(2020-04-26). Iraq facing a great US threat: China, al-Hashd and Iran out, or else! (2/2). thealtworld.com 
No country could fail to be shaken by the kind of profound struggle between all its political groups that currently prevails in Iraq. The US does not need to make any great effort to sow discord between the parties because they are currently intrinsically fragmented. The removal of Major General Qassim Suleimani from the Iraqi scene— whose personal objective had been to bring the various political parties together — was a major event, but not a game-changer. It did not profoundly modify the Iraqi political scene because he had already failed, two months before his assassination by the US, to persuade…
(2020-04-26). 'How do you prosecute Assange and not prosecute journalists everywhere?' — Greenwald to RT on threat to journalists worldwide. rt.com 
The US' request to extradite and prosecute Julian Assange sets a dangerous precedent, the Intercept's founder Glenn Greenwald has told RT, warning that it puts journalists around the world in danger. | The most "amazing" fact about Assange's case, as far as Greenwald is concerned, is that the US government is seeking to charge him for violating the Espionage Act. But the WikiLeaks founder "is not an American citizen, he never worked with a media outlet in the United States, [and] none of the alleged crimes he committed took place on American soil," he said during former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's sho…
(2020-04-26). Yemen's southern separatists declare self-rule, putting Saudi-brokered 2019 peace deal in jeopardy. rt.com 
The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is based in the southern Yemeni port of Aden, declared a state of emergency and announced that from now on it will "self-govern" the territories it controls. The separatists accused the Saudi-backed government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi of corruption and mismanagement. | Hadi's government said that the STC's decision amounts to a "complete withdrawal" from the Saudi-brokered peace, which was signed in November 2019. Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hadhrami warned that the separatists will face "dangerous and catastrophic consequences." | The UAE an…
(2020-04-26). Plea for mother with terminal cancer to be allowed to travel to US for treatment. thecanary.co 
A mother with terminal cancer is asking for permission to travel to the US amid the coronavirus lockdown so that she can receive potentially life-saving treatment.Sarah Wright, nee Gray, 33, was told her breast cancer had metastasised and was incurable, in August last year, the month after she gave birth to her daughter Everleigh.Mrs Wright, a finance assistant from Ashford, Kent, has now been accepted on to a trial for a promising new drug, leronlimab, which could save her life if she can travel to a San Francisco clinic in California.However, as of March 16 travel to the US from the UK has been severely limited…
(2020-04-26). Parisians defy Covid-19 lockdown with outdoor DANCE PARTY that prompts police raid (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Dozens of people gathered in a posh historic district of Paris for an impromptu street party, dancing to music blasted by a resident from his balcony amid the coronavirus lockdown. The party triggered a rapid police response. | The footage from the 18th arrondissement of Paris which includes Montmartre shows a group of people swaying and spinning to Dalida's 'Let me dance', with a crowd of onlookers gathering. | Le 18ème vient officiellement de s'auto-déconfiner (et il aimerait qu'on le laisse danser).
