Gates of Vienna News Feed 3/23/2020

After being quarantined for possible infection with the Wuhan Coronavirus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has tested negative for the disease. Meanwhile, the governor of Sicily has shut off the island by closing the bridge across the Strait of Messina. Also, Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Wisconsin have become the latest states to issue mandatory stay-at-home orders to residents.

In other news, a tanker carrying 190 migrants ran aground on a Greek island.

To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.

Thanks to Insubria, JD, Reader from Chicago, SS, 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.

Financial Crisis
» Fed Pledges Unlimited Asset Purchases to Support Markets
» Pope Francis Tells Businesses That Pandemic ‘Is Not the Time to Fire People’
 
USA
» “There Needs to be Consequences”: GOP Sen. Hawley Calls Out Who’s ChiCom Ties
» A Boot Stamping on Liberty’s Face Forever
» Five Students Test Positive for Coronavirus After Spring Break
» Florida Man With Coronavirus Says Drug Touted by Trump Saved His Life
» Illinois Officials Announce 236 New Coronavirus Cases, Three Deaths
» It’s 2020 and Hackers Are Still Hijacking Windows PCs by Exploiting Font Parser Security Holes. No Patch, Either
» James Caviezel: “Passion of the Christ” Sequel “Going to be Masterpiece … Biggest Film in World History”
» Leftists, Democrats Spread Fake News That Rand Paul Has Infected Senate With Coronavirus
» Massive 5G Project to Make it Impossible to Escape Radiation Exposure
» McConnell Unleashes on Democrats for Blocking Emergency Coronavirus Relief Package
» Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, Wisconsin Issue Stay-at-Home Orders
» New York Health Officials Told Residents to Congregate in Huge Crowds in “Defiance” of Coronavirus
» New York Times Stealth-Edits Headline About Democratic Scuttling of Coronavirus Bill
» NYT Spins Stimulus Bill Story by Repeatedly Changing Headline After Dems ‘Block Action’
» So Far, The Number of Americans That Have Died From the Coronavirus is Greater Than the Number That Have Recovered
» This is Why People All Over America Are Scared to Death of Being Tested for the Coronavirus…
» Thousands of Inmates in 16 States Freed Amid Coronavirus Concerns
» Trump: “We Cannot Let the Cure be Worse Than the Problem Itself”
» Video of Dr. Fauci in 2009 is Unearthed — Shows a Calm and Unalarmed NIH Chief During H1N1 Epidemic That Killed Over 12 Thousand Americans
» Video: Dr. Fauci Blasts Media’s Constant Effort to ‘Divide’ Him and President Trump
» Watch: Drone Footage Captures Eerily Empty Major American Cities
» YouTuber Who Licked Public Toilet Seat Now Claims He’s Tested Positive for Coronavirus
 
Europe and the EU
» A Scientist Just Proved One of Darwin’s Evolution Theories, 161 Years Later
» Belgium: “Stay at Home”: Police Drone Enforces Quarantine in Brussels
» Björn Höcke Dissolves AfD’s Der Flügel After Merkel’s BfV Slanders Him as a Right-Wing Extremist
» Czech Republic Says it May Keep Borders Closed for 2 Years
» Czechs Send Italy Replacement Masks After Seizing Thousands Sent From China
» Finally Good News: Slowdown in New Cases Suggests Italy’s Outbreak May be Peaking
» France Urges Supermarkets to Pay €1,000 Coronavirus Bonus as Staff Abandon Posts
» Germany: Merkel in Quarantine After Her Doctor Tests Positive for Virus
» Germany: Merkel Tests Negative for Coronavirus
» In Spain You Can’t Use Your Own Back Yard. Police Make Sure of it.
» Italian Virologist Says Concerns Over ‘Racism’ Crippled Italy’s Coronavirus Response
» Italy: Coronavirus: OK to Rehiring Retired Docs
» Italy: Coronavirus: Sicily Governor ‘Shuts Off’ Island
» London Coronavirus Deaths Now More Than Half of UK Total
» ‘Norwegian Man’ Arrested for Planning to Bomb St Paul’s Cathedral in London
» Orban: Hungary Unlikely to Avoid Mass Illnesses
» Pope Francis Expresses Concerns Over Economic Fallout of Coronavirus Crisis
» Pope Francis: Coronavirus Pandemic is Nature ‘Throwing a Tantrum’
» Slovenia: Left Tries to Sabotage New Right-Wing Populist Government by Attacking Coronavirus Measures
» Somali-Norwegian Muslim Arrested for Planning to Bomb St Paul’s Cathedral in London
» Sweden: Social Democrat Politician Mistakes Trump Parody Account for President
» ‘Too Late’: Farage Criticises Open Borders While Britons Locked Down in Coronavirus Crisis
» UK Coronavirus Lockdown: ‘If You Don’t Follow the Rules, The Police Will Have the Powers to Enforce Them’
» UK: Lord Chief Justice Suspends All Jury Trials Due to Coronavirus
» UK: Libertarian Tories Sound Warning Over Lack of Safeguards on Coronavirus Emergency Powers
» UK: Labour Leadership Hopeful Lisa Nandy Demands Boris Johnson Delay Brexit
 
