(2020-03-12). Soccer prez: "We're sorry for…(checks notes) our blatant sexism." peoplesworld.org 
The world of professional sports is plagued by sexism. And the U.S. Soccer Federation is doing its best to keep it that way. In a legal brief filed March 5 by the federation, part of the ongoing equal pay lawsuit filed by 28 players of the women's national team, attorneys argued the case should be dismissed because: …
(2020-03-12). Trump Calls COVID-19 "Foreign Virus" as Lack of Universal Healthcare Makes the Pandemic Worse. democracynow.org 
After downplaying the threat of coronavirus for days, President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office, calling COVID-19 a "foreign virus" and announcing an unprecedented travel ban from most of Europe to the U.S. He also said he will expand sick leave. This comes as Senate Republicans blocked paid sick leave legislation. Robert Pollin, distinguished university professor of economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, says the lack of universal healthcare in the U.S. is exacerbating the coronavirus crisis due to "the ab…
(2020-03-12). Lack of Paid Sick Leave Makes It Difficult for Many Workers to Comply with CDC Advice to Stay Home. democracynow.org 
As the number of coronavirus cases in the United States passes 1,300 cases with 38 deaths, more than 30 million workers lack access to paid sick leave. President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, saying he will expand sick leave as part of emergency response to the virus. But the same day, Republican senators blocked an attempt by Senate Democrats to quickly pass legislation requiring employers to grant paid sick leave. Meanwhile, Democrats in the House of Representatives will debate a package of bills Thursday to give workers 14 days of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical…
(2020-03-12). 'How can we trust these people?' Anger as UK minister supposed to self-isolate is seen coughing in parliament. rt.com 
Footage of a UK health minister coughing and wiping his nose in the House of Commons has provoked anger online after it emerged he'd been placed into self-isolation after dining with MP Nadine Dorries — diagnosed with coronavirus. | Six MPs have now self-isolated as fears grow that Covid-19 is spreading throughout the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Mental Health Minister Nadine Dorries revealed on Tuesday evening that she had contracted the deadly virus and now a second health minister, Edward Argar, was placed into self-isolation on Wednesday. | It comes just 24 hours after Argar was seen coughing…
(2020-03-12). A Survival Guide for the Coronavirus Economy. thenation.com 
ublic health concerns are economic ones, too.
(2020-03-12). Bernie Sanders: We Are Winning "Ideological" & "Generational" Debate, Now Need to Win "Electability" democracynow.org 
After a disappointing showing in Tuesday night's Democratic presidential primaries, Senator Bernie Sanders said Wednesday he will stay in the race. In his address from Burlington, Vermont, Sanders challenged his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, to address key issues like economic inequality, healthcare access and the climate crisis. Sanders is set to debate Biden this Sunday in Arizona. "It is not just the ideological debate that our progressive movement is winning. We are winning the generational debate," Sanders said. "While Joe Biden continues to do very well with older Americans, especially those peopl…
(2020-03-12). Coronavirus will fade away by June if countries take urgent action, China Covid-19 adviser predicts. rt.com 
The deadly outbreak may be over by the start of summer, provided that all countries mobilize themselves against the pandemic, said Chinese government adviser in charge of tackling the coronavirus. | Zhong Nanshan, Chinese coronavirus adviser and the epidemiologist who discovered Severe Acute respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, made the prediction while speaking to journalists on Thursday. He noted, however, that the breakthrough is heavily dependent on how World Health Organization's (WHO) members are dealing with the crisis. | Some countries still don't take the situation very seriously and fail to aggressiv…
(2020-03-12). Global markets crash as US bans European flights over CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. rt.com 
Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on the world's financial markets after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic, and the US banned all European flights. | European stocks opened sharply lower on Thursday with the London FTSE down over five percent. Jet engine maker Rolls-Royce led the losses, as the company's shares were down 13 percent, and airline stocks were also hit hard. | German shares were also down, with the DAX dropping five percent to hit its lowest level since 2016. Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 lost over seven percent. Stocks in Italy, the worst-affected country by coronavirus…
