(2020-03-18). Russian senator calls for ALL unilateral SANCTIONS to be lifted to prevent coronavirus causing global economic crisis. rt.com 
The spread of Covid-19 may send the global economy into a lengthy recession, but lifting sanctions that aren't backed by the United Nations may help avoid a total catastrophe. That's according to a senior Russian senator. | The drop in energy demand, unstable currency exchange rates, and the threat to people's safety have put humanity at risk of a major economic crisis which "won't spare anybody," Konstantin Kosachev, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Russian Senate, warned. | Developing vaccines and working towards new agreements on oil prices are good measures to deal with the difficult situa…
(2020-03-18). 'You see a lot of suffering, but can do very little': Italian nurse bursts into tears describing coronavirus struggle to RT. rt.com 
The battle against the coronavirus is tough on medical staffs, not only physically but emotionally as well, as they witness so much suffering, an Italian nurse told RT's Ruptly video agency. | The number of those infected keeps rising, which only increases pressure on the health workers, Francesca Rovati of Guglielmo Da Saliceto Hospital in Piacenza, the city at the heart of Italy's Covid-19 outbreak, said. | Rovati said she almost went deaf from the sound made by the oxygen cylinders for patients suffering from respiratory failure due to the disease. And there's not enough of this equipment for everybody who…
(2020-03-18). Political leaders 'underestimated' virus threat, European Commission chief admits. rt.com 
Political leaders "underestimated" the magnitude of the danger posed by the coronavirus, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said. Her statement came as the EU shut its borders. | "I think that all of us who are not experts initially underestimated the coronavirus," she told Germany's Bild newspaper in an interview published Wednesday. "But now it is clear that this is a virus that will keep us busy for a long time yet." Von der Leyen added that "measures that seemed drastic two or three weeks ago, need to be taken now." | The commission chief, however, rejected the language of Fren…
(2020-03-18). Escapism or China-bashing? US now left without harsh coronavirus options, but with broken healthcare & federal disarray. rt.com 
Washington's attempts to tackle Covid-19 appear to be bleak — underestimation of the threat and China-bashing make harsh measures unlikely, as state authorities do what they can to battle the virus, RT has been told. | As of Wednesday, the US has a total of 6,496 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 112 deaths. While the numbers drag behind the worst-affected nations, such as Iran or Italy, the dynamics of the spread appears to be quite alarming — the state of New York alone reported 432 new cases in a single day. | As the disease spreads, the states are rushing to crack down on social contact, or…
(2020-03-18). Stock markets continue freefall into abyss despite governments' massive rescue plans. rt.com 
Asia-Pacific markets finished significantly lower on Wednesday again, shrugging off the stimulus pledges by world leaders. Investors fear the measures may still not be enough to protect economies though the crisis. | Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed down over four percent while China's Shanghai Composite was off almost two percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 was trading 1.68 percent lower. | Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was the worst performer in the region, dropping by almost seven percent. South Korea's Kospi ended the day down 4.9 percent. | European stock markets have also felt the jitters, with the Stoxx 600 index f…
(2020-03-18). Recession is here! World economy facing great uncertainty ahead, S&P says. rt.com 
The novel coronavirus has severely disrupted global economic activity and the damage is about to get worse in the United States and Europe, according to international credit-rating agency S&P. | "The initial data from China suggests that its economy was hit far harder than projected, though a tentative stabilization has begun," S&P Global chief economist Paul Gruenwald said. | "Europe and the United States are following a similar path, as increasing restrictions on person-to-person contacts presage a demand collapse that will take activity sharply lower in the second quarter before a recovery begins later in t…
(2020-03-18). Washington Attempts to Intimidate Indonesia Not to Buy Russian Weapons. globalresearch.ca Correspondents from Bloomberg reported that under pressure from Washington, Indonesia will likely refuse to buy Russian and Chinese weapons. A U.S. State Department spokesman informed Bloomberg that the United States had asked all its allies and partners to abandon new …
(2020-03-18). Curveball—Germany's role in the Iraq war—and the horrors of the concentration camp in Persian Lessons. wsws.org Johannes Naber's film is a political satire rooted firmly in evidence researched by the director and his team. Vadim Perelman's work follows a man who has to invent an entire language to survive.
