India
Millions of Indian workers join national general strike against Modi government’s social attacks
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 27 November 2020
Yesterday’s strike was a powerful blow against the Modi government’s relentless barrage of Hindu chauvinism targeting Muslims and religious minorities, and other ruling elite attempts to promote caste and communal divisions.
Tens of millions of workers to join all-India general strike
By Keith Jones, 26 November 2020
As a direct consequence of the reaction of ruling elites to the pandemic, focused on profits and share prices, social opposition in the working class is erupting.
India’s ruling elite welcomes Biden-Harris victory in US presidential election
By Deepal Jayasekera, 26 November 2020
The warm welcome for the President-elect is based on the calculation that a Biden administration will be no less committed than Trump’s to expanding the anti-China Indo-US “global strategic partnership.”
India: Karnataka college staff strike over unpaid salaries; Tamil Nadu tea plantation workers protest; Australian supermarket warehouse workers locked out
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
21 November 2020
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India’s unprecedented economic contraction deepens mass social misery
By Kranti Kumara, 20 November 2020
So meager are the earnings of India’s workers and toilers, three-quarters of the population in rural areas would not be able to afford the cheapest possible nutritious diet even if they spent all of their earnings on food.
Toyota workers in India continue strike, defy state back-to-work order
By Shibu Vavara and Arun Kumar, 20 November 2020
Behind the state government’s strikebreaking order is the broader aim of the ruling class to make India a cheap-labor alternative to China.
With Malabar exercise, Quad emerging as US-led, anti-China military alliance
By Shuvu Batta and Keith Jones, 17 November 2020
The Indian Ocean exercise is a clear signal that the US and its Quad allies—India, Japan and Australia—are now seeking to develop the capacity and expertise for joint military planning and action, including combat, against China.
COVID-19 pandemic creating a social disaster in India
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 10 November 2020
Contrary to Modi’s lies, a humanitarian crisis is being generated in the world’s second most populous country.
Indian Stalinists use Bihar elections to deepen their alliance with big-business Congress Party
By Arun Kumar, 7 November 2020
Under conditions of mounting social opposition, the Stalinists are doubling down on their efforts to harness the working class to the Congress and other right-wing parties.
Health and other workers across Asia fight for unpaid wages, COVID-19 allowances and PPE; strikes break out in Australia over new enterprise agreements
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
7 November 2020
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Indian Magna Cosma workers continue strike against victimisation and for recognition of new union
By Shibu Vavara and Sasi Kumar, 6 November 2020
The strikers are challenging the Canadian conglomerate’s super exploitation of a multi-tier workforce, with just 75 permanent workers alongside 350 contract workers and 200 trainees.
Indian health and public sector workers strike; Chinese courier drivers protest over unpaid wages; hospital workers and nurses threaten strikes in Australia, New Zealand and Solomon Islands
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
30 October 2020
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Amid tense India-China border stand-off, US and India boost military-security partnership
By Deepal Jayasekera and Keith Jones, 29 October 2020
India’s BJP government has exploited the ongoing military border standoff with China to integrate India still more fully into American imperialism’s incendiary military-strategic offensive against Beijing.
Half of India’s population could be infected with COVID-19 by next February
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 29 October 2020
A government appointed committee has warned of a potential second wave of infections in winter leading to a sharp rise in the percentage of the population hit by the coronavirus.
Rally welcoming relaunch of WSWS
The relaunched website facilitates the development of the world party of socialist revolution
By Wije Dias, 27 October 2020
The remarks below were given by Wije Dias, general secretary of the Socialist Equality Party of Sri Lanka.
Bangladeshi union shuts down port workers national strike; Assam rail workers demand festival allowance; Western Australian workers protest after worksite death
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
24 October 2020
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World Bank: South Asian economies hit hard by COVID-19
By Saman Gunadasa, 20 October 2020
The report bluntly warns that “more people will be added to the ranks of the extreme poor in South Asia than in any other region in 2020.”
Andhra Pradesh textile workers strike; 400,000 Assam tea plantation workers walk out; Western Australia: Offshore LNG platform employees in Western Australia take action
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
17 October 2020
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Over 1.5 million Indian power workers protest against privatisation; Bangladeshi tea estate workers strike for higher pay: Pakistani government workers demand increased wages and pensions
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
10 October 2020
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India to reopen schools, despite COVID-19 death toll surging past 100,000
By Saman Gunadasa, 6 October 2020
The Modi government long ago abandoned any effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, and is insisting workers be forced back on the job to produce profits for big business, whatever the cost in human lives.
