(2020-04-07). French state covered up mass COVID-19 deaths in retirement homes. wsws.org Over the weekend, the reported daily COVID-19 toll in France nearly tripled from earlier levels as deaths of the elderly were finally reported.
(2020-04-06). US braced for '9/11 moment' as parts of Europe see glimmers of hope. thecanary.co 
The United States is braced for one of its darkest weeks in living memory amid the coronavirus pandemic, as some hard-hit European areas were seeing glimmers of hope.Italy, Spain and France saw signs that they are flattening the Covid-19 pandemic curve, but still reported hundreds of people dying each day.(PA Graphics)Leaders cautioned, however, that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict social distancing measures and national lockdowns.In Washington, US surgeon general Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of deaths."This is going to be our Pearl…
(2020-04-06). European stocks jump as Covid-19 deaths slow across hardest-hit areas. rt.com 
Stock markets gained on Monday on the positive news that the coronavirus pandemic may be slowing down in some parts of the world, giving hope to investors that global business will resume. | German stocks lead European gains with the DAX index growing more than four percent. France's CAC 40 was up three percent, while Britain's FTSE 100 rose over two percent. | Stock markets also rose strongly across Asia, finishing higher in Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea. Markets in mainland China were closed for a public holiday. | "Like the rest of the world, financial markets are searching for any slivers of…
(2020-04-06). Russia confirms biggest one-day spike in new Covid-19 cases, as almost 1000 reported on Monday. rt.com 
A week after most of the country went into a strict partial lockdown, Russia reported 954 new Covid-19 infections on Monday. A sharp increase on the previous days tally and a sign the fight against coronavirus is intensifying. | The total number of cases nationwide now stands at 6,343, with 47 dead. Over two-thirds (4,484) of known cases are concentrated in Moscow, Europe's largest city and the country's main transport hub. | However, there are worrying signs that Covid-19 is also spreading to more far-flung provinces, with infections now recorded in 80 of Russia's 85 federal subjects. On Monday, the first dea…
(2020-04-06). Merkel plans not to run for 5th term as chancellor haven't changed — aide. rt.com 
Angela Merkel's chief of staff said on Monday that he did not think the chancellor's plans not to run for a fifth term in office had changed. Bild newspaper last week raised the question of whether she might. | "I don't think this is any time to discuss something like that," Helge Braun told German broadcasters RTL/n-tv. "She has said that this is her last term in office and I believe nothing has changed about that." | Merkel has led Germany for 15 years and has stated previously that she will not seek re-election in autumn 2021. | Germany's confirmed coronavirus infections rose by 3,677 in the past 24 hours t…
(2020-04-06). Flowers of gratitude: Georgians save desperate farmer from going broke & shower medics fighting Covid-19 with HUNDREDS of tulips. rt.com 
The coronavirus pandemic calls for self-distancing, but people can still come together to do a good deed — one Georgian farmer and a group of local medics can vouch for that. | Kako Jeiranashvili was in despair. The 63-year-old man had been growing tulips on his lot in Georgia's eastern Kakheti region for years. The beautiful red flowers, which he sent to capital Tbilisi every spring, have always been a reliable source of income for him. | But the coronavirus pandemic has delivered a massive blow to the market as few are eager to spend cash on flowers when they need face masks. This put the farmer on the…
(2020-04-06). Swedish minister's 'Russian trolls' fanning 5G fears turn out to be… anti-radiation activists led by local granny. rt.com 
Sweden's digitization minister blamed a flurry of anti-5G comments on the usual suspect — "Russian trolls" — but a closer look revealed that a local granny opposed to wireless radiation was behind the campaign. | The controversy dates back to late-December 2019, when Anders Ygeman, the Swedish energy and digital development minister, lamented that he had fallen victim to some "Russian trolls." Who else could flood his Facebook page with hundreds of comments demanding that he backpedal on the introduction of 5G networks in Sweden? | "There is a Russian political interest in disrupting and hindering…