(2020-03-18). Spain Locks Down & Nationalizes Private Healthcare. zcomm.org Europe is the epicenter of coronavirus, and Spain now has the second most cases in Europe, with more than 2,000 new cases in 24 hours and the number of deaths doubled…
(2020-03-18). COV-19 Crisis, Lockdown in America: "Where You Stop Is Where You Stay" — Domestic Travel Restrictions Are Being "Considered" globalresearch.ca Is the United States on the verge of a complete and total "lockdown" like we have already seen in China, Italy and elsewhere? As you will see below, the Trump administration has repeatedly brought up the possibility of "domestic travel …
(2020-03-18). Going into lockdown, Europe overtakes China as coronavirus epicenter. wsws.org Europe is set to soon have more coronavirus cases than China and already has seen more deaths: 3,401 people have died in Europe, and 3,226 have died in China.
(2020-03-18). EU sees rise in annual inflation rate in February. yenisafak.com Consumer prices in the EU increased 1.6% year-on-year in February, the bloc's statistic office announced Wednesday. Eurostat said the 27-member bloc's annual inflation rate last month was down from 1.7% in January.February figure remained constant compared to the same month of last year.In February, annual inflation fell in twenty-one member states, remained stable in one, and rose in five, compared to the previous month."The lowest annual rates were registered in Italy (0.2%), Greece (0.4%) and Portugal (0.5%)," Eurostat said.Hungary (4.4%), Poland (4.1%) and Czechia (3.7%) posted the highest inflation rates dur…
(2020-03-18). Turkey deals heavy blow to YPG/PKK during winter. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces "neutralized" a total of 191 YPG/PKK terrorists both in Turkey and abroad during the winter season, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.The counter-terrorism operations were jointly carried out by the country's National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Turkish Armed Forces, gendarmerie and police forces in eastern and southeastern Turkey and abroad, targeting YPG/PKK terrorists.From Dec.1 to Feb. 29, a total of 16 security…
(2020-03-18). Putin is being protected from coronavirus around the clock, says Kremlin. yenisafak.com Russian President Vladimir Putin is being protected from coronavirus around the clock, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, saying all Kremlin staff involved in his events schedule were undergoing mandatory testing for the virus.Russia has recorded 147 cases of coronavirus so far and the authorities have temporarily barred foreigners from entering the country in an effort to prevent it spreading further."Everything needed to protect the president from viruses and other illnesses is being done around the clock," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters."The president's work schedule is public and the best proof of…
(2020-03-18). Germany warned of 10M COVID-19 cases in 3 months. yenisafak.com Nearly 10 million people in Germany could become infected with coronavirus within the next three months, if strict measures to stem its spread are not implemented, the country's disease control agency warned on Wednesday.Speaking at a news conference in the capital Berlin, Lothar Wieler , head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said the government's recent measures to limit social contact in public places, closure of all non-essential shops, bars and sport venues was extremely important to stem the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19."If we don't succeed in effectively limiting social contact in the com…
(2020-03-18). Spain: Death toll nears 600, cases continue to surge. yenisafak.com The country reported over 100 deaths and 2,500 new confirmed cases in one day, while other 774 are in intensive care units (ICUs)."At the moment, there are some ICUs that are overwhelmed, but most in the country are still functioning normally," said Fernando Simon, head of Spain's emergency services.Since last Sunday, the country has only been testing either those with acute respiratory infection who need to be hospitalized or essential workers, meaning the recently confirmed cases are serious. Simon said the country hopes to increase testing in the coming days.Spain is the fourth-worst affected country in the wo…
(2020-03-18). Coronavirus cases in South Africa jump to 116. yenisafak.com The total number of coronavirus cases in South Africa has increased to 116, the country's Health Ministry said on Wednesday.In a statement, the Health Ministry said there was an increase of 31 new cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours.The majority of new cases are found in Gauteng province, which comprises the cities of Johannesburg the economic hub and Pretoria the capital, the statement said.Most cases of the COVID-19 have been brought into the country by people returning from trips overseas, especially from Europe.Meanwhile, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said over 100 South Africans recently repatriat…
(2020-03-18). EU drugs agency says no evidence ibuprofen worsens COVID-19. yenisafak.com The European Union's healthcare regulator on Wednesday said there currently is no evidence which links anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen with the worsening of COVID-19.The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said
(2020-03-18). Belgium shuts down public life over coronavirus. yenisafak.com Belgium imposed lockdown on public life from Wednesday noon local time (1100GMT) over the new coronavirus outbreak.The recently formed emergency government led by Sophie Wilmes decided late Tuesday evening to impose drastic measures to stem the further spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19.People are only allowed to leave their homes for buying food and medicine, visiting a doctor, helping someone in need or going to work if home office is not an option for them.All non-essential shops need to be closed, while supermarkets are obliged to limit the number of customers according to the size of the facility. C…
(2020-03-18). WTI Oil Price Drops Below $25 Per Barrel For First Time Since November 2002. sputniknews.com Oil futures began their plunge last week after OPEC+ failed to agree on the extent of proposed production cuts amid global concerns over the new coronavirus. The dispute prompted Saudi Arabia to declare a price war, with the kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Russia moving to increase oil output by several million barrels per day.
