(2020-03-15). Russian-Turkish patrol route in Idlib shortened abruptly to prevent terrorists attempt to use civilians as human shield. rt.com 
Russian and Turkish forces in Syria's province of Idlib have had to shorten their first joint patrol mission in order to prevent extremists from disrupt it, using civilians as human shields, the Russian military said. | On Sunday, Turkey and Russia set out on their first joint patrol along the security corridor in Idlib agreed as part of a ceasefire deal reached by presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Teyyip Erdogan in early March. The route of the patrol went along the strategic M4 highway linking Syria's city of Aleppo to the coastal western province of Latakia and passing through the territories held by vari…
(2020-03-15). Route of first Russian-Turkish patrol along key de-escalation line shortened to prevent terrorist provocation involving civilians. rt.com Russian and Turkish forces in Syria's province of Idlib have had to shorten their first joint patrol mission aimed at maintaining truce in the area to avoid harming civilians used as human shield by terrorists. | On Sunday, Turkey and Russia set out on their first joint patrol along the security corridor in Idlib, agreed as part of a ceasefire deal reached by presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in early March. The route of the patrol went along the strategic M4 highway, which links Syria's city of Aleppo to the coastal western province of Latakia and passes through the territories held by variou…
(2020-03-15). Long lines beset US airports with passengers reportedly waiting up to 10 HOURS to get through due to Covid-19 screening (PHOTOS). rt.com 
Thousands have lined up in long queues to get their bags and pass customs at airports across the US, with photos of the crowds going viral. The chaos has been blamed on enhanced coronavirus checks under the European travel ban. | Also on rt.com | | O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois, one of world's busiest airports by passenger traffic, has been overwhelmed with a sea of people, with photos and videos by stranded travelers showing long lines leading up to the baggage line and cu…
(2020-03-15). France says border remains OPEN amid reports of Germany readying to isolate from neighbors. rt.com 
Franco-German frontier remains opened, yet border controls have been reinforced, French government has said. Earlier reports suggested that Berlin decided to shut it altogether in a bid to stop the coronavirus outbreak. | The tightened controls are set to limit "non-essential exchange" between the two countries, according to France's Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. | "These French and German controls do not constitute a closure of our common border," the minister said in a statement. "They are set to limit non-essential exchanges between our two countries in order to limit the spread of the virus." | Ea…
(2020-03-15). Mandates above all? Macron declares himself 'guarantor of HEALTH & democracy' as Paris pushes citizens to vote amid coronavirus. rt.com 
The pandemic has put France on lockdown, with public venues and shops shut down. Polling stations, however, were not only spared, but Paris eagerly pushed the people to vote in local polls, despite health concerns and criticism. | The unstoppable spread of the new coronavirus, known as Covid-19 has prompted the French government to shut down all "non-essential" public venues, be they shops, bars, restaurants, or even schools. Still, the polling stations appear to be just essential enough for Paris to be willing to risk the lives of the French electorate. | Despite the growing threat of the disease outbreak, wh…
(2020-03-15). Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen's family held at knifepoint while he was away on UEFA Champions League duty. rt.com 
Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen has revealed that his family was held at knifepoint during an armed robbery at his home while the player was with his team on UEFA Champions League duty this week. | A police report from the incident states that Vertonghen's wife and children were threatened when four men wearing balaclavas forced their way into the player's London home while the 32-year-old was in Germany for the second leg of his team's UEFA Champions League tie with RB Leipzig on Tuesday. | A spokesperson for Tottenham Hotspur said that they have been providing support to Vertonghen's fa…
(2020-03-15). Covid-19 air travel cull: Nordic flag carrier SAS to 'temporarily' lay off 90% of employees as it halts traffic. rt.com 
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has decided to halt "most of" its flights, stating that the demand for air travel has effectively fallen to zero. The move comes along with "temporary work reductions," affecting some 10,000 employees. | "As an effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and the measures that authorities have taken, the demand for international air travel is essentially non-existent," the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden said in a statement Sunday. | Starting on Monday, SAS will "halt most of its traffic" and resume its operations only when "conditions to conduct commercial aviation" ar…
(2020-03-15). Italy's coronavirus deaths soar to over 1,800 with nearly 25k infected. rt.com 
Italian officials have revealed 368 additional Covid-19 related deaths with the new total standing at 1,809 people. This represents a record toll for one-day in the pandemic. | The number of infected patients within the locked-down country has also risen dramatically from 21,157 to 24,747, according to the country's civil protection authority. | Italy is currently believed to be the hardest struck nation from the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic outside China. The nation was put on lockdown less than a week ago in an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus, with PM Giuseppe Conte referring to the country as a…
(2020-03-15). Ukrainian nationalists fire FLARE GUN at Russian embassy in Kiev, threaten to storm diplomatic mission (VIDEO). rt.com 
