(2020-08-14). Learning from Harry Haywood in the fight for Black freedom and socialism. fightbacknews.org Anyone doubting the relevance of Harry Haywood's writings in 2020 hasn't paid much attention to political events this year. | After success in three early Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders' social democratic campaign for president, supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), ran first aground in South Carolina in February. African American voters turned out in greater numbers for his opponent, Joe Biden, even while favoring many of Sanders' policies like Medicare For All. Voter turnout was low in general, owing to the fundamentally undemocratic character of the U.S. political system, and a lot of…
(2020-08-14). Where is resistance to structural violence of capitalism? mronline.org 
The reality in the United States has come to this: 160,000 dead in four months, thousands hospitalized, and many thousands sick or afraid to be sick because they have no sick days and no health insurance.
(2020-08-14). Trump's Plan: Gut Social Security, Bankrupt the States. counterpunch.org 
Trump's economic policy is simple: gut social security and bankrupt the states. He made this clear when he announced his executive orders on August 8. By suspending the payroll tax, he chokes off funding for social security and Medicare; he says he'll ditch that tax completely if reelected. That means in about 10 years the
(2020-08-14). Megachurch sues California, challenging state over ban on large religious services while allowing massive protests. rt.com 
A California church has sued the state, arguing it was hypocritical to restrict religious services because of the Covid-19 pandemic while allowing political gatherings, such as Black Lives Matters protests, to rumble on. | Grace Community Church in suburban Los Angeles filed the suit on Thursday, saying Governor Gavin Newsom and other state and city officials have violated California's constitution by applying pandemic regulations unequally. | "It is time for California to explain how it can justify banning worship to prevent the spread of a disease (with an overall mortality rate of 0.02 percent) while it is…
(2020-08-14). 'Health risks far too great': Iconic 'Tribute in Light' display to honor 9/11 victims 'put out' over CORONAVIRUS fears. rt.com 
Towering beams of light representing the Twin Towers will not be part of this year's 9/11 commemoration, with event organizers saying that a highlight of the anniversary is now canceled due to coronavirus concerns. | The memorial said that it had made "an incredibly hard decision" to cancel the spectacle, but since "a large crew" is required to make it happen, the event entails "far too great" of a risk amidst the coronavirus pandemic. | Instead of the annual display that first pierced the skies over New York City in 2002 — visible all the way to Northern New Jersey and Long Island — the museum said…
(2020-08-14). School That Suspended Student Documenting Lack of Social Distancing Goes Virtual. zcomm.org In spite of President Donald Trump's errant assurances that children are "almost definitely" immune from COVID-19, at least 97,000 kids in the United States tested positive for the disease in the last two weeks of July…
(2020-08-14). Why I Am Voting No on the Democratic Party Platform. zcomm.org History teaches us that the Democratic Party has sometimes faced an issue so great that it alone should be the yardstick for measuring the wisdom of voting for or against the platform. This is one of those times. And Medicare for All is that issue.
(2020-08-14). North Korea's Kim says no to foreign flood aid. yenisafak.com Addressing Political Bureau of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim said: "The situation, in which the spread of the worldwide malignant [COVID-19] virus has become worse, requires us not to allow any outside aid for the flood damage but shut the border tighter and carry out strict anti-epidemic work," state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.At least 39,296 hectares of land was marooned due to the ongoing rainy season and Kangwon, North and South Hwanghae provinces and Kaesong City were hit badly.At least 16,680 houses and over 630 public buildings were destroyed or inundated beside…
(2020-08-14). Iran reports 169 more virus deaths, over 2,500 cases. yenisafak.com At least 169 more coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 19,331, the Health Ministry said Friday.Some 2,501 more people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the overall count up to 338,825, according to ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari.She said more than 293,811 patients have recovered so far, while 3,956 are hospitalized in critical condition. Over 2.81 million tests have been conducted in Iran to date.Iran is struggling to contain the pandemic since February, when the first cases were confirmed in the holy city of Qom.The coronavirus pandemic has claimed…
(2020-08-14). US declined Russia's help offer on vaccine: Report. yenisafak.com The US allegedly declined Russia's help offer over the coronavirus vaccine, Russian officials told CNN. | The officials, who spoke anonymously, said Thursday that they proposed "unprecedented cooperation" with the US' Operation Warp Speed, a governmental program that aims to begin delivering millions of doses of an effective virus vaccine by the end of 2020. However, they claimed the US "is not currently open" for cooperation. | The remarks came days after Russia announced Tuesday it had developed a coronavirus vaccine. | They added that Russia maintains its will to share information about the vaccine and allow t…
(2020-08-13). Ilhan Omar defeats Corporate Democrat, Israel Lobbies in Overwhelming Primary Victory. zcomm.org Although the Israel lobbies put a lot of money into defeating Omar, the issues on which she won, of progressive policing and health care, were largely disconnected from the geopolitical ones where her straight talk had attracted so much vitriol to her…
(2020-08-13). Bolivia's perfect storm: Pandemic, economic crisis, repressive coup regime. mronline.org 
The rising toll of diseased and deceased from the COVID-19 pandemic has hit Bolivia particularly hard, in a continent that is now in the lead in global contagion rates.
