The Taliban Scores a Coup
Dr. Binoy Kampmark | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-18
It threatened to disappear under the viral haze of COVID-19, but February 29 saw representatives from the US and Taliban, loftily acknowledged as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, sign the "Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan". After two decades of …
globalresearch.ca/taliban-scores-coup/5706654

Facebook hit by software bug which marked coronavirus posts as spam
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-03-18
Facebook has confirmed a bug in its spam filter removed posts incorrectly from the social network, including legitimate news articles about coronavirus. | Multiple users reported receiving alerts from Facebook saying their posts

2.2 Million People in the U.S. Could Die If Coronavirus Goes Unchecked
Sharon Lerner | zcomm.org | 2020-03-18
The earlier viral outbreak known as SARS showed that patients living in areas with moderate air pollution were 84 percent more likely to die from that virus than patients in regions with low pollution, according to a 2003 study.
zcomm.org/znetarticle/2-2-million-people-in-the-u-s-could-die-if-coronavirus-goes-unchecked/

Jay Electronica: Muslim Rapper Faces Jewish Backlash for 'Synagogue of Satan' Line
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-18
A Jewish radio host clashed with Electronica over the controversial line, which appeared to be a reference to the New Testament's Book of Revelation.
sputniknews.com/viral/202003181078611473-jay-electronica-muslim-rapper-faces-jewish-backlash-for-synagogue-of-satan-line/

Trunken Party: 'Binge-Drinking' Elephants Found Passed Out After 'Consuming Alcohol' – Photos
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-18
New Delhi (Sputnik): An Indian Forest Service officer has revealed that in tribal belts, elephants, who do have a taste for alcohol, manage to find the country-made liquor that people hide.
sputniknews.com/viral/202003181078608550-trunken-party-binge-drinking-elephants-found-passed-out-after-consuming-alcohol—photos/

'Your Best Visuals': Fans Thrilled as Lady Gaga Poses as Nude Cyborg for Cover Shoot
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-18
In March 2020 the larger-than-life pop icon Lady Gaga officially announced her next album "Chromatica" was to drop on 10 April in her first studio release since 2016's "Joanne."
sputniknews.com/viral/202003181078608965-your-best-visuals-fans-thrilled-as-lady-gaga-poses-as-nude-cyborg-for-cover-shoot/

The Taliban Scores a Coup
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-17
It threatened to disappear under the viral haze of COVID-19, but February 29 saw representatives from the US and Taliban, loftily acknowledged as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, sign the "Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan". After two decades of conflict, the agreement sets in motion the process that should see American troops leave Afghanistan …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/03/the-taliban-scores-a-coup/

The rise of AI-Capitalism: An interview with Nick Dyer-Witheford
Eds. | mronline.org | 2020-03-17
The political answer is not acceleration but refusal. And this is indeed what is has begun to manifest, in a variety of social rebellions. This includes the strikes of gig economy labor, the protests of Silicon Valley tech workers, anti-surveillance movements, urban protests against the smart city, defections from social media sites, algorithmic-bias busting, and […] | Source…
mronline.org/2020/03/17/the-rise-of-ai-capitalism-an-interview-with-nick-dyer-witheford/

Meet 17-Year-Old Avi Schiffmann Who Runs Coronavirus Tracking Website Used by 40+ Million Globally
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-03-17
A teenager's website tracking coronavirus has become one of the most vital resources for people seeking accurate and updated numbers on the pandemic. The URL is nCoV2019.live. We speak with 17-year-old Avi Schiffmann, a high school junior from Mercer Island outside Seattle, who started the site in late December, when coronavirus had not yet been detected outside of China. Now the site has been visited by tens of millions, from every country on Earth. It tracks deaths, numbers of cases locally and globally, and provides an interactive map, information on the disease, and a Twitter feed. The resource updates every…
www.democracynow.org/2020/3/17/avi_schiffmann_coronavirus_tracker

