Iran news agency: Death toll from new virus in Qom is at 50

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A staggering 50 people have died in the Iranian city of Qom from the new coronavirus this month, Iran’s semiofficial ILNA news agency reported on Monday.

The new death toll is significantly higher than the latest number of confirmed cases of infections that Iranian officials had reported just a few hours earlier by and which stood at just 12 deaths out of 47 cases, according to state TV.

An official from Qom, Ahmad Amiriabadi Farahani, was quoted in ILNA saying that more than 250 people are in quarantined in the city, which is a popular place of religious study for Shiites from across Iran and other countries.

He said the 50 deaths date as far back as Feb. 13. Iran, however, first officially reported cases of the virus and its first deaths on Feb. 19.

The new coronavirus originated in China sometime around December. There are concerns that clusters in Iran, as well as in Italy and South Korea, could signal a serious new stage in its global spread.

A top World Health Official expressed concerns Monday over the virus’ spread. “We are worried about the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran and in Italy,” WHO chied Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Stockholm via a video link.

Authorities in Iran have closed schools across much of the country for a second day and as neighboring countries reported infections from travelers from Iran, prompting several to shut their borders to Iranian citizens.

The number of deaths compared to the number of confirmed infections from the virus is higher in Iran than in any other country, including China and South Korea, where the outbreak is far more widespread.

Iranian health officials have not said whether health workers in Qom who first came in contact with infected people had taken precautionary measures in treating those who died of the virus. Iran also has not said how many people are in quarantine across the country overall.

Kuwait announced on Monday its first cases of the virus, saying that three travellers returning from the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran were confirmed infected with the coronavirus.

Iran, however, has not yet reported any confirmed cases of the virus in Mashhad, raising questions about how the government is carrying out tests and quarantines.

Iran has confirmed cases so far in five cities, including the capital, Tehran. A local mayor in Tehran is among those infected and in quarantine.

Kuwait has been evacuating some 750 citizens from Iran and testing them as they enter the country after saying that Iran had barred its medical workers from testing travelers at an exit terminal in Iran, despite an agreement to do so.

The three returning from Iran to Kuwait who were infected with the virus are being treated in Kuwait and were identified as a Kuwaiti male, 53, a Saudi male, 61, and the third was not identified except as a 21-year-old. The news was reported by the Kuwait News Agency quoting the Kuwait Health Ministry.

Iranian travelers with the virus have also been confirmed in Canada, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The outbreak in Iran has centered mostly on the city of Qom, but spread rapidly over the past few days as Iranians went to the polls on Friday for nationwide parliamentary elections, with many voters wearing masks and stocking up on hand sanitizer.

Iran is already facing diplomatic and economic isolation under U.S. pressure. The virus threatens to isolate Iran even further as countries shut their borders to Iranians.

Soccer fans across the country will not be allowed to attend matches, and shows in movie theaters and other venues were suspended until Friday. Authorities have begun daily sanitization of Tehran’s metro, which is used by some 3 million people, and public transportation cars in the city.

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Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

Sara Carter: Dems acting as Russian 'tools' in attempts to further Putin agenda, delegitimize Trump

