(2020-05-19). News Stories Avoid Naming Israel. globalresearch.ca There are two stories that seem to have been under-reported in the past couple of weeks. The first involves Michael Flynn's dealings with the Russian United Nations Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. And the second describes yet another bit of …
(2020-05-19). Listening to the Coronavirus 'Experts' Has Led to Death and Despair. globalresearch.ca On April 21st the Washington Post savaged Georgia governor Brian Kemp's decision to begin opening his state after locking down for weeks. "Georgia leads the race to become America's No. 1 Death Destination," sneered the headline. | The author, liberal …
(2020-05-19). German Left demands national rent cover, protests CDU's pro-real estate policies. peoplesdispatch.org Die Linke (The Left) in Germany has demanded that rent hikes be halted. It has also called for a ban on evictions during this period of crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic…
(2020-05-19). From fields to supermarkets, solidarity with laborers on strike. peoplesdispatch.org On May 21, migrant agricultural workers across Italy are set to strike in protest over the new immigration rules announced by the government. These rules — offering only six month permits for workers in limited sectors — fall far short of what has been demanded…
(2020-05-19). US nukes in Poland would not be a deterrent, but a MASSIVE provocation for Russia. thealtworld.com The US has promoted the deployment of US nuclear weapons on Polish soil as part of NATO's 'nuclear sharing' arrangement. Such a move would only increase the chances of the very war such a deployment seeks to deter. | For the second time in little more than a year, the US ambassadors to Germany and Poland have commented on matters of NATO security in a manner which undermines the unity of the alliance while threatening European security by seeking to alter the balance of power in a way that is unduly provocative to Russia. | Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and the acting director of national intellig…
(2020-05-19). Read some Ho Chi Minh for his birthday. fightbacknews.org To mark the birthday of Ho Chi Minh, May, 19, 1890, Fight Back is circulating his 1960 article The path which led me to Leninism. | After World War I, I made my living in Paris, now as a retoucher at a photographer's, now as painter of "Chinese antiquities" (made in France!). I would distribute leaflets denouncing the crimes committed by the French colonialists in Viet Nam. | At that time, I supported the October Revolution only instinctively, not yet grasping all its historic importance. I loved and admired Lenin because he was a great patriot who liberated his compatriots; until then, I had read none of his boo…
(2020-05-19). Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider: The pioneer of electronica (1947-2020). wsws.org The cultural background of a disoriented avant-garde in the aftermath of World War II and the division of Germany helped shape the music of Schneider and his peers.
(2020-05-19). Mass sackings as German department store group closes up to 80 stores. wsws.org Germany's largest department store group, the merged Galeria Kaufhof Karstadt, is to close almost half of its stores.
(2020-05-19). Post-Brexit free trade deal depends on EU recognizing UK 'is a sovereign country' — Gove. rt.com 
The United Kingdom wants a Brexit free trade deal but there exist significant differences with the European Union, senior British minister Michael Gove said on Tuesday. "The government remains committed to a deal with a free trade agreement at its core," he told parliament. | "Success depends on the EU recognizing that the UK is a sovereign country," Gove was quoted as saying. "There remain some areas where we have significant difference of principle — notably on fisheries, governance arrangements and the so-called level playing field," the minister said. He also repeated that the UK would not extend the…
(2020-05-19). Headlines for May 19, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Claims He Is Taking Hydroxychloroquine Despite FDA Warnings, Navajo Nation Has Highest Coronavirus Infection Rate in the U.S., 60-Year-Old Burmese Refugee Becomes Eighth COVID-19 Victim at Colorado Meat Plant, 74-Year-Old Man at California ICE Prison Dies of Suicide, Trump Attacks WHO as U.S. and China Trade Barbs over Pandemic Response, Early COVID Vaccine Trials Show Positive Results, Outbreak at Refugee Center in Germany Infects at Least 70 people, France and Germany Propose 500 Billion-Euro Coronavirus Assistance Fund for EU, Sà£o Paulo's Hospitals "Near Collapse" as Brazil Becomes Third Most Infe…
(2020-05-19). Grenfell Inquiry to resume when possible, but not for several weeks. thecanary.co 
The latest stage of the Grenfell Inquiry will not resume until at least July — more than three years after the west London tower block blaze that killed 72 people.The second phase of the investigation was halted on 16 March by chair Martin Moore-Bick as the coronavirus swept through Europe, with at least one panel member falling ill with suspected Covid-19 and concerns over the safety of other participants.The panel had spent more than a month hearing evidence from witnesses to examine the circumstances and causes of the disaster — on 14 June 2017 — before proceedings were drawn to an abrupt end.
