france24--2020-05-13--New resolution on immediate global ceasefire presented to UN Security Council

Germany and Estonia submitted Tuesday a resolution to the UN Security Council on a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world during the coronavirus pandemic , to replace one drafted by France and Tunisia that the United States has blocked .
Encompassing five major points – compared to the previous draft 's nine – the proposal by the two non-permanent members of the Security Council and seen by AFP `` demands a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda . ''
Such a move is intended to help some 20 countries in crisis or at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unclear if concrete steps on the ground have been taken .
The resolution borrows from the French-Tunisian proposal , using language agreed upon by the 15 Council members during negotiations that have been ongoing since March or that had been used in previous resolutions , such as making ceasefire exceptions to battle jihadist groups .
As in the French-Tunisian resolution , the new proposal calls for a `` humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days '' in order to allow for the delivery of aid to the hardest-hit communities .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote , but it could happen quickly if none of the five permanent Council members threatens to use its veto , as when Washington criticized the mention of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) in the French-Tunisian resolution .
The German-Estonian text makes no mention of the WHO , so the uncertainty resides with China , which until the last minute insisted on a reference to the UN health group , even an implicit one .
The new resolution was proposed Tuesday during a teleconference held behind closed doors and organized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency of the Security Council .
The resolution was submitted in the afternoon .
One of the diplomats , speaking on condition of anonymity , said China declared in the meeting that it backed swift action in the council .
At the end of last week , Beijing and Washington both denied responsibility for the breakdown of negotiations led by Paris and Tunis .
The US stunned the Council on Friday by blocking the resolution from going forward , stating that Washington `` can not support the current draft . ''
The reversal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the text , negotiators said on condition of anonymity .
The US State Department said the Security Council `` should either proceed with a resolution limited to support for a ceasefire , or a broadened resolution '' that addressed the issues of transparency and responsibility .
The State Department also accused Beijing of blocking any efforts to reach consensus since March .
Washington had threatened to use its veto if there were any explicit reference to the World Health Organization , which President Donald Trump has accused of downplaying the seriousness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Diplomats say that at the same time Beijing had brandished its own veto if the global health body were not mentioned , before ultimately accepting an implicit reference .
`` We must find a way out from this deadlock , '' Estonia 's ambassador to the UN , Sven Jurgenson , told AFP .
`` It is ( a ) real shame that we , the Security Council , have not been able to fulfill our responsibility on this matter , '' he said , adding he hoped to quickly come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` despite the differences in positions and perceptions that still hinder consensus , discussions among member states have been important and constructive , '' Tunisia 's UN Ambassador Kais Kabtani told AFP .
`` Tunisia never gave up hope in achieving compromise and winning approval for the first Security Council resolution since Covid-19 started ravaging the globe , '' he said .
One diplomat , speaking anonymously , said it was time to turn the page after the first resolution failed .
Another diplomat , also speaking on condition of anonymity , added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rolling again .
But after two months of silence from the Security Council , the damage is done , he said , noting it was unfortunate that the human tragedy caused by the pandemic did not rapidly rally support for the UN chief 's call for a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world .
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ' appeal on March 23 was somewhat heeded in some countries , but violence has since resumed or intensified , particularly in Afghanistan , Yemen and Libya .

