Daily Archives: April 30, 2020

2020-04-30: News Headlines

RT (2020-04-30). Onto the next 'child-rights crisis'? Greta Thunberg launches fundraiser to battle Covid-19 pandemic. rt.com Apparently not content to rescue mankind from only one doomsday scenario, teenage eco-warrior Greta Thunberg has sprung into action again, launching a fundraising campaign to help the children of the world survive Covid-19. | The project will see the young activist partner with Denmark's Human Act Foundation to pledge $100,000 each to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which brings humanitarian aid to children around the globe. | Though the Covid-19 outbreak has largely spared the young, Thunberg nonetheless branded the pandemic a "child-rights crisis" in a statement announcin…

RT (2020-04-30). UK set to miss Covid-19 testing target as its death toll jumps to second in Europe. rt.com A cabinet minister has admitted that the UK is on track to miss its target of carrying out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April. It comes after the country jumped to second in Europe for fatalities from Covid-19.

RT (2020-04-30). 'He doesn't understand the point': Kyrgios hammers Thiem over refusal to give up money for lower-ranked players. rt.com Nick Kyrgios has fired back at Dominic Thiem after the Austrian world number three reacted with disdain to plans to provide a $5 million fund to help lower-ranked players mooted by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. | "He still doesn't understand the point," said Kyrgios on his "We at the top get paid far too much and there is not enough to go around…

RT (2020-04-30). Germany bans Hezbollah, conducts multiple anti-terrorist raids. rt.com Berlin has banned the Lebanese militant organization and political party, Hezbollah, labeling the group a terrorist outfit as German police carry out raids on those suspected of being members. | "[Interior Minister Horst Seehofer] today banned the operation of the Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah (Party of God) in Germany," an Interior Ministry spokesperson Police measures have been taking place in several federal states at the sam…

RT (2020-04-30). Germany will extend social distancing until May 10 — Merkel's aide. rt.com Social distancing measures in Germany will be extended until May 10, Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, said. The statement came ahead of a government meeting on Thursday to review lockdown restrictions. | Merkel and state leaders will discuss proposals on reopening schools and nurseries and resuming sporting events. However, they will wait until May 6 for data on the effect of first steps to ease the lockdown before enacting any further changes, Braun said. "The contact restrictions will certainly now be extended until May 10 for the time being," the official told broadcaster n-tv. | Germ…

RT (2020-04-30). Schools in Hungary to remain closed until end of May. rt.com Hungarian schools will remain closed until the end of May and events with more than 500 participants cannot be held until August 15, PM Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said on Thursday. | Orban announced late on Wednesday that, outside Budapest, some restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak would be lifted starting next week. Shops and restaurant terraces will be allowed to reopen without time limits. However, existing strict measures in the capital will continue for now, as about 70 percent of registered infections were in Budapest. | Written graduation exams will be held nationwi…

Marko Marjanović (2020-04-30). Italy to Speedily Abandon Mind Virus Lockdown, Bend the Knee to Sweden's Open Model. anti-empire.com

Fighting "the invisible enemy"

| Conte has announced a gradual reopening of Italy starting next Monday. However, reading the schedule it becomes apparent it's not very gradual at all, instead it is quite quick: | Italy has outlined plans to ease the restrictions it imposed seven weeks ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus. | Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the measures would be relaxed from 4 May, with people being allowed to visit their relatives in small numbers. | People will be allowed to move around their own regions – but not between different regions | Funerals are set to resume,…

The Canary (2020-04-30). Boris Johnson to front first press conference since recovering from coronavirus. thecanary.co Boris Johnson will front his first daily press conference since recovering from coronavirus (Covid-19) on 30 April.The UK's coronavirus death toll is now the third highest in the world after the US and Italy, so Downing Street is playing down any expectations of an easing of restrictions.Number 10 said a cabinet meeting earlier in the day would look at the "response in general" but not make any decisions on lockdown measures.(PA Graphics)That response was facing further criticism as health secretary Matt Hancock's deadline arrived for carrying out 100,000 Covid-19 tests a day.With just over 52,000 tests carried o…

RT (2020-04-30). Italy's PM Conte to ease lockdown based on 'differences in local contagion levels'. rt.com Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday he would gradually relax Italy's coronavirus lockdown taking into account differences in contagion levels in various parts of the country. | Conte told the lower house of parliament that a new stimulus package to support the economy, due to be presented in a few days, would include €15 billion ($16.3 billion) for companies and €25 billion directly for payroll workers and the self-employed. | The lockdown imposed on March 9 will be gradually rolled back from May 4 and agreed with local authorities "taking account of the regions where the epidemiological s…

RT (2020-04-30). Russia's coronavirus cases surpass 100,000 following record daily rise. rt.com Russia has recorded its highest daily increase in Covid-19 infections, with more than 7,000 new cases emerging on Thursday. The nationwide tally of coronavirus patients now stands at over 106,000. | In the past 24 hours, 7,099 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the government's emergency response team revealed. Over half of these cases were located in Moscow and the surrounding region, while Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, appears third in the grim ranking. | The updates came after Dmitry Peskov, Russia's presidential spokesman, suggested the country will reach a coronavirus p…

