(2020-03-11). Moscow calls on Afghan political forces not to obstruct reconciliation process. rt.com 
Moscow has called on the opposing political forces of Afghanistan to focus on reaching national reconciliation, instead of taking steps that exacerbate disagreements, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. | Commenting on the two parallel presidential inauguration ceremonies that took place in Afghanistan, it urged all responsible political actors in the country "to adhere solely to common national interests." | The national reconciliation process "should lead to end of the civil war and to the rebuilding of a peaceful, united and independent state, free of terrorism and drug-related crime," the ministry s…
(2020-03-11). Russia passes bill allowing Putin to stay in power past 2024. thecanary.co 
The Russian parliament has approved a sweeping constitutional reform that will allow president Vladimir Putin to stay in power for another 12 years after his current term ends in 2024.The Kremlin-controlled lower house, the State Duma, endorsed a set of amendments to the constitution and a provision resetting the term count for Putin. A nationwide vote on the proposed amendments is set for 22 April.Kremlin critics condemned the move as a cynical manipulation and called for protests.The Russian Duma passed amendments to the constitution (AP/Pavel Golovkin)Putin, a 67-year-old former KGB officer, has ruled Russia f…
(2020-03-11). Tanker rates soar as Saudi Arabia & UAE get ready to open oil taps. rt.com 
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have unveiled plans to ramp up both crude supplies and production capacity as soon as the oil deal with Russia expires. The move has sank oil prices and sent freight rates higher. | After Russia did not agree to new production cuts with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the oil cartel's leader Saudi Arabia set the course for flooding the already oversupplied oil market. On Wednesday, state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco revealed that it would boost production capacity for the first time in more than a decade to 13 million barrels per day (bpd)…
(2020-03-11). Only C MINUS grade: Putin rates Russia-US relations as more bad than good. rt.com 
Since first reaching the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin has dealt with four different US presidents, and is well placed to judge the status of Russo-American relations. It's hardly surprising that his evaluation is rather negative. | "[On a scale from one to five] I would give it a three," Putin said, in an interview with Russian news agency
(2020-03-11). Zoya Romanenko, survivor of the siege of Leningrad, will be glad to receive your letters. https: 
Zoya Romanenko was 16 when Russia entered World War II. She lived near Leningrad, where she survived the deadliest winter of the siege. She held her father in her hands when he died of starvation. Then her mother and grandmother passed away, too. Zoya Romanenko enrolled in the Red Cross program and later worked as a nurse in a field hospital. She was with the Red Army throughout the war and when Victory Day came, she was in Germany. | If you are moved by her story, you can write her a letter for May 9. | Please, send it to RT, 3/1 Borovaya street, Moscow 111020, Russian Federation, marked 'To Zoya Pavlovna Rom…
(2020-03-11). Russian security services detain 4 members of Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist group in Crimea — FSB. rt.com 
Russian security services have busted a cell of the Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist group in Crimea and detained four of its members, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has said. | Members of the terrorist cell "were engaged in unconstitutional activities in pursuit of the concept of creating a so-called worldwide caliphate, destroying the institutions of secular society and overthrowing the current government by force," the FSB said in a statement on Wednesday. | The cell reportedly held covert meetings to propagate their ideology among local Muslims and recruit them. During the searches, large amounts of banned lit…
(2020-03-11). Switzerland keeps border to Italy open, directs traffic over main crossings. rt.com 
Switzerland is closing nine secondary border crossings to Italy and directing traffic over main routes to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, the government said on Wednesday. | However, the country will still let the region's workers get to their jobs, Reuters reported. "The border to Italy remains open for cross-border commuters" with work permits, according to the statement. | Italy has been an epicenter of European coronavirus infections and has imposed severe travel restrictions in an attempt to curb its spread.