Russia
» Russia to Ship Medical Aid to Italy as the Country Struggles to Get Its Arms Around the Virus
» Ukraine: Could Kiev be Heading Back Towards Friendly Relations With Russia?
 
South Asia
» India Halts Crucial Train Network to Stop Coronavirus Spread
 
Far East
» Coronavirus is a Bioweapon Meant to Lower IQ According to Chinese Military Intelligence
» COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic
» Report: China May Have Massively Underreported Coronavirus Deaths
» Twitter Starts Blocking Some Coronavirus Links
» Twitter Cracks Down on Jokes But Lets Chinese Official Spread Coronavirus Propaganda
 
Australia — Pacific
» ‘Chaos’ At Australian Bottle Shops as Drinkers Rush to Buy Alcohol Amid Fears of Coronavirus Lockdown — Before PM Confirms Liquor Stores Will Stay Open
 
Sub-Saharan Africa
» South Africa Goes on 21-Day Lockdown as Coronavirus Cases Surge
 
Immigration
» Germany Closes Border to Europeans, But Migrants Still Allowed in
» Tanker With About 190 Migrants Runs Aground on Greek Island
» UK: ‘Charities’ Demand Government Support Illegal Migrants Through Pandemic
» United Kingdom: Activist Calls “Great Replacement” Theory Racist While Celebrating Decline of Native Population
 
General
» Google Considers Sharing Location of User Movements With Governments to Provide Social Distancing Data
» No, The Head of the World Health Organization Has Not Emailed You — it’s a Message Laced With Malware
 

Fed Pledges Unlimited Asset Purchases to Support Markets

The Federal Reserve took further drastic action Monday to try to curtail economic collapse due to coronavirus, pledging to continue asset purchases with essentially no limit — specifically, “in the amounts needed to support smooth market functioning and effective transmission of monetary policy to broader financial conditions and the economy.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Pope Francis Tells Businesses That Pandemic ‘Is Not the Time to Fire People’

ROME — Pope Francis urged businesses to refrain from laying off workers during the coronavirus pandemic, insisting that solidarity is what is needed during the crisis.

Confronted with the news that many businesses are firing large numbers of workers due to financial troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pope said in an interview via Skype Sunday that businesses need to find “concrete solutions” to the economic crisis but that “‘every man for himself’ is not the answer.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

“There Needs to be Consequences”: GOP Sen. Hawley Calls Out Who’s ChiCom Ties

Americans continue battling globalists.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

A Boot Stamping on Liberty’s Face Forever

How long will Americans put up with Martial Law?

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Five Students Test Positive for Coronavirus After Spring Break

Defiant partygoers come back with something unexpected.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Florida Man With Coronavirus Says Drug Touted by Trump Saved His Life

A Florida man diagnosed with coronavirus claims he was saved from certain death by an anti-malaria drug touted as a possible treatment by President Trump.

Rio Giardinieri, 52, told Los Angeles’ Fox 11 that he struggled with horrendous back pain, headaches, cough and fatigue for five days after catching COVID-19, possibly at a conference in New York.

Doctors at the Memorial Regional Hospital in South Florida diagnosed him with the coronavirus and pneumonia and put him on oxygen in the ICU, he told the outlet.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Illinois Officials Announce 236 New Coronavirus Cases, Three Deaths

(KWQC) — The Illinois Department of Public Health said Monday there are 236 new cases of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 1,285 in 31 counties.

Those who tested positive range in age from younger than one to 99— years-old.

Officials also announced Monday that three people — two men in their 80s and a man in his 90s — have died in Cook County. As of Monday, 12 people have died from the coronavirus, officials say.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

It’s 2020 and Hackers Are Still Hijacking Windows PCs by Exploiting Font Parser Security Holes. No Patch, Either

Hackers are commandeering victims’ Windows PCs by exploiting at least one remote-code-execution flaw in the Adobe Type Manager Library included with the Microsoft operating system. No patches are available right now.…

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

James Caviezel: “Passion of the Christ” Sequel “Going to be Masterpiece … Biggest Film in World History”

James Caviezel opened up about the coming sequel to “The Passion of the Christ” in a recent interview with Fox Nation. Caviezel played Jesus Christ in the original movie.

