Positive Universe: Europe

2020-03-21: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Coronavirus crisis causes surge in dangerous channel crossings by desperate refugees
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-03-21
Fears around the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have caused a surge in refugees trying to cross the English channel to the UK. The refugees risk their lives making these journeys in dangerous inflatable boats.Border patrols have blocked more than a 100 refugees from entering the UK this week. There are fears that 3,000 refugees living in desperate conditions in northern France are at high risk of contracting coronavirus.Desperation: Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley said it was only a matter of time before the virus swept through refugee camps.Bella Sankey, director of charity Detention Action, told the P…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2020/03/21/coronavirus-crisis-causes-surge-in-dangerous-channel-crossings-by-desperate-refugees/

Twice-daily health checks and no spectators allowed: World Chess Candidates grabs online audience as sports hit by coronavirus
rt.com | 2020-03-21
With stringent coronavirus tests before and after each game, the World Chess Candidates has become an unlikely sensation as action-starved sports fans go online to watch the battle of minds in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg. | Eight potential challengers are duking it out for the right to challenge the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, and for a €500,000 (US$538,000) prize fund

Russia delivers over 100,000 Covid-19 test kits to 13 states, including Iran, North Korea
rt.com | 2020-03-21
The testing tools for coronavirus were delivered to 13 countries, including Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states Iran and North Korea, Russia's public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on Saturday. | The equipment manufactured in Russia can conduct over 100,000 tests for Covid-19, and has already been used to track down the first cases of the disease in Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Moscow is due to ship the equipment to Serbia, as well as to Egypt and Venezuela. | Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said earlier this week that Russia has no shortage of testing kits. A government…
rt.com/russia/483701-russia-ships-coronavirus-testing/

Spain's Covid-19 death toll jumps by over 300 in one day, number of cases nears 25,000
rt.com | 2020-03-21
The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in Spain has hit 1,326, an increase of over 300 in just one day, as the coronavirus crisis deepens in Europe. | The Spanish health ministry announced that the number of Covid-19 cases in the Iberian country climbed to 24,926 on Saturday, an increase of nearly 5,000 from Friday's tally of 19,980. | Speaking on Friday, Spanish health emergencies chief, Fernando Simon, said that the number of infected people could actually be higher than reported as the test laboratories are "overwhelmed" and unable to process all of the samples. | Spain is Europe's second-worst hit countr…
rt.com/news/483711-spain-coronavirus-death-toll-spikes/

Over 620 deaths in Italy on Friday as coronavirus fatalities surge in Europe
wsws.org | 2020-03-21
Italy, Spain, Belgium and the UK all recorded their largest death tolls in the global coronavirus pandemic in a single day, Friday.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/21/euro-m21.html

Covid-19 Updates: Death Toll Rises to 12 in Portugal
telesurenglish.net | 2020-03-21
Update: 10: 00 | Portugal: the death toll rises to 12 and 1,280 infections are reported‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã | Health Minister Marta Temido announced that Portugal has 1,280 Covid-19 cases and 12 dead. Her country expects to reach the peak of the pandemic on April 14, which is an estimate based on the evolution of the number of cases to date. | RELATED: | Cuba Restricts Entry of Foreigners Due to Coronavirus | Three percent o…
telesurenglish.net/news/Covid-19-Updates-Death-Toll-Rises-to-12-in-Portugal-20200321-0001.html

Russian economy can survive for a long time with oil at $20 per barrel
rt.com | 2020-03-21
Despite efforts by Russia to gradually cut its reliance on oil, a lengthy energy market turmoil could be challenging for the country's economy and could even result in a major economic crisis. | Oil has continued its dramatic fall this week, dropping to more than an 18-year low on Wednesday amid global recession worries and low demand. Both US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and international benchmark Brent slightly rebounded on Thursday, trading at $22.55 and $27.65 respectively. | The key issue now is not how low can crude prices plunge, but for how long this situation persists, Aleksandr Bakhtin, investment…
rt.com/business/483500-russia-economic-crisis-oil/

Liberal NPCs hate Russia, Conservative NPCs hate China
Caitlin A. Johnstone | mronline.org | 2020-03-21
The frenzied, shrieking hysteria I'm witnessing right now among Trump's base regarding China looks and moves in the exact same way the mental zombification of Russia hysteria looked and moved when it began tearing through rank-and-file Democrats in late 2016 and early 2017. The seething, screaming vitriol I get from the MAGA crowd on social […] | Source…
mronline.org/2020/03/21/liberal-npcs-hate-russia-conservative-npcs-hate-china/

Recession 'INEVITABLE' in Germany, Bundesbank chief warns as country mulls lockdown amid coronavirus pandemic
rt.com | 2020-03-21
The coronavirus pandemic will trigger a serious downturn in the German economy, European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member and Deutsche Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann has said. | Recession in Germany is "now inevitable," Weidmann told Die Welt newspaper in an interview published on Saturday. | When asked how bad the economic downturn will be, Weidemann said that all efforts first must be focused on stopping the spread on the coronavirus with steps such as social distancing. He also noted that "drastic measures" like curfew restrictions may be considered by the government. | The global economy took a…
rt.com/business/483696-germany-recession-coronavirus-pandemic/

[Editorial] COVID-19: protecting health-care workers
The Lancet | thelancet.com | 2020-03-21
Worldwide, as millions of people stay at home to minimise transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, health-care workers prepare to do the exact opposite. They will go to clinics and hospitals, putting themselves at high risk from COVID-2019. Figures from China's National Health Commission show that more than 3300 health-care workers have been infected as of early March and, according to local media, by the end of February at least 22 had died. In Italy, 20% of responding health-care workers were infected, and some have died.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30644-9/fulltext?rss=yes

Italian health care workers speak out on coronavirus pandemic
wsws.org | 2020-03-21
The health care system in Italy, now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is under unbearable strain amid an exponential increase in infections and deaths.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/21/ital-m21.html

