RT (2020-04-10). US reports nearly 1,800 coronavirus fatalities in 24 hours, as death rate slows after 2 days of back-to-back records. rt.com Nearly 1,800 people died in the US after contracting the coronavirus on Thursday, a tally by John Hopkins University suggests. The overall US death toll stands at just over 16,500 as it continues to lead the world in cases. | The US, which according to various projections is nearing the peak of its outbreak, registered 1,783 deaths from the virus in a single day, according to data aggregated by the university. | While some models — such as one provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) — forecast that the US should still expect the pinnacle of the outbreak to come later this w…

RT (2020-04-09). Iran releases \'political prisoners\' amid Covid-19 outbreak, while virus-stricken UK keeps Assange behind bars. rt.com Tehran has released an Iranian national seen as a political prisoner in the UK as it fights the coronavirus. British activists and media rushed to say Iran\'s move was not enough — while being blind to a bigger problem at home.

RT (2020-04-09). Australian MPs call for release of Julian Assange to home detention as Covid-19 \'rapidly spreads\' in UK prisons. rt.com There are new calls from Australia to release Julian Assange from prison over Covid-19 fears. Two MPs, supported on Twitter by the whistleblower\'s mother, sent letters to UK authorities calling for his release to home detention. | Australian MPs Andrew Wilkie and George Christensen, co-chairs of the Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Group, wrote to UK Commons Justice Committee Chair Bob Neill MP and Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland MP calling for \"urgent\" consideration of Assange\'s case in light of the fact that Covid-19 is \"rapidly spreading\" in British prisons. | COVID-19 is in the UK\'s p…

RT (2020-04-09). Saudi-led coalition begins Yemen ceasefire. rt.com A nationwide ceasefire in response to the global coronavirus outbreak went into effect in Yemen on Thursday. | A Saudi-led coalition fighting against Yemen\'s Houthi movement announced overnight it would halt military operations from 0900 GMT for two weeks in support of United Nations efforts to end the conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people, Reuters said. | The Houthi leadership has yet to announce whether the movement, which controls the capital Sanaa and most major urban centers in Yemen, would follow suit in what would be the first major breakthrough in peace efforts since late 2018. | The coalit…

RT (2020-04-09). Trump says he had 'a very good call' with Putin & Saudi King, says OPEC+ \'getting close\' to historic deal. rt.com US President Donald Trump said that he had a \"very good talk\" with his Russian and Saudi counterparts amid reports oil producers are about to reach a deal to cut output. Trump warned of major layoffs if it falls flat. | \"The conversation was very good. They\'re getting close to a deal.\" the president said at a White House briefing on Thursday, adding that an announcement on the talks could come sometime in the next day. | Trump did not specify what oil price would be needed to keep the American shale oil industry afloat, however, stating only that \"we need a minimum number so these companies don\'t go out of bus…

RT (2020-04-09). OPEC+ reach deal to cut production by 10mn barrels per day, ending price war that devastated oil market – reports. rt.com Representatives of oil-producing countries have reportedly reached a tentative agreement on limiting production, hoping to boost the price of crude that plummeted after a Saudi push to flood the market and Covid-19 lockdowns. | OPEC+ countries reportedly agreed to scale back output by 10 million barrels per day starting on the first day of May, after an hours-long teleconference on Thursday, Reuters reported citing an OPEC statement. The cuts will slowly reduce over time, easing to 8 million bpd after two months until the end of 2020, and relaxing further in the months afterward. | The organization has yet to…

RT (2020-04-09). Oil prices surge amid report Russia, OPEC & allied producers agree historic output cuts. rt.com Crude prices jumped 12 percent on Thursday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and major producers led by Russia agreed to cut output by 20 million barrels a day, according to Reuters sources. | US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) surged 12 percent on the report of collective cuts to $28.36 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude gained 8.5 percent to $35.79 a barrel. | Oil prices have collapsed after OPEC+ countries disagreed on production cuts last month, with Russia refusing to lower output. In response, Saudi Arabia ramped up its production to a record high of more…

RT (2020-04-09). Oil prices slide as OPEC+ closes in on record production cut deal. rt.com Following a brief surge, crude prices slumped again on Thursday, while OPEC and major producers led by Russia are still discussing a new output cut deal, expected to be a record one. | The prices surged by some 12 percent on reports that Russia and Saudi Arabia managed to agree on new production cuts. | The growth, however, was short lived and the prices fell back some ten percent later in the day, as it emerged that no agreement between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-cartel countries has been achieved. | The long-awaited meeting of the OPEC+ ministers took place on Thursd…

Michael D. Yates (2020-04-09). A note from Michael D. Yates. mronline.org Killers rule us. Trump, Pence, Kushner, and all the others. What can we call them but murderers? If actions speak louder than words, then they are screaming at us, \"Die, we don\'t care.\"

RT (2020-04-09). \'We have too many ships at sea\': Pentagon says more Theodore Roosevelt-level coronavirus outbreaks are possible. rt.com New large-scale coronavirus outbreaks within the US military are certainly possible given the amount of assets it has deployed worldwide, the Pentagon has said, adding it was getting ready to operate in the \"Covid environment.\" | \"I think it is not a good idea to think that the [Theodore Roosevelt outbreak] is a one of a kind issue,\" Air Force General John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a press briefing on Thursday. | We have too many ships at sea, we have too many deployed capabilities. There\'s 5,000 sailors on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. To think it will never happen a…

Al Neal (2020-04-09). Stay safe, stay well; Protect democracy, vote by mail. peoplesworld.org If Wisconsin\'s primary election on Tuesday taught us anything, it\'s this: The ability to thwart the democratic process and suppress the votes of Black, Latino, and other minority communities is even easier when crisis strikes. Ignore the federal medical advice to prevent the spread of coronavirus, close hundreds of polling places, and you\'re sure to …