Jackie Salo (2020-04-30). Lockdowns-Boosting WHO Now Lauds Sweden as a 'Model' for Other Countries to Copy Going Forward. anti-empire.com The World Health Organization lauded Sweden as a "model" for battling the coronavirus as countries lift lockdowns — after the nation Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO's top emergencies expert, said Wednesday there are "lessons to be learned" from the Scandinavian nation, which has largely relied on citizens to self-regulate. [This would be the same Mike Ryan who argued authorities would need to enter people's homes and forcefully take away infected fami…

The Canary (2020-04-30). More than 1,700 UK deaths avoided due to improvement in air quality during lockdown. thecanary.co More than 1,700 deaths in the UK have been avoided in the past month due to better air quality caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown, according to a Europe-wide study. | The Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report says levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) — produced by road traffic and heavy industry — have dropped by some 40% in the past 30 days. | The study also found a 10% reduction in the average level of particulate matter pollution across Europe. | These decreases have resulted in an estimated 11,000 avoided deaths related to air pollution across Europe, inclu…

WSWS (2020-04-30). UK coronavirus death toll passes 26,000 as government admits to 4,000 fatalities outside hospitals. wsws.org The UK is fast becoming the centre of the pandemic in Europe and is set to surpass the 27,682 deaths already recorded in Italy.

en.mehrnews (2020-04-30). US, EU stance on Iran's arm embargo not binding: Rezaei. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA) — Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei says the stances adopted by the US and the European Union on the removal of the arms embargo on Iran are not binding and will not prevent Tehran from buying conventional weapons after the ban expires.

Daniel Warner (2020-04-30). Mathilda Cuomo vs. Peter Singer: Sympathy for the Old or Utilitarian Rational Decisions. counterpunch.org The COVID-19 pandemic has presented several ethical dilemmas. Which country, state or city should have first access to made-in-China masks? Stories abound that the United States paid cash three times the going price for masks ordered by France. If countries incrementally reopen, which stores or businesses should have priority? Children and schools? Which factories? And

WSWS (2020-04-30). Prime Minister Philippe announces premature end of the lockdown in France. wsws.org The decision puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk that have been saved by the insistence of the working class on measures to contain the disease.

en.mehrnews (2020-04-30). Germany follows US in designating Hezbollah as terrorist group. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA) — Germany has banned all activities related to Lebanon's Hezbollah movement on its soil and designated it a terrorist organization, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-04-30). Why are more men dying from COVID-19 than women? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Men appear to be hit harder by COVID-19 than women. Early data from China and the World Health Organization (WHO) show that more men than women are dying from COVID-19. Other countries like Spain and Italy also are seeing higher death rates among men. But why might that be? Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-04-30). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 news briefing with Dr. Greg Poland. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses current outbreak numbers, why there may be a second wave of infections, and research on a vaccine. Click the player below: Mayo Clinic Q&A is …

en.mehrnews (2020-04-30). BRICS ministers demand removal of US sanctions amid outbreak. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA) — Foreign ministers of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have called for the cancellation of the US sanctions that have hampered some countries' efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

WSWS (2020-04-30). Spain ends confinement, moving to "new normal" as COVID-19 cases rise. wsws.org On Tuesday evening, Sánchez outlined his government's plan under the name " Transition Plan to a New Normal."

WSWS (2020-04-30). Sweden forced to admit significant under-counting of coronavirus deaths. wsws.org Sweden did not impose a lock-down and even delayed issuing social distancing guidelines, leading to more deaths and pushing the health system to the limit.

yenisafak (2020-04-30). EU unemployment rate up 6.6% in March. yenisafak.com The European Union's unemployment rate rose to 6.6% in March, the bloc's statistical office reported on Thursday.The figure was up from 6.5% in the previous month, while it dropped from 6.9% in the same month last year, Eurostat said in a press release.Meanwhile, the unemployment rate was 7.4% in the euro area, the office said, rising from 7.3% in the previous month and decreasing from 7.7% in the same month of 2019.The eurozone/euro area or EA19 represents member states that use the single currency

yenisafak (2020-04-30). ANALYSIS: Turkey's healthcare system: an example to follow. yenisafak.com The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has turned healthcare systems upside down in most European countries. It has exposed numerous inadequacies, with most healthcare systems across the globe struggling hard to cope with the challenges.The decade-long austerity measures [1] in countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK have led to substantial budget cuts and lack of investment in national public healthcare systems. These policies resulted in serious shortages in critical equipment, hospital beds and medical personnel.In contrast, Turkey's healthcare system has responded well to the pandemic through effe…

yenisafak (2020-04-30). Turkey rescues five Pakistani asylum seekers in Aegean. yenisafak.com The Turkish Coast Guard rescued five asylum seekers off the Aegean coast, security sources said on Thursday.All five of the rescued asylum seekers are Pakistani nationals, according to the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking the media.They were on a rubber boat that was forced into Turkish territorial waters by the Greek Coast Guard and were rescued near the coast of Inceburun in the southwestern Mugla province.The asylum seekers were taken to the provincial migration office, the sources added.Turkey has been one of the main routes for asylum seekers wanting to reach Europe, especia…

yenisafak (2020-04-30). SpaceX satellites visible over Turkey in night sky. yenisafak.com A string of lights were seen in Turkey's skies Wednesday night as SpaceX launched a batch of Starlink internet satellites.The satellites were seen with the naked eye in the sky from the Mediterranean coastal province of Mersin at 8.26 p.m. local time (1726GMT).They appeared for at least 5 minutes over Toros (Taurus) Mountains in the Mediterranean.The satellites were periodically launched and flying in low Earth orbit.Each weighing around 500 pounds, 60 satellites were launched to provide low cost internet to remote locations.*Writing by Firdevs Bulut…

