france24--2020-04-28--Brazil court OKs probe into accusations Bolsonaro tried to interfere with police

Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro on the ramp of the Planalto Palace in Brasilia , April 27 2020 .
A Supreme Court judge on Monday authorized an investigation of allegations that Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro tried to interfere in the work of the country 's federal police force for political motives , the top court said on its website .
Justice Celso de Mello gave the federal police 60 days to carry out the investigation requested by Brazil 's chief public prosecutor Augusto Aras following the accusations made by former justice minister Sergio Moro , who resigned on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change the chief of the federal police and accused the president of seeking to interfere in investigations that involved family members , to the point of requesting intelligence files .
Bolsonaro called the accusations unfounded , but they have set off the worst political crisis since he took office in January last year and lost the far-right leader valuable allies .
The investigation comes at a bad moment for Bolsonaro who is facing criticism for downplaying the gravity of the coronavirus epidemic that has killed over 4,500 people in the country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Based on the results of the police investigation , the public prosecutor will have to decide whether to press charges against the president or his former minister .
An indictment of the president would have to be approved by the lower house of Congress before a trial could move ahead in the Supreme Court .
The house is however dominated by Bolsonaro 's supporters and it is unlikely to approve an indictment .
If he is indicted , the president would be suspended and Vice President Hamilton Mourao take over his position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If convicted in a trial , he would lose office .
A poll conducted on Monday showed that a majority of Brazilians believe Moro 's accusations are true .
Forty six percent believe Bolsonaro should resign , while fifty percent think he should not .

A Supreme Court judge on Monday authorized an investigation of allegations that Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tried to interfere in the work of the country's federal police force for political motives, the top court said on its website.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on the ramp of the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, April 27 2020.
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Justice Celso de Mello gave the federal police 60 days to carry out the investigation requested by Brazil's chief public prosecutor Augusto Aras following the accusations made by former justice minister Sergio Moro, who resigned on Friday.
Moro said Bolsonaro had pressed him to change the chief of the federal police and accused the president of seeking to interfere in investigations that involved family members, to the point of requesting intelligence files.
Bolsonaro called the accusations unfounded, but they have set off the worst political crisis since he took office in January last year and lost the far-right leader valuable allies.
The investigation comes at a bad moment for Bolsonaro who is facing criticism for downplaying the gravity of the coronavirus epidemic that has killed over 4,500 people in the country and virtually paralyzed Latin America's largest economy.
Based on the results of the police investigation, the public prosecutor will have to decide whether to press charges against the president or his former minister.
An indictment of the president would have to be approved by the lower house of Congress before a trial could move ahead in the Supreme Court. The house is however dominated by Bolsonaro's supporters and it is unlikely to approve an indictment.
If he is indicted, the president would be suspended and Vice President Hamilton Mourao take over his position temporarily for up to 180 days. If convicted in a trial, he would lose office.
A poll conducted on Monday showed that a majority of Brazilians believe Moro's accusations are true. Forty six percent believe Bolsonaro should resign, while fifty percent think he should not.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-27--Locked down in the suburbs: Covid-19 puts strain on French 'banlieues'

Locked down in the suburbs : Covid-19 puts strain on French 'banlieues' While Paris hits the pause button , many @ @ @ @ @ north of the French capital still have to get to work .
It 's not @ @ @ @ @ services jobs who 're affected : many kids in the `` banlieues '' do n't @ @ @ @ @ or depend on school for a proper meal .
How can schools reopen on May @ @ @ @ @ the crisis to truly address its inherent inequalities ?
President Emmanuel Macron himself acknowledged the @ @ @ @ @ the Covid-19 pandemic and appealed for the `` building of new types of solidarity '' @

Locked down in the suburbs: Covid-19 puts strain on French 'banlieues'
41:02 THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24
While Paris hits the pause button, many in the densely-populated working-class suburbs north of the French capital still have to get to work. It's not just those in low-paid essential services jobs who're affected: many kids in the "banlieues" don't have access to online learning or depend on school for a proper meal. How can schools reopen on May 11? Can France use the crisis to truly address its inherent inequalities? President Emmanuel Macron himself acknowledged the accentuated inequality laid bare by the Covid-19 pandemic and appealed for the "building of new types of solidarity".


france24--2020-04-28--Nigeria to ease Covid-19 lockdown for millions in key cities on 4 May

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the nation over the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , in Abuja , Nigeria April 27 , 2020 .
Nigeria will start easing a coronavirus lockdown covering its largest city Lagos and capital Abuja from May 4 , President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday .
`` I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures , '' Buhari said in a televised broadcast .
He unveiled new measures including a nationwide night-time curfew , mandatory wearing of facemasks and a ban on `` non-essential '' travel between different regions .
He also announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's largest city Kano after officials said they were probing a spate of `` mysterious deaths '' .
More than 25 million residents in Abuja , Lagos and neighbouring Ogun state have been under federal lockdown since March 30 and other states have introduced their own restrictions .
The government faces a difficult balancing act trying to curb the spread of the virus and contain growing the desperation of vast numbers living hand to mouth in Africa 's most populous country .
`` Such lockdowns have also come at a very heavy economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address .
`` Many of our citizens have lost their means of livelihood .
Many businesses have shut down . ''
He said the new measures were `` implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic '' .
Nigeria , with a population of 200 million , has reported 1,273 confirmed infections , including 40 deaths .
But testing has been limited and the head of the disease control agency has put out an appeal for kits .
Buhari said officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing by accrediting private laboratories .
He announced the federal government would deploy `` all the necessary human , material and technical resources '' to support Kano state in controlling the pandemic .
The state 's governor on Monday said officials were investigating a spike in `` mysterious deaths '' , but insisted initial indications suggested they were not linked to coronavirus .

Nigeria will start easing a coronavirus lockdown covering its largest city Lagos and capital Abuja from May 4, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the nation over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Abuja, Nigeria April 27, 2020.
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"I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures," Buhari said in a televised broadcast.
He unveiled new measures including a nationwide night-time curfew, mandatory wearing of facemasks and a ban on "non-essential" travel between different regions.
He also announced an immediate two-week lockdown in northern Nigeria's largest city Kano after officials said they were probing a spate of "mysterious deaths".
More than 25 million residents in Abuja, Lagos and neighbouring Ogun state have been under federal lockdown since March 30 and other states have introduced their own restrictions.
01:39
The government faces a difficult balancing act trying to curb the spread of the virus and contain growing the desperation of vast numbers living hand to mouth in Africa's most populous country.
"Such lockdowns have also come at a very heavy economic cost," Buhari said in the address.
"Many of our citizens have lost their means of livelihood. Many businesses have shut down."
He said the new measures were "implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic".
Nigeria, with a population of 200 million, has reported 1,273 confirmed infections, including 40 deaths.
But testing has been limited and the head of the disease control agency has put out an appeal for kits.
Buhari said officials were looking to bolster the rate of testing by accrediting private laboratories.
He announced the federal government would deploy "all the necessary human, material and technical resources" to support Kano state in controlling the pandemic.
The state's governor on Monday said officials were investigating a spike in "mysterious deaths", but insisted initial indications suggested they were not linked to coronavirus.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-28--Banks smashed during protests in Lebanon over ailing economy

A Lebanese demonstrator gestures to a Lebanese soldier , during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese pound currency and the price hikes , in Zouk , north of Beirut , Lebanon April 27 , 2020 .
The facades of several banks were smashed with at least one set on fire as protests fuelled by Lebanon 's economic crisis turned violent in the northern city of Tripoli overnight , a witness said .
The army said a fire-bomb was thrown at one of its vehicles and a hand grenade was hurled at a patrol during rioting in Tripoli , lightly wounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been attacked and banks set on fire , it said .
The army blamed the trouble on `` a number of infiltrators '' and called on peaceful protesters to quickly leave the streets .
The banking association declared all banks in Tripoli shut from Tuesday until security is restored , saying banks had been targeted in `` serious attacks and rioting '' .
Lebanon 's banks have been a frequent target of protesters during the financial and economic crisis that has led to the collapse in the value of the Lebanese pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The long-brewing crisis came to a head last year as capital inflows to Lebanon slowed and protests erupted against its political elite .
Since then , the pound has lost more than half its value , fuelling inflation in a country heavily dependent on imports .

