(2021-11-18). Pfizer gets new $5.3bn boost over Covid. rt.com 
US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has agreed a $5.29 billion deal with the American government to provide 10 million doses of its new Covid-19 oral antiviral drug, Paxlovid. | "This promising treatment could help accelerate our path out of this pandemic by offering another life-saving tool for people who get sick with Covid-19," Xavier Becerra, secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, said on Thursday. | Read more | | Under the deal, Pfizer is to deliver some 10 mil…
(2021-11-18). Biden infrastructure bill nixes all education funding as schools remain epicenter of COVID-19 spread. wsws.org The Biden administration's infrastructure bill puts to rest any claims that this president or the Democratic party as a whole has any real concern for the needs of public schoolchildren.
(2021-11-18). New drug shows promise in treating COVID-19. ecns.cn DXP-604, a new neutralizing antibody medicine to treat COVID-19 which has been approved for compassionate use with patients at the Beijing Ditan Hospital, has shown good results in phase 2 clinical trials, Science and Technology Daily reported on Thursday.
(2021-11-18). Pfizer bullies governments worldwide in COVID-19 vaccine contracts: report. ecns.cn U.S. multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation Pfizer has been bullying governments around the world in COVID-19 vaccine contracts, said a recent report.
(2021-11-18). Headlines for November 18, 2021. democracynow.org White House Plan Would Expand U.S. Vaccine Production by One Billion Doses a Year, House Censures Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar for Violent Video Targeting AOC, "QAnon Shaman" Jacob Chansley Gets 41 Month Prison Term for Role in Capitol Riot, Attorneys for Teen Gunman Kyle Rittenhouse Ask Judge to Declare Mistrial, Travis McMichael, Who Shot and Killed Ahmaud Arbery, Testifies in Own Defense , Students Walk Out of Oklahoma Schools to Protest Planned Execution of Julius Jones, Two Men Convicted of Killing Malcolm X Will Be Exonerated, Biden Administration to Hold Massive Auction for Oil and Gas Leases in Gulf…
(2021-11-18). A Dirty Occupation: The UN's Criminal Enterprise and Ecological Catastrophe in Haiti. libya360.wordpress.com Jemima Pierre UN tanker truck offloading the raw sewage of MINUSTAH Peacekeepers at Morne Cabrit sewage treatment plant in January 2013. Photo: Isabeau Doucet What are the environmental and ecological impacts of large-scale military occupations by the United Nations "peacekeeping" missions? The deadly cholera epidemic unleashed on the Haitian people by UN soldiers is an…
(2021-11-18). Healthy China-U.S. ties benefit whole world, say experts. ecns.cn The sound and steady development of the China-U.S. relationship is beneficial to the two countries and the rest of the world"ÄÇ…
(2021-11-18). Why Are Black Americans Considered Vitamin D Deficient? Some Answers On Genetics And The Testing Process. moguldom.com Vitamin D deficiency is more widespread among Black Americans than others in the U.S., although the reasons behind this are complex and require more study, according to David O. Meltzer. MD, PhD, the chief of hospital medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine. Vitamin D is important to the health of every system in the …
(2021-11-18). Michigan nurse speaks on the conditions in hospitals as COVID-19 cases surge. wsws.org Danielle, a nurse at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor recently discussed staffing shortages, working conditions and the impact of the profit motive on health care with the WSWS.
(2021-11-18). More US states offer COVID-19 boosters to all adults as federal govt grabs more vaccines, pills amid fear of winter surge. ecns.cn A growing number of US governors from both political parties and other officials are circumventing a federal guidance to offer boosters to anyone over 18 in hopes of staving off a spike in cases over the holidays, while the Joe Biden administration is purchasing more vaccines and pills in preparation for future pandemics, especially a potential surge of the coronavirus this winter.
(2021-11-18). 'We Need a Global Solution'. zcomm.org Critics Say Biden Plan to Boost Vaccine Supply Not Nearly Enough…
(2021-11-18). Students and teachers walk out at Detroit high school over COVID-19 policies. wsws.org Students and teachers at Martin Luther King High School walked out on Wednesday to protest the school administration's COVID-19 policies and failure to stop the pandemic, which is now surging in Detroit and Michigan.
(2021-11-18). US drug overdose deaths surged to 100,000 in first year of pandemic. wsws.org The staggering death toll from drug overdoses, a new record, coincides roughly with the first year of the pandemic in the US, when about 509,000 people lost their lives. Those dying from drug overdoses and from COVID-19 are both victims of government and corporate indifference.