(2020-03-12). Trump suspends ALL travel from Europe for 30 days starting Friday as he addresses nation on coronavirus. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has announced that all travel from Europe to the United States will be temporarily halted for a period of 30 days, in the most significant measure yet taken to stem the spread of the lethal coronavirus. | In an address to the nation on Wednesday night, the president said the 30-day travel ban will take effect on Friday at midnight, noting that the United Kingdom would be exempt from the new restrictions. | "After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and wellbeing of all Americans," Tr…
(2020-03-12). Anti-Vaxxing hysteria comes to Russia — WHOOPING COUGH rates up 40%. rt.com 
You may have thought anti-vax panic was mainly an American thing, but there are growing signs that rejecting science has now gone worldwide — and Russia is not immune. | In 2019, the number of whooping cough cases in the world's largest country increased by almost 40% — with the majority being in Moscow. The chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, Nikolai Briko, believes one of the main reasons is the refusal of parents to vaccinate their children. | "When analyzing the statistics, it was found that, in the first year of life, less than 50% of children were vaccinated on time between 2014 a…
(2020-03-12). Mexico has no plans to close borders after US travel restrictions. rt.com 
Mexico's government is not planning to restrict international travel to the country or to close its borders due to the coronavirus outbreak, in spite of major curbs announced a day earlier by the US. | Standing alongside President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said on Thursday there was no scientific evidence that restricting access to ports of entry would play a significant role in protecting public health, Reuters reports. | "Restricting international travel to Mexico is not planned, nor is it being considered. Nor is closing borders or maritime ports," Lopez-Gatell sa…
(2020-03-12). UEFA set to suspend Champions League and Europa League amid coronavirus pandemic — reports. rt.com 
The current Champions League and Europa League campaigns are set to be suspended amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic, according to reports emerging from Spanish media. | Marca has reported that UEFA will take the measure to suspend all European tournament fixtures in efforts to protect the health of players, staff and fans alike, after the coronavirus outbreak has played havoc with the 2020 sporting calendar. | UEFA has yet to formalize the move but is expected to do so after a teleconference with various bodies next week. | JUST IN: UEFA set to suspend the Champions League and Europa League— The Spe…
(2020-03-12). 'Worst public health crisis in a generation': Boris Johnson warns UK worst is yet to come in COVID-19 crisis (WATCH LIVE). rt.com 
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the COVID-19 pandemic is "the worse public health crisis for a generation" and warned Britain that the worst of the crisis is still weeks away. | Johnson was speaking after an emergency COBRA meeting on the crisis. | "I have to level with you, more families, many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time," the UK PM said, adding that the "most dangerous period is still some weeks away." | Johnson also said the UK would move from the "containment" phase into the "delay" phase of the crisis. | He said the UK has done "what can be done" to contain the…
(2020-03-12). China past peak of coronavirus outbreak, health authorities say. rt.com 
Some promising news is coming from China, where the National Health Commission has reported that the turning point of the Covid-19 outbreak has already passed. | China has passed the pinnacle of the coronavirus epidemic and the number of new cases is now in decline, National Health Commission (NHC) spokesperson Mi Feng told journalists on Thursday. He said that the epidemic remains in check. | Read more | | As of Wednesday night, the NHC recorded…
(2020-03-12). 'Ability to help may reach limit': Italian doctor says medics 'exhausted' helping isolated patients amid coronavirus pandemic. rt.com 
If the number of the infected keeps rising, patients with better chances of survival will have to be prioritized, an ER doctor at the epicenter of the Italian outbreak told RT's Ruptly video agency. | In the city of Piacenza, in the heart of northern Italy's coronavirus outbreak, overworked medical personnel are reaching their breaking point — and there seems to be no sign that the epidemic is letting up. With a population of just over 100,000, the city was placed on lockdown on Sunday, after suffering 50 deaths and more than 630 coronavirus diagnoses. | Visibly tired and with bags under his eyes, Davide…
(2020-03-12). 'Immoral and irresponsible': Beijing blasts US over allegation China had covered up spread of Covid-19 in Wuhan. rt.com 
US officials should focus on its own response to the pandemic rather than denigrating China's efforts, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday, rejecting US accusations of a cover-up of the outbreak in Wuhan in December. | "This irresponsible and immoral behavior will not help to alleviate the situation with Covid-19 in the United States," the diplomat emphasized. | His comments responded to US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, who'd claimed on Wednesday that China had "cost the world community two months" and that it had exacerbated the global outbreak, allegedly by covering up the epidemic in…