(2020-05-19). WHO member states agree to independent investigation of agency's coronavirus response. rt.com 
Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed on Tuesday to an independent probe into the UN agency's coronavirus response. Countries taking part in the WHO's annual assembly adopted a resolution by consensus urging a joint response to the crisis. The event was held virtually for the first time. | The resolution was tabled by the European Union and called for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the international response to the pandemic, which has so far infected more than 4.8 million people and killed over 318,000, AFP said. | The investigation should include a probe into…
(2020-05-19). Czech authorities cite biggest jump in coronavirus cases in 4 weeks as they begin reopening economy. rt.com 
The number of new coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic showed its biggest daily rise in four weeks and climbed above 100 for the first time this month, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. | It said that 111 new cases were recorded on Monday, bringing the total in the central European country to 8,586. The ministry reported no new deaths, leaving the toll at 297, Reuters said. | Authorities have been reopening the economy in recent weeks by getting most shops back up and running along with cinemas, theatres and outdoor dining places. There are plans to let restaurants open indoor areas next week. | The gove…
(2020-05-19). Entire EU should back Franco-German recovery plan or 'nobody will be able to get out of crisis' — French FM. rt.com 
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday that EU states which are skeptical about a Franco-German proposal for a €500 billion (US$546 billion) coronavirus recovery fund should back it or risk making it even harder to get out of the crisis. | "It's in the interest of all European countries to sign up for this initiative… if there isn't this momentum, nobody will be able to get out of it," Le Drian told television channel LCI. | The plan proposed by Berlin and Paris on Monday would offer non-repayable grants to EU regions and sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, with the cash borrowed…
(2020-05-19). All of EU should back Franco-German recovery plan or 'nobody will be able to get out of crisis' — French FM. rt.com France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday EU states which are skeptical about a Franco-German proposal for a €500 billion (US$546 billion) coronavirus recovery fund should back it or risk making it even harder to get out of the crisis. | "It's in the interest of all European countries to sign up for this initiative… if there isn't this momentum, nobody will be able to get out of it," Le Drian told LCI television. | The plan proposed by Berlin and Paris on Monday would offer non-repayable grants to EU regions and sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, with the cash borrowed by the bloc a…
(2020-05-19). Italy warns against 'tourism corridors' between EU states in about-face, urges reopening all borders AT ONCE. rt.com 
Italy urged fellow EU countries to work together to reanimate the tourism industry after the coronavirus pandemic, speaking against any bilateral deals between member states — after Rome reportedly considered doing just that. | All European countries should open their borders at once after passing the Covid-19 peak, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said in a speech "We need to restart the country and ensure the safety of Italians. This is why Italy has the opportun…
(2020-05-19). 'We turned our back on PM because of budget cuts & lack of staff' — Belgian nurse to RT on viral protest. rt.com 
Belgian nurses and frontline medical staff had been striking for a year, before they were called up to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. After months of ignored demands, they seized their chance when the prime minister came to visit. | By now the video of the viral protest has been seen the world over; the heroes of the coronavirus turning their backs on Belgium's PM Sophie Wilmes upon her arrival at the Saint-Pierre hospital in Brussels. RT sat down with one nurse at the hospital, Nicolas Houyoux, to understand what exactly motivated the stirring protest after a year of strikes at the hospital over poor working co…
(2020-05-19). 'Rotten from the top': Sexual harassment 'RAMPANT' at McDonald's, international labor group tells OECD in complaint. rt.com 
An international group of labor unions has filed a complaint alleging "systemic" and "rampant" sexual harassment at McDonald's restaurants around the globe, arguing the corporate fast food giant has ignored the problem for years. | The complaint was filed with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Monday by the International Union of Food Workers (IUF), which said McDonald's had allowed a "sexual harassment crisis" to persist in restaurants all over the world, including in the US, Brazil, Australia, France, the UK, Chile, and Colombia, among other countries. | "McDonald's workers…
(2020-05-19). Macron loses absolute majority in parliament as frustrated MPs DEFECT to new left-leaning grouping. rt.com 
