(2022-01-17). China makes Winter Olympics decision amid new Covid fears. rt.com 
China will not sell tickets to the general public to attend the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing | China has canceled plans for the public sale of 2022 Winter Olympics tickets, with only invited groups set to be allowed to watch the action in person at February's Games in Beijing. | With foreign fans
(2022-01-17). Wealth of 10 Richest Men Doubled During Pandemic, Incomes of 99% of Humanity Drop, Oxfam Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic have helped doubling of fortunes of the world's ten richest people, who now are six times wealthier than the poorest 3.1 billion people, Oxfam, international charitable NGO, reported on Monday, ahead of the World Economic Forum's Davos from 17-21 January.
(2022-01-17). 'Pandemic' mysteriously disappears. rt.com 
The digital board game 'Pandemic' has been pulled from all platforms, developers give no reason | Steam users have noticed that the digital board game version of 'Pandemic' had been pulled from the store without any explanation from the publisher. The game was also taken down from Google and Apple app stores. | The 'Pandemic' board game was delisted from Steam on January 6, with the game's store page saying it was removed "at the request of the publisher." The game still seems to be playable for Steam and mobile users who already bought it, however, new players cannot obtain the game. | The move has come witho…
(2022-01-17). One island becoming a Mecca for crypto millionaires. rt.com 
Bitcoin enthusiasts are flocking to Puerto Rico, thanks to tax breaks and an island lifestyle | The US territory of Puerto Rico has become the new hot destination for cryptocurrency entrepreneurs as it has crypto-friendly policies, including huge tax breaks to those who spend at least 183 days on the island each year. | US citizens can hold on to their American passports while not having to pay any taxes on capital gains. | "That's where all my friends are. I don't have one friend left in New York, and maybe the pandemic accelerated this, but every single one of them has moved to Puerto Rico," crypto entrepren…
(2022-01-17). Cuba shows an alternative to Big Pharma hegemony through global solidarity. greenleft.org.au Cuba puts people before profits — showing the world an alternative to the monopolistic practices of Big Pharma. It promotes a public health system, state-funded research and shows global solidarity through tech transfer and vaccine delivery to developing countries, writes Richa Chintan.
(2022-01-17). Australian COVID-19 deaths continue to climb as governments claim Omicron is about to "peak" wsws.org Contrary to claims this is a "pandemic of the unvaccinated," most COVID-19 deaths in New South Wales were of fully vaccinated people.
(2022-01-17). Germany shortens Covid natural immunity status. rt.com 
Immunity gained by infection will only be valid for 90 days | In new guidelines published by the Robert Koch Institute, Germans who have recovered from Covid-19 will only have immunity status for a period of 90 days, down from 180 days. | On Friday, the Robert Koch Institute, a federal agency responsible for disease control and prevention, published new guidance based on developments concerning the Covid-19 pandemic. | Under the new guidance, people previously infected with Covid-19 will only have immunity status for 90 days. The old rules stated that prior infection could be used as proof of immunity for 180…
(2022-01-17). Retail sales drop in December. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – On Friday, January 14, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that retail sales dropped 1.9% in December 2021. This number was called "terrible" by economists, who expected a very slight drop of 0.1%. Since the retail sales report is not adjusted for inflation, sales discounting higher prices fell almost 2.5%. | Many news reports tried to blame the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, which began to surge in the United States in December. But online sales, which usually go up when people don't want to shop in stores because of the pandemic, fell a much sharper 8.7% in December, more than four times…
(2022-01-17). UK income inequality worsens during pandemic. wsws.org UK average earnings for full-time work fell between 2019 and 2021 and soaring inflation and utility prices are reducing wages and living standards further.
(2022-01-17). Answers needed on how to beat pandemic, build post-COVID world: Xi. ecns.cn Answers must be given to major, urgent questions of how to beat the pandemic and how to build…
(2022-01-17). Let sunshine of hope light up future of humanity: Xi. ecns.cn Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on the world to do everything necessary to clear the shadow of the pandemic and boost economic and social recovery and development, so that the sunshine of hope may light up the future of humanity.
