(2020-08-08). CODEPINK Denounces Elliott Abrams' Appointment As US Special Representative For Iran. popularresistance.org The appointment of Elliott Abrams to replace Brian Hook as the next U.S. Special Representative for Iran is another low point for the Trump administration's disastrous policy towards Iran. The dangerous conflict resulting from Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement will be exacerbated by a man committed to Washington's failed policies of regime change, including in his present-day position as Trump's representative for Venezuela. | Elliott Abrams has made a career of lying and committing criminal acts that have led to the death and suffering of innocent people from Guatemala to Iraq.
(2020-08-08). Trump Scuttles Economic Stimulus Negotiations What Next? zcomm.org The McConnell-Trump strategy is not to bail out state and local governments. It's about making the high urban population centers—located largely in 'blue' states—to bear the brunt of the continuing economic crisis…
(2020-08-08). Venezuela's Maduro Demands Investigation into Landlord Violence. venezuelanalysis.com The Venezuelan president ordered the armed forces to protect campesinos from landowner attacks.
(2020-08-08). How the US failed at its foreign policy toward Venezuela. peoplesdispatch.org US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Venezuela confirmed this week the overt efforts over the last year of the US government to carry out a coup d'état against president Nicolás Maduro…
(2020-08-08). Trudeau government remains silent on corruption and repression in Haiti. mronline.org 
One way to evaluate the seriousness of the Trudeau government's stated objectives in seeking to oust Venezuela's elected government is to examine their policies elsewhere in the region.
(2020-08-08). Eviction wave looms in Idaho's Treasure Valley. liberationnews.org 
The story of the housing crisis in the Treasure Valley has once again risen sharply in pitch, spurred on by the unremitting COVID-19 pandemic. The Treasure Valley — also known as the Boise Metropolitan Area — comprises nearly 40 percent of Idaho's total population and is home to more than 730,000 people. Approximately 42 percent …
(2020-08-08). War And Pandemic Journalism. popularresistance.org The struggle against Covid-19 has often been compared to fighting a war. Much of this rhetoric is bombast, but the similarities between the struggle against the virus and against human enemies are real enough. War reporting and pandemic reporting likewise have much in common because, in both cases, journalists are dealing with and describing matters of life and death. Public interest is fueled by deep fears, often more intense during an epidemic because the whole population is at risk. In a war, aside from military occupation and area bombing, terror is at its height among those closest to the battlefield.
(2020-08-08). Venezuela And Trump's Irrational Electoral Policy. popularresistance.org Caracas, Venezuela – Elections always have an interesting effect on public policy, in particular if the person in charge of designing and implementing a certain policy is up for reelection. In politics, it is logical that an incumbent candidate decides to show successful policies and accomplishments while minimizing failures or shortcomings. However, what is irrational is that a candidate insists on presenting, preserving and deepening a policy that has proven to be a failure and that the candidate himself only supports half-heartedly.
(2020-08-08). [Perspectives] Moral responsibility in medicine: where are the boundaries? thelancet.com All doctors have responsibilities to protect and promote health. These responsibilities lie at the heart of medicine, providing its moral foundation. Some doctors meet their responsibilities treating individuals with diseases, some teach or do research, while others safeguard or promote the health of populations. These responsibilities arise from the social role of doctors that is enshrined—but not always clearly delineated—in social, legal, ethical, and professional standards and norms. The health and wellbeing of the patient is, according to various codes, the pre-eminent responsibility of medicine,…
(2020-08-08). [Perspectives] Together in a time of physical distancing. thelancet.com Could there be a stranger time for a book about social connections than during a period when we have seen the most dramatic global effort ever to keep people away from one another? In the first half of 2020, the world was in the grip of fear about the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries instituted some form of physical distancing for their whole populations to mitigate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Emerging data from this period showed that reports of loneliness and attendant depression and anxiety increased compared with 2019.