Emmanuel Macron has lost his outright majority in France's National Assembly as a group of defectors from his LREM party jumped ship to join a new left-wing grouping, in another indication of his floundering leadership. | Seven lawmakers announced a split from President Macron's La Republique En Marche (LREM) on Tuesday, saying they would join the newly-formed 'Ecology, Democracy, Solidarity' (EDS) group, which now consists of 17 parliamentarians who are demanding more left-leaning policies. | "I am a leftist. To remain so, I must leave LREM," one of the breakaway MPs, Aurelien Tache, told Le Journal du Dimanc…
(2020-05-19). Paper gold trade is now bigger than ALL of Germany's reserves. rt.com 
The price of gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) steadied on Tuesday at the equivalent of $1,733 per ounce after retreating on the news of a potential coronavirus vaccine by drug maker Moderna. | Gold ETFs are not equal to physical gold, as they are simply securities backed by the commodity designed to track the gold price. | Gold bullion, which hit an eight-year high just before the news, lost $40 per ounce for US dollar traders by the start of Tuesday's London trade. It has also dropped over two percent from new all-time highs in British pound and euro currency terms. | "Gold sold off on upbeat trader attitude…
(2020-05-19). German Constitutional Court limits power of BND spy agency's overseas internet surveillance. rt.com 
The Constitutional Court in Germany ruled on Tuesday that, in monitoring the internet traffic of foreign nationals abroad, the BND intelligence agency has partly breached the constitution. | The ruling said that internet surveillance of foreigners abroad violates the freedom of the press enshrined in the country's constitution. | It is the first time the court has ruled that the BND is subject to Germany's constitution even for its activities overseas. | The ruling also means that complaints brought by foreign journalists and Reporters Without Borders were largely successful, Reuters said.
(2020-05-19). Hot ride: WATCH bus ON FIRE driving through St. Petersburg. rt.com 
Public transport can — literally — be quite the hot ride, a freak video from Russia's 'northern capital' proves, as an empty passenger bus was spotted cruising through its streets with the engine engulfed in flames. | The unplanned fire show unfolded in St. Petersburg late on Monday. The flaming bus was caught on CCTV camera making a right turn and driving onto a bridge where it met its fiery demise. | –ê –≤–æ—Ç –∏ —Å–∞–º–æ –≤–∏–¥–µ–æ –&…
(2020-05-19). Top Ukrainian journalist comes out as INTEL AGENT after interviews with 'enemies of the state' kindle protests. rt.com 
A prominent Ukrainian media personality has stirred public anger by interviewing controversial Russian figures regarded as fugitives by Kiev. His explanation? It was all part of an elaborate sting operation. | It wouldn't be unprecedented for a popular reporter or editor to moonlight as an intelligence officer. But Dmitry's Gordon's explanation – that he was carrying out espionage while many of his viewers accused him of treason – would certainly stand out as an unusual example of the genre. | Gordon, an influential Ukrainian journalist and video blogger, first sat down with Russian MP Natalia Poklonskaya, who…
(2020-05-19). 'A bright ball crossed the sky': Falling METEOR spotted in Siberia (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Bewildered residents in Russia have witnessed a spectacular glowing meteor shooting across the night sky. The incident was caught on CCTV cameras and was seen from several locations. | The dazzling object was seen travelling over the city of Kansk in western Siberia and several other areas of the Krasnoyarsk Region at around 22: 40 local time. | Some local media reported that witnesses also heard a "loud bang." However, top local emergency official Eduard Bille told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that everything was quiet. | It literally lasted several seconds; a bright ball crossed the sky and disappeared s…
(2020-05-19). Charitable donations increase 89% during quarantine period as Russians seek to help out the vulnerable. rt.com 
Russians have become far more charitable during self-isolation. That's according to data compiled by newspaper Kommersant, which discovered that non-profit organizations recorded a notable increase in donations during quarantine. | Based on data from online transfer services Yandex.Money and QIWI, Russians became much more active in supporting charities that support the "socially vulnerable," such as poor people, homeless people, and orphans. | Also on rt.com | |
(2020-05-19). Censorship detected? Russian Embassy says NYT 'refused' to publish comparative Covid-19 death statistics in official's letter. rt.com 
Russia's Embassy in the US has accused the NYT of refusing to publish a comparison of the Covid-19 death rates in Moscow, London, and New York. The paper earlier accused Russia of "underreporting" the death rate from the disease. | On May 11, the New York Times ran a story which claimed to have solved the "mystery" of Russia's relatively lower death rate from Covid-19, which is below the world average. Citing official statistics, the paper noted that Moscow's number of overall deaths in April exceeded its five-year average for the same period by more than 1,700. Together with the city's official death toll fro…