Anger over the crash of Lebanon's national currency that sent food prices soaring boiled over into street violence overnight in the northern city of Tripoli, where a man wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces died Tuesday.
A Lebanese demonstrator gestures to a Lebanese soldier, during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese pound currency and the price hikes, in Zouk, north of Beirut, Lebanon April 27, 2020.
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The violence in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-largest city with soaring unemployment and poverty, erupted late on Monday and lasted well after midnight as angry protesters hurled Molotov cocktails at several banks and caused wide damage.
Protests also erupted elsewhere in Lebanon, leaving scores injured and more than a dozen people detained, according to the Lebanese military.
The army said a fire-bomb was thrown at one of its vehicles and a hand grenade was hurled at a patrol during rioting in Tripoli, lightly wounding two soldiers. Public and private property had been attacked and banks set on fire, it said.
The army blamed “troublemakers who had infiltrated the protesters to attack banks", throwing firebombs and grenades at the military and setting a military vehicle on fire. It said 54 troops were injured across the country and that the army detained 13 people.
All banks in Tripoli shut
Lebanon’s banking association declared all banks in Tripoli shut from Tuesday until security is restored, saying banks had been targeted in "serious attacks and rioting".
Lebanon's banks have been a frequent target of protesters during the financial and economic crisis that has led to the collapse in the value of the Lebanese pound and frozen savers out of their deposits.
The long-brewing crisis came to a head last year as capital inflows to Lebanon slowed and protests erupted against its political elite. Since then, the pound has lost more than half its value, fuelling inflation in a country heavily dependent on imports.
Hezbollah criticises central bank governor
Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement on Tuesday criticised the country’s central bank over the pound's drop to record lows against the US dollar and said the bank’s governor was partly responsible, according media reports.
The comments about the bank's governor, Riad Salameh, by Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem followed criticisms against Salameh by Prime Minister Hassan Diab Diab last week.
Diab blamed the longstanding central bank governor for the currency's crash and broader financial fallout. Influential parliament speaker Nabih Berri then warned of the danger of removing him.
On Tuesday, Qassem said the crisis pointed to a "negative performance" by the bank and said Salameh was responsible for the currency crash "but not on his own" in comments cited by broadcaster al-Jadeed.
Qassem said the "appropriate decision" must be taken to put the "country's interest ahead of all else" without providing details.
Currency dealers arrested for violating selling price cap
To halt the pound's slide on a parallel market that is the primary source of hard currency amid a severe shortage, the central bank capped the selling price of dollars at 3,200 for exchange dealers.
Some dealers were selling small quantities of dollars at 4,200 pounds on Tuesday, according to one importer. A second importer said he was unable to buy any dollars. One currency dealer cited a buying price of 4,000 pounds.
Several dealers were arrested on Monday for violating the cap and a syndicate representing them said exchange bureaus would shut until they were released and the situation was resolved.
The official rate remains pegged at 1507.5 pounds to the dollar at banks, but the price remains available only for vital imports - wheat, fuel, and medicine.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-28--Argentina stops all flights until 1 September, sparking outcry

Aerolineas Argentinas ' passenger planes are seen parked on the runway of the Jorge Newbery airport , as the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues , in Buenos Aires , Argentina April 21 , 2020 .
Picture taken April 21 , 2020 .
Argentina on Monday banned all commercial flight ticket sales until September , one of the toughest coronavirus travel bans in the world , prompting an industry outcry that the new measure will put too much strain on airlines and airports .
While the country 's borders have been closed since March , the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 the sale and purchase of commercial flights to , from or within Argentina .
The decree , signed by the National Civil Aviation Administration , said it was `` understood to be reasonable '' to implement the restrictions , without elaborating .
Many countries in South America , including Ecuador , Peru and Colombia , have banned all commercial flights for the time being , but none have extended their timeline as far out as Argentina .
The United States , Brazil and Canada have imposed restrictions , but not outright bans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were selling tickets without having authorisation to travel to Argentine soil , '' a spokesman for President Alberto Fernandez said .
The ban would put a strain on LATAM Airlines Group , which has a significant domestic operation in Argentina , and has been seeking help from multiple governments .
Argentina 's largest carrier , Aerolineas Argentinas , is state-owned and could survive as long as the government is willing to subsidize it .
The ban would also affect smaller ultra low-cost carriers that have grown rapidly in Argentina with the support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FlyBondi domestically , and SkyAirlines and JETSmart , which fly internationally .
Argentina has been a difficult market for carriers in recent years , with Norwegian Air Shuttle and an affiliate of Avianca Holdings shutting down short-lived domestic operations before the coronavirus crisis hit .
Argentina 's decision prompted industry groups including ALTA , which lobbies on behalf of Latin American airlines , to warn that the decree represented `` imminent and substantial risk '' to thousands of jobs in Argentina .
`` The resolution ... was not shared or agreed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the efforts of all the actors in the sector , '' the groups said in the statement .
The presidential spokesman , however , said the decision resulted from a `` consensus between the government and the airline sector . ''
The Sept. 1 timeframe was arranged with the airlines , the spokesman said .
In the interim , the focus of the government would be on bringing back Argentines who were abroad in an `` orderly '' and `` sanitary '' manner , he added .
Argentina has been under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , over the weekend , extended the quarantine until May 10 , but said it had been successful in slowing the rate at which new cases double .
The country has 3,892 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 192 deaths .

Argentina on Monday banned all commercial flight ticket sales until September, one of the toughest coronavirus travel bans in the world, prompting an industry outcry that the new measure will put too much strain on airlines and airports.
Aerolineas Argentinas' passenger planes are seen parked on the runway of the Jorge Newbery airport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Buenos Aires, Argentina April 21, 2020. Picture taken April 21, 2020.
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While the country's borders have been closed since March, the new decree goes further by banning until Sept. 1 the sale and purchase of commercial flights to, from or within Argentina. The decree, signed by the National Civil Aviation Administration, said it was "understood to be reasonable" to implement the restrictions, without elaborating.
Many countries in South America, including Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, have banned all commercial flights for the time being, but none have extended their timeline as far out as Argentina. The United States, Brazil and Canada have imposed restrictions, but not outright bans.
"The problem was that airlines were selling tickets without having authorisation to travel to Argentine soil," a spokesman for President Alberto Fernandez said.
The ban would put a strain on LATAM Airlines Group, which has a significant domestic operation in Argentina, and has been seeking help from multiple governments. Argentina's largest carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas, is state-owned and could survive as long as the government is willing to subsidize it.
The ban would also affect smaller ultra low-cost carriers that have grown rapidly in Argentina with the support of former President Mauricio Macri, such as FlyBondi domestically, and SkyAirlines and JETSmart, which fly internationally.
Argentina has been a difficult market for carriers in recent years, with Norwegian Air Shuttle and an affiliate of Avianca Holdings shutting down short-lived domestic operations before the coronavirus crisis hit.
Industry unhappy
Argentina's decision prompted industry groups including ALTA, which lobbies on behalf of Latin American airlines, to warn that the decree represented "imminent and substantial risk" to thousands of jobs in Argentina.
"The resolution ... was not shared or agreed with the industry and, furthermore, runs counter to the efforts of all the actors in the sector," the groups said in the statement.
The presidential spokesman, however, said the decision resulted from a "consensus between the government and the airline sector."
The Sept. 1 timeframe was arranged with the airlines, the spokesman said. In the interim, the focus of the government would be on bringing back Argentines who were abroad in an "orderly" and "sanitary" manner, he added.
Argentina has been under a national lockdown since March 20. The government, over the weekend, extended the quarantine until May 10, but said it had been successful in slowing the rate at which new cases double.
The country has 3,892 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 192 deaths.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-29--Violent protests against economic hardship in Lebanon

A demonstrator is seen near a bank on fire during unrest , as an economic crisis brings demonstrations back onto the streets in Tripoli , Lebanon April 28 , 2020 .
Protests against growing economic hardship erupted in Tripoli and spread to other Lebanese cities on Tuesday , with banks set ablaze and violence boiling over into a second night .
One demonstrator was killed in riots overnight Monday , according to security and medical sources , as a collapse in the currency , soaring inflation and spiralling unemployment convulse Lebanon , a country in deep financial crisis since October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus has made matters worse for the economy .
Protesters in the northern city of Tripoli on Tuesday set banks on fire and smashed their facades , prompting the army to fire rubber bullets and tear gas .
Demonstrators on Tuesday night piled into a main square while on side streets some threw stones at security forces .
Riots a night earlier left a trail of bank facades charred and cars and ATMs smashed .
The violence led to the death of a man in his 20s , according to a security source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was responsible for his death .
Banks have been a target of people angered by being frozen out of their deposits .
Protesters in the southern city of Sidon chanting `` revolution '' hurled petrol bombs at a central bank building and set its exterior on fire before smashing the fronts of banks .
In Beirut dozens marched across the city , some wearing medical masks while chanting against the financial system and shouting for more Lebanese to join .
Later , crowds hurled stones toward security forces positioned in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatens to tip Lebanon into more serious conflict even as Beirut looks to pass an economic rescue plan and enter negotiations with foreign creditors after defaulting on its hefty debt obligations last month .
Prime Minister Hassan Diab urged Lebanese to refrain from violence and said `` malicious intentions behind the scenes '' were `` shaking stability '' .
`` We are faced with a new reality , a reality that the social and living crisis has made worse at record speed , especially with the rise of the U.S. dollar exchange rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Diab said in a statement .
Lebanon 's pound has lost more than half its value since October and slid sharply over the past week , triggering small protests despite a coronavirus lockdown and pleas by officials for people to remain home .
U.S. dollars sold for 4,200 Lebanese pounds on Tuesday according to one importer , despite a central bank directive capping the price at 3,200 .
Several currency dealers were arrested on Monday for violating the cap , prompting their trade association to announce an open-ended strike .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris was ready to convene an international support group meeting for Lebanon as soon as coronavirus lockdown measures were lifted .
Diab 's government , formed in January with the support of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah , has struggled to enact reforms demanded by foreign donors to release billions of dollars in pledged financing .
`` People have lost their purchasing power and the state has no plan to do anything .
Banks are closed and not giving money to people .
I think this government should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moukaddem .
Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said after a Cabinet meeting that `` final touches '' were being put to the rescue plan , a draft of which this month estimated losses in the banking sector at $ 83 billion .
Tripoli , a mainly Sunni Muslim port city 80 km ( 50 miles ) north of Beirut and long dogged by poverty and unemployment , was the stage for protests against Lebanon 's ruling elite last October .
`` This is not a riot , this is expressing ( anger ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pounds .
... How are people going to eat ?
And this is the holy month of Ramadan , '' said Abou Hussein , a Tripoli activist .
The army said a firebomb was thrown at one of its vehicles and a hand grenade hurled at a patrol .
It blamed `` infiltrators '' and called on peaceful protesters to leave the streets .
It said 40 soldiers were wounded in Tripoli and elsewhere in the first night of riots after patrols sent to reopen roads were attacked with stones and nine protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Embassy in Beirut said : `` The frustration of the Lebanese people over the economic crisis is understandable , and the demands of protesters are justified .
But incidents of violence , threats , and destruction of property are deeply concerning , and must stop . ''
The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon , Jan Kubis , said the violence was a warning for Lebanon 's political leaders .
`` This is the time to provide material support to increasingly desperate , impoverished and hungry majority of Lebanese all around the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The banking association declared all banks in Tripoli shut until security is restored .
Only a handful of branches have been open during the coronavirus lockdown .

