In an effort to stop the Wuhan Coronavirus, Maryland has joined Illinois and Ohio in ordering all bars and restaurants to close. Meanwhile, Poland’s environment minister has tested positive for the disease. Also, Virgin Atlantic is grounding more than 80% of its fleet and asking employees to take eight weeks of unpaid leave.
In other news, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs told Greece that it must allow all migrants from Turkey to apply for asylum.
To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.
Thanks to JD, Reader from Chicago, SS, Upananda Brahmachari, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.
Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.
Did the Federal Reserve Just Purposely Try to Crash the Stock Market?
Unless the Federal Reserve is purposely attempting to spread panic on Wall Street, the decisions that the Fed just made don’t make any sense at all. Back on March 3rd, the Federal Reserve announced an unscheduled emergency interest rate cut for the very first time since 2008. Wall Street immediately interpreted that as a “panic move” and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the session down 785 points. So Fed officials had to know what was going to happen once they announced an even bigger unscheduled emergency interest rate cut on Sunday. Predictably, stock futures hit “limit down” very rapidly, and now investors are bracing for a week of tremendous carnage.
But this didn’t have to happen. Yes, we witnessed three of the worst trading days in U.S. stock market history last week, but on Friday the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1,985 points. It was an absolutely epic rally, and if the Fed had not caused so much panic there may have been a good chance that the rally could have continued into next week.
In other words, U.S. stocks just had one of their best days ever, and there didn’t appear to be a need for any “emergency intervention” by the Fed.
If the Federal Reserve had just waited a couple of days until their normally monthly meeting, and if the Fed had just cut rates a quarter point, that would have likely been greeted by the markets with warm enthusiasm.
But instead, Fed officials decided to load up their bazooka and go for broke on Sunday. In addition to using up all of their “interest rate ammunition” in one epic volley, the Fed also officially restarted quantitative easing…
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Dow Futures Jump 700 Points After Wall Street Suffers Worst Day Since 1987 Market Crash
Stock futures traded higher on Monday night after Wall Street suffered massive losses earlier in the day amid concerns over the economic blow from the coronavirus outbreak.
As of 9:20 p.m. ET Monday, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose by 799 points. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were also higher.
Those moves came after President Donald Trump tweeted: “The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus. We will be stronger than ever before!”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Romney Proposes 1-Time $1,000 Payment to Every American Adult in Order to Boost Economy
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Monday proposed a nationwide, one-time cash payment of $1,000 to every American adult, a measure he said would help alleviate the economic shock inflicted on the country by the coronavirus pandemic.
Romney said the cash infusion would “help families and small businesses meet their short-term financial obligations” as well as “increase spending in the economy.” Restaurants, bars, and other businesses nationwide have experienced major reductions in activity as consumers have sought to avoid crowded public places.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Just when President Trump does it again and saves the US economy, crooked Jerome Powell and the Fed shock the markets by lowering rates to zero on a Sunday. Powell and the Fed are doing all they can to kill the US economy.
The Fed and its Head — Jerome Powell — have mandates to”promote stable prices” and “maximum employment” and to ensure a “healthy economy”. However, the Fed’s actions over the weekend again have done the opposite. After the President’s calming press conference on Friday the markets ended the day with the largest one day increase in history. The DOW was up almost 2,000 points.
But due to the Powell’s actions yesterday, the DOW is scheduled to open down nearly 1,000 points.
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Why Did Bitcoin’s Price Plunge 50% to $3,800 in 24 Hours?
Yesterday was undoubtedly one of Bitcoin’s worst days ever; in fact, yesterday’s 40% loss was only second to the BTC price collapse in the wake of the collapse of Mt. Gox, then the largest and most important crypto exchange. At the drop’s worst, the cryptocurrency was down 50% in a single 24-hour period, falling from $7,700 to as low as $3,800.
Unsurprisingly, many traders were caught with tier pants down during this move, so to say, with BitMEX reporting that nearly $1 billion worth of Bitcoin positions on their exchange (majority long positions) were liquidated in this massive crash lower.
[Comment: Article dated March 13, 2020.]
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
A Sneaky Attempt to End Encryption is Worming Its Way Through Congress Right Now
Congress is trying to pass a bill giving police a back door to ALL OUR COMMUNICATIONS by stopping end to end encryption.
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Amazon to Ban Editions of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf After Pressure From Activists
After years of campaigning from Holocaust education charities and Jewish groups, Amazon has banned the sale of almost all editions of Mein Kampf, the infamous book authored by Adolf Hitler in 1925.