yenisafak (2020-04-30). Turkey: Some 30,000 returnees from abroad in quarantine. yenisafak.com Some 30,000 Turkish citizens are in quarantine after returning from abroad as part of measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, an official said on Thursday.A total of 29,284 citizens are in quarantine at dormitories across 76 provinces, said Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoglu.Kasapoglu also said that 34,452 citizens were released from quarantine after completing the mandatory 14-day period.Upon the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, Turkey repatriated nearly 25,000 citizens from 59 countries ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan…

sputniknews (2020-04-30). Yanukovych Ready to Cooperate With Ukraine's Investigators on Euromaidan Killings, Lawyer Says. sputniknews.com KIEV (Sputnik) – Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is ready to cooperate with Ukrainian investigators regarding the killings during the Euromaidan protests in 2014, lawyer Vitaly Serdyuk said on Thursday.

sputniknews (2020-04-30). British Airways Plans to Cut Pilot Jobs by Almost 25%. sputniknews.com On 2 April, British Airways said it would suspend up to 36,000 staff due to the coronavirus pandemic. All airline employees temporarily left without work can reportedly rely on compensation of up to 80 percent of their salary under a state support programme in light of the epidemic.

sputniknews (2020-04-30). Croatian Presidency Reportedly Pressures EU to Boost Introduction of 5G, 6G Networks. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Croatia, which currently presides over the Council of the European Union, has been pushing the European Commission to revise the action plan for the implementation of 5G and 6G mobile telecommunications in order to boost connectivity throughout the bloc, according to a document of the Croatian Presidency, seen by Euractiv.

sputniknews (2020-04-30). Some Turkish Troops Reportedly Armed With Anti-Suicide Rifles. sputniknews.com In 2015, the newspaper Daily Sabah reported that over the past ten years, the number of soldiers who committed suicide in Turkey's Army had surged to 934, in contrast with 818 Turkish servicemen killed in armed clashes during the same period.

Vijay Prashad (2020-04-29). Why did the World Health Organization wait until March to declare a global pandemic? peoplesdispatch.org The 2005 regulations pushed on the World Health Organization by the United States and the Europeans hampered the WHO's ability to declare an emergency and a pandemic…

Philip Giraldi (2020-04-29). George Soros Wants You to Believe Russia Is a Danger to World Peace, Turkey's Erdogan an Angel. thealtworld.com George Soros is a billionaire Hungarian-born investor who is extremely controversial due to his promotion of what he chooses to define as democracy and free-trade movements, primarily conducted through the Open Society Foundations, which he founded and has funded with $32 billion, according to one estimate. He contributed to the campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, which has in part led to conservative politicians in the United States and elsewhere frequently citing Soros when complaining about politically motivated interference in support of a progressive agenda for the United States and also globally.

Muhammed Shabeer (2020-04-29). "When the lockdown is over, we will have a whole world to reinvent," says French communist youth leader. peoplesdispatch.org France has been going through turbulent times marked by widespread protests from organized and unorganized sectors of the working class against the neoliberal economic policies of the government under Emmanuel Macron. COVID-19 has hit the country in the midst of this crisis, with the working class sections of French society now braving both the pandemic and Macron's neoliberal capitalism. Léon Deffontaines, general secretary of Mouvement Jeunes Communistes de France (MJCF), talks to Peoples Dispatch regarding the plight of the working class in France and the resistance against Macron's regime and the COVID-19 cri…

Andrew Korybko (2020-04-29). "Belt and Road" Regionalization: Pakistan's Gwadar Port Opens Afghan Trade to the World. globalresearch.ca The successful opening of Gwadar Port to Afghanistan lays the basis for expanding this trade network to Central Asia and Russia via N-CPEC+, which sets a positive example for how BRI-led regionalization can rejuvenate globalization after the coronavirus is finally …

Eds. (2020-04-29). Declaring victory too soon: Lessons from Europe's different responses to coronavirus. mronline.org But do these assumptions hold up to the test? To find out, we must first take a quick look at some recent history.

RT (2020-04-29). Covid-19 was already 'silently circulating' in France before virus arrived from China & Italy — study. rt.com The outbreak of the coronavirus in France has little to do with cases imported from China or Italy, as another strain of the disease of unknown origin had already been infecting people in the country, research claims. | The virologists at the Pasteur Institute in Paris have sequenced the genomes from samples taken from 97 French and three Algerian coronavirus patients between January 24 and March 24. | What they found is that the dominant types of Covid-19 viral strains in France differed from those that arrived from China or Italy, and belonged to another group, or 'clade.' | The earliest sample in the French…

The Canary (2020-04-29). Testing tsar 'confident' government will hit 100,000 target for Covid-19. thecanary.co The government's testing tsar has said he is confident the 100,000 daily target for coronavirus tests will be met on Thursday.Professor John Newton, director of public health improvement for Public Health England (PHE), said: "We are pretty confident we will hit that target. It puts us really right up there with countries like Germany, so we need that now but we need that for the future as well."There will be a lag in receiving the data but "by the end of the week we will know whether we have reached that target", he added.The government has been under pressure over the target, with health secretary Matt Hancock…

