2020-05-25: News Headlines

Riccardo Bellofiore (2020-05-25). Econ-apocalypse: economic and social aspects of the coronavirus crisis. mronline.org In this historical conjuncture we are faced with the risk of a double temporality. The double temporality that I have in mind is that between saying, 'now let's make the economy restart quickly', adding 'later we will think about its contents'. It is an illusion. And a dangerous illusion.

Aaron Maté (2020-05-25). US threatens nuclear arms race 'into oblivion' as it kills another treaty and mulls bomb tests. thegrayzone.com The Trump administration continues to undermine global arms control and increase the threat of a nuclear weapons race with Russia…

Jed Lehman (2020-05-25). Remembering Toronto Peace Activist Michael Lucas. globalresearch.ca Michael Lucas (born Lukac in Vysna Jablonka in eastern Slovakia) died on May 4, 2020 in Toronto. Lucas, (born on March 7, 1926) was a political activist, author, advocate of peace and socialism. | His family stated in his obituary: | "An …

Colonel Ann Wright (2020-05-25). Despite the Danger of COVID-19, the US Military Continues War Practice in Europe and Pacific and Plans for More in 2021. globalresearch.ca During the COVID-19 pandemic, not only will the U.S. military have the largest maritime military maneuvers in the world, with Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) coming to the waters off Hawaii August 17-31, 2020 bringing 26 nations, 25,000 military personnel, …

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2020-05-25). What Next if US Exits From Open Skies Treaty? globalresearch.ca President Donald Trump sudden or unexpected decision to withdraw from the 1992 Open Skies Treaty has posed unprecedented challenges, generated extensive debates among Russian politicians and experts, and equally worried are leaders in Europe and Asia. | Trump administration notified international …

Kit Knightly (2020-05-25). Report: EU Planning "Vaccination Passport" Since 2018. globalresearch.ca A report published by the European Commission in late 2019 reveals that the EU has been looking to increase the scope and power of vaccination programmes since well before the current "pandemic". | The endpoint of the Roadmap is, among many …

WSWS (2020-05-25). High COVID-19 infection rates among doctors and nurses in Germany. wsws.org According to the public health body Robert Koch Institute, more than 20,000 workers in German hospitals, doctors' practices, nursing homes and care services are now infected.

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-05-25). China Derangement Syndrome: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com ~ | Believing cold war is no big deal because nuclear war hasn't happened yet is the same as believing your game of Russian roulette is safe because the gun hasn't gone off yet. | ~ | There's no legitimate reason why nations can't just mind their own affairs and care for their own people. Having to read news every day about our government and its allies scheming to destroy nations which disobey them is severely disordered, and we should oppose it ferociously. | ~ | 1. We are in the middle of a slow-motion third world war between the US power alliance and the remaining nations which have resisted its aggressive at…

WSWS (2020-05-25). This week in history: May 25-31. wsws.org 25 years ago: Sakhalin earthquake kills 2,000 On May 28, 1995, an earthquake struck the island of Sakhalin in Russia's Far East. Neftegorsk, an oil and coal-producing town in the north, was devastated. Nearly half the population, 2,040 of its 3,977 citizens, were killed, and a further 750 were injured. Approximately 80 percent of the town's buildings were destroyed in the 7.5 magnitude quake. Nearly 90 percent of all the deaths were the result of the collapse of 17 five-story residential buildings. Damage estimates range from $64 million up to $300 million. It was the most destructive earthquake in the country's…

Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-25). US Blocks UNSC Draft Resolution Denouncing Paramilitary Incursion into Venezuela. globalresearch.ca The United States rejected a Russia-proposed UN Security Council (UNSC) draft condemning a recent coup attempt in Venezuela. | During a virtual session of the UNSC on Wednesday, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy presented a

Staff (2020-05-24). Climate Crisis: EU Green Stimulus, Meat Apocalypse, Public Lands, Climate Music. therealnews.com In this week's Climate Crisis News Roundup, COVID-19 has meat production in crisis, but what's its climate impact? And a new report says President Trump has the worst public lands protection record in history, while the EU and Spain will soon release a green economic stimulus plan.

