(2021-05-08). [Perspectives] Monica Lewin: surgeon to victims of political violence in Jamaica. thelancet.com At the height of the political unrest that rocked Jamaica's capital, Kingston, during the 1960s and 1970s, many of the injured brought to Kingston Public Hospital found themselves cared for by the expert hands of surgeon Monica Lewin. Her career illustrates the combination of high parental expectations, sympathetic mentorship, and personal determination that often underlies extraordinary achievement by people from under-represented groups. For most of Lewin's life, there were few female consultant surgeons, and she was one of the first in her country.
(2021-05-08). [Correspondence] Thwarting the inverse care law through immunisation. thelancet.com The Lancet appropriately celebrated the late Julian Tudor Hart (1927—2018) who is recognised for suggesting the inverse care law (ICL) 50 years ago and astutely observed that "the availability of good medical or social care tends to vary inversely with the need of the population served".1 Richard Cookson and colleagues2 provided a disquieting companion global assessment of the pervasive reality of the ICL in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), evidenced by immensely patchy progress towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC), which the UN General Assembly committed to in December, 2012.
(2021-05-07). In Kerala, The Present Is Dominated By The Future. popularresistance.org Kerala, a state in the Indian union with a population of 35 million, has re-elected the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to lead the government for another five years. Since 1980, the people of Kerala have voted out the incumbent, seeking to alternate between the Left and the Right. This year, the people decided to stay with the Left and give the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, Pinarayi Vijayan, a second term in office as the Chief Minister. Health Minister K. K. Shailaja, popularly known as Shailaja Teacher, won her re-election with a record-breaking tally of over 60,000 votes, far exceeding her closest co…
(2021-05-07). Venezuela & ALBA-TCP Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. orinocotribune.com 
The Venezuelan Navy, in conjunction with Civil Protection (PC), traveled to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and completed the first phase of humanitarian aid delivery, following the emergency caused by the activity of the La Soufrière volcano. | The work was recognized by the executive secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Sacha Llorenti, in the company of the president of the Bank of ALBA, Raúl Li Causi, who thanked the solidarity of Venezuela and the member countries of the regional body. | En acto de agradecimiento a la tripulación del buque de l…
(2021-05-07). In Kerala, the present is dominated by the future. mronline.org 
Kerala, a state in the Indian union with a population of 35 million, has re-elected the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to lead the government for another five years. Since 1980, the people of Kerala have voted out the incumbent, seeking to alternate between the Left and the Right. | May 7, 2021…
(2021-05-07). In Kerala, the Present Is Dominated by the Future. zcomm.org Kerala, a state in the Indian union with a population of 35 million, has re-elected the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to lead the government for another five years…
(2021-05-07). Russia Can Recover Only If Moscow Addresses Problems Of Middle Class And The Poor — OpEd. eurasiareview.com Vladimir Putin and the Russian government have acted as if they can address the impact of the pandemic on the population adequately if they come up with new programs for the poorest strata of Russians. But in fact, the economic crisis is hitting the middle class hard, and the regime must develop programs to help it as well, Yaroslav Kuzminov says. | Up to now, the rector of Moscow's Higher School of Economics says, the government has supported production and given some aid to the very poorest groups, but it has not supported members of the middle class with new programs who in many cases have lost their source…
(2021-05-07). Less-Educated Workers Were Hardest Hit in Recession. That Hasn't Changed. truthout.org 
The April employment report was considerably weaker than had generally been expected, with the economy adding just 266,000 jobs. Furthermore, the prior two months numbers were revised down by 78,000. The unemployment rate edged up to 6.1 percent, but this was entirely due to more people entering the labor force. The employment-to-population ratio (EPOP) also edged up by 0.1 percentage point to 57.9 percent. That is still 2.9 percentage points below its average for 2019. | Performance Across Sec…
(2021-05-07). Cyprus: Toward A Non-Territorial Con-Federation? — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Rene Wadlow* | Cyprus has been divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots since 1974, Turkish Cypriots in the north, Greek Cypriots in the south with a U.N. monitored buffer zone separating the two. There are still some 40,000 Turkish troops in the Turkish Cypriot area. The U.N. peacekeeping mission (UNFICYP) has been in Cyprus since 1964 when bad rioting among the Greek and Turkish populations was an indicator that things could get worse and lead to hostilities between Greece and Turkey themselves. | The complex political situation has three States as "guarantor powers" — the United Kingdom which was…
(2021-05-07). Three Reasons Why The Biden Tax Increase Makes No Sense — OpEd. eurasiareview.com By Daniel Lacalle* | Anyone who believes the "rich" and large corporations will pay for $28 trillion in debt or the $2 trillion in new deficit has a real problem with math. | Biden's announcement of a massive tax increase on businesses and wealthier segments of the population simply makes no sense. The tax hikes will have a significant impact on economic growth, investment, and job creation and do not even scratch the surface of the structural deficit. Even if we believe the gross domestic product growth and revenue estimates announced by the Biden administration, the impact on debt and deficit is negligible.