(2020-08-13). U.S. the world leader in both health and economic disaster. peoplesworld.org 
With more than 5 million cases, the U.S. is the world leader in the numbers of people infected with the deadly coronavirus. To top that off, jobless figures released today show that at least 30 million are unemployed, with the actual number estimated to be well over 50 million. The percentage of people who are …
(2020-08-13). Testing and medical insurance: a profitable disaster. workers.org 
Drive-through COVID-19 testing in Bergen County, N.J. These tests were a "partnership" of state government with Quest Diagnostics and Walmart stores hosting the sites. In the midst of a capitalist crash and an out-of-control health crisis, two mega-industries that bear a heavy burden of responsibility for the health disaster are . . . |
(2020-08-13). Fed-up women health workers lead strike of 3.5 million across India. workers.org 
Workers around the world are demonstrating against their governments' policies in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. From South America to Asia, political protests and strikes are taking place. In many countries, health workers are in the lead, as they are on the front lines in this massive medical crisis. They . . . |
(2020-08-13). Vote Democrat to wear a mask? Biden says Americans must mask up for AT LEAST 3 months as CDC warns of 'worst fall ever'. rt.com 
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has urged all Americans to 'mask up' outdoors for the next three months — at the same time as health officials warned disobeying their Covid-19 orders will cause unprecedented suffering. | "Every single American should be wearing a mask when they are outside for the next three months at a minimum," Biden said during a press briefing on Thursday, adding in his characteristic awkward cadence that "every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing." | A nationwide mask mandate would save "over 40,000 lives," according to the experts, Biden claimed. | Also on rt…
(2020-08-13). 'Big problem': Bill Gates rejects 'strange' Covid-19 vaccine conspiracies about him, says he wants to save lives. rt.com 
Microsoft founder Bill Gates has revealed his thoughts about when the world will move on from the Covid-19 pandemic, and addressed the "strange" conspiracy theories surrounding his interest in funding a vaccine. | Despite investing $350 million in the search for a vaccine to Covid-19, Gates said in a new interview with Bloomberg that he doesn't believe the current pandemic will be over until "the end of 2021." He also doesn't have much faith in an initial vaccine pushed to the public. | "Well, the initial vaccine won't be ideal in terms of its effectiveness against sickness and transmission. It may not have a…
(2020-08-13). 'Ludicrous' testing system needs to be more localised, says health official. thecanary.co 
A public health official suggested making Test and Trace more localised to help reach more people, as he described the centralised system as "ludicrous".Ivan Browne, director of public health for Leicester, also said the government needs to change its narrative when it comes to easing restrictions, as he expressed his concerns over schemes such as Eat Out To Help Out.His comments came as the latest weekly NHS Test and Trace figures showed a drop in the 24-hour turnaround target for coronavirus (Covid-19) "in-person" test results to just two-thirds, despite prime minister Boris Johnson pledging that all such tests…
(2020-08-13). Why a Growing Force in Brazil Is Charging That President Jair Bolsonaro Has Committed Crimes Against Humanity. counterpunch.org 
Jhuliana Rodrigues works as a nurse technician at the Hospital Sà£o Vicente in Jundiaí, Brazil. "It is very difficult," she says of her job these days. Brazil has just passed 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, with 3 million Brazilians infected with the virus. "We meet colleagues and feel a heavy energy, a lot of pressure, a block," Rodrigues says. She is the vice president of Sinsaúde Campinas, a trade union of health workers. |
(2020-08-13). Supreme Court Rejects Gop Effort To Force Rhode Islanders To Risk Their Health To Vote During Covid-19 Pandemic. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-08-13). Disbelief and Denial in the West as Russia Produces First COVID Vaccine. globalresearch.ca 'Startling and confusing' proclaimed Science magazine. 'Reckless and foolish' said US vaccine scientist Peter Hotez. 'Dangerously rushed' said the journal Nature. Western scientists are in denial. The first vaccine against the disease which has dominated all our lives for …