(2020-04-26). We're opening businesses on May 4, but don't expect 'full freedom for all': Italy's Conte outlines way out of lockdown. rt.com 
In just over a week, Italy plans to reopen some of the previously closed export-oriented businesses, but Italians should not expect any major changes in terms of freedom of movement, the prime minister said. | Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte gave an overview of how his country, the first in Europe to take a serious blow from the Covid-19 pandemic, plans to return to some level of normalcy. Starting May 4, his government will allow some of the businesses closed six weeks ago to curb the spread of the disease to reopen, he said. | Export-oriented manufacturing that risks being cut out of supply chains, con…
(2020-04-26). What distancing? Revelers defy coronavirus lockdown in tightly PACKED house party in Chicago (VIDEOS). rt.com 
Scores of people have shown up for a big house party overnight in Chicago, defying the coronavirus lockdown and ban on large gatherings. The party came as the US Covid-19 tally approached the 1 million cases mark. | The party was held overnight somewhere in Chicago, Illinois. Footage from the scene that has been streamed online by the revelers shows a house packed with young people dancing and chatting. |
(2020-04-26). WATCH Russian paratroopers in world's FIRST-EVER 10km group jump… in the ARCTIC. rt.com 
Russian Airborne Troops practiced their high-altitude parachuting skills in one of Earth's most extreme environments — above a freezing Arctic wasteland. An exercise of this kind has never been attempted before. | A Russian commando unit has conducted a so-called HALO parachuting operation, a mass jump which saw them dropping out of a high-flying transport plane and free diving to a reasonably low altitude before opening their chutes. This is a challenge in itself, but the paratroopers faced added risks thanks to the location of the jump. The Alexandra Land is an island well beyond the 80th parallel nort…
(2020-04-26). Russia's Covid-19 epidemic tops 80,000 cases as authorities hope to turn the tide during May holidays. rt.com 
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Russia has risen by 6,261 since Saturday and reached almost 81,000, according to the latest national update. The disease has claimed 66 more lives, pushing the death toll to 747. | The current figures are a promising sign that Russia will not see an explosive spread of the coronavirus, but making sure it doesn't happen will require discipline from the public, head of the Russian sanitary regulator Anna Popova said in an interview on Sunday. | "We don't have any explosion. Preventing one was one of our tasks and we see it coming to fruition," she said. "That is, unless…
(2020-04-26). 'Embassy has no official info on whether N. Korean leader is ill, I spoke to them this morning' — Russian Communist MP. rt.com 
A Russian lawmaker has asked the North Korean embassy about Kim Jong-un's health, amid speculation about the leader's wellbeing following his lengthy absence from the public eye. | Russia's Communist Party (KPRF) lawmaker Kazbek Taysayev, who leads a group of MPs responsible for relations with Pyongyang, said that he had recently contacted North Korean diplomats. | "I have spoken with the [North Korean] embassy today. As you know, there were some reports [regarding Kim's health]," Taysayev told Russian media. | We only deal with official information, and there is no official information about the [North Korean…
(2020-04-26). 'Here's my favorite swimwear!' Russian Olympic champ Alla Shishkina shows off tiny outfits she wore in swimming showpieces (VIDEO). rt.com 
Two-time Olympic hero Alla Shishkina has given her followers a glimpse of some of her costumes and kept her creativity flowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, producing a new video to satisfy fans keen to see her favorite outfits. | A gold medalist for Russia in the women's team synchronized swimming at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, Shishkina still cherishes her competition outfits, and opted to showcase eight of them in response to requests from some of her 28,000 fans on Instagram. | The Moscow-based athlete demonstrated some of the rhythm and style that has helped her to secure those glories, smiling and b…
(2020-04-26). China boosts oil imports from Russia, while slashing purchases from Saudi Arabia. rt.com 
Shipments of Russian crude oil to China increased more than 30 percent in March compared to a year earlier while Saudi imports of the commodity sank, Reuters reported, citing Chinese customs data. | As crumbling demand for crude and lack of storage space have been wreaking havoc on the oil market, China has been boosting oil exports in a move seen as taking advantage of record low oil prices. Covid-19 has severely cut the demand of one of the top global importers, but in March China purchased 9.68 million barrels per day (bpd), that is 4.5 percent more than it did during the same period in 2019. | Also on rt.c…