(2022-01-17). Germany's health care workers' bonus—another insult to employees. wsws.org While companies have been handed tens of billions since the start of the pandemic, those in the medical wards who have risked their lives and health every day for more than two years get only pittances.
(2022-01-17). How can we combat far-right pandemic populism? greenleft.org.au Given the shit show from government in response to the pandemic, it's little wonder the far right is trying to capitalise on the widespread and growing discontent. Felix Dance argues that workers, those who have kept people safe over the last two years, have to take a lead.
(2022-01-17). Hospital greed caused nurse shortage, not COVID-19. liberationnews.org 
Short-staffing is an intentional practice where hospitals don't schedule enough RNs to safely care for patients in order to increase hospital profits.
(2022-01-17). Boston students walk out to demand remote learning & stronger COVID safety. liberationnews.org 
Students across Boston walked out of their schools at 10: 30 a.m. on Jan. 14 in protest against unsafe learning conditions. Their demands align with the Boston Teachers Union — that state officials strengthen COVID-19 safety protocols and make remote learning an option.
(2022-01-17). Doctor discusses desperate situation at Sri Lankan COVID-19 treatment hospital. wsws.org "Health workers held protests demanding a lockdown, as well as more tests and health facilities. The government only declared a second lockdown because this opposition was developing." — Sri Lanka doctor…
(2022-01-17). Banker Brought in to Clean Up Credit Suisse's Image Resigns Over Breach of Covid Quarantine Rules. sputniknews.com Credit Suisse — the global investment bank and financial services giant headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, has reeled from a series of scandals and poor investment decisions which put a major dent in its reputation and position on Wall Street's coveted bulge bracket listing of the world's largest and most profitable banks.
(2022-01-17). Swiss snowboarders expect Beijing 2022 to be safe and great. ecns.cn Two of Switzerland's best snowboarders to compete in the Beijing Winter Olympics said they had high hopes for medals as well as faith in China's organization and COVID-19 safety measures during the Games.
(2022-01-17). SEIU Members On Death Of Ludwig Leota,Chicago Teachers/ Zero Covid vs Permanent Covid. indybay.org WorkWeek covers SEIU 1021 Members On Death Of Ludwig Leota, Chicago Teachers & Zero Covid vs Permanent Covid 19, Vermont AFL-CIO On Rise Of Fascism, Journalist Jeremy Portjo's Assault & Argentina General Strike Against A Mining Company.
(2022-01-17). Omicron's surge through rural America will take a terrible toll. wsws.org The number of people admitted for COVID-19 remains at record highs. The surge of infections has begun to move into rural America, where the completely unprepared health care systems face calamity.
(2022-01-17). 32-year-old Ford Chicago Assembly Plant worker dies of COVID-19. wsws.org Caleb Dye's death was a preventable tragedy, under conditions in which management, the unions and the political establishment have allowed COVID to spread uncontrolled in workplaces and schools.
(2022-01-17). Australian childcare centres hit by COVID outbreaks. wsws.org Child care workers are among those confronting the highest risk of infection in their workplace.
(2022-01-17). Thousands of airline workers out due to COVID-19 infections in the US. wsws.org Airlines cut thousands of flights due to worker illness and severe winter weather over the past two months.
(2022-01-17). Novak Djokovic deported by Australian government terrified of public opposition to its "let it rip" COVID policies. wsws.org Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has unleashed a COVID tsunami over the past month, has absurdly claimed that the decision was motivated by the need to "keep Australia safe."
(2022-01-17). Tomgram: Alfred McCoy, An Epochal Decline in American Global Power. warisacrime.org This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Honestly, I wonder why (other than Covid-19) Americans aren't out in the streets protesting. Oh wait, given that we've just "celebrated" the anniversary of January 6th and our world is alive with talk of coming violence against the …
(2022-01-17). Redondo Beach, California high school students walk out amid mass COVID-19 infections. wsws.org Redondo Union High School senior Michael Lee-Chang spoke with the WSWS on the students' courageous actions and the deepening spread of COVID-19 within schools.