David Swanson (2020-04-29). Video: Free Ourselves from the Virus of War. David Swanson. globalresearch.ca David Swanson was to speak at a conference in Florence, Italy, on April 25, 2020.commemorating the 75 anniversary of Italy's Liberation. | The conference became a Live Stream. | This was David Swanson's speech at this important venue in Italy organized by …

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-04-29). Western Accusations of Russian Interference in Libya in Favor of Haftar's LNA. globalresearch.ca Marshal Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army (LNA) has declared that his forces will take control of Libya, arguing that the UN-negotiated unity agreement is dead. The statement was made during a televised

Dan Corjescu (2020-04-29). Of Friendship and Politics. dissidentvoice.org Although it is somewhat banal to say, it should never be forgotten how the First World War traumatized the political and cultural life of Europe, especially in the German speaking world. Heidegger's, Jasper's, Freud's, Junger's, Hesse's (not to mention Hitler's) inter-war works are unthinkable without this bloody caesura in European history. In a profound sense, …

The Canary (2020-04-29). UK coronavirus death toll reaches more than 26,000 — the second highest in Europe. thecanary.co 26,097 people with confirmed coronavirus (Covid-19) have died in hospitals, care homes and elsewhere in the UK, new figures from Public Health England (PHE) show. This puts the UK in second place for most coronavirus deaths in Europe, just behind Italy's The new UK figure includes 765 deaths reported in the 24 hours to 5pm on Tuesday. And it is the first time data on the number of deaths in care homes and the wider community has been included in the Government's daily updates. | The new method of reporting includes an additional 3,811 deaths since the s…

graham (2020-04-29). Bailout? Tax experts publish 5-step test for Covid19 business bailouts. truepublica.org.uk By Mark Bou Mansour: Following bans from Denmark, Poland and Argentina on companies registered in tax havens from receiving Covid19 bailouts, the Tax Justice Network has published a "bail or bailout" test to clarify uncertainty on how governments can determine which companies are discreetly using tax havens to pay less tax. The test is designed …

Wendy Jacobson (2020-04-29). Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp: Stupid or Pseudostupid? commondreams.org Georgia Governor Brian Kemp speaks to the media during a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol on April 27, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. The press conference was held to brief the media about the current situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Georgia as the state reopens restaurants for dine-in customers. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/kemp_georgia_stupidity.jpg

Comitato No Nato (2020-04-29). Giulietto Chiesa: Lets Free Ourselves from the Virus of War. globalresearch.ca GIULIETTO CHIESA remained on the front line of the fight, to implement Article 11 of the Constitution, to take Italy out of the "War System". | Giulietto Chiesa passed away a few hours after the conclusion, on the 75th Anniversary of …

teleSUR (2020-04-29). Peru: Authorities Report Increase in Femincides Amid Quarantine. telesurenglish.net Peru's Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) announced that seven feminicides occurred during the COVID-19 quarantine and social isolation.. | RELATED: | According to Gloria Montenegro, head of the aforementioned ministry, following the announcement of the state quarantine declaration on March 16, the total number of domestic violence cases significantly increased. | The National Institute of Statistics and Information Techn…

teleSUR (2020-04-29). BRICS Countries Seek Ways to Mitigate COVID-19's Impact. telesurenglish.net The BRICS countries discussed on Tuesday night the actions to be taken by the bloc's member nations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. | RELATED: | The debate took place during the Extraordinary Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BRICS countries, held on the evening of Tuesday 28 April via videoconference. | The virtual meeting was chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. | The Ministers of F…

en.mehrnews (2020-04-29). Tehran, Moscow emphasize political solution for Yemeni crisis. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister's Senior Assistant for Special Political Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin discussed the latest developments of Yemen.

Andrey Areshev (2020-04-29). Why America's Enemy Is England, Not Russia. strategic-culture.org Eric ZUESSE | America's sole enemy during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) was England. Ever since being defeated in that war, England (controlled by the British aristocracy) has tried various ways to regain its control over America. The British aristocracy's latest attempt to regain control over America started in 1877, and continues today, as the two countries'

teleSUR (2020-04-29). Turkey Pledges Support to US in Fight Against COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged "all means of solidarity" with the United States in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak and its aftermath, Turkey's presidential office said Wednesday. | RELATED: | "As a reliable and strong partner of the U.S., we will continue to demonstrate solidarity in every way possible in meeting the present needs required for the struggle against this pandemic as well as during the…

2020-04-30: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media! (Copy the text of the postee below, then paste it on social media and the story images will also appear.)

Onto the next 'child-rights crisis'? Greta Thunberg launches fundraiser to battle Covid-19 pandemic
rt.com | 2020-04-30
Apparently not content to rescue mankind from only one doomsday scenario, teenage eco-warrior Greta Thunberg has sprung into action again, launching a fundraising campaign to help the children of the world survive Covid-19. | The project will see the young activist partner with Denmark's Human Act Foundation to pledge $100,000 each to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which brings humanitarian aid to children around the globe. | Though the Covid-19 outbreak has largely spared the young, Thunberg nonetheless branded the pandemic a "child-rights crisis" in a statement announcin…
rt.com/news/487304-greta-next-apocalypse-coronavirus/

UK coronavirus death toll passes 26,000 as government admits to 4,000 fatalities outside hospitals
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
The UK is fast becoming the centre of the pandemic in Europe and is set to surpass the 27,682 deaths already recorded in Italy.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/couk-a30.html