(2020-08-13). VIDEO: The "Lock Step" Simulation Scenario: "A Coronavirus-like Pandemic that Becomes Trigger for Police State Controls" globalresearch.ca First published on February 5, 2020. In-depth analysis of the Simulation of a pandemic conducted in 2010 under the auspices of the Rockefeller Foundation. | By now, those following the novel coronavirus epidemic are familiar with Event 201, the pandemic
(2020-08-13). Real Life Heroes: on a journey towards quality healthcare. news.un.org In the remote Lamu region, on the northeast coast of Kenya, quality healthcare is hard to come by. Every month, medical staff from Safari Doctors, an NGO founded by Umra Omar, set sail on a boat filled with medicines, to provide free basic medicines to hundreds of marginalized inhabitants in several coastal villages.
(2020-08-13). WHO chief calls for solidarity in financing, ensuring equal access to future COVID-19 vaccine. news.un.org The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that six months after first sounding the international alarm over COVID-19, the UN agency is now intensely focused on shepherding global vaccine candidates through the necessary trials, and guaranteeing rapid, fair and equitable access to them for all countries.
(2020-08-13). Russia's vaccine intensifies global struggle for profits and geopolitical advantage. wsws.org Vladimir Putin's announcement Tuesday that Russia has officially approved a COVID-19 vaccine has intensified the global conflict between national powers and pharmaceutical giants to be the first to mass produce and market a vaccine for the deadly virus.
(2020-08-13). Iran registers 2,625 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,625 people and claimed 174 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.
(2020-08-13). Analysis: COVID-19 Deaths Likely Undercounted By Over 50,000. popularresistance.org More than 165,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The US passed the grim statistic of 5 million cases of COVID-19 earlier this month. As horrifying as these figures are, a new analysis shows that the number of deaths from the coronavirus likely has been significantly undercounted. | Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed by the New York Times have revealed that 200,700 people died from March 15, when the pandemic took hold, to July 25. This is 54,000 higher than the confirmed death toll, averaged, for the same time period i…
(2020-08-13). 'Western' Media Falsely Claim Russia's COVID-19 Vaccine Is Ready. popularresistance.org After President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia's Covid-19 vaccine candidate had gained an approval from its regulator, 'western' media went into a anti-Russian frenzy to sow fear and doubt about it. Russia has not approved a vaccine against Covid-19 and it is not skipping large-scale clinical trials. | The Russia regulator gave a preliminary approval for a vaccine candidate to start the large-scale clinical trial. This is similar to an emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
(2020-08-13). As Politicians Play With Our Lives, It's Hard to Imagine a Future Beyond COVID. truthout.org Honey, I know, I know, I know | Times are changing | It's time we all reach out for something new | That means you, too… | — Prince, " Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Robert Redfield gave an
(2020-08-13). Priest who shared stage with Modi tests positive; India sees record number of cases. yenisafak.com India reported another record jump in its surging coronavirus cases on Thursday with nearly 67,000 new infections, among them a religious leader who shared a stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a ceremony to launch construction of a grand temple.Nritya Gopal Das, an 82-year-old Hindu priest, was the latest public figure to test positive after a string of Modi's top cabinet colleagues were stricken with COVID-19, including interior minister Amit Shah.With Thursday's jump of 66,999 cases India now has nearly 2.4 million infections, according to the Health Ministry, behind only the United States and Brazi…