(2020-04-26). 'The hardest working president in history': Trump goes on Twitter rant against 'fake media' with Nobel Prizes for Russia stories. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump blasted the media over reports about his laid-back work schedule, and suggested taking Nobel Prizes away from journalists who pushed Russia collusion stories, mistaking the award for the Pulitzer. | "The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history," Trump wrote on Sunday afternoon, kicking off a firestorm of anti-media tweets. | The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history. I don't know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten more…
(2020-04-26). Top BMA clinician accuses government of deceit, demands Johnson and Hancock resign. thecanary.co 
A senior BMA (British Medical Association) clinician has accused the UK government of deceit in the way it has handled the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. He also demands that prime minister Boris Johnson and health secretary Matt Hancock resign. | "A national scandal": | BMA (British Medical Association) honorary vice president Dr Kallash Chand has published a video in which he says that Johnson and Hancock have "handled the [coronavirus] crisis lazily, negligently and dishonesty (sic)": |
(2020-04-26). 'They should study Shakespeare, not science': Sen. Cotton claims China could be using visa students to STEAL US Covid-19 vaccine. rt.com 
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton believes China is "actively" trying to steal a coronavirus vaccine from the US and could be using foreign students to do so. As such, he has urged the government to limit what they can study. | "The Chinese Communist Party has been stealing America's intellectual property for decades and they're not going to magically stop in the middle of a pandemic," Cotton told Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures'. | "In the middle of a pandemic, what's the most valuable intellectual property in the world? It's the research that our great laboratories and life science companies are doing on prophyl…
(2020-04-26). Some nations inch toward reopening as virus deaths rise. thecanary.co 
US states and nations around the world are taking divergent paths on when to reopen their economies and communities.The number of deaths officially attributed to coronavirus topped 200,000 globally, a figure widely believed to understate the actual total.A second US Navy ship, a destroyer off the coast of South America, reported an outbreak on board.(PA Graphics)As aides develop plans to shift US President Donald Trump's public emphasis from the virus to addressing the economic crisis it has caused, Dr Anthony Fauci at the US National Institutes of Health warned against moving too quickly."You hear a lot about th…
(2020-04-26). 'Just calm down': Pelosi fails to reassure with message for state and local governments battling Covid-19 and its economic fallout. rt.com 
As small businesses and state governments struggle amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Nancy Pelosi has dismissed accusations that she made an error by supporting an interim relief package, telling critics to "just calm down." | Speaker of the House Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have received heavy criticism from progressives following their support of an interim coronavirus relief bill that did not include financial support for state and local governments, originally a sticking point for their party. | A second CARES Act has been promised, which will be a more expansive relief bill, though the inter…
(2020-04-26). 'I never said it was a hoax!' Trump unloads on media in fiery rant, says coronavirus briefings 'not worth the time and effort'. rt.com 
US President Donald Trump fired off a scathing broadside at the mainstream media, accusing them of peddling the false claim that he called the coronavirus a hoax, and suggesting the Covid-19 briefings are a waste of time. | "What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately," the president tweeted on Saturday evening. | What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accu…
(2020-04-26). Plan B? Branson reportedly mulls selling Virgin Atlantic as he waits for bailout. rt.com 
Billionaire Richard Branson wants to find a buyer for Virgin Atlantic by the end of May as talks to save the airline from the coronavirus-spurred collapse have still not resulted in success, the Sunday Telegraph reported. | The troubled UK-based airline has reportedly hired investment bank Houlihan Lokey to secure the deal. The lender already has over a hundred potential bidders, with around half of them asking for more information about the offer. | According to the news outlet, hedge fund Lansdowne Partners, Singapore wealth fund Temasek and Northill Capital, as well as US based firms Centerbridge Partners a…
(2020-04-26). Iran eyes reopening mosques in coronavirus-free regions. rt.com 
Tehran will allow religious sites to reopen in certain areas — the so-called 'white zones' — across the country that have been consistently coronavirus-free, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday. The country has been divided into red, yellow and white zones, corresponding with the magnitude of the outbreak, the president explained. | Religious sites were closed across Iran after the country was hit with a major Covid-19 outbreak. Public gatherings have been banned while movement of people across the country has been restricted. | Iran is among the worst coronavirus-affected nations. It has ov…