Italian crematoriums running out of space as MILITARY patrols enforce quarantine in world's DEADLIEST coronavirus hotspot (VIDEOS)
rt.com | 2020-03-21
With Italy taking China's place as the top Covid-19 epicenter, the country is struggling to keep up with the number of new deaths, as morgues quickly fill to capacity and the army has been called in to enforce a national lockdown. | …
rt.com/news/483693-italy-coronavirus-crematorium-military/

COVID-USA: Targeting Italy and South Korea
Larry Romanoff | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-21
A high-level Italian virologist, Giuseppe Remuzzi, has published papers in the Lancet and other articles in which he states facts not hitherto known. (1) |
The doctor stated that Italian physicians now recall having seen: | "a very strange and very severe | …
globalresearch.ca/covid-usa-targeting-italy-and-south-korea/5707042

Italy coronavirus death toll hits 4,825 as 793 die in ONE DAY in biggest daily increase
rt.com | 2020-03-21
The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in Italy has nearly reached 5,000, as health authorities reported on Saturday that another 793 people have fallen victim to the coronavirus. | Saturday's staggering increase of nearly 20 percent is by far the largest daily rise since the outbreak began a month ago. | Officials announced that 4,825 people have died from the disease in the Mediterranean nation, which surpassed China to become the worst-hit country in the world on Thursday. | The total number of cases across Italy rose to 53,578, an increase of over 5,000 from a previous tally of 47,021. | The worst-affect…
rt.com/news/483736-italy-coronavirus-death-toll/

Coronavirus death toll in Italy's Lombardy surpasses 3,000 as 546 more perish
rt.com | 2020-03-21
The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in the worst hit Italian region of Lombardy has surpassed 3,000, as the latest statistics show that 546 more people have fallen victim to the virus. | The region in northern Italy has been ravaged by the disease, with more people dying in that area than any country in the world except China. Officials announced on Saturday that a total of 3,095 people have now died from the illness. | The shocking figures come hot on the heels of Italy announcing that it had recorded its worst day for Covid-19 deaths, when 627 people died across the country between Thursday and Friday.
rt.com/news/483732-lombardy-death-toll-passes-3000/

Italy's Misleading Figures on the C-Virus
repost | indybay.org | 2020-03-21
In addition to false positives from the C-virus testing kits, we have these figures from Italy's Italian Institute of Health (ISS):…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/03/20/18831691.php

Cristiano Ronaldo's mother speaks of 'difficult days' as she posts emotional message upon release from hospital
rt.com | 2020-03-21
Maria Dolores, mother of Juventus star Cristinao Ronaldo, had been in hospital since a March 3 stroke and has issued an emotional message on social media after being given a clean bill of health by Portuguese doctors. | The 65-year-old was discharged from a medical facility on Saturday after suffering from a ischemic stroke, a condition caused by a clot blocking a blood vessel to the brain. | Her superstar son had flown to the hospital in Madeira soon after hearing the news, where he has stayed during the coronavirus outbreak which has ravaged Italy, and was seen wearing protective clothing, such as masks and…
rt.com/sport/483726-cristiano-ronaldo-mother-hospital-release/

Turkey's coronavirus measures: billions for business, crumbs for workers
wsws.org | 2020-03-21
Before this program was announced, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Turkey was 97; it has now risen to 670.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/21/turk-m21.html

'We are not deserters!' French construction union chief hits back at labor minister after accusation of 'defeatism' on Covid-19
rt.com | 2020-03-21
The chief of France's largest construction association has voiced his disdain after a top labor official said businesses are too quick to shut down work amid the Covid-19 pandemic that is becoming more deadly by the day. | Jacques Chanut, the president of the French Federation of Construction (FFB), the country's biggest building industry union, slammed Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud for her "contempt" towards construction companies struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic. | In an op-ed for Le Figaro titled "No, Madame Penicaud, the construction workers are not deserting!" Chanut urged the government to "take…
rt.com/news/483723-france-construction-defeatism-covid19/

Iran & France conduct prisoner swap in 'act of mutual cooperation'
rt.com | 2020-03-21
Iran and France carried out a prisoner swap on Friday, Tehran has confirmed. The Islamic Republic released a French academic, Roland Marchal, who was turned over to the French Embassy in Tehran. | Hours earlier, an Iranian engineer, Jalal Rohollahnejad, who was detained by France last year under a US extradition warrant, was freed by French authorities. | Iran had previously accused Paris of holding the Iranian national without due process. France made similar allegations regarding Tehran's detention of Marchal, with the issue straining bilateral relations. | A spokesman for the Iranian judiciary hailed the ex…
rt.com/newsline/483702-iran-france-prisoner-swap-cooperation/

'Not sure we're NOT infecting people,' French police union tells RT as govt fails to provide protection against Covid-19
rt.com | 2020-03-21
Police could be spreading coronavirus instead of enforcing the lockdown in France due to a lack of masks and gloves, a police union spokesperson told RT after the government was accused of not issuing protective gear to officers. | "Security officers, police and other people, who uphold law and order in the country, need to be protected. This virus doesn't distinguish between police, medics and other citizens," Christophe Crepin, spokesperson for the law enforcement union, France Police

Thousands of French citizens ignore quarantine as cops issue nearly 39,000 citations for violating lockdown
rt.com | 2020-03-21
French law enforcers have slapped fines on tens of thousands of uncooperative citizens, less than a week after the government introduced restrictions on non-essential travel and business in an effort to combat Covid-19. | The Ministry of Interior disclosed on Saturday that police across the country had carried out 867,695 inspections to ensure that people using transport or participating in other restricted activities had good reason to do so. As a result, cops reported some 38,994 instances of non-compliance resulting in fines between Tuesday and Friday. French authorities have also warned that they will beco…
rt.com/news/483722-france-fines-police-coronavirus-lockdown/

