Positive Universe: Europe

2020-04-13: 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.)

'Use your own fortune': Church of Sweden grilled after seeking coronavirus aid packages for migrants
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Senior religious leaders in Sweden have urged the government to provide relief for asylum seekers, sparking anger from native Swedes who claim the calls for Christian charity don't seem to extend to the country's own citizens. | As the Covid-19 pandemic sends shockwaves through the global economy, the Swedish government should extend special support for the homeless, asylum seekers, temporary labor migrants and those awaiting deportation, the Christian Council of Sweden argued in an open letter. The group includes Antje Jackelen, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, as well as the leaders of several other Chris…
rt.com/news/485634-sweden-coronavirus-muslims-church/

Greece 'to guard border' as it voices concern over asylum-seekers 'gathering on Turkey coast'
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Officials in Greece expressed concern on Monday that migrants and refugees are gathering on Turkey's coast with plans to cross the Aegean Sea to Greek islands, despite movement restrictions in both countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. | Daily clashes between border police and asylum-seekers broke out at the land border between Turkey and Greece in March, after Ankara said it would no longer stop people from trying to enter Europe. | Authorities "have seen signs of activity" on the shores of Turkey, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas stated. "We will… continue to do whatever it takes to…
rt.com/newsline/485687-greece-border-turkey-migrants/

Ukraine Eyes America for Gas but Still Relies on Russia
Paul Antonopoulos | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-13
Despite strong attempts by Ukraine not to buy Russian pipeline gas, they will not be able to receive U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) for at least another five years according to Polish experts from the consulting company ESPERIS. According …
globalresearch.ca/ukraine-eyes-america-gas-still-relies-russia/5709505

Moscow COVID-19 Lockdown: Administrative Self-isolation, QR Codes and No More Than 2 Personal Trips Per Week
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-13
On April 11, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin signed a decree on the procedure of processing and using special digital passes in the city. The decision to introduce a special digital pass system to enforce coronavirus lockdown rules in the Russian …
globalresearch.ca/moscow-covid-19-lockdown-administrative-self-isolation-qr-codes-no-more-than-2-personal-trips-per-week/5709452

Russian unemployment may more than TRIPLE due to business shutdown amid coronavirus quarantine
rt.com | 2020-04-13
The economic crisis triggered by Covid-19 can leave up to 8 million Russians out of work and the situation in the labor market may not improve till the end of the year, the head of Russia's Accounts Chamber has warned. | "According to forecasts, during this crisis the number of unemployed people in Russia will rise from 2.5 million to 8 million for some time," Alexei Kudrin, who used serve as Russia's Minister of Finance, told RBC business outlet on Monday. He added that the jobless rate can drop only when the economy rebounds with the rise in demand and consumption and businesses coming back to normal. | Also…
rt.com/business/485648-russian-unemployment-triple-coronavirus/

Lavrov & Zarif discuss coronavirus fight, lifting sanctions involving medicines
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed in a phone call on Monday coordinated action to fight the novel coronavirus and the necessity of lifting sanctions that involve supplying medicines. | They "paid specific attention to the task of multilateral coordinated efforts in battling the coronavirus infection, including a waiver of unlawful individual sanctions and other restrictions linked to the supplies of medicines and essentials," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. | The diplomats also exchanged opinions on the situation in Afghanistan, given the role…
rt.com/newsline/485701-lavrov-zarif-iran-sanctions/

Tehran, Moscow confer on regional issues, coronavirus pandemic
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-13
TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA)

'US medical terrorism hampering global efforts to curb COVID-19'
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-13
TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA)

'Game-changing machine': Russian military get first batch of modernized T-90M tanks (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-04-13
With better protected turret, more powerful engine and a sighting system that guarantees high precision in nighttime, the modernized T-90M tank has now made it into the Russian army. | The first batch of the new war machines, called 'Proryv' (breakthrough) has been delivered to the elite Taman Armored Division near Moscow. | The arrival to their place of basing has been filmed by the Defense Ministry's Zvezda channel and featured the sad trend of the current time, as servicemen were seen wearing protective masks over the raging and deadly Covid-19 pandemic. | "Those are game changing machines," Sergey Kisel…
rt.com/russia/485706-russia-modernized-t90m-tank/

Economic guru Kudrin warns Russia's unemployment could TREBLE, as Kremlin labels talk of return to 1990s chaos 'hysterical'
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Perhaps nobody in Russia is more responsible for the country's fiscal stability than Alexei Kudrin. | As Finance Minister, he paid off most of the national debt and built financial stabilization funds that have twice helped avoid financial ruin. | While Russia is better prepared for the inevitable Covid-19-driven economic recession than most of its G20 peers, Kudrin still believes the level of unemployment in Russia could treble before the end of the year, reaching eight million. While far from the 20 percent JP Morgan predicts for the United States, an 11 percent rate would put considerable pressure on the Ru…
rt.com/russia/485703-kudrin-unemployment-could-treble/

More than 100 people evacuated from apartment block in Moscow as it is ravaged by blaze (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Dozens of people have been evacuated from a multi-story building in Moscow in the middle of the night after a flat on its upper floor caught fire, prompting fears that the blaze could spread to the rest of the apartment block. | …
rt.com/russia/485630-fire-moscow-apartment-block-video/

Fired researcher Mauro Ferrari denounces EU inaction on COVID-19
wsws.org | 2020-04-13
Distinguished scientist Mauro Ferrari was forced to resign as European Research Council president after calling for a coordinated struggle against the pandemic.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/13/ferr-a13.html