(2020-08-07). Don't Let His New Book Fool You, Bush Laid the Groundwork for Today's Immigration Nightmare. thealtworld.com 
George W. Bush drastically increased the militarization of the Mexican border, sending 6,000 national guardsmen to patrol it, greatly increasing detention capacity for immigrants and using drones to patrol the area. | MPN— George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, has announced he is releasing a new book called "Out of Many, One" which will celebrate America's diversity and immigrant populations. "Our immigrant heritage has enriched America's history. It continues to shape our society. Each generation of Americans — of immigrants — brings a renewal to our national character and add…
(2020-08-07). Venezuela Ratifies Commitment Against Drug Trafficking. telesurenglish.net The President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro ratified on Friday Venezuela's commitment in the fight against drug trafficking, on the 15th anniversary of the expulsion of the United States (U.S.) Agency for Drug Control (DEA). | RELATED: | "On a day like today 15 years ago, Commander Hugo Chavez (1954-2013) cut off relations with the largest drug cartel on the continent, the DEA. Since then, we have reinforced th…
(2020-08-07). When the Chickens Came Home to Roost In Portlandistan. counterpunch.org Well folks, it's official, Donald Trump has declared war on America. Probably should have saw that coming. After all, I've long argued that our dayglow duce isn't an isolationist but merely the world's shittiest imperialist. After trying and failing miserably to bring fascism to Nicaragua and Venezuela, Trump has set his sites on targets much
(2020-08-07). US Has Lost 12,881,000 Jobs Since February. Lowest-Paid Workers Are Hit Hardest. truthout.org The July employment report showed the economy adding another 1,761,000 jobs in July. This follows gains of 2,725,000 in May, and 4,791,000 in June, leaving the economy down 12,881,000 jobs from its February level. | The unemployment rate fell from 11.1 percent to 10.2 percent, while the employment to population ratio (EPOP) rose from 54.6 percent to 55.1 percent. These gains likely overstate the true improvement from June, since the Bureau of Labor Statistics has largely fixed a misclassification p…
(2020-08-06). Cuba: President Rejects Lawfare Against Leftist Leaders. telesurenglish.net The President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel highlighted on Thursday the use of the judiciary in politics as a colonizing weapon over the peoples of Latin America. | RELATED: | On his official Twitter account, the president maintained that the case of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, "proves how far the enemies go" in applying those tools. | "The use of the judiciary against left-wing leaders is an imperial m…
(2020-08-06). Biden says Latinos are 'incredibly diverse,' UNLIKE BLACK VOTERS. rt.com 
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden took time out from a question asked by a Latina reporter to state that while black voters all think alike (with "notable exceptions"), Latino voters are "incredibly diverse" in opinion. | In the midst of answering a question on whether he would extend protected status for Venezuelan immigrants during a Wednesday town hall, Biden veered off on a self-congratulatory tangent touting his supposed knowledge of the Latino community. | What you all know but most people don't know, unlike the African American community with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an i…
(2020-08-06). The American Narrative of Hiroshima is a Statue that Must be Toppled. counterpunch.org 
In August 1945, the United States attacked two cities in Japan with nuclear weapons in the last days of World War Two. The US used weapons of mass destruction against a primarily civilian population, instantly killing over 100,000 human beings, with tens of thousands of wounded and irradiated people who would die in the subsequent
(2020-08-06). ECLAC: Latam Goods And Exports To Decrease By 23 Percent. telesurenglish.net The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean forecast on Thursday that the value of goods and exports in America Latina will fall by 23 percent this year as a result of a decline in prices and volumes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | "The decrease in imported volume would reach 18%, so that it would be somewhat greater than that registered in 2009 during the world financial crisis and similar…
(2020-08-06). What We Can Learn from Cuban Health Care. progressive.org Though it has had its fair share of failures, the country's approach to world health proves to be successful, especially as a response to COVID-19.
(2020-08-06). An Unbelievably Disastrous State of Affairs. counterpunch.org Like most of the rest of the U.S. population, Montanans are wondering how we're going to get out of the very serious and growing problems afflicting our state and nation right now. They are also, on an increasing basis, growing very angry that our Republican president and his snarling pack of enablers are ignoring the
(2020-08-06). US Senate Hearing Unveils Trump's Plans Against Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday held a hearing to discuss Donald Trump administration's policy towards Venezuela. The U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliot Abrams was summoned to answer questions about it. | RELATED: | At the meeting, Republican Senator Mitt Romney and other Democratic lawmakers referred to the failure of the U.S. actions carried out to prompt a government change i…
(2020-08-06). Tehran, Baku stress expansion of bilateral coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 06 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Labor, Cooperatives and Social Welfare Mohammad Shariatmadari and Azerbaijan's Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev stressed on the expansion of bilateral cooperation.