Coronavirus Fallout in Russia: Which Industries Will Benefit in Quarantine Era?
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
On 11 March, the World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, urging all countries to activate and scale up emergency response mechanisms.
sputniknews.com/russia/202003211078656205-coronavirus-fallout-in-russia-which-industries-will-benefit-in-quarantine-era/

Best Hits: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's Greatest Achievements and Public Gaffes as He Turns 70
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
Russia's top diplomat has earned the respect of his colleagues both at home and abroad for his professionalism and the love of the public – mostly due unexpected gaffes rarely heard from people in his profession.
sputniknews.com/russia/202003211078055197-best-hits-russian-foreign-minister-lavrovs-greatest-achievements-and-public-gaffes-as-he-turns-70/

Moscow Blasts US Statements About Russia's Alleged 'Energy Weapons' as Insinuation
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
The US recently reiterated its criticism of Russia's sale of energy resources, calling its actions "malign" amid the ongoing dive in oil prices caused by the collapse of the OPEC+ deal.
sputniknews.com/world/202003211078656020-moscow-blasts-us-statements-about-russias-alleged-energy-weapons-as-insinuation/

'Outstanding Diplomat and Mr No': Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Turns 70
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is one of the longest-serving Russian cabinet members and has been steering the country's diplomacy at the helm of the Foreign Ministry since 2004, turns 70 on 21 March.
sputniknews.com/photo/202003211078655791-russian-foreign-minister-sergei-lavrov-turns-70/

Giant Cloud of Smoke Rises Over Moscow Region Due to Fire at Aluminium Plant – Photo, Video
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
According to emergency services, the incident occurred at an industrial building belonging to an aluminium plant in the city of Dmitrov. At the moment, the conflagration is considered to be very hazardous, as it has spread to 80 percent of the building.
sputniknews.com/russia/202003211078653538-fire-in-moscow-region-devastates-industrial-building-engulfing-48000-square-metres/

Moscow Calls on Washington to Lift Sanctions Against Iran Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow calls on the United States to abandon its unilateral sanctions against Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday.
sputniknews.com/world/202003211078656955-moscow-calls-on-washington-to-lift-sanctions-against-iran-amid-covid-19-pandemic/

Munich's Marienplatz Deserted Amid Coronavirus Lockdown – Video
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
Bavaria became the first region in Germany to introduce a lockdown after Minister-President Markus Soeder announced an almost complete shutdown of public life to curb the infection.
sputniknews.com/europe/202003211078653461-munichs-marienplatz-deserted-amid-coronavirus-lockdown—video/

North Macedonia's Leader Signs Final NATO Accession Document
sputniknews.com | 2020-03-21
BELGRADE (Sputnik) – North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski has signed the final document for the Balkan country's entry into NATO.
sputniknews.com/europe/202003211078654226-north-macedonias-leader-signs-final-nato-accession-document/

Slovak parties sign government coalition deal
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
Slovakia's incoming prime minister, Igor Matovic, the leader of the Ordinary People (OLANO) party that won a February election, signed a coalition deal with three other parties on Saturday.Slovak President Zuzana Caputova is due to appoint a new centre-right government led by Matovic later in the day. | …
yenisafak.com/en/world/slovak-parties-sign-government-coalition-deal-3514576

Portugal's death toll from coronavirus doubles to 12
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in Portugal doubled overnight to 12, the country's national health authority DGS said on Saturday.The number of confirmed cases rose to 1,280 from 1,059 the previous day, it said, adding that 35 people were in intensive care. Portugal declared a state of emergency to stem the spread of the virus on Wednesday.
yenisafak.com/en/world/portugals-death-toll-from-coronavirus-doubles-to-12-3514586

Russia's top carmaker Avtovaz reports first coronavirus cases
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
Russia's largest carmaker Avtovaz reported the first two cases of the coronavirus among its workers, it said on Saturday.Russia, which has so far reported 253 cases of the virus and one death, has introduced a raft of economic and social measures to limit its spread.Avtovaz's factory, which employs around 35,000 workers in Russia's Volga city of Togliatti, does not plan to stop production, the representative, who asked not to be named, said. There have been coronavirus cases confirmed at Togliatti before Avtovaz."The situation is under control," he added. "Everything is working, is on schedule."Moscow has suspend…
yenisafak.com/en/world/russias-top-carmaker-avtovaz-reports-first-coronavirus-cases-3514585

Cooperation with OPEC 'meaningless': Rosneft CEO
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
Cooperation between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-OPEC oil producing countries has become meaningless, according to the head of Russian energy giant Rosneft.Due to both U.S. sanctions and COVID-19, the OPEC agreement means little, Igor Sechin told Russia 24 TV late Friday."Cooperation between OPEC and some non-OPEC crude oil producer countries has now lost meaning. The reasons for the state of the political and consumer market are now more meaningful," Sechin said.Sechin, one of the figures behind Russia's decision to withdraw from OPEC, said Russia has to maintain its…
yenisafak.com/en/economy/cooperation-with-opec-meaningless-rosneft-ceo-3514583

Emirates suspends France, Germany, Nigeria and some US flights due to pandemic
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
Emirates, one of the world's biggest international airlines, is suspending all flights to France, Germany, Nigeria, New York and New Jersey due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to internal emails seen by Reuters.France, Germany and Nigeria flights would be suspended from March 23 until further notice, a company email said.Flights to New York JFK and New Jersey's Newark EWR would be suspended from March 24 until further notice, another company email said.The airline did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.Emirates, which has already suspended dozens of routes, said in the emails it was…
yenisafak.com/en/news/emirates-suspends-france-germany-nigeria-and-some-us-flights-due-to-pandemic-3514581

