(2020-04-16). Terrifying crash landing & evacuation shown in dramatic video as probe finds pilot error in 2019 Superjet tragedy. rt.com 
Russia's Investigative Committee has finished its inquiry into the fatal crash of Superjet-100 passenger aircraft at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. It published a new video of the incident, which it blamed on pilot error. | Sukhoi Superjet-100 captain Denis Evdokimov will face charges of improper aircraft handling over the incident that took place on May 5, 2019 and claimed the lives of 41 people. On that day, the aircraft had to return to the airport because of malfunctions with the communications system and autopilot. As it hit the runway, the plane suddenly burst into flames that turned into a real firestor…
(2020-04-15). Covid-19 'avalanche' in Africa & India could lead to FOUR waves of virus hitting Europe & US, health expert says. rt.com 
A WHO public health expert has warned that if the coronavirus is allowed to "march through" Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian sub-continent unarrested, the rest of the world risks being hit by repeated bouts of Covid-19. | Professor Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization's Center on Public Health and Human Rights, told BBC Radio 4's Today program on Wednesday that we are "only as safe as the weakest link in the global chain" on tackling coronavirus. | If you've got Covid rages in other parts of the world, in this interconnected society we live in, it will come back to Europe and the United…
(2020-04-15). Locked Down and Cast Out: Europe's Migrants Navigate the Pandemic. thenation.com Locked Down and Cast Out: Europe's Migrants Navigate the Pandemic…
(2020-04-15). Greek authorities send 1st group of unaccompanied young refugees to EU countries. rt.com 
Greece transferred a dozen unaccompanied children from overcrowded migrant camps to Luxembourg on Wednesday. The group is the first of more than 1,000 relocations that are being expedited amid concerns over the impact of coronavirus on vulnerable groups. | Another group of 50 children is expected to fly from Athens to Germany on Saturday, and 20 more will head to Switzerland at a later date. Greece hopes to relocate some 1,600 unaccompanied minors in the coming months. | The children relocated on Wednesday were aged between 11 and 15. Ten were from Afghanistan and two from Syria. At least 5,200 migrant childre…
(2020-04-15). Anti-surveillance activists claim they set fire outside German institute developing Covid-19 tracking app. rt.com 
Left-wing activists aiming to prevent mass surveillance via the 'Corona App' claim they caused a fire outside Berlin's telecommunications institute, which is developing software designed to track the spread of the disease. | Several power and telecommunication cables were badly damaged during the fire at a construction site in Berlin's Charlottenburg district on Tuesday morning, outside the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications. The fire caused a temporary power outage on adjacent streets, and police are investigating the incident as a suspected arsonist attack. | A letter has since been sent to a number…
(2020-04-15). Trump's Cyprus Signalling Is More Against Turkey Than Russia. globalresearch.ca The
(2020-04-15). Covid-19 pandemic tops 2 MILLION cases worldwide — AFP tally. rt.com 
More than two million people have contracted Covid-19 globally since the lethal outbreak began last December, passing another dark milestone as the World Health Organization is pulled into a war of words between the US and China. | The worldwide coronavirus case count now sits at over two million, the latest figures from AFP showed on Wednesday. More than half of the number relates to outbreaks in European nations, but globally the single worst-hit country is the United States, with almost 610,000 identified Covid-19 patients and over 26,000 deaths recorded, according to Johns Hopkins University. | As the pand…
(2020-04-15). German schools to reopen in early May as lockdown measures set to ease. rt.com 
Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that Germany's schools will gradually reopen from May 4, as the European nation plans to ease some of the measures in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus. | At a press conference on Wednesday, Merkel sought to reassure Germans that hospitals are not overburdened and thanked them for adhering to social distancing measures. She said that health authorities are working on an app that will enable them to track coronavirus cases. | The Chancellor said that any further relaxation of the restrictions will depend on how the infection rate develops. The ban on religious…
(2020-04-15). 'My child is not a guinea pig' petition gets thousands of signatures as Denmark re-opens schools amid Covid-19 pandemic. rt.com 