(2021-11-18). Stand up against the 'freedom' movement. greenleft.org.au A rise in the number of people attending the right-wing "freedom" protests in Melbourne since the lift of COVID-19 restrictions is a concern, writes Jacob Andrewartha.
(2021-11-18). The growing toll of COVID-19 on children in North Carolina. wsws.org Neither Democratic Governor Roy Cooper nor the state's Republican-dominated legislature have taken any significant action to protect the lives of the population from COVID-19.
(2021-11-18). Selected Articles: Vaccinated People Are Up to Nine Times (9X) More Likely to be Hospitalized than Unvaccinated People. globalresearch.ca 
By In the spring of 2021, before the emergence of the Delta variant, Israel had been the first country in …
(2021-11-18). US and UK Press Mock New Zealand's Incredibly Successful Covid Response. zcomm.org One gets the sense that corporate media outlets in countries like the US and Britain mocking or criticizing New Zealand's pandemic response are following a "misery loves company" ethos…
(2021-11-18). Washington Post calls for a COVID-19 cover-up. wsws.org The commission advocated by the Washington Post will be aimed at shielding the government and corporate officials responsible for the deaths of more than one million Americans, while scapegoating China for the pandemic.
(2021-11-18). German Social Democrats-Left Party coalition in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Social attacks, state armament and viral spread. wsws.org After governing the state with the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for four years, the SPD is now forming a coalition with the Left Party to advance and intensify the policies of fiscal austerity, state rearmament and allowing the coronavirus to spread unchecked.
(2021-11-17). Headlines for November 17, 2021. democracynow.org Pfizer Seeks Approval For COVID Pill, Agrees to Deal To Make it Available in 95 Poorer Countries, Record Flooding Kills One Person, Displaces 1,000s in British Columbia, Climate Activists Disrupt Operations at World's Largest Coal Port For 11 Straight Days, Jury in Rittenhouse Trial Enters Second Day of Deliberations, Medical Examiner Says Ahmaud Arbery Shot at Close Range as Prosecution Rests Case, Julius Jones Set to Be Executed on Nov. 18 Unless Clemency Granted, Despite Evidence of Innocence, U.S. and China Agree to Hold Nuclear Talks, Burmese Coup Leaders Levy New Charges Against Aung San Suu Kyi; Freed U.S.
(2021-11-17). FBI & CDC investigate 'smallpox' vials at big pharma facility — media. rt.com 
The FBI and CDC have launched a probe after several "questionable vials" labeled as "smallpox" were discovered in a freezer at a lab near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to an alert obtained by Yahoo News. | The 15 mysterious vials were found on Tuesday night at a Merck laboratory,
(2021-11-17). School Bus Drivers In Nationwide Strikes Over Poor Pay And Covid Risk. popularresistance.org Yellow school buses are part of the American streetscape, familiar to families across the US and an easily recognizable symbol the world over. | But the drivers of the vehicles that shuttle America's children to and from school are now caught up in the wave of labor unrest sweeping across the US in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. | Strikes, walkouts, protests or sick-outs among school bus drivers have taken place this fall in many states including North Carolina, New Mexico, Maryland, Florida, Indiana, Georgia Pennsylvania and New York among others. | Some school districts have periodically closed schools due…
(2021-11-17). Fauci Says Booster Shots May Become New Definition of Being Fully Vaccinated. truthout.org 
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden, issued a warning Tuesday that breakthrough cases of COVID-19 for people who are vaccinated may increase during the winter, and that the best way to prevent such outcomes might be expanding who is eligible for a booster shot of a vaccine. | Fauci, who made the comments during a pre-taped interview for the 2021 STAT Summit this week, said that, while unv…
(2021-11-17). Nasal vaccine for Alzheimer's to be tested on people. rt.com 
A Boston hospital will conduct human trials to test the safety and efficacy of a vaccine to counter Alzheimer's disease next month. It will mark the first clinical trial of a nasal vaccine for the dementia-causing disorder. | In a
(2021-11-17). Nature is trying to kill you, but science has your back. imperial.ac.uk A new book explores disease-causing microbes, the tools we've developed to fight them, and the scientists who've advanced infectious disease research.
