(2020-04-16). Arab League warns of virus risk in Syria refugee camps. yenisafak.com The Arab League warned Wednesday that a humanitarian disaster could occur if the coronavirus pandemic spreads in refugee camps in Syria.A statement by the bloc's 22 Arab nations came after a meeting between its Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen.They discussed the dangerous consequences of the spread of the virus among refugees and asylum seekers, and the importance of an Idlib cease-fire agreement, inked March 5 between Turkey and Russia, to prevent the military escalation in the region.The statement said many of those who live in camps do so in poor health condition…
(2020-04-16). What about Beslan? Russian Human Rights Council fears change in WWII end date may overshadow anniversary of massacre. rt.com 
Most of the world recognizes September 2, 1945 as the day World War II concluded. Following Victory Day in Europe that May, the conflict continued in Asia for four more months, until Japan formally surrendered. | In Russia, a plan to move the date has upset some activists. On Tuesday, the national parliament (State Duma) passed a law changing the final day of the Second World War to September 3. However, this coincides with another devastating tragedy – the Beslan School Massacre. | According to Chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee Vladimir Shamanov, moving the date matches the reality in the Soviet…
(2020-04-16). German court rules blanket ban on demonstrations 'UNCONSTITUTIONAL' as Merkel plans easing of Covid-19 restrictions. rt.com 
Covid-19 health concerns are not grounds for a general ban on public demonstrations, a German court has ruled, after activists took a case arguing that Berlin's current restrictions on public gatherings are unconstitutional. | If they adhere to social distancing rules, Germans should have the right to hold political protests, the Constitutional Court said in the Thursday ruling. | Activists in Giessen, a town in the federal state of Hesse, had planned a protest march to denounce new rules that ban gatherings of more than two people in public, arguing that they were in breach of the country's constitution and c…
(2020-04-16). Azerbaijani leader thanks Turkey for show of solidarity. yenisafak.com A top Azerbaijani leader on Wednesday praised Turkey over a recent mutual display of solidarity against coronavirus."I express my deep gratitude to fraternal Turkey. Our countries always stand by each other, on both joyful and difficult days," First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva said on Instagram.She added: "This is our unity, our strength. I wish our peoples the best of health, and our countries peace and prosperity. May Almighty God bless our world!"Over the last week, Turkey and Azerbaijan lit up iconic buildings in Ankara and Baku, their respective capitals, with both countries' flags, honoring their cooper…
(2020-04-16). UN sends humanitarian aid to Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com The United Nations on Thursday sent 63 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Idlib, the northwestern Syrian province where millions remain in desperate need of assistance.The aid trucks entered Syria through the Cilvegozu border in Turkey's southern Hatay province, which borders Idlib.The supplies will be distributed to people in Idlib city and nearby rural areas.Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million remain displaced, according to UN estimates.Idlib falls within a d…
(2020-04-16). The Russia-Saudi Oil-Price War Is a Fraud and a Farce. globalresearch.ca The Russia-Saudi oil-price war is a fabrication concocted by the media. There's not a word of truth to any of it. Yes, there was a dust up at an OPEC meeting in early March that led to production increases and …
(2020-04-16). The Russians Get Blamed Again, but Who Is Really Subverting American Democracy? globalresearch.ca It is perhaps inevitable that a major health panic like the coronavirus will have political ramifications based on whether those most affected by the illness will perceive that the government performed well or poorly in the crisis. The government for …
(2020-04-16). Star proves Einstein's theory as it orbits supermassive black hole in stunning 'SPIROGRAPH' pattern (VIDEO). rt.com 
Observations of the star S2, which orbits a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, show that not only does it prove predictions made by Einstein's theory of general relativity, it does so in spectacular fashion. | Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have been tracking S2's orbit around the black hole Sagittarius A* since the 1990s. After poring over the data from the observations, the researchers have now concluded that S2's orbit isn't a fixed-in-position ellipse but instead shifts position like a spirograph drawing, as illustrated in this incredi…
(2020-04-16). Positive signs in Europe over coronavirus 'tempered by UK', WHO says. thecanary.co 
The UK is among a handful of countries singled out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for having "tempered" the "positive signs" that Europe is passing the peak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said that while there have been "optimistic signs" in countries worst affected by coronavirus, others, such as the UK, demonstrated "sustained or increased levels of incidents". | Latest figures from the Department of Health said a total of 12,868 patients died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on 14 April — an increase of…
(2020-04-16). Containment 2.0: Austria to test ALL patients & staff of nursing homes in new strategy to prevent 'second wave' of Covid-19. rt.com 
The Austrian government has eased its quarantine regime amid a continuous drop in new coronavirus cases. It has also developed a 'containment' strategy to prevent another outbreak, with a particular focus on the elderly in care. | The "central focus" of Vienna's new strategy will be on the "highest risk group," Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said at a press conference, as he unveiled the plans to test all residents and employees of retirement homes across the country. | Thus far, Austria had only tested people with symptoms, especially if they had been to a known hotspot or were in close contact with an infe…
