Jeffrey Sterling (2020-03-16). I Reject Using My Unjust Conviction Against Julian Assange. counterpunch.org In 2015 I was wrongfully convicted of, and imprisoned for, violating the U.S. Espionage Act. Now, while there is no question that I stand in solidarity with WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in a British court as he fights extradition, little did I know that my presence is also there as fodder to support extradition. If

RT (2020-03-16). Covid-19 is defining global health crisis of our time, WHO warns, as more deaths & cases reported in rest of world than in China. rt.com The coronavirus pandemic is the "defining global health crisis of our time," the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, as the agency revealed that confirmed cases around the world have surpassed those within China. | WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the containment strategy spearheaded by China, South Korea and Singapore has shown results in helping to cut down the level of coronavirus cases. | As well as commending containment efforts in those Asian nations, WHO experts also emphasized the importance of increasing testing on a wider scale internationally, and warned that out…

Staff (2020-03-16). "Something Is Wrong in America": Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor & Michael Eric Dyson Debate Sanders v Biden. democracynow.org Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders faced off in their first one-on-one debate Sunday night in the midst of an unprecedented national crisis, with 3,600 reported COVID-19 cases, 61 deaths so far, 33 states closing schools and mass shutdowns in major cities. The rivals clashed on how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Medicare for All, the climate crisis, Joe Biden's record and whether or not the U.S. needs a revolution. We play highlights from the debate and get responses from scholars Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Michael Eric Dyson. Taylor is assistant professor of African-America…

People's Daily (2020-03-16). US Army Might Have Brought Epidemic to China: China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman's Tweet. globalresearch.ca Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday that the US military may have brought the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to Wuhan. | . | . | "CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in …

RT (2020-03-16). Covid-19 vaccine: Difficult, uncertain and far-off, microbiologist says. rt.com A US company which worked on the development of a MERS virus vaccine has begun a clinical trial to test a Covid-19 vaccine — but similarities between the two don't mean the process will be easy, a microbiologist told RT. | The potential new coronavirus vaccine is being developed by Moderna Inc., which is building on previous work on MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) — a disease which originated in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and was also dubbed the 'camel flu' due to the fact that it is believed to have been spread to humans through the animal. | The first tests conducted by Moderna are focused on a…

RT (2020-03-16). European solidarity doesn't exist, only China can help us: Serbia goes full emergency over coronavirus. rt.com Caught off guard by the EU's ban on medical exports, Serbia found help in China as it struggled to prepare for the Covid-19 outbreak, the Serbian president said, adding that it has become clear that European solidarity is a myth. | Serbia is the latest country to impose severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings in response to the global epidemic. As President Aleksandar Vucic declared a national emergency on Sunday, he had some scalding remarks for the EU. | The crisis has proven that European solidarity, only exists "on paper," Vucic said, citing the ban on the export of medical equipment and suppli…

RT (2020-03-16). What social distancing? Mexican president defies Covid-19 concerns as he EMBRACES & SHAKES HANDS with 1000s at rallies (VIDEOS). rt.com As governments around the world urge residents to stay indoors and practice 'social distancing' due to the coronavirus, Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has come under fire for staging huge rallies in spite of the risks. | While politicians in the neighboring US are cancelling rallies, holding crucial O…

RT (2020-03-16). Iran's death toll from Covid-19 increases to 853 — Health Ministry. rt.com Iran's death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 853, with 129 new deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry. | "In the past 24 hours we had 1,053 confirmed new cases of coronavirus and 129 new deaths," Alireza Vahabzadeh, a ministry official, tweeted on Monday. A total of 14,991 people have been infected across Iran, the official added. | To contain the outbreak in Iran, one of the deadliest outside of China, officials have called on people to stay at home. | "Based on the figures, we have past the peak of the outbreak, but I still suggest people stay at home, and in case of urgenc…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus kills 7 in New York State, 950 test positive — governor. rt.com New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed seven deaths in the state from Covid-19 and urged President Donald Trump to deploy army engineers to build emergency medical facilities to help ease the health burden caused by the virus.

