Monthly Archives: May 2020

2020-05-04: 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.)

WHO should debunk 'conspiracy theorist' Pompeo with independent Covid-19 probe, says German politician
rt.com | 2020-05-04
Leading member of Germany's Green Party Jàºrgen Trittin called on the World Health Organization to investigate the origins of the coronavirus so as to counter 'conspiracy theorists' such as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | Trittin reacted on Monday to claims by the top US diplomat that there was "enormous evidence" the Covid-19 pathogen originated in a Chinese laboratory, calling Pompeo a "conspiracy theorist" and demanding a WHO-led independent probe to clear the air. | Verschwà∂rungstheoretikern wie @SecPompeo und seinen Unters…
rt.com/news/487752-german-pompeo-conspiracy-coronavirus/

Portugal Leads the Way: How European Countries Fared in Their Treatment of Refugees
Ramzy Baroud, Romana Rubeo | counterpunch.org | 2020-05-04
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.
counterpunch.org/2020/05/04/portugal-leads-the-way-how-european-countries-fared-in-their-treatment-of-refugees/

Russia-China entente deepens in the shadow of the pandemic
M.K. Bhadrakumar | mronline.org | 2020-05-04
The Russian-Chinese entente emerged as one of the most significant templates of international politics in the recent period since the hugely consequential developments in Ukraine in 2014 that led to western sanctions against Moscow, which in turn galvanised the latter's 'pivot to Asia'.
mronline.org/2020/05/04/russia-china-entente-deepens-in-the-shadow-of-the-pandemic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=russia-china-entente-deepens-in-the-shadow-of-the-pandemic

Knock, Knock. We're From the Government, and We Want Your Family's Blood
Adam Dick | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-04
Talk about creepy. The Georgia Department of Public Health has announced that it, the United Sates Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and county health boards are together sending teams of government agents to randomly selected homes in two …
globalresearch.ca/knock-knock-were-from-the-government-and-we-want-your-familys-blood/5711724

Flaring US-China tensions send European markets lower
rt.com | 2020-05-04
Markets in Europe followed their Asian peers, suffering steep losses at Monday's opening, as Washington continues to pin the blame for the coronavirus outbreak on China. | Stock markets in Germany and France dipped on the first trading of this month, as they opened after the Labor Day holiday. France's CAC 40 led the losses, dropping nearly four percent, while Germany's DAX was not much higher as it lost over three percent. | Also on rt.com | | Covid-19 may plunge Germany into worst recession since WWII | The British stock market, which wa…
rt.com/business/487689-european-markets-plunge-tensions/

Hybrid War flashback: the Deeper Roots of Chinese Demonizatio
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-05-04
Hegel saw history moving east to west

None of us is safe until we all are, says UN chief at EU push to end COVID-19 pandemic
news.un.org | 2020-05-04
The "most massive public health effort in history" is needed to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN chief said on Monday, addressing a European Union pledging conference in Brussels.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/05/1063132

'We can't be garbage dump for Europe': Fears in Turkey over imported plastic waste spike
rt.com | 2020-05-04
Turkey has become a primary destination for plastic waste from richer European countries after the garbage was rejected by China and India. An environmental and health crisis is now in the making in Turkey, locals say. | In 2018, China banned the import of plastic waste, citing the environmental damage the practice had done to the country over the decades. India followed suit the next year. The decisions sent shockwaves across the global waste management industry, with exporting nations forced to find new destinations for their refuse. | For several European countries, Turkey became the new major target for se…
rt.com/news/487715-turkey-plastic-waste-import/

Austria lifts most measures to counter coronavirus pandemic
wsws.org | 2020-05-04
Despite the continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe, the government has adopted a pioneering "easing policy," posing a deadly risk for hundreds of thousands of people.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/05/04/aust-m04.html

Pres. Rouhani to take part in NAM summit today via videoconferencing
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-04
TEHRAN, May 04, (MNA)