(2020-04-26). Mother fears coronavirus while shielding disabled son. thecanary.co 
A facilities manager at a rehabilitation centre, who is having to isolate from her disabled son for weeks at a time, has said she fears she may never see him again if she catches coronavirus.Lisa Lax-Harding, 45, made the "awful" decision to leave her family home in Sheffield to protect four-year-old Finlay, who has mosaic Edwards' syndrome and is vulnerable to catching the virus.Mrs Lax-Harding released an emotional video of her reunion with Finlay after her first four weeks spent away from him while working at the Steps Rehabilitation centre.Lisa Lax-Harding with her son Finlay and daughter Abbie (Family Handou…
(2020-04-26). The show goes on: Ring girls in MASKS and social distancing in the crowd as boxing event goes ahead in Nicaragua (PHOTOS). rt.com 
A "Bufalo Boxing" event in Nicaragua went ahead as planned in the nation's capital of Managua as organizers adopted various safety measures to keep competitors and fans safe during the COVID-19 pandemic | The eight-fight card went ahead following weigh-ins on Friday that saw the fighters go face to face while wearing face masks. | That visual statement was continued into fight night itself as the organizers looked to showcase how they could run an event while still responsibly doing what they can to keep those at the event safe. | | © Reuters / Oswaldo Rivas | | © Reuters / Oswaldo Rivas | All fa…
(2020-04-26). 'European race to allow tourist travel again leads to unacceptable risks' — German foreign minister. rt.com 
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has warned that it is still too dangerous to rush to reopen European countries for tourists. He cited the example of a Covid-19 outbreak at an Austrian ski resort. | "The European race to who will be the first to allow tourist travel again leads to unacceptable risks," Maas told Bild am Sonntag. | We have already seen what a cluster of infections at a popular resort can do in tourists' home countries. We can't let this happen again. | Maas was referring to the Alpine ski resort Ischgl, which became Austria's biggest Covid-19 hotspot in March. It is believed that many tourist…
(2020-04-26). Politico has to correct its article as report about Trump 'owning millions' to Bank of China denied by… Bank of China. rt.com 
Apparently in a rush to expose a sinister link between US President Donald Trump and Beijing, Politico reported that Trump has an outstanding debt to the Bank of China, only to quietly correct itself after the bank spoke out. | In its "scoop" on Friday, Politico Around $211 million from a nearly $1 billion loan came from the Bank of China,…
(2020-04-26). Ukraine busts 'human trafficking ring' that sold BABIES to Chinese 'single men of certain orientation'. rt.com 
Ukrainian police have raided a private reproductive clinic that has been allegedly "selling babies" to China. While the suspects are accused of "human trafficking," surrogate motherhood is a legal gray area in Ukraine. | The scandalous case was brought to light by the country's interior ministry late on Saturday. The police broke up a "human-trafficking" ring that was centered at a private reproductive clinic in Kiev. | Further details on the case were
(2020-04-26). North Korea's Kim sends letter to construction workers amid reports his TRAIN was spotted at coastal resort. rt.com 
Rumors about the North Korean leader's whereabouts and health have swirled — but Kim Jong-un himself seems to be having none of it, praising workers of a major construction project, according to state media. | As the world watches the unfolding drama starring the North Korean leader with bated breath — with conflicting reports fueling speculation that he has either died or is in serious condition — Kim was reported by state newspaper Rodong Sinmun to have sent greetings to the staff working on the construction of Samjiyon city, one of the most ambitious development projects underway in the recl…
(2020-04-26). 'I haven't heard anything directly': Lindsey Graham makes headlines by weighing in on Kim Jong-un death rumours, but knows nothing. rt.com 
Media outlets keep sharing Senator Lindsey Graham's opinion on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health, even though there is no official information on the matter, and despite the fact Graham hasn't provided any evidence. | The South Carolina Republican senator, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, admitted to Fox News's Jeanine Pirro he has no direct knowledge of Kim's health — but weighed in anyway, calling North Korea a "cult." | "It's a closed society. I haven't heard anything directly, but I'll be shocked if he's not dead or in some incapacitated state, because you don't let rumors like this…
(2020-04-26). On the comeback trail? Players to return to courts for the first time in almost TWO MONTHS as NBA 'gives green light to train'. rt.com 
The NBA is set to take a huge step towards resuming its season by announcing that players will be allowed to return to training bases on Friday where state laws allow them to — giving some stars their first court time since March.
