(2022-03-30). Australian "cash splash" budget masks military boost and pandemic health cuts. wsws.org Although barely mentioned in the media coverage, a centrepiece of the budget was a further increase to military spending in preparation for participation in US-led wars against Russia and China.
(2022-03-30). As pandemic funding dries up, BA.2 has become dominant COVID-19 variant in the US. wsws.org While the FDA has authorized a second booster shot for those over age 50, the ability to track and protect the population has been severely hampered.
(2022-03-30). New York's Mayor Eric Adams orders dismantling of homeless encampments. wsws.org The homeless who are targeted are themselves a stark symptom of the unprecedented social polarization and inequality in New York City and other metropolitan centers that have been touted—at least before the COVID-19 pandemic—as great success stories for American capitalism.
(2022-03-30). Families of the dead mark one year of the UK's National Covid Memorial Wall. wsws.org Families from across the country gathered by Lambeth Bridge before staging a silent march along the length of the memorial. Many held photos of their loved ones killed by COVID-19, some with the hashtag #NamesNotNumbers.
(2022-03-30). Spain's PSOE-Podemos government announces record military budget. wsws.org While it claims there is no money for an elimination strategy for COVID-19, the government is showering the military with money amid the war drive against Russia.
(2022-03-29). Ukraine and Middle Eastern Media: Western Masks are Off! journal-neo.org 
The Ukrainian events have been a constant item on the agenda for media outlets of Middle Eastern countries since the start of Russia's special operation. Observers note a never before seen information onslaught against Moscow coming from the West, when it comes to covering the Ukrainian crisis. According to many estimates, this torrent of content …
(2022-03-29). Biden Appears to Reveal the US Is Training Ukrainian Troops in Poland. news.antiwar.com President Biden appeared to reveal on Monday that the US is training Ukrainian troops in Poland. Biden made the comments when trying to explain a recent gaffe. In Poland on Friday, President Biden told members of the 82nd Airborne Division that Ukrainians were "stepping up" against the Russian assault and said, "You're going to see …
(2022-03-29). U.S. FDA authorizes second COVID-19 booster shot. america.cgtn.com 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a second booster shot of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for people at higher risk of getting very sick from the coronavirus.
(2022-03-29). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 update. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Last week marked two years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. While infection rates and hospitalizations in the U.S. continue to decline, there are some areas of concern globally. "China, Hong Kong, Ireland, the U.K. and Denmark are seeing surges back up again," explains Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "These countries, many of us experts believe, prematurely dropped mask-wearing and nonpharmaceutical interventions, and really have stopped pushing…
(2022-03-29). Expert explains rising number of asymptomatic cases in China. ecns.cn The rising numbers of asymptomatic cases in the latest COVID-19 outbreak in China is due to the low pathogenicity of the Omicron variant, as well as timely screening, early detection of infections and wide vaccination coverage.
(2022-03-29). Preview: Expect Strong Job Gains to Lower Unemployment in March. cepr.net (The monthly Employment Situation is scheduled for release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday, April 1st at 8: 30 AM Eastern Time.) | We should expect another strong jobs report in March, with growth in the range of 400,000 to 500,000 jobs, as the labor market gets still closer to its pre-pandemic state. Strong economic growth, coupled with the waning of the pandemic, should mean large jobs gains and a further drop in unemployment. | Labor Force Participation Approaches Pre-Pandemic Rates | The labor force participation rate (LPFR) is getting close to the pre-pandemic levels for nearly all demographic gro…
(2022-03-29). The COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai and the fight for global elimination. wsws.org The lockdown of Shanghai takes place under conditions in which China is struggling to contain the worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in late 2019, fueled by the highly contagious, immune-resistant and virulent Omicron BA.2 subvariant.
(2022-03-29). Mayo Clinic Minute: Hope for COVID-19 patients who've lost their sense of taste, smell. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The loss or change in a person's sense of taste and smell is something that can happen to people who have had COVID-19. It's a common symptom with other viruses, including influenza, but it's happening at a much larger magnitude due to the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/HjVi9B7L-j0 Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1: 24) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network." Read…
(2022-03-29). Argentina remembers 46th anniversary of the U.S.-backed civic-military coup. mronline.org 
This March 24, on the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice, after a pause of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of Argentines took to the streets across the country to pay homage to the victims of the last military dictatorship.