Drone LOST in Latvian airspace: Main airport shut down as army rushes to search
rt.com | 2020-05-04
The Baltic nation of Latvia has deployed army aircraft to search for a drone that was lost during a test flight. The incident has forced at least one airliner to be quickly rerouted from the country's main airport. | The airspace over Riga International Airport has been closed due to a lost drone. The airport's spokesperson, Laura Karnite, told local media that the measure has already caused disruption of air traffic, as a Riga-bound flight from the Chinese city of Urumqi was forced to change course and land in Tallinn, Estonia, which borders Latvia. | Latvian drone-maker UAV Factory lost all communication wit…
rt.com/news/487686-latvia-drone-lost-airport/

French care home where staff locked themselves in with residents defies Covid-19
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-05-04
A care home in France which took a novel approach to warding off coronavirus (Covid-19) has emerged with a clean bill of health.As coronavirus cut a deadly path through care homes across the country, Valerie Martin vowed that the story would be different in the home she runs.To keep Covid-19 at bay and stop it from infecting and killing the vulnerable older adults in her care, Martin and her staff locked themselves in with the 106 residents.Residents at the Vilanova care home in Corbas, central France (Valerie Martin via AP)For 47 days and nights, staff and residents of the Vilanova care home on the outskirts of…
thecanary.co/global/world-news/2020/05/04/french-care-home-where-staff-locked-themselves-in-with-residents-defies-covid-19/

First Covid-19 case in France could have been as early as December, new evidence suggests
rt.com | 2020-05-04
The first coronavirus case in France could have occurred a month earlier than official figures suggest, according to a professor from Avicenne Hospital, following the retesting of 24 patient blood samples. | Professor Yves Cohen from the Avicenne Hospital in Bobigny said in an interview with local media that it appears that Covid-19 was already in France at the end of 2019

Parents in Paris exasperated as schools plan to take only 10% of students back in phase 1 of lifting lockdown
rt.com | 2020-05-04
When public schools in Paris finally reopen on May 11, only 10 percent of children will be accommodated, leaving many worried French parents in the lurch as they attempt to return to work after the Covid-19 lockdown. | The limited capacity is due to the numerous health measures which will need to be implemented in schools as restrictions are being phased out, the deputy mayor in charge of education Patrick Bloche told Le Figaro on Sunday. | "If we reach [this figure], it will already be very good," Bloche said, given that Paris is within France's 'red zone' for Covid-19 and that some school premises will strug…
rt.com/news/487711-paris-schools-reopening-lockdown/

Buzzing where corona can't get you: Watch Russian warplanes train for V-Day air show
rt.com | 2020-05-04
Russia may have suspended most public events marking the upcoming Victory Day, but demonstrations by military aircraft are still expected to take place. With less than a week to go, the crews are busy training. | Footage released by Russia's Southern Military District on Monday shows fighter jets training solo and in formations for next Saturday's demonstrations, held to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany. | May 9 is one of the biggest national holidays in Russia, with military parades and commemorative ceremonies held throughout the country. This year the coronavirus pandemic threw a spanner in the works…
rt.com/russia/487684-russia-air-show-rehearsal/

Iran's corona diagnostic kits to be exported to Germany, Turkey: VP
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-04
TEHRAN, May 04 (MNA)

The Politics of the coronavirus conjuncture in Ireland
John Reynolds | mronline.org | 2020-05-04
The election in Ireland in early February marked a clear acceleration of the country's ongoing left turn over recent years. Then came the virus.
mronline.org/2020/05/04/the-politics-of-the-coronavirus-conjuncture-in-ireland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-politics-of-the-coronavirus-conjuncture-in-ireland

Iran Air to launch flight to bring home Iranians from Netherlands
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-04
TEHRAN, May 04 (MNA)

Mayo Clinic expert talks social distancing
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org | 2020-05-04
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 …
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-expert-talks-social-distancing/