(2020-04-26). Referee: Maradona could have been SENT OFF for SWEARING while the anthems were being sung before the 1990 World Cup final (VIDEO). rt.com 
The referee who took charge of the 1990 World Cup final between West Germany and Argentina said he could have sent off Argentinian legend Diego Maradona before a ball had even been kicked in the Italia '90 finale. | Edgardo Codesal, who bossed Argentina's loss to West Germany, has revealed that he is still targeted with vile abuse and was accused by Maradona of being bribed by FIFA, calling the icon "one of the worst people I have ever met." | Maradona was booked by Codesal two minutes after the official awarded West Germany their 85th-minute penalty in Rome, providing the only goal of the game as Argentina's…
(2020-04-26). Turkish Red Crescent delivers Ramadan aid in N. Syria. yenisafak.com The Turkish Red Crescent distributed on Sunday 1,000 food parcels among the poor in northwestern Syria as part of its Ramadan campaign.The aid agency, also known as Kizilay, distributed food parcels in Rasulayn and Tel Abyad districts of northern Syria, which were cleared of terrorists with Operation Peace Spring, according to the governorship of Sanliurfa.The agency is also planning to distribute another 1,000 food parcels for Ramadan feast toward the end of the holy month.The Turkish Red Crescent is the largest humanitarian organization in Turkey, with an international network to help nations in need.Turkey is…
(2020-04-26). Sunday's Andrew Marr Show was even more of a clusterf*ck than usual. thecanary.co 
It was quite the Sunday morning for the Andrew Marr Show. Because it managed to let a Tory minister off the hook, treat the Scottish First Minister completely differently, and leave it to a scientist to warn about the government's Nicola Sturgeon: cool, calm, collected: | First out of the blocks was Nicola Sturgeon. Some people on social media thought her appearance showed that of a "true leader"; the "best" in the UK apparently: | Nicola Sturgeo…
(2020-04-26). Russia's Love of Trump, But Why? Trump is Burying the United States, Just Like Nikita Promised. thealtworld.com 
Over the past year, since Russiagate has blown over for the most part, Sputnik News and Russia Today, the two major government controlled media operations (controlled by the same person) have embarrassingly fawned over Trump. | More than that, their slant has been decidedly racist, anti-Semitic (expressing virulent hatred for America's liberal Jewish majority), anti-Hispaic/African American/Islamic America and anti-intellectual. | They have also been anti-science but their real bias has been an ongoing smear campaign against any democratic politician or anyone that isn't a pure Deep State sludge eater. | Above al…
(2020-04-26). Afghan men reject social distancing for religious gathering amid coronavirus. yenisafak.com Afghan authorities are struggling to implement lockdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in a province bordering Iran where the outbreak is widening due to an influx of Afghan returnees and men refusing to adhere to social distancing. Herat, the country's third largest city and a bustling province in eastern Afghanistan, has reported a high number of coronavirus cases.The country is grappling with acute shortages of testing facilities at a time when violent clashes between government forces and the Taliban insurgents show no signs of decline.The medical and security crisis has worsened in the province as…
(2020-04-26). She's Back: Nikki Haley's Anti-China Rage: "Stop Communist China" globalresearch.ca Neocon hardliner Haley is a "hawk" on the far-right fringe of US politics. She's militantly hostile toward sovereign states on the US target list for regime change. | As former Trump regime UN envoy, she was an embarrassment to the …
(2020-04-26). Trump Regime Aims to Suppress Iranian Truth-Telling. globalresearch.ca US hostility toward Iran is all about its sovereign independence — free from US control. | It's also because of its large hydrocarbon resources the US seeks control over, along with wanting Israel's main rival neutralized. | Hostile US policy toward Iran …
(2020-04-26). Suffering in Kashmir and Palestine. globalresearch.ca While the world is pre-occupied with coronavirus and its impact on lives and the international economy, one must not forget that suffering due to oppression knows no season and has no vaccine, but is not without a cure. Sadly, for …
(2020-04-26). Germany says China sought to encourage positive COVID-19 comments. yenisafak.com Chinese diplomats approached German government officials in an attempt to encourage them to make positive statements on how Beijing is handling the coronavirus pandemic, the German interior ministry said in a letter this month."The German government is aware of individual contacts made by Chinese diplomats with the aim of effecting positive public statements on the coronavirus management by the People's Republic of China," said the letter, seen by Reuters on Sunday."The federal government has not complied with these requests."The letter was dated April 22 and was sent to Green Party member of parliament Margarete…
(2020-04-26). The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic: The Real Danger is "Agenda ID2020" globalresearch.ca WHO has most likely received orders from "above", from those people who also manage Trump and the "leaders" (sic) of the EU, European Union. The final decision to go ahead NOW with COVID-19 pandemic, was taken in January 2020 at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos – behind very much closed doors.