Trump Derangement Syndrome meets Covid-19 panic: Hollywood actress spreads conspiracy theory about Israel & coronavirus
rt.com | 2020-03-17
Rosanna Arquette inspired some colorful reactions when she floated the theory that Israel has long known about the coronavirus and claimed the country and Jared Kushner are putting "lives at risk for profit." | "I'm still confused," the 'Buffalo 66' actress tweeted to her more than 100,000 Twitter followers on Tuesday, "so Israel has been working on a coronavirus vaccine for a year already? (so they knew)." | Arquette went on to say US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is the main investor in the vaccine. | "Vaccines take a long time to know if they are safe and KUSHNER OSCAR is the major inves…
rt.com/usa/483357-rosanna-arquette-israel-coronavirus-vaccine/

Inside the Pro-Trump Facebook Group Where First Responders Call Coronavirus a Hoax
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-03-17
In a private Facebook group, firefighters and paramedics shared memes and conspiracy theories doubting the pandemic, raising concerns that they aren't taking precautions to protect themselves and others.
truthdig.com/articles/inside-the-pro-trump-facebook-group-where-first-responders-call-coronavirus-a-hoax/

CNN reporter praises Trump's coronavirus response, immediately clarifies on Twitter before she loses lib credibility
rt.com | 2020-03-17
Veteran CNN reporter Dana Bash furiously backpedaled on Twitter after getting praise from conservatives

Cuba's Contribution to Combatting COVID-19
Helen Yaffe | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-17
COVID-19 surged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019 and by January 2020 it had hit Hubei province like a tidal wave, swirling over China and rippling out overseas. The Chinese state rolled into action to combat the spread and care for those infected. Among the 30 medicines the Chinese National Health Commission selected to fight the virus was a Cuban anti-viral drug Interferon Alpha 2b. This drug has been produced in China since 2003, by the enterprise ChangHeber, a Cuban-Chinese joint venture.
counterpunch.org/2020/03/17/cubas-contribution-to-combatting-covid-19/

How Cuba is Leading the World in the Fight Against Coronavirus
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-03-16
As Cuba sends doctors around the world to help fight coronavirus, a Cuban antiviral drug, Interferon Alpha 2b, is helping countries like China stem the tide of the outbreak.
mintpressnews.com/cuba-leading-world-fight-against-coronavirus/265771/

Thousands of volunteers join effort to help vulnerable people during UK coronavirus crisis
Ed Sykes | thecanary.co | 2020-03-16
Thousands of Britons have joined local Facebook groups offering food and support for elderly and vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak.The groups, named Covid-19 Mutual Aid, have been set up in most London boroughs, cities including Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as smaller towns throughout the UK.Some groups have received several thousand members in recent days as more and more people self-isolate to prevent the spread of the virus.In one group, users shared a printable postcard which could be dropped in to neighbours' letterboxes, with offers to pick up shopping, post mail or even jus…
thecanary.co/trending/2020/03/16/thousands-of-volunteers-join-effort-to-help-vulnerable-people-during-uk-coronavirus-crisis/

'Just take it easy, just relax': Trump warns against HOARDING over coronavirus as VIDEOS of shoppers cleaning out stores go viral
rt.com | 2020-03-15
The White House has warned citizens against hoarding daily supplies in the wake of videos showing people fighting for products like toilet paper and hand sanitizer and panic-buying daily essentials until shelves are empty. | President Donald Trump on Sunday spoke with "more than two dozen" grocery store and supply chain executives and thanked them for their work as people flock to stores to stockpile on supplies over fears surrounding the spread of coronavirus. | Delivering his daily update on the coronavirus situation, Trump suggested Americans "just take it easy, just relax," adding that the empty shelves al…
rt.com/usa/483196-coronavirus-hoarding-white-house/

In the Midst of Infighting, Anti-LGBTQ Church Network's Website and Social Media Disappear
Hatewatch Staff | splcenter.org | 2020-02-21
The New Independent Fundamental Baptist network, most prominently associated with anti-LGBTQ pastor Steven Anderson, appears to be in turmoil as infighting again erupts, this time between Anderson and fellow pastors in the network.
splcenter.org/hatewatch/2020/02/21/midst-infighting-anti-lgbtq-church-networks-website-and-social-media-disappear