Germany and Estonia submitted Tuesday a resolution to the UN Security Council on a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world during the coronavirus pandemic, to replace one drafted by France and Tunisia that the United States has blocked.
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Encompassing five major points – compared to the previous draft's nine – the proposal by the two non-permanent members of the Security Council and seen by AFP "demands a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda."
Such a move is intended to help some 20 countries in crisis or at war battle the coronavirus, but it is unclear if concrete steps on the ground have been taken.
The resolution borrows from the French-Tunisian proposal, using language agreed upon by the 15 Council members during negotiations that have been ongoing since March or that had been used in previous resolutions, such as making ceasefire exceptions to battle jihadist groups.
As in the French-Tunisian resolution, the new proposal calls for a "humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days" in order to allow for the delivery of aid to the hardest-hit communities.
A date has not yet been set for the vote, but it could happen quickly if none of the five permanent Council members threatens to use its veto, as when Washington criticized the mention of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the French-Tunisian resolution.
The German-Estonian text makes no mention of the WHO, so the uncertainty resides with China, which until the last minute insisted on a reference to the UN health group, even an implicit one.
The new resolution was proposed Tuesday during a teleconference held behind closed doors and organized by Estonia, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council. The resolution was submitted in the afternoon.
One of the diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said China declared in the meeting that it backed swift action in the council.
Compromise
At the end of last week, Beijing and Washington both denied responsibility for the breakdown of negotiations led by Paris and Tunis.
The US stunned the Council on Friday by blocking the resolution from going forward, stating that Washington "cannot support the current draft."
The reversal came a day after Washington had agreed to the text, negotiators said on condition of anonymity.
The US State Department said the Security Council "should either proceed with a resolution limited to support for a ceasefire, or a broadened resolution" that addressed the issues of transparency and responsibility. The State Department also accused Beijing of blocking any efforts to reach consensus since March.
Washington had threatened to use its veto if there were any explicit reference to the World Health Organization, which President Donald Trump has accused of downplaying the seriousness of the virus outbreak that began in China.
Diplomats say that at the same time Beijing had brandished its own veto if the global health body were not mentioned, before ultimately accepting an implicit reference.
"We must find a way out from this deadlock," Estonia's ambassador to the UN, Sven Jurgenson, told AFP.
"It is (a) real shame that we, the Security Council, have not been able to fulfill our responsibility on this matter," he said, adding he hoped to quickly come to an agreement.
For two months, "despite the differences in positions and perceptions that still hinder consensus, discussions among member states have been important and constructive," Tunisia's UN Ambassador Kais Kabtani told AFP.
"Tunisia never gave up hope in achieving compromise and winning approval for the first Security Council resolution since Covid-19 started ravaging the globe," he said.
One diplomat, speaking anonymously, said it was time to turn the page after the first resolution failed.
Another diplomat, also speaking on condition of anonymity, added it was necessary to get the ball rolling again.
But after two months of silence from the Security Council, the damage is done, he said, noting it was unfortunate that the human tragedy caused by the pandemic did not rapidly rally support for the UN chief's call for a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal on March 23 was somewhat heeded in some countries, but violence has since resumed or intensified, particularly in Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-13--US Supreme Court appears divided in debate over Trump’s taxes

President Donald Trump 's claim of a near absolute right to keep his finances secret rose to the Supreme Court on Tuesday , the culmination of a years-long showdown over the balance of power in the US government .
The president has not released his tax returns despite promising during the 2016 election to do so , bucking a voluntary tradition upheld by every US leader since Richard Nixon in the 1970s .
His finances are the target of congressional investigations by democrats looking into the president , the Trump Organization and his family in what started as a probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York prosecutor Cyrus Vance , a Democrat , is looking into whether Trump broke the law over hush money payments to a porn star and a former Playboy model who say they slept with Trump .
Observers say the court 's decision over whether to compel the release of his finances could have profound long-term implications for lawmakers ' ability to scrutinise presidents .
Trump 's lawyers have argued in lower courts that he enjoys complete immunity while in office .
But liberal Justice Elena Kagan told the president 's legal team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our constitutional order that the president is not above the law . ''
The president 's defenders say the investigations are politically driven and amount to harassment , interfering in his ability to lead .
`` It is no secret that the relationship between the House of Representatives and the president is frayed , but this is not the first nor the last time that one house of Congress will be at odds with the president , '' said Trump attorney Patrick Strawbridge .
`` The rule the court applies here will affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency itself , '' he warned .
Presidents are not required by law to release details of their private finances .
But the nine justices -- two picked by Trump , three by previous Republican presidents and four by Democrats -- acknowledged that the president had bucked tradition .
`` We have never had to address this issue and the reason is because Congress and the president have reached accommodations with each other , '' Kagan , one of the court 's liberals , told Strawbridge .
`` What you are asking us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) kind of 10-tonne weight on the scales between the president and Congress , '' she said .
Trump 's secrecy over his tax returns has prompted speculation about the former real-estate magnate 's true worth and his possible financial entanglements .
Congressional investigations have raised questions about whether he has sensitive financial exposure to Russia , and also whether he has used questionable accounting loopholes to avoid paying taxes in the 1990s and 2000s .
In both the New York and congressional cases , subpoenas were issued to Mazars , Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Deutsche Bank and Capital One bank demanding his financial records for 2011-2018 .
The Supreme Court heard repeated reference to the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s , in which Nixon refused to comply with a congressional subpoena , and president Bill Clinton 's immunity claim when Paula Jones sued him in the 1990s for sexual harassment .
In both cases the court ruled against absolute immunity for the president .
Trump 's lawyers argued that neither ruling applied , saying the congressional and New York subpoenas demonstrated no clear need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These subpoenas fail every hallmark of a legitimate congressional investigation , '' Strawbridge said .
He added that they impinged on Trump 's ability to carry out the duties of his office .
`` Unlike Congress , the president is never in recess , '' he quipped .
But the lawyer for Congress , Douglas Letter , argued there was a clear need for the documents .
`` There is an obvious need to focus on the president 's financial records to determine if the president is subject to foreign leverage .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative purpose , '' Letter said .
He also said the case before the Supreme Court was very specific and did not require a decision that would shift the balance of power in governance .