(2020-05-19). Who wants to be a Russian? Citizenships granted to foreign nationals up 154% in 2020. rt.com 
Russia's plan to naturalize more foreign citizens seems to be working. In the first quarter of 2020, over 2.5 times more people received Russian citizenship compared to the same period in 2019. | In the first three months of the year, more than 161,000 people became Russian citizens. The same period in 2019 saw just 63,249. In recent years, an increasing number of people are receiving Russian citizenship, and new laws meant to attract more foreigners appear to be ramping up the growth even faster. | In 2019, almost 498,000 people received Russian citizenship, a sharp rise from 269,400 in the previous year. Spe…
(2020-05-19). 17yo blood sample with SARS antibodies could be new secret weapon against CORONAVIRUS — study. rt.com 
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the war against the coronavirus, discovering an antibody from a patient who recovered from SARS in 2003, which blocks Covid-19 infection while stopping the virus from mutating. | Scientists based in Switzerland and the United States examined 25 different types of antibodies, which each target different protein spikes on the virus, which it uses to infiltrate host cells and infect them with genetic material. From this list of antibodies, the researchers identified eight that could bind to both Covid-19 and the infected cells. | One in particular — S309 — wa…
(2020-05-19). E. Libyan forces pull out of parts of Tripoli as campaign to seize capital continues. rt.com 
Eastern Libyan forces pulled out of parts of Tripoli overnight, it has been announced, after losing one of their main strongholds in western Libya on Monday. Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari was cited as saying the forces had carried out a "redistribution and repositioning in the battle fronts, disengaging from some crowded residential areas." | Commander Khalifa Haftar's LNA has been fighting for more than a year to capture Tripoli, seat of the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is recognized by the UN and has been active since January with military help from Turkey, Reuters repor…
(2020-05-19). Iran seeks peaceful coexistence with neighbors: amb. to Moscow. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — Iran is interested in maintaining peaceful relations with its neighbors and it does not seek expansionism, said Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali.
(2020-05-19). Spring cleaning takes on a new importance during COVID-19 pandemic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released reopening guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools and homes. Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert, suggests taking a practical approach to spring cleaning. If no one in your household has been infected, he says standard spring cleaning practices …
(2020-05-19). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 news briefing. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses how the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is changing, and how scientists and researchers are rapidly gaining new knowledge about the virus and the disease that it …
(2020-05-19). The policy of "malign neglect": How the Russian oligarchy sacrifices the health and lives of the people. wsws.org The government's policy of malign neglect has provoked an initial upsurge in opposition from the working class, including Gazprom workers in Yakutia, northern Russia.
(2020-05-19). Ukrainian National Police official demands a list of Jews living in Kolomyya. wsws.org The intimidation and persecution of ethnic and religious minorities within Ukraine has become routine, with far-right elements operating openly as officials of the Ukrainian state.
(2020-05-19). Turn Out the Lights, Russiagate Is Over. strategic-culture.org The possibility that Trump will not chicken out this time, and rather will challenge the Security State looms large since he felt personally under attack. | Ray McGOVERN | Seldom mentioned among the motives behind the persistent drumming on alleged Russian interference was an over-arching need to help the Security State hide their tracks. | The need for a scapegoat to blame for Hillary Clinton's snatching defeat out of the jaws victory also played a role; as did the need for the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank complex (MICIMATT) to keep front and center in the minds of Ame…
(2020-05-19). Iran, Russia step up telephone diplomacy amid pandemic: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — The coronavirus spread has not brought about any noticeable changes in bilateral cooperation in the sphere of civil nuclear power engineering, the Russian ambassador to Tehran said.
(2020-05-19). Prospects of normalization grim in Libya. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — Analysts say that Libya is one of the most important crisis to watch for in 2020 because of the involvement of Russia and Turkey. More importantly, the plight of the Libyans after almost 10 years of civil war cannot be ignored.
(2020-05-19). 2nd group of Iranians stranded in Ukraine return home amid pandemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — The second group of Iranian students and nationals stranded in Ukraine due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday.