European Union to spend half a trillion euros on imperialist interests in coronavirus bailout
wsws.org | 2020-04-13
After two days of bitter disputes, the EU finance ministers agreed on a coronavirus bailout worth ‚Ç¨500 billion.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/13/euro-a13.html

COVID-19 deaths surpass 76,000 in Europe as Spanish government sends millions back to work
wsws.org | 2020-04-13
More than 30 National Health Service workers are reported to have died as the UK's death toll rises above 10,000.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/13/euco-a13.html

Huawei urges UK to stick with 5G collaboration as Chinese firm becomes target of Covid-19 conspiracies
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Huawei has argued that ending its role in 5G development in Britain would be a disservice to the country, as a Tory-backed review of the deal

Cuba is Willing to Send More Medical Brigades to the World
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-13
Cuba is in condition to send more medical brigades to countries that need support to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cuban government said | RELATED: | Cuba: Government Implements New Measures to Prevent COVID-19 | "We defend solidarity, even in times of pandemic," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said on Sunday on the social network Twitter. | According to Rodriguez, new Cuban medical brigade from the Henry Reeve International Contingent left for Italy, in Europe, this…
telesurenglish.net/news/cuba-is-willing-to-send-more-medical-brigades-to-the-world-20200413-0001.html

Italy's daily Covid-19 cases decline, deaths rise by 566 to 20,465
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Deaths from the coronavirus epidemic in Italy rose by 566 on Monday, up from 431 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said. The number of new cases dropped to 3,153 from 4,092 the previous day

Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: CDC recommends wearing cloth masks in public
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org | 2020-04-13
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that Americans wear wearing cloth masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The CDC considers cloth masks an additional, voluntary public health measure. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, a …
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-qa-podcast-cdc-recommends-wearing-cloth-masks-in-public/

Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 update
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org | 2020-04-13
On today's Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, shares the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses antibody testing, immunity, and how the scientific and research communities are collaborating to fight this disease. Click the player below: Mayo Clinic Q&A is available …
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-qa-podcast-covid-19-update/

Montenegro offers sympathy with Iran over coronavirus victims
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-13
TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA)

Spain lifts lockdown for non-essential workers amid harsh debate & fears of new wave of Covid-19 cases
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Staff in food distribution, communications, sanitation and other non-essential sectors are now allowed to go to work in Spain, despite the country's status as the world's second-largest Covid-19 hotspot with over 17,000 deaths. | These workers will be able to return to work this Monday following a 14-day self-isolation regime that saw all industries

Indonesia will rapidly expand coronavirus testing, president says after criticism
rt.com | 2020-04-13
President Joko Widodo said Indonesia will be able to conduct more than 10,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests a day for the new coronavirus. The president rejected criticism that he favored economic considerations over public health. | Widodo told foreign media on Monday that Indonesia had sourced new PCR kits from Switzerland and its extra testing capability would be on stream by next week, with plans to expand testing to 78 labs. The world's fourth most populous nation has one of the lowest testing rates for the coronavirus, drawing criticism from the World Health Organization and public health experts…
rt.com/newsline/485678-indonesia-expand-testing-president/

Erdogan rejects Turkish Interior Minister's resignation
en.mehrnews.com | 2020-04-13
TEHRAN, Apr. 13 (MNA)

German politicians debate easing restrictions as new infections drop
rt.com | 2020-04-13
Senior politicians in Germany have begun debating a potential easing of restrictions imposed over the coronavirus epidemic. Their meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled for Wednesday. | Merkel and the premiers of Germany's 16 states expect to get recommendations from the German National Academy of Sciences on Monday. The chancellor has said the advice will weigh heavily in considerations for a possible loosening in movement and social distancing rules in place since around mid-March. | The discussion takes place as the number of new infections and deaths declines in Germany, which has weathered the…
rt.com/newsline/485640-germany-debate-easing-restrictions/

'We weren't prepared': Macron extends France's lockdown till May 11
rt.com | 2020-04-13
France will remain locked down until at least May 11, PM Emmanuel Macron has revealed, calling on citizens to continue to respect the rules his government has imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus. | Macron announced the lockdown extension during a public address on Monday as the growth of the epidemic in France was appearing to plateau, with 574 new deaths declared in the preceding 24 hours. | Also on rt.com | | Lockdown in France will last as long as 'it needs to' as peak of pandemic not yet reached

Cybersecurity firm: Online crime rises amid quarantine
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-13
Russia-based cybersecurity company Kaspersky on Monday warned that phishing incidents had proliferated worldwide with websites imitating online shopping and streaming platforms as many go into quarantine amid the novel coronavirus pandemic."Comparing the numbers for Q1 2019 and the same period this year, the share of users attacked by fake e-shops doubled, growing from 9 to 18%, of users, while the figure for streaming services tripled up to 4%," the company said in a statement.Online streaming and e-markets are becoming increasingly popular as many people stay home to help stem the spread of the virus

Russia, Iran discuss anti-virus cooperation
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-13
Russian and Iranian foreign ministers discussed cooperation in combatting the coronavirus pandemic in a phone talk on Monday, according to an official statement.Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed that the restrictions on the delivery of drugs and essential goods were unacceptable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its official website."The ministers paid special attention to the tasks of multilateral coordination in the fight against coronavirus infection, including the rejection of illegal unilateral sanctions and other restrictions on the supply o…
yenisafak.com/en/news/russia-iran-discuss-anti-virus-cooperation-3516786