(2020-04-26). Bernie Sanders and the Future of the Movement. indybay.org Online…
(2020-04-26). Zarif holds phone talks with Iraqi, Omani counterparts. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 263 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held separate phone talks with his Iraqi and Omani counterparts on Sunday to discuss a host of issues of mutual interest.
(2020-04-26). Hilarious Kim Jong Un Jokes, And Other Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com Ha ha ha let's all laugh about rumors that Kim Jong Un might be dead because he runs a crazy backwards regime where the media are a propaganda arm of the state and the public is oppressed and surveilled and people are imprisoned for exposing the truth about the government. | ~ | "I sure hope those North Koreans get to have democracy someday like we have here. Lemme log off this search engine algorithmically stacked toward billionaire CIA-tied media and ponder whether I want Donald Trump or Joe Biden to continue the wars and oligarchic exploitation." | ~ | The US needs to constantly bully the world, drop bombs, pa…
(2020-04-26). New Poll Shows Nearly 90 Percent of Democratic Voters Support Medicare for All. truthout.org A new poll showing nearly 90 percent approval among Democratic voters for Medicare for All has stirred fresh calls for Joe Biden, the party's presumptive nominee, to end his outdated opposition to the healthcare solution that would Arriving amid the coronavir…
(2020-04-26). New Poll Shows Nearly 90 Percent of Democrat Voters Support Medicare for All. truthout.org A new poll showing nearly 90 percent approval among Democratic voters for Medicare for All has stirred fresh calls for Joe Biden, the party's presumptive nominee, to end his outdated opposition to the healthcare solution that would Arriving amid the coronavir…
(2020-04-26). Trump and Biden Trade Hit Pieces: Distinctions without a Difference. dissidentvoice.org This season's sequel to the Game of Thrones features reality TV star and current occupant of the Oval Office versus the former Senator from MBNA and two-term VP. It's time to binge watch dueling hit pieces from the US electoral duopoly going at it. The narrower the distinctions between Democrats and Republicans, the more vociferous …
(2020-04-26). Zarif, Guterres underline dispatch of humanitarian aid to Yemen. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 26 (MNA) — In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the vitality of dispatching humanitarian aid cargoes to Yemen, amid coronavirus outbreak.
(2020-04-26). Brazil Justice Minister Resigns Over Bolsonaro's Interference in Investigations. zcomm.org Impeachment Talk Ramps Up…
(2020-04-26). How to use Social Media to Drive Environmental Change: Climate Change. indybay.org Online via Livestream…
(2020-04-26). Don't Bail Out Oil and Gas — Use the Money for Environmental Cleanup Instead. truthout.org This story is published as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. | Despite the evidence that the fossil fuel industry in the U.S. is
(2020-04-26). Empowering Women: The Climate Solution We Don't Talk About (Climate One). indybay.org Online…
(2020-04-26). Former Jamaican Prime Minister Applauds Cuba's Generosity. telesurenglish.net The former Prime Minister of Jamaica Percival James Patterson acknowledged Cuba's international assistance in tackling the global COVID-19 pandemic, he said in a statement issued last Wednesday by the PJ Patterson Center for Africa-Caribbean Policy Advocacy of the University of the West Indies (UWI). | RELATED: | "Former Prime Minister Patterson applauds the generosity of the government and people of Cuba by sending hundred…