(2022-03-29). Full In Person Classes: Venezuela's Minister of Education Notes Rise in School Attendance. orinocotribune.com This Monday, March 28, Venezuela's Minister for Education Yelitze Santaella highlighted the recent rise in school attendance on the day the Venezuelan government choose to start full in person classes at all labels, after the restrictions taken since the beginning of COVID-19 on March 2020. | During an interview with the VTV programm Al Aire, Santaella commented that there has been a notable influx of students attending education institutions at virtually all levels, with 29,000 institutions open for classes this week. | She noted that 15,753 staffing teams were activated throughout the country in 7,868 state-run…
(2022-03-29). Shanghai screens over 8 mln people in new round of COVID-19 tests. ecns.cn Shanghai tested more than 8.26 million residents in a new round of nucleic acid testing on Monday, a municipal health official told a press conference on Tuesday.
(2022-03-29). Cuba reporta 621 nuevos casos de COVID-19, ningún fallecido y 852 altas médicas. cubadebate.cu Al cierre de este lunes 28 de marzo, Cuba reportó 621 nuevos casos de COVID-19, ningún fallecido y 852 altas médicas, informó este martes el Ministerio de Salud Pública (Minsap) en su parte diario. Al final de la jornada se encontraban ingresados 8 400 pacientes: 4 588 sospechosos, 25 en vigilancia y 3 787 confirmados (casos activos).
(2022-03-29). Mainland sends TCM team to help fight outbreak in HK. ecns.cn The Chinese mainland has dispatched a group of traditional Chinese medicine experts to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to provide guidance on treating COVID-19 patients and preventing severe cases and deaths, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine said on Tuesday.
(2022-03-29). Consumer Health: What do you know about MS? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org MS Awareness Week will be observed March 13—19, which makes this a good time to learn about multiple sclerosis, or MS. Nearly 1 million people are living with MS in the U.S., according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. With MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body….
(2022-03-29). Mayo Clinic discovery in bone marrow cancer points to potential drug targets. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — New research from Mayo Clinic's Center for Individualized Medicine finds that patients with ASXL1-mutant chronic myelomonocytic leukemia — an uncommon type of cancer of the bone marrow — have distinctive epigenetic changes that can activate harmful genes and cause the cancer to grow faster. The ASXL1 genetic mutation also can transform the disease into the more aggressive acute myeloid leukemia. The study, published in Nature Communications, helps to clarify a potential therapeutic…
(2022-03-29). Ask the Mayo Mom: Managing sickle cell disease in children and teens. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. With sickle cell disease, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons, become rigid and sticky. These sickle-cell shaped cells can slow or block blood flow. The most common type of sickle cell disease is sickle cell anemia. Red blood cells usually live for about…
(2022-03-29). Senolytic drugs boost key protective protein. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers say senolytic drugs can boost a key protein in the body that may protect older people against aspects of aging and a range of diseases. Their findings, which are published in eBioMedicine demonstrate this in mice and human studies. Senolytics developed at Mayo Clinic and given once clear the bloodstream of senescent or "zombie" cells. These cells contribute to multiple diseases and negative aspects of aging. This study shows…
(2022-03-29). No free gas supplies for Europe, Kremlin spokesman says. tass.com No payment, no gas, the Kremlin spokesman emphasized…
(2022-03-29). NATO took steps affecting Russia's security before Moscow's operation in Ukraine – Kremlin. tass.com The situation is quite concerning, Peskov said…
(2022-03-29). Developers unveil pilot version of Russian alternative to Instagram. tass.com Rossgram users will be able to upload photos and videos from their smartphones, as well as videos from other platforms such as YouTube, Dailymotion and Vimeo…
(2022-03-29). UN calls for investigation into reports about torture of prisoners of war in Ukraine. tass.com It is important that any ill treatment that may happen is stopped immediately, Head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner said…
(2022-03-29). How Israel's Indiscriminate bombing of Gaza Endangers its Precious Hellenistic and Roman Archeological Heritage. juancole.com 
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The Palestinian Gaza Strip doesn't stay on the world's mind the way some besieged cities in Ukraine do right now, but it is also surrounded, besieged, and blockaded by Israeli forces. This blockade is illegal in international law, since Israel is recognized as the Occupying authority over Gaza, which it …