(2020-03-26). 'Covid-19 could be seasonal': Fauci warns coronavirus is likely to return in 'CYCLES', stresses need for vaccine. rt.com 
Even if the US and other nations battling Covid-19 succeed in beating it back, the illness may return in yearly cycles, warned Anthony Fauci, a top expert on the US coronavirus task force, urging for the fast rollout of a vaccine.
(2020-03-26). "We are not going to die in our cubicles!" — Wildcat strikes erupt at call centers across Brazil. wsws.org Workers have rebelled against unsafe conditions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, challenging transnational corporations like AlmaViva.
(2020-03-26). Sanders threatens to hold up $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus over 'anti-worker' bias. rt.com 
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders says he is willing to stall the already much-delayed coronavirus stimulus plan if more restrictions are not placed on the "$500 million corporate welfare fund." | Sanders says the "anti-worker objections" from several Republicans over proposed unemployment benefits in the bill have him ready to delay the whole process. | "Unless these Republican Senators drop their objections, I am prepared to put a hold on this bill until stronger conditions are imposed on the $500 billion corporate welfare fund," Sanders said in a statement on Wednesday, responding to several GOP lawmakers who…
(2020-03-26). Johnson's "herd immunity" strategy and the London Conference on Intelligence whitewash: Britain's ruling class and eugenics. wsws.org Innumerable posts on social media have drawn the connection between the reactionary ideology of eugenics and the British government's criminally delayed and negligent response to the pandemic.
(2020-03-26). Peru deploys army in the streets to enforce COVID-19 curfew. wsws.org The quarantine and curfew imposed by President Vizcarra are aimed at protecting the interests of the wealthy and preparing the repression of a likely social explosion.
(2020-03-26). Norwegian parties grant government emergency powers as coronavirus leads to record rise in unemployment. wsws.org The agreement, which suspends parliament for up to six months, means the right-wing coalition can make changes to laws without consulting deputies.
(2020-03-25). The Decade Of Transformation Is Here: Remaking Health Care. dissidentvoice.org 
We've been writing for a while that the 2020's would be a decade when multiple crises would come to a head and we would have an opportunity for major transformations if we were organized to mobilize and demand them. The current coronavirus pandemic, economic collapse, and falling oil prices are three events that are creating …
(2020-03-25). Pompeo's focus on blaming China for coronavirus derails joint G-7 statement. rt.com 
G-7 leaders reportedly balked at US insistence that Covid-19 be called the 'Wuhan virus' and blaming China for a "disinformation campaign" about it, letting the group's conference call end without a joint statement. | Following the hours-long teleconference with the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK — since the physical meeting of the group has been canceled due to the pandemic — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured reporters that everyone was on board with his view of things. | "Every one of the nations that were at that meeting this morning was deeply aware of the di…
(2020-03-25). Italy's coronavirus death toll DIPS to 683 in one day, rising above 7,500 in total. rt.com 
Health officials in Italy have reported a drop in the daily death toll from the Covid-19 outbreak following a spike in fatalities on Tuesday. The country has suffered the highest losses in the world from the pandemic. | Italy recently overtook China as the epicenter of the outbreak, with the number of deaths there from the rapidly-spreading novel coronavirus. On Saturday, single-day fatalities hit a new high at 793 before falling on Sunday and Monday, however it climbed again on Tuesday. | Overall, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 rose to 74,386 on Wednesday, from 69,176 the day prior, Italy's Civil P…
(2020-03-25). Some basic lessons from the pandemic. mronline.org The coronavirus attack has so far been much less deadly than the Spanish flu of a century ago. That had affected 500 million people worldwide, about 27 per cent of the world's population of the time, and had a death rate of about 10 per cent among those affected.