Investigative reporter Sara Carter said Sunday that the Democrats' response to reports that Russia allegedly tried to interfere in the 2020 election proves they are mere "tools" helping to further the narrative created by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Democrats and 'Never Trumpers'... they keep bringing up that Vladimir Putin has this grand scheme and people placed inside the Republican and Democratic Party," Carter said on "The Next Revolution."
"Listen", she continued, saying that Russian intelligence offers didn't "need to look far for Russian agents because [Democrats] are doing all the work for Russia. It must be a celebration. All they have to do is say something and plant a little seed out there that 'Putin wants Bernie [Sanders]... Putin wants Trump... Putin wants Joe Biden,' and America is tearing itself apart."
The Washington Post reported last week that U.S. intelligence officials determined Moscow was attempting to interfere in the race on behalf of both the president and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner among Democrats seeking the White House.
On Friday night, President Trump took to Twitter and slammed the media, singling out MSNBC -- which he called "MSDNC" -- and CNN, claiming they grouped Sanders and others as "Russian Sympathizers."
"MSDNC (Comcast Slime), @CNN and others of the Fake Media, have now added Crazy Bernie to the list of Russian Sympathizers, along with @TulsiGabbard & Jill Stein (of the Green Party), both agents of Russia, they say," Trump wrote. "But now they report President Putin wants Bernie (or me) to win."
On Saturday morning, he warned Democrats in the "Great State of Nevada" -- which he predicted he would win come November -- to be "careful of Russia, Russia, Russia."
"According to Corrupt politician Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, they are pushing for Crazy Bernie Sanders to win. Vote!" Trump tweeted, a reference to the House Intelligence Committee chairman.
“I don't care, frankly, who [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to be president,” Sanders said in a statement following the article's release Friday. “My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do.”
Carter said she was "frightened" by the efforts from Democrats and the media who ran with the unverified reports.
"This is frightening because in a way, what they don’t see is that they are the tools of Russia. Not the Republicans, but the Democrats... the 'Never Trumpers' are the tools of Russia," Carter said.
"And," she continued, "that's why President Trump is doing the right thing by blowing it off, ignoring them and not even paying attention to anything that could be coming out of Putin's mouth or out of Russia... he just lets it go."
Carter concluded, "the American people are going to vote."
Fox News' Julia Musto contributed to this report.

Bernie Sanders defends Fidel Castro's socialist Cuba: 'Unfair to simply say everything is bad'

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner for the Democrats' presidential nomination, doubled down on his support for some of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's policies, saying in an interview that aired Sunday, "it's unfair to simply say everything is bad."
Speaking to CBS News' "60 Minutes," Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, pointed to social welfare programs introduced under Castro's regime that he described as redeeming, despite the communist dictator's often repressive human-rights violations against Cubans.
"We're very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it's unfair to simply say everything is bad. You know? When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it?" Sanders told Anderson Cooper.
Fidel Castro relinquished power to his brother, Raúl, in 2011 after nearly half a century in charge of the island nation; Fidel died in 2016.
Some Republicans jumped on Sanders' comments. "It really makes a difference when those you murder at the firing squad can read & write," Sen. Ted Cruz,
In a resurfaced speech given at the University of Vermont in 1986, Sanders praised the socialist policies implemented in Cuba by the Castro regime and criticized bipartisan efforts in the U.S. to tamp down on Castro's spread of communism.
While Sanders said in the new interview he "condemns" any human rights violations Castro committed, he also took aim at President Trump for his unlikely friendships with some dictators or strongman leaders, including North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
"I do not think that Kim Jong Un is a good friend," Sanders said. "I don't trade love letters with a murdering dictator. Vladimir Putin, not a great friend of mine."
Despite victories in all three of the earliest state contests, the Vermont senator has faced criticism from other party contenders, including billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who lambasted his socialist policies declaring they would never fare in a November matchup with Trump.
Sanders went on to define his brand of democratic socialism, which has tapped into a more progressive ideology that has been gaining traction with young voters across the country.
"When Donald Trump was a private businessman in New York, he got $800 million in tax breaks and subsidies to build luxury housing. That's called corporate socialism. What democratic socialism is about is saying, 'Let's use the federal government to protect the interests of working families,'" he explained.
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Trump has used Sanders' policy initiatives, including "Medicare-for-all" and free college tuition and elimination of student loan debt, to take aim at the senator, even going so far as to label him a communist.
"You know what? We will fight back," Sanders said of these attacks. "This is what we will bring up... that the president of the United States is a pathological liar, and it is increasingly clear that many people just don't believe anything that he says. He is a fraud. I look forward to taking him on."
Fox News' Gregg Re contributed to this report.