(2021-05-07). Exploring health care disparities in minority populations. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org In recognition of National Minority Health Month, a number of Mayo Clinic experts participated in a virtual Mayo Clinic media briefing to discuss health care disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority populations in the U.S. The experts addressed health education, early detection and control of disease complications. These are some of the topics discussed: …
(2021-05-07). Iraqi Shi'ite Militias Distance Themselves From Iran, Fearing Abandonment. news.antiwar.com The schism between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has caused tensions for centuries, and has recently been seen as a source of tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iraq, which borders both nations and has populations of both types, has a group of Shi'ite militias that are formally aligned with Iran, and were instrumental in fighting against ISIS. | Iraq, which worries about hosting potential fights, has
(2021-05-07). Iraqi Shi'ite Militias Distance Themselves From Iran, Fearing Abandonment. news.antiwar.com The schism between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has caused tensions for centuries, and has recently been seen as a source of tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iraq, which borders both nations and has populations of both types, has a group of Shi'ite militias that are formally aligned with Iran, and were instrumental in fighting against ISIS. | Iraq, who worries about hosting potential fights, has
(2021-05-07). Grand Jury Indicts Puerto Rico Boxer Félix Verdejo in Death of Keishla Rodríguez. latinorebels.com SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A grand jury on Thursday indicted Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo in the killing of his pregnant lover, a case potentially eligible for the death penalty.
(2021-05-06). Gabriel García Márquez And Magical Internationalism. popularresistance.org Sometimes what is obvious hides what is important. Gabriel García Márquez is best known as the craftsman par excellence of the genre 'magical realism', rather than his profound passion for the profession of journalism that led him to traverse—with the eagerness of a chronicler and a vallenato rhythm in his step—countless cafes, newsrooms, and continents. | Gabo, or Gabito, as he was known to his friends in Aracataca, a town camouflaged among the banana plantations of Colombia's Caribbean coast, produced a journalism that few recognize, journalism militantly committed to a national and global context.
(2021-05-06). Colombia: Casa de Las Americas Condemns Repression of Protests. telesurenglish.net Cuba's Casa de las Americas issued this Thursday a statement condemning the brutal police repression by the government of President Iván Duque against social protests within the framework of the National Strike in Colombia. | RELATED: | The text published on the website of the renowned cultural institution points out that the violent onslaught of the security forces against demonstrators, after more than a week of m…
(2021-05-06). From Colombia to Palestine, resist imperialist crimes! Samidoun solidarity statement with the people of Colombia. samidoun.net 
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network expresses its strongest solidarity with the people's movement and political prisoners of Colombia, facing the U.S.-backed right-wing regime of Ivan Duque, police murder and targeted assassinations, and harsh repression of mass protests. Thousands of people in Colombia have been marching for the past eight days against the tax policy of the right-wing Duque administration, supported by the United States and also involved in U.S.-directed regime change operations targeting Venezuela, Bolivia, and other progressive governments throughout Latin America. This movement h…
(2021-05-06). One Year after Defeat of Operation Gideon, Heroism of Chuao's Militia Recognized. orinocotribune.com Governor of Aragua, Rodolfo Marco Torres, presented decorations to militia and police officers of Chuao, who a year ago took the lead in capturing a group of mercenaries on the coast of Aragua. The mercenaries were embarked on a terrorist plot—Operation Gideon—launched from Colombia and promoted by the US government, with the goal of destroying critical infrastructure and kidnapping or assassinating the president of Venezuela. | The group of citizens and policemen were recognized by the people as the "warriors of Chuao," and awarded the Order of Santiago Mariño in recognition of their bravery and effe…
(2021-05-06). USAID Admits To Venezuela Regime Change Fraud. popularresistance.org Red Lines host Anya Parampil explores a new report issued by USAID's Office of the Inspector General which admits the agency's policy on Venezuela was driven by the State Department and National Security Council's push for regime change. The report specifically investigated USAID's attempt to use the US military to force aid through Venezuela's border with Colombia on February 23, 2019. Anya highlights the most interesting findings in the audit, including that USAID failed to put proper fraud controls in place in order to appease US officials seeking to overthrow Venezuela's elected government.
