france24--2020-04-29--Covid-19: How scientists are keeping politics out of the global race for a vaccine

As the world races to combat the coronavirus , one nation is notably absent from multinational efforts : the United States .
But scientists say that for now , the international research community is working together to do all it can .
Global actors are joining forces on multiple fronts to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control .
On April 24 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) held a virtual conference to launch an international collaboration to accelerate the development and production of the health technologies necessary to do so .
The United States did not participate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint call for action .
Next Monday , May 4 , the European Commission will respond to that call by hosting a global virtual conference to raise money from countries and business foundations to fund the development of tests , treatments and a vaccine for the coronavirus .
It has invited “ governments , business leaders , public figures , philanthropists , artists and citizens ” to help with its efforts to raise the €7.5 billion it has set as its initial target .
Announced partners include France , Germany , the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It remains unclear if the US will take part .
Under President Donald Trump ’ s “ America First ” doctrine , the US has tended to favour unilateral action and eschew cooperation with international organisations .
Case in point : On March 14 , Trump announced that he was suspending funding to the WHO , which has spearheaded the global response to the pandemic .
With an annual input of about $ 400 million , the US is the biggest contributor to the organisation ; the reduction in funds comes at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean in the battle against a virus that – as global health experts have repeatedly reminded us – knows no borders and requires coordinated action remains to be seen .
On the scientific front , the impact may be minimal .
While global cooperation and the sharing of expertise and information is critical , it also happens largely without government involvement and , as of now , continues unimpeded , said Laurent Humeau , chief scientific officer at Inovio Pharmaceuticals .
Humeau ’ s team has relied on the sequencing of the genome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia and has cooperated with researchers in South Korea and the UK .
“ It ’ s a community that is moving very fast and we need everyone else ’ s help to get a vaccine , ” he said .
“ It ’ s absolutely critical for us to have this network of scientists.
” The Inovio team is part of the WHO ’ s R & D Blueprint , which pulls together a coalition of experts and allows for “ the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US and the WHO , key health personnel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and the National Institutes of Health continue to be part of the global scientific dialogue .
For now , the international research community is working together to do all it can .
“ We keep pushing as fast – it ’ s not as fast as we can run , but as fast as we can fly , ” Humeau said .
Unless governments issue restrictions – such as those the US imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist in a sphere separate from science , said Gregory Poland , director of the Mayo Clinic ’ s Vaccine Research Group and who also edits the international journal Vaccine .
“ You ’ re not working in a political framework – at least in the US – you ’ re working in a scientific framework , ” Poland said .
Researchers end up primarily communicating through journals and meetings and , perhaps most importantly in the current crisis , on `` preprint servers '' , where researchers place articles before they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That has been the primary way that scientists have been communicating with one another , ” Poland said .
There may even be a silver lining to a little bit of distance between researchers , said Peter Hotez , dean for the National School of Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine .
“ The US and Europe sometimes have different approaches to vaccine development and how to support vaccine science , and that may not be so bad because it creates additional opportunities for innovation , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ones that preceded it , will finally have helped people understand how interrelated their nations are .
“ We ’ ve had multiple examples now , that anything that happens anywhere on this globe is maybe , at most , 36 hours away from Europe or North America , ” he said .
“ There ’ s where you need a lot of cooperation , for example , on surveillance , on what is happening where , because – literally – days are lives.
” Finding a vaccine is only a first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow in the Global Health Programme at Chatham House .
“ The fact that scientists are talking to each other is admirable , because sharing what we are learning about vaccine development is , of course , hugely important , '' Salisbury said .
“ But that is the beginning of the story … Ultimately , we ’ ve got to get from developing a vaccine to manufacturing and buying it country by country , and then we ’ re into a political world that has left the scientists behind … The critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first dose , it ’ s when do we get enough.
” Manufacturing and distributing a vaccine will be herculean tasks for a disease that potentially affects everyone on the planet , and that ’ s where a new set of potential problems arises .
“ You could imagine a philosophy of America First that might actually prevent vaccines manufactured in the US from leaving the US until everyone [ there ] had been vaccinated , ” Salisbury said .
“ Or what if the EU says we will prioritise European customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what becomes available when and for whom.
” Salisbury said that countries that can ’ t afford to pay market rate also risk getting pushed to the bottom of “ this great long list of customers ” .
The international community needs to consider carefully how what are certain to be scarce supplies to begin with get distributed .
“ How do we share a hugely valuable resource equitably ?
” he asked .
“ I don ’ t know that we have a solution yet .
”

As the world races to combat the coronavirus, one nation is notably absent from multinational efforts: the United States. But scientists say that for now, the international research community is working together to do all it can.
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Global actors are joining forces on multiple fronts to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control. On April 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) held a virtual conference to launch an international collaboration to accelerate the development and production of the health technologies necessary to do so. The United States did not participate in the conference, which culminated in a joint call for action.
Next Monday, May 4, the European Commission will respond to that call by hosting a global virtual conference to raise money from countries and business foundations to fund the development of tests, treatments and a vaccine for the coronavirus. It has invited “governments, business leaders, public figures, philanthropists, artists and citizens” to help with its efforts to raise the €7.5 billion it has set as its initial target. Announced partners include France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Saudi Arabia. It remains unclear if the US will take part.
Under President Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine, the US has tended to favour unilateral action and eschew cooperation with international organisations. Case in point: On March 14, Trump announced that he was suspending funding to the WHO, which has spearheaded the global response to the pandemic. With an annual input of about $400 million, the US is the biggest contributor to the organisation; the reduction in funds comes at a vital moment.
What all that will mean in the battle against a virus that – as global health experts have repeatedly reminded us – knows no borders and requires coordinated action remains to be seen.
Politics a separate sphere from science
On the scientific front, the impact may be minimal. While global cooperation and the sharing of expertise and information is critical, it also happens largely without government involvement and, as of now, continues unimpeded, said Laurent Humeau, chief scientific officer at Inovio Pharmaceuticals.
Humeau’s team has relied on the sequencing of the genome provided by China, genetic material from Australia and has cooperated with researchers in South Korea and the UK. “It’s a community that is moving very fast and we need everyone else’s help to get a vaccine,” he said. “It’s absolutely critical for us to have this network of scientists.”
The Inovio team is part of the WHO’s R & D Blueprint, which pulls together a coalition of experts and allows for “the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics”.
And despite the public distance between the US and the WHO, key health personnel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health continue to be part of the global scientific dialogue. For now, the international research community is working together to do all it can. “We keep pushing as fast – it’s not as fast as we can run, but as fast as we can fly,” Humeau said.
Unless governments issue restrictions – such as those the US imposed on stem-cell research – politics tends to exist in a sphere separate from science, said Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group and who also edits the international journal Vaccine. “You’re not working in a political framework – at least in the US – you’re working in a scientific framework,” Poland said.
Researchers end up primarily communicating through journals and meetings and, perhaps most importantly in the current crisis, on "preprint servers", where researchers place articles before they have gone through peer review and been published. “That has been the primary way that scientists have been communicating with one another,” Poland said.
There may even be a silver lining to a little bit of distance between researchers, said Peter Hotez, dean for the National School of Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. “The US and Europe sometimes have different approaches to vaccine development and how to support vaccine science, and that may not be so bad because it creates additional opportunities for innovation,” he said.
Pushed to the bottom?
Poland hopes that this pandemic, unlike the ones that preceded it, will finally have helped people understand how interrelated their nations are. “We’ve had multiple examples now, that anything that happens anywhere on this globe is maybe, at most, 36 hours away from Europe or North America,” he said. “There’s where you need a lot of cooperation, for example, on surveillance, on what is happening where, because – literally – days are lives.”
Finding a vaccine is only a first step, warned David Salisbury, associate fellow in the Global Health Programme at Chatham House. “The fact that scientists are talking to each other is admirable, because sharing what we are learning about vaccine development is, of course, hugely important," Salisbury said. “But that is the beginning of the story … Ultimately, we’ve got to get from developing a vaccine to manufacturing and buying it country by country, and then we’re into a political world that has left the scientists behind … The critical thing is not when do we get the first dose, it’s when do we get enough.”
Manufacturing and distributing a vaccine will be herculean tasks for a disease that potentially affects everyone on the planet, and that’s where a new set of potential problems arises. “You could imagine a philosophy of America First that might actually prevent vaccines manufactured in the US from leaving the US until everyone [there] had been vaccinated,” Salisbury said. “Or what if the EU says we will prioritise European customers first? Geopolitics becomes really important in what becomes available when and for whom.”
Salisbury said that countries that can’t afford to pay market rate also risk getting pushed to the bottom of “this great long list of customers”. The international community needs to consider carefully how what are certain to be scarce supplies to begin with get distributed.
“How do we share a hugely valuable resource equitably?” he asked. “I don’t know that we have a solution yet.”
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france24--2020-04-29--Special programme: Brazil torn between lockdown and denial over Covid-19