Staff (2020-04-09). Suspending the Campaign, Not the Movement: Sanders Pulls Out of 2020 Race But Will Stay on Ballot. democracynow.org Senator Bernie Sanders has suspended his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, making former Vice President Joe Biden the presumptive nominee to face Donald Trump in November. Sanders says he will stay on the ballot in remaining primary races and continue to assemble delegates. We play highlights from Sanders\'s speech to supporters in a live stream on Wednesday. \"Together, we have transformed American consciousness as to what kind of nation we can become, and have taken this country a major step forward in the never-ending struggle for economic justice, social justice, racial justice and envir…

Staff (2020-04-09). \"Exposing U.S. Racism in a Stark New Way\": COVID-19 Kills Disproportionate Number of Black Americans. democracynow.org We speak with family physician and epidemiologist Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones about how the coronavirus is taking a devastating toll on black Americans, who are disproportionately dying from the virus across the country as a result of entrenched racial inequality. Black Americans are more likely to have chronic health problems and less likely to have insurance. They also make up significant numbers of frontline workers that are still going to work amid the pandemic. Jones is the former president of the American Public Health Association. Her recent piece for Newsweek magazine is headlined \"Coronavirus Disease Discri…

Staff (2020-04-09). Noam Chomsky: Bernie Sanders Campaign Didn\'t Fail. It Energized Millions & Shifted U.S. Politics. democracynow.org In a new interview, world-renowned political dissident, linguist and author Noam Chomsky reflects on the significance of the Bernie Sanders campaign, calling it \"an extraordinary success\" that \"completely shifted the arena of debate and discussion\" in the United States.

Staff (2020-04-09). Naomi Klein: Sanders \"Broke the Spell\" of Neoliberalism as Trump Pushes Coronavirus Capitalism. democracynow.org We talk to journalist and activist Naomi Klein about Bernie Sanders\'s historic presidential campaign as he suspends his bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination, and about coronavirus capitalism — President Trump\'s response to the pandemic. Sanders \"opened up the window of what was possible politically in this country,\" says Klein, a senior correspondent at The Intercept, Rutgers University professor and longtime Sanders supporter.

Ezra Levin, Leah Greenberg (2020-04-09). Telling the truth about coronavirus is resistance to Trump and authoritarianism. peoplesworld.org Last week, Trump and Mitch McConnell both blamed Democrats and the impeachment trial for distracting the nation and aiding the spread of COVID-19. We know—the shamelessness of this accusation is infuriating. In light of this article, and the entire GOP response to COVID-19, the quote we\'ve been coming back to in recent days is from …

RT (2020-04-09). Unbeatable virus or false positive? Doctors alarmed after some Covid-19 patients test positive after recovering. rt.com Troublesome results from South Korea and China, showing some of the patients who recovered from the coronavirus test positive again, could throw off widely accepted strategies for battling the virus, from shutdowns to vaccines. | After about 50 recovered patients in the city of Daegu tested positive for Covid-19 again, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) launched an investigation into whether they were somehow reinfected, or if the virus had made a comeback. | \"While we are putting more weight on reactivation as the possible cause, we are conducting a comprehensive study on this,\" said…

RT (2020-04-09). Whale of a time: World\'s 2nd-largest mammals FILMED frolicking in French waters as Covid-19 lockdown limits marine traffic. rt.com As millions of people languish in coronavirus-induced lockdowns, it seems the natural world is enjoying the respite from humans, as two fin whales, second in size only to the blue whale, were spotted off the coast of France. | The pair were snapped basking in the waters off the Calanques National Park, Marseille on Tuesday by a maritime patrol keeping tabs on activity in the nature reserve. | 2 rorquals ont été observés dans le @ParcCalanqueüê≥ | Des images rares capturées par la patrouille ULAM13. Cette observation du 2ème plus grand animal au monde est un indice de + sur un potentiel ef…

RT (2020-04-09). \'Mere insinuation offends me\': Italy\'s PM Conte blasts suggestion of ulterior motive behind Russian coronavirus aid. rt.com Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has called any suggestion that Russia had an ulterior motive in sending coronavirus aid to Italy \"an insult to the Italian government,\" warning that the pandemic poses an existential threat to the EU. | Amid stalled EU relief efforts, aid and personnel arrived in Italy from China, Cuba and Russia to help Italian medical authorities fight back against the coronavirus outbreak in the country, which ravaged its northern regions and forced a total lockdown of society. | When asked if the Russian coronavirus aid, in the form of both manpower and medical equipment, was a ploy by the Kre…

RT (2020-04-09). DON'T try this at home! Man SMASHES HIS OWN FACE after attempt to shoot home workout video goes badly wrong (VIDEO). rt.com One trend we\'ve seen during the continued coronavirus lockdown is the huge amount of home workout videos being posted to social media. While many are instructive and inspiring, the one we\'re featuring here certainly isn\'t. | This particular gentleman isn\'t a celebrity. Nor is he a famous sports star. He\'s not even an Instagram \"influencer\" or \"lifestyle coach\". | Read more | | Nope, this is just a guy. In fact, he\'s not just a guy. He\'s…

Tom Coburg (2020-04-09). Analysis of Britain\'s different coronavirus counting measures shows far higher deaths. thecanary.co The number of deaths caused by coronavirus (Covid-19) is far greater than is being given out in the daily briefings, recent analysis shows. Many of these additional deaths are of older citizens.How the coronavirus deaths figures are made available: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces figures that

The Canary (2020-04-09). Nearly three in 10 firms cut jobs due to pandemic before the lockdown even kicked in. thecanary.co Almost three in 10 businesses cut jobs in the face of the coronavirus pandemic prior to the lockdown, according to official statisticians.The Office for National Statistics said 29% of the 4,598 businesses it surveyed said they had to temporarily reduce staff numbers during the period from March 9 to March 22.It added that 40% of businesses surveyed said they were confident they could continue operating during the pandemic, based on their experience over the same period, which was before the Government-mandated lockdown.The survey also revealed that 47% of firms reported that their turnover was lower than normal…