President Donald Trump's claim of a near absolute right to keep his finances secret rose to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the culmination of a years-long showdown over the balance of power in the US government.
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The president has not released his tax returns despite promising during the 2016 election to do so, bucking a voluntary tradition upheld by every US leader since Richard Nixon in the 1970s.
His finances are the target of congressional investigations by democrats looking into the president, the Trump Organization and his family in what started as a probe into foreign influence in 2016.
Meanwhile New York prosecutor Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, is looking into whether Trump broke the law over hush money payments to a porn star and a former Playboy model who say they slept with Trump.
Observers say the court's decision over whether to compel the release of his finances could have profound long-term implications for lawmakers' ability to scrutinise presidents.
Trump's lawyers have argued in lower courts that he enjoys complete immunity while in office.
But liberal Justice Elena Kagan told the president's legal team it was a "fundamental precept of our constitutional order that the president is not above the law."
The president's defenders say the investigations are politically driven and amount to harassment, interfering in his ability to lead.
"It is no secret that the relationship between the House of Representatives and the president is frayed, but this is not the first nor the last time that one house of Congress will be at odds with the president," said Trump attorney Patrick Strawbridge.
"The rule the court applies here will affect not only this president, but the presidency itself," he warned.
'Ten-tonne weight'
Presidents are not required by law to release details of their private finances.
But the nine justices -- two picked by Trump, three by previous Republican presidents and four by Democrats -- acknowledged that the president had bucked tradition.
"We have never had to address this issue and the reason is because Congress and the president have reached accommodations with each other," Kagan, one of the court's liberals, told Strawbridge.
"What you are asking us to do is to put (a) kind of 10-tonne weight on the scales between the president and Congress," she said.
Trump's secrecy over his tax returns has prompted speculation about the former real-estate magnate's true worth and his possible financial entanglements.
Congressional investigations have raised questions about whether he has sensitive financial exposure to Russia, and also whether he has used questionable accounting loopholes to avoid paying taxes in the 1990s and 2000s.
In both the New York and congressional cases, subpoenas were issued to Mazars, Trump's longtime accounting firm, as well as to Deutsche Bank and Capital One bank demanding his financial records for 2011-2018.
Watergate and Paula Jones
The Supreme Court heard repeated reference to the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s, in which Nixon refused to comply with a congressional subpoena, and president Bill Clinton's immunity claim when Paula Jones sued him in the 1990s for sexual harassment.
In both cases the court ruled against absolute immunity for the president.
Trump's lawyers argued that neither ruling applied, saying the congressional and New York subpoenas demonstrated no clear need for the president's financial records.
"These subpoenas fail every hallmark of a legitimate congressional investigation," Strawbridge said.
He added that they impinged on Trump's ability to carry out the duties of his office. "Unlike Congress, the president is never in recess," he quipped.
But the lawyer for Congress, Douglas Letter, argued there was a clear need for the documents.
"There is an obvious need to focus on the president's financial records to determine if the president is subject to foreign leverage. It's obvious that ties in with a legislative purpose," Letter said.
He also said the case before the Supreme Court was very specific and did not require a decision that would shift the balance of power in governance.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-13--Italy approves long-awaited €55 billion bailout package after 2-month lockdown