Fox Nation host Raymond Arroyo asked how far along the piece was.

“Fifth draft,” Caviezel said. “It’s going to be a masterpiece. It’s gonna be the biggest film in world history, I believe it will be based on what I feel in my heart.”

The Hollywood Reporter reported in 2016 that the sequel would be called “The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Leftists, Democrats Spread Fake News That Rand Paul Has Infected Senate With Coronavirus

Upon hearing that Senator Rand Paul became the first lawmaker in the US to contract the Chinese coronavirus, a slew of Democrats and leftists charged that Paul had infected the Senate, and even repeated stories that he had been to the gym and the Senate pool while waiting for his test results.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Massive 5G Project to Make it Impossible to Escape Radiation Exposure

‘Last-mile wireless connectivity’ to saturate previously remote regions with high-intensity radiation. AirGig is a new technology developed by AT&T to transfer Wi-Fi and wireless data over power lines using 4G LTE and 5G millimeter waves. To date, AT&T has submitted over 500 patents and applications related to the AirGig technology, which turns existing power lines […]

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

McConnell Unleashes on Democrats for Blocking Emergency Coronavirus Relief Package

Democrats prioritize carbon emissions and solar tax credits over safety of American people, economic assistance.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, Wisconsin Issue Stay-at-Home Orders

Residents of Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Wisconsin have become the latest to fall under stay-at-home orders, as the governors of those states halt all but the most essential activities there in the hopes of slowing the coronavirus spread.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

New York Health Officials Told Residents to Congregate in Huge Crowds in “Defiance” of Coronavirus

Back in February, health officials in New York told residents to congregate in huge crowds in “defiance” of coronavirus, a move that could have exposed thousands of people to COVID-19.

New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot posted a tweet on February 9 urging citizens to flock to Chinatown in large numbers to celebrate the lunar new year while suggesting that advice to avoid crowds was “misinformation.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

New York Times Stealth-Edits Headline About Democratic Scuttling of Coronavirus Bill

The New York Times on Sunday twice edited a headline about the recent Democratic scuttling of the coronavirus relief bill, each time making it slightly more favorable to the Democrats who helped stall the bill’s passage.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

NYT Spins Stimulus Bill Story by Repeatedly Changing Headline After Dems ‘Block Action’

The coronavirus crisis has certainly been an interesting period for the mainstream media

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

So Far, The Number of Americans That Have Died From the Coronavirus is Greater Than the Number That Have Recovered

The information that I am about to share with you is quite disturbing, and it has some very alarming implications. One of the great mysteries of this coronavirus pandemic has been the widely varying death rates that we have been witnessing all over the world. For example, South Korea has had 8,981 confirmed cases so far. Of those cases that have been resolved one way or the other, 111 victims have died and 3,166 victims have recovered. So that would seem to indicate a very low death rate in that nation. But in Italy, things are very different. Up to this point, there have been 59,138 confirmed cases. Of the cases that have been resolved, 5,476 victims have died and 7,024 have recovered. Needless to say, that would seem to indicate a very, very high death rate in Italy.

Nobody really knows why this is happening. Scientists in China claim that there is more than one strain of the coronavirus and that one is more deadly than the other. So it has been theorized that the strain hitting Italy and other European countries is different than the strain that is affecting South Korea.

Alternatively, there are some that believe that certain pain killers used in the western world greatly accelerate the multiplication of the virus, and this is something that I wrote about a few days ago.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

This is Why People All Over America Are Scared to Death of Being Tested for the Coronavirus…

Fear of the coronavirus has collapsed “the everything bubble”, and what we have experienced so far is just the beginning…

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Thousands of Inmates in 16 States Freed Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Officials, MSM claim only elderly, low-risk prisoners being released.

[Comment: A Communist tactic to help destabilize society prior to commie takeover.]

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Trump: “We Cannot Let the Cure be Worse Than the Problem Itself”

In a tweet posted late Sunday evening, President Trump said that the United States cannot let the imposed restrictions meant to curb the spread of coronavirus “be worse than the problem itself.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Video of Dr. Fauci in 2009 is Unearthed — Shows a Calm and Unalarmed NIH Chief During H1N1 Epidemic That Killed Over 12 Thousand Americans

Video of Dr. Fauci in 2009 is Unearthed — Shows a Calm and Unalarmed NIH Chief During H1N1 Epidemic that Killed Over 12 Thousand Americans. Today he’s Doctor Doom, back then not so much. What’s different? Trump is a Republican, in 2009 Obama was President.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Video: Dr. Fauci Blasts Media’s Constant Effort to ‘Divide’ Him and President Trump

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, slammed the media Sunday, accusing reporters of constantly trying to sow division between him and President Trump.

