(2020-05-01). WATCH protesters light flares, gather for Walpurgis Night in Berlin despite ban on mass rallies during Covid-19 lockdown. rt.com 
Police have broken up a Walpurgis Night demonstration in Berlin, where protesters had gathered in violation of the quarantine measures imposed amid the Covid-19 pandemic. More unauthorized rallies are expected on May Day. | A few dozen black-clad masked left-wing activists had gathered in the German capital's Friedrichshain District on Thursday evening, despite the ban on large public assemblies. They waved burning flares while standing on two balconies of a house, set up loudspeakers and hung banners from windows. | Police arrived at the scene and ordered the protesters to clear the area. No major clashes wer…
(2020-05-01). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Protests are continuing against attempts to restart operations in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic without proper safeguards, including French teachers, German doctors and nurses in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
(2020-05-01). Macron warns life 'won't be back to normal' as Covid-19 forces French to find new way of 'social distance' protest. rt.com 
France's president has said that the national recovery would need to be 'organized,' in a speech at the Elysee Palace as the country celebrated a subdued Labor Day, while movement in the country remains tightly restricted. | Emmanuel Macron said that the end of the nationwide lockdown in 10 days would just be a tentative first step on the road to recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. | The president said life "wouldn't be back to normal" and there will be "several phases" in lifting the restrictions, with May 11 just being "one of them." He added that a "recovery [period] has to be organized"; his comments follow…
(2020-05-01). A Protest From France. The Great Danger of Ill-Conceived Lockdowns. globalresearch.ca After WWI, the distinguished British economist Edwin Cannan was asked, somewhat reproachfully, what he did during the terrible war years. He replied: "I protested." The present article is a similar protest against the current lockdown policies put into place in …
(2020-05-01). Germany: Working Class Protests Against Unemployment in May Day. telesurenglish.net On International Workers' Day, Germany's trade unions protested over the collapse of labor rights and the significant increase of unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | According to forecasts by Angela Merkel's administration, Germany will experience the worst recession since World War II this year. | Recent unemployment figures have soared despite the economic aid that Germany's authorities have set up to prevent mass layoffs. | In Apr…
(2020-05-01). Greek workers protest government's anti-labor policies on pretext of fighting COVID-19. peoplesdispatch.org Workers under the leadership of the All Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Greece observed the National Day of Action on April 28. PAME has demanded the abolition of the anti-worker measures introduced through bills citing the COVID-19 crisis…
(2020-05-01). Russian workers protest animal-like conditions at oil field as prime minister hospitalized with COVID-19. wsws.org Hundreds demonstrated against Gazprom at a Siberian oil field, demanding safe working conditions and proper care for sick workers…
(2020-05-01). Trump threatened to pull US Security Umbrella from Saudi. zcomm.org Trump insisted with OPEC+ (including Vladimir Putin's Russia) that they do their effing job and put prices back up to forestall a collapse of the US petroleum industry…
(2020-05-01). Wall Street tumbles as US threatens China with tariffs. rt.com 
US stocks are facing a second straight day of losses, after President Donald Trump threatened to unleash a new barrage of retaliatory tariffs on China over the coronavirus crisis. | The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 400 points while both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite lost around two percent.Thus all three indexes extended Thursday losses that came on Most European and Asian markets were closed for holidays on Friday. The London Stock Exchange was one of the few working, wi…
(2020-05-01). Mayor of Nice calls for Covid-19 'health passports' to enter or leave France. rt.com 
The mayor of Nice has urged French PM Edouard Philippe to introduce new travel controls during the Covid-19 pandemic through "health passports" in the parts of France which border other countries. | Christian Estrosi posted the details of his letter on
(2020-05-01). Ireland extends coronavirus lockdown to May 18 as PM gives first details for easing restrictions. rt.com 
The Irish government on Friday announced a further extension to the country's lockdown measures, with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar saying they would remain in place until May 18; then first steps to ease restrictions will be made. | Varadkar said the Irish economy would reopen in five stages, with each successive easing dependent on the level of coronavirus infections being kept under control. The current travel limit for personal exercise will be extended from two to five kilometers from Tuesday, while people aged over 70 — who have been advised since late March by government health officials to 'cocoon'
(2020-05-01). Will OPEC+ production cuts agreement save the troubled oil market? rt.com 
The historic oil deal meant to help crude prices rebound amid the coronavirus crisis has come into force. Starting today, global oil production is set to be slashed by nearly 10 million barrels per day. | On April 12, the group known as OPEC+, which includes 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 10 other major oil-producing states led by Russia,