RT (2020-04-09). Russian military sends 24 troops, equipment to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help fight coronavirus. rt.com Russia will send 24 military personnel and equipment to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help fight the coronavirus, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said. | Three flights will deliver the aid on Thursday, the ministry said. The first plane has already landed at Banja Luka International Airport. It was welcomed by the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska Zeljka Cvijanovic, Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, and Russian ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina Pyotr Ivantsov. | The request for aid came from Republika Srpska, one of the political entities…

RT (2020-04-09). Vietnam: 15,000 people linked to Covid-19 hotspot at Hanoi hospital \'tested negative\'. rt.com More than 1,000 healthcare workers and 14,400 others linked to a Covid-19 outbreak at a hospital in Hanoi have tested negative for the coronavirus, the ruling body in Vietnam\'s capital said on Thursday. Bach Mai hospital, one of the country\'s biggest medical centers, has been under lockdown since March 28 after authorities became concerned that cases there would spiral out of control. | \"All 15,461 people tested negative for the virus. The outbreak in Bach Mai has been well controlled after the lockdown,\" Hanoi People\'s Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Chung said at a meeting. \"Another 9,000 people who visited or…

Miko Peled (2020-04-09). COVID-19: The Zionist Underpinnings of Israel\'s Violent Crackdown on Haredi Jews. mintpressnews.com In a conversation I had with Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro for an upcoming episode of the \"They did not get these values, of loving their guns and stealing Palestinian land, from Judaism,\" he said. He explained that Jewish people throughout history have kept to themselves, avoided violence and war, and, in fact, are prohibited by heavenly decree from sovereignty over the Holy Land. \"Establishing sovereignty in the Holy Land, from which we were expelled by the Almighty…

RT (2020-04-09). Catch me if you can! WATCH coronavirus suspect FLEE medics in Russia. rt.com A suspected coronavirus patient sparked a frantic chase by medics — in full protective gear — in the Russian city of Arzamas, as the supposed patient sprinted away from a moving ambulance, action-movie style. | The bizarre scene, seemingly lifted from a zombie flick, unfolded on Wednesday, with footage of the pursuit going viral across the Russian-speaking part of the internet. The short clip shows a man being chased by medics wearing white biohazard suits. | –°–ª–∞–≤–Ω—ã–π –≥–æ—Ä–&aeli…

Adriaan Alsema (2020-04-09). Colombia seeking $11B loan with IMF as coronavirus destroys budget. colombiareports.com Colombia\'s Finance Minister Alberto Carrasquilla said Tuesday he had requested the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to extend a $11 billion loan to confront the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement came days…

RT (2020-04-09). Washington fails to provide proof for alleged Moscow-backed Covid-19 disinformation campaign — Russian Foreign Ministry. rt.com Russian diplomats called on their US counterparts to provide some actual evidence of allegations circulated by American media and officials that Moscow is waging a coronavirus-themed fake news campaign — but have received none. | The fail-proof \'blame Russia\' approach persisting in the West in recent years remains baseless and without substance, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. | \"We are curiously watching the attempts by several American media, as well as by some high-ranking officials to blame Russia for conducting a certain pandemic-related disinformation campaign…

RT (2020-04-09). Gradual return to normality in Germany possible \'if infection trend continues\'. rt.com German Health Minister Jens Spahn has said the country\'s coronavirus infection numbers are showing a \"positive trend,\" and if that continues it will be possible to talk about a gradual return to normality after the Easter break. | He told the Handelsblatt newspaper that citizens sticking to the restrictions on public life over the Easter holiday was a necessary condition for a possible easing of the lockdown. | Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will re-evaluate the situation after the Easter holiday. | The German Labor Office said on Thursday that some 650,000 companies had applied for short-time work…

RT (2020-04-09). Jordan\'s govt announces a 48-hour nationwide curfew. rt.com Jordan announced a 48-hour sweeping nationwide curfew that started from Thursday midnight, in a stepped-up bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus, according to the government spokesman. | The government two weeks ago relaxed a tight curfew that allowed people to go on foot during day time to buy groceries to ease daily life for the nearly 10 million inhabitants. | Last Thursday, the kingdom imposed a 24-hour curfew to allow medical staff unimpeded entry to areas they suspect the virus is spreading in, a move which brought public life to a complete standstill, Reuters said.

RT (2020-04-09). Irish minister says people \'will have to live alongside the virus\' at some point. rt.com Ireland\'s health minister expects to be advised on Friday to keep restrictions intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus in place for a period of weeks, but he suggests the country will have to move onto a \"different terrain\" after that. | \"What\'s highly likely tomorrow is that the National Public Health Emergency Team will recommend that we continue with the very strict restrictions,\" Simon Harris told broadcaster Virgin Media. \"I expect that to be a period of weeks,\" said Harris, who ordered citizens on March 27 to stay home until at least Sunday, according to Reuters. | \"In relation to the roadmap, the…

RT (2020-04-09). \'Heal Italy\': Conte\'s govt wins Senate confidence vote on decree to help virus-hit economy. rt.com The Italian government won a confidence vote in the Senate on Thursday over an emergency decree that lays out measures worth €25 billion ($28 billion) to support an economy battered by a severe Covid-19 outbreak. | The \'Heal Italy\' package, presented by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on March 16, suspends loan and mortgage repayments for hard-hit companies and families via state guarantees for banks. It also increases funds to help firms pay workers temporarily laid off as a result of a lockdown imposed by the government to try to curb the spread the coronavirus. | Italy\'s ruling coalition, dominated by th…

RT (2020-04-09). \'Cautious hope\': Merkel says Germany\'s Covid-19 curve is \'flattening\', relaxing of lockdown might begin soon. rt.com Berlin could discuss easing restrictions on businesses and public life as early as next week, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, adding that progress has been made in the coronavirus fight but warning it could yet prove fleeting. | Berlin could discuss easing restrictions on businesses and public life as early as next week, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, adding that progress has been made in the coronavirus fight but warning it could yet prove fleeting. | \"The curve is flattening out,\" Merkel said of Germany\'s fight against Covid-19 ahead of Easter. She believes the number of new confirmed cases gives \"cause for c…

