(2020-02-18). Head of Wuhan hospital dies of coronavirus as global death toll rises to nearly 1,900. rt.com 
The director of a hospital at the epicenter of China's coronavirus outbreak has died, according to state media, marking the latest death as Beijing scrambles to contain the virus. | Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died on Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported. | Liu's death was initially announced on Monday night in a social media post by the Hubei Health Commission. However, in a follow-up message the commission said that the hospital director was alive and battling the virus. | At least six other medical workers in China have died from…
(2020-02-18). Consumers League-SEIU probe reveals problems at Chipotle continue. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—After reading this, you might want to think twice about eating at Chipotle—and not just because it exploits its workers. But because it could be hazardous to your health. Starting in 2015, Chipotle, the supposedly upscale fast food chain which prides itself on using fresh, pesticide-free, and chemical-free food, suffered a huge corporate black eye—and …
(2020-02-18). Russia temporarily bans ALL Chinese visitors amid coronavirus epidemic. rt.com 
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree on Tuesday evening prohibiting Chinese citizens from entering Russia for tourism, work and for private purposes. The new rules are effective from Thursday. | The decision is the strongest measure yet taken to prevent the entry and spread of the new coronavirus in Russia. Previously, Russian Railways suspended all passenger traffic to and from China, and flights have been heavily restricted. In addition, border crossings in the Far East have been closed. | "From 00: 00 local time on February 20, 2020, the passage of citizens of the People's Republic of Chi…
(2020-02-18). End Torture and Medical Neglect of Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca On Nov 22, 2019, we, a group of more than 60 medical doctors, wrote to the UK Home Secretary to express our serious concerns about the physical and mental health of Julian Assange.1 In our letter,1 we documented a history …
(2020-02-18). Nevada Is a Big Test for Bernie Sanders's Medicare for All Plan. truthout.org Medicare for All faces a big test in Nevada's Democratic caucus, where front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden are pitching competing health care plans in a last-minute effort to curry favor among voters as early voting comes to a close today. | Sanders has pledged to quickly push for a national health care system that covers everyone if elected president, while Biden wants to expand the Affordable Care Act with an option to buy government insurance that would compete with priv…
(2020-02-18). Caricom: 'Only With Unity, We Can Fight Against Imperialism'. telesurenglish.net The Community of the Caribbean (Caricom) begins Tuesday its 31st Inter-Sessional Meeting to discuss common policies on security, climate change, tourism, and trade. Its country members will also discuss a regional approach to the coronavirus virus and other noncommunicable diseases. | RELATED: | During the opening remarks, outgoing Caricom Chairman Allen Chastanet emphasized the importance of acting cooperatively to face common problem…
(2020-02-18). US Health Authority Shipped Faulty Coronavirus Test Kits Across Country: Official. globalresearch.ca A number of test kits sent out by United States health authorities to labs across the country to diagnose the deadly novel coronavirus are faulty, a senior official said on Wednesday (Feb 12). | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …
(2020-02-18). Cuban Doctors Will Return to Assist the Poorest in Brazil. telesurenglish.net The Brazilian government will authorize 1,800 Cuban doctors who remained in the country after President Jair Bolsonaro ended the "Mais Medicos" (More Doctors) program to return to serve in the territory. | RELATED: | The lack of health personnel in the poor and remote areas of the Latin American giant, which Brazilian doctors avoid, has been the main reason for this decision, local…
(2020-02-18). Employment-Based Health Care an Anchor for U.S. Working Class. zcomm.org It's mind-boggling to see national labor leaders defend a system that's the biggest cause of strikes, lockouts, and concession bargaining…
(2020-02-18). Irish Elections and Unification. counterpunch.org The victory by Ireland's leftwing Sinn Fein Party in the Republic's recent election has not only overturned some 90 years of domination by the island's two center-right parties, it suddenly puts the issue of Irish reunification on the agenda. While the campaign was fought over bread and butter issues like housing, the collapsing health care system, and homelessness, a united Ireland has long been Sinn Fein's raison d'être. In the aftermath, Party leaders called for a border referendum on the subject.
