Ed Sanders (2020-03-17). Corona, There Goes My Career. counterpunch.org …

Medea Benjamin, Ariel Gold (2020-03-17). To Help Stem Coronavirus, Lift Sanctions on Iran. counterpunch.org The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is far from the first proof of how intertwined we are as a global community. The climate crisis and the refugee crisis have long been glaring examples that the wars or CO2 emissions on one continent risk the lives and well-being of people on another continent. What coronavirus is providing, however,

RT (2020-03-17). Leaders of Turkey, Germany, France, UK discuss Syria & migration crisis in videoconference. rt.com Turkish, German, British and French leaders discussed the Syria crisis and migrant issue as well as joint action against coronavirus in a videoconference, Turkish presidency said on Tuesday. | It issued a statement saying that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also discussed methods of humanitarian aid to Syria\'s northwestern Idlib province, Reuters reports. | A summit was planned after Ankara opened its borders to migrants trying to enter the bloc, but the leaders decided to switch to a video call.

Helen Yaffe (2020-03-17). Cuba\'s Contribution to Combatting COVID-19. counterpunch.org COVID-19 surged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019 and by January 2020 it had hit Hubei province like a tidal wave, swirling over China and rippling out overseas. The Chinese state rolled into action to combat the spread and care for those infected. Among the 30 medicines the Chinese National Health Commission selected to fight the virus was a Cuban anti-viral drug Interferon Alpha 2b. This drug has been produced in China since 2003, by the enterprise ChangHeber, a Cuban-Chinese joint venture.

Laura Carlsen (2020-03-17). How the OAS Revived the Cold War in the Americas. counterpunch.org The OAS has never been a neutral forum. Since its founding in 1948, the United States government has always wielded power far beyond its vote. Each member state\'s contribution is based on the relative size of its national economy and the US contributed 60% ($51 million) of the $81million 2019 OAS operating budget. As a result, the U.S. has historically had disproportionate power over the organization.

RT (2020-03-17). 'We\'re headed for the worst financial crisis of our lifetimes' — Jim Rogers. rt.com Governments worldwide are trying to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus, which now threatens the global economy. RT talked to legendary investor Jim Rogers about the financial consequences of the outbreak. | Many people are going to suffer very badly, as the effects of this pandemic are going to last for a long time, according to Rogers. | \"I told RT earlier that the next time we are going to have a financial problem it\'s going to be the worst…\" said Rogers, adding that it appears we are headed toward \"the worst financial crisis of our lifetimes\" and \"we will know in a few months.\" | According to the legen…

RT (2020-03-17). Former banker who crashed Northern Rock slammed as hypocrite for 'ironic' suggestion that China pay 'reparations' for Covid-19. rt.com A suggestion that China should pay \"reparations\" for the Covid-19 crisis made by a British former banker responsible a major financial collapse in the UK agitated people who accused him of a \"staggering\" lack of self-awareness. | Matt Ridley, who was chairman of the collapsed Northern Rock bank between 2004 and 2007, tweeted on Monday that he was \"not a fan of reparations for the sins of past generations.\" Nonetheless, he proposed that there might be \"a case for demanding some sort of reparations from the Chinese government\" due to the \"terrible human suffering\" the pandemic will inevitably cause. | Needless t…

The Canary (2020-03-17). Concerns over supply shortage of protective gear for frontline health workers. thecanary.co There are \"critical\" shortages of laboratory equipment, medical devices and protective equipment in some countries, European health leaders have said.The European branch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was aware of some shortages and was also monitoring the potential risk of a disruption to medicine supplies.It comes after officials in Britain faced renewed calls to keep frontline staff healthy and ensure they have enough protective equipment to continue caring for patients. | \"Health facilities have to have the necessary equipment to care for those seriously affected and to protect health workers…

RT (2020-03-17). Covid-19 pandemic could continue for 2 YEARS, German health expert warns. rt.com A senior German disease control expert has warned that the coronavirus pandemic could continue for two years, depending on how long it takes for an effective vaccine to be developed and if people develop immunity after illness. | Speaking on Tuesday, the Robert Kock Institut\'s (RKI) president, Prof. Lothar Wieler, said pandemics tend to run their course in waves, and factors influencing how it unfolds from this point include how many people become immune to it after contracting the virus — and how quickly a vaccine is made. | The RKI, a German federal agency responsible for disease control and prevention,…

The Canary (2020-03-17). Covid-19: Teachers\' union accuses Government of creating \'chaos and confusion\'. thecanary.co A lack of advice for schools amid the coronavirus pandemic is creating \"chaos and confusion\" and placing \"intolerable pressure\" on staff, a teachers\' union has warned.The NASUWT, which represents teachers and head teachers, said there was a \"rising sense of panic\" as it called for a definitive decision on how to protect staff and pupils.Prime minister Boris Johnson stopped short of announcing school closures as he unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of Covid-19 on Monday.Although he added that the measures will remain under review, the union criticised Johnson for failing to giv…

The Canary (2020-03-17). Health secretary announces emergency measures for NHS Scotland. thecanary.co Scotland\'s NHS has been formally placed on an emergency footing to help it deal with a \"substantial and sustained\" increase in coronavirus cases.Health secretary Jeane Freeman revealed the move as she updated MSPs at Holyrood on the Covid-19 outbreak.Speaking after first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned \"the next weeks and possibly months will be immensely difficult\", the Health Secretary outlined some of the measures being implemented. | She also warned Scots more stringent steps might be needed to combat the spread of the virus — with both Freeman and the first minister describing the situation as \"unpreced…

RT (2020-03-17). \'Reciprocal measures\': Beijing tells NYT, WSJ, WaPo journalists to hand in credentials as US-China media war rolls on. rt.com China is pulling the press credentials of US journalists from outlets including the New York Times and the Washington Post whose passes expire in 2020, in the latest move of an ongoing tit-for-tat with America over media access. | In a statement about China\'s \"countermeasures against US suppression of Chinese media organizations in the United States,\" Beijing announced that American reporters working for the NYT, Wall Street Journal, Voice of America, Time and the Washington Post whose credentials are due to expire by the end of this year must hand them over within 10 days. | These reporters will also not be a…

The Canary (2020-03-17). Manchester Arena bomber\'s brother found guilty of plot that killed 22. thecanary.co The brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has been found guilty of murdering 22 people and injuring hundreds more in the \"cruel and cowardly\" attack.Hashem Abedi was not present at the conclusion of his seven-week trial as he continued to attempt to evade responsibility for the carnage of 22 May 2017.Families of some of the victims in court two of the Old Bailey wept as a jury found him guilty of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions after less than five hours of deliberations.CCTV of Salman Abedi at Victoria station making his way to the Manchester Ar…