Eds. (2020-04-09). Adolf Trump goes for Venezuela: A jump into nothingness? mronline.org In the midst of a desolate scenario, when the United States has become the country with the highest number of those infected by the Coronavirus, President Donald Trump and his team of serial criminals like Elliott Abrams, Cuban-American Mauricio Claver-Carone, Marco Rubio and others, announced that their country and 22 other nations would launch a …

G. Dunkel (2020-04-09). Haiti faces a coronavirus catastrophe. workers.org The predictions are grim, and the figures are totally misleading: As of April 5, 6 p.m., Haiti reported only 21 COVID-19 cases and one death. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, reported 1,745 cases and 52 deaths. (worldometers.info/coronavirus/) Haiti has only 130 ICU beds. Dr. . . . |

The Canary (2020-04-09). \'Vitamin N\' campaign to help people get daily dose of nature during lockdown. thecanary.co People are being encouraged to connect with nature to help boost their mental health from home during the coronavirus lockdown.A coalition of nature, environment and mental health organisations have launched a campaign to help people get their \"Vitamin N\" — a daily dose of nature which can maintain wellbeing.The campaign has drawn up a series of activities, from building a bug hotel on the doorstep to bird-watching from the window and learning nature-themed yoga poses, for those in lockdown to try. | Connecting with nature makes us feel good, but we know it can be tricky from home. If you\'re feeling nature d…

RT (2020-04-09). Odisha becomes first Indian state to extend coronavirus lockdown till end of April, paving way for nation to follow suit. rt.com The government of Odisha has extended its Covid-19 lockdown until April 30 — the first of India\'s states to do so. Other parts of the country are likely to take similar measures, with the full approval of New Delhi. | The current 21-day lockdowns, which were imposed in response to the global coronavirus outbreak, are set to expire next week. But the infection is nowhere near subsiding in India, with over 5,000 identified cases and almost 150 deaths recorded so far. | Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik announced the extension on Thursday, adding that his government had advised New Delhi to make the ex…

RT (2020-04-09). CNN spreads the blame around as Democrats block Senate effort to pour more cash into small business relief program. rt.com A Senate bill to add $251 billion to the emergency small business coronavirus stimulus program met with opposition from Democrats, who tried to tack on their own agenda — but CNN did its best to cover for its political \"team.\" | A White House-backed measure to add a quarter of a trillion dollars to the small-business bailout passed last month as part of a massive coronavirus stimulus bill aimed at getting the US economy back on its feet ran aground in the Senate on Thursday, after Democrats dug their feet in to demand an additional $250 billion for hospitals and local governments, plus a 15 percent boost…

RT (2020-04-09). Poland to keep borders closed until May 3, curbs extended toward presidential election date. rt.com Polish borders will be closed until May 3 and the government will extend a lockdown for schools and businesses, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday. The decision means restrictions will be in place near the time of the presidential election planned for May 10. | The move also coincides with criticism of the government\'s plans to press ahead with the presidential election by a postal ballot, which critics say risks not being free or fair, Reuters said. The parliament has backed a plan to conduct the election by postal ballot because of the coronavirus pandemic. | Businesses will remain locked dow…

RT (2020-04-09). Fed\'s latest $2.3tn bailout unleashes it on US junk bond market while Main Street continues to languish. rt.com The Fed has unveiled yet another $2.3 trillion coronavirus bailout, revealing it will purchase even recently-downgraded junk bonds in the quest to jump-start the economy, amid worries the measure will do nothing for Main Street. | The latest liquidity blitz from the Federal Reserve, unveiled on Thursday, allows the de facto US central bank to purchase junk-rated corporate debt, so long as it was rated BBB- or above (the cutoff for what is considered investment-grade) as of March 22. So-called junk high-yield bonds are designated as such due to a high risk of default and reflect a rating agency\'s low confidence…

RT (2020-04-09). All about the haters: Behar says she can't leave 'The View' because she's a job creator for right-wing media. rt.com \'The View\' co-host Joy Behar shot down rumors she was leaving her position, confirming that mainstream US media in recent years is more about inspiring outrage with critics than thoughtful debate. | \"The rumors of my retirement have been greatly exaggerated,\" Behar said on Thursday\'s show, after being asked about rumors she was exiting \'The View\'. | Behar\'s reason for staying? The pundit says the coronavirus doesn\'t make retirement very appealing, plus she\'s a \"job creator\" for right-wing media. | Our

RT (2020-04-09). US overtakes Spain with second highest Covid-19 deaths worldwide, but Italy still holds top spot. rt.com The United States surpassed Spain\'s coronavirus death toll late Wednesday night, according to the latest figures gathered by Johns Hopkins University, putting it in second place behind Italy, which still leads the globe in fatalities. | The lethal virus has killed 14,817 patients in the US, the new data shows, edging out Spain by fewer than 50 deaths. Though Italy\'s toll of 17,669 remains the world\'s highest, the US leads all other nations in cases by far, reporting well over 430,000 infections — more than the next three countries combined. | Covid-19 has afflicted 1.5 million people worldwide since the o…

RT (2020-04-09). Our Covid-19 numbers are best in Western Europe, don't ruin it: Austrian chancellor asks people to stay home for Easter. rt.com Austria is weathering the coronavirus pandemic better than many but that\'s not an excuse to break self-isolation for Easter celebrations, despite traditions and good weather, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has warned. | \"We are a country in West Europe that has the best trend in [Covid-19] numbers. This is thanks to the self-isolation measures, further steps and participation of the population,\" Kurz said in a statement. | But Austrians should keep in mind that \"the virus is still among us\" and plan how they celebrate Easter accordingly. He asked people to refrain from customary family reunions for the celebration…