(2020-03-25). Saudi Arabia accepts UN call for coronavirus ceasefire in Yemen — reports. rt.com 
The Saudi-led coalition has reportedly agreed to a truce in Yemen — five years to the day of launching an intervention there — as part of a United Nations call for a global armistice among the Covid-19 pandemic. | Riyadh's decision to stand down follows the acceptance of the ceasefire by the pro-Saudi followers of ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthi rebels that have controlled the capital since January 2015. | Hadi government, Houthis and
(2020-03-25). Over ONE THIRD of world's population under lockdown over Covid-19 — AFP tally. rt.com 
More than one in three people on Earth are now confined to their homes because of quarantine measures imposed by various nations to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, AFP reports. | A whopping three billion people must stay in their homes or limit their movements in some fashion, as countries around the world embrace ever-tighter quarantine restrictions to stem the spread of the deadly disease — which has already infected more than 416,000 people and claimed more than 18,000 lives globally. | The number provided by AFP amounts to roughly 37 percent of the total world population, which stands at 7.8…
(2020-03-25). New York the 'canary in the coal mine' for U.S. peoplesworld.org 
Doctors at New York hospitals are saying they fear that very soon they will have to make decisions about who lives and who dies because they do not have the equipment they need to treat all of their patients. In a desperate attempt to deal with an unprecedented pandemic, New York's leaders are warning that …
(2020-03-25). Russians could face up to SEVEN YEARS in prison for violating coronavirus quarantine rules. rt.com 
At first glance, it either looks like a staggeringly severe punishment or a sign Moscow is taking the Covid-19 pandemic seriously, depending on who you ask. But experts say its bark will likely be far worse than its bite. | On Wednesday, a draft law on criminal punishment for the violation of quarantine restrictions was submitted to the national parliament, the State Duma. Offenders face between three and seven years imprisonment if found guilty. The bill was co-authored by the body's Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin and the head of the committee on state building and legislation, Pavel Krasheninnikov. Both are mem…
(2020-03-25). Frontline NY Nurses Lack Protective Masks & Ventilators, Say Worst Yet to Come as COVID-19 Spreads. democracynow.org 
As the New York metro area has 60% of all the new coronavirus cases in the United States and is responsible for half the cases all over the country, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday the number of hospitalizations is expected to peak in the next 40 days as hospitals are already encountering shortages of equipment needed to protect medical workers and to keep patients alive when the city's COVID-19 cases peak in the coming weeks. We're joined by two people on the frontlines of the pandemic: Sean Petty, a registered nurse in the pediatric emergency room of a public hospital in the Bronx and member of the…
(2020-03-25). Julian Assange denied bail by London court. rt.com 
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been denied bail by a London court after his lawyers argued that the Covid-19 pandemic posed a serious threat to his health in light of his pre-existing conditions. | Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that the global pandemic "does not provide grounds" for Assange's release. | Also on rt.com | | The judge also cited Assange's "past conduct" which she said "shows the lengths he is prepared to go to avoid extradition…
(2020-03-25). 'Whole of humanity' at stake in Covid-19 pandemic, UN chief warns in urgent plea to 'fight back'. rt.com 
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that the "whole of humanity" is in danger of the coronavirus crisis, and we must all fight against it. | "Global action and solidarity are crucial. Individual country responses are not going to be enough," Guterres said on Wednesday. | The secretary general said the Covid-19 crisis is unlike anything the UN has faced in its 75-year history and is pleading with the developed world to raise trillions of dollars to help poorer countries fight off the deadly viral scourge. | The UN is launching a $2 billion program to help the world's poor fight against the coronavi…
(2020-03-25). 'Failed liberalism left us without masks': Covid-19 crisis exposed Western liberal democracy, brought back ideals of 'sovereignty'. rt.com 
The Covid-19 pandemic lifted the veil on Western democracies' failures, but the media has had no interest in exposing how liberalism and free-market ideologies are silent killers, French philosopher Michel Onfray told RT France. | RT France: Maybe a few more weeks of quarantine, it's not really a surprise; what is your reaction to that? | Onfray: It is obvious that the president of the Republic is stumbling around, that he is rowing here and there, that it is his slogan "at the same time" — at the same time to the left and to the right, to the right, to the left, we don't really know what we are doing. Th…
(2020-03-25). "People Go Before Money. This Is About Saving Lives," Says San Juan Mayor on Pandemic in Puerto Rico. democracynow.org 
Puerto Rico announced a record $787 million financial package to fight the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic Monday, as the island's death toll hits two with 39 cases reported. The pandemic follows a series of devastating earthquakes in Puerto Rico earlier this year and comes as the island continues to deal with fallout from Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico's infrastructure and killed at least 3,000. "One of the things that I think is evident is that with the Trump administration and FEMA, we have to continue to remind them, time and time again, that we are people and that we deserve to be…
