2020-03-23: News Headlines

The Canary (2020-03-23). Coronavirus: Latest updates from across the world. thecanary.co Covid-19 has infected hundreds of thousands of people across the globe.Here are the latest updates: — IRANIran has reported another 127 coronavirus-related deaths, bringing its toll to 1,812 amid 23,049 confirmed cases.Iran is battling the worst outbreak in the Middle East, and has faced criticism for not imposing stricter quarantine measures early on. It is also suffering under severe American sanctions imposed after President Donald Trump withdrew the US from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.(PA Graphics)— SWITZERLANDThe World Health Organisation (WHO) said criminals are increasingly posing…

RT (2020-03-23). Germany already FLATTENING the curve of Covid-19 infections, says public health chief. rt.com The head of Germany's public health institute claims that the rate of new coronavirus infection in the country is showing signs of flattening, highlighting the success of social distancing measures adopted nationwide. | "We are seeing signs that the exponential growth curve is flattening off slightly," said Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute. "But I will only be able to confirm this trend definitively on Wednesday." | Germany was among the first European nations to introduce a raft of emergency response measures including school closures and the severe curtailment of public gatherings. | Wieler s…

RT (2020-03-23). European markets tumble as global health crisis takes toll on economy. rt.com Stock markets around the world are starting the week mostly lower as the spread of the coronavirus continues to drag down the global economy, | The FTSE index is down over four percent at the start of trading in London, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC have plummeted almost five percent. The pan-European Stoxx 600 dropped 4.5 percent at the opening bell on Monday, with industrials nosediving six percent to lead the losses. | pic.twitter.com/kyzOribwWW— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) March 23, 2020

RT (2020-03-23). Spain's coronavirus death toll spikes by 462 fatalities overnight, 4,500+ new cases. rt.com The Spanish Health Ministry has confirmed that an additional 462 people died overnight bringing the country's total loss of life during the coronavirus crisis to 2,182. | Spain was among the first European countries to initiate a nationwide lockdown protocol as infection rates soared. The total number of coronavirus cases in the country rose from 28,572 to 33,089 on Monday, despite the best efforts of authorities to impose strict social distancing. | Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned Saturday that "the worst is yet to come," as the nation's beleaguered health system struggles to turn the tide of infe…

WSWS (2020-03-23). Coronavirus total in US skyrockets as testing expands. wsws.org The United States now leads the world in new cases and is second only to China and Italy in the number of patients infected with COVID-19.

repost (2020-03-23). 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):…

Telesur (2020-03-23). Cuba Sends 53 Doctors and Nurses to Fight Covid-19 in Italy. globalresearch.ca Cuban health authorities announced on Thursday that the country will send 53 health professionals to Lombardy, Italy, to help contain the new coronavirus pandemic. | The 53 doctors and nurses have experience in caring for these types of diseases. In 2014, …

WSWS (2020-03-23). Italy's health workers denounce ruling elite's negligence on coronavirus. wsws.org Anger is mounting among Italy's medical personnel at the inadequate resources invested in fundamental health services and the negligence of state authorities.

WSWS (2020-03-23). Coronavirus kills more than 2,600 across Europe in one weekend. wsws.org Though large parts of Europe with hundreds of millions of inhabitants are under lockdown, the contagion is still spreading relentlessly across the continent.

WSWS (2020-03-23). Russian cases of coronavirus surge as economic crisis hits. wsws.org The Russian oligarchy is promoting nationalism and xenophobia and pushing for greater surveillance and dictatorial measures, as social tensions are set to escalate over the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic.

