2020-03-21: News Headlines

RT (2020-03-21). Recession 'INEVITABLE' in Germany, Bundesbank chief warns as country mulls lockdown amid coronavirus pandemic. rt.com The coronavirus pandemic will trigger a serious downturn in the German economy, European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member and Deutsche Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann has said. | Recession in Germany is "now inevitable," Weidmann told Die Welt newspaper in an interview published on Saturday. | When asked how bad the economic downturn will be, Weidemann said that all efforts first must be focused on stopping the spread on the coronavirus with steps such as social distancing. He also noted that "drastic measures" like curfew restrictions may be considered by the government. | The global economy took a…

RT (2020-03-21). Spain's Covid-19 death toll jumps by over 300 in one day, number of cases nears 25,000. rt.com The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in Spain has hit 1,326, an increase of over 300 in just one day, as the coronavirus crisis deepens in Europe. | The Spanish health ministry announced that the number of Covid-19 cases in the Iberian country climbed to 24,926 on Saturday, an increase of nearly 5,000 from Friday's tally of 19,980. | Speaking on Friday, Spanish health emergencies chief, Fernando Simon, said that the number of infected people could actually be higher than reported as the test laboratories are "overwhelmed" and unable to process all of the samples. | Spain is Europe's second-worst hit countr…

RT (2020-03-21). 'We are not deserters!' French construction union chief hits back at labor minister after accusation of 'defeatism' on Covid-19. rt.com The chief of France's largest construction association has voiced his disdain after a top labor official said businesses are too quick to shut down work amid the Covid-19 pandemic that is becoming more deadly by the day. | Jacques Chanut, the president of the French Federation of Construction (FFB), the country's biggest building industry union, slammed Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud for her "contempt" towards construction companies struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic. | In an op-ed for Le Figaro titled "No, Madame Penicaud, the construction workers are not deserting!" Chanut urged the government to "take…

RT (2020-03-21). 'Not sure we're NOT infecting people,' French police union tells RT as govt fails to provide protection against Covid-19. rt.com Police could be spreading coronavirus instead of enforcing the lockdown in France due to a lack of masks and gloves, a police union spokesperson told RT after the government was accused of not issuing protective gear to officers. | "Security officers, police and other people, who uphold law and order in the country, need to be protected. This virus doesn't distinguish between police, medics and other citizens," Christophe Crepin, spokesperson for the law enforcement union, France Police — Policiers en colere, told RT. | We are not even sure that we — police officers — are not potentially infecti…

RT (2020-03-21). Iran & France conduct prisoner swap in 'act of mutual cooperation'. rt.com Iran and France carried out a prisoner swap on Friday, Tehran has confirmed. The Islamic Republic released a French academic, Roland Marchal, who was turned over to the French Embassy in Tehran. | Hours earlier, an Iranian engineer, Jalal Rohollahnejad, who was detained by France last year under a US extradition warrant, was freed by French authorities. | Iran had previously accused Paris of holding the Iranian national without due process. France made similar allegations regarding Tehran's detention of Marchal, with the issue straining bilateral relations. | A spokesman for the Iranian judiciary hailed the ex…

The Canary (2020-03-21). Coronavirus crisis causes surge in dangerous channel crossings by desperate refugees. thecanary.co Fears around the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have caused a surge in refugees trying to cross the English channel to the UK. The refugees risk their lives making these journeys in dangerous inflatable boats.Border patrols have blocked more than a 100 refugees from entering the UK this week. There are fears that 3,000 refugees living in desperate conditions in northern France are at high risk of contracting coronavirus.Desperation: Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley said it was only a matter of time before the virus swept through refugee camps.Bella Sankey, director of charity Detention Action, told the P…

RT (2020-03-21). Thousands of French citizens ignore quarantine as cops issue nearly 39,000 citations for violating lockdown. rt.com French law enforcers have slapped fines on tens of thousands of uncooperative citizens, less than a week after the government introduced restrictions on non-essential travel and business in an effort to combat Covid-19. | The Ministry of Interior disclosed on Saturday that police across the country had carried out 867,695 inspections to ensure that people using transport or participating in other restricted activities had good reason to do so. As a result, cops reported some 38,994 instances of non-compliance resulting in fines between Tuesday and Friday. French authorities have also warned that they will beco…