RT (2020-03-17). Not so scary! Russian model says if Covid-19 wipes out half of humanity, the planet will benefit. rt.com A well-known Russian celebrity and glamour model has caused a stir online after suggesting that the death of a massive chunk of humanity would be no big deal, and that it would be good for the Earth as a whole. | Victoria Bonya, a former participant on the massively popular reality television show \'Dom-2\', recorded the controversial statement on Instagram, and the clip was shared widely on Russian social media. | In her video, Bonya said that coronavirus is actually needed by the Earth and will be a positive thing for the planet. \"Because [humanity] simply devoured the planet, we destroyed the planet. And, to…

The Canary (2020-03-17). Older people enjoy dedicated shopping sessions at supermarkets. thecanary.co Older people have enjoyed dedicated shopping sessions at some supermarkets.Pensioners were able to shop at Iceland and Lidl stores before general admittance to the public.The moves come amid reports of panic buying leaving shelves empty of essentials such as toilet rolls amid concern over the impact of Covid-19.Older shoppers enter the branch of Iceland in the Kennedy Centre, Belfast, for an early dedicated shopping session (Liam McBurney/PA)At the Kennedy Centre in west Belfast, the local Iceland store opened its doors only for older people at 8am.Kennedy Centre manager John Jones said it had been a chink of lig…

RT (2020-03-17). \'Shocking and callous\': Tory MP rejects concerns over coronavirus low sick pay claims, tells constituent to \'get a life\'. rt.com A Conservative MP has felt the fury of Britons scared about the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the poor, after telling one of her constituents concerned about low sick pay to \"get a life.\" | While the coronavirus outbreak is causing heightened tensions amongst citizens around the globe, lawmakers in various countries are attempting to allay fears with a series of measures to tackle the spread of the deadly disease. | However, it would appear Pauline Latham — the Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire — didn\'t get the memo. She was tweeted by an alleged constituent, who asked whether statutory sick pay of &…

RT (2020-03-17). France may nationalize major companies amid market meltdown, finance minister says. rt.com The French government said on Tuesday it is ready to use all measures necessary to support big companies suffering during the current global market turmoil caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. | \"I won\'t hesitate to use all means available to protect big French companies,\" Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on a call with journalists, adding: \"That can be done by recapitalisation, that can be done by taking a stake, I can even use the term nationalisation if necessary.\" | According to the Financial Times citing Le Maire, Paris has also promised a package of measures worth €45 billion (US$49.8bn) to help com…

RT (2020-03-17). Weed & maple syrup: What people are panic buying in different countries amid growing Covid-19 crisis. rt.com As more governments advised people to curtail their movements in an effort to limit the spread of Covid-19, it prompted panic buying sprees — with people showing distinct regional differences in their \'must have\' items. | Fears of being unable to get hold of the bare essentials if forced to hole up at home for weeks on end as the deadly virus sweeps the globe saw thousands rush to the supermarkets and clear whole shelves of groceries in record time. Despite widely issued guidelines on minimum \'social distancing\', some were prepared to queue for long hours to make sure they got that one essential thing be…

RT (2020-03-17). Iran has now temporarily sent home 85,000 inmates over coronavirus fears. rt.com Iran\'s effort to free up overcrowded prisons from non-critical inmates has seen 85,000 people going home for leave. The measure is meant to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus in the penitentiary system. | \"Some 50% of those released are security-related prisoners… Also in the jails we have taken precautionary measures to confront the outbreak,\" judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said, as cited by Reuters. | The number of people granted furlough has increased by 15,000 compared to last week. The Middle Eastern country reported 14,991 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 infection as of Monday, with the deat…

RT (2020-03-17). \'Unwoke\' Peloton stock now roaring back as Americans go stir crazy in coronavirus lockdown. rt.com Less than three months after an infamous holiday commercial wiped out $1 billion in Peloton\'s market value, the company\'s stock is bouncing back — along with the makers of toilet paper and canned goods — amid Covid-19 lockdowns. | The makers of pricey stationary exercise bikes — and the subscription workout program that comes with them — fell on their face back in December, when their holiday commercial intended to be cute was denounced as misogynist, fat-shaming, sexist, and creepy. Peloton offered a groveling apology and removed the video after their stock took a dive amid the rancor.

Whitney Webb (2020-03-17). U.S. Intel Agencies played unsettling role in classified and \"9/11-like\" Coronavirus response plan. mronline.org As the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis comes to dominate headlines, little media attention has been given to the federal government\'s decision to classify top-level meetings on domestic coronavirus response and lean heavily \"behind the scenes\" on U.S. intelligence and the Pentagon in planning for an allegedly imminent explosion of cases. |

RT (2020-03-17). Airbus & Volkswagen stop production as Covid-19 brings Europe to screeching halt. rt.com European aviation giant Airbus has decided to pause production and assembly activities at its French and Spanish facilities for the next four days to contain the spread of coronavirus. | \"This will allow sufficient time to implement stringent health and safety conditions in terms of hygiene, cleaning and self-distancing, while improving the efficiency of operations under the new working conditions,\" the company said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it will allow its staff to work remotely wherever possible. | Airbus\' announcement came shortly after France and Spain imposed drastic measures to battle the…

RT (2020-03-17). Hospitals in England told to postpone \'non-urgent\' operations for 3 MONTHS amid coronavirus crisis. rt.com NHS England is cancelling all routine surgery from April 15 for a period of at least three months, and discharging all inpatients as a matter of great urgency, to help deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. | The latest measures revealed by health bosses on Tuesday would see hospital patients who are \'medically fit\' sent home to free up staff and beds as the UK attempts to stem the spread of the deadly disease. | In a letter sent to health trusts across the country, NHS heads claimed that the novel coronavirus presented the national healthcare system with \"arguably the greatest challenge it has faced since its crea…

RT (2020-03-17). Ohio governor vows to delay primary vote over coronavirus emergency despite judge\'s ruling. rt.com Dueling press reports and statements have created major confusion over the upcoming primary vote in Ohio — where the governor promised to delay the vote over fears of Covid-19, while a judge struck down the request. | @DrAmyActon will order the polls closed as a health emergency. While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State @FrankLaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity.— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine)