We bring you a special edition of Inside the Americas from Brazil , which on April 28 crossed the symbolic and tragic threshold of 5,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic .
There , lockdown has become highly political and has angered supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro .
Latin America as a whole is severely affected by Covid-19 and the UN 's Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) is warning that the pandemic may lead to increased hunger and poverty .
Searching for a test affordable to all .
The Brazilian health ministry has promised to distribute more than 46 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only two and a half million have been delivered .
Laura Damase , Fanny Lothaire and Louise Raulais report .
We also meet epidemiologist Gulnar Azevedo , who tells us about the consequences of the pandemic for the most vulnerable , especially those living in favelas .
> > Out of control ?
Covid-19 in Bolsonaro 's Brazil Guayaquil , Ecuador 's worst-affected city .
Although Brazil has the highest number of cases in Latin America , Ecuador holds the sad record for the highest number of deaths per inhabitant .
We report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic capital of Ecuador , where the desperate situation exposes the failings in the government 's handling of the health crisis .
> > Port city in Ecuador struggles to cope with coronavirus toll Mexico 's indigenous people shut themselves off from the world .
In Mexico , as a protective measure , some villages have decided to shut themselves off from the world , indigenous communities being particularly vulnerable to imported viruses like Covid-19 .
Our correspondents Laurence Cuvillier and Matthieu Comin report .

We bring you a special edition of Inside the Americas from Brazil, which on April 28 crossed the symbolic and tragic threshold of 5,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic. There, lockdown has become highly political and has angered supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro. Latin America as a whole is severely affected by Covid-19 and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning that the pandemic may lead to increased hunger and poverty.
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Our reports:
Searching for a test affordable to all. The Brazilian health ministry has promised to distribute more than 46 million coronavirus tests, but so far only two and a half million have been delivered. Laura Damase, Fanny Lothaire and Louise Raulais report.
We also meet epidemiologist Gulnar Azevedo, who tells us about the consequences of the pandemic for the most vulnerable, especially those living in favelas.
>> Out of control? Covid-19 in Bolsonaro's Brazil
Guayaquil, Ecuador's worst-affected city. Although Brazil has the highest number of cases in Latin America, Ecuador holds the sad record for the highest number of deaths per inhabitant. We report on the situation in Guayaquil, the economic capital of Ecuador, where the desperate situation exposes the failings in the government's handling of the health crisis.
>> Port city in Ecuador struggles to cope with coronavirus toll
Mexico's indigenous people shut themselves off from the world. In Mexico, as a protective measure, some villages have decided to shut themselves off from the world, indigenous communities being particularly vulnerable to imported viruses like Covid-19. Our correspondents Laurence Cuvillier and Matthieu Comin report.
>> Mexico declares health emergency as confirmed coronavirus cases top 1,000
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france24--2020-04-29--Key points of France’s strategy for lifting its nationwide Covid-19 lockdown

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has unveiled a strategy for bringing an end to the nationwide lockdown that is expected to come into force on May 11 provided certain key criteria are met .
Compulsory masks , increased testing , a phased reopening of schools and limiting movement between regions : May 11 will not mean an instant return to normal life in France .
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe outlined his plan to start reopening the country on Tuesday , April 28 , at the National Assembly ( lower house ) .
The proposal includes introducing new methods of social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within France and a gradual reopening of schools .
The French will also be able to start socialising again as long as gatherings are kept to a maximum of 10 people .
But the worlds of culture and sport will remain in turmoil at least until September .
`` We will have to learn to live with the virus , '' Philippe said , until a vaccine or effective treatment is available .
It will be compulsory to wear masks on all public transport , in taxis and hired cars such as Uber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like many other countries , has experienced a shortage of masks , even accusing the United States of requisitioning a French order for masks made in China for itself .
But the PM promised that there will be `` a sufficient supply of masks in the country to cope with its needs by May 11 '' .
Testing for Covid-19 remains a problem in France , with an insufficient number of tests making tracking and isolating those with the virus impossible .
Our aim is `` to carry out at least 700,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with costs fully covered by the public health system , the prime minister said .
`` As soon as a person has tested positive , we will begin identifying and testing everyone who has had close contact with them , whether they are symptomatic or not .
All these contacts will then be tested and will be asked to isolate themselves given the uncertainties about the virus ’ s incubation period , '' said Philippe .
Hotels will be requisitioned to accommodate people who need to be kept in isolation if this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
The government will also differentiate between `` green '' departments , where lockdown measures will be widely eased , and `` red '' ones , where stricter measures will remain in place .
To this end , three criteria will be used to determine which areas remain problematic , namely where `` the circulation of the virus remains active '' , where `` hospital resuscitation capacities are stretched '' and where the `` local system of testing and detecting contact cases is not sufficiently in place '' .
For those over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for continuing restrictions on their contacts and outings even after May 11 .
There will be no official limits , but visits and excursions by older people will have to be `` carefully managed '' , he said .
Fewer trains , every other seat in the metro According to Philippe , it will be possible to leave home without a permission slip ( completed online and downloaded for each outing ) as of May 11 except for journeys of more than 100 kms , which will only be allowed “ for exceptional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport between regions will also be reduced to ensure people comply and advanced reservation will be compulsory .
In the Paris metro , capacity will be reduced to about 70 percent for at least three weeks after May 11 .
Philippe says only `` one seat out of two '' will be in use and platforms will be marked to encourage social distancing and the flow of passengers will be reduced for rush hour .
Philippe said he insists that companies should continue allowing people to work from home `` wherever possible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Businesses will reopen but not restaurants , bars or cafés Shops will be allowed to reopen on May 11 but shops will have the discretion of making mask-wearing obligatory for all staff and customers .
Bars , restaurants and cafés will remain closed , with the government promising to make a decision at the end of May as to whether they can reopen after June 2 .
French children can begin returning to pre-school and primary school classes from May 11 on a voluntary basis and with classes restricted to 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all students and staff in secondary schools as well as for the teachers of very young children , who are too young to wear masks themselves .
Nurseries will also reopen from May 11 with a maximum of 10 children per centre .
The government has asked people who manage these facilities to give priority to working couples who can not work from home and to single-parent families , as well as to the children of healthcare workers and teachers .
Secondary schools will be able to reopen from May 18 , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulation is very low '' , said Philippe .
He will decide at the end of May if they will reopen lycées ( the schools for final year students ) at the start of June .
Funeral ceremonies will have a new limit of 20 people , an increase from the limit of just 10 people currently allowed to attend .
Cemeteries will also reopen on May 11 .
Places of worship will remain open , said Philippe , but religious ceremonies , such as weddings and baptisms , will not be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is preferable to postpone weddings .
Little change for sport and culture No events with more than 5,000 participants can be held before September , said Philippe .
Major sporting and cultural events , especially festivals and trade shows , will have to be cancelled or postponed .
Cinemas , theatres , large museums and concert halls will remain closed after May 11 , but some small museums and libraries will be allowed to reopen .
There is no way for professional sports to resume this season , notably football , Philippe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fans worldwide .
But there was even more bad news for those hoping for some summer fun .
Beaches , which have been closed since the start of the lockdown , will remain `` inaccessible to the public at least until June 1 '' , said Philippe .
This article has been translated from the original in French .