(2020-03-25). Looking Past the Pandemic. counterpunch.org 
This morning there was a Red-Tailed Hawk perched low in the woods outside my window for a least forty minutes. It was a large very calm bird perched not too high up in the trees that were downhill from my window, so binocular viewing was good, but it was too difficult to take a picture
(2020-03-25). Sides agree on $2 trillion coronavirus aid bill. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—The GOP-run U.S. Senate was on the verge today of finally approving a $2 trillion economic aid bill for workers and firms hard hit by closings, shutdowns and shelter-in-place orders due to the spreading coronavirus pandemic. As of mid-day March 26, 60,854 people had tested positive for the coronavirus in the U.S., with one-third of …
(2020-03-25). Settling equal pay lawsuit a top priority for new U.S. Soccer leadership. peoplesworld.org 
Slow weeks are the new normal (what is 'normal' anyway?). The slow drag of time is also reinforced by the lack of sports—except for golf, which is not at all surprising. But it doesn't mean there can't be a bit of good sports news tucked behind all the Covid-19 pandemic bad news. The newly minted president …
(2020-03-25). White House and US senators reach late night deal on massive coronavirus stimulus package after days of talks. rt.com 
US senators and the Trump administration have finally reached an agreement on a massive rescue plan to help stem the impact Covid-19 is having on the country's economy. | The compromise bill directs around $2 trillion to help keep the economy afloat amid the massive shutdown of businesses in a bid to curb the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. | Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the proposal "the largest rescue package in American history." | Schumer said that the bill is "far from perfect, but we believe the legislation has been improved significantly to warrant its quick consideration…
(2020-03-25). Spain overtakes China virus toll with 3,434 deaths – government. rt.com 
Spain has now surpassed China in its number of fatalities due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest government tally puts the number of deaths at 3,434. | The Spanish health ministry said it has registered 738 new coronavirus deaths since Tuesday. The overall number of cases in the southern European nation has soared to 47,610, from 39,673 the day before. | There have been 3,281 coronavirus death on mainland China so far, according to official statistics. | The country, where the global outbreak started, has managed to quash the Covid-19 epidemic with tight quarantine measures. It still gets its share of new ca…
(2020-03-25). Merkel, Xi agree on close Germany-China cooperation on coronavirus. rt.com 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the coronavirus crisis in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday. | The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the German government said in a statement. | "They agreed that the current crisis can only be resolved through close international cooperation," the statement read. | A government spokesman in Berlin said earlier on Wednesday that Merkel "is well, in close contact with her cabinet and holding international talks from home," where she is self-quarantining after coming into contact with an infected do…
(2020-03-25). Madrid's Ice Rink Turned to Morgue as Spain Exceeds China in Coronavirus Deaths. democracynow.org 
We go to Madrid, Spain, one of the epicenters of the pandemic in Europe, where health workers account for nearly 14% of the country's infections. Many face limited availability of protective equipment. So many people have died that Madrid's municipal funeral home has stopped collecting bodies. A large ice rink is now being used as a makeshift morgue, and the government plans to extend the state of emergency by another 15 days in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus. "If Madrid was a country, it would actually be fifth in terms of death rate in the entire world," says María Carrión, journalist and former De…
(2020-03-25). Timeline: Early testing failures and Trump inaction crippled U.S. coronavirus response. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON (AP)—A series of missteps at the nation's top public health agency caused a critical shortage of reliable laboratory tests for the coronavirus, hobbling the federal response as the pandemic spread across the country like wildfire, an Associated Press review found. President Donald Trump assured Americans early this month that the COVID-19 test developed by the …
(2020-03-25). 'Imprisonment should be last resort…in crisis' — UN rights chief on prisoners' fates amid Covid-19 outbreak. rt.com 
UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, has called on governments around the world to reduce the number of prisoners amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, citing their particular vulnerability to the disease. | The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet urged the authorities to reduce the number of peopl…
(2020-03-25). Venezuela's Coronavirus Response Might Surprise You. mintpressnews.com 
Unlike in the United States where coronavirus treatment can cost up to $35,000 and where Trump seems more concerned about the economy than about peoples' lives, Venezuela is handling the crisis by placing value in health over profits.