(2020-05-01). ANOTHER Russian minister diagnosed with Covid-19, after PM ends up in hospital. rt.com 
Russia's Minister of Construction and Housing, as well as his deputy, have been hospitalized with coronavirus. This comes a day after PM Mikhail Mishustin informed the president he was being admitted to hospital due to Covid-19. | The ministry's press service broke the news on Vladimir Yakushev's test late on Friday. While he and his deputy, Dmitry Volkov, have been hospitalized, another of Yakushev's deputies, Nikita Stasishin, has stepped up as acting minister. | "I'll be treated at one of the city's clinics, in the care of medics. I'll be keeping in close touch," the minister said. | Yakushev is the second…
(2020-05-01). Russia reports almost 8,000 new Covid-19 cases in a record daily rise. rt.com 
Russian health officials have recorded 7,933 new Covid-19 cases since Thursday, according to the daily update. It brings the total number of coronavirus infections in the country to 114,431. | Moscow remains the biggest hotbed for the outbreak, with roughly half of the identified cases localized in the capital. The death toll in Russia stands at 13,220, after 96 more people succumbed to the disease. | On Thursday, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin tested positive for coronavirus. He
(2020-05-01). Oil prices grow as historic OPEC+ production cut deal comes into effect. rt.com 
The prices for Brent crude and WTI have increased after the hard-fought OPEC+ deal took effect on Friday. The oil market had seen a dramatic crash last month due to global glut and fears of a lack of storage capacity. | The price for Brent crude oil (ICE) has grown by 1.77 percent, reaching nearly $27 per barrel. The price for WTI (Nymex), meanwhile, currently stands at $19.35 per barrel, which is a 2.7 percent increase. | On April 12, the members of OPEC and other oil-producing countries, including Russia and Mexico, agreed to cut production by 9.7 million barrels per day for May and June, marking the biggest…
(2020-05-01). Police Asks Brits to Call Them If 'Friends or Family' Repeat Conspiracy Theories. anti-empire.com 
Asking people to call the police on family engaging in "conspiracy theories" is an idea that sounds like it comes out of China's social credit system. | But it's not. It's happening in the United Kingdom. | Police in Manchester, England, are engaging in a social media campaign, requesting local residents to call police if any of their friends and family are engaging in "conspiracy theories." | "Online platforms can be a fun world. Unfortunately, they can also be used to exploit vulnerable people. If you are worried that one of your friends or family is showing signs of radicalisation seek advice or call police…
(2020-05-01). The Defeat of Bernie Sanders and the Perfidy of the Democrats. globalresearch.ca The sudden collapse of Bernie Sanders' campaign for the presidency comes amidst what official sources are calling the worst influenza pandemic to hit the United States and much of the world since the misnamed 'Spanish Flu' in 1918. Sensational …
(2020-05-01). Experts Warn of New Nuclear Arms Race After Trump Signals US Withdrawal from START Treaty. mintpressnews.com While much of the corporate press has blamed Russia and China for the sudden failure of multiple longstanding nuclear treaties, experts put the blame on squarely on the Trump administration.
(2020-05-01). Video: Prospects of Turkish-Russian Military Conflict in Syria. globalresearch.ca The region of Greater Idlib remains the main source of tensions in Syria. | The March 5th ceasefire deal reached by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow allowed an end to be made to the …
(2020-05-01). UK: Indian Students Starving and Unable to Return Home. telesurenglish.net The closure of borders in India left thousands of students stranded in the United Kingdom. Now they depend on food donations from charity institutions to survive. | RELATED: | According to local media, most Indian college students work part-time in low-paying jobs to support their studies in this European country. | "The confinement forced by COVID-19 has caused many of them to lose their jobs,"
(2020-05-01). Coronavirus: How European Countries Are Treating Refugees Amid the Pandemic? mintpressnews.com Neglecting the refugees while fighting coronavirus is as foolish as it is inhumane. The last few months have taught us that self-centered strategies do not apply in the cases of global healthcare crises.
(2020-05-01). Coronavirus: How Are European Countries Treating Refugees Amid the Pandemic? mintpressnews.com Neglecting the refugees while fighting coronavirus is as foolish as it is inhumane. The last few months have taught us that self-centered strategies do not apply in the cases of global healthcare crises.
(2020-05-01). 'Yalda, A Night for Forgiveness' to go on screen in US, Europe. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 02 (MNA) — The feature film 'Yalda, A Night for Forgiveness' by Iranian director Masoud Bakhshi, will be screened in the US and Europe in September.
(2020-05-01). 7-ton cargo of medicinal items arrives Iran from Spain. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 01 (MNA) — The sixth consignment of medicine has arrived in Iran through the Sari Su border market in West Azerbaijan Province, according to an official.
(2020-05-01). Teacher, symbol of kindness, love. en.mehrnews.com SHABESTAR, May 01 (MNA) — The footage shows the efforts of a teacher, named Sohrabi in the village of Zangi in Shabestar County, East Azerbaijan Province, northeast of Iran, who travels long distances every day to educate students in remote areas.