(2020-03-11). 'Embarrassing': Jose Mourinho told 'to cheer up' by 'reporter' in cringeworthy scenes after Champions League exit (VIDEO). rt.com 
A man has been branded "embarrassing" for telling a glum Jose Mourinho to "cheer up" in awkward scenes following Tottenham's Champions League exit in Germany. | A depleted Spurs were dumped out 4-0 on aggregate by RB Leipzig in their last-16 tie, after the Bundesliga outfit won 3-0 on the night on Tuesday thanks to a double from captain Marcel Sabitzer and a late strike from substitute Emil Forsberg. | The result means Mourinho has now gone six games without a win for the first time in his career as he is left to contemplate a maiden season at Spurs that will definitely end without silverware. | | Mourinho c…
(2020-03-11). Merkel is stirring up panic by warning that up to 70% of Germans could contract Covid-19 — Czech PM Babis. rt.com 
The German chancellor's sinister prediction that most Germans are likely to be infected with coronavirus — if nothing is done — has unnerved the Czech premier who warned that statements like this are spreading panic. | Babis was not impressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's alarming remarks that the fast-moving Covid-19 "has arrived in Europe" and everyone has to get real about it. | "I don't want to comment on the situation in Germany, although I believe that such statements rather cause panic," Prime Minister Andrej Babis was quoted by CTK news agency as saying. The Czech Republic, for its part, ha…
(2020-03-11). Erdogan slams Greece's 'Nazi' treatment of refugees, vows to keep borders open until EU fulfills migrant deal. rt.com 
Athens' treatment of thousands of refugees who have massed on the Turkey-Greece border is comparable to atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany, Turkey's president has claimed amid the latest migrant row with the EU. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Greece in an address on Wednesday, claiming that Ankara's Mediterranean neighbor has mistreated a flood of refugees that are trying to enter the EU through Turkey. | "There's no difference between those images from Greece's border and what the Nazis did," Erdogan said, apparently referring to photographs of clashes between migrants and Greek bo…
(2020-03-11). India temporarily suspends visas for citizens of Germany, France, Spain. rt.com 
India has temporarily suspended all visas and e-visas granted on or before March 11 to nationals of three more coronavirus-affected countries — France, Germany and Spain — as part of the measures to contain the spread of the virus. The decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, ANI reported. | "All regular visas (including e-visas) which have been granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain on or before March 11, 2020, and where these foreigners have not yet entered India stands suspended," the statement said. Visas of all foreigners already in India re…
(2020-03-11). 'I'll listen to the experts': LeBron James does coronavirus U-turn after vowing NOT to play in empty arenas (VIDEO). rt.com 
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James says that he will follow the advice of coronavirus experts after previously vowing he wouldn't be agreeable to the idea of playing NBA games inside empty arenas. | This comes amid fears that sports fixtures in the US could follow suit from some European countries by banning fans from attending live events, or any large-scale public gatherings, as attempts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 continue. | James stated several days ago that he "ain't playing" in empty arenas and that the reason he plays the sport is for the fans. | But as authorities grapple with the ever-worsen…
(2020-03-11). Greece denies report of secret 'detention center' for migrants near Turkish border. rt.com 
The Greek government has dismissed a report in the New York Times newspaper that it was holding illegal migrants who cross the border from Turkey at a secret 'black site' where they are denied access to lawyers and cannot file asylum claims. | Tens of thousands of migrants have been trying to get into Greece, an EU member state, since Turkey said on February 28 it would no longer keep them on its territory as part of a 2016 deal with Brussels in return for EU aid for the refugees. | "There is no secret detention center in Greece," government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters on Wednesday, adding that if…
(2020-03-11). Fighting the disease… literally: Asian man punched in face in Belgium for 'spreading coronavirus'. rt.com 
A Belgian man has taken the fight with coronavirus too literally, punching an Asian person — whom he suspected of spreading the deadly disease — in the face and being detained by the police. | The bizarre incident occurred in country's capital Brussels over the weekend and was confirmed on Wednesday by prosecutors, according to local media reports. | A 24-year-old Asian man, who was walking along Avenue Fonsny late at night, received a heavy blow to the face completely out of nowhere. The attacker shouted that he employed force because he thought that his victim was spreading the coronavirus. | It'
(2020-03-11). WATCH Italians line up in extended supermarket queues amid coronavirus lockdown (VIDEO, PHOTOS). rt.com 
With Italy racked by a rapidly spreading COVID-19 outbreak, residents are piling up in elongated queues outside of storefronts, hoping to stock up on diminishing supplies while nationwide travel restrictions remain in place. | The illness claimed another 168 lives on Tuesday, Italy's deadliest day yet, raising the death toll to 631, as the government takes dramatic steps to contain the outbreak that has sickened more than 10,000 people across the country. However, residents still need to eat, prompting many Italians to endure long, snaking lines running for hundreds of meters in order to purchase necessities b…
(2020-03-11). Julian Assange's mother, doctors warn he is at heightened risk due to coronavirus. wsws.org In comments to the WSWS, Dr Stephen Frost warned that "the UK government is effectively playing Russian roulette with Julian Assange's life" and demanded that he be released from Belmarsh Prison immediately.