(2020-08-13). Trump Administration Continues Assault on Climate, Americans' Health With Obama-Era Methane Rule Rollback. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-08-12). Political strike shuts down Bolivia. workers.org 
Ibarra, Ecuador Do Bolivian lives matter? The Bolivian masses are experiencing a perfect storm of social, health and economic crises. A U.S.-backed military coup overthrew President Evo Morales Ayma in November 2019 — Morales called it a lithium coup. To Wall Street, only the great reserves of Bolivian lithium matter. . . . |
(2020-08-12). Cure worse than disease: We filmed REAL BLM protesters burning a Bible. NY Times tried to 'debunk' it with actual FAKE NEWS. rt.com 
Mainstream media have denounced Ruptly video of Portland protesters burning Bibles as 'Russian disinfo', countering the unaltered viral footage with fake news of their own in bad-faith 'shoot the messenger' gaslighting. | Protesters gather around a burning Bible, chanting "F*** Trump" as they neatly drape first an American flag over the flames, in the original video, which clocks in at under 90 seconds. A few of the demonstrators rub their hands over the tiny fire, aping warming themselves as the flames devour the book. | It's an incendiary image (no pun intended) — protesters already denounced from some…
(2020-08-12). Cure worse than disease: Ruptly filmed REAL BLM protesters burning a Bible. NY Times tried to 'debunk' it with actual FAKE NEWS. rt.com Mainstream media have denounced RT's Ruptly video agency for documenting Portland protesters burning Bibles, dismissing the unaltered footage as 'Russian disinfo' in an attempt at bad-faith 'shoot the messenger' gaslighting. | Protesters gather around a burning Bible, chanting "F*** Trump," as they neatly drape an American flag over the flames. A few of the demonstrators rub their hands over the tiny fire, aping warming themselves as the flames devour the book. The 90-second clip was part of a 4-hour livestream. | It's an incendiary image (no pun intended) — protesters already denounced from some corners…
(2020-08-12). Russian Health Ministry says catching Covid-19 is far more dangerous than any possible side effects from world's first vaccine. rt.com 
The risks posed by coronavirus are far more severe than any possible side effects of Russia's new vaccine, according to the Ministry of Health in Moscow, which has rejected claims that the development process was rushed. | Sergey Glagolev, an adviser to Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, explained that being vaccinated involves significantly lower risk than having contact with someone who has been infected with Covid-19. This ought to be taken into account, given the scale of the pandemic, he said. | "Using our digital capabilities, we can monitor the safety of the vaccine in real-time," Glagolev said, noting t…
(2020-08-12). Science and politics tied up in global race for a coronavirus vaccine. thecanary.co 
The announcement on Tuesday by Russian president Vladimir Putin that his country was the first to approve a coronavirus vaccine has been met by doubts about the science and safety.But it also underscored how the competition to have the first vaccine is about international rivalries as well as science.The first nation to develop a way to defeat the novel coronavirus will achieve a kind of moonshot victory and the global status that goes along with it.That is valuable to Putin, whose popularity at home has declined amid a stagnant economy and the ravages of the virus outbreak.Russian President Vladimir Putin announ…
(2020-08-12). The Likud Conspiracy: Israel in the Throes of a Major Political Crisis. counterpunch.org 
Protests against Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have raged on for weeks, turning violent sometimes. Israelis are furious at their government's mediocre response to the coronavirus pandemic, especially as COVID-19 disease is experiencing a massive surge throughout the country. Netanyahu warned protesters, thousands of whom have been rallying outside his residence in Jerusalem, against "anarchy
(2020-08-12). Coronavirus and schools: Access to handwashing facilities key for safe reopening. news.un.org Nearly 820 million children worldwide do not have basic handwashing facilities at school, putting them at increased risk of COVID-19 and other transmittable diseases, according to a report published on Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF.