RT (2020-04-09). Rice & wheat prices surge amid fears Covid-19 lockdown may threaten global food security. rt.com Increased panic buying of food due to coronavirus lockdowns has led to price spikes for the world\'s two staple grains, rice and wheat. Importers rushed to stockpile the goods, while exporters have curbed shipments. | The price of rice has hit seven-year highs, while wheat futures have risen by around 15 percent since the second half of March. The International Grain Council expects a sharp upturn in near-term demand for rice and wheat-based foods. | According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, the price of five percent broken white rice (the industry benchmark) rose 12 percent between March 25 and April 1…

RT (2020-04-09). Finnish govt extends coronavirus-related restrictions to May 13. rt.com Finland on Thursday extended most of its restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus by one month to May 13, the government said. | It extended its ban on public meetings of more than 10 people, and the closure of public services such as libraries and schools for most students. The government had previously decided to close all restaurants until the end of May. | On Tuesday, the country\'s public health authority said it would start tracking the spread of the new coronavirus in the population with randomized antibody tests. The results will be used to help the government decide what meas…

RT (2020-04-09). Grim stability: US records almost 2,000 Covid-19 fatalities for 2nd day in a row, as death toll closes in on 15,000. rt.com With models predicting that the US is nearly at the peak of its Covid-19 death rate, the country reported almost 2,000 deaths on Wednesday, about the same number as the day prior. The US accounts for about a third of all cases.

RT (2020-04-09). UK PM Boris Johnson moved out of intensive care, will be \'closely monitored\' — Downing Street. rt.com British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has left the intensive care unit (ICU) of a London hospital where he was moved after his Covid-19 worsened on Monday, his office has said. | Downing Street issued a statement Thursday to say Johnson \"has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery.\" | The PM was \"in extremely good spirits,\" the statement added. Johnson was admitted to hospital on Sunday on the advice of his doctor, more than a week after he was diagnosed with the disease. | UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has…

RT (2020-04-09). Russia's coronavirus tally surpasses 10,000 after record daily surge, 13 more deaths. rt.com The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has broken the 10,000 barrier in Russia, with 1,459 more people testing positive in the past 24 hours, the national disease response team revealed on Thursday morning. | Officials reported that 13 more patients have died, bringing the nationwide death toll from the disease to 76. The tally of reported Covid-19 cases now stands at 10,131. | Worryingly, the curve is sharply upward. 1,175 fresh infections were recorded the previous day and 954 on Tuesday. | Of the new cases, 1,056 are in Moscow and its surrounding region, where there have been ten more deaths. Russia\'s secon…

The Canary (2020-04-09). NHS staff are having to sacrifice their family lives to protect loved ones from coronavirus. thecanary.co Some NHS workers are sending their children to live with relatives in a bid to protect their loved ones from coronavirus (Covid-19).Staff caring for coronavirus patients on the front line are fearful of catching the it themselves and potentially passing the infection on to their loved ones.In a bid to protect their families, some NHS workers have taken steps to isolate themselves outside of work.Sending children to stay with grandparents, aunts and uncles is one step some NHS staff have chosen to take. | Other NHS workers have started living in hotels, hostels and other temporary accommodation as they care for co…

RT (2020-04-09). Bolsonaro says experimental Covid-19 drug could save 'thousands of lives' & thanks India for approving exports of raw ingredients. rt.com Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has thanked Indian PM Narendra Modi after New Delhi gave the nod to continue exporting ingredients for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), stressing that the drug could save thousands of lives. | After a series of requests to the Indian leader to allow exports of HCQ — an anti-malarial drug that has shown early promise as a treatment for Covid-19 — Bolsonaro said Brazil would soon receive \"raw materials\" to continue producing the drug itself, thanking Modi for the gesture. | \"I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and to the Indian people, for this very timely help to…

RT (2020-04-08). Iran's Rouhani urges IMF to provide $5bn loan to his corona-ravaged country in defiance of US pressure. rt.com The president of Iran has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide the Islamic Republic with a much-needed loan. The US has been opposing Iran\'s request in what Tehran sees as an act of \'medical terrorism.\' | Iran applied for IMF money in mid-March as the Covid-19 pandemic was overwhelming its national healthcare system. Tehran hadn\'t asked for IMF assistance since the early 1960s and said it needed the money urgently to fight the coronavirus. The international organization, however, was not forthcoming as the US openly objected to providing any funds to Iran. | \"I urge international organiza…

The Tricontinental (2020-04-08). Dossier 27: Popular agrarian reform and the struggle for land in Brazil. mronline.org The land question is central to understanding political life and society in Brazil. The country has enormous landed estates, known as latifundios, which have their roots in the beginning of the Portuguese occupation of this part of South America at the start of the 16th century. The Portuguese seizure of this land and its conversion …

RT (2020-04-08). US smashes daily Covid-19 death record AGAIN with nearly 2,000 fatalities in 24 hours, as outbreaks accelerate beyond New York. rt.com The United States has set a new record for its daily mortality count, reporting just shy of 2,000 new deaths in the span of a single day, as fatalities in New York — the country\'s top hotspot — and beyond continue to mount.

RT (2020-04-08). Stocks drop as eurozone fails to agree new coronavirus stimulus. rt.com European stock markets traded lower on Wednesday after eurozone finance ministers failed to reach a deal on additional stimulus to weather the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. | The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell by more than one percent after Mario Centeno, who chairs the 19-member grouping, said that discussions would resume on Thursday. | \"After 16h of discussions we came close to a deal but we are not there yet,\" Centeno wrote in a tweet. | London\'s FTSE 100 declined 1.6 percent, while Germany\'s DAX slid 1.1 percent. France\'s CAC 40 has dropped almost two percent. | The euro-area group had been…

RT (2020-04-08). Covid-19 drags French economy into deep recession the likes of which it has not seen since 1945. rt.com The Bank of France said on Wednesday that the country\'s economy shrank around six percent in the first quarter of this year, its worst performance since the end of WWII. | According to official figures, the economy dropped 0.1 percent in the last three months of 2019 as the coronavirus pandemic decimated business activity. With two consecutive quarters of negative growth, the country is now technically in recession. | Economic activity plunged 32 percent in the last two weeks of March as the crisis deepened, said the French regulator. It has listed construction, transport, restaurants and lodging among the wor…