(2020-03-11). Greece's Migrant Crisis Has Further Exposed Turkish Fake News. globalresearch.ca Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attempt to intimidate the Syrian Army and force them to withdraw to the Sochi Agreement lines in Idlib utterly failed, resulting in the Turkish leader having to embarrassingly accept large swathes of liberated territory …
(2020-03-11). How Black Swans Are Shaping Planet Panic. globalresearch.ca Is the planet under the spell of a pair of black swans — a Wall Street meltdown, caused by an alleged oil war between Russia and the House of Saud, plus the uncontrolled spread of Covid-19 — leading to an …
(2020-03-11). How Turkey Lost a Battle of Wills, and Force, to Russia. globalresearch.ca When the history of the Syrian conflict is written, the fighting that took place between the Syrian Army and its allies on the one side, and the Turkish military and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels on the other, from early February through …
(2020-03-11). Nukes: The Unmentionable Election Issue. counterpunch.org One of these days, national security policy will get a few minutes of campaign debate time. And when that day occurs, perhaps—just perhaps—attention will turn to a matter of some urgency: the continuing threat posed by nuclear weapons. As both the US and Russia pursue MADness (mutually assured destruction) with steep investments in nuclear weapons,
(2020-03-11). Germany's Left Party joins hands with far-right Alternative for Germany. wsws.org Just two days after he was elected minister president of Thuringia, the Left Party's Bodo Ramelow ensured that the AfD obtained one of the vice president positions in the state parliament.
(2020-03-11). Coronavirus pandemic surges across Europe. wsws.org Thousands fell ill with coronavirus and hundreds died yesterday in Europe as the pandemic kept surging across the continent.
(2020-03-11). Turkey to Keep Its Border Open for Refugees to Go to the EU. telesurenglish.net Turkey's RELATED: | "We decided not to stop those people who want to go to Europe. We fed and dressed the…
(2020-03-11). Turkey's Migrant Weapon Against Greece. counterpunch.org It comes as no surprise that Greeks and Turks don't like each other. They have been enemies for more than a thousand years. The Turks are Mongols who appeared for the first time in Asia Minor in the eleventh century when Asia Minor or Anatolia was the home of the Greeks. The Anatolian cataclysm of
(2020-03-11). US-Israel Predictably Behind Turkish Aggression in Syria. globalresearch.ca Turkey's ongoing fighting in northern Syria's Idlib governorate was — from the beginning of recent escalations — clearly a continuation of Washington's wider now 9 year-long proxy war against Damascus. | Whatever gains Turkey had made in terms of
(2020-03-11). Italy emerging as the new epicenter for the Covid-19 pandemic. wsws.org Italy's health care system is being overwhelmed by the growing number of serious respiratory illnesses that are filling the emergency rooms and hospitals throughout the Lombardy region.
(2020-03-11). Negligent Australian government response threatens widespread Covid-19 infection. wsws.org The great risk is that the virus is spreading, largely unknown and unchecked, via transmission within Australia—as took place in Italy and elsewhere.
(2020-03-11). Spain puts Madrid, Basque country on lockdown as coronavirus cases multiply. wsws.org The decision came after Spain's Ministry of Health said there were 1,622 registered cases, compared to 1,200 the day before.
(2020-03-11). Turkey working to broker permanent cease-fire in Idlib. yenisafak.com Turkey is working to extend the temporary cease-fire in Syria's opposition-held province of Idlib to a permanent one, the country's foreign minister said Wednesday."Currently, efforts are being made to make this temporary cease-fire permanent," Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in the capital Ankara.He said that Turkey is discussing with the visiting Russian military delegation ways to ensure safe movement of traffic on the strategic M4 highway in Idlib, where the two countries are set to start joint patrols.To a question on how the cease-fire is holding up, Cavusoglu said there was harassing fire two days ago but…
(2020-03-11). NATO to break off Arctic drill as coronavirus spreads. yenisafak.com Norway has decided to halt a NATO military exercise in its Arctic region in response to the coronavirus outbreak, public broadcaster NRK reported on Wednesday.Some 14,000 troops from 10 countries were gathered for NATO's Cold Response drill near the Atlantic alliance's northernmost border with Russia.