Denmark has made the decision to reopen schools for younger children after a month-long lockdown, becoming the first country in Europe to relax coronavirus restrictions on education. | Schools have been given new guidelines around limiting the number of children in classrooms and rearranging the desks two meters apart from each other. The measure was welcomed by some parents. Caroline, a 38-year-old mother of two, told AFP that she feels "really good about the kids going back to school." | However, others are still worried that the easing of restrictions may be coming too soon. A petition titled 'My child is n…
(2020-04-15). Only good news allowed—India's independent media fights government's COVID-19 censorship. peoplesworld.org 
While the coronavirus has focused much of the world on Europe and the United States lately, India promises to be the greatest victim of the disease. But other than a slick public relations campaign, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done little to confront the crisis. Indeed, a number of policy moves by …
(2020-04-15). Finland to lift roadblocks around Helsinki as govt 'exhausts legal grounds'. rt.com 
Finland will lift roadblocks in the region around its capital, Helsinki, on Wednesday, PM Sanna Marin said. The move is one of the first steps towards easing coronavirus-related restrictions. Travel restrictions to and from Uusimaa, the capital region, to the rest of the country began on March 28, to prevent people from spreading the virus. | The government no longer has legal grounds to continue the lockdown, considering it an extreme measure to restrict people's freedom of movement so strictly, Marin said. | "It is no longer an absolutely necessary restriction measure in the way required in the Emergency Pow…
(2020-04-15). More than half of French industry restarts after Covid-19 shutdown — Finance Ministry. rt.com 
A large part of France's economy "is functioning," according to Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who said that close to 60 percent of the country's industry has restarted after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. | Speaking on RTL radio on Wednesday, Le Maire said that the cost of the government's economic relief package had risen by €10 billion ($10.9 billion) from the previously announced €100 billion ($109.3 billion). | He also said that Air France-KLM will receive support in a "matter of days," as the carrier needs backing from the government because its planes are grounded. | Also o…
(2020-04-15). Amazon threatens to shut down all warehouses in France amid Covid-19 after court ruled it violated workers' safety rights. rt.com 
Amazon said it may close down its warehouses in France instead of limiting its operations to the delivery of essential goods, after a court ruled that it has failed to protect its workers' safety. | "Our interpretation [of the ruling] suggests that we may be forced to suspend the activity of our distribution centers in France," the US-based e-commerce giant said on Wednesday, promising to appeal the decision. | Amazon said that it was "puzzled" by the court ruling given "the hard evidence brought forward regarding security measures put in place to protect our employees." | On Tuesday, a court in Nanterre, outs…
(2020-04-15). Over ONE THIRD of crew on France's only aircraft carrier have contracted coronavirus — military. rt.com 
At least 668 servicemen from the Charles de Gaulle carrier group have tested positive for coronavirus, the French defense ministry has said. The country's only aircraft carrier was forced to return to port due to the outbreak. | "As of the evening of April 14, 1,767 sailors from the carrier strike group have been tested," the ministry said in a statement Wednesday. | Some 668 have returned positive. | Over 30 sailors have been hospitalized with Covid-19 at a military hospital in Toulon, including one serviceman in an intensive care unit, the military added. | The coronavirus outbreak abroad the aircraft carrie…
(2020-04-15). German schools to reopen in early May, citizens encouraged to wear MASKS shopping and on public transport. rt.com German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that some shops can reopen next week and schools will gradually reopen from May 4, as the country plans to ease some of the measures in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus. | At a press conference on Wednesday after talks with the governors of Germany's 16 states, Merkel sought to reassure Germans that hospitals are not overburdened and thanked them for adhering to social distancing measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. | Despite this, she said that most of the lockdown restrictions will remain in place until at least May 3. The ban on relig…
(2020-04-15). WHO is 'one of the best investments': German FM blasts US after Trump cuts health organization's funding. rt.com 
Providing money to the "underfunded" World Health Organization is among the best ways to help develop a vaccine against Covid-19, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said after Trump halted the WHO's funding. | "Apportioning blame doesn't help. The virus knows no borders," Maas We have to work closely together against Covid-19. One of the best investments is to strengthen the UN, especially the under-funded WHO, for example for developing and distributing tests and vaccines.