(2021-05-06). Colombia's Piedad Córdoba Confronts Duque & his Vice President: What Would This Pair be Saying if the Massacre was in Venezuela? + Facebook Censorship. orinocotribune.com 
Amid the wave of state violence against civilian protesters after seven days of demonstrations against the Colombian government's neoliberal policies, former Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba confronted Colombian President Iván Duque and his Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez. | "Think for a minute what you would say today, Iván Duque and Marta Lucía Ramírez, if last night's massacre in Siloé had happened in Venezuela," wrote Córdoba on Twitter. "Today it happened to your own people, and you said nothing!" | Piensen por un momento qué estaría diciendo hoy Iván Duque y Marta Lucía Ramírez, si la matanza de anoche e…
(2021-05-06). More International Voices Condemn State Terrorism in Colombia. telesurenglish.net Organizations and personalities from around the world on Wednesday rejected the military and police repression against the Colombian people, who continue to protest against President Ivan Duque and his neoliberal policies. | RELATED: | The governments of France, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Cuba, Spain, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom condemned police brutality. The United Nations (UN) demanded an end to the e…
(2021-05-06). USAID admits to Venezuela regime change fraud. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil explores an internal USAID report admitting the agency's policy on Venezuela was driven by the State Department and National Security Council's push for regime change. The report specifically investigated USAID's attempt to use the US military to force aid through Venezuela's border with Colombia on February 23, 2019. Anya highlights the most interesting findings in the audit, including that USAID failed to put proper fraud controls in place in order to appease US officials seeking …
(2021-05-06). Crisis & Critique: The Ibero-American Summit's Impact on Venezuela. orinocotribune.com By Ociel Alí López — Apr 30, 2021 | VA columnist Ociel López highlights the de facto recognition of the Maduro government by Washington-aligned countries in the recent international event. | The Ibero-American Summit is an event that brings together the presidents or senior representatives of Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Andorra. On April 21, the XXVII meeting was held in Andorra, although most participants attended virtually. | The main theme was "innovation for sustainable development," but for obvious reasons it was the Covid-19 pandemic that ended up taking center stage. | The event's first importa…
(2021-05-06). This is how President Maduro Welcomed Steven Seagal in Miraflores. orinocotribune.com 
The famous US actor Steven Seagal visited President Nicolás Maduro at the Miraflores Palace this Tuesday, May 4, in a meeting full of symbolism about values such as international friendship, culture, cooperation, and fighting spirit. | For these reasons, the Venezuelan president thanked Seagal for his gesture. Seagal currently holds the position of special envoy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the country that also granted him citizenship. In addition, Seagal is a recognized master of martial arts, especially the discipline called Aikido. | The head of state expressed, through his Twitte…
(2021-05-06). Venezuelan Parliament Appoints New Electoral Authorities with Two Opposition Members. venezuelanalysis.com The new CNE was the product of behind-the-scenes dialogue between the Maduro government and moderate opposition sectors.
(2021-05-06). Venezuela Reiterates Its Commitment To Human Rights And Justice. popularresistance.org Mexico City, Mexico – The Venezuelan Attorney General's Office submitted an updated report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on April 30 detailing its efforts to address alleged human rights abuses by state officials. | In September 2018, Venezuela's right-wing opposition, with support from the US and a handful of allied countries, filed a suit before the ICC accusing the Nicolás Maduro government of being responsible for "crimes against humanity" during violent anti-government protests in 2017. | Attorney General Tarek William Saab said his office had engaged in "meticulous" work to defend human rights.
(2021-05-06). Half of Canada's population less than $200 away from insolvency as billionaires' wealth surges. wsws.org While working people have confronted widespread impoverishment, illness and death, Canada's capitalist elite has seen its wealth soar during the pandemic.
(2021-05-06). Bashing China, U.S. commits crimes against humanity. workers.org 
It was announced April 7 that the Biden administration is being pressured by right-wing Republicans to either fully or partially boycott the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China, which will take place for two weeks that February. As part of the ongoing anti-China tirade that accelerated with the COVID-19 . . . |
(2021-05-06). Cuba begins days against homophobia and transphobia. mronline.org 
Cuba is celebrating from Tuesday to May 30 the 14th edition of the Conference against Homophobia and Transphobia, under the slogan 'All rights for all people.' | May 6, 2021 | Newswire…
(2021-05-06). Latin America rights groups face growing threats, attacks: Bachelet. news.un.org UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Thursday issued an alert over the rising number of threats, attacks and attempts to undermine national human rights institutions, in Latin America and the Caribbean.
