(2020-05-03). Europe's Largest? 3500 Protest Anti-Virus Overreach in Slovenia. anti-empire.com 
As in the rest of Europe (except Belarus) protest is not permitted in Slovenia. Cycling however, is since recently again allowed. So Slovenians had the mind they would mess with the government by taking their again-permitted once-daily bicycle ride and do it all at once. | A mass of 3500 cyclists rode through the center of the city and circled in front of the parliament building. | | On the one hand, a bicycle protest (and largely masked) is somewhat lame, certainly compared to the
(2020-05-03). Greek refugee camps 'beyond breaking point' as UK government continues its racist policies. thecanary.co Human rights campaigners on the Greek island of Samos have told The Canary that the situation for refugees is "beyond breaking point". Since the Europe Must A…
(2020-05-03). Why Sweden Succeeded While Others Failed. globalresearch.ca How do you measure success in dealing with an illness for which there is no cure? | This is the question we need to ask ourselves before judging which country's approach has been most successful in dealing with the coronavirus. The …
(2020-05-03). 'As long as coronavirus doesn't go on vacation': German interior minister warns against 'reckless' reopening of borders. rt.com 
Germany's interior minister said that early decisions to reopen borders could backfire in terms of the spread of Covid-19. The leader of Austria had earlier floated the idea of inviting German tourists to return. | "As long as the virus does not go on vacation, we also have to restrict our travel plans. As understandable as the desires of people and the tourism industry are, the disease protection has its own timetable," Horst Seehofer told Bild am Sonntag. | No one wants to restrict citizens' freedom of movement longer than is absolutely necessary. But the reckless opening [of borders], which later backfires…
(2020-05-03). Your passport and corona test, please: Vienna airport starts on-site screening for those who wish to avoid quarantine. rt.com 
Starting Monday, passengers arriving at Vienna International Airport will be offered an on-site Covid-19 test to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine. | Austrian health officials require everyone arriving in the country by air to provide a health certificate ensuring they are not carrying the coronavirus. Without one issued no less than four days prior to arrival, travelers must sign up for two weeks of self-isolation. Starting Monday, there will be an alternative — an on-site express test with a three-hour wait before the results come through. | The same PCR express test will be available to people leav…
(2020-05-03). Over 10,000 for the 1st time: Russia hits new daily record for fresh coronavirus cases. rt.com 
With 10,633 cases registered in a single day, Russia has seen its largest daily increase in reported Covid-19 infections. While the Moscow area remains the worst affected, the disease is spreading across the country. | The number of people confirmed to have contracted coronavirus nationwide rose to 134,687 on Sunday, disease response officials said. Fifty-eight more patients have died, bringing the overall national death toll from Covid-19 to 1,280. | With over 82,700 infections recorded in Moscow and its surrounding eponymous region, the capital remains the centre of Russia's outbreak. It's followed by the se…
(2020-05-03). The COVID Rouge Covers a Spanish Beach in Bleach 'to Protect the Children'. anti-empire.com 
Authorities in a Spanish coastal resort have apologised after spraying a beach with bleach in an attempt to protect children from coronavirus. | Zahara de los Atunes, near Cadiz, used tractors to spray more than 2km (1.2 miles) of beach with a bleach solution a day before Spain allowed children out of lockdown for the first time. | Environmentalists say the move caused "brutal damage" to the local ecosystem. | Spain has been badly affected by the coronavirus, with 23,800 deaths. | It recently announced a four-phase plan to lift its stringent lockdown measures and return to a "new normality" by the end of June.
(2020-05-03). Iran Air to launch special flights from Qatar, Europe to return stranded Iranians back. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 03 (MNA) — Iran Air is to launch flights from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Spain, and Qatar to the Iranian capital Tehran and Shiraz in Iranian Fars province, in the next upcoming days, to return Iranian nationals stranded in the named countries due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
(2020-05-03). Why Sweden Has Already Won the Debate on COVID 'Lockdown' Policy. globalresearch.ca As Europe and North America continue suffering their steady economic and social decline as a direct result of imposing 'lockdown' on their populations, other countries have taken a different approach to dealing with the coronavirus threat. You wouldn't know it …
(2020-05-03). Spain Records Lowest Death Toll Since COVID-19 Quarantine. telesurenglish.net Spain recorded 164 new deaths from the coronavirus on Saturday, the lowest number since the state of emergency was declared in the European country. | RELATED: | The figure announced by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, brings the total number of deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic to 25,264. | Sánchez indicated that the number of confirmed virus infections since Saturday does not exceed a thousand. | The he…
(2020-05-03). European, American seminary students in Qom prov. en.mehrnews.com QOM, May 03 (MNA) — In line with the special emphasis of Leader of the Islamic Revolution in implementing "Equality, Sincere Assistance Maneuver" during the holy month of Ramadan, over 2,000 livelihood foodstuff packages were distributed among the needy families in Qom province at the initiative taken by Amir al-Momenin Seminary School, where non-Iranian seminary students study at this center.