FILE PHOTO : Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte attends a session of the lower house of parliament on the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in Rome , Italy April 21 , 2020 .
The Italian government has approved a long-delayed , 55 billion-euro ( $ 59.6 billion ) stimulus package aimed at helping Italy 's battered businesses and struggling families survive the coronavirus crisis .
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had promised to introduce the measures last month , but repeated rows within his increasingly shaky coalition over various aspects of the decree , which runs to almost 500 pages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have worked on this decree aware that the country is in great difficulty , '' Conte said on Wednesday following a Cabinet meeting .
The decree takes immediate effect .
Rome has forecast that the economy will contract by at least 8 % this year as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic , which has so far killed 31,106 people in Italy - the third-highest death toll in the world after the United States and Britain .
After a two-month lockdown , tight restrictions on businesses and movement are being gradually rolled back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that this phase of reopening can immediately offer the prospect of an economic and social recovery , '' Conte told reporters .
The stimulus package , which follows an initial 25 billion-euro package introduced in March , includes a mix of grants and tax breaks to help firms ride out the downturn .
It also offers help to families , including subsidies for childcare and incentives to boost the ravaged tourism sector .
The Treasury has predicted that the extra spending , coupled with a collapse in tax revenues , will push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gross domestic product this year , while public debt was seen surging some 20 percentage points to 155.7 % of GDP .
Conte said the decree set aside 25.6 billion euros to help employees and the self-employed , including additional funding for temporary layoff schemes that enable firms to furlough rather than shed staff .
The new measures also include a norm to let irregular migrants obtain temporary work papers to enable them to be hired as farm labourers or carers .
The ruling 5-Star Movement initially fought the initiative , but eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government fall apart over the issue .
The bill provides for payments of between 400 and 800 euros a month for a maximum of two months to help those with no income who are excluded from the current welfare safety net .
Among a raft of other measures , Conte said regional taxes due to be paid by businesses in June would be scrapped at a cost of 4 billion euros .
There was also a provision to create an equity fund for state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti ( CDP ) to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In an effort to preserve financial stability , the decree said the Treasury was ready to offer state guarantees for up to 15 billion euros of new bonds to support banks .
Additional provisions are aimed at encouraging healthy lenders to take over small failing banks .

The Italian government has approved a long-delayed, 55 billion-euro ($59.6 billion) stimulus package aimed at helping Italy's battered businesses and struggling families survive the coronavirus crisis.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte attends a session of the lower house of parliament on the coronavirus disease in Rome, Italy, April 21, 2020.
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Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had promised to introduce the measures last month, but repeated rows within his increasingly shaky coalition over various aspects of the decree, which runs to almost 500 pages, led to repeated holdups.
"We have worked on this decree aware that the country is in great difficulty," Conte said on Wednesday following a Cabinet meeting. The decree takes immediate effect.
Rome has forecast that the economy will contract by at least 8% this year as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has so far killed 31,106 people in Italy - the third-highest death toll in the world after the United States and Britain.
After a two-month lockdown, tight restrictions on businesses and movement are being gradually rolled back.
"This decree provides the prerequisites so that this phase of reopening can immediately offer the prospect of an economic and social recovery," Conte told reporters.
The stimulus package, which follows an initial 25 billion-euro package introduced in March, includes a mix of grants and tax breaks to help firms ride out the downturn. It also offers help to families, including subsidies for childcare and incentives to boost the ravaged tourism sector.
The Treasury has predicted that the extra spending, coupled with a collapse in tax revenues, will push the budget deficit to 10.4% of gross domestic product this year, while public debt was seen surging some 20 percentage points to 155.7% of GDP.
Help for banks
Conte said the decree set aside 25.6 billion euros to help employees and the self-employed, including additional funding for temporary layoff schemes that enable firms to furlough rather than shed staff.
The new measures also include a norm to let irregular migrants obtain temporary work papers to enable them to be hired as farm labourers or carers. The ruling 5-Star Movement initially fought the initiative, but eventually gave way rather than risk seeing the government fall apart over the issue.
The bill provides for payments of between 400 and 800 euros a month for a maximum of two months to help those with no income who are excluded from the current welfare safety net.
Among a raft of other measures, Conte said regional taxes due to be paid by businesses in June would be scrapped at a cost of 4 billion euros.
There was also a provision to create an equity fund for state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) to invest in non-financial firms deemed strategically important.
In an effort to preserve financial stability, the decree said the Treasury was ready to offer state guarantees for up to 15 billion euros of new bonds to support banks.
Additional provisions are aimed at encouraging healthy lenders to take over small failing banks.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-13--‘World’s highest death rate’: Brazil’s nurses protest as fatalities mount

