(2020-04-21). Iran, Russia, Turkey to discuss Syria situation on April 22. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 21 (MNA) — The foreign ministers of Astana peace process guarantors (Russia, Iran, Turkey) will hold a round of negotiations on Syria via video conference on April 22, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
(2020-04-21). SARS-CoV-2 Mortality Data Is Distorted. Review of Scientific Research in Germany, U.S., Italy, Spain. globalresearch.ca SouthFront offers a scientific-based survey providing an in-depth look at the real death toll statistics and the spread of SARS-COV-2. | 1. The research issued by the Bonn University Hospital |
(2020-04-21). As US Shale Oil Plunges, Trump Admin Takes Aim at Venezuela. globalresearch.ca President Trump recently praised a deal reached largely by Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the top oil producers in the world who together dominate the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), saying that the agreed upon production cuts …
(2020-04-21). Latvia Wanted to Bridge EU with Russia but Is Now in Economic Trouble. globalresearch.ca The transit industry was one of the most important in Latvia and was established during the Soviet era. In the first years of Latvia's independence in the 1990's, it was destroyed. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has significantly lowered Latvia's …
(2020-04-21). Czechs to test 27,000 people for coronavirus antibodies. rt.com 
The Czech Republic will test 27,000 people for coronavirus antibodies, to gain information on how many came into contact with the infection. The study, wider in scope than others made in European countries and the US in recent weeks, will start on Wednesday and involve all age groups, officials said on Tuesday. | Four regions were picked, from areas that were little affected by the virus to ones highly affected, said Ladislav Dusek, the director of the republic's Institute of Health Information and Statistics. | Results, expected in early May, should give the government a clearer view of how many asymptomatic…
(2020-04-21). Covid-19 mutations underestimated, Chinese scientists warn, as DEADLIEST strains grip Europe and US. rt.com 
Chinese scientists have found that Europe and America's East Coast have been infected by some of the most aggressive Covid-19 strains, as they discovered dozens of virus mutations. These destroy a host's cells faster than others. | The ability of the novel coronavirus to mutate has been previously vastly underestimated, a team from China's Zhejiang University, led by Professor Li Lanjuan, says in a new study. The group found as many as 33 virus mutations in just 11 coronavirus patients they examined in the city of Hangzhou. | The researchers say that 60 percent of the strains they discovered turned out to be e…
(2020-04-21). 1,800 refugee minors unaccounted for in Germany — report. rt.com 
Almost 1,800 refugee children and teenagers have disappeared without a trace in Germany, according to reports circulated by German news agency Funke Mediengruppe, raising concerns over human trafficking. | Europe has seen a significant influx of refugees in recent years — just over 100,000 people had arrived at EU borders by mid-November 2019, according to a recent report A significant proportion of refugees consists of those under the age of 18, and many of thes…
(2020-04-21). Donald Trump is the KING OF DEBT — RT's Keiser Report. rt.com 
The US Federal Reserve said recently that more than half of Americans have no money in their savings accounts. That means they are desperate and will accept whatever is happening with the 'so-called' stimulus, says Keiser Report. | According to show hosts Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, the current financial system glorifies debt and has no basis for savings to establish the economy with real money, like gold or bitcoin. | "The transition to the fiat world or era was straddled by the Bank of England that tried to preserve the wealth of the monarchy of Europe through the central bank. And then they started the fi…
(2020-04-21). Austria to reopen restaurants, churches & some schools from May 15. rt.com 
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Tuesday that Austria would further loosen its Covid-19 lockdown on May 15 by allowing restaurants and cafes to reopen and religious services to resume. The Alpine republic acted early in its outbreak to close restaurants, bars, theaters, non-essential shops and other potential gathering places more than a month ago. | "We are going faster here than other countries towards something like a new normality," Kurz told reporters, adding that "gastronomy businesses," a term that often includes bars, will be allowed to reopen from May 15 and stay open until 11pm. Religious services c…
(2020-04-21). 'We're on the right track': Chancellor Kurz reassures citizens as Austria to reopen schools, churches & restaurants in mid-May. rt.com 
