IMF Conditions Emergency COVID-19 Loan to Venezuela on Regime Change

The IMF refused a COVID–19 emergency loan to Venezuela unless it agreed to overthrow President Maduro and installs the Washington-backed Juan Guaidó.

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
Venezuela coronavirus Feature photo

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) blocked a request from Venezuela for an emergency loan to deal with the COVID–19 pandemic on the grounds that President Nicolas Maduro “lacked recognition.” “IMF engagement with member countries is predicated on official government recognition by the international community, as reflected in

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Lee Camp: Nationalism is Making the Coronavirus Outbreak Much Worse

We act like nations are a given – as if there’s no other way to organize our species, no other way to behave except to have your flag’s colors tattooed across your nipples and your national anthem burned into your soft mushy brain matter. But in fact, nations have not always been the way we humans have divided ourselves.

Lee Camp
By Lee Camp
coronavirus nationalism Feature photo

Something every American takes for granted has made the coronavirus outbreak much worse. That thing sits ingrained in our minds since we could barely take two steps without a face full of carpet. But before I get to that, let’s set the scene. I don’t have to tell you that things are bad. We’re in the middle of a global pandemic, our economy

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Coronavirus: After the EU Failed to Deliver, Italy Looks to Russia for Help

The current global political scene is changing rapidly as a result of the coronavirus.  New super-powers are emerging and former power-houses are weakening in the face of the crisis.

Steven Sahiounie
By Steven Sahiounie
Coronavirus Russia Italy

ROME (Mideast Discourse) -- More than 15 military transport planes flew from Russia to Italy delivering disinfection units, 180 doctors, 100 personnel which include specialists in biological protection, nurses, ventilators, and masks. The experts sent to Italy have worked on international epidemics including African Swine Fever and in developing an

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With a Quarter of the World’s Population Under US Sanctions, Countries Appeal to UN to Intervene

Eight countries, representing around one-quarter of all humanity, say that Washington’s actions are undermining their response to the COVID–19 pandemic sweeping the planet.

Alan Macleod
By Alan Macleod
coronavirus Iran Feature photo

The governments of China, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela – all under sanctions from the United States – sent a joint statement to the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN’s High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Director-General of the World Health Organization calling for an end to the unilateral American

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From Electoral Politics to Coronavirus Response: In Israel, Apartheid Mentality Reigns

Israel’s longstanding political crisis didn’t end due to some altruistic desire to pull together in a time of crisis, it ended because Israelis were faced with a choice, work with Arabs or throw it all away, writes Miko Peled.

Miko Peled
By Miko Peled
coronavirus Israel Feature photo

Jerusalem, Palestine -- Once again, Benjamin Netanyahu wins big in Israeli politics. Even as his main opponent, former Israeli army chief Benny Gantz was given a mandate to form and head a coalition government, Netanyahu, indicted and presumed to be on his way out, managed to pull in Gantz, break up the Blue and White opposition party, stop the

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Has Saudi Arabia Shot Itself in the Foot With Its Oil Price War?

The impact of coronavirus has destroyed the demand for oil and neither Saudi Arabia, Russia or the United States will escape the resulting price war unscathed. 

Darius Shahtahmasebi
By Darius Shahtahmasebi
Saudi Oil War Feature photo

Faced with an escalating crisis brought on by the global outbreak of COVID-19, Saudi Arabia made a conscious decision to increase oil production in order to avert a potential oil-price collapse. The move sent an already faltering global economy into a tailspin.   The trouble began at the beginning of March, after Russia rejected an ultimatum

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