Appearing on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Dr. Fauci discussed the issue of Trump making statements about medical matters that the doctor may not be able to back up with science.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Watch: Drone Footage Captures Eerily Empty Major American Cities

Footage from drones in cities across the country have captured eery, unsettling footage of empty streets and silent sidewalks, a stark reminder of the lockdowns under which tens of millions of Americans have found themselves during the coronavirus pandemic.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

YouTuber Who Licked Public Toilet Seat Now Claims He’s Tested Positive for Coronavirus

UPDATE: The individual featured in this article has now been banned by Twitter.

A YouTuber who licked a public toilet seat to “raise awareness” of coronavirus now claims he has tested positive for coronavirus.

Who could have seen that coming?

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

A Scientist Just Proved One of Darwin’s Evolution Theories, 161 Years Later

An anthropology doctoral student at the University of Cambridge has analyzed centuries of naturalist data to prove a longstanding theory from Charles Darwin’s work. The crux of the work is in the relationship between how species evolve into subspecies and whether that presages new species.

Laura van Holstein said in a statement that the way subspecies emerge depends on whether the species is by land, by air, or by sea. “Subspecies form, diversify and increase in number in a different way in non-terrestrial and terrestrial habitats, and this in turn affects how subspecies may eventually become species,” she said.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Belgium: “Stay at Home”: Police Drone Enforces Quarantine in Brussels

Authorities in Brussels, Belgium are mimicking their European counterparts by having police drones patrolling the streets telling citizens to go home.

A video clip shows a surveillance drone urging members of the public to avoid all contact and keep a distance of at least one and a half meters.

“Stay at home if possible,” says the audio broadcast by the drone, reminding people that they can only leave home “if allowed.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Björn Höcke Dissolves AfD’s Der Flügel After Merkel’s BfV Slanders Him as a Right-Wing Extremist

After being placed under official observation by Merkel’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Der Flügel (The Wing) — the Rightist wing the populist Alternative for Germany — led by Björn Höcke and Andreas Kalbitz has been dissolved.

The sudden move comes after Höcke, Thuringia’s head of state, along with Brandenburg’s AfD chief Andreas Kalbitz, were both smeared as “enemies of democracy” and as “Right-wing extremists” by Merkel’s BfV intelligence agency, Der Spiegel reports.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Czech Republic Says it May Keep Borders Closed for 2 Years

Officials in the Czech Republic say that the country may need to keep its borders closed for 2 years in order to fight a potential second wave of coronavirus.

Czech Crisis Staff head Roman Prymula told Czech Television that border controls may have to be kept in place for an extended period in order to restrict the entry of people from other European countries that have been harder hit by coronavirus.

“The situation in other European countries will not be good, there it will take months and long months,” said Prymula.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Czechs Send Italy Replacement Masks After Seizing Thousands Sent From China

Amid accusations of stealing thousands of face masks that China donated to coronavirus-battered Italy, the Czech Republic sent 110,000 of the much-needed protective items to Rome as compensation for the snafu, according to a report.

“We’ve just sent 110,000 face masks to Italy by bus heading to Rome … along with 43 Italian tourists who could not get back home,” Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek told Agence France-Presse.

“The Czech Republic certainly didn’t steal anything,” he said, adding that Prague had sent 10,000 more replacement masks of the “same type.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Finally Good News: Slowdown in New Cases Suggests Italy’s Outbreak May be Peaking

Numbers are finally coming down.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

France Urges Supermarkets to Pay €1,000 Coronavirus Bonus as Staff Abandon Posts

The French government has pleaded with staff in the food supply chain to keep turning up for work amid rising absenteeism, and urged supermarkets start paying employees a €1,000 bonus.

While employees from a wide range of businesses have been instructed to work from home and practise social isolation across Europe in recent weeks as governments get to grips with the coronavirus pandemic, certain industries have been exempted from the push. Beyond the emergency services, doctors, and police officers, those in the food supply chain have been designated “key workers”.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Merkel in Quarantine After Her Doctor Tests Positive for Virus

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has gone into quarantine after being informed that a doctor who administered a vaccine to her has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Merkel, 65, was informed about the doctor’s test shortly after holding a news conference Sunday announcing new measures to curb the spread of the virus, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

He said that Merkel had received a precautionary vaccine Friday against pneumococcal infection.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany: Merkel Tests Negative for Coronavirus

German chancellor Angela Merkel has tested negative for coronavirus, state radio Deutschlandfunk announced on Monday. On Sunday Merkel had announced she was going into self-isolation, after a doctor who had previously treated her tested positive for the virus that is currently ravaging both Europe and the world.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

In Spain You Can’t Use Your Own Back Yard. Police Make Sure of it.

