(2020-05-08). Switzerland to lift some curbs on migration from Europe, considers opening borders with neighbors. rt.com 
The Swiss government will further ease curbs on migration from Europe while considering opening borders with neighbors, the government said on Friday. | As migration resumes, initial steps will include processing a backlog of applications from people seeking work in Switzerland. For Swiss citizens as well as for those from the European Union, family reunification in Switzerland should also be possible again, Reuters reports. | "The controls at the border will continue," the government said. "Border crossings will be opened in consultation with the domestic and foreign partner authorities." | Bern also said it…
(2020-05-08). Milan branded a ticking Covid-19 time 'BOMB' by Italian virologist as people flout precautions after lockdown eased. rt.com 
People snapped grouping together at popular spots in Milan, defying social-distancing rules just days after the city eased its lockdown, have prompted an Italian virologist to compare it to a ticking coronavirus infection 'bomb.' | Italy eased its strict lockdown measures on May 4, but still requires individuals to wear face masks and respect social-distancing measures to prevent a second wave of infections. The country went into lockdown on March 9, introducing some of the strictest measures in Europe, as it became one of the countries worst affected by the outbreak. | However, photos circulating on social me…
(2020-05-08). EU's top court claims it has sole jurisdiction over European Central Bank's money-printing decisions, rejecting Germany's concerns. rt.com 
The European Union's highest court said on Friday it alone has legal authority over the European Central Bank (ECB). It rejected the recent ruling in Germany questioning the ECB's power to print money without members' consent. | "In order to ensure that EU law is applied uniformly, the Court of Justice (ECJ) alone… has jurisdiction to rule that an act of an EU institution is contrary to EU law," it said in a statement. "Divergences between courts of the member states as to the validity of such acts would indeed be liable to place in jeopardy the unity of the EU legal order and to detract from legal certainty…
(2020-05-08). 'Second phase': Denmark to reopen museums and cinemas from June 8. rt.com 
Danish museums, amusement parks and cinemas will be allowed to reopen from June 8, the government said on Friday. It had struck a deal with parliament on how restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 could be eased further. Shopping malls, schools for the oldest students and restaurants will be allowed to reopen in the coming weeks, as the country enters the second phase of reopening after curbing the spread of the virus. | So far, 10,083 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the country of 5.8 million people, and 514 have died of the disease, Reuters said. | In the third phase of its reopening plan, D…
(2020-05-08). British coastguards rescue more than 120 migrants on 7 boats in Channel. rt.com 
British coastguards rescued more than 120 migrants trying to cross the English Channel on seven small boats, French maritime authorities said on Friday. | The rescue took place in the night from Thursday to Friday, according to a spokesman for the Maritime Prefecture for the Channel and North Sea. | Border officials and coastguards in Britain and France have intercepted numerous attempted crossings in recent months as migrants have repeatedly tried to travel from destinations in Asia and Africa to Britain. | "It's little wonder people living in France's refugee camps are desperate to make this dangerous crossi…
(2020-05-08). Kiev won't reciprocate to Georgia's move and recall ambassador after Saakashvili headed Ukraine's reform body. rt.com 
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday described as a mistake the decision of the Georgian government to recall its ambassador. | Teimuraz Sharashenidze, Georgia's envoy to Ukraine, was recalled from Kiev for consultations after Mikhail Saakashvili, the fugitive ex-president of Georgia, who faces embezzlement charges at home, was appointed the head of executive committee of reforms in Ukraine. | Saakashvili is the citizen of Ukraine, Zelensky said, adding that the decision to appoint the former Georgian leader was "the inner policy" of Ukraine. | Kiev will not recall its ambassador from Tbilisi, Zele…
(2020-05-08). 'Reformer' again: Controversial Georgian ex-president Saakashvili takes charge of Ukraine's reform body. rt.com 
After weeks of rumor and speculation, Mikhail Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who is wanted for embezzlement at home, has been appointed as head of Ukraine's executive council on reforms. | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Thursday confirming Saakashvili's new political role. | Zelensky said that he "sincerely congratulated" the 52-year-old on this "new challenge," adding that he trusts Saakashvili to be able to "provide impetus" to the body and help him with "implementing important changes in the life of the country." | According to media leaks, Saakashvili was initially co…
(2020-05-08). Georgia recalls envoy from Kiev as its ex-President Saakashvili, a wanted man back home, lands top govt job in Ukraine. rt.com 
Tbilisi is recalling its ambassador from Kiev for consultations, a day after Ukraine elevated Mikhail Saakashvili, the fugitive ex-president of Georgia who faces embezzlement charges at home, to the head of Ukraine's reform body. | Teimuraz Sharashenidze, Georgia's envoy to Ukraine, was told to pack and return until further notice, Davit Zalkaliani, the country's Foreign Minister, told the