(2020-03-12). Ignorance? UK think tank chair 'thanks God' that coronavirus didn't start in India… where the illness has killed zero people. rt.com 
The chair of a prestigious UK think tank has caught flak on social media after suggesting that the coronavirus epidemic would be noticeably worse if it had started in India. The numbers seem to work against him, though. | hatam House chair Jim O'Neill told CNBC that he was impressed by Beijing's swift response to the coronavirus outbreak, which began in Wuhan, China more than two months ago. The British Lord and former Commercial Secretary to the Treasury claimed that the situation would be much more dire if the virus had originated in India. | "Thank God this didn't start in somewhere like India, because ther…
(2020-03-12). Good news: Russia develops 15-minute Covid-19 test, Bad news: won't be available until fall. rt.com 
Rapid control of coronavirus depends on discovering a cheap and practical testing method, and Russian scientists may have found a solution; an especially useful tool, when efforts are focused on detection, delay, and containment. | While the medical community continues its work on a Covid-19 vaccine, researchers have developed a way to trace the infection that can provide an express result in just 15 minutes. What's more, the device could be available to the public as early as autumn, according to news agency TASS. | The new test uses an isothermal polymerase chain reaction and needs a smear from the nose or t…
(2020-03-12). Greece: Covid-19 Case in Lesbos Spreads Fear Among Migrants. telesurenglish.net Greece's health authorities reported a first Covid-19 case on the Lesbos island where thousands of refugees are overcrowded in unsanitary conditions. | RELATED: | The infected patient is a 40-year-old woman who had recently traveled to Israel and Egypt as a member of a pilgrimage group to the Holy Land. | Over the last week, more than 1,700 new ‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Ä…
(2020-03-12). The Trump Administration Is a Culmination of the Right's Efforts to End "Roe" truthout.org The religious right has long awaited a president like Donald Trump who could potentially give them control within his administration. In this excerpt The End of Roe v. Wade: Inside the Right's Plan to Destroy Legal Abortion, Robin Marty and Jessica Mason Pieklo describe how Trump's dedication to anti-abortion views has made an opening for overturning Roe. | The Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt may have encouraged abortion rights activists eager to see restrictions f…
(2020-03-12). Nurses protest weakening of coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance by CDC. indybay.org The impeached President Donald J. Trump just held a national press conference and declared that he is suspending all travel from Europe to the United States starting tomorrow for the next 30 days, but the restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom for some reason. The Trump administration sees the coronavirus as a PR disaster for his administration, instead of a health crisis and has been trying to downplay the seriousness of the spreading pandemic. The impeached President Trump has also just falsely claimed that the US is better prepared to fight against the coronavirus than any other nation on the planet…
(2020-03-12). Headlines for March 12, 2020. democracynow.org World Health Organization Declares Coronavirus Pandemic, Top Italian Health Official Among 827 Coronavirus Dead as Italy Faces "Darkest Hour", Iran Condemns U.S. Sanctions as "Medical Terrorism" as Coronavirus Death Toll Hits 429, President Trump Announces Europe Travel Ban in Error-Laden Oval Office Speech, U.S. Labs Face Shortage of Supplies Needed to Test for Coronavirus, Sen. Lamar Alexander Blocks Quick Passage of Paid Sick Leave Bill, School Closures from Coronavirus Affecting Over 1 Million K-12 Students Nationwide, Bernie Sanders Promises to Question Biden Over Progressive Policies at Next Debate, Joe Bid…
(2020-03-12). Nurses Demand More Protection & Medicare for All. zcomm.org Nurses with the NNU held a national day of action to demand better protections for healthcare workers and the public…
(2020-03-12). Lack of Paid Sick Leave Prevents Workers From Complying With CDC Advice. truthout.org As the number of coronavirus cases in the United States passes 1,300 cases with 38 deaths, more than 30 million workers lack access to paid sick leave. President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, saying he will expand sick leave as part of emergency response to the virus. But the same day, Republican senators blocked an attempt by Senate Democrats to quickly pass legislation requiring employers to grant paid sick leave. Meanwhile, Democrats in the House of Representatives will debate a pack…
(2020-03-12). Governments must act to stop the coronavirus. zcomm.org If our aim is to protect human and environmental health, restoring the status quo is not good enough. Thankfully, there is an alternative…
(2020-03-12). UCSF NNU-CNA Nurses & Corvid-19 "When Nurses Aren't Safe, Patients Aren't Safe" indybay.org National Nurses Union CNA nurses at UCSF held a press conference to talk about the serious health and safety protection that is critical to healthcare providers and patients. They reported that they have to re-use masks, are understaffed and there is a lack of communication from management.