Vienna has announced its plans to allow school classes and church services as well as to let restaurants reopen their doors for clients starting from May 15, as the nation returns to life following its Covid-19 outbreak. | "We are on the right track," Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told a press conference on Tuesday as he announced new steps in loosening the lockdown imposed over the epidemic. He said that there were "no reasons" not to continue with the "opening up" plans under the slogan "as much freedom as possible, as much restriction as necessary." However, some restrictions will remain mandatory for the comin…
(2020-04-21). Denmark to allow gatherings of 500 people from May 10. rt.com 
Denmark's Ministry of Health has announced it will allow public gatherings of up to 500 people for the foreseeable future, as the country tentatively eases lockdown measures. | Starting on May 10, authorities will lift the ban on gatherings of more than 10 people which had been in place. The new limit will last until at least September 1 this year, reports state broadcaster The Ministry of Health insisted that it would continue to monitor the situation…
(2020-04-21). Boy infected with Covid-19 'didn't spread' it to any of his 172 contacts, raising questions about child transmission — study. rt.com 
A French schoolboy who contracted Covid-19 on a skiing holiday in February didn't infect anyone else he came into contact with despite showing symptoms, a new study reports. It sheds new light on children as virus 'vectors.' | The child had stayed in a ski chalet in Les Contamines-Montjoie, where British coronavirus 'super-spreader' Steve Walsh had also been vacationing. Walsh unwittingly exposed about a dozen of his fellow guests to the disease after picking it up during a business trip to Singapore in January, before traveling on to France. | A Public Health France investigation into the child's case discove…
(2020-04-21). Customers wait in line for HOURS at reopened McDonald's drive-thru in still-locked-down France. rt.com Hungry motorists lined up for hours after news of a French McDonald's restaurant re-opening spread like wildfire on social media, causing major traffic jams in a Parisian suburb. | Photos and footage of the tailbacks, which began when the fast food outlet in Moissy opened at 11am on Monday, were shared on social media by stunned onlookers. |
(2020-04-21). Fires, rioting & ambushes: Police say Paris suburbs 'BACK TO NORMAL' after month of lockdown (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Lockdown measures imposed a period of calm on the Paris suburb of Villeneuve-la-Garenne, but a weekend of riots and arson marked a depressing return to normal for the troubled neighborhood after a new police-involved controversy. | France has been under lockdown since March 17, with all non-essential trips from home banned. As such, crime-ridden neighborhoods like Villeneuve-la-Garenne saw a decrease in criminal activity, with drug dealers, thieves and vandals forced to remain indoors. | A weekend of social unrest changed that. As vehicles were lit on fire and police were attacked with fireworks on Monday nigh…
(2020-04-21). Murder or salvation? Southern US states to relax Covid-19 lockdowns amid outcry. rt.com 
Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina are saying they will start reopening some stores and public spaces shuttered by pandemic fears, triggering partisan outrage and accusations of having a racist death wish. | Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee announced on Monday that he will not extend his stay-at-home order past April 30 and may allow some businesses and state parks to open before that. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster ordered access to public beaches and some retailers Also on rt.com…
(2020-04-21). PM Conte: Italy to start easing its lockdown from May 4. rt.com 
Italy will announce before the end of this week its plans for a gradual reopening following a lockdown imposed to fight the coronavirus outbreak from May 4, according to Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. | "I wish I could say: let's reopen everything. Immediately. We start tomorrow morning," Conte wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. "But such a decision would be irresponsible. It would make the contagion curve go up in an uncontrolled way and would nullify all the efforts we have made so far." | The lockdown, closing most Italian businesses and preventing people from leaving their homes for all but essential nee…
(2020-04-21). Another 'worst deal ever'? US withdrawal from crucial Open Skies treaty is done deal, Russian FM believes. rt.com 
Moscow thinks Washington is on the brink of pulling out from a crucial arms-control treaty it once helped develop. Reports about the move have circulated for weeks, with top US lawmakers warning of its dire ramifications. | The decision to depart from the Treaty on Open Skies "has already been taken in Washington," Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the media, citing experts "watching how the situation is developing." | "We believe that these assessments have a significant element of truth," the chief diplomat offered. | We draw nearly the same conclusions based on our contacts with the Americans an…
(2020-04-21). Moscow opens new coronavirus hospital built in just a month, as Russia braces for Covid-19 PEAK. rt.com 