(2021-11-17). If You Think Vaccine Mandate Pushback Is Bad… fpif.org I've only had to show my vaccination card a couple times—to eat in a restaurant in New York City, to see a play in Washington, DC. I was happy to do so. Once inside, I was relieved to be among the vaccinated. | Most Americans have gotten vaccinated because they simply want protection from COVID-19. Some small number of citizens have gotten jabbed in order to go to restaurants, attend sporting events, or qualify for lottery prizes. | You'd think that would be enough. Effective vaccine against a life-threatening disease, opportunity to regain some semblance of normalcy, a coupon for 10 percent off your next p…
(2021-11-17). Recognizing Native American Frontline Workers. cepr.net As Native American Heritage Month draws to a close and people around the United States celebrate another pandemic-era Thanksgiving, it is worth reflecting on the lack of visibility afforded to Native American people—including those who have worked on the frontlines of the crisis despite inadequate pay and health care.
(2021-11-17). What's in the Kaiser tentative agreement? wsws.org The unions that comprise the Alliance of Health Care Unions are pushing for a "yes" vote on a tentative agreement with Kaiser that does nothing to address health care workers' grievances but promises lucrative payouts to the union bureaucracy.
(2021-11-17). "This TA is an insult:" ÔªøÔªøKaiser health care workers respond with outrage to sellout contract announced by unions. wsws.org Workers report being blindsided by Saturday's announcement, which also canceled a strike by 32,000 workers in Southern California which had been scheduled to begin Monday.
(2021-11-17). "This TA is an insult": ÔªøÔªøKaiser health care workers respond with outrage to sellout contract announced by unions. wsws.org Workers report being blindsided by Saturday's announcement, which also canceled a strike by 32,000 workers in Southern California which had been scheduled to begin Monday.
(2021-11-17). Biden admin suspends vaccine mandate for businesses. rt.com 
Enforcement of President Joe Biden's Covid-19 vaccine mandate for large employers has been suspended, 11 days after a US appeals court froze the order on "grave statutory and constitutional issues." | The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has posted a notice on its website, saying the agency
(2021-11-17). 'Reckless' FDA and Big Pharma Greed Blamed for Medicare Premium Hike. scheerpost.com 
By Jake Johnson / Common Dreams Medicare Part B recipients will soon be hit with one of the biggest premium increases in the history of the government program, a hike driven in large part by the Food and Drug Administration's scandalous approval of a costly—and, according to many experts, dubious—Alzheimer's drug. "Medicare's inability to negotiate lower drug prices means that Big …
(2021-11-17). US state representatives vote to compensate 'vaccine-related injuries' due to mandates. rt.com 
The Idaho state house passed legislation that would enable people to receive workers' compensation if they fall ill due to a mandated Covid-19 shot, with the bill finding bipartisan support in the Republican-dominated state. | Approved overwhelmingly in a 67-3 "If the empl…
(2021-11-17). Workers At HelloFresh Speak Up Against Anti-Union Scare Tactics And Dangerous Conditions. popularresistance.org Facing unlivable wages, higher-than-average injury rates, and a union-busting campaign, workers at two HelloFresh factories are pushing forward union drives. If successful, workers would form the first union in the nation's growing meal-kit industry. Around 400 workers in Aurora, Colorado are currently casting votes, which are set to be counted on November 22. Another 850 workers in Richmond, California will receive ballots by November 18. In a petition to the company, workers say that while HelloFresh "profited from the pandemic, employees faced disrespect, a COVID-19 outbreak, and preventable injuries."
(2021-11-17). Workers At HelloFresh Speak Up Against Anti-Union Scare Tactics. popularresistance.org Facing unlivable wages, higher-than-average injury rates, and a union-busting campaign, workers at two HelloFresh factories are pushing forward union drives. If successful, workers would form the first union in the nation's growing meal-kit industry. Around 400 workers in Aurora, Colorado are currently casting votes, which are set to be counted on November 22. Another 850 workers in Richmond, California will receive ballots by November 18. In a petition to the company, workers say that while HelloFresh "profited from the pandemic, employees faced disrespect, a COVID-19 outbreak, and preventable injuries." | Accor…
(2021-11-17). Inflation Is Complicated, But Making It Better Doesn't Have to Be. otherwords.org Many Americans are noticing the rising price of goods from sour cream to carburetors as politicians sound the alarm on an inflation crisis. | You may be wondering what single force would cause the cost of a dairy product to go up at the same time as the cost of a car part. The truth is that not all inflation is the same. Each sector has its own issues. | And none of it is solved by less government funding for our safety net, as some politicians have proposed. | Some of it is what we can call pandemic inflation. Because our economy bounced back quicker after the COVID-19 shutdowns than anyone predicted — tha…
(2021-11-17). Drug overdose deaths in US hit all-time record. rt.com 
A record 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses between April 2020 and April 2021. The soaring death count was driven by the availability of highly toxic fentanyl and social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. | Some 100,306 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses in the 12 months leading up to April 2021, according to
(2021-11-17). US School Bus Drivers In Nationwide Strikes Over Poor Pay And Covid Risk. popularresistance.org Strikes, walkouts, protests or sick-outs among school bus drivers have taken place this fall in many states including North Carolina, New Mexico, Maryland, Florida, Indiana, Georgia Pennsylvania and New York among others. Some school districts have periodically closed schools due to bus driver shortages or changed school schedules to accommodate the shortage. Other districts have raised pay and offered sign-on bonuses to try to lure workers into vacant school bus driver positions.