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has unveiled a strategy for bringing an end to the nationwide lockdown that is expected to come into force on May 11 provided certain key criteria are met.
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Compulsory masks, increased testing, a phased reopening of schools and limiting movement between regions: May 11 will not mean an instant return to normal life in France.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe outlined his plan to start reopening the country on Tuesday, April 28, at the National Assembly (lower house). The proposal includes introducing new methods of social distancing on public transport, limiting travel within France and a gradual reopening of schools. The French will also be able to start socialising again as long as gatherings are kept to a maximum of 10 people. But the worlds of culture and sport will remain in turmoil at least until September.
"We will have to learn to live with the virus," Philippe said, until a vaccine or effective treatment is available.
Masks, masks and more masks
It will be compulsory to wear masks on all public transport, in taxis and hired cars such as Uber, and on school buses.
France, like many other countries, has experienced a shortage of masks, even accusing the United States of requisitioning a French order for masks made in China for itself. But the PM promised that there will be "a sufficient supply of masks in the country to cope with its needs by May 11".
Testing, identifying and isolating Covid-19 patients
Testing for Covid-19 remains a problem in France, with an insufficient number of tests making tracking and isolating those with the virus impossible.
Our aim is "to carry out at least 700,000 tests per week by May 11" with costs fully covered by the public health system, the prime minister said.
"As soon as a person has tested positive, we will begin identifying and testing everyone who has had close contact with them, whether they are symptomatic or not. All these contacts will then be tested and will be asked to isolate themselves given the uncertainties about the virus’s incubation period," said Philippe.
Hotels will be requisitioned to accommodate people who need to be kept in isolation if this is not possible at their homes, he added.
Colour-coded end to lockdown
The government will also differentiate between "green" departments, where lockdown measures will be widely eased, and "red" ones, where stricter measures will remain in place.
To this end, three criteria will be used to determine which areas remain problematic, namely where "the circulation of the virus remains active", where "hospital resuscitation capacities are stretched" and where the "local system of testing and detecting contact cases is not sufficiently in place".
For those over 65 years of age, Philippe called for continuing restrictions on their contacts and outings even after May 11. There will be no official limits, but visits and excursions by older people will have to be "carefully managed", he said.
Fewer trains, every other seat in the metro
According to Philippe, it will be possible to leave home without a permission slip (completed online and downloaded for each outing) as of May 11 except for journeys of more than 100 kms, which will only be allowed “for exceptional family or professional reasons".
Public transport between regions will also be reduced to ensure people comply and advanced reservation will be compulsory.
In the Paris metro, capacity will be reduced to about 70 percent for at least three weeks after May 11. Philippe says only "one seat out of two" will be in use and platforms will be marked to encourage social distancing and the flow of passengers will be reduced for rush hour.
Working from home
Philippe said he insists that companies should continue allowing people to work from home "wherever possible, at least for the next three weeks".
Businesses will reopen but not restaurants, bars or cafés
Shops will be allowed to reopen on May 11 but shops will have the discretion of making mask-wearing obligatory for all staff and customers.
Bars, restaurants and cafés will remain closed, with the government promising to make a decision at the end of May as to whether they can reopen after June 2.
Gradual reopening of schools
French children can begin returning to pre-school and primary school classes from May 11 on a voluntary basis and with classes restricted to 15 pupils. Masks will be obligatory for all students and staff in secondary schools as well as for the teachers of very young children, who are too young to wear masks themselves.
Nurseries will also reopen from May 11 with a maximum of 10 children per centre. The government has asked people who manage these facilities to give priority to working couples who cannot work from home and to single-parent families, as well as to the children of healthcare workers and teachers.
Secondary schools will be able to reopen from May 18, "but only in departments where the virus circulation is very low", said Philippe. He will decide at the end of May if they will reopen lycées (the schools for final year students) at the start of June.
Weddings and funerals remain limited
Funeral ceremonies will have a new limit of 20 people, an increase from the limit of just 10 people currently allowed to attend. Cemeteries will also reopen on May 11.
Places of worship will remain open, said Philippe, but religious ceremonies, such as weddings and baptisms, will not be allowed before June 2. He added that it is preferable to postpone weddings.
Little change for sport and culture
No events with more than 5,000 participants can be held before September, said Philippe. Major sporting and cultural events, especially festivals and trade shows, will have to be cancelled or postponed.
Cinemas, theatres, large museums and concert halls will remain closed after May 11, but some small museums and libraries will be allowed to reopen.
There is no way for professional sports to resume this season, notably football, Philippe said, no doubt to the disappointment of fans worldwide.
But there was even more bad news for those hoping for some summer fun. Beaches, which have been closed since the start of the lockdown, will remain "inaccessible to the public at least until June 1", said Philippe.
This article has been translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-04-29--UK has second-highest Covid-19 death toll in Europe, new figures show

Staff wear personal protective equipment ( PPE ) as they work at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in Liverpool , northwest England on April 18 , 2020 .
The United Kingdom now has Europe 's second-highest official death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic , according to new figures on Wednesday that cover fatalities in all settings , including in nursing homes .
Some 26,097 people died after testing positive for the novel coronavirus as of April 28 at 1600 GMT , Public Health England ( PHE ) said .
That means the United Kingdom has had more COVID-19 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` These more complete data will give us a fuller and more up to date picture of deaths in England and will inform the government 's approach as we continue to protect the public , '' Yvonne Doyle , medical director at PHE , said .
Although international comparisons are difficult , the new figures confirm Britain 's place among the European countries worst hit hardest by the pandemic .
Italy said on Wednesday that 27,682 people had died after testing positive for coronavirus .
Like Britain , its figures are based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all settings .

The United Kingdom now has Europe's second-highest official death toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures on Wednesday that cover fatalities in all settings, including in nursing homes.
Staff wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as they work at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in Liverpool, northwest England on April 18, 2020.
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Some 26,097 people died after testing positive for the novel coronavirus as of April 28 at 1600 GMT, Public Health England (PHE) said. That means the United Kingdom has had more COVID-19 deaths than France and Spain have reported.
"These more complete data will give us a fuller and more up to date picture of deaths in England and will inform the government's approach as we continue to protect the public," Yvonne Doyle, medical director at PHE, said.
Although international comparisons are difficult, the new figures confirm Britain's place among the European countries worst hit hardest by the pandemic.
03:02
Italy said on Wednesday that 27,682 people had died after testing positive for coronavirus. Like Britain, its figures are based on deaths following positive coronavirus tests, in all settings.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-29--US becomes first country to record one million cases of Covid-19 as economy tanks

A healthcare worker is seen outside the Brooklyn Hospital Center , during the outbreak of coronavirus disease in the Brooklyn borough of New York City , New York , USA , April 28 , 2020 .
The United States on Tuesday recorded its one millionth Covid-19 case , as the country ’ s economy shrank at a 4.8 percent annual rate last quarter , with the coronavirus pandemic shutting down much of the country , triggering a recession that will end the longest expansion on record .
Excitement over partial easing of the lockdowns affecting more than half of humanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks and growing evidence of the economic devastation wreaked by the Covid-19 pandemic .
The US – where millions of jobs have gone – reached another grim milestone as it registered 58,351 deaths , a larger loss of life than recorded by the US military in the Vietnam War .
The overall US case load rose to 1,011,877 in a public health disaster that could threaten President Donald Trump 's re-election chances .
For a president who was banking on a strong economy to bolster his chances of re-election , it was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an 8.4 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2008 in the depths of the Great Recession .
The drop in the January-March quarter will be only a precursor of a far grimmer GDP report to come on the current April-June period , with business shutdowns and layoffs striking with devastating force .
With much of the economy paralysed , the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that GDP will plunge this quarter at a 40 percent annual rate .
That would be , by a breathtaking margin , the bleakest quarter since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But other countries have reported falling infection numbers and governments have begun to chart their way out of the shutdowns .
France said Tuesday that shops , markets and selected schools could reopen next month , with face masks required on public transport and work-from-home orders staying in place for several more weeks .
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe admitted even a gradual return to normal life was `` risky '' , conceding that the French government ’ s plans are predicated on the idea that “ we will have to live with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be slowly lifted over the next two months , while Italians will be able to exercise outdoors and visit relatives from next week – but only if they wear masks and refrain from hugs and handshakes .
Italy , Spain and France have been the worst affected countries in Europe , with each reporting more than 23,000 deaths .
In Russia , President Vladimir Putin warned that the peak of coronavirus infections still lay ahead , saying `` the situation remains very difficult '' .
But he nonetheless said lockdown measures could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on infection rates has shown mixed results in Germany , which is being closely watched after allowing some shops to reopen last week .
`` We all need to take care that we do n't end up with more infections , '' said Lothar Wieler , president of the Robert Koch Institute for disease control .
'The cries of the people' Experts have warned of a second wave of contagion if restrictions are lifted too hastily , and the World Health Organization has said reinfection may be possible even among recovered patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
In Nigeria 's largest city , Lagos , bus driver Taju Olonade told AFP a decision to ease the lockdown showed that authorities had finally listened `` to the cries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost one month I have not earned a penny , '' he said .
`` I hope life will soon return to normal . ''
The new coronavirus has killed at least 214,451 people since the outbreak first emerged in China in December , according to a tally compiled by AFP at 1900 GMT on Tuesday .
More than three million cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories , although the official tally is widely thought to lag far behind the actual figures .
The United States , which on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours , has seen by far the highest number of fatalities .
Trump has increasingly sought to blame China , but China pushed back fiercely on Tuesday , accusing US politicians of `` barefaced lies '' .
`` They have only one objective : shirk their responsibility for their own poor epidemic prevention and control measures , '' foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters .
Beijing and Washington have clashed repeatedly over the outbreak .
It seems to be under control in China with no new deaths reported for 13 straight days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – although much doubt has been cast on whether the numbers are accurate .
Anger at the global economic paralysis has intensified in recent weeks and anti-government protesters took to the streets in Lebanon on Tuesday in defiance of a lockdown .
`` I came down to raise my voice against hunger , poverty and rising prices , '' Khaled , 41 , told AFP , saying he had lost his job selling motorcycle parts and could no longer support his three children .
In the latest sign of big business woes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 12,000 jobs , its parent company said .
The carrier , which has approximately 45,000 employees , has already furloughed nearly 23,000 staff .
Despite other European countries moving towards reopening schools and shops , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was too early for the UK to follow suit .
That was in contrast to New Zealand , where people enjoyed fast food and coffee shop treats for the first time in five weeks after the country lifted its strict lockdown .
`` We see the difference in other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's for sure , '' said Wellington resident Cheryl Robertson , who planned to celebrate her newfound freedom with a curry .
In Australia , hundreds of surfers and swimmers rushed back to the waves at Bondi Beach in Sydney , five weeks after police closed the area because of large crowds flouting social distancing rules .
`` I 've been excited for like a week , '' Diane Delaurens told AFP , dripping after an early-morning surf .
However , there is not yet a vaccine for the disease and Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in children – including abdominal pain and inflammation around the heart .
`` What I would also stress is that it is rare .
Although it is very significant for those children who do get it , the number of cases is small , '' said Health Secretary Matt Hancock .
In Tokyo , organisers said that the postponed 2020 Olympics will have to be cancelled next year if the pandemic is n't brought under control .
In Latin America , Brazil emerged as a new hotspot with 5,000 deaths so far – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates were killed when rioting broke out at a prison in Lima , Peru after two inmates died from Covid-19 .