Andrey Areshev (2020-05-25). Can NASA's 'Artemis Accords' Spark a U.S.-Russia Alliance? strategic-culture.org Amidst the global chaos and confusion unleashed by COVID-19, the need for a new global security and financial architecture is becoming clearer every day. Banks tremble upon the precipice of the The scale of chaos and death threatening humanity via the two-fold crises of economic collapse…

Andrey Areshev (2020-05-25). Biden Should Be Named in Criminal Probe in Ukraine, Judge Rules. strategic-culture.org Joe Biden should be named as an alleged perpetrator in a criminal investigation in Ukraine over the firing of former Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, a Ukrainian judge has ruled. Shokin has alleged that Biden was illegally behind his dismissal in 2016 by threatening to withhold a $1 billion IMF loan to Ukraine if Shokin wasn't dismissed.

Staff (2020-05-25). Anti-Fascist Group Targeted for Murder by Far Right Won't Back Down. truthout.org "I'm going by the name 'Doug,'" my contact said, explaining his pseudonym. "The reason is that Nazis want to kill us." | Doug is a member of Atlanta Antifascists, an activist group based in Georgia. We connected via a secured encrypted channel using the Signal app to obscure Doug's exact location and personal details. | His hesitation was warranted. | Days before we spoke, Jacob Kaderli, Luke Austin Lane and Michael John Helterbrand — three members of the white nationalist extremist organization…

Staff (2020-05-25). Dubious State Testing Numbers May Be Screwing Up National CDC Reports. truthout.org Health officials in Texas, Georgia, Vermont and Virginia acknowledged this week that they have been The difference is a matter of timing. Viral tests — taken by nasal swabs or saliva samp…

Staff (2020-05-24). What New York City's Cholera Epidemics Can Teach Us in the Age COVID-19. truthout.org This isn't the first time that New York City became the epicenter of a deadly disease. Consequently, this also isn't the first time a widespread disease has been racialized and linked to the "other." When cholera arrived on the shores of New York City in 1832, the disease had already ravaged parts of Asia and Europe. New York City officials and scientists did not understand the cause of the disease. Some saw cholera as divine retribution, only inflicted on the sinners of the city. In the 1830s, app…

RT (2020-05-25). PM Markovic declares Montenegro first coronavirus-free state in Europe. rt.com Prime Minister Dusko Markovic on Monday declared Montenegro a coronavirus-free country, 69 days after it reported its first case and after 20 without a new one. Montenegro has reported 324 confirmed cases of Covid-19 illness and nine deaths, Reuters said. | "The battle with such a vicious virus has been won and Montenegro now becomes the first coronavirus-free country in Europe," Markovic told reporters after meeting a body tasked with combating the epidemic. The PM started the news conference by taking off his face mask. | In early March, the Balkan republic of 620,000 people, which relies heavily on revenues…

RT (2020-05-25). Finland to spend ‚Ǩ100mn on coronavirus protective equipment, respirators. rt.com The Finnish government said on Monday it plans to place orders for protective gear and respirators worth €100 million ($109 million) between June and August to fight the coronavirus and prepare for a possible surge in demand for the equipment. | The decision was taken despite infections from the novel coronavirus slowing in the nation of 5.5 million. Last week, children were allowed to return to daycare centers and elementary schools, as part of easing coronavirus-related restrictions. | "We are prepared for the fact that the disease situation may change in the future and the demand for protective equipme…

RT (2020-05-25). 'Orwellian dictatorship': Italian government to recruit 60,000 'civic assistants' to snitch on Covid-19 rule-breakers. rt.com The Italian government is preparing to recruit unemployed citizens to act as volunteer social-distancing enforcers, who will operate amongst the masses as life returns to a semi-normal state after the Covid-19 lockdown. | The government will publish a call this week for 60,000 so-called "civic assistants" to help perform control and assistance tasks — like reporting social distancing infractions or a lack of masks — during its reopening phase, to prevent non-compliance and a new surge in infections, AdnKronos reported. | The government will specifically target unemployed people who are availing of so…

