(2020-03-09). Global market freefall CONTINUES as European bourses open to bearish trading. rt.com 
Stock markets in Europe are opening to a downward trend, following a plunge in Asia. The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 6.1 right after stock exchanges opened in London, Paris, and Frankfurt. | Germany's DAX index fell 7.8 percent after the Frankfurt Stock Exchange opened trading on Monday, and is projected to have its biggest daily drop in 18 years. | London's commodity-heavy FTSE 100 was down more than eight percent, with stocks of oil companies among those hit hardest by the collapse. | France's CAC 40 dove 7.7 percent, with oil giant Total and metal maker ArcelorMittal plummeting over 15 percent. | Also on rt…
(2020-03-09). Coronavirus death toll in Italy rises by 100 for second day in a row, jumps from 366 to 463. rt.com 
Italy has seen its death toll from the coronavirus spike yet again, with the number of casualties in the country rising from 366 to 463 on Monday, according to officials. | Italy has been the European country most affected by the coronavirus, with the total number of cases rising on from 7,375 to 9,172. It also has a higher To combat the spread of the disease, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a decree restricting the travel of people living in Lo…
(2020-03-09). No scandal? What Thuringia's leftist PM's support for right-wing AfD deputy means for Germany. rt.com 
Thuringia's newly elected PM has thrown his support behind a tabooed AfD party candidate for…
(2020-03-09). All of Italy will be 'red zone': Public gatherings banned, people to move only for emergency & work, says PM Conte. rt.com 
A day after northern Italy was put on lockdown over the COVID-19 coronavirus, PM Giuseppe Conte imposed quarantine on the entire country, restricting movement and banning public gatherings. | The unprecedented move was announced by Conte on Monday evening local time, and came as Italy's death toll from the coronavirus rose by almost 100. | The number of deaths jumped from 366 to 463 on Monday, while the total number of cases grew from 7,375 to 9,172. | "There won't be just a red zone," Conte told reporters, referring to the restrictions imposed on the country's north over the weekend. "There will be Italy."
(2020-03-09). Italian prisoners RIOT over coronavirus safety measures (WATCH LIVE). rt.com 
Italy, which is battling the worst Covid-19 outbreak in Europe, has experienced a series of prison riots in virus-plagued areas. The unrest has been triggered by a move to suspend family visits over the coronavirus threat. | "There have been a series of rebellions across the country," Italy's prison administration head Francesco Basentini said on Monday. | The government's efforts to contain the virus, which has already killed over 360 people across the nation, triggered riots at several prisons in Italy. While staying inside might be not the worst way to avoid the coronavirus, some prisoners, apparently, want…
(2020-03-09). Italian prisoners RIOT over coronavirus safety measures (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Italy, which is battling the worst Covid-19 outbreak in Europe, has experienced a series of prison riots in virus-plagued areas. The unrest has been triggered by a move to suspend family visits over the coronavirus threat. | "There have been a series of rebellions across the country," Italy's prison administration head Francesco Basentini said on Monday. | The government's efforts to contain the virus, which has already killed over 360 people across the nation, triggered riots at several prisons in Italy. While staying inside might be not the worst way to avoid the coronavirus, some prisoners, apparently, want…
(2020-03-09). Now it's US' turn: Dow drops 7% at open after day of markets falling worldwide. rt.com 
The US markets are following their Asian and European counterparts into a deep plunge. Shares of oil producers have dropped by double digits after opening amid a 30 percent fall in crude price. | Dow Jones slid by almost 1,900 points, or 7.29 percent, prompting a 15 minute pause in trading on the New York Stock Exchange. | The stock prices of Exxon Mobil and Chevron dropped by over 14 percent. | S&P 500 and Nasdaq plunged by over 7 percent on Monday too. | DETAILS TO FOLLOW…
(2020-03-09). Now it's America's turn: Dow opens 7% down after day of markets falling worldwide. rt.com The US markets are following their Asian and European counterparts into a deep plunge. Shares of oil producers have dropped by double digits after opening amid a 30 percent fall in crude price. | Dow Jones slid by almost 1,900 points, or 7.29 percent, prompting a 15 minute pause in trading on the New York Stock Exchange. | The stock prices of Exxon Mobil and Chevron dropped by over 14 percent. | S&P 500 and Nasdaq plunged by over 7 percent on Monday too. | DETAILS TO FOLLOW…
(2020-03-09). Coronavirus: PM holds Cobra meeting as minister warns against sports shutdown. thecanary.co 
Cancelling sports events and shutting museums and galleries due to coronavirus would be "premature", the culture secretary has said, as the prime minister gathered ministers for an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the next steps to tackle the illness.While some other European countries are cancelling mass gatherings or limiting the number of people who can attend big events, Oliver Dowden said there are "no plans" for Britain to follow suit.Dowden insisted the government is following the advice of health officials and, while the situation is kept under review, there is currently "no need" to cancel big events o…