RT (2020-03-21). Russia delivers over 100,000 Covid-19 test kits to 13 states, including Iran, North Korea. rt.com The testing tools for coronavirus were delivered to 13 countries, including Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states Iran and North Korea, Russia's public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Saturday. | The equipment manufactured in Russia can conduct over 100,000 tests for Covid-19, and has already been used to track down the first cases of the disease in Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Moscow is due to ship the equipment to Serbia, as well as to Egypt and Venezuela. | Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said earlier this week that Russia has no shortage of testing kits. A government…

RT (2020-03-21). Italy coronavirus death toll hits 4,825 as 793 die in ONE DAY in biggest daily increase. rt.com The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in Italy has nearly reached 5,000, as health authorities reported on Saturday that another 793 people have fallen victim to the coronavirus. | Saturday's staggering increase of nearly 20 percent is by far the largest daily rise since the outbreak began a month ago. | Officials announced that 4,825 people have died from the disease in the Mediterranean nation, which surpassed China to become the worst-hit country in the world on Thursday. | The total number of cases across Italy rose to 53,578, an increase of over 5,000 from a previous tally of 47,021. | The worst-affect…

RT (2020-03-21). Cristiano Ronaldo's mother speaks of 'difficult days' as she posts emotional message upon release from hospital. rt.com Maria Dolores, mother of Juventus star Cristinao Ronaldo, had been in hospital since a March 3 stroke and has issued an emotional message on social media after being given a clean bill of health by Portuguese doctors. | The 65-year-old was discharged from a medical facility on Saturday after suffering from a ischemic stroke, a condition caused by a clot blocking a blood vessel to the brain. | Her superstar son had flown to the hospital in Madeira soon after hearing the news, where he has stayed during the coronavirus outbreak which has ravaged Italy, and was seen wearing protective clothing, such as masks and…

RT (2020-03-21). Italian crematoriums running out of space as MILITARY patrols enforce quarantine in world's DEADLIEST coronavirus hotspot (VIDEOS). rt.com With Italy taking China's place as the top Covid-19 epicenter, the country is struggling to keep up with the number of new deaths, as morgues quickly fill to capacity and the army has been called in to enforce a national lockdown.

RT (2020-03-21). Coronavirus death toll in Italy's Lombardy surpasses 3,000 as 546 more perish. rt.com The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in the worst hit Italian region of Lombardy has surpassed 3,000, as the latest statistics show that 546 more people have fallen victim to the virus. | The region in northern Italy has been ravaged by the disease, with more people dying in that area than any country in the world except China. Officials announced on Saturday that a total of 3,095 people have now died from the illness. | The shocking figures come hot on the heels of Italy announcing that it had recorded its worst day for Covid-19 deaths, when 627 people died across the country between Thursday and Friday.

RT (2020-03-21). Twice-daily health checks and no spectators allowed: World Chess Candidates grabs online audience as sports hit by coronavirus. rt.com With stringent coronavirus tests before and after each game, the World Chess Candidates has become an unlikely sensation as action-starved sports fans go online to watch the battle of minds in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg. | Eight potential challengers are duking it out for the right to challenge the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, and for a €500,000 (US$538,000) prize fund — but the start of the three-week contest has been overshadowed by fears of Covid-19, with two competitors from China facing 14-day quarantine periods before the event began, and at least one player dropping out in protest ove…

Caitlin A. Johnstone (2020-03-21). Liberal NPCs hate Russia, Conservative NPCs hate China. mronline.org The frenzied, shrieking hysteria I'm witnessing right now among Trump's base regarding China looks and moves in the exact same way the mental zombification of Russia hysteria looked and moved when it began tearing through rank-and-file Democrats in late 2016 and early 2017. The seething, screaming vitriol I get from the MAGA crowd on social […] |

RT (2020-03-21). Russian economy can survive for a long time with oil at $20 per barrel. rt.com Despite efforts by Russia to gradually cut its reliance on oil, a lengthy energy market turmoil could be challenging for the country's economy and could even result in a major economic crisis. | Oil has continued its dramatic fall this week, dropping to more than an 18-year low on Wednesday amid global recession worries and low demand. Both US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and international benchmark Brent slightly rebounded on Thursday, trading at $22.55 and $27.65 respectively. | The key issue now is not how low can crude prices plunge, but for how long this situation persists, Aleksandr Bakhtin, investment…