(2020-04-15). N. Ireland restrictions extended by 3 weeks amid '1st wave of infections'. rt.com 
Northern Ireland will keep coronavirus restrictions in place for another three weeks, First Minister Arlene Foster said on Wednesday. The move will keep the British-run region in line with similar measures in neighboring Ireland due to run until May 5. | "We have decided restrictions will remain in place for another three weeks and we will review that coming up to that time," Foster told reporters, saying Northern Ireland was still in the middle of its first wave of infections. "If we relax our guard now all will have been in vain." | Northern Ireland late last month introduced what the devolved government des…
(2020-04-15). In Pictures: Bluebells bloom for woodland walkers. thecanary.co 
Anyone lucky enough to be able to take their daily exercise in woodland could be greeted this week by the spring arrival of bluebells.The perennial plant is found from north-west Spain to the UK and Ireland and its delicate blue flowers have already been spotted across the South East. Here they are pictured in early morning light at Micheldever wood in Hampshire.(Andrew Matthews/PA)(Andrew Matthews/PA)(Andrew Matthews/PA)Earlier in the week, walkers could enjoy the floral carpets in Wanstead Park in north-east London as it put on its own show of bluebells.(Stefan Rousseau/PA)(Stefan Rousseau/PA)(Stefan Rousseau/P…
(2020-04-15). Researchers blast Swedish govt for disastrous Covid-19 strategy, claim country's death toll headed for 'heights of Italy'. rt.com 
A group of 22 researchers has penned a letter demanding "swift and radical action" by the Swedish government to prevent the further spread of coronavirus in the country and the potential collapse of its healthcare system. | The scientists According to the group, Sweden's Public H…
(2020-04-15). Russian city inside Arctic Circle to use ELECTRONIC TAGS to track coronavirus patients. rt.com 
Like many countries, Russia is finding it hard to convince everyone to stay at home during this pandemic. Now one northern city has come up with a drastic solution, one normally more associated with prisoners on temporary release. | In Murmansk, just 108km from Russia's border with Norway, local authorities have decided to spend 1,479,000 rubles ($20,000) on 120 electronic tracking bracelets to make sure infected patients don't leave their homes. The tags will facilitate "remote monitoring of patient compliance," enabling officials to see when the rules are being broken. The region's eponymous capital is the l…
(2020-04-15). Russia reports 3,388 new coronavirus cases, overall nationwide tally stands at 24,490. rt.com 
The coronavirus case count in Russia has grown by 3,388 over the past day to 24,490 in 84 regions, the crisis center said on Wednesday. | The Altai Republic remains the only Russian region which has not been affected by the virus. A total of 1,986 people have recovered from the disease and 198 people have died, TASS reports. | Moscow has confirmed 1,774 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the official count in the Russian capital to 14,776. New cases of the disease have been recorded in 64 other regions, including in the Moscow Region (272), the Murmansk Region (137), St. Petersburg (130), the Leningrad Region (108),…
(2020-04-15). Resistance loses it as Trump offers extra US ventilators to RUSSIA to help with Covid-19. rt.com 
Arguing the US was so well supplied with ventilators to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, President Donald Trump said he will send spares to other hard-hit places such as Russia, immediately triggering his critics. | "I think Russia is going to need ventilators. They're having a hard time in Moscow. We're going to help them," Trump said on Wednesday, during the daily press conference in the White House garden. | The online Resistance — die-hard believers in the conspiracy theory that Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 US presidential election, pushed for years by the Democrats and the mainstream med…
(2020-04-15). Putin promises strong support for Russian businesses hurt by coronavirus crisis. rt.com 
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has suggested new measures to support small and medium-sized businesses by providing them with funds to continue paying salaries to employees instead of laying them off amid the Covid-19 pandemic. | During a meeting with the members of the government on Wednesday, Putin proposed adding the hardest-hit non-food companies to the list of small and medium-sized businesses. | The president said that, starting from May 18, companies that retained at least 90 percent of their employees will receive salary funds from the state. Support will be calculated based on the total number of e…
(2020-04-15). Fox News reporter generously adds N. Korea and 'maybe Russia' as intended audience of Pentagon's B-52 'elephant walk' in Guam. rt.com 
A show of force by the US on its Pacific island of Guam this week was a message to 'China, North Korea and maybe Russia,' a sharp Fox News reporter covering Pentagon news noted. Too bad his own channel doesn't agree.
(2020-04-15). Express delivery! Speed skating world champ Pavel Kulizhnikov signs up as volunteer to deliver meals during coronavirus lockdown. rt.com 
Five-time speed skating world champion Pavel Kulizhikov has put his speedy qualities to good use during the coronavirus pandemic, as a delivery man. | Russia's Kulizhnikov has swapped the rink for the road as he has become a volunteer delivery man, helping transport meals and essential items to elderly people across Moscow who are unable to leave their homes to get food and basic necessities from nearby shops. | Read more | | Kulizhnikov's volunteer work…
(2020-04-15). Digital Coronavirus commuting chaos in Moscow: Metro sees long lines as motorists face 5km tailbacks. rt.com 
The particular type of Western Twitter user who believes Russia's IT savvy can hack elections anywhere —and rule the world remotely— will be astonished that the roll-out of Moscow's new digital pass hasn't been very smooth. | As of Wednesday, every Muscovite using public or private transport is required to have a pass, obtained online; all part of the city's bid to fight the spread of Covid-19 by preventing non-essential journeys. In theory, the system was supposed to reduce crowds. Sadly, on the first day of the scheme, the reality was quite different. | Social media was full of pictures of queues…
(2020-04-15). Kremlin rejects criticism as China calls Russia its 'largest source of imported coronavirus cases'. rt.com 
The Kremlin has rejected criticism of Russia's handling of the coronavirus outbreak after China said its largest source of imported cases had come from transmissions in the far northeast, bordering Russia. "We hear that there is now an exchange of criticism over coronavirus between different countries, which is played like ping pong. We consider this to be a thankless exercise," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. | Beijing's Global Times newspaper said in an editorial on April 13: "The Chinese people have watched Russia become a severely affected country from one that did a great job. This sh…
(2020-04-15). Deaths continue to soar as European governments step up back-to-work plans. wsws.org Another 27,531 Covid-19 cases in Europe were reported Tuesday, bringing the total to nearly one million.