There is a shortcut to serfdom, and it is called fear.

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Italian Virologist Says Concerns Over ‘Racism’ Crippled Italy’s Coronavirus Response

An Italian virologist says that the country’s attempt not to appear “racist” in the early says of the coronavirus outbreak crippled the ability to properly respond to the pandemic. Professor of Virology and Microbiology at the University of Padova Dr. Giorgio Palù told CNN that measures imposing travel restrictions and border controls were taken too […]

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Italy: Coronavirus: OK to Rehiring Retired Docs

INPS issues circular, personnel costs waived

(ANSA) — Rome, March 19 — The INPS social security and pensions agency on Thursday issued a circular approving the hiring of retired doctors to work in the coronavirus emergency.

Posts may be conferred waiving legislation on personnel costs, the agency said.

The hirings will be made within the limits of the government’s aid package approved on March 9, INPS said.

Doctors who have taken early retirement under the government’s ‘quota 100’ scheme will be able to start work again, INPS said.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

Italy: Coronavirus: Sicily Governor ‘Shuts Off’ Island

Only cops, soldiers, health workers and commuters allowed

(ANSA) — Palermo, March 23 — Sicily Governor Nello Musumeci on Monday shut off entry to the island across the Messina Strait.

Only police, the army, health workers and commuters will henceforth be allowed over the strait that separates Sicily from mainland Italy, he said.

“No one can enter Sicily any more, the interior minister knows that, Premier Conte knows it, Minister Boccia knows, everyone in Rome knows,” he said.

“In Sicily the measures speak clearly”.

           — Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]
 

London Coronavirus Deaths Now More Than Half of UK Total

Despite having only one-seventh of the UK’s population, London has experienced more than half of all coronavirus fatalities in the country.

The latest figures reveal there have been 289 fatalities in the UK. According to the Evening Standard, 148 of those victims were from London, where the Chinese virus is spreading at a faster rate than the rest of the United Kingdom.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘Norwegian Man’ Arrested for Planning to Bomb St Paul’s Cathedral in London

A 23-year-old “Norwegian” from Skien who was born to Somali parents has been accused of planning to bomb St. Paul’s Cathedral in London together with a woman living in the UK. The plan wasn’t hatched by some a pagan Norse Viking looking to attack Christians like what was commonly seen in centuries past; instead, the […]

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

Orban: Hungary Unlikely to Avoid Mass Illnesses

The novel coronavirus outbreak in Hungary has not reached the stage of mass illnesses, but this is likely soon, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview on Friday.

Medical professionals say large case numbers cannot be prevented, but the epidemic can be slowed down, Orban told public broadcaster Kossuth Radio. The aim now is to slow down the virus’s spread so the health-care system can handle serious cases, he added. “We have organised collective defence … the Hungarian community is ready to protect itself,” Orban said. “We have a proper military plan of defence.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Pope Francis Expresses Concerns Over Economic Fallout of Coronavirus Crisis

ROME — Pope Francis offered special prayers Monday for those who are unable to work and earn money during the coronavirus lockdown affecting Italy and beyond.

“Let us pray today for those persons who are beginning to experience economic problems due to the pandemic, because they cannot work. All of this affects the family,” the pope tweeted Monday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Pope Francis: Coronavirus Pandemic is Nature ‘Throwing a Tantrum’

ROME — Pope Francis told a Spanish journalist Sunday that nature never forgives and the coronavirus pandemic is nature’s cry for humans to take better care of creation.

Asked by a Spanish journalist via Skype whether the COVID-19 pandemic is nature’s way of taking “revenge” on humanity, the pontiff suggested that nature is calling for attention.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Slovenia: Left Tries to Sabotage New Right-Wing Populist Government by Attacking Coronavirus Measures

A Slovene priest says there is a “fifth column” attempting to sabotage the Right-wing populist government recently formed by new Prime Minister Janez Jansa in his country — even if it means endangering Slovene lives by criticizing and ignoring the government’s efforts to enact coronavirus (COVID-19) countermeasures.

