france24--2020-04-20--Paralysed planes: Should airline bailouts come with climate conditions?

As Covid-19 takes hold across the globe , and global demand for air travel falls 80 percent , the aviation industry is in freefall .
The International Air Transport Association predicts half of all airlines will be bankrupt by June if governments do n't step in with loans and bailouts .
Climate campaigners , however , believe the pause in flying is an opportunity to build a cleaner air transport system .
Magdalena Heuwieser is a climate activist and co-founder of the Stay Grounded Network .
The group 's current campaign # SavePeopleNotPlanes asks that any financial aid come with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Airlines must agree to finally pay their fair share of taxes .
Right now , airlines do n't pay fuel tax and there is no VAT on plane tickets .
We also demand to stop air miles programmes which incentivise frequent flying . ''
There is some hope the Covid-19 outbreak could lead to long-term changes in flying behaviour .
With business trips cancelled , people are learning to communicate using video conference technology , raising the question of whether staff need to fly as frequently in the future .
Single-use plastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry that 's been less affected by Covid-19 is the business of plastic .
Single-use plastics are on the rise again , as supermarket chains and local governments take steps to avoid contamination via the sharing and re-use of objects .
Plastic industry lobbies are meanwhile taking advantage of contagion fears and pressuring governments to ease bans .
That 's despite limited evidence single-use plastics are safer than other materials .
Finally , one of the least expected outcomes of the pandemic has been the widespread toilet paper shortage .
Toilet paper stocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in panic buying because supermarkets do n't have room to keep large inventories .
If all else fails , there is an alternative .
One British company has seen sales of their reusable toilet roll surge .
Cheeky Wipes , as they are called , are one way to be sure you do n't get caught with your pants down .

As Covid-19 takes hold across the globe, and global demand for air travel falls 80 percent, the aviation industry is in freefall. The International Air Transport Association predicts half of all airlines will be bankrupt by June if governments don't step in with loans and bailouts. Climate campaigners, however, believe the pause in flying is an opportunity to build a cleaner air transport system.
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Magdalena Heuwieser is a climateactivist and co-founder of the Stay Grounded Network. The group's current campaign #SavePeopleNotPlanes asks that any financial aid come with conditions.
Heuwieser told FRANCE 24: "Airlines must agree to finally pay their fair share of taxes. Right now, airlines don't pay fuel tax and there is no VAT on plane tickets. We also demand to stop air miles programmes which incentivise frequent flying."
There is some hope the Covid-19 outbreak could lead to long-term changes in flying behaviour. With business trips cancelled, people are learning to communicate using video conference technology, raising the question of whether staff need to fly as frequently in the future.
Single-use plastic on the rise again
Meanwhile, one industry that's been less affected by Covid-19 is the business of plastic. Single-use plastics are on the rise again, as supermarket chains and local governments take steps to avoid contamination via the sharing and re-use of objects.
Plastic industry lobbies are meanwhile taking advantage of contagion fears and pressuring governments to ease bans. That's despite limited evidence single-use plastics are safer than other materials.
Reusable toilet roll
Finally, one of the least expected outcomes of the pandemic has been the widespread toilet paper shortage. Toilet paper stocks are particularly at risk when people engage in panic buying because supermarkets don't have room to keep large inventories.
If all else fails, there is an alternative. One British company has seen sales of their reusable toilet roll surge. Cheeky Wipes, as they are called, are one way to be sure you don't get caught with your pants down.
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france24--2020-04-20--Burkina Faso security forces ‘kill dozens of unarmed civilians’, says HRW

Burkina Faso ’ s security forces allegedly executed 31 unarmed detainees in the northern town of Djibo , Human Rights Watch said Monday , calling for an immediate investigation .
The men , all from the Fulani ethnic group , were allegedly killed just hours after being arrested on April 9 during a government counterterrorism operation , the New York-based rights group said .
The incident took place in Djibo , about 200 kilometres ( 120 miles ) north of the capital Ouagadougou .
It made “ a brutal mockery of a counterterrorism operation that may amount to a war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Corinne Dufka , the HRW ’ s director for the Sahel region .
HRW interviewed 17 people over the killings , including 12 witnesses to the arrests and later burial of the victims , the statement said .
Local people speculated that the Fulani had been targeted because of the recent presence of some armed Islamists around Djibo .
They said scores of security force personnel were involved in the operation , which lasted several hours , HRW said .
The victims were taken away in a convoy of about 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armoured car and motorcycles , it said .
After hearing gunfire , local people found the bodies of 31 men , last seen in the custody of the security forces , said HRW .
Several had had their eyes or hands bound .
None of the witnesses saw any of the arrested men with a firearm .
Burkina Faso , one of the world ’ s poorest countries , has battled a jihadist insurgency since 2015 .
The conflict has provoked attacks on Fulani herders whom other communities accuse of supporting militants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Burkinabe government but their statement did not include any response from the authorities .

Burkina Faso’s security forces allegedly executed 31 unarmed detainees in the northern town of Djibo, Human Rights Watch said Monday, calling for an immediate investigation.
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The men, all from the Fulani ethnic group, were allegedly killed just hours after being arrested on April 9 during a government counterterrorism operation, the New York-based rights group said.
The incident took place in Djibo, about 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of the capital Ouagadougou.
It made “a brutal mockery of a counterterrorism operation that may amount to a war crime and could fuel further atrocities”, said Corinne Dufka, the HRW’s director for the Sahel region.
HRW interviewed 17 people over the killings, including 12 witnesses to the arrests and later burial of the victims, the statement said.
Local people speculated that the Fulani had been targeted because of the recent presence of some armed Islamists around Djibo.
They said scores of security force personnel were involved in the operation, which lasted several hours, HRW said.
The victims were taken away in a convoy of about 10 military vehicles including pickup trucks, an armoured car and motorcycles, it said.
After hearing gunfire, local people found the bodies of 31 men, last seen in the custody of the security forces, said HRW. Several had had their eyes or hands bound.
None of the witnesses saw any of the arrested men with a firearm.
Burkina Faso, one of the world’s poorest countries, has battled a jihadist insurgency since 2015. The conflict has provoked attacks on Fulani herders whom other communities accuse of supporting militants.
HRW said it had sent its findings to the Burkinabe government but their statement did not include any response from the authorities.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-20--Mali election runoff tarnished by intimidation and allegations of vote rigging

Men in Mali look for their names on a voters list ahead of casting their ballots in the parliamentary elections in Bamako , Mali , 29 March 2020 .
Acts of intimidation and allegations of vote buying marred the final round of legislative elections in Mali on Sunday aimed at reviving confidence in embattled institutions despite a bloody jihadist conflict and a virus pandemic .
In central Mali , the president of a voting station was forcibly removed and representatives of the electoral commission `` chased away by armed men '' , one of the representatives told AFP .
Elsewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attack voters , witnesses said .
Already on Saturday , unknown assailants had destroyed voting equipment in northern Mali .
And on Sunday , observer umbrella group Synergie said there had been many incidents of vote buying at several voting stations .
The first provisional results are to be announced at the start of the week .
The election had been repeatedly delayed , and the first round on March 29 was disrupted by jihadist attacks as well as the kidnapping of opposition leader Soumaila Cisse .
`` I voted .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We need new MPs to consolidate our democracy , '' Moussa Diakite , a 23-year-old student , told AFP .
Another student , Hamchetou Toure , said she wore a face mask and observed social distancing rules as she voted in the semi-desert country , which has so far recorded 216 cases of the virus including 13 deaths .
Among the measures taken by the government are a night-time curfew , school closures and restrictions on some activities -- but people still filled markets , mosques and public transport .
The Synergie said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 96 percent of polling stations that it visited across the former French colony .
It said poll workers wore masks in over 87 percent of the stations visited .
Mali , one of the world 's poorest countries , is struggling with an Islamist revolt that has claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes .
Sunday 's runoff in the West African nation of 19 million people is for 147 seats in the National Assembly .
Voting took place in the capital as well as the troubled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the north , according to residents .
It was the country 's first parliamentary poll since 2013 when President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita 's Rally for Mali party won a big majority .
Turnout in the first round averaged over 35 percent nationwide but was less than 13 percent in the capital Bamako .
On Sunday 's second-round vote , turnout was 23.2 percent , according to Synergie , which had dispatched election observers .
The election had been meant to take place in late 2018 after Keita was returned to office but was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security concerns .
A `` national dialogue '' staged last year to discuss Mali 's spiral of violence called for the ballot to be completed by May .
The hope is that the new MPs will endorse changes to the constitution that will promote decentralisation .
That is the key to pushing ahead with the government 's plans for peace .
It signed a deal with armed separatists in northern Mali in 2015 but the pact has largely stalled .
Violence in that region began in 2012 and was then fanned by jihadists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops , the jihadists took their campaign into the centre of the country and now threaten neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger .
Mali 's conflict zones and poor healthcare infrastructure place it in the category of countries that health experts say are at high risk of coronavirus .
Keita , addressing the nation wearing a face mask , said `` every health and security '' precaution would be `` rigorously applied '' during Sunday 's vote .