(2020-05-08). Victory Day karaoke: Russian flashmob invites ANYONE to iconic WWII sing-along in 100+ languages. rt.com 
A one-of-the-kind Russian website has enabled anyone to pay vocal tribute to the 75th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat — by performing a beloved Russian Victory Day song with lyrics available in multiple languages. | Singing became a tradition in the Red Army during World War II, with soldiers using selected folk or patriotic tunes to raise morale. Innumerable video chronicles from May 1945 show Soviet service members dancing or singing along as they celebrated the fall of the Third Reich in Berlin, or boarded the long-awaited trains home. | 75 years later, a Russian group is taking that tradition fo…
(2020-05-08). V-E Day Plus 75: From a Moment of Victory to a Time of Pandemic. counterpunch.org 
The 75th anniversary of Nazi Germany's surrender in May 1945 ought to prompt thoughtful reflection. For Americans, V-E Day, as it was then commonly called, marked the beginning of "our times." The Covid-19 pandemic may signal that our times are now coming to an end. Tom Engelhardt, editor and proprietor of TomDispatch, was born less
(2020-05-08). The lesson of WWII? 'Industrialized mass murder' only possible when people stop questioning narratives, Werner Herzog tells RT. rt.com 
The 75th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany should serve as a reminder to all that the Holocaust was carried out using a tightly controlled, unchallenged narrative, filmmaker Werner Herzog told RT. | Having grown up in the ruins of post-war Germany, the acclaimed director, screenwriter and producer spoke with Sophie Co. host Sophie Shevardnadze about lessons that can be gleaned from one of the darkest episodes in human history. | The atrocities carried out by the Nazis were the result of a lockstep narrative of "demonization" which replaced facts, Herzog observed. He argued that scapegoating people and e…
(2020-05-08). British designers create typographic tribute to cities affected by World War II. rt.com 
Designers Liam + Jord have created a series of minimalistic history-inspired "logos" for cities affected by World War II as part of RT's tribute project #VictoryPages featuring cities such as Moscow, Warsaw, Berlin, and Hiroshima. | Anti-aircraft floodlights were an integral part of Moscow's defense system in the first year of the Great Patriotic War — 1941 — when Nazi Germany invaded the USSR. More than 600 floodlight installations were installed and helped protect the capital from German air raids. | | "Moscow defended itself during the war using immensely powerful searchlights that illuminated t…
(2020-05-08). The Connolly Youth Movement and the struggle to reclaim urban housing. liberationnews.org 
For over two years, members of the Connolly Youth Movement have been living in a reclaimed house near downtown Cork, Ireland.
(2020-05-08). Why Trump and Anti-Lockdown Protesters' Calls to Return to Normal Are Acts of White Supremacy. counterpunch.org 
When the coronavirus pandemic was first declared, Americans dutifully stayed at home to prevent outbreaks like the ones playing out in China and Italy. Although a majority of Americans continue to support quarantine orders intended to quell the spread of the virus, a growing number of anti-lockdown protests across the nation are sending a clear
(2020-05-08). Positive sign? On VE Day, Putin and Johnson agree need to improve British-Russian relationship. rt.com 
Victory Day brought a rare positive moment between Russia and the UK, as | President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed on the need to improve the badly soured relations between the two countries. | In a phone call on Friday, Putin and Johnson expressed a mutual desire for improved relations and for renewed "dialogue and cooperation" between London and Moscow, the Kremlin said. | "Both sides expressed readiness to establish dialogue and cooperation on issues on the agenda of Russian-British relations, as well as in solving pressing international problems," the Kremlin said in a readout. | D…
(2020-05-08). Trump says 'sick man' Comey and 'Sleepy Joe' Biden tried to take him down, warns 'it's all coming out'. rt.com 
A day after the Justice Department dropped charges against Gen. Michael Flynn, President Trump is accusing Joe Biden and a host of Obama administration officials of trying to sabotage his presidency, saying "it's all coming out." | The Justice Department on Thursday dropped its charges against former national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn. One of the first Trump officials ensnared in the FBI's 'Russiagate' probe, Flynn's charges were nixed after it emerged that the FBI pushed him to lie in an interview, and kept their investigation open knowing that they had no evidence of wrongdoing. | In a phone interv…
(2020-05-08). The Plot to Blame China for COVID-19. counterpunch.org 
The Trump lot—Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, Mike Pompeo—and their media cheerleaders are as fanatically anti-China as the Biden crew is anti-Russia. Just like George W. Bush's WMD lies in the early-2000s, there is a developing timeline of Trumpian efforts to bend intelligence on COVID to the administration's anti-China policy. TARGET: CHINA In the 1980s, the
(2020-05-08). Bonny & Clyde, who? WATCH 10yo carjacker FLEE Russian cops with 4yo toddler as 'accomplice'. rt.com 
A 10-year-old boy and his younger sister sparked a bizarre GTA-style car chase in the Siberian city of Tomsk after the pair grabbed hold of the family vehicle and went for the ride of their lives, which police won't soon forget.