(2020-02-18). Work at Fukushima Plant May Be Disturbed Due to Coronavirus Flare-ups. sputniknews.com The coronavirus appears to be hurting quite a few business ties between China and its economic partners despite the epidemic showing signs of gradually waning, as evidenced by the rising numbers of those who've effectively battled it.
(2020-02-18). HSBC to Cut 35,000 Jobs, Reduce Europe, US Footprints in Bid to Expand Asian and Middle East Markets. sputniknews.com The company reported its annual earnings for 2019 with major losses, citing Brexit, lower central bank interest rates and the coronavirus epidemic, among others.
(2020-02-18). Wikileaks founder Assange's health improving in prison. yenisafak.com WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is no longer being held in solitary confinement and his health is improving, his colleague and spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson told reporters on Tuesday.Assange, 48, is in prison in London, fighting an extradition request from the United States, where he faces 18 counts including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law. He could spend decades in prison if convicted.His supporters had expressed concern about the state of his health after he appeared confused during a court hearing in October, struggling to recall his age and name and saying he was unable…
(2020-02-18). Fashion house Chanel cancels Beijing show due to coronavirus. yenisafak.com Chanel has cancelled a show in China in May due to the coronavirus outbreak, the French fashion house said on Tuesday."Considering the current situation and following the guidance of Chinese authorities, Chanel has decided to postpone its project of a replica of the Paris — 31 rue Cambon 2019/20 Métiers d'art collection in May in Beijing to a later and more appropriate moment," the statement said.Chanel was monitoring the situation closely, saying "At the foremost are the health and well-being of its teams and clients".No new date was given for the show.China is an important and lucrative market for major f…
(2020-02-18). 'You Are Not Going to Buy This Election,' Sanders Tells Bloomberg at Rally of 17,000 in Washington. commondreams.org "You're not going to win an election when you oppose raising the minimum wage. You're not going to win an election when you call for cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-02-17). Coastal landfill sites set to spill over into sea, expert warns. thecanary.co 
More than 1,200 coastal landfill sites are in danger of spilling their contents into the sea — leading to a pollution time bomb around the UK coastline.Powerful storms and rising sea levels mean once-hidden waste could be exposed to pollute oceans and beaches, according to coastal policy expert Mark Stratton."One of the biggest risks of doing nothing at these sites is that the defences will fail and you'll potentially have former landfill either eroding out onto the foreshore or leaching into the water. Alongside that there's a potential impact on human health depending on what's in the sites," he said.Landf…
(2020-02-17). Chinese Health Report Says 80% of Virus Cases Have Been Mild. truthdig.com 
The coronavirus report also says that new cases seem to be falling, although it's too soon to tell whether the outbreak has peaked.
(2020-02-17). Doing More Harm Than Good? Our Latest Report on the UK's Development Bank, CDC. globalresearch.ca Amid the recent back and forth over whether the Department for International Development
(2020-02-17). John Oliver Makes the Definitive Case for Medicare-for-All. truthdig.com In a new episode of "Last Week Tonight," the HBO host explains how the elimination of private insurance could benefit millions of Americans.