(2020-03-25). As Governments Struggle to Contain Coronavirus, Doctors Get Inventive. mintpressnews.com 
From "full-on MacGyver" ventilators to homemade test kits, doctors – and even some governments – are turning to ingenious solutions in the face of a faltering global response.
(2020-03-25). Germany Signals a Historic Shift From Austerity That Could Upend the Economy of Europe. counterpunch.org 
Until March 21, Germany's policymakers were like the Japanese soldiers who spent years lingering in the jungles of the Philippines, refusing to accept the reality that their country had lost World War II. In the case of Berlin, it was a case of the country stubbornly refusing to abandon six years of fiscal restraint, even
(2020-03-25). Palpitations of the Pulps. counterpunch.org 
"Space is not only high, it's low. It's a bottomless pit." ― Sun Ra The latest volume in Wakefield Press' epochal Jean Ray translation project, 1932's Cruise of Shadows, comprises both his biggest publishing flop and his best-known tales (The Gloomy Alley and The Mainz Psalter). Ray wrote the kind of cobbled-together eccentric pulp we
(2020-03-25). Save the Great Burn Wilderness. counterpunch.org 
The 275,000-acre Great Burn proposed wilderness lies west of Missoula on the Idaho-Montana divide. The 1910 Burn, which over ran 3 million acres of northern Idaho and western Montana, gives this wildland its name. The Burn left a legacy of snags and beautiful vistas from ridgelines cleared by the blaze. Alpine lakes, like a string
(2020-03-25). The Coronavirus and the Urgent Need to Redefine National Security. counterpunch.org 
For far too long, the United States has been wastefully spending its precious budgetary resources on a nineteenth-century military strategy and a strategic arms policy that has brought no advantages to the American people. For the past three decades, our national security policies have been ineffectual and irrelevant to the genuine threats we face today. These threats do not emanate from Russia or China. Rather, they stem from an underfunded and highly vulnerable public health system, a cyber world that is out of control, and a crumbling infrastructure. In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave a grad…
(2020-03-25). A Brady Bond Solution for America's Unpayable Corporate Debt. counterpunch.org 
Even before the Covid-19 crisis has slashed stock prices nearly in half since it erupted in January, financial markets were in an inherently unstable condition. Years of quantitative easing had loaded so much credit into stock and bond prices that stock price/earnings multiples were far too high and bond yields far too low by any normal and reasonable historical standards. Risk premiums have disappeared, with only a few basis points separating U.S. Treasury bills and corporate bonds.
(2020-03-25). US Senate's Final Stimulus Bill: Why It Won't Be Enough. counterpunch.org 
Just after midnight March 25, 2020 eastern time the US Senate passed a compromise bill of fiscal spending to address the accelerating economic decline. Both Democrat and Senate leaders agreed on the terms. US House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, indicated she would rush approval of the package seeking a unanimous voice vote of the House.