More than 1,700 UK deaths avoided due to improvement in air quality during lockdown
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-04-30
More than 1,700 deaths in the UK have been avoided in the past month due to better air quality caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown, according to a Europe-wide study. | The Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report says levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

UK set to miss Covid-19 testing target as its death toll jumps to second in Europe
rt.com | 2020-04-30
A cabinet minister has admitted that the UK is on track to miss its target of carrying out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April. It comes after the country jumped to second in Europe for fatalities from Covid-19. | …
rt.com/uk/487315-uk-miss-april-100000-testing-target/

US, EU stance on Iran's arm embargo not binding: Rezaei
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-30
TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA)

'He doesn't understand the point': Kyrgios hammers Thiem over refusal to give up money for lower-ranked players
rt.com | 2020-04-30
Nick Kyrgios has fired back at Dominic Thiem after the Austrian world number three reacted with disdain to plans to provide a $5 million fund to help lower-ranked players mooted by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. | "He still doesn't understand the point," said Kyrgios on his Instagram account after Thiem dismissed the scheme due to his belief that even less successful pros don't need financial assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. | "We at the top get paid far too much and there is not enough to go around…
rt.com/sport/487326-nick-kyrgios-slams-dominic-thiem/

Prime Minister Philippe announces premature end of the lockdown in France
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
The decision puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk that have been saved by the insistence of the working class on measures to contain the disease.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/phil-a30.html

Mathilda Cuomo vs. Peter Singer: Sympathy for the Old or Utilitarian Rational Decisions
Daniel Warner | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-30
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented several ethical dilemmas. Which country, state or city should have first access to made-in-China masks? Stories abound that the United States paid cash three times the going price for masks ordered by France. If countries incrementally reopen, which stores or businesses should have priority? Children and schools? Which factories? And…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/30/mathilda-cuomo-vs-peter-singer-sympathy-for-the-old-or-utilitarian-rational-decisions/

Germany bans Hezbollah, conducts multiple anti-terrorist raids
rt.com | 2020-04-30
Berlin has banned the Lebanese militant organization and political party, Hezbollah, labeling the group a terrorist outfit as German police carry out raids on those suspected of being members. | "[Interior Minister Horst Seehofer] today banned the operation of the Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah (Party of God) in Germany," an Interior Ministry spokesperson tweeted on Thursday morning. | Police measures have been taking place in several federal states at the sam…
rt.com/news/487307-germany-bans-hezbollah-raids/

Germany follows US in designating Hezbollah as terrorist group
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-30
TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA)

Schools in Hungary to remain closed until end of May
rt.com | 2020-04-30
Hungarian schools will remain closed until the end of May and events with more than 500 participants cannot be held until August 15, PM Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said on Thursday. | Orban announced late on Wednesday that, outside Budapest, some restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak would be lifted starting next week. Shops and restaurant terraces will be allowed to reopen without time limits. However, existing strict measures in the capital will continue for now, as about 70 percent of registered infections were in Budapest. | Written graduation exams will be held nationwi…
rt.com/newsline/487325-schools-hungary-closed-orban/

Why are more men dying from COVID-19 than women?
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org | 2020-04-30
Men appear to be hit harder by COVID-19 than women. Early data from China and the World Health Organization (WHO) show that more men than women are dying from COVID-19. Other countries like Spain and Italy also are seeing higher death rates among men. But why might that be? Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic …
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/why-are-more-men-dying-from-covid-19-than-women/

Italy to Speedily Abandon Mind Virus Lockdown, Bend the Knee to Sweden's Open Model
Marko Marjanović | anti-empire.com | 2020-04-30

Fighting "the invisible enemy"

| Conte has announced a gradual reopening of Italy starting next Monday. However, reading the schedule it becomes apparent it's not very gradual at all, instead it is quite quick: | Italy has outlined plans to ease the restrictions it imposed seven weeks ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus. | Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the measures would be relaxed from 4 May, with people being allowed to visit their relatives in small numbers. | People will be allowed to move around their own regions – but not between different regions | Funerals are set to resume,…
anti-empire.com/italy-to-speedily-abandon-covid-lockdown-switch-to-swedens-open-model/

Italy's PM Conte to ease lockdown based on 'differences in local contagion levels'
rt.com | 2020-04-30
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday he would gradually relax Italy's coronavirus lockdown taking into account differences in contagion levels in various parts of the country. | Conte told the lower house of parliament that a new stimulus package to support the economy, due to be presented in a few days, would include €15 billion ($16.3 billion) for companies and €25 billion directly for payroll workers and the self-employed. | The lockdown imposed on March 9 will be gradually rolled back from May 4 and agreed with local authorities "taking account of the regions where the epidemiological s…
rt.com/newsline/487328-italy-conte-local-differences/

Boris Johnson to front first press conference since recovering from coronavirus
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-04-30
Boris Johnson will front his first daily press conference since recovering from coronavirus (Covid-19) on 30 April.The UK's coronavirus death toll is now the third highest in the world after the US and Italy, so Downing Street is playing down any expectations of an easing of restrictions.Number 10 said a cabinet meeting earlier in the day would look at the "response in general" but not make any decisions on lockdown measures.(PA Graphics)That response was facing further criticism as health secretary Matt Hancock's deadline arrived for carrying out 100,000 Covid-19 tests a day.With just over 52,000 tests carried o…
thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/04/30/boris-johnson-to-front-first-press-conference-since-recovering-from-coronavirus/

Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 news briefing with Dr. Greg Poland
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org | 2020-04-30
On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses current outbreak numbers, why there may be a second wave of infections, and research on a vaccine. Click the player below: Mayo Clinic Q&A is …
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-qa-news-briefing-with-dr-greg-poland/

BRICS ministers demand removal of US sanctions amid outbreak
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-30
TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (MNA)

Russia's coronavirus cases surpass 100,000 following record daily rise
rt.com | 2020-04-30
Russia has recorded its highest daily increase in Covid-19 infections, with more than 7,000 new cases emerging on Thursday. The nationwide tally of coronavirus patients now stands at over 106,000. | In the past 24 hours, 7,099 more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the government's emergency response team revealed. Over half of these cases were located in Moscow and the surrounding region, while Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, appears third in the grim ranking. | The updates came after Dmitry Peskov, Russia's presidential spokesman, suggested the country will reach a coronavirus p…
rt.com/russia/487314-russia-coronavirus-100000-cases/

Spain ends confinement, moving to "new normal" as COVID-19 cases rise
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
On Tuesday evening, Sánchez outlined his government's plan under the name " Transition Plan to a New Normal."
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/spai-a30.html

Lockdowns-Boosting WHO Now Lauds Sweden as a 'Model' for Other Countries to Copy Going Forward
Jackie Salo | anti-empire.com | 2020-04-30
The World Health Organization lauded Sweden as a "model" for battling the coronavirus as countries lift lockdowns

Sweden forced to admit significant under-counting of coronavirus deaths
wsws.org | 2020-04-30
Sweden did not impose a lock-down and even delayed issuing social distancing guidelines, leading to more deaths and pushing the health system to the limit.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/30/swed-a30.html

ANALYSIS: Turkey's healthcare system: an example to follow
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-30
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has turned healthcare systems upside down in most European countries. It has exposed numerous inadequacies, with most healthcare systems across the globe struggling hard to cope with the challenges.The decade-long austerity measures [1] in countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK have led to substantial budget cuts and lack of investment in national public healthcare systems. These policies resulted in serious shortages in critical equipment, hospital beds and medical personnel.In contrast, Turkey's healthcare system has responded well to the pandemic through effe…
yenisafak.com/en/world/analysis-turkeys-healthcare-system-an-example-to-follow-3518325

Turkey rescues five Pakistani asylum seekers in Aegean
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-30
The Turkish Coast Guard rescued five asylum seekers off the Aegean coast, security sources said on Thursday.All five of the rescued asylum seekers are Pakistani nationals, according to the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking the media.They were on a rubber boat that was forced into Turkish territorial waters by the Greek Coast Guard and were rescued near the coast of Inceburun in the southwestern Mugla province.The asylum seekers were taken to the provincial migration office, the sources added.Turkey has been one of the main routes for asylum seekers wanting to reach Europe, especia…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-rescues-five-pakistani-asylum-seekers-in-aegean-3518318

EU unemployment rate up 6.6% in March
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-30
The European Union's unemployment rate rose to 6.6% in March, the bloc's statistical office reported on Thursday.The figure was up from 6.5% in the previous month, while it dropped from 6.9% in the same month last year, Eurostat said in a press release.Meanwhile, the unemployment rate was 7.4% in the euro area, the office said, rising from 7.3% in the previous month and decreasing from 7.7% in the same month of 2019.The eurozone/euro area or EA19 represents member states that use the single currency

Turkey: Some 30,000 returnees from abroad in quarantine
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-30
Some 30,000 Turkish citizens are in quarantine after returning from abroad as part of measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, an official said on Thursday.A total of 29,284 citizens are in quarantine at dormitories across 76 provinces, said Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoglu.Kasapoglu also said that 34,452 citizens were released from quarantine after completing the mandatory 14-day period.Upon the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, Turkey repatriated nearly 25,000 citizens from 59 countries ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-some-30000-returnees-from-abroad-in-quarantine-3518313

SpaceX satellites visible over Turkey in night sky
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-30
A string of lights were seen in Turkey's skies Wednesday night as SpaceX launched a batch of Starlink internet satellites.The satellites were seen with the naked eye in the sky from the Mediterranean coastal province of Mersin at 8.26 p.m. local time (1726GMT).They appeared for at least 5 minutes over Toros (Taurus) Mountains in the Mediterranean.The satellites were periodically launched and flying in low Earth orbit.Each weighing around 500 pounds, 60 satellites were launched to provide low cost internet to remote locations.*Writing by Firdevs Bulut…
yenisafak.com/en/world/spacex-satellites-visible-over-turkey-in-night-sky-3518322

Yanukovych Ready to Cooperate With Ukraine's Investigators on Euromaidan Killings, Lawyer Says
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-30
KIEV (Sputnik) – Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is ready to cooperate with Ukrainian investigators regarding the killings during the Euromaidan protests in 2014, lawyer Vitaly Serdyuk said on Thursday.
sputniknews.com/europe/202004301079145263-yanukovych-ready-to-cooperate-with-ukraines-investigators-on-euromaidan-killings-lawyer-says/

British Airways Plans to Cut Pilot Jobs by Almost 25%
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-30
On 2 April, British Airways said it would suspend up to 36,000 staff due to the coronavirus pandemic. All airline employees temporarily left without work can reportedly rely on compensation of up to 80 percent of their salary under a state support programme in light of the epidemic.
sputniknews.com/europe/202004301079145241-british-airways-plans-to-cut-pilot-jobs-by-almost-25/