The United States on Tuesday recorded its one millionth Covid-19 case, as the country’s economy shrank at a 4.8 percent annual rate last quarter, with the coronavirus pandemic shutting down much of the country, triggering a recession that will end the longest expansion on record.
A healthcare worker is seen outside the Brooklyn Hospital Center, during the outbreak of coronavirus disease in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, USA, April 28, 2020.
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Excitement over partial easing of the lockdowns affecting more than half of humanity has been tempered by fear of new outbreaks and growing evidence of the economic devastation wreaked by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The US – where millions of jobs have gone – reached another grim milestone as it registered 58,351 deaths, a larger loss of life than recorded by the US military in the Vietnam War.
The overall US case load rose to 1,011,877 in a public health disaster that could threaten President Donald Trump's re-election chances.
For a president who was banking on a strong economy to bolster his chances of re-election, it was the sharpest fall since the economy shrank at an 8.4 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2008 in the depths of the Great Recession.
The drop in the January-March quarter will be only a precursor of a far grimmer GDP report to come on the current April-June period, with business shutdowns and layoffs striking with devastating force. With much of the economy paralysed, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that GDP will plunge this quarter at a 40 percent annual rate.
That would be, by a breathtaking margin, the bleakest quarter since such records were first compiled in 1947.
‘Risky’ return to normal
But other countries have reported falling infection numbers and governments have begun to chart their way out of the shutdowns.
France said Tuesday that shops, markets and selected schools could reopen next month, with face masks required on public transport and work-from-home orders staying in place for several more weeks.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe admitted even a gradual return to normal life was "risky", conceding that the French government’s plans are predicated on the idea that “we will have to live with the virus”.
Spain said restrictions would be slowly lifted over the next two months, while Italians will be able to exercise outdoors and visit relatives from next week – but only if they wear masks and refrain from hugs and handshakes.
Italy, Spain and France have been the worst affected countries in Europe, with each reporting more than 23,000 deaths.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin warned that the peak of coronavirus infections still lay ahead, saying "the situation remains very difficult".
But he nonetheless said lockdown measures could be eased from next month.
Data on infection rates has shown mixed results in Germany, which is being closely watched after allowing some shops to reopen last week.
"We all need to take care that we don't end up with more infections," said Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute for disease control.
'The cries of the people'
Experts have warned of a second wave of contagion if restrictions are lifted too hastily, and the World Health Organization has said reinfection may be possible even among recovered patients.
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.
In Nigeria's largest city, Lagos, bus driver Taju Olonade told AFP a decision to ease the lockdown showed that authorities had finally listened "to the cries of the people".
"For almost one month I have not earned a penny," he said. "I hope life will soon return to normal."
The new coronavirus has killed at least 214,451 people since the outbreak first emerged in China in December, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 1900 GMT on Tuesday.
More than three million cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories, although the official tally is widely thought to lag far behind the actual figures.
The United States, which on Tuesday recorded a further 2,207 deaths in 24 hours, has seen by far the highest number of fatalities.
Trump has increasingly sought to blame China, but China pushed back fiercely on Tuesday, accusing US politicians of "barefaced lies".
"They have only one objective: shirk their responsibility for their own poor epidemic prevention and control measures," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters.
Beijing and Washington have clashed repeatedly over the outbreak.
It seems to be under control in China with no new deaths reported for 13 straight days and the death toll standing at 4,633 – although much doubt has been cast on whether the numbers are accurate.
Shattered economies
Anger at the global economic paralysis has intensified in recent weeks and anti-government protesters took to the streets in Lebanon on Tuesday in defiance of a lockdown.
"I came down to raise my voice against hunger, poverty and rising prices," Khaled, 41, told AFP, saying he had lost his job selling motorcycle parts and could no longer support his three children.
In the latest sign of big business woes, British Airways is set to slash up to 12,000 jobs, its parent company said. The carrier, which has approximately 45,000 employees, has already furloughed nearly 23,000 staff.
Despite other European countries moving towards reopening schools and shops, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was too early for the UK to follow suit.
That was in contrast to New Zealand, where people enjoyed fast food and coffee shop treats for the first time in five weeks after the country lifted its strict lockdown.
"We see the difference in other countries and I don't envy them, that's for sure," said Wellington resident Cheryl Robertson, who planned to celebrate her newfound freedom with a curry.
In Australia, hundreds of surfers and swimmers rushed back to the waves at Bondi Beach in Sydney, five weeks after police closed the area because of large crowds flouting social distancing rules.
"I've been excited for like a week," Diane Delaurens told AFP, dripping after an early-morning surf.
However, there is not yet a vaccine for the disease and Britain issued a warning of coronavirus-related syndrome emerging in children – including abdominal pain and inflammation around the heart.
"What I would also stress is that it is rare. Although it is very significant for those children who do get it, the number of cases is small," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
In Tokyo, organisers said that the postponed 2020 Olympics will have to be cancelled next year if the pandemic isn't brought under control.
In Latin America, Brazil emerged as a new hotspot with 5,000 deaths so far – more than China's – and nine inmates were killed when rioting broke out at a prison in Lima, Peru after two inmates died from Covid-19.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
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france24--2020-04-29--Hazardous material: Dealing with the vast medical waste of the Covid-19 pandemic

A discarded face mask on a street in of Douala , Cameroon , on April 24 , 2020 .
Across the world authorities have been scrambling to supply health workers with equipment needed to treat the surge of Covid-19 patients .
But a new problem is emerging : How to deal with the vast amounts of medical waste the pandemic is creating , including the masks , gloves , gowns and other protective gear used by doctors and nurses , all of which could be contaminated by the virus .
One processing plant in Vandoeuvre-lés-Nancy in eastern France has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the influx of infectious waste .
`` We had to implement a number of important measures , such as almost doubling our mechanical treatment capacity , doubling our teams in place in order to ensure all the treatment .
And also , working seven days a week , 24 hours a day , ” Joël Keller , director of treatment at the plant , told AFP .
Once delivered from hospitals across the country the waste is incinerated at temperatures of 1100°C .
But not all medical waste is treated so carefully .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month appeared to show medical workers at a New York hospital disposing of equipment in a public bin on a street , moments after transferring bodies to a refrigerated truck .
It is not just hospitals using vast amounts of protective equipment .
Public demand for face masks and disposable gloves has also skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic .
In the city of Douala in Cameroon , one of the countries to have made the wearing of face masks in public compulsory , residents say discarded masks are now becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're walking , if you walk down the whole street , frankly , you 're going to see one or two masks on the ground , and there are some people who take these masks and just put them straight on .
And that 's not good , ” Douala resident Martin Penda told AFP .
“ The government really needs to find the means and strategies to deal with this . ''