As of now, booksellers are prohibited from selling Nazi-authored books such as Mein Kampf and will likely set a new precedent for Amazon refusing to offer other historical but controversial books, based on pressure group campaigns.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Americans Are Hitting Bars and Bragging About Not Social Distancing
The nation’s top infectious disease researchers have repeatedly warned, if not begged, Americans to practice social distancing as the contagious coronavirus spreads through the population.
That’s because, due to a woeful lack of testing in the nation, no one knows how many Americans are infected — and the resulting respiratory disease (COVID-19) is 10 times more lethal than the flu. Sunday morning, Marc Lipsitch, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Harvard University, emphasized this point, noting that the true number of infections is certainly “much higher” than confirmed cases.
But, though some folks are social distancing, many still clearly aren’t. Some are even actively bragging about not doing it. This weekend, journalists and others reported that bars across the nation were packed in Boston, Chicago, Nashville, and New York City.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Asteroid Could Cause Atmospheric Explosion if it Gets Too Close
An asteroid following an Earth-intersecting orbit was approaching the planet, and data collected by NASA indicates it’s big enough to create a violent explosion in the atmosphere should it come too close.
The approaching asteroid is being monitored by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, which is tracking the object, known as 2020 EF, at more than 10,000 mph.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Cop Shoots FBI Agent Who Was Arresting Him for Conspiracy Against the Constitution
Two Kentucky Constables (police officers as they’re known in some states) exchanged gunfire last Friday with FBI agents who were attempting to serve a search warrant. One unnamed FBI agent and Pulaski County Fourth District Constable Gary Baldock were both injured by the gunfire after the FBI says Baldock opened fire on them outside his residence. The FBI agent was serving an arrest warrant on Baldock for his repeated alleged violations of the Constitution.
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
‘Coronavirus Challenge’: Social Media ‘Influencer’ Licks Plane Toilet Seat
A social media “influencer” has launched the “coronavirus challenge,” which involves licking a toilet seat.
Yes, really.
21-year-old Ava Louise posted a video of herself licking the toilet seat on a plane alongside the caption “Please RT this so people can know how to properly be sanitary on the airplane.”
The clip has received over 340,000 views since being uploaded to Twitter. The original TikTok version appears to have been removed.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus Live Updates: SF Shuts Down Cable Cars, Santa Clara Police Officer Tests Positive
The San Francisco Chronicle has lifted the paywall on this developing coverage to provide critical information to our community. To support our journalists’ work, consider a digital subscription.
Total coronavirus cases:
- 540 in California, including 301 in the Bay Area
- 4,287 in the U.S., including 74 deaths: seven in California, 42 in Washington state, five in Florida, eight in New York, two in New Jersey, two in Louisiana, and one in each Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus: Universal to Make Current Theatrical Movies Available for Home Viewing on Friday
Universal Pictures, in a bold move to confront the coronavirus’ threat to the movie industry, is collapsing the theatrical window.
In an extraordinary step, the studio on Monday said it would make its movies available in the home on the same day as their global theatrical releases, beginning with DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls World Tour,” opening April 10 in the U.S.
The company will also make movies that are currently in theatrical release available on-demand beginning as early as Friday, starting with the Elisabeth Moss horror film “The Invisible Man,” the satirical thriller “The Hunt” and Focus Features’ period comedy-drama “Emma.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus: US Volunteers Test First Vaccine
The first human trial of a vaccine to protect against pandemic coronavirus has started in the US.
Four patients received the jab at the Kaiser Permanente research facility in Seattle, Washington, reports the Associated Press news agency.
The vaccine cannot cause Covid-19 but contains a harmless genetic code copied from the virus that causes the disease.
Experts say it will still take many months to know if this vaccine, or others also in research, will work.
The first person to get the jab on Monday was a 43-year-old mother-of-two from Seattle.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus: Gov’t Epidemic Info Website Hit by DoS Attack
The government information website for disseminating information on the coronavirus outbreak has been hit by a Denial-of-Service attack which overwhelmed its infrastructure, a government official said.
The National Infocommunications Service Company and the National Cybersecurity Institute are investigating the source of the attack on koronavirus.gov.hu, Csaba Dömötör, a state secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, said.
“Whoever launched this attack, they have to be aware that not only will they have to face legal consequences, but they are also endangering lives,” he said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Disturbing Number of College Presidents Not Confident in Their Own School’s Financial Stability
A survey of college presidents shows that less than two-thirds of college presidents are confident in their school’s future financial stability.