Acts of intimidation and allegations of vote buying marred the final round of legislative elections in Mali on Sunday aimed at reviving confidence in embattled institutions despite a bloody jihadist conflict and a virus pandemic.
Men in Mali look for their names on a voters list ahead of casting their ballots in the parliamentary elections in Bamako, Mali, 29 March 2020.
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In central Mali, the president of a voting station was forcibly removed and representatives of the electoral commission "chased away by armed men", one of the representatives told AFP.
Military sources confirmed the incident.
Elsewhere, voting was cancelled after jihadists threatened to attack voters, witnesses said.
Already on Saturday, unknown assailants had destroyed voting equipment in northern Mali.
And on Sunday, observer umbrella group Synergie said there had been many incidents of vote buying at several voting stations.
The first provisional results are to be announced at the start of the week.
The election had been repeatedly delayed, and the first round on March 29 was disrupted by jihadist attacks as well as the kidnapping of opposition leader Soumaila Cisse.
'Consolidate our democracy'
"I voted. It is important despite the economic situation. We need new MPs to consolidate our democracy," Moussa Diakite, a 23-year-old student, told AFP.
Another student, Hamchetou Toure, said she wore a face mask and observed social distancing rules as she voted in the semi-desert country, which has so far recorded 216 cases of the virus including 13 deaths.
Among the measures taken by the government are a night-time curfew, school closures and restrictions on some activities -- but people still filled markets, mosques and public transport.
The Synergie said anti-virus protection kits had been distributed to over 96 percent of polling stations that it visited across the former French colony.
It said poll workers wore masks in over 87 percent of the stations visited.
Mali, one of the world's poorest countries, is struggling with an Islamist revolt that has claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.
Sunday's runoff in the West African nation of 19 million people is for 147 seats in the National Assembly.
Voting took place in the capital as well as the troubled central town of Mopti and Gao in the north, according to residents.
Delays
It was the country's first parliamentary poll since 2013 when President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's Rally for Mali party won a big majority.
Turnout in the first round averaged over 35 percent nationwide but was less than 13 percent in the capital Bamako.
On Sunday's second-round vote, turnout was 23.2 percent, according to Synergie, which had dispatched election observers.
The election had been meant to take place in late 2018 after Keita was returned to office but was postponed several times, mainly because of security concerns.
A "national dialogue" staged last year to discuss Mali's spiral of violence called for the ballot to be completed by May.
The hope is that the new MPs will endorse changes to the constitution that will promote decentralisation.
That is the key to pushing ahead with the government's plans for peace. It signed a deal with armed separatists in northern Mali in 2015 but the pact has largely stalled.
Violence in that region began in 2012 and was then fanned by jihadists.
Defying thousands of French and UN troops, the jihadists took their campaign into the centre of the country and now threaten neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
Mali's conflict zones and poor healthcare infrastructure place it in the category of countries that health experts say are at high risk of coronavirus.
Keita, addressing the nation wearing a face mask, said "every health and security" precaution would be "rigorously applied" during Sunday's vote.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-20--'Armed bandits' kill dozens of villagers in northwest Nigeria, say police

Gunmen killed 47 people in attacks on villages in the northwestern Nigerian state of Katsina in the early hours of Saturday , local police said .
`` Armed bandits '' , some of whom wielded AK 47 guns , carried out the attacks , Katsina police said in a statement on Sunday .
Hundreds of people have been killed in the last year by criminal gangs carrying out robberies and kidnappings in northwest Nigeria .
Such attacks have added to security challenges in Africa 's most populous country , which is already struggling to contain Islamist insurgencies in the northeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central states .
Gunmen , some with AK 47 guns , carried out the attacks in three local government authorities in the state in the early hours of Saturday between 12:30 a.m. ( 2330 GMT ) and around 3 a.m. , Katsina police said in its statement .
`` There was reports of organised and simultaneous attacks in villages in Danmusa , Dutsenma and Safana by groups of armed bandits , '' the statement said of some of the attacks .
`` Detachments of Police , Nigerian Army , Nigeria Airforce , Civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services ) have been drafted to the area , '' it added .
President Muhammadu Buhari , in a statement , said he would not tolerate large scale killing of innocent people by criminal gangs .
`` In line with my commitment to security of the people , these attacks will be met with decisive force , '' said Buhari , who is from Katsina .

Gunmen killed 47 people in attacks on villages in the northwestern Nigerian state of Katsina in the early hours of Saturday, local police said.
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"Armed bandits", some of whom wielded AK 47 guns, carried out the attacks, Katsina police said in a statement on Sunday.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the last year by criminal gangs carrying out robberies and kidnappings in northwest Nigeria.
Such attacks have added to security challenges in Africa's most populous country, which is already struggling to contain Islamist insurgencies in the northeast and communal violence over grazing rights in central states.
Gunmen, some with AK 47 guns, carried out the attacks in three local government authorities in the state in the early hours of Saturday between 12:30 a.m. (2330 GMT) and around 3 a.m., Katsina police said in its statement.
"There was reports of organised and simultaneous attacks in villages in Danmusa, Dutsenma and Safana by groups of armed bandits," the statement said of some of the attacks.
"Detachments of Police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Airforce, Civil Defence and DSS (Department of State Services) have been drafted to the area," it added.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement, said he would not tolerate large scale killing of innocent people by criminal gangs.
"In line with my commitment to security of the people, these attacks will be met with decisive force," said Buhari, who is from Katsina.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-20--Covid-19 deaths in France surpass 20,000 as hospitalisations continue to fall

A medical staff member , wearing a face mask , takes a break in an intensive care unit for coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) patients at the Clinique de l'Orangerie private hospital in Strasbourg , as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues , France April 17 , 2020 .
France has reported 547 deaths in hospitals and nursing homes from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours as the number of new hospitalisations continued a slow decline .
France – which on Monday became the fourth country to record more than 20,000 deaths as a result of the pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – has been in virtual lockdown for nearly five weeks and is due to start lifting some confinement measures from May 11 .
`` Tonight , our country has passed a barrier that is symbolic and particularly painful , '' top health official Jérôme Salomon told reporters , announcing a total death toll of 20,265 people while welcoming new falls in the numbers in hospital and intensive care .
The 547 new deaths reported – including 444 in hospital and 103 in nursing homes – marked an increase over the previous 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome signs that the virus curve had passed its peak .
He said 5,683 patients were receiving intensive care for the virus on Monday , down from a peak of 7,148 on April 8 .
Hospitalisations likewise continued a near week-long decline .
> > 'Devil 's dilemma ' : France lifts ban on nursing home visits as some warn against relaxing rules Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told a news conference on Sunday that falls in the number of people in intensive care were one of the encouraging signals that pressures on hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any expectations that the gradual exit from confinement in May , due to start with the reopening of schools , would allow people to move around or interact as before , especially as a vaccine against the virus was still far off .
`` It wo n't be a return to normal life , '' Philippe said , adding that as France introduces more testing , people with coronavirus would have to remain isolated at home or in hotels laid on by the government .
`` From May 11 , we will enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regain some of our freedoms . ''
The French state has given few details yet of the pace at which businesses like cinemas or bars will reopen , only saying that as some stores open up again , people will have to maintain safe distances from each other .
France will , however , lift its ban on visits to nursing home residents , provided people did not touch their relatives , Health Minister Olivier Véran told the same briefing .
Elderly people in nursing homes account for nearly 40 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ > How long will social distancing last ?
The government has come under fire in recent weeks after shortages of medicines , hospital equipment such as ventilators and face masks for doctors as well as front line workers in sectors like supermarkets added to problems in handling the crisis .
Philippe said that in the past week France had managed to import just under 81 million masks , exceeding for the first time `` in a long time '' its weekly needs of about 45 million .
By June , France will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for resuscitation units in hospitals and another 15,000 less heavy-duty versions - helping it exceed its projected needs .
`` That will not only allow us to secure our situation , but thereafter to also mobilise some ventilators to help France 's allies internationally , '' Philippe said .

France has reported 547 deaths in hospitals and nursing homes from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours as the number of new hospitalisations continued a slow decline.
A medical staff member, wearing a face mask, takes a break in an intensive care unit for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients at the Clinique de l'Orangerie private hospital in Strasbourg, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues, France April 17, 2020.
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France – which on Monday became the fourth country to record more than 20,000 deaths as a result of the pandemic and has the fourth-highest toll in the world – has been in virtual lockdown for nearly five weeks and is due to start lifting some confinement measures from May 11.
"Tonight, our country has passed a barrier that is symbolic and particularly painful," top health official Jérôme Salomon told reporters, announcing a total death toll of 20,265 people while welcoming new falls in the numbers in hospital and intensive care.
The 547 new deaths reported – including 444 in hospital and 103 in nursing homes – marked an increase over the previous 24 hours.
Salomon, however, highlighted other welcome signs that the virus curve had passed its peak. He said 5,683 patients were receiving intensive care for the virus on Monday, down from a peak of 7,148 on April 8. Hospitalisations likewise continued a near week-long decline.
>>'Devil's dilemma': France lifts ban on nursing home visits as some warn against relaxing rules
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told a news conference on Sunday that falls in the number of people in intensive care were one of the encouraging signals that pressures on hospitals were easing.
But he shut down any expectations that the gradual exit from confinement in May, due to start with the reopening of schools, would allow people to move around or interact as before, especially as a vaccine against the virus was still far off.
>> Coronavirus crisis throws a lifeline to Macron’s troubled presidency
"It won't be a return to normal life," Philippe said, adding that as France introduces more testing, people with coronavirus would have to remain isolated at home or in hotels laid on by the government. "From May 11, we will enter a second phase, when we will regain some of our freedoms."
The French state has given few details yet of the pace at which businesses like cinemas or bars will reopen, only saying that as some stores open up again, people will have to maintain safe distances from each other.
France will, however, lift its ban on visits to nursing home residents, provided people did not touch their relatives, Health Minister Olivier Véran told the same briefing. Elderly people in nursing homes account for nearly 40% of the coronavirus fatalities in the country.
>> How long will social distancing last?
The government has come under fire in recent weeks after shortages of medicines, hospital equipment such as ventilators and face masks for doctors as well as front line workers in sectors like supermarkets added to problems in handling the crisis.
Philippe said that in the past week France had managed to import just under 81 million masks, exceeding for the first time "in a long time" its weekly needs of about 45 million.
By June, France will also have secured and produced 15,000 more ventilators for resuscitation units in hospitals and another 15,000 less heavy-duty versions - helping it exceed its projected needs.
"That will not only allow us to secure our situation, but thereafter to also mobilise some ventilators to help France's allies internationally," Philippe said.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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france24--2020-04-20--‘Devil’s dilemma’: France lifts ban on nursing home visits as some warn against relaxing rules