(2020-05-19). Fireworks, Tear Gas: Second Night of Clashes With Police in Paris Over Motorcyclist's Death — Video. sputniknews.com Tensions were running high on the outskirts of Paris for a second night in a row after the death of a teen motorcyclist that angry locals blamed on police. Six people were arrested and dozens of fires were set in the streets, according to local media reports.
(2020-05-19). Snowden Lauds Court's Ruling Curbing German Intelligence's Spying on Foreigners Abroad. sputniknews.com BERLIN (Sputnik) – Edward Snowden, former Central Intelligence Agency employee who exposed illegal spying by US intelligence agencies, welcomed on Tuesday the ruling of the German Federal Constitutional Court declaring the country's BND foreign intelligence service's surveillance of foreign citizens outside Germany unconstitutional.
(2020-05-19). New US Destroyer Arrives at Spanish Rota Base as Navy Pushes for Aegis Ashore System. sputniknews.com The US Navy destroyer USS Roosevelt arrived at the Naval Station Rota in southwestern Spain on Saturday, part of a plan to rotate out four warships that have worked the missile defense beat since 2013. However, as European Command has pushed for an even larger deployment to Rota, the Navy is being stretched increasingly thin.
(2020-05-19). 73rd Session of Virtually-Held World Health Assembly Enters Final Day in Geneva – Video. sputniknews.com The international forum, which is the key policy-setting authority of the World Health Organisation, was held via videoconference this year for the first-time ever, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
(2020-05-19). NYT Publishes Reply of Moscow Gov't to Article About Alleged Downplay of COVID-19 Deaths. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Head of Moscow Heathcare Department Alexey Khripun has approached The New York Times to challenge the accuracy of an article published earlier which claimed that the Russian capital had omitted some 1,700 coronavirus-related deaths from the official statistics, and the newspaper published his letter as an opinion on Tuesday.
(2020-05-19). Russian Engineers Create Cloak to Conceal Military Equipment in Snow Cover — Photo. sputniknews.com The technology could prove useful in expanding the capabilities of maskirovka, the highly successful camouflage, concealment and deception doctrine used by the Russian military going back to the Second World War.
(2020-05-19). Kiev's Sanctions Against Crimean Cultural Sites Pointless – Russian Envoy to UNESCO. sputniknews.com PARIS (Sputnik) – Ukraine's recent sanctions against museums, cultural sites and scientific organisations in Crimea have no practical effect, Russian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Alexander Kuznetsov said in a statement.
(2020-05-19). Russian Prime Minister Mishustin Discharged From Hospital After COVID-19 Treatment, Resumes Work. sputniknews.com Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree annulling Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov's appointment as the acting prime minister.
(2020-05-19). Moment Meteor Lights Up Sky in Russia's East Caught on Camera. sputniknews.com The celestial phenomenon was spotted on Monday night at approximately 10: 40 pm Krasnoyarsk Standard Time from several locations in the Krasonyarsk Krai in Russia's Siberia.
(2020-05-19). Alleged Recordings of Biden, Kerry Pressuring Ukraine's Poroshenko to Fire Prosecutor Emerge Online. sputniknews.com President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were caught in the center of a major political scandal regarding the Biden family's alleged corruption in Ukraine following the 2014 coup, as well as Trump's alleged illegal efforts to have Biden investigated. Trump was acquitted of any wrongdoing following an impeachment trial in February.
(2020-05-19). Rishi Sunak Warns of Recession 'The Likes of Which We Have Never Seen' as UK GDP Contracts. sputniknews.com As the United Kingdom plunges into a recession amid a national lockdown introduced to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, some lawmakers are beginning to wonder if the impact on the economy is a worthwhile sacrifice to combat the deadly virus.
(2020-05-19). Bulgaria agrees to ease travel with Greece, Serbia as of June 1. yenisafak.com Bulgaria has closed its borders to most travellers since mid-March as part of its lockdown measures. Diplomats, seasonal workers and returning Bulgarian nationals are still admitted but currently have to spend 14 days in quarantine.The European Union member state has started to ease its lockdown as the number of new infections has decreased. It reported 24 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2,259 cases, including 112 deaths, a relatively low number in Europe."We have agreed with Greece as of June 1 to allow travel without the obligatory 14-day quarantine for people who travel for business, family or huma…