So this is how Liberty dies…with thunderous applause.

A few days ago James Corbett posted a video titled “Is this THE big event?” the answer to that increasingly looks to be “yes”.

Not the virus itself, you understand, which official statistics still show to be minor compared to annual flu outbreaks. But rather, what it’s being used for. The West’s vestigial democratic forms, and slowly atrophying civil liberties are facing a final assault from draconian authoritarians sensing (or creating) their big moment.

Spain is enjoying “martial law in all but name”, while Italy is likewise bringing in the army.

Australia will gamble on an unprecedented $189 billion stimulus package to protect the nation from a looming recession.

Coronavirus: Social distancing enforced globally...

As the UK shuts pubs and millions of Americans told to stay home, the virus death toll passes 11,000.

 

Read more:

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-51984399

 

Going to the footy is off the agenda, pub crawls are on hold and your social calendar is swirling through the U-bend. But there are plenty of ways to kick loneliness to the curb during these wild times of social distancing.

Sydney Town Hall — picture by Gus Leonisky

From Casey Chalk:

Airplanes are grounded. Roads, deserted. The skies are clear and fish swim once again in Venice’s canals. Covid-19 has achieved in three short months what Greta Thunberg and her ilk could only dream of.

   The name Pluto, the god of the underworld, was proposed for a new planet, by Venetia Burney, 

Scott Morrison threatens funding for independent and Catholic schools over closures amid coronavirus crisis

Coalition urged to explain the trigger point for school closures and to prepare to support essential workers

Coronavirus fears lead to Eurovision cancellation as Boris Johnson closes schools to try and contain pandemic, live updates...

By Peter Marsh

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says all schools will close from Friday and Eurovision has been cancelled as Europe ramps up measures to deal with COVID-19.

Follow all the latest updates as they happen in our live blog.

 

More:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-19/coronavirus-australia-live-update...

Tim Blair is a positive guy… Super-positive. A + battery terminal… In the face of danger, Tim stands like a beacon on an English coast, resisting wave after wave of stormy shit news, on Monday 16th of March…