Across the world authorities have been scrambling to supply health workers with equipment needed to treat the surge of Covid-19 patients. But a new problem is emerging: How to deal with the vast amounts of medical waste the pandemic is creating, including the masks, gloves, gowns and other protective gear used by doctors and nurses, all of which could be contaminated by the virus.
A discarded face mask on a street in of Douala, Cameroon, on April 24, 2020.
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One processing plant in Vandoeuvre-lés-Nancy in eastern France has had to double its capacity to cope with the influx of infectious waste.
"We had to implement a number of important measures, such as almost doubling our mechanical treatment capacity, doubling our teams in place in order to ensure all the treatment. And also, working seven days a week, 24 hours a day,” Joël Keller, director of treatment at the plant, told AFP.
Once delivered from hospitals across the country the waste is incinerated at temperatures of 1100°C.
But not all medical waste is treated so carefully.
Photos published by news agency Reuters earlier this month appeared to show medical workers at a New York hospital disposing of equipment in a public bin on a street, moments after transferring bodies to a refrigerated truck.
It is not just hospitals using vast amounts of protective equipment. Public demand for face masks and disposable gloves has also skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic.
In the city of Douala in Cameroon, one of the countries to have made the wearing of face masks in public compulsory, residents say discarded masks are now becoming a health hazard.
"As you're walking, if you walk down the whole street, frankly, you're going to see one or two masks on the ground, and there are some people who take these masks and just put them straight on. And that's not good,” Douala resident Martin Penda told AFP.
“The government really needs to find the means and strategies to deal with this."
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france24--2020-04-29--Women on the front line (2/3): Cashiers face 'warlike' conditions working under Covid-19

Supermarket cashiers are more than ever on the frontline as France enters its 7th week in lockdown .
With the Covid-19 pandemic and most French workers being asked to stay at home , supermarket cashiers are more than ever on the front lines as France enters its seventh week in lockdown .
The profession , which is 90 percent female , has proven to be essential .
But what price do they pay for being behind the till ?
Since the beginning of the lockdown , it is estimated that some 25 percent of French workers are heading into their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France Info .
Véronique , 55 , is one of them .
A supermarket cashier for almost 20 years , she does not plan to stay at home while there is work : `` We have a knot in our stomach but we go in regardless.
” In her store in the small town of Carqueiranne in south-eastern France , she explains that protective equipment has been brought in but not everything is usable .
`` We tried the peaked masks but they are painful , then there ’ s the issue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you see nothing , ” she told FRANCE 24 .
Since the start of the lockdown , recommended hygiene rules have been applied differently across retail stores .
For example , plexiglass windows installed to protect cashiers do not always encircle their cash register , despite cashiers having the most contact with customers .
As for gloves , they are optional , their use being disputed by scientists .
It is the same for ensuring how many shoppers come through the door at the same time , with the number varying from one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to what are the best protective measures against the virus , it is not surprising that workers are confused .
`` We wear a mask but we keep it for several days , ” Veronique said .
When asked when she last changed her mask , she replied with a laugh : `` I could n't even tell you . ''
This lack of coherence has outraged union representatives .
`` We asked them to standardise protective measures , but some large companies tell us that each manager is entitled to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store , '' said Sylvie Vachoux , the federal secretary representing the retail sector for the CGT union .
On March 18 , the secretary general of the CFDT union , Laurent Berger , declared companies were not abiding by the rules , referring to the lack of equipment but also flexibility for mothers who were required to stay at home because of school closures without fear of losing their jobs .
In any case , the risk of contracting Covid-19 continues to exist for retail workers .
On March 27 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seine-Saint-Denis died from the virus .
Since lockdown came into effect on March 17 , “ the cashiers have been on the front line without protection , just like being in a trench during a war without ammunition '' , said Vachoux .
'We sometimes see the same customer four times a day' Leïla , a cashier at a hypermarket in Nice , told FRANCE 24 that there were large numbers of customers coming to shop each day .
`` I see some customers coming in the morning to buy fruit , returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheese and then come back to buy vegetables and pasta in the evening , '' she said .
They are making unnecessary purchases , the 43-year-old cashier explained : “ We keep telling them that we get deliveries every day and there would be no shortages if they did not buy so much .
I wonder where they are storing all of that food.
” According to the market research firm Nielsen , the retail sector saw a massive increase of 237 percent in sales on March 16 , the day before France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic has meant cashiers find themselves often dealing with rude customers .
`` People are so stressed , it 's very , very hard , '' Véronique said .
She spoke about what happened to one of her colleagues .
`` A customer arrived and refused to put his purchases on the counter , objecting that he did not want them to be contaminated .
My colleague replied that she cleans it often , as she uses it all day long .
In return , the guy said ‘ Well , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Despite the stress and fear of contamination , Veronique works almost every day , putting in at least 43 hours a week .
This article has been translated from the original in French by Annette Young .

The 51%
With the Covid-19 pandemic and most French workers being asked to stay at home, supermarket cashiers are more than ever on the front lines as France enters its seventh week in lockdown. The profession, which is 90 percent female, has proven to be essential. But what price do they pay for being behind the till?
Supermarket cashiers are more than ever on the frontline as France enters its 7th week in lockdown.
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Since the beginning of the lockdown, it is estimated that some 25 percent of French workers are heading into their workplace, according to a survey for France Info. Véronique, 55, is one of them. A supermarket cashier for almost 20 years, she does not plan to stay at home while there is work: "We have a knot in our stomach but we go in regardless.”
In her store in the small town of Carqueiranne in south-eastern France, she explains that protective equipment has been brought in but not everything is usable.
"We tried the peaked masks but they are painful, then there’s the issue of fogging -- if you have glasses, you see nothing,” she told FRANCE 24.
Improvisation and disparity
Since the start of the lockdown, recommended hygiene rules have been applied differently across retail stores.
For example, plexiglass windows installed to protect cashiers do not always encircle their cash register, despite cashiers having the most contact with customers. As for gloves, they are optional, their use being disputed by scientists. It is the same for ensuring how many shoppers come through the door at the same time, with the number varying from one shop to another.
Amid conflicting messages as to what are the best protective measures against the virus, it is not surprising that workers are confused.
"We wear a mask but we keep it for several days,” Veronique said. When asked when she last changed her mask, she replied with a laugh: "I couldn't even tell you."
This lack of coherence has outraged union representatives. "We asked them to standardise protective measures, but some large companies tell us that each manager is entitled to do as he or she wishes in their store," said Sylvie Vachoux, the federal secretary representing the retail sector for the CGT union.
On March 18, the secretary general of the CFDT union, Laurent Berger, declared companies were not abiding by the rules, referring to the lack of equipment but also flexibility for mothers who were required to stay at home because of school closures without fear of losing their jobs.
In any case, the risk of contracting Covid-19 continues to exist for retail workers. On March 27, a 52-year-old cashier from the Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis died from the virus. Since lockdown came into effect on March 17, “the cashiers have been on the front line without protection, just like being in a trench during a war without ammunition", said Vachoux.
'We sometimes see the same customer four times a day'
Leïla, a cashier at a hypermarket in Nice, told FRANCE 24 that there were large numbers of customers coming to shop each day. "I see some customers coming in the morning to buy fruit, returning in the early afternoon to get some cheese and then come back to buy vegetables and pasta in the evening," she said.
They are making unnecessary purchases, the 43-year-old cashier explained: “We keep telling them that we get deliveries every day and there would be no shortages if they did not buy so much. I wonder where they are storing all of that food.”
According to the market research firm Nielsen, the retail sector saw a massive increase of 237 percent in sales on March 16, the day before France went into lockdown.
The stress surrounding the pandemic has meant cashiers find themselves often dealing with rude customers. "People are so stressed, it's very, very hard," Véronique said.
She spoke about what happened to one of her colleagues. "A customer arrived and refused to put his purchases on the counter, objecting that he did not want them to be contaminated. My colleague replied that she cleans it often, as she uses it all day long. In return, the guy said ‘Well, you’re going to get it anyway."
Despite the stress and fear of contamination, Veronique works almost every day, putting in at least 43 hours a week.
This article has been translated from the original in French by Annette Young.
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france24--2020-04-29--Amid rise in cases, Japan rethinks carefree attitude to Covid-19

In Japan , where authorities have neither carried out mass testing of the population nor imposed a lockdown , the number of coronavirus cases is now on the rise .
Even though a state of emergency was imposed on April 7 and social distancing was already a way of life before the pandemic , many Japanese are continuing to go to work , while many shops , restaurants and bars remain open .
Today , concern is spreading across the archipelago .
Our correspondents report from Tokyo .
The number of coronavirus infections in Japan has risen sharply since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities .
Japan does n't conduct large-scale testing , but faced with the rise in infections , it 's now testing four times as many people a day as it did two weeks ago .
Unlike in other countries , Japanese authorities are not allowed by law to impose fines or other penalties on people who refuse to stay home .
That relaxed approach is partly down to bitter memories of World War II .
While Paris and New York have been under lockdown , daily life in Tokyo can seem almost normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
Late last month , people were still picnicking in parks , enjoying the country ’ s famed cherry blossoms .
But those carefree days are over .
As Japan prepares for several days of public holidays , the government 's message is clear : stay at home and save lives .