German coronavirus cases rise by 2,705 to 16,662
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has risen by 2,705 within a day to reach 16,662, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said on Saturday.It said a total of 47 people had died after testing positive, an increase of 16 from a tally of 31 published on Friday.
yenisafak.com/en/world/german-coronavirus-cases-rise-by-2705-to-16662-3514573

Turkey suspends flights to 46 more countries, bans picnics
yenisafak.com | 2020-03-21
Turkey extended measures against the coronavirus on Saturday, suspended flights with 46 more countries and banning picnics and barbecues, as the number of cases has roughly doubled every day for a week.The death toll in Turkey due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) rose to nine, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said late on Friday, after five elderly patients died of the highly contagious respiratory illness.The number of confirmed cases in the country has surged since the first case was announced last week, reaching 670 on Friday.Ankara had already banned flights with 22 countries, closed schools, cafes and bars, banne…
yenisafak.com/en/news/turkey-suspends-flights-to-46-more-countries-bans-picnics-3514582

Doctor: As Coronavirus Cases Spike Worldwide, We Need Global Cooperation to Halt Spread
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-03-20
As the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has topped 10,000, with over 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, we speak with Stanford University's global health expert Dr. Michele Barry, an infectious disease doctor. Italy has surpassed China in coronavirus deaths, and cases are rising in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, as the governor of California has ordered all 40 million residents to shelter in place.
www.democracynow.org/2020/3/20/coronavirus_dr_michele_barry

The New York Times' Insidious Ongoing Disinformation Campaign on Russia and Elections
Gareth Porter | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-20
For the past three years the new narrative of Russian interference in U.S. elections has bound corporate news media more tightly than ever to the interests of the national security state. And no outlet has pushed that narrative more aggressively …
globalresearch.ca/new-york-times-ongoing-disinformation-campaign-russia-elections/5706855

'Zajal': Composer Dave Soldier traces origin of modern song to medieval Spain
Eric A. Gordon | peoplesworld.org | 2020-03-20
In the wake of our review of his Naked Revolution: A Socialist Realist Opera, the composer, Dave Soldier, thought People's World might also be interested in his CD Zajal, an album of 11 songs performed in Hebrew, Arabic and Romance (early Spanish), and one in English. The poets in all but one song lived in …
peoplesworld.org/article/zajal-composer-dave-soldier-traces-origin-of-modern-song-to-medieval-spain/

Death at the Greek Border: Syrian Refugees Should Not Be Used as Political Pawns
Ramzy Baroud | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-20
In a surprising move, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced on February 29 that he will be re-opening his country's border to Europe, thus allowing tens of thousands of mostly Syrian refugees into Greece and other European countries. Expectedly, over 100,000 people rushed to the Ipsala border point in the Edirne province separating Turkey from…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/20/death-at-the-greek-border-syrian-refugees-should-not-be-used-as-political-pawns/

"For Unknown Reasons They Waited. And Watched"
Media Lens | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-03-20
Over the last 20 years, we have documented some shocking examples of journalistic irresponsibility, but the tweet from ITV's political editor Robert Peston on March 14 was something special. With China, South Korea, Italy, Spain and other countries in shutdown, lockdown and general medical meltdown, with the UK reeling from rising cases and deaths

Senator Burr enabled Russiagaters for years; now they're accusing him of insider trading & coronavirus lies
rt.com | 2020-03-20
Richard Burr, chair of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, has been accused of deceiving the public about the coronavirus outbreak and seeking to profit from it by dumping stocks that are crashing due to the pandemic. | Burr (R-North Carolina) found himself under attack from two directions on Thursday. Early in the day, National Public Radio ran a story based on "secret recordings" from a speech he gave in North Carolina in late February, when he gave oddly specific warnings about Covid-19 to an elite group of donors, while keeping the rest of the American public in the dark. | SCOOP: Secret recording obtain…
rt.com/usa/483567-burr-insider-trading-coronavirus/

The Baltic States Align Themselves with US-NATO against Russia ?
Lucas Leiroz de Almeida | globalresearch.ca | 2020-03-20
In 2017, RAND Corporation published in its associated media Small Wars Journal an article by the researchers Marta Kepe and Jan Osburg, outlining a strategic defense plan for the Baltic countries in the event of a Russian invasion. The authors …
globalresearch.ca/baltic-countries-interested-increase-role-international-scene/5706882

Pentagon sends 2,600 Europe-based personnel into QUARANTINE after 35 test positive for coronavirus
rt.com | 2020-03-20
Thousands of US troops and military staff based in Europe have been ordered into self-isolation after at least 35 of them tested positive for Covid-19, further complicating Washington's power projection across the Atlantic. | Some 2,600 European Command (EUCOM) troops and personnel were isolated on Friday in an effort to stem the spread of the lethal virus, following nearly three dozen positive test results. The Defense Department noted that the troops quarantined were not ill, but were isolated as a precaution due to recent travel, among other reasons. | "These individuals are not necessarily sick, but may ha…
rt.com/news/483689-us-troops-europe-coronavirus/

US to close border with Mexico for 'non-essential' travel in effort to stem coronavirus spread
rt.com | 2020-03-20
Starting Saturday, the US-Mexico border will be closed to nonessential travel in order to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, US President Donald Trump announced Friday. | The closure is open-ended and "will last as long as necessary," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added. | Trade is exempt from the restriction, which will focus on curbing tourism and recreational activities. President Trump said that Mexico is also suspending air travel from Europe. The Mexican government, however, has not yet announced a European travel ban. | "As we did with Canada, we're also working with Mexico to implement new…
rt.com/usa/483670-us-mexico-border-closure/

Last Process: 50 Postees: 2020-03-21 21:45 GMT (17:45 EST)

2020-03-20: News Headlines

Jeffrey St. Clair (2020-03-20). Roaming Charges: Always Look on the Bright Side of Death. counterpunch.org + Francesco Rondonelli, a contemporary chronicler of the Florentine plague of 1629: "And who had heard an entire city praying at the same time all together … through the tenderness it was not possible to contain the tears … and a most beautiful thing in some roads with poor people to see lights at every window;

Staff (2020-03-20). Doctor: As Coronavirus Cases Spike Worldwide, We Need Global Cooperation to Halt Spread. democracynow.org As the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has topped 10,000, with over 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, we speak with Stanford University's global health expert Dr. Michele Barry, an infectious disease doctor. Italy has surpassed China in coronavirus deaths, and cases are rising in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, as the governor of California has ordered all 40 million residents to shelter in place.