(2021-11-17). The world stands with Cuba. peoplesdispatch.org 
The US-backed counter-revolutionary protests planned for November 15 in Cuba fell flat as the Caribbean country reopened its borders to tourists and its schools on the same day. The Cuban people blatantly rejected being a part of the US destabilization attempt and proved that they are more concerned about the reopening of the economy and the return to normalcy after a year and a half of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | A small number of people in a few cities took to the streets as a part of the "Civic March for Change", called for by an NGO called Archipiélago in 10 cities across Cuba. Videos shared…
(2021-11-17). Mounting pressure on China to abandon its zero-COVID policy. wsws.org Amid all the talk in the media that it is impossible to eliminate COVID-19, the experience in China demonstrates the opposite. Elimination is possible, but only if carried out on a co-ordinated international basis.
(2021-11-17). Profit instead of science: The German government's COVID-19 policy. wsws.org A letter signed by dozens of prominent scientists and sent to Germany's federal government sharply criticized the political establishment's failure to prevent mass infection and deaths.
(2021-11-17). Fourteen consecutive weeks with more than 100,000 cases of COVID among US children. wsws.org In its latest update, the American Academy of Pediatrics noted that more than 122,000 US children were infected with SARS-CoV-2 over the past week, a 22 percent rise from two weeks ago.
(2021-11-17). Governments reject pandemic controls amid record COVID-19 surge in Europe. wsws.org Only a struggle by the working class to impose scientific policies to eliminate the virus can end the current massive surge of deaths.
(2021-11-17). Economía mundial, el riesgo de una tormenta perfecta. globalizacion.ca Cuando las economías se hundieron a causa de la Covid-19, los líderes políticos y los economistas de los grandes organismos internacionales decían que no se sabía cuándo llegaría la recuperación pero que, una vez que comenzara, las economías registrarían una…
(2021-11-17). Canada admits aerosols are major source of COVID-19 transmission after nearly two years of denying it. wsws.org Canada's government has hitherto dismissed the role of aerosols in COVID-19's spread, because to do so underlines the reckless and homicidal character of its drive to "reopen" the economy in the midst of a deadly pandemic.
(2021-11-17). Major staffing shortages at schools throughout the US due to COVID-19 pandemic. wsws.org As a result of widespread infections and a mass exodus of teachers from the profession, roughly 40 percent of all district leaders describe their current staff shortages as "severe" or "very severe," according to a recent survey.
(2021-11-17). Honduras: Specialists Warn Pandemic to Worsen After Elections. telesurenglish.net On Tuesday, the College of Microbiologists President Marco Moncada warned that Honduras will face a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic after the Nov. 28 elections. | Related | Even though the incidence of COVID-19 maintains a downward trend in this Central American country, authorities fear that a "fourth wave" might be imminent. A high concentration of people during the election will likely cause an increase in…
(2021-11-17). The eco-politics of the sublime: nature, environmentalism, and Covid-ecology. mronline.org 
A conception of the sublime, liberated from its racist, sexist and domineering classic form, should form a part of any ecosocialist imaginary.
(2021-11-17). COVID-19 Cases Rise In the US Amid Sustained Vaccination Push. telesurenglish.net White House advisor Anthony Fauci warned that COVID-19 cases are starting to climb again in select regions across the U.S. after stabilizing at a high level following this summer's surge of the Delta variant. | RELATED: | "The only thing that's a little bit disconcerting is that we're beginning to plateau," Fauci said addint that "the deceleration of cases is now plateaued, and in some areas of the country, we're starting t…