(2020-04-15). Humanity isn't a disease — but ecofascism is. truepublica.org.uk 'Humans are the disease, and coronavirus is the cure!' 'Nature is returning to the world now that the people are gone!' 'Earth is healing herself!' Since coronavirus hit Europe, ideas about this destructive pandemic, which has killed thousands, as the 'cure' for environmental damage have been circulating. On stickers, on Instagram graphics and viral Tweets, …
(2020-04-15). Study: European care home residents account for 50 per cent of COVID-19 deaths. truepublica.org.uk By TruePublica: On the 9th April, the Guardian reported in an exclusive piece that — "Hundreds of people are dying in care homes from confirmed or suspected coronavirus without yet being officially counted." The report went on to say — "More than 120 residents of the UK's largest charitable provider of care homes are thought …
(2020-04-15). Iran opposes any escalation in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict: Araghchi. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 15 (MNA) — Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said that Islamic Republic of Iran is against any move that could provoke conflict between Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
(2020-04-15). Government has misled public over UK deaths being lower than France. truepublica.org.uk The government's daily coronavirus briefings have repeatedly and incorrectly indicated that the UK has fewer coronavirus deaths than France, based on the numbers of deaths in hospitals, Health Service Journal has learned. The global death comparison chart used in the televised briefing on Monday 13 April showed covid-19 fatalities in France were just above 14,000, as compared …
(2020-04-15). Scientists Prove That COVID-19 Can Survive Over 60 Degrees. telesurenglish.net Some strains of COVID-19 can survive high temperatures, according to scientists at the University of Aix-Marseille, France. | RELATED: | To reach these conclusions, the scientists exposed the virus to 60 degrees Celsius for one hour. In that period of time, some strains could still replicate. | This study, published in the specialized website BioRxiv, showed that the virus could only be inactivated by exposing it to 92 degrees Ce…
(2020-04-15). G7 to Back Debt Relief for the Poorest Countries If China Joins. telesurenglish.net Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S., all of which make up the group of the world's seven most industrialized countries (G7), announced that they would support a temporary suspension of debt payments for the poorest countries if China also does. | RELATED: | "Ministers and governors noted that a number of the most vulnerable and poorest countries will face acute health and economic challenges related to…
(2020-04-15). World economy to take biggest hit since Great Depression. wsws.org The IMF's "baseline scenario" is that the world economy will lose $9 trillion in 2020 and 2021, equivalent to the combined economic output of Germany and Japan.
(2020-04-15). Greek medical workers demand funds to combat coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org Greece only had 560 intensive care unit beds as the pandemic began, 6 per 1 million inhabitants compared to 29.2 in Germany.
(2020-04-15). Germany: Hesse politicians and employers expose workers to risk of COVID-19 infection. wsws.org Refuse workers report how they are given no protection and are expected to travel home in their dirty overalls.