UK has conducted 18,000 coronavirus tests in 24 hours: PM's spokesman
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-13
A total of 18,000 tests for coronavirus were conducted in the United Kingdom in 24 hours and the country was making good progress towards its target of 100,000 daily tests, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.The spokesman said the 18,000 figure applied to the 24 hours up to 0800 GMT on Sunday and excluded Northern Ireland."New capacity is coming on stream all of the time and I think we are making good progress," the spokesman said.The government has come under increasing pressure over a low level of testing for the novel coronavirus compared with certain countries, especially Germany.
yenisafak.com/en/world/uk-has-conducted-18000-coronavirus-tests-in-24-hours-pms-spokesman-3516789

Belgium reports 942 fresh COVID-19 cases
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-13
Belgium has reported 942 fresh infections over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of coronavirus or COVID-19 cases to 30,589 since the pandemic outbreak, the health authorities announced on Monday. | According to the latest health data published by the Brussels-based Federal Public Service of Health, 310 new patients have been admitted to hospitals. Another 239 cases have been discharged after they reported recovery. | At the moment, 5,393 COVID-19 patients are being treated in hospitals in the country. Also, 303 people have died over the past few days, raising the death toll to 3,903. As many as 53% of…
yenisafak.com/en/world/belgium-reports-942-fresh-covid-19-cases-3516782

Netherlands: Virus cases top 26,500, deaths over 2,800
yenisafak.com | 2020-04-13
A total of 964 new cases were confirmed in the country, raising the tally to 26,551, according to the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment.Currently, 8,729 patients are under treatment at hospitals, with 147 more admissions reported on Monday.The COVID-19 death toll moved up to 2,823 after 86 more patients lost their lives.The institute, however, clarified that "not all of the hospital admissions or deaths occurred within the last 24 hours.""Since not all COVID-19 patients are tested, the actual numbers in the Netherlands are higher than the numbers stated here," it said.More than 1.86 million…
yenisafak.com/en/world/netherlands-virus-cases-top-26500-deaths-over-2800-3516790

Greece Ready to Protect Border if Turkey Lets Migrants With COVID-19 Reach Islands
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-13
ATHENS (Sputnik) – Athens is ready to protect its sovereignty and borders if Turkey decides to send migrants infected with the virus to Greece's islands, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Monday.
sputniknews.com/europe/202004131078937489-greece-ready-to-protect-border-if-turkey-lets-migrants-with-covid-19-reach-islands/

Russian President Vladimir Putin Takes Part in Meeting on COVID-19 Situation – Video
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-13
On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is missing direct communication with people amid the lockdown regime and the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
sputniknews.com/russia/202004131078935973-russian-president-vladimir-putin-takes-part-in-meeting-on-covid-19-situation—video/

Putin Says Russia Has So Far Managed to Handle Coronavirus Proactively
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-13
Around 18,000 COVID-19 cases have been registered in Russia so far with only 148 fatalities – one of the lowest coronavirus mortality rates in the world.
sputniknews.com/russia/202004131078936708-putin-says-russia-has-so-far-managed-to-handle-coronavirus-proactively/

Belgium Reports Spike in Coronavirus-Related Fatalities, Death Toll Rises to 3,903
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-13
BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Belgium jumped by 303 in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 3,903, the public health agency said Monday.
sputniknews.com/europe/202004131078936194-belgium-reports-spike-in-coronavirus-related-fatalities-death-toll-rises-to-3903/

Raging Chernobyl Wildfires Raise Risks of New Radiation Contamination
sputniknews.com | 2020-04-13
Once severely traumatised Chernobyl in Ukraine's Kiev Region is now struggling to battle another disaster – forest fires that have been devouring vast parts of its Exclusion Zone for the past week.
sputniknews.com/society/202004131078936938-raging-chernobyl-wildfires-raise-risks-of-new-radiation-contamination/

In Prague, a Disgraceful Act: They Desecrated and Removed the Statue of Marshal Konev!
Andre Vltchek | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-04-12
Soon there might be silence. The liberation of Prague, as well as the liberation of Auschwitz and/or Warsaw by the Red Army, will be forgotten. At least in Europe, even in Eastern Europe, where it took place. This is where it is all leading to. Perhaps, one day, East European governments will issue new orders …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/04/in-prague-a-disgraceful-act-they-desecrated-and-removed-the-statue-of-marshal-konev/

OPEC+ Approve Biggest Ever Oil Cut Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-12
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other oil-producing nations agreed Sunday to cut output by a record amount, representing around 10 percent of global supply, to support oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic. | RELATED: | Oil Falls 30% As Saudi Arabia Slashes Prices, Sparks Price War | Two OPEC+ sources told Reuters the deal had been sealed in a video conference on Sunday, and the agreement was confirmed in a statement from Kazakhstan's e…
telesurenglish.net/news/OPEC-Approve-Biggest-Ever-Oil-Cut-Amid-Coronavirus-Pandemic-20200412-0006.html

'Go back to your corona-ridden country': German officials apologize after French people insulted & spat on in border town
rt.com | 2020-04-12
The coronavirus pandemic has become a tough test of the EU's unity, and a small German border town is actively failing it. Officials have sounded the alarm over a spike in aggression from the locals towards visitors from France. | The people of Gersheim have been living side by side with the French for over two decades, crossing the symbolic border between the two European Union member-states without even noticing it. | But in mid-March this border became real, as Germany shut itself off from its neighbors in an attempt to stem the spread of Covid-19. The only exceptions made were for goods deliveries, and for…
rt.com/news/485625-germany-france-border-insults-coronavirus/

