WSWS (2020-04-25). Minnesota meatpacking plant closes after two dozen workers test positive for COVID-19. wsws.org JBS USA, the largest meat processing company in Minnesota, shut down its pork plant in Worthington on Monday, resulting in the layoff of 2,000 workers, many of whom are immigrants.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-04-25). After the Lockdown: A Global Coronavirus Vaccination Program… globalresearch.ca The tendency is towards a Worldwide lockdown spearheaded by fear and media disinformation. Currently, hundreds of millions of people Worldwide are under lockdown. | What is the next step in the evolution of the COV-19 Crisis? A multibillion dollar coronavirus vaccination program to be implemented in the wake of the Lockdown.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-04-25). Fake Coronavirus Data, Fear Campaign. Spread of the COVID-19 Infection. globalresearch.ca Do not let yourself be misled by the fear campaign, pointing to a Worldwide coronavirus calamity with repeated "predictions" that hundreds of thousands of people are going to die. | According to the WHO, the death rate pertaining to Seasonal Influenza globally is between 6 to 12 times higher than COVID-19.

Aaron Maté (2020-04-25). US elites use Russiagate playbook to blame China and promote hostility. thegrayzone.com The US establishment is demonizing China over the COVID-19 crisis with a familiar Russiagate playbook of specious claims, fear-mongering, and…

WSWS (2020-04-25). Hong Kong arrests prominent pan-democrat activists. wsws.org Washington is attempting to exploit the arrests to further whip up tensions with Beijing and paint China as a threat.

teleSUR (2020-04-25). European Union Urges Libya Truce, Resumption of Peace Talks. telesurenglish.net The foreign affairs ministers of Germany, France, Italy, and the European High Representative for Foreign Affair made a joint call Saturday for a humanitarian truce in Libya, urging all sides must resume peace talks. | RELATED: | "We call on all the Libyan actors to get inspired by the spirit of the Holy Ramadan, engage in resuming talks for a genuine ceasefire," said the statement, signed by the EU's Josep Borrell, Fr…

RT (2020-04-25). 'Let me go to work!' Hundreds of protesters demand removal of fence on Polish-German border amid Covid-19 lockdown (VIDEO). rt.com Protesters have demanded the reopening of the border between Poland and Germany, which was closed due the Covid-19 pandemic. The quarantine rules have left them unable to commute to work and see their families. | Hundreds gathered at both sides of the border crossing between the Polish town of Zgorzelec and the German town of Goerlitz on Friday. Protesters held signs saying 'Let me go to work!' and 'Let me into my home', demanding the removal of the border fence erected after the countries closed their borders in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. They also urged the Polish government to end the…

en.mehrnews (2020-04-25). VIDEO: Protesters leave body bags outside Trump Hotel in Washington. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 25 (MNA) — Demonstrators lay body bags outside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to show their disapproval of how US President Donald Trump is handling the coronavirus in very graphic terms.

WSWS (2020-04-25). Food delivery workers in Brazil join international strikes against unsafe conditions. wsws.org Over the past week, there have been strikes and protests in Brazil and other Latin American countries, including Ecuador and Argentina, as well as Spain.

RT (2020-04-25). 'Can't erase history': Putin & Stalin mosaic for military cathedral is 'appropriate,' church says amid furor. rt.com President Vladimir Putin and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin will both make a surprise, if minor, appearance inside the main cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces, which is being decorated with historical scenes of the nation's glory. | Photos showing an incomplete mosaic with the likenesses of Putin, other key government figures, and seemingly random people celebrating with national flags made quite a stir in Russia after being leaked to the media on Friday. The artwork is reportedly part of the grandiose church under construction in Patriot Park near Moscow, which is to become the main place of worship for the R…

RT (2020-04-25). 'Can't erase history': Putin & Stalin TEMPLE MOSAIC is 'appropriate,' church says amid furor over Russian military cathedral decor. rt.com President Vladimir Putin and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin will both make a surprise, if minor, appearance inside the main cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces, which is being decorated with historical scenes of the nation's glory. | Photos showing an incomplete mosaic with the likenesses of Putin, other key government figures, and seemingly random people celebrating with national flags made quite a stir in Russia after being leaked to the media on Friday. The artwork was linked to the grandiose church being built in Patriot Park outside Moscow, which is to become the main temple of the Russian military. | &nda…