Ukrainian radicals have shot a round from a flare gun at the Russian embassy in Kiev, hitting the building's roof as they staged a rally outside the mission. Despite a heavy police presence, officers apparently stood idly by. | Russia's diplomatic mission in Kiev suffered the assault late on Saturday as a crowd of mostly far-right radicals gathered in front of the embassy and pelted its premises with flares and smoke pellets. At one point, someone also fired a flare gun round, which hit the building's roof to loud cheers from the crowd, which was chanting anti-Russian slogans, a video published on social media…
(2020-03-15). 'Don't be in a rush to die, you'll die anyway': Chechen leader Kadyrov urges public to stop panicking over coronavirus. rt.com 
With hysteria over the coronavirus on the rise, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has urged his countrymen to keep calm, not to shun traditional medicine, and care less about what is beyond one's control — as we are all mortal. | Kadyrov, the long-time leader of Russia's Chechen Republic, has offered his take on today's boiling issue — the coronavirus pandemic — injecting some wisdom of his own into the debate. | Arguing that the fears over the disease that manifests itself with flu-like symptoms have been blown out of proportion, Kadyrov called on the public to come to their senses and stop overth…
(2020-03-15). The Extraordinary Decisions Facing Italian Doctors. zcomm.org Italy now has too many coronavirus patients for each to receive adequate care. So those who are too old to have a high likelihood of recovery, or who have too low a number of "life-years" left even if they should survive, may be left to die…
(2020-03-15). Turkey slams Greece over treatment of asylum seekers. yenisafak.com Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias' remarks on social media are "concrete evidence of the inconsistent, double-standard, illegal and inhumane policies" pursued by this country, said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday, referring to the asylum seekers along the Turkey-Greece border.In a written statement, Hami Aksoy said, "Greece does not protect the borders of the European Union, to the contrary, disgracefully tramples on the very principles and values this Union was built upon, by treating the migrants coming to its gates as enemies instead of human beings."Greece is attacking asylum seekers without s…
(2020-03-15). Turkey neutralizes 3 PKK terrorists in N.Syria. yenisafak.com The Turkish army "neutralized" three YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syrian territories, the National Defense Ministry said on Sunday.In a Twitter post, the ministry said two PKK/YPG terrorists who attacked on Turkish troops in the Operation Euphrates Shield area, and another one attempting to infiltrate the Operation Peace Spring area were "neutralized."It added that the operations will continue without letup.Turkish authorities generally use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.In 2016-2019, Turkey launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations…
(2020-03-15). Improper use of medical masks can cause infections. yenisafak.com As mask consumption around the globe grows amid the coronavirus outbreak, doctors in Turkey are warning against their misuse as the devices can cause infections. Gulay Kilic, an infectious disease doctor, said despite warnings, the N95 masks are used incorrectly, supplies are low and there are not enough masks for health care personnel who need them.It is very difficult to use the masks because once they become sweaty, in a short time it can cause infections, Kilic said, and noted only patients with weakness and fatigue should wear masks.Dr. Alpay Azap, a member of the Health Ministry's Coronavirus Scientific Adv…
(2020-03-15). Turkey quarantines thousands of Umrah pilgrimages in dormitories. yenisafak.com All passengers returning from the Umrah pilgrimage since last night have been placed in separate rooms of dormitories as part of coronavirus quarantine measures, the Turkish health minister announced Sunday.Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter that people suspected of the coronavirus were taken to a hospital to be tested, adding that the passengers were placed in dormitories in the capital Ankara and in the central province of Konya.Early Sunday, the minister "insistently" asked the passengers returning from Umrah not to leave their homes and not to accept visitors for 14 days."Passing the medical screening does not me…
(2020-03-15). Netherlands will do 'everything it takes' to keep KLM, airport running. yenisafak.com Dutch finance minister Wobke Hoekstra said Sunday that the Netherlands will do "everything it takes" to keep Air France-KLM and Amsterdam's Schiphol airport operating.Hoekstra would not give any details about a possible bail out but stressed that Air France-KLM was "vital for the Dutch economy" and said he was in close contact with his French colleagues and the Air France management.Air France-KLM is facing falling revenues due to the impact of the coronavirus on its business. On Friday, KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France-KLM, said it would slash up to 2,000 jobs and ask for government support as it cuts wor…
(2020-03-15). Northern Cyprus confirms 6th coronavirus case. yenisafak.com The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) announced on Sunday that one more person tested positive for the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, raising the tally to six in the country.A Turkish Cypriot citizen who returned to the country from Britain was diagnosed with COVID-19.The country's Health Minister Ali Pilli told Turkish News Agency-Cyprus that three people from a group of German tourists who were already under observation have tested negative for the virus.In the TRNC, four tourists and one citizen had earlier been diagnosed with the virus.On Tuesday, Health Minister Ali Pilli had announced the cou…
(2020-03-15). Eastern-Based Libyan National Army Hits Tripoli's Mitiga Airport Killing Turkish Servicemen. sputniknews.com Turkey has been sending troops to war-torn Libya to support the UN-backed Government of National Accord. According to Turkish President Erdogan, Ankara seeks to protect the GNA from being overthrown by the Libyan National Army, which supports the eastern-based interim government in the port city of Tobruk.