France 's care homes for the elderly account for more than a third of all Covid-19 fatalities .
France began lifting its coronavirus ban on family visits to nursing homes on Monday as other European countries grappling with the coronavirus pandemic also try to balance safety concerns with compassion .
After more than a month in seclusion , France ’ s 7,000 care homes for the elderly were told they could resume visits from family members starting on Monday but under strict conditions to ensure the safety of their residents .
With the elderly particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the government is hoping even visual contact will provide “ solace ” to both isolated residents and their anguished relatives .
The decision comes days after President Emmanuel Macron ordered an exception to one of the world 's strictest lockdowns , asking his government to ensure families are allowed `` to see the sick at the end of their lives , to be able to bid them adieu ” .
Around the world , the elderly make up a disproportionate share of victims of the novel coronavirus , a highly infectious virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care homes into ticking time bombs .
Nursing home deaths account for more than a third of France ’ s total 19,000 coronavirus deaths – figures the government now documents meticulously after weeks of pressure .
Just under half of the country ’ s care homes have been affected , with more than 15,000 confirmed cases among patients and 8,900 among staff between March 1 and April 14 .
To protect the elderly , care homes have been operating in a vacuum for more than a month now , their residents isolated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that confinement can take a different kind of toll .
Assistant nurse Sophie Marconet said weeks of solitary confinement were weighing heavily on the morale of residents at her Alsatian care home in hard-hit eastern France , where isolation was enforced in early March – a week before the rest of France .
“ They ’ re lonely and depressed .
In somes cases a ‘ sliding syndrome ’ ( a rapid deterioration of one ’ s health ) has kicked in , ” she told FRANCE 24 .
“ Many don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in forced isolation , why they eat alone in their rooms , and why nobody comes to see them.
” Marcenat and her colleagues organise Skype sessions with the families whenever possible .
They also answer regular phone calls from anguished relatives eager for news .
But there is only so much companionship they can provide .
The lockdown has put an end to communal meals in the dining room and every other form of social life .
Marc Bourquin of France ’ s Hospital Federation , which oversees public nursing homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have visitors , especially if coronavirus-related restrictions remain in place for months .
“ When workers see that a person is losing the taste for life because they can ’ t see their families , we have to find a progressive way to allow a minimum of contact , ” Bourquin told The Associated Press .
“ The risk of virus will not disappear as long as there is no vaccine .
We can not condemn these people to never see their loved ones again.
” > > Covid-19 in France ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the difference ’ Experts have argued that contact is equally essential for families , particularly when they face the prospect of losing a loved one .
In an interview with France Inter radio last week , psychiatrist Serge Hefez stressed the importance of being able to be with loved ones at their time of death .
Hefez himself lost his mother while she was in lockdown in a nursing home .
“ All the dignity our loved ones have at the end of their lives is when we are with them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay close to them during this passage from life to death ; but many are being deprived of this , ” he explained .
“ We are losing our humanity and entering a kind of barbarity with an over-protective hygiene system even though death is part of the rhythm of life.
” Pascal Champvert , the head of AD-PA , France 's main association representing care home directors , has argued in favour of easing restrictions on family visits , noting that the psychological health of many residents has deteriorated sharply after weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a balance between the physical and psychological safety of our residents , '' he told French daily La Croix .
`` Even as we continue to protect them as far as possible from Covid-19 , we believe it is urgent that they be able to re-establish links with their families . ''
As of Monday afternoon , none of the care homes contacted by FRANCE 24 had resumed family visits , with staff members suggesting the logistics were still being discussed .
Announcing the new measures a day earlier , Health Minister Olivier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two family members per resident , and would only begin once safety measures were in place .
Véran assured the public that the country ’ s care homes had finally received the necessary protective gear after weeks of desperate shortages .
At her care home in Alsace , Marcenat confirmed that masks and gloves were more readily available , although gowns were still lacking .
But she was sceptical that family visits could resume without endangering those in her care .
“ I think it ’ s too early to start visits again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the families and of course our residents , ” she said .
“ It ’ s too early for comfort.
” > > As coronavirus creeps into French care homes , a 'tsunami ' of deaths goes uncounted Sophie Santandrea , of private French nursing home group Synerpa , was equally cautious about allowing visits .
“ It will depend on the protocols that are put in place , and whether they are very clear and sufficient ” to protect everyone from exposure to the virus from visitors , Santandrea told AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the world ’ s oldest population , have been grappling with the same ethical quandary – one that Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge has described as a “ devil ’ s dilemma ” .
Germany , which has fared better than most so far , allows nursing home patients to receive one visitor for up to one hour a day , and doesn ’ t restrict visits to palliative care facilities for those nearing the end .
Other countries are making tentative steps in that director , while meeting stiff resistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of personal protective equipment , or PPE , has been particularly acute , health workers have warned against relaxing rules to ease the pain of families .
“ As of this moment , I am very worried that we don ’ t have enough PPE for staff to protect themselves , let alone facilitate giving it to relatives to be able to see their loved ones during the end-of-life care , ” Donna Kinnair , chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing , told AP .
There was similar opposition last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow one healthy visitor for each nursing home resident , with Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes warning that people “ can die of loneliness ” .
The government ’ s decision stirred a whirlwind of criticism amid cries it would endanger lives , overburden the staff and divert the already short supplies of protective equipment away from doctors and nurses .
The plan has already been repealed in most of the regions that make up the Belgian federation .
Ursula von der Leyen , the EU Commission president , has been unequivocal on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the elderly must be restricted as much as possible ” .
“ I realise it is difficult and that loneliness weighs heavy , ” she said .
“ But it ’ s about survival . ''