Protests against growing economic hardship erupted in Tripoli and spread to other Lebanese cities on Tuesday, with banks set ablaze and violence boiling over into a second night.
A demonstrator is seen near a bank on fire during unrest, as an economic crisis brings demonstrations back onto the streets in Tripoli, Lebanon April 28, 2020.
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One demonstrator was killed in riots overnight Monday, according to security and medical sources, as a collapse in the currency, soaring inflation and spiralling unemployment convulse Lebanon, a country in deep financial crisis since October.
A shutdown to fight the new coronavirus has made matters worse for the economy.
Protesters in the northern city of Tripoli on Tuesday set banks on fire and smashed their facades, prompting the army to fire rubber bullets and tear gas. Demonstrators on Tuesday night piled into a main square while on side streets some threw stones at security forces.
01:38
Riots a night earlier left a trail of bank facades charred and cars and ATMs smashed. The violence led to the death of a man in his 20s, according to a security source who said it was not immediately clear who was responsible for his death.
Banks have been a target of people angered by being frozen out of their deposits.
Protesters in the southern city of Sidon chanting "revolution" hurled petrol bombs at a central bank building and set its exterior on fire before smashing the fronts of banks.
In Beirut dozens marched across the city, some wearing medical masks while chanting against the financial system and shouting for more Lebanese to join. Later, crowds hurled stones toward security forces positioned in front of the central bank.
The growing unrest threatens to tip Lebanon into more serious conflict even as Beirut looks to pass an economic rescue plan and enter negotiations with foreign creditors after defaulting on its hefty debt obligations last month.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab urged Lebanese to refrain from violence and said "malicious intentions behind the scenes" were "shaking stability".
"We are faced with a new reality, a reality that the social and living crisis has made worse at record speed, especially with the rise of the U.S. dollar exchange rate to record levels on the black market," Diab said in a statement.
Lebanon's pound has lost more than half its value since October and slid sharply over the past week, triggering small protests despite a coronavirus lockdown and pleas by officials for people to remain home.
U.S. dollars sold for 4,200 Lebanese pounds on Tuesday according to one importer, despite a central bank directive capping the price at 3,200. Several currency dealers were arrested on Monday for violating the cap, prompting their trade association to announce an open-ended strike.
In a phone call to Diab, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris was ready to convene an international support group meeting for Lebanon as soon as coronavirus lockdown measures were lifted.
Diab's government, formed in January with the support of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah, has struggled to enact reforms demanded by foreign donors to release billions of dollars in pledged financing.
"People have lost their purchasing power and the state has no plan to do anything. Banks are closed and not giving money to people. I think this government should resign," said Tripoli lawyer Fahed Moukaddem.
Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said after a Cabinet meeting that "final touches" were being put to the rescue plan, a draft of which this month estimated losses in the banking sector at $83 billion.
Warning
Tripoli, a mainly Sunni Muslim port city 80 km (50 miles) north of Beirut and long dogged by poverty and unemployment, was the stage for protests against Lebanon's ruling elite last October.
"This is not a riot, this is expressing (anger) that the dollar has reached 4,000 Lebanese pounds. ... How are people going to eat? And this is the holy month of Ramadan," said Abou Hussein, a Tripoli activist.
The army said a firebomb was thrown at one of its vehicles and a hand grenade hurled at a patrol. It blamed "infiltrators" and called on peaceful protesters to leave the streets.
It said 40 soldiers were wounded in Tripoli and elsewhere in the first night of riots after patrols sent to reopen roads were attacked with stones and nine protesters were arrested.
A statement from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said: "The frustration of the Lebanese people over the economic crisis is understandable, and the demands of protesters are justified. But incidents of violence, threats, and destruction of property are deeply concerning, and must stop."
The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, said the violence was a warning for Lebanon's political leaders.
"This is the time to provide material support to increasingly desperate, impoverished and hungry majority of Lebanese all around the country," he wrote in a tweet.
The banking association declared all banks in Tripoli shut until security is restored. Only a handful of branches have been open during the coronavirus lockdown.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-28--‘We have to live with the virus,’ says France's PM detailing plan to ease lockdown

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe unveils his blueprint for the country 's exit from lockdown in an address to the National Assembly on Tuesday , April 28 .
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe revealed his government ’ s much-awaited plan to ease the strict nationwide coronavirus lockdown on May 11 to the National Assembly on Tuesday , including how many tests for the virus they hope will be carried out per week .
MPs passed Philippe 's plan on Tuesday by 368 votes , compared to 100 against .
The easing of France ’ s Covid-19 lockdown measures looks set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease tolls continues to mount , though at a slower rate , more than a month after a nationwide lockdown was put in place .
As part of the plan , all shops and markets , but not cafés and restaurants , will be allowed to open after May 11 .
He also said that people should wear face masks in public `` as much as possible '' .
To make this new phase work , the prime minister said France would aim to test everyone who has been in contact with someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s target is 700,000 tests per week starting from May 11 .
`` Once a person has tested positive , we will begin to identify and test all those , symptomatic or not , who have had close contact with them .
All these contact cases will be tested and will be asked to isolate themselves for 14 days , '' Philippe said .
Philippe also promised that enough masks will be available for all from May 11 .
His government is calling on all companies to provide workers with masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed .
Masks will also be for sale on the post office 's website and five million will be made each week to the most vulnerable people .
It will be compulsory for secondary school pupils to wear one .
But unlike with tests , Philippe did not give a specific target for the number of face masks that the government will make available .
France has struggled at times to provide sufficient numbers of masks to healthcare workers .
There has been a “ government failure ” on this issue , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perelman .
Setting out the principles behind the government ’ s actions , Philippe emphasised that “ we will have to live with the virus ” .
He hailed the lockdown by pointing to a study suggesting that confinement prevented “ 70,000 deaths ” in France , adding that its “ positive effects outweighed its negative effects ” .
However , he argued that a “ lengthy lockdown ” would have “ negative repercussions ” , including “ children not going to school ” , a “ lack of visits ” between family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of investment ” .
All this risked “ the economy falling apart ” , Philippe said .
Some critics may argue that , counter-intuitively , prolonged lockdowns will help the economy over the long run as well as saving lives .
A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published on March 31 found that in the last pandemic to take the world by storm , the 1918-19 Spanish flu , US cities where lockdowns and social distancing lasted longest “ performed better ” economically after the disease had run its course .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown will not be lifted on May 11 if the number of new cases is higher than 3,000 per day – as well as underlining the need for the French to be “ disciplined ” before that date .
People who can work from home will still be expected to do so .
On the grounds that “ circulation of the virus isn ’ t the same throughout the country ” , France will unveil on May 7 a list of regions keeping a strict lockdown .
The Paris region and Alsace-Lorraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hit particularly hard by Covid-19 .
Philippe ’ s presentation was followed by a two-and-a-half hour debate in France 's lower house of parliament , followed by a vote on the `` national strategy of the de-confinement plan '' .
The issue has been a source of acrimony in French political circles , with opposition parties calling for at least 24 hours to examine the government ’ s plan ahead of the vote .
Their request was , however , rejected on Monday .
The number of people who have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23,660 on Tuesday , while the number of confirmed cases was up 1,520 at 129,859 , the health ministry said in a statement .
The number of people in hospital with the coronavirus fell further to 27,484 from 28,055 on Monday and the number of people in intensive care fell to 4,387 from 4,608 on Monday .
Both have been on a downward trend for at least two weeks .