Peter Bolton (2020-04-25). As the dust settles over the Corbyn and Sanders era, we must remember one crucial reality. thecanary.co It seemed almost celestially ordained that Corbyn's term as leader of the Labour Party in the UK and Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential run in the US would come to

Noam Chomsky (2020-04-25). A Green New Deal Can Create Jobs and Livelihoods. zcomm.org On Labor, Climate, and the Long Way Forward…

Alan MacLeod (2020-04-25). "Sanctioned Countries" Are Now Leading the World in the Fight Against Coronavirus. globalresearch.ca After weeks of dismissing it as a liberal "hoax" designed to unseat the president, brushing the virus off as no big deal and under control, the Trump administration is clearly floundering in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite …

Elijah Magnier (2020-04-25). Iraq facing a great US threat: China, al-Hashd and Iran out, or else… (1/2). thealtworld.com Iraq never before witnessed fragmentation of this magnitude, embodied by an unprecedented division between the various political blocs in a parliamentary system dependent on the consensus of the ruling parliamentary blocs. | The US administration, aware of the lack of Iraqi unity, is playing an important role in pouring oil on the fire. The Iraqi economy depends on sales of crude oil for 67 percent of its budget. Its value is now so low that it threatens the Iraqi economy, and it has become a contributory factor in endangering the integrity of the territory. The deterioration of the standard of living, an unstabl…

RT (2020-04-25). 'Just wash your damn hands!' Golf influencer Tisha Alyn's dance video warns fans to NOT DRINK BLEACH to 'cure' COVID-19 (VIDEO). rt.com Following news that a host of Americans have been taken ill after drinking disinfectant after US President Donald Trump's comments about killing COVID-19, golf influencer Tisha Alyn has issued her own public service announcement. | Alyn hopped onto her Instagram to warn her followers not to drink bleach and antibacterial products, using a rework of the DJ Casper hit, "Cha Cha Slide" to remind people to wash their hands instead. | "This is a PSA – reminder that ingesting disinfectant/bleach is BAD for you. Just wash your damn hands!" she declared. | "Bringing out the Filipino in me with the line dances and m…

Eds. (2020-04-25). Coronavirus: the need for a progressive internationalist response. mronline.org This pandemic health crisis exposes the injustices of the global economic order. It must be a turning point towards creating the systems, structures and policies that can always protect those who are marginalised and allow everyone to live with dignity.

RT (2020-04-25). Global coronavirus death toll tops 200,000 fatalities. rt.com The global death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic reached over 200,000 on Saturday, with confirmed cases expected to top three million in the coming days. | More than half of the worldwide fatalities have come from the United States, Spain, and Italy. Eight percent of cases in the United States have resulted in death, with 10 percent of infections in Italy and Spain proving fatal. | Also on rt.com | | It took 91 days for the global death toll to top 100,000, but only another 16 for…

RT (2020-04-25). Our Turn to Act: RT launches live map connecting volunteers & those needing help amid coronavirus. rt.com RT's charity project 'Our Turn to Act' has launched a live map that brings together potential volunteers and those struggling to cope with coronavirus lockdowns on their own. | The live map makes it easier for people — primarily elderly persons forced to self-isolate in their homes amid global Covid-19 lockdowns — to get directly in touch with volunteers keen to help them see the crisis through. | To receive assistance or lend a helping hand to those stuck at home, the first step is to register on the project's

RT (2020-04-25). 'It's kind of a rule of thumb': Adviser reveals UK govt's 2-meter coronavirus distance instruction based on 'muddy science'. rt.com The British public cannot be expected to just do as they're told by the government for long, since the guidelines are very disruptive and not as scientifically sound as officials make them seem to be, a government adviser said. | One example would be the instruction for people to keep two meters apart from other people to reduce the risk of infection, advice which was "conjured out of nowhere," according to professor Robert Dingwall. | "There's never been a scientific basis for two meters, it's kind of a rule of thumb. But it's not like there is a whole kind of rigorous scientific literature that it is founded…

Kerry-anne Mendoza (2020-04-25). Coronavirus has already killed more British people than the Blitz. thecanary.co The UK government only reports deaths from coronavirus (Covid-19) that happen in hospitals. New research shows that the true number of people dying is more than double government reports. Figures prepared by the Financial Times (FT) show that