(2020-05-08). Barcelona's beaches partially open as Spanish govt decides on next steps to exit lockdown. rt.com 
The Spanish government is expected to decide on Friday in which of its regions bars, restaurants and places of worship may reopen, under the next phase of a gradual exit from the coronavirus lockdown. | It looked likely that Madrid and Catalonia would not move forward but, in a sign of life returning to normal, Barcelona's beaches opened for a short window from 6am to 10am on Friday, to allow people to swim and jog. People paddled on boards and swam in the water under the supervision of police. | However, Spain's daily death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 229 on Friday, up from 213 on the previous day…
(2020-05-08). Ankara claims reports of faulty PPE shipment to UK are part of campaign to 'defame' Turkey. rt.com 
Media reports about a large shipment of Turkish-made personal protective equipment (PPE) failing quality standards upon arrival in the UK are baseless smears, Ankara has claimed. The story has caused headaches for Downing Street. | A report first published by the Telegraph and later picked up by other outlets alleged that 400,000 items of PPE sent to the United Kingdom to help battle coronavirus were deemed unusable. | However, Turkey's communications director, Fahrettin Altun,
(2020-05-08). Russian journalists accuse NY Times of stealing stories that earned it Pulitzer Prize — for second time. thegrayzone.com The New York Times has apparently stolen its Pulitzer Prize-winning stories from Russian journalists — the same liberal anti-Putin reporters…
(2020-05-08). Progressive youth in Denmark oppose Baltic gas pipeline project. peoplesdispatch.org Denmark's Socialist Youth Front expressed opposition to the Baltic gas pipeline project over environmental concerns, and appealed to the Danish people to sign a citizens petition calling for its cancellation…
(2020-05-08). The Coronavirus Crisis Has Exposed Germany's Ambition to Take Control of the EU. globalresearch.ca It has been repeatedly stated that the management of the coronavirus pandemic will be a barometer of how capable leaders are handling unprecedented crisis. Think how U.S. President Donald Trump has been lambasted all over the globe for letting coronavirus …
(2020-05-08). Greece's Renewed Relations with Syria Further Isolates Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, the
(2020-05-08). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org South African nurses' stayaway defies premature lockdown end; health workers in South Africa, Kenya, refuse workers in UK, demand personal protection equipment.
(2020-05-08). Iran's trade exchanges with Azerbaijan, Turkey 'underway' amid pandemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami said that Iran's trade exchanges with the two neighboring countries of Turkey and Republic of Azerbaijan are underway amid the coronavirus global pandemic.
(2020-05-08). Russian COVID-19 cases rise, as 750,000 join unemployment rolls. wsws.org Layoffs are spreading in Russia, as the country surpasses France and Germany in total coronavirus infections.
(2020-05-08). German government ends lockdown, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. wsws.org Three weeks after the decision of the federal and state governments to gradually withdraw the restrictions imposed in March, the end of the lockdown in Germany has largely been completed.
(2020-05-08). Time to Change: Coronavirus and Refugees on Greece's Samos Island. globalresearch.ca The global coronavirus pandemic is affecting every aspect of human life on earth. The challenge is awesome in its scale and scope. | To date we have no cases of the virus on Samos. But still its impact on life here …
(2020-05-08). Video: COVID-19 "Fake" Data in Italy: Politician Slams False Numbers: Vittorio Sgarbi. globalresearch.ca Vittorio Sgarbi, MP (Forza Italia) slammed the closure of 60% of Italian businesses. A decision which was taken on the basis an alleged 25,000 Coronavirus deaths. "It's not true," he said. | . | According to the National Institute of Health, 96.3% …
(2020-05-08). I Left Norway's Lockdown for the US. The Difference Is Shocking. thenation.com I Left Norway's Lockdown for the US. The Difference Is Shocking.
