(2020-04-02). Spain reports 110,238 coronavirus cases, almost reaches Italy's numbers. rt.com 
A total of 950 Covid-19 patients have died in Spain in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll from the coronavirus to over 10,000 people. | With 10,003 deaths from Covid-19 as of Thursday, Spain has become the second European nation, after Italy, where the disease has killed more than 10,000 patients. | The number of confirmed cases across the country has grown by 8,102, bringing the total to 110,238. Nearly 27,000 people have recovered since the start of the outbreak. | Spain, where the disease has been raging since February, remains Europe's second hardest-hit country, with the daily death rat…
(2020-04-02). Covid-19 deaths in Belgium top 1,000 as worldwide cases approach one million. rt.com 
Belgium's death toll from the Covid-19 virus has topped 1,000, officials have confirmed, with 183 new deaths in the last 24 hours. | As of April 2, Belgium, which has a population of 11.4 million, has recorded more than 15,300 cases of the coronavirus infection. | Health officials in the country said earlier this week that a 12-year-old girl infected with Covid-19 had died of the illness, noting that such a young fatality is a "very rare occurrence." | Belgium is one of many countries in Europe on an almost total lockdown to battle the coronavirus crisis. Belgians are only allowed to leave their homes to buy e…
(2020-04-02). EU's top court says eastern states broke law by refusing to host refugees. rt.com 
The European Union's top court has ruled that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic had broken the law by refusing to host refugees to help ease the burden on Greece and Italy after a surge in migrant arrivals from 2015. | "By refusing to comply with the temporary mechanism for the relocation of applicants for international protection, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have failed to fulfill their obligations under EU law," the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the EU said on Thursday. | The decision underscores Europe's divisions over migration. However, the three ex-communist nations face no immedia…
(2020-04-02). Hungary emergency measures 'went too far' — EU's von der Leyen. rt.com 
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed concern that coronavirus restriction measures taken by Hungary go "too far" and insisted they should be time-limited and subject to scrutiny. | On Monday, Hungary's parliament granted Prime Minister Viktor Orban an open-ended right to rule by decree. It also introduced jail sentences for anyone hindering measures to curb the spread of the virus or spreading false information about the pandemic, Reuters said. | "I am concerned that certain measures go too far and I am particularly concerned about the situation in Hungary," von der Leyen told repor…
(2020-04-02). More than 500,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Europe: AFP tally. rt.com 
There are now more than 500,000 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 virus across Europe, according to the latest tally by the AFP news agency. | The new count comes as the death toll from the virus has topped 10,000 in Spain, with confirmed cases there surging to over 110,000. French health officials confirmed 509 deaths from the virus yesterday, taking the country's death toll to more than 4,000. | The UK also saw its biggest daily rise in coronavirus deaths this week, with 563 new fatalities reported on Wednesday. Confirmed cases of the infection have been soaring in the UK, with almost 30,000 testing positive f…
(2020-04-02). Serbian govt to revoke coronavirus information control decree. rt.com 
Serbia's government will revoke a decree giving it control over information on the coronavirus outbreak. The decision follows protests and the detention of a journalist for reporting that a major hospital lacked protective gear and properly trained staff, Reuters reports. | Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the decree, which came into force on Saturday, would be revoked on Thursday "so not a shadow could be cast on our work." | The emergency measure, which said information about the coronavirus outbreak could only come from Brnabic or those authorized by her, had drawn criticism from the Organization for Securit…
(2020-04-02). Ireland's restrictions may go beyond April 12, deputy PM says. rt.com 
The highly restrictive measures Ireland put in place last week to slow the spread of coronavirus may well be extended beyond the initial deadline of April 12, Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said on Thursday. | Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar significantly ramped up previous restrictions last Friday when he ordered citizens to stay home and only leave to shop for groceries, for brief individual physical exercise or make absolutely essential family visits, Reuters said. Coveney says "people do need to realize that these restrictions may go on for some time." | "We've set an initial period but I think…