France began lifting its coronavirus ban on family visits to nursing homes on Monday as other European countries grappling with the coronavirus pandemic also try to balance safety concerns with compassion.
France's care homes for the elderly account for more than a third of all Covid-19 fatalities.
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After more than a month in seclusion, France’s 7,000 care homes for the elderly were told they could resume visits from family members starting on Monday but under strict conditions to ensure the safety of their residents.
With the elderly particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, all physical contact will remain strictly barred. But the government is hoping even visual contact will provide “solace” to both isolated residents and their anguished relatives.
The decision comes days after President Emmanuel Macron ordered an exception to one of the world's strictest lockdowns, asking his government to ensure families are allowed "to see the sick at the end of their lives, to be able to bid them adieu”.
Around the world, the elderly make up a disproportionate share of victims of the novel coronavirus, a highly infectious virus that has turned France’s state-funded care homes into ticking time bombs.
Nursing home deaths account for more than a third of France’s total 19,000 coronavirus deaths – figures the government now documents meticulously after weeks of pressure. Just under half of the country’s care homes have been affected, with more than 15,000 confirmed cases among patients and 8,900 among staff between March 1 and April 14.
‘Lonely and depressed’
To protect the elderly, care homes have been operating in a vacuum for more than a month now, their residents isolated in their rooms. But experts have warned that confinement can take a different kind of toll.
A resident of a care home in Brittany, pictured on March 4, 2020. © Loïc Venance, AFP
Assistant nurse Sophie Marconet said weeks of solitary confinement were weighing heavily on the morale of residents at her Alsatian care home in hard-hit eastern France, where isolation was enforced in early March – a week before the rest of France.
“They’re lonely and depressed. In somes cases a ‘sliding syndrome’ (a rapid deterioration of one’s health) has kicked in,” she told FRANCE 24. “Many don’t understand why they are being kept in forced isolation, why they eat alone in their rooms, and why nobody comes to see them.”
Marcenat and her colleagues organise Skype sessions with the families whenever possible. They also answer regular phone calls from anguished relatives eager for news. But there is only so much companionship they can provide. The lockdown has put an end to communal meals in the dining room and every other form of social life.
Marc Bourquin of France’s Hospital Federation, which oversees public nursing homes, said it was necessary for residents to have visitors, especially if coronavirus-related restrictions remain in place for months.
“When workers see that a person is losing the taste for life because they can’t see their families, we have to find a progressive way to allow a minimum of contact,” Bourquin told The Associated Press. “The risk of virus will not disappear as long as there is no vaccine. We cannot condemn these people to never see their loved ones again.”
>> Covid-19 in France’s nursing homes: ‘Saying goodbye makes all the difference’
Experts have argued that contact is equally essential for families, particularly when they face the prospect of losing a loved one. In an interview with France Inter radio last week, psychiatrist Serge Hefez stressed the importance of being able to be with loved ones at their time of death. Hefez himself lost his mother while she was in lockdown in a nursing home.
“All the dignity our loved ones have at the end of their lives is when we are with them, hold their hand, reassure them, stay close to them during this passage from life to death; but many are being deprived of this,” he explained. “We are losing our humanity and entering a kind of barbarity with an over-protective hygiene system even though death is part of the rhythm of life.”
Balancing physical and psychological health
Pascal Champvert, the head of AD-PA, France's main association representing care home directors, has argued in favour of easing restrictions on family visits, noting that the psychological health of many residents has deteriorated sharply after weeks of isolation.
"We must find a balance between the physical and psychological safety of our residents," he told French daily La Croix. "Even as we continue to protect them as far as possible from Covid-19, we believe it is urgent that they be able to re-establish links with their families."
As of Monday afternoon, none of the care homes contacted by FRANCE 24 had resumed family visits, with staff members suggesting the logistics were still being discussed.
Announcing the new measures a day earlier, Health Minister Olivier Véran said visits would be limited to two family members per resident, and would only begin once safety measures were in place.
Véran assured the public that the country’s care homes had finally received the necessary protective gear after weeks of desperate shortages.
At her care home in Alsace, Marcenat confirmed that masks and gloves were more readily available, although gowns were still lacking. But she was sceptical that family visits could resume without endangering those in her care.
“I think it’s too early to start visits again, despite the sadness and anguish voiced by the families and of course our residents,” she said. “It’s too early for comfort.”
>> As coronavirus creeps into French care homes, a 'tsunami' of deaths goes uncounted
Sophie Santandrea, of private French nursing home group Synerpa, was equally cautious about allowing visits.
“It will depend on the protocols that are put in place, and whether they are very clear and sufficient” to protect everyone from exposure to the virus from visitors, Santandrea told AP.
‘It's about survival’
Other countries in Europe, home to the world’s oldest population, have been grappling with the same ethical quandary – one that Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge has described as a “devil’s dilemma”.
Germany, which has fared better than most so far, allows nursing home patients to receive one visitor for up to one hour a day, and doesn’t restrict visits to palliative care facilities for those nearing the end. Other countries are making tentative steps in that director, while meeting stiff resistance.
Health workers at care homes across France have volunteered to go into lockdown with patients infected with Covid-19. © Stéphane de Sakutin, AFP
In Britain, where the shortage of personal protective equipment, or PPE, has been particularly acute, health workers have warned against relaxing rules to ease the pain of families.
“As of this moment, I am very worried that we don’t have enough PPE for staff to protect themselves, let alone facilitate giving it to relatives to be able to see their loved ones during the end-of-life care,” Donna Kinnair, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, told AP.
There was similar opposition last week when Belgium’s government said it would allow one healthy visitor for each nursing home resident, with Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes warning that people “can die of loneliness”.
The government’s decision stirred a whirlwind of criticism amid cries it would endanger lives, overburden the staff and divert the already short supplies of protective equipment away from doctors and nurses. The plan has already been repealed in most of the regions that make up the Belgian federation.
Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission president, has been unequivocal on the subject, warning that “contacts with the elderly must be restricted as much as possible”.
“I realise it is difficult and that loneliness weighs heavy,” she said. “But it’s about survival."
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france24--2020-04-20--Trump to host NY Governor Cuomo at White House after spat over supplies

U.S. President Donald Trump watches a clip from MSNBC of New York governor Andrew Cuomo speaking at Cuomo 's daily briefing , during the daily coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) task force briefing at the White House in Washington , U.S. , April 19 , 2020 .
US President Donald Trump announced Monday that he would welcome New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , who has spearheaded the response to his state 's coronavirus outbreaks , to the White House on Tuesday .
`` He is coming to the Oval Office tomorrow afternoon , '' Trump told reporters .
New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic , and more than a third of the 41,000 deaths nationwide have come from the state .
Trump has been both praiseworthy and critical of Cuomo 's response to the crisis .
`` They 're getting it together in New York , a lot of good things are happening in New York , '' Trump said Monday , after the state recorded a drop in new hospitalisations and deaths .
`` We are there to stand with the governors and to help the governors and that 's what we 're doing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo on Twitter , saying the governor has been calling the White house `` begging '' for help with equipment and funds .
`` Governor Cuomo should spend more time 'doing ' and less time 'complaining ' .
Get out there and get the job done .
Stop talking ! ''
the president tweeted .
Cuomo himself has alternately clashed and coordinated with Trump on handling the crisis .
On Friday , in comments that likely prompted Trump tirade , Cuomo launched a blistering attack on the president , accusing him of washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost coronavirus testing which Cuomo said is critical to do before opening up the economy .
`` Is there any funding so I can do these things that you want us to do ?
No , '' Cuomo told a daily briefing .
`` That is passing the buck without passing the bucks . ''
But Cuomo has also lauded the president when he believed he has been supportive on issues such as building up hospital bed capacity and ventilators .

US President Donald Trump announced Monday that he would welcome New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has spearheaded the response to his state's coronavirus outbreaks, to the White House on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump watches a clip from MSNBC of New York governor Andrew Cuomo speaking at Cuomo's daily briefing, during the daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 19, 2020.
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"He is coming to the Oval Office tomorrow afternoon," Trump told reporters.
New York is the epicentre of the US coronavirus epidemic, and more than a third of the 41,000 deaths nationwide have come from the state.
Trump has been both praiseworthy and critical of Cuomo's response to the crisis.
"They're getting it together in New York, a lot of good things are happening in New York," Trump said Monday, after the state recorded a drop in new hospitalisations and deaths.
"We are there to stand with the governors and to help the governors and that's what we're doing."
01:46
As recently as Friday Trump savaged Cuomo on Twitter, saying the governor has been calling the White house "begging" for help with equipment and funds.
"Governor Cuomo should spend more time 'doing' and less time 'complaining'. Get out there and get the job done. Stop talking!" the president tweeted.
Cuomo himself has alternately clashed and coordinated with Trump on handling the crisis.
On Friday, in comments that likely prompted Trump tirade, Cuomo launched a blistering attack on the president, accusing him of washing his hands of leading the campaign to boost coronavirus testing which Cuomo said is critical to do before opening up the economy.
"Is there any funding so I can do these things that you want us to do? No," Cuomo told a daily briefing. "That is passing the buck without passing the bucks."
But Cuomo has also lauded the president when he believed he has been supportive on issues such as building up hospital bed capacity and ventilators.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-20--Oil prices close below zero in unprecedented collapse

Oil futures plunged below zero on Monday , the latest never-before-seen number to come out of the economic coma caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
Stocks and Treasury yields also dropped on Wall Street , with the S & P 500 down 1.8 % , but the market ’ s most dramatic action by far was in oil , where the cost to have a barrel of US crude delivered in May plummeted to negative $ 37.63 .
It was at roughly $ 60 at the start of the year .
Traders are still paying $ 20.43 for a barrel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , which analysts consider to be closer to the “ true ” price of oil .
Crude to be delivered next month , meanwhile , is running up against a stark problem : traders are running out of places to keep it , with storage tanks close to full amid a collapse in demand as factories , automobiles and airplanes sit idle around the world .
Tanks at a key energy hub in Oklahoma could hit their limits within three weeks , according to Chris Midgley , head of analytics at S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , traders are willing to pay others to take that oil for delivery in May off their hands , so long as they also take the burden of figuring out where to keep it .
“ Almost by definition , crude oil has never fallen more than 100 % , which is what happened today , ” said Dave Ernsberger , global head of pricing and market insight at S & P Global Platts .
“ I don ’ t think any of us can really believe what we saw today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rewrites the economics of oil trading.
” Also exacerbating the volatility is that few traders are buying and selling US oil to be delivered in May .
They won ’ t even have the opportunity to do so after Tuesday , when trading contracts for it expire and the earliest delivery they ’ ll be able to buy is for June .
Brent crude , the international standard , fell nearly 9 % to $ 25.57 per barrel .
The plunge in oil sent energy stocks in the S & P 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest in a dismal 2020 that has caused their prices to nearly halve .
Halliburton lurched between gains and sharp losses , even though it reported stronger results for the first three months of 2020 than analysts expected .
The oilfield engineering company said that the pandemic has created so much turmoil in the industry that it “ can not reasonably estimate ” how long the hit will last .
It expects a further decline in revenue and profitability for the rest of 2020 , particularly in North America .
The S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 592.05 points , or 2.4 % , to 23,650.44 , and the Nasdaq dropped 89.41 , or 1 % , to 8,560.73 .
The losses ate into some of the big gains indexes have made since late March , driven lately by investors anticipating the potential reopening of businesses as infections level off in hard-hit areas .
Pessimists have called the rally overdone , pointing to the severe economic pain sweeping the world and continued uncertainty about how long it will last .
“ The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of encouraging people to get out and do stuff , ” said Willie Delwiche , investment strategist at Baird .
“ Whether or not broad swaths of society do that remains to be seen .
It ’ s going to take seeing people start to get out and do stuff again .
That will be the necessary positive development , not just declaring getting things open.
” More gains from companies that are winners in the new stay-at-home economy helped limit the market ’ s losses .
Netflix jumped 3.4 % to set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home look to fill their time .
Amazon added 0.8 % .
In Asia , Tokyo ’ s Nikkei 225 fell 1.1 % .
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong lost 0.2 % , and South Korea ’ s Kospi fell 0.8 % .
European markets were modestly higher .
The German DAX was up 0.5 % , the French CAC 40 was up 0.7 % and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.7 % .
In a sign of continued caution in the market , Treasury yields remained extremely low .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 0.62 % from 0.65 % late Friday .
Stocks have been on a general upward swing recently , and the S & P 500 just closed out its first back-to-back weekly gain since the market began selling off in February .
Promises of massive aid for the economy and markets by the Federal Reserve and US government ignited the rally , which sent the S & P 500 up as much as 28.5 % from a low on March 23 .
More recently , countries around the world have tentatively eased up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the spread of the virus .
But health experts warn the pandemic is far from over and new flareups could ignite if governments rush to allow “ normal ” life to return prematurely .
The S & P 500 remains nearly 17 % below its record high as millions more US workers file for unemployment every week amid the shutdowns .
Many analysts also warn that some of the the recent rally for stocks is due to expectations the economy will pivot quickly and rebound sharply once economic quarantines are lifted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There ’ s still uncertainty surrounding the reopening of the economy , ” said Julian Emanuel , chief equity and derivatives strategist at BTIG .
“ Come fall , are we going to be back on airplanes ?
Are we going to go out and eat ?
”