In Japan, where authorities have neither carried out mass testing of the population nor imposed a lockdown, the number of coronavirus cases is now on the rise. Even though a state of emergency was imposed on April 7 and social distancing was already a way of life before the pandemic, many Japanese are continuing to go to work, while many shops, restaurants and bars remain open. Today, concern is spreading across the archipelago. Our correspondents report from Tokyo.
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The number of coronavirus infections in Japan has risen sharply since the beginning of April, particularly in big cities. Japan doesn't conduct large-scale testing, but faced with the rise in infections, it's now testing four times as many people a day as it did two weeks ago.
Unlike in other countries, Japanese authorities are not allowed by law to impose fines or other penalties on people who refuse to stay home. That relaxed approach is partly down to bitter memories of World War II. While Paris and New York have been under lockdown, daily life in Tokyo can seem almost normal, with many people still going to work.
Late last month, people were still picnicking in parks, enjoying the country’s famed cherry blossoms. But those carefree days are over. As Japan prepares for several days of public holidays, the government's message is clear: stay at home and save lives.
>> Covid-19: Postponing the Olympics, Japan's costly conundrum
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france24--2020-04-30--Women on the front line (3/3): For those teaching remotely, much of the job is reassuring parents

Schools have been closed in France since a nationwide lockdown began in mid-March .
Almost 70 percent of primary and secondary teachers are women , and FRANCE 24 spoke to a group who are determined to keep teaching – even if they are not in the classroom .
For Émilie Bocqueho , a teacher in the Paris suburb of Châtillon , the first week of lockdown was `` chaotic '' .
With 2-year-old twins at home , she had to work out a tight schedule .
`` There is so much anxiety associated with this way of teaching .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that it would be fair to my partner , '' she explained .
So she organised online lessons during her children 's naps and late at night for her class of 24 primary school students .
Bocqueho wanted to maintain some sort of classroom life for her pupils , who are just learning to read and write at ages 5 to 6 years old .
This required taking a vastly different approach to education by making the most of online platforms and digital work spaces .
`` It is stressful , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher in a private high school in Val-d'Oise north of Paris .
She found practical work to be essential , to `` make up for the lack of interactivity ” .
Chambost opted for video-conference sessions , but with anywhere from between 29 to 35 students , it was far from easy to maintain their attention and a rhythm .
`` This is really where you realise the importance of the relationship between teacher and student , '' said Chambost , who has been in the profession for more than 30 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a centre for children with intellectual disabilities , the staff had to act quickly to ensure continuity in educational support for her group of 12 students .
`` It was brutal , I had to provide a lot of material for the parents , '' she said .
`` When they replace us it 's really not easy . ''
For Beretti , a large part of the job is now constantly reassuring parents either by email or phone .
Indeed , for many parents , home-schooling has become synonymous with stress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two daughters who sent me a lot of emails because her daughter was telling her that she could not understand her mother ’ s instructions , '' said Sophie* , a teacher in a primary school located in a poorer district of northeastern Paris .
The key factor , Sophie said , was not to overload the parents and to instead focus on revising existing work .
`` I think it ’ s crazy to ask parents to teach new ideas to their children , '' she said .
At her school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPads to families who did not have them while also explaining how to use them .
In France , one in three people lack basic digital skills .
When phone calls and emails were not enough , parents could come to the school itself to be trained in how to use computers .
`` Sometimes we get older siblings to translate and explain the instructions , '' Sophie said .
Meanwhile , teachers from a school in Villejuif on the outskirts of Paris took it upon themselves to produce `` explanatory sheets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although most pupils seem to be succeeding with remote learning , there are still a few students whom teachers have been unable to reach .
The French minister of education , Jean-Michel Blanquer , said there had been a 5 to 8 percent rise in dropouts since the start of the lockdown .
Chambost said while only a few of her students had dropped out , she believed just a third of her class is diligent .
`` The problem is that we have no word from those who have dropped out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is disturbing . ''
Such concerns have also prompted Bocqueho to do more than call parents and issue homework assignments .
Each week , she insists on talking to the children .
`` I want them to tell me how they live in lockdown .
I always have , at the back of my mind , the fear of child abuse , '' she said .
It 's a very real risk , according to government figures published earlier this month .
The emergency number for violence against children has seen the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown began .
For Émilie Schaub , a teacher at a vocational high school in Vendée in western France , this experience has taught her a lot about `` how young people live at home ” .
So far , it has mainly been mothers who are picking up the educational slack .
According to a study conducted for the French minister for gender equality , Marlène Schiappa , 58 percent of women feel they spend more time than their spouses performing household and educational tasks .
`` I call dads as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to their partners , '' Bocqueho said , noting that of her 24 students only four dads are in charge of home-schooling .
While President Emmanuel Macron has announced that school will open gradually starting on May 11 , Chambost remains doubtful .
`` In my high school , I have classes of 37 students .
How can you ensure social distancing ?
” This article has been translated from the original in French .

The 51%
Schools have been closed in France since a nationwide lockdown began in mid-March. Almost 70 percent of primary and secondary teachers are women, and FRANCE 24 spoke to a group who are determined to keep teaching – even if they are not in the classroom.
Advertising Read more
For Émilie Bocqueho, a teacher in the Paris suburb of Châtillon, the first week of lockdown was "chaotic". With 2-year-old twins at home, she had to work out a tight schedule.
"There is so much anxiety associated with this way of teaching. I had to imagine how it would work so that it would be fair to my partner," she explained. So she organised online lessons during her children's naps and late at night for her class of 24 primary school students.
Bocqueho wanted to maintain some sort of classroom life for her pupils, who are just learning to read and write at ages 5 to 6 years old. This required taking a vastly different approach to education by making the most of online platforms and digital work spaces.
"It is stressful," said Angeline Chambost, an earth sciences teacher in a private high school in Val-d'Oise north of Paris. She found practical work to be essential, to "make up for the lack of interactivity”.
Chambost opted for video-conference sessions, but with anywhere from between 29 to 35 students, it was far from easy to maintain their attention and a rhythm.
"This is really where you realise the importance of the relationship between teacher and student," said Chambost, who has been in the profession for more than 30 years.
Tech shortfalls
For Julie Beretti, a teacher working at a centre for children with intellectual disabilities, the staff had to act quickly to ensure continuity in educational support for her group of 12 students.
"It was brutal, I had to provide a lot of material for the parents," she said. "When they replace us it's really not easy."
For Beretti, a large part of the job is now constantly reassuring parents either by email or phone. Indeed, for many parents, home-schooling has become synonymous with stress.
"I had a single mother of two daughters who sent me a lot of emails because her daughter was telling her that she could not understand her mother’s instructions," said Sophie*, a teacher in a primary school located in a poorer district of northeastern Paris.
The key factor, Sophie said, was not to overload the parents and to instead focus on revising existing work.
"I think it’s crazy to ask parents to teach new ideas to their children," she said. At her school it became necessary to lend laptops and iPads to families who did not have them while also explaining how to use them. In France, one in three people lack basic digital skills.
When phone calls and emails were not enough, parents could come to the school itself to be trained in how to use computers. "Sometimes we get older siblings to translate and explain the instructions," Sophie said.
Meanwhile, teachers from a school in Villejuif on the outskirts of Paris took it upon themselves to produce "explanatory sheets in seven languages”, said Bocqueho.
Although most pupils seem to be succeeding with remote learning, there are still a few students whom teachers have been unable to reach. The French minister of education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, said there had been a 5 to 8 percent rise in dropouts since the start of the lockdown.
Chambost said while only a few of her students had dropped out, she believed just a third of her class is diligent.
"The problem is that we have no word from those who have dropped out," she said. "The silence is disturbing."
Such concerns have also prompted Bocqueho to do more than call parents and issue homework assignments. Each week, she insists on talking to the children.
"I want them to tell me how they live in lockdown. I always have, at the back of my mind, the fear of child abuse," she said.
It's a very real risk, according to government figures published earlier this month. The emergency number for violence against children has seen the number of calls increase by 20 percent since the lockdown began. For Émilie Schaub, a teacher at a vocational high school in Vendée in western France, this experience has taught her a lot about "how young people live at home”.
So far, it has mainly been mothers who are picking up the educational slack. According to a study conducted for the French minister for gender equality, Marlène Schiappa, 58 percent of women feel they spend more time than their spouses performing household and educational tasks.
"I call dads as much as mums and they usually refer me to their partners," Bocqueho said, noting that of her 24 students only four dads are in charge of home-schooling.
While President Emmanuel Macron has announced that school will open gradually starting on May 11, Chambost remains doubtful.
"In my high school, I have classes of 37 students. How can you ensure social distancing?”
* Last name withheld.
This article has been translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-04-30--Covid-19: Nearly half of global workforce at risk of losing livelihoods, report says