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe revealed his government’s much-awaited plan to ease the strict nationwide coronavirus lockdown on May 11 to the National Assembly on Tuesday, including how many tests for the virus they hope will be carried out per week.
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe unveils his blueprint for the country's exit from lockdown in an address to the National Assembly on Tuesday, April 28.
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MPs passed Philippe's plan on Tuesday by 368 votes, compared to 100 against.
The easing of France’s Covid-19 lockdown measures looks set to be a perilous process as the disease tolls continues to mount, though at a slower rate, more than a month after a nationwide lockdown was put in place.
As part of the plan, all shops and markets, but not cafés and restaurants, will be allowed to open after May 11. He also said that people should wear face masks in public "as much as possible".
05:46
To make this new phase work, the prime minister said France would aim to test everyone who has been in contact with someone infected by the coronavirus. The government’s target is 700,000 tests per week starting from May 11.
"Once a person has tested positive, we will begin to identify and test all those, symptomatic or not, who have had close contact with them. All these contact cases will be tested and will be asked to isolate themselves for 14 days," Philippe said.
Philippe also promised that enough masks will be available for all from May 11. His government is calling on all companies to provide workers with masks and will help small firms obtain them if needed. Masks will also be for sale on the post office's website and five million will be made each week to the most vulnerable people. It will be compulsory for secondary school pupils to wear one.
But unlike with tests, Philippe did not give a specific target for the number of face masks that the government will make available. France has struggled at times to provide sufficient numbers of masks to healthcare workers. There has been a “government failure” on this issue, said FRANCE 24’s political editor Marc Perelman.
Risk of economy ‘falling apart’
Setting out the principles behind the government’s actions, Philippe emphasised that “we will have to live with the virus”. He hailed the lockdown by pointing to a study suggesting that confinement prevented “70,000 deaths” in France, adding that its “positive effects outweighed its negative effects”.
However, he argued that a “lengthy lockdown” would have “negative repercussions”, including “children not going to school”, a “lack of visits” between family and friends, and a “lack of investment”. All this risked “the economy falling apart”, Philippe said.
10:01
Some critics may argue that, counter-intuitively, prolonged lockdowns will help the economy over the long run as well as saving lives. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published on March 31 found that in the last pandemic to take the world by storm, the 1918-19 Spanish flu, US cities where lockdowns and social distancing lasted longest “performed better” economically after the disease had run its course.
Delaying lifting the lockdown?
The prime minister added the caveat that the lockdown will not be lifted on May 11 if the number of new cases is higher than 3,000 per day – as well as underlining the need for the French to be “disciplined” before that date. People who can work from home will still be expected to do so.
On the grounds that “circulation of the virus isn’t the same throughout the country”, France will unveil on May 7 a list of regions keeping a strict lockdown. The Paris region and Alsace-Lorraine in the east of the country have been hit particularly hard by Covid-19.
Philippe’s presentation was followed by a two-and-a-half hour debate in France's lower house of parliament, followed by a vote on the "national strategy of the de-confinement plan".
The issue has been a source of acrimony in French political circles, with opposition parties calling for at least 24 hours to examine the government’s plan ahead of the vote. Their request was, however, rejected on Monday.
The number of people who have died from Covid-19 in France increased by 367 to 23,660 on Tuesday, while the number of confirmed cases was up 1,520 at 129,859, the health ministry said in a statement.
The number of people in hospital with the coronavirus fell further to 27,484 from 28,055 on Monday and the number of people in intensive care fell to 4,387 from 4,608 on Monday. Both have been on a downward trend for at least two weeks.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-28--Covid-19: France reports 367 deaths as number of hospitalisations continues to fall

Nurses take care of patients infected by Covid-19 going for an exam at the scanner unit at the Floreal clinic @ @ @ @ @ , France , on April 8 , 2020 .
The number of people who have @ @ @ @ @ France rose by 367 to 23,660 on Tuesday , while the number of confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ , the health ministry said in a statement .
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told @ @ @ @ @ end its nationwide lockdown unless the number of new cases of coronavirus infection drops below @ @ @ @ @ death tally has increased 1.6 % compared to Monday , with the rate slightly slowing @ @ @ @ @ number of people in hospital with the COVID-19 infection fell further to 27,484 from 28,055 @ @ @ @ @ of people in intensive care fell to 4,387 from 4,608 on Monday .

The number of people who have died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 367 to 23,660 on Tuesday, while the number of confirmed cases was up 1,520 at 129,859, the health ministry said in a statement.
Nurses take care of patients infected by Covid-19 going for an exam at the scanner unit at the Floreal clinic in Bagnolet, near Paris, France, on April 8, 2020.
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French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told parliament that France would not end its nationwide lockdown unless the number of new cases of coronavirus infection drops below 3,000 per day.
The death tally has increased 1.6% compared to Monday, with the rate slightly slowing over 24 hours.
The number of people in hospital with the COVID-19 infection fell further to 27,484 from 28,055 on Monday and the number of people in intensive care fell to 4,387 from 4,608 on Monday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-28--Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden for US president

Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden smiles as former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton endorses him for president in a video screengrab made during an online town hall about the impact of Covid-19 disease on women run from Biden 's home in Wilmington , Delaware , USA , April 28 , 2020 .
Hillary Clinton , the first woman to become a major party 's presidential nominee , endorsed Joe Biden 's White House bid on Tuesday , continuing Democrats ' efforts to coalesce around the former vice president as he takes on President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Biden campaign town hall to discuss the coronavirus and its effect on women .
Without mentioning Trump by name , Clinton assailed the Republican president 's handling of the pandemic and hailed Biden 's experience and temperament in comparison .
“ Just think of what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science ... but brought us together , ” said Clinton , who lost the 2016 presidential race to Trump .
“ Think of what it would mean if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued , rather than a man who “ plays one on TV.
” Biden , as a former vice president and six-term senator , “ has been preparing for this moment his entire life , '' Clinton said .
`` This is a moment when we need a leader , a president like Joe Biden.
” With her historic candidacy , Clinton remains a powerful — and complex — figure in American life .
Her 2016 campaign inspired many women , and her loss to Trump resonates to this day .
The female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often faced skepticism that a woman could win the White House .
Biden has pledged to select a woman as his vice president .
Having competed against Trump , Clinton could offer Biden unique insight as he prepares for the November general election .
Her endorsement is the latest example of leaders from across the party 's ideological spectrum rallying behind Biden .
In recent weeks , the former vice president has picked up support from former President Barack Obama , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and leading progressives such as Sens .
Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vermont .
Hillary Clinton 's husband , former President Bill Clinton , has not yet publicly endorsed Biden and has kept a lower profile during the Trump era .
The swift unification around Biden stands in stark contrast to four years ago , when Hillary Clinton was unable to win over a significant portion of the electorate ’ s left flank .
Sanders battled her to the end of the primary calendar and waged a bitter fight over the party platform before endorsing her and campaigning for her in the fall .
Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ push deeply wounded her campaign against Trump .
The Trump campaign sought to foment the same tension on Tuesday by arguing that the Democratic establishment is again asserting itself .
“ There is no greater concentration of Democrat establishment than Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton together , ” Brad Parscale , Trump 's campaign manager , said in a statement .
“ Both of them carry the baggage of decades in the Washington swamp and both of them schemed to keep the Democrat nomination from Bernie Sanders.
” Despite overlapping for decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden have never been especially close allies .
Biden ’ s nearest alignment with Hillary Clinton came during Obama ’ s first term , when Biden was vice president and Clinton was secretary of state .
Both had sought the Democratic nomination in 2008 — and both were dogged by their 2002 votes as senators in favor of the war powers resolution that President George W. Bush used to invade Iraq in 2003 .
Biden suggested in his 2017 book , “ Promise Me , Dad , ” that Obama favored Clinton ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Biden running .
With Obama by his side , Biden announced from the White House Rose Garden in 2015 that he wouldn ’ t seek the presidency the following year .
As first lady and secretary of state , Clinton was among the leading voices in women ’ s rights discussions around the world .
She made headlines during her husband ’ s first term with forceful advocacy for women during a United Nations conference in Beijing , where the Chinese government was under fire for human rights abuses .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new millennium , it is time to break our silence , ” Clinton said .
“ It is time for us to say here in Beijing , and the world to hear , that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women ’ s rights as separate from human rights.
” She punctuated her argument with a line that has been replayed and repeated countless times since : “ Human rights are women ’ s rights , and women ’ s rights are human rights.
” Yet Clinton ’ s advocacy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spotlight , she 's a polarizing figure who has been criticized for everything from her advocacy for health care reform in the 1990s to her decision to remain in her marriage following her husband ’ s affair with a White House intern .
Her presidential endorsement comes as a former Senate staffer has recently accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s , when he was a senator from Delaware .
Trump made Bill Clinton 's affairs an issue during the 2016 campaign despite his own indiscretions and allegations of sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fall of 2016 and has praised her during his 2020 run as someone who “ would have made a great president.
” But he ’ s also implicitly criticized her campaign by saying repeatedly that Democrats did a poor job of reaching white working-class voters who once helped anchor the Democratic coalition .
As recently as an April 15 fundraiser , Biden touted his own ability to win “ the kind of folks I grew up with , ” the “ high-school educated ” population who believe Democrats have abandoned them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the electorate when arguing he can win Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania — the three states where Clinton ’ s narrow losses handed Trump an Electoral College majority despite her national popular vote lead .