(2020-05-08). Widespread criticism forces right-wing Polish government to postpone presidential polls. peoplesdispatch.org After drawing widespread criticism from the opposition, wide sections of the Polish society and even coalition partners, the government in Poland led by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party decided on May 6, Wednesday to postpone the presidential polls scheduled for May 10. PiS' bid to hold the polls through postal voting amid the COVID-19 crisis was viewed as a desperate attempt to get incumbent president Andrzej Duda re-elected and also significantly affected the government's anti-COVID-19 policies. | On May 5, the opposition-dominated Polish Senate had vetoed the decision to conduct presidential polls by…
(2020-05-08). Tehran, Moscow emphasize strengthening bilateral, intl. coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 08 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov in a telephone conversation on Thu. explored the avenues for bolstering regional and international cooperation.
(2020-05-08). Freedom of Speech Is Under the Gun as the Virus Spreads in Russia. thenation.com Freedom of Speech Is Under the Gun as the Virus Spreads in Russia…
(2020-05-08). Red Army Choir performs Ottoman war song amid pandemic. yenisafak.com Russia's Red Army Choir shot a video at home playing notes from the Ottoman military band Mehter in support of Turkey's fight with the novel coronavirus.The video was directed by the choir's art director, Gen. Gennadiy Sachenyuk.The video was shared by the Red Army Choir's social media accounts with a note: "With love and respect to the heroic Turkish nation."The Russian and Turkish flags are hurled at the start of the video with choir members singing and playing their instruments.A montage of the choir's concerts in Turkey plays in the background along with images of Turkey's disinfecting drive at historical and…
(2020-05-08). EU Project is at Stake if Strong Common COVID-19 Response Not Agreed, Economics Commissioner Says. sputniknews.com Paolo Gentiloni called for creating a recovery fund in the coming months, in what he said could help tackle economic divergences among EU member states amid the COVID-19 crisis.
(2020-05-08). Merkel, Steinmeier Attend Wreath-Laying Ceremony to Mark 75th Anniversary of WWII End – Video. sputniknews.com Europe is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, though because of the raging coronavirus pandemic countries have downsized parades and commemorative events.
(2020-05-08). Putin, Merkel Exchange Congratulations on Anniversary of Liberation From Fascism. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have exchanged congratulations, in a phone conversation, on the 75th anniversary of the world's liberation from fascism, the Kremlin said on Friday.
(2020-05-08). US Intel, Obama Aides Never Saw Any Direct Proof of Trump-Russia Collusion, Transcripts Reveal. sputniknews.com In late July, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller confirmed in testimony to Congress that his team of investigators had failed to find sufficient evidence of President Trump's collusion with Russia to rig the US 2016 election, basically repeating the conclusions of his report that was released earlier in 2019.
(2020-05-08). We'll Meet Again: Royal Albert Hall to Host 1st Closed Door Victory Day Concert Amid COVID-19 – CEO. sputniknews.com The Royal Albert Hall will hold a major performance unlike any of its kind in the venue's 150-year history to commemorate the 75th Victory Day at 18: 00 GMT. The event promises to be a powerful rendition of classic songs celebrating the sacrifices of veterans across the United Kingdom and the Allied victory over Nazism on the Western Front.