(2020-04-02). Greece quarantines first migrant camp after 20 asylum seekers test positive for coronavirus. rt.com 
Athens has quarantined a migrant camp after 20 asylum seekers tested positive for coronavirus, the first such facility in Greece to be hit since the outbreak of the disease. Any movement in or out of the Ritsona camp, which is 75km (45 miles) northeast of Athens and hosts hundreds of people, will be restricted for 14 days. | Tests on 63 people were conducted after a 19-year-old female migrant who gave birth in an Athens hospital was found to be infected. This was the first recorded case among thousands of asylum seekers living in overcrowded camps across Greece. | None of the confirmed cases showed any symptom…
(2020-04-02). Oil price war: Is it game over for Trump? rt.com 
As the US government tries to convince Russia and Saudi Arabia to put an end to the oil price war, it might just be too little, too late for the Trump Administration. | Saudi Arabia has already hired additional supertankers and a wave of additional supply is about to set sail, according to Saudi Aramco has also apparently f…
(2020-04-02). Sad Covid-19 record for Russia: 771 new cases registered across the country. rt.com 
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has grown by 771 in Russia on Thursday, marking the biggest single-day increase in patients since the start of the outbreak. | Over the past 24 hours, 771 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Russia, bringing the total number of cases reported nationwide to 3,548, the country's disease response officials say. | Six more patients have died, bringing the total death toll from Covid-19 to 30. | The majority of the new cases — 595 — have been reported in Moscow, while 43 were recorded in the region around the capital, and 22 in Russia's second-largest ci…
(2020-04-02). Saudi Arabia won't undermine Russia-US energy deal & risk facing oil price war on two fronts — market analyst to RT. rt.com 
If Moscow and Washington strike a deal to boost the sinking oil markets, Saudi Arabia had better stay out of their way, according to analysts who spoke to RT. | The US and Russia agreed to engage in energy talks earlier this week, as both the global coronavirus crisis and the oil row between Russia and Saudi Arabia sent crude prices into a tailspin. International benchmark Brent and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crashed to 18-year lows on Monday, but they have slightly recovered since then with the news of a possible deal. | The prices could plunge lower if no agreement is reached, analysts have told RT. Ac…
(2020-04-02). Tunisia Leads the Way: New Report Exposes Israel's False Democracy. dissidentvoice.org Tunisia is the Middle East's greatest success story, according to the findings of the V-Dem Annual Democracy Report 2019. One of the world's most regarded annual reports on democracy and good governance, the V-Dem Report is produced by the V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. While Tunisians can be …
(2020-04-02). The Swedish Alternative: Coronavirus as a Grand Gamble. counterpunch.org As draconian lockdowns, punitive regimes and surveillance become the norm of the coronavirus world, Sweden has treaded more softly in the field. This is certainly in contrast to its Scandinavian cousins, Denmark and Norway. The rudiments of a life uninterrupted generally remain in place. Cafes, restaurants and shops, for the most part, remain open and
(2020-04-02). One hundred years since Germany's Kapp Putsch. wsws.org The Kapp Putsch is of burning contemporary relevance at a time when Germany's bourgeoisie is once again turning to militarism, a right-wing extremist party is represented in the federal parliament and all state parliaments, and far-right terrorist networks operate unhindered within the state apparatus and the army.
(2020-04-02). Hospital closures continue in Germany despite COVID-19 pandemic. wsws.org Although every hospital bed in Germany is needed because of the coronavirus pandemic, many hospitals are facing closure, especially in more rural areas.
(2020-04-02). EU Court Adviser Says 'Public Interest' Trumps Right To Short-Term Renting During Crisis. sputniknews.com An ongoing case between Parisian authorities and apartment owners has brought this highlighted the tension between major capital cities and house-sharing companies such as Airbnb, who they have accused of worsening the housing crisis for low-income residents.
(2020-04-02). WWII Bomb Found in Bonn Hospital With COVID-19 Patients, Prompts Evacuation – Report. sputniknews.com While some residents from the neighboring districts were slated to be evacuated due to the threat posed by the bomb, others were told to remain indoors during the defusing process.
(2020-04-02). Russian Crude Urals Falls to $10.54 Per Barrel, Lowest Since March 1999 – Argus. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The price for Urals oil blend for delivery to North-Western Europe fell on Wednesday to its lowest in more than two decades, the Argus agency, which tracks regional prices, reported on Thursday.