Oil futures plunged below zero on Monday, the latest never-before-seen number to come out of the economic coma caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Stocks and Treasury yields also dropped on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 down 1.8%, but the market’s most dramatic action by far was in oil, where the cost to have a barrel of US crude delivered in May plummeted to negative $37.63. It was at roughly $60 at the start of the year.
Traders are still paying $20.43 for a barrel of US oil to be delivered in June, which analysts consider to be closer to the “true” price of oil. Crude to be delivered next month, meanwhile, is running up against a stark problem: traders are running out of places to keep it, with storage tanks close to full amid a collapse in demand as factories, automobiles and airplanes sit idle around the world.
Tanks at a key energy hub in Oklahoma could hit their limits within three weeks, according to Chris Midgley, head of analytics at S&P Global Platts. Because of that, traders are willing to pay others to take that oil for delivery in May off their hands, so long as they also take the burden of figuring out where to keep it.
“Almost by definition, crude oil has never fallen more than 100%, which is what happened today,” said Dave Ernsberger, global head of pricing and market insight at S&P Global Platts.
“I don’t think any of us can really believe what we saw today,” he said. “This kind of rewrites the economics of oil trading.”
Also exacerbating the volatility is that few traders are buying and selling US oil to be delivered in May. They won’t even have the opportunity to do so after Tuesday, when trading contracts for it expire and the earliest delivery they’ll be able to buy is for June.
Brent crude, the international standard, fell nearly 9% to $25.57 per barrel.
02:35
A dismal 2020
The plunge in oil sent energy stocks in the S&P 500 to a 3.7% loss, the latest in a dismal 2020 that has caused their prices to nearly halve.
Halliburton lurched between gains and sharp losses, even though it reported stronger results for the first three months of 2020 than analysts expected. The oilfield engineering company said that the pandemic has created so much turmoil in the industry that it “cannot reasonably estimate” how long the hit will last. It expects a further decline in revenue and profitability for the rest of 2020, particularly in North America.
The S&P 500 fell 51.40 points to 2,823.16. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 592.05 points, or 2.4%, to 23,650.44, and the Nasdaq dropped 89.41, or 1%, to 8,560.73.
The losses ate into some of the big gains indexes have made since late March, driven lately by investors anticipating the potential reopening of businesses as infections level off in hard-hit areas. Pessimists have called the rally overdone, pointing to the severe economic pain sweeping the world and continued uncertainty about how long it will last.
“The government can declare whatever they want in terms of encouraging people to get out and do stuff,” said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Baird. “Whether or not broad swaths of society do that remains to be seen. It’s going to take seeing people start to get out and do stuff again. That will be the necessary positive development, not just declaring getting things open.”
New stay-at-home economy
More gains from companies that are winners in the new stay-at-home economy helped limit the market’s losses. Netflix jumped 3.4% to set another record as people shut in at home look to fill their time. Amazon added 0.8%.
In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.1%. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong lost 0.2%, and South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.8%.
European markets were modestly higher. The German DAX was up 0.5%, the French CAC 40 was up 0.7% and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.7%.
In a sign of continued caution in the market, Treasury yields remained extremely low. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 0.62% from 0.65% late Friday.
Stocks have been on a general upward swing recently, and the S&P 500 just closed out its first back-to-back weekly gain since the market began selling off in February. Promises of massive aid for the economy and markets by the Federal Reserve and US government ignited the rally, which sent the S&P 500 up as much as 28.5% from a low on March 23.
More recently, countries around the world have tentatively eased up on business-shutdown restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the virus.
But health experts warn the pandemic is far from over and new flareups could ignite if governments rush to allow “normal” life to return prematurely. The S&P 500 remains nearly 17% below its record high as millions more US workers file for unemployment every week amid the shutdowns.
Many analysts also warn that some of the the recent rally for stocks is due to expectations the economy will pivot quickly and rebound sharply once economic quarantines are lifted. Those could prove to be too optimistic.
“There’s still uncertainty surrounding the reopening of the economy,” said Julian Emanuel, chief equity and derivatives strategist at BTIG. “Come fall, are we going to be back on airplanes? Are we going to go out and eat?”
(AP)
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france24--2020-04-20--‘We don't hide anything’: WHO chief defends organization's handling of Covid-19

The World Health Organization insisted Monday that it sounded the alarm on the novel coronavirus right from the very start and had hidden nothing from Washington about the deadly pandemic .
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there were no secrets at the UN agency after being blasted by the United States for allegedly downplaying the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China .
`` We have been warning from day one that this is a devil that everyone should fight , '' Tedros told a virtual briefing in Geneva .
The virus , which emerged late last year in the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected more than 2.4 million people globally and killed more than 165,000 , according to an AFP tally .
The United States has by far the highest death toll of any country , at more than 40,000 fatalities , and President Donald Trump has faced criticsm over his handling of the pandemic .
Washington is the biggest contributor to the WHO but Trump is freezing funding , alleging that the organisation mismanaged and covered up the spread the virus .
Tedros said the presence of embedded US government secondees working at the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being concealed from Washington .
The WHO said there were 15 staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , the US health protection agency , detailed specifically to work with the organisation on its COVID-19 response .
`` Having CDC staff means there is nothing hidden from the US , from day one .
Because these are Americans working with us .
It just comes naturally and they tell what they are doing , '' said Tedros .
`` WHO is open .
We do n't hide anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending messages , or others – we want all countries to get the same message immediately because that helps countries to prepare well and to prepare quickly . ''
The US State Department has said the WHO was too late in sounding the alarm over COVID-19 and is overly deferential to China .
It questioned why it did not pursue a lead from Taiwan flagged up on December 31 about reports of atypical pneumonia in Wuhan .
Debate has raged over the significance of Taiwan 's email , which informed the WHO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least seven patients being isolated – something that would not be necessary for a non-infectious disease .
The United States said Thursday it was `` deeply disturbed that Taiwan 's information was withheld from the global health community , as reflected in the WHO 's January 14 , 2020 statement that there was no indication of human-to-human transmission '' .
But Tedros insisted that the WHO was already aware of reports emanating from Wuhan – and said Taiwan 's email was only seeking further information .
`` One thing that has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not from Taiwan .
Many other countries were already asking for clarification .
The first report came from Wuhan , '' said Tedros .
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said the email made no reference to anything beyond what had already been reported in news media .
`` Clusters of atypical pneumonia are not uncommon .
There are millions of cases of atypical pneumonia around the world in any given year , '' he explained .
Ryan said that the WHO tweeted the existence of the event in Wuhan on January 4 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information on the epidemic '' which all countries could access .
Tedros also urged leaders not to exploit the pandemic for their own political capital .
`` Do n't use this virus as an opportunity to fight against each other or score political points , '' he said .
`` It 's like playing with fire .
It 's the political problem that may fuel further this pandemic . ''