India: 13,000 teachers in Delhi strike over unpaid wages; Government doctors protest in Pakistan; LNG offshore maintenance workers to walk out in Western Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
3 October 2020
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Modi government rams half-dozen anti-worker, anti-farmer laws through India’s parliament
By Kranti Kumara, 3 October 2020
The BJP’s labour “reform” abolishes restrictions on the use of contract labour, job cuts, and plant closures, and illegalises most worker job action.
In another judicial travesty, Indian court exonerates BJP leaders in razing of Babri Masjid
By Deepal Jayasekera, 2 October 2020
Wednesday’s verdict will embolden the Hindu right, Narendra Modi and the BJP in their communal provocations and assault on the social and democratic rights of India’s toilers.
Indian and Chinese militaries dig in for prolonged border standoff, as “de-escalation” efforts flounder
By Rohantha De Silva and Keith Jones, 30 September 2020
Encouraged by Washington, India has taken an increasingly belligerent and provocative stance in its tense five-month-long border confrontation with China.
The world has reached the grim milestone of one million COVID-19 deaths
By Benjamin Mateus, 28 September 2020
With some 33 million infected out of nearly eight billion people, “herd immunity” remains a distant prospect and winter could bring conditions for a rapid resurgence of the pandemic.
Social health workers demonstrate in Tamil Nadu; Vietnamese garment workers strike over pay; Qantas baggage handlers protest against job cuts
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
26 September 2020
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India’s health minister downplays raging pandemic to conceal ruling elite’s criminal “herd immunity” policy
By Saman Gunadasa, 24 September 2020
With the economy now largely reopened, the government has placed all responsibility for containing the virus onto working people.
India: Chennai garbage workers strike; Sri Lankan bank workers protest over contracts; Australian waterfront workers walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
19 September 2020
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Indian police and BJP government extend witch-hunt against anti-CAA protesters to filmmaker Rahul Roy
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 16 September 2020
Monday’s interrogation of Roy and his wife comes after the Delhi police spuriously implicated prominent cultural and political figures in the BJP-fomented communal violence.
Indian workers speak out against Modi, trade unions on COVID-19 pandemic
By Sasi Kumar and V. Gnana, 15 September 2020
WSWS reporters interviewed workers in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu on the situation facing Indian workers during the pandemic.
India-China border conflict remains on knife’s edge
By Jordan Shilton and Keith Jones, 12 September 2020
US support for India and efforts by major European powers to boost their military-strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific could cascade the border crisis into a catastrophic war.
India: Petrol refinery and agricultural marketing workers strike against privatisation; Pakistani government workers strike against pay freeze
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
12 September 2020
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India’s Supreme Court punishes prominent lawyer for criticizing its role in assault on democratic rights
By Kranti Kumara, 11 September 2020
Time and again, India’s Supreme Court has aided and abetted the anti-democratic actions and Hindu communalist provocations of the Modi government.
India now second only to US in number of COVID-19 cases, yet continues to expand “reopening”
By Deepal Jayasekera, 9 September 2020
With 90,802 new infections on Monday, India registered more COVID-19 cases just on one day than China has recorded since the beginning of the pandemic.
India-China border tensions flare anew, posing threat of catastrophic military conflict
By Deepal Jayasekera, 5 September 2020
India’s increasingly aggressive stance against China is being stoked by Washington.
West Bengal administrative workers strike; Maharashtra nurses hold state-wide protests; private sector nurses strike in New Zealand
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
5 September 2020
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India sets world record for daily coronavirus infections
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 4 September 2020
With India now recording more than 75,000 new cases on average each day, it will soon overtake Brazil as the country with the world’s second-highest number of COVID-19 infections.
India: Death toll from Kerala landslide rises to 65
By Shibu Vavara, 4 September 2020
While heavy rain was blamed for the disaster, government authorities failed to provide the region with the necessary basic public infrastructure.
Thousands of workers strike at Indian arms factories; Indonesian police attack paper mill workers; South Korean doctors continue strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
29 August 2020
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India emerges as a global epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 26 August 2020
India is the third country to surpass 3 million registered coronavirus cases, and its official death toll, widely considered to be an underestimation, is approaching 60,000.