(2020-03-18). Moscow Slams 'Unfounded' Claims That Russia is Feeding Disinformation Campaign on Coronavirus. sputniknews.com The West's Russophobic obsession should have abated amid the coronavirus pandemic but baseless accusations continue, Russia's presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
(2020-03-18). Russian Ruble Trades Above 79 Per US Dollar Again Amid Lower Oil Prices. sputniknews.com The ruble has been weakening in recent days due to lower oil prices.
(2020-03-18). No Vote on Russian Constitutional Amendments Will Be Held If COVID-19 Situation Worsens – Official. sputniknews.com Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially signed a law on introducing amendments to the Russian Constitution that now has to receive the support of more than half of those who participate in the all-Russian public vote slated for 22 April.
(2020-03-18). UK PM Boris Johnson Answers MPs Questions Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – Video. sputniknews.com Earlier this week, the UK government unveiled a package of measures to aid the economy amid the coronavirus spread, including £330 billion for companies to access loans, support for airlines, a business rates holiday, and help for small firms without insurance.
(2020-03-18). Berlin's Deserted Kurfàºrstendamm Avenue Amid Coronavirus Shutdown – Video. sputniknews.com European Union leaders earlier agreed to shut down the bloc's external borders for 30 days, a move that caused transportation chaos and threatened the bloc's economies, though the authorities say the measure is needed to slow the coronavirus pandemic.
(2020-03-18). Coronavirus: Italy faces unprecedented emergency. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-03-17). DOJ drops charges against 'Russian trolls' after they dared demand evidence in US court. rt.com 
The US is dropping the much-hyped indictment for 'election meddling' against a company supposedly behind the so-called Russian troll farm, closing the opening chapter of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russiagate investigation. | Further pursuing the case against Concord Management & Consulting LLC "promotes neither the interests of justice nor the nation's security," the Department of Justice wrote to the federal judge overseeing the case on Monday in a
(2020-03-17). Older people enjoy dedicated shopping sessions at supermarkets. thecanary.co 
Older people have enjoyed dedicated shopping sessions at some supermarkets.Pensioners were able to shop at Iceland and Lidl stores before general admittance to the public.The moves come amid reports of panic buying leaving shelves empty of essentials such as toilet rolls amid concern over the impact of Covid-19.Older shoppers enter the branch of Iceland in the Kennedy Centre, Belfast, for an early dedicated shopping session (Liam McBurney/PA)At the Kennedy Centre in west Belfast, the local Iceland store opened its doors only for older people at 8am.Kennedy Centre manager John Jones said it had been a chink of lig…
(2020-03-17). Concerns over supply shortage of protective gear for frontline health workers. thecanary.co 
There are "critical" shortages of laboratory equipment, medical devices and protective equipment in some countries, European health leaders have said.The European branch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was aware of some shortages and was also monitoring the potential risk of a disruption to medicine supplies.It comes after officials in Britain faced renewed calls to keep frontline staff healthy and ensure they have enough protective equipment to continue caring for patients. | "Health facilities have to have the necessary equipment to care for those seriously affected and to protect health workers…
(2020-03-17). Italy and UK rely on help from Cuba, China, Venezuela to fight coronavirus — as US steps up brutal sanctions. thegrayzone.com Italy requested doctors from China, Cuba, and Venezuela to contain the coronavirus, while Cuba rescued a ship of British citizens….