Inside Higher Ed‘s latest Survey of College and University Presidents conducted by Gallup asked 746 campus presidents a series of questions regarding his or her institution’s finances. It is important to note that responses were cast before the onset of the coronavirus in the United States, which a number of experts have said will impose significant financial burdens on colleges.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Florida Governor-Wannabe Enters Rehab After Alcohol and Crystal-Meth Incident
Andrew Gillum said Sunday night that he will enter a rehab facility to address his alcohol abuse.
The former Florida gubernatorial candidate made the decision after he was found inebriated inside a Miami Beach hotel room early Friday morning with another man who allegedly overdosed on crystal meth.
“After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time,” Gillum said in a statement.
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Here’s What Biden vs Coronavirus Looks Like
Democratic Presidential front runner Joe Biden attempted to address the coronavirus during last night’s debate on CNN, and it did not go well.
Sleepy Joe seemingly does not know the difference between SARS, swine flu and the coronavirus, and he does not know the name of the swine flu, wrongly labelling it the “N1H1” virus.
Biden also completely forgot the name of the Ebola virus, instead referring to it as “what happened in Africa.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Illinois Mayor Grants Herself Power to Ban Guns During Coronavirus Pandemic
Champaign, Illinois mayor Deborah Frank Feinen signed an executive order giving herself the power to order the seizure of firearms, ammunition, alcohol and gasoline during the coronavirus pandemic.
The executive order also enables the government to “take possession of private property” and cut off an individual’s access to gas, water or electricity.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
In ‘Defining Moment, ‘ San Francisco to Order Residents to Stay Home Over Coronavirus
With the coronavirus pandemic rapidly spreading throughout communities around the nation, city leaders are taking the unprecedented step of placing San Francisco on lockdown for three weeks beginning Tuesday at midnight.
The City will legally prohibit residents from leaving their homes except to meet basic needs including visiting the doctor, or buying groceries or medicine, until at least April 7, Mayor London Breed announced Monday.
The dramatic restrictions, imposed under a city-issued Public Health Order, will also require non-essential businesses like bars and gyms to close. But pharmacies, banks and other businesses that perform an “essential” role for society will be allowed to remain open.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Maryland Governor Shuts Down All Bars, Restaurants, Movie Theaters to Stop Spread of Coronavirus
WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday that all bars, restaurants and movie theaters will be closing at 5 p.m. in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Hogan also announced a prohibition on social, community, recreational or religious gatherings of more than 50 people in close proximity.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen has issued an executive order declaring an emergency in the city.
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Goldman tried and failed miserably to impeach President Trump while the coronavirus was spreading in China.
Maybe Democrats shouldn’t have been wasting their time with a sham impeachment when they should have focused on the real issues?
Goldman blamed President Trump for the virus! Figures.
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Suspicious Cyberactivity Targeting HHS Tied to Coronavirus Response, Sources Say
The Department of Health and Human Services experienced suspicious cyberactivity Sunday night related to its coronavirus response, administration sources confirmed to ABC News Monday.
The suspicious activity HHS was not a hack but it may have been a distributed denial of service — or DDOS — attack, according to multiple sources.
The distinction is important because there was no apparent breach of the HHS system, which could interfere with critical functions of the lead agency responding to the coronavirus contagion. A DDOS effort enlists automated users — called bots — to overwhelm a public-facing system in order to slow it down or even paralyze it.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
President Trump at a Monday press conference released a set of coronavirus guidelines meant to help slow the spread of the pandemic, urging Americans to go on partial lockdown for “15 days to slow the spread” in an effort to “be ahead of the curve” of the deadly disease while saying that the pandemic could stretch into August.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Tucker Carlson Drove to Mar-a-Lago to Warn Trump Coronavirus Was a Real Threat
Tucker Carlson reportedly drove to Mar-a-Lago to warn President Trump that the coronavirus outbreak was a massive threat.
The New York Times reports that the Fox News host has been pleading with Trump to take the COVID-19 pandemic more seriously.
“Last Saturday, Mr. Carlson drove from his residence in Florida to Mar-a-Lago, the president’s Florida resort, and spoke directly with Mr. Trump about the virus, according to a person with knowledge of their conversation,” reports the Times.
Axios also reports that Carlson was one of “a number of informal Trump advisers” who “emphasized to the president that this was not the flu and urged him to act fast.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Twitter has warned users that it will be ramping up its use of automated systems to enforce its rules in response to the coronavirus pandemic and that “this may result in us making mistakes.”