Jansa was sworn in on March 13, as previously reported by Voice of Europe. Slovenia had effectively been without leadership since January, following the resignation of PM Marjan Šarec’s liberal government.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Somali-Norwegian Muslim Arrested for Planning to Bomb St Paul’s Cathedral in London

23-year-old “Norwegian” from Skien who was born to Somali parents has been accused of planning to bomb St. Paul’s Cathedral in London together with a woman living in the UK.

The plan wasn’t hatched by some a pagan Norse Viking looking to attack Christians like what was commonly seen in centuries past; instead, the bombing was planned by a man who — according to his lawyer — believes in the Quran and aims to be a good Muslim, Document Norway reports.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Sweden: Social Democrat Politician Mistakes Trump Parody Account for President

Marita Ulvskog, a former MEP for Sweden’s governing centre-left party, appeared to be criticising Trump in a tweet, thinking the satirical material coming from a parody account was the president himself.

The parody account, “@realDonaldTrFan,” complained about a scientific paper on the coronavirus by scientists in France being published in a medical journal in French. “How the hell is that going to help anyone ?! Nobody speaks French! Why can’t they write in English ?!” the user laments.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘Too Late’: Farage Criticises Open Borders While Britons Locked Down in Coronavirus Crisis

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson for enforcing a lockdown for three weeks to halt the spread of coronavirus while the UK’s borders are still open to foreign travellers.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday night that the UK would go into enforced lockdown after reports of people ignoring the scientific advice to self-isolate to stop the spread of coronavirus.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK Coronavirus Lockdown: ‘If You Don’t Follow the Rules, The Police Will Have the Powers to Enforce Them’

The British government has ordered people to stay in their homes and only to leave in a very limited number of circumstances, as well as banning public gatherings of more than two people in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Addressing the nation on Monday evening after a three-hour meeting of the government COBRA emergency planning group, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that measures announced so far — which included ordering pubs, bars, and restaurants to close and advising the public to stay at home — were no longer enough to prevent coronavirus spreading through the country too quickly.

Explaining that slowing the development of the virus was the government’s key priority, as preventing too many new cases emerging on any given day would prevent the national health infrastructure from being overwhelmed, the prime minister told the United Kingdom: “The time has now come for us all to do more. From this evening, I must give the British people a very simple instruction: you must stay at home.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Lord Chief Justice Suspends All Jury Trials Due to Coronavirus

The Lord Chief Justice has suspended all jury trials until measures can be put in place to comply with coronavirus safety advice.

The Lord Burnett of Maldon said the courts had “put in place arrangements to use telephone, video and other technology to continue as many hearings as possible remotely” — but that it was not possible for some hearing, “the most obvious being jury trials”, to be sustained in this manner.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Libertarian Tories Sound Warning Over Lack of Safeguards on Coronavirus Emergency Powers

Leading Conservative civil libertarian and Brexiteer David Davis has sounded the alarm over the government preparing to award itself wide-ranging special powers to fight the coronavirus pandemic, arguing they should be “open” with what is happening and why.

While the response to the coronavirus outbreak in many countries has seen attacks on individual liberty in the name of public health nothing short of authoritarian, with many even in normally liberal and free countries welcoming crackdowns, some have urged caution over giving governments powers that are too broad and permanent.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: Labour Leadership Hopeful Lisa Nandy Demands Boris Johnson Delay Brexit

The Wigan MP who could soon be the leader of Labour — Britain’s main opposition party — recently argued that the government should agree with the EU to extend the Brexit transition period due to the coronavirus, the Daily Express reports.

Ms Nandy, who is currently running against Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey to lead Britain’s left-wing Labour Party, argues that the government should take “a long-term approach” to tackling the COVID-19 virus and that “uncertainty must be minimised” for businesses. Whilst the UK has officially left the European Union, the country is still in the single market and customs union during the transition period which Nandy wishes to continue. Many ardent Leavers argue that this kind of arrangement could lead to a ‘Brexit’ in name only.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Russia to Ship Medical Aid to Italy as the Country Struggles to Get Its Arms Around the Virus

MOSCOW — Nine hulking Il-76 cargo planes are being loaded at the Chkalovsky military airport in Moscow as Russia prepares to send medical personnel and supplies to Italy to help the country’s efforts against the coronavirus.

The mission is to begin Sunday, one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin offered the aid in a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, whose country has confirmed more than 53,000 coronavirus cases and over 4,800 deaths.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Ukraine: Could Kiev be Heading Back Towards Friendly Relations With Russia?

While Ukraine’s bloody war with Moscow-backed separatists in the east will soon be entering its seventh year, some signs suggest that Ukraine under the new administration of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could eventually see a change in direction regarding its relations with both Russia and the West.