Trump arrives in India to speak at large rally, first visit as president

President Trump departed the White House for Ahmedabad, India, where he said he'll be ‘talking trade’ with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; The Center for Strategic and International Studies senior adviser Richard Rossow weighs in.

President Trump, in his first official visit to India on Monday, was greeted by overflowing crowds and a massive stadium rally where he announced a $3 billion deal that will send state-of-the-art military helicopters to the country.
The "Namaste Trump" rally was a sequel to the "Howdy, Modi" event Trump held with prime minister Narendra Modi in Houston last September.
Trump's motorcade passed along seemingly endless crowds in Ahmedabad with many cheering and waving American flags on the way to the 110,000 capacity Sardar Patel Stadium where the rally was conducted.
Large billboards were spread throughout the route showing Trump alongside Modi and his wife Melania.

A man takes a selfie with portraits of U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted on a wall ahead of Trump's visit, in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Trump is scheduled to visit the city during his Feb. 24-25 India trip. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Near the entrance to the stadium, camels on either side of the road were seen greeting him, which the announcers described as a "camelcade." The largest cricket stadium in the world appeared to be full, with banners displaying Trump's name throughout.
Before Modi and Trump came out on stage, the song "Macho Man" by the Village People was heard playing in the stadium. When the music stopped, they arrived on stage, and both leaders held the arms of each other into the air.
Shortly after each country's national anthem played, Modi began speaking to the crowd about shared values and ideas as Trump sat in his chair beside Melania. All three were located in a large bulletproof container that took up most of the stage.
When Modi handed the podium to Trump, the president thanked those in attendance for the welcome he received, adding that he and Melania would remember the hospitality given.
"America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the India people," Trump said.
Trump also touted the peacefulness of India in the past. Later he announced that he will sell 3 billion dollars worth of state of art helicopters and other equipment to the country.
"I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over three billion dollars in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces," Trump said.
He also announced that his administration is working with Pakistan to crackdown on terrorists operating in the country. At the same time, he exclaimed his relationship with Pakistan is a "very good one."
Trump is expected to visit the iconic Taj Mahal later in the day.

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Security adviser: I’ve seen no intel of Moscow helping Trump (Stupid Democrats at it again.)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s national security adviser said he’s seen no intelligence to show that Russia is interfering in the U.S. presidential campaign in hopes of reelecting President Donald Trump.

Robert O’Brien’s comments come after conflicting accounts emerged from a recent closed-door briefing by intelligence officials, who spoke to lawmakers about Russian interference in the 2020 campaign. One intelligence official said that lawmakers were not told that Russia was working to directly aid Trump.

But other people familiar with the meeting said they were told the Kremlin was looking to help Trump’s candidacy. The people spoke on condition of anonymity to discussed the classified briefing.

“The national security adviser gets pretty good access to our intelligence,” O’Brien said. “I haven’t seen any intelligence that Russia is doing anything to attempt to get President Trump re-elected.”

O’Brien’s comments were released Saturday in a transcript of an interview with ABC’s “This Week” set to air on Sunday.

A nearly two-year investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller concluded there was a sophisticated, Kremlin-led operation to sow division in the U.S. and upend the 2016 election by using cyberattacks and social media as weapons. Intelligence officials have warned Russia is doing the same in 2020.

But it’s a sore subject for Trump, who has played down the findings and said they are an attempt to de-legitimize his victory. And Sen. Bernie Sanders acknowledged Friday that he was briefed last month by U.S. officials about Russian efforts to boost his chances for becoming the Democratic presidential nominee — something that could be seen as beneficial to Trump’s reelection prospects.

O’Brien claimed he had not seen any intelligence or analyses indicating that Russia was aiding Trump and neither had top leaders in the intelligence agencies.

“All I know is that the Republicans on the side of the House hearing were unhappy with the hearing and said that there was no intelligence to back up what was being said,” O’Brien said. “But here’s the deal: I don’t even know if what’s been reported as being said (by the briefers) is true. You know those are leaks coming out of that hearing.”