(2020-03-09). Turkey Ups the Stakes in Migrant Crisis. truthdig.com 
BRUSSELS — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed the European Union on Monday for more help caring for Syrian refugees after EU officials accused him of "blackmail" for waving migrants through to Europe. | Thousands of migrants have massed at Turkey's land border with EU-member Greece since Erdogan's government made good on a longstanding threat and announced it would no longer prevent migrants from crossing. | EU countries have rallied behind Greece, which is also a member of NATO, and described it as a "shield" protecting Europe's borders with the outside world. | Related Articles:
(2020-03-09). In Brussels, Erdogan asks NATO for 'assistance' on Syria and migrants. rt.com 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Brussels, demanding help from NATO with both the conflict on his southern border and the migrants he tried to unleash on the West, now that neither situation is going according to plan. | After meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday, the Turkish leader said he requested "additional assistance" from the alliance, for the "defense" of the Turkish border with Syria and "in connection with the migration challenge." | "We expect concrete support from all our allies to this struggle," Erdogan added, urging the allies to support Turkey "without disc…
(2020-03-09). Irish government cancels St. Patrick's Day parade over coronavirus fears. rt.com 
There will be much less green in Ireland this March than in previous years, as its government has cancelled the St. Patrick's Day festival and parade amid growing concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the country. | The decision was made at a cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon and a press conference is expected to follow later in the day, state broadcaster RTE reported. | Doctors had been calling for the cancellation of the massive international event, which draws hundreds of thousands to Dublin every year — more than 100,000 of them from abroad — but the government had seemingly been dr…
(2020-03-09). Reasons behind market panic investigated: Has Saudi Arabia learned from its past oil gambling mistakes? rt.com 
The country that pulled the final trigger to send oil prices into a freefall, Saudi Arabia, may suffer most from the oil market turmoil, analyst Kamel Wazne says, noting that Riyadh has already made such an error before. | Global markets were already on edge due to slowing economic growth and the coronavirus epidemic, when OPEC and allied oil-producing states failed to come to an agreement last week. As Russia turned its back to deeper output cuts fearing that the US would just take its market share, Saudi Arabia decided to restrain itself from cutting production and offer a discount for its crude exporters.
(2020-03-09). Russia swiftly reacts to bloodbath in markets, says it's ready for $25 oil. rt.com 
Russia's sovereign wealth fund has enough reserves to cover budget deficit for years, even if oil prices stay between $25 and $30 per barrel, the Finance Ministry announced amid a dramatic oil market crash. | Despite Monday being a public holiday in Russia, both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank were quick to react to the overnight drop in oil prices of nearly 30 percent. The former said that the Russian National Wealth Fund has $150 billion (more than 10 trillion rubles) worth of liquid assets from additional oil and gas revenues, which is enough to offset a possible shortfall from falling crude pr…
(2020-03-09). Trump says crashing markets good for consumers, blames Russia, Saudi Arabia and Fake News. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump can't seem to decide whether a sudden, massive drop in oil prices is good or bad for the country, so he's hedged his bets on Twitter, suggesting it's "Good for the consumer" but bad for markets. | Blaming the "market drop" on "Saudi Arabia and Russia…arguing over the price and flow of oil" in a Monday morning tweet, the president whipsawed around and – within the same minute! – bragged that the resulting chaos was "good for the consumer," because gas prices would go down. | Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the price and flow of oil. That, and the Fake News, is the reason for…
(2020-03-09). Daily Beast's Russian TV watcher says RT spreads 'conspiracy theories' about Biden, fails to mention any. rt.com 
The Atlantic Council's Julia Davis has accused RT of promoting conspiracy theories about Democrat frontrunner Joe Biden. If only she could mention at least one… | Davis, a "Russian media monitor" for the Atlantic Council, has been giving Daily Beast readers weekly updates about what Russians think about the American election. (In short, Russians like Trump, and like Bernie because Bernie can't beat Trump, and hate Biden because Trump can't possibly beat Biden.) | Her pieces are mostly about what Russian TV tells Russians, but the latest installment had a few words reserved for RT, which, "actively promotes c…
(2020-03-09). The winners & losers of the Saudi-Russia oil price war. rt.com 
While neither Moscow nor Riyadh want to see oil trading at record lows, their failure to agree on how to boost the market has led to an all-out price war. The only question is who will benefit most from the situation.