Nurses in Brazil held a vigil Tuesday for fallen colleagues and raise awareness of the dangers they face on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The country has the highest death rate among nurses of anywhere in the world , according to its nursing body COFEN , with 98 fatalities in a single month .
Protesters in Sao Paulo and Brasilia lit candles and laid crosses in memory of nurses who have died from Covid-19 and held aloft the names of their deceased colleagues , in a demonstration that coincided with International Nurses Day .
`` It 's very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to live through what we are experiencing , ” Nurse Leidijany Paz told AFP .
“ We leave home and do not know if we will be able to return home , because if I have symptoms I can not go home , I have to isolate myself outside my own home .
Many of my colleagues sleep in separate rooms , they do not hug their children . ''
Medical workers have blamed the country ’ s high death rate among hospital staff on a lack of personal protective equipment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolsonaro has also been heavily criticised for downplaying the crisis even as deaths surge .
On Monday , Bolsonaro sought to ease the country ’ s lockdown restrictions by allowing gyms and hair salons to re-open .
A day later , the country reported its highest ever daily death toll with 881 new fatalities .
`` We want to call attention to the importance of social isolation , ” said Paz , “ and a return to activities in a calm manner because this will translate into lives , lives not only of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that serve , of the health professionals . ''
Brazil has become a global hotspot for the virus with nearly 180,000 confirmed cases and more than 12,000 deaths .

Nurses in Brazil held a vigil Tuesday for fallen colleagues and raise awareness of the dangers they face on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country has the highest death rate among nurses of anywhere in the world, according to its nursing body COFEN, with 98 fatalities in a single month.
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Protesters in Sao Paulo and Brasilia lit candles and laid crosses in memory of nurses who have died from Covid-19 and held aloft the names of their deceased colleagues, in a demonstration that coincided with International Nurses Day.
"It's very emotional. There is no way for us to live through what we are experiencing,” Nurse Leidijany Paz told AFP.
“We leave home and do not know if we will be able to return home, because if I have symptoms I cannot go home, I have to isolate myself outside my own home. Many of my colleagues sleep in separate rooms, they do not hug their children."
Medical workers have blamed the country’s high death rate among hospital staff on a lack of personal protective equipment.
But Brazil’s right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro has also been heavily criticised for downplaying the crisis even as deaths surge.
On Monday, Bolsonaro sought to ease the country’s lockdown restrictions by allowing gyms and hair salons to re-open.
A day later, the country reported its highest ever daily death toll with 881 new fatalities.
"We want to call attention to the importance of social isolation,” said Paz, “and a return to activities in a calm manner because this will translate into lives, lives not only of the community, but also of those that serve, of the health professionals."
Brazil has become a global hotspot for the virus with nearly 180,000 confirmed cases and more than 12,000 deaths.
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france24--2020-05-13--France's Covid-19 death toll passes 27,000 but hospitalisations continue to fall

A patient suffering from Covid-19 practices rehabilitation exercises with a physiotherapist at a hospital in Vannes on May 6 , 2020 .
France 's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 83 to 27,074 on Wednesday , with the rate of increase slowing again after a two-day upturn .
Wednesday ’ s tally marks a significant decrease from the 348 deaths reported on Tuesday .
It is welcome news for the French government , which has begun lifting lockdown measures this week in an effort to revive a flagging economy .
The lower tally means France 's overall death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day after overtaking it .
However , the health ministry cautioned that it did not yet have a toll from nursing homes for Wednesday .
It also acknowledged that a counting error had led it to revise the death toll at nursing homes down by 15 people from Tuesday .
The ministry said in a statement that the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 infections fell again to 21,071 from 21,595 on Tuesday , continuing an uninterrupted downward trend now in its fifth week .
The number of people in intensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health system 's ability to cope with the pandemic — also continued its downtrend , falling by 114 to 2,428 , from more than 7,000 in early April at the height of the crisis .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 507 to 140,734 on Wednesday , down from 708 on Tuesday .
The government has said it will consider locking down the country again if daily new infections rise above 3,000 .
In a meeting with regional leaders , President Emmanuel Macron emphasised that France faced a tricky balancing act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventing an upsurge in new virus cases .
`` This partial reopening of the economy while still trying to keep the epidemic under control is unprecedented , '' he said .
`` That 's the collective challenge we 're facing . ''
Macron warned that the lockdown measures could be tightened again if needed .
He added : `` It is too early to declare victory . ''