(2020-03-12). Cuba Confirms Three Positive Cases of Coronavirus. telesurenglish.net The Cuban Ministry of Public Health confirmed Wednesday night that three Italian tourists who arrived on the Caribbean island last Monday tested positive for the new coronavirus. | RELATED: | Four Italian tourists from Lombardy were identified by the country's health authorities on Tuesday, the day after their arrival, with respiratory symptoms. After conducting the pertinent tests, three of them tested positive for Covi…
(2020-03-12). On coronavirus, Merkel tells Europe: "Drop dead" wsws.org Merkel stated that a central priority of her government is to ensure the health care system does not become "overloaded" by the task of caring for coronavirus patients.
(2020-03-12). Autoworkers condemn lack of response by union and management to coronavirus emergency. wsws.org The rapidly emerging coronavirus crisis is exposing the criminal contempt on the part of both the United Auto Workers and the major car companies for health and safety.
(2020-03-12). Covid-19 "Is a Significant Economic Threat" globalresearch.ca The spread of the coronavirus is first and foremost a public health emergency, but it is also, a significant economic threat. The so-called "Covid-19" shock will cause a recession in some countries and depress global annual growth this year to …
(2020-03-12). The Fed's Baffling Response to the Coronavirus Explained. dissidentvoice.org When the World Health Organization announced on February 24th that it was time to prepare for a global pandemic, the stock market plummeted. Over the following week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by more than 3,500 points or over 10%. In an attempt to contain the damage, on March 3rd the Federal Reserve slashed …
(2020-03-12). Cal-OSHA, Coronavirus, Worker Dangers & Crisis In CA with Dr. Larry Rose, Former Director. indybay.org Dr. Larry Rose, former Cal-OSHA Medical Director talks about the serious staffing crisis at the agency with only 1 doctor and 1 nurse for California's 19 million workers. | He also talks about how this effects the health and safety of not only workers but the public and the growing corruption scandal in the state government with former DIR Director Christine Baker who had her daughter in a no-show job paying over $120,000 a year.
(2020-03-12). Australian health professionals speak on lack of preparation for coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org "There is a perception that the government does not care about the interests and safety of healthcare workers, and trust in authorities is low."
(2020-03-12). Agribusiness would risk millions of deaths. zcomm.org Interview about the dangers of Covid-19, the responsibility of agribusiness and sustainable solutions to combat infectious diseases…
(2020-03-12). Trump's coronavirus address: Ignorance, xenophobia and helplessness. wsws.org In remarks consisting largely of self-praise, Trump proposed no measures that would slow the spread of the disease and mitigate its effects.
(2020-03-12). UAW Michigan Workers On Elections, Coronavirus, GM Strike, Democracy & Internationalism. indybay.org Pacifica and WorkWeek reporter Steve Zeltzer interviews UAW 909 Detroit retiree Frank Hammer and UAW 598 Flint Truck Assembly worker Sean Crawford about primary elections in Michigan as well as the struggles for auto workers. They also discuss the lack of protection from the coronavirus epidemic expanding into US auto plants. They also discuss the corruption crisis in the UAW, green technology and international solidarity efforts by auto workers.
(2020-03-12). Italy's coronavirus epidemic surges as mass layoffs announced. wsws.org Not a single European Union country has responded to Italy's appeal for desperately-needed emergency medical supplies.
(2020-03-12). India tightens measures as coronavirus cases rise to 73. yenisafak.com The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 73 on Thursday, as fresh cases were reported from different parts of the country, the Health Ministry said.According to the ministry's website, of total 73 confirmed cases, 56 are Indian nationals.The ministry said the highest number of cases were reported from the southern state of Kerala (17), while more than 1 million passengers have been screened at airports.Meanwhile, India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar informed the parliament on Thursday that "6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran."The initial focus of the Indian government is on…
(2020-03-12). Philippine President Duterte undergoes coronavirus test. yenisafak.com Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday was tested for coronavirus as the island nation reported its second death from the virus.Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte did "not have symptoms of the virus but has opted to undergo the test."Senator Bong Go, who was also tested along side Duterte, said results will be available in 48 hours or on Saturday, Rappler.com reported.An inter-agency task force, Panelo said, will meet in the day to discuss urgent steps against the COVID-19 outbreak, which has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO)."The contents of the resolu…
(2020-03-12). Death toll from coronavirus climbs to 429 in Iran. yenisafak.com The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Iran rose to 429, the state TV reported on Thursday.Authorities said 75 people died in the last 24 hours, while 1,075 new cases were revealed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 10,075, Iran's state TV quoted Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour as saying.A total of 3,276 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus, the official added.Turkey, which has just a single confirmed case of coronavirus, closed its land borders and suspended air travel to Iran last month.Besides China, Italy, and South Korea, Iran is among…
(2020-03-12). Coronavirus claims first victim in Austria. yenisafak.com Coronavirus has claimed its first victim in Austria, a 69-year-old patient who died in the capital Vienna, health authorities announced Thursday. | According to Vienna's Medical Emergency Department, the patient had underlying health problems and contracted the virus during a visit to Italy last month. | The patient died early on Thursday at Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital. | The number of cases in the country is at 302, and four people have made recoveries. | The worldwide death toll from the virus is over 4,600, with more than 124,500 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which on Wedne…
(2020-03-12). 'Namaste London': Netizens Hail Prince Charles Greeting People in Indian Manner – Video. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, as it has infected 126,367 people and killed 4,633 worldwide. The outbreak has brought significant changes to people's greeting styles with many avoiding handshakes and using the Indian style of hands pressed together to address each other.