(2020-05-03). China Denying False Claims Is 'Evidence' of COVID-19 Cover-Up. thealtworld.com The publicly documented timeline of the pandemic confounds the "blame China" narrative. So too does the disproportionate mishandling … | China is being put in a no-win bind. It is accused of misleading the world over the Covid-19 outbreak, which is in turn prompting demands for financial compensation. The United States, Britain, France and Australia have pushed this narrative. Demonization of China involves claims that Beijing has fomented disinformation about the pandemic. | The publicly documented timeline of the pandemic confounds this "blame China" narrative. So too does the disproportionate mishandling of…
(2020-05-03). 4/30/20: 45th Anniversary of Victory in Vietnam. indybay.org On April 30, 1975, the "little people in black pajamas" of Vietnam defeated the mightiest, most despicable war machine the world had seen since Nazi Germany, namely the US military, as they chased the US military and their local lackeys onto helicopters, boats and planes, causing celebrations around the world, including here in the Bay Area where we, who opposed the war machine and resisted the draft, danced in streets. Today, Vietnam has ZERO deaths from the coronavirus because it has SOCIALIZED medicine. For more, see www.counterpunch.org/2020/04/30/a-letter-from-viet-nam-on-the-occasion-of-the-45th-ann…
(2020-05-03). Germany unable to withstand US pressures: MP. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 03 (MNA) — An Iranian lawmaker says that Germany is a weak country regarding politics and cannot stand against the United States' pressures.
(2020-05-03). Mayo Clinic expert talks social distancing. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The need for?social distancing?will continue into the summer as an important public health tool to reduce the spread of?COVID-19. ?Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic acknowledges the hardships of public safety measures and says they are important. "The nature of social distancing, isolating ourselves, and shelter-in-place has been tremendous hardships from …
(2020-05-03). Russia names US efforts for extension of Iran's arms embargo fruitless. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 03 (MNA) — Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to the Vienna-based international organizations said on Sunday that "in case the US cannot persuade the UN Security Council to extend arms embargo against Iran, it will try other options. But we do believe that Americans will not reach their set targets."
(2020-05-03). 24 hour May Day programing on mayday.pacifica.org. indybay.org Pacifica COVID-19 Taskforce is hosting May Day with programing from throughout the world. Live streaming from South Africa, Korea, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and other countries.
(2020-05-02). Portugal Leads the Way: How European Countries Fared in Their Treatment of Refugees. dissidentvoice.org 
As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading its tentacles throughout China and eventually to the rest of the world, the World Health Organization (WHO), along with other international groups, sounded the alarm that refugees and migrants are particularly vulnerable to the deadly disease. "We strongly emphasize the need for inclusive national public health measures …
(2020-05-02). Russia: Two ministers, one deputy test positive for COVID as workers' protests grow. wsws.org Just one day after Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin was hospitalized for COVID-19, the minister for construction, housing and communal services and his deputy also tested positive.
(2020-05-03). Dutch coronavirus cases rise 335 to 40,571 with 69 new deaths. yenisafak.com The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has increased by 335 to 40,471, Dutch health authorities said on Sunday.The National Institute for Public Health reported 69 new deaths, taking total COVID-19 fatalities to 5,056. The authorities stress that the actual number of infections is likely higher because not all suspected COVID-19 patients are being tested.