RT (2020-05-25). Patriotic consumers in Poland were duped by store into buying Ukrainian cucumbers, Belgian carrots as home-grown, watchdog finds. rt.com A Polish supermarket chain has been caught mislabeling imported produce as home-grown, that country's consumer watchdog has revealed. The violation might result in a fine of up to 10 percent of the company's annual turnover. | Poland's patriotic drive to support indigenous producers has been put in great jeopardy by the Biedronka chain, a

RT (2020-05-25). Flying roofs & torn-off balconies: At least 3 dead as MASSIVE hurricane rips through capital city of Russia's Urals (VIDEOS). rt.com Powerful winds and heavy rain have hit Ekaterinburg in Russia's Urals, on Monday afternoon, felling numerous trees, damaging cars and obliterating weak structures. At least three people have been killed by the hurricane. | The hurricane brought down numerous trees across the city, Russia's fourth-largest, multiple videos show, blocking some roads and also destroying power lines, disrupting electricity supply. | Many unlucky motorists have found their vehicles obliterated by fallen trees and damaged by other debris. | One man was literally blown into the air as he tried to hold down a large sheet of plast…

RT (2020-05-25). 'Better and safer': As Russia prepares to open up, prime minister urges citizens to holiday at home. rt.com Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has advised citizens not to rush abroad this summer, stressing that the risk of Covid-19 being imported into the country should be minimized. | Yes, some progress has been made in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus infection, but we must remember that coronavirus was [originally] imported from abroad. | Read more | | "I ask our citizens not to rush… for just a few days of holiday, you could pay a high price", he added.

RT (2020-05-23). 'Rhetorical hyperbole' and NOT FACT: Court rejects OAN suit over MSNBC host Rachel Maddow's claim about 'Russian propaganda'. rt.com A US judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit by One America News Network against MSNBC over Rachel Maddow's claims that OAN was "literally" Russian propaganda, ruling that her segment was merely "an opinion" and "exaggeration." | OAN sued the liberal talk show host and MSNBC for defamation, demanding over $10 million in damages, back in September 2019. The lawsuit was based on the July 22 episode of The Rachel Maddow Show, where Maddow launched a scathing broadside against the conservative television network, labeling it "the most obsequiously pro-Trump right wing news outlet in America" and "really literally pai…

sputniknews (2020-05-25). UK Prime Minister's Adviser to Make Rare Statement Amid Lockdown Trip Scandal — Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Dominic Cummings, senior adviser to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is set to make a rare statement and field journalists' questions on Monday amid a scandal that came to light this past weekend after media reported that the adviser had flouted the country's lockdown rules to visit his parents.

sputniknews (2020-05-25). Head of French LREM Party Says Former Health Minister Determined to Become Paris Mayor. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Stanislas Guerini said he was convinced that former health minister and current LREM candidate Agnes Buzyn in the municipal elections in Paris, is determined to win the second round of the elections set for 28 June, though her position has weakened following her criticism of how the government is handling the COVID-19 crisis.

sputniknews (2020-05-25). Transfer of Open Skies Treaty Data to Non-Parties Must Be Ruled Out – Russian Top Diplomat. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The transfer of data received by the countries participating in the Open Skies Treaty to third countries that are not parties to it will be a gross violation of the "letter and spirit" of the treaty, and this must be ruled out, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.

sputniknews (2020-05-25). Moscow Court Orders Detention for Bank Attacker Until 23 July. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow's Khamovniki district court on Monday ordered the detention until 23 July of a man who barricaded himself with hostages in a bank on Saturday, spokesman Irakli Sokhadze said.

