Francisco Dominguez (2020-05-14). US Imperialism's Decomposition Accelerates: Outsourcing 'Regime Change'. Mercenary Incursions into Venezuela. globalresearch.ca On May 3rd a bunch of mercenaries, led by Rambo-like US soldiers of fortune attempted to disembark on the coastal town of Macuto in the La Guaira state in Venezuela's Caribbean coast, in a so-called Operation Gedeon. | Their leader, 'contractor' …

A. Majumdar (2020-05-14). PDF download of May 14 issue. workers.org Download entire 12-page PDF here. Justice for Ahmaud Arbery. Kent State and Jackson State. Also: COVID‚Äë19: capitalism's end stage; workers resist. Editorial: Changing narrative in Michigan. World: China, Vietnam, Haiti, Ecuador. Tear down prisons: victory in PA; San Quentin caravan; No cages for migrants; Global prisons & white supremacy; Solidarity . . . |

RT (2020-05-14). Japan's plan to end emergency for 39 prefectures accepted by experts — minister. rt.com A panel of experts has accepted the Japanese government's plan to end the state of emergency for 39 prefectures, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Thursday. The 39 prefectures in which the emergency is expected to be lifted account for 54 percent of Japan's population. | Japan was expected to lift the state of emergency across a large part of the country on Thursday but the capital, Tokyo is likely to remain under restrictions until there is a convincing containment of the coronavirus. | The world's third-largest economy declared a nationwide state of emergency a month ago, urging citizens to reduce…

RT (2020-05-14). Japan lifts coronavirus-related state of emergency in most regions, Tokyo not included. rt.com Most of Japan's prefectures, except Tokyo and seven others, will be lifting emergency restrictions imposed to battle the novel coronavirus outbreak, effective Thursday. | The decision comes as the number of new cases of infection has consistently fallen in 39 provinces, prompting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to say that the pandemic is "currently not spreading widely." The regions mentioned account for 54 percent of Japan's total population. | Also on rt.com | | Japan declar…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-14). US further complicates prospects for peace in Colombia. colombiareports.com The United States government further complicated the future of peace in Colombia on Wednesday, adding Cuba to its list of non-cooperative countries in counter-terrorism efforts for not extraditing ELN peace…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-14). UN economic commission backs guaranteed minimum income in Colombia. colombiareports.com The United Nations' Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) supports an urgent guaranteed minimum income (GMI) as proposed in Colombia's senate. The proposal was coined by some…

Orfilio Peláez (2020-05-14). Cuban Interferon Proven Effective Against COVID-19. globalresearch.ca Since the appearance, March 11, of the first cases of COVID-19 in Cuba, the country's Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) has reported that the inclusion of Recombinant Human Interferon Alpha 2b in treatment protocols for these patients has shown positive …

Makia Freeman (2020-05-14). April 2020 Rockefeller Foundation Paper Urges Testing and Tracing Entire US Population. globalresearch.ca A 2020 Rockefeller Foundation Paper now proposes the next phase of the solution to the coronavirus crisis — after the

John McEvoy (2020-05-14). Revealed: Secretive British Unit Planning for 'Reconstruction' of Venezuela. globalresearch.ca Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act have exposed a secretive Foreign Office unit aimed at the 'reconstruction' of Venezuela. The files also reveal private discussions between Venezuelan opposition figures and UK officials, detailing proposals for the promotion of …

Michael Doliner (2020-05-14). The Venezuela Kerfuffle and the Secret Team. counterpunch.org The recent snafu of the covert Venezuela operation echoes the account of the Bay Of Pigs fiasco in Col L. Fletcher Prouty's repressed book, The Secret Team: The CIA and Its Allies in Control of the United States and the World first published in 1973. After good early sales,100 positive reviews and a printing of

Francisco Dominguez (2020-05-13). Outsourcing 'regime change': US imperialism's decomposition accelerates. peoplesdispatch.org On May 3rd a bunch of mercenaries, led by Rambo-like US soldiers of fortune attempted to disembark on the coastal town of Macuto in the La Guaira state in Venezuela's Caribbean coast, in a so-called Operation Gedeon.