(2020-03-17). Quarantine the US Military Machine? globalresearch.ca It happened almost on the same day. Italy's lockdown. People confined to their homes across the European Union. Influx of 30,000 US troops in preparation of the "Defend Europe 2020" war games against Russia in the largest display of military …
(2020-03-17). Video: New Syrian Army Offensive in Idlib Becoming Inevitable as Militants Sabotage Joint Turkish-Russian Patrols. globalresearch.ca On March 15, Russian and Turkish forces conducted a first joint patrol in Greater Idlib in the framework of the new de-escalation agreement reached in Moscow. The planned route of the patrol goes along the M4 highway, where a buffer …
(2020-03-17). The UK and Spain make coronavirus plans to use private healthcare, with one glaring difference. thecanary.co Both the UK and Spain have made plans to use private healthcare facilities to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic. But there's a glaring difference between the policies. One that speaks volumes about the Conservative government. | Public good vs private profit: | The Spanish government
(2020-03-17). With US Hospitals Unprepared for COVID-19, European Students Urged Home. truthout.org The biggest college in Norway urged students to return from countries with "poorly developed" health systems — such as the United States! — as experts warned that the American hospital system would be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. | Norway's University of Science and Technology issued an alert to students studying abroad urging them to "return home." | "This applies especially if you are staying in a country with poorly developed health services. This also applies for countries…
(2020-03-17). Coronavirus as a catalyst for change. zcomm.org In Spain the situation generated by the Coronavirus is disturbing. The government, backed by the Constitution, has declared a "state of alarm": bars and restaurants have closed, you can only go out for working, getting food or meds at the pharmacy, or walking your dog, and always alone. Police cars patrol the streets to ensure
(2020-03-17). The Stop5GL Foundation Takes Netherlands Government to Court over 5G Rollout, Citing Health Concerns. globalresearch.ca The Stop5GNL Foundation has filed a suit summary proceedings against the Dutch government, to stop it from rolling out 5G. The foundation believes the deployment is unlawful because it does not protect citizens against the consequences of radiation exposure from …
(2020-03-17). Africa Braces for Coronavirus as Epidemic Worsens Everywhere. telesurenglish.net Countries in Africa are making every effort possible to avoid a possible spread of the novel coronavirus on the continent as the pandemic is currently ravaging the whole world with particularly violent outbreaks in China and Europe, Reuters reported Tuesday | RELATED: | After a passenger arriving Saturday from Brussels, Belgium, at Cameroon's Yaounde Nsimalen airport, was found with temperature, health officials said he was hurried…
(2020-03-17). Coronavirus update: humanitarian work must continue, 'no exceptions' for bold action in Europe, ensure sufficient medicine stocks. news.un.org UN humanitarian agency issues reminded that millions need humanitarian aid, WHO Europe want countries to take "bold steps" to stop coronavirus, and a UN-backed narcotics body calls for sufficient stocks of medicine to be maintained.
(2020-03-17). New report from UN Economic Commission for Europe measures progress on global goals. news.un.org As all eyes, hearts and minds focus on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) garnered attention on Tuesday when a new UN report revealed that only ten countries in the European region have levels of air pollution below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit.