France's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 83 to 27,074 on Wednesday, with the rate of increase slowing again after a two-day upturn.
A patient suffering from Covid-19 practices rehabilitation exercises with a physiotherapist at a hospital in Vannes on May 6, 2020.
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Wednesday’s tally marks a significant decrease from the 348 deaths reported on Tuesday. It is welcome news for the French government, which has begun lifting lockdown measures this week in an effort to revive a flagging economy.
The lower tally means France's overall death toll has slipped back behind Spain's, a day after overtaking it.
However, the health ministry cautioned that it did not yet have a toll from nursing homes for Wednesday. It also acknowledged that a counting error had led it to revise the death toll at nursing homes down by 15 people from Tuesday.
The ministry said in a statement that the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 infections fell again to 21,071 from 21,595 on Tuesday, continuing an uninterrupted downward trend now in its fifth week.
The number of people in intensive care — a key measure of a health system's ability to cope with the pandemic — also continued its downtrend, falling by 114 to 2,428, from more than 7,000 in early April at the height of the crisis.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 507 to 140,734 on Wednesday, down from 708 on Tuesday.
The government has said it will consider locking down the country again if daily new infections rise above 3,000.
In a meeting with regional leaders, President Emmanuel Macron emphasised that France faced a tricky balancing act by seeking to kick-start economic activity while preventing an upsurge in new virus cases.
"This partial reopening of the economy while still trying to keep the epidemic under control is unprecedented," he said. "That's the collective challenge we're facing."
Macron warned that the lockdown measures could be tightened again if needed. He added: "It is too early to declare victory."
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP)
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france24--2020-05-13--French pharma giant Sanofi to give US preference on future Covid-19 vaccine

The US will have priority access to a Covid-19 vaccine if and when Sanofi develops one , the French pharmaceutical giant told Bloomberg on Wednesday , explaining that the US offered more money to fund vaccine research .
“ The US government has the right to the largest pre-order because it ’ s invested in taking the risk , ” Sanofi ’ s Chief Executive Officer Paul Hudson said in an interview with Bloomberg News .
Sanofi is one of the biggest players among dozens of companies racing to develop a vaccine against the disease that has killed at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with UK rival GlaxoSmithKline Plc on the project supported by the US and says it could make 600 million doses annually — a capacity that Hudson said he aims to double .
The Sanofi CEO warned that Europe risks falling behind unless it steps up its own efforts to seek protection against the pandemic .
More than 90 vaccines are currently being developed against the disease , eight of them in the clinical trial phase .
But experts say the large-scale manufacture of a successful vaccine may be as challenging as developing one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 2.6 billion emergency fund to boost pharmaceutical labs ' capacity , fearing that even if a Covid-19 vaccine is developed the EU may not be able to produce enough shots , a document seen by Reuters shows .
`` As long as vaccine production capacity is limited , '' the EU should devise a plan to ramp up manufacturing and initially distribute shots only to those most in need , the internal EU document says .
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides floated the ideas for the first time last week to European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , according to two officials who attended their videoconference .
But no decision has yet been made .
The head of Sanofi warned the EU in April that in the current pandemic the manufacturing of vaccines posed more challenges than their actual development .
`` There is less concern about finding a successful vaccine than there is about making the volumes needed , '' Hudson said .
Estimating production capacity needs is hard , because nobody yet knows the composition of a potential Covid-19 shot or how many doses would be needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is limited , most states in the 27-nation bloc agree that a potential Covid-19 shot should initially be made available only to the elderly and other groups most vulnerable to the disease , officials said .
Medics and nurses would also be on the priority list .
A sudden surge in vaccine demand caused by the development of a Covid-19 shot could put labs under extreme strain and also reduce the availability of other vaccines that are regularly needed to immunize people against the seasonal flu or childhood diseases such as measles or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , EU health experts discussed joining forces to buy flu shots before the next influenza season , `` which is even more important due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic '' , according to public minutes .
Discussions over joint procurement schemes for vaccines highlight the EU 's anxiety over its limited access to vital medical supplies , and the risk that EU states might otherwise bid against each other for access .
Many countries experienced shortages of medical equipment , devices and drugs to treat Covid-19 patients in March and April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again when a Covid-19 vaccine is available , especially if it is developed elsewhere .
The United States and China have been wary of supporting a global funding campaign promoted by the EU that raised $ 8 billion to research , manufacture and distribute a possible vaccine and treatments for Covid-19 earlier in May .