Don Fitz (2020-05-13). Can we simultaneously oppose Bayer/Monsanto's biotechnology and support Cuba's Interferon Alpha 2B? mronline.org Technology reflects social factors throughout its development and use. Genetically engineered crops allow mega-corporations to patent seeds, lure farmers into buying them with visions of high yields, and then destroy small farmers. Cuba's drugs are shared throughout the world. Making a distinction between the biotechnology of agro-industry and Cuba requires understanding the difference between bioimperialism …

Kenneth Surin (2020-05-13). "Making It Up As They Go Along:" Boris Johnson and COVID-19. counterpunch.org As I write (the weekend of 9-10 May), the UK's death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic has reached 31,855. The UK, unlike the US, has started counting deaths in care homes. This toll is the highest in Europe, and the second in the world after the US. The UK has a fifth of the US's population, so translating the UK figure into US terms would amount to 160,000 US deaths from the virus (the US's death toll as of this weekend is a little more than 80,000).

RT (2020-05-13). Belgium to partially reopen schools, markets, museums & zoos from Monday. rt.com Belgian schools will partially reopen and markets, museums and zoos will also be allowed to operate again from next Monday, PM Sophie Wilmes said on Wednesday. | With a population of 11.5 million, Belgium is among the European nations worst hit by Covid-19, but it began a phased easing of the restrictions at the start of May. Belgium has so far reported 53,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 8,843 deaths, according to Reuters. | Wilmes said the reopening of non-food shops this week had proceeded smoothly even if there were now queues outside some stores. "Improvements are coming, but we must be patient. We can…

Joshua Cho (2020-05-13). Corporate Media don't think Americans paid to invade Venezuela Count as mercenaries. mronline.org When an attempted invasion of Venezuela launched from the shores of Colombia was foiled on May 3, after armed commandos were intercepted at Venezuela's coastline of La Guira, it seemed undeniable that the heavily armed men, possessing satellite phones and uniforms with the U.S. flag emblazoned on them, had been paid to take part in …

Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-13). [UPDATED] Venezuelan Oil Sector Continues Slump Amid Pandemic, US Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The Maduro government is working to repair refineries with Chinese and Iranian assistance to tackle fuel shortages.

teleSUR (2020-05-13). Secret UK Plan to Intervene in Venezuelan Politics Revealed. telesurenglish.net U.K. news portal The Canary published this Wednesday an investigation by journalist John McEvoy which reveals a secret unit between the British Foreign Ministry and the Venezuelan opposition to overthrow Venezuela's Constitutional President Nicolas Maduro. | RELATED: | According to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, journalist McEvoy points out that in the last 16 months, the British Govern…

Matt Sedlar (2020-05-13). El ministerio de las Colonias estadounidenses. cepr.net Le Monde diplomatique en español, mayo de 2020 Ver artículo en sitio original Creada en 1948, en el marco del enfrentamiento entre Estados Unidos y la Unión Soviética (URSS), la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) constituye uno de los instrumentos de la proyección geopolítica de Washington en América Latina y los Estados del Caribe, …

teleSUR (2020-05-13). Cuba Rejects US Terrorism Accusations, as Habana Blacklisted. telesurenglish.net Cuba rejected on Wednesday accusations of terrorism by the United States, as President Donald Trump blacklisted the Caribbean island, claiming that it had not fully cooperated against terrorism. | RELATED: | While the U.S. Department blacklists Cuba with countries that do not cooperate in the fight against terrorism, it does not prevent or condemn the terrorist attack of April 30 on our embassy in Washington, Cuba's Foreign…

WSWS (2020-05-13). German politicians and media laud right-wing demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions. wsws.org The ruling elite is now mobilising the right-wing dregs of society in the "corona" demonstrations to intimidate the population and enforce their back-to-work campaign.

imperial.ac.uk (2020-05-13). Coronavirus will have bigger impact on world's most disadvantaged and vulnerable. imperial.ac.uk The coronavirus pandemic will have a greater impact on the world's most disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, according to an Imperial report.

commondreams (2020-05-13). Sanders, Vel√°zquez Introduce Nutrition Equity Bill for Puerto Rico, Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands. commondreams.org ______________________________…

