty, hunger, unemployment and inequality.

teleSUR (2020-07-09). South Africa: Health Minister Warns on COVID-19 Cases Increase. telesurenglish.net South Africa's Health Minister Zweli Mkhize warned about a hospital occupancy increase despite the optimistic outlook on COVID-19 development. | RELATED: | South Africa's government enforced a strict lockdown and virus outbreak tracing through extensive screening as precautionary measures. Nevertheless, tests and supplies scarcity limits cases detention. | With a 58 million population, then daily new cases average went from 1,0…

teleSUR (2020-07-09). Over 70 Percent of Paraguayan Fear Contagion, Unicef Says. telesurenglish.net Paraguay's Unicef Office Thursday disclosed the results of a survey about Covid-19, conducted in May. The polling intended to assess population risk perception and useful knowledge about the pandemic. | RELATED: | According to Unicef, about 1,409 families from rural and urban regions and different living standards participated in the study. The responses were collected by phone and through a website. | Paraguayans…

teleSUR (2020-07-09). 'People Are Dying From COVID-19 in Puerto Rico' Rapper Says. telesurenglish.net Puerto Rico's rapper Pedro Vazquez, mostly known as PJ Sin Suela, denounced that the people are dying from COVID-19 in his country. | RELATED: | "People are dying from COVID-19 in Puerto Rico", PJ Sin Suela said and assured that he is seeing it with their own eyes. | "The people take care of the people. Take your measures and do not be irresponsible like the government is… Wear masks and respect social distancing… Do not be irresponsible and stay in…

Nino Pagliccia (2020-07-09). Venezuela is on a Path to Make Colonialism Obsolete. counterpunch.org On June 29 the European Union (EU) slapped new sanctions against 11 Venezuelan individuals. Immediately President Nicolas Maduro responded by ordering the expulsion of the EU ambassador to the country. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that Brussels would retaliate against Caracas over its decision and announces that it will summon Maduro's ambassador to

Ben Norton (2020-07-09). Meet the Venezuelan coup regime's 'UK ambassador,' a pampered US heiress who threatens journalists. thegrayzone.com Juan Guaidó's UK representative, a jet-setting US socialite named Vanessa Neumann, has threatened journalists with FBI investigations for reporting on…

Alan MacLeod (2020-07-09). Guaido representative threatens FBI investigation into journalists exposing her dealings. mronline.org Juan Guaido's UK "ambassador" claims that she is working with the FBI in an investigation exposing a "transnational criminal network" of journalists and outlets, including Venezuelanalysis.

teleSUR (2020-07-09). Venezuela: Diosdado Cabello Has Tested COVID-19 Positive. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's National Assembly (ANC) president Diosdado Cabello Thursday reported he has tested COVID-19 positive. | RELATED: | "Dear comrades, I would like to inform you that after taking the corresponding tests I have tested positive for COVID-19," Cabello tweeted. | Cabello suspended Wednesday broadcasts of his TV show "Con el Mazo Dando," alleging he had allergies. After testing results, he remains in isolatio…

Johanna Ross (2020-07-09). UK Commits 'Highway Robbery' of Venezuelan Gold, Says Academic. globalresearch.ca When it comes to Venezuela, Britain is suffering from split personality disorder. While the UK Foreign Office reportedly maintains 'full, normal and reciprocal diplomatic relations' with legitimately elected President Maduro's government, and with Maduro's UK ambassador, the British government has …

Leonardo Flores (2020-07-09). Biden's vision for Venezuela is virtually indistinguishable from Trump's. thegrayzone.com A campaign event demonstrated that when it comes to Venezuela, policies of regime change, sanctions, and refusal to engage in…

_____ (2020-07-09). The Impact Of The Economic War On Venezuela. popularresistance.org It would be impossible to count each and every one of the ways in which the war on Venezuela declared by imperialism has harmed the country. The aggressions that we, the Venezuelans, have experienced since 1999 have been not only economic; they have been psychological as well. There is no way to measure the consequences of the hate planted by the anti-democratic opposition, with its anti-socialist propaganda; it has extended to the point of burning people alive for being Chavistas. The outrage felt by the Venezuelan people when they see those who have sold out their native land while calling themselves Venezuelan…

_____ (2020-07-09). Meet the Venezuelan Coup Regime's 'UK Ambassador,' a Pampered U.S. Heiress Who Threatens Journalists. strategic-culture.org Juan Guaidó's UK representative, a jet-setting US socialite named Vanessa Neumann, has threatened journalists with FBI investigations for reporting on her unhinged behavior. The coup-plotting heiress made her name spinning out conspiracies at neoconservative think tanks. | Ben NORTON | Since the United States initiated a coup attempt against Venezuela's elected, internationally recognized government in January 2019, the gang of far-right opposition s the Donald Trump administration recognized as the country's unelected representatives have racked up a series of embarrassing scandals. | Top aides of the

Leonardo Flores (2020-07-09). Biden and Trump on Venezuela: Two Sides of the Same Coin. commondreams.org A January 2015 meeting between Venezuelan President Nicol√°s Maduro and Vice President Biden—unlikely to be repeated if Biden wins the presidency. (Photo: AP) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/biden_maduro.jpg

Prensa Latina (2020-07-08). Cuba exhorta a ayuda de OIT para dejar atrás crisis por COVID-19. peoplesworld.org LA HABANA—El presidente de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, exhortó hoy a la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) a ayudar al mundo para superar la crisis causada por la pandemia de COVID-19. La OIT puede contribuir con su amplia obra en favor de la justicia social, la promoción del empleo digno y la protección de los derechos …

Prof Rodrigue Tremblay (2020-07-08). Is a Global Demographic Crisis Unavoidable? globalresearch.ca "Throughout history, any profound political and social change was preceded by a philosophical revolution, at least among a significant section of the population." —M. N. Roy (1887-1954), humanist and political figure from India, 1950. | "For social problems, to paraphrase …

Nicolas J S Davies (2020-07-08). Key U.S. Ally Indicted for Organ Trade Murder Scheme. counterpunch.org When President Clinton dropped 23,000 bombs on what was left of Yugoslavia in 1999 and NATO invaded and occupied the Yugoslav province of Kosovo, U.S. officials presented the war to the American public as a "humanitarian intervention" to protect Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanian population from genocide at the hands of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic. That