RT (2020-04-25). India eases Covid-19 lockdown, allowing some shops to reopen on limited basis as Modi preaches virtues of 'self-reliance'. rt.com New Delhi has given the green light for small shops across India to open their doors under certain conditions, as the country begins to relax far-reaching lockdown measures brought to stop the spread of Covid-19. | The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order late on Friday night granting permission to "non-essential" shop owners to get back to work starting on Saturday, asking only that they continue to abide by social distancing guidelines and don masks and gloves in public to limit transmission of the lethal virus. | "All registered shops under the Shops and Establishment Act …including shops in residenti…

RT (2020-04-25). Russian legislators rush to get tested after two fellow MPs contract coronavirus. rt.com At least two Russian legislators have contracted the dreaded Covid-19 disease. While mandatory coronavirus testing is not expected for MPs, many of them have already been checked voluntarily after their colleagues fell ill. | Read more | | Top Russian officials had largely been spared by the coronavirus pandemic so far, but that situation changed on Saturday when two MPs were diagnosed with coronavirus. | Leonid Kalashnikov, head of the State Duma's committe…

The Canary (2020-04-25). Coronavirus test slots for key workers run out for second day in a row. thecanary.co Coronavirus tests for key workers through the government's new booking website have run out in England and Wales for a second day in a row.More than 10 million key workers and their households are now eligible for Covid-19 tests as officials race to hit their 100,000-a-day testing target by 30 April.However, home testing kits were listed as "unavailable" on the government's booking website just 15 minutes after it reopened on Saturday morning, according to the BBC.(PA Graphics)It was also not possible to book tests at drive-through regional sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 10am on 25 April.Accordin…

RT (2020-04-25). St. Petersburg's Russian Museum marks 125th anniversary with empty halls… & RT's Ruptly gives you an exclusive tour (VIDEO). rt.com The State Russian Museum whose grand collection ranges from medieval icons to Kazimir Malevich's squares and circles is marking its 125th anniversary with empty halls due to Covid-19. But this Ruptly video takes you on a tour. | The largest depository of Russian fine arts was founded back in 1895 by Russia's last Emperor Nicholas II. Located in the grandiose Mikhailovsky Palace in St. Petersburg, the museum is used to seeing droves of tourists daily but like many establishments worldwide it is currently closed due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic. | Ruptly has peeked into the empty halls of the museum, and a…

RT (2020-04-25). Senator hands outrage culture a win, apologizes for wearing Confederate flag face mask after defending it only a day earlier. rt.com A Michigan state senator gave in to triggered critics by apologizing for wearing a mask resembling the Confederate flag. A day earlier he ardently defended it, saying history should be taught so as not to repeat itself. | Republican Dale Zorn was photographed wearing the mask while in the Michigan state chamber on Friday to vote on bills seeking to limit the emergency powers of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. | pic.twitter.com/uTOaBzweTO— Bryan Newland (@RealBNewland) April 25, 20…

Eds. (2020-04-25). Joe Biden: no lesser, just evil. mronline.org The only thing Joe Biden and Donald Trump should be battling over is the top bunk of a prison cell. Instead, these two crooks are vying for the presidency of the United States. If Biden is this year's lesser evil, he is sorely testing the meaning of "lesser". No Democratic politician has worked longer and …

RT (2020-04-25). Blast from the past: Recording of a call to Larry King bolsters Tara Reade's claim Joe Biden sexually assaulted her. rt.com The mainstream media's dismissal of Tara Reade's claims she was sexually assaulted by then-Senator Joe Biden just became more awkward after a video emerged of her mother's 1993 call into CNN's Larry King Live. | The minute-long clip that surfaced on Friday shows a female called into Larry King Live from San Luis Obispo, California on August 11, 1993, seeking advice about her daughter who just left Washington after having "problems" with "a prominent senator." | BREAKING: Is this the mother of Joe Biden's accuser talking to CNN in 1993?