Russia slams US for obstructing Iran's loan request from IMF
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-04
TEHRAN, May 4 (MNA)

US Push for "Low-yield Nukes" Makes Nuclear War More Likely as Russia Will Retaliate with Full Force, Moscow Says
Nebojsa Malic | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-04
The US State Department's case for tactical nuclear weapons is a case study in psychological projection not seen since the darkest days of the Cold War and its ever-present threat of world-ending atomic holocaust. | Back in February, the Pentagon announced | …
globalresearch.ca/us-push-low-yield-nukes-makes-atomic-war-more-likely-russia-retaliate-full-force/5711644

China Calls for Closing All U.S. Deep-State Bioweapons Laboratories in Former USSR Countries
Joaquin Flores | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-04
As countries have openly begun to utilize their military structures in fighting the coronavirus in programs intended to guard against biological warfare, Chinese authorities have come out in support the official position of Russia and considers it dangerous that there …
globalresearch.ca/china-calls-closing-all-u-s-deep-state-bioweapons-laboratories-former-ussr-countries/5711641

As number of recorded Covid-19 cases skyrocket, Russian official declares complete victory impossible
rt.com | 2020-05-04
With Russia seeing another day of more than 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, it seems like Covid-19 will never end. According to one official, that fear might be exactly right. | Speaking to TV channel Russia 24, Anna Popova, the head of Russia's consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, revealed that it is impossible to completely end the circulation of Covid-19. "No matter what, there will always be some kind of communication," she explained. "There are risks of renewal, even if the virus is no longer in the country." | Popova also announced that anti-coronavirus measures would have to be gradually removed, and…
rt.com/russia/487718-covid19-number-victory-impossible/

Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot warns air travel may not resume until mid-summer
rt.com | 2020-05-04
As the coronavirus pandemic has halted almost all travel around the globe, Russian's biggest airline said that in the best-case scenario, international flights could be resumed in July. | "It is difficult to indicate the exact timing of flights so far but when looking at the best-case forecasts… international traffic may start recovering in the middle of summer," Aeroflot spokesperson Yulia Spivakova told Rossiya 24 TV. | Read more | | Plan B? Branson reportedly mulls selling Virgin Atlantic as he waits for bailout | Even when most of the danger…
rt.com/business/487698-international-travelling-recovery-aeroflot/

24 hour May Day programing on mayday.pacifica.org
Pacifica COVID-19 Taskforce | indybay.org | 2020-05-04
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.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/04/30/18832716.php

Need to boost coop. between Iran, Turkey more than before: Vaezi
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-04
TEHRAN, May 4 (MNA)

Former Ukrainian PM Tymoshenko received $5.5 MILLION in compensation from US resident for 'REPRESSIONS'
rt.com | 2020-05-04
Ukraine's ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has stunned the public and media by saying in her income declaration that she got $5.5 million from a "US resident" as compensation for Ukrainian government "repressions." | A financial disclosure statement filed in late April by Tymoshenko, who now serves as an MP in Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada, says she received a whopping 148 million hryvnias ($5.5 million) as part of a pre-trial settlement in a case filed over her persecution at the hands of the Ukrai…
rt.com/news/487765-ukraine-tymoshenko-repressions-compensation-income/

Northern Ireland: Another reminder that a hard Brexit is looming
graham | truepublica.org.uk | 2020-05-04
RTÉ News is the national news service provided by Irish public broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Its Europe Editor, Tony Connelly has written a piece that further exposes the lie that the British government is actively working towards signing a mutually agreeable trade deal with the EU and that the 'Withdrawal Agreement' was anything but an …
truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/northern-ireland-another-reminder-that-a-hard-brexit-is-looming/