This photo , taken on March 14 , shows a worker supervising a machine that welds aluminum at a plant in Zouping , Shandong Province , China .
The sharp drop in global working hours due to the coronavirus means that nearly half of the global workforce – 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy – are in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed , the International Labour Organization warned on Wednesday .
In its third report on how the pandemic is affecting workers around the world , the UN agency warned of the impact on the most vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 1.6 billion people are at risk of seeing `` massive damage to their ability to earn a living '' , said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder .
`` We all have to think of the human suffering , the human need that stands behind that extraordinary figure , '' he added .
The ILO said the crisis was causing an unprecedented reduction in economic activity and working time .
It estimates that global working hours declined by 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the last three months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , global working hours are expected to be 10.5 percent lower than in the last pre-crisis quarter , due to the extension of lockdowns .
The ILO said these lost hours are the equivalent of 305 million full-time jobs .
That number represents a major escalation of a previous second-quarter estimate of 195 million job losses .
The organisation said the Americas – down 12.4 percent , followed by Europe and Central Asia each down 11.8 percent – would be the regions losing the most working hours over the second quarter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be accommodation and food services , manufacturing , wholesale and retail trade , and real estate and business activities .
`` As the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve , the need to protect the most vulnerable becomes even more urgent , '' said Ryder .
`` For millions of workers , no income means no food , no security and no future .
`` Millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing .
They have no savings or access to credit , ” he said .
`` If we do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perish.
” The ILO found the proportion of workers living in countries with recommended or mandatory workplace closures has decreased from 81 to 68 percent over the last two weeks – mainly driven by the lifting of workplace shutdowns in China .
However , the situation has worsened elsewhere , with workplace closures increasing .

The sharp drop in global working hours due to the coronavirus means that nearly half of the global workforce – 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy – are in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed, the International Labour Organization warned on Wednesday.
This photo, taken on March 14, shows a worker supervising a machine that welds aluminum at a plant in Zouping, Shandong Province, China.
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In its third report on how the pandemic is affecting workers around the world, the UN agency warned of the impact on the most vulnerable who are often in the hardest-hit sectors.
The 1.6 billion people are at risk of seeing "massive damage to their ability to earn a living", said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.
"We all have to think of the human suffering, the human need that stands behind that extraordinary figure," he added.
The ILO said the crisis was causing an unprecedented reduction in economic activity and working time. It estimates that global working hours declined by 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the last three months of 2019.
In the second quarter of 2020, global working hours are expected to be 10.5 percent lower than in the last pre-crisis quarter, due to the extension of lockdowns.
The ILO said these lost hours are the equivalent of 305 million full-time jobs. That number represents a major escalation of a previous second-quarter estimate of 195 million job losses.
The organisation said the Americas – down 12.4 percent, followed by Europe and Central Asia each down 11.8 percent – would be the regions losing the most working hours over the second quarter.
No income, no food
The ILO said the hardest-hit sectors would be accommodation and food services, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate and business activities.
"As the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve, the need to protect the most vulnerable becomes even more urgent," said Ryder.
"For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future.
"Millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing. They have no savings or access to credit,” he said.
"If we don't help them now, they will simply perish.”
The ILO found the proportion of workers living in countries with recommended or mandatory workplace closures has decreased from 81 to 68 percent over the last two weeks – mainly driven by the lifting of workplace shutdowns in China.
However, the situation has worsened elsewhere, with workplace closures increasing.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-04-30--France enters recession as GDP falls by record 5.8 percent in first quarter

In this photo from March 18 , 2020 , a pedestrian walks past buildings of the business district of La Défense , on the outskirts of Paris , as a strict lockdown comes into effect in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19 in France .
France saw its sharpest economic contraction since World War II in the first quarter as a lockdown from mid-March left shops shuttered and consumers hunkered down at home , official data showed on Thursday .
French gross domestic product shrank 5.8 % in the quarter from the previous three months , the INSEE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second consecutive quarter the economy contracted , after shrinking 0.1 % in the fourth quarter of 2019 , meaning it is technically in recession .
The first quarter contraction was the biggest on a quarterly basis since World War II , surpassing the previous record of -5.3 % in the second quarter of 1968 when France was gripped by civil unrest , mass student protests and general strikes .
The slump even exceeded most economists ' expectations , which on average were for -3.5 % , although estimates in Reuters poll went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 17 , France 's 67 million people have been ordered to stay at home except to buy food , go to work , seek medical care or get some exercise on their own .
INSEE said consumer spending , usually the driver of the French economy , dropped 6.1 % in the first quarter from the previous three months while business investment plunged 11.4 % .
The lockdown is due to begin winding down from May 11 , but the government has warned that bankruptcies and unemployment are likely to spike upwards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy will contract at least 8 % this year and has rushed through a crisis package worth 110 billion euros - 4 % of GDP - to help companies and workers .
INSEE has previously estimated economic activity is at about two-thirds of normal levels and more than one out of two private sector workers has been put on state-subsidised furloughs aimed at staving off permanent mass layoffs .

France saw its sharpest economic contraction since World War II in the first quarter as a lockdown from mid-March left shops shuttered and consumers hunkered down at home, official data showed on Thursday.
In this photo from March 18, 2020, a pedestrian walks past buildings of the business district of La Défense, on the outskirts of Paris, as a strict lockdown comes into effect in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19 in France.
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French gross domestic product shrank 5.8% in the quarter from the previous three months, the INSEE official statistics agency said.
That marked the second consecutive quarter the economy contracted, after shrinking 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2019, meaning it is technically in recession.
The first quarter contraction was the biggest on a quarterly basis since World War II, surpassing the previous record of -5.3% in the second quarter of 1968 when France was gripped by civil unrest, mass student protests and general strikes.
The slump even exceeded most economists' expectations, which on average were for -3.5%, although estimates in Reuters poll went as low as -7%.
Since March 17, France's 67 million people have been ordered to stay at home except to buy food, go to work, seek medical care or get some exercise on their own.
INSEE said consumer spending, usually the driver of the French economy, dropped 6.1% in the first quarter from the previous three months while business investment plunged 11.4%.
The lockdown is due to begin winding down from May 11, but the government has warned that bankruptcies and unemployment are likely to spike upwards in its wake.
The government expects the economy will contract at least 8% this year and has rushed through a crisis package worth 110 billion euros - 4% of GDP - to help companies and workers.
INSEE has previously estimated economic activity is at about two-thirds of normal levels and more than one out of two private sector workers has been put on state-subsidised furloughs aimed at staving off permanent mass layoffs.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-30--Libyan strongman Haftar agrees to ceasefire after claiming 'popular mandate' to rule

A Libyan man stands at the site of shelling on the residential area of Arada in the capital Tripoli on April 14 , 2020 Libya strongman Khalifa Haftar said Wednesday his forces would cease hostilities for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan following international calls for a truce in the war-torn country .
`` The commander general announces the halting of military operations from his side , '' a spokesman for Haftar , who controls swathes of eastern and southern Libya , said from the eastern city of Benghazi .
Haftar 's rival , the UN-recognised Government of National Accord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and an AFP correspondent reported hearing explosions in the centre of the capital Tripoli after the announcement .
The call for a truce during Ramadan , which began in Libya on April 24 , came in response to `` appeals from friendly nations , '' the Haftar spokesman said .
He warned violations by the GNA would be met with an `` immediate and harsh response . ''
Last week , the UN , EU and several countries called for both sides to lay down their arms during the holy month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of setbacks in recent weeks , with GNA forces ousting them from two key coastal cities west of Tripoli .
Backed by Turkey , GNA troops are now encircling Haftar 's main rear base at Tarhunah , 60 kilometres ( 39 miles ) southeast of the capital .
Since launching an offensive to seize Tripoli last April , several cease-fires between Haftar 's forces and the GNA have fallen through , with both sides accusing the other of violations .
Haftar 's opponents accuse him of wanting to establish a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday he claimed he had `` a popular mandate '' to govern , declaring a key 2015 political deal over and vowing to press his assault to seize Tripoli .
The oil-rich North African nation has been gripped by chaos since the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011 .