WSWS (2020-03-21). Over 620 deaths in Italy on Friday as coronavirus fatalities surge in Europe. wsws.org Italy, Spain, Belgium and the UK all recorded their largest death tolls in the global coronavirus pandemic in a single day, Friday.

teleSUR (2020-03-21). Covid-19 Updates: Death Toll Rises to 12 in Portugal. telesurenglish.net Update: 10: 00 | Portugal: the death toll rises to 12 and 1,280 infections are reported‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã | Health Minister Marta Temido announced that Portugal has 1,280 Covid-19 cases and 12 dead. Her country expects to reach the peak of the pandemic on April 14, which is an estimate based on the evolution of the number of cases to date. | RELATED: | Three percent o…

WSWS (2020-03-21). Turkey's coronavirus measures: billions for business, crumbs for workers. wsws.org Before this program was announced, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Turkey was 97; it has now risen to 670.

repost (2020-03-21). Italy's Misleading Figures on the C-Virus. indybay.org In addition to false positives from the C-virus testing kits, we have these figures from Italy's Italian Institute of Health (ISS):…

The Lancet (2020-03-21). [Editorial] COVID-19: protecting health-care workers. thelancet.com Worldwide, as millions of people stay at home to minimise transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, health-care workers prepare to do the exact opposite. They will go to clinics and hospitals, putting themselves at high risk from COVID-2019. Figures from China's National Health Commission show that more than 3300 health-care workers have been infected as of early March and, according to local media, by the end of February at least 22 had died. In Italy, 20% of responding health-care workers were infected, and some have died.

Larry Romanoff (2020-03-21). COVID-USA: Targeting Italy and South Korea. globalresearch.ca A high-level Italian virologist, Giuseppe Remuzzi, has published papers in the Lancet and other articles in which he states facts not hitherto known. (1) |
The doctor stated that Italian physicians now recall having seen: | "a very strange and very severe …

WSWS (2020-03-21). Italian health care workers speak out on coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org The health care system in Italy, now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is under unbearable strain amid an exponential increase in infections and deaths.

yenisafak (2020-03-21). Portugal's death toll from coronavirus doubles to 12. yenisafak.com The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in Portugal doubled overnight to 12, the country's national health authority DGS said on Saturday.The number of confirmed cases rose to 1,280 from 1,059 the previous day, it said, adding that 35 people were in intensive care. Portugal declared a state of emergency to stem the spread of the virus on Wednesday.

yenisafak (2020-03-21). Emirates suspends France, Germany, Nigeria and some US flights due to pandemic. yenisafak.com Emirates, one of the world's biggest international airlines, is suspending all flights to France, Germany, Nigeria, New York and New Jersey due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to internal emails seen by Reuters.France, Germany and Nigeria flights would be suspended from March 23 until further notice, a company email said.Flights to New York JFK and New Jersey's Newark EWR would be suspended from March 24 until further notice, another company email said.The airline did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.Emirates, which has already suspended dozens of routes, said in the emails it was…

yenisafak (2020-03-21). Slovak parties sign government coalition deal. yenisafak.com Slovakia's incoming prime minister, Igor Matovic, the leader of the Ordinary People (OLANO) party that won a February election, signed a coalition deal with three other parties on Saturday.Slovak President Zuzana Caputova is due to appoint a new centre-right government led by Matovic later in the day. |

yenisafak (2020-03-21). German coronavirus cases rise by 2,705 to 16,662. yenisafak.com The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has risen by 2,705 within a day to reach 16,662, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said on Saturday.It said a total of 47 people had died after testing positive, an increase of 16 from a tally of 31 published on Friday.

yenisafak (2020-03-21). Turkey suspends flights to 46 more countries, bans picnics. yenisafak.com Turkey extended measures against the coronavirus on Saturday, suspended flights with 46 more countries and banning picnics and barbecues, as the number of cases has roughly doubled every day for a week.The death toll in Turkey due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) rose to nine, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said late on Friday, after five elderly patients died of the highly contagious respiratory illness.The number of confirmed cases in the country has surged since the first case was announced last week, reaching 670 on Friday.Ankara had already banned flights with 22 countries, closed schools, cafes and bars, banne…

yenisafak (2020-03-21). Russia's top carmaker Avtovaz reports first coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com Russia's largest carmaker Avtovaz reported the first two cases of the coronavirus among its workers, it said on Saturday.Russia, which has so far reported 253 cases of the virus and one death, has introduced a raft of economic and social measures to limit its spread.Avtovaz's factory, which employs around 35,000 workers in Russia's Volga city of Togliatti, does not plan to stop production, the representative, who asked not to be named, said. There have been coronavirus cases confirmed at Togliatti before Avtovaz."The situation is under control," he added. "Everything is working, is on schedule."Moscow has suspend…