Shops, hair salons and bookstores reopen in Spain as rate of Covid-19 infections & deaths drop
rt.com | 2020-05-04
Spain has initiated the first phase of relaxing its coronavirus restrictions, allowing smaller retail establishments and services to resume, while still observing strict disease control protocols. | Shops, hair salons, beauty parlors, bookstores, and hardware stores with premises less than 400 square meters (4,305 square feet) are allowed to reopen on condition they maintain quarantine measures and distancing rules. The visits have to be pre-arranged by phone or email, however, and the stores must reserve a priority schedule for people over 65 years old during certain hours. | The stores were also ordered to p…
rt.com/news/487717-spain-relaxing-lockdown-rules/

Trade talks between UK and US to start on Tuesday
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
Trade talks between Britain and the United States will begin via a video conferencing call on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said, as the two countries seek to strike an "ambitious free trade agreement"."Both sides have expressed their willingnes to make progress as quickly as possible, so we look forward to a constructive two weeks of talks," the spokesman told reporters."We want to strike an ambitious free trade agreement with out biggest single trading partner."Britain left the European Union in January and is now negotiating future trading terms with Brussels and other major economies.
yenisafak.com/en/economy/trade-talks-between-uk-and-us-to-start-on-tuesday-3518592

China, Russia take advantage of virus emergency, US defense secretary says
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
Russia and China are taking advantage of the coronavirus emergency to put their interests forward in Europe, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday, describing Chinese efforts to promote Huawei mobile phone network equipment as malign."(The United States) is aware that some (countries) will try to use the pandemic as a way to invest in critical industry and infrastructure, with effect on security in the long term," Esper told newspaper La Stampa, when asked whether China and Russia were trying to gain influence in Italy by sending aid."Potential opponents will almost certainly try to use their interest…
yenisafak.com/en/world/china-russia-take-advantage-of-virus-emergency-us-defense-secretary-says-3518595

Germany's Merkel pledges 525 million euros to global coronavirus vaccine hunt
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
"We will contribute 525 million euros directly to this pledging conference and we will also continue our obligations for global health overall with around 1.3 billion euros," Merkel said. ($1 = 0.9154 euros) Norway pledges $1 bln to vaccines against COVID-19, other diseasesNorway will give $1 billion to support the distribution worldwide of any vaccine developed against COVID-19 as well as for vaccines against other diseases, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Monday.Oslo made the pledge as part of a donor conference held on Monday by the European Union to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.23 billion) towards the test…
yenisafak.com/en/world/germanys-merkel-pledges-525-million-euros-to-global-coronavirus-vaccine-hunt-3518600

Italy joins nations warily leaving lockdown amid fears of 'second wave'
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
Italy was among a slew of countries easing lockdown restrictions on Monday to resurrect their economies, but officials cautioned against moving too swiftly as new coronavirus cases passed 3.5 million globally and deaths neared a quarter of a million.Italy, among the world's hardest-hit countries, started to relax the longest lockdown in Europe, allowing about 4.5 million people to return to work after nearly two months at home.Spain, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Israel, Tunisia and Lebanon were also among countries easing some restrictions, variously reopening factories, construction sites, parks, hairdressers…
yenisafak.com/en/world/italy-joins-nations-warily-leaving-lockdown-amid-fears-of-second-wave-3518594

Germany extends border checks until May 15, says spox
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
Germany, which is part of Europe's open-border Schengen area, will extend its border checks until May 15, a spokesman for the interior ministry said on Monday.The measure is in line with the European Commission, he added. "Of course, we are guided by the European spirit not to act unilaterally or in an uncoordinated way."Numerous Schengen countries have imposed emergency border checks in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
yenisafak.com/en/world/germany-extends-border-checks-until-may-15-says-spox-3518593

Dutch confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 199 to 40,770
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 199 on Monday to 40,770, with 26 new deaths, health authorities said.Total deaths in the country rose to 5,082, the Netherlands Institute for Health (RIVM) said in its daily update. The RIVM cautioned that it only reports confirmed cases and deaths, and actual numbers are higher.
yenisafak.com/en/world/dutch-confirmed-coronavirus-cases-rise-by-199-to-40770-3518597