The World Health Organization insisted Monday that it sounded the alarm on the novel coronavirus right from the very start and had hidden nothing from Washington about the deadly pandemic.
Advertising Read more
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there were no secrets at the UN agency after being blasted by the United States for allegedly downplaying the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China.
"We have been warning from day one that this is a devil that everyone should fight," Tedros told a virtual briefing in Geneva.
The virus, which emerged late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has so far infected more than 2.4 million people globally and killed more than 165,000, according to an AFP tally.
The United States has by far the highest death toll of any country, at more than 40,000 fatalities, and President Donald Trump has faced criticsm over his handling of the pandemic.
Washington is the biggest contributor to the WHO but Trump is freezing funding, alleging that the organisation mismanaged and covered up the spread the virus.
Tedros said the presence of embedded US government secondees working at the WHO headquarters in Geneva meant there was nothing being concealed from Washington.
The WHO said there were 15 staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US health protection agency, detailed specifically to work with the organisation on its COVID-19 response.
"Having CDC staff means there is nothing hidden from the US, from day one. Because these are Americans working with us. It just comes naturally and they tell what they are doing," said Tedros.
"WHO is open. We don't hide anything. Not only for CDC, them sending messages, or others – we want all countries to get the same message immediately because that helps countries to prepare well and to prepare quickly."
Taiwan row
The US State Department has said the WHO was too late in sounding the alarm over COVID-19 and is overly deferential to China.
It questioned why it did not pursue a lead from Taiwan flagged up on December 31 about reports of atypical pneumonia in Wuhan.
Debate has raged over the significance of Taiwan's email, which informed the WHO of the reports from Wuhan, and of at least seven patients being isolated – something that would not be necessary for a non-infectious disease.
The United States said Thursday it was "deeply disturbed that Taiwan's information was withheld from the global health community, as reflected in the WHO's January 14, 2020 statement that there was no indication of human-to-human transmission".
But Tedros insisted that the WHO was already aware of reports emanating from Wuhan – and said Taiwan's email was only seeking further information.
"One thing that has to be clear is the first email was not from Taiwan. Many other countries were already asking for clarification. The first report came from Wuhan," said Tedros.
"Taiwan didn't report any human-to-human transmission," he stressed.
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said the email made no reference to anything beyond what had already been reported in news media.
"Clusters of atypical pneumonia are not uncommon. There are millions of cases of atypical pneumonia around the world in any given year," he explained.
Ryan said that the WHO tweeted the existence of the event in Wuhan on January 4, and on January 5 provided "detailed information on the epidemic" which all countries could access.
Tedros also urged leaders not to exploit the pandemic for their own political capital.
"Don't use this virus as an opportunity to fight against each other or score political points," he said.
"It's like playing with fire. It's the political problem that may fuel further this pandemic."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-20--Israel’s Netanyahu and rival Gantz agree to form ‘emergency’ coalition government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ( left ) and his rival Benny Gantz are in talks to form a possible unity government Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival on Monday signed an agreement to form an “ emergency ” coalition government , their parties announced in a joint statement .
The deal between Netanyahu ’ s Likud Party and former military chief Benny Gantz ’ s Blue and White ends months of political paralysis and averts what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year .
Terms of the agreement weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it called for a three-year period with Netanyahu serving as prime minister for the first half , and Gantz taking the job for the second half .
After the last vote on March 2 ended in a stalemate , Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz agreed late last month to try to form a unity government because of the burgeoning coronavirus crisis .
The talks have dragged on and stalled several times since , reportedly over Netanyahu ’ s personal legal problems , sparking concern that the collapse of a deal would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although Netanyahu repeatedly came up short in the last elections , the coalition agreement returns the long-serving leader to the premiership , defying critics who predicted his downfall and restoring his reputation as a political wizard .
The deal likely required major compromise by both men .
During three bitter campaigns over the past year , Gantz and his Blue and White party vowed never to serve in a government under Netanyahu so long as he faces a slew of corruption charges .
Netanyahu , meanwhile , would likely be forced to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister for part of the time , if the coalition manages to survive long enough .
Negotiations between the two leaders largely revolved around Netanyahu 's corruption trial set to start next month .
Main sticking points included a demand by the prime minister to have more say on judicial appointments , which could play a role if his case eventually reaches the Supreme Court .
Last month ’ s election , just like the campaigns last September and April , ended with no clear winner .
But with a slight majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the first shot at building a coalition government .
The glue holding together Gantz 's different backers was their shared animosity toward Netanyahu .
The opposition leader had begun to move forward with legislation that would have disqualified the indicted Netanyahu from serving as prime minister in the future .
But with the virus crisis worsening , and his own shaky alliance fraying , Gantz made an about-face late last month and accepted an offer from Netanyahu to pursue a joint government to deal with the pandemic .
The move drew heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tore apart his Blue and White alliance , leaving him with a faction roughly half its original size .
Negotiations have continued even after Gantz ’ allotted time to build a coalition ended last week , with the president now giving the Knesset until May 7 to select a candidate for prime minister .
If a majority of legislators fails to choose a candidate , the Knesset would automatically be dissolved , triggering new elections .
On Sunday night , several thousand demonstrators , including Gantz ’ s former political partner Yair Lapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expected government deal .
Protesters accused Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis to shield himself from prosecution and accused Gantz of abandoning his central campaign promises .
“ You don ’ t fight corruption from within .
If you ’ re inside , you ’ re part of it , ” Lapid said .
Netanyahu is awaiting trial on charges of accepting bribes , breach of trust and fraud .
He has denied any wrongdoing and portrays himself as a victim of a media and judicial witch hunt .
Citing the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister has already delayed the trial by two months by shuttering most of the court system .
Israel has identified more than 13,000 cases of the coronavirus , with 172 deaths .
While this week the country began relaxing some of its health restrictions , hundreds of thousands are out of work and the economy has come to a standstill .
There has also been growing criticism over Netanyahu ’ s approach to beating back the virus , with accusations that he has sidelined democratic norms in the name of fighting the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism for moving too slowly in compensating workers and businesses hit by the crisis .

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival on Monday signed an agreement to form an “emergency” coalition government, their parties announced in a joint statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and his rival Benny Gantz are in talks to form a possible unity government
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The deal between Netanyahu’s Likud Party and former military chief Benny Gantz’s Blue and White ends months of political paralysis and averts what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
Terms of the agreement weren’t immediately announced. But Israeli media said it called for a three-year period with Netanyahu serving as prime minister for the first half, and Gantz taking the job for the second half.
After the last vote on March 2 ended in a stalemate, Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz agreed late last month to try to form a unity government because of the burgeoning coronavirus crisis. The talks have dragged on and stalled several times since, reportedly over Netanyahu’s personal legal problems, sparking concern that the collapse of a deal would force the country into new elections.
Although Netanyahu repeatedly came up short in the last elections, the coalition agreement returns the long-serving leader to the premiership, defying critics who predicted his downfall and restoring his reputation as a political wizard.
The deal likely required major compromise by both men. During three bitter campaigns over the past year, Gantz and his Blue and White party vowed never to serve in a government under Netanyahu so long as he faces a slew of corruption charges. Netanyahu, meanwhile, would likely be forced to step aside and allow Gantz to serve as prime minister for part of the time, if the coalition manages to survive long enough.
Sticking points
Negotiations between the two leaders largely revolved around Netanyahu's corruption trial set to start next month. Main sticking points included a demand by the prime minister to have more say on judicial appointments, which could play a role if his case eventually reaches the Supreme Court.
Last month’s election, just like the campaigns last September and April, ended with no clear winner. But with a slight majority of lawmakers endorsing him, Gantz was given the first shot at building a coalition government.
The glue holding together Gantz's different backers was their shared animosity toward Netanyahu. The opposition leader had begun to move forward with legislation that would have disqualified the indicted Netanyahu from serving as prime minister in the future.
But with the virus crisis worsening, and his own shaky alliance fraying, Gantz made an about-face late last month and accepted an offer from Netanyahu to pursue a joint government to deal with the pandemic. The move drew heavy criticism from Gantz’s supporters and tore apart his Blue and White alliance, leaving him with a faction roughly half its original size.
Negotiations have continued even after Gantz’ allotted time to build a coalition ended last week, with the president now giving the Knesset until May 7 to select a candidate for prime minister. If a majority of legislators fails to choose a candidate, the Knesset would automatically be dissolved, triggering new elections.
Protests over corruption charges
On Sunday night, several thousand demonstrators, including Gantz’s former political partner Yair Lapid, gathered in Tel Aviv to protest the expected government deal. Protesters accused Netanyahu of using the coronavirus crisis to shield himself from prosecution and accused Gantz of abandoning his central campaign promises.
“You don’t fight corruption from within. If you’re inside, you’re part of it,” Lapid said.
Netanyahu is awaiting trial on charges of accepting bribes, breach of trust and fraud. He has denied any wrongdoing and portrays himself as a victim of a media and judicial witch hunt. Citing the coronavirus crisis, Netanyahu’s hand-picked justice minister has already delayed the trial by two months by shuttering most of the court system.
Israel has identified more than 13,000 cases of the coronavirus, with 172 deaths. While this week the country began relaxing some of its health restrictions, hundreds of thousands are out of work and the economy has come to a standstill.
There has also been growing criticism over Netanyahu’s approach to beating back the virus, with accusations that he has sidelined democratic norms in the name of fighting the virus. The government has also come under criticism for moving too slowly in compensating workers and businesses hit by the crisis.
(AP)
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france24--2020-04-20--Two months of Covid-19 lockdown will cost France €120 billion, report says

France ’ s nearly two-month-long coronavirus lockdown is expected to cost the country some €120 billion in lost revenue while “ forced savings ” are estimated to reach €55 billion , the state-funded French Economic Observatory said on Monday .
“ During the lockdown , the Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) was cut by 32 percent , corresponding to five points of GDP for the whole of 2020 , ” the state-funded French Economic Observatory ( OFCE ) wrote .
The observatory went on to say that “ almost 60 percent of the drop in national income was absorbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by businesses .
France 's economic recovery depends on how much the French spend once lockdown is lifted , it said .
However , although the French are expected to have shored up €55 billion in so-called forced savings during the planned March 17 to May 11 lockdown period – meaning they will have spent less than they earned – they are not expected to spend these savings `` completely or rapidly '' once lockdown is lifted given the continuing uncertainties over Covid-19 .
The €120 billion gap in lost revenue will therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , France ’ s labour ministry said that 9.6 million French people , or one in about seven , had been forced into partial unemployment due to Covid-19 , meaning they receive around 84 percent of their net salary paid for by the government .
Last week , France ’ s Budget Minister Gérald Darmanin said the country ’ s 2020 budget deficit is expected to hit a postwar record of 9 percent of economic output due to the lockdown .
`` Our country has not seen such a deficit since World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Info radio .
`` Each day , each week of lockdown ... is worsening our public finances , '' he said , adding that France 's debt would soar to 115 percent of GDP , up from just under 100 percent last year .

