(2020-04-01). European markets sink as US coronavirus death toll rises. rt.com 
European stock markets are falling at the start of trading on Wednesday, beginning the new quarter with fresh losses, as the death toll in the United States from Covid-19 continues to climb. | Germany's DAX plunged by over three percent during early trading, while British and French stock markets have dropped by over four percent. Spain's IBEX and Italy's FTSE MIB are both down over two percent. | The losses are led by shares in Britain's banks which dropped heavily at the start of trading after they froze last year's dividends and vowed not to pay any for this year. HSBC has plunged eight percent, followed by…
(2020-04-01). Spain surpasses 100,000 Covid-19 infections, records 5th consecutive day with 800+ deaths. rt.com 
Spanish authorities have confirmed that the total number of coronavirus infections in the country has surpassed 100,000, while the daily death toll reached over 800 fatalities for the fifth consecutive day. | The total number of infections in the country now stands at 102,136, of which 5,872 are being treated in intensive care units across the country. For the second day running, authorities announced a record death toll, with 864 new fatalities. The increase was lower than previous days in terms of percentage, however, despite being a record in absolute terms. | At least 9,053 people have died in total during…
(2020-04-01). Russia sees drop in new Covid-19 cases, but cause for alarm as almost half of newly infected in Moscow are under 45. rt.com 
A total of 440 more people have tested positive for coronavirus over the last 24 hours, in Russia, a drop from the previous day's 500. The nationwide death toll has risen by seven to 24. Moscow remains the disease's main hotspot.
(2020-04-01). 'Ask the government': Former Celtics star claims NBA season could resume at classified US Air Force site Area 51. rt.com 
Having held the 2019 Summer League at the University of Nevada, NBA chiefs could find a novel solution to ending the season at a less conventional base in the state — with Area 51 suggested by former champion Paul Pierce. | Area 51, the US Air Force base which is notorious among conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts, could become the home of the NBA as a makeshift setting for the conclusion of the season, former All-Star Paul Pierce has suggested. | Responding to a proposal by former rival Jay Williams that the remainder of the campaign could be played on cruise ships, Boston Celtics icon Pierce named…
(2020-04-01). Death Camps in the Making: New York's Prisons During a Time of Pandemic. counterpunch.org Every day, says Donna Robinson, a bucket of bleachy water is delivered to a ward in Bedford Hills to be used by the sixty women housed there, her own daughter among them. That's the extent of the supplies they receive to keep their area sanitized from COVID-19. The women are in bunk beds with no
(2020-04-01). ran Covid-19 Deaths Rival US as Trump Blockade blocks Medical Supplies. zcomm.org The European Union has activated the Instex trading mechanism for the purpose of sending medicine and medical supplies to Iran to fight the coronavirus outbreak…
(2020-04-01). Spain Nationalized Private Clinics To Fight COVID-19. zcomm.org Spain faced the second worst infection rate in Europe, and took control of the country's private health care companies to improve its response. What does this mean for Spain's public health care system going forward?
(2020-04-01). The significance of Hungarian Prime Minister Orban's enabling act. wsws.org Hungary's parliament passed an emergency law on Monday that grants Orban unrestricted dictatorial powers.
(2020-04-01). With 30,000 dead in Europe from COVID-19: Workers strike to demand safe working conditions. wsws.org The most basic health and safety measures are being flouted by employers throughout the continent.
(2020-04-01). Former WHO Director: 8-Week Suppression Strategy Could Stop US COVID Crisis in Its Tracks. counterpunch.org "We know we can get this under control," says Dr Anthony Costello, a former Director at the World Health Organization (WHO) where he headed up maternal, child and adolescent health. "The problem is that Europe has been too slow to act compared with Asia; and America is now facing a huge crisis." Costello, who is
(2020-04-01). Ukraine passes IMF-backed land reform bill, social cuts as coronavirus spreads. wsws.org The policies of the Zelensky government threaten the working class with a social and medical disaster of immense proportions.
(2020-04-01). Russian Doctors Set Up Clinic in Bergamo for COVID-19 Patients – Defence Ministry. sputniknews.com BERGAMO, Italy (Sputnik) – Russian medical teams together with their Italian counterparts have begun setting up a hospital for COVID-19 patients in the Lombardy city of Bergamo, one of the hotbeds of the novel coronavirus epidemic in Europe, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
(2020-04-01). Northern Ireland Blogger Says He Was Only Trying To 'Get The Truth Out' About £1.2 Bln NAMA Scandal. sputniknews.com The National Asset Management Agency was set up in the Republic of Ireland in 2009 to acquire and then dispose of 77 billion euros ( £68 billion) of distressed loans following the financial crisis. Of those loans, 1.35 billion euros ( £1.2 billion) were for land or property in Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.