US reports over 1,900 Covid-19 deaths in single day after setting global record for most fatalities
rt.com | 2020-04-12
The US, which is now leading the world in the number of coronavirus deaths, has added another 1,920 to its grim count in the last 24 hours, Johns Hopkins University reports. | Earlier on Saturday, the US replaced Italy at the top of the coronavirus death toll chart, surpassing 20,000. | Saturday's nationwide death toll is slightly lower than the one reported the day before. On Friday, the US became the first country in the world to report over 2,000 fatalities in a single day as the virus claimed 2,108 lives across the nation. | As the number of deaths due to the outbreak in the US keeps skyrocketing, it is wi…
rt.com/usa/485591-death-toll-us-coronavirus/

Turkey's Erdogan rejects interior minister's resignation after last-minute curfew announcement triggers chaos
rt.com | 2020-04-12
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected the resignation of his interior minister after the latter took responsibility for mass panic that saw thousands swarming shops across Turkey ahead of a 48-hour curfew. | "The minister submitted his resignation to the president, and the president has informed him that he did not approve that request. The interior minister's resignation has not been accepted. He shall continue to perform his duties," the Turkish president's office said in a statement late on Sunday

Rouhani Announces Iran's $1.6-billion Legal Victory Over US in Frozen Assets Case
Sputnik News | iranian.com | 2020-04-12
While the Iranian president said that Tehran has managed to secure the assets "from the Americans' grasp", the Luxembourg Court of Cassation is apparently yet to make its ruling public. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has declared that Tehran has managed to prevail over the United States in a legal dispute involving a sizeable amount of …
iranian.com/2020/04/12/rouhani-announces-irans-1-6-billion-legal-victory-over-us-in-frozen-assets-case/

Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain: "Imperialism is the real virus that kills the people"
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-04-11
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by the Political Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (Partido Comunista de los Pueblos de España). | While Europe is being declared to be in a pre-state of emergency due to the expansion of COVID 19, the troops of the imperialist invader are moving freely throughout the partner countries of the criminal NATO coalition. For them there are no restrictions or quarantines | In yet another of its arrogant imperialist displays, NATO is violating the sovereignty of the peoples and imposing its inherent criminal…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/4/10/communist-party-peoples-spain-imperialism-real-virus-kills-people

Unprecedented: US becomes 1st country to report 2,000+ Covid-19 deaths in SINGLE DAY, breaking global record
rt.com | 2020-04-11
The US has counted more than 2,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the space of 24 hours, smashing all previous daily death tolls worldwide as the US outbreak shows little sign of abating, according to Johns Hopkins University. | On Friday, 2,108 new deaths were reported in the US, data gathered by Johns Hopkins shows, putting the US' total at over 18,600, just shy of Italy's death toll, the overall leader in fatalities globally. | After Thursday's casualty count saw a brief drop-off, deaths again surged on Friday, the country's deadliest day yet. | Though US President Donald Trump has stated that the US' epidemic is n…
rt.com/usa/485553-coronavirus-record-us-deaths/

Grim record: US overtakes Italy in Covid-19 death toll as fatalities go past 20,000
rt.com | 2020-04-11
The US has become the country with most coronavirus fatalities in the world after the death toll exceeded 20,280 people and surpassed Italy's numbers, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. | Italy, which remained atop the grim rankings for weeks, has so far registered 19,468 deaths, with third-placed Spain reporting 16,480 people killed by the virus. | The US has taken the lead after recording around 2,000 lethal cases from Covid-19 on each of the last four days – eventually crossing the single-day milestone on Friday. | The Big Apple has remained the nation's hardest-hit city, with death toll ther…
rt.com/usa/485580-us-overtakes-italy-coronavirus-death-toll/

Memoir: A Liberation Theology Stations of the Cross in Northeast Brazil
Nancy Scheper-Hughes | counterpunch.org | 2020-04-10
Padre Andreas, a Jesuit priest from Spain, came on a radical mission to the impoverished hillside shantytown of Alto do Cruzeiro in the municipio of Timbauba, a sugarcane market town in Pernambuco Brazil. At the time, 1989, I was living on "the Alto" (the hill) with the rural workers, sugarcane cutters, and fishermen and women…
counterpunch.org/2020/04/10/memoir-a-liberation-theology-stations-of-the-cross-in-northeast-brazil/

Medical aid cargo from Bulgaria arrives in Iran
Mehr News | iranian.com | 2020-04-10
Head of Bazargan Customs Administration Sadegh Namdar announced on Friday that Bulgari's eight-ton consignment including anti-coronavirus medical requirements arrived in Iran through Sari Su trans-boundary market at Iran-Turkey joint Bazargan border. Namdar explained that this is the second cargo which arrives in Iran through Sari Su trans-boundary market, after conducting the required coordination between Iranian and Turkish customs officials. …
iranian.com/2020/04/10/medical-aid-cargo-from-bulgaria-arrives-in-iran/

How the Coronavirus Is Testing Putin's Leadership–and the System He Created
Stephen F. Cohen | thenation.com | 2020-04-09
How the Coronavirus Is Testing Putin's Leadership–and the System He Created…
thenation.com/article/world/coronavirus-russia-putin/

US boasts of intercepting 2 Russian military planes on routine training flight far off Alaska
rt.com | 2020-04-09
The US Air Force has reported intercepting two Russian scout planes that entered its "defense identification zone" off Alaska. Moscow says it was a training flight and the planes came nowhere near US airspace. | US F-22 Raptor fighters, supported by an aerial refueling KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and an early warning E-3 AWACS plane, were mustered to intercept Russian military aircraft over the Bering Sea on April 8, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported in a series of tweets on Thursday. | The intercept happened north of the Aleutian Islands, which stretch from the coast of Alaska far…
rt.com/usa/485433-us-intercept-russian-military-planes/