John McEvoy (2020-05-13). Revealed: Secretive British unit planning for 'reconstruction' of Venezuela. thecanary.co Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act have exposed a secretive Foreign Office unit aimed at the 'reconstruction' of Venezuela. The files also reveal private discussions between Venezuelan opposition figures and UK officials, detailing proposals for the promotion of British business after a planned coup.UK support for coup attempt in Venezuela: Over the past 16 months, the UK government has consistently

teleSUR (2020-05-13). Venezuela Denounces US at UN Security Council. telesurenglish.net Venezuela denounced on Wednesday, before the Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the armed terrorist attacks against the nation. The attack carried out on May 3 off the coast of La Guaira, was organized and financed by mercenaries and protected by the Governments of Colombia and the United States, announced the Minister of Foreign Relations, Jorge Arreaza. | RELATED: | Earlier in the day, S…

teleSUR (2020-05-13). Venezuela Arrests Another Man Involved in Failed Incursion Plan. telesurenglish.net Venezuelan security forces reported the capture on Wednesday of another mercenary involved in the failed incursion into the South American country, called Operation Gideon, on May 3. | RELATED: | The capture was made in the mountainous area of Petaquirito, in the state of La Guaira, by members of the Eighth Brigade of Sea Commands of the Bolivarian Navy (AB), one of the five components of the Bolivarian National…

Fight Back (2020-05-12). Leaders from sanctioned countries condemn U.S. sanctions amid COVID-19 pandemic. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Over 1000 people attended an online panel hosted by the United National AntiWar Coalition, May 9. In a panel entitled, "U.S. Sanctions During the COVID-19 Pandemic, a Global Threat" leaders representing six countries facing harsh U.S. sanctions highlighted the leading role of the United States in undermining the healthcare infrastructure of sovereign states in order to foment regime change. | U.S. imposed economic sanctions currently impact 39 countries, representing one third of the global population. These sanctions result in chronic shortages of basic necessities and have inhibited the abilit…

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-05-12). U.S. hand in recent assaults on Cuba, Venezuela. peoplesworld.org Secretary of State Pompeo loudly condemns Iranian border guards who abused Afghans crossing into Iran. He castigates China's supposed failings with the COVID-19 pandemic. He and President Trump rail against dictatorship they see in Venezuela. They protest Cuba's "slave doctors" — who actually "defend health care as a human right," according to Cuba's foreign minister. …

Betsey Piette (2020-05-12). Sanctions = Health terrorism. workers.org A timely international webinar, sponsored by SanctionsKill.org on May 9, featured representatives from Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria and Venezuela, plus a statement from Zimbabwe addressing the deadly impact of U.S. sanctions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1,000 people from nearly every continent, including multiple U.S. cities, viewed the event. The . . . |

RT (2020-05-12). Russia becomes world's second hardest-hit country with 230,000+ confirmed Covid-19 cases, surpassing Spain & UK. rt.com With 10,899 more coronavirus infections reported across the country on Tuesday morning, Russia now trails only the United States in terms of people known to have contracted Covid-19. | Nationwide, 232,243 confirmed cases have been discovered since the start of the outbreak, national disease response officials said. This figure is higher than those recorded by Spanish (227,436), British (224,332) and Italian (219,814) authorities. | However, it's worth noting that Russia has over twice the population of those countries and has carried out far more tests. | At the same time, Russia has had considerably fewer dea…

Staff (2020-05-12). "Losing the Fabric of the City": COVID-19 Took Chicago Black Lives First & Exposed Structural Racism. democracynow.org We look at the coronavirus pandemic's disproportionate toll on African Americans through the story of Chicago's first 100 recorded deaths. A report by ProPublica found that 70 of the first 100 people to die were African American. Black people account for 30% of Chicago's population and 72% of COVID-19 deaths. We speak with ProPublica reporter Adriana Gallardo, who contributed to the report "COVID-19 Took Black Lives First. It Didn't Have To." She says the story paints a picture of "sophisticated structural racism" in Chicago.