(2021-05-06). Mexico and Celac Call for Democratization of Access to Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Mexico urged country members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to support the democratization of vaccines and distribution equity in the region. | RELATED: | On Thursday, the CELAC announced that Mexico, as its pro-tempore president, is working on the Comprehensive Health Self-Sufficiency Plan, strengthening the vaccine and drug production chains in Latin America. | ÔøΩÔø…
(2021-05-06). Cuba: US Blockade Affects Financing of Private Sector Projects. telesurenglish.net Access to financing to develop private sector business projects is limited by the impact of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, said Marina Torres García, vice-president of Banco Metropolitano S.A. (BanMet). | RELATED: | According to the directive, during a press conference in this capital, the entity serves many entrepreneurs (TCP) and non-agricultural cooperatives. Still, since 2019, f…
(2021-05-06). Cuba grateful for intellectuals' position denouncing the blockade. en.cubadebate.cu Party First Secretary and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel tweeted his thanks to the In Defense of Humanity Network for its message demanding an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba. "Thanks to intellectuals of the entire world who add prestige with their signatures to our long, determined struggle against the blockade. The redh, founded during other threatening days for Cuba, understands very well the seriousness of the siege the empire has imposed on us."
(2021-05-06). 36 Civil Society Organizations Urge Biden to Reverse Draconian Sanctions Against Cuba. commondreams.org "A policy position guided by human rights needs to address how U.S. sanctions towards Cuba severely limit the rights of Cuban citizens to food security, climate justice and dignity." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/cuba-1.jpg …
(2021-05-06). Cuba migrating to open source platforms. en.cubadebate.cu The use of open source platforms and Cuban software will strengthen our industry, technological sovereignty, and information security. The technical migration toward open source platforms and the consistent use of nationally produced software and applications in the country is not only a change needed to strengthen the Cuban industry, but is also key to strengthening our technological sovereignty and information security.
(2021-05-06). Díaz-Canel holds telephone conversation with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong. en.cubadebate.cu The Vietnamese party leader congratulated his Cuban counterpart on his recent election as First Secretary and recognized the revolutionary trajectory of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and his contributions to the fraternal ties shared by Cuba and Vietnam. First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, held a productive, fraternal telephone conversation on Wednesday morning with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (VCP), Nguyen Phu Trong.
(2021-05-06). Haitian Farmers Fight Dictatorship. popularresistance.org Breakthrough News was on the ground in Haiti for eight days covering the popular uprising sweeping that country. Our BT News team went to Haiti's agricultural heartland to detail the struggles of small and cooperative farmers against land grabs. Hear directly from the voices of those fighting displacement, destructive mining and agribusiness about their struggles and visions for a better future. As well as its connection to the ongoing struggle against Haiti's dictatorial ruler Jovenel MoàØse and his backer in the US government.
(2021-05-06). First 100 Days: Has Biden Kept His Promises To Black America? popularresistance.org Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris agreed with South Carolina Senator Tim Scott that the United States is not a racist country. Generations throughout history have made it plain that all our social and political systems in this country are steeped in racism. | Nearly nine out of 10 Black voters supported Joe Biden and Harris in the 2020 election. Black Americans represented over 50% of all Democratic voters in Georgia (33% of total state population is Black), 20% of all Democratic voters in Michigan (14% of the state population is Black), and 21% of all Democratic voters in Pennsylvania (Black people make up…
(2021-05-06). 'Don't Vaccinate the Young and Healthy': Swedish Doctors Pen Open Letter Against Blanket Inoculation. sputniknews.com Assuming that a large population already has some form of immunity and citing dangerous and fatal side effects such as blood clotting, the doctors urged public health officials not to repeat the mistakes made during the swine flu vaccination which resulted in numerous cases of narcolepsy as a side-effect.
(2021-05-06). Palestinian boy killed during Israeli raids in the Occupied Territories and other stories. peoplesdispatch.org Today we look at the killing of a Palestinian boy in a raid by Israeli forces, protests against femicides in Puerto Rico, and more…
(2021-05-06). War in the Caucasus: Turkey-Azerbaijan-Israel, Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia, Turkey-Azerbaijan-Pakistan axes. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Daily SabahMay 6, 2021 Ways of reviving the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Israel triangleCavid Veliyev Excerpts: Turkey and Israel made important contributions to "Operation Iron Fist." Turkey's unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Bayraktar TB2 and Israel's drones Harop contributed to the breaking of the defense line of the Armenian army, which occupied Azerbaijan's territories, and to the Azerbaijani army's …
(2021-05-06). Venezuela Inaugurates CNE Board: Meet the New Authorities. orinocotribune.com At noon on Wednesday, May 5, the new board of directors of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) was installed, in a session in which they assigned the responsibilities that each rector will assume. | Rector Pedro Enrique Calzadilla Pérez reported that during the meeting held by the new electoral authorities, they decided who will be responsible for the various tasks within the CNE. | "We are the result of an agreement. This governing body is the result of a historic national agreement of the country's political [and[ social forces, to redirect Venezuela to political stability in adherence with the dynamic…