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus is 'overhyped': Wrestling coach defies COVID-19 as U.S. collegiate tournament goes ahead in Texas. rt.com A college wrestling coach played down the threat of the coronavirus, labeling the global pandemic "overhyped" as he led his team in the weekend's national championships. | Jesse Castro, coach of Liberty University's wrestling team, insisted on leading his team to the National Collegiate Wrestling Association's national championships over the past weekend in Allen, Texas. | The NCWA operates outside the auspices of the NCAA, which suspended all of their sporting events and championships, including the world-famous March Madness basketball tournament, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. | Also on rt.com…

Ed Sykes (2020-03-16). Thousands of volunteers join effort to help vulnerable people during UK coronavirus crisis. thecanary.co Thousands of Britons have joined local Facebook groups offering food and support for elderly and vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak.The groups, named Covid-19 Mutual Aid, have been set up in most London boroughs, cities including Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as smaller towns throughout the UK.Some groups have received several thousand members in recent days as more and more people self-isolate to prevent the spread of the virus.In one group, users shared a printable postcard which could be dropped in to neighbours' letterboxes, with offers to pick up shopping, post mail or even jus…

RT (2020-03-16). European Space Agency's Kourou spaceport SUSPENDS launches over coronavirus pandemic. rt.com The French space agency operating the ESA spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, has decided to suspend all launches, citing health concerns over the "rapid spread" of the deadly coronavirus epidemic. | France is currently struggling to stem the spread of the deadly disease officially known as Covid-19, which has already infected almost 4,500 nationwide. Its national space agency (CNES) has now joined the effort, by announcing it would "reorganize" the work of its four centers — including the Kourou spaceport located in the remote overseas territory of French Guiana. | COVID-19. Le CNES réorganise ses activi…

RT (2020-03-16). Russia to launch $4 BILLION anti-crisis fund to stabilize economy. rt.com Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced on Monday the establishment of a 300-billion-ruble anti-crisis fund in order to support the country's economic sectors and citizens amid the global coronavirus pandemic. | "We have developed a number of priority measures, and I think it is necessary to take a number of actions today to prevent the negative impact of coronavirus on the country's economy and people's lives," said Mishustin, who has headed the government's Coordinating Council to combat the spread of Covid-19. | The prime minister said that the government will soon launch a single hotline and an…

The Canary (2020-03-16). Foreign Office advises against travel to more than 30 countries. thecanary.co The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has affected thousands of people across the globe as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported cases in 144 countries, territories or areas.As a result of Covid-19, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued travel advice warning people against visiting certain countries or areas due to restrictions or the risk of quarantine.FCO travel advice can range from advising against all travel to a whole country to recommending travellers seek advice before travelling to a particular area, based on how safe it is to visit.The guidance as of Monday morning advises against a…

RT (2020-03-16). Reluctant to close its borders despite pandemic, Germany to crack down on 'non-essential' travel. rt.com Facing the alarming spread of the coronavirus, Berlin has decided to tighten border controls, limiting "non-essential" travel with neighboring countries. Germany saw a spike in Covid-19 cases, which jumped by 1,000 in one day. | The move was announced by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer late Sunday. Germany will re-introduce checks on the borders with Austria, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Denmark starting Monday morning. | "The spread of the coronavirus is progressing quickly and aggressively… one of the most important measures will be to cut off the chain of infection," Seehofer stated. | Also on rt…

The Canary (2020-03-16). Coronavirus: Downing Street announces daily TV briefings. thecanary.co Boris Johnson is to hold a televised press conference to update the public on the fight against coronavirus, as the UK moves towards banning mass gatherings and asking the elderly to stay at home more.The prime minister will chair an emergency meeting of the Cobra committee on Monday, before holding the first of a series of daily press conferences to update the public on Covid-19.It comes as there was confusion over exactly what elderly people will be asked to do, after health secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday they will be asked to stay at home for a very long time. | On Monday, transport secretary Grant Shap…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus just got real in Moscow: outdoor events banned, schools closed, indoor crowds restricted. rt.com After videos went viral at the weekend showing Russian soccer fans chanting about the coronavirus in packed stadiums, some expressed concern that the country was in denial over Covid-19. If so, that ended on Monday. | In Moscow, all outdoor events have been banned and schools will be closed. Meanwhile, indoor gatherings will be restricted to a maximum of 50 people. The orders were published on the website of the capital's mayor Sergey Sobyanin and came only a few hours after a spokesman said the Kremlin "saw no need" to introduce a state of emergency. | Under the measures, schools will be shut from March 21, w…