(2020-04-16). Danish study reveals that coronavirus may be almost 20 TIMES less deadly than WHO predicted. rt.com 
Research on a group of blood donors in Denmark points to its Covid-19 mortality rate being well below one percent of the number of people infected with the disease, according to a team at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. | Tests were carried out on 1,487 samples from Danish blood donors at the hospital showed a mortality rate of just 0.16 percent. | That puts the Danish scientists' estimates up to 20 times lower than those of the World Health Organization, which is putting deaths at anywhere between one percent and three percent of the number who contract Covid-19. | The study also suggested that far more Dan…
(2020-04-16). France launches probe into Covid-19 outbreak on its only aircraft carrier as 20 sailors remain in hospital, 1 in intensive care. rt.com 
The French military has opened an investigation into a Covid-19 outbreak on board its sole aircraft carrier, 'Charles de Gaulle,' as 20 of its 668 infected crewmembers remain in hospital. | "As of today, the majority of sailors don't show signs of concern. Twenty sailors have been hospitalized, and one of them is in an intensive care unit," French Navy spokesperson Eric Lavault told reporters on Thursday. | The Defense Ministry has launched an investigation to determine how the disease spread onto the nation's sole aircraft carrier. | Overall, 668 of the ship's crew of 1,767 have tested positive for Covid-19.
(2020-04-16). 'I wasn't elected for that!' French mayor forced to run NAKED from his house after attack by angry local during lockdown. rt.com 
A French mayor fled for his life during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown after a disgruntled citizen forced him to strip naked at gunpoint in his own home. | The bizarre confrontation started as a seemingly ordinary meeting between Pascal Houbron, the 53-year-old mayor of the town of Bihorel in France's northern Normandy region, and one of the local residents on Tuesday morning. | The official was conducting work meetings at home because the town hall is closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. | During the meeting, the attacker pulled out a firearm — which later turned out to be an airsoft pistol — t…
(2020-04-16). 'Recipe for DISASTER': Public health expert warns of potential catastrophe if Tour de France is held as planned in August. rt.com 
Devi Sridhar, a health expert currently guiding Scotland's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, says that officials have 'no choice' but to cancel the Tour de France given the significant risk to public health it represents. | The annual race was pushed back to August from its usual start date in June after French president Emmanuel Macron banned all large public gatherings in the country until at least July 11. | But Sridhar says that the logistics of the large-scale race would further the spread of coronavirus throughout France, potentially leading to further lockdown measures being announced by the end of sum…
(2020-04-16). Putin postpones Victory Day Parade as coronavirus concerns rule out celebrations on 75th anniversary of Nazi defeat. rt.com 
Holding planned commemorations of the 75th anniversary of Soviet Russia's World War Two victory over Nazi Germany, across the country, would be too risky with Covid-19 spreading nationwide, President Vladimir Putin has said. | As a result, he has postponed the events until after the current coronavirus crisis has eased. The celebrations on May 9 were expected to be a major date in Russia, with military parades and other public gatherings planned throughout the country, and world leaders set to descend on Moscow. | However, proceeding under the cloud of coronavirus would be too great a risk to public health, Pu…
(2020-04-16). 'Mao-style social controls' or benign citizen 'armies'? NYT flip-flops on Covid-19 contact tracers — because now it's not China. rt.com 
The same citizen virus-tracing corps the New York Times decried in China as Maoism incarnate is being tried in Massachusetts and San Francisco, and the outlet has decided that what's bad for Beijing is good for democracies. | Massachusetts and San Francisco — as well as the Republic of Ireland — are deputizing citizens to track down contacts of people infected with coronavirus, the Times
(2020-04-16). 'Flawless work': Italian doctors thank Russian colleagues for help in tackling Covid-19 epidemic. rt.com 
Doctors working in Bergamo, one of the epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, have thanked Russian specialists for their help in treating some of the most difficult cases. | The work of the Russian medical staff has been "extremely effective," said Oliviero Valoti, chief medical officer at one of the hospitals in the northern Italian city. Valoti added that he and his colleagues had to entrust some patients in "quite grave condition" to the Russian physicians, who have done their job "flawlessly." | Moscow sent 15 transport planes with 100 military virologists and epidemiologists to Italy in late Mar…
(2020-04-16). Covid-19 quarantine could cost Russia $242 BILLION as oil price fall starts to hit budget income. rt.com 
There are storms, and there are 'perfect storms.' Just days after negotiations between Russia, the US and Saudi Arabia led to a deal on crude output, there are clear signs of more turbulent seas ahead. | Read more | | According to Russian economists, the financial damage caused by measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic could amount to 17.9 trillion rubles ($242 billion). Meanwhile, 15.5 million people may find thems…
(2020-04-16). Some oil producing nations agree to cut production 10%. mronline.org 
Oil-producing nations led by Russia, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia reached an unprecedented agreement on Sunday to cut oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day, or nearly 10 percent of what is currently produced, as The New York Times reported.