(2020-03-15). Austria to Ban Entry for Citizens of Russia, 3 Other States Over COVID-19 – Chancellor. sputniknews.com VIENNA (Sputnik) – Austria will introduce an entry ban for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Sunday.
(2020-03-15). UK Dissuades People From Non-Essential Travel to US. sputniknews.com The United States banned entry to people from 26 European countries this week in a bid to contain the epidemic. Vice President Mike Pence said restrictions will also be imposed on flights from the United Kingdom and Ireland, starting Monday.
(2020-03-15). Vatican to Hold Easter Celebrations Without Faithful Over Coronavirus Disease Outbreak. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Week-long Liturgical Celebrations for Easter, which are to start on 5 April and usually attended by thousands of people, will be held in the Vatican without the physical presence of the congregation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Prefecture of the Papal Household has said in a statement.
(2020-03-15). Madrid on Partial Lockdown as Coronavirus Outbreak Declared Pandemic – Video. sputniknews.com The World Health Organisation has declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic. The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 156,000 in almost 140 countries and territories, with over 5,800 fatalities.
(2020-03-15). Airlines UK Urges Gov't to Shore Up Britain's Aviation Industry Amid Coronavirus Pandemic. sputniknews.com Earlier on Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence announced that the US will extend its European travel ban to include the UK and the Republic of Ireland, in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
(2020-03-15). Queen Elizabeth Leaves Buckingham Palace Amid Spread of Coronavirus in the United Kingdom – Report. sputniknews.com The development comes as the number of deaths from the respiratory disease has almost doubled in Britain. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom currently stands at 1,140.
(2020-03-15). Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi Hits Out at Modi Gov't Over High Oil Prices. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Global crude oil prices plunged last week as Oil Producing and Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+) failed to agree on production cuts in the wake of the COVID-19 spread, as Russia was not in favour of it. Moscow was of the view that it is too early to assess the impact of the coronavirus on future economic activity and oil demand.
(2020-03-15). Bravo, bravissimo! Watch stranded Spaniards & Italians applaud medics from afar with STANDING OVATIONS! rt.com 
When you are used to showing your gratitude with hugs and kisses, but have to stay home due to a pandemic, there is one last resort – go to your window and applaud the brave doctors and nurses fighting the virus.
