2020-04-30: Social Media Postees

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fighting "the invisible enemy"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last Process: 50 Postees: 2020-04-30 15:41 GMT (11:41 EST)

2020-04-29: News Headlines

Vijay Prashad (2020-04-29). Why Did the World Health Organization Wait Until March to Declare a Global Pandemic? zcomm.org The 2005 regulations pushed on the World Health Organization by the United States and the Europeans hampered the WHO's ability to declare an emergency and a pandemic…

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

en.mehrnews (2020-04-29). Turkey's lack of coop. with Iran in road transport sector criticized. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — Turkey's lack of cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in international road transport sector was protested amid the outbreak of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

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

RT (2020-04-29). Foreign competitors 'won't buy French firms at low cost' as govt tightens controls in strategic sectors. rt.com The French government will tighten restrictions on foreign investments from outside Europe in French companies to limit external control over strategic sectors and technology. Currently, non-European investments in French companies do not need government approval as long as the stake is 25 percent or less. | Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday he would lower the threshold to 10 percent for investments in large companies until the end of the year. "In this period of crisis, some companies are vulnerable, some technologies are fragile and could be bought by foreign competitors at a low cost. I won'

RT (2020-04-29). Poland to reopen hotels, shopping malls on May 4. rt.com Polish hotels and shopping malls will reopen on May 4 and pre-schools will have the option to open on May 6, PM Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday. The largest economy in the European Union's eastern wing started relaxing some of its curbs on public life earlier in April, alongside other countries keen to prop up industry damaged by the pandemic. | Morawiecki also reaffirmed the government's plan to hold a presidential election as scheduled on May 10, or with a delay of a couple of weeks at most, despite calls from opposition parties and others for a much longer delay. | Further steps to unfreeze the economy…

RT (2020-04-29). WATCH Russian Tu-160 bombers shadowed by NATO jets in cat-and-mouse game over Baltic Sea. rt.com Flying a routine mission over neutral Baltic waters, a pair of Tu-160s were approached by NATO fighter jets which swarmed so close to the Russian planes that their crew could easily see the small roundels on their chasers' wings. | A one-minute video clip, released by Russia's Defense Ministry, shows the two Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic bombers — painted in identical white nuclear heat-resistant livery — setting off for their eight-hour patrol over the Baltic Sea. | Shrinking civilian traffic has left the skies over Europe empty on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic, but air forces across the continent…

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

RT (2020-04-29). Not kitten around: Cat that Putin gifted to Japanese governor placed in isolation over coronavirus. rt.com A Siberian cat named Mir that Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted to the Governor of Japan's Akita prefecture has been placed in quarantine over the paw-sibility that it could catch Covid-19. | President Putin gave Norihisa Satake the 11-month-old gray kitten back in 2012, after the governor gifted him an Akita Inu puppy called Yume ('Dream'). The governor's gift was in gratitude for Russia helping Japan deal with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011. | | President Putin and Yume. © Global Look Press | Mir quickly became a be…

RT (2020-04-29). Turkey extends closure of schools to end of May — minister. rt.com Turkey has extended the closure of schools until the end of May as part of its measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, Education Minister Ziya Selcuk said on Wednesday. | Ankara announced the initial closure of schools on March 12 after it reported its first case of Covid-19. It now has almost 115,000 cases with a death toll of nearly 3,000, Reuters reported. | The government aims to begin reviving the economy in late May after a sharp slowdown due to measures to contain the outbreak, while minimizing the risk of a second wave of infections, a senior official said on Tuesday. | A group of Turkish malls s…

en.mehrnews (2020-04-29). 2 Iranian filmmakers receive awards at European Independent Film Fest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — Two Iranian filmmakers, Kaveh Mazaheri and Kaveh Tehrani, have received the awards at the European Independent Film Festival (ECU).

en.mehrnews (2020-04-29). 13-ton cargo of laboratory diagnostic equipment arrives Iran from France. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — The fifth consignment of laboratory diagnostic equipment has arrived in Iran through the Sari Su border market in West Azerbaijan Province, according to an official.

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

en.mehrnews (2020-04-29). Iranian short film wins Jury award at Italian filmfest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — Life Gone with the Wind' directed by Siavash Saed-Panah has won the Jury Award at the International Festival of Cinema Patologico in Italy.

