(2020-05-02). Russia: Two ministers, one deputy test positive for COVID as workers' protests grow. wsws.org Just one day after Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin was hospitalized for COVID-19, the minister for construction, housing and communal services and his deputy also tested positive.
(2020-05-02). Number of confirmed –°ovid-19 infections in Europe exceeds 1.5 million — AFP tally. rt.com 
The novel coronavirus continues to spread in Europe, passing a milestone of 1.5 million confirmed cases on Saturday, according to AFP. Meanwhile, some European nations began rolling out plans to ease quarantine rules. | Spain, Italy, the UK, France and Germany remain the leaders in Europe as regards the rate of the virus's spread, with more than 150,000 confirmed cases in each country, according to Johns Hopkins University. | Europe is trailing behind the US, which currently has over 1.1 million Covid-19 cases. | As the case numbers continue to grow, some European nations have been announcing plans to graduall…
(2020-05-02). 6.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Crete, Greece — EMSC. rt.com 
A powerful 6.5-magnitude quake struck the Greek island of Crete on Saturday, about 140km south of its capital, Iraklion, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center reports. | Testimonies gathered on-site show that a light movement was felt as far away as 349 km, about 217 miles. There appears, however, to be no reports so far of major damage. | Map of felt reports received so far following the
(2020-05-02). France extends health emergency until July 24 as Europe mulls lifting lockdown restrictions. rt.com 
France's minister of health has announced an extension of the public health state of emergency until July 24. The country was placed under emergency on March 24 due the Covid-19 outbreak. | The move was announced by Olivier Veran on Saturday, following an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers. | While the state of health emergency was expected to be lifted on May 23, doing so was deemed to be "premature" and carrying risk of the "epidemic resurgence," the draft bill reads as quoted by local media. | The government's decision to extend the emergency is set be submitted to the country's legislature for f…
(2020-05-02). Over 240,000 Covid-19-linked deaths globally — AFP tally. rt.com 
The global coronavirus death toll is approaching the 250,000 mark, an AFP tally indicates. The disease that has threatened to bring the global economy to a standstill has infected more than 3.3 million people worldwide. | The deaths of over 240,000 people have now been tied to the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, the agency said on Saturday. More than 141,000 have died in Europe and some 65,000 in the United States. | #BREAKING More than 240,000 coronavirus deaths worldwide: AFP tally pic.twitter.com/Cej5aj3Wp8— AFP news agency (@AFP) (2020-05-02). French Foreign Legion soldier dies from injuries received in Mali IED blast. rt.com 
A Ukraine-born French legionnaire has died, succumbing to injuries sustained while on a mission in Mali, when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off. This brings the death toll of legionnaires in the Sahel since 2013 to 42. | Dmytro Martynyouk, 28, served as a brigadier (a rank equivalent to corporal) in the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment. He was injured on April 23, when an IED exploded under his tanker truck during a patrol in central Mali. He was airlifted to France and treated at the HIA Percy, a military hospital near Paris, but passed away on Friday, the French government said in a statement on Satu…
(2020-05-02). Best-case scenario: German economy may need at least EIGHT YEARS to recover from Covid-19 recession, report says. rt.com 
The German economy continues to contract, losing ‚Ǩ15 billion ($16.6 billion) a week due to the recession caused by Covid-19, a new report has said. It warned that it will take at least eight years for the country to recover. | Germany is expected to lose between five and 10 percent of its GDP by the end of 2020, the German branch of the US-based consulting firm McKinsey & Company wrote in its recent report. | The economy contracted by 25 percent in April compared to the previous year, which amounts to losing roughly €15 billion ($16.6 billion) per week. | The analysts at McKinsey warned…
(2020-05-02). Russia sees surge in new Covid-19 cases with almost 10,000 cases recorded in one day. rt.com 
Russian health officials on Saturday reported 9,623 new cases of coronavirus in a single day, significantly more than the 7,933 rise during the previous 24 hours. The nation's Covid-19 caseload now stands at 124,054. | The surge may reflect a recent increase in testing in Moscow, which is the part of Russia worst affected by the epidemic. A total of 5,358 new cases were reported in the Russian capital on Saturday, compared to 3,561 on Friday. | Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Saturday that the city has "radically improved" its screening protocols during the past week, putting Moscow among the world leaders in th…
(2020-05-02). Russia to boost coal production & sales, will be world's top exporter within decade. rt.com 