(2020-03-17). Africans Accuse Europeans of Bringing in Coronavirus. telesurenglish.net Africa has so far reported relatively few coronavirus cases compared to the other continents, but governments have come under growing pressure to shut down airports and place travel bans to stop Europeans from coming in and possibly bringing the virus, Middle East Eye reported. | RELATED: | At the start of the month, after two French nationals had tested positive for the new coronavirus in Senegal, Senegalese new…
(2020-03-17). "Defender-Europe 20" War Games, COVID-19 and NATO's Disjointed Flight Forward. Computer Simulations of Nuclear War. globalresearch.ca Presently NATO is in the initial stages of military operations called Defender-Europe 20. The 40,000 soldier strong war game exercise includes roughly 20,000 American troops and accompanying weaponry. This witnesses the largest deployment of US personnel in Europe since 1983 …
(2020-03-17). Spain Locks Down & Nationalizes Private Healthcare as Coronavirus Deaths Double & Cases Skyrocket. democracynow.org 
Europe is the epicenter of coronavirus, and Spain now has the second most cases in Europe, with more than 2,000 new cases in 24 hours and the number of deaths doubled. We'll go to Madrid for an update, where more than half of the country's cases have been reported. This comes as the Spanish government announced it is nationalizing hospitals and private healthcare companies to better manage the pandemic. We are joined by María Carrión, a freelance journalist and former Democracy Now! producer who is also executive director of FiSahara and co-founder of Nomads HRC, which focus on human rights in Western Sahara.
(2020-03-17). Spain Nationalizes Health Care as Its Coronavirus Cases Double. truthout.org Europe is the epicenter of coronavirus, and Spain now has the second most cases in Europe, with more than 2,000 new cases in 24 hours and the number of deaths doubled. We'll go to Madrid for an update, where more than half of the country's cases have been reported. This comes as the Spanish government announced it is nationalizing hospitals and private healthcare companies to better manage the pandemic. We are joined by María Carrión, a freelance journalist and former Democracy Now! producer who is also execu…
(2020-03-17). Iran calls on Europe to defy US sanctions amid COVID-19 outbreak. iranian.com Iran's foreign minister has called on London and the European Union to defy Washington's anti-Iran sanctions amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. In a Monday phone conversation with his British counterpart Dominic Raab, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced the US' illegal and unilateral sanctions against Iran as an obstacle to the battle …
(2020-03-16). Chile's Communist Mayor to Import Cuban Meds to Fight COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Chile's Daniel Jadue, Mayor of Recoleta – a borough in Santiago – announced Monday that through the People's Pharmacies initiative they will begin importing Cuban medicine in order to help patients infected with the novel coronavirus. | RELATED: | "We started import procedures for Interferon 2b, a Cuban medicine used successfully in China and Spain. This will be for high-risk infected people," the Mayor from Communist Party s…
(2020-03-16). Isolation, Bans on Travels, Border Closures as COVID-19 Spreads. telesurenglish.net The World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries to test all suspected cases and described the coronavirus pandemic as a "defining global health crisis of our time." | The United States (U.S.) and European countries closed schools, bars, restaurants and all but essential services, in an effort to halt the spread of the virus. | States in Latin America and across the world are limiting travels and closing borders to curb the movement of people. | More cases are now being reported outside China, where the COVID-19 first emerged in December than inside. | Globally, More than 182,400 people worldwide have been…
(2020-03-16). Iranian Hails New UK Stance on Arrested Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe & Repayment Of Debt. iranian.com Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who possesses both British and Iranian passports, has been under arrest in Iran since April 2016 over allegations that she plotted against the government, claims that she has consistently denied. She was sentenced to five years in an Iranian jail. The Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hamid Baeidinejad, welcomed a new approach …
(2020-03-15). Lights out as capitalist economies grind towards halt. fightbacknews.org San José, CA – From the corporate magic of Disneyland in California to the bright lights of Broadway in New York City, to the famous tourist sites of Paris, France and Rome, Italy, lights are literally going out as more and more businesses shut down, as of today, March 15. Meanwhile, in socialist China, where the COVID-19 pandemic initially hit first and hardest, the economy is starting to recover as enterprises start to reopen and more and more people go back to work. One is struck by the irony of Apple, one of the capitalist world's most valuable corporations, shutting all of its retail stores around the world…
(2020-03-12). Italy's "Darkest Hour": Life Grinds to a Halt Amid COVID-19 Lockdown, as Death Toll Spikes. democracynow.org 
We get an update from Italy, where 60 million people are under an unprecedented nationwide lockdown and the death toll has increased to at least 827, rising by 31% in just 24 hours. Authorities ordered all shops closed except food markets and pharmacies. Italy's economy has all but ground to a halt, with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte describing the outbreak as the country's "darkest hour." Italian journalist Antonella Serrecchia joins us from Milan, where she is a reporter for the online magazine The Vision.
(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…