RT (2020-03-16). Patient ESCAPES from Moscow coronavirus hospital, chief doctor slams 'ignorant behavior'. rt.com It appears some Russians really don't like the idea of being quarantined over Covid-19. After a well-publicized hospital breakout in Saint Petersburg last month, a Moscow patient decided to play copycat. | Apparently unconcerned about infecting others around the capital, a woman suspected of having coronavirus escaped from a medical facility, according to Denis Protsenko, the head physician at Moscow's Kommunarka Hospital. | "I have to deal with the ignorant behavior of hospitalized patients who do not understand the situation and the danger of spreading Covid-19 in the city," he said. "I ask my colleagues to…

Stuart A. Newman (2020-03-16). Getting Viral: Why COVID-19 is Such a Threat to the 60+ Plus Population and Why the Response May Make It Worse. counterpunch.org After looking at the demographics, virology, public health dimensions, and earlier parallels (e.g., the 1918 flu epidemic), it seems to me that this whole episode with COVID-19 is being handled incorrectly. This is partly due to Donald Trump's self-serving blunders, but not entirely.

RT (2020-03-16). Bolsonaro sees no legal room to close Brazil borders due to coronavirus. rt.com Brazil lacks the legislation that would let its government close the borders as some neighboring countries are doing, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday. Bolsonaro, who came under fire for cheering demonstrations on Sunday by his supporters, told Radio Bandeirantes that the outbreak was being exaggerated in Brazil. | He warned that the response by some governors was affecting the economy and said he would discuss measures with Economy Minister Paulo Guedes to help businesses, including struggling airlines. | Brazilian House Speaker Rodrigo Maia said on Monday that lawmakers will seek to reach a consensus…

RT (2020-03-16). Peace Corps to suspend operations, evacuate volunteers worldwide. rt.com The Peace Corps is suspending all operations globally and evacuating all volunteers over the spread of the new coronavirus. In an open letter to volunteers posted on Sunday on its website, the federal agency's director, Jody Olsen, says the decision follows recent evacuations in China and Mongolia due to the outbreak. | Olsen said that with evacuations now underway at other posts and travel becoming more challenging by the day, the agency decided to expand the suspension and evacuations. | "We are acting now to safeguard your well-being and prevent a situation where volunteers are unable to leave their host co…

Mitchell Zimmerman (2020-03-16). Does Trump still think the coronavirus is a hoax? peoplesworld.org My granddaughter's school has planned a trip to Thailand. Two things worry me. First, that she or her classmates might be exposed to or catch the coronavirus. Second, that if they did, President Trump would try his best to keep them from returning to the United States. In my view, if any of them became …

RT (2020-03-16). Casinos, gyms, movie theaters to close as New York, New Jersey & Connecticut ban 50+ people gatherings due to coronavirus fears. rt.com The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have rolled a set of rules, which include closing casinos, gyms and movie theaters, as well as limiting restaurants to only takeout and delivery services. | New restrictions in the three neighboring states will go into effect at 8 PM eastern time on Monday. On top of the closures and banning of crowds of 50 or more, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he is also discouraging any non-emergency travel in his state "between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily. This will remain in effect for the foreseeable future." | The closures in New York from Governor Andrew…

RT (2020-03-16). 'Not with a bang but a twerk': Netizens dumbfounded as partygoers ignore coronavirus 'social distancing' pleas (VIDEOS). rt.com The immense gravity of the coronavirus crisis has yet to sink in fully and, despite the best efforts of authorities in warning the public, hordes of people have apparently ignored social distancing advice in favor of partying on. | Footage appeared on social media over the weekend of New Orleans police clearing the city's popular party hotspot the French Quarter, after the state's governor banned gatherings of 250 people or more. | However, revelers on Bourbon Street were defiant in the face of sound medical advice and emergency protocols, opting instead to twerk at police who were attempting to clear the area…

RT (2020-03-16). Spain & Portugal increase border controls to slow coronavirus spread. rt.com Portugal is suspending rail and air traffic to and from Spain for a month, while Madrid is denying entry to everyone bar residents and a few others on land borders, in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