yenisafak (2020-04-25). Can pandemic catalyze diplomacy to end conflicts? yenisafak.com Governments in Yemen, the Philippines, Thailand, and Colombia and armed groups have heeded to the call of a cease-fire by the UN amid the coronavirus pandemic. But the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir is a far cry from peace.The New People's Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, announced a cease-fire in its 50-year war in late March, to ensure that all citizens can access testing and treatment.In Colombia, a left-wing armed group, the National Liberation Army (ELN) declared a month's cease-fire starting on April 1. In southern Thailand, local armed groups decided to postpone hostili…

sputniknews (2020-04-25). NYT Reusing Russiagate Playbook on China. sputniknews.com Target workers announce strike actions; NYT reusing Russiagate playbook on China; Activists call for an end to prison imperialism…

RT (2020-04-25). Saudi Arabia to take on billions in debt to survive the oil price crisis. rt.com Saudi Arabia may have to borrow as much as $58 billion this year to cover a budget shortfall caused by the oil price slump, Bloomberg reports, citing Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan. | Al-Jadaan told media this week that the Kingdom might issue bonds worth $26.57 billion (100 billion riyals) this year in addition to an earlier issue of $31.88 billion (120 billion riyals) worth of debt. | Saudi Aramco, for its part, is considering a $10 billion sale in part of its pipeline business, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. | "The kingdom went through similar crises in its history — maybe even worse — and w…

RT (2020-04-25). 'Iran will never initiate any conflict in the region,' Rouhani says amid raging tensions with US. rt.com Tehran will not be the instigator of hostilities with the US in the region, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has said. The countries traded military threats earlier this week. | Rouhani made his comments during a phone call with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on Saturday. "The Islamic Republic of Iran closely monitors and tracks the activities and movements of the Americans, but will never initiate any conflict or tension in the region," he said. | At the same time, Rouhani reiterated that Tehran considers the US sanctions against the country illegal under international law, and said that they are…

RT (2020-04-25). 'Subtle cues' make people SHARE more online, study says — what does this mean for a post-Covid-19 world? rt.com A new study suggests people may have privacy concerns when it comes to technology, but there are psychological temptations for them to divulge too much, a fact that could have repercussions during the Covid-19 pandemic. | In a

Pete Tucker (2020-04-25). As Construction Continues Amidst Covid-19 in DC Area, Bezos' WaPo Raises Few Objections. fair.org Marc Gunther (Medium, "Insane." That's what Marc Gunther thought as he looked out of the window of his downtown Bethesda, Maryland, apartment. Below him, cramped construction crews were building a headquarters and adjoining hotel for Marriott, the world's biggest hotel chain. The $600 million project, which has received $60 million in public funding, is scheduled to be completed in 2022…

Eds. (2020-04-25). "Please Don't": Doctors forced to speak out as Trump ponders aloud whether injecting disinfectants could treat COVID-19. mronline.org "ALERT! Please do not ingest, inject, inhale, or otherwise use any disinfectant outside of its labeled instructions. And do not start using tanning beds or sunning without sunscreen."

RT (2020-04-25). Masked staredown: Boxers face off in Nicaragua while wearing FACE MASKS as event goes ahead in Central America (PHOTOS). rt.com Despite the global sporting lockdown, there is one sporting event set to take place this weekend, with a boxing card set to take place Saturday night in Nicaragua. | The eight-bout fight card, which will feature a bout between local fighters Gabriel Escalante and Mario Mairena, will take place in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. | Also on rt.com | | And the two boxers made weight and faced off in front of the cameras, while wearing face masks.

RT (2020-04-25). Example of Russia-US cooperation: Putin & Trump release rare JOINT statement on Elbe Day 75th anniversary. rt.com Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump have released a rare joint statement, marking the 75th anniversary of the historic meeting between Soviet and American troops on the Elbe River. | The meeting that occurred on April 25, 1945 "heralded the decisive defeat of the Nazi regime," which was ultimately destroyed a couple weeks after. But most importantly, it clearly showed how the two nations can cooperate, the statement reads. | The 'Spirit of the Elbe' is an example of how our countries can put aside differences, build trust, and cooperate in pursuit of a greater cause. | On Elbe…

RT (2020-04-25). WATCH helicopter tail RIPPED OFF, rotor TORN TO PIECES during crash-landing in Siberia. rt.com The crash-landing of a Mi-26 transport helicopter has left eight people injured in Russia. The moment the aircraft plunged into the snowy ground and had both of its rotors obliterated in an instant was caught on camera. | The video shows the chopper slowly approaching the landing zone. But for some reason the pilot couldn't quite control the rotorcraft, with its tail seemingly hitting the ground and getting broken off. With the torque of the main rotor no longer in check, the rest of the body went into a spin and tilted, destroying the rotor blades. | –ö–∞–¥—Ä—…