Turkey quarantines 143 expats evacuated from S. Arabia
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
A total of 143 Turkish nationals, who were evacuated from Saudi Arabia, were placed under a 14-day quarantine on Monday to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.The flight landed at Van Ferit Melen Airport in eastern Turkey and the group was placed in a dormitory after health checks.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.As of Sunday, Turkey registered a total of 3,397 deaths due to coronavirus whereas nearly 63,200 people have recovered from th…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-quarantines-143-expats-evacuated-from-s-arabia-3518587

Turkey may be Libya's supply chain leader in new normal
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
If positioned well, Turkey can be the leader in Libya's supply chain in the new normal, said a top business leader on Monday.Murtaza Karanfil, head of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Turkey-Libya Business Council, underlined that countries that restarted production swiftly by combatting the COVID-19 outbreak will play a key role post-pandemic.Karanfil suggested that Turkey should improve its ability to respond quickly to demand and be ready for post-pandemic trade.Praising Turkey's steps to mitigate economic fallout and to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Karanfil said: "If we add the production strate…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-may-be-libyas-supply-chain-leader-in-new-normal-3518588

Turkey donates mechanical ventilators to Somalia
yenisafak.com | 2020-05-04
Turkey donated mechanical ventilators to Somalia to help in Mogadishu's efforts against the novel coronavirus pandemic, a senior Turkish official said on Monday.Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said the ventilators had become a "breath" for Somalia, with many low-income countries hard-pressed in treating COVID-19 due to medical equipment shortages.Ankara-based biotech firm BIOSYS began mass-producing a Turkish indigenous respirator last month with the support of technology firms Baykar, Arcelik and Aselsan. The first 100 devices have since been delivered and the production of 5,000 more is…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-donates-mechanical-ventilators-to-somalia-3518598

Finding The Right Exit: How Might Britain Find Its Way Out Of COVID-19 Lockdown Safely?
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-04
Britain is set to overtake Italy this week as the European country with the most deaths from coronavirus. But despite that morbid milestone, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to reveal his exit strategy from the lockdown later this week.
sputniknews.com/uk/202005041079192356-finding-the-right-exit-how-might-britain-find-its-way-out-of-covid-19-lockdown-safely/

Russian-German Board Chair Calls for Reconsidering Sanctions Against Russia Amid COVID-19
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-04
BERLIN (Sputnik) – The COVID-19 pandemic could be the basis for considering the issue of lifting European sanctions against Russia, Matthias Platzeck, the board chairman of the German-Russian Forum and a former minister-president of Germany's Brandenburg, said on Monday during a video conference in Berlin.
sputniknews.com/world/202005041079194331-russian-german-board-chair-calls-for-reconsidering-sanctions-against-russia-amid-covid-19/

Ex-Pope Benedict Claims Opponents Tried to 'Silence' Him in New Authorised Biography
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-04
Former pope Benedict XVI, who dramatically resigned in 2013, was often criticized for his attitudes to social issues such as diversity, and attempting to undermine the modernisation drive of his successor Pope Francis.
sputniknews.com/europe/202005041079193052-ex-pope-benedict-claims-opponents-tried-to-silence-him-in-new-authorised-biography/

Russian Embassy in Bosnia Expresses Dismay Over Entry Ban for Russian Humanitarian Convoy
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-04
BELGRADE (Sputnik) – The Russian embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed on Monday its perplexity due to the entry ban for a humanitarian convoy of the Russian Defense Ministry to assist in the fight against the coronavirus.
sputniknews.com/europe/202005041079193985-russian-embassy-in-bosnia-expresses-dismay-over-entry-ban-for-russian-humanitarian-convoy/