(2020-03-14). China sends medical experts to support Italy's fight against coronavirus. peoplesworld.org 
China has sent a team of medical experts and aid to support Italy in its fight against coronavirus after Rome blasted the European Union for ignoring its pleas for help. A charter flight with a nine-member Chinese medical-aid team and tons of supplies arrived in Rome the evening of March 12. Organized by the National …
(2020-03-14). European airlines facing BLOODBATH as coronavirus crisis rocks industry. rt.com 
Major European airlines are set to axe thousands of jobs and, without bailouts, some are facing collapse as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the industry. | After weeks of uncertainty in the sector, Saturday brought a raft of bad news for European carriers. The French government said it is not considering a bailout of Air France-KLM at this stage, as the airline struggles for survival amidst the public health crisis. | Scandanavian Airlines is reportedly laying off 100 pilots and 100 cabin crew on a temporary basis while Swiss International is taking half its fleet out of service and reducing working h…
(2020-03-14). Berlin shuts museums, bars & even BROTHELS, in tough crackdown on virus spread. rt.com 
No action will be available in Germany's capital from now on, after Berlin shut down all public venues in an attempt to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus in central Europe's most populated city. | The decision was announced by Berlin's authorities on Saturday. All venues such as bars, clubs, cinemas, theaters and even brothels have been closed, while citizens are effectively prohibited from forming any groups of 50 or more. | "The Berlin Senate decided today that from now on all public and non-public events in Berlin with 50 or more participants are forbidden," the city's authorities said in a statemen…
(2020-03-14). Sing when you're winning: Watch British boxer Nathan Heaney's brilliant ring walk before winning middleweight title fight (VIDEO). rt.com 
British boxer Nathan Heaney may not have been a household name heading into his bout on Friday night, but after his brilliant ring walk went viral on Saturday, he's becoming a lot more popular now. | The 30-year-old middleweight from Stoke-on-Trent, England was the star of the show at a boxing event in his hometown as he took on Malta's Christian Schembri for the vacant IBO continental middleweight title. | Fighting in front of his hometown fans in the biggest fight of his unbeaten career, Heaney was determined to make an impact, and he made sure he did just that, right from the very start of his walkout. | He…
(2020-03-14). Spain to enter nationwide LOCKDOWN as coronavirus crisis prompts 'drastic' measures. rt.com 
Spain is imposing a nationwide lockdown in a bid to tackle the coronavirus, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has confirmed. It prevents citizens from leaving their homes except to buy food and medicine and for work or emergencies. | The government announced the new measures at a news conference on Saturday, and they are set to come into effect on Monday morning. | The measures, which Sanchez called "extraordinary" and "drastic," will last for 15 days as part of the state of emergency and may be extended further with a decision from the Spanish Congress of Deputies. Sanchez acknowledged that the lockdown will have…
(2020-03-14). Spanish PM's wife tests positive for Covid-19 after Madrid imposes national lockdown to tackle the disease. rt.com 
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, the government has confirmed. It comes after the Iberian country entered lockdown, with a ban on all non-essential movement. | Both Gomez and her husband, the prime minister, are feeling well, Sanchez's office reported Sunday night. | The news comes shortly after Sanchez unveiled what he described as "drastic" and "extraordinary" measures as part of the state of emergency to fend off the spread of the disease that has so far claimed at least 193 lives across the country, and infected over 6,250. | The restrictive mea…
(2020-03-14). Russia's number of confirmed coronavirus cases reaches 59. rt.com 
Some 14 new coronavirus patients were identified in Russia on Saturday with the total number of infected reaching 59. Moscow leads with the number of new cases, with 9 infected with Covid-19 detected in the capital. So far, the coronavirus has not claimed any lives in Russia. | Over 145,000 coronavirus patients have been registered worldwide, and more than 5,400 of them died. While the majority of cases have originated in the pandemic's ground zero — Wuhan, China — and countries such as Iran and South Korea have been heavily hit, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week that the hotspot o…
(2020-03-14). 'Euroleaks': Varoufakis LEAKS recordings of secretive Eurogroup talks on Greece in fight for 'democratization of the EU'. rt.com 
The former finance minister of Greece, Yanis Varoufakis, has released a cache of audio files, secretly recorded in 2015 during the bailout talks with the Eurogroup — a powerful group of eurozone's finance chiefs. | The recordings and their transcripts were | In 2015, Varoufakis was…
(2020-03-14). More than 250 deaths in Italy in one day as coronavirus continues to spread. wsws.org Italy is the focal point of the outbreak in Europe, which Europe is now reporting more new cases each day than China did, even at the height of its outbreak.
(2020-03-14). Poland, Czech Republic close borders, shut down public life due to coronavirus. wsws.org Three decades after the restoration of capitalism and endless austerity, the health care system in Poland and the Czech Republic, as across all of Europe, is in a devastating condition.
(2020-03-14). Russia's coronavirus cases double in two days, as Ukraine reports first death. wsws.org COVID-19 is spreading in Russia and Ukraine, as the governments impose bans on travel and public gatherings.
(2020-03-14). Spain declares state of emergency as unions agree to mass layoffs. wsws.org The decision comes as there are 4,209 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 1,000 more than the day before, and 120 deaths from the disease across Spain.