RT (2020-03-17). Cash-strapped global airlines seek billions in government bailouts to survive. rt.com The airline industry is in crisis because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Italian government announced on Tuesday it plans to re-nationalize the bankrupt Alitalia airline under an emergency economic rescue plan. | Three of the biggest international airline alliances are calling for government support and US carriers are asking for more than $50 billion in assistance, as the industry faces \"unprecedented challenges\" over the Covid-19 outbreak. | The pandemic has hit the aviation industry hard, as it has forced governments to impose travel bans and close borders. While the crisis does not seem to have an \"end i…

RT (2020-03-17). \'If I had to go to the pub, I\'d go\': PM BoJo\'s dad defies own son\'s advice ONE day after new Covid-19 measures (VIDEO). rt.com Boris Johnson\'s father Stanley has vowed that coronavirus won\'t put him off ordering a pint of beer, despite the UK government — led by his son — telling citizens to avoid pubs to limit the spread of the deadly disease. | In a father-son relationship, it\'s commonly accepted that the parent does the \'telling off\', but it would appear in the case of Boris and Stanley Johnson, it\'s the UK prime minister who will have to tell his outspoken dad that he\'s been \'a very naughty boy.\' | During a discussion on the coronavirus crisis on ITV\'s \'This Morning\' show on Tuesday, the elder Johnson, 79, vowed that h…

RT (2020-03-17). It took Italian doctors days & an emergency to check her cough, and she still doesn\'t know if she has Covid-19. rt.com As the EU belatedly recommends member nations seal their borders, Italy is on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus. RT talked to a student in Milan who became a witness — and almost a collateral victim — of this fight.

RT (2020-03-17). Bless me father, for I may be DRUNK! Russian church will DOUBLE communion wine servings to kill coronavirus. rt.com The Russian Orthodox Church\'s response to the ever-changing Covid-19 situation has raised some eyebrows, but one new measure will undoubtedly receive a good reception from those partial to a tipple. | In what could only be described as an \'unorthodox\' proposal, parishioners who wish to receive communion will be drinking a lot more wine than usual. | Speaking to radio station Moscow Talks, Archpriest Leonid Kalinin, a member of the Patriarchal Council for Culture, said that Moscow churchgoers would be receiving double the usual volume of the holy sacrament when attending one of the capital\'s churches. | \"Accord…

RT (2020-03-17). Iran\'s supreme leader issues fatwa banning \'unnecessary travel\' as coronavirus death toll mounts. rt.com The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made a religious ruling that prohibits \"unnecessary travel\" in the country in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19. Iran\'s death toll from the outbreak is nearing 1,000. | The fatwa urges citizens to respect the orders of the health authorities and to refrain from traveling across the country without a valid reason. The supreme leader has final say on all state affairs and the decree published on Tuesday is a rare move on his part. | Iranian authorities called upon the citizenry to avoid traveling, closing major Shia Muslim holy sites on Monday in a bid t…

Mark Gruenberg (2020-03-17). Together, Biden and Sanders COVID-19 plans provide immediate and systemic response. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON—If you want the global view of how the U.S. health care non-system is ill-equipped to help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ind-Vt., has a solution for you. It\'s in his speech on March 12. If you want point-by-point, detail-by-detail proposals on what the federal government can and …

RT (2020-03-17). Fed brought out the big guns to save market but it wasn\'t enough, ex-insider tells Boom Bust. rt.com An emergency response from the US Federal Reserve failed to calm investors amid the coronavirus panic and led to another market bloodbath. However, it didn\'t have any other options, a former Fed insider believes. | \"If the Fed had been silent then we might have even seen more disruption,\" Danielle DiMartino Booth said in an interview with RT\'s Boom Bust. \"Sadly, they\'ve backed themselves into a corner and they had to deploy all of the weapons that they had, all at once, and that still wasn\'t quite enough.\" | The analyst noted that the average American will hardly feel any impact of the rate reduction and fres…

RT (2020-03-17). Wall Street\'s big coronavirus mistake. rt.com The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on global stock markets, but this may just be the start of a much bigger economic crisis. | Investment professionals on Wall Street spend their days reading financial reports and looking at numbers flash on screens. These numbers record the moment-to-moment changes in the collective wisdom of markets about the value of stocks, bonds, commodities and a distressing array of derivative financial products. | From the comfort of the sealed caverns of Wall Street the actual physical and social world is just an abstraction to be quantified and analyzed. One of Wall Street\'s most prom…

RT (2020-03-17). Top candidate for Merkel ¥s successor Friedrich Merz tests positive for coronavirus. rt.com Friedrich Merz, a former Christian Democratic faction leader in the Bundestag, who is now seen as the most likely successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, has revealed he has tested positive for coronavirus. | Merz has emerged as a grassroots favorite in the race for the top post in Merkel\'s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and was considered one of the frontrunners. This came after the chancellor\'s protege, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, abruptly resigned following a political scandal in the eastern region of Thuringia. | However, the 64-year-old now faces a fight for more than just his political career. \"My Sund…

John Wojcik (2020-03-17). Governors forced to fill void left by Trump coronavirus inaction. peoplesworld.org As states left without a coordinated national plan to battle the coronavirus pandemic cobble together a patchwork of emergency measures, President Donald Trump said yesterday the states should continue to take care of matters themselves. The governors in the states, desperate to stop hospitals from being overwhelmed, are asking for ventilators, protective equipment, and ICU …

RT (2020-03-17). France postpones 2nd round of municipal elections to late June. rt.com The second round of France\'s municipal elections, originally set for this weekend, has been postponed to June 21 after the first round of voting on Sunday was marred by record no-shows. The results of the first round of local elections on Sunday will remain valid. | The French government has been criticized for choosing to press ahead with the first round even as it imposed stringent curbs on public life in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. | President Emmanuel Macron ordered people on Monday to stay at home to avoid spreading the virus. He will ask parliament on Thursday to approve a law gr…

RT (2020-03-17). White House promises big bucks to airlines…and Americans will get a check too. rt.com US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has promised immediate financial relief \"within the next two weeks\" to Americans hit hard by the coronavirus recession – plus a massive financial aid package for the airline industry. | The Trump administration will be sending a check to Americans within the next two weeks for an undetermined amount, Mnuchin announced at a press conference on Tuesday. | While the figure of $1,000 has been frequently floated, Mnuchin implied the real figure will be larger. | \"We want to make sure Americans get money in their pocket quickly,\" he said, adding that a \"payroll tax holiday\" for l…