(2020-05-01). Our health over their profits: France's CGT in the thick of struggle. peoplesdispatch.org Patrick Correa of the CGT Metalworkers' union of France talks to Peoples Dispatch on the impact of COVID-19 on the workers of the country.
(2020-05-01). France Says COVID Was Already 'Silently Circulating' & DARPA's "Implantable Nanoplatform" Vaccines. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (4/30/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2020-05-01). Amir-Abdollahian reacts to German ban on Lebanon's Hezbollah. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 01 (MNA) — In reaction to German ban on Lebanon's Hezbollah, Iranian Parliament Speaker's Special Aide for International Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Germany's following of dirty American-Zionist policies threatens the interests of Berlin in the region.
(2020-05-01). Protesters Stage Public Action Against COVID-19 Measures in Berlin – Video. sputniknews.com Germany was forced to introduce lockdown measures on 17 March to battle the spread of the coronavirus in the country. However, in recent days the nation moved to relax certain restrictions reopening playgrounds, churches, and cultural institutions.
(2020-05-01). Turkey Delays S-400 Deployment Due to Coronavirus Pandemic. sputniknews.com The country was planning to make the newly acquired air defence systems operational in April despite numerous protests from the US, which had been pressuring Ankara to ditch the systems for good.
(2020-05-01). 4/30/20: 45th Anniversary of Victory in Vietnam. indybay.org On April 30, 1975, the "little people in black pajamas" of Vietnam defeated the mightiest, most despicable war machine the world had seen since Nazi Germany, namely the US military, as they chased the US military and their local lackeys onto helicopters, boats and planes, causing celebrations around the world, including here in the Bay Area where we, who opposed the war machine and resisted the draft, danced in streets. Today, Vietnam has ZERO deaths from the coronavirus because it has SOCIALIZED medicine. For more, see www.counterpunch.org/2020/04/30/a-letter-from-viet-nam-on-the-occasion-of-the-45th-ann…
(2020-05-01). Sixty-eight Amazon workers fall ill with COVID-19 at Winsen, Germany warehouse. wsws.org While Amazon has profited massively from the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of its workers throughout the world have become infected with COVID-19.
(2020-05-01). Virtual Liberation in Italy. counterpunch.org For most years in Italy, April 25th would be a day of commemoration and sociability. It marks the 1945 call from the anti-Nazi Committee of National Liberation (CLN) for the final uprising against the German occupiers and Mussolini's puppet regime, and is thus Liberation Day, with special emphasis on the Italian Resistance of 1943-45. It
(2020-05-01). Mayo Clinic expert talks social distancing. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The need for social distancing will continue into the summer as an important public health tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic acknowledges the hardships of public safety measures and says they important. "The nature of social distancing, isolating ourselves, and shelter-in-place has been tremendous hardships from an …
(2020-05-01). Trump threatens Saudis with withdrawal of US troops if OPEC does not begin to cut oil production. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 01 (MNA) — As the United States forced Saudi Arabia to end the oil price war with Russia, US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Saudi leaders.
(2020-05-01). Iran arm's embargo can't be prolonged despite US efforts: Ryabkov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 01 (MNA) — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the UN embargo on conventional weapons sales to Iran, which expires in October 2020, can't be extended despite US efforts to prevent its expiration.
(2020-05-01). 24 hour May Day programing on mayday.pacifica.org. indybay.org Pacifica COVID-19 Taskforce is hosting May Day with programing from throughout the world. Live streaming from South Africa, Korea, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and other countries.
(2020-05-01). France's Macron says May 11 will not signal return to normal life. yenisafak.com President Emmanuel Macron warned on Friday that the end of the national lockdown on May 11 would only be a first step as France looks to move out of the crisis created by the outbreak of the coronavirus."May 11 will not be the passage to normal life," Macron said during a speech to mark May 1. "There will be several phases and May 11 will be one of them."
(2020-05-01). France allows 'exceptional' use of plasma therapy. yenisafak.com France will allow "exceptional and temporary" use of plasma treatment for COVID-19 patients, the country's health safety agency announced on Thursday.In a statement, the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) said immune plasma therapy can be used to treat critically-ill patients.Clinical trials of the treatment commenced in France in early April and the agency said there was data suggesting that plasma of people who recovered from COVID-19 "could improve the survival rate of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)."The ANSM said the "effectiveness of these plasmas has no…
(2020-05-01). Mosques in Germany preparing to reopen next weekend. yenisafak.com Mosques in Germany will reopen their doors to worshippers next weekend, following a government decision to ease coronavirus restrictions in the country.Germany's Muslim Coordination Council (KRM) has announced on Friday that most of the mosques will reopen on or after May 9, but prayer services will be held with fewer attendees and under certain conditions.Muslims will be able to perform their dawn, midday and late afternoon prayers in most of the mosques, but communal gatherings for Friday prayers, or special night prayers (Tarawih) performed during the holy month of Ramadan, will continue to remain suspended.W…
(2020-05-01). Dutch coronavirus cases rise to 39,791 with 98 new deaths. yenisafak.com The Netherlands' number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 475 to 39,791 health authorities said on Friday, with 98 new deaths.The country's death toll stands at 4,893, the Netherlands' Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update.The RIVM cautioned it only reports confirmed cases, and actual numbers are higher.