(2020-05-08). Turkey: 44 inmates infected with COVID-19 in Istanbul. yenisafak.com Turkish prosecutors on Friday said that 44 inmates in an Istanbul prison have tested positive for COVID-19.In a statement, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said two inmates and 42 others who came in contact with them tested positive at Silivri Prison.The treatment of four prisoners continues at the prison hospital, while others who are asymptomatic are being kept in isolation under the supervision of a doctor.The virus officially known as COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has spread to at least 187 countries and territories. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.The glob…
(2020-05-08). Putin holds phone talk with Merkel over Victory Day. yenisafak.com Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday talked on the phone over the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.The two leaders stressed that for Russia and Germany this date is of particular importance, and vowed to preserve the historical memory of the tragic events of those years to avoid repetition in the future, the Kremlin said in a statement published on its website.Putin and Merkel called Russia and Germany "partners in resolving many international problems" and confirmed the intention to further build constructive relations.Turning to the coronavirus pandemic, both…
(2020-05-08). Spain sees slight rise in COVID-19 deaths, infections. yenisafak.com Spain reported another 229 COVID-19 deaths on Friday and 1,095 more infections, as regions across the country prepare to further relax lockdown measures next week.In total, Spanish Health Ministry has counted nearly 223,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 26,299 deaths. More than 121,700 people have been hospitalized and 131,148 have recovered from the disease.Data published on Thursday confirms nearly 46,000 health care workers in Spain contracted the virus
(2020-05-08). After virus closure, malls set to reopen in Turkey. yenisafak.com As Turkey eases measures against coronavirus, amid improving numbers, shopping malls are set to reopen their doors on Monday from a nearly two-month closure, and with stepped-up hygiene.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this week that the country will normalize gradually during this May to July.Numerous factories in the country will also restart production in the next week.Shopping malls, ordered closed on March 21 to stem the spread of COVID-19, will reopen on Monday, two weeks before the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which normally spurs a spike in shopping.Ahead of the reopening, the Council of Shopping Centers…
(2020-05-08). Turkey schedules new evacuation flights for citizens in US. yenisafak.com Turkey has scheduled four new evacuation flights from the coronavirus-hit US for its citizens who have short-term visas, the Turkish Embassy in Washington announced.To ensure the return of these Turkish nationals, "Turkish Airlines is planning to organize one commercial flight from New York and Chicago on May 15, 2020, from Houston on May 16, 2020 and from Miami on May 17, 2020," the embassy said late Thursday in a Twitter statement.Citizens who take these flights must make a written commitment to remain in quarantine for 14 days following their arrival in Turkey.Such quarantines are standard for citizens returni…
(2020-05-08). Turkey sends medical supplies to Ukraine to fight virus. yenisafak.com Turkey sent Friday medical aid supplies to Ukraine to help fight against novel coronavirus outbreak that claimed thousands of lives worldwide."Medical aid supplies, prepared at the direction of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for use against the COVID-19 outbreak, have been sent to Ukraine," Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Twitter.Turkey also sent supplies to Tunisia earlier in the day.In a Wednesday statement, the Turkish foreign minister said some two-thirds of the nations of the world have requested medical supplies from Turkey to fight coronavirus, and nearly half of these requests were met. | The co…
(2020-05-07). The Art of War in the 21st Century. strategic-culture.org 
Sun Tzu's The Art of War is one of the most influential books written on military strategy and philosophy. This is not confined to just Asians but Europeans and Americans alike have attempted to study The Art of War hoping its wisdom would be revealed to them. | However, it is clear with how the western intergovernmental military alliance, known as NATO, has chosen to conduct itself since its inception in 1949, that western understanding of long-term military strategy has left much to be desired. | The largest folly they continue to commit is that they think that it is through stubborn force and intimidation that…
(2020-05-07). Johnson compared to Chamberlain in protest video on White Cliffs of Dover. thecanary.co 
Boris Johnson's response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis has been compared to Neville Chamberlain's "peace for our time" moment, in a giant projection beamed on to the White Cliffs of Dover.The Kent landmark was lit up with a mock-up of the prime minister holding a scrap of paper saying "Highest death toll in Europe".The stunt was the brainchild of Led By Donkeys, a group of activists famed for their giant billboards of politicians' tweets.The group said the black and white creation is a comment on the government's "profound failure" and compares Johnson's conduct to Chamberlain's appeasement policy in the l…
(2020-05-07). Shipment of 400,000 gowns from Turkey impounded over safety standards. thecanary.co 
A shipment of 400,000 medical gowns from Turkey has been impounded in a warehouse after falling short of UK standards.The personal protective equipment (PPE) was flown into the UK by the RAF last month but has not been released to NHS staff after inspectors deemed the gowns unsafe for guarding against coronavirus (Covid-19) when treating patients.Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said the gowns turned out to "not be of the quality that we feel is good enough for our frontline staff".The ministerial confirmation of the decision to impound the imported goods is another blow in what has proved an embarrassing…
(2020-05-07). There is One God, One Faith, and One Church. dissidentvoice.org 
On 1 May, International Labour Day (except in the USA),1 I happened to see the current prime minister of Portugal proclaim on television the next stages of the policing that began with the proclamation that the world was in the midst of a "pandemic". He explained that masks would be obligatory in schools after they …