RT (2020-03-20). Martial law? Lombardy enlists military to enforce lockdown as Italy's hardest-hit region continues to reel from Covid-19. rt.com Lombardy has announced that the Italian military will work to ensure that residents are complying with a quarantine to stop the spread of coronavirus. Efforts to contain the virus have been unsuccessful, officials said. | Regional president Attilio Fontana told a news conference on Friday that the military had accepted his request to help enforce the lockdown, and that 114 soldiers tasked with keeping people indoors will be "on the ground throughout Lombardy." | He lamented that the number of military personnel was "still too little" but that it was nevertheless a positive development. | Lombardy's government…

RT (2020-03-20). European stocks surge as governments mount efforts to mitigate economic impact of coronavirus pandemic. rt.com European stock markets opened sharply higher on Friday as more central banks adopted monetary and fiscal measures to deal with the economic downturn as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. | Stocks in London jumped in early trading with the FTSE 100 index rising over five percent. Germany's DAX is gaining over six percent, while French stocks are also up by over six percent. |

RT (2020-03-20). Germany to block foreign takeovers, protect domestic companies — top politicians. rt.com Germany will protect domestic firms from foreign takeovers, two leading politicians said on Friday, after company valuations in Europe's largest economy have been hammered by the coronavirus pandemic. Ministers have already promised liquidity support to businesses, and introduced measures making it easier to reduce working hours rather than lay off workers. | Germany's blue-chip DAX index, which comprises the country's 30 largest listed corporations, has plunged by more than a third over the past month. This has increased the risk of foreign companies snapping up rivals at a discount. | "We will avoid a sell-o…

RT (2020-03-20). Germany's leading health official says decision on curfew is 'up to authorities'. rt.com The health official leading Germany's fight against coronavirus urged people on Friday to keep their distance to curb the pandemic. | However, Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute, also said it was up to the authorities to decide whether to impose a curfew to force people to follow official guidelines. | "We recommend keeping maximal distance. It is up to the authorities to decide on the measures needed to achieve that," Wieler told reporters. | He spoke after the number of German cases of Covid-19 rose by 2,958 overnight to 13,957. The number of fatalities rose by 11 to 31, according to Reute…

RT (2020-03-20). Bavaria on lockdown: First German state to 'shut down public life almost completely' for 2 weeks in bid to stop Covid-19. rt.com Bavaria will introduce tight restrictions on movement for two weeks in the hope of containing the Covid-19 pandemic that has seized Europe, making it the first German state to introduce a lockdown. | The strict measures include the closure of restaurants and bars, and bans large gatherings. People are urged to not leave their homes unless they are going to work, visiting the doctor, or buying groceries and medicine. Limited outdoor activity is still allowed but only alone or with a family member. | Minister Markus Soeder said on Friday that the lockdown, which begins at midnight, was not an "easy" decision to…

RT (2020-03-20). Germany says coronavirus LOCKDOWN will happen if people continue to socialize & Saturday's the 'decisive' test. rt.com Saturday will be the crucial day for German officials to decide whether a strict lockdown is needed to slow the spread of Covid-19 — and the decision will depend on whether people can voluntarily rein in their socializing or not. | "We will look at the behavior of the population this weekend," Angela Merkel's chief of staff Helge Braun

RT (2020-03-20). Germany seizes medical supplies headed to Switzerland as Europe scrounges for resources to fight coronavirus — report. rt.com German customs has reportedly seized face masks and other supplies destined for Switzerland, as European states struggle against the coronavirus pandemic with their limited medical equipment. | Authorities seized high-quality respiratory masks and other protective clothing for doctors and the general population during an inspection of a distribution center in Juechen, North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rheinische Post reported. US-based company 3M was reportedly planning on exporting the medical supplies to Switzerland. | Germany imposed export bans on such goods at the start of March, as part of the country's anti-c…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-03-20). Death at the Greek Border: Syrian Refugees Should Not Be Used as Political Pawns. counterpunch.org In a surprising move, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced on February 29 that he will be re-opening his country's border to Europe, thus allowing tens of thousands of mostly Syrian refugees into Greece and other European countries. Expectedly, over 100,000 people rushed to the Ipsala border point in the Edirne province separating Turkey from

RT (2020-03-20). Erdogan orders all events in Turkey postponed until end-April. rt.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decree on Friday postponing all events related to science, culture and the arts, as the country seeks to contain a surge in coronavirus cases. | Turkey's Covid-19 death toll has reached four, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Thursday. The number of confirmed cases in the country has surged since the first case was announced last week, reaching 359 on Thursday. The cases have roughly doubled every day since Sunday, Reuters reports. | Erdogan's decree, published in the Official Gazette on Friday, said all meetings and activities, indoors or outdoors, related…

RT (2020-03-20). Two arrested after botched 'Islamist attack' sees car driven into Barcelona airport (PHOTOS). rt.com Police cordoned off a section of Barcelona's El Prat airport after an apparent failed Islamist attack, in which two men drove a car through the terminal building's doors. | The Mossos d'Esquadra, Barcelona's police force, confirmed that two men attempted to storm the Terminal 1 bulking at the El Prat international airport at approximately 5am local time on Friday. | The men made it as far as the food court of the airport, reportedly shouting Islamist slogans, before they were arrested. | Technicians from Spain's bomb squad Tedax were also deployed to investigate the vehicle which was found to not contain any e…