France’s nearly two-month-long coronavirus lockdown is expected to cost the country some €120 billion in lost revenue while “forced savings” are estimated to reach €55 billion, the state-funded French Economic Observatory said on Monday.
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“During the lockdown, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was cut by 32 percent, corresponding to five points of GDP for the whole of 2020,” the state-funded French Economic Observatory (OFCE) wrote.
The observatory went on to say that “almost 60 percent of the drop in national income was absorbed by public administrations” and 35 percent by businesses. France's economic recovery depends on how much the French spend once lockdown is lifted, it said.
However, although the French are expected to have shored up €55 billion in so-called forced savings during the planned March 17 to May 11 lockdown period – meaning they will have spent less than they earned – they are not expected to spend these savings "completely or rapidly" once lockdown is lifted given the continuing uncertainties over Covid-19.
The €120 billion gap in lost revenue will therefore not be off-set anytime soon.
On Monday, France’s labour ministry said that 9.6 million French people, or one in about seven, had been forced into partial unemployment due to Covid-19, meaning they receive around 84 percent of their net salary paid for by the government.
Last week, France’s Budget Minister Gérald Darmanin said the country’s 2020 budget deficit is expected to hit a postwar record of 9 percent of economic output due to the lockdown.
"Our country has not seen such a deficit since World War Two," Darmanin told France Info radio.
"Each day, each week of lockdown ... is worsening our public finances," he said, adding that France's debt would soar to 115 percent of GDP, up from just under 100 percent last year.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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france24--2020-04-20--Baguettes without borders: French baker sells to German customers despite lockdown

The border between France and Germany may be closed amid the Covid-19 pandemic but that has not stopped residents of one German village getting their daily delivery of French baguettes .
Several times a week , Myriam Jansem-Boualit a baker in the French border town of Carling , takes her bread and pastries to the frontier to hand over to customers from the town of Lauterbach on the German side .
`` They do n't dare to come anymore because there are police border controls .
Before , there were a lot of Germans who came to buy bread , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seeing the controls ...
So what I can do now is bring the bread .
I leave my telephone number and they call me when they arrive and I bring the bread across the fence . ''
Hartmut Fey , one of her most loyal customers drew attention online after posting a video of himself using an ingenious method to collect his baguette while maintaining ‘ social distancing ’ , by using a fishing rod .
`` We are here at the German-French border , in Lauterbach and Carling , and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ croissants from our dear bakery , ” Fey says in the video .
“ And now we are no longer allowed to cross on foot .
And as a sign of Franco-German friendship , we do our business online . ''
The Franco-German border has been closed since March 16 as part of measures to control the spread of Covid-19 , with only goods and cross-border workers allowed to pass .

The border between France and Germany may be closed amid the Covid-19 pandemic but that has not stopped residents of one German village getting their daily delivery of French baguettes.
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Several times a week, Myriam Jansem-Boualit a baker in the French border town of Carling, takes her bread and pastries to the frontier to hand over to customers from the town of Lauterbach on the German side.
"They don't dare to come anymore because there are police border controls. Before, there were a lot of Germans who came to buy bread,” she told AFP. “Now, seeing the controls... So what I can do now is bring the bread. I leave my telephone number and they call me when they arrive and I bring the bread across the fence."
Hartmut Fey, one of her most loyal customers drew attention online after posting a video of himself using an ingenious method to collect his baguette while maintaining ‘social distancing’, by using a fishing rod.
"We are here at the German-French border, in Lauterbach and Carling, and for decades we have been buying bread and croissants from our dear bakery,” Fey says in the video.
“And now we are no longer allowed to cross on foot. And as a sign of Franco-German friendship, we do our business online."
The Franco-German border has been closed since March 16 as part of measures to control the spread of Covid-19, with only goods and cross-border workers allowed to pass.
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france24--2020-04-20--Police and residents clash over heavy-handed lockdown enforcement in Paris suburbs

A French police vehicle drives past a pile of burning trash in front of the `` Les Jardins de la Noue '' apartment building in Villeneuve-la-Garenne , in the northern suburbs of Paris , early on April 20 , 2020 .
Police fought running battles in at least five suburbs of Paris overnight with residents who accused officers of using heavy-handed tactics to enforce France 's strict coronavirus lockdown .
Residents burnt cars and shot fireworks at police , who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas in the northern suburbs of Villeneuve-la-Garenne and Aulnay-sous-Bois , witnesses and police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday when a motorcyclist was injured during a police check in Villeneuve-la-Garenne , prompting a crowd to gather .
A police statement said the group targeted officers with `` projectiles '' in a near two-hour standoff .
The motorcyclist crashed into the open door of an unmarked police car and required surgery for a broken leg .
Residents allege the door was opened deliberately as the rider was approaching it at high speed so that he would smash into it .
The 30-year-old will lodge a complaint against the officers , his family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors have opened an investigation .
By Monday morning , calm had returned to Villeneuve-la-Garenne after a second night of standoffs with police , according to an AFP journalist .
There were also standoffs in nearby Aulnay-sous-Bois , where police claimed they were `` ambushed '' by residents in a district of dense , high-rise social housing of mainly immigrant occupants .
Police said they arrested four people after being targeted by residents using fireworks as projectiles .
The troubles spread to at least three other suburbs in the same department as Villeneuve-la-Garenne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubbish bins set alight , officials said .
Across Ile-de-France – the region that includes the capital and its surrounding suburbs – roughly 15 cars and some 50 bins were burnt and seven people were arrested .

Police fought running battles in at least five suburbs of Paris overnight with residents who accused officers of using heavy-handed tactics to enforce France's strict coronavirus lockdown.
A French police vehicle drives past a pile of burning trash in front of the "Les Jardins de la Noue" apartment building in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, in the northern suburbs of Paris, early on April 20, 2020.
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Residents burnt cars and shot fireworks at police, who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas in the northern suburbs of Villeneuve-la-Garenne and Aulnay-sous-Bois, witnesses and police said on Monday.
The violence began on Saturday when a motorcyclist was injured during a police check in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, prompting a crowd to gather.
A police statement said the group targeted officers with "projectiles" in a near two-hour standoff.
The motorcyclist crashed into the open door of an unmarked police car and required surgery for a broken leg.
Residents allege the door was opened deliberately as the rider was approaching it at high speed so that he would smash into it.
The 30-year-old will lodge a complaint against the officers, his family and a lawyer told AFP, while prosecutors have opened an investigation.
>> Banlieue Project: Life in a French housing project remembered in photos
By Monday morning, calm had returned to Villeneuve-la-Garenne after a second night of standoffs with police, according to an AFP journalist.
There were also standoffs in nearby Aulnay-sous-Bois, where police claimed they were "ambushed" by residents in a district of dense, high-rise social housing of mainly immigrant occupants.
Police said they arrested four people after being targeted by residents using fireworks as projectiles.
The troubles spread to at least three other suburbs in the same department as Villeneuve-la-Garenne, with projectiles thrown at police and rubbish bins set alight, officials said.
Across Ile-de-France – the region that includes the capital and its surrounding suburbs – roughly 15 cars and some 50 bins were burnt and seven people were arrested.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-04-20--Art under lockdown: French street artist C215 adapts to quarantine

French street artist C215 finished this work , “ Love in the Time of Coronavirus , ” just before France ’ s lockdown took effect .
Now , he is selling prints of the piece online , with proceeds going to the Paris hospitals foundation .
From Paris to New York , New Delhi to the West Bank , street artist Christian Guémy ’ s colourful murals can be found on walls worldwide .
Under lockdown , though , the artist known as C215 has been separated from his favourite medium .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Vincent Roux and Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is finding creative ways to stay engaged .
He finished his latest piece , “ Love in the Time of Coronavirus , ” just before France ’ s lockdown took effect .
Now , he is selling prints of the piece online , with proceeds going to the Paris Hospitals foundation .
Guémy has also made a stencil of Aïcha Issadounène , the first supermarket checkout worker to die of the virus in France .
He promised to put up her portrait in Saint Ouen , the Paris suburb where she lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted .
Click on the player above to watch the report in full .