Hillary Clinton, the first woman to become a major party's presidential nominee, endorsed Joe Biden's White House bid on Tuesday, continuing Democrats' efforts to coalesce around the former vice president as he takes on President Donald Trump.
Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden smiles as former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton endorses him for president in a video screengrab made during an online town hall about the impact of Covid-19 disease on women run from Biden's home in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, April 28, 2020.
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Clinton made her announcement during a Biden campaign town hall to discuss the coronavirus and its effect on women. Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton assailed the Republican president's handling of the pandemic and hailed Biden's experience and temperament in comparison.
“Just think of what a difference it would make right now if we had a president who not only listened to the science ... but brought us together,” said Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential race to Trump. “Think of what it would mean if we had a real president,” Clinton continued, rather than a man who “plays one on TV.”
Biden, as a former vice president and six-term senator, “has been preparing for this moment his entire life," Clinton said. "This is a moment when we need a leader, a president like Joe Biden.”
With her historic candidacy, Clinton remains a powerful — and complex — figure in American life. Her 2016 campaign inspired many women, and her loss to Trump resonates to this day. The female candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary often faced skepticism that a woman could win the White House.
Biden has pledged to select a woman as his vice president.
Having competed against Trump, Clinton could offer Biden unique insight as he prepares for the November general election. Her endorsement is the latest example of leaders from across the party's ideological spectrum rallying behind Biden.
In recent weeks, the former vice president has picked up support from former President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and leading progressives such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Hillary Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, has not yet publicly endorsed Biden and has kept a lower profile during the Trump era.
Stark contrast to 2016
The swift unification around Biden stands in stark contrast to four years ago, when Hillary Clinton was unable to win over a significant portion of the electorate’s left flank. Sanders battled her to the end of the primary calendar and waged a bitter fight over the party platform before endorsing her and campaigning for her in the fall. Hillary and Bill Clinton have argued that Sanders’ push deeply wounded her campaign against Trump.
The Trump campaign sought to foment the same tension on Tuesday by arguing that the Democratic establishment is again asserting itself.
“There is no greater concentration of Democrat establishment than Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton together,” Brad Parscale, Trump's campaign manager, said in a statement. “Both of them carry the baggage of decades in the Washington swamp and both of them schemed to keep the Democrat nomination from Bernie Sanders.”
Despite overlapping for decades as Democratic heavyweights, the Clintons and Biden have never been especially close allies. Biden’s nearest alignment with Hillary Clinton came during Obama’s first term, when Biden was vice president and Clinton was secretary of state. Both had sought the Democratic nomination in 2008 — and both were dogged by their 2002 votes as senators in favor of the war powers resolution that President George W. Bush used to invade Iraq in 2003.
Biden suggested in his 2017 book, “Promise Me, Dad,” that Obama favored Clinton’s 2016 presidential bid over the possibility of Biden running. With Obama by his side, Biden announced from the White House Rose Garden in 2015 that he wouldn’t seek the presidency the following year.
As first lady and secretary of state, Clinton was among the leading voices in women’s rights discussions around the world. She made headlines during her husband’s first term with forceful advocacy for women during a United Nations conference in Beijing, where the Chinese government was under fire for human rights abuses.
“I believe that, on the eve of a new millennium, it is time to break our silence,” Clinton said. “It is time for us to say here in Beijing, and the world to hear, that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women’s rights as separate from human rights.”
She punctuated her argument with a line that has been replayed and repeated countless times since: “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.”
Yet Clinton’s advocacy for Biden presents complications. After decades in the spotlight, she's a polarizing figure who has been criticized for everything from her advocacy for health care reform in the 1990s to her decision to remain in her marriage following her husband’s affair with a White House intern.
Her presidential endorsement comes as a former Senate staffer has recently accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s, when he was a senator from Delaware. Trump made Bill Clinton's affairs an issue during the 2016 campaign despite his own indiscretions and allegations of sexual assault.
Biden campaigned for Hillary Clinton in the fall of 2016 and has praised her during his 2020 run as someone who “would have made a great president.”
But he’s also implicitly criticized her campaign by saying repeatedly that Democrats did a poor job of reaching white working-class voters who once helped anchor the Democratic coalition. As recently as an April 15 fundraiser, Biden touted his own ability to win “the kind of folks I grew up with,” the “high-school educated” population who believe Democrats have abandoned them.
And he regularly cites that slice of the electorate when arguing he can win Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — the three states where Clinton’s narrow losses handed Trump an Electoral College majority despite her national popular vote lead.
(AP)
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france24--2020-04-28--Women on the frontline (1/3): Nurses are patients' last contact before passing away

Medical staff are having to make tough decisions on who should and should not be given precious intensive care beds Every night , from their balconies and windows , the French publicly applaud healthcare workers and nursing staff on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 .
In France , nearly 90 percent of nurses are female .
So how are these women coping with this unprecedented crisis ?
FRANCE 24 spoke to four of them .
`` For the moment , our most important mission is to help patients but if this continues , they will have to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a palliative care nurse in Marseille , working 12 hours a day to care for people at the end of their life .
Like all hospitals and clinics in France , her department is constantly receiving critical Covid-19 cases : `` We have drastically reduced visits , so imagine telling families , who know their loved ones are at the end of their life , that they have no right to see them .
Psychologically , this is incredibly difficult for us .
We are their only contact before they die .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only one male employee out of 18 nurses .
It ’ s estimated that 88 percent of nurses are women , according to SNPI , a French union for nurses . '
I said to myself : if it ’ s positive , that 's it , I 'm finished' The 31-year-old nurse said her clinic recently saw a patient in the final stage of cancer who showed symptoms suggesting coronavirus .
`` He had a fever and respiratory failure .
He arrived at our department in the morning but the doctor decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the morning , I was in close contact with him without protection . ''
The result did not come back until the next day , creating enormous anxiety for Leslie .
`` I said to myself : if it 's positive , that 's it , I 'm finished . ''
It turned out that he was negative but Leslie was still furious at the lack of responsiveness from her superiors that had been the case since the pandemic broke out in France .
The same is true for Sylvie* .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and now works for a mobile emergency and resuscitation service in northern France .
As soon as she heard of the epidemic in China , she began to study the virus .
`` When I saw what was happening there , I said to myself , we had to prepare .
We ’ re now realising how serious the situation is ; we should have been better prepared , ” Sylvie said .
One morning , she was looking after a 22-year-old female patient who had a 40°C degree temperature while struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dog after a race , very short of breath .
We transferred her to intensive care as soon as she arrived . ''
Like many , Sylvie did not think that young people would be seriously at risk .
`` And here ’ s a concrete example of a 22-year-old suffering serious symptoms .
She has a good chance of coping but her case was very worrying , ” she said .
She worried that information was not being passed on to frontline workers .
`` We ’ re told that surgical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t believe it .
The doctors themselves are not even aware of all the measures to take when there is a doubt about a patient . ''
'We ended up wearing a mask a day when we should have changed it every three to four hours' Pauline* is a nursing assistant in Bordeaux .
In her cardiology department , as with all medical facilities in France , non-emergency operations have been postponed since mid-March at the government ’ s request .
Surrounded by a majority of women in her workplace ( 39 out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there had been a lack of equipment and problems with distribution .
`` As they were afraid of thefts , they stored everything in locked management offices .
Every time , we need a new mask , we have to ask permission to access their offices .
So we ended up wearing a mask a day when we should have changed it every three to four hours , '' Pauline told FRANCE 24 .
Many French healthcare workers have been openly critical about the lack of personal protective equipment since the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how big this storm is' In her unit , Virginie* , has at least 10 patients with Covid-19 .
The night nurse at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris does not complain but readily admits the work is relentless .
`` The infected patients come here .
We have to decide where to place them : send them home if it 's not too serious or send them to an intensive care unit when their condition deteriorates .
We also have to disinfect the rooms ; it does n't stop .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical knowledge , ” she told FRANCE 24 while saying she had never experienced a situation like this since she began working in 1996 .
Virginie added that she is “ a little anxious but not afraid '' .
In her department , made up mainly of women , two colleagues have caught the coronavirus .
`` The main thing is not to convey our anxieties to patients , but we have to be honest , we just do n't know how big this storm is . ''
This article has been translated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Young

Every night, from their balconies and windows, the French publicly applaud healthcare workers and nursing staff on the front line in the fight against Covid-19. In France, nearly 90 percent of nurses are female. So how are these women coping with this unprecedented crisis? FRANCE 24 spoke to four of them.
Medical staff are having to make tough decisions on who should and should not be given precious intensive care beds
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"For the moment, our most important mission is to help patients but if this continues, they will have to find cannon fodder elsewhere," said Leslie, a palliative care nurse in Marseille, working 12 hours a day to care for people at the end of their life.
Like all hospitals and clinics in France, her department is constantly receiving critical Covid-19 cases: "We have drastically reduced visits, so imagine telling families, who know their loved ones are at the end of their life, that they have no right to see them. Psychologically, this is incredibly difficult for us. We are their only contact before they die."
In her department, there is only one male employee out of 18 nurses. It’s estimated that 88 percent of nurses are women, according to SNPI, a French union for nurses.
'I said to myself: if it’s positive, that's it, I'm finished'
The 31-year-old nurse said her clinic recently saw a patient in the final stage of cancer who showed symptoms suggesting coronavirus. "He had a fever and respiratory failure. He arrived at our department in the morning but the doctor decided to test him at 2pm. Yet throughout the morning, I was in close contact with him without protection."
The result did not come back until the next day, creating enormous anxiety for Leslie. "I said to myself: if it's positive, that's it, I'm finished."
It turned out that he was negative but Leslie was still furious at the lack of responsiveness from her superiors that had been the case since the pandemic broke out in France. The same is true for Sylvie*. The 50-year-old nurse has been practicing for 20 years and now works for a mobile emergency and resuscitation service in northern France. As soon as she heard of the epidemic in China, she began to study the virus.
"When I saw what was happening there, I said to myself, we had to prepare. We’re now realising how serious the situation is; we should have been better prepared,” Sylvie said.
One morning, she was looking after a 22-year-old female patient who had a 40°C degree temperature while struggling for oxygen: "She was like a dog after a race, very short of breath. We transferred her to intensive care as soon as she arrived."
Like many, Sylvie did not think that young people would be seriously at risk. "And here’s a concrete example of a 22-year-old suffering serious symptoms. She has a good chance of coping but her case was very worrying,” she said.
She worried that information was not being passed on to frontline workers. "We’re told that surgical masks are enough but we don’t believe it. The doctors themselves are not even aware of all the measures to take when there is a doubt about a patient."
'We ended up wearing a mask a day when we should have changed it every three to four hours'
Pauline* is a nursing assistant in Bordeaux. In her cardiology department, as with all medical facilities in France, non-emergency operations have been postponed since mid-March at the government’s request.
Surrounded by a majority of women in her workplace (39 out of 40 nurses), she confirmed there had been a lack of equipment and problems with distribution.
"As they were afraid of thefts, they stored everything in locked management offices. Every time, we need a new mask, we have to ask permission to access their offices. So we ended up wearing a mask a day when we should have changed it every three to four hours," Pauline told FRANCE 24.
Many French healthcare workers have been openly critical about the lack of personal protective equipment since the beginning of the pandemic.
'We just don't know how big this storm is'
In her unit, Virginie*, has at least 10 patients with Covid-19. The night nurse at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris does not complain but readily admits the work is relentless.
"The infected patients come here. We have to decide where to place them: send them home if it's not too serious or send them to an intensive care unit when their condition deteriorates. We also have to disinfect the rooms; it doesn't stop. It’s making us question all of our medical knowledge,” she told FRANCE 24 while saying she had never experienced a situation like this since she began working in 1996.
Virginie added that she is “a little anxious but not afraid".
In her department, made up mainly of women, two colleagues have caught the coronavirus. "The main thing is not to convey our anxieties to patients, but we have to be honest, we just don't know how big this storm is."
*Names have been changed
This article has been translated from the original in French by Annette Young
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france24--2020-04-28--Strain of Covid-19 lockdown spurs calls for rent relief in hard-hit Paris suburbs