RT (2020-04-08). French Navy flagship & its ONLY carrier 'Charles de Gaulle' cuts Middle East op as DOZENS of sailors get Covid-19 symptoms. rt.com France\'s sole aircraft carrier \'Charles de Gaulle\' had to suspend its Mediterranean Sea mission and turn back to port shortly after around 40 of its crewmembers were placed under medical observation with suspected Covid-19. | All symptomatic sailors have been \"isolated\" from the rest of the crew and are being constantly monitored by medical staff, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. | They have symptoms consistent with a possible Covid-19 infection. These first symptoms have appeared recently. | The illness struck the crew when the nuclear-powered ship was making its way to the Mediterranean Sea to partici…

Sue Davis (2020-04-08). Texas ban seeks to overturn legal abortion. workers.org April 7 — The overwhelming majority of people in the U.S. are doing everything in their power to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, which is both a public health crisis and an economic disaster of worldwide proportions. But women of childbearing age, 15 to 44, in six conservative states led by . . . |

Staff (2020-04-08). \'We\'re Not Treated Like We\'re Essential. We\'re Treated Like We\'re Disposable.\'. therealnews.com Amazon is using COVID-19 rules to control their employees, not to protect them, says an Amazon worker who took part in the fourth strike at a Chicago facility.

Ted Kelly (2020-04-08). Interview: Amazon worker battles billionaire Bezos. workers.org Chris Smalls is a former Amazon worker who was fired for organizing a March 30 walkout at the JFK8 Amazon facility in Staten Island, N.Y. Bosses refused to close the facility despite confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the workers. In the aftermath of Smalls\' wrongful termination, a leaked memo from . . . |

RT (2020-04-08). Even Germans fall for multi-million-dollar scam over masks… as WHO says they DON\'T save healthy users from Covid-19. rt.com Local authorities in Germany have been left red-faced after unknown fraudsters \'sold\' them a nonexistent batch of face masks. The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, says the item is mostly useless against Covid-19. | Face masks have become a precious commodity amid the global health crisis, with countries snatching shipments from under each other\'s noses, prices skyrocketing and many opting for homemade variants. Loath to miss an opportunity for profit, however, criminal minds have found ways to dip into the burgeoning market of face protection gear as well. | North Rhine-Westphalia, the most densely-…

RT (2020-04-08). Italy closes \'unsafe ports\' to migrant ships over coronavirus. rt.com Italian ports cannot be considered safe because of the coronavirus epidemic, the government said, adding that it will not let charity migrant boats dock. | The decision was taken late on Tuesday after a ship operated by the German non-governmental group Sea-Eye picked up some 150 people off Libya and headed towards Italy, Reuters reports. | \"For the entire duration of the national health emergency caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Italian ports cannot guarantee the requisites needed to be classified and defined as a place of safety,\" the decree said. | The national emergency is set to expire on July…

RT (2020-04-08). Sweden using ice rinks and shipping containers as morgues overflow due to Covid-19 deaths. rt.com Swedish authorities are resorting to refrigerated shipping containers, ice rinks and canteen fridges to store the nation\'s dead as the Covid-19 death toll rises and burials are postponed across the country. | Long weekends such as the Easter Holidays can cause a backlog but this has been exacerbated by the coronavirus epidemic and ensuing deaths and backlog at cemeteries, many of which are closed as a precautionary measure. | In both Gothenburg and Stockholm, hospitals have resorted to renting out ice rinks and refrigerated containers for use as temporary cold storage for the deceased, while Karolinska Univers…

The Canary (2020-04-08). Still too early to ease Covid-19 lockdown, warn ministers. thecanary.co Ministers have cautioned it is still too soon to begin lifting the coronavirus lockdown, after Boris Johnson spent a second night in intensive care undergoing treatment for the disease.The prime minister\'s condition remains \"stable\", according to the latest bulletin from Downing Street issued on Tuesday evening.He is undergoing \"close monitoring\" at St Thomas\' Hospital in London after his condition worsened on Monday.Johnson had been due to oversee a three-week review of the lockdown rules — brought in last month to curb the spread of the disease.However with the number of cases continuing to rise, health mi…

RT (2020-04-08). Number of coronavirus cases across 81 Russian regions rises by record 1,175 to 8,672. rt.com The number of novel coronavirus cases in Russia has risen by 1,175 over the past day — a record daily rise — reaching 8,672 in 81 regions, according to the crisis center. | Over the past day, 86 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovering, the center said on Wednesday, adding that five patients had died. A total of 580 people have recovered in Russia to date. The total death toll in Russia is 63, officials said. | Separately, Russia\'s Consul-General in Harbin Vladimir Oschepkov told TASS on Wednesday that China\'s authorities would temporarily close the last operating passenger checkpo…

RT (2020-04-08). Lockdown in France should be extended for weeks, chief medical adviser says. rt.com France should extend its lockdown period for several weeks in order to contain the coronavirus epidemic, the chief of the medical council advising the government said on Wednesday. | Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, who heads the scientific council that advises the government about how to handle the epidemic, also said on France Info radio that as many as 17 million French people are seriously at risk from coronavirus. | The country went into lockdown on March 17, and the measure has already been extended once to April 15. On April 2, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the lockdown would probably h…

RT (2020-04-08). UN suspends deployment and rotation of peacekeeping troops worldwide due to coronavirus pandemic. rt.com The United Nations has ordered its military and police forces across the globe to suspend rotation in an effort to mitigate the spread of the deadly coronavirus. | The suspension will stay in effect until June 30, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters on Tuesday. | \"There is no movement of troops, coming in or out… A few, limited exceptions may be considered,\" Dujarric told CBS News. | The spokesperson explained that the order applies not only to formed military and police units, but to individual officers as well. | The UN currently has 13 active peacekeeping missi…

Eds. (2020-04-08). The Coronavirus is stirring the impulse to communism. mronline.org The Coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the most acute problems of our collective life, its main contradictions.