'Education, not Compulsion' Required for Successful Deployment of COVID-19 Vaccine – Commentator
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-04
European countries have pledged to raise £6.6 billion in a bid to help accelerate the process of finding a coronavirus vaccine. The UK will contribute £388 million to the cause. The UN has repeatedly outlined that the pandemic can only be ended, should an effective vaccine be developed and mass produced.
sputniknews.com/analysis/202005041079193857-education-not-compulsion-required-for-successful-deployment-of-covid-19-vaccine—commentator/

UK Among Five European States Not Seeing Decline in Covid-19 Cases, Despite Government Claims
sputniknews.com | 2020-05-04
The United Kingdom has boasted that its lockdown strategy, intended to enforce social distancing measures and slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, was a success. However, this claim has now been contradicted by new reports released by European Union affiliated research groups.
sputniknews.com/uk/202005041079193249-uk-among-five-european-states-not-seeing-decline-in-covid-19-cases-despite-government-claims/

Why Sweden Succeeded While Others Failed
Mike Whitney | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-03
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 …
globalresearch.ca/why-sweden-succeeded-while-others-failed/5711594

Greek refugee camps 'beyond breaking point' as UK government continues its racist policies
Eliza Egret | thecanary.co | 2020-05-03
Human rights campaigners on the Greek island of Samos have told The Canary that the situation for refugees is "beyond breaking point". Since the early 2000s, people have been seeking refuge on the Aegean islands, fleeing the West's neo-colonial policies in the Middle East. Around 7,000 people are currently stuck in Samos' Vathy camp, which has capacity for under 700 people. | Europe Must A…
thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2020/05/03/greek-refugee-camps-beyond-breaking-point-as-uk-government-continues-its-racist-policies/

China Denying False Claims Is 'Evidence' of COVID-19 Cover-Up
Andrey Areshev | strategic-culture.org | 2020-05-03
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 the crisis in the U.S., Britain and Europe. | Yet when China protests such claims, this is then portrayed as evidence of a "cover-up", furt…
strategic-culture.org/news/2020/05/03/china-denying-false-claims-is-evidence-of-covid-19-cover-up/

Europe's Largest? 3500 Protest Anti-Virus Overreach in Slovenia
Marko Marjanović | anti-empire.com | 2020-05-03
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 incredible coolness on display in Michigan. On the other…
anti-empire.com/europes-largest-3500-protest-anti-virus-overreach-in-slovenia/

Iran Air to launch special flights from Qatar, Europe to return stranded Iranians back
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-05-03
TEHRAN, May 03 (MNA)

Why Sweden Has Already Won the Debate on COVID 'Lockdown' Policy
Patrick Henningsen | globalresearch.ca | 2020-05-03
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 …
globalresearch.ca/why-sweden-won-debate-covid-lockdown-policy/5711576

2020-05-03: News Headlines

Marko Marjanović (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

Eliza Egret (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…

Mike Whitney (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 …

RT (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…

RT (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…

RT (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…

BBC (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.

en.mehrnews (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.

Patrick Henningsen (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 …

teleSUR (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…

en.mehrnews (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.

Finian Cunningham (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…

repost (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

en.mehrnews (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.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (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 …

en.mehrnews (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."

Pacifica COVID-19 Taskforce (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.

Ramzy Baroud and Romana Rubeo (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 …

WSWS (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.

yenisafak (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.

yenisafak (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…

yenisafak (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…

yenisafak (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…

sputniknews (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.

sputniknews (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.

sputniknews (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.

sputniknews (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.

sputniknews (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.

sputniknews (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.

sputniknews (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.

Marko Marjanović (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

Lindsey Snell (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…

en.mehrnews (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.

Peoples Dispatch (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.

WSWS (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.

Andrey Areshev (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…

Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya (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…

WSWS (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.

WSWS (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."

Pepe Escobar (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…

teleSUR (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…

Peoples Dispatch (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…

South Front (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 …

Alan Macleod (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.

The Canary (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…

teleSUR (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,"

Romana Rubeo (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.

Ryan Cristián (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 …

Peoples Dispatch (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.

Robert L. Kendrick (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