yenisafak (2020-03-23). 'Greece must end violations on Turkish-Greek border'. yenisafak.com Greece must take immediate action to end the violence against migrants and asylum seekers at the Turkey-Greece border and enhance their protection, a UN human rights expert said Monday."I am very concerned about the reported pushbacks of asylum seekers and migrants, which constitutes a violation of the prohibition of collective expulsions and the principle of non-refoulement," said Felipe Gonzalez Morales, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants.The UN expert, in a statement, expressed alarm at the reports of assaults and violence against asylum seekers by Greek security officers and unidentifie…

yenisafak (2020-03-23). Finland to shut down bars, eateries, restrict movement. yenisafak.com Northern European nation Finland on Monday announced that it will soon restrict movements and shut down restaurants and bars all over the country. | Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said the government was ready to take all necessary measures to contain the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic. | "The government is preparing for restrictions to close private facilities such as restaurants. Restrictions on movement are also under preparation," said Marin on Twitter. | "The government is ready to take all necessary measures to contain the epidemic, ensure the carrying capacity of our health care system and…

yenisafak (2020-03-23). Turkey, Russia conduct second joint patrol in Idlib. yenisafak.com Turkish and Russian forces have conducted the second joint patrol on the M4 highway in Idlib, northwestern Syria, in line with the Moscow Agreement, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Monday."Within the framework of the Moscow agreement, the 2nd joint Turkish-Russian land patrol on the M4 highway has been completed with the contribution of air and land assets," a ministry statement said.Turkey and Russia agreed on a protocol which urged parties to "cease all military actions along the line of contact in the Idlib de-escalation area starting from 00: 01 of March 6, 2020."It added that both parties stressed t…

yenisafak (2020-03-23). Coronavirus: Global death toll climbs over 15,000. yenisafak.com The global death toll from novel coronavirus soared past 15,000 on Monday, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the U.S.The virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China last December, has spread to at least 167 countries and regions around the globe, while a total of 15,308 people have died and the tally of confirmed cases exceeds 349,000.In all, 100,165 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered from the disease so far.Italy, China, Spain and Iran continue to be the most affected countries.Although China has the most confirmed cases with nearly 81,500, Italy recorded the most coronavirus-rela…

yenisafak (2020-03-23). COVID-19: Spain reports 462 more deaths in one day. yenisafak.com At least 2,182 people died in Spain from COVID-19 and 33,089 cases have been confirmed so far, according to official data released on Monday.Over the last 24-hours, the country saw 462 people die, and around 4,500 new cases were confirmed.Over 2,300 people are now in intensive care units (ICUs), while 3,355 have recovered.On Monday, a government spokesperson confirmed that around 12% (3,910) of all confirmed cases have been discovered in the country's healthcare workers.Over the weekend, Madrid, which has registered over 1,200 deaths already, had its hospitals near collapse. In at least one hospital, patients wer…

yenisafak (2020-03-23). Spain reports 462 coronavirus-related more deaths in one day. yenisafak.com At least 2,182 people died in Spain from COVID-19 and 33,089 cases have been confirmed so far, according to official data released on Monday.Over the last 24-hours, the country saw 462 people die, and around 4,500 new cases were confirmed.Over 2,300 people are now in intensive care units (ICUs), while 3,355 have recovered.On Monday, a government spokesperson confirmed that around 12% (3,910) of all confirmed cases have been discovered in the country's healthcare workers.Over the weekend, Madrid, which has registered over 1,200 deaths already, had its hospitals near collapse. In at least one hospital, patients wer…