(2020-04-02). Twitter Takes Down 20,000 Accounts Allegedly Linked to Saudi, Egyptian, Serbian Governments. sputniknews.com The US-based microblogging and social networking service regularly responds to requests to delete content and accounts, including information posted by officials or media services of countries with whom Washington has strained relations.
(2020-04-02). US Paid for Half of Coronavirus Aid Delivered to Country by Russia – Moscow. sputniknews.com On Wednesday, a Russian An-124 (Ruslan) plane arrived in New York to deliver medical equipment to the US amid the coronavirus pandemic. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the US has exceeded 216,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
(2020-04-02). Russian An-124 Cargo Plane With Medical Aid Arrives in New York – Video. sputniknews.com On Wednesday, a An-124 (Ruslan) plane arrived in New York with medical equipment from Russia. On board, as noted by Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, were disinfectants, glasses, respirators and masks, as well as other equipment.
(2020-04-02). Oil Prices Jump 10 Percent After Trump Raises Hope for Russia-Saudi Truce. sputniknews.com Donald Trump, who has seen the worst-ever slump in oil demand rattle the American shale industry, has claimed that Russia and Saudi Arabia are close to a deal on output cuts.
(2020-04-02). COVID-19: Study suggests Italy death toll much higher. yenisafak.com An independent study published in an Italian newspaper has suggested that the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the country's worst-hit region might be higher than what the official data showed.According to the study by data analysis firm InTwig, whose findings were published in local daily L'Eco di Bergamo, about 4,500 people have died from COVID-19 in March around the northern city of Bergamo. That is more than double the official data of 2,060 deaths provided by Italy's Civil Protection Department.The northern Lombardy region
(2020-04-02). From chatbots to online markets, Africans craft weapons against coronavirus. yenisafak.com From a WhatsApp chatbot to a self-diagnosis tool, Africans are devising mobile tech solutions to contain the spread of the coronavirus amid fears it could have disastrous effects for the continent's most vulnerable.Africa has not been as badly hit by coronavirus as other continents so far – with roughly 6,000 people infected, according to a Reuters tally, compared to about 500,000 in Europe.But experts fear the respiratory disease could have a catastrophic impact on a continent with shaky healthcare systems and where soap and clean water for hand washing are out of reach for many.Governments, charities and entrep…
(2020-04-02). Euro zone bond yields rise with new supply due from Spain, France. yenisafak.com Euro zone government bond yields rose on Thursday as some investors moved back into riskier assets, with demand for new bonds issued by Spain and France expected to offer a gauge of current market sentiment.Stocks were mostly mixed as data suggested the pace of new coronavirus infections was slowing in some countries, but the economic toll of the shutdowns was growing.A jump in oil prices after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to reach a deal soon to end their oil price war did improve the general tone in markets.The 10-year German government bond yield rose 4 basis points to -…
(2020-04-02). Coronavirus: Global tally of recoveries surpass 200,000. yenisafak.com The global tally of people who recovered from deadly coronavirus exceeded 200,000 on Wednesday, quadrupling of the death toll.According to the running data of U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University, a total of 202,342 recoveries recorded across the globe, while over 48,200 people have died from the epidemic and cases surged to nearly 952,000.The highest number of recoveries are registered in China, the ground zero of the virus, with 76,571. Spain, one of the most affected countries from COVID-19, and Germany followed China with 26,743 and 19,175 recoveries, respectively.In recent days, according to the Johns Hopkin…
(2020-04-02). INFOGRAPHIC: COVID-19 claims life of prominent Turkish doctor Cemil Ta≈ücƒ±oƒülu. yenisafak.com Cemil Ta≈ücƒ±oƒülu, a Turkish doctor with decades of experience who died on Wednesday after contracting the novel coronavirus from a patient, was the first-ever doctor in the country to succumb to the virus.Ta≈ücƒ±oƒülu was a professor of internal medicine at Istanbul University.He is also the doctor who diagnosed the first patient with the disease, officially known as COVID-19. After being infected, he was admitted to Istanbul University's Medical School on March 16 with symptoms of fever, cough, and respiratory distress.Born in Turkey's Black Sea…
