Adriaan Alsema (2020-05-04). The narco history of Colombia's security forces | Part 1: Santa Marta. colombiareports.com Colombia's security forces been involved in the drug trade since the beginning. On the Caribbean coast, cops began extorting marijuana traders in the 1960s and ended up being their enforcers….

RT (2020-05-04). 'Brain-dead on and off the pitch': Fans SLATE Liverpool's Lovren over coronavirus claims about Bill Gates, David Icke and vaccines. rt.com Fans have reacted with shock, derision and support on social media after Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren lashed out at a post by Bill Gates in support of health workers and endorsed David Icke's controversial views on COVID-19. | Long-serving center-back Lovren backed claims that the pandemic has been manufactured as a means of forcing the world to accept a vaccine, sounding a warning in response to a post by billionaire Gates, who theorists believe is behind a dastardly population control plan. | Gates, who has pledged some of his vast wealth towards the scientific search for a vaccine and medical aid efforts…

RT (2020-05-04). West blocking Syrian refugees from returning places 'a bomb' to destroy neighbors' economies & security — Lebanese president. rt.com The US and its allies want to keep refugees from returning to Syria regardless of the economic and social damage the current situation does to hosting nations, the president of Lebanon has said in an interview. | "They want to place the refugees as a bomb in the countries neighboring Syria, even if it would blow up the society, the security, and the economy in nations like Lebanon," President Michel Aoun Lebanon has an estimated population of over six million. Of those, a million are regi…

Jeffrey A. Tucker (2020-05-04). Woodstock Occurred in the Middle of a Pandemic. anti-empire.com In my lifetime, there was another deadly flu epidemic in the United States. The flu spread from Hong Kong to the United States, arriving December 1968 and peaking a year later. It ultimately killed 100,000 people in the U.S., mostly over the age of 65, and one million worldwide. | Lifespan in the US in those days was 70 whereas it is 78 today. Population was 200 million as compared with 328 million today. It was also a healthier population with

RT (2020-05-04). President's ASSASSINATION was ultimate goal of US/Colombia-staged mercenary invasion of Venezuela — Maduro. rt.com The aim of the failed mercenary incursion into Venezuela was the death of the country's President Nicolas Maduro, he has claimed. Several mercenaries were killed and two captured, with one turning out to be a veteran DEA agent. | "The objective was to kill the president of Venezuela," Maduro said on Monday, citing the uncovered "evidence, testimonies and videos" of the incident. | Earlier in the day, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry squarely pinned the blame for the failed incursion on the US and Colombia. | "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces to the international community a new mercenary and terro…

Alan Macleod (2020-05-04). New Details Emerge Linking US to Latest Coup Attempt in Venezuela. mintpressnews.com The government of Venezuela is celebrating after thwarting another foreign-backed coup attempt Sunday, just two days after self-declared another coup attempt by "Interim President" Juan Guaidó

Alan MacLeod (2020-05-04). Juan Guaidó Is Trying to Overthrow the Venezuelan Government Again. Calls on Military to Support Him. globalresearch.ca Exactly one year since his audacious coup attempt failed spectacularly, self-declared Venezuelan president Juan Guaidó is once again trying to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro. "Today I speak to the patriotic soldiers of our Armed Forces who rebelled …

Alberto Lovera (2020-05-04). Venezuelan Armed Forces Neutralize Colombian Paramilitary Incursion on Coast of La Guaira. globalresearch.ca At dawn this Sunday, the Venezuelan state security forces neutralized a paramilitary incursion from Colombia on the coast of La Guaira, reported the Minister of People's Power for Interior, Justice and Peace, Nestor Reverol. | "They tried to carry out …

Kate Zeller (2020-05-04). Developing Countries Struggle with Coronavirus Health and Economic Impacts. indybay.org From Ecuador to the Dominican Republic to Ethiopia, developing countries are struggling to obtain aid and financing to address the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus.

WSWS (2020-05-04). Trump White House steps up return to work drive. wsws.org The recent surge in coronavirus cases and deaths heralds even greater suffering by the population as states continue to reopen.

