Pompeo says ‘no sanctions’ prevent Covid-19 aid to Iran

as US blocks $5bn IMF loan & ignores calls to lift penalties

8 Apr, 2020 23:49

"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a raft of US sanctions do not stop humanitarian aid from reaching Tehran, even as the UN and rights groups say the penalties are crippling Iran’s healthcare system.

“I’ve heard people talking about sanctions. The world should know there are no sanctions that prevent humanitarian assistance, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals from going to Iran,” Pompeo told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday, adding that the US offered to send aid but Iran refused.

Tehran has repeatedly slammed the US pressure campaign – which makes effectively impossible the bank transactions necessary to purchase vital supplies from overseas – deeming it a “historical disgrace” and “economic terrorism” that only complicates efforts to contain the fast-moving epidemic."

moar:

https://www.rt.com/news/485340-pompeo-iran-sanctions-coronavirus/

US coronavirus deaths pass 14,000, but future projections

are better than expected

CNN 1 hr ago

"Even though Wednesday was another day that brought a record number of deaths reported from coronavirus in the United States, there was a glimmer of hope as models now have less dire forecasts for the total number of fatalities the country will see by the time the pandemic subsides.

More than 431,000 people in the US have been infected, and more than 14,700 have died.

A record 1,858 deaths were reported in just one day Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins. On Wednesday there were 1,922 more.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters Wednesday that there were 779 coronavirus-related deaths across the state Tuesday. It was the highest number of deaths reported in one day by New York officials."

moar:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-coronavirus-deaths-pass-14000-but-future-projections-are-better-than-expected/ar-BB12j0Dr

Russia Accuses Trump Of Trying To Conquer The Galaxy

Thu, 04/09/2020 - 01:00

'President Trump took a giant leap for America this week by signing an executive order outlining US policy on commercial mining in space.

Upon Trump signing the order, entitled "Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources," which gives Americans the "the right to engage in the commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space," the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, accused the US of attempting to conquer the galaxy.

Roscosmos said in a statement Tuesday that "Attempts to expropriate outer space and aggressive plans to de facto seize the territories of other planets will hardly encourage other nations to participate in fruitful cooperation."

Sergey Savelyev, Roscosmos deputy director responsible for international cooperation, insisted President Trump's space ambitions were tantamount to space colonialism:

"There have already been examples in history when one country decided to start seizing territories in its own interests and everyone remembers how that turned out," Savelyev said.

The Kremlin said colonization of space would be "unacceptable.""

muh galaxy:

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-blasts-trumps-aggressive-expropriation-attempt-space

why can't [you] trip like (pepe) do?

What's Next Italeave Or A European Union Crack Up?

Thu, 04/09/2020 - 04:20

"As economic aid from Brussels is debated and delayed, millions of Mediterraneans are already questioning the European project…

Since the birth of the European Union, there has been an intense debate about the possibility of creating a two-track Europe, divided between the Mediterranean nations and those of Northern Europe.

Supporters of this solution argue that the differences between these two parts of Europe are irreconcilable, in terms of their lifestyle, in the way society is conceived, and especially in the mentality of citizens. The possibility of division first appeared in Greece during the 2008 crisis, and it now seems to be intensifying with the coronavirus emergency.

Today, the dividing line between north and south has hardened, and is defined by opposing views on how to tackle the spread of the virus.

On one side, the Latin countries of Europe ask to use the so-called “Eurobonds” or “Coronabonds,” a financial instrument with a common European debt linked to the resources that are strictly necessary to face this health emergency. Italy and Spain do not ask to share their ordinary public debt with Germany and the other northern European nations; they only seek to share the resources they need to bear the costs to fight Coronavirus. On the other side, German politicians and the media accuse the south of seeking to finance the crisis response with German money. France stands halfway between these two blocs, even though in practice Macron’s point of view seems to be closer to the southern European countries’ position."

moar:

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/whats-next-italeave-or-european-union-crack

and all the kings horses and all the kings men

Extra Police $1600 Quarantine Violation Fines Added to Victorian Roads Over Easter

April 9, 2020 Updated: April 9, 2020

"Victorian police will be working on two fronts this weekend as police target non-essential road travel and the usual Easter-time driving offenses.

Besides the usual traffic infringements, Victorians can expect a fine of up to $1600 for non-essential travel—the highest fine for committing the offense in any of the eight Australian states and territories.

Speaking at a press conference on April 9, Assistant Commissioner Libby Murphy outlined the state’s road enforcement plans."

moar:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/extra-police-1600-quarantine-violation-fines-added-to-victorian-roads-over-easter_3304823.html

President ponders moon mining amid coronavirus crisis

Dr Fauci says we should never shake hands again

US death toll becomes second highest in world

16 seconds ago

"Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday opening up the possibility of America mining the moon for minerals and said he will “take a look” at pardoning Joe Exotic, the subject of Netflix’s latest true crime sensation Tiger King, of which his eldest son is a fan.

Those whimsical policy decisions came as the US death toll from the coronavirus outbreak hit 14,800, making it the second worst-hit nation on earth, and his top infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, warned it might never be safe for people to shake hands “ever again”.

The president nevertheless used his latest press conference to indicate he hoped to end US lockdown measures soon and reopen the economy with a “big bang” as his approval ratings began to slide in response to his administration’s erratic handling of the crisis."

moar:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-news-live-coronavirus-us-deaths-cases-twitter-press-briefing-latest-a9456871.html

calling it we have officially entered the twilight zone

>>8732784

>>8732797