(2020-03-09). Spain's PSOE-Podemos government sends police to Greece to attack migrants. wsws.org The pseudo-left is complicit in the dispatching of police to Greece, where far right thugs are attacking refugees with the complicity of the government.
(2020-03-09). The Criminality of the Democratic Party. DNC Maneuvers to Derail Bernie Sanders. globalresearch.ca The utter and complete corruption of the Democratic Party is on full display as the DNC desperately maneuvers to derail the insurgent candidacy of Bernie Sanders by denying him a majority of delegates to the July convention in Minneapolis. Winning …
(2020-03-09). The History of Socialism and Social Democracy. SYRIZA's Betrayal of Greece Is a Spectre Haunting the Left. globalresearch.ca 'Super Tuesday' in the 2020 presidential election season is over and Senator Bernie Sanders's time as the unlikely frontrunner for the Democratic nomination may have stopped just as quick as it began. Despite an unprecedented smear campaign coordinated by …
(2020-03-09). Italy quarantines multiple provinces as coronavirus death toll rises to 366. wsws.org At least 16 million people are affected by state orders limiting public gatherings and events, as infighting spreads in ruling circles over how to halt the spread of the virus.
(2020-03-09). As US coronavirus cases top 500, Italy initiates mass quarantine. wsws.org The World Health Organization has emphatically stated that the international community needs to take immediate action to curb the impact of the pandemic.
(2020-03-09). Sell off. The Price of Privatization in France. indybay.org Liberalization and privatization have ultimately only confused consumers, but have whetted the appetite of the industry bosses and their puppets even more. The takeover of the state by the private sector is no longer about the realization of an ideological project.
(2020-03-09). Defender of Europe 2020: a Dangerous Provocation on Russia's Border. counterpunch.org At this very moment thousands of US soldiers are disembarking from troop transports in six European countries and rushing toward prepositioned munitions around Europe, to deploy weapons as swiftly as possible. This excitement marks the beginning of "Defender Europe 2020", the largest military exercises to be staged in Europe in over 25 years. Strategists will
(2020-03-09). Cease Fire Rejected. Turkey Doesn't Consider Al Qaeda as a Terrorist Group. Erdogan Sends More Troops into Idlib. globalresearch.ca The latest agreement of ceasefire between the Russian President and the Turkish madman Erdogan explicitly excludes combating terrorists. Erdogan doesn't consider al-Qaeda as a terrorist group, he invested heavily in this organization especially in Syria and
(2020-03-09). New Putin-Erdogan Deal Is Sugar-coating the Turks' Surrender. globalresearch.ca This week's meeting between Presidents Putin and Erdogan in Moscow was cast as preventing a war between Russia and Turkey in Syria. War, however, was never on the horizon. Putin called Erdogan's bluff, and the Turk folded. | Russian President Vladimir …
(2020-03-09). Greek police shoot at refugees using live ammunition. wsws.org More than 10,000 people are trapped in the Greek-Turkey border area, unable to move backward or forward.
(2020-03-09). Canada "at war" with Russia, high-level Ottawa conference told. wsws.org Canada's Deputy Defence Minister told the conference that the Liberals' 2017 National Defence Policy has been superseded by the surge in great-power strategic competition.
(2020-03-09). Belgian Police Rescue 14 Migrants From Refrigerator Truck. sputniknews.com BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – The migrants were discovered on Sunday after calling for help from inside the truck that stopped on the highway connecting Brussels with northeastern France. An investigation has been launched.