RT (2020-03-16). Germany's Bavaria declares state of emergency, announces ‚Ǩ10mn fund to reduce coronavirus impact. rt.com The premier of Germany's southern state of Bavaria declared a state of emergency on Monday, Reuters reported, as the number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise. | Markus Soeder also announced a fund worth up to €10 billion ($11.21 billion) to help the region withstand the coronavirus outbreak. | "The situation is very serious and changing daily, unfortunately not for the better," the Bavarian leader said. He added that the regional government could buy stakes in struggling companies to prevent insolvencies. | Bavaria announced on March 13 that it was closing all schools, kindergartens and nurseries…

RT (2020-03-16). Ryanair to ground majority of its European fleet over next 10 days, complete cuts 'can't be ruled out'. rt.com Budget airline Ryanair has announced that it will ground the majority of its fleet of over 450 Boeing 737-800 aircraft over the next 10 days in response to the coronavirus crisis, adding that a total suspension might take effect. | The company said that government restrictions and flight bans across Europe had a significant and negative impact on its ability to operate. As a result, the airline has reduced working hours and payments, slashed discretionary spending and frozen recruitment. | Wherever flight restrictions are not in place, the airline said that social distancing protocols may be implemented on fli…

RT (2020-03-16). US Health and Human Services faces cyber attack during coronavirus response — reports. rt.com The US Health and Human Services Department's computer system was reportedly hacked on Sunday night, with the National Security Council needing to step in and warn that news of a mass quarantine was fake news. | Three people "familiar with the matter" briefed Bloomberg on the hack and said the breach was meant to slow the department's system down in the middle of the coronavirus response. Though no major damage was done, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump have been informed of the attack, which is said to have included several incidents. The National Security Council tweeted in response…

RT (2020-03-16). Macron condemns 'unilateral' border control measures, discusses issue with Merkel — Elysee. rt.com French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday condemned unilateral border control measures taken by some EU countries in a bid to control the coronavirus outbreak. The statement from the Elysee Palace came following a phone briefing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU officials. | However, the Elysee warned that measures at the EU's external borders could be announced "in the coming hours," Reuters said. | The discussion between Macron and Merkel came after Germany decided to temporarily introduce border controls on the borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, and Denmark starting Monday in…

Steve Sweeney (2020-03-16). Sanctions cripple Iran's coronavirus response; country pleads for U.S. to lift them. peoplesworld.org Iran's ability to fight the coronavirus is being "severely hampered" by crippling U.S. sanctions, according to the government there. President Hassan Rouhani pleaded with world leaders to press President Donald Trump to lift trade restrictions to save lives. Rouhani said he had written letters in desperation asking the international community not to comply with the …

RT (2020-03-16). Germany introduces border checks with 5 countries over coronavirus, still keeps broad-scale exemptions. rt.com The spread of the deadly coronavirus epidemic has forced Germany to introduce travel restrictions and enhance control over people's movements. But economic concerns are still high for Berlin. | On Monday morning, Germany imposed checks and suspended visa-free travel on its land borders with five nations: France, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Luxembourg. Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic have not been affected by the new restrictions so far. | From now on, foreigners crossing the border from any of the five nations in question must have "a valid reason to travel" or they will be denied…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus cardio: Watch as a Spanish fitness instructor holds rooftop keep-fit session for isolated residents in Seville (VIDEO). rt.com Residents at a Spanish apartment complex joined together from the safety of their own rooms as they took part in a mass fitness session conducted by an instructor on their roof. | With large parts of Spain currently on lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many citizens are currently isolating themselves in their hopes to help reduce the spread of the highly-contagious disease. | Local fitness group Sano Sevilla Los Bermejale decided that they wanted to help give those housebound residents the chance to get up and get moving, as an instructor appeared on the roof of their central concourse building…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus situation in France 'extremely worrying' & getting worse rapidly, top health official warns. rt.com French people should not underestimate the threat of the coronavirus since the situation in the country is already dire and likely to get worse fast, a senior health official has warned, adding that people need to stay home. | There are almost 5,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in France, with over 400 people in serious condition. The situation with the epidemic is "extremely worrying" with the epidemic moving very fast, senior health official Jerome Salomon said. | "The number of cases doubles every three days. I would like our fellow citizens to realize that there are hundreds of people who are sick, in inten…