The US will have priority access to a Covid-19 vaccine if and when Sanofi develops one, the French pharmaceutical giant told Bloomberg on Wednesday, explaining that the US offered more money to fund vaccine research.
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“The US government has the right to the largest pre-order because it’s invested in taking the risk,” Sanofi’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Hudson said in an interview with Bloomberg News.
Sanofi is one of the biggest players among dozens of companies racing to develop a vaccine against the disease that has killed at least 290,000 people worldwide.
It has partnered with UK rival GlaxoSmithKline Plc on the project supported by the US and says it could make 600 million doses annually — a capacity that Hudson said he aims to double.
The Sanofi CEO warned that Europe risks falling behind unless it steps up its own efforts to seek protection against the pandemic.
More than 90 vaccines are currently being developed against the disease, eight of them in the clinical trial phase. But experts say the large-scale manufacture of a successful vaccine may be as challenging as developing one.
The European Commission is weighing using a $2.6 billion emergency fund to boost pharmaceutical labs' capacity, fearing that even if a Covid-19 vaccine is developed the EU may not be able to produce enough shots, a document seen by Reuters shows.
"As long as vaccine production capacity is limited," the EU should devise a plan to ramp up manufacturing and initially distribute shots only to those most in need, the internal EU document says.
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides floated the ideas for the first time last week to European Union health ministers, who broadly supported them, according to two officials who attended their videoconference. But no decision has yet been made.
Limited capacity
The head of Sanofi warned the EU in April that in the current pandemic the manufacturing of vaccines posed more challenges than their actual development.
"There is less concern about finding a successful vaccine than there is about making the volumes needed," Hudson said.
Estimating production capacity needs is hard, because nobody yet knows the composition of a potential Covid-19 shot or how many doses would be needed per person.
But since vaccine production is limited, most states in the 27-nation bloc agree that a potential Covid-19 shot should initially be made available only to the elderly and other groups most vulnerable to the disease, officials said. Medics and nurses would also be on the priority list.
A sudden surge in vaccine demand caused by the development of a Covid-19 shot could put labs under extreme strain and also reduce the availability of other vaccines that are regularly needed to immunize people against the seasonal flu or childhood diseases such as measles or rota virus.
At a meeting last week, EU health experts discussed joining forces to buy flu shots before the next influenza season, "which is even more important due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic", according to public minutes.
Discussions over joint procurement schemes for vaccines highlight the EU's anxiety over its limited access to vital medical supplies, and the risk that EU states might otherwise bid against each other for access.
Many countries experienced shortages of medical equipment, devices and drugs to treat Covid-19 patients in March and April, and the EU fears shortages could occur again when a Covid-19 vaccine is available, especially if it is developed elsewhere.
The United States and China have been wary of supporting a global funding campaign promoted by the EU that raised $8 billion to research, manufacture and distribute a possible vaccine and treatments for Covid-19 earlier in May.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-13--Emerging from lockdown, France’s cherished bookshops battle to avoid shutdown

Bookseller Philippe Seyrat , wearing a protective face mask , arranges books at La Sorbonne bookshop in Nice on May 13 , 2020 .
Neighbourhood bookshops in France survived the advent of television , megastores , online retailing and Kindle .
Then came the coronavirus lockdown , an eight-week-long hiatus that has weighed heavily on profit margins and threatens the survival of some stores .
France 's bookstores were allowed to reopen on Monday for the first time since March 17 as the country began easing lockdown measures put in place to slow the spread of Covid-19 .
After almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is trying to balance the need to resuscitate a crashing economy with the risk that the spread of the deadly virus accelerates once more .
At the ICI bookstore in central Paris , wearing a mask is compulsory and hand sanitizer is readily available to allow customers to pick up and flick through whichever book catches their eye .
`` People are being careful not to touch the books too much .
And we tell them that if they touch the books , they can but they must use the [ sanitizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anne-Laure Vial told Reuters .
The bookshop 's 12 employees are back on the payroll after being temporarily furloughed , and the store has applied for two loans to help cover overhead costs .
Customers are also back `` in large numbers '' , said Culture Minister Franck