(2020-05-01). Turkey | develops video conferencing app 'Dialogue' amid worldwide | security concerns. yenisafak.com Turkish defense technologies company HAVELSAN announced on Friday that it has begun to develop a new domestic video conferencing service, in a bid to offer alternatives to leading platforms such as "Zoom" amid rising concerns about privacy and security issues.Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, the general manager of Havelsan, said on his official Twitter account that the company is working on a project called "Dialogue," which is expected to be launched in the near feature.He also criticized recent security breaches and data protection problems of popular video conferencing services.The video conferencing app, Zoom, has soared…
(2020-05-01). Turkey quarantines 127 expats evacuated from Iraq. yenisafak.com Over 120 Turkish nationals who were evacuated from Iraq were placed under a 14-day quarantine on Friday to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.As many as 127 expats, who returned to Turkey via the Habur border gate in the southeastern Sirnak province, were sent to the southeastern Mardin province for a 14-day quarantine in dormitories after health checks.The Turkish government has repatriated around 60,000 of its nationals from various countries since the start of the pandemic.As of Thursday, Turkey registered a total of 3,174 deaths due to coronavirus whereas nearly 49,000 people have recovered from the…
(2020-05-01). COVID-19: Turkey to send medical supplies to Somalia. yenisafak.com Turkey will send medical supplies to Somalia to help the country combat the novel coronavirus outbreak, the presidential spokesman said on Friday."Today, by instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a cargo load of medical supplies, masks, overalls, test kits and other equipment is going to Somalia to help them against COVID-19," Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter."Turkey stands together with Somalia and Africa against all calamities," Kalin added.Recalling Erdogan's first visit to Somalia in 2011 when "tens of thousands of people had died because of the famine," Kalin said: "The visit drew the world's attentio…
(2020-05-01). The world becomes cleaner, as emissions fall in April. yenisafak.com The global lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19 led to a massive drop in carbon emissions in April. Besides the fall in industrial production and closure of transportation, new commitments by some countries like Japan and Chile also contributed to reduce carbon imprints.Although the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) originally scheduled in Glasgow in the UK in November has been postponed due to the pandemic, many environmentalists have cautioned that the fight against climate change should not be interrupted.Turkey's Environment Ministry in a circular has enumerated steps…
(2020-05-01). Turkey brings Ramadan cheers in Ethiopia. yenisafak.com Turkey's Diyanet Foundation on Friday handed out thousands of food packets to needy people in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as part of charity activities during the holy month of Ramadan."Today, we are distributing 1,500 packs of food aid and yesterday, we distributed 30 tons of food aid as well," Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia Yaprak Alp told Anadolu Agency."Turkey has always been a very good friend of Ethiopia; and both countries stood by each other in difficult times and again today the world is facing difficult times with the COVID-19 crisis especially. Ethiopia also has the locust problem on top of that," A…
(2020-05-01). Mayor of Nice Asks French Government to Introduce Sanitary IDs to Enter, Exit Country. sputniknews.com PARIS (Sputnik) – Christian Estrosi, the mayor of the southeastern coastal French city of Nice, sent a letter to Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Friday in which he has asked the government to limit the entry to and exit from France to people issued special "sanitary passports" as a proof they are clear of the virus.
(2020-05-01). German Regulator Plans to Deny Nord Stream 2 Waiver from New Gas Directive – Reports. sputniknews.com Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture between the Russian energy giant Gazprom and five European companies. | The gas pipeline will carry up to 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, passing through the territorial waters or exclusive economic zones of Denmark, Finland, Germany, Russia, and Sweden.
(2020-04-30). Seeking justice during COVID-19: Black man killed while jogging in Georgia. peoplesworld.org 
A 25-year-old Black man was shot and killed while jogging after being pursued by two white men in Brunswick, Georgia. Over two months have passed since the incident, and still no one has been charged for his murder. Friends, family, and activists are looking for answers in Ahmaud Arbery's death, but they are afraid the …
(2020-04-30). The Czech Republic's Russian Assassin Scandal Reeks of the Skripal Conspiracy. globalresearch.ca A Czech magazine's scandalous claim that two of the capital's politicians are being guarded by police in order to protect them from a reportedly imminent assassination attempt by a Russian spy reeks of the Skripal conspiracy when Moscow were accused …