The world's largest coal-producing country, Russia, plans to increase its output and exports over the next 15 years. Russia's share of the global coal export market is projected to expand to 25 percent from the current 11 percent. | According to a draft document on Domestic coal consumption will increase by over 12 percent; it currently stands at around 196 million t…
(2020-05-02). Russia sees Covid-19 surge with almost 10,000 cases recorded in one day, as Moscow ramps up testing. rt.com Russian health officials on Saturday reported 9,623 new cases of coronavirus in a single day, significantly more than the 7,933 rise during the previous 24 hours. The nation's Covid-19 caseload now stands at 124,054. | The surge may reflect a recent increase in testing in Moscow, which is the part of Russia worst affected by the epidemic. A total of 5,358 new cases were reported in the Russian capital on Saturday, compared to 3,561 on Friday. | Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Saturday that the city has "radically improved" its screening protocols during the past week, putting Moscow among the world leaders in th…
(2020-05-02). Bosnian Croats Ask the Russian Military for Anti-Virus Help, Bosnian Muslims Block It. anti-empire.com 
The political leader of the Bosnian Croats, Dragan Čović
(2020-05-02). "Turkey Lied to Us." Erdogan's Syrian Mercenaries in Libya Are Desperate to Leave. anti-empire.com 
"I just got back from Libya yesterday," said Zein Ahmad*, a Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) militant in Afrin. "But I had been trying to leave for more than a month." When the Libyan National Army (LNA) neared Tripoli in April 2019, the rival UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli called on Turkey for military support. | Turkish forces began heavily recruiting militants from SNA factions in Syria to fight on their behalf, and began flying hundreds to Libya every week. The exact number of Syrian militants Turkey has sent is unknown, but estimates range from 5,000 to 17,000. Flights c…
(2020-05-02). Euro zone economy contracts at record pace. wsws.org The European Central Bank has taken the same road as the US Fed, committing itself to pump still more money across the board into the financial markets.
(2020-05-02). Special flight brings home Iranians from Austria. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 02 (MNA) — Iran Air announced on Saturday that it will send one special flight to Austria on May 5 to return Iranians stranded in some European countries due to coronavirus pandemic.
(2020-05-02). Jasenovac — the Glossed Over Auschwitz of the Balkans. strategic-culture.org Unfathomable as that may appear, yes, it was quite possible for the second-ranking slaughterhouse in Europe in recent memory to have slipped off the radar screen. Even such a renowned authority as Professor Gideon Greif is having an exceptionally difficult time of it in trying to put it back on. | Precisely because it has not been the theme of any Hollywood spectaculars, Jasenovac does not attract any school excursions and textbooks are largely silent about it. Some background information on Jasenovac therefore seems like a good place to start. | The Jasenovac death camp (1941 — 1945) is inextricably bound…
(2020-05-02). 'There Will Be Spring' to take part in three intl. film festivals. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 03 (MNA) — Iranian short 'There Will Be Spring' by Saeed Bahman will take part in three international film festivals in Europe and North America.
(2020-05-02). Germany's Lufthansa: Billions in state aid and mass layoffs. wsws.org The airline unions are appealing to Chancellor Merkel for state intervention.
(2020-05-02). Germany: Daimler trains managers to kick out workers. wsws.org Daimler department heads and other managers are being trained to put pressure on individual workers to "implement the job cuts as smoothly as possible."
(2020-05-02). 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…
(2020-05-02). Berruto: Olympics medal achievable for Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 02 (MNA) — Ex-Italy volleyball coach Mauro Berruto believes that Iran National Team have a chance of winning an Olympic Games medal depending on how they prepare for the Games.
(2020-05-02). 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 are important. "The nature of social distancing, isolating ourselves, and shelter-in-place has been tremendous hardships from …
(2020-05-02). The deeper roots of Chinese demonization. thealtworld.com Fasten your seat belts: the US The US strategy remains, essentially, full spectrum dominance, with the National Security Strategy obsessed by the three top "threats" of China, Russia and Iran. China, in contrast, proposes…
(2020-05-02). Russian diplomat calls on US to talk about its commitments under resolution 2231. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 02 (MNA) — Referring to US officials' remarks to extend Iran's arms embargo, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Mikhail Ulyanov said that the US officials address their rights UNSC resolution 2231, but do not mention their commitments.
(2020-05-02). 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.
(2020-05-02). Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes Crete, Greece. yenisafak.com An earthquake of magnitude 6 struck the Greek island of Crete on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=853296.The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), EMSC said.