During the 2019 national elections, Zelenskyy made reaching a peace deal with the separatists his main priority. Since his victory, some members of the government have made statements which sound like peace overtures, as reported in an editorial at the Atlantic Council website. New Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal, who was just appointed earlier this month, has called for Ukraine to resume supplying water to breakaway Crimea. Defense advisor Serhiy Syvokho has defined the ongoing war as an internal conflict rather than as a war with Russia. Also this month, rumors went around that Ukraine was considering entering into direct talks with the separatist regions in the east, although the government denied the report.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

India Halts Crucial Train Network to Stop Coronavirus Spread

NEW DELHI — As India expanded its virus-containment measures and halted its train network, the country’s lifeblood, the federal government warned Monday of strict legal action for those who flout the rules.

The wholesale shutdown of India’s massive train system is unprecedented.

“Please save yourself, save your family,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in Hindi, calling for states to follow the preventive measures issued by the federal government to contain the spread of the virus.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Coronavirus is a Bioweapon Meant to Lower IQ According to Chinese Military Intelligence

I am a senior Chinese military intelligence officer and I know the truth about the coronavirus outbreak. It is far worse than the media are telling you. I am a Chinese citizen in Wuhan who occupies — or perhaps occupied — a high-ranking position in military intelligence. I am also a member of the Chinese […]

[Comment: Seems like the globalist are trying to turn “useless eaters” into “cattle”.]

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Coronavirus Cases:

381,435

view by country

Deaths:

16,550

Recovered:

102,423

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Report: China May Have Massively Underreported Coronavirus Deaths

By looking at the number of cell phone users in the communist country, The Epoch Times concludes that China lied about the death toll caused by the new coronavirus. And we’re not just talking about a factor of 5 either; we’re talking very serious numbers here. Numbers that would explain why Italy is currently losing more than 600 of its citizens per day to the new Chinese virus.

Cell phones are an “indispensable part of life in China,” the newspaper correctly explains. Tang Jingyuan, a U.S.-based China affairs commentator, even says that “people can’t survive without a cellphone. Dealing with the government for pensions and social security, buying train tickets, shopping… no matter what people want to do, they are required to use cellphones.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Twitter Starts Blocking Some Coronavirus Links

Twitter has started hiding some coronavirus links behind a warning notice that tells users “this link may be unsafe.”

The notice claims that it’s being applied because the site may steal passwords or personal information, install malicious software, or it has broken Twitter’s terms of service.

However, it doesn’t appear to be applied at the site level and instead seems to only be warning users that attempt to view some coronavirus articles on certain sites.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Twitter Cracks Down on Jokes But Lets Chinese Official Spread Coronavirus Propaganda

As the coronavirus continues to spread and forces many parts of the world into lockdown, there has been a surge in all types of coronavirus content, ranging from lighthearted coronavirus jokes to propaganda campaigns from China.

One of the sources of this pro-China propaganda is Lijian Zhao, Deputy Director of Foreign Ministry Information Department of the People’s Republic of China, who has previously suggested that the coronavirus has been in America since the holiday season and even claimed that “it might be the US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘Chaos’ At Australian Bottle Shops as Drinkers Rush to Buy Alcohol Amid Fears of Coronavirus Lockdown — Before PM Confirms Liquor Stores Will Stay Open

Drinkers rushed bottle shops around Australia on Sunday fearing a sober lockdown before the Prime Minister confirmed liquor stores will stay open.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

South Africa Goes on 21-Day Lockdown as Coronavirus Cases Surge

South Africa’s leader on Monday ordered a 21-day country-wide lockdown as the country confronted a rising surge in coronavirus cases — a number that was the most of any other African nation.

In an evening address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the drastic action was a necessary step to contain the spread of the global pandemic, according to reports.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany Closes Border to Europeans, But Migrants Still Allowed in

Germany has closed its border to visitors from Europe due to coronavirus, but migrants claiming asylum from the Middle East and Africa are still allowed to enter the country.

Aside from exemptions for people from France, Luxembourg, and Switzerland who are providing essential services, German authorities closed the country’s border to all foreign citizens last week.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Tanker With About 190 Migrants Runs Aground on Greek Island

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A tanker carrying around 190 migrants run aground in rough weather just outside the port on the Cycladic island of Kea, near the Greek capital, the coast guard said Monday.

The tanker hit the outside of the breakwater at the port in the early hours of the morning, in gale-force winds and rough seas. All passengers managed to disembark of their own accord, and were being temporarily housed by the municipality in a local hotel, the coast guard said.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: ‘Charities’ Demand Government Support Illegal Migrants Through Pandemic

The Migrants’ Rights Network and over 50 other “charities” have penned an open letter demanding state support and accommodation for between 800,000 and 1.2 million illegal migrants through the coronavirus pandemic.