In a blog post, Twitter’s Legal, Policy and Trust & Safety Lead, Vijaya Gadde, and Twitter’s VP of Sales, Matt Derella, wrote “we will not permanently suspend any accounts based solely on our automated enforcement systems” and added that Twitter will “look for opportunities to build in human review checks where they will be most impactful.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Video: Man Interrupts Live News Broadcast to Blame Media for Coronavirus Hysteria
Video footage shows a man interrupting a live news broadcast outside a branch of supermarket HEB to accuse the media of being to blame for coronavirus panic buying.
The clip, posted to WorldStar, shows a reporter being interrupted by the irate man as she attempts to hand back to the studio.
However, the cameras keep rolling as the man asserts, “It’s your fault that people are freaking out here, you are all the ones who are at fault.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
YouTube: Expect More Deleted Videos, Appeal Delays, And Suppressed Live Streams During Pandemic
In view of the coronavirus pandemic, YouTube has announced in a press release the decisions it has taken and the new measures it has implemented for operating with reduced staff.
And it’s not good news for creators.
Instead of being more liberal with what it allows on the platform, YouTube said that it was going to rely more on automated bots to filter potentially violating content and remove it from the platform without any human review — meaning that video removals are now going to increase on the platform.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Australian Academic Says Canada Under “Intense Influence” From China
An Australian academic who wrote a book about China’s influence in his country says Canadian institutions are under even more influence.
Clive Hamilton, professor of public ethics at Australia’s Charles Sturt University told the National Post he is worried by the influence the Chinese government has on Canadian institutions.
He claims that the situation is clearly more serious in Canada than in Australia.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Canada is closing its borders to noncitizens because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted that the ban does not apply to U.S. citizens “for the moment.”
“We can still slow the spread of this virus,” Trudeau said at a press conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where he announced the border closing.
“It is time to take every precaution to keep people safe.”
Canada will make some exceptions to the border closure. And the ban does not affect the shipment of goods into the country.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Suspect’s Alleged Statements About ISIS Led to Terrorism Charge Over Toronto Hammer Attack: Sources
Every morning, Hang-Kam Annie Chiu left her basement suite in Scarborough and walked to the local Tim Hortons, where she ordered a large coffee with two creams.
She would sit by the window with a group of seniors who met daily, helping them with their English, holding the door for them and making sure they got to their buses on time.
“She helped people,” an employee said. “She was amazing.”
At 64, Chiu was looking forward to retirement in September. But three weeks ago, she allegedly became Canada’s latest victim of terrorism.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Amsterdam’s ‘Red Light’ District Shuts, Long Lines for Marijuana
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) — Sex clubs in Amsterdam’s “Red Light” district were told to close down and long lines formed at marijuana coffee shops on Sunday, as the Netherlands imposed tight restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The government ordered all restaurants, cafes and schools shut down until April 6.
The measure included the famous Dutch bars selling hashish and cannabis and strip clubs, Health Minister Arie Slob said. They were told to stop serving customers at 1800 (1700 GMT) on Sunday.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus: EU’s Borders Will Close for 30 Days From Noon Today
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced Europe’s borders will close at lunchtime today for 30 days.
“All trips between non-European countries and the EU and the Schengen zone will be suspended for 30 days,” he said in a televised address to the nation.
French people on holiday will be able to come back to France and those living abroad were told to contact embassies and consulates who will help them be repatriated.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus May Force UK Doctors to Decide Who They’ll Save
Italy is facing serious challenges, with demand for critical care far outstripping supply. Health officials there are having to make very difficult decisions about who to treat — in the knowledge that deciding not to treat will very likely lead to death.
On Thursday the Italian College of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, issued guidelines advising doctors how to deploy scarce resources when the need for them is outstripped by the demand of critically ill patients. The guidelines state that priority should be given to those who have, first, “greater likelihood of survival and, second, who have more potential years of life”.
As a result, patients with underlying conditions and elderly patients, who are deemed to stand less chance of surviving the virus, may not be treated in favour of healthier and/or younger people who have more chance of recovery.
[Comment: I purposely chose this article from The Guardian so that leftists can’t claim “fake news.”]
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus: Germany and France Announce Strict Measures
Germany and France have imposed stringent new measures to limit social contact as countries across Europe try to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced an enforced lockdown, a step similar to curbs imposed by Italy and Spain, saying: “We’re in a health war”.