O’Brien also denied reports that Trump became angry when he was told about the briefing and that he confronted former acting national intelligence director Joseph Maguire and subsequently replaced him with the U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell.

O’Brien said Trump was not angry with Maguire and would have liked Maguire to stay in government in a different role. He said Maguire’s time as acting director of national intelligence was up in early March and the White House needed an individual — someone who had already been confirmed by the Senate — to temporarily replace him.

“Ambassador Grenell is there for a temporary period of time,” O’Brien said, adding that Trump was expected to announce a nominee to be quickly confirmed by the Senate as full-time director. The president has said he is considering three or four candidates.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews compares Sanders' Nevada win to France's fall to Nazis, draws calls for his firing

Wow! A democrat calling out a democrat.

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews drew ire on social media Saturday after he compared the Nevada Democratic caucus victory of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to France's fall to the Nazis during World War II.
“I'm reading last night about the fall of France in the summer of 1940," Matthews said during the network's caucus coverage. "And the general calls up Churchill and says, ‘It’s over,’ and Churchill says, ‘How can it be? You got the greatest army in Europe. How can it be over?’ He said, ‘It's over.’”
The backlash on Twitter was swift and severe, with many commenters calling for Matthews to resign or be fired. Many pointed out that Sanders' family includes survivors of the Holocaust.
But Larry O'Connor, a commentator with the Washington Examiner and KABC radio in Los Angeles, shared a different view.
"For the past four years," O'Connor wrote, "Donald Trump has been incessantly likened to Hitler and his supporters to Nazis, so to all the outraged Dems screaming about Chris Matthews making a clumsy, innocuous comparison between Bernie's win and 1940 France, may I just say..."
During his commentary, Matthews expressed doubts about Sanders' chances in November if he goes on to win the Democratic nomination and face President Trump.
“It looks like Bernie Sanders is hard to beat right now,” Matthews said. “I’m with [James] Carville all the way in terms of the dangers of what lies ahead in November. They’re sitting on so much oppo research on Bernie.”
Matthews said Republicans would “kill” Sanders in the general election but right now “it’s a little late to stop him.”

Sarah Sanders warns Trump backers about Bernie's momentum: 'We can take nothing for granted'

Former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders warned supporters of President Trump on Saturday night not to underestimate Sen. Bernie Sanders following his projected victory in the Nevada Democratic caucuses.
"I think [Bernie Sanders] is looking like the presumptive Democrat nominee at this point. He's certainly moving in that direction," Sanders said on "Justice with Judge Jeanine." "And I think Republicans have to be extremely careful. We can take nothing for granted at this point. The stakes have literally never been higher."

"We can take nothing for granted at this point. The stakes have literally never been higher."
— Sarah Sanders

Bernie Sanders, who is no relation to Sarah Sanders, will win the Nevada caucuses, Fox News projected Saturday, furthering the democratic socialist's lead over his Democratic rivals and raising the question of whether he can be stopped on his path to the Democratic nomination.
Sarah Sanders noted the importance of Republicans voting in November to combat Bernie Sanders.
"If crazy socialist Bernie Sanders is the Democrat nominee, as he is well on track to be, literally the way of life and our very freedom is at stake at the election in November and Republicans have to come out in full force and make sure that they get Donald Trump reelected," Sanders said.

"If crazy socialist Bernie Sanders is the Democrat nominee ... our very freedom is at stake ... Republicans have to ... make sure ... they get Donald Trump reelected."
— Sarah Sanders

Sarah Sanders highlighted the negatives of a Bernie Sanders coalition and listed Trump's strengths.
"Bernie has a small kind of coalition that I think has a low ceiling. I think it's going to be hard for him to overcome that in a general election whereas the president has expanded very far beyond his 2016 base, in large part because of the success of his," Sanders said. "Say the economy is booming. Every demographic is doing better under this president and you're going to see that change the makeup of the voters that come out and support him in November."
Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.