From Paris to New York, New Delhi to the West Bank, street artist Christian Guémy’s colourful murals can be found on walls worldwide. Under lockdown, though, the artist known as C215 has been separated from his favourite medium. FRANCE 24’s Vincent Roux and Peter O’Brien report.
French street artist C215 finished this work, “Love in the Time of Coronavirus,” just before France’s lockdown took effect. Now, he is selling prints of the piece online, with proceeds going to the Paris hospitals foundation.
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Still, he is finding creative ways to stay engaged. He finished his latest piece, “Love in the Time of Coronavirus,” just before France’s lockdown took effect. Now, he is selling prints of the piece online, with proceeds going to the Paris Hospitals foundation.
Guémy has also made a stencil of Aïcha Issadounène, the first supermarket checkout worker to die of the virus in France. He promised to put up her portrait in Saint Ouen, the Paris suburb where she lived, as soon as the lockdown is lifted.
Click on the player above to watch the report in full.
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france24--2020-04-20--Protesting in a pandemic: Israelis demonstrate at a distance

Wearing face masks and keeping two metres apart , thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ strict Covid-19 social distancing rules .
Protest organisers marked spots on the ground for demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ social distancing rules were followed .
Netanyahu is currently negotiating a deal with political rival @ @ @ @ @ coalition government .
Protesters called on Gantz to reject the deal with Netanyahu , who @ @ @ @ @ three corruption cases while criticising the government ’ s response to the Covid-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ civilians by intelligence agencies .
`` We are fighting for everything and anything that is @ @ @ @ @ this country and our children , ” Yair Lapid , an opposition lawmaker at the @ @ @ @ @ '' The Israeli democracy and the way this government in its sloppiness is handling the @ @ @ @ @ reported more than 13,000 Covid-19 cases and 172 deaths but Netanyahu announced on Sunday that @ @ @ @ @ s lockdown restrictions would be eased .

Wearing face masks and keeping two metres apart, thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday while maintaining the country's strict Covid-19 social distancing rules.
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Protest organisers marked spots on the ground for demonstrators to stand in to ensure social distancing rules were followed.
Netanyahu is currently negotiating a deal with political rival Benny Gantz to form a coalition government.
Protesters called on Gantz to reject the deal with Netanyahu, who is under criminal indictment in three corruption cases while criticising the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has included phone-tracking of civilians by intelligence agencies.
"We are fighting for everything and anything that is essential to the future of this country and our children,” Yair Lapid, an opposition lawmaker at the rally, told Reuters.”
"The Israeli democracy and the way this government in its sloppiness is handling the corona crisis.”
Israel has reported more than 13,000 Covid-19 cases and 172 deaths but Netanyahu announced on Sunday that some of the country’s lockdown restrictions would be eased.
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france24--2020-04-20--Debunked: Fake videos purport to show violence against Africans in China

1 .
A group beats up a black man with an iron bar This Twitter user says that “ China ’ s # COVID19 ‘ blame game ’ is putting the lives of Africans living in # China [ at ] serious risk.
” He uses several derogatory hashtags alongside his post .
2 .
A street fight between a group of black men and a group of Asian men This tweet by @ BohOusmane reads ( as translated from French ) : 'In # China , specifically in Guangzhou , Chinese people beat up black Africans who they blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
A shopkeeper who looks Asian gets punched in the face Since early April , many Africans living in Guangzhou , China have been barred from their homes or even evicted because of rumours that African migrants brought a second wave of COVID-19 to the city.The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to some of the people who faced discrimination , hostility and even temporary homelessness because of these rumours and published their stories in this article .
But some videos that purport to show violence and discrimination towards Africans in China are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old videos and have nothing to do with the pandemic.Many people have been sharing an extremely violent video on Twitter and WhatsApp .
It shows a group of people savagely beating a black man lying on the ground , his face covered with blood .
Captions and comments on the video made it seem like the man had been beaten because of the COVID-19 rumours circulating in Guangzhou.However , in reality , there is no way that this savage and awful beating has anything to do with the pandemic because this video was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier . )
We ran this video through a search using InVid ( check out how to use the tool by clicking here ) and found several instances from a few years back when this same video was posted online.Back in 2018 , the video was widely circulated alongside a caption claiming that it showed a 25-year-old Zambian student who was killed for having a relationship with a Chinese woman .
However , we also found even earlier instances of this video online.A better-quality , slightly longer version , which also includes footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different angle was posted back in August 2016 , with a completely different story .
That post claimed that the video showed shopkeepers in Kuching , Malaysia who were beating up a man who they caught trying to rob their shop.The FRANCE 24 Observers team was not able to independently verify if this is the real story behind the video , though we will update the page if we dig up more information on it .
But one thing is clear -- this footage is old and has nothing to do with COVID-19.Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of views on Twitter , shows a street fight between a group of black men and a group of Asian men .
One of the Asian men seems to be brandishing a kitchen knife .
`` In Guangzhou , Chinese people beat up Africans who they blame for allegedly bringing back coronavirus , ” reads the caption on the video , translated from French .
But the caption is false twice over .
The incident actually took place in New York and happened long before the pandemic.In their investigation into the origins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at AFP Fact Check pointed out that the hospital sign and the front of a shop that appear in the video make it possible to establish that the footage was filmed in the Bronx , in New York .
This same video was posted in a forum back on March 18 , which was a long time before reports emerged of Africans in China being discriminated against because of rumours that they were spreading COVID-19.Social media users were also sharing a third video that was taken out of its original context .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asian shopkeeper .
The video was posted on Facebook on April 14 and garnered more than 170,000 views .
“ Chinese people are starting to pay the price for their racism , ” read the caption , which was vague enough that it could be assumed to be referring to the current climate in China.However , we ran the video through a search using InVid ( check out our tips on how to use it ) and pulled up posts of the same video from early November 2018.At the time , several Kenyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video got angry after the shopkeeper called him a monkey .
However , other sources said the incident took place in Angola , which is likely as the people in the video are speaking Portuguese.The FRANCE 24 Observers team wasn ’ t able to establish the true origin of this viral video .
However , it was posted online back in November 2018 , more than a year before the pandemic began , so it is clear that the video has nothing to do with COVID-19 .

DEBUNKED
Contrary to their captions, none of these viral videos actually show violence committed against Africans in China because of rumours that they were spreading COVID-19. (Screengrabs)
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Since early April, many Africans living in Guangzhou, China have been barred from their homes or even evicted because of rumours that African migrants brought a second wave of COVID-19 to the city.
The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to some of the people who faced discrimination, hostility and even temporary homelessness because of these rumours and published their stories in this article. But some videos that purport to show violence and discrimination towards Africans in China are circulating online are fake: they're old videos and have nothing to do with the pandemic.
>> READ ON THE OBSERVERS: "They treat us like we're the virus": Africans evicted from housing in Chinese city
1. A group beats up a black man with an iron bar
Many people have been sharing an extremely violent video on Twitter and WhatsApp. It shows a group of people savagely beating a black man lying on the ground, his face covered with blood. Captions and comments on the video made it seem like the man had been beaten because of the COVID-19 rumours circulating in Guangzhou.
This Twitter user says that “China’s #COVID19 ‘blame game’ is putting the lives of Africans living in #China [at] serious risk.” He uses several derogatory hashtags alongside his post.
However, in reality, there is no way that this savage and awful beating has anything to do with the pandemic because this video was filmed in 2016 (or possibly even earlier.) We ran this video through a search using InVid (check out how to use the tool by clicking here) and found several instances from a few years back when this same video was posted online.
Back in 2018, the video was widely circulated alongside a caption claiming that it showed a 25-year-old Zambian student who was killed for having a relationship with a Chinese woman. However, we also found even earlier instances of this video online.
A better-quality, slightly longer version, which also includes footage of the same scene filmed at a different angle was posted back in August 2016, with a completely different story. That post claimed that the video showed shopkeepers in Kuching, Malaysia who were beating up a man who they caught trying to rob their shop.
The FRANCE 24 Observers team was not able to independently verify if this is the real story behind the video, though we will update the page if we dig up more information on it. But one thing is clear -- this footage is old and has nothing to do with COVID-19.
2. A street fight between a group of black men and a group of Asian men
Another video, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter, shows a street fight between a group of black men and a group of Asian men. One of the Asian men seems to be brandishing a kitchen knife.
"In Guangzhou, Chinese people beat up Africans who they blame for allegedly bringing back coronavirus,” reads the caption on the video, translated from French. But the caption is false twice over. The incident actually took place in New York and happened long before the pandemic.
En #Chine, plus précisément à Guangzhou, des chinois tabassent des noirs africains les accusant d'être les responsables d'un présumé retour du coronavirus (sic!). pic.twitter.com/LOI9yFo38p Ousmane Boh Kaba (@BohOusmane) April 12, 2020
This tweet by @BohOusmane reads (as translated from French): 'In #China, specifically in Guangzhou, Chinese people beat up black Africans who they blame for allegedly bringing back coronavirus.'
In their investigation into the origins of this video, the fact-checking team at AFP Fact Check pointed out that the hospital sign and the front of a shop that appear in the video make it possible to establish that the footage was filmed in the Bronx, in New York. This same video was posted in a forum back on March 18, which was a long time before reports emerged of Africans in China being discriminated against because of rumours that they were spreading COVID-19.
Screen capture/Google Street View
3. A shopkeeper who looks Asian gets punched in the face
Social media users were also sharing a third video that was taken out of its original context. This footage shows a black man hitting an Asian shopkeeper. The video was posted on Facebook on April 14 and garnered more than 170,000 views. “Chinese people are starting to pay the price for their racism,” read the caption, which was vague enough that it could be assumed to be referring to the current climate in China.
However, we ran the video through a search using InVid (check out our tips on how to use it) and pulled up posts of the same video from early November 2018.
At the time, several Kenyan media outlets reported that the man in the video got angry after the shopkeeper called him a monkey. However, other sources said the incident took place in Angola, which is likely as the people in the video are speaking Portuguese.
The FRANCE 24 Observers team wasn’t able to establish the true origin of this viral video. However, it was posted online back in November 2018, more than a year before the pandemic began, so it is clear that the video has nothing to do with COVID-19.
Article by Pierre Hamdi.