(2020-04-01). A century ago, sports rises from ravages of war and disease. peoplesworld.org 
The world in 1919 was hardly a place for fun and games. A war like no other had ravaged Europe, killing untold millions and leaving the continent devastated. The Spanish flu pandemic was waning but still wreaking its horrors, with some 50 million people dead worldwide, including 675,000 in the United States. But hundreds of …
(2020-04-01). Cruise ships ordered by US Coast Guard to remain at sea & prepare to treat coronavirus-stricken passengers themselves. rt.com 
The US Coast Guard has warned cruise ships stuck at sea that they could be "sequestered" indefinitely during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and must be equipped to take care of ill passengers on board until permitted to dock. | The new directive released on March 29 was signed by Coast Guard Rear Admiral Eric Jones, whose district includes Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico. The measure applies to all ships — not just cruise liners — carrying more than 50 people. | Under the new rules, cruise ships are required to give daily reports on their coronavirus caseload, and vessels registered…
(2020-04-01). What will the coronavirus do to Germany's political future? peoplesworld.org 
BERLIN — This city, like many of your hometowns, is a ghost city. Except for those offering groceries, medicines or medical care, everything is shut tight. Luckily, no-one here has to stay inside, we can stroll around outside but, aside from families, we may not "assemble" in groups of more than two — the rules …
(2020-04-01). Former WHO Director: 8-Week Suppression Strategy Could Stop US COVID Crisis in Its Tracks. counterpunch.org "We know we can get this under control," says Dr Anthony Costello, a former Director at the World Health Organization (WHO) where he headed up maternal, child and adolescent health. "The problem is that Europe has been too slow to act compared with Asia; and America is now facing a huge crisis." Costello, who is
(2020-04-01). Spain Nationalized Private Clinics To Fight COVID-19. zcomm.org Spain faced the second worst infection rate in Europe, and took control of the country's private health care companies to improve its response. What does this mean for Spain's public health care system going forward?
(2020-04-01). First Case of COVID-19 in a Refugee Camp in Greece. telesurenglish.net A woman who recently gave birth in Greece has become the first refugee to have contracted the coronavirus in the country, Greece's Migration Ministry said Tuesday. | RELATED: | The unidentified woman lives at Ritsona, a refugee camp some 80 km (50 miles) north of Athens and, according to local media, she could be of African origin. | She had given birth last week in a hospital near the camp, which has a population of abo…
(2020-04-01). Spain Exceeds 9,000 Dead and 100,000 COVID-19 Cases. telesurenglish.net Spain's Health Minister Salvador Illa informed that his country reached 102,136 COVID-19 cases, 9,053 of which have died. In the last 24 hours, 864 deaths and 7,719 new cases were registered, which represents an increase of 8.2 percent concerning the previous day. | RELATED: | This percentage shows that "we are still in a phase of stabilization of the pandemic", the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies h…
(2020-04-01). European leaders clash over economic response to COVID-19 crisis. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-04-01). Macron and France in the deluge. greenleft.org.au 
Two presidential speeches, on March 12 and 16, have trans…
(2020-04-01). New Evidence Shows Trump—Who Says He Knew Covid-19 'Going to Be Horrible'—Allowed Exports of Crucial Supplies to Continue. commondreams.org While countries in Europe and Asia spent the first several weeks of the year preparing their healthcare systems and populations for the coronavirus outbreak, the Trump administration spent that same time sending dozens of medical shipments overseas. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1215578016_1.jpg …
(2020-03-31). 'Happily surprised'? Trump says Russia sent US 'very, very large' aid package to combat Covid-19. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has praised Moscow for sending a 'very large planeload of things' to help fight the spread of the coronavirus and treat sickened patients, noting that China and other nations had also chipped in. | UPDATE: "We've had great relationships with a lot of countries," the president told reporters at his daily Covid-19 briefing on Monday, adding: "China sent us some stuff, which was terr…
(2020-03-31). 'This is NUTS!' Russiagaters see red over Putin's planeload of corona-aid for Trump, queue to look gift-horse in mouth. rt.com 