Croatian Presidency Reportedly Pressures EU to Boost Introduction of 5G, 6G Networks
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-30
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Croatia, which currently presides over the Council of the European Union, has been pushing the European Commission to revise the action plan for the implementation of 5G and 6G mobile telecommunications in order to boost connectivity throughout the bloc, according to a document of the Croatian Presidency, seen by Euractiv.
sputniknews.com/europe/202004301079145329-croatian-presidency-pressures-eu-to-boost-introduction-of-5g-6g-networks—reports/

Some Turkish Troops Reportedly Armed With Anti-Suicide Rifles
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-30
In 2015, the newspaper Daily Sabah reported that over the past ten years, the number of soldiers who committed suicide in Turkey's Army had surged to 934, in contrast with 818 Turkish servicemen killed in armed clashes during the same period.
sputniknews.com/military/202004301079145485-some-turkish-troops-reportedly-armed-with-anti-suicide-rifles/

Why did the World Health Organization wait until March to declare a global pandemic?
Vijay Prashad | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-04-29
The 2005 regulations pushed on the World Health Organization by the United States and the Europeans hampered the WHO's ability to declare an emergency and a pandemic…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/04/29/why-did-the-world-health-organization-wait-until-march-to-declare-a-global-pandemic/

George Soros Wants You to Believe Russia Is a Danger to World Peace, Turkey's Erdogan an Angel
Philip Giraldi | thealtworld.com | 2020-04-29
George Soros is a billionaire Hungarian-born investor who is extremely controversial due to his promotion of what he chooses to define as democracy and free-trade movements, primarily conducted through the Open Society Foundations, which he founded and has funded with $32 billion, according to one estimate. He contributed to the campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, which has in part led to conservative politicians in the United States and elsewhere frequently citing Soros when complaining about politically motivated interference in support of a progressive agenda for the United States and also globally.
thealtworld.com/philip_giraldi/george-soros-wants-you-to-believe-russia-is-a-danger-to-world-peace-turkeys-erdogan-an-angel

"When the lockdown is over, we will have a whole world to reinvent," says French communist youth leader
Muhammed Shabeer | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-04-29
France has been going through turbulent times marked by widespread protests from organized and unorganized sectors of the working class against the neoliberal economic policies of the government under Emmanuel Macron. COVID-19 has hit the country in the midst of this crisis, with the working class sections of French society now braving both the pandemic and Macron's neoliberal capitalism. Léon Deffontaines, general secretary of Mouvement Jeunes Communistes de France (MJCF), talks to Peoples Dispatch regarding the plight of the working class in France and the resistance against Macron's regime and the COVID-19 cri…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/04/29/when-the-lockdown-is-over-we-will-have-a-whole-world-to-reinvent-says-french-communist-youth-leader/

"Belt and Road" Regionalization: Pakistan's Gwadar Port Opens Afghan Trade to the World
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-29
The successful opening of Gwadar Port to Afghanistan lays the basis for expanding this trade network to Central Asia and Russia via N-CPEC+, which sets a positive example for how BRI-led regionalization can rejuvenate globalization after the coronavirus is finally …
globalresearch.ca/bri-led-regionalization-gwadar-port-opens-afghan-trade-world/5711243

Western Accusations of Russian Interference in Libya in Favor of Haftar's LNA
Paul Antonopoulos | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-29
Marshal Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army (LNA) has declared that his forces will take control of Libya, arguing that the UN-negotiated unity agreement is dead. The statement was made during a televised speech, in which Haftar reported …
globalresearch.ca/western-accusations-russian-interference-libya-distraction-own-crimes/5711184

Video: Free Ourselves from the Virus of War. David Swanson
David Swanson | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-29
David Swanson was to speak at a conference in Florence, Italy, on April 25, 2020.commemorating the 75 anniversary of Italy's Liberation. | The conference became a Live Stream. | This was David Swanson's speech at this important venue in Italy organized by …
globalresearch.ca/video-free-ourselves-virus-war/5711181

Declaring victory too soon: Lessons from Europe's different responses to coronavirus
Eds. | mronline.org | 2020-04-29
But do these assumptions hold up to the test? To find out, we must first take a quick look at some recent history.
mronline.org/2020/04/29/declaring-victory-too-soon-lessons-from-europes-different-responses-to-coronavirus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=declaring-victory-too-soon-lessons-from-europes-different-responses-to-coronavirus

Of Friendship and Politics
Dan Corjescu | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-04-29
Although it is somewhat banal to say, it should never be forgotten how the First World War traumatized the political and cultural life of Europe, especially in the German speaking world. Heidegger's, Jasper's, Freud's, Junger's, Hesse's (not to mention Hitler's) inter-war works are unthinkable without this bloody caesura in European history. In a profound sense, …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/04/of-friendship-and-politics/

Bailout? Tax experts publish 5-step test for Covid19 business bailouts
graham | truepublica.org.uk | 2020-04-29
By Mark Bou Mansour: Following bans from Denmark, Poland and Argentina on companies registered in tax havens from receiving Covid19 bailouts, the Tax Justice Network has published a "bail or bailout" test to clarify uncertainty on how governments can determine which companies are discreetly using tax havens to pay less tax. The test is designed …
truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/bailout-tax-experts-publish-5-step-test-for-covid19-business-bailouts/