(2020-03-12). Italian Streets Go Empty as Authorities Tighten Lockdown Due to Coronavirus Outbreak – Video. sputniknews.com Italy is currently facing the worst COVID-19 outbreak in Europe, with over 12,000 confirmed cases of the disease. Of those, 827 people have died and 1,045 have recovered.
(2020-03-12). NBA Star LeBron James Wants to 'Cancel 2020' Amid Coronavirus Outbreak. sputniknews.com According to recent reports, there are at least 1,100 cases of coronavirus in the United States, with the death toll now at 38. Washington DC had to declare a state of emergency due to the outbreak of the disease earlier this week.
(2020-03-12). 'Stop Spreading Misinformation': Netizens Angry After Kim Kardashian Posts Prophecy About COVID-19. sputniknews.com Since the outbreak of the respiratory illness that has infected more than 100,000 people across the world, there have been a lot of reports saying the disease was predicted by clairvoyants and prophecies. One rabbi even found a warning against the coronavirus in the Torah.
(2020-03-12). Iran Applies for $5 Billion Loan from IMF to Battle Coronavirus. iranian.com The Governor of the Central Bank of Iran said he has asked the International Monetary Fund for a $5 billion loan that would help the country deal with the outbreak of COVID-19, saying the IMF's response will be a litmus test for claims about relief aid for containing the disease. In a post on his …
(2020-03-12). Galactic epidemic: Russia & Europe put the brakes on joint Mars mission due to coronavirus. rt.com 
The global impact of coronavirus has now affected mankind's space ambitions, after it was announced that a joint program between Russia and the European Space Agency to send a probe to Mars has been postponed. | The ExoMars mission, which was designed to determine if there had ever been life on the Red Planet, was set to launch this summer. Preparations for the ambitious project have been put on hold, however — due at least in part to the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which already has been dubbed a pandemic. | The launch has now been pushed back to 2022. According to the European and Russian space a…
(2020-03-11). Nurses on the Frontlines of Coronavirus Pandemic Demand More Protection & Medicare for All. democracynow.org 
The number of coronavirus cases in the United States has passed 1,000 Tuesday, with the rate of infections likely increasing. Despite this, the U.S. continues to lag on testing, and healthcare workers say they lack adequate protection and protocols to allow them to safely care for infected patients. They also say the country's hospitals are woefully unprepared to handle the crisis. Nurses in the hot zones of California and Washington had already reported having to beg for face masks and lacking guidance on how to address the virus. We are joined by Jean Ross, president of National Nurses United, the largest organ…
(2020-03-11). 'Sorry hipsters!': Coachella music festival postponed for October, succumbing to coronavirus fears. rt.com 
Becoming the latest to fall victim to COVID-19, the Coachella music festival — along with its sister event, Stagecoach — has been delayed until October over fears of the fast-spreading coronavirus. | The original April date for the 10-day festival was pushed back some seven months, event promoter Goldenvoice announced on Tuesday, noting that local health officials in California's Riverside County had urged the move. | "We must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns," Goldenvoice said in a statement. "While this decision comes at a time of universal uncer…
(2020-03-11). Government austerity is costing lives in the fight to contain Covid-19. mronline.org 
I am old enough to remember that shortly after the 1968 election of Richard Nixon to the presidency, his campaign manager (and future U.S. Attorney General) John Mitchell said, "Watch what we do not what we say." |