Moscow's brand-new infectious diseases hospital has admitted its first patients, despite construction having begun in mid-March. It comes as Russia recorded over 5,600 Covid-19 cases in a day, with the peak still approaching. | The 800-bed facility's completion is a much-needed antidote to the country's ever-worsening coronavirus crisis. As of Tuesday afternoon, Russia has 52,763 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and more than half of infections are in Moscow and the Moscow Region. With 5,642 cases nationwide confirmed in the last 24 hours, the opening of the hospital could not have been more timely — and, acc…
(2020-04-21). At least 11 percent of Swedes may have contracted Covid-19, antibody study suggests. rt.com 
More than one in 10 people in Sweden may have been infected with the novel coronavirus since the outbreak began, the country's leading medical university has said, citing preliminary results of a new Covid-19 antibody study. | Tests conducted on 200 blood donors by Sweden's Karolinska Institute together with Karolinska University Hospital showed that at least 11 out of 100 of the participants have antibodies to Covid-19. If their results are truly indicative of the viral spread in society, they suggest that for the nation with a roughly 10 million-strong population, more than a million people may have been inf…
(2020-04-21). 'Virus may have peaked' in Stockholm, but danger isn't over, Swedish health agency says. rt.com 
Around one-third of Stockholm's million people will have had the novel coronavirus by the start of May, according to Sweden's public health agency. The disease may have already passed its peak in the capital, it said on Tuesday. Stockholm accounts for around half of Sweden's 15,300 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and a high proportion of its 1,765 deaths, including among very elderly people living in care homes, Reuters said. | The health agency said its modeling suggested the rate of new infections in the city had peaked on April 15, although a decline was not yet evident from its data. "Already a bit more than…
(2020-04-21). Turkey targets return to normal life toward end of May — Erdogan. rt.com 
The coronavirus outbreak in Turkey is starting to reach a plateau and the country aims to return to normal life after the end of Ramadan in late May, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Tuesday. | "This pandemic has become the biggest crisis since the Second World War in terms of its economic consequences," Erdogan said at a video conference meeting of his AK Party's officials, according to state-owned Anadolu news agency. | Erdogan said earlier that a four-day lockdown would be imposed in 31 cities from Thursday after similar stay-at-home orders were enforced over the last two weekends. | C…
(2020-04-21). UK government accused of lying to public over 'delayed' Turkey PPE shipment, as Covid-19 criticism escalates. rt.com 
London only made a request to Turkey over the shipment of 84 tonnes of vital protective wear to be used in the fight against the coronavirus on Sunday — despite earlier claiming that was the day it would arrive, Sky News reports.
(2020-04-21). Why the OPEC+ Deal is a Many-Splendored Thing. counterpunch.org A perfect deal is where all protagonists get something out of it. All oil-producing countries stand to gain if the oil price rebounds. In bare bones, the OPEC+ group led by Saudi Arabia and Russia finalized, in a nail-biting photo finish on April 12, an agreement to steeply cut oil production by a combined 9.7
(2020-04-21). Rouhani calls for Europe to perform its duties against US illegal measures. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 21 (MNA) — In a Tuesday telephone conversation with Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the EU and Spain to carry out their duties against the illegal measures of the US.
(2020-04-21). Global COVID-19 infections, deaths rise amid drive to revive corporate profit-making. wsws.org With COVID-19 cases in US nearing 800,000, Georgia, Tennessee and Vermont joined the list of states and cities announcing the reopening of public venues and businesses.
(2020-04-21). If Nazism had prevailed: The Amazon series The Man in the High Castle. wsws.org The year is 1962 and the United States, having lost World War II, is partitioned and occupied militarily by Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. Such is the counterfactual premise of The Man in the High Castle.
(2020-04-21). 75 Years Ago: Red Army Encircles Berlin. Analysis of Germany's Failed 1942 Offensive. globalresearch.ca Three-quarters of a century ago, on 21 April 1945 the Soviet Army had encircled Berlin and was unleashing its final attack upon Nazi Germany. | With the Germans having killed more than 10 million Soviet troops since their June 1941 invasion, …
(2020-04-21). Foreign demand for Iranian ventilators. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 21 (MNA) — The CEO of an Iranian knowledge-based company told Mehr news on Tuesday that there are some requests from foreign countries, including Russia, Italy, and Spain, for the purchase of Iranian ventilators, under the coronavirus pandemic.
(2020-04-21). 'His Shoes' to go to Poland's KINOLUB film festival. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 21 (MNA) — Iranian short film 'His Shoes' directed by Ahmad Seyedkeshmiri will go on screen at KINOLUB Film Festival in Krakow, Poland.