The Canary (2020-05-03). 'Don't exclude healthy pensioners from lockdown easing' say doctors' leaders. thecanary.co Doctors' leaders have said excluding any section of the population from lockdown easing based solely on age would be "discriminatory".NHS England's national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said on 1 May, that officials will be studying whether stricter measures will or will not have to continue to apply to the elderly when restrictions are relaxed.But the British Medical Association (BMA) said excluding any section of the population from lockdown easing based on age would be "unacceptable". | BMA council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: "Any proposal to impose stricter social distancing for those at higher…

Tyler Durden (2020-05-03). Pompeo Demands Countries Block Airspace to Iran's Sanctions-Busting Air Bridge to Venezuela. anti-empire.com The US is going on the offensive once again against Venezuela, this time attempting to break up growing Iranian cooperation and assistance to Caracas. The two so-called 'rogue states' recently targeted for US-imposed regime change are helping each other fight coronavirus as well as Washington-led sanctions. Specifically Tehran has ramped up cargo deliveries related getting Venezuela's derelict oil refineries fully operational. | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in new statements has called on international allies to block airspace specifically for Iran's Mahan Air, currently under US sanctions, and which has in…

RT (2020-05-03). 'Invasion by sea': Venezuela thwarts 'mercenary' infiltration attempt from Colombia. rt.com Venezuelan authorities say they have foiled a raid by "foreign mercenaries" trying to reach the Latin American nation by sea to launch terrorist attacks and assassinate government officials. | A group of mercenaries have tried to infiltrate Venezuela's major port of La Guaira, located just north of the nation's capital of Caracas, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a televised address. The incident, which the minister called "an invasion by sea," was part of preparations for another coup attempt, he added. |

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-03). Venezuela thwarts invasion attempt by mercenaries. peoplesdispatch.org The National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) and the National Bolivarian Police repelled an attempted invasion by a group of mercenaries early on May 3, Sunday. The group of mercenaries attempted to enter Venezuela on the coast of the La Guaira State. They arrived in speed boats from Colombia, according to the GPS system of the boats. | In the confrontation, eight mercenaries were killed and two were detained, one of whom has confessed to being an agent of the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States. Venezuelan security forces also seized large amounts of weaponry, including assault rifles and ammunition, as…

teleSUR (2020-05-03). Cuba Condemns Foiled Terrorist Plot Against Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Cuba's Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez rejected Sunday the foiled terrorist attack against Venezuela, expressing his support to Nicolas Maduro's government and Bolivarian Revolution. | RELATED: | "We strongly condemn the armed mercenary incursion into Venezuela" the diplomat tweeted, adding that "all our solidarity and support for President Nicolas Maduro and the civic-military union of the Bolivarian an…

Federico Fuentes (2020-05-03). Bolivia vs Venezuela: COVID-19 response reveals true nature of governments. zcomm.org Because Venezuela represents an alternative to the profit-driven capitalist system, the US has chosen the COVID-19 crisis as a time to ramp up its attacks on the Maduro government…

Stephen Lendman (2020-05-03). The Trump Regime Redeploys Its ISIS (Terrorist) "Freedom Fighters" to Iraq, Courtesy of the Pentagon. globalresearch.ca For over 40 years, Iraqis suffered from the scourge of US wars by hot and other means with no let-up, millions perishing, an entire population immiserated. | The Iraqi government and vast majority of its people want their country back — …

teleSUR (2020-05-03). Venezuelan Military Foils Terrorist Infiltration from Colombia. telesurenglish.net The Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace of Venezuela, Nestor Reverol, announced on Sunday the disarticulation of an incursion by a terrorist group into the country via sea. | RELATED: | Reverol said the infiltration attempt came from a terrorist group trying to enter Venezuela from Colombia. | Reverol highlighted that the objective of this incursion was to commit terrorist acts in the country, like carrying out asassinations…

Patrick Henningsen (2020-05-03). Why Sweden Has Already Won the Debate on COVID 'Lockdown' Policy. globalresearch.ca As Europe and North America continue suffering their steady economic and social decline as a direct result of imposing 'lockdown' on their populations, other countries have taken a different approach to dealing with the coronavirus threat. You wouldn't know it …

Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-03). Venezuelan Armed Forces: Paramilitary Incursion Neutralized. venezuelanalysis.com Former US green beret Jordan Goudreau, reported to have led preparations for a coup, confirmed the operation.