(2020-04-01). Senior Officials Who Visited Coronavirus Hospital With Putin Testing Regularly – Kremlin. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – All members of the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin who visited the hospital for COVID-19 patients in Moscow are regularly tested for the coronavirus, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday…
(2020-04-01). Experts Predict Oil Market 'Apocalypse' With $10 per Barrel Price and Plummeting Consumption. sputniknews.com In March 2020, global oil prices have significantly dropped following uncertainty created by an ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the collapse of OPEC+ deal amid disagreements between Russia and Saudi Arabia over oil production cuts. Some believe that the trend will only worsen in April.
(2020-04-01). Russian Scientists Use Cold Plasma to Help Combat COVID-19 Spread – Report. sputniknews.com While the new invention can reportedly be used as a cheap and effective disinfectant, it remains to be seen whether it will be effective against the particular strain of coronavirus mankind is currently facing.
(2020-04-01). Russian An-124 Aircraft Carrying Medical Equipment Heads for US – Video. sputniknews.com According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States has registered more than 188,000 cases of coronavirus, with over 3,900 deaths.
(2020-04-01). Hospital for COVID-19 Patients Opens in London's ExCel Centre – Video. sputniknews.com According to Johns Hopkins University, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom currently stands at 25,499, with 1,793 fatalities.
(2020-04-01). UN dispatches humanitarian aid to Syria. yenisafak.com The United Nations dispatched 45 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Idlib, a northwestern Syrian province, on Wednesday.Trucks passed through the Cilvegozu border gate in Hatay, Turkey's southern border province with Syria, and aid will be distributed to residents in Idlib, as well as the surrounding countryside which have been subjected to years of devastating attacks by the Assad regime and its allies, triggering a wave of 1 million refugees.The war in Syria started in early 2011 when the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests.Hundreds of thousands of people have since been killed and more than 10 million…
(2020-04-01). 'There's no better present': Chinese businesses send masks to European clients. yenisafak.com With a dire shortage of protective face masks in Europe, even for health workers, a senior manager at a Spanish furniture store group was surprised to hear business partners and staff in China offering to send him masks.The starting point of the coronavirus pandemic, and for weeks its epicenter, China has seen new cases fall over the past weeks.The death toll from the respiratory disease is now higher in Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, causing a rush to find protective gear."I worked in China for several years. When you're there, they give you things like tea, liquor or cookies. But up until now the supp…
(2020-04-01). Spain: COVID-19 cases over 100,000, deaths reach 9,053. yenisafak.com In total, Spain has confirmed 102,136 cases of COVID-19, and 9,053 fatalities, according to data released by the Spanish Health Ministry on Wednesday.Over the last 24-hour period, 864 people lost their lives
(2020-04-01). Russia's atomic agency reports four coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom has confirmed four coronavirus cases among its employees, including one case in Hungary, the Interfax news agency cited the company's CEO Alexei Likhachev as saying on Wednesday.Russia has so far recorded 2,777 cases of the virus and 25 coronavirus-related deaths.
(2020-04-01). Russian plane takes off for US with coronavirus help onboard. yenisafak.com A Russian military transport plane took off from an airfield outside Moscow early on Wednesday and headed for the United States with a load of medical equipment and masks to help Washington fight coronavirus, Russian state TV reported.President Vladimir Putin offered Russian help in a phone conversation with President Donald Trump on Monday, when the two leaders discussed how best to respond to the virus.The flight, which was organised by the Russian Defence Ministry, is likely to be unpopular with some critics of Trump who have urged him to keep his distance from Putin and who argue that Moscow uses such aid as…
(2020-04-01). Russia confirms 440 new coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com Russia confirmed on Wednesday 440 new cases of the novel coronavirus in 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,777.The country has reported a total of 24 COVID-19-related deaths so far, with seven additional fatalities since yesterday, emergency officials said in a statement."To date, 2,777 cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in 75 regions of the Russian Federation. During the day, 69 people were discharged, and 190 people recovered during the entire period. Seven fatal cases were registered during the day," it said.The coronavirus is spreading particularly quickly in the capital Moscow, accounting for…
(2020-04-01). Turkey's crude steel output surges 12.7% in Jan-Feb. yenisafak.com Turkey's crude steel production hit 5.9 million tons in January-February, rising 12.7% from the same period last year, a trade group data showed on Wednesday.The country's steel products exports volume fell 4.9% year-on-year to 3.6 million tons in the first two months of this year, the Turkish Steel Producers' Association (TCUD) said.Turkey's earnings from steel exports stood at $2.5 billion, down 9.6% during the same period.The steel imports posted a 40.4% annual rise, reaching 2.6 million tons from January to February. In terms of value, crude steel imports rose 16.3% year-on-year to $1.8 billion.Citing World S…