(2020-04-06). Moscow & Riyadh 'very, very close' to striking oil deal — Russia's sovereign wealth fund. rt.com 
Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and other countries need to bring stability to the markets as the world faces "probably the greatest recession ever," said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). | He told CNBC that Moscow and Riyadh are very close to striking a deal on oil production cuts."I think the whole market understands that this deal is important and it will bring lots of stability, so much important stability to the market, and we are very close," said Dmitriev. | The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-member partners were expected to di…
(2020-04-06). Oil slips 6% after OPEC+ meeting delay as Trump vows 'very substantial tariffs' if Saudis & Russia fail to reach output cut deal. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has promised to impose "very substantial tariffs" on imported oil, unless Saudi Arabia and Russia reach a deal to push crude prices up, just as oil skidded again following last week's rally. | Both Brent and WTI crude futures dived over nine percent at the Asian session opening, before bouncing back to around $32.6 and $26.6 a barrel respectively. The drop comes after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-member partners abruptly delayed their emergency meeting until Thursday, apparently due to standing disagreements between Saudi Arabia and Russia. | Cr…
(2020-04-06). Firefighters work to contain forest fires near Chernobyl nuclear site. thecanary.co 
Ukrainian firefighters worked overnight trying to put out two forest blazes in the area around the Chernobyl nuclear power station.The area was evacuated because of radioactive contamination after the 1986 explosion at the plant.Ukraine's emergencies service said one of the fires, covering about five hectares, had been localised. | It said the other fire was about 20 hectares.The head of the state ecological inspection service, Yehor Firsov, earlier said the fires had spread to about 100 hectares.Firsov said radiation levels at the fire were substantially higher than normal.But the emergencies service said radiat…
(2020-04-06). "He's Got Eight Numbers, Just Like Everybody Else" counterpunch.org On April 4, 2020, my friend Steve Kelly will begin a third year of imprisonment in Georgia's Glynn County jail. He turned 70 while in prison, and while he has served multiple prison sentences for protesting nuclear weapons, spending two years in a county jail is unusual even for him. Yet he adamantly urges supporters
(2020-04-06). This week in history: April 6-12. wsws.org 25 years ago: One-day strike in RussiaOn April 12, 1995, more than 1 million Russian workers carried out a one-day strike protesting nonpayment of wages and calling for the resignation of the government of President Boris Yeltsin. It was the most widespread strike action in Russia since the 1989 coal miners' walkouts.
(2020-04-06). Wall Street Wins, Again: Bailouts in the Time of Coronavirus. counterpunch.org To say that these are unprecedented times would be the understatement of the century. Even as the United States became the latest target of Hurricane COVID-19, in "hot spots" around the globe a continuing frenzy of health concerns represented yet another drop down the economic rabbit hole. Stay-at-home orders have engulfed the planet, encompassing a majority of Americans, all of India, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe. A second round of cases may be starting to surface in China. Meanwhile, small- and medium-sized businesses, not to speak of giant corporate entities, are already facing severe financial pain.
(2020-04-06). As Europe's COVID-19 death toll nears 50,000, British PM Johnson admitted to hospital. wsws.org There is mounting evidence that fatalities are much higher when deaths outside hospitals are factored in.
(2020-04-06). Doctors in Germany will soon have to decide on life and death. wsws.org Seven professional societies have adopted a paper with recommendations laying down which patients will be treated, and which must die if intensive care capacity is exceeded.
(2020-04-06). Warning of food riots, Rome sends 20,000 troops to patrol southern Italy. wsws.org Residents contacted by the WSWS denied that any mass food riots are taking place, even as workers in lockdown run out of money to buy food.