(2020-04-15). US Flexes Military Might in Front of Russian Forces with F-35 Flight Over Syria. globalresearch.ca The U.S. military flew their new F-35 stealth jet over Syria's skies this past week, as they display their strength in front of the Russian Armed Forces who are only a few kilometers away from the American troops in the …
(2020-04-15). Russia: Putin Launches New Financial Support for Workers. telesurenglish.net Russia's RELATED: | "Besides the support measures that are already being in place, I propo…
(2020-04-15). Why impact of low oil prices on Iran is 'minimal'? en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 15 (MNA) — Global oil prices have been hit with a double whammy by the spat between Russia and Saudi Arabia in mid-March over output cuts and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
(2020-04-15). Those Dasteredly Russians! counterpunch.org Those dastardly Russians! They are at it again! What are they up to now? They are shipping medical supplies to the United States to help America deal with the Coronavirus crisis! What could be worse than that? Imagine: Trying to befriend us again. Who do they think they are? Those Russkies must think that we
(2020-04-15). Spain: Death Toll Keeps Falling but New COVID-19 Cases Rise. telesurenglish.net Spain's Health Ministry Wednesday reported that the daily death toll decreased from 567 to 523 in the past 24 hours. However, in the same period, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 5,092. | RELATED: | So far, Spain registers 177,633 COVID-19 confirmed cases and 18,579 deaths, and 70,853 discharged patients. Madrid is the most affected region with 49,256 registered cases and 6,724 deaths. | These s…
(2020-04-15). I Warned About Trump's Attacks on Science, But Didn't Predict the Horror That Lay Ahead. counterpunch.org " °Abajo la inteligencia! °Viva la muerte!" 5Those infamous words — "Down with intelligence! Long live death!" — were pronounced in 1936 by General Millán Astray, a fascist general who was a mentor and friend of Francisco Franco, soon to be Spain's dictator for over four decades. They were part of a ranting speech Millán delivered
(2020-04-15). COVID-19 Mideast Updates: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel. telesurenglish.net The confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpassed 76,000 in Iran on Wednesday as the slowdown in infections continued. Meanwhile, a team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Saudi Arabia to help fight the novel coronavirus. | RELATED: | Iran announced 94 new deaths from the coronavirus, raising the total fatalities to 4,777, while the tally of confirmed cases surged to 76,389, up by 1,512 from a day ago. | The incr…
(2020-04-15). Kids aren't coronavirus 'guinea pigs': Danish mums rebel as schools reopen. yenisafak.com Denmark eased its coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by reopening schools and day care centres, but concerns they might become breeding grounds for a second wave of cases convinced thousands of parents to keep their children at home.The rate of new cases is falling, but the government's decision has led to a heated debate over how to balance the needs of the economy and the safety of the population – in this case its youngest citizens."I won't be sending my children off no matter what," said Sandra Andersen, the founder of a Facebook group called 'My kid is not going to be a Guinea Pig' that has more than 40,000 f…
(2020-04-15). France regrets Trump's decision to cut WHO funding. yenisafak.com France regrets U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to cut funding for the World Health Organization (WHO), French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said on Wednesday.Ndiaye was speaking after a cabinet meeting that decided on a 110 billion euros rescue package to support the economy through the coronavirus crisis.Trump's move to halt funding to the WHO over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic prompted condemnation on Wednesday from world leaders who appealed for cooperation and unity.
(2020-04-15). Germany to extend coronavirus lockdown until May 3. yenisafak.com Germany wants to extend social distancing rules by an additional two weeks until May 3, according to a draft proposal agreed between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of the country's 16 states seen by Reuters.The proposals include reopening schools gradually starting May 4, with priority given to primary and secondary pupils in final years, while daycare centres will remain shut. Schools must prepare a hygiene plan before they reopen their doors.Religious gatherings will remain banned while some retailers will be allowed to open.
(2020-04-15). Germany criticizes Trump for halting WHO funds. yenisafak.com Germany on Wednesday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for halting funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the middle of the worst pandemic in decades.Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter that the accusations against the WHO were "not helpful" at a time the world needed closer international cooperation to combat the novel coronavirus."The virus knows no borders. We have to closely work together against #COVID19," he stressed, and called for steps to further strengthen the UN and the WHO.Germany's top diplomat said the WHO has already been suffering from underfunding, and suggested that one o…
(2020-04-15). Turkey releases 1st batch of prisoners amid coronavirus. yenisafak.com Turkey released the first batch of prisoners on Wednesday after the parliament ratified a penal reform law to stem the spread of coronavirus in jails.The law was passed Tuesday by a 270-51 vote.Some 650 prisoners were released after necessary procedures by gendarmerie forces.The law excludes prisoners convicted for sex and drug crimes, first degree murder, violence against women and terror acts.It enables house arrest for some inmates over 65, women who have children aged six and under, and sick prisoners who cannot take care of themselves.The measures will roughly double the number of beneficiaries of alternativ…
(2020-04-15). Turkish Red Crescent to aid 10M in Ramadan, head says. yenisafak.com The Turkish Red Crescent aims to reach 10 million people both in Turkey and across the globe during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as the novel coronavirus continues its grip worldwide.In a video conference on aid to be distributed during Ramadan, Kerem Kinik, the head of the Turkish Red Crescent, told reporters: "This year, we allocated a large part of our operations for needy in Turkey" due to the coronavirus pandemic, unlike previous years.However, the aid body will also reach lots of areas suffering from poverty, war and natural natural disasters around the world, he added.The Turkish Red Crescent will deli…