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp: Stupid or Pseudostupid?
Wendy Jacobson | commondreams.org | 2020-04-29
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp speaks to the media during a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol on April 27, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. The press conference was held to brief the media about the current situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Georgia as the state reopens restaurants for dine-in customers. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/kemp_georgia_stupidity.jpg
commondreams.org/views/2020/04/29/georgia-gov-brian-kemp-stupid-or-pseudostupid?cd-origin=rss

Testing tsar 'confident' government will hit 100,000 target for Covid-19
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-04-29
The government's testing tsar has said he is confident the 100,000 daily target for coronavirus tests will be met on Thursday.Professor John Newton, director of public health improvement for Public Health England (PHE), said: "We are pretty confident we will hit that target. It puts us really right up there with countries like Germany, so we need that now but we need that for the future as well."There will be a lag in receiving the data but "by the end of the week we will know whether we have reached that target", he added.The government has been under pressure over the target, with health secretary Matt Hancock…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2020/04/29/testing-tsar-confident-government-will-hit-100000-target-for-covid-19/

Giulietto Chiesa: Lets Free Ourselves from the Virus of War
Comitato No Nato | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-29
GIULIETTO CHIESA remained on the front line of the fight, to implement Article 11 of the Constitution, to take Italy out of the "War System". | Giulietto Chiesa passed away a few hours after the conclusion, on the 75th Anniversary of …
globalresearch.ca/giulietto-chiesa-lets-free-ourselves-from-the-virus-of-war/5711034

Peru: Authorities Report Increase in Femincides Amid Quarantine
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
Peru's Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) announced that seven feminicides occurred during the COVID-19 quarantine and social isolation.. | RELATED: | Peru: Massive Exodus Continues Amid COVID-19 Pandemic | According to Gloria Montenegro, head of the aforementioned ministry, following the announcement of the state quarantine declaration on March 16, the total number of domestic violence cases significantly increased. | The National Institute of Statistics and Information Techn…
telesurenglish.net/news/peru-authorities-report-feminicides-increase–during-quarantine-20200429-0006.html

BRICS Countries Seek Ways to Mitigate COVID-19's Impact
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
The BRICS countries discussed on Tuesday night the actions to be taken by the bloc's member nations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. | RELATED: | G20 Summit: BRICS Pushes For 'Democratic International Order' | The debate took place during the Extraordinary Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BRICS countries, held on the evening of Tuesday 28 April via videoconference. | The virtual meeting was chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. | The Ministers of F…
telesurenglish.net/news/brics-countries-seek-ways-to-mitigate-covid19s-impact-20200429-0003.html

Tehran, Moscow emphasize political solution for Yemeni crisis
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-29
TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA)

Why America's Enemy Is England, Not Russia
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-04-29
Eric ZUESSE | America's sole enemy during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) was England. Ever since being defeated in that war, England (controlled by the British aristocracy) has tried various ways to regain its control over America. The British aristocracy's latest attempt to regain control over America started in 1877, and continues today, as the two countries' "Deep State"

Turkey Pledges Support to US in Fight Against COVID-19
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-29
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged "all means of solidarity" with the United States in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak and its aftermath, Turkey's presidential office said Wednesday. | RELATED: | Mideast: Turkey's COVID-19 Cases 105,000; Iran's Over 88,000 | "As a reliable and strong partner of the U.S., we will continue to demonstrate solidarity in every way possible in meeting the present needs required for the struggle against this pandemic as well as during the…
telesurenglish.net/news/Turkey-Pledges-Support-to-US-in-Fight-Against-COVID-19-20200429-0009.html

Virus Vaccine Could Be Ready by September
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-04-29
University of Oxford in the UK edges ahead of Chinese consortiums in the race to find a Covid-19 cure | Gordon WATTS | A vaccine to combat the Covid-19 pandemic could be rolled out as early as September. | In the race to find a coronavirus cure, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom appears to have edged ahead of three Chinese consortiums. | Last week, the UK government announced that a further £20 million, or US$24.7 million, would be injected into the project. | "We aim to have about a million doses by September once we have the results of our vaccine efficacy tests," Professor Adrian Hill, the d…
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/04/29/virus-vaccine-could-be-ready-by-september/

Russia Calls on US and Iran to Exercise 'Maximum Restraint' Amid Escalating Tensions
Sputnik News | iranian.com | 2020-04-29
Tensions between the US and Iran in the Persian Gulf grew after American troops conducted drills in the region, despite complaining that Iranian boats had "harassed" their vessels. The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on the US and Iran to exercise "maximum restraint' in the Persian Gulf region and not fall for provocations. "Moscow has …
iranian.com/2020/04/29/russia-calls-on-us-and-iran-to-exercise-maximum-restraint-amid-escalating-tensions/

Kaveh Mazaheri's "Funfair" Honored at European Independent Film Festival
Tehran Times | iranian.com | 2020-04-29
"Funfair", a short film by Iranian director Kaveh Mazaheri, has won the Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short Award at the 15th edition of the European Independent Film Festival (ECU), the organizers have announced. "Funfair" is about Majid, a young financially struggling man who comes up with a ploy in order to better the life of …
iranian.com/2020/04/29/kaveh-mazaheris-funfair-honored-at-european-independent-film-festival/