(2022-01-17). Spanish scientists oppose PSOE-Podemos call to treat COVID-19 like the flu. wsws.org The Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government plans to ignore mass COVID-19 infections and deaths by treating it as an "endemic disease" similar to influenza.
(2022-01-17). Omicron wave in Germany leads to massive increase in infections. wsws.org Despite a massive spread of the virus, the German government is continuing the "profits before lives" policy that has already led to more than 115,000 dead.
(2022-01-17). Jacobin to teachers and kids: Back to death trap schools! wsws.org Jacobin magazine, associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, published an article calling for the end of remote instruction, demanding that students and teachers go back to schools where they will almost certainly be infected with a potentially deadly and debilitating disease.
(2022-01-17). Experts doubt Biden's ability to keep U.S. businesses, schools open amid Omicron: The Guardian. ecns.cn While U.S. President Joe Biden has vowed to keep businesses and schools open, some experts wonder if that's possible given the high infectious nature of Omicron and the lack of adequate measures to combat it, The Guardian said in a recent report.
(2022-01-16). Why Pay Less? The U.S. Strategy for Vaccinating the World. cepr.net Earlier this month, Dr. Peter Hotez announced that his team of researchers at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor University, had developed an effective vaccine against the coronavirus. In limited clinical trials, it showed effectiveness comparable to the mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna, and better than the Johnson and Johnson and widely used AstraZeneca …
(2022-01-16). UK Labour Leader Starmer on 'Partygate': 'I Think PM Johnson Broke the Law'. sputniknews.com UK PM Boris Johnson is currently under fire over what has already been named "partygate": a series of alleged parties that took place on Downing Street at a time when the United Kingdom was under strict coronavirus restrictions.
(2022-01-16). Señalan que Ecuador hace frente al pico más alto de la Covid-19. telesurtv.net Experto asevera que los contagios tardarán en descender entre cinco y seis semanas.
(2022-01-16). Thousands of Students Stage Walkouts, Protest In-Person Classes Amid COVID Surge. truthout.org 
Thousands of U.S. students and teachers are organizing walkouts and work stoppages over their schools' lack of COVID-19 precautions — a development that comes amid an unprecedented upsurge in coronavirus cases as the the Omicron variant tears through the nation. | On Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of New York City school students
(2022-01-16). Seniors to be fined for violating vaccine mandate. rt.com 
Greeks over 60 warned about punishment for non-compliance with vaccination rules | The Greek prime minister has made a final appeal to the country's senior citizens to get inoculated before monthly punishments for violating the country's vaccination mandate kick in next week. | "Our fellow citizens who are over 60 and still unvaccinated — I encourage them today: take this step," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a visit to a health center in Megara, near Athens, on Saturday. | "Protect your life and the lives of those you love, and understand that the vaccine is safe and saves lives." | Citiz…
(2022-01-16). The United Nations and Western Governments Endorse Shocking Vaccine Mandates, Violating Human Bodily Integrity and Autonomy. globalresearch.ca . | First published by …
(2022-01-16). 90 pct of Chinese people vaccinated against COVID-19. ecns.cn Over 1.26 billion Chinese people, or nearly 90 percent of the country's population, have received COVID-19 vaccine jabs as of Friday, said a health official on Saturday.
(2022-01-16). Why Pay Less? The US Strategy for Vaccinating the World. cepr.net The obvious route for going from the current system to an open-source system would be to take small steps with little downside risk. This is exactly what Peter Hotez and his team of researchers did.