Pakistani university workers oppose job cuts; Offshore gas platform workers strike in Western Australia; New Zealand health workers protest
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
22 August 2020
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Millions of Indian workers strike to protest attacks by Modi government amid COVID-19 pandemic
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 21 August 2020
Millions of workers have joined strikes and protests opposing the government’s attacks on their wages and working conditions.
India: Motherson’s “inquiry” rubber stamps sacking of strikers
By Arun Kumar, 17 August 2020
The ongoing persecution of Motherson autoparts strikers was facilitated by the Maoist Left Trade Union Centre’s betrayal of the 140-day walkout.
Modi government intensifies repression one year after its constitutional coup against Kashmir
By Kranti Kumara and Keith Jones, 15 August 2020
The Modi government’s illegal abrogation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status and imposition of a state-of-siege in the Muslim-majority region have been conspicuously ignored by the US and other major imperialist powers.
Indian social health workers hold two-day national strike; South Korean hospital doctors walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
15 August 2020
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Hospital fire in southern India kills 10 COVID-19 patients
By Arun Kumar, 12 August 2020
With the pandemic spreading rapidly in the country, the circumstances of the fire point to criminal negligence on the part of governments and hotel and hospital authorities.
Indian railway and Sri Lankan port workers oppose privatisation; Australian supermarket warehouse employees stop work over COVID-19 infection
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
8 August 2020
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Consecrating an historic crime:
Indian PM Modi to lay cornerstone for Hindu temple at site of razed Ayodhya mosque
By Deepal Jayasekera, 5 August 2020
Facing mounting popular anger over its ruinous response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BJP government is doubling down on its Hindu supremacist agenda.
India: Punjab health workers strike for permanent jobs; Asahi auto glass-making workers strike in Chennai; Woolworths Distribution Centre workers locked out in Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
1 August 2020
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India set to surpass two million COVID-19 cases within days
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 30 July 2020
While the government claims that it is mounting a “successful battle,” the virus is rampaging across the India, with half a million new infections in the past 12 days.
Indian health workers protest over COVID-19 treatment discrimination and wages; Western Australian caterers and cleaners strike on offshore gas platforms
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
25 July 2020
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India: Over 40,000 Karnataka health workers begin indefinite state-wide strike; Pakistani doctors protest and Sri Lanka nurses demand overtime pay
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
18 July 2020
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As India approaches 1 million COVID-19 cases, Modi government continues to deny community transmission
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 17 July 2020
The absurd claim that India is not experiencing significant community transmission is part of the government’s reckless back-to-work drive and its criminal “herd immunity” policy.
Massive worker participation in three-day India Coal strike
By Kranti Kumara, 11 July 2020
Last week’s strike had a huge impact on Coal India’s output, indicating that a large majority of its more than 500,000 regular and contract workers joined the walkout.
Neyveli Thermal plant explosion in southern India kills 13 workers
By Arun Kumar, 10 July 2020
The explosion at the government-owned mine and power plant is a result of the corporation’s refusal to replace outdated and dangerous facilities and equipment.
Surge in infections gives India third highest COVID-19 cases worldwide
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 9 July 2020
The surge is a direct result of the Modi government’s homicidal “herd immunity” policy, which prioritizes the profit interests of big business over the lives of workers and their families.
India takes economic reprisals against China as border frictions continue
By Deepal Jayasekera and Keith Jones, 8 July 2020
Although several rounds of talks have been held, both New Delhi and Beijing continue to maintain an enhanced military presence along their disputed border.
Modi government prosecutes anti-CAA protest leaders on bogus terrorism charges
By Kranti Kumar and Shuvu Batta, 7 July 2020
Turning reality on its head, the Delhi police, acting on the orders of the BJP government, is trying to blame anti-CAA protest leaders for the anti-Muslim riots that convulsed northeast Delhi in late February.
Pandemic spirals out of control in South Africa, India, Brazil
By Bryan Dyne, 4 July 2020
The official tallies in each country of daily confirmed coronavirus cases have become exponential, indicating that whatever containment measures were implemented to halt the spread of the virus have essentially collapsed.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
4 July 2020
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Hundreds of thousands of Indian coal miners launch three-day strike against privatisation
By Arun Kumar, 3 July 2020
Facing an economic crisis that has been greatly exacerbated by the pandemic and the ruling elite’s selfish class response, the Modi government is pushing through a “quantum jump” in pro-investor “reforms.”