Ramesh Thakur (2020-05-12). Wrecking Entire Economies: Lockdowns May Be Causing More Harm Than Good Worldwide, and Especially in India. anti-empire.com

Homeless people line up for free food distributed by Assam Police during lockdown to curb the spread of new coronavirus, in Gauhati, India, Monday, April 27, 2020. India last week eased the lockdown by allowing shops to reopen and manufacturing and farming activities to resume in rural areas to help millions of poor, daily-wage earners. But the economic costs of the nationwide lockdown continue to mount in a country of 1.3 billion people. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

| Locking up healthy people in their homes and putting wholesale populations under house arrest is perverse. Coronavirus panic merchan…

Beau Peters (2020-05-12). Shelter-in-Place and Internet Inequality: What's the Connection? dissidentvoice.org Photo Source: Unsplash As most of the world is forced to stay home, internet and technology play essential roles in almost every aspect of the population's shelter-at-home lives. The internet keeps loved ones communicating and in touch, informs people of what's going on in the world, connects students to their teachers and professors, and provides …

RT (2020-05-12). New study says herd immunity is a myth and countries relying on it, including Sweden, chose the wrong strategy. rt.com Herd immunity may be an unrealistic tactic for dealing with Covid-19, new research has warned, calling into question the strategy of several countries — such as Sweden — who shied away from quarantine measures in its favor. | Europe is a long way from reaching the levels of exposure required for herd immunity, according to a new study published by the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI). Belgium tops the list, with just 6.2 percent of its population exposed to Covid-19 so far, and Sweden — with no enforced lockdown measures — is even lower down the list at just 2.

RT (2020-05-12). China to test ENTIRE POPULATION of Wuhan for Covid-19 after disease reemerges. rt.com Chinese authorities plan to test all of Wuhan's 11 million residents for Covid-19 in a little over a week. After more than a month without newly-recorded cases, the disease has suddenly reappeared in the city. | All districts in the city were ordered to submit a plan on how they will conduct testing of all residents in their areas within 10 days, local media reported, citing a document from the authorities. The officials were told to prioritize the testing of vulnerable groups and places like residential compounds. | The measure was announced as a response to the six new locally-transmitted cases that were rec…

teleSUR (2020-05-12). President Maduro Extends State of Alarm in Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, signed this Tuesday the renewal of the decree of the state of constitutional alarm for 30 more days "to continue protecting our people" from Covid-19. | RELATED: | The president stressed that the quarantine could not be relaxed in the country to avoid a Covid-19 outbreak, as has happened in other countries. In Venezuela, food production will be maintained as a priority of…

Orinoco Tribune (2020-05-12). Cuba Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for Its Fight Against COVID-19. globalresearch.ca The French organization Cuba Linda has recommended awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Cuban medical brigades for their efforts to eradicate COVID-19. | "The international community is witnessing the solidarity of health professionals who leave their country to provide services and …

teleSUR (2020-05-12). Bolivia: Inmates Riot Due to COVID Outbreak in Prison. telesurenglish.net Bolivian police forces repressed May 11 an inmate riot in Palmasola prison, in Santa Cruz city. Convicts protested due to a Covid-19 outbreak among the prison population. | RELATED: | The authorities at the Palmasola penitentiary said two inmates who died last week after presenting respiratory distress. Local news media reported first deceased autopsy revealed he was COVID positive and was buried acco…

teleSUR (2020-05-12). Women, Migrants & Blacks Most Affected by COVID-19 in Latam. telesurenglish.net The COVID-19 pandemic will make a bad economic situation worse for women, Indigenous, black people and migrants in Latin America, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) warned Tuesday. | RELATED: | The agency of the United Nations said in a report that unequal access to potable water, sanitation, healthcare, and housing could also mean higher rates of infection and death among these…

teleSUR (2020-05-12). Universal Basic Income to Help Most Affected by COVID-19: ECLAC. telesurenglish.net The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said Tuesday that to face the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, governments must guarantee immediate temporary monetary transfers to satisfy basic needs, sustain the consumption of households and achieve a solid and relatively rapid recovery in the region. | RELATED: | ECLAC's Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena presented at a vi…