(2020-04-06). COVID-19 expert explains what soap does to SARS-CoV-2 virus. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to drive home the message that excellent hand-washing is the most effective way to prevent illnesses, such as COVID-19. Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, explains what soap does to SARS-CoV-2, and other viruses …
(2020-04-06). Mayo Clinic expert puts grim COVID-19 projections into perspective. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org This week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious diseases expert, shared sobering estimates that COVID-19 could kill 100,000 to 240,000 Americans. Top government scientists warn that the death toll could be even higher if Americans don't follow the strict guidelines put in place to slow the spread of the virus. Dr. Gregory Poland, a …
(2020-04-06). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: How does SARS-CoV-2 make people sick? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been seen before in humans. SARS-Co-V2 is a novel virus, causing the disease COVID-19. Because COVID-19 is a new disease, much is still being learned about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, …
(2020-04-06). COVID-19 expert answers questions on how the virus makes people sick and more. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Experts continue to learn more about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and how it behaves. Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, is answering questions about how the virus makes people sick, how it compares to influenza, and how the COVID-19 pandemic response is affecting the …
(2020-04-06). Wisconsin's In-Person Voting Threatens Health and Democracy. thenation.com Wisconsin's In-Person Voting Threatens Health and Democracy…
(2020-04-06). Coronavirus global death toll tops 70,000. yenisafak.com The global death toll from coronavirus crossed 70,000 on Monday, according to figures compiled by the U.S.' Johns Hopkins University. Since emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the COVID-19 disease has spread to at least 183 countries and regions around the globe, while confirmed cases have climbed to nearly 1.3 million.With the exact number of deaths as of 0730GMT stands at 70,356, worldwide more than 270,000 people diagnosed with the virus have recovered.Italy, Spain, France, and the U.K. continue to be the hardest-hit countries in terms of fatalities.The U.S. has reported the most number of cases
(2020-04-06). COVID-19 cuts short volleyball player's career in Italy. yenisafak.com Turkish volleyball player Irem Cor's career in Italy was cut short due to new coronavirus or COVID-19 crisis in the country.She was only able to play three games with the Italian volleyball team Lardini Filottrano after she left Turkish club Besiktas at the end of January.The Italian volleyball league has been postponed like other sports events in the world amid coronavirus fears.Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Monday, Cor said that she returned from Italy 20 days ago and did not have any problems."Italy was put under lockdown before I left. Then, I said to my agency that I want to return to Turkey. When the first…
(2020-04-06). Germany draws up plans to end lockdown after April 19. yenisafak.com Germany has drawn up a list of measures, including an obligation to wear masks in public, limits on public gatherings and the rapid tracing of infection chains, that officials think should allow life to return to normal after lockdown's scheduled end on April 19.The proposals, contained in a draft action plan compilied by the Interior Ministry document and seen by Reuters on Monday, say the measures should be sufficient to keep the number of people infected by each person below 1 even as public life is allowed gradually to resume.For this to be possible, mechanisms will have to be in place to track more than 80%…
(2020-04-06). France launches online lockdown permission form. yenisafak.com With France under a strict lockdown until April 15 to slow the spread of coronavirus, it is required that each person carry a paper certificate while outside, attesting to the nature of their trip.On Monday, the government released a digital certificate for use on mobile phones as well. It is available on the Ministry of the Interior's website for download onto smartphones.After clicking on "generate a certificate," and filling out the required fields, a PDF file is created to be saved on the phone.The digital certificate has a QR code for scan in the event of a police check. No private information is sent to th…
(2020-04-06). France to see worst post-war downturn this year: minister. yenisafak.com France will likely see its worst post-war economic downturn this year, far surpassing the -2.2% slump seen in 2009 after the global financial crisis, its finance minister said on Monday."We will probably be at more than the -2.2% in 2009. That's shows the magnitude of the economic shock we are facing," Le Maire told the Senate in hearing by teleconference.The government estimated last month in an emergency budget update that the economy would contract 1% this year, but has since indicated that it would have to revise that figure.
(2020-04-06). Dutch confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 5.3% to 18,803. yenisafak.com The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the Netherlands has risen by 952, or 5.3%, to 18,803, health authorities said, with 101 new deaths.The Netherlands' Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update that total deaths had risen to 1,867.The RIVM continues to caution that the numbers reflect only confirmed positive cases and confirmed deaths, while actual numbers are larger.
(2020-04-06). Romania will extend state of emergency by 30 days, says president. yenisafak.com Romania's government will extend its state of emergency by another 30 days after the current period ending next week, to help halt the spread of the new coronavirus, President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday."We need to do this again. It's a necessity. People should understand that without this measure, the virus cannot be stopped," Iohannis told a video briefing.Romania has so far recorded 4,057 confirmed cases of infection and 157 deaths.