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-04-29). Why are more men dying from COVID-19 than women? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Men appear to be hit harder by COVID-19 than women. Early data from China and the World Health Organization (WHO) show that more men than women are dying from COVID-19. Other countries like Spain and Italy also are seeing higher death rates among men. But why might that be? Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-04-29). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 news briefing with Dr. Greg Poland. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, covers the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses current outbreak numbers, why there may be a second wave of infections, and research on a vaccine. Click the player below: Mayo Clinic Q&A is …

en.mehrnews (2020-04-29). Russia slams US maximum pressure policy against Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 29 (MNA) — Russia has slammed the United States' policy of maximum pressure against the Islamic Republic, saying such measures have negatively affected the global non-proliferation regime and regional security.

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

Peoples Dispatch (2020-04-28). Fires amid COVID-19 crisis rattle refugees in Aegean camps of Greece. peoplesdispatch.org Incidents of fire outbreaks were reported from refugee camps on Samos and Chios islands in Greece this month. Refugees also protested in Lesvos, demanding safety and evacuation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic…

graham (2020-04-28). World economy faces a $5 trillion hit, like losing UK AND France. truepublica.org.uk The coronavirus pandemic is set to rob the global economy of more than $5 trillion of growth over the next two years, greater than the annual output of Japan or both the UK and France combined That's the warning from Wall Street banks as the world plunges into its deepest peacetime recession since the 1930s, …

Walden Bello (2020-04-28). The Corporate Food System is Making the Coronavirus Crisis Worse. counterpunch.org The global food system has been very much front and center in the COVID-19 story. Everyone, of course, is aware that hunger is closely tracking the virus as its wreaks havoc in both the global North and global South. Indeed, one can say that, unlike in East Asia, Europe, and the U.S., in South Asia,

yenisafak (2020-04-29). Turkey's TIKA donates personal care items for Rohingya. yenisafak.com The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), a state-run aid body, donated 5,000 personal care packages for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's camps.The distribution run through Wednesday starting on Saturday in various camps set up in the southern Cox's Bazar district, TIKA's Dhaka office said in a statement on Wednesday."COVID-19 affects Rohingya refugees just as it affects the whole world. TIKA has also not forgotten the Rohingya refugees and has distributed cleaning supplies to help them fight the coronavirus," said Ismail Gundogdu, the agency's Bangladesh coordinator.The package included produ…

yenisafak (2020-04-29). Sweden's confirmed COVID-19 cases rise above 20,000. yenisafak.com The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sweden rose past the 20,000 mark on Wednesday as the Nordic country reported 107 new deaths to put the tally at 2,462 since the outbreak began.Statistics compiled and reported daily by Sweden's Public Health Agency showed 681 new cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus that emerged in China late last year, bringing the accumulated number to 20,302.Sweden has taken a less strict approach to curbing the the spread of the disease than most European countries, allowing most schools and businesses to remain open even as its mortality rate in the pandemic has r…

yenisafak (2020-04-29). From hairdressers to beaches – Spain's plan to phase out lockdown. yenisafak.com Spain announced a four-phase plan late on Tuesday to lift one of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and return to normality by the end of June.Following are the key points of the plan, which will vary from province to province. Advancing through the stages will depend on factors such as how the rate of infection evolves, the number of intensive care beds available locally and compliance with distancing rules. These targets are yet to be announced.Preparatory Phase 0 (May 4-11)- Hairdressers and other businesses that offer service by appointment can reopen.- Restaurants can offer take-away services.- Pro…

yenisafak (2020-04-29). Germany extends global travel warning until mid-June. yenisafak.com Ulrike Demmer said the travel warning was extended until at least June 14 because the pandemic has not been brought under control.She underlined restrictions on international air travel, quarantine regulations and lockdown measures were likely to continue in the coming weeks in many countries.The government brought home more than 240,000 Germans since the pandemic began, which cost the state an estimated ‚Ǩ 50 million ($54.2 million).Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters the government would not be in a position to organize another major repatriation operation in the summer."We hope to ach…

yenisafak (2020-04-29). 'Give or take food': Turkish mosques launch campaign. yenisafak.com Two mosques in Turkey have converted their shoe racks to food shelves in a bid to help those in need due to the coronavirus lockdown.The project with the theme "Give if you can, take if you need" was initiated in the central Konya province by Mevlader Foundation, Provincial Mufti's Office and Selcuklu District Mufti's Office.As part of the project, Adnan Menderes and Yildirim Beyazit mosques in the Selcuklu district have opened their doors to the needy."Even though our mosques are open for worship, they are closed for congregational prayers," Provincial Mufti Ahmet Pocanoglu said.He added they are working to conv…

sputniknews (2020-04-29). Hofburg Presidential Palace in Vienna Evacuated After Bomb Threat. sputniknews.com …

sputniknews (2020-04-29). Inspired by Heroes: Murals Painted on Buildings in Russia in Celebration of WWII Victory. sputniknews.com The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

sputniknews (2020-04-29). Pentagon to Reportedly Redirect Funds for Anti-Russia Projects to Pay for Border Wall Construction. sputniknews.com In February, the Pentagon reportedly notified the US Congress of reducing finds allocated for military programmes, in a move that was aimed at contributing to the construction of a southern border wall with Mexico.