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Extending a Helping Hand: How Russia is Aiding Italy's Fight Against Raging COVID-19 Pandemic. sputniknews.com On 21 March, Russian President Vladimir Putin in talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte confirmed Russia's readiness to provide prompt assistance to Italy in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Italy Holds Consultations on Russian Experts' Engagement in COVID-19 Fight. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Italy has hold the first consultations on using the Russia-provided equipment for COVID-19 fight and on engaging Russian experts in the process, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Tenth Russian Plane With Specialists, Equipment to Fight COVID-19 Flies to Italy – MoD. sputniknews.com Earlier in the day, Russian military planes transported equipment and around 100 experts to Italy to provide the country with help amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Russian Military Cargo Planes Deliver Medical Equipment to Italy Amid Raging Coronavirus – Video. sputniknews.com Russian President Vladimir Putin offered the country's help to Italy last Saturday in light of the complicated situation caused by the pandemic, which has affected over 53,000 and killed at least 6,557.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Italy Requests Pentagon's Support in Battle Against COVID-19 Pandemic – Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Italian government has requested support from the US armed forces amid the coronavirus pandemic, CNN has reported, citing a US defence official.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). German Finance Minister Scholz to Speak In Parliament Instead of Merkel. sputniknews.com The German chancellor has gone into self-quarantine after having been treated by a doctor who later tested positive for the coronavirus infection. In the meantime, authorities have boosted security measures across the country to curb the pandemic.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Most EU Members 'Still Dragging Their Feet' on Meeting Transparency Criteria – Report. sputniknews.com Millions of documents known collectively as the Panama Papers were leaked in 2016, exposing a large number of offshore operations and shell companies, and implicating multiple officials and public figures from across the world through Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Moscow Calls on EU to Abandon Defender Drills Active Phase During WWII Victory Celebration. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia has called on European nations not to hold the active phase of the DEFENDER-Europe multinational exercise, initiated by the NATO, in the period when the 75th anniversary of World War II victory will be celebrated, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Monday.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Hospitalised With Respiratory Infection. sputniknews.com On 22 March, the number of cases registered in Spain increased from 28,572 cases to 33,089, while the coronavirus death toll climbed to 2,182, adding 462 fatalities overnight, the health ministry said.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Three Terrorist Attack Plotters Neutralised in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria – Authorities. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The law enforcement authorities of Russia's southern region of Kabardino-Balkaria have neutralised three bandits who were planning a terrorist attack, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said on Monday.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Russian Scientists to Study If Space Suits Can Bring Microbes Into ISS From Exterior. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian scientists intend to study whether cosmonauts during a space walk could pick up microorganisms on their space suits and bring them into the International Space Station (ISS), a department head of the Institute for Biological and Medical Issues of the Russian Academy of Sciences said in an interview.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Five COVID-19 Test Systems Registered in Russia – Health Minister. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Five test systems for detecting the coronavirus have been registered in Russia, and the country's scientific and industrial sectors have potential to boost the effort, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Monday.

sputniknews (2020-03-23). Moscow 'Closure' Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Not Discussed. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The possibility to "close" Moscow to contain the spread of the coronavirus is not discussed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

RT (2020-03-23). WATCH Russian Army deliver medical aid at airbase near Rome as Moscow rallies to help coronavirus-ravaged Italy. rt.com Russian personnel swiftly airlifted trucks full of medical equipment to Italy, the nation with the highest death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic. | A video by Russia's Defense Ministry shows containers with equipment being offloaded onto Kamaz military semi-trucks after an Il-76 transport plane landed in Italy's Pratica di Mare airbase, 30km (18.6 miles) from Rome. Personnel in white hazmat suits helped to prepare the cargo hatch before the vehicles could roll onto the tarmac. | Russian aircraft carrying Covid-19 aid have been arriving to Italy since Sunday evening. Moscow is helping Rome by providing medic…

RT (2020-03-22). Russian military planes with medics & supplies land in coronavirus-hit Italy (VIDEO). rt.com Seven Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport planes carrying medical supplies and experts to help Italy battle its devastating Covid-19 crisis have landed at the Italian Air Force base Pratica di Mare. | The aircraft brought medics and specialists in infectious diseases from Russia, as well as equipment necessary for diagnostics and disinfection. | The teams will immediately begin their work once the Italian side clarifies areas for deployment, the Russian Defense Ministry

South Front (2020-03-22). Video: 'Moderate Rebels' Bite Hand that Feeds Them. 2 Turkish Soldiers Killed in Idlib. globalresearch.ca Syria entered the second half of the week with a new spike of tensions in Greater Idlib. This escalation has been widely expected because militant groups are sabotaging key parts of the Russian-Turkish agreement on de-escalation in the area. | Radicals …

teleSUR (2020-03-22). Cuba Comes to Italy's Aid by Sending Team of Doctors and Nurses. telesurenglish.net The island-nation of Cuba has dispatched a team of doctors and nurses to help Italy combat the coronavirus outbreak that killed over 4,000 people inside the country in the last month. | RELATED: | Cuba announced on Sunday that the team of doctors and nurses to Italy after the worst-affected region, Lombardy, asked the island-nation for immediate assistance in helping them fight the coronavirus. | The Caribbean i…