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the hardship in France ’ s most deprived suburbs , where families stripped of income struggle to pay their rent .
While some landlords have suggested deferring payments , tenants want them cancelled outright .
Holed up in a shabby apartment block with her children , Aminata* has gone without pay for much of this year .
“ I was sick in February and couldn ’ t work , ” says the widow and mother of two .
“ And since the start of the lockdown , I ’ ve had to stay at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the spread of Covid-19 , France ’ s nationwide lockdown has come at a huge financial cost for businesses and households alike .
But it hasn ’ t stopped the rent reminder from coming .
Aminata is charged a monthly €368 for her apartment in the Mail de Fontenay , a massive social-housing block in La Courneuve , north of Paris .
Though capped by law , the rent is still too high for the cleaner , who has effectively been made redundant by the virus .
Aly Diouara , who heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s building , is accustomed to hearing such pleas for help .
He says he has received several each day since the start of the lockdown , on March 17 .
Home to more than 1,200 residents , housed in 300 apartments , their monolithic block is the last of its kind in the Cité des 4000 , La Courneuve ’ s most notorious housing estate .
At least a third of the block ’ s residents now struggle to pay their rent , Diouara tells FRANCE 24 ’ s Banlieue Project , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be as many as two thirds.
” Set up in 2016 , Diouara ’ s association was designed to defend the interests of tenants amid plans to demolish the Mail de Fontenay by 2026 .
That now feels like a distant threat to residents faced with a “ vital health emergency ” , and the association ’ s priorities have changed accordingly .
Its members have petitioned landlords from the public and private sectors to suspend rent payments for residents of the block – and for other struggling households in the Paris suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the petition had garnered more than 2,400 signatures .
Similar demands have emerged across Seine-Saint-Denis , France ’ s poorest département and the most densely populated after Paris .
Last week , the Office public de l ’ habitat ( OPH ) in nearby Bobigny , a social-housing provider , announced it would cancel rent payments for the month of April , which would have been due at the start of May .
The move will benefit some 4,000 tenants , at a cost of €1.6 million for their landlord .
The Fondation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prominent housing charity , has described OPH ’ s decision as “ exaggerated ” , calling instead for targeted initiatives aimed at the poorest households .
In an interview with AFP , the Fondation ’ s director of studies , Manuel Domergue , warned that granting tenants a complete suspension of rent would put social housing providers in an impossible financial position .
“ The Abbé Pierre must be turning in his grave ” over such arguments , sighs Diouara , referring to the charity ’ s charismatic founder .
“ The Fondation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should stick to their turf and let us handle ours , ” adds the 33-year-old , for whom the decision in Bobigny is obviously good news .
“ It puts landlords in the spot by setting a precedent , ” he explains .
“ They can no longer argue that suspending rent payments for some tenants is unfair to others.
” Meanwhile , tenants of the Mail de Fontenay in La Courneuve are still waiting for their landlords to make a gesture .
“ Everyone ’ s just passing the buck , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials call upon the state , so they don ’ t have to cough up the money , while the state hides behind other measures , like hiking housing allowances or extending the ‘ winter truce ’ , ” he adds , referring to France ’ s traditional winter ban on housing evictions , which the government has extended for two months .
“ But those who go hungry have no time for the meanderings of administration , ” Diouara warns .
“ While they squabble in their offices , we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Bobigny , the municipal authorities have agreed to split the bill with OPH , each of them covering 50 percent of the rent waiver .
Seine-Saint-Denis Habitat , the department ’ s biggest social-housing provider , is opting instead for a case-by-case policy .
Contacted by FRANCE 24 , it said it had already deferred rent payments for more than 1,000 households — out of the 85,000 tenants it counts across 30 municipalities of the neuf-trois .
Aminata has seen her rent payments deferred too , but Diouara says such measures are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of slipping deeper into a “ spiral of debt ” .
“ Aminata has health problems , she has trouble feeding her children… And all they offer her is to reschedule her rent .
We must end this negative spiral , ” he insists , noting that residents of Seine-Saint-Denis have already paid a steep price for the coronavirus pandemic .
While Seine-Saint-Denis was hit by Covid-19 later than other territories , health officials have since declared it one of four French départements suffering from an “ exceptional ” spike in deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarters and a lack of doctors and hospital beds has left the local population particularly exposed to the virus .
And while many Parisians fled to countryside residences or switched to working from home , the capital ’ s poorer suburbs have supplied most of the low-wage workers who keep the metropolis running .
“ We ’ re paying not because the virus targeted the 93 [ Seine-Saint-Denis ’ department number ] , but because ( .. ) of an accumulation of inequalities that have made the situation here so much more dramatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The social crisis was already here , the debt crisis was also here before ; the health emergency has only exacerbated them.
” Hoping to give more weight to their demands , Diouara and his associates have teamed up with other associations from neighbouring suburbs .
Now that they have pooled together , he warns that they won ’ t give up the fight until they have secured a “ new social contract ” that guarantees affordable housing for all .
*Their name has been changed This article has been translated from @ @ @ @ @