RT (2020-03-16). 'I'll get better, I have enough toilet paper': Russian kite surfing champion laughs off contracting coronavirus. rt.com Russian kite surfing champion Peter Tyushkevich laughed off his coronavirus diagnosis, saying he has enough toilet paper to recover from the dangerous infection. | The 2009 world champion revealed he is infected by the contagious virus which has swept across the world. | "I have contracted coronavirus. Now, I'm in the infectious diseases hospital, please meet one of those Ru…

RT (2020-03-16). Global stock markets plunge despite drastic action by governments as coronavirus paralyses economies. rt.com World equities continued to fall on Monday, even as the US Federal Reserve slashes rates to zero and launches a massive quantitative easing program to try to offset the coronavirus impact on the global economy. | European stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, reacting to the shutdown taking place on the continent as efforts continue to contain the outbreak. Spain has imposed a 15-day nationwide lockdown, banning its 46 million citizens from all non-essential movement. France and Germany have strengthened their borders in order to contain the spread of the virus. | London's FTSE 100 index opened Monday's tradi…

RT (2020-03-16). Martial law is coming? Washington debunks hoax message about coronavirus telling Americans to stockpile everything in sight. rt.com Americans have been bombarded with fake messages stating that President Donald Trump will declare martial law in days. The government had to intervene to prevent a wave of panic. | The seemingly unstoppable spread of coronavirus has already led the government to declare a national emergency over the deadly disease that has so far claimed 41 lives nationwide, and infected more than 1,600 people across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). | However, certain unsavory characters apparently decided to exploit the already tense situation to stoke more fear in the hearts of…

RT (2020-03-16). German federal & state govts agree to shutter most shops, clubs, churches. rt.com Federal and state governments in Germany agreed sweeping rules shutting everything from non-essential shops to bars, clubs, theatres, brothels, museums and churches, Reuters reports. The measures are being taken in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the federal government said. | A statement published on Monday said that grocery shops, markets, banks, pharmacies and delivery services would remain open. Restaurants and other eating establishments would generally be allowed to open between 6am and 6pm. | Shops that remained open would have to implement heightened hygiene measures and monitor their entr…

RT (2020-03-16). Oil prices tank to four-year low, US crude falls below $30 a barrel. rt.com The price of oil continued its downward trajectory on Monday as emergency rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve and its global counterparts failed to calm the markets. | Benchmark Brent crude plunged by almost 11 percent to $30.33 a barrel by 12: 00 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down almost eight percent, to $29.24 a barrel. | "It's becoming evident that the major central banks across the globe are using all their available tools to prevent a crisis, but it seems the fear of the pandemic is taking control of investors," Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at FXTM, told Reuters. | The Fed slas…

RT (2020-03-16). Rammstein's Till Lindemann turns bubble boy with giant 'coronavirus protective gear' at Moscow gig. rt.com You have to be quite cheeky to gather thousands of people together amid coronavirus fears. But Till Lindemann apparently had an ace up his sleeve — a giant iridescent bubble to protect him during his Moscow concert. | The Rammstein star is currently on tour in Russia, together with Swedish multi-instrumentalist Peter Tagtgren. On Sunday the two performed at the VTB Arena in Moscow and had an unusual prop — a giant plastic bubble to take | In actu…

RT (2020-03-16). India closes Taj Mahal, other monuments over coronavirus til end of month. rt.com India has closed the iconic Taj Mahal and other monuments to visitors, citing the coronavirus epidemic. The cultural sites will remain closed until the end of the month, the Culture Ministry announced.

RT (2020-03-16). Greece to quarantine all arrivals from abroad. rt.com The Greek government announced on Monday it will shut all shops apart from supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, petrol stations and food delivery services, in a bid to fight the coronavirus. The closure of retail stores will begin from Wednesday. | Greece had already cancelled mass gatherings and closed bars, restaurants, playgrounds and gyms. So far the country has reported 331 confirmed cases of infections and four fatalities, Reuters reported. | Authorities will also put anyone arriving from abroad into quarantine for two weeks, the statement said. The 14-day quarantine will apply to anyone entering the country…