(2020-03-11). European Weightlifting Championship postponed to June. yenisafak.com The European Weightlifting Championships scheduled for April 13-21 was postponed to June as concerns grow about the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to an official statement on Wednesday."The European Weightlifting Federation through the full support of the Executive Board, due to the spread of the Coronavirus on the continent, has decided to postpone the European Senior Championships scheduled in Moscow, Russia 13-21 April," the International Weightlifting Federation said in a statement on Wednesday.The competition will be held in Moscow in June 13-21.As the world struggles to contain the rapidly sprea…
(2020-03-11). Death toll in Iran from coronavirus reaches 354. yenisafak.com The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Iran rose to 354, state television reported on Wednesday.Authorities said 63 people died in the last 24 hours, while 958 new cases were found, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 9,000, Iran's semi-official TV news quoted Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour as saying.A total of 2,959 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus, it added.Turkey, which has just a single confirmed case of coronavirus, closed its land borders and suspended air travel to Iran last month.Besides China, Italy, and South Korea, Iran is the…
(2020-03-11). Erdogan: 150K Refugees Have Entered Greece, Turkey Won't Shut Border Until EU 'Fulfils Promises'. sputniknews.com Ankara opened its borders with Europe to would-be migrants late last month amid an escalation of fighting between Turkish and Syrian troops in Syria's Idlib province. Since then, Turkish authorities have threatened to send "millions" of refugees to Europe, and suggested that the 2016 migrant agreement needs to be renegotiated.
(2020-03-11). Russia's Zircon Hypersonic Missile to Be Test-Launched From Underwater — Reports. sputniknews.com The Zircon, a scramjet-powered maneuverable anti-ship cruise missile capable of accelerating to speeds of up to 11,100 km an hour, is one of half-a-dozen or so strategic systems being developed by Russia's military to help ensure global strategic stability.
(2020-03-11). Upper House of Russian Parliament Approves Bill on Constitutional Amendments. sputniknews.com Earlier in the day, the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, approved the presidential bill on the amendment to the national constitution.
(2020-03-11). Russia Registers 2 Ceasefire Violations in Syria Over Past 24 Hours – Military. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian truce has registered two ceasefire violations in Syria over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has recorded three breaches, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
(2020-03-11). Russian Energy Minister Believes Saudi Arabia's Oil Production Increase 'Not Best Option'. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday he believes that Saudi Arabia's plans to boost the national oil production were not "the best option" in the existing market conditions.
(2020-03-11). Number of COVID-19 Cases in Denmark Rises to 340 – Health Ministry. sputniknews.com STOCKHOLM (Sputnik) – The number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Denmark on Wednesday reached 340, with over 1,200 people being quarantined, according to the country's Health Ministry.
(2020-03-11). Italy to Allocate Additional 25 Billion Euros to Fight Coronavirus – Conte. sputniknews.com GENOA (Sputnik) – Italy is set to allocate an additional 25 billion euros ($ 28 billion) to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday.
(2020-03-11). Damascus Expects NATO, EU Nations to Condemn Turkey's Actions in Syria – Assad Adviser. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Damascus expects NATO and the European Union to at least condemn Turkey's actions in Syria, which "go against all international legitimacy," but has not yet seen a proper reaction, said Bouthaina Shaaban, a political and media adviser to the Syrian president.