The open letter, addressed to local councils across the country, demanded that they use hardship funds made available by the central government to “ensure that everyone, regardless of immigration status, can access self-contained accommodation and self-isolate safely”, and that they block book hotels and requisition empty homes, housing developments, and university halls of residence to do so.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

United Kingdom: Activist Calls “Great Replacement” Theory Racist While Celebrating Decline of Native Population

British-born journalist and activist Ash Sarkar thinks that the idea of the Great Replacement is a racist conspiracy theory. However, she also believes that the decline of the British population and the dramatic increase in immigrants in the UK is a good thing.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Google Considers Sharing Location of User Movements With Governments to Provide Social Distancing Data

The tech giant Google is now considering sharing the location data it collects with the government to provide data on whether social distancing methods are being well-enforced.

“We’re exploring ways that aggregated anonymized location information could help in the fight against COVID-19. One example could be helping health authorities determine the impact of social distancing, similar to the way we show popular restaurant times and traffic patterns in Google maps,” said Johnny Luu, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Google Health.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

No, The Head of the World Health Organization Has Not Emailed You — it’s a Message Laced With Malware

Roundup: It is time for another Reg security summary.…

           — Hat tip: JD [Return to headlines]
 

13 thoughts on “Gates of Vienna News Feed 3/23/2020

  1. Still, the Russians did not run to save Italy.
    The families of Kremlin officials live there.
    And this is the birthplace of the Russian rabbi Berel Lazar.
    Italy, and give even more sanctions to these masochists!

  2. “Amid accusations of stealing thousands of face masks that China donated to coronavirus-battered Italy, the Czech Republic sent 110,000 of the much-needed protective items to Rome as compensation for the snafu, according to a report.”
    Yeah, well…the government didn’t stop the transport, nor was it a government facility. This shipment was stopped by a foreign private person. As soon as the government found this shipment, they sent it on it’s way to Italy ASAP.

  3. And just like that…New World Odor.
    No one could foresee the end that came so fast except for those tinfoil hat people on the internet.
    Interesting times indeed and the land of Sun Tzu is laughing at how easy it was but they did have help from a fifth column of globalist traitors.

  4. https://i.redd.it/w8pd7j0t2g211.jpg

    Belgium Health Minister Maggie de Block has put a ban on all non-essential sexual activities of persons 3 or greater in indoor areas.

    Health Minister de Block announced today that, effective immediately, “non-essential” sexual activities of 3 people or more are banned in Belgium to combat the spread of COVID-19.

    De Block said she was forced to act swiftly because of Belgium’s reputation as being the “beer-drinking” and “group sex capital of Europe.”

    https://worldnewsdailyreport.com/belgium-health-minister-puts-ban-on-non-essential-sexual-activities-of-persons-3-or-greater-in-indoor-areas/

    • It sounds like something from the Onion or Babylon Bee.
      Terminal Madness at its finest.
      Who will enforce such an imperial decree?
      Chinese mercenaries.

      • WorldNews Daily Report is a satirical site, like The Onion or The Babylon Bee.

        I have to admit, I came close to submitting as a news tip an article from WorldNews Daily Report to GatesofVienna. 😭

    • I thought that Stacey Abrams was fat but this beached whale takes the cake. She is absolutely disgusting to see. She looks the Pillsbury Dough boy.

  5. We interrupt this program with a special bulletin:

    America is now under martial law.
    All constitutional rights have been suspended.
    Stay in your homes.
    Do not attempt to contact loved ones, insurance agents, or attorneys.
    Shut up.
    Do not attempt to think or depression may occur.
    Stay in your homes.
    Curfew is at 7 PM sharp after work.
    Anyone caught outside the gates of their subdivision sector after curfew,
    will be shot.
    Remain calm, do not panic.
    Your neighborhood watch officer will be by to collect urine samples in
    the morning.
    Anyone caught interfering with the collection of urine samples, will be
    shot.
    Stay in your homes. Remain calm.
    The number one enemy of progress is questions.
    National security is more important than individual will.
    All sports broadcasts will proceed as normal.
    No more than two people may gather anywhere without permission.
    Use only the drugs prescribed by your boss or supervisor.
    Shut up. Be happy.
    Obey all orders without question.
    The comfort you demanded is now mandatory.
    Be happy.
    At last everything is done for you.

    ©±® Jello Biafra, 1989

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