(2022-01-16). Democrat group hides comments accusing Nike of slave labor after praising company. rt.com 
Occupy Democrats scrubbed its page of references to slave labor and child workers after celebrating Nike's decision to threaten unvaccinated employees with dismissal | Occupy Democrats, a popular left-wing political advocacy group which supports the US Democratic Party, was caught hiding comments expressing concern about slave labor after it praised sportswear company Nike. | The group praised Nike on social media after the multi-billion-dollar company threatened to fire employees who remained unvaccinated against Covid-19. | "Nike sends a defiant letter to its remaining unvaccinated employees that they will b…
(2022-01-16). New York's Eviction Moratorium Ends Today. popularresistance.org New York's pandemic eviction moratorium expires today; it began in March 2020 when then-governor Andrew Cuomo ordered a temporary ban on eviction proceedings in response to eviction protests and calls for action to protect tenants. Hundreds of thousands of households across the state owe back rent and now face eviction. Forty-one percent of these households include children, and 72 percent of the affected renters are people of color. According to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, there have been 81,530 eviction filings in New York City alone since March 2020. Many are now set to proceed amidst a new Covid…
(2022-01-16). Those who benefit from Corona should pay too. indybay.org It's a dangerous trend for a society that is already tending to drift apart and where tensions could become ever greater: Corona has caused the differences between rich and poor to grow, even in Germany. Those who have anyway will become richer in the pandemic. For those who have to struggle, it will be even harder.
(2022-01-16). China ready to contribute to post-pandemic global development: FM spokesperson. ecns.cn A foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said China will continue to maintain and practice true multilateralism, and is ready to enhance cooperation with all countries to contribute to…
(2022-01-16). Corona Totalitarianism and the Masses. libya360.wordpress.com Carlos Fazio The massive acceptance of the draconian rules imposed by various governments in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic could lead to a new totalitarian system. A technocratic system of transhumanist ideology, with the eventual ensuing atrocities that would be justified under the banner of collective welfare. According to this hypothesis of Mattias Desmet,…
(2022-01-16). As Omicron Rages, Teachers And Students Fight For Safety Measures. popularresistance.org Chicago Teachers Union members voted by 77 percent on January 4 to go fully remote until effective Covid mitigations to protect educators and students were approved by members and enacted, or until the current Covid surge subsided. | Within a week they had a tentative agreement on mitigation measures. Members ratified it January 12 by 56 percent and returned to in-person teaching. | With citywide positivity rates over 20 percent and hospitals overwhelmed, Chicago Public Schools had already faced staffing shortages the first few days of the year. When the district failed to implement adequate testing protocols, CT…
(2022-01-16). SEIU Members On Death Of Ludwig Leota,Chicago Teachers/ Zero Covid vs Permanent Covid. indybay.org WorkWeek covers SEIU 1021 Members On Death Of Ludwig Leota, Chicago Teachers & Zero Covid vs Permanent Covid 19, Vermont AFL-CIO On Rise Of Fascism, Journalist Jeremy Portjo's Assault & Argentina General Strike Against A Mining Company.
(2022-01-16). One in Beijing tests positive for COVID-19. ecns.cn One person in Beijing tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, local authorities said.
(2022-01-16). As Omicron rages, teachers and students fight for safety measures in Chicago and elsewhere. mronline.org 
Chicago Teachers Union members voted by 77 percent on January 4 to go fully remote until effective Covid mitigations to protect educators and students were approved by members and enacted, or until the current Covid surge subsided.
(2022-01-16). COVID-19 situation in China stable, controllable: official. ecns.cn The recent COVID-19 resurgence in China has been in general stabilized, as the country managed to bring the outbreaks in some areas under control in a timely manner, the National Health Commission said Saturday.
(2022-01-16). WEEKEND READER: Hospitals' COVID Secrets. dailyposter.com 
(2022-01-16). Global Research Weekender: Will 2022 be the Year of Mass Awakening and the End of COVID-19? globalresearch.ca It has been two years since people worldwide were dragged into this whole COVID-19 cult. Up until now, many countries implement universal health protocols such as social distancing and wearing of face mask in public spaces. Draconian measures have also …