(2020-03-25). China's Wuhan reports ZERO new cases of coronavirus as US sees deadliest day yet with 160+ fatalities. rt.com 
The city of Wuhan is coming back online, with no new cases of Covid-19 reported in the virus' first epicenter and residents resuming business as usual. But as China recovers, the US has seen its worst day yet, tallying 163 deaths.
(2020-03-25). 'Nepo-leonic' overture: Vachier-Lagrave crushes Nepomniatchi's French Defence, joins him as co-leader in World Chess Candidates. rt.com 
France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave produced a classical masterpiece to defeat Russia's Ian Nepomniatchi in a complex French Defence in Round 7 of the World Chess Candidates. | The crucial win creates a two-way race between the pair, who now both lead the field by a full point. | The Candidates tournament in Ekaterinburg reached the halfway mark with the Frenchman — a late substitute after one of the competitors pulled out over coronavirus fears — in equal first position with Russia's Nepomniatchi (known as "Nepo" to his fans), who had dominated the first six rounds of the 14-round tournament. | French n…
(2020-03-25). Su-27 fighter crashes into Black Sea, search & rescue underway — Russian military. rt.com 
A Russian Su-27 multirole fighter jet crashed into the Black Sea late on Wednesday, the country's defense ministry said. The accident occurred during a routine flight amid bad weather conditions. | While the fate of the aircraft's pilot remains unknown, the military has detected a signal from his emergency beacon. Despite the bad weather, a search and rescue operation has been launched immediately. | Several aircraft, including an An-26 plane and an Mi-8 helicopter, as well as sea vessels — both military and civilian — are partaking in the effort.
(2020-03-25). Holiday week, financial support for affected & taxes for rich: Putin lays out coronavirus emergency plan. rt.com 
Russians will get a week of paid leave and a boost to benefits for those most in need, while the wealthiest will have to pay more revenue taxes, the Russian president said as he presented his plan to deal with the coronavirus.
(2020-03-25). Russia sends cargo ship with military ambulances toward Syria after virus outbreak — report. rt.com 
A cargo ship operated by the Russian Navy passed through Turkey's Bosphorus strait en route to Syria on Tuesday loaded with ambulances, Reuters said. | The Dvinitsa-50 ship, part of Russia's auxiliary fleet, was reportedly carrying at least three military ambulances along with a shipping container on its deck. | Russia operates a naval facility at Tartus in Syria and an airbase in Latakia. | The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Tuesday that an immediate nationwide ceasefire is needed across Syria to enable an "all-out-effort" to stamp out the coronavirus and prevent it fr…
(2020-03-25). WATCH Russian military infection specialists heading for coronavirus-plagued northern Italy. rt.com 
Russian military specialists who arrived in Italy to help with the fight against coronavirus are heading towards the north of the country, which has been affected by the deadly epidemic the worst. | The convoy, composed of 22 trucks and other vehicles, set off for the northern Italian city of Bergamo early on Wednesday. The convoy, escorted by the Italian Carabinieri, has reached Florence, making a brief stop there, the Russian military says. | One hundred Russian military medics and disease specialists were airlifted to Italy over the weekend, landing at Pratica di Mare Air Base 30km (18.6 miles) from Rome…
(2020-03-25). Putin calls for 15% tax on offshore funds as part of plan to stabilize Russian economy. rt.com 
Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a range of measures on Wednesday to tackle the economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. They included making sure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes. | According to the Russian president, all income payments (as interest and dividends) leaving the country should be taxed adequately. Putin called on increasing tax on offshore funds to 15 percent. | "Currently two-thirds of such funds, and, in fact, this is the income of specific individuals (as a result of various kinds of schemes of the so-called optimization), are subject to a real tax rate of only 2 percen…
(2020-03-25). Watch Russian Su-57 fire missile during NEAR-VERTICAL CLIMB as pilots master new jet's capabilities (VIDEO). rt.com 