(2020-04-06). China vows to strengthen coronavirus controls at land borders as cases rise. yenisafak.com China will work to further prevent coronavirus cases imported through its land borders, the Chinese government said in a statement on Monday after a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.The risk of the virus being imported into China via land borders is increasing and the number of such cases has exceeded those recorded at airports recently, the statement said.Of the 38 imported cases with symptoms recorded in mainland China on Sunday, 20 had arrived in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang after travelling overland from Vladivostok in neighbouring Russia, having flown to Vladivostok from Moscow.
(2020-04-06). Paris' Rungis Market Becomes Temporary Morgue Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – Video. sputniknews.com The pandemic continues to spread across the globe, including European countries. At the moment, there are almost 93,000 confirmed cases in France and over 8,000 fatalities, which is the fourth and fifth position in the world respectively.
(2020-04-06). Situation Outside London Hospital After PM Boris Johnson Was Admitted Over COVID-19 Symptoms – Video. sputniknews.com On Sunday evening, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to a hospital for tests as he continued to display persistent symptoms of COVID-19.
(2020-04-06). Iran Urges US to Remove Unilateral Sanctions on Tehran Amid Coronavirus Pandemic. sputniknews.com On Saturday, Iran's Ambassador to Belgium Gholamhossein Dehghani underscored that Washington's anti-Iranian sanctions "undermine Tehran's ability to effectively fight the virus in the long run without international support".
(2020-04-06). Moscow to Soon Start Testing Foreign Express COVID-19 Diagnostics Systems – Deputy Mayor. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Foreign express coronavirus diagnostics systems may be soon registered in Russia and tested in Moscow, Deputy Moscow Mayor Anastasia Rakova told Russia-24 broadcaster on Monday.
(2020-04-06). Russia to Allocate $1 Million to WHO in 2020 to Fight COVID-19. sputniknews.com Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko stated on Monday that most specialists believe that the coronavirus appeared naturally and not as a result of some experiment.
(2020-04-06). Cosmic Awakening: Russian Telescope Tapes Flash From Once 'Silent' Black Star in Heart of Milky Way. sputniknews.com The new Russian-German observatory "Spektr-RG" has been filming the galaxy and beyond since December 2019, and was tasked with coming up with an exceptionally high-resolution x-ray image of the universe.
(2020-04-06). Russia Interested in Cooperating With Foreign Nations to Stabilise Energy Market – Kremlin. sputniknews.com The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-cartel producers are expected to discuss the deal's future on Thursday, 9 April.
(2020-04-05). Not quite piracy? Berlin senator CORRECTS story of US 'snatching' Germany-bound masks. rt.com 
A Berlin senator who accused the US of "piracy" by diverting a shipment of protective masks bound for the German capital has backtracked, and now says that no American firm was involved in the mix-up. But the masks remain missing. | According to Berlin's Senator for the Interior Andreas Geisel, a shipment of protective masks left a 3M factory in China last week and arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, from where they were due to be shipped to Berlin's police force. However, the masks never arrived. | Geisel claimed on Friday that they had been rerouted by 3M to the US, after President Donald Trump threatened that the…
(2020-04-05). Foul-mouthed JESUS arrested in Moscow for violating self-isolation rules, becomes instant meme fodder online. rt.com 
Saying harsh things to police when you think you're being unlawfully detained may be understandable… but not when your name is Jesus. The internet has gone crazy over a bizarre Covid-19 arrest made by the Moscow police. | A man walking his dog in the center of the capital — an activity allowed, within 100 meters of home, despite the coronavirus-related near-total lockdown — was arrested in broad daylight. He was then put in a police van and driven to the station as his scared pooch remained alone in the street. | Adding to the drama, the incident took place at Moscow's prestigious Patriarch's Ponds…
(2020-04-05). One NATO country is using the coronavirus as a weapon of war. thecanary.co 
Across the world, countries are struggling to deal with coronavirus (Covid-19). But one NATO country, Turkey, is using the pandemic as a weapon of war and a tool of repression. | Both domestically and in its war in the North East of Syria (aka Rojava), the Turkish state is seizing the opportunity of coronavirus to continue its war against majority Kurdish communities. | Cutting off water supplies during a pandemic: | On 3 April, Kurdistan 24
(2020-04-04). 'We need masks, we don't want others getting them': Trump defends America First hoarding & 'piracy'. rt.com 
