'Profound lack of human decency': Oliver Stone tears into US govt over Iran & Venezuela sanctions amid Covid-19 crisis
rt.com | 2020-04-05
The United States government has revealed its contempt for human compassion and global solidarity by refusing to lift draconian sanctions on Iran and Venezuela during the Covid-19 crisis, director Oliver Stone has argued. | Iran has suffered immensely from the virus, Stone noted in an op-ed published by the New York Daily News, but due to US sanctions the Islamic Republic is "reportedly the only country in the world that cannot buy medicines needed to fight the pandemic." | The outspoken Hollywood legend similarly condemned Washington's decision to maintain

'Low-risk' businesses in Iran will start operating within a week, Rouhani says
rt.com | 2020-04-05
Some commerce and industries in Iran will likely be able to resume activities in a week's time, President Hassan Rouhani has announced, signaling that the Islamic Republic has survived the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. | "Under the supervision of the Health Ministry, all those low-risk economic activities will resume from Saturday," Rouhani said in a televised meeting. | He added that two-thirds of Iranian government employees will work from their offices starting next weekend, adding that the easing of anti-coronavirus measures does not conflict with the country's health advisories. | Businesses deemed "hig…
rt.com/news/485000-iran-businesses-coronavirus-open-shutdown/

Coronavirus in Albania and the Presence of Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) in Tirana
Robert Fantina | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-05
Following the outbreak of coronavirus in Italy, more than 120,000 Albanians residing in Italy returned to their country. Albania, with a population under 3,000,000, has, as of this writing, 243 cases of coronavirus. That is 84 cases per 1,000,000 people. …
globalresearch.ca/mek-coronavirus/5708684

Amid war threats, Washington blocks UN resolution demanding end to sanctions
wsws.org | 2020-04-04
The Trump administration has brushed aside calls for an end to punishing sanctions against Venezuela and Iran, threatening both countries with military aggression.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/04/unsa-a04.html

Iran Expands Its Hospital Capacity to Treat Over 55,000 Cases
telesurenglish.net | 2020-04-04
Iran's Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi reported that his country continues to expand its hospital capacity as a preventive measure against a possible worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed 3,452 people so far. | RELATED: | US Senators Request to Ease Sanctions Against Venezuela, Iran | In the last 24 hours, 2,560 new cases and 158 deaths have been confirmed, bringing the total count to 55,743 infected, of whom 4,103 are in serious condition. So far, 19,736 pati…
telesurenglish.net/news/Iran-Expands-Its-Hospital-Capacity-to-Treat-Over-55000-Cases-20200404-0001.html

'We Will Not Sit Back and Let Transit Workers Be Treated Like Cannon Fodder'
John Nichols | thenation.com | 2020-04-04
'We Will Not Sit Back and Let Transit Workers Be Treated Like Cannon Fodder'…
thenation.com/article/activism/public-transportation-worker-covid/

Video: Turkish Forces Shell Syrian Army. US Claims Iran Prepares Attacks in Iraq
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-03
Syrian Army positions in the town of Saraqib came under joint shelling from the Turkish Army and Turkish-backed armed groups late on April 1. Strikes were carried out from the area of Almastumah, where Turkish military positions are located. The …
globalresearch.ca/video-turkish-forces-shell-syrian-army-us-claims-iran-prepares-attacks-iraq/5708513

In one stunning sentence, Noam Chomsky nails the most overlooked element of the pandemic
Tracy Keeling | thecanary.co | 2020-04-03
Renowned US intellectual, author, and commentator Noam Chomsky addressed the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in a recent interview. Amid a global panic over the disease, he nailed the most overlooked element of the emergency. | Crucially, he pointed out that though coronavirus "can have terrifying consequences" there "will be recovery". But there are other threats

COVID-19: Cover for Military Attack on Iran and Iraq?
Kurt Nimmo | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-03
It was Rahm Emmanuel who said the state should never let a "good crisis go to waste." | In regard to Iran, the neocons will not let the COVID-19 "crisis" go to waste. It is a perfect cover for escalating tension …
globalresearch.ca/covid-19-cover-military-attack-iran-iraq/5708517

Selected Articles: The Bigger Picture Is Hiding Behind A Virus
Global Research News | globalresearch.ca | 2020-04-03
A future without independent media leaves us with an upside down reality where according to the corporate media "NATO deserves a Nobel Peace Prize", and where "nuclear weapons and wars make us safer" | | | If, like us, this is a future …
globalresearch.ca/selected-articles-bigger-picture-hiding-behind-virus/5708610

Bernie Sanders Calls for 'Boldest Legislation in History' to Halt Spiraling Covid-19 Catastrophe
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-04-03
"In this unprecedented moment in modern American history, it is imperative that we respond in an unprecedented way." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bernie_sanders_iran_trump_0.jpg …
commondreams.org/news/2020/04/03/bernie-sanders-calls-boldest-legislation-history-halt-spiraling-covid-19-catastrophe?cd-origin=rss

'People Should Not Be Forced to Put Their Lives on the Line to Vote'
John Nichols | thenation.com | 2020-04-02
'People Should Not Be Forced to Put Their Lives on the Line to Vote'…
thenation.com/article/politics/wisconsin-democratic-primary/

'People Should Not Be Forced to Put Their Lives on the Line to Vote'
John Nichols | thenation.com | 2020-04-02
'People Should Not Be Forced to Put Their Lives on the Line to Vote'…
thenation.com/article/politics/wisconsin-democratic-primary/

[Correspondence] The global community needs to swiftly ramp up the response to contain COVID-19
Dale Fisher, Annelies Wilder-Smith | thelancet.com | 2020-03-19
"Much of the global community is not yet ready for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]".1 This is arguably one of the most resonating phrases in the Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019,1 released publicly on Feb 28, 2020. Major transmission hotspots were brought under control in China, but subsequently others sprouted across the globe. Since late February, 2020, the daily number of new cases has been higher in other parts of the world. New major epicentres have established in South Korea, Japan, Iran, and Italy.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30679-6/fulltext?rss=yes