(2020-08-06). UK Reinstates Quarantine for Passengers Arriving From Andorra, Belgium, Bahamas. sputniknews.com LONDON (Sputnik) – Passengers coming to the United Kingdom from Andorra, Belgium, and the Bahamas will have to self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced Thursday.
(2020-08-06). Ex-Venezuelan Official Charged in Bribery, Money Laundering Scheme, US Justice Department Says. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – A former official at Citgo Petroleum Corporation, a Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned energy company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, has been charged with involvement in a bribery and corruption scheme, the US Department of Justice said in a news release on Thursday.
(2020-08-06). As the Hurricane Season Intensifies, Is Puerto Rico Ready? thenation.com As the Hurricane Season Intensifies, Is Puerto Rico Ready?
(2020-08-06). Jamaica Celebrates Its 58th Independence Day With Resilience. telesurenglish.net Jamaica celebrates Thursday the 58 anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | "Despite COVID-19, we remain committed to making this the decade of growth for Jamaica to anchor our peace, prosperity, and resilience," Prime Minister Andrew Holness tweeted. | He also referred to the efforts made in fiscal, monetary, and structural reforms, which have let Jamaica be "in a…
(2020-08-05). 'Coup-Plotters for Hire': Unearthed USAID Nicaragua Regime Change Doc Puts 2018 Protests in Context. sputniknews.com An uncovered US Agency for International Development (USAID) document lays out a blueprint for regime change in Nicaragua. An expert told Sputnik the playbook shines a new light on the 2018 protests in Nicaragua as well as similar operations in other countries targeted by the US, such as Venezuela.
(2020-08-05). NIA Multi-site COVID-19 Related Clinical Trial Implementation Grant on Aging-Related Topics in at-risk Older Adult Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Required). grants.gov PAR-20-234 | Funding Opportunity ID: | 327717 | Opportunity Number: | PAR-20-234 | Opportunity Title: | NIA Multi-site COVID-19 Related Clinical Trial Implementation Grant on Aging-Related Topics in at-risk Older Adult Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Required) | Opportunity Category: | Discretionary | Opportunity Category Explanation: | Funding Instrument Type: | Grant | Category of Funding Activity: | Health | Category Explanation: | CFDA Number(s): | 93.866 | Eligible Applicants: | State governments | County governments | City or township governments | Special district go…
(2020-08-05). P Is for Predator State: The Building Blocks of Tyranny from A to Z. globalresearch.ca "When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience and their public business a …
(2020-08-05). Will The Pandemic Transform US Military Bases? popularresistance.org Okinawans opposed to the expansion of U.S. military bases on their island have been upset by the environmental damage, the accidents, and the crimes associated with the presence of 25,000 American troops. Now the anti-base movement has one more powerful argument to use in its case to shrink the U.S. footprint in this southernmost Japanese prefecture: the coronavirus. | Until recently, the novel coronavirus pandemic had largely spared Okinawa. There had been fewer than 150 infections and only seven deaths among a population of nearly 1.5 million.
(2020-08-04). Trump RUINED our Venezuela coup and botched 'winning play,' cries Democrat Senator & gets ROASTED online. rt.com 
The Democratic Party's gripes with President Trump are many, yet the latest may be the most bizarre to date. One Senator argued that Trump's brash personality bungled a perfectly good, American-style coup in Venezuela. | If Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) had his way, opposition leader Juan Guaido would be occupying the Presidential Palace in Caracas right now, after the successful ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Despite the weight the US threw behind Guaido last year, the young upstart's planned coup was a failure, and Murphy blames Trump for that loss. | 2/ In early 2019, an opportunity…
(2020-08-04). Venezuela: US Backs Guaido-led Opposition in Election Boycott. venezuelanalysis.com Elliott Abrams reiterated US support for hardline opposition factions.
(2020-08-04). Prevalence, Characteristics, and Costs of Urgent Care Center Membership Programs. jamanetwork.com This study uses simulated patient phone calls to a random selection of US urgent care clinics (UCCs) to describe the proportion that offer membership programs with access to discounted visits for recurring fees and the characteristics (affiliations, accreditations, population income) and fees and charges of those that do.