Last Process: 50 Postees: 2020-04-14 01:30 GMT (21:30 EST)

2020-04-12: News Headlines

RT (2020-04-12). Angelika Timanina: Russian synchronized swimming icon talks Olympic surfing dreams & naked photoshoot offers (PHOTOS). rt.com Russian synchronized swimming legend Angelika Timanina has discussed life in her new sport of surfing, saying she still harbors dreams of Olympic success while also opening up on her social media popularity. | Timanina, 30, was one of Russia's golden girls in the pool as she captained the team to Olympic glory at the London 2012 Games in a career which also saw her amass an incredible 11 world titles. | She eventually left the sport in 2016 after battling injury and what she says were personality clashes within the Russian team, but has since found a new passion — and another chance of Olympic glory &#150…

RT (2020-04-12). Italy records LOWEST Covid-19 daily death toll in THREE WEEKS. rt.com Promising signs that Italy has overcome the worst of its coronavirus outbreak continued on Sunday as the Mediterranean country recorded its lowest Covid-19 death toll since March 19. | Deaths from the disease rose by 431 on Sunday, down from 619 the day before. The number of fresh confirmed cases also slowed significantly to 4,092, from 4,694 on Saturday. | Though the outbreak has slowed significantly, Italy remains one of the countries worst affected by the virus. The Civil Protection Agency said that the confirmed fatality count now stands at 19,899, the second highest in the world after the United States.

RT (2020-04-12). Turkey's Erdogan rejects interior minister's resignation after last-minute curfew announcement triggers chaos. rt.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected resignation of his interior minister after the latter took responsibility for mass panic that saw thousands swarming shops across Turkey ahead of a 48-hour curfew. | "The minister submitted his resignation to the President and the President has informed him that he did not approve that request.The interior minister's resignation has not been accepted. He shall continue to perform his duties," the Turkish President's office said in a statement late Sunday – two days after an eleventh-hour decision by interior minister Suleyman Soylu to impose a 2-day curfew ca…

RT (2020-04-12). US reports over 1,900 Covid-19 deaths in single day after setting global record for most fatalities. rt.com The US, which is now leading the world in the number of coronavirus deaths, has added another 1,920 to its grim count in the last 24 hours, Johns Hopkins University reports. | Earlier on Saturday, the US replaced Italy at the top of the coronavirus death toll chart, surpassing 20,000. | Saturday's nationwide death toll is slightly lower than the one reported the day before. On Friday, the US became the first country in the world to report over 2,000 fatalities in a single day as the virus claimed 2,108 lives across the nation. | As the number of deaths due to the outbreak in the US keeps skyrocketing, it is wi…

RT (2020-04-12). Europe's coronavirus death toll passes 75,000 milestone — AFP tally. rt.com The number of fatalities due to Covid-19 in Europe rose above 75,000 on Sunday, according to a tally carried out by the AFP news agency. It is currently the continent worst hit by the pandemic. | More than 80 percent of the deaths have occurred in just four countries — Italy, Spain, France and the UK — according to statistics compiled from official sources. | The number of people infected with the virus is still climbing towards the one million mark, with the number of confirmed cases now standing at 909,673. | Italy remains Europe's most affected country, with 19,468 deaths, followed by Spain with 1…

RT (2020-04-12). 'Go back to your corona-ridden country': German officials apologize after French people insulted & spat on in border town. rt.com The coronavirus pandemic has become a tough test of the EU's unity, and a small German border town is actively failing it. Officials have sounded the alarm over a spike in aggression from the locals towards visitors from France. | The people of Gersheim have been living side by side with the French for over two decades, crossing the symbolic border between the two European Union member-states without even noticing it. | But in mid-March this border became real, as Germany shut itself off from its neighbors in an attempt to stem the spread of Covid-19. The only exceptions made were for goods deliveries, and for…

RT (2020-04-12). New OPEC+ video conference to be held this Sunday, April 12 — reports. rt.com The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied oil exporters led by Russia are reportedly set to hold an urgent meeting on Sunday to clinch a last-minute agreement to save the oil market from further tumbling. | The virtual meeting is scheduled for 4pm GMT, the Azerbaijan Energy Ministry confirmed to Russian media. The same time frame was reported earlier by Bloomberg. | The participants are meant to finalize their talks that have been ongoing since Thursday, when the oil alliance came up with a plan to cut global oil production by 10 million barrels per day to ramp up crude prices. However,…

RT (2020-04-12). Roscosmos vs Musk: Russian Space Agency chief & SpaceX CEO cross virtual swords on Twitter. rt.com A Twitter duel broke out between the head of the Roscosmos agency and the SpaceX CEO, who said Russia won't be successful unless it catches up with multiple-use rocket technology — prompting a sharp rebuke. | Aspiring Mars explorer and SpaceX founder Elon Musk fired the first shots in the online war of words after Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin announced that his agency will charge 30 percent less for space launches "to increase our share on the international markets." | He then mentioned SpaceX, saying that the measure comes in retaliation for tactics used "by American companies funded from the US [gover…

RT (2020-04-12). Russia records over 2,000 new Covid-19 cases in a SINGLE day. rt.com Since Saturday, 2,186 more people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing Russia's total coronavirus tally to 15,770, according to the government's emergency team in charge of containing the growing epidemic. | The new figure drastically ups the curve, as only 1,667 new cases were recorded across the country the day before. | The bulk of the newly infected — 1,306 and 278 respectively — are in Moscow and the surrounding region, where the authorities have recently introduced electronic permits to control people's mobility amid the quarantine. St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, has repor…