(2020-04-16). Russia's Covid-19 case tally rises by 3,448, up to 27,938 in 84 regions. rt.com 
Some 3,448 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Russia over the past day, taking the total tally up to 27,938 across 84 regions, the crisis center said on Thursday. | A total of 2,304 people have recovered from the coronavirus and the death toll over the entire period in Russia has hit 232, TASS reported. | Russia has registered "a rise in infections to 27,938 cases," or 14.1 percent in 84 regions, the country's anti-coronavirus center said. | "Over the past day, 318 people have been discharged after recovering and to date this number has reached 2,304. Some 34 coronavirus patients have died over th…
(2020-04-16). Syrian militants 'trained at US base for sabotage & terrorism' try to surrender & get ambushed by OTHER US-backed extremists. rt.com 
A US-backed militant group has intercepted a convoy of 'defectors' seeking to lay down their arms and surrender to Damascus. The survivors told the Syrian Army that American instructors trained them for sabotage and terrorism. | After giving themselves up to the Syrian Army, the 27 militants said they had been trained and provided with weapons at an American facility, Rear Admiral Oleg Zhuravlev, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian Reconciliation, said at a briefing on Wednesday. | American instructors trained them to carry out sabotage at oil and transport infrastructure, as well as f…
(2020-04-16). 29-year-old man among 14 new victims of Covid-19 in Moscow. rt.com 
Fourteen more people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus have died in the Russian capital over the last 24 hours, the Covid-19 crisis center has confirmed, adding that the deceased were aged between 29 and 88. | The youngest victims, aged 29 and 39 respectively, were diagnosed with hemorrhagic pneumonia. Five other patients suffered from diabetes. | The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia has topped 27,900. The disease has also claimed 232 lives nationwide. More than 2,300 patients have recovered.
(2020-04-16). 'We acted in the same way': Moscow says will accept US offer to ship ventilators to Russia if needed. rt.com 
The offer to send ventilators to Russia made by US President Donald Trump is a 'show of a responsible approach' to fighting Covid-19, a senior Russian diplomat said. The suggestion caused a meltdown among Trump critics. | "We take this confirmation that the American side may provide us such assistance, should we need it," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said of Trump's offer to send ventilators. | He added the offer showed "a responsible approach in our common fight with the pandemic" and that Russia had "acted in the same way" when it sent aid to the US last month. | Offering help was a natural thing t…
(2020-04-16). Swiss govt to start easing coronavirus restrictions from April 27. rt.com 
Switzerland will start, from April 27, a gradual relaxation of restrictions introduced to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus, the government said on Thursday. Doctors, hairdressers, massage and cosmetics parlors will be the first businesses to be allowed reopen. This will be followed by primary schools, stores and markets from May 11. | In a third stage, the government will reopen secondary schools, vocational schools and universities from June 8. It also foresees allowing the relaxation of an existing ban on meetings of more than five people. "The transition from one stage to the next will take place wh…
(2020-04-16). Donetsk, Kiev complete 1st E. Ukraine prisoner swap this year. rt.com 
The first prisoner exchange in 2020 between the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Ukraine has been completed, according to an envoy to the Contact Group's humanitarian subgroup and DPR Human Rights Commissioner Darya Morozova. "The exchange is over," she was quoted as saying on Thursday. | The prisoner swap took place in the area close to the Gorlovka-Mayorsk checkpoint on the contact line and no incidents were reported. Due to risks relating to coronavirus, law enforcement officers and prisoners wore protective masks and tried to maintain the necessary social distance. | During the swap, Donetsk handed over…
(2020-04-16). Coronavirus Pandemic Has Shown that Mediterranean Europe Does Not Need THE EU. globalresearch.ca Germany's long history of wanting to rule the entirety of Europe extends back to both World Wars in the 20th Century, and perhaps even earlier. The German political structures believed that through war and conquest it could dominate the continent …