Libya's UN-recognised government on Thursday rejected a truce unilaterally called the day before by military strongman Khalifa Haftar, saying it "did not trust" its eastern-based rival.
A Libyan man stands at the site of shelling on the residential area of Arada in the capital Tripoli on April 14, 2020
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The move follows successes on the ground for forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against Haftar's troops in recent weeks, just over a year since he launched an offensive on the capital.
The GNA said in a statement that it did not trust Haftar, who controls the east and swathes of southern Libya, accusing him of violating previous truces.
"These violations make it so we do not trust truce announcements (from Haftar)," the GNA said.
Any "ceasefire needs to have international safeguards and mechanisms" to monitor its implementation and to document violations, it added.
Haftar's camp had said on Wednesday it would cease hostilities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in response to international calls for a truce.
Last week, the UN, EU and several countries called for both sides to lay down their arms during the holy month.
Announcement comes after military setbacks
Haftar’s truce announcement came after his forces suffered a series of setbacks in recent weeks, with GNA forces ousting them from two key coastal cities west of Tripoli.
Backed by Turkey, GNA troops are now encircling Haftar's main rear base at Tarhunah, 60 kilometres (39 miles) southeast of the capital.
Since launching an offensive to seize Tripoli last April, several cease-fires between Haftar's forces and the GNA have fallen through, with both sides accusing the other of violations.
Haftar's opponents accuse him of wanting to establish a new military dictatorship in the country.
On Monday he claimed he had "a popular mandate" to govern, declaring a key 2015 political deal over and vowing to press his assault to seize Tripoli.
The oil-rich North African nation has been gripped by chaos since the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
11:00 EYE ON AFRICA 20202804 © FRANCE 24
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-04-29--European lockdowns could prevent 11,300 premature deaths due to pollution, study says

FILE PHOTO : General view of Rialto Bridge and the empty Grand Canal , as the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues in Venice , Italy , April 28 , 2020 .
R Improved air quality in Europe due to lockdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic has delivered health benefits equivalent to avoiding 11,300 premature deaths , according to a study published on Thursday .
Researchers extrapolated the likely impact on diseases caused or made worse by air pollution , which has fallen dramatically as hundreds of millions of people have stayed at home over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to everyone in Europe stopping smoking for a month , '' said Lauri Myllyvirta , lead analyst at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air , which conducted the study .
`` Our analysis highlights the tremendous benefits for public health and quality of life that could be achieved by rapidly reducing fossil fuels in a sustained and sustainable way . ''
The benefits in Germany , Britain and Italy exceeded the equivalent of more than 1,500 premature deaths in each country .
The average European citizen was exposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would normally have been expected in the 30 days that ended on April 24 , CREA said .
The gas is mostly produced from road transport .
Exposure to particulate matter , generated by transport , industry and coal-fired heating , was 12 % below normal levels , according to the study , which covered 21 European countries .
The observed drop in pollution would also be expected to result in 1.3 million fewer days of absence from work and 6,000 fewer new cases of asthma in children , CREA said .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prolonged exposure to dirty air prior to the pandemic could have caused or exacerbated diabetes , lung disease , heart disease and cancer – all conditions that increase the risk of death for COVID-19 patients .
`` What we can say so far is that there is an overlap between conditions associated with air pollution and those that have increased the risk of dying from COVID-19 , '' said Sara De Matteis , a professor at Italy 's Cagliari University and a member of the European Respiratory Society 's environmental health committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual premature deaths in the 27-member European Union and ex-member Britain , according to the EU environment agency .

Improved air quality in Europe due to lockdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic has delivered health benefits equivalent to avoiding 11,300 premature deaths, according to a study published on Thursday.
FILE PHOTO: General view of Rialto Bridge and the empty Grand Canal, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Venice, Italy, April 28, 2020. R
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Researchers extrapolated the likely impact on diseases caused or made worse by air pollution, which has fallen dramatically as hundreds of millions of people have stayed at home over the past month.
"You could compare it to everyone in Europe stopping smoking for a month," said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, which conducted the study.
"Our analysis highlights the tremendous benefits for public health and quality of life that could be achieved by rapidly reducing fossil fuels in a sustained and sustainable way."
The benefits in Germany, Britain and Italy exceeded the equivalent of more than 1,500 premature deaths in each country.
The average European citizen was exposed to nitrogen dioxide levels 37% below what would normally have been expected in the 30 days that ended on April 24, CREA said. The gas is mostly produced from road transport.
Exposure to particulate matter, generated by transport, industry and coal-fired heating, was 12% below normal levels, according to the study, which covered 21 European countries.
The observed drop in pollution would also be expected to result in 1.3 million fewer days of absence from work and 6,000 fewer new cases of asthma in children, CREA said.
At the same time, the researchers noted that prolonged exposure to dirty air prior to the pandemic could have caused or exacerbated diabetes, lung disease, heart disease and cancer – all conditions that increase the risk of death for COVID-19 patients.
"What we can say so far is that there is an overlap between conditions associated with air pollution and those that have increased the risk of dying from COVID-19," said Sara De Matteis, a professor at Italy's Cagliari University and a member of the European Respiratory Society's environmental health committee.
Air pollution causes more than 400,000 annual premature deaths in the 27-member European Union and ex-member Britain, according to the EU environment agency.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-29--Covid-19 tracking apps: Easing lockdown, but on what terms?

Covid-19 tracking apps : Easing lockdown , but on what terms ?
Will tracking apps save the world or put @ @ @ @ @ to a surveillance state ?
Why has the French state delayed the roll-out of its @ @ @ @ @ to deconfine , talk turns to contact tracing .
It will mean hiring an army @ @ @ @ @ isolate the infected and digital tracing to inform the public .
But how do you @ @ @ @ @ hacked or governments from using the data to illegally spy on citizens ?
What if @ @ @ @ @ a smartphone ?
How will it work between countries ?
And will it turn us @ @ @ @ @ technology ?
François Picard 's panel argues over the relative merits of rival plans across @ @ @ @ @ .
Take international news everywhere with you !
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Covid-19 tracking apps: Easing lockdown, but on what terms?
42:29 THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24
Will tracking apps save the world or put humanity on the fast track to a surveillance state? Why has the French state delayed the roll-out of its plan? With citizens desperate to deconfine, talk turns to contact tracing. It will mean hiring an army of monitors to locate and isolate the infected and digital tracing to inform the public. But how do you prevent the system from getting hacked or governments from using the data to illegally spy on citizens?
Advertising What if you don’t have a smartphone? How will it work between countries? And will it turn us even more into slaves to technology? François Picard's panel argues over the relative merits of rival plans across Europe and around the world. >> Spain launches app to monitor virus symptoms Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app


france24--2020-04-30--Germany designates Hezbollah as terrorist group, conducts raids on suspects

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer speaks during a session at the German Bundestag ( lower house of parliament ) in Berlin on March 5 , 2020 .
Germany has banned all Iran-backed Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated it a terrorist organisation , the Interior Ministry said on Thursday .
Police also conducted early morning raids on mosque associations in four cities across Germany .
Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah 's extremist wing .
Israel and the United States had been pushing Germany to ban the organisation .
Germany had previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its military units , which have fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad 's army in Syria .
A spokesman said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had banned the activities of Hezbollah .
`` Even in times of crisis , the rule of law is capable of acting , '' tweeted the spokesman .
A heavily armed Shi'ite Islamist group already designated a terrorist organisation by the United States , Hezbollah is also a significant backer of the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab , which took office in January .
“ This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision , ” said American Jewish Committee head David Harris .
`` We now hope other European nations will take a close look at Germany ’ s decision and reach the same conclusion about the true nature of Hezbollah , ” said Harris .
The EU classifies Hezbollah 's military wing as a terrorist group , but not its political wing .
Last December , Germany 's parliament approved a motion urging Chancellor Angela Merkel 's government to ban all activities by Hezbollah on German soil , citing its `` terrorist activities '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Berlin last year , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped Germany would follow Britain in banning Hezbollah .
Britain introduced legislation in February of last year that classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation .
Police raided four mosque associations in Dortmund and Muenster in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia , Bremen and Berlin which they believe are close to Hezbollah , the interior ministry said .

Germany has banned all Iran-backed Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated it a terrorist organisation, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer speaks during a session at the German Bundestag (lower house of parliament) in Berlin on March 5, 2020.
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Police also conducted early morning raids on mosque associations in four cities across Germany. Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah's extremist wing.
Israel and the United States had been pushing Germany to ban the organisation. Germany had previously distinguished between Hezbollah's political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar al-Assad's army in Syria.
A spokesman said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had banned the activities of Hezbollah.
"Even in times of crisis, the rule of law is capable of acting," tweeted the spokesman.
A heavily armed Shi'ite Islamist group already designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, Hezbollah is also a significant backer of the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, which took office in January.
Jewish groups hailed the move as a landmark decision.
“This is a welcome, much-anticipated, and significant German decision,” said American Jewish Committee head David Harris.
"We now hope other European nations will take a close look at Germany’s decision and reach the same conclusion about the true nature of Hezbollah,” said Harris.
The EU classifies Hezbollah's military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political wing.
German parliament had urged ban
Last December, Germany's parliament approved a motion urging Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to ban all activities by Hezbollah on German soil, citing its "terrorist activities" especially in Syria.
On a trip to Berlin last year, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped Germany would follow Britain in banning Hezbollah. Britain introduced legislation in February of last year that classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.
Police raided four mosque associations in Dortmund and Muenster in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen and Berlin which they believe are close to Hezbollah, the interior ministry said.
(REUTERS)
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