RT (2020-04-12). Russia records over 2,000 new Covid-19 cases in a SINGLE day, a NEW daily high. rt.com Since Saturday, 2,186 more people in Russia have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the nationwide total to 15,770, according to the emergency team in charge of managing the country's response to the deadly infection. | The fresh figure drastically ups the curve, as only 1,667 new cases were recorded across the country the day before. | The bulk of the newly infected — 1,306 and 278 respectively — are in Moscow and its surrounding region, where authorities have recently introduced electronic permits to control people's mobility amid the quarantine. St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city,…

RT (2020-04-12). 'Great day for all' — Trump hails OPEC production cuts, thanks Putin and Saudi king. rt.com President Donald Trump has congratulated his Russian and Saudi counterparts on signing a deal to cut global oil output, saying the move will save "hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States." | Cheering on the "big oil deal" signed on Sunday, Trump sent his thanks and congratulations to "President Putin of Russia and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. I just spoke to them from the Oval Office. Great deal for all!" | The big Oil Deal with OPEC Plus is done. This will save hundreds of thousands of energy jobs in the United States. I would like to thank and congratulate President Putin of Russia and Kin…

Andre Vltchek (2020-04-12). In Prague, a Disgraceful Act: They Desecrated and Removed the Statue of Marshal Konev! dissidentvoice.org Soon there might be silence. The liberation of Prague, as well as the liberation of Auschwitz and/or Warsaw by the Red Army, will be forgotten. At least in Europe, even in Eastern Europe, where it took place. This is where it is all leading to. Perhaps, one day, East European governments will issue new orders …

en.mehrnews (2020-04-12). VIDEO: People flood stores after curfew announcement in Turkey. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 12 (MNA) — Turkey announced a sudden two-day curfew from Saturday night in 31 provinces. Shortly after the announcement, people were seen queuing in front of supermarkets to buy their required supplies.

graham (2020-04-12). New crisis — Europe running desperately low on drugs needed to treat COVID-19 patients. truepublica.org.uk Is this a warning of yet another crisis heading Britain's way in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? Hospitals across Europe are very quickly running out of the drugs needed to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients stating that supplies are threatened within a week. The news emerged after the European Commission warned in a letter …

en.mehrnews (2020-04-12). Envoy voices sympathy with France over coronavirus victims. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 12 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador to Paris, Bahram Ghasemi expressed condolences to France over victims of coronavirus epidemic in the country.

en.mehrnews (2020-04-12). Hamideh Abbasali to return to Iran after undergoing surgery in Germany. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 12 (MNA) — The captain of Iranian women's Kumite karate team, Hamideh Abbasali, is scheduled to return to Iran after a month-long stay in Germany for treating his injury.

en.mehrnews (2020-04-12). 'Don't Touch Anything' goes to Vienna Intl. Filmfest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 12 (MNA) — Iranian short film 'Don't Touch Anything', directed by Arghavan Heidar Eslam, will be screened at 17th edition of the Vienna International Short Film Festival in Austria.

teleSUR (2020-04-12). OPEC+ Approve Biggest Ever Oil Cut Amid Coronavirus Pandemic. telesurenglish.net The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other oil-producing nations agreed Sunday to cut output by a record amount, representing around 10 percent of global supply, to support oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic. | RELATED: | Two OPEC+ sources told Reuters the deal had been sealed in a video conference on Sunday, and the agreement was confirmed in a statement from Kazakhstan's e…

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-04-12). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 update. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org On today's Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, shares the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland discusses antibody testing, immunity, and how the scientific and research communities are collaborating to fight this disease. Click the player below: Mayo Clinic Q&A is available …

newsnetwork.mayoclinic (2020-04-12). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: CDC recommends wearing cloth masks in public. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that Americans wear wearing cloth masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The CDC considers cloth masks an additional, voluntary public health measure. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, a …

en.mehrnews (2020-04-12). Spring rainfall in Tabriz. en.mehrnews.com TABRIZ, Apr. 12 (MNA) — Spring rainfall hit various districts in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan province, bestowing a fresh look to the city.

sputniknews (2020-04-12). 'Corona Presidency': COVID-19 Pandemic to Steer Germany's EU Council Leadership This Year. sputniknews.com With more than 2,500 coronavirus-related deaths and 117,600 cases reported, Germany has had a relatively low death rate from the pandemic, largely thanks to its rapid testing programme, which features one of the highest per capita rates in the world.

sputniknews (2020-04-12). Pope Celebrates Easter Sunday Mass Without Public Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – Video. sputniknews.com The coronavirus pandemic that has already left over 1.6 million people infected and led to more than 100,000 deaths, has reshaped the way people are handling normally-scheduled mass public events.

sputniknews (2020-04-12). Spain's Coronavirus Death Toll Rises to 16,972 – Health Ministry. sputniknews.com According to the World Health Organisation, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally has exceeded 1.6 million, with more than 99,000 deaths.

sputniknews (2020-04-12). Russian 'Striptease' Skater Sets Instagram on Fire With Nude Quarantine Reading. sputniknews.com With self-isolation measures introduced around Russia amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, 2015 World Champion Figure Skater Elizaveta Tuktamysheva has decided to entertain herself with some occasional reading, which apparently does not require any sports uniform or clothes at all.

sputniknews (2020-04-12). 'It's Going to be the Toughest Decision': Trump on Reopening the Virus-Hit Economy. sputniknews.com The Russia investigation and the impeachment trial may have been problematic for Trump, but the pandemic marked the first non-political — and arguably the most real — crisis of his presidency. There is now a fine line between public and economic health, and Trump is facing a difficult choice of when to cross it.