RT (2020-04-08). 'We have found more idiots': Piers Morgan slams Jose Mourinho as Spurs boss breaks isolation rules to train with players (PHOTOS). rt.com UK television host Piers Morgan has condemned Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho after he flouted coronavirus lockdown procedures to lead several Spurs players through a training session in a public park on Tuesday. | Mourinho was photographed with three of his players — Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon and Tanguy Ndombele — as he conducted the impromptu session at Monken Hadley Common in Barnet in defiance of strict governmental social distancing rules designed to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus. | A video clip posted to social media shows Mourinho, who is wearing his Tottenham training gear, wa…

Deirdre Griswold (2020-04-08). Rosemary Neidenberg: a long and valued life. workers.org Rosemary Neidenberg had reached the age of 99 before she died on March 29. But losing her then was still too soon and too sad for all her comrades, family and friends. Rosie was a treasure, a loving hug, an encyclopedia of past memories. She was beautiful in every way, . . . |

Martin Hart-Landsberg (2020-04-08). The Green New Deal and the State: Lessons from World War II—Part I. mronline.org There is growing interest in a Green New Deal, but far too little discussion among supporters about the challenging nature of the required economic transformation, the necessary role of public planning and ownership in shaping it, or the strategies necessary to institutionalize a strong worker-community voice in the process and final outcome.

Karen J. Greenberg (2020-04-08). 6 Ways Trump Is Exploiting This Pandemic For Political Gain. thenation.com 6 Ways Trump Is Exploiting This Pandemic For Political Gain…

Be A Hero Fund, MoveOn (2020-04-08). Be A Hero: COVID-19 w/ Ady Barka, Rep. A. Ocasio-Cortez, & Rahna Epting of MoveOn. indybay.org Online via Zoom…

Mirinda Crissman (2020-04-08). Migrants in detention in Texas face COVID-19. workers.org Austin, Texas Migrants being held in detention in Texas have been facing abhorrent sanitary conditions in the detention facilities long before the coronavirus pandemic began. Now that the virus is here, and threatens to infect such a vulnerable and captive population at higher rates than the general population, many migrants . . . |

repost (2020-04-08). San Diego \"Honk for Justice\" Calls for the Release of people in ICE Detention. indybay.org Author Pedro Rios serves as director of the AFSC\'s U.S./Mexico Border Program and has been on staff with AFSC since 2003. He is a steering committee member of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, which brings together over 60 organizations along the Southern border working to support migrants and border communities.

Quiver Watts, Street Sheet (2020-04-08). San Francisco: Mayor Breed Opts for Mass Indoor Camps. indybay.org While hundreds of advocates have been desperately contacting Mayor London Breed imploring her to place homeless people in hotel rooms and vacant units, it seems she has her own plan for addressing poverty during the pandemic: opening indoor camps to further concentrate vulnerable people.

Stephen Lendman (2020-04-08). Prisons: Breeding Grounds for Disease. Julian Assange\'s Life in Danger. globalresearch.ca The US gulag prison system is the world\'s largest by far, the largely unreported in the mainstream shame of the nation. | Official numbers significantly understate the true number of incarcerated inmates annually. | According to a Prison Policy Initiative analysis, nearly …

WSWS (2020-04-08). Vindictive court rulings prove British state wants Assange dead. wsws.org Judge Vanessa Baraitser has decreed that Assange will remain behind bars and that his extradition show-trial will proceed in May, even as the coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly in British prisons.

Binoy Kampmark (2020-04-08). Julian Assange and Lockdown Injustice. dissidentvoice.org Scribes of the Julian Assange case must surely gawk with a sense of horrified wonder at each proceeding unfolding at the Westminster Magistrates\' Court in London. Assange is in a battle that can only be described as titanic, seeking to avoid the clutches of the US Justice Department, not to mention its legal system, and …

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-04-08). Julian Assange and Lockdown Injustice. globalresearch.ca Scribes covering the Julian Assange case must surely gawk with a sense of horrified wonder at each proceeding unfolding at the Westminster Magistrates\' Court in London. Assange is in a battle that can only be described as titanic, seeking to …

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-04-08). COVID-19 Coronavirus \"Fake\" Pandemic: Timeline and Analysis. globalresearch.ca On January 30, a far-reaching decision was taken by the WHO without the support of expert opinion at a time when the coronavirus outbreak was limited to Mainland China. 150 confirmed cases outside China, when the decision was taken, 6 in the US, 3 in Canada, 2 in the UK, etc. In early March, 430 cases in the US.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-04-08). After the Lockdown: A Global Coronavirus Vaccination Program… globalresearch.ca The tendency is towards a Worldwide lockdown spearheaded by fear and media disinformation. Currently, hundreds of millions of people Worldwide are under lockdown. | What is the next step in the evolution of the COV-19 Crisis? A multibillion dollar coronavirus vaccination program to be implemented in the wake of the Lockdown.

Norman Solomon (2020-04-08). The Pandemic Makes the Bernie 2020 Campaign More Vital Than Ever. indybay.org Reasons to stay in the race are ample and solid…

Walden Bello (2020-04-08). Martin Khor: The Making of a Global Activist. zcomm.org The late Martin Khor united activists, officials, and thought leaders against trade and climate policies that plundered the Global South. Here\'s how his comrades remember him…

Robert Norse & Keith McHenry (2020-04-08). Correcting the Sentinel\'s Latest Errors. indybay.org Food Not Bombs activist Keith McHenry corrects errors, omissions, and distoertions in Sentinel writer Jessica York\'s recent story \"Santa Cruz County launches joint homelessness task force in coronavirus pandemic; Food Not Bombs expands food distribution\" (4 PM, April 4th) at www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/04/04/santa-cruz-county-launches-joint-homelessness-task-force-in-coronavirus-pandemic .