(2020-04-16). Video: Syria and Iraq Launch Operations Against ISIS in Border Area. globalresearch.ca Members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkistan Islamic Party have four times shelled positions of the Syrian Army in the provinces of Lattakia and Hama over the past 24 hours, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria reported. At the …
(2020-04-16). "World War C" Presents a Host of Challenges for Central Asia. globalresearch.ca Central Asia is at risk of collapse if the socio-economic consequences of World War C aren't addressed after much-needed remittance flows from Russia were abruptly cut off as a result of that country's emergency quarantine measures, which in turn could …
(2020-04-16). France summons Chinese ambassador after embassy criticizes "herd immunity" policy. wsws.org Paris called in Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye on Monday to criticize his embassy's statements that European countries abandoned "their citizens to face the viral onslaught."
(2020-04-16). Technocrats and Authoritarianism. counterpunch.org It is important in these days of constant calls to heed the advice of "experts" on the spread of the Coronavirus to recall the intimate historical links between the concept of technocracy and the practice of authoritarianism. As soon as the ideal of a truly representative democracy moved to the center of European and American
(2020-04-16). The Third Red Scare: Neoliberal's Effective Framing of 21st Century Populist and Progressive Movement. counterpunch.org "[He provided] Russians with Austrian military secrets. He also doctored or destroyed the intelligence reports which his own agents were sending in from Russia with the result that the Austrians, at the outbreak of the war, were completely misinformed as to Russia's mobilization intentions." U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) spoke these words in the 1950s
(2020-04-16). The Third Red Scare: Neoliberal's Effective Framing of 21st Century Populist and Progressive Movements. counterpunch.org "[He provided] Russians with Austrian military secrets. He also doctored or destroyed the intelligence reports which his own agents were sending in from Russia with the result that the Austrians, at the outbreak of the war, were completely misinformed as to Russia's mobilization intentions." U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) spoke these words in the 1950s
(2020-04-16). Visà£o Factual Epidemiológica: Portugal é um dos países mais perigosos do mundo na Covid-19. globalresearch.ca Os portugueses està£o entre os povos mais afetados e em maior risco do mundo em casos confirmados de infectados de Covid-19 e mortes no mundo pelo SARS-Cov-2, considerando o tamanho da populaàßà£o. | Sou cientista fármaco-epidemiologista formado em Harvard e a …
(2020-04-16). Ukraine to Build Military Base in the Sea of Azov. globalresearch.ca Ukraine recently announced that it will start building a military base in the Sea of ‚Äã‚ÄãAzov, just 67 km away from the Russian coast. The news was confirmed on the last visit of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski to Berdiansk, where …
(2020-04-16). Iran sends plane to Russia to return stranded students. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 16 (MNA) — Spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) of Iran Reza Jafarzadeh confirmed the transfer of Iranian students from Moscow to Tehran amid the outbreak of coronavirus global pandemic.
(2020-04-16). Iran, Turkey discuss ties, coronavirus in Tehran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 16 (MNA) —— Iranian Parliament Speaker's Special Aide for International Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran Derya àñrs on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations.
(2020-04-16). Slovakia records its biggest daily jump in coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com While neigbours in central Europe such as the Czech Republic and Poland begin to ease restrictions as the growth in cases slows or steadies, Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovic has said the country will re-open only cautiously.On Wednesday, Slovakia recorded 114 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total to 977, according to the Health Ministry.The jump surpassed a daily rise of 101 cases recorded on April 7, when at least 31 cases were detected in marginalised Roma communities, prompting the state to quarantine five settlements in eastern Slovakia.Matovic, in office since March after his anti-corruption OLA…
(2020-04-16). Earthquake of magnitude 5.9 strikes Myanmar-India border region. yenisafak.com An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck Myanmar-India border region on Thursday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.The quake's epicentre was 35 km south east of Myanmar and 168 km south east of Aizawl in India, and was 10 km below the earth's surface, EMSC said.
