(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…
(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.
(2020-05-22). Poland is America's Main Partner in Europe: The Talk About US Nukes in Poland Proves that Warsaw Trumps Berlin for Washington. globalresearch.ca It's unimportant whether US nukes will eventually be deployed to Poland or not since the very fact that this scenario is seriously being discussed by both American and Russian diplomats proves that Warsaw trumps Berlin for Washington and that Poland …
(2020-05-22). Deal Breaking Trump Regime Abandons Open Skies Treaty (OST). globalresearch.ca Throughout his time in office, Trump proved he's more a deal breaker than observer of international law, treaties and agreements. | He abandoned the landmark 1987 INF Treaty with Russia, the 2016 Security Council adopted JCPOA, the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, …
(2020-05-22). The Power of Propaganda: Americans Think Trump's COVID-19 Performance Better than China's. mintpressnews.com 
Americans rate their own government's response, along with that of the UK and Italy, higher than that of China despite those countries having much higher death and infection rates.
(2020-05-22). Imperialism and the right to self-determination. workers.org 
This is a slightly edited version of a talk given during the"What Road To Socialism?" webinar held by Workers World Party on May 16. One of the five features V.I. Lenin, leader of the Russian Revolution, laid out in his 1916 book, "Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism," was the . . . |
(2020-05-22). Why Russiagate Still Matters. counterpunch.org 
A thought experiment with a purpose is to ask: if a group of former Directors of the CIA, NSA and FBI put forward a story about a malevolent foreign power acting against the U.S. without providing evidence that their story is true, who would believe them? While this wasn't precisely the setup for Russiagate, all
(2020-05-22). Video: Turkey Supported GNA Confronts Libya's LNA: Turkish Drones Destroy LNA Pantsir Systems. globalresearch.ca Over the past days, forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Syrian militants supported by the Turkish military continued developing momentum against the Libyan National Army (LNA) in northern Libya. | After capturing the Watiya Air Base from the …
(2020-05-22). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to
(2020-05-22). US withdraws from Open Skies Treaty, heightening danger of war with Russia. wsws.org US withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty is a deliberate escalation of military tensions not only with Russia, but also with the major European imperialist powers.
(2020-05-22). Merkel and Macron's European bailout: €500 billion for trade war and austerity. wsws.org Merkel and Macron see the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to strengthen their countries' position in the world market and reorganise the European economy in the interests of the major corporations.
(2020-05-22). World on Fire: Dramas of World War II. wsws.org World on Fire, a seven-episode series, is set at the beginning of World War II and follows characters from five countries. Colored by anti-war and anti-fascist views, it takes place in France, Britain, Germany and Poland.
(2020-05-22). How the British Empire Created and Killed George Orwell. globalresearch.ca The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), happily amplified by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) in the United States which carries its World News, continues to pump out its regular dreck about the alleged economic chaos in Russia and the imagined miserable …
(2020-05-22). Fridays for Future Europe Calls for Transforming Agricultural Policy to Tackle the Climate Crisis. commondreams.org As the world recognized the International Day for Biological Diversity on Friday, the youth-led Fridays for Future movement sent an open letter to European Union leaders demanding a transformation of the economic and political coalition's agricultural policies to tackle the intertwined biodiversity and climate crises. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12144089421.jpg …
(2020-05-22). Brexit — 50,000 to be employed at Northern Ireland border. truepublica.org.uk Back in March (which seems like years ago now), we reported that the government was lying about Boris Johnson's Withdrawl Agreement. They said quite emphatically, as they had done for several years that there will be no border between Ireland and Northern Ireland — effectively the border between Europe and Gt Britain. March 2nd …
(2020-05-22). Third White Man Arrested for Murder in Ahmaud Arbery Shooting as DOJ Considers Hate Crime Charges. democracynow.org 
Authorities have arrested a third white man for the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, this one charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. We speak with civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump about how William Bryan filmed Arbery jogging down a narrow road in Brunswick, Georgia, in broad daylight, before he was confronted by two armed white men — retired police officer Gregory McMichael and his son Travis — who shot him three times. "This was never about any trespassing or burglary," Crump says. "This was always about profiling Ahmaud Arbery because of the color of his skin."