yenisafak (2020-03-21). Cooperation with OPEC 'meaningless': Rosneft CEO. yenisafak.com Cooperation between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-OPEC oil producing countries has become meaningless, according to the head of Russian energy giant Rosneft.Due to both U.S. sanctions and COVID-19, the OPEC agreement means little, Igor Sechin told Russia 24 TV late Friday."Cooperation between OPEC and some non-OPEC crude oil producer countries has now lost meaning. The reasons for the state of the political and consumer market are now more meaningful," Sechin said.Sechin, one of the figures behind Russia's decision to withdraw from OPEC, said Russia has to maintain its…

sputniknews (2020-03-21). North Macedonia's Leader Signs Final NATO Accession Document. sputniknews.com BELGRADE (Sputnik) – North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski has signed the final document for the Balkan country's entry into NATO.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Munich's Marienplatz Deserted Amid Coronavirus Lockdown – Video. sputniknews.com Bavaria became the first region in Germany to introduce a lockdown after Minister-President Markus Soeder announced an almost complete shutdown of public life to curb the infection.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Russia Registers 4 Ceasefire Violations in Syria Over Past 24 Hours — Defen—Åe Ministry. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian truce has recorded four ceasefire violations in Syria over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has recorded no truce breaches, the Russian Defence Ministry said in its daily bulletin on Saturday.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Best Hits: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's Greatest Achievements and Public Gaffes as He Turns 70. sputniknews.com Russia's top diplomat has earned the respect of his colleagues both at home and abroad for his professionalism and the love of the public – mostly due unexpected gaffes rarely heard from people in his profession.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Coronavirus Fallout in Russia: Which Industries Will Benefit in Quarantine Era? sputniknews.com On 11 March, the World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, urging all countries to activate and scale up emergency response mechanisms.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). 'Outstanding Diplomat and Mr No': Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Turns 70. sputniknews.com Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is one of the longest-serving Russian cabinet members and has been steering the country's diplomacy at the helm of the Foreign Ministry since 2004, turns 70 on 21 March.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Moscow Calls on Washington to Lift Sanctions Against Iran Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow calls on the United States to abandon its unilateral sanctions against Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Giant Cloud of Smoke Rises Over Moscow Region Due to Fire at Aluminium Plant – Photo, Video. sputniknews.com According to emergency services, the incident occurred at an industrial building belonging to an aluminium plant in the city of Dmitrov. At the moment, the conflagration is considered to be very hazardous, as it has spread to 80 percent of the building.

sputniknews (2020-03-21). Moscow Blasts US Statements About Russia's Alleged 'Energy Weapons' as Insinuation. sputniknews.com The US recently reiterated its criticism of Russia's sale of energy resources, calling its actions "malign" amid the ongoing dive in oil prices caused by the collapse of the OPEC+ deal.

RT (2020-03-20). Pentagon sends 2,600 Europe-based personnel into QUARANTINE after 35 test positive for coronavirus. rt.com Thousands of US troops and military staff based in Europe have been ordered into self-isolation after at least 35 of them tested positive for Covid-19, further complicating Washington's power projection across the Atlantic. | Some 2,600 European Command (EUCOM) troops and personnel were isolated on Friday in an effort to stem the spread of the lethal virus, following nearly three dozen positive test results. The Defense Department noted that the troops quarantined were not ill, but were isolated as a precaution due to recent travel, among other reasons. | "These individuals are not necessarily sick, but may ha…

RT (2020-03-20). US to close border with Mexico for 'non-essential' travel in effort to stem coronavirus spread. rt.com Starting Saturday, the US-Mexico border will be closed to nonessential travel in order to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, US President Donald Trump announced Friday. | The closure is open-ended and "will last as long as necessary," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added. | Trade is exempt from the restriction, which will focus on curbing tourism and recreational activities. President Trump said that Mexico is also suspending air travel from Europe. The Mexican government, however, has not yet announced a European travel ban. | "As we did with Canada, we're also working with Mexico to implement new…