(2020-05-03). Turkish Cargo 5th among top 25 air cargo carriers. yenisafak.com Turkey's national air cargo brand Turkish Cargo has achieved the highest growth rate — 16.6% — among the top 25 air cargo carriers worldwide, according to an industry group.From ranking eighth in 2019, Turkish Cargo rose to fifth place, and increased its global Freight Tonne Kilometers (FTK) market share to 4.4%, according to the International Air Transport Association's FTK February 2020 results.The global air cargo industry, meanwhile, contracted by 15.2% year-on-year in March, driven by sharply weaker demand across all regions as the COVID-19 outbreak extended to become a global pandemic."The succe…
(2020-05-03). Turks turn to minimalism amid coronavirus lockdown. yenisafak.com More and more people in Turkey are leaning into minimalism and consuming less as the world takes a giant pause due to the novel coronavirus, according to one local minimalist.Hale Acun Aydin, founder of the Turk Isi Minimalizm (Turkish Way Minimalism) website and related social media sites, said interest in minimalism had already risen in the last couple of years before recently skyrocketing as residents face a long lockdown at home."It doesn't matter how many shoes we have now, we only use one pair of shoes to go to the supermarket," Aydin told Anadolu Agency.Populations across the world, as well as in Turkey, a…
(2020-05-03). 'Erdogan, Turkey will continue to help its allies fight coronavirus'. yenisafak.com Turkey will continue to support its allies, friends, and those in need around the world amid the global coronavirus outbreak, Turkey's communications director said on Sunday."We hear a lot of positive feedback and praise about our humanitarian aid to close to 60 countries so far," Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter, adding that even before the pandemic Turkey had been leading the world in the ration of its humanitarian aid ratio to GDP.Altun also said that Turkey's aid shipment to Somalia included for the first time Turkey's locally manufactured ventilators."This is not a matter of politics but our President [Recep…
(2020-05-03). Almost 3,000 Crew Members Quarantined on Cruise Ship in Germany After Positive COVID-19 Test – Video. sputniknews.com Live from the port of Cuxhaven as almost 3,000 crew members are quarantined on a TUI cruise ship after one of them tested positive for coronavirus.
(2020-05-03). Lukashenko Says Belarus Cannot Cancel Victory Day Parade on May 9 Despite Pandemic. sputniknews.com MINSK (Sputnik) – Belarus "cannot" call off the WWII Victory Day parade on 9 May, despite the coronavirus pandemic, because thousands of people are looking forward to the event, including veterans, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Sunday.
(2020-05-03). Pope Francis Calls for International Cooperation to Develop Vaccines Against COVID-19. sputniknews.com VATICAN CITY (Sputnik) – Pope Francis on Sunday called for joint international efforts to create vaccines against COVID-19 and provide access to medical treatment worldwide.
(2020-05-03). Women at War: Female Soldiers of the Soviet Red Army in the 1940s. sputniknews.com Russia is preparing to mark the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 against Nazi Germany.
(2020-05-03). Russian, Italian Military Disinfect 3 Medical Facilities in Lombardy – Russian Ministry. sputniknews.com BERGAMO (Sputnik) – Russian servicemen and their Italian counterparts have disinfected three medical facilities in Italy's northern region of Lombardy, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
(2020-05-03). Ex-German Chancellor Urges Lifting 'Senseless' Anti-Russian Sanctions Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. sputniknews.com Crimea rejoined Russia in March 2014 as a result of a referendum which saw over 96 per cent of the peninsula's residents backing the option. However, the move was opposed by Ukraine and a majority of Western countries, including EU members, with several rounds of sanctions slapped on Moscow.
(2020-05-03). Fifth of UK Households with Children Going Hungry Amid COVID-19 Lockdown – Report. sputniknews.com The United Kingdom has implemented social-distancing measures to combat the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) and prevent overloading of patients onto the National Health Service. Due to existing food insecurity and the reliance on food banks and school lunches before the lockdown, many of Britain's poorest are at breaking point.
(2020-05-02). Bosnian Croats Ask the Russian Military for Anti-Virus Help, Bosnian Muslims Block It. anti-empire.com 
The political leader of the Bosnian Croats, Dragan Čović
(2020-05-02). "Turkey Lied to Us." Erdogan's Syrian Mercenaries in Libya Are Desperate to Leave. anti-empire.com 
"I just got back from Libya yesterday," said Zein Ahmad*, a Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) militant in Afrin. "But I had been trying to leave for more than a month." When the Libyan National Army (LNA) neared Tripoli in April 2019, the rival UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli called on Turkey for military support. | Turkish forces began heavily recruiting militants from SNA factions in Syria to fight on their behalf, and began flying hundreds to Libya every week. The exact number of Syrian militants Turkey has sent is unknown, but estimates range from 5,000 to 17,000. Flights c…
(2020-05-02). 'There Will Be Spring' to take part in three intl. film festivals. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 03 (MNA) — Iranian short 'There Will Be Spring' by Saeed Bahman will take part in three international film festivals in Europe and North America.
(2020-05-02). On May Day, the working class in Europe resolved to defeat both COVID-19 and capitalism. peoplesdispatch.org Major trade unions and workers' parties across Europe organized May Day events in public and online platforms adhering to safety protocols due to lockdown.
(2020-05-02). Euro zone economy contracts at record pace. wsws.org The European Central Bank has taken the same road as the US Fed, committing itself to pump still more money across the board into the financial markets.