sputniknews (2020-04-12). 'Vodka Kills Everything': Former CSKA Moscow Player on Russians' Response to Coronavirus. sputniknews.com Sales of alcoholic beverages have grown across the world, including Russia, since people started self-isolating to wait out the pandemic. Several Russian regions have either restricted or banned the sale of alcoholic drinks outright to prevent a spike in alcohol-related violence, although full bans have been overturned within a few days.

sputniknews (2020-04-12). S-500 is 'Anti-Space Weapon' That Will Fundamentally Transform Russia's Air Defences — Fmr Commander. sputniknews.com Last month, a subsidiary of S-500 maker Almaz-Antey confirmed that multiple components of the next generation air defence system had been developed and tested, with the completed complex to start testing with the military later this year.

yenisafak (2020-04-12). President Erdogan wishes happy Easter to all Christians. yenisafak.com Turkey's president on Sunday released a message marking the Christian religious holiday of Easter.Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his best wishes to "all Christian citizens and the Christian community on the occasion of Easter.""This culture of coexistence in the Anatolian soil will cement peace and brotherhood today, as it was in the past, and will carry us to the bright future," he said.The coexistence of different sects and religions in the area for hundreds of years is an example for the world, the president added.He thanked Christian citizens for supporting Turkey's National Solidarity Campaign against the cor…

yenisafak (2020-04-12). Turkey to send medical aid to Palestine. yenisafak.com Turkey will send medical aid to Israel and Palestine to help them battle coronavirus, the country's presidential spokesman said on Sunday."There was a demand for medical aid from Israel, and it will be completed within days. We will simultaneously send medical supplies to Palestine," Ibrahim Kalin told CNN Turk.Kalin said Armenia's medicine demand was also approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and it was currently in process by the Health Ministry.Ankara is helping multiple states to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. So far it has sent aid to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo…

yenisafak (2020-04-12). Turkey sends second Covid-19 aid shipment to UK. yenisafak.com A second shipment of medical supplies was dispatched to the United Kingdom on Sunday to be used in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in accordance with orders given by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a statement by the Ministry of National Defense.Turkey had sent N95 masks and protective suits on Friday accompanied with a message to residents in the U.K: "After hopelessness, there is much hope and after darkness, there is the much brighter sun. Rumi."Turkey also sent medical aid to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo on Wednesday, as well as to Ita…

yenisafak (2020-04-12). Turkey to penalize violators of coronavirus curfew. yenisafak.com In a statement, the ministry said a total of 18,770 people had so far violated the restrictions, and were subject to "administrative and procedural penalties." The specifics of the penalties were not mentioned.The weekend curfew, effective from Friday at midnight for 48 hours in 31 provinces, however, is being largely followed. Turkey has a population of 82 million.Besides, the government has restricted the movement of those under age 20, and above 65. While schools, malls, cafes and restaurants remain closed, almost all gatherings, including congregational prayers, have been suspended. | It confirmed 95 more fat…

yenisafak (2020-04-12). Banish 'self-centredness', pope tells the world as it faces coronavirus. yenisafak.com Pope Francis called on Sunday for global solidarity in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, urging the relaxation of international sanctions, debt relief for poor nations and ceasefires in all conflicts.He also warned the European Union that it risked collapse if it did not agree on how to help the region recover.The pope's Easter "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, delivered from an empty St. Peter's Basilica instead of to the usual crowd of tens of thousands in the square outside, was by far his most pressing and political since his election in 2013.Saying the message of t…

yenisafak (2020-04-12). Dutch coronavirus infections top 25,000, deaths rise to 2,737 deaths. yenisafak.com The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands has topped 25,000, health authorities said on Sunday, with the number of deaths rising by 94 to 2,737.The Netherlands' National Institute for Health (RIVM) reported 1,188 new infections over the past 24 hours, taking the total to 25,587.The rate of increase in infections and deaths has slowed for several days helped by social distancing measures.

yenisafak (2020-04-12). Spain sees 619 more virus deaths as some plan return to work. yenisafak.com With 619 more deaths reported on Sunday, Spain's official coronavirus death toll reached 16,972, the Health Ministry announced.Sunday's death toll is significantly higher than the 510 additional deaths reported on Saturday, but down from a peak of 950 more than a week ago.Around 5,000 more people were also diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, bringing the total to 166,019. Of those confirmed cases, 62,391 people have recovered.While the rate of contagion has dropped significantly, Spain's health professionals are still at a high risk of contracting the virus. As of Saturday, nearly…

yenisafak (2020-04-12). China's Suifenhe city, bordering Russia, strengthens controls to prevent imported cases. yenisafak.com China's northeastern city of Suifenhe, on the country's border with Russia, said on Sunday it's strengthening border controls as part of measures to prevent imported cases.The city will also step up controls on traffic and enforce strict quarantine measures, city authorities said in a statement.The city has banned all types of gatherings and drawn up a list of businesses that must be suspended from operations.