(2020-04-01). Erdogan says Turkey may need further measures if citizens ignore voluntary quarantine. yenisafak.com Turkey will have to take additional measures if the coronavirus outbreak widens and citizens don't abide by a voluntary…
(2020-04-01). Macron and France in the deluge. greenleft.org.au 
Two presidential speeches, on March 12 and 16, have trans…
(2020-03-31). US nears China's virus death toll as New York calls for help. thecanary.co 
The mounting death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in the United States had it poised to overtake China's total of 3,300 deaths.Hard-hit Italy and Spain have already overtaken China and now account for more than half of the nearly 38,000 Covid-19 deaths worldwide, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.But the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Tuesday that while attention has shifted to epicentres in Western Europe and North America, the coronavirus pandemic was far from over in Asia."This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard," said Dr Takeshi Kasai, the WHO re…
(2020-03-31). Cat-astrophe in the making? ANOTHER feline tests positive for coronavirus, this time in Hong Kong. rt.com 
A pet cat has tested positive for the dreaded Covid-19 coronavirus in Hong Kong, after apparently contracting the disease from its owner. Last week, another feline turned out to have the virus in Belgium. | The Hong Kong cat patient was sent to a special animal quarantine facility on Monday, after its owner, a 25-year-old woman, was confirmed to have contracted the disease. Samples collected from the feline's oral, nasal and rectal cavities tested positive for the virus, but it did not show any symptoms. | "The cat has not shown any signs of disease," a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation…
(2020-03-31). 'This is NUTS!' Russiagaters see red over Putin's planeload of corona-aid for Trump, queue to look gift-horse in mouth. rt.com 
Russophobic pundits and red-baiting blue-checkmarks are gasping in horror and floating bizarre theories as Moscow sends a planeload of much-needed medical supplies to the US amid its worsening coronavirus epidemic. | News that a Russian cargo plane laden with medical supplies and personal protection equipment would soon depart for the US, a gift from the Kremlin to its coronavirus-stricken rival, has the usual suspects running around in circles screeching about ulterior motives. | While President Donald Trump's announcement on Monday that "Russia sent us a very, very large planeload of things, medical equipmen…
(2020-03-31). 'Happily surprised'? Trump says Russia sent US 'very, very large' aid package to combat Covid-19. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump has praised Moscow for sending a 'very large planeload of things' to help fight the spread of the coronavirus and treat sickened patients, noting that China and other nations had also chipped in. | UPDATE: "We've had great relationships with a lot of countries," the president told reporters at his daily Covid-19 briefing on Monday, adding: "China sent us some stuff, which was terr…
(2020-03-31). COVID-19 be damned, Belarusian Premier Soccer League plays on. peoplesworld.org 
Crisis is such a curious and complex system. This is something we can all agree on. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to much fear and uncertainty regarding what the near future will look like; it has also magnified and brought forward the best and worst in people. On the front lines we see nurses, doctors, grocery …
(2020-03-31). Southcom boosts US military presence in Latin America, citing China, Russia 'threats'. thegrayzone.com Southern Command is ramping up the US military presence in Latin America to counter China, Russia, and Venezuela, after signing…
(2020-03-31). We've Met the Enemy and It's a Tiny Virus. counterpunch.org Over the course of just a couple of days last week, the backbone of the US Navy's Pacific fleet has just been shut down for the next month. The enemy that managed to cause this sudden surprise unilateral disarmament of the mighty US Navy's Pacific Fleet was not Russian or Chinese cyber hackers or a
(2020-03-31). COVID-19 in Germany: Explaining a Low Death Rate. counterpunch.org On 31st March 2020, www.worldometers.info calculated the global death toll from Corona tallied 38,000. Among comparable European countries, Italy (population 60 million) had 11,600 Corona deaths, Spain (46,6 million) registered 7,700, France (67 million) 3,000, the UK (67 million) noted 1,400 deaths, the Netherlands (17 million) 740, the USA (330 million) 3,000, and Germany (83
(2020-03-31). The Swedish Alternative: Coronavirus as a Grand Gamble. dissidentvoice.org As draconian lockdowns, punitive regimes and surveillance become the norm of the coronavirus world, Sweden has treaded more softly in the field. This is certainly in contrast to its Scandinavian cousins, Denmark and Norway. The rudiments of a life uninterrupted generally remain in place. Cafes, restaurants and shops, for the most part, remain open and …
(2020-03-31). COVID-19 Vaccine Will Take At Least 1 Year: EU Medicines Agency. telesurenglish.net The development of a vaccine against the new coronavirus will take at least a year, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Tuesday. | RELATED: | According to the EMA, it could be "at least a year before a COVID-19 vaccine is ready for approval and there are sufficient quantities to allow widespread use" worldwide. | The Amsterdam-based agency explained that it was based on current data and the time it took to develop ot…