(2020-04-21). The Economic War with Russia and China. The Economic and Geopolitical Impacts of the COV-19 Lockdown. globalresearch.ca The major reason for Cuba's travel restrictions- ≠‚Äê- ≠‚Äê always used as grounds for slandering the Cuban state- ≠‚Äê is the extreme difficulty Cuba has maintaining foreign exchange reserves essential for international trade- ≠‚Äê- ≠‚Äê esp. since the end of trade- ≠‚Äêin- ≠‚Äêkind with the COMECON. Every …
(2020-04-21). US strongly rejected proposal on humanitarian pause amid pandemic, says Lavrov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 21 (MNA) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Washington has strongly rejected a proposal on the exemption of humanitarian supplies from sanctions during the coronavirus pandemic.
(2020-04-21). Rouhani, Putin stress strengthening relations of Tehran-Moscow. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 21 (MNA) — The Presidents of Iran and Russia described the relations and cooperation between the two countries sincere and strategic, stressing the need to work for the development, strengthening and consolidation of all relations between Tehran and Moscow and accelerating the implementation of the agreements.
(2020-04-21). Closedown vs. No Closedown. globalresearch.ca Every country with the exception of Sweden found it necessary to close down at least part of the economy in order to prevent the highly infectious virus from overwhelming their medical care systems. The exponential rate of infection together with …
(2020-04-21). Prunus scorpia blossoms in Cahrmahahl and Bakhtiari. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 21 (MNA) — The pink and white blossoms of Prunus scoparia have created a unique scenery in the mountainous areas of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, southwest of Iran. Prunus scoparia is a wild almond found in Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. It is a xerophytic shrub and it has been used as a grafting stock for domesticated almonds to provide drought resistance.
(2020-04-21). Larijani congrats Turkish parl. on 100th establishment anniversary. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 22 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a message on Tue. congratulated Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa ≈ûentop on 100th establishment anniversary of the parliament.
(2020-04-21). Iran's coronavirus death toll nears 5,300. yenisafak.com With 88 new deaths reported in Iran, the death toll from the new coronavirus surged to 5,297, state media said on Tuesday.The Iranian state TV reported Kianoush Jahanpour, a spokesman for the Health Ministry, as saying that 1,297 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infections to 84,802.Jahanpour said 60,965 people have recovered so far and been discharged from hospitals, while 3,357 patients are in critical condition.The virus has spread to at least 185 countries and regions since emerging in China last December, with the U.S. and Europe now the hardest-hit areas.The…
(2020-04-21). Belgium to hire 2,000 coronavirus contact tracers. yenisafak.com Belgian authorities are planning to hire 2,000 investigators to trace whom COVID-19 patients have come in contact with, local media reported Tuesday.The move is expected to help the country ease lockdown restrictions.According to daily L'Echo, regional health ministers discussed the plan of "social mapping" during their meeting on Monday.Healthcare is mainly a regional issue in the federal state of Belgium.The region of Flanders, with the most reported cases, will hire 1,200 investigators, while Wallonia and Brussels will employ 600 and 200, respectively.After attending a short training program, contact tracers w…
(2020-04-21). Apple expands services business to markets in Africa and beyond. yenisafak.com Apple Inc on Tuesday said it would expand its App Store, Apple Music and other services to dozens of new markets in Africa, the Middle East and beyond in the biggest geographical expansion of its services in almost a decade.Apple said it would expand the App Store to 20 countries, eight of them in Africa, and will offer its streaming Apple Music service in 52 additional countries and regions. The expansion is the largest since Apple grew what was then called the iTunes Store to India, Russia and more than 50 other countries in 2012.Apple has focused on growing sales from its services segment, which totaled 17.8%…
(2020-04-21). Russian Lukoil to make 18% cut as part of OPEC deal. yenisafak.com Russia's second-largest oil producer Lukoil will reduce its output by 18%, equivalent to more than 40,000 tons per day as part of the new OPEC production cut deal, Russian Interfax news agency said on Monday citing the company's CEO Vagit Alekperov."And I think that we and all other companies will fulfill this amount, which was brought to us by the energy ministry," Alekperov said.Lukoil expects an oil price of $30 per barrel after the start of the agreement.Saudi Arabia-led OPEC and Russia-led non-OPEC oil-producing countries, known as OPEC , agreed on April 12 to lower their collective oil production by 9.7 mil…