Robert Norse (2020-04-08). Updates from Santa Cruz\'s Struggling Benchlands Meal & Santa Barbara\'s Peter Marin. indybay.org Santa Barbara activist Peter Marin blasts Santa Barbara\'s \"Let \'Em Die: \" Lack of Services. Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs activist Keith McHenry Calls for More Volunteers, Warns Local Authorities Violate CDC Safeguards for Those Outside…

WSWS (2020-04-08). US deal with Taliban breaks down while coronavirus spreads in Afghanistan. wsws.org The Taliban has withdrawn from talks with the crisis-ridden Kabul regime over its failure to act on a prisoner release agreement brokered by Washington.

Michael K. Smith (2020-04-08). Billionaire \"Job Creators\" and the Keyboard Revolutionaries Who Enable Their Candidates. dissidentvoice.org Capitalism\'s \"invisible hand\" gives us the middle finger with ever more contempt these days. With the national unemployment rate soaring to Depression-era levels and beyond, the self-proclaimed \"job creators\" of our glorious free-market paradise are now drowning in gluttonous excess from sucking the tit of the \"Nanny State\" they allegedly abhor. While workers are prohibited …

Stephen Lendman (2020-04-08). Corporate Buybacks Artificially Inflated Stock Prices to Bubble Levels. globalresearch.ca For many years on Wall Street, stock prices and true valuations diverged sharply — according to a Sanford Bernstein report. | When companies spend billions of dollars on earlier issued stock, their valuations are artificially inflated. | It\'s one of the performance …

Bill Lueders (2020-04-08). The Cruel Truth Behind Wisconsin\'s Uncancelled Election. progressive.org State Republicans exploited the coronavirus crisis in an effort to elect a state Supreme Court candidate who objects to the idea of government helping people in need.

Steve Kelly (2020-04-08). Montana Ballot Access Decision Suppresses Green Party Voters. counterpunch.org In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court held that unequal distribution requirements for statewide petitions violate the Fourteenth Amendment. Again in 1970, citing the 1969 Illinois case, the SCOTUS struck down New York\'s distribution requirements. Distribution requirements give voters in some geographical areas more power than voters residing in other areas in blatant disregard for a

South Front (2020-04-08). Video: US Confirms Deployment of Patriot Missiles in Iraq. Iran Prepares for Conflict in Strait of Hormuz. globalresearch.ca On April 5, a series of large explosions rocked the village of al-Kastan in southwestern Idlib injuring 8 people, including 3 members of the so-called White Helmets. According to local sources, an ammunition depot located in the civilian area inside …

South Front (2020-04-08). Video: Infighting Among Turkish Proxies Erupts in Syria. Rocket Strike Hits US-operated Oil Facility in Iraq. globalresearch.ca Infighting among Turkish-backed groups has erupted near the town of Ras al-Ayn. According to local sources, conflicts over the captured houses and looted properties became the main reason of the conflict between members of the Sultan Murad armed group which …

Lawrence Wittner (2020-04-08). The Coronavirus Pandemic, Like Other Global Catastrophes, Reveals the Limitations of Nationalism. dissidentvoice.org We live with a profound paradox. Our lives are powerfully affected by worldwide economic, communications, transportation, food supply, and entertainment systems. Yet we continue an outdated faith in the nation-state, with all the divisiveness, competition, and helplessness that faith produces when dealing with planetary problems. As we have seen in recent weeks, the coronavirus, like …

Robert Fisk (2020-04-08). Biden Says He \'Doesn\'t Have Enough Information\' on Iran to Have a View. zcomm.org How Odd, He Negotiated the Nuclear Deal…

Rick Baum (2020-04-08). When \"Moderate\" Democrats Lead the Ticket and Win, Down-Ballot Candidates Soon Suffer Losses. counterpunch.org Many mainstream Democrats claim if \"democratic socialist\" Sanders were their party\'s presidential nominee, many party candidates running in down-ballot races would lose in races they should win. They warn that a Sanders\' led ticket could result in the Democrats not regaining control of the Senate and even losing their majority in the House along with

repost (2020-04-08). Venezuela Pres Maduro\'s Message to American people. indybay.org Oil rich Venezuela is again threatened with invasion, by Nazi Trump, with no opposition from any Democrat, sending an armada to Venezuela\'s shores, in the middle of a pandemic, under the obviously false pretext of drug-pushing, which the world knows Venezuela does not do. The democratically elected government of Nicolas Maduro has sent an open letter to the American people. See www.globalresearch.ca/letter-president-maduro-people-united-states/5708882…

Alliance for Global Justice (2020-04-08). Open Letter to Condemn Trump Administration\'s Hypocritical Indictment on Drug Charges of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and High-Ranking Venezuelan Officials. globalresearch.ca We, the undersigned organizations and prominent individuals, condemn the false claims of criminal charges by the US government against the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and other high-ranking officials with the pretext of their alleged involvement in international …

Dr. Jean-Claude Maswana (2020-04-08). COVID-19 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (CRC): Hoping for the Best, Preparing for the Worst. globalresearch.ca This week I spoke to Congolese native Jean-Claude Maswana, economics professor at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, about COVID-19 in DRC. | ANN GARRISON: Jean-Claude, reporting on your homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is always daunting. It\'s not …

Gareth Porter (2020-04-08). As Washington Privatized Pandemic Preparation, the National Security State Left Americans Defenseless Against Coronavirus. globalresearch.ca Responsibility for pandemic preparation was privatized under the Obama and Trump administrations. It\'s time to face down the national security state that wasted trillions on imperial wars and abandoned Americans to fight coronavirus alone. | *** | Donald Trump\'s failure to …

teleSUR (2020-04-08). 7 out of 10 Dead Patients Are Men in the European Countries. telesurenglish.net The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday reported that 75 percent of some 52,000 deaths from COVID-19 in Europe are male and a 95 percent were over 65 years of age. | RELATED: | Many of the deceased had previous health problems that were complicated by contracting the coronavirus. Over 60 percent suffered from cardiovascular disease, 29 percent diabetes, and 21 percent kidney disease, the WHO regional director Hans Kluge said. | While the COV…