(2020-05-22). U.S. Warplane Profits Scramble Over Germany's Anti-Nuclear Push. strategic-culture.org When Germany's Social Democrats — the junior governing coalition partner — renewed long-standing calls for withdrawing U.S. nuclear bombs from the country, the backlash from Washington was fast and furious. | Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Berlin, wrote an
(2020-05-22). Sinking alliance? Coronavirus puts Renault's existence in question & threatens 20,000 jobs at Nissan. rt.com 
The Renault-Nissan automaking alliance has taken a huge hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. French carmaker Renault may not survive without government aid, and its Japanese partner faces massive job cuts to stay afloat. | Renault seeks a €5 billion (US$5.5 billion) state-guaranteed loan to cope with the fallout from the virus outbreak. While the government is still considering whether to provide the funds, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned that the company is facing "serious financial difficulty" and its future could be at stake. | "Yes, Renault could disappear," the minister told Europe 1 radio…
(2020-05-22). Soros says EU may not survive unless it props up 'sick man of Europe' Italy. rt.com 
Billionaire financier George Soros has warned that the preservation of the European Union is dependent upon the economic health of Italy and other states hit hard by coronavirus, adding that the current aid policies favor Germany. | The Hungarian-American philanthropist argued that the bloc must issue perpetual bonds in order to raise money to support countries that have suffered the most from Covid-19, singling out Italy as particularly vulnerable. In a transcript of a question-and-answer session distributed to the media, Soros also railed against the reluctance of better-off member states to work together to…
(2020-05-22). Portugal's 'doors are open to tourists' as EU's doors are still closed. rt.com 
Portugal's Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said on Friday that the country's doors are open to tourists as it becomes one of the first European satets to welcome back visitors from elsewhere in the continent. | "Tourists are welcome in Portugal," Santos Silva told Observador newspaper, explaining that some health checks will be introduced at airports but there will be no compulsory quarantine for those flying in. | Portugal, which has so far recorded 30,200 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 1,289 deaths, is slowly easing restrictions in place since mid-March, Reuters said. Many shops and have already reopened…
(2020-05-22). Moscow says it was US that violated Open Skies Treaty, still willing to save pact essential to European security. rt.com 
Russia will do everything in its power to salvage the Open Skies Treaty (OST) after the US signaled its intention to withdraw from one of the few remaining arms-control pillars, Moscow said, rejecting claims it violated the pact. | "If the US exits the Treaty, a blow will be dealt to a rather fragile balance of interests of its parties. As a result, not only the OST will suffer, but also the European security framework as a whole," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, after US President Donald Trump announced he would be withdrawing from the agreement that allows reconnaissance planes to overfly t…
(2020-05-22). Bars & restaurants set to reopen in Madrid as Spain sheds more lockdown measures. rt.com 
Patrons will soon be welcomed back to Madrid's bars and restaurants, marking a positive milestone in Spain's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The nation had one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe. | Eateries and watering holes in the Spanish capital are scheduled to resume operations on Monday, under a phased plan for reopening the city. Smaller cities and municipalities were permitted to open their bars and restaurants last week. | The new provisions come with some conditions, however. Establishments can only serve customers in outdoor terraces, with a capacity limit of 50%. Revelers will also be lim…
(2020-05-22). Lenin for sale? Russian politician suggests flogging Soviet leader's body to the Chinese. rt.com 
No stranger to controversy, veteran politician and perennial presidential candidate Vladimir Zhirinovsky caused a stir online after suggesting that Russia sells the preserved body of revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. | "In France, a businessman wants to sell the painting 'Mona Lisa'. We could sell Lenin's mummy. There are buyers: China, Vietnam, or some other kind of communist. Lenin, in good condition, mummified just 96 years ago," he tweeted. The Soviet leader's body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924. | The controversial Russian politician was referring to a recent suggestio…
(2020-05-22). 'He had everything': Fans and clubs mourn as 'unforgettable' ex-Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Jordan Diakiese dies at age of 24. rt.com 