RT (2020-03-17). \'The numbers are staggering\': New York announces 432 new cases of coronavirus, 12 total deaths. rt.com Governor Andrew Cuomo has promised more closures in the state of New York, yet rejected the idea of a quarantine in the Big Apple. He also pleaded for help from the federal government as coronavirus deaths and cases rise steeply. | \"It\'s possible we will be doing more dramatic closings,\" Cuomo said at a Tuesday press conference, only a day after announcing the closing of gyms, casinos and movie theaters in response to the coronavirus outbreak. | New York was facing just over 900 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and seven deaths on Monday, but 432 new cases were revealed on Tuesday, as well as five new deaths…

RT (2020-03-17). US stocks try to claw back losses a day after one of the worst declines on record. rt.com Wall Street opened slightly higher on Tuesday, a day after US stocks saw the worst sell-off in more than 30 years as the impact of the coronavirus on the global economy became clear. | The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 400 points seconds after the opening bell, before reversing most of its gains. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite were up slightly during early trading. | Also on rt.com | | The Dow lost nearly 3,000 points on Monday, ending the day down almost 13 percent &#15…

RT (2020-03-17). Iraqi President Salih names Adnan al-Zurfi as new PM-designate to overcome political deadlock — state TV. rt.com Iraqi President Barham Salih on Tuesday designated Adnan al-Zurfi as prime minister tasked with forming a government within 30 days, in an attempt to overcome months of political deadlock, Reuters said, citing a state TV report. | Zurfi, a former official of the US-run authorities that took over Iraq after the 2003 US invasion, is head of the Nasr parliamentary grouping of former prime minister Haider al-Abadi, also a US ally. | On March 2, Iraq\'s caretaker PM, Adel Abdul Mahdi, said he was standing down from most of his duties, one day after the man who had been designated to become prime minister withdrew hi…

RT (2020-03-17). With economy imploding, US losing its superpower status to make room for Russia and China, says Max Keiser. rt.com The global markets\' current implosion was 100 percent guaranteed, former Wall Street stockbroker Max Keiser told RT. According to him, the financial markets are best described as a \"quadrillion-dollar Ponzi scheme.\" | \"Central banks\' policy of allowing governments and corporations to borrow, at virtually no cost, against decades of future consumption to consume now, hollowed out the global economy and made it extremely fragile,\" said Keiser. | He explained that industries and companies that destroyed themselves buying back their own stock (airlines, for example) are \"rightfully being wiped off the face of the…

RT (2020-03-17). DOJ drops charges against \'Russian trolls\' after they dared demand evidence in US court. rt.com The US is dropping the much-hyped indictment for \'election meddling\' against a company supposedly behind the so-called Russian troll farm, closing the opening chapter of special counsel Robert Mueller\'s Russiagate investigation. | Further pursuing the case against Concord Management & Consulting LLC \"promotes neither the interests of justice nor the nation\'s security,\" the Department of Justice wrote to the federal judge overseeing the case on Monday in a

RT (2020-03-17). Eduard Limonov, Soviet-Era dissident & writer who shocked Russia, dead at 77. rt.com The Russian writer, politician and Soviet-era dissident Eduard Limonov has died at 77. His controversial 1970s memoir \'It\'s me, Eddie\' scandalized Russia when first published in the country in 1991, selling over a million copies. | His death was announced by State Duma (national parliament) deputy and chief editor of \'Yunost\' magazine Sergei Shargunov. His assistant Dmitry Sidorenko subsequently confirmed it to Moscow daily RBK. He didn\'t specify a cause of death, but Russian media suggested it was complications from surgery. | Shargunov told the TASS news agency that Limonov died on Tuesday evening at a hospi…

RT (2020-03-17). \'Russian troll firm\' says it has a $50bn grudge to settle with US after indictment dropped by DoJ. rt.com A Russian firm that the DoJ failed to prosecute for \"sowing discord\" during the 2016 election aims to take its pound of flesh — or at least a hefty compensation for its tarnished reputation. | The February 2018 indictment of Concord Management & Consulting LLC, one of several issued by the team of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, was praised by the Russiagate crowds as a crucial step in uncovering the holy grail of Trump-Russia collusion. The case was dropped just weeks before going to trial, with prosecutors claiming that the firm\'s defense strategy — demanding evidence that the company had waged \'i…

RT (2020-03-17). Rockets strike Iraq\'s Besmayah base hosting foreign troops — military. rt.com A pair of rockets hit a military base in Iraq overnight, the country\'s military said without mentioning any casualties. The Besmayah Range in central Iraq hosts a Spanish contingent. | This appears to be the latest in a series of harassing rocket attacks against sites in Iraq where NATO troops are stationed. One last week resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a British military medic at Camp Taji, triggering retaliatory airstrikes against Iraq\'s Shia militia forces. | The Besmayah base 45km southeast of Baghdad hosts around 350 of the 550 Spanish troops deployed in Iraq, with Camp Taji being the secondar…

WSWS (2020-03-17). ICE officials running unchecked facial recognition searches on Maryland drivers. wsws.org Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been accessing Maryland state driver\'s license photos for years to catch undocumented immigrants given licenses by a special state program.

Lynda Carson (2020-03-17). California senior citizens are on lock-down due to coronavirus. indybay.org One can only wonder how long it will be before California becomes like the film called Wild In The Streets, where everyone 30 and older were locked up in prison camps, or like the film called Logan\'s Run, where people 30 and older are hunted down and executed to make room for younger people!

Ben Norton (2020-03-17). Amid coronavirus pandemic, Bolsonaro\'s Brazil begs for Cuban doctors — after expelling them. thegrayzone.com Brazil\'s far-right government requested the return of thousands of Cuban doctors to help fight the coronavirus in rural areas. Not…

Kevin Zeese (2020-03-17). We\'re in a Recession, and It\'s Likely to Get Worse. globalresearch.ca Introduction | Margaret Flowers and I focus on the foundational flaws in the US economy that will make this recession worse than elites are saying. | We examine the weaknesses in the drivers of the economy and discuss how each was at …

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-03-17). Nine Years Ago: The US-NATO-Israel Sponsored Al Qaeda Insurgency in Syria. Who Was Behind the 2011 \"Protest Movement\"? globalresearch.ca It was not a protest movement, it was an armed insurgency integrated by US-Israeli & allied supported \"jihadist\" death squads. From Day One, the Islamist \"freedom fighters\" were supported, trained & equipped by NATO & Turkey\'s High Command.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-03-17). Quarantine for the US-NATO Military Machine? globalresearch.ca It happened almost on the same day. Italy\'s lockdown. People confined to their homes across the European Union. Influx of 30,000 US troops in preparation of the \"Defend Europe 2020\" war games against Russia in the largest display of military …