teleSUR (2020-03-22). Italy's Death Toll Surges to 4,825 From Coronavirus Outbreak. telesurenglish.net Italy reported 6,557 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, raising the total to 53,578 since the pandemic first broke out in its north on Feb. 21, according to the latest data provided by the Civil Protection Department managing the COVID-19 emergency. | RELATED: | Further 793 people died of coronavirus in Italy in the past 24 hours, taking the country's death toll to 4,825. The number of active coronavirus infections…

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…

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 […] |

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.

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). 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). 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…

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 …

Staff (2020-03-19). Headlines for March 19, 2020. democracynow.org Italy Records Record 475 Coronavirus Deaths as Infections Continue Climbing, British PM Boris Johnson Closes Schools After Reversing Lax Virus Containment Plan, Millions of Brazilians Protest from Windows and Balconies Demanding President's Ouster, World Health Organization Warns Critical Lack of Testing Is Costing Lives, Egypt Arrests Protesters Calling for Release of Prisoners at Risk of COVID-19, Yemen, Already Wracked by U.S.-Supported, Saudi-Led War, Braces for Coronavirus, Trump Admin Tightens Sanctions That Have Devastated Iran's Public Health System, Trump Signs Coronavirus Relief Bill Providing Paid Leav…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-03-19). Death at the Border: Syrian Refugees Should Not Be Used as Political Pawns. mintpressnews.com Turkey's use of Syrian refugees as political pawns was one of the most tragic, heart-rendering episodes of the Syrian war and subsequent refugee crisis saga.

IRNA (2020-03-19). China, France send anti-Coronavirus aid to Iran. iranian.com Beijing Municipality sent 30 tons of medical and healthcare items to Iran in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The donation has been sent to the capital city of Tehran by 11 trucks. Thanking China for the measure, Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi called for mutual cooperation in various areas. France sends medical aid …

Ramzy Baroud (2020-03-18). Death at the Greek Border. dissidentvoice.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 …

Linda-Gail Bekker, One Dintwe, Andrew Fiore-Gartland, Keren Middelkoop, Julia Hutter, Anthony Williams, April K. Randhawa, Morten Ruhwald, Ingrid Kromann, Peter L. Andersen, Carlos A. DiazGranados, Kathryn T. Rutkowski, Dereck Tait, Maurine D. Miner, Erica Andersen-Nissen, Stephen C. De Rosa, Kelly E. Seaton, Georgia D. Tomaras, M. Juliana McElrath, Ann Ginsberg, James G. Kublin, HVTN 602 (2020-03-18). [Research Paper] A phase 1b randomized study of the safety and immunological responses to vaccination with H4:IC31, H56:IC31, and BCG revaccination in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-uninfected adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa. thelancet.com BCG revaccination administered as a single dose ID and both H4: IC31 and H56: IC31 administered as 2 doses IM had acceptable safety profiles in healthy, QFT-negative, previously BCG-vaccinated adolescents. Characterization of the assays and the immunogenicity of these vaccines may help to identify valuable markers of protection for upcoming immune correlates analyses of C-040-404 and future TB vaccine efficacy trials.

news.un (2020-03-18). UN agriculture agency staff continue to strive for a better world amid Italy COVID-19 lockdown. news.un.org Italy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, with nearly 28,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 2,503 deaths, according to latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). While a national quarantine has the country in lockdown, it has not halted the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), based in the capital, Rome.

Susan Price (2020-03-18). Coronavirus: Italy faces unprecedented emergency. greenleft.org.au

Ben Norton (2020-03-17). Italy and UK rely on help from Cuba, China, Venezuela to fight coronavirus — as US steps up brutal sanctions. thegrayzone.com Italy requested doctors from China, Cuba, and Venezuela to contain the coronavirus, while Cuba rescued a ship of British citizens….