Paris Saint-Germain have paid their respects after the shock death of former France youth international Jordan Diakiese, who rose to the fringes of the Champions League contenders' squad and was known for his "wild dancing." | The French champions offered their sympathy to the right-back's family after current club AS Furiani-Agliani, where he had been a popular member of the squad since signing last summer, stunned supporters by revealing his premature death. | Corsica-based Furiani described the former France Under-21 player as an "endearing boy" who was liked "on and off the pitch," adding that their staff…
(2020-05-22). Russia grateful to US for help in fighting pandemic — deputy FM. rt.com 
Moscow is grateful to the US for providing help to counter the coronavirus pandemic, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday. "Yesterday, we received the first shipment of 50 ventilators from the US. We believe that these gestures are perfectly natural. They are exclusively of humanitarian nature, and we are grateful to the US side for the help provided at this stage," Ryabkov said. | The diplomat noted that on April 1 an An-124 jet delivered medical equipment to New York including 45 ventilators, 15,000 respirators and 1,000,000 masks as part of humanitarian aid to the US. | "I believe t…
(2020-05-22). Covid-19 mass screening: first results show 14% of tested Russians have coronavirus antibodies. rt.com 
After the first few days of private clinic antibody testing in Russia, one national chain has revealed that at least 14% of the 40,000 people who took the test in their laboratory received a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. | Invitro, the chain who conducted the tests, began mass testing for Covid-19 antibodies on May 18, using their entire network, which comprises almost 1,500 medical offices. Each test costs 950 rubles ($13), with an extra 200-300 rubles ($3-4) charged for the process of taking the sample. The company is accepting anyone who wants to be tested, apart from those displaying symptoms of an acute…
(2020-05-22). Putin warns of potential 2nd wave of Covid-19 infections in the fall, tells Russian Health Ministry to prepare. rt.com 
Right now, most of the world seems to think the worst of the coronavirus epidemic has passed, with many countries beginning to come out of lockdown. But Russian President Vladimir Putin believes there may be more pain ahead. | According to Putin, the virus may once again begin to spread widely from October to November. During a meeting to discuss the epidemiological situation in Russia, he said the country needs to be ready for a second wave later in the year. | Putin added that the removal of the present restrictions in Russia must be guided by science. However, he also asked officials to prepare recommendati…
(2020-05-22). Spain to partly lift lockdown restrictions in Madrid on Monday as pace of contagion slows down. rt.com 
Spanish authorities will lift part of the lockdown restrictions in Madrid on Monday, the regional health department said on Friday. It says the pace of the coronavirus contagion in the region has slowed down. | The restrictions in the capital are now the same as in most of the country that started phasing out the lockdown in early May. | Bars and restaurants in Madrid will be allowed to reopen terraces and groups of up to 10 people will be allowed to meet, according to Reuters.
(2020-05-22). Haftar's army spokesman accuses Turkey of sending arms & militants to Libya in violation of UN embargo. rt.com 
Turkey has been violating the UN embargo by sending arms and militants from Syria to Libya, a spokesman for Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) claimed as he showed videos that allegedly proved Ankara's violations. | Turkey "continues its aggression against our country" by supporting the rivaling Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Major General Ahmed al-Mesmari, the LNA's official spokesman, said during a press-conference. | Once prosperous, Libya remains divided since 2011 when NATO led a bombing campaign to overthrow the country's longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The fighting between…
(2020-05-22). Is the US-Saudi Alliance Headed Off a Cliff? counterpunch.org 
Can the US-Saudi alliance endure? Should it? World oil prices crashed in March during a price war between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and rival oil producer Russia. Disregarding the advice of his ministers, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ("MBS," as he is known to friends and foes), the kingdom's de facto ruler, turned the
(2020-05-22). Israeli regime's expansionist moves may lead to escalation in region: Russia. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 22 (MNA) — The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank may lead to an escalation of violence in the region.