RT (2020-03-20). EasyJet to ground most of its fleet, as coronavirus slaughters airline industry. rt.com British budget airline EasyJet will ground the majority of its fleet, in response to a wave of travel restrictions across Europe. The airline industry as a whole has been pummeled by the global Covid-19 pandemic. | In a statement on Friday, the company said that the majority of its 300-plus fleet will be grounded from Tuesday onwards. After finishing up its remaining schedule of rescue and repatriation flights, EasyJet said it will operate a minimum schedule of essential flights on some UK routes. | These flights will account for only 10 percent of the airline's usual capacity, the statement read. | Also on rt…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-03-20). Death at the Greek Border: Syrian Refugees Should Not Be Used as Political Pawns. counterpunch.org In a surprising move, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced on February 29 that he will be re-opening his country's border to Europe, thus allowing tens of thousands of mostly Syrian refugees into Greece and other European countries. Expectedly, over 100,000 people rushed to the Ipsala border point in the Edirne province separating Turkey from

Eric A. Gordon (2020-03-20). 'Zajal': Composer Dave Soldier traces origin of modern song to medieval Spain. peoplesworld.org In the wake of our review of his Naked Revolution: A Socialist Realist Opera, the composer, Dave Soldier, thought People's World might also be interested in his CD Zajal, an album of 11 songs performed in Hebrew, Arabic and Romance (early Spanish), and one in English. The poets in all but one song lived in …

Staff (2020-03-20). Doctor: As Coronavirus Cases Spike Worldwide, We Need Global Cooperation to Halt Spread. democracynow.org As the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has topped 10,000, with over 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, we speak with Stanford University's global health expert Dr. Michele Barry, an infectious disease doctor. Italy has surpassed China in coronavirus deaths, and cases are rising in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, as the governor of California has ordered all 40 million residents to shelter in place.

RT (2020-03-20). Senator Burr enabled Russiagaters for years; now they're accusing him of insider trading & coronavirus lies. rt.com Richard Burr, chair of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, has been accused of deceiving the public about the coronavirus outbreak and seeking to profit from it by dumping stocks that are crashing due to the pandemic. | Burr (R-North Carolina) found himself under attack from two directions on Thursday. Early in the day, National Public Radio ran a story based on "secret recordings" from a speech he gave in North Carolina in late February, when he gave oddly specific warnings about Covid-19 to an elite group of donors, while keeping the rest of the American public in the dark. | SCOOP: Secret recording obtain…

Staff (2020-03-20). Headlines for March 20, 2020. democracynow.org Worldwide COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 10,000 as Italian Nurses "Stop Counting the Dead", Refugee Groups Warn of COVID-19 "Carnage" in Camps Housing Millions, Coronavirus Multiplies Across Australia, Latin America, Africa and Middle East, California Gov. Gavin Newsom Issues Statewide "Stay at Home" Order for 40 Million, New York Mayor Calls on Trump to Mobilize Military to Aid Overwhelmed Hospitals, Georgia State Legislators Urged to Self-Quarantine; Spring Break Revelers Party On in Florida, Demands Grow to Empty ICE Jails as NJ Detention Center Worker Tests Positive, Trump Blasts "Corrupt" Media at Rambling Coronav…

Gareth Porter (2020-03-20). The New York Times' Insidious Ongoing Disinformation Campaign on Russia and Elections. globalresearch.ca For the past three years the new narrative of Russian interference in U.S. elections has bound corporate news media more tightly than ever to the interests of the national security state. And no outlet has pushed that narrative more aggressively …

Julian Vigo (2020-03-20). What We Must Learn from Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. dissidentvoice.org One of the major concerns about COVID-19 in northern Italy after concern for the physically infirm and elderly is the impact treating patients will have on the healthcare system. The healthcare system in many northern Italian regions is already at a breaking point as within the first twenty days of the outbreak over 10,000 infections …

teleSUR (2020-03-20). Africa, Latin America Fragile Targets for Coronavirus Spread. telesurenglish.net The West African nation of Mali has roughly one ventilator per 1 million people — 20 in all to help the critically ill with respiratory failure. In Peru, with more than 32 million people, about 350 beds in intensive care units exist. | RELATED: | Many of their nations are slamming shut borders and banning large gatherings in the hope of avoiding the scenes in wealthier countries such as Italy and the U.S., but…

Alessandro Delfanti (2020-03-20). Workers and the Virus: Radical Lessons from Italy in the Age of COVID-19. globalresearch.ca In the face of the mounting