Eric A. Gordon (2020-03-20). 'Zajal': Composer Dave Soldier traces origin of modern song to medieval Spain. peoplesworld.org In the wake of our review of his Naked Revolution: A Socialist Realist Opera, the composer, Dave Soldier, thought People's World might also be interested in his CD Zajal, an album of 11 songs performed in Hebrew, Arabic and Romance (early Spanish), and one in English. The poets in all but one song lived in …

RT (2020-03-20). US to close border with Mexico for 'non-essential' travel in effort to stem coronavirus spread. rt.com Starting Saturday, the US-Mexico border will be closed to nonessential travel in order to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, US President Donald Trump announced Friday. | The closure is open-ended and "will last as long as necessary," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added. | Trade is exempt from the restriction, which will focus on curbing tourism and recreational activities. President Trump said that Mexico is also suspending air travel from Europe. The Mexican government, however, has not yet announced a European travel ban. | "As we did with Canada, we're also working with Mexico to implement new…

RT (2020-03-20). EasyJet to ground most of its fleet, as coronavirus slaughters airline industry. rt.com British budget airline EasyJet will ground the majority of its fleet, in response to a wave of travel restrictions across Europe. The airline industry as a whole has been pummeled by the global Covid-19 pandemic. | In a statement on Friday, the company said that the majority of its 300-plus fleet will be grounded from Tuesday onwards. After finishing up its remaining schedule of rescue and repatriation flights, EasyJet said it will operate a minimum schedule of essential flights on some UK routes. | These flights will account for only 10 percent of the airline's usual capacity, the statement read. | Also on rt…

RT (2020-03-20). –°hina reports record number of imported Covid-19 cases from US & Europe as global death toll exceeds 10,000. rt.com China may have managed to contain the coronavirus at home, but it's not over the hump yet. There's danger of a return of the deadly disease as the number of infected travelers entering the country reaches record levels. | The Chinese authorities have done huge work since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in Wuhan in late December. The blow was hard as 3,248 have died and 80,967 were infected, but for the last two days there was not a single domestically transmitted coronavirus case in the country. | But as the situation improved, many Chinese expatriates, including students, rushed back home to escape the corona…

RT (2020-03-20). WHO welcomes 'hope' as Wuhan reports no new coronavirus cases — But deaths in Europe hit horrifying new record. rt.com The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the reduction of Covid-19 cases in the Chinese city of Wuhan "provides hope for the rest of the world." The comments come as the virus takes a terrible toll in Europe.

RT (2020-03-20). 'Wait… what?': Fans baffled as UEFA says NEXT YEAR's European Championships will keep Euro 2020 title. rt.com UEFA chiefs have caused confusion after initially announcing that Euro 2020 would retain its title despite being postponed until next year due to the coronavirus crisis. | Euro 2020 was due to take place in several cities across Europe this summer but the decision was made to postpone the competition by 12 months due to the developing coronavirus crisis, which has largely cancelled or postponed the sporting landscape across the globe. | It…

RT (2020-03-20). International Atomic Energy Agency exposed to Covid-19 as staff member tests positive. rt.com A case of the novel coronavirus has been identified in a staff member at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, the United Nations has said. | The IAEA implemented measures last week allowing personnel at the Vienna center to work remotely from March 16 in line with guidance from Austrian authorities. | The IAEA said earlier this month it would provide diagnostic kits, equipment and training in nuclear-derived detection techniques to countries in need of assistance as the virus spreads rapidly around the world. | There are currently more than 240,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 worldwide and…

RT (2020-03-20). Russia testing MULTIPLE prototype Covid-19 vaccines. rt.com Russia's research center of virology and biotechnology, known as the Vector Institute, is testing multiple different vaccine prototypes against Covid-19 in a race to find a cure for the virus behind a global pandemic. | This week, it "began immunogenicity studies in sensitive laboratory animals… of all developed vaccine prototypes," The composition, dose, route of administration of the future vaccine will be determi…

RT (2020-03-20). Top Doctor at Moscow's leading disease hospital says current Covid-19 crisis will likely last SIX MONTHS. rt.com Coronavirus panic is already threatening a worldwide economic disaster, as millions are forced to live under lockdown. This has left many people wondering how long we can expect these circumstances to endure. | "When I call my parents, I say jokingly: 'see you in September,'" Denis Protsenko has told RT. He's the head doctor of Moscow's main disease hospital in Kommunarka. | Protsenko believes that while the pandemic may slow in summer, it's more like it will be autumn before the siege will be lifted. If the country has a similar experience to China, then the spread will decline in May or June, he believes, bu…

RT (2020-03-20). Coronavirus KO: Russia's Kovalev shares protective suit training video days after Barrera fight canceled (VIDEO). rt.com The outbreak of COVID-19 hasn't just left the sporting calendar decimated, it has also made it far more difficult for top level athletes to train – with certain exceptions. | Golden Boy Promotions announced on Tuesday that they were to cancel the April 25 boxing card at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, which was to feature Sergey Kovalev taking on Sullivan Barrera as more and more regions within the United States crack down on public gatherings in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. | It was to be the Russian former world champion's first bout since losing by 11th-round knockout to Canelo…

RT (2020-03-20). Oil price crash not catastrophic for Russian economy — Kremlin. rt.com The current turmoil on the global oil market is not disastrous for Russia, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, noting the country has a safety cushion. | Russia holds vast gold and foreign exchange reserves to stabilize the economy in times of economic uncertainty. The country's total gold holdings amounted to 73.2 million troy ounces (2,276.8 tons) as of February 1, and are worth around $116 billion, while the country's total reserves have recently eclipsed $580 billion, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Russia. | "Certainly, the price situation is unpleasant… But…