(2020-05-22). UK Dropped South Korea-Style Widespread Testing Due to 'Sheer Scale' of Coronavirus Outbreak. sputniknews.com The coronavirus pandemic has spread across the United Kingdom to such a degree that it has become the worst country in Europe for total deaths from the disease. The government has been under fire in recent weeks for not rolling out sufficient testing and learning from the example of countries which were hit by the outbreak earlier.
(2020-05-22). NATO envoys discuss US pullout from arms control treaty. yenisafak.com NATO ambassadors are meeting on Friday to discuss the US' withdrawal from a nearly two decades old pact meant to reduce the likelihood Washington and Moscow enter a military showdown.US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday his intention to withdraw from the Open Skies treaty, accusing Russia of repeatedly violating its terms.The North Atlantic Council — the organization's main political decision-making body composed of permanent representatives to the alliance's Brussels headquarters — decided to meet and discuss the future of the treaty, a NATO official told Anadolu Agency.The Open Skies Trea…
(2020-05-21). Foreign Correspondent: Michael Flynn's Forgotten Turkish Connection. progressive.org Before Russiagate, the former national security advisor was an operative for Turkey, tilting foreign policy against the Kurds.
(2020-05-21). Media "tragically vindicated" Trump by overhyping Russiagate. zcomm.org "We were all so much more fascinated by this superficial, melodramatic espionage thriller that has completely destroyed the credibility of the U.S. media."
(2020-05-21). The Real UkraineGate Scandal: There's No Longer Any Question that Joe Biden Carried Out a Cover-Up in Ukraine. globalresearch.ca Trump stands vindicated for accusing Biden of trying to cover up his son's corruption in Ukraine after one of that country's lawmakers released audio recordings of the former Vice President's numerous conversations with former President Poroshenko to that effect, proving …
(2020-05-21). Podcast: Aaron Mate Debunks RussiaGate and Discusses How Liberals Came to Love Bush-Era Neocons. mintpressnews.com Investigative journalist Aaron Mate unpacks four years of Russiagate propaganda and how it was the gift that kept on giving for both the Trump administration and the Democratic Party.
(2020-05-21). "KievGate" and the November 2020 Presidential Elections. Biden and Poroshenko Colluded in Ukraine. globalresearch.ca Money-controlled US elections are farcical when held — world's apart from what democracy in action is supposed to. | It's a notion long abhorred by both right wings of the one-party state — the war party, the money party, the anti-peace, …
(2020-05-21). 'R rate falling': Denmark opens museums and zoos weeks ahead of schedule. rt.com 
Denmark began re-opening museums and zoos ahead of schedule on Thursday as virologists said the virus epidemic was slowing despite the lifting of quarantine measures. Museums, zoos, theaters and cinemas were due to stay shut until June 8 but the Danish government has decided to accelerate the end of the lockdown. | The Danish health agency SSI said the coronavirus rate of transmission (R) had fallen to 0.6, down from 0.7 on May 7, meaning that the outbreak is slowing. An R rate of 0.6 means that 100 virus patients typically infect another 60 people, meaning that the number of cases falls over time. | Danish au…
(2020-05-21). What does Trump's new spy director think of Russia and China? rt.com 
John Ratcliffe has been confirmed as the US' new director of national intelligence. As he gears up to oversee seventeen intelligence agencies, how will he use these organizations to work with, or against, America's adversaries? | The Senate confirmed Rep. Ratcliffe to the position on Friday, in a 49-44 vote along party lines. President Trump had previously tipped the Texas Republican for the role last year, before urging him to withdraw his application due to "months of slander and libel" from the "lamestream media." The supposed slander centered around Ratcliffe's defense of Trump during Special Counsel Rober…
(2020-05-21). Trump says US will withdraw from Open Skies Treaty, blames Russia. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has notified allies he will withdraw from one of the few remaining arms control mechanisms — the Open Skies Treaty — this week, citing alleged Russian 'violations' of the pact. | "Russia did not adhere to the treaty," Trump told reporters on his way to Michigan on Thursday afternoon. He added that the US could return to the treaty, or negotiate a new one with Moscow, without elaborating. | The Open Skies Treaty, which has been in force since 2002, allows for unarmed aerial surveillance flights to be conducted over the territories of its participants. American personnel are…