Telesur (2020-05-12). Cuba to Begin Mass-Scale COVID-19 Testing. globalresearch.ca Dr. Francisco Durán, national director of Epidemiology of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, reported on Sunday that a considerable part of the population will be given tests to detect possible positive cases of COVID-19. | Durán explained that a …

teleSUR (2020-05-12). Nicaragua Requests OAS Lift Sanctions Due to COVID Crisis. telesurenglish.net Nicaragua's representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) demanded on May 11 that sanctions cease against Cuba, Venezuela, and his nation. | RELATED: | Nicaraguan diplomat Luis Alvarado participated in the first session of the Weekly Forum on the Challenges Facing Inter-American Law in the Time of the Coronavirus. He referred to COVID-19's social and economic worldwide impact. Alvarado stated solidarity and cooperation are paramount to cope with sequels…

teleSUR (2020-05-12). Cuba Asks the US for Answers on the Attack on Its Embassy. telesurenglish.net Cuba's RELATED: | "Twelve days after the attack, the State Department is complicit…

Bauchner H, Sharfstein J. (2020-05-12). Medical Students and Public Health Service for the COVID-19 Pandemic. jamanetwork.com Over the next few months it is likely that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has surged in New York City, Seattle, New Orleans, and Detroit will move from city to city and state to state. After the initial peak, absent highly effective medical interventions, the US will likely experience outbreaks of lingering disease for months and potentially years to come. As the US enters the next phase of COVID-19, critical questions will involve the nation's capacity to respond to outbreaks, protect high-risk populations, and limit community spread.

The Canary (2020-05-12). Herd immunity for Covid-19 is a 'dangerous' concept says World Health Organisation. thecanary.co The World Health Organisation (WHO) has condemned the "dangerous" concept of herd immunity for Covid-19. | Herd immunity is an epidemiological term usually reserved to describe how the population as a whole is protected from a disease depending on the levels of people vaccinated. | For instance, when 90%-95% of the population is vaccinated against measles, this should be enough to protect others who are unable to get an inoculation — such as babies before they reach the age at which they can be immunised. | Asked about the concept being applied to the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO said "no-one is safe until ev…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-12). Colombia considering guaranteed minimum income as famine looms. colombiareports.com Almost half of Colombia's senators signed off on a proposal to urgently implement a guaranteed minimum income for more than 70% of the population. The radical proposal would temporarily guarantee…

Kuehn BM. (2020-05-12). Discovering Why Some Infants Have Delayed Hearing Loss Detection. jamanetwork.com Several socioeconomic factors were linked in a recent study with delayed hearing loss diagnoses in Minnesota infants. Launching initiatives to pinpoint these populations and identify infants with hearing loss more quickly could help reduce their risk of delayed speech and language development, the study's authors noted.

Staff (2020-05-12). COVID-19 Took Chicago Black Lives First and Exposed Structural Racism. truthout.org We look at the coronavirus pandemic's disproportionate toll on African Americans through the story of Chicago's first 100 recorded deaths. A report by ProPublica found that 70 of the first 100 people to die were African American. Black people account for 30% of Chicago's population and 72% of COVID-19 deaths. We speak with ProPublica reporter Adriana Gallardo, who contributed to the report "COVID-19 Took Black Lives First. It Didn't Have To." She says the story paints a picture of "sophisticated struct…

Maria Paez Victor (2020-05-12). What If Armed Terrorists Threatened the Prime Minister of Canada? counterpunch.org Fortunately, Canada is not a country that has suffered continuous threats of coup d'etats as Venezuela has these last 21 years. The Motive Be that as it may, as a matter of clarification and discernment, let us imagine the following: suppose a powerful foreign power — let's call it Statesland — intent on taking over

sputniknews (2020-05-12). Russia to Consider Caracas' Request for Help in Probe of Invasion If Asked – Lavrov. sputniknews.com MOSCOW(Sputnik) – Russia will consider Venezuela's request for help in investigation of a naval incursion if it receives such request, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday .

sputniknews (2020-05-12). US Mercenaries Went Ahead With Venezuela Invasion Despite Being Outed on TV Weeks Earlier — Video. sputniknews.com The fallout continues from 'Operation Gideon', the brazen May 3-4 attempt by a US security contractor to invade Venezuela, kidnap its president and take him back to the United States. The White House remains in damage control mode, denying any responsibility for the plot while seeking to bring the captured US mercenaries involved back home.