(2020-03-09). European Commission President Tells Turkey to Take Migrants Back From Greek Border. sputniknews.com This comes ahead of Turkish President Erdogan's meeting with EC President Charles Michel in Brussels where they are expected to discuss measures to reduce tensions on Turkey's borders and European support for Syrian refugees in Turkey.
(2020-03-09). NATO Staffer at Brussels Headquarters Tests Positive for Coronavirus — Spokesperson. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A NATO employee working at the military alliance's headquarters in Brussels has come down with the coronavirus disease after a trip to Italy, the bloc's spokesperson said Monday.
(2020-03-09). Situation in Milan as Up to 16 Million Italians Put in Quarantine Amid Coronavirus Outbreak — Video. sputniknews.com Earlier, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed travel restrictions in Italy's northern and central regions in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
(2020-03-09). Actor Max von Sydow Dies in France at Age 90 – Reports. sputniknews.com Legendary Swedish actor Max von Sydow has died at the age of 90, according to his agent Jean Diamond.
(2020-03-09). Russia Retains Number Two Spot Among Global Arms Exporters — Think Tank. sputniknews.com The traditional design philosophy behind Russian weapons, including simplicity, reliability and ruggedness, has recently been complemented by new principles as the country strives for breakthroughs in fields such as hypersonic missiles.
(2020-03-09). Russia's Pacific Fleet Forms Two New Anti-Submarine Strike Groups. sputniknews.com Consisting of five destroyers, two corvettes and a Slava-class cruiser, the Pacific Fleet is also home to eight ballistic and cruise missile submarines, nearly a dozen attack subs, and dozens of smaller ships, as well as aircraft and Naval Infantry units.
(2020-03-09). Russian Citizen Diagnosed With COVID-19 in United Arab Emirates – Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Russian national in the United Arab Emirates has been found to be infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Emirates News Agency reported on Monday, citing the country's Health Ministry.
(2020-03-09). Six die in Italy prison riot over anti-coronavirus measures. yenisafak.com Six inmates were killed in a prison riot in Italy and guards were taken hostage at another jail, as unrest spread in prisons across the country over measures to contain the coronavirus, including restrictions on visits.Italy's government has imposed a virtual lockdown across much of its wealthy northern regions at the epicentre of the contagion, in an effort to contain a virus which as of Sunday had killed 366 people.In a TV interview the head of Italy's prison administration Francesco Basentini said three inmates had died inside a jail in the northern town of Modena, and three others had died after being transfe…
(2020-03-09). Airlines suspend flights due to coronavirus outbreak. yenisafak.com Airlines across the globe have suspended flights or modified services in response to the coronavirus outbreak.Below are details (in alphabetical order):
(2020-03-09). Greek border guard pours boiling water on asylum seeker. yenisafak.com An asylum seeker claimed on Monday that a Greek border guard poured boiling water on him as he attempted to enter the country.Abdulmuttalib Ulimuhammed, 21, was crossing the land border through Turkey's Edirne province.The Afghan national is getting treatment for burn injuries on his face and legs at a Turkish hospital."May Allah bless Turkish people," he said.Blaming the EU for failing to keep its promises to help asylum seekers, Turkey recently loosened its policy on irregular migration, allowing them to seek entrance into Europe.Turkey currently hosts over 3.7 million Syrians, making it the world's top refugee…
(2020-03-09). Death of adopted puppy leaves Turkish students in grief. yenisafak.com Students mourn as a stray dog, which had become their school's mascot in Turkey's northern Tokat province, has died.The dog, named Findik or Hazelnut, succumbed to canine distemper after treatment in Ankara on Sunday.The canine distemper is a virus that affects the animal's respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems."We did our best, but couldn't save Findik, despite all the treatment," Veterinary Yagmur Denli told reporters in the capital, where the pet dog was brought three weeks ago.Students of Sehit Haluk Yilmaz Primary School in Tokat's Turhal district adopted Findik after finding her cornered…
(2020-03-09). Death toll in Iran from coronavirus reaches 237. yenisafak.com The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Iran rose to 237 on Monday, the country's Health Ministry announced.Authorities said 43 people died in the last 24 hours, while 595 new cases were found, pushing up the total number of confirmed cases to 7,161, spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a statement, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.At least 22,177 people are currently under medical care, while the number of discharged patients stands at 55,404, he said.Besides, a total of 2,394 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus.Turkey
(2020-03-09). At least 42 held in anti-drug operations in Turkey. yenisafak.com Some 42 suspects were held in anti-drug operations in southeastern Turkey, security sources said on Monday.Turkish police conducted separate operations in Gaziantep and Adiyaman provinces, as part of the country's anti-drug efforts, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.In Gaziantep, security forces detained some 39 suspects and seized nearly 300 grams of illicit drugs, three unregistered firearms, 41 bullets, two rifles and 23 blank guns.Meanwhile in Adiyaman, police seized an unspecified amount of illegal drugs from a car, and rounded up three suspects.Last wee…
(2020-03-09). UAE reports 14 new coronavirus cases, tally reaches 59. yenisafak.com The United Arab Emirates announced 14 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total number of people diagnosed to 59, state news agency WAM reported.Of the new cases, there were four Emiratis, three Italians, two each from Bangladesh and Nepal, and a Russian, Syrian and Indian diagnosed with the virus, WAM reported, citing the country's Health Ministry.