(2020-04-21). Turkey, Russia hold fifth joint patrol in Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish and Russian military forces have carried out another joint patrol along a key highway in northwestern Syria, said Turkey's Defense Ministry on Tuesday."Fifth combined Turkish-Russian land patrol was conducted today by air and ground vehicles on M4 motorway in Syria's Idlib province, as part of the earlier TR-RF agreement," the ministry said on Twitter.The M4 highway, also known as the Aleppo-Al Hasakah road, is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Turkey's southern border.Last month, Ankara and Moscow agreed on a protocol urging parties to "cease all military actions along the line of contact in the Idlib…
(2020-04-21). Britain | desperate for 'life-saving' Turkish medical aid as supplies run | out. yenisafak.com Medics in the U.K, where more than 16,000 people have died of the Covid-19, have warned they could stop treating coronavirus patients to protect their own lives if Turkey's vital delivery of 400,000 surgical gowns is delayed.A Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft was dispatched on late Monday to pick up the shipment of the "live-saving equipment" for NHS staff, The Daily Mail reported.Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers on the frontline are at high risk of infection as many hospitals are running out of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies.Turkish officials had earlier said that the shipment w…
(2020-04-21). Turkey will enjoy advantages after pandemic: Official. yenisafak.com "We will not be in the mode of turning on and off the engine [economy] after getting back to normal, as it's now in idle mode," Gà∂ksel Asan, Finance Office chief at the presidency, told Anadolu Agency.He said the world economy is expected to shrink this year due to the virus, but that Turkey will end the year with a more moderate contraction."The most important factor here is management of the pandemic," Asan said, adding that the virus having reached Turkey later than other countries played an important role.Asan underlined Turkey has not closed its economy fully as it managed to maintain production.Asked…
(2020-04-21). Paris Suburbs on Fire: New Wave of Violence Spreads Across Communities – Videos. sputniknews.com Despite being falsely reported by some media outlets as "anti-lockdown riots", in fact, the clashes started in the wake of an incident between French police and a 30-year-old motorcyclist. The latter was seriously injured under circumstances that are still being investigated.
(2020-04-21). 'Dangerous Position': Will UK Be Forced to Extend Transition Period to Help EU Deal With Pandemic? sputniknews.com Due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, reports have emerged that the UK may have to make significant contributions to Europe's economic recovery from the pandemic if it agrees to extend the Brexit transition period beyond 31 December. So far, Downing Street has not been too keen on prolonging this divorce saga.
(2020-04-21). Syria Demined More Than 5 Acres of Land Over Past Day – Russian Defence Ministry. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Syrian Armed Forces have cleared 2.1 hectares (5.1 acres) of the country's territory of explosive devices over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.
(2020-04-21). Iran, Russia, Turkey to Discuss Syria Situation. iranian.com The Iranian, Russian and Turkish foreign ministers plan to hold a meeting via video conference on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Syria. According to Russian foreign ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian and Turkish counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu will hold the online meeting on April 22, TASS reported. …
(2020-04-20). Though 'Children Need Peace Now More Than Ever,' US and Russia Block UN Efforts to Impose Global Ceasefire. commondreams.org While human rights groups and a number of U.S. allies have expressed support for the U.N.'s call for a global ceasefire during the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. and Russia are reportedly standing in the way of an international agreement. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/anti-war_movement_missing_in_action.jpg …
(2020-04-20). Headlines for April 20, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Fatalities Top 40,000; Nursing Homes Hit Hard as Death Tolls Soar | , Trump and Governors at Odds over Coronavirus Testing as Uneven Reopening of States Commences, Right-Wing Groups Organize Anti-Lockdown Protests Around the Country | , New Deal on Relief for Small Businesses Could Be Imminent But May Lack Key Democratic Provisions, Immigrant Prisoners at Otay Mesa Launch Hunger Strike, Denounce Inhumane Treatment | , Michael Cohen to Be Released from Federal Detention as Prisoners Nationwide Face Mounting Coronavirus Risk, Italy Records Lowest Daily Death Toll in a Week; Spain & France Also Show Signs of Pr…
(2020-04-20). Sweden Is Right. The Economy Should be Left Open. globalresearch.ca Sometimes, the best thing to do, is to do nothing at all. Take Sweden, for example, where the government decided not to shut down the economy, but to take a more thoughtful and balanced approach. Sweden has kept its primary …
(2020-04-20). 'The US Reaction to Pressure to Ease Sanctions Was to Double Down' – CounterSpin interview with Joe Emersberger on sanctions under Covid-19. fair.org 
"If there were an opposition movement in countries like Canada and the United States and Europe, the demand wouldn't just be, 'You gotta stop this'; the demand would actually be, 'Hey, we've got to prosecute the people involved with this. This is killing people. This is a crime. People should be facing legal consequences for this.'"