Pandemic rages across South Asia as total cases near 1 million
By our correspondents, 1 July 2020
The governments of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are rushing to “reopen” their economies even as COVID-19 cases and deaths are growing exponentially.
India’s opposition parties back Modi’s bellicose stand in border conflict with China
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 30 June 2020
The Congress Party and Stalinist CPI and CPM have extolled the military for “defending” India’s borders and pledged their support for the BJP government in confronting Beijing.
Pandemic surpasses 10 million COVID-19 cases and over 500,000 deaths globally
By Benjamin Mateus, 29 June 2020
COVID-19 cases in the United States have careened out of control, with health care systems in Texas, Florida and Arizona nearing collapse.
Indian and Pakistani health workers strike over coronavirus safety; Australia Paper maintenance workers locked out
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
27 June 2020
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India rapidly emerging as epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 25 June 2020
As a result of the Modi government’s abandonment of lockdown measures, the coronavirus is spreading like wildfire in both urban slums and rural areas.
India-China conflict threatens to undermine Russian foreign policy
By Clara Weiss, 23 June 2020
While the US has intervened aggressively on the side of India, Russia sees the clash as a challenge to its geo-strategy and is seeking to negotiate a resolution to the conflict.
World coronavirus cases rocket past 9 million as pandemic accelerates
By Bryan Dyne, 22 June 2020
Public health expert warns that infections will not come in waves, but as “one very, very difficult forest fire of cases.”
India and China rush troops, weaponry to disputed border region
By Keith Jones, 22 June 2020
India has placed on the “highest alert” the 300,000 troops it has arrayed along its 3,500-kilometer border with China.
US stokes India-China conflict, blames Chinese “aggression” for border clash
By Keith Jones, 20 June 2020
Senior US official David Stilwell provocatively told a press briefing that the Chinese army had “invaded” the “contested area” between India and China.
India and China remain on knife edge as war tensions continue
By Shuvu Batta and Keith Jones, 19 June 2020
While proclaiming they want to de-escalate, India and China are each demanding the other stand down and pouring additional troops and weapons into their border regions.
Sharp spike of coronavirus deaths in India
By Saman Gunadasa, 19 June 2020
Right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi has categorically ruled out a second lockdown even after India registered more than 2,000 deaths on Tuesday and over 13,000 new infections on both Wednesday and Thursday.
Dozens die in India-China border clash
By Keith Jones, 17 June 2020
It is the enmeshing of the India-China rivalry with the strategic confrontation between China and US imperialism that makes the border dispute so combustible and incendiary.
Indian cruise ship crew stage second protest in three days
By Tom Casey, 16 June 2020
Thousands of cruise ship workers—some of them infected with COVID-19—remained trapped on vessels around the world after the industry shut down last March in response to the pandemic
India: A massive explosion in Gujarat chemical plant kills 10 workers
By Arun Kumar, 13 June 2020
The tragic loss of life and terrible injuries are a direct result of government and company indifference towards mandatory work safety measures.
UK: Indian cruise ship crew members still awaiting repatriation
By Paul Bond, 12 June 2020
Around 650 Indian crew members of TUI/Marella cruise ships are still laid up in waters off Southampton on the south coast of England.
COVID-19 cases rise rapidly after South Asia’s governments abandon lockdowns
By our correspondents, 10 June 2020
India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have all recorded dramatic increases in COVID-19 infections and deaths over the past week.
Trump confers with Modi over explosive India-China border dispute
By Shuvu Batta and Keith Jones, 8 June 2020
Intensifying the US strategic offensive against China, the Trump administration has publicly sided with India, and is goading New Delhi on in its border standoff with Beijing.
India and Australia sign military pact amid tense border conflict with China
By Mike Head, 8 June 2020
The Modi-Morrison “summit” occurred just two days after US President Trump reiterated his support for India’s confrontation with China.
India-wide protests by military armament and power industry workers; Australian airport workers demand JobKeeper pay
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
6 June 2020
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Indian government abandons lockdown measures as coronavirus infections soar
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 2 June 2020
An epidemiologist who is advising the government on its plan to “reopen” the economy blithely acknowledged that it will result in a catastrophic loss of life, declaring that “India may see at least two million deaths.”