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the hardship in France’s most deprived suburbs, where families stripped of income struggle to pay their rent. While some landlords have suggested deferring payments, tenants want them cancelled outright.
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Holed up in a shabby apartment block with her children, Aminata* has gone without pay for much of this year.
“I was sick in February and couldn’t work,” says the widow and mother of two. “And since the start of the lockdown, I’ve had to stay at home, without my wages.”
Designed to slow the spread of Covid-19, France’s nationwide lockdown has come at a huge financial cost for businesses and households alike. But it hasn’t stopped the rent reminder from coming.
Aminata is charged a monthly €368 for her apartment in the Mail de Fontenay, a massive social-housing block in La Courneuve, north of Paris. Though capped by law, the rent is still too high for the cleaner, who has effectively been made redundant by the virus.
Aly Diouara, who heads an association of tenants in Aminata’s building, is accustomed to hearing such pleas for help. He says he has received several each day since the start of the lockdown, on March 17.
Home to more than 1,200 residents, housed in 300 apartments, their monolithic block is the last of its kind in the Cité des 4000, La Courneuve’s most notorious housing estate. At least a third of the block’s residents now struggle to pay their rent, Diouara tells FRANCE 24’s Banlieue Project, before adding: “It could well be as many as two thirds.”
Set up in 2016, Diouara’s association was designed to defend the interests of tenants amid plans to demolish the Mail de Fontenay by 2026. That now feels like a distant threat to residents faced with a “vital health emergency”, and the association’s priorities have changed accordingly.
Its members have petitioned landlords from the public and private sectors to suspend rent payments for residents of the block – and for other struggling households in the Paris suburbs. By Tuesday, April 28, the petition had garnered more than 2,400 signatures.
Who foots the bill?
Similar demands have emerged across Seine-Saint-Denis, France’s poorest département and the most densely populated after Paris.
Last week, the Office public de l’habitat (OPH) in nearby Bobigny, a social-housing provider, announced it would cancel rent payments for the month of April, which would have been due at the start of May. The move will benefit some 4,000 tenants, at a cost of €1.6 million for their landlord.
The Fondation Abbé Pierre, France’s most prominent housing charity, has described OPH’s decision as “exaggerated”, calling instead for targeted initiatives aimed at the poorest households. In an interview with AFP, the Fondation’s director of studies, Manuel Domergue, warned that granting tenants a complete suspension of rent would put social housing providers in an impossible financial position.
“The Abbé Pierre must be turning in his grave” over such arguments, sighs Diouara, referring to the charity’s charismatic founder. “The Fondation never comes to our estates; they should stick to their turf and let us handle ours,” adds the 33-year-old, for whom the decision in Bobigny is obviously good news.
“It puts landlords in the spot by setting a precedent,” he explains. “They can no longer argue that suspending rent payments for some tenants is unfair to others.”
Meanwhile, tenants of the Mail de Fontenay in La Courneuve are still waiting for their landlords to make a gesture.
“Everyone’s just passing the buck,” says Diouara. “Local landlords and officials call upon the state, so they don’t have to cough up the money, while the state hides behind other measures, like hiking housing allowances or extending the ‘winter truce’,” he adds, referring to France’s traditional winter ban on housing evictions, which the government has extended for two months.
“But those who go hungry have no time for the meanderings of administration,” Diouara warns. “While they squabble in their offices, we want to go on living in our homes.”
In Bobigny, the municipal authorities have agreed to split the bill with OPH, each of them covering 50 percent of the rent waiver. Seine-Saint-Denis Habitat, the department’s biggest social-housing provider, is opting instead for a case-by-case policy. Contacted by FRANCE 24, it said it had already deferred rent payments for more than 1,000 households — out of the 85,000 tenants it counts across 30 municipalities of the neuf-trois.
Debt spiral
Aminata has seen her rent payments deferred too, but Diouara says such measures are insufficient. He points to the risk of slipping deeper into a “spiral of debt”.
“Aminata has health problems, she has trouble feeding her children… And all they offer her is to reschedule her rent. We must end this negative spiral,” he insists, noting that residents of Seine-Saint-Denis have already paid a steep price for the coronavirus pandemic.
>> Violence flares in tense Paris suburbs as heavy-handed lockdown stirs ‘explosive cocktail’
While Seine-Saint-Denis was hit by Covid-19 later than other territories, health officials have since declared it one of four French départements suffering from an “exceptional” spike in deaths.
The combination of large families in cramped quarters and a lack of doctors and hospital beds has left the local population particularly exposed to the virus. And while many Parisians fled to countryside residences or switched to working from home, the capital’s poorer suburbs have supplied most of the low-wage workers who keep the metropolis running.
“We’re paying not because the virus targeted the 93 [Seine-Saint-Denis’ department number], but because (..) of an accumulation of inequalities that have made the situation here so much more dramatic than elsewhere,” Diouara explains. “The social crisis was already here, the debt crisis was also here before; the health emergency has only exacerbated them.”
Hoping to give more weight to their demands, Diouara and his associates have teamed up with other associations from neighbouring suburbs. Now that they have pooled together, he warns that they won’t give up the fight until they have secured a “new social contract” that guarantees affordable housing for all.
*Their name has been changed
This article has been translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-04-28--Hard-hit Spain charts course out of Covid-19 lockdown

Spain will transition out of its strict virus lockdown in four phases through the end of June , Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Tuesday .
Since March 14 , Spain has enforced one of the world 's strictest lockdowns in a bid to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus epidemic that has so far claimed nearly 24,000 lives in the country .
Experts believe the epidemic peaked on April 2 when 950 people died over 24 hours .
The Spanish cabinet met for hours on Tuesday to approve a plan for gradually reducing the restrictions .
`` In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a minimum of six weeks and the maximum duration we want to see is eight weeks for the whole of Spain , '' Sanchez said .
`` By the end of June , we as a country will have entered into the new normality if the epidemic remains under control , '' he said .
Spain , he said , has already entered into a preparatory `` phase zero '' , which is likely to last until May 11 when phase one would allow small shops , hotels , restaurants and places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis with strict respect for social distancing norms .
Each of the four phases will last no more than two weeks and will be evaluated on a weekly basis , he said , without giving fixed dates .
Spain has ranked third in terms of COVID-19 fatalities after the United States and Italy , but the toll has been gradually dropping .
On Tuesday , Spain said it had suffered another 301 deaths in 24 hours in what was the fifth consecutive day the figure had been below 400 .
On Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time in six weeks , allowing them to go into the streets for one hour a day , with one parent , within a one-kilometre ( half-mile ) radius of their home .
And on May 2 , Sanchez has mooted another easing of the restrictions , saying the rest of the population will be allowed out for brief walks or to exercise .

Spain will transition out of its strict virus lockdown in four phases through the end of June, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Tuesday.
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Since March 14, Spain has enforced one of the world's strictest lockdowns in a bid to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus epidemic that has so far claimed nearly 24,000 lives in the country.
Experts believe the epidemic peaked on April 2 when 950 people died over 24 hours.
The Spanish cabinet met for hours on Tuesday to approve a plan for gradually reducing the restrictions.
"In the best-case scenario, this de-escalation phase will take a minimum of six weeks and the maximum duration we want to see is eight weeks for the whole of Spain," Sanchez said.
"By the end of June, we as a country will have entered into the new normality if the epidemic remains under control," he said.
Spain, he said, has already entered into a preparatory "phase zero", which is likely to last until May 11 when phase one would allow small shops, hotels, restaurants and places of worship to open on a limited basis with strict respect for social distancing norms.
Each of the four phases will last no more than two weeks and will be evaluated on a weekly basis, he said, without giving fixed dates.
Spain has ranked third in terms of COVID-19 fatalities after the United States and Italy, but the toll has been gradually dropping.
On Tuesday, Spain said it had suffered another 301 deaths in 24 hours in what was the fifth consecutive day the figure had been below 400.
On Sunday, Spain began letting children out for the first time in six weeks, allowing them to go into the streets for one hour a day, with one parent, within a one-kilometre (half-mile) radius of their home.
And on May 2, Sanchez has mooted another easing of the restrictions, saying the rest of the population will be allowed out for brief walks or to exercise.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-28--French football and rugby won't start again until September

The lawn of a stadium in Saint-Denis , France , empty due to the Covid-10 pandemic on March 14 , 2020 .
French professional sports leagues including football and rugby can not restart before September because of coronavirus restrictions , Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Tuesday .
Philippe made the announcement as part of a gradual plan to lift the lockdown in France .
He said no event where more than 5,000 people gather would be allowed until at least September .
`` The 2019-2020 professional sports leagues , notably football , can not yet restart , '' Philippe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the National Assembly .
`` I would like to be precise here , no large sports gathering or any gathering of 5,000 people or more , needing the permission of the local police and long prior arrangements , will be allowed before September , '' Philippe said .
French President Emmanuel Macron said two weeks ago that no large gatherings would be allowed before mid-July , so this new announcement pushes the ban a further six weeks at least .
The announcement appears to scupper the plans of French football 's top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June with players being recalled as of May 11 .
Last Friday the French Football League ( LFP ) indicated its preferred option was a resumption of leagues in mid-June subject to knowing the terms of easing confinement measures .
French Football Federation ( FFF ) president Noel Le Graet hopes both the French Cup and League Cup finals can be played before the league season restarts , whenever that is .
Paris Saint-Germain are due to meet Saint-Etienne in the French Cup , while Thomas Tuchel 's side are scheduled to face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the German Football League ( DFL ) signalled that it is ready to resume from May 9 , albeit behind closed doors and with players tested regularly for the virus .
The DFL still needs permission from German Chancellor Merkel and the leaders of the states , who are due to meet on Thursday .
The news is also likely to affect the Tour de France , due to embark from Nice on August 29 and where huge crowds would be expected to gather at the start and finish lines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the start of the Paris-Nice eight day race in February , where there was a restricted number of fans at the Versailles start and none at all at the finish and start lines after that .
The three-week Tour de France has been moved back two months and shifted out of its traditional slot in the summer holidays , when roadside crowds of around 12 million would be expected to gather over the course of the race .
In better news cyclists , who have been in lockdown like the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the green light to start individual training on French roads .
France is currently under a nationwide lockdown until May 11 and around 23,000 people have died so far of coronavirus-linked illnesses in the country .

French professional sports leagues including football and rugby cannot restart before September because of coronavirus restrictions, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Tuesday.
The lawn of a stadium in Saint-Denis, France, empty due to the Covid-10 pandemic on March 14, 2020.
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Philippe made the announcement as part of a gradual plan to lift the lockdown in France. He said no event where more than 5,000 people gather would be allowed until at least September.
"The 2019-2020 professional sports leagues, notably football, cannot yet restart," Philippe told a televised address to French parliament at the National Assembly.
"I would like to be precise here, no large sports gathering or any gathering of 5,000 people or more, needing the permission of the local police and long prior arrangements, will be allowed before September," Philippe said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said two weeks ago that no large gatherings would be allowed before mid-July, so this new announcement pushes the ban a further six weeks at least.
The announcement appears to scupper the plans of French football's top division Ligue 1 to start again in June with players being recalled as of May 11.
Last Friday the French Football League (LFP) indicated its preferred option was a resumption of leagues in mid-June subject to knowing the terms of easing confinement measures.
French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet hopes both the French Cup and League Cup finals can be played before the league season restarts, whenever that is.
Paris Saint-Germain are due to meet Saint-Etienne in the French Cup, while Thomas Tuchel's side are scheduled to face Lyon in the League Cup.
Last week, the German Football League (DFL) signalled that it is ready to resume from May 9, albeit behind closed doors and with players tested regularly for the virus.
The DFL still needs permission from German Chancellor Merkel and the leaders of the states, who are due to meet on Thursday.
Tour de France crowds conundrum
The news is also likely to affect the Tour de France, due to embark from Nice on August 29 and where huge crowds would be expected to gather at the start and finish lines.
Tour de France organisers ASO limited crowds at the start of the Paris-Nice eight day race in February, where there was a restricted number of fans at the Versailles start and none at all at the finish and start lines after that.
The three-week Tour de France has been moved back two months and shifted out of its traditional slot in the summer holidays, when roadside crowds of around 12 million would be expected to gather over the course of the race.
In better news cyclists, who have been in lockdown like the rest of France since March 17, were given the green light to start individual training on French roads.
France is currently under a nationwide lockdown until May 11 and around 23,000 people have died so far of coronavirus-linked illnesses in the country.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-28--Migrants in Niger protest seemingly endless quarantine