(2020-03-14). Georgia 2nd State to Postpone Pres. Primaries Over COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Georgia's March 24 presidential primaries will be postponed until May because of fears over the new coronavirus, state election officials announced Saturday, a day after Louisiana also pushed back its primaries. | RELATED: | In-person early voting, which began statewide March 2, will be halted and the election will be moved to May 19, when Georgia's other 2020 primary elections are being held, Georgia Secretary of…
(2020-03-14). Wildcat strikes erupt across Italy to demand idling of plants during coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org The working class, not the financial markets and their corrupt political and trade union representatives, must decide what plants run and under what conditions.
(2020-03-14). China Ready to Assist the World to Fight COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will strongly support the worst affected countries like Italy against the COVID-19 outbreak. | RELATED: | In a message of sympathy sent recently to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Xi said that at this difficult time, China is willing to cooperate with Italy and offer assistance. | On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed sincere sympathies to the Italian government a…
(2020-03-14). Russia: President Putin Signs Law Amending the Constitution. telesurenglish.net Russia's RELATED: | This legal instrument specifies the requirements to be met by the President, members of the Government and Parliament, and other positions related t…
(2020-03-13). Venezuela: Two Covid-19 Cases Are Confirmed. telesurenglish.net In the early hours of Friday, two cases of coronavirus in Venezuela were confirmed, according to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. | RELATED: | The affected people are a 42-year-old woman who was traveling through the European Union and a 52-year-old man who was in Spain. | The two infected patients, who reside in the Miranda state, are duly isolated and in mandatory quarantine. | The epidemiological fence around their direct contac…
(2020-03-13). 'Europe Is Now Epicenter of Coronavirus Pandemic', WHO Warns. telesurenglish.net The RELATED: | The WHO official commented that more cases are reported on the European continent every day than were confirmed in China…
(2020-03-13). Stock market crushed after Trump's speech. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – U.S. stocks fell almost 10% Thursday, March 12, the day after President Trump called for a travel ban on Europe. This was the largest drop since the stock market crash of October 1987 and put the broader S&P 500 as well as the tech heavy NASDAQ stock market indices in bear market territory as all three major indices are down more than 20%. | Trump did nothing to address the growing economic worries as more and more industries are being affected by COVID-19, now officially a pandemic. In fact, his travel ban only added to economic and social disruption as Americans tried to return and plane tickets…
(2020-03-13). Editorial: Fed takes action to save Wall Street, not the people. fightbacknews.org The U.S. Federal Reserve has pledged $1.5 trillion to calm Wall Street's worries as the COVID-19 pandemic rattles stock markets and wealthy investors. | But what the people need is more testing done for free, and health care for all. What workers need are unemployment benefits and income support for the self-employed. Working people need protection from eviction and relief from debts. What nurses and other medical workers need is more masks and other protective equipment. | With more than 1500 confirmed infections in the United States, the novel coronavirus is not a foreign threat from Europe, as Trump seems to b…
(2020-03-13). The Rise of the Far Right in France's Poorest Cities. thenation.com The Rise of the Far Right in France's Poorest Cities…
(2020-03-13). Air Pollution Clears in Northern Italy After Coronavirus Lockdown. telesurenglish.net Air pollution over northern Italy fell after the government introduced a nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirus, satellite imagery showed on Friday, in a new example of the pandemic's potential impact on emissions. | RELATED: | China, where the outbreak started, showed a marked reduction in pollution after the government imposed travel bans and quarantines, and the data from Italy, which was struck several wee…
(2020-03-12). Trump Calls COVID-19 "Foreign Virus" as Lack of Universal Healthcare Makes the Pandemic Worse. democracynow.org 
After downplaying the threat of coronavirus for days, President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office, calling COVID-19 a "foreign virus" and announcing an unprecedented travel ban from most of Europe to the U.S. He also said he will expand sick leave. This comes as Senate Republicans blocked paid sick leave legislation. Robert Pollin, distinguished university professor of economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, says the lack of universal healthcare in the U.S. is exacerbating the coronavirus crisis due to "the ab…
(2020-03-12). Trump says trade will 'in no way' be affected by Europe travel ban in apparent about-face after markets crash. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump said that trade in "no way" will be impacted by the 30-day Europe travel ban, despite saying less than an hour earlier the restrictive measures would apply to a "tremendous amount of trade and cargo." | Trump has baffled traders and ordinary netizens after he took to Twitter in the wake of his national address earlier on Wednesday to assure the public that his order to suspend all travel from Europe pertains only to the movement of people, but not goods. | Hoping to get the payroll tax cut approved by both Republicans and Democrats, and please remember, very important for all countrie…