Explosion at Indian thermal power plant kills four workers
By Arun Kumar, 1 June 2020
The tragic deaths are a result of the management’s hasty moves to resume work, in line with the Modi government’s instructions to reopen the economy.
Coronavirus cases surpass six million globally
By Bryan Dyne, 30 May 2020
New epicenters in Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent are rapidly causing massive public health crises.
After ignoring migrant workers’ plight, the Indian Supreme Court now acknowledges unfolding social tragedy
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 30 May 2020
The court’s intervention reflects concerns fear by India’s legal authorities that mounting mass anger will erupt against the entire capitalist elite and its state.
Indian autoworkers strike for COVID-19 safety measures; Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers demonstrate
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
30 May 2020
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Trump intrudes in China-India border standoff
By Keith Jones, 29 May 2020
US President Donald Trump intruded into the tense border standoff between China and India Wednesday with a spurious offer to mediate and even “arbitrate” “their now raging border dispute.”
Mumbai health care system overwhelmed as COVID-19 surges across India
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 28 May 2020
”It’s a war zone,” said a doctor employed at one of the main hospitals in India’s second largest city.
Washington incites India in tense border dispute with China
By Keith Jones, 22 May 2020
Washington’s vocal support for New Delhi is in marked contrast with its stance during the 2017 Indo-China border dispute, and is part of a dramatic escalation of its anti-China offensive.
Cyclone Amphan kills over 90 and devastates wide areas of eastern India and Bangladesh
By Arun Kumar, 22 May 2020
Millions of people have been evacuated from cyclone-hit areas in South Asia, but their relocation into overcrowded temporary shelters place them in real danger of contracting COVID-19.
As Modi government eases lockdown, coronavirus cases surge in India
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 19 May 2020
Municipal authorities in Mumbai, India’s second largest city, recently announced that due to a lack of hospital beds, they were placing COVID-19 patients on a waiting list for medical treatment.
Modi promotes “herd immunity,” vows “quantum jump” in pro-investor reforms
By Wasantha Rupasinghe and Keith Jones, 18 May 2020
As the Modi government expands its reckless back-to-work drive, India reported yesterday its biggest daily jump in COVID-19 cases to date.
Thousands of migrant workers demonstrate across India; Tamil Nadu cleaners demand COVID-19 protection
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia
16 May 2020
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The brutal face of India’s ruling class
Sixteen migrant workers killed by goods train
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 14 May 2020
The workers, aged between 20 and 35, were attempting to return to their home state of Madhya Pradesh, having previously worked at a steel plant in Maharashtra.
India’s calamitous COVID-19 lockdowns leave more than 120 million jobless
By Wasantha Rupasinghe and Keith Jones, 14 May 2020
Egged on by big business, the BJP government is now pushing for a return to work, and cynically citing the suffering its lockdown has inflicted on India’s working people to justify making them risk infection and death.
Strikes and workers’ protests mount against “back to work” campaign
By Shannon Jones, 9 May 2020
The incompetence and callous disregard for human life by the capitalist authorities in country after country is fueling an upsurge in the class struggle.
India: Toxic gas leak in Visakhapatnam kills 11 people and puts thousands in danger
By Pradeep Ramanayake, 9 May 2020
The deadly leak began as employees were about to resume work at the LG Polymers plant, following the Modi government’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Workers in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan strike to demand coronavirus-safe working conditions
Workers Struggles: Asia
9 May 2020
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Modi eases lockdown restrictions even as COVID-19 cases surge across India
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 8 May 2020
India’s far-right BJP government is pressing to “reopen” the economy so that sweatshop exploitation of the working class can resume at full throttle, even as the number of COVID-19 cases surges.
Indian migrant workers in Chennai speak to WSWS about coronavirus pandemic
By Sasi Kumar and Moses Rajkumar, 8 May 2020
“We’ve received no help whatsoever from any political parties or the government. None of us living here have been given a coronavirus medical test or provided with face masks for safety.”
Millions in South Asia react with shock and horror at ruling elite’s incompetence over pandemic
By Wije Dias, 6 May 2020
The capitalist system failed from the pandemic’s outset to identify or treat hundreds of thousands of ordinary people.
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