(2020-08-12). Is the Face Mask Epidemic "Bringing on the Dumbing Down of Society?" globalresearch.ca "The mask is just as detrimental to society as vaccinations," says Rose Davidson in
(2020-08-12). Within Health Care USA, Risk and Reward Have Never Been More Out of Kilter. counterpunch.org How's pandemic life been going for you? If you work in America's health care industry, that depends. That totally depends. If you happen to provide health care services to actual Covid-19 patients — as a nurse or a doctor, an orderly or a physician's assistant — this has been the year from hell. Amid the
(2020-08-12). What do we know about the Russian COVID-19 vaccine? peoplesdispatch.org Dr. Satyajit Rath talks to Peoples Dispatch about the recent announcement made by Russian president Vladimir Putin declaring that the country has developed a vaccine for COVID-19.
(2020-08-12). Iran COVID-19 update: 2,510 cases, 188 deaths. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry announced 2,510 new cases of infection with the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, putting the total number of cases in the country at 333,699.
(2020-08-12). VIDEO: Russia registers world's 1st COVID-19 vaccine. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) — Russia registered the world's first Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday. It marks a milestone in the fight against the new coronavirus but amid safety concerns in the West over the country's accelerated clinical evaluations.
(2020-08-12). Customers Attack 17-Year-Old Chili's Restaurant Hostess for Enforcing COVID-19 Guidelines. sputniknews.com The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic prompted many businesses and public places to shut down for months before being allowed by local governments to reopen, with the condition of enforcing social distancing and wearing masks to slow the spread of the deadly respiratory disease.
(2020-08-12). 'Gotta Go to School': Trump Issues Guidance for Reopening Educational Institutions Amid Pandemic. sputniknews.com US President Donald Trump says that teams from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will stand ready for possible deployment as schools across the nation reopen for in-school classes.
(2020-08-12). Study advises regular testing and 'extreme caution' to reduce risk of coronavirus in maternity wards. thecanary.co NHS staff should have regular tests for coronavirus (Covid-19), scientists have said, after a new study highlighted the proportion of staff who had the disease but showed no symptoms. The new study found that one in six maternity health workers have had coronavirus. One in three of these were completely asymptomatic — meaning they continued to go about their work as usual, potentially passing the virus on to mothers and their new babies. | Asymptomatic: | The new study, published in the journal Anaesthesia, examined infection rates among workers in two London hospital maternity units. | In total, 20…
(2020-08-12). Now Comes the Difficult Work of Pushing the Biden-Harris Ticket Left. commondreams.org Democratic presidential hopefuls former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) speak during the second round of the second Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season hosted by CNN at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan on July 31, 2019. (Photo: Jim Waton/AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-08-12). Coronavirus deaths rise to almost 19,000 in Iran. yenisafak.com As many as 188 new coronavirus-related fatalities have raised the death toll in Iran to 18,988, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.A total of 2,510 people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the tally to 333,699, according to ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari.She said more than 290,244 patients have recovered so far, while 3,940 are hospitalized in critical condition.Since appearing in China last December, the virus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, according to figures compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center.More than 20.3 mil…
(2020-08-12). Yemeni president to visit US for medical checkups. yenisafak.com Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi will leave Riyadh for the United States on Wednesday to undergo medical checkups in Cleveland, a senior government official told Anadolu Agency. | "Hadi is in good health," the source said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. | He said the Yemeni leader, who had undergone a heart surgery in May, was scheduled to visit the US a few months ago, but the trip was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. | Hadi had made several trips to the US for medical examinations due to his heart condition. | Yemen has been engulfed by violence and…
(2020-08-12). COVID-19: Face masks mandatory in Brussels. yenisafak.com Wearing a face mask became mandatory in all public spaces of the Belgian capital Brussels as of Wednesday.The measure entered into force automatically after the publication of the latest COVID-19 figures.So far, Brussels residents were only obliged to cover their nose and mouth in shops, as well as on public transport and certain popularly frequented streets.But, the city council decided last week to make face covers obligatory everywhere if the daily average of new infections passed the limit of 50 per 100,000 inhabitants on a weekly average.According to the latest data of the country's Public Health Institute S…