Russophobic pundits and red-baiting blue-checkmarks are gasping in horror and floating bizarre theories as Moscow sends a planeload of much-needed medical supplies to the US amid its worsening coronavirus epidemic. | News that a Russian cargo plane laden with medical supplies and personal protection equipment would soon depart for the US, a gift from the Kremlin to its coronavirus-stricken rival, has the usual suspects running around in circles screeching about ulterior motives. | While President Donald Trump's announcement on Monday that "Russia sent us a very, very large planeload of things, medical equipmen…
(2020-03-31). Southcom boosts US military presence in Latin America, citing China, Russia 'threats'. thegrayzone.com Southern Command is ramping up the US military presence in Latin America to counter China, Russia, and Venezuela, after signing…
(2020-03-31). COVID-19 Vaccine Will Take At Least 1 Year: EU Medicines Agency. telesurenglish.net The development of a vaccine against the new coronavirus will take at least a year, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Tuesday. | RELATED: | According to the EMA, it could be "at least a year before a COVID-19 vaccine is ready for approval and there are sufficient quantities to allow widespread use" worldwide. | The Amsterdam-based agency explained that it was based on current data and the time it took to develop ot…
(2020-03-31). On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times. thenation.com On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times…
(2020-03-31). Germany confirms first INSTEX transaction. iranian.com The Federal Foreign Office of Germany in a tweet confirmed the first transaction with Iran through the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) on Tuesday. The Federal Foreign Office of Germany wrote in its Twitter page, "France, Germany and the United Kingdom confirm that INSTEX has successfully concluded its first transaction, facilitating the export …
(2020-03-31). Blast Halts Iran's Gas Exports to Turkey. iranian.com Iran's natural gas exports to Turkey have stopped following an explosion on a pipeline near their joint border, an official at the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said on Tuesday. "The explosion occurred near the Iranian border, causing gas to be halted from 6: 50 (0320 GMT) this morning," Mehdi Jamshidi-Dana said, Press TV reported. The …
(2020-03-30). Biden's Foreign Policy Team Hints at War with China, Conflict with Russia. mintpressnews.com An analysis by the Brookings Institute based on interviews with Biden's foreign policy teams hints at a foreign policy that closely mirrors that of the Pentagon under President Trump.
(2020-03-30). Infected or sick? Infected or ill? zcomm.org In Spain around 80.000 people are infected, or sick, and around 7000 have been cured. Deads are around 8000. There is a big gap between the number of ill people (80,000) and the rest. I don't understand why these 80.000 (infected/sick/ill) ) citizens have barely presence in the media. In my opinion, there should be
(2020-03-30). US Accused of Using Food Aid to Smuggle Weapons to Militants in Syria's Rukban Refugee Camp. mintpressnews.com UN aid trucks, according to Russian military sources, are being used to deliver not only food and supplies to the suffering civilians but also arms and ammunition to Maghawir Al-Thawra.
(2020-03-30). Origins of COVID-19: Russia quizzes US on coronavirus' parentage. iranian.com All through the recent weeks since US President Donald Trump coined the epithet "China virus" to rename Coronavirus, Moscow kept a deafening silence. Finally, on Sunday, March 29, Moscow broke that silence. That the first Russian statement came at the level of the Russian foreign ministry makes this particularly significant. In an exclusive remark, a …
(2020-03-30). Cuba sends doctors, nurses worldwide in COVID-19 fight. mronline.org 
Cuba on March 28 sent a team of 39 doctors and nurses to Andorra, the thirteenth medical brigade the country has dispatched overseas to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2020-03-28). [Correspondence] COVID-19 cacophony: is there any orchestra conductor? thelancet.com The first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently invading the world, and several countries are now struggling to fight it or trying to delay its start to help smooth its peak size for the purpose of lowering morbidity and mortality, and thereby reduce the overall tension on their health-care system. China's first major outbreaks of COVID-19 happened in January, 2020. Then South Korea, Iran, and Italy entered into this Ravel's Bolero-like epidemic in late February and early March, 2020, and many other countries are preparing to play the same rhythmic pattern in the coming days and weeks.