(2020-05-02). Jasenovac — the Glossed Over Auschwitz of the Balkans. strategic-culture.org Unfathomable as that may appear, yes, it was quite possible for the second-ranking slaughterhouse in Europe in recent memory to have slipped off the radar screen. Even such a renowned authority as Professor Gideon Greif is having an exceptionally difficult time of it in trying to put it back on. | Precisely because it has not been the theme of any Hollywood spectaculars, Jasenovac does not attract any school excursions and textbooks are largely silent about it. Some background information on Jasenovac therefore seems like a good place to start. | The Jasenovac death camp (1941 — 1945) is inextricably bound…
(2020-05-02). Plans for Redrawing the Middle East: The Project for a "New Middle East" globalresearch.ca Towards the balkanization (division) and finlandization (pacification) of the Middle East…
(2020-05-02). Germany's Lufthansa: Billions in state aid and mass layoffs. wsws.org The airline unions are appealing to Chancellor Merkel for state intervention.
(2020-05-02). Germany: Daimler trains managers to kick out workers. wsws.org Daimler department heads and other managers are being trained to put pressure on individual workers to "implement the job cuts as smoothly as possible."
(2020-05-02). The deeper roots of Chinese demonization. thealtworld.com Fasten your seat belts: the US The US strategy remains, essentially, full spectrum dominance, with the National Security Strategy obsessed by the three top "threats" of China, Russia and Iran. China, in contrast, proposes…
(2020-05-01). Germany: Working Class Protests Against Unemployment in May Day. telesurenglish.net On International Workers' Day, Germany's trade unions protested over the collapse of labor rights and the significant increase of unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | According to forecasts by Angela Merkel's administration, Germany will experience the worst recession since World War II this year. | Recent unemployment figures have soared despite the economic aid that Germany's authorities have set up to prevent mass layoffs. | In Apr…
(2020-05-01). Greek workers protest government's anti-labor policies on pretext of fighting COVID-19. peoplesdispatch.org Workers under the leadership of the All Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Greece observed the National Day of Action on April 28. PAME has demanded the abolition of the anti-worker measures introduced through bills citing the COVID-19 crisis…
(2020-05-01). Video: Prospects of Turkish-Russian Military Conflict in Syria. globalresearch.ca The region of Greater Idlib remains the main source of tensions in Syria. | The March 5th ceasefire deal reached by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow allowed an end to be made to the …
(2020-05-01). Experts Warn of New Nuclear Arms Race After Trump Signals US Withdrawal from START Treaty. mintpressnews.com While much of the corporate press has blamed Russia and China for the sudden failure of multiple longstanding nuclear treaties, experts put the blame on squarely on the Trump administration.
(2020-05-01). Irish PM Varadkar announces easing of lockdown restrictions in two weeks' time. thecanary.co 
Ireland will begin its journey back to normality after a further two weeks of the current coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions, Leo Varadkar has announced.The majority of the lockdown measures will remain in place until 18 May, although two will ease in the coming days. From next Tuesday, a travel limit that has forced people to stay within 2km of home when exercising will be extended to 5km. Moreover, self-isolating over-70s will be advised they can leave home for a walk or drive.In an address to the nation, the Taoiseach said in mid-May a phased easing of the remaining restrictions would begin: So on the 18th of…
(2020-05-01). UK: Indian Students Starving and Unable to Return Home. telesurenglish.net The closure of borders in India left thousands of students stranded in the United Kingdom. Now they depend on food donations from charity institutions to survive. | RELATED: | According to local media, most Indian college students work part-time in low-paying jobs to support their studies in this European country. | "The confinement forced by COVID-19 has caused many of them to lose their jobs,"
(2020-05-01). Coronavirus: How Are European Countries Treating Refugees Amid the Pandemic? mintpressnews.com Neglecting the refugees while fighting coronavirus is as foolish as it is inhumane. The last few months have taught us that self-centered strategies do not apply in the cases of global healthcare crises.
(2020-05-01). France Says COVID Was Already 'Silently Circulating' & DARPA's "Implantable Nanoplatform" Vaccines. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (4/30/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2020-05-01). Our health over their profits: France's CGT in the thick of struggle. peoplesdispatch.org Patrick Correa of the CGT Metalworkers' union of France talks to Peoples Dispatch on the impact of COVID-19 on the workers of the country.
(2020-05-01). Virtual Liberation in Italy. counterpunch.org For most years in Italy, April 25th would be a day of commemoration and sociability. It marks the 1945 call from the anti-Nazi Committee of National Liberation (CLN) for the final uprising against the German occupiers and Mussolini's puppet regime, and is thus Liberation Day, with special emphasis on the Italian Resistance of 1943-45. It