(2020-03-09). Goldman cuts Brent forecasts to $30 on price war, virus impact. yenisafak.com Goldman Sachs cut its second- and third-quarter Brent price forecasts to $30 per barrel, citing the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia and a signiÔ¨Åcant collapse in oil demand due to the coronavirus that has killed more than 3,500 globally.Oil fell by the most since 1991 on Monday after Saudi Arabia started a price war with Russia by slashing its selling prices and pledging to unleash its pent-up supply onto a market reeling from falling demand because of the virus outbreak."The aggressive cut to Saudi's Official Selling Prices and Russia's reluctance to be pushed into a deal on Friday…
(2020-03-09). U.K. R.I.P.: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to be Shut Out of Post-Brexit Trade Negotiations. globalresearch.ca The UK Government has reneged on assurances that the devolved nations would have a say in post-Brexit trade negotiations by stating the devolved government's views would only be taken into account "when we (UK Government) can". | As recently as January …
(2020-03-08). Number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany surpasses 900. rt.com 
The number of Covid-19 cases in Germany surged by over 200 on Sunday. According to Robert Koch Institute figures, 902 cases have been registered nationwide, including nearly 400 in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The majority of the state's cases originate from the district of Heinsberg, which appears to be the main German hotspot for the virus. | As the numbers soar, German Health Minister Jens Spahn has called for the countrywide cancellation of any public events with more than 1,000 participants in an attempt to curb the outbreak. A number of major events — including a travel fair in Berlin –…
(2020-03-08). Coronavirus scares Finnish military away from joint NATO drills in Norway. rt.com 
Finnish soldiers will not participate in a Cold Response exercise in Norway over coronavirus concerns. The drills were expected to bring together 15,000 soldiers from 10 countries, but the numbers might shrink over the virus. | The decision to skip the drills was announced by the Finnish Army on Sunday. Finland, which is not formally a part of NATO, was to send 400 soldiers to take part in the alliance's war games, scheduled to take place in the northern Norwegian region of Troms March 9-19. | "The participation of the Armed Forces in the Cold Response exercise conducted by the Norwegian Armed Forces… has be…
(2020-03-08). Protests, clashes & bare breasts: Rallies mark International Women's Day worldwide (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Women, and some men, have marched in capitals around the globe over issues ranging from violence against women to patriarchy to climate change. Some chose topless protests, while some others got a rough response from police. | Late on Sunday, activists took to the streets of Turkey's largest city, condemning violence against women, only to be met with a violent police response. | Clashes break out between police & activists at
(2020-03-08). Oil CRASHES 30% over Saudi Arabia-Russia crude price war & coronavirus fears. rt.com 
Oil plunged nearly 30% in a chaotic market opening, with main crude benchmarks Brent and WTI both trading below $35 a barrel amid fears of an all-out price war following the collapse of an output cut deal between Russian and OPEC.
(2020-03-08). Erdogan Urges Greece to Take in Migrants at the Turkish Border. telesurenglish.net Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the Greek authorities Sunday to open its border gate for the passage of illegal immigrants, who have been waiting in Turkey's northwestern border for the last 10 days to enter Europe. | RELATED: | "These people will not stay in Greece. They will transit to another European country from there," Erdogan said at a meeting in Istanbul, marking International Women's Day. | H…