sputniknews (2020-04-29). Russia Calls on US and Iran to Exercise 'Maximum Restraint' Amid Escalating Tensions in Persian Gulf. sputniknews.com Tensions between the US and Iran in the Persian Gulf grew after American troops conducted drills in the region, despite complaining that Iranian boats had "harassed" their vessels.

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-04-28). Erekat Briefs European Officials on Israeli Annexation Plans. imemc.org Top Palestinian negotiator and executive member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Dr. Saeb Erekat, briefed a number of Palestinian officials on the latest announcement by Israel regarding the planned annexation of the occupied West Bank. During phone calls, Erekat was reportedly introduced to the Swedish Foreign Minister, Anne Lindy …

Andrew Korybko (2020-04-28). The U.S. Wants to "Purchase" Greenland from Denmark. globalresearch.ca The US' plan to leverage economic aid to Greenland for strategic ends is exactly the same thing that it accuses China of doing in Africa, suggesting that its infowar against Beijing's Belt & Road Initiative is driven more by jealousy …

RT (2020-04-28). A cautious reopening, but gatherings still off the cards: How Europe is lifting its lockdown. rt.com Across Europe, leaders have made tentative steps toward easing their countries' coronavirus lockdowns. However, a return to total normality has been all but written off for the year. | The Austrian government announced on Tuesday that the spread of the coronavirus has slowed to a point where restrictions can now be lifted. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said that Austrians may freely leave their homes from May 1, with public gatherings to follow in the near future. Though social distancing rules will still apply, businesses like hairdressers will reopen, followed two weeks later by cafes and restaurants, and…

The Canary (2020-04-28). New Zealand eases lockdown as coronavirus tamed in Australasia. thecanary.co New Zealand has eased a strict lockdown amid hopeful signs coronavirus (Covid-19) has been all but vanquished in Australasia for the moment.But elsewhere, Brazil is emerging as a potential new hotspot for infections, and fresh doubts have been raised over whether Japan would be able to host the already postponed Olympic Games next year.Europe and some US states are also continuing to gradually ease limits on movement and commerce as they try to restart their economies.But in a reminder of the virus's increasing toll, president Donald Trump said the numbers of deaths could reach 70,000 in the US, after putting the…

RT (2020-04-28). Ukraine denies Armenian genocide, refers instead to 'tragic events of April'. rt.com Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar has urged government agencies to refrain from using the term 'genocide' when referring to the slaughter of Armenians a century ago, as it would go against Kiev's political interests. | An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1922. Bodnar outlined reasons for refusing to recognize the events as genocide in a letter to government officials, which was subsequently leaked on Facebook by a member of the Verkovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. | According to Bodnar, these events do not fit the UN definition of genocide, which…

Martha Grevatt (2020-04-28). Lenin: Thinker and fighter. workers.org April 22, 2020, marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Lenin, leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution. This successful socialist revolution was led by the Bolshevik Party, which Lenin had built during the previous 14 years. In establishing a workers' state, also known as a "dictatorship of the . . . |

RT (2020-04-28). Barcelona police catch 'SERIAL KILLER' suspect after 3 homeless people found viciously beaten to death. rt.com A suspected serial killer believed to have murdered at least three homeless men in Barcelona has been taken into custody, accused of stalking the city's deserted streets amid Spain's Covid-19 lockdown for defenseless victims. | The suspect — a 35-year-old Brazilian man who has yet to be named,

RT (2020-04-28). Drama erupts after half-naked woman photobombs broadcast of Spanish celebrity journalist. rt.com Spanish journalist Alfonso Merlos is in hot water after a beauty wearing only a top walked into the background of an interview he was broadcasting from home. His jilted girlfriend dubbed the sordid affair "shameful." | Merlos is a journalist, model and celebrity in his native Spain, but now his tangled private life is being torn apart by the Spanish-speaking media. | He was speaking as a guest on journalist Javier Negre's 'State of Alarm' YouTube channel last Friday, when a semi-naked woman casually sauntered into the frame, causing Negre's jaw to drop. | Esto es una auténtica maravilla: Javier Negre hace un S…