teleSUR (2020-05-03). Venezuelan Constituent Assembly on Foiled Terrorist Attack. telesurenglish.net The President of the Constituent Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, slammed on Sunday the latest attempt by armed terrorists to infiltrate Venezuela's border by means of a naval invasion from Colombia. | RELATED: | US: Tape Exposes Pompeo's Real Opinion on Venezuelan Opposition, 'They Plot for Themselves' | During the failed attempt, Venezuelan forces have killed abou…

teleSUR (2020-05-03). Bolivarian Armed Forces Reject Terrorist Incursion Attempt. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, condemned the attempted terrorist incursion, planned and organized from Colombia, which sought to generate chaos in the country and assassinate Venezuelan leaders. | RELATED: | "The attack was timely detected thanks to the intelligence and counter-intelligence agencies, which guarantee the active surveillance of our geographic space," Padrino explained. | The r…

teleSUR (2020-05-03). Venezuelan Assembly Vows to Defend Country After Border Attack. telesurenglish.net The President of the Constituent Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, slammed on Sunday the latest attempt by armed terrorists to infiltrate Venezuela's border by means of a naval invasion from Colombia. | Cabello said that the incident is still under investigation by the Venezuelan authorities, but he vowed, on behalf of the Constituent Assemby, to confront these terrorists that seek to harm the South American nation. | "We must summarize that these are not the only ones who came in the operation. It is under investigation. There was a confrontation, shots fired. We don't know if there are people who died at sea, or r…

Bill Hackwell (2020-05-02). Cuba: May Day in the Year of the Pandemic. dissidentvoice.org Photo: Bill Hackwell, Havana, Plaza of the Revolution This photograph depicts how the Plaza of the Revolution in Havana usually looks on May 1, International Workers Day (IWD). Every year since 1959 when a revolution, whose backbone was made up of workers and peasants, was victorious against a brutal US-backed dictatorship, millions of Cubans and …

RT (2020-05-02). 'It's a Swift reference': Alex Jones says 'eat my neighbors' rant was SATIRE to highlight people 'starving' in Covid-19 lockdown. rt.com Infowars founder Alex Jones says his viral "eat my neighbors" rant was taken out of context by the media, insisting it's a reference to satirist Jonathan Swift and a way to bring attention to what he calls "population control." | Through his son Rex's Twitter account, Jones said on Saturday that his viral rant was an homage of sorts to the 1729 essay 'A Modest Proposal' by Swift in which the author recommends the poor use their children as food to sell to the rich to help with their economic burdens. | Not many would likely compare Jones to Swift, Irish writer and cleric, on any normal occassion, but the Infow…

Lucas Koerner (2020-05-02). Former US Special Ops Soldier Led Plot to Invade Venezuela: Sources. venezuelanalysis.com AP reports that the Venezuelan opposition and Colombian authorities were aware of the plan.

Joe Emersberger (2020-05-02). Remembering Henri Falcon's May 2018 Presidential campaign in Venezuela. zcomm.org Henri Falcon was a viable candidate — attacked by his own side Venezuela's opposition had a viable candidate in Henri Falcon, a two-time governor of the state of Lara. He was first elected governor of the state of Lara in 2008 as a pro-Chavez candidate.[1] He broke with Chavez in 2010 and was then re-elected

(2020-05-02). Declaración de Cuba: La pandemia demuestra la necesidad de cooperación. workers.org Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba La necesidad de cooperación El impacto de la COVID19 puede medirse ya y podrá evaluarse en el futuro por la impresionante cantidad de personas infectadas, por las cifras inaceptables de muertes, por el daño indiscutible a la economía mundial, a la producción, el comercio, . . . |

Party for Socialism and Liberation (2020-05-01). PSL condemns terrorist attack on Cuban Embassy. liberationnews.org Cuba is not alone. The world stands with Cuba.

yenisafak (2020-05-03). Turks turn to minimalism amid coronavirus lockdown. yenisafak.com More and more people in Turkey are leaning into minimalism and consuming less as the world takes a giant pause due to the novel coronavirus, according to one local minimalist.Hale Acun Aydin, founder of the Turk Isi Minimalizm (Turkish Way Minimalism) website and related social media sites, said interest in minimalism had already risen in the last couple of years before recently skyrocketing as residents face a long lockdown at home."It doesn't matter how many shoes we have now, we only use one pair of shoes to go to the supermarket," Aydin told Anadolu Agency.Populations across the world, as well as in Turkey, a…

Party for Socialism and Liberation (2020-05-01). PSL denuncia ataque terrorista a Embajada Cubana. liberationnews.org Cuba no está sola. El mundo está con Cuba.