Dismissing accusations of 'modern piracy' for banning exports and seizing shipments of vital protective masks from its allies in Germany and France, US President Donald Trump claimed the situation was somehow the exact 'opposite.' | Asked about the controversy over the White House pressuring safety gear manufacturer 3M to step up imports of protective masks from its Chinese factories to the US — often at the expense of other customers, including Am…
(2020-04-04). Government failings mean the UK is set to overtake Italy and Spain for coronavirus deaths. thecanary.co The latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDPC) indicates that the UK will likely overtake Italy and Spain for coronavirius (Covid-19) deaths. This follows significant delays by the UK government to organise ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), and wide-scale testing. | More deaths than Italy and Spain: | A Financial Times graph
(2020-04-04). The Bigger Picture is Hiding Behind a Virus. dissidentvoice.org Things often look the way they do because someone claiming authority tells us they look that way. If that sounds too cynical, pause for a moment and reflect on what seemed most important to you just a year ago, or even a few weeks ago. Then, you may have been thinking that Russian interference in …
(2020-04-04). 'We Will Not Sit Back and Let Transit Workers Be Treated Like Cannon Fodder'. thenation.com 'We Will Not Sit Back and Let Transit Workers Be Treated Like Cannon Fodder'
(2020-04-04). 'Pure Retaliation, Retribution, and Reprisal': Trump Fires Inspector General Who Sounded Alarm About Ukraine Whistleblower Complaint. commondreams.org Democratic lawmakers and government watchdogs on Saturday condemned President Donald Trump's abrupt dismissal of Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community inspector general who informed Congress last year of the whistleblower complaint which kicked off Trump's eventual impeachment proceedings. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1173692047_1.jpg …
(2020-04-03). New grim record: US becomes 1st country to report 1,000+ Covid-19 deaths in single day as global infections top 1 million. rt.com 
The United States has reached yet another dark milestone in the coronavirus pandemic, counting over 1,000 fatalities in the span of 24 hours and shattering the global record for daily deaths as worldwide cases soar past 1 million. | Surpassing both its own one-day record — broken every day this week — as well as that of Italy and Spain, the previous world leaders in daily fatalities, the US reported 1,169 new deaths on Thursday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University. |
(2020-04-03). Erdogan's Idlib Misadventure: Reality Checks and Hard Lessons for Turkey. mintpressnews.com 
Turkey has found itself as a historic diplomatic crossroads following its military blunder in Syria. Now, wounded and humiliated, it faces a choice between neighborly detente or escalating its NATO-backed aggression in Syria.
(2020-04-03). Austria's 'Unsozial' Capitalists in a Time of Crisis. mronline.org 
In a move seemingly reserved only for cartoonish villains, one of Austria's best-known millionaires, Attila Doƒüudan, CEO of DO &CO—one of the largest culinary companies in Austria, and who employs over 11,000 people worldwide—has used the COVID-19 crisis to orchestrate a widespread layoff campaign against all restaurant employees within Austria.
(2020-04-03). The Difference Between America's Coronavirus Response and Norway's. thenation.com The Difference Between America's Coronavirus Response and Norway's…
(2020-04-02). "There Aren't Enough Tests": As Pandemic Intensifies, Global South Prepares for the Worst. democracynow.org 
After devastating China, Europe and the United States, the coronavirus pandemic is now intensifying across the Global South. The United Nations warns the pandemic is poised to destroy fragile economies in poor nations, decimating food security, education and human rights. We speak with Yanis Ben Amor, assistant professor of global health and microbiological sciences at Columbia University and executive director of the Center for Sustainable Development at the Earth Institute.
(2020-04-02). Red states 'slower to respond' to Covid-19 as they listened to Trump, Axios founder claims…except blue states have been worst hit. rt.com 
Axios co-founder Jim VanderHei politicized the coronavirus crisis by claiming red states have been "slower" responding because they've been "listening to President Trump," but he ignores why blue states have been hit harder. | Speaking to MSNBC's Morning Joe and name-dropping Georgia and Florida as states that waited longer than others to implement stay-at-home orders, VanderHei said "information inequality" is to blame for states not acting as one in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. | "It's because they were listening to President Trump up until the last five or six days. They were watching Fo…