(2020-03-31). As Fashion Lines Are Praised for Making Face Masks, Don't Ignore Garment Workers. truthout.org Fashion labels from Christian Siriano, H&M and Zara to luxury firms like LVMH, Kering and Prada have recently pledged to redirect their resources to making medical masks and (non-medical-grade) face mask covers. If all goes according to plan, fashion firms will donate many tens of millions of masks to the battle against COVID-19 in the hardest-hit places in the U.S. and Europe. | But when fashion designers and CEOs of fashion firms promise to make masks, they don't mean that they will be pe…
(2020-03-31). Italy Reached the Peak of COVID-19 Infections. telesurenglish.net The Higher Institute of Health (ISS) president Silvio Brusaferro Tuesday assured that Italy has reached the peak in the contagion curve and that the number of cases will begin to drop, although it is not yet possible to estimate when social activities can be restarted to fullness. | RELATED: | For this to happen and the pandemic to be completely overcome, Brusaferro warned that precautionary measures should be ke…
(2020-03-31). What My Father Taught Me About Living Through Coronavirus Hard Times. commondreams.org During the COVID-19 coronavirus emergency, tourists on the quay of the port of Naples are checked with a thermo scanner by Civil Protection personnel, dressed in overalls and masks to protect themselves. (Photo: Marco Cantile/LightRocket via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/italy_coronavirus_0.jpg …
(2020-03-31). On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times. thenation.com On the Need for Dissent and Debate in These Urgent Times…
(2020-03-31). Germany confirms first INSTEX transaction. iranian.com The Federal Foreign Office of Germany in a tweet confirmed the first transaction with Iran through the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) on Tuesday. The Federal Foreign Office of Germany wrote in its Twitter page, "France, Germany and the United Kingdom confirm that INSTEX has successfully concluded its first transaction, facilitating the export …
(2020-03-31). Blast Halts Iran's Gas Exports to Turkey. iranian.com Iran's natural gas exports to Turkey have stopped following an explosion on a pipeline near their joint border, an official at the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) said on Tuesday. "The explosion occurred near the Iranian border, causing gas to be halted from 6: 50 (0320 GMT) this morning," Mehdi Jamshidi-Dana said, Press TV reported. The …
(2020-03-30). US coronavirus cases near 150,000, with over 2,500 dead. rt.com 
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US is approaching the 150,000 mark, according to the latest figures by Johns Hopkins University. At least 2,513 people have already died from the disease across the country. | As of Monday morning, some 143 055 Covid-19 cases have been registered across the US. New York remains the worst-affected state, with about 60,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. | Confirmed cases of the virus in the country have increased by nearly 100,000 over the past week, and now the US has the largest number of coronavirus-infected in the world. | Italy, the worst-affected European coun…
(2020-03-30). Biden's Foreign Policy Team Hints at War with China, Conflict with Russia. mintpressnews.com An analysis by the Brookings Institute based on interviews with Biden's foreign policy teams hints at a foreign policy that closely mirrors that of the Pentagon under President Trump.
(2020-03-30). Infected or sick? Infected or ill? zcomm.org In Spain around 80.000 people are infected, or sick, and around 7000 have been cured. Deads are around 8000. There is a big gap between the number of ill people (80,000) and the rest. I don't understand why these 80.000 (infected/sick/ill) ) citizens have barely presence in the media. In my opinion, there should be
(2020-03-30). US Accused of Using Food Aid to Smuggle Weapons to Militants in Syria's Rukban Refugee Camp. mintpressnews.com UN aid trucks, according to Russian military sources, are being used to deliver not only food and supplies to the suffering civilians but also arms and ammunition to Maghawir Al-Thawra.
(2020-03-30). What not to believe: coronavirus myths you should ignore. thecanary.co Britons have been facing a flood of myths about the new coronavirus (Covid-19), according to new research. | No, vodka isn't a good hand sanitiser: | The most widely believed false claim is that vodka can be used as hand sanitiser, according to a YouGov survey of 2,099 adults. In reality, there is not enough alcohol in vodka to effectively kill microbes. But 32% of Britons felt it was probably true that the spirit could help them tackle the virus. | The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, recently suggested that his fellow citizens should drink 50ml of vodka a day to ward off the virus. | Othe…
(2020-03-30). Origins of COVID-19: Russia quizzes US on coronavirus' parentage. iranian.com All through the recent weeks since US President Donald Trump coined the epithet "China virus" to rename Coronavirus, Moscow kept a deafening silence. Finally, on Sunday, March 29, Moscow broke that silence. That the first Russian statement came at the level of the Russian foreign ministry makes this particularly significant. In an exclusive remark, a …
(2020-03-30). Cuba sends doctors, nurses worldwide in COVID-19 fight. mronline.org 
Cuba on March 28 sent a team of 39 doctors and nurses to Andorra, the thirteenth medical brigade the country has dispatched overseas to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.