Mr Macron also said the European Union’s external borders would be closed to travellers from Tuesday.
In Germany, most non-grocery shops and venues have been ordered to shut.
Chancellor Angela Merkel also banned religious services and told people to cancel any domestic or foreign holiday travel. Schools across the country have already been shut.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The outbreak of the new coronavirus in Hungary has entered its next stage, going from isolated cases to clusters, chief medical officer Cecilia Müller said on Monday.
The cases identified in the country so far were either individual ones or within smaller communities, she told a press conference after a meeting of the operative board coordinating the epidemic response. But in the coming days the epidemic is expected to appear in clusters, she added.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus Continues to Spread in Italy Despite Lockdown
ROME — The coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in Italy despite a near-total lockdown on residents’ movements and interaction.
Data as of Sunday evening revealed 20,603 people currently testing positive for the disease, a significant 24-hour jump of 2,853 new cases.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus: Boris Tells Britons to Avoid Pubs, Work From Home, Isolate Households if Symptomatic
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has upgraded the government advice on coronavirus, telling Britons to avoid public gatherings, work from home if they can, and self-isolate for 14 days if they or someone in their family household has a symptom of coronavirus.
Mr Johnson told Britons at a press conference given from Downing Street on Monday that according to modelling by his chief medical and scientific officers, “it looks as though we are approaching the fast-growth part of the upward curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic “and without drastic action, cases could double every five or six days”.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Denmark Passes Law Enabling Forced Coronavirus Vaccinations
Denmark has passed an emergency law that allows for the government to force people to take a vaccine for coronavirus.
The emergency law gives authorities sweeping powers to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain in force until March 2021.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
French Judges Order Charges Against 20 Terrorists Involved in 2015 Paris Attacks
PARIS (AP) — French judges investigating the 2015 Islamic State attacks that left 130 people dead in Paris have ordered charges against 20 people, including a Belgian accused of masterminding the attacks who was held for years in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq before being freed and returned home.
Three of the group, including the alleged mastermind, Oussama Atar, are believed to have died in the group’s final months of fighting in Iraq and Syria.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Furious Italian MEP Criticises Brussels for Abandoning Italy — ‘Our Patience Has Ran Out!’
A FURIOUS ITALIAN MEP has criticised the European Union for sending billions to Turkish President Recep Erdoan while abandoning its third largest economy Italy during the coronavirus.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Hungary: Coronavirus: Another 13 Iranian Students Expelled for Violating Quarantine Rules
Hungarian authorities have expelled another 13 Iranian students from the country and from the territory of the European Union for violating quarantine rules, the interior ministry reported on Monday.
The students had been quarantined at Budapest’s St Laszló hospital due to coronavirus, but, according to the authorities, they had left their rooms and behaved aggressively with health staff, the ministry said in a statement.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
More Than Half of Coronavirus Patients in Intensive Care in France Are Under 60
According to Jerome Salomon, director-general for health in France, more than half of the country’s coronavirus patients in intensive care are under the age of 60.
“We have counted this evening 300 serious cases in intensive care. We have serious cases also amid adults and let me remind you that more than 50% of people in intensive care are under 60,” Salomon announced Saturday during a news conference.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Poland’s Environment Minister Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Environment Minister Michal Wos on Monday announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
Wos decided to get tested after having contact with an infected State Forests employee.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain: Coronavirus Deaths More Than Doubled in a Day to 288, Infections Near 8,000
MADRID (AP) — Spain says deaths from the coronavirus have more than doubled in a day to 288, infections near 8,000.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Spain Becomes the 4th Most Virus-Infected Nation in the World
AP — Spain has become the fourth most virus-infected country in the world, surpassing South Korea with a sharp curve of contagion, and closing its borders is a “real possibility” being considered.
The topic will be discussed by European Union members on Monday, according to the country´s interior minister.
Coronavirus cases in Spain rose by roughly 1,000 cases in 24 hours to 8,744 on Monday, and the number of fatalities reached 297.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Sweden: Teacher Says Those Opposed to the Muslim Headscarf Have No Place in the Country
Naouel Aissaoui, a teacher in Skurup, Sweden who is a practicing Muslim, has some advice for Swedes who don’t want to see girls wearing Islamic headscarves in their country: leave.