(2020-05-02). Belgium: Virus cases near 50,000 as deaths drop. yenisafak.com The number of coronavirus cases in Belgium moved close to 50,000 on Saturday, with nearly 8,000 deaths.The Federal Public Health Service recorded 485 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 49,517.The death toll rose to 7,765 with 82 more fatalities, the first time since March 29 that fewer than 100 patients have died in a day.Following 128 additions on Friday, a total of 3,111 patients are currently in hospital, with the number in intensive care down by 60 to 689.Recoveries since March 15 reached 12,211 after 319 more patients were discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours.More tha…
(2020-05-02). French state railway SNCF sees 2 bln euro hole, might need state aid. yenisafak.com France's state-owned railway company SNCF has lost about 2 billion euros ($2.20 billion) in revenue so far because of the coronavirus lockdown, its chief executive said on Saturday, adding that a government bailout might be needed.With more than 24,500 deaths during the outbreak, France has urged people to stay at home and avoid public transport."The virus, for the moment, means we're missing about 2 billion euros in revenue," SNCF Chief Executive Jean-Pierre Farandou told France Inter radio. "It wouldn't be abnormal to think of an aid plan for the SNCF," he added.The railway company, which also had a prolonged p…
(2020-05-02). Spain's streets come to life as deaths top 25,000. yenisafak.com As outdoor exercise was permitted for the first time in 48 days, Spain's Health Ministry on Saturday reported 276 more COVID-19 deaths and 1,147 new infections.Both numbers were down slightly from Friday and far below the peak in early April. In total, at least 25,100 people have lost their lives to COVID-19 in Spain and more than 216,500 cases have been confirmed.Of the confirmed cases, 117,248 people have recovered — up 2,572 people from Friday.Under one of the world's strictest lockdowns since March 14, Spain has managed to flatten the curve of the contagion. On Friday, health authorities closed the coun…
(2020-05-02). Spain to launch 16 bln euro reconstruction fund: PM. yenisafak.com Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday his government would approve a 16 billion euros ($17.57 billion) reconstruction fund to help regional authorities deal with the social and economic damage from the coronavirus.Speaking at a press conference, Sanchez also announced that the use of masks on public transport would be compulsory from Monday.($1 = 0.9105 euros)…
(2020-05-02). Turkey sends Somalia domestic ventilators to tackle virus. yenisafak.com Turkey on Saturday sent a shipment of medical supplies, including new Turkish-made ventilators, to Somalia to help the Horn of Africa country combat the coronavirus outbreak.The ventilators, made through recent technological advances, will be "breath of life for our Somali brothers," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter.Sending the aid is not a matter of civilization but of conscience, he added, stressing how the capability and conscience of the Turkish nation stands with the oppressed and the needy.After Turkey's all-out effort to develop its own ventilators, which bore fruit last month, Somali…
(2020-05-02). Turkey steps up medical device development amid virus. yenisafak.com Seeking to stem the hundreds of millions of dollars it costs annually to buy medical devices from abroad, Turkey has stepped up its efforts to develop and produce these devices within the country instead.Expenses for importing medical devices such as respirators or X-ray systems reached more than $8 billion in the last five years, while there has also been a gradual decline.Over the last month Turkey also rushed to set up mass production of mechanical ventilators, devices critical for treating COVID-19 patients.Defense and technology firms Baykar, Aselsan, and Arcelik supported medical technology firm BIOSYS' mec…
(2020-05-02). 6.0-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Crete, Greece. sputniknews.com At the moment, authorities have not released official information about any damage inflicted by the tremor, or victims from the earthquake.
(2020-05-02). France Prolongs Public Health Emergency Until 24 July. sputniknews.com A public health emergency was established in France on 24 March, as the country was coping with the coronavirus pandemic that, according to the WHO, has infected 128,121 people as of 2 May.
(2020-05-02). Nord Stream 2 Pipe-Laying Ship Reportedly Approaching Russia's Kaliningrad. sputniknews.com The pipe-laying vessel, which recently changed course several times, has been operated by "Gazprom Fleet" since 2016. It was earlier touted by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak as the ship capable of helping wrap up the Nord Stream 2 project.
(2020-05-02). Rapid Increase in COVID-19 Cases in Moscow Linked to Growing Testing Rate. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow's COVID-19 response centre on Saturday explained the rapid increase in new cases of infection by the growing number of reference centers verifying positive coronavirus results in the Russian capital.
(2020-05-02). US Air Force 'Interested in Accelerating' Hypersonic Cruise Missile Programme. sputniknews.com In March, Michael White, the Assistant Director for Hypersonics in the Office of the US Under Secretary of Defence for Research and Engineering, signaled the Pentagon's readiness to catch up with Russia and China in hypersonic arms development.
(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). 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). Irish PM Varadkar announces easing of lockdown restrictions in two weeks' time. thecanary.co 
Ireland will begin its journey back to normality after a further two weeks of the current coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions, Leo Varadkar has announced.The majority of the lockdown measures will remain in place until 18 May, although two will ease in the coming days. From next Tuesday, a travel limit that has forced people to stay within 2km of home when exercising will be extended to 5km. Moreover, self-isolating over-70s will be advised they can leave home for a walk or drive.In an address to the nation, the Taoiseach said in mid-May a phased easing of the remaining restrictions would begin: So on the 18th of…
(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). 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). 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). 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). '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). 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). 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). 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.