RT (2020-04-12). WATCH Ukrainian firefighters battle massive flames near disused Chernobyl nuclear plant. rt.com Hundreds of personnel, supported by multiple fire engines and special aircraft, were filmed fighting a forest fire that broke out in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, reportedly stirring up radiation levels in the abandoned area. | Already on nationwide lockdown because of Covid-19 outbreak, Ukraine is dealing with wildfires that have engulfed the so-called alienation zone set up after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The fires have easily consumed the grass, bushes and forest trees that had dried out following a warm end to winter. | A Ruptly video, made public on Sunday, shows a fire engine making its way through a…

RT (2020-04-11). Unprecedented: US becomes 1st country to report 2,000+ Covid-19 deaths in SINGLE DAY, breaking global record. rt.com The US has counted more than 2,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the space of 24 hours, smashing all previous daily death tolls worldwide as the US outbreak shows little sign of abating, according to Johns Hopkins University. | On Friday, 2,108 new deaths were reported in the US, data gathered by Johns Hopkins shows, putting the US' total at over 18,600, just shy of Italy's death toll, the overall leader in fatalities globally. | After Thursday's casualty count saw a brief drop-off, deaths again surged on Friday, the country's deadliest day yet. | Though US President Donald Trump has stated that the US' epidemic is n…

RT (2020-04-11). Grim record: US overtakes Italy in Covid-19 death toll as fatalities go past 20,000. rt.com The US has become the country with most coronavirus fatalities in the world after the death toll exceeded 20,280 people and surpassed Italy's numbers, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. | Italy, which remained atop the grim rankings for weeks, has so far registered 19,468 deaths, with third-placed Spain reporting 16,480 people killed by the virus. | The US has taken the lead after recording around 2,000 lethal cases from Covid-19 on each of the last four days – eventually crossing the single-day milestone on Friday. | The Big Apple has remained the nation's hardest-hit city, with death toll ther…

RT (2020-04-11). First group of volunteers assembled as Russia prepares for human testing of Covid-19 vaccine. rt.com The initial human volunteers have been selected to test a Russian vaccine against the deadly new coronavirus in trials set to begin in late June. The project's chief developer is leading by example by taking his place among them. | Work on the biological preparation began in February at the Vector Institute, Russia's leading virology and biotechnology research center. It's based in Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia. Earlier in April, researchers announced that the vaccine had successfully passed trials on mice and ferrets, with preparations for human testing in full swing. | The first stage will see 60…

RT (2020-04-11). Ambulances create traffic jams outside Moscow hospitals as Covid-19 patients keep coming (VIDEO). rt.com While heavy traffic is no longer an issue on Moscow's roads due to the coronavirus lockdown, the city's emergency medical response teams have encountered another unexpected problem — long lines of ambulances outside hospitals. | A massive queue of the vehicles was filmed outside the War Veterans Hospital in the north of the capital on Friday. The footage provided by RT's Ruptly video agency showed vans emblazoned with red crosses occupying not only the approach road to the hospital — recently repurposed to treat Covid-19 patients — but also most of the neighboring street. | It wasn't an isol…

WSWS (2020-04-11). Japanese PM imposes coronavirus state of emergency. wsws.org While the number of cases in Japan is low compared to the US and Europe, poor levels of testing are masking the real extent of the virus.

WSWS (2020-04-11). European governments plot return to work in midst of pandemic. wsws.org As plans were being hatched over how to impose a return to work, over 4,000 new pandemic deaths were reported in Europe on Friday, bringing the total for the continent to over 70,000.

Fight Back (2020-04-11). Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain: "Imperialism is the real virus that kills the people" fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by the Political Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (Partido Comunista de los Pueblos de España). | While Europe is being declared to be in a pre-state of emergency due to the expansion of COVID 19, the troops of the imperialist invader are moving freely throughout the partner countries of the criminal NATO coalition. For them there are no restrictions or quarantines | In yet another of its arrogant imperialist displays, NATO is violating the sovereignty of the peoples and imposing its inherent criminal…

WSWS (2020-04-11). German hospitals become COVID-19 hotspots for health care workers. wsws.org According to the Robert Koch Institute, more than 2,300 doctors and nurses have been infected with coronavirus in Germany.

Kit Knightly (2020-04-10). Covid19 Death Figures "A Substantial Over-Estimate" globalresearch.ca A few weeks ago we reported that, according to the Italian Institute of Health (ISS), only 12% of Italy's reported Covid19 deaths Given that …

Helen Yaffe (2020-04-10). Cuban Medical Science in the Service of Humanity. counterpunch.org By 21 March, Cuba had sent healthcare professionals to 37 countries to collaborate in combating the pandemic. Italy received 53 Cuban medics who had previously worked in West Africa during the deadly Ebola outbreak of 2014. Cuba also stepped into the breach in mid-March when a cruise ship with over 600 mostly British passengers and

Fight Back (2020-04-10). Interview with Italian communists on COVID-19 impact and the working class. fightbacknews.org Fight Back! interviews Guido Salza, the head of the International Relations Department of the Italian communist organization Fronte Popolare. | Fight Back!: How are the working people of Italy being impacted by the pandemic? | Guido Salza: A clear picture of the dynamics of the infection are not yet apparent. However, it is likely that the working class is paying the highest price. Similar to what happened in China, COVID has spread very fast in the most industrial areas of our country. The more concentrated the production and population are (as it is in Lombardia, Piemonte, Veneto and Emilia Romagna), the more t…

Marshall Auerback (2020-04-10). Last Chance to Save the Euro? counterpunch.org After a faulty start to the coronavirus pandemic, the European Union members appear to be getting their act together, as they all appear to have abandoned ruinous slash-and-burn austerity policies (including budget cuts to health care, education and other social services) in order to cope with the onset of a global depression. At least that's

Charles McKelvey (2020-04-10). Cuban Development of Biomedical High Technology. counterpunch.org As the United States and the nations of Europe experience the sad tragedy of an uncontrolled pandemic, they for the most part have not noticed the well-organized and coherent plan of the Cuban government against Covid-19, being carried out with the determined and patriotic support of the people; nor the availability of a Cuban created

Last Process: 50 Citations: 2020-04-13 03:58 GMT (23:58 EST)

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