Aissaoui had a televised debate with Loubna Stensåker Göransson, a member of Sweden’s liberal-conservative Moderate Party, on SVT’s The Meeting program earlier this month. The Skurup council recently passed a resolution banning Muslim headscarves from their schools. Göransson supports the ban, and is also a Muslim. The conversation became quite heated at times.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Coronavirus Outbreak Could Last a Year, Result in 4 in 5 Infected, 7.9m Hospitalised: Report
The coronavirus outbreak could last for a year and could result in 80 per cent of Britons being infected with nearly eight million hospitalised, according to a Public Health England (PHE) document seen by The Guardian.
The government’s worst-case scenario is that as many as four in five people contract COVID-19, however chief medical adviser Sir Chris Whitty has said publicly in recent weeks that he does not expect the contagion to spread that widely. The leaked confidential briefing instead outlines that 80 per cent of the population “are expected” to become infected.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UK: Coronavirus: Virgin Atlantic Cuts 80% of Flights, Staff Asked to Take Eight Weeks’ Unpaid Leave
British airline Virgin Atlantic has announced that it will be grounding 85 per cent of its aeroplanes by next month and cutting 80 per cent of its flights due to the impact of coronavirus.
Citing the World Health Organization (WHO) categorising the global COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic and the impact of the virus on travel and tourism, Virgin Atlantic released a statement saying: “The safety and wellbeing of our people and our customers is always our number one priority. Today, Virgin Atlantic will put drastic measures in place to ensure cash is preserved, costs are controlled, and the future of the airline is safeguarded.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Up to 450 Pedophiles/Month Arrested in U.K. As Internet Drives ‘Explosion’ of Child-Sex Abuse
Up to 450 paedophiles are being arrested every month in the UK amid an “explosion” of online offences, a report has revealed.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said law enforcement was “struggling to keep up” with evolving methods of child sexual abuse being facilitated by the internet.
A report released on Thursday said millions of indecent images of children were in circulation worldwide, and could be accessed from mainstream search engines in just three clicks.
It said that since 2016, British police have been arresting between 400 and 450 people a month for associated offences.
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Video: Piers Morgan Blasts Stupidity of British People Still Going to Concerts, Marathons
Outspoken host Piers Morgan slammed the British public and its government this morning for not taking seriously enough the coronavirus pandemic.
As the rest of Europe locks down and closes borders, people in Britain are still going to rock concerts and taking part in marathons.
“People are not socially distancing because they’ve been told not to,” Morgan said, urging that “most people are running around at the moment totally oblivious to the threat of this.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Serbia Deploys Army to Streets of Belgrade to Enforce Virus Rules
(AP) Serbia’s army troops are being deployed to the country’s borders and streets of the capital, Belgrade, to reinforce a nationwide state of emergency that has been introduced in an effort to try stop the coronavirus outbreak.
Serbia’s Defense Ministry said Monday the soldiers will guard hospitals treating COVID-19 infected patients, border checkpoints, airports and train stations where bigger crowds are expected.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Despite the fact that vaccines often take 10 to 12 years to develop, Israeli researchers would have us believe that after working on it for only couple of months — along with some ‘pure luck’ — they may have a new vaccine for the coronavirus ready for the market within the next 90 days: […]
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
The Iranian regime continues to decline taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that is not only threatening the Iranian population but also people across the region.
During a meeting with Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at the White House, President Donald J. Trump offered to help the Iranian authorities fight the coronavirus, but Iranian authorities rejected the offer as “hypocritical” and “repulsive”. “We do not need American doctors,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Due to Islamic Persecution, Hindu Pilgrims From Pakistan Refuse to Go Back From India
Seeking Indian citizenship under CAA, Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan refuse to go back from Uttarakhand.
Vineet Upadhyay | ENS | Dehradun | March 15, 2020:: A group of 56 Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan,who arrived from the neighbouring country last week, does not want to go back. Members of the group told that they will request the government of India to extend their visa limit of one month and provide citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019.
Narayan Das, a pilgrim from Badeen area of Karachi said, “We are in no position to go back. The Pakistani authorities did not allow us to bring enough money as they think we would not go back. We face ruthless persecution in that country and were snatched of everything. We have pleaded to the Indian government to provide us shelter.”
Locals after realizing the plight of the group collected money, clothes and other essentials and gifted to the group for their trip to Ahmedabad. Hira Bai, another pilgrim from Pakistan said, “Our family members have been killed, daughters snatched away for religious conversion and properties taken over. It is worse than death over there. We have some hope under the new law by the Indian government.”