(2020-04-16). Virus from China, coffins from | Turkey: US, Spain, Italy put in order for caskets. yenisafak.com A Turkish company is producing antibacterial coffins specifically designed for victims of the coronavirus epidemic, exporting them to at least 16 countries such as the U.S., Germany, Italy and Spain, which are worst-hit by the virus.The disposable coffins are produced in northern Turkey by using lead coating on steel and prevents transmission of the virus to the soil when the body is buried. "Our company produces morgue, autopsy, cadaver and anatomy equipment in Turkey. With the outbreak of the Covid-19, we started manufacturing antibacterial lead-coated coffins specifically for coronavirus deaths. These coffins…
(2020-04-16). Dutch coronavirus cases rise by 1,061 to 29,214. yenisafak.com The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 1,061 to 29,214, health authorities said on Thursday, with 181 new deaths.The total death toll in the country is 3,315, the Netherlands' Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update.
(2020-04-16). Spain's COVID-19 death toll officially reaches 19,130. yenisafak.com With an additional 551 deaths tallied since yesterday, Spain's official COVID-19 death toll has reached 19,130, Spain's Health Ministry said Thursday. | But the central government's death count does not include data reported last night by the government of Catalan, which includes Barcelona, home to some 5.6 million people. | On Wednesday, Catalonia began to include data from funeral services to calculate the total COVID-19 death toll. The new methodology nearly doubled the region's total death count and includes 1,810 more deaths in nursing homes, 62 from a social health center, and 456 people who died at home.
(2020-04-16). Mercedes-Benz to resume production in Turkey. yenisafak.com Automotive giant Mercedes-Benz will restart production in Turkey next week after suspension due to coronavirus pandemic."By taking all the necessary precautions and following the developments closely, we will resume our activities at our Hosdere Bus Factory on April 20 and Aksaray Truck Factory on April 24," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.In March, the company halted production in its two Turkish plants until April 20 within as part of measures observing the health of employees and society, and logistic disruptions in the international supply chain.
(2020-04-16). Germany Announces 'Small Steps' on Easing Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. sputniknews.com On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rolled out the EU's roadmap for lifting the COVID-19 national lockdowns, calling for a "coordinated exit from the confinement measures".
(2020-04-16). New Discovery to Make Green Energy Much More Efficient. sputniknews.com Scientists at the National Research University of Electronic Technology "MIET" (Moscow, Russia), together with colleagues from Lodz University of Technology (Lodz, Poland), have developed a material that allows increasing the production efficiency of promising methanol fuel by more than 20 times.
(2020-04-16). Teen Detained in Russia's Siberia for Preparing Armed Attack on School – Security Service. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A teenager has been detained in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk for preparing an armed attack on a school, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday.
(2020-04-16). Edward Snowden Files Docs to Extend Residence Permit in Russia for Three Years. sputniknews.com Snowden's lawyer previously stated that the NSA whistleblower would like to extend his residence permit when it expires in April. The whistleblower has lived in Russia for seven years since fleeing the US, where he is wanted on espionage charges.
(2020-04-16). "Something Has Gone Wrong": UK Government, Banks Screw Up Coronavirus Loans, Small Firms Near Collapse. Better Results in Other Countries. globalresearch.ca Thanks to its Brexit planning, the UK should have been better positioned to help its small businesses through the coronavirus crisis than most of its European peers. In early 2019, the UK treasury, together with the business department and the …
(2020-04-16). Terrifying crash landing & evacuation shown in dramatic video as Russian probe finds pilot error in 2019 Moscow Superjet tragedy. rt.com 
Russia's Investigative Committee has concluded its inquiry into the fatal crash of a Superjet-100 passenger aircraft at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. It also published a new video of the incident, which it blamed on pilot error. | Denis Evdokimov, the captain of the Russian-built Sukhoi Superjet-100, will face charges of improper handling of an aircraft over the incident that took place on May 5, 2019 and claimed 41 lives. The aircraft was forced to return to its point of departure because of malfunctions in the communications system and autopilot. As it hit the runway, the plane suddenly bounced and burst in…
(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). 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 …