yenisafak (2020-05-25). Ethiopia setting record straight on grand dam on Nile. yenisafak.com Ethiopia on Monday briefed resident ambassadors of European countries and Americas about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under construction on the Nile River and latest developments in the technical, political and diplomatic developments surrounding the hydro dam.The briefing was held by Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew and Gedeon Asfaw, an engineer member of Ethiopia's negotiating team.Tensions have escalated between Egypt and Ethiopia after the former complained to the United Nations Security Council on May 1 after Ethiopia announced its plan to begin first-phase filling of its $5billion hydro dam o…

yenisafak (2020-05-25). Italy to recruit volunteers to ensure social distancing. yenisafak.com In a desperate attempt to avoid a new wave of coronavirus contagions, the Italian government will issue a call to recruit 60,000 volunteers who will help people comply with the social distancing measures.The move came after thousands of citizens thronged Italian beaches, squares and bars to spend their first weekend outdoors, after the end of a two-month lockdown.Authorities, however, are worried that huge get-togethers and crowds in the cities' piazzas may provoke a new spike in the virus contagion curve, which has eventually started falling.The initiative of hiring volunteers came from the Minister for Regional…

yenisafak (2020-05-25). TRT launches Russian language news platform. yenisafak.com In a statement, TRT said it continued to increase and strengthen its foreign-languages broadcasting.The platform aims to be influential with its Russian coverage through informative and gripping interviews, reports and videos with an experienced news-crew.TRT Russian will focus on being an informative and balanced conduit of expression in the Russian-speaking world and across the globe. – TRT becoming international brandAfter TRT Arabic, TRT World and the German-language TRT Deutsch, TRT continues to move towards becoming a major worldwide brand.TRT Russian will play an active role in fighting disinformation and…

Angus W Thomson, Amit D Tevar (2020-05-23). [Comment] Kidney transplantation: a safe step forward for regulatory immune cell therapy. thelancet.com On the basis of promising animal studies and following the translational path of immune cell therapy in oncology,1 the field of organ transplantation has begun preliminary investigations of infusing regulatory immune cells into graft recipients. These early trials aim to reduce patients' immunosuppressive drug burden and promote drug-free transplant tolerance. The ONE Study was established in 2011 as a multicentre collaborative effort (centres in France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the USA) to compare the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of regulatory cell-based medicinal products (CBMPs) when combined with redu…

The Lancet (2020-05-23). [Editorial] The plight of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. thelancet.com The COVID-19 pandemic has vividly highlighted how much society depends upon essential workers. Praise for the heroic work being done by health-care workers to save lives worldwide in dangerous, exhausting conditions is everywhere. But those same workers are often left unprotected by governments and systems that have failed to supply them with enough personal protective equipment (PPE), supplies, and resources to do their jobs. In April alone, there were an estimated 27 COVID-19-related health worker deaths in the USA, 106 in the UK, and 180 in Russia, with tens of thousands of infections.

jamanetwork (2020-05-19). The Bubonic Plague in San Francisco. jamanetwork.com We have always regarded the plague as something very distant and impossible, and have read of its ravages in India and China with much the same feeling of composure and security that we read about an uprising of the natives in Madagascar. Or perhaps we have considered it as a matter of historic interest on account of the fearful epidemics which in pre-sanitary days used to sweep over Europe, devastating countries and hardly leaving enough people behind to keep up the archives and records of the state. Even now that it is among us, and in America for the first time, there seems to be a tendency to underrate its im…

Jason Ditz (2020-02-20). Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive. theantimedia.com Russia called the situation a "worst case scenario."

Jason Ditz (2020-02-17). DOJ Investigating Former CIA Director's Role in Russiagate. theantimedia.com The Justice Department is investigating the role of John Brennan in the assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

Tyler Durden (2020-02-08). Iraq and Russia Prepare to Boost Military Ties as US Threatens Sanctions. theantimedia.com Iraq and Russia are preparing for deepening military coordination.

Middle East Eye (2020-02-07). Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes. theantimedia.com Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Middle East Eye (2020-02-06). Turkey Gives Assad Deadline to Pull Back or Face Military Action. theantimedia.com Turkey has given the Syrian government until the end of this month to withdraw from recently seized territory in Idlib province.