State government officials refused to comment but stated on the condition of anonymity that they are keeping close eye on the situation. “Once the application is filed, then only the state government can do anything,” said an official from state home department.
Earlier, in January this year, the state government has identified total 200 Hindu refugees from Pakistan who will be granted citizenship under newly passed Citizenship Amendment Act.
Mostly residing in Haridwar, Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar districts, majority of these refugees cling to odd jobs and charity for survival. They hope as they will become citizens of this country, it will enable them to live a life of dignity.
They can apply for jobs and start their own business say the now state less people from the community.
| — Hat tip: Upananda Brahmachari | [Return to headlines] |
Amazon Quietly Removes Some Dubious Coronavirus Books
As the new coronavirus continues to spread, Amazon has cracked down on third-party sellers looking to profit from the outbreak. It removed more than 1 million listings last month that falsely claimed to defend against or cure the illness, as well as tens of thousands of items, such as face masks, that were offered for inflated prices. But the retail giant is confronting more than just an influx of sketchy coronavirus supplies. Its bookstore has become a source of dubious information about the outbreak, and Amazon has quietly begun removing some books about the virus from its virtual shelves.
As several news outlets have noted, Amazon has flooded in recent weeks with books about Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, some of which appear hastily self-published and contain conspiracy theories. At least a few appear to be successful: Last Friday, a self-published book titled Everything About Face Masks and Coronavirus was the top seller in Amazon’s Medical eBooks category, beating mainstream nonfiction titles like John M. Barry’s The Great Influenza, which ranked number two. That same day, however, the book’s listing was taken down. Its author, Dr. Timothy Zahar—a pen name, according to his bio—has no other bookscurrently listed on Amazon.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus Cases:
182,603
view by country
Deaths:
7,171
Recovered:
79,881
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Reuters: Scientists Fear Rushing Coronavirus Vaccine Could Make Disease Worse
Rushing a coronavirus vaccine without adequate testing “can actually make the disease worse,” scientists say.
[Comment: Perhaps this IS the goal of the globalists. Create the Problem. Get the Reaction. Implement globalist Solution.]
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia hope to start human trials by the end of this month to see if the coronavirus can be stopped by drugs made for HIV and malaria.
| — Hat tip: SS | [Return to headlines] |
Coronavirus Prison Escape: Hundreds of Inmates Flee Brazil Jails Amid Coronavirus Lockdown
HUNDREDS of prisoners broke out of four Brazilian jails the day before their day-release privileges were due to be suspended over the coronavirus outbreak, Sao Paulo state prison authorities and local media reported.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Belgium: Immigrants Rob 77-Year-Old Woman on Crutches in Antwerp
A 77-year-old Belgian woman using crutches to get around town was robbed by a pair of immigrants last week in the center of Antwerp.
The elderly woman was robbed by the immigrants — one of whom was illegally residing in the country — of her purse while in an elevator in a store in the Beddenstraat, the Dutch-language Belgian news outlet SCEPTR reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Federal police in Belgium have arrested two migrant men from Iraq and Iran for human trafficking.
The pair of Middle Eastern migrants were arrested by the federal police in West Flanders for attempting to smuggle 19 migrants on a rickety boat across the English Channel to the United Kingdom at the end up last December, the Dutch-language Belgian news outlet Het Laatste Nieuws reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Border Crisis: European Union Says Greece Must Let Migrants Claim Asylum
The European Union has said that the Greek government must allow migrants to apply for asylum, despite its rhetorical support for their efforts to prevent the Turkish government from facilitating a wave of illegal migration into Greece.
Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, insisted: “Individuals in the European Union have the right to apply for asylum. This is in the treaty, this is in international law. This we can’t suspend.”
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
The European Union refused to fund border fencing between Greece and Turkey prior to both the current border crisis and the 2015-16 border crisis, denouncing it as “pointless”.
“We are against building walls,” declared the then-European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, in 2018 — a time when many European Union figures and EU member-state politicians, outside of pro-borders Central European countries such as Poland and Hungary, were at pains to signal their opposition to the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Greek Invasion: Ship With Nearly 200 Illegal Migrants Runs Aground on Greek Island
A cargo ship carrying 193 illegal migrant invaders from Turkey ran aground in rough weather conditions not far from the port of the Cycladic island of Kea (Tzia), near Athens, early Monday morning, according to the Greek coast guard.