RT (2020-03-16). \'I\'ll get better, I have enough toilet paper\': Russian kite surfing champion laughs off contracting coronavirus. rt.com Russian kite surfing champion Peter Tyushkevich laughed off his coronavirus diagnosis, saying he has enough toilet paper to recover from the dangerous infection. | The 2009 world champion revealed he is infected by the contagious virus which has swept across the world. | \"I have contracted coronavirus. Now, I\'m in the infectious diseases hospital, please meet one of those Ru…

RT (2020-03-16). Rammstein\'s Till Lindemann turns bubble boy with giant \'coronavirus protective gear\' at Moscow gig. rt.com You have to be quite cheeky to gather thousands of people together amid coronavirus fears. But Till Lindemann apparently had an ace up his sleeve — a giant iridescent bubble to protect him during his Moscow concert. | The Rammstein star is currently on tour in Russia, together with Swedish multi-instrumentalist Peter Tagtgren. On Sunday the two performed at the VTB Arena in Moscow and had an unusual prop — a giant plastic bubble to take | In actu…

RT (2020-03-16). Constitutional Court approves amendments resetting presidential terms limits, poll says majority would vote for Putin in 2024. rt.com Just a week ago, the general consensus among Russian political experts was that Vladimir Putin would likely leave the Kremlin in four years. But a week is a long time in politics, as the old cliche goes. | Following last Tuesday\'s dramatic parliamentary intervention by Valentina Tereshkova, quite a lot has rapidly changed. The MP, previously better known as the first woman in space, proposed \"that after the updated Constitution comes into force, the current president, like any other citizen, has the right to be elected to…

RT (2020-03-16). Patient ESCAPES from Moscow coronavirus hospital, chief doctor slams \'ignorant behavior\'. rt.com It appears some Russians really don\'t like the idea of being quarantined over Covid-19. After a well-publicized hospital breakout in Saint Petersburg last month, a Moscow patient decided to play copycat. | Apparently unconcerned about infecting others around the capital, a woman suspected of having coronavirus escaped from a medical facility, according to Denis Protsenko, the head physician at Moscow\'s Kommunarka Hospital. | \"I have to deal with the ignorant behavior of hospitalized patients who do not understand the situation and the danger of spreading Covid-19 in the city,\" he said. \"I ask my colleagues to…

RT (2020-03-16). Russia to launch $4 BILLION anti-crisis fund to stabilize economy. rt.com Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced on Monday the establishment of a 300-billion-ruble anti-crisis fund in order to support the country\'s economic sectors and citizens amid the global coronavirus pandemic. | \"We have developed a number of priority measures, and I think it is necessary to take a number of actions today to prevent the negative impact of coronavirus on the country\'s economy and people\'s lives,\" said Mishustin, who has headed the government\'s Coordinating Council to combat the spread of Covid-19. | The prime minister said that the government will soon launch a single hotline and an…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus just got real in Moscow: outdoor events banned, schools closed, indoor crowds restricted. rt.com After videos went viral at the weekend showing Russian soccer fans chanting about the coronavirus in packed stadiums, some expressed concern that the country was in denial over Covid-19. If so, that ended on Monday. | In Moscow, all outdoor events have been banned and schools will be closed. Meanwhile, indoor gatherings will be restricted to a maximum of 50 people. The orders were published on the website of the capital\'s mayor Sergey Sobyanin and came only a few hours after a spokesman said the Kremlin \"saw no need\" to introduce a state of emergency. | Under the measures, schools will be shut from March 21, w…

RT (2020-03-16). What social distancing? Mexican president defies Covid-19 concerns as he EMBRACES & SHAKES HANDS with 1000s at rallies (VIDEOS). rt.com As governments around the world urge residents to stay indoors and practice \'social distancing\' due to the coronavirus, Mexico\'s Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has come under fire for staging huge rallies in spite of the risks. | While politicians in the neighboring US are cancelling rallies, holding crucial O…

RT (2020-03-16). European solidarity doesn\'t exist, only China can help us: Serbia goes full emergency over coronavirus. rt.com Caught off guard by the EU\'s ban on medical exports, Serbia found help in China as it struggled to prepare for the Covid-19 outbreak, the Serbian president said, adding that it has become clear that European solidarity is a myth. | Serbia is the latest country to impose severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings in response to the global epidemic. As President Aleksandar Vucic declared a national emergency on Sunday, he had some scalding remarks for the EU. | The crisis has proven that European solidarity, only exists \"on paper,\" Vucic said, citing the ban on the export of medical equipment and suppli…

RT (2020-03-16). European Space Agency\'s Kourou spaceport SUSPENDS launches over coronavirus pandemic. rt.com The French space agency operating the ESA spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, has decided to suspend all launches, citing health concerns over the \"rapid spread\" of the deadly coronavirus epidemic. | France is currently struggling to stem the spread of the deadly disease officially known as Covid-19, which has already infected almost 4,500 nationwide. Its national space agency (CNES) has now joined the effort, by announcing it would \"reorganize\" the work of its four centers — including the Kourou spaceport located in the remote overseas territory of French Guiana. | COVID-19. Le CNES réorganise ses activi…

RT (2020-03-16). Covid-19 is defining global health crisis of our time, WHO warns, as more deaths & cases reported in rest of world than in China. rt.com The coronavirus pandemic is the \"defining global health crisis of our time,\" the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, as the agency revealed that confirmed cases around the world have surpassed those within China. | WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the containment strategy spearheaded by China, South Korea and Singapore has shown results in helping to cut down the level of coronavirus cases. | As well as commending containment efforts in those Asian nations, WHO experts also emphasized the importance of increasing testing on a wider scale internationally, and warned that out…

The Canary (2020-03-16). Foreign Office advises against travel to more than 30 countries. thecanary.co The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has affected thousands of people across the globe as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported cases in 144 countries, territories or areas.As a result of Covid-19, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued travel advice warning people against visiting certain countries or areas due to restrictions or the risk of quarantine.FCO travel advice can range from advising against all travel to a whole country to recommending travellers seek advice before travelling to a particular area, based on how safe it is to visit.The guidance as of Monday morning advises against a…

The Canary (2020-03-16). Coronavirus: Downing Street announces daily TV briefings. thecanary.co Boris Johnson is to hold a televised press conference to update the public on the fight against coronavirus, as the UK moves towards banning mass gatherings and asking the elderly to stay at home more.The prime minister will chair an emergency meeting of the Cobra committee on Monday, before holding the first of a series of daily press conferences to update the public on Covid-19.It comes as there was confusion over exactly what elderly people will be asked to do, after health secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday they will be asked to stay at home for a very long time. | On Monday, transport secretary Grant Shap…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus kills 7 in New York State, 950 test positive — governor. rt.com New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed seven deaths in the state from Covid-19 and urged President Donald Trump to deploy army engineers to build emergency medical facilities to help ease the health burden caused by the virus.