RT (2020-04-25). Two Su-27s follow Belgian F-16 fighter jet flying near Russia's border in the Baltic Sea (VIDEO). rt.com A pair of Russian Su-27 fighter jets were quickly taken off a routine training flight to escort a Belgian warplane approaching the state border. | On Friday, the Russian military had spotted a Belgian F-16, which was heading towards the nation's border over the Baltic Sea. Two Su-27 fighter aircraft that were flying a training mission in the area were immediately sent to identify the foreign plane. | A cockpit video from one of the Russian jets shows how the Su-27s were maneuvering near the Belgian aircraft until it was escorted away from the country's border. | Russia frequently scrambles its military airc…

Jeff Bryant (2020-04-25). How a Trump administration official is quietly exploiting the pandemic to advance her family business — and right-wing agenda. mronline.org As school districts reported huge problems with converting classroom learning into online instruction delivered to students' homes, often due to lack of funding for internet-capable devices and Wi-Fi hotspots, charter school proponents spread the news of how their industry could take advantage of emergency aid.

RT (2020-04-25). #KIMJONGUNDEAD is a rumor, but political jokes at North Korean leader's expense are already here. rt.com Rumors of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's declining health have inspired a bevy of mocking and agenda-driven tweets from both the left and right. | The hashtag #KIMJONGUNDEAD began trending on Twitter shortly after Reuters reported that China had dispatched a team of medical experts to the country to advise on his well-being. Although next to nothing is known for sure, social media went into a frenzy with memes and posts that had less to do with North Korea and more to do with US politics. | 'Dilbert' creator and political author Scott Adams used the news to take a shot at former Vice President Joe…

WSWS (2020-04-25). Amid warnings of famine and unrest in Venezuela, Maduro renews talks with US-backed opposition. wsws.org The timing of the renewed talks makes it clear that any settlement with US imperialism would be centrally aimed against a challenge from below.

sputniknews (2020-04-25). Finnish Media Justify Creation of Concentration –°amps in East Karelia During World War II. sputniknews.com The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal probe into the mass atrocities committed against the Karelian population in the territory of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic, which was controlled by the Finnish army during 1941-44, which according to the organisation, can be classified as "genocide".

Global Research News (2020-04-25). Washington's Dr. Strangelove. The Disrupter in Chief. globalresearch.ca There are lots of choices for this dubious distinction from elements of both right wings of Washington's one-party state. | As president and commander-in-chief with his finger on the nation's nuclear trigger, Trump is most dangerous — notably because he's easily …

en.mehrnews (2020-04-25). Coronavirus to change forms of intl. hegemony: gov. spox. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 25 (MNA) — In a Saturday post on social media, Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabeie said that in the case of coronavirus pandemic continuation, the world will experience hegemony changes.

WSWS (2020-04-25). COVID-19 pandemic pushes UK charity sector into crisis. wsws.org Charities set to lose up to £4 billion over a 12-week period because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kate Zeller (2020-04-25). United Nations Warns of Famine, Urges Debt Relief and Calls for New Debt Process to Confront the Coronavirus Pandemic. indybay.org Over the last 48 hours, United Nations agencies warned the coronavirus could spread famine to hundreds of millions, called for new debt relief processes and the UN's chief urged expanding debt relief and aid to more countries.

WSWS (2020-04-25). As coronavirus cases climb, Chicago city council expands mayor's emergency powers. wsws.org After a procedural delay, a vote to approve the measure that gives Lightfoot substantial sway over the city budget took place Friday.

en.mehrnews (2020-04-25). Empty hotel rooms in Iran under Covid-19 panemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 25 (MNA) — The hospitality industry in Iran has been hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Hotels around the country are very much feeling the brunt of the pandemic.

en.mehrnews (2020-04-25). Global COVID-19 death toll surpasses 197,000. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 25 (MNA) — The global death toll from coronavirus has passed 196,000 with about 2.8 million known cases of infection and more than 808,000 recoveries, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.