RT (2020-03-20). Stanford Professor Michael McFaul dunks on Khamenei… by puzzling over why Iran doesn't use Gregorian calendar. rt.com Ex-ambassador Michael McFaul has taken to Twitter to express astonishment over the start of the Iranian New Year, leading to speculation that he might not know that there are non-Gregorian calendars out there. | The former US envoy to Russia and current Stanford academic found it fitting to mock Iran's supreme leader for commenting on the start of the Iranian (or Persian) New Year, Nowruz. In his tweet, Ali Khamenei had congratulated his country for becoming more self-reliant in the face of US sanctions, but urged for further production boosts in 1399 to help the Islamic Republic recover from Washington's econ…

RT (2020-03-20). New statue of WWII hero Marshal Zhukov near Red Square stuns Muscovites, but officials say it's temporary. rt.com Marshal Georgy Zhukov was the most famous Nazi hunter of them all, leading the Red Army all the way to Berlin as it crushed the Germans in WWII. However, his Moscow monument has long been considered a tad lame. | Erected in 1995 by order of then-president Boris Yeltsin to mark the 50th anniversary of the victory, it was initially planned to place the statue in Red Square, but this idea fell through as the entire area is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. | The statue has been repeatedly criticized for being poorly proportioned and featuring an inaccurate representation of a horse. Those familiar with…

RT (2020-03-20). Senator Burr enabled Russiagaters for years; now they're accusing him of insider trading & coronavirus lies. rt.com Richard Burr, chair of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, has been accused of deceiving the public about the coronavirus outbreak and seeking to profit from it by dumping stocks that are crashing due to the pandemic. | Burr (R-North Carolina) found himself under attack from two directions on Thursday. Early in the day, National Public Radio ran a story based on "secret recordings" from a speech he gave in North Carolina in late February, when he gave oddly specific warnings about Covid-19 to an elite group of donors, while keeping the rest of the American public in the dark. | SCOOP: Secret recording obtain…

RT (2020-03-20). Russia's gold & near-zero debt give it best chance of thriving in post-coronavirus apocalypse — Max Keiser. rt.com The coronavirus pandemic has popped a quadrillion-dollar financial bubble and we can expect a very deep and prolonged period of adjustment, RT's veteran business commentator Max Keiser believes. | The financial crisis, which many believe we have just entered, stems from the times of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, with the establishment of 'neoliberal' policies "that enriched bankers and destroyed workers by giving bankers free reign to borrow and speculate without oversight or accountability," Keiser told RT. Now, governments will have to adjust to a new reality, and having a low debt and massive reserve…

RT (2020-03-20). Paris police restrict movements and GATHERINGS in city center ahead of weekend. rt.com Police in Paris have tightened restrictions in the French capital, banning movement and gatherings at prominent locations in the city center ahead of the weekend. | The new measures apply to the popular promenades on the left and right banks of the river Seine, Invalides and the Champ De Mars park around the Eiffel Tower. They come into effect immediately and will be in place throughout the weekend. | For 70 straight weekends Yellow Vest protesters have gathered in cities around France on Saturdays to protest against the policies of President Emmanuel Macron. | The prefecture said that too many people were fre…

RT (2020-03-20). France is only at start of coronavirus crisis, President Macron warns. rt.com France is only at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis and is in a race to curb its progress, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. | "We are at the start of this crisis. We have taken exceptional measures to absorb this first wave, but we've started a race against the virus," the president said at the beginning of a crisis meeting at the Interior Ministry. | "We must react a great deal and reorganize ourselves at every moment. We need to anticipate," Reuters quoted him as saying.

RT (2020-03-20). About 130,000 French nationals trying to return home — FM. rt.com France is trying to facilitate the repatriation of 130,000 of its nationals stuck overseas due to the coronavirus outbreak, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said. | "The fundamental principle is that for the 130,000, we want to bring them back to the national territory, but we ask them to be calm and patient," Le Drian told France Info radio on Friday, adding that it would be up to them to pay for their return tickets. | The minister urged the more than three million French expatriates to stay where they are. | He also warned that the government was ready to toughen up restrictions in France to limit pe…

RT (2020-03-20). Finland scoffs at WHO's coronavirus testing protocol, suggests organization doesn't understand how pandemics work. rt.com A senior Finnish health official has dismissed a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory to test as many people as possible for coronavirus, arguing that such a measure would be completely illogical when combating a pandemic. | Finland's head of health security, Mika Salminen, took aim at the notion that stopping the spread of Covid-19 requires testing on a mass-scale. | "We don't understand the WHO's instructions for testing. We can't fully remove the disease from the world anymore," she said, adding: "If someone claims that, they don't understand pandemics." | Citing limited supplies, Finland has narrowed c…

Staff (2020-03-20). Headlines for March 20, 2020. democracynow.org Worldwide COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 10,000 as Italian Nurses "Stop Counting the Dead", Refugee Groups Warn of COVID-19 "Carnage" in Camps Housing Millions of Refugees, Coronavirus Multiplies Across Australia, Latin America, Africa and Middle East, California Gov. Gavin Newsom Issues Statewide "Stay at Home" Order for 40 Million, New York Mayor Calls on Trump to Mobilize Military to Aid Overwhelmed Hospitals, Georgia State Legislators Urged to Self-Quarantine; Spring Break Revelers Party On in Florida, Demands Grow to Empty ICE Jails as NJ Detention Center Worker Tests Positive, Trump Blasts "Corrupt" Media at Ramb…

Gareth Porter (2020-03-20). The New York Times' Insidious Ongoing Disinformation Campaign on Russia and Elections. globalresearch.ca For the past three years the new narrative of Russian interference in U.S. elections has bound corporate news media more tightly than ever to the interests of the national security state. And no outlet has pushed that narrative more aggressively …

repost (2020-03-20). Italy's Misleading Figures on the C-Virus. indybay.org In addition to false positives from the C-virus testing kits, we have these figures from Italy's Italian Institute of Health (ISS):…

teleSUR (2020-03-20). Cuba Sends 53 Doctors and Nurses to Fight Covid-19 in Italy. telesurenglish.net Cuban health authorities announced on Thursday that the country will send 53 health professionals to Lombardy, Italy, to help contain the new coronavirus pandemic. | RELATED: | The 53 doctors and nurses have experience in caring for these types of diseases. In 2014, they traveled to Sierra Leone in West Africa to fight the Ebola virus. | According to Cuban authorities, the arrival in Lombardy will take place…