(2020-05-21). 'We'll spend you into oblivion': US nuclear envoy reveals 'negotiating' tactic for New START, last arms control deal with Russia. rt.com 
The new US arms control czar has laid out Washington's thinking on the last remaining nuclear pact with Russia, hoping that US threats of a new arms race will force Moscow and Beijing to negotiate a new three-way deal instead. | "We intend to establish a new arms control regime now, precisely to prevent a full-blown arms race," Ambassador Marshall Billingslea, special presidential envoy for arms control, said Thursday during a half-hour interview hosted by the Hudson Institute, a DC-based think tank. | In case there is an arms race, he added, US President Donald Trump "has made clear that we have a tried and t…
(2020-05-21). Trump Condemned for Ditching Treaty That Has 'Helped Prevent Nuclear War for Nearly Three Decades'. commondreams.org In a move that alarmed nuclear experts, anti-war activists, and policymakers around the world, the U.S. government notified international partners on Thursday that President Donald Trump is withdrawing the country from the Treaty on Open Skies over alleged Russian violations. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-11862935441.jpg …
(2020-05-21). Teachers and students across Greece protest government's flawed educational policy. peoplesdispatch.org Protesters denounced a new bill on education proposed by the conservative New Democracy-led government in Greece. Critics claim the new bill is likely to worsen the operation of schools and increase class barriers to education…
(2020-05-21). Lies and Censorship, a Second Pandemic. thealtworld.com On April 6, 2020, the University of Manchester published a paper titled COVID-19 Disinformation: Two Short Reports on the Russian Dimension. | That paper focused on highly funded disinformation programs, some funded by the EU and/or UK governments seemingly tasked with censoring or crushing media that strayed from the official "party line.""The EU's main task force for fighting Russian disinformation is in danger of becoming a source for disinformation itself, and so of skewing policy decisions in the EU and the UK, as well as distorting public discourse throughout Europe. Based on EU-sponsored counter-disinforma…
(2020-05-21). The WHO and the EU Want a Covid Vaccine for the Entire Planet, What About Water and Food… globalresearch.ca COVID-19: 324,990 deaths recorded worldwide … | Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has launched a Global Telethon to speed up the delivery of a corona vaccine for all. | Deaths attributable to lack of access to water …
(2020-05-21). France sees a spike in COVID-19 cases after schools reopen. peoplesdispatch.org At least 70 new cases of COVID-19 were reported from schools in France following their reopening last week by French authorities. Teachers' unions and student organizations criticized the government for the move…
(2020-05-21). French Left group to introduce bill for public production of medicines. peoplesdispatch.org Deputies from La France Insoumise (LFI) and the French Communist Party (PCF) have demanded state-owned production and distribution of medicines. Caroline Fiat, MP from LFI, will introduce a bill on the subject in the French national assembly by next week…
(2020-05-21). What Goes Around Comes Around. thealtworld.com The Democrats wasted President Trump's first term with contrived investigations of Trump and General Flynn. The Russiagate hoax resulted in illegitimate indictments of Republican consultants Paul Manafort and Roger Stone as the questionable charges against them were unrelated to Robert Mueller's Russiagate investigation and exceeded the scope of his mandate. The charges were brought in order to coerce them into giving false testimony against Trump. The arm-twisting failed, but both were convicted in the media and had their old age ruined by the corrupt Muller's effort to frame the President of the United States.
(2020-05-21). COVID-19 Hits Hard, but Challenges BRICS. globalresearch.ca By and large, the coronavirus pandemic has taken a huge toll on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) since it was declared late January by the World Health Organization (WHO). It allegedly originated (yet to be proved) from …