The ship began its journey from the Turkish port of Canakkale and is said to have planned to head for Italy when rough weather conditions in the maritime area forced it to run aground on the Greek island, the Greek City Times reports.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Serbia: Anti-Migrant Protesters Vow to Protect the People
Participants in an anti-migrant rally in Belgrade last week said that if the government doesn’t protect the people from migrants, they will take matters into their own hands.
Approximately 200 people joined the rally on Sunday, March 8, according to local media reports, which was held in the government district. Demonstrators shouted slogans such as “We don’t want migrants,” “Serbia for Serbs,” and “Fence for migrants, liberty for citizens,” according to a report in Balkan Insight. Banners they were carrying read “Terrorists not welcome” and “You will not replace us,” a reference to the “great replacement” idea first coined by the French anti-immigration thinker, Renaud Camus, which holds that native Europeans are being gradually displaced as a result of mass migration and will eventually become minorities in their own countries.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
Surgical Masks Ordered for Migrants But Not Belgians; Turkish Mask Supplier Defrauds Government
The Belgian government ordered surgical masks for the Klein Kasteeltje center for asylum-seekers in Brussels a month ago, at the same time that it was telling Belgians that they only needed to wash their hands to protect themselves from COVID-19, or the coronavirus.
Belgium’s Health Minister, Maggie De Block, is also the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration. De Block placed an order for surgical masks for the migrant center in the amount of 30,000 euros, according to a report from SCEPTR.
| — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago | [Return to headlines] |
UN Angry After Hundreds of Europe-Bound Migrants Stopped at Sea, Returned to Libya
CAIRO (AP) — Libya’s coast guard intercepted over 400 Europe-bound migrants
[Comment: Of course, UN seems keen on implementing their population replacement of west and do not like others upsetting their apple cart.]
| — Hat tip: JD | [Return to headlines] |
https://twitter.com/iqraanabi/status/1239294114094632961
“French President Emmanuel Macron has announced Europe’s borders will close at lunchtime today for 30 days.” Does this include migrants or is Macron still welcomming them?
Undoubtedly he is still welcoming them.
When it comes to backdoor routes of entry by young thuggish male muslims, Macron is of course highly experienced.
Border Crisis: European Union Says Greece Must Let Migrants Claim Asylum.
We do not give Asylum to Afgans,Pakistanis,Somalis,or others Afroasiatic races.
If the E.U want them we will send them up North,all of them.
The Greeks including the Prime Minister(otherwise he will loose his head)will not commit suicide.Period.
Good for you.
By the way, now might be a good time for the Eastern European countries to leave the EU and NATO altogether. One of the primary dangers was a military response from the dictators of the EU, who might concoct a red flag incident and try to drag NATO into it. But, it’s unlikely any European country would be willing to commit itself to any unified military action right now, so this is the golden time.
By the way, yes, the Greeks would have to go through the withdrawal pangs of not being able to overspend by borrowing from the friendly globalist bankers of the EU. Are the Greeks man enough to suck it in and live within their means? Independence beckons, but then so does responsibility.
And the biggest traitors , destroyers Of Europe and own countries Merkel/Macron going to negotiate with a Islamic horder and Europe hater Erdogan!!!, Greece better build the wall high wall , beacuse another Apocalypse is coming for this continent!!, nothing good from this meeting!!, nothing at all , …
Greece-how many positive Coronavirus cases have they got? One suspects that they will have, surely as a result they should close their borders to all and that includes those immigrants swarming towards Greece. Almost assurdedly the immigrants will catch the virus whether on Greek soil or Turkish soil. Turkey will undoubtedly have the virus and consider it necessary to rid themselves of the immigrants to avoid the spread of the vitus however I would suggest that such action by Turkey is now too late. Better Turkey re-direct these people Eastwards to the Stans-all same religinists.
Easy choice for you EU. Borders or a horrible slow agonising debt.
https://www.dw.com/en/netherlands-reluctantly-introduces-reduced-speed-limit/a-52796095
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S91vt2zPI1g
old but funny
https://www.berlingske.dk/europa/danmark-lukker-graenserne-men-kan-ikke-sige-nej-til-asylansogere
Norway and Denmark close borders for everyone but “asylum seekers”. Maybe open borders isn’t done for afterall
https://twitter.com/AndrewLawton/status/1240023424992452609
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8118767/Now-European-countries-start-shutting-borders-completely.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/business/media/china-expels-american-journalists.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/fguheu/why_have_so_few_people_died_of_covid19_in_germany/
interesting discussion on why Germany has so few Wuhanvirus deaths in comparison to others: pro-active testing apparently