Plutocratist politicians in Ontario will try to bring back private hospitals, to create an opening for more expensive private medical care as in the US.

There remains one way for Russians to fly to Europe now: to take Air Serbia to Belgrade and transfer there.

Would it be better for Europe to block that route? I tend to think it is good to have some way for people to go back and forth between the EU and Russia. It facilitates communication.

Tracking Russia's oil tankers around the world.

To look at the results, which are posted on Twitter, without making your browser run nonfree JavaScript code, use nitter.org instead of twitter.com.

The Republican Party's Senate platform: (1) to make every low-paid worker pay at least a dollar in income tax and (2) make programs such as Social Security and Medicare disappear automatically after five years.

Many low-paid workers, particularly those with dependents, get aid money through the income tax system — their tax amount is negative. If this change replaces that with paying one dollar, it would cost them a lot of money.

For those that now owe no tax but would instead owe one dollar, it would impose the burden of filing a tax return. This may not be easy for people who are not used to it. Many Americans can't do it themselves, and pay for a tax professional' services. The poor can't afford that. This could put many workers in legal trouble.

Republicans might continue Social Security and Medicare, but they will surely find ways to shaft the poor with the changes.

* While everything suggests Russia may now be in serious trouble, there are still reasons for caution.*