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla (2020-05-01). Cuban statement regarding attack on Cuban Embassy. liberationnews.org Statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

Staff (2020-05-01). Caravan for Life: Protesters in Puerto Rico Demand More Tests & Resources to Combat the Coronavirus. democracynow.org On Thursday in Puerto Rico, activists in dozens of cars held a "Caravan Por La Vida," or "Caravan for Life," through San Juan to demand the government provide more COVID-19 tests and sufficient resources for people to stay at home during the pandemic. At least 92 people have died from COVID-19 in Puerto Rico, and last week the island was reporting a testing rate lower than any U.S. state, at an abysmal average of 15 tests a day for every 100,000 people. No one in Puerto Rico has received $1,200 checks from the government, according to San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. Police stopped the caravan and said their sou…

a guest author (2020-05-01). Workers' Revolutionary and Anti-Imperialist International Manifesto. workers.org Workers World Party has endorsed this international declaration for May Day, initiated by the Party of Liberation of Argentina and others, and endorsed as of April 30 by the parties listed at the end. This May 1, fight together against imperialism. Activists in San Juan, Puerto Rico, hold up wooden . . . |

Alan Macleod (2020-05-01). Groundhog Day: Juan Guaidó Is Trying to Overthrow the Venezuelan Government Again. mintpressnews.com Exactly one year since his audacious coup attempt failed spectacularly, self-declared Venezuelan president Juan Guaidó is once again trying to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro. "Today I speak to the patriotic soldiers of our Armed Forces who rebelled against hunger and destruction and sided with the constitution," he

Zero Hedge (2020-05-01). Pompeo Demands Countries Block Airspace To Iran's 'Terrorist Airline' After Venezuela Deliveries. iranian.com The US is going on the offensive once again against Venezuela, this time attempting to break up growing Iranian cooperation and assistance to Caracas. The two so-called 'rogue states' recently targeted for US-imposed regime change are helping each other fight coronavirus as well as Washington-led sanctions. Specifically, Tehran has ramped up cargo deliveries related getting Venezuela's …

teleSUR (2020-05-01). CARICOM Observer Team for Guyana Elections Recount Arrives. telesurenglish.net The three-member team is led by Ms. Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI), and includes Mr. John Jarvis, Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission and Mr. Sylvester King, Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-01). Cuba denounces attack on diplomatic mission in the US. peoplesdispatch.org On April 30, in the early hours of the morning, a terrorist attack was perpetrated against the embassy of the Republic of Cuba to the United States in Washington. According to the statement by the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez, an unknown man shot several times at the embassy's building using an assault rifle. | At the moment of the attack, ten Cuban officials and diplomats were inside the building. Fortunately, none of the diplomatic officials or any other staff members were injured. The aggressor was arrested by local authorities and is currently in their custody. | Cuba's foreign minister…

Diana Block (2020-05-01). What Cuba Has to Teach, in Pandemic Times and Beyond. counterpunch.org In July 2019, I visited the Cuban Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) as part of the 50th Anniversary Venceremos Brigade. We were impressed by the many scientific advances that the Institute had achieved, including the development of interferons to successfully fight viral diseases such as dengue and ebola. Little did we imagine that

Anderson TS, Odden M, Penko J, et al. (2020-05-01). Generalizability of Clinical Trials Supporting the 2017 ACA/AHA Blood Pressure Guideline. jamanetwork.com This study uses National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data to evaluate whether patients enrolled in the clinical trials that support the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline are representative of the US adult population recommended additional pharmacotherapy by the ACC/AHA guideline.

Kunst N, Long JB, Xu X, et al. (2020-05-01). Use and Costs of Breast Cancer Screening for Women in Their 40s in a US Population With Private Insurance. jamanetwork.com This study uses Blue Cross Blue Shield Axis data to examine the total annual cost of breast cancer screening for women aged 40 through 49 years in the United States.

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2020-04-30). US to Mobilize Military Reservists in 'Anti-Drug' Operation Against Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com The Trump administration is also targeting oil-for-food deals involving the Venezuelan government and Mexican companies.

teleSUR (2020-04-30). Cuba Willing to Help Investigate Attack on Its US Headquarters. telesurenglish.net Cuba's Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, today expressed the will of his Government to assist in the investigation of the attack against the diplomatic headquarters of the Caribbean island in Washington. | RELATED: | In statements to the press, the Foreign Minister emphasized the seriousness of the attack, which could have endangered the life and safety of the embassy staff and their families, he said. | During a meeting wit…

news.un (2020-04-30). Lift Cuba embargo or risk many lives lost to COVID-19, UN rights experts warn US. news.un.org The United States must urgently lift its blockade on Cuba to save lives amid the expanding COVID-19 crisis, UN human rights experts stressed on Thursday, emphasizing that the more than six-decades-old sanctions are impeding the supply of medicine, medical equipment, food and other goods essential to surviving the pandemic.

Pablo Vivanco (2020-04-30). Cuba is Ready to Aid the U.S. in its Fight Against COVID-19. progressive.org Despite Trump's sanctions, Cuba advocates international solidarity as the only way to overcome this pandemic.