(2020-02-17). The Real Choices in American Healthcare. commondreams.org As we wait to fix our broken system, thousands of people are denied access to healthcare or are crushed by medical debt. (Photo: Michael Fleshman/flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-02-17). US Prevents Medical Supplies From Reaching Cuba. telesurenglish.net The U.S. blockade has affected the Cuban Health services by cutting the supplies entering the island natio, the Director of Trade for the MediCuba Company S.A., Solainy Fajardo said in a statement on Monday. | RELATED: | In an interview with local newspaper Juventud Rebelde, the functionary said that Cuba is compelled to buy these medical resources in distant markets located in third countries, which increases…
(2020-02-17). Coronavirus Spreads on Quarantined Cruise Ship in Japan. telesurenglish.net Although the World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with Japanese authorities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been docked in Japanese waters since February 3, Japanese medical authorities reported 99 new cases of infection on Monday, for a total of 454 sick people on board. | RELATED: | According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, the cruise, which was held in the port of…
(2020-02-17). Trump Wants to Inflict Severe Pain on Disabled Community Just Because He Can. truthout.org The "need" to strip benefits from poor and working people to help maintain the lifestyles of the Mar-a-Lago set is one of the fundamental principles of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The rich always "need" more tax cuts, so when budget deficits get in the way, those at the middle and bottom are just going to have to sacrifice. | This is the reasoning behind the large budget cuts that the president has proposed for Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps in his most recent budget proposal.
(2020-02-17). 'Must-Watch TV': Comedian John Oliver Makes Case for Medicare for All, Debunks Right-Wing Talking Points. commondreams.org "Since moving to America, I don't think I've met anyone who doesn't have at least one insurance industry horror story." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-02-15). 'This is a time for facts, not fear,' says WHO chief as COVID-19 virus spreads. news.un.org The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday cautioned against panic over COVID-19 but also urged governments to step up their efforts to prepare for the virus, saying "it's impossible to predict which direction this epidemic will take."
(2020-02-14). Sanders says his health plan would protect culinary workers in Nevada. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday issued a statement saying his Medicare for All plan would protect the benefits workers with good union-negotiated health plans currently have. He issued the statement after Culinary Workers Union Local 226 announced it would not endorse in the 2020 Nevada Democratic caucus: "I very much appreciate the struggle …
(2020-02-14). Irish unification back on agenda after election, but it won't be simple. peoplesworld.org 
The victory by Ireland's left-wing Sinn Fein Party in the Republic's recent election has not only overturned some 90 years of domination by the island's two center-right parties, it suddenly puts the issue of Irish reunification on the agenda. While the campaign was fought over bread and butter issues like housing, the collapsing health care …
(2020-02-14). Newly licensed vaccine, 'milestone in the fight' against Ebola in Africa, UN health agency. news.un.org Four countries in Africa have licensed an Ebola vaccine to "cement hard-fought progress" in keeping their people safe from the deadly disease, the UN health agency said on Friday.
(2020-02-14). World Health Organization: Coronavirus must generate 'solidarity not stigma'. news.un.org Investing in preparedness is the smartest way to ensure that the coronavirus and other disease outbreaks are "identified and stopped quickly", the UN health agency said on Friday.
(2020-02-14). Coronavirus: Media and Politicians Take Anti-China Fear Mongering to New Levels. mintpressnews.com Despite praise from the World Health Organization for its handling of the coronavirus, China has been derided by Western media and politicians alike over nearly every aspect of its response.
(2020-02-13). Outside China, Coronavirus transmission 'iceberg' may not be as big as feared. news.un.org As infections from COVID-19 coronavirus continue to rise, a senior UN health expert on Thursday said that there were some indications that disease transmission outside China might not be the tip of the "iceberg" that had been feared.
(2020-02-12). DR Congo Ebola outbreak still an international public health concern. news.un.org The Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains an international public health concern, experts meeting in Geneva concluded on Wednesday.
(2020-02-12). UN health agency developing COVID-19 virus treatment master plan. news.un.org The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing a master plan for coordinating clinical trials that could lead to potential therapies for patients infected with the COVID-19 virus, the agency's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Wednesday.
(2020-02-11). The Trump Administration Wants Health Insurance Companies to Drop Abortion Coverage from Your Insurance Plan. aclu.org From denying | access to abortion | for unaccompanied immigrant minors, to gutting | the Title X | family planning program, to trying to roll | back the Affordable Care Act's requirement that employers and universities cover | contr…