David Skripac (2020-04-28). COVID-19 and the Rise of the Police State. globalresearch.ca In December 1917, Europe was immersed in the First World War—one of the most vicious, insane wars the world had ever witnessed. After learning about the high casualty toll and the horrific nature of trench warfare, which included the use …

Ben Ehrenreich (2020-04-28). Under Europe's Strictest Lockdown, the World Is Only As Big as Our Windows. thenation.com Under Europe's Strictest Lockdown, the World Is Only As Big as Our Windows…

Andrew Emett (2020-04-28). Ex-FBI agent charged with accepting bribes from Armenian organized crime figure. nationofchange.org "The public needs to have confidence that law enforcement officials conduct their work with integrity and honesty. When law enforcement officials participate in bribery schemes, they tarnish the reputations of their colleagues who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe."

teleSUR (2020-04-28). France: Unions Call for May 1st Demonstration. telesurenglish.net French Union organizations convoked members to celebrate Workers Day, despite the current COVID-19 pandemic. The groups stated they would demonstrate through social media to comply with COVID-19 preventive measures. | RELATED: | The General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the United Federation of Trade Unions (FSU), the Union Syndicale Solidaires (USS), the National Union of Students of France (UNEF), the Union Nationa…

Johanna Ross (2020-04-28). Covid-19 Is the Perfect Catalyst for Trump's War Against China. globalresearch.ca The phrase 'Yellow Peril' — pertaining to the alleged threat of the Far East — was coined by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany in the 1880s after he had a dream featuring a Buddha riding a dragon threatening to invade …

Consensus911 (2020-04-28). 9/11 Truth and Giulietto Chiesa, 1940-2020. His Legacy Will Live. globalresearch.ca The 9/11 Consensus Panel mourns the loss of the great Italian journalist, Giulietto Chiesa, whose life was devoted to upholding the foundations of democracy, not just in his native Italy, but in Russia and worldwide. | The Consensus Panel was …

teleSUR (2020-04-28). BRICS Bank to Allocate $15 Billion to Economic Recovery. telesurenglish.net Russia's RELATED: | "We have decided to create a special credit instrument to finance economic recovery projects in the countries. It is expected t…

teleSUR (2020-04-28). Putin Extends National Paid Leave to May 11. telesurenglish.net Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday extended the national paid leave introduced to contain the spread of COVID-19 to May 11. | RELATED: | "We are now facing a new, perhaps the most intense stage in the fight against the epidemic. The risks of getting infected have reached a climax. The threat, the mortal danger of the virus persists, and this can affect everyone," Putin said in a televised address to the nat…

teleSUR (2020-04-28). Covid-19: Oxford University Vaccine Proves Effective in Monkeys. telesurenglish.net The Jenner Institute at Oxford University in the United Kingdom successfully tested a vaccine against COVID-19 in Rhesus macaques, scientists revealed on Monday. | RELATED: | The results of the research will be released next week, a month after testing the drug on six Rhesus macaques. | The vaccine was given to the six monkeys at the U.S. National Institutes of Health's Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Montana. | The…

news.un (2020-04-27). FROM THE FIELD: How refugees are helping overwhelmed health systems' COVID-19 response. news.un.org With many European health services struggling to deal with an influx of COVID-19 patients, many refugees and migrants with experience in the sector, are being drafted in to help respond to the crisis.

Staff (2020-04-27). Headlines for April 27, 2020. democracynow.org Global Coronavirus Deaths Top 207,000 as Hard-Hit European Nations Start Relaxing Lockdowns, States Prepare to Reopen Economies as Cases Continue to Mount, Doctors See Rise in Strokes Caused by Coronavirus; CDC Expands List of Possible Symptoms, Oakland Police Tackle and Detain Unhoused Outreach Workers, Poison Control Center Calls Spike After President Trump Suggests Injections of Disinfectant, WHO Warns Against Issuing "Immunity Passports", Activists Hold "Cancel the Rent" Protests Around the Country, Coronavirus Outbreak Reported at Tyson Foods Meat Processing Plant, "Larry King Live" Tape from 1993 Supports T…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-04-27). Progressive sections in Madrid protest evictions at La Ingobernable social center. peoplesdispatch.org La Ingobernable is a platform of feminists, environmentalists and anarchists running a series of self-managed social centers in central Madrid. The Madrid committees of Izquierda Unida (IU) and the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) have condemned their eviction during the lockdown…

Last Process: 50 Citations: 2020-04-29 16:34 GMT (12:34 EST)