Russian combat pilots have mastered the new capabilities of the fifth-gen Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets, the Defense Ministry reported. Footage of the test flights includes a rare firing of a missile while in a near-vertical climb. | The Su-57 is an advanced warplane which can speed straight up into the sky immediately after take-off, thanks to powerful engines and state-of-art controls needed to maintain stability during such a maneuver. | The extreme climb can be accompanied by a barrage of missiles launched at the enemy. A video released by Russia's Defense Ministry includes such a deployment among other act…
(2020-03-25). Two elderly coronavirus patients with pre-existing conditions die in Moscow — authorities. rt.com 
Russia's Covid-19 death toll rose to three on Wednesday evening after officials announced that two elderly coronavirus patients have died in Moscow. Both of them suffered from pneumonia and had pre-existing medical conditions. | The two deaths occurred in Moscow, and the deceased were aged 88 and 73 respectively. Both were diagnosed earlier with Covid-19. Last week, a 79-year-old patient, with a range of other illnesses, died after contracting coronavirus, although a postmortem showed the cause was ultimately detached blood clot. | The latest development comes as Russia experienced a major surge in reported in…
(2020-03-25). Paramushir Island in Russia's Kuril Islands evacuated after 7.2 earthquake causes small tsunami wave. rt.com 
Residents of Severo-Kurilsk, a small Russian town with a population of just over 2,500 on the northern end of the Kuril Islands, were evacuated to safety after an earthquake triggered a tsunami warning. | "The safety of the people is the most important for us. It is necessary to make sure that there are no people in the area that may be affected by the wave," Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko said as he announced the evacuation on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the earthquake shook the town. | Residents of the town, which is 30m (100ft) above sea level, were led to higher ground. Students and st…
(2020-03-25). WATCH stranded Russian tourists PROTEST at Dubai airport after UAE denies entry to evacuation flight. rt.com 
Over 1,000 Russian tourists remain stranded in the UAE after cancellation of four FlyDubai flights. Some of them turned to protesting after Dubai denied entry to an evacuation flight — that was already in the air. | Footage from the scene, circulating on social media, shows a group of tourists carrying placards and chanting "Home, home!" at the Dubai airport. | –¢–µ–º –≤—Ä–µ–º–µ–Ω–µ–º –ø–∞—Å—Å–∞–∂–∏[m…
(2020-03-25). Putin forced to delay key vote to reset presidential term limits due to Covid-19. rt.com 
The planned national vote on constitutional amendments in Russia will be postponed from April to a later date, President Vladimir Putin said, citing the threat of Covid-19. | Speaking in a televised address on Wednesday, Putin announced a number of measures to support the Russian people during the increasingly serious threat of coronavirus in the country. | The Russian government will postpone the vote on the constitution, which was scheduled for April 22. The changes involve, among other things, empowering Russia's Upper House, creating a new government body — the State Council — and restricting all…
(2020-03-25). ÔªøPutin proposes mortgage & loan holidays, new payments for families with children to tackle aftershocks of Covid-19. rt.com 
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has proposed a package of social and economic benefits, aimed at providing relief for citizens as the coronavirus outbreak keeps hammering the economy. | "I suggest loan and mortgage holidays," Putin said Wednesday addressing the nation in a televised speech. The said steps also include new payments for families with children. | Families that have children aged three and younger will be eligible for an additional monthly payment of 5,000 rubles (some $63) per child for the next three months starting from April. | "The Russian economy, like the economies of other countries,…
(2020-03-25). 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocks Russia's Far East, sparks tsunami alert. rt.com A 7.2-magnitude quake has struck Russia's Far East region, striking off the Kuril Islands and prompting a tsunami warning for the sparsely populated region. | The quake was felt across the region on Wednesday afternoon local time, with a depth of 56.7km (35 miles). There are no reports of damage or casualties as of yet. | The earthquake triggered a tsunami alert in Hawaii, 5,600 kilometers away, but it was soon called off, with the US National Tsunami Warning Center concluding there was no danger to the small Pacific island chain. | Tsunami Info Stmt 2: M7.5 East Of Kuril Islands 1949PDT Mar 24: Tsunami NOT ex…