(2020-03-11). 30,000 U.S. Soldiers Sent into Europe Without Masks. globalresearch.ca The United States has raised the coronavirus (COVID-19) alert for Italy to level 3 ("avoid nonessential travel"), bringing it to 4 ("do not travel") for [the northern regions of] Lombardy and Veneto — the same as for China. American Airlines …
(2020-03-10). 75 years after Russia & America worked TOGETHER to defeat Hitler, Trump SNUBS Putin's Moscow celebrations invite. rt.com 
While the 'Russiagate' hoax kept millions entertained in the fantasy world of US cable news, it also had plenty of real-world consequences. Now another can be added to the list: the White House's absence from Moscow on May 9. | US President Donald Trump has rejected Vladimir Putin's invitation to the Russian capital to mark the 75th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, according to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. | Trump's non-attendance, which could be seen by many in Russia as an extraordinary affront to Soviet Russia's disproportionate sacrifice in annihilating fascism, marks an incre…
(2020-03-10). 'Western ideologists will go crazy': Putin leaves door open to run for president again. rt.com 
Putin's speech to the Russian parliament Tuesday seemed to be one of his most sincere: he argued that stable leadership is good for a country in turbulent times but does it mean we'll really see him in power beyond 2024. | Putin said Tuesday that he will seek a new term when his current one is up "only if it's approved by the Constitutional Court and if citizens support such a proposal" when they vote for constitutional amendments on April 22. | He addressed the issue during a speech in parliament after MP and the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, called for his tenure to be reset so that he would be…
(2020-03-10). The Battle for Idlib: Did Erdogan Capitulate to Putin in Moscow? mintpressnews.com 
There was a celebration in Syria when Russia announced a ceasefire agreement with Turkey on March 3 following a six-hour meeting between Presidents Erdogan and Putin in Moscow. Under the agreement, Erdogan agreed to pull back Turkish forces and not to contest territory that Syria had recently reclaimed from terrorist groups in eastern Aleppo and southern Idlib provinces. In fact, Turkey agreed not to intervene against Syrian troops in any of the areas from which it pulled back, in effect allowing Syrian forces to reclaim even more of its territory from terrorists in southern Idlib. | The agreement appeared to be…
(2020-03-10). Health minister Nadine Dorries tests positive for coronavirus days after meeting with PM Johnson. rt.com 
Tory MP Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with COVID-19 — the disease caused by the coronavirus sweeping Asia, Europe and the Americas — less than a week after attending a reception with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. | The representative from Mid Bedfordshire — who is also a health official that helped to draft legislation to address the fast-moving virus — was confirmed to have the illness on Tuesday evening, after falling ill late last week. | "I can confirm I have tested positive for Coronavirus," Dorries said in a statement. "As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precaution…
(2020-03-10). Turkey's Erdogan faces growing resistance over involvement in Syria's civil war. peoplesworld.org 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's latest gamble in Syria's civil war appears to have come up snake eyes. Instead of halting the Damascus government's siege of the last rebel held province, Idlib, Turkey has backed off, and Ankara's Syrian adventure is fueling growing domestic resistance to the powerful autocrat. The crisis began Feb. 25, when …
(2020-03-10). Italy in lockdown as coronavirus restrictions extended nationwide. thecanary.co 
Italy extended coronavirus travel restrictions previously limited to the country's north to the whole country on Tuesday, with soldiers and police enforcing bans.Some 9,172 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Italy, with 463 deaths, and there is a growing sense that the numbers will only worsen. | "We're only at the beginning," said Dr Massimo Galli, head of infectious disease at Sacco Hospital in Milan, where people at the city's main railway station were required to sign forms certifying the necessity of their travel.However, the Italian government assured its citizens that supermarkets will remain open…
(2020-03-10). Italy Is Now a Red Zone: Student at Bocconi U. Describes Strict Measures Taken to Contain COVID-19. democracynow.org 
The entire country of Italy has been placed on lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, impacting 60 million people. People in the nationwide red zone will only be allowed to travel for work, medical reasons or emergencies until early next month. All schools and universities will also remain closed, major sporting events are suspended, and airline passengers now have to justify their reasons for traveling. We go to Italy to speak with Romy Kool, an international student at Bocconi University in Milan, where courses are now being taught online amid the coronavirus outbreak. We are als…
(2020-03-10). Is it really caring? Pope Francis tells clergy to go to sick people, defying Italy's coronavirus lockdown. rt.com 
As Italy scrambles to enact strict quarantine measures to stem the rampant spread of the coronavirus, Pope Francis is issuing a very different directive to the priests under his command: get out and be with those who are sick. | At a personal mass on Tuesday morning, and as Italy enters a complete lockdown, the Holy See implored clergymen to "have the courage to go out and go to the sick people." The Pope's remarks starkly contradict all the core advice administered by the Italian government — namely to stay home and not to travel unless it's a medical emergency. With the highest death toll outside of mai…
(2020-03-10). Testimony of a surgeon working in Bergamo, in the heart of Italy's coronavirus outbreak. mronline.org 
In one of the non-stop e-mails that I receive from my hospital administration on a more than daily basis, there was a paragraph on "how to be responsible on social media", with some recommendations that we all can agree on. |