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HENRY FOWLER, co-founder of Strike Map, announces a new collaboration with UnionMaps, integrating two important sets of data that will facilitate the labour movement in its analysis, planning and action
Stunningly effective coronavirus approach: the secret of Kerala and Vietnam
The Indian state of Kerala and Vietnam are two poverty-stricken regions that are also particularly vulnerable to the spread of Covid-19 — yet they managed to control the epidemic in an impressive way. Why do they manage to save so many lives when the West still has thousands of new deaths every day? asks MARC VANDEPITTE
RICHARD BURGON MP reports that Cuba’s world-renowned medical programmes that support not only its citizens but countries worldwide are under strain from the US blockade, but the British labour movement can and must help
It’s hard to understand how minor divisions can come to dominate the process of building a challenge to the rule of the rich when the desperate need for a vehicle to fight poverty and despair is so abundantly clear, writes MATT KERR
Two-hundred years ago, on September 27 1825, the world’s first passenger railway line was opened between Stockton and Darlington. MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, reflects on the history – and the future – of Britain’s railway industry
In Washington, the willingness to accept an open war with Russia is growing — at Europe’s expense. While Nato states are being drawn into confrontation, Europe risks becoming the battlefield of a potential world war, warns SEVIM DAGDELEN
GEOFF BOTTOMS charts the history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway 200 years ago, which served as a blueprint for the modern network and opened up a new era of working-class travel
Less than 5 deaths
As a rule, poor countries are very vulnerable to COVID-19. Nevertheless, the fight against the virus was particularly effective in both countries. Kerala was one of the first Indian states affected by the virus. Six weeks after the outbreak, it already had the lowest mortality rate in the country. A total of 690 infections and four deaths were counted. India as a whole, on the other hand, may be heading for millions of corona cases with serious illness.
Vietnam did even better. It managed to nip the outbreak in the bud. A total of 324 infections and zero deaths have been reported to date.
Compared to the countries of the North, these countries have very few resources to fight the virus. Their GDP per capita is about 16 times lower than that of Britain. What, then, is the secret behind their efficient approach? We list its elements.
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