Julian Vigo (2020-03-20). What We Must Learn From Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. dissidentvoice.org One of the major concerns about COVID-19 in northern Italy after concern for the physically infirm and elderly is the impact treating patients will have on the healthcare system. The healthcare system in many northern Italian regions is already at a breaking point as within the first twenty days of the outbreak over 10,000 infections …

WSWS (2020-03-20). Italian army drafted to transport corpses as coronavirus deaths surge in Europe. wsws.org Health systems in Italy, the European epicenter of the disease, are so overwhelmed that they cannot process the corpses of the dead, let alone tend to the sick.

WSWS (2020-03-20). Coronavirus crisis cripples Italy's health care system. wsws.org Italy now counts more deaths from the coronavirus pandemic than any other country in the world.

WSWS (2020-03-20). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Workers in Iran and Italy, two countries heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, have staged job action over work exposure to the disease, while South African transport workers have issued a strike threat over failed contract talks.

Kit Knightly (2020-03-20). Italy's Institute of Health (ISS) Report: 99% of Deaths Attributed to Covid-19 Deaths Had "Pre-existing Serious Illness" globalresearch.ca Anything up to 99.2% of all of Italy's recent Covid19-associated deaths could have been caused by pre-existing chronic conditions, according to a report released by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian Institute of Health, ISS) | The report was translated and …

Staff (2020-03-20). As Coronavirus Cases Spike Worldwide, We Need Global Cooperation to Halt Spread. truthout.org As the worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has topped 10,000, with over 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, we speak with Stanford University's global health expert Dr. Michele Barry, an infectious disease doctor. Italy has surpassed China in coronavirus deaths, and cases are rising in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, as the governor of California has ordered all 40 million residents to shelter in place. | TRANSCRIPT: | AMY GOODMAN: The worldwide death toll fr…

Alessandro Delfanti (2020-03-20). Workers and the Virus: Radical Lessons from Italy in the Age of COVID-19. globalresearch.ca In the face of the mounting

WSWS (2020-03-20). Syriza leader Tsipras offers collaboration with New Democracy against refugees and Turkey. wsws.org Tsipras is signing off on a policy of brutal repression of refugees waged jointly by the government, fascist thugs who have benefited most from the stoking up of chauvinism and xenophobia, and the European Union.

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2020-03-20). The Baltic States Align Themselves with US-NATO against Russia ? globalresearch.ca In 2017, RAND Corporation published in its associated media Small Wars Journal an

yenisafak (2020-03-20). Germany mulls nationwide curfew to combat coronavirus. yenisafak.com The German government is weighing to impose a nationwide curfew to stem the spread of the coronavirus, local media reported on Friday.Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff Helge Braun told Der Spiegel weekly that the government would first look at the behavior of the population this weekend to see whether the recently issued restrictions were followed."Saturday is a crucial day. We have our eye on that day in particular," he said.Merkel is scheduled to meet on Sunday with premiers of 16 German federal states to review anti-coronavirus measures, and discuss possible further measures.Germany is the third-worst-…

yenisafak (2020-03-20). Turkish army equipped with protective gear against coronavirus. yenisafak.com Turkey on Friday distributed protective clothing, rubber gloves, and face masks among its border units to protect them from the coronavirus pandemic, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.In a statement, Turkey's Ministry of National Defense said soldiers were briefed on ways to remain protected from the virus, including the measures to be taken during contact with individuals crossing the border illegally.The ministry also posted photographs showing soldiers, donned in protective gear, patrolling and getting their temperature checked.Turkey has so far reported four deaths from COVID-19 with 359 positive cases, acc…

yenisafak (2020-03-20). Turkey 'neutralizes' senior PKK terrorist in N. Iraq. yenisafak.com Turkey earlier this month neutralized a senior PKK terrorist operating in the Qandil region of northern Iraq, security sources said on Friday. | Halide Tari was neutralized in a joint operation conducted by Turkish intelligence (MIT) and armed forces (TSK) on March 9, the sources said, requesting anonymity because they are not allowed to speak to the media. | PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terrorist attacks on Turkey. | Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured. | In its more than 3…

yenisafak (2020-03-20). Spain deaths top 1,000, cases near 20,000 due to coronavirus. yenisafak.com The coronavirus death toll in Spain climbed to 1,002 on Friday, while the number of confirmed cases in the country rose to nearly 20,000, according to a government statement.The latest figures show a dramatic surge in fatalities as there were 235 deaths reported across Spain over the past 24 hours.Just a week ago, the death toll in the entire country was 102.The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Spain also continues to skyrocket, reaching 19,980 on Friday.More than half of the patients

sputniknews (2020-03-20). Military Trucks Transport Coffins With Coronavirus Victims From Bergamo – Video. sputniknews.com Italy is currently the worst-hit country in Europe, with at least 41,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and a death toll of over 3,400, some 150 more than in China. Rome has had to implement strict quarantine measures to combat the infection and numerous other countries have imposed travel bans on Italy.

sputniknews (2020-03-20). Coronavirus-Induced Measures Cause YouTube to Temporarily Axe High Quality Videos in EU. sputniknews.com As countries have started to tighten quarantine measures amid the spread of the novel coronavirus and citizens have been advised to stay home all over Europe, streaming platforms are facing an Internet overload.

Last Process: 50 Citations: 2020-03-21 00:15 GMT (20:15 EST)

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