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus is 'overhyped': Wrestling coach defies COVID-19 as U.S. collegiate tournament goes ahead in Texas. rt.com A college wrestling coach played down the threat of the coronavirus, labeling the global pandemic \"overhyped\" as he led his team in the weekend\'s national championships. | Jesse Castro, coach of Liberty University\'s wrestling team, insisted on leading his team to the National Collegiate Wrestling Association\'s national championships over the past weekend in Allen, Texas. | The NCWA operates outside the auspices of the NCAA, which suspended all of their sporting events and championships, including the world-famous March Madness basketball tournament, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. | Also on rt.com…

RT (2020-03-16). Reluctant to close its borders despite pandemic, Germany to crack down on \'non-essential\' travel. rt.com Facing the alarming spread of the coronavirus, Berlin has decided to tighten border controls, limiting \"non-essential\" travel with neighboring countries. Germany saw a spike in Covid-19 cases, which jumped by 1,000 in one day. | The move was announced by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer late Sunday. Germany will re-introduce checks on the borders with Austria, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Denmark starting Monday morning. | \"The spread of the coronavirus is progressing quickly and aggressively… one of the most important measures will be to cut off the chain of infection,\" Seehofer stated. | Also on rt…

RT (2020-03-16). Covid-19 vaccine: Difficult, uncertain and far-off, microbiologist says. rt.com A US company which worked on the development of a MERS virus vaccine has begun a clinical trial to test a Covid-19 vaccine — but similarities between the two don\'t mean the process will be easy, a microbiologist told RT. | The potential new coronavirus vaccine is being developed by Moderna Inc., which is building on previous work on MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) — a disease which originated in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and was also dubbed the \'camel flu\' due to the fact that it is believed to have been spread to humans through the animal. | The first tests conducted by Moderna are focused on a…

Staff (2020-03-16). \"Something Is Wrong in America\": Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor & Michael Eric Dyson Debate Sanders v Biden. democracynow.org Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders faced off in their first one-on-one debate Sunday night in the midst of an unprecedented national crisis, with 3,600 reported COVID-19 cases, 61 deaths so far, 33 states closing schools and mass shutdowns in major cities. The rivals clashed on how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Medicare for All, the climate crisis, Joe Biden\'s record and whether or not the U.S. needs a revolution. We play highlights from the debate and get responses from scholars Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Michael Eric Dyson. Taylor is assistant professor of African-America…

Ed Sykes (2020-03-16). Thousands of volunteers join effort to help vulnerable people during UK coronavirus crisis. thecanary.co Thousands of Britons have joined local Facebook groups offering food and support for elderly and vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak.The groups, named Covid-19 Mutual Aid, have been set up in most London boroughs, cities including Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham, as well as smaller towns throughout the UK.Some groups have received several thousand members in recent days as more and more people self-isolate to prevent the spread of the virus.In one group, users shared a printable postcard which could be dropped in to neighbours\' letterboxes, with offers to pick up shopping, post mail or even jus…

People\'s Daily (2020-03-16). US Army Might Have Brought Epidemic to China: China\'s Foreign Ministry Spokesman\'s Tweet. globalresearch.ca Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday that the US military may have brought the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to Wuhan. | . | . | \"CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in …

Stuart A. Newman (2020-03-16). Getting Viral: Why COVID-19 is Such a Threat to the 60+ Plus Population and Why the Response May Make It Worse. counterpunch.org After looking at the demographics, virology, public health dimensions, and earlier parallels (e.g., the 1918 flu epidemic), it seems to me that this whole episode with COVID-19 is being handled incorrectly. This is partly due to Donald Trump\'s self-serving blunders, but not entirely.

RT (2020-03-16). Iran\'s death toll from Covid-19 increases to 853 — Health Ministry. rt.com Iran\'s death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 853, with 129 new deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry. | \"In the past 24 hours we had 1,053 confirmed new cases of coronavirus and 129 new deaths,\" Alireza Vahabzadeh, a ministry official, tweeted on Monday. A total of 14,991 people have been infected across Iran, the official added. | To contain the outbreak in Iran, one of the deadliest outside of China, officials have called on people to stay at home. | \"Based on the figures, we have past the peak of the outbreak, but I still suggest people stay at home, and in case of urgenc…

RT (2020-03-16). Germany\'s Bavaria declares state of emergency, announces ‚Ǩ10mn fund to reduce coronavirus impact. rt.com The premier of Germany\'s southern state of Bavaria declared a state of emergency on Monday, Reuters reported, as the number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise. | Markus Soeder also announced a fund worth up to €10 billion ($11.21 billion) to help the region withstand the coronavirus outbreak. | \"The situation is very serious and changing daily, unfortunately not for the better,\" the Bavarian leader said. He added that the regional government could buy stakes in struggling companies to prevent insolvencies. | Bavaria announced on March 13 that it was closing all schools, kindergartens and nurseries…

RT (2020-03-16). Gold price drops as investors hunt for cash to cover market losses. rt.com Prices of precious metals are falling on lack of investor confidence that stimulus measures taken by the world\'s central banks are enough to steady the markets. | On Sunday, the US Federal Reserve slashed rates to near zero and promised to pump $700 billion into the economy. Other central banks have made similar moves to try avoid market turmoil. | Gold has extended last week\'s losses as the price fell below $1,464 an ounce on Monday. The yellow metal has seen the biggest drop in price since 1983. Although traditionally a safe haven, investors are selling gold to cover their positions on other markets. | Also…

RT (2020-03-16). US will act in \'self-defense\' if attacked in Iraq — Pompeo. rt.com Washington will act in \"self-defense\" in Iraq if its military comes under attack, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. US bases in Iraq have been repeatedly shelled recently and several servicemen have been killed and injured. | Pompeo told Iraqi PM Adil Abd al-Mahdi that Baghdad \"must defend Coalition personnel supporting the Iraqi government\'s efforts to defeat ISIS,\" the US Department of State said in a statement on Monday. | Those \"responsible for the attacks must be held accountable,\" the official warned, adding that Washington \"will not tolerate attacks and threats to American lives\" and will take \"actio…