In an attempt to control the spread of Covid-19 , hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been under lockdown for more than three weeks in a camp in northern Niger where they are awaiting repatriation after being kicked out of Algeria .
On 20 April , a small group of desperate people forced open the doors of one of the shops in the camp and stole goods .
Our Observer , who witnessed the robbery , says that conditions in the camp under lockdown have become unbearable .
Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa ended up in Niger after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
The International Organization for Migration ( IOM ) has been working in Niger to help repatriate these migrants back to their home countries .
Their mission has become much more difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic as many countries shut their borders .
On 2 April , smugglers abandoned more than 250 migrants along the border between Niger and Libya .
Before they can be sent back to their home countries , the migrants must transit through one of the four centres located in the north of Niger , near the borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The IOM reports that there are nearly 640 migrants currently placed in the Arlit camp in the Agadez region , which is 240 kilometres south of the Algerian border .
Algeria also sent undocumented migrants working illegally in the country to the Nigerien border .
Hundreds of migrants were first put in the Assamaka camp and then in the Arlit camp .
Arlit is where , on 20 April , several migrants staged protests , calling for better living conditions .
They also looted a shop run by the IOM .

NIGER
Lockdown orders have had a devastating effect on migrants from sub-Saharan Africa who were kicked out of Algeria and have been living in camps in the border town of Arlit, Niger.
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In an attempt to control the spread of Covid-19, hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been under lockdown for more than three weeks in a camp in northern Niger where they are awaiting repatriation after being kicked out of Algeria. On 20 April, a small group of desperate people forced open the doors of one of the shops in the camp and stole goods. Our Observer, who witnessed the robbery, says that conditions in the camp under lockdown have become unbearable.
Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa ended up in Niger after Algerian authorities forcibly removed them from the country. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been working in Niger to help repatriate these migrants back to their home countries. Their mission has become much more difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic as many countries shut their borders. On 2 April, smugglers abandoned more than 250 migrants along the border between Niger and Libya.
Before they can be sent back to their home countries, the migrants must transit through one of the four centres located in the north of Niger, near the borders with Libya, Chad and Algeria. The IOM reports that there are nearly 640 migrants currently placed in the Arlit camp in the Agadez region, which is 240 kilometres south of the Algerian border.
Algeria also sent undocumented migrants working illegally in the country to the Nigerien border. Hundreds of migrants were first put in the Assamaka camp and then in the Arlit camp. Arlit is where, on 20 April, several migrants staged protests, calling for better living conditions. They also looted a shop run by the IOM.
“Lots of migrants were deported from Algeria still wearing their work clothes, which were often ripped or covered with paint or cement”
Rafa [not his real name] is a migrant from sub-Saharan Africa who spent about a year working without papers in the Algerian town of Oran. On 14 March, he was rounded up by the Algerian authorities and dropped off at the border with Niger. Rafa has been living in Arlit since early April and has to undergo quarantine before being repatriated. He told the FRANCE 24 Observers about why the migrants in Arlit started protesting.
We haven’t seen a single official here since we arrived on 4 April. No one from the IOM or the town of Arlit has come to the camp. That’s why we decided to hold a protest. Soldiers, police officers and gendarmes carrying heavy weapons surrounded us. But we decided it was time to stage a bit of a revolt! People from the camp managed to enter Assamaka [Editor’s note: a town on the Algerian border]. A representative from the Niger government came to talk to us. “We understand your concerns,” he told us. “But you need to do a two-week quarantine. It’s obligatory.”
Our Observer sent this photo of camp Arlit.
We stayed in Arlit for 15 days. But at the end of the quarantine period, no one came to see us. We waited another day and, still, no one came. So we decided to demand talks with the IOM. No one provided us with soap and towels. Lots of people who came from Algeria with me were deported in their work clothes, which, in many cases, were dirty, ripped or covered with paint or cement.
“In the camp shop, there was everything we needed”
On 20 April, some of the camp residents started an uprising. A few people started to think, “We can find everything we need in the shops,” and broke into one. I went into one of the shops and I saw that there were a lot of items of clothing and essential goods [Editor’s note: primarily cleaning products] that we didn’t have. That’s when the police arrived. They let off tear gas, even in the streets of the town.
At least 13 people were arrested and brought to the police station, where they are still being detained [Editor’s note: Rafa gave his account on 24 April]. Those who fled the camp to escape the tear gas were barred from reentering. On the morning of April 22, the police prefect came to the camp to try and negotiate the reentry of these people but officials wouldn’t let everyone go back in. As I speak, some of them are still sleeping in front of the camp, some on pieces of cardboard. Some people tried to climb over the gate, but it has barbed wire on it. For the time being, police and gendarmes are keeping watch over the camp.
The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke with Barbara Rijks, who runs the IOM mission in Niger.
There was some unrest in the centre. The migrants are frustrated, which is perfectly understandable. We told them that the borders are closed. Unfortunately, some of the migrants are directing their anger at IOM staff, who are also frustrated by the situation. To my knowledge, there was a quarantine site at Arlit, but it closed on April 11. Now, it is just a transit centre.
“The IOM owes us an explanation”
Rafa says that the “revolt” occurred because there was no communication or dialogue between migrants living in the centre and IOM officials, who run the Arlit camp. When they arrived in Assamaka, the migrants didn’t have access to potable water or any sleeping mats. There were only four tents for a total of 900 people.
Our Observer says that his belongings, including money and his cellphone, were taken from him in Algeria. Many other migrants have shared similar accounts.
In order to facilitate dialogue with IOM officials and improve their living conditions, the migrants nominated delegates to represent each nationality present on the site: Malian, Guinean, Cameroonian, Beninese. However Rafa says that discussions still haven’t taken place.
Quarantine is unbearable in these conditions. We already spent 14 days in isolation in Assamaka. Getting to Arlit was a small victory for us. A bit of hope. For us, coming here meant that everyone would be sent back to their respective countries. But when we got to Arlit, we found out that we’d have to endure 15 more days of quarantine. No complaints about the food; we’ve been eating well. But we’ve been in the camp for almost three weeks and we haven’t seen a single official. We only see security guards. No one from the IOM has come to explain what is going to happen to us. They owe us an explanation. Right now, all that we know is that we were kicked out of Algeria and everyone has to go back to his or her country of origin. But we can’t go back because of coronavirus!
The IOM says that, for the time being, it’s not possible for the migrants to go back to their home countries.
We understand their frustration, but we have staff on site who are also stuck in this difficult situation. We are talking to them about how to avoid infection and we’ve provided internet access so that the migrants can look up information themselves. We’ve reduced the number of personnel on site to limit the risk of infection and transmission. Sometimes it is hard to get across the right information -- lots of them don’t believe that the borders are closed because lots of people are still crossing illegally. Under normal circumstances, people stay in the camp for two or three weeks but quite a lot of them don’t have any identity documents so it takes longer. Since the borders have been shut down, we’ve had to negotiate with Niger officials to open up border posts and let people return to their home countries. However, we are still waiting for a green light from the home countries of these migrants, which include Mali, Nigeria, Guinea and Benin. For the time being, these people can’t yet leave Niger.
Article by Fatma Ben Hamad.


france24--2020-04-28--Five-week voyage: Dutch students sail home amid Covid-19 travel restrictions

A group of 25 Dutch high school students arrived home on Sunday after five weeks of sailing across the Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ on a sail-study program in the Caribbean when the Covid-19 pandemic scuppered their plans to @ @ @ @ @ restrictions introduced to control the spread of the virus made it impossible to fly home @ @ @ @ @ instead decided to sail back to the Netherlands on the ship the students had been @ @ @ @ @ sometimes it ’ s difficult that a boat is a very tiny space and you @ @ @ @ @ of people .
So sometimes it ’ s very difficult that you can get annoyed @ @ @ @ @ Lotte , one of the students on board , who are all aged 14-17 , @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s very quickly solved because you are in such a small space so @ @ @ @ @ quickly.
” The Netherlands ’ social distancing rules meant students had to leave the boat @ @ @ @ @ being reunited with their families .

A group of 25 Dutch high school students arrived home on Sunday after five weeks of sailing across the Atlantic. The students had been on a sail-study program in the Caribbean when the Covid-19 pandemic scuppered their plans to fly home.
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After travel restrictions introduced to control the spread of the virus made it impossible to fly home from Cuba, trip organisers instead decided to sail back to the Netherlands on the ship the students had been learning on.
“Well sometimes it’s difficult that a boat is a very tiny space and you’re with a lot of people. So sometimes it’s very difficult that you can get annoyed very easily,” said Lotte, one of the students on board, who are all aged 14-17, told Reuters. “But it’s very quickly solved because you are in such a small space so you have to solve it quickly.”
The Netherlands’ social distancing rules meant students had to leave the boat one by one before finally being reunited with their families.
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