RT (2020-03-16). Hungary to shut borders to international passengers, close cultural & sports events, PM Orban says. rt.com Hungary will close its borders for international passengers, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told parliament on Monday. The country will also close cultural and sports events and establishments and limit the opening hours of restaurants. | All shops will be shut except food stores, pharmacies and drug stores, he said, asking those over 70 to stay at home and all events to be canceled except for family gatherings. Restaurants must close at 3pm. | The country will need monetary and fiscal tools to tackle the expected grave economic impact from the spread of the coronavirus, Orban said. He added that many jobs would…

The Canary (2020-03-16). Biden and Sanders push credentials to lead US against coronavirus. thecanary.co Former vice president Joe Biden and senator Bernie Sanders used Sunday's Democratic debate to cast themselves as best-positioned person to lead the United States through a global pandemic.In the latest debate in the race to decide the Democrats' nominee to run for president, the pair were united in their criticism of president Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus but diverged on how they would confront the spiralling public health and economic crisis.Biden pledged to deploy the US military to help with recovery efforts and warned a federal financial bail-out may be necessary to stabilise the economy.The two…

RT (2020-03-16). US will act in 'self-defense' if attacked in Iraq — Pompeo. rt.com Washington will act in "self-defense" in Iraq if its military comes under attack, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. US bases in Iraq have been repeatedly shelled recently and several servicemen have been killed and injured. | Pompeo told Iraqi PM Adil Abd al-Mahdi that Baghdad "must defend Coalition personnel supporting the Iraqi government's efforts to defeat ISIS," the US Department of State said in a statement on Monday. | Those "responsible for the attacks must be held accountable," the official warned, adding that Washington "will not tolerate attacks and threats to American lives" and will take "actio…

Stansfield Smith (2020-03-16). A case study of corporate media disinformation. mronline.org Corporate America's disinformation relies on politicians, media and NGOs to implant their messaging. An essential part of combatting that messaging requires us to question our own views, as none of us are entirely immune to disinformation techniques, which have in effect become an advanced science. |

Ramzy Baroud (2020-03-16). A Policeman, A Pastor and A Palestinian: The 'Chilestinians' as a Model for Palestinian Unity. mintpressnews.com The Palestinian diaspora in Chile, the Chilestinians, have had unique success in learning how to accept their political differences and unify over thier common cause.

RT (2020-03-16). Gold price drops as investors hunt for cash to cover market losses. rt.com Prices of precious metals are falling on lack of investor confidence that stimulus measures taken by the world's central banks are enough to steady the markets. | On Sunday, the US Federal Reserve slashed rates to near zero and promised to pump $700 billion into the economy. Other central banks have made similar moves to try avoid market turmoil. | Gold has extended last week's losses as the price fell below $1,464 an ounce on Monday. The yellow metal has seen the biggest drop in price since 1983. Although traditionally a safe haven, investors are selling gold to cover their positions on other markets. | Also…

RT (2020-03-16). Constitutional Court approves amendments resetting presidential terms limits, poll says majority would vote for Putin in 2024. rt.com Just a week ago, the general consensus among Russian political experts was that Vladimir Putin would likely leave the Kremlin in four years. But a week is a long time in politics, as the old cliche goes. | Following last Tuesday's dramatic parliamentary intervention by Valentina Tereshkova, quite a lot has rapidly changed. The MP, previously better known as the first woman in space, proposed "that after the updated Constitution comes into force, the current president, like any other citizen, has the right to be elected to…

Hamza Hamouchene (2020-03-16). The Algerian Revolution: the Struggle for Decolonization Continues. counterpunch.org Algeria is going through a revolutionary phase. The mass-scale uprising that started in February 2019 has been sustained for more than a year now and is showing an incredible resilience and soumoud (steadfastness in Arabic). Hundreds of thousands are still in the streets, joining huge weekly protests every Tuesday and Friday (and recently some Saturdays

Colin Todhunter (2020-03-16). Dependency, Distress and No Durable Agronomic Benefits: The Story of Bt Cotton in India. counterpunch.org In the early 2000s, genetically modified (GM) Bt insecticidal cotton was being heavily promoted in India on the basis that it would cut pesticide use dramatically, boost yields and contribute to the financial well-being of farmers. Private sector Bt cotton hybrids now cover over 90% of the area under cotton. Supporters of Bt cotton have wasted