RT (2020-03-16). US Health and Human Services faces cyber attack during coronavirus response — reports. rt.com The US Health and Human Services Department\'s computer system was reportedly hacked on Sunday night, with the National Security Council needing to step in and warn that news of a mass quarantine was fake news. | Three people \"familiar with the matter\" briefed Bloomberg on the hack and said the breach was meant to slow the department\'s system down in the middle of the coronavirus response. Though no major damage was done, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump have been informed of the attack, which is said to have included several incidents. The National Security Council tweeted in response…

RT (2020-03-16). Bolsonaro sees no legal room to close Brazil borders due to coronavirus. rt.com Brazil lacks the legislation that would let its government close the borders as some neighboring countries are doing, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday. Bolsonaro, who came under fire for cheering demonstrations on Sunday by his supporters, told Radio Bandeirantes that the outbreak was being exaggerated in Brazil. | He warned that the response by some governors was affecting the economy and said he would discuss measures with Economy Minister Paulo Guedes to help businesses, including struggling airlines. | Brazilian House Speaker Rodrigo Maia said on Monday that lawmakers will seek to reach a consensus…

Steve Sweeney (2020-03-16). Sanctions cripple Iran\'s coronavirus response; country pleads for U.S. to lift them. peoplesworld.org Iran\'s ability to fight the coronavirus is being \"severely hampered\" by crippling U.S. sanctions, according to the government there. President Hassan Rouhani pleaded with world leaders to press President Donald Trump to lift trade restrictions to save lives. Rouhani said he had written letters in desperation asking the international community not to comply with the …

Colin Todhunter (2020-03-16). Dependency, Distress and No Durable Agronomic Benefits: The Story of Bt Cotton in India. counterpunch.org In the early 2000s, genetically modified (GM) Bt insecticidal cotton was being heavily promoted in India on the basis that it would cut pesticide use dramatically, boost yields and contribute to the financial well-being of farmers. Private sector Bt cotton hybrids now cover over 90% of the area under cotton. Supporters of Bt cotton have wasted

Charles Komanoff (2020-03-16). Spiritual: How McCoy Tyner Lives On. counterpunch.org It isn\'t quite true that McCoy Tyner, who died earlier this month, was the last survivor of the John Coltrane Quartet. Reggie Workman, who for a while held the string bass chair that Jimmy Garrison would claim until Trane\'s death, is alive and well, 82 years young, living, teaching and gigging in and

Elliot Sperber (2020-03-16). The Statue of Liberty\'s Torch. counterpunch.org The Statue of Liberty\'s Torch The Statue of Liberty wears a crown And is armed with a torch To burn things down Jails and prisons Gas and logging Enterprises\' offices — the capitalists, and all their accomplices LAPD, NYPD, CPB And ICE That\'s simple self-defense/ Defense of others, right? We see, the danger\'s clear It\'s

Hamza Hamouchene (2020-03-16). The Algerian Revolution: the Struggle for Decolonization Continues. counterpunch.org Algeria is going through a revolutionary phase. The mass-scale uprising that started in February 2019 has been sustained for more than a year now and is showing an incredible resilience and soumoud (steadfastness in Arabic). Hundreds of thousands are still in the streets, joining huge weekly protests every Tuesday and Friday (and recently some Saturdays

John Feffer (2020-03-16). Trump as Political Hit Man. counterpunch.org Donald Trump filed his paperwork to run for reelection only hours after his inauguration in January 2017, setting a presidential record, the first of his many dubious achievements. For a man who relished the adulation and bombast of campaigning, it should have surprised no one that he charged out of the starting gate so quickly

Jeffrey Sterling (2020-03-16). I Reject Using My Unjust Conviction Against Julian Assange. counterpunch.org In 2015 I was wrongfully convicted of, and imprisoned for, violating the U.S. Espionage Act. Now, while there is no question that I stand in solidarity with WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in a British court as he fights extradition, little did I know that my presence is also there as fodder to support extradition. If

RT (2020-03-16). Greece to quarantine all arrivals from abroad. rt.com The Greek government announced on Monday it will shut all shops apart from supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, petrol stations and food delivery services, in a bid to fight the coronavirus. The closure of retail stores will begin from Wednesday. | Greece had already cancelled mass gatherings and closed bars, restaurants, playgrounds and gyms. So far the country has reported 331 confirmed cases of infections and four fatalities, Reuters reported. | Authorities will also put anyone arriving from abroad into quarantine for two weeks, the statement said. The 14-day quarantine will apply to anyone entering the country…

RT (2020-03-16). German federal & state govts agree to shutter most shops, clubs, churches. rt.com Federal and state governments in Germany agreed sweeping rules shutting everything from non-essential shops to bars, clubs, theatres, brothels, museums and churches, Reuters reports. The measures are being taken in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the federal government said. | A statement published on Monday said that grocery shops, markets, banks, pharmacies and delivery services would remain open. Restaurants and other eating establishments would generally be allowed to open between 6am and 6pm. | Shops that remained open would have to implement heightened hygiene measures and monitor their entr…

RT (2020-03-16). Spain & Portugal increase border controls to slow coronavirus spread. rt.com Portugal is suspending rail and air traffic to and from Spain for a month, while Madrid is denying entry to everyone bar residents and a few others on land borders, in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mitchell Zimmerman (2020-03-16). Does Trump still think the coronavirus is a hoax? peoplesworld.org My granddaughter\'s school has planned a trip to Thailand. Two things worry me. First, that she or her classmates might be exposed to or catch the coronavirus. Second, that if they did, President Trump would try his best to keep them from returning to the United States. In my view, if any of them became …

RT (2020-03-16). Oil prices tank to four-year low, US crude falls below $30 a barrel. rt.com The price of oil continued its downward trajectory on Monday as emergency rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve and its global counterparts failed to calm the markets. | Benchmark Brent crude plunged by almost 11 percent to $30.33 a barrel by 12: 00 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down almost eight percent, to $29.24 a barrel. | \"It\'s becoming evident that the major central banks across the globe are using all their available tools to prevent a crisis, but it seems the fear of the pandemic is taking control of investors,\" Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at FXTM, told Reuters. | The Fed slas…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus cardio: Watch as a Spanish fitness instructor holds rooftop keep-fit session for isolated residents in Seville (VIDEO). rt.com Residents at a Spanish apartment complex joined together from the safety of their own rooms as they took part in a mass fitness session conducted by an instructor on their roof. | With large parts of Spain currently on lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many citizens are currently isolating themselves in their hopes to help reduce the spread of the highly-contagious disease. | Local fitness group Sano Sevilla Los Bermejale decided that they wanted to help give those housebound residents the chance to get up and get moving, as an instructor appeared on the roof of their central concourse building…

The Canary (2020-03-16). Biden and Sanders push credentials to lead US against coronavirus. thecanary.co Former vice president Joe Biden and senator Bernie Sanders used Sunday\'s Democratic debate to cast themselves as best-positioned person to lead the United States through a global pandemic.In the latest debate in the race to decide the Democrats\' nominee to run for president, the pair were united in their criticism of president Donald Trump\'s response to the coronavirus but diverged on how they would confront the spiralling public health and economic crisis.Biden pledged to deploy the US military to help with recovery efforts and warned a federal financial bail-out may be necessary to stabilise the economy.The two…

RT (2020-03-16). Coronavirus situation in France \'extremely worrying\' & getting worse rapidly, top health official warns. rt.com French people should not underestimate the threat of the coronavirus since the situation in the country is already dire and likely to get worse fast, a senior health official has warned, adding that people need to stay home. | There are almost 5,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in France, with over 400 people in serious condition. The situation with the epidemic is \"extremely worrying\" with the epidemic moving very fast, senior health official Jerome Salomon said. | \"The number of cases doubles every three days. I would like our fellow citizens to realize that there are hundreds of people who are sick, in inten…

RT (2020-03-16). Peace Corps to suspend operations, evacuate volunteers worldwide. rt.com The Peace Corps is suspending all operations globally and evacuating all volunteers over the spread of the new coronavirus. In an open letter to volunteers posted on Sunday on its website, the federal agency\'s director, Jody Olsen, says the decision follows recent evacuations in China and Mongolia due to the outbreak. | Olsen said that with evacuations now underway at other posts and travel becoming more challenging by the day, the agency decided to expand the suspension and evacuations. | \"We are acting now to safeguard your well-being and prevent a situation where volunteers are unable to leave their host co…

RT (2020-03-16). Hungary to shut borders to international passengers, close cultural & sports events, PM Orban says. rt.com Hungary will close its borders for international passengers, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told parliament on Monday. The country will also close cultural and sports events and establishments and limit the opening hours of restaurants. | All shops will be shut except food stores, pharmacies and drug stores, he said, asking those over 70 to stay at home and all events to be canceled except for family gatherings. Restaurants must close at 3pm. | The country will need monetary and fiscal tools to tackle the expected grave economic impact from the spread of the coronavirus, Orban said. He added that many jobs would…

RT (2020-03-16). India closes Taj Mahal, other monuments over coronavirus til end of month. rt.com India has closed the iconic Taj Mahal and other monuments to visitors, citing the coronavirus epidemic. The cultural sites will remain closed until the end of the month, the Culture Ministry announced.

RT (2020-03-16). Martial law is coming? Washington debunks hoax message about coronavirus telling Americans to stockpile everything in sight. rt.com Americans have been bombarded with fake messages stating that President Donald Trump will declare martial law in days. The government had to intervene to prevent a wave of panic. | The seemingly unstoppable spread of coronavirus has already led the government to declare a national emergency over the deadly disease that has so far claimed 41 lives nationwide, and infected more than 1,600 people across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). | However, certain unsavory characters apparently decided to exploit the already tense situation to stoke more fear in the hearts of…

RT (2020-03-16). Casinos, gyms, movie theaters to close as New York, New Jersey & Connecticut ban 50+ people gatherings due to coronavirus fears. rt.com The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have rolled a set of rules, which include closing casinos, gyms and movie theaters, as well as limiting restaurants to only takeout and delivery services. | New restrictions in the three neighboring states will go into effect at 8 PM eastern time on Monday. On top of the closures and banning of crowds of 50 or more, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he is also discouraging any non-emergency travel in his state \"between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily. This will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.\" | The closures in New York from Governor Andrew…

RT (2020-03-16). Macron condemns \'unilateral\' border control measures, discusses issue with Merkel — Elysee. rt.com French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday condemned unilateral border control measures taken by some EU countries in a bid to control the coronavirus outbreak. The statement from the Elysee Palace came following a phone briefing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU officials. | However, the Elysee warned that measures at the EU\'s external borders could be announced \"in the coming hours,\" Reuters said. | The discussion between Macron and Merkel came after Germany decided to temporarily introduce border controls on the borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, and Denmark starting Monday in…

RT (2020-03-16). \'Not with a bang but a twerk\': Netizens dumbfounded as partygoers ignore coronavirus \'social distancing\' pleas (VIDEOS). rt.com The immense gravity of the coronavirus crisis has yet to sink in fully and, despite the best efforts of authorities in warning the public, hordes of people have apparently ignored social distancing advice in favor of partying on. | Footage appeared on social media over the weekend of New Orleans police clearing the city\'s popular party hotspot the French Quarter, after the state\'s governor banned gatherings of 250 people or more. | However, revelers on Bourbon Street were defiant in the face of sound medical advice and emergency protocols, opting instead to twerk at police who were attempting to clear the area…

RT (2020-03-16). Ryanair to ground majority of its European fleet over next 10 days, complete cuts \'can\'t be ruled out\'. rt.com Budget airline Ryanair has announced that it will ground the majority of its fleet of over 450 Boeing 737-800 aircraft over the next 10 days in response to the coronavirus crisis, adding that a total suspension might take effect. | The company said that government restrictions and flight bans across Europe had a significant and negative impact on its ability to operate. As a result, the airline has reduced working hours and payments, slashed discretionary spending and frozen recruitment. | Wherever flight restrictions are not in place, the airline said that social distancing protocols may be implemented on fli…

RT (2020-03-16). Global stock markets plunge despite drastic action by governments as coronavirus paralyses economies. rt.com World equities continued to fall on Monday, even as the US Federal Reserve slashes rates to zero and launches a massive quantitative easing program to try to offset the coronavirus impact on the global economy. | European stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, reacting to the shutdown taking place on the continent as efforts continue to contain the outbreak. Spain has imposed a 15-day nationwide lockdown, banning its 46 million citizens from all non-essential movement. France and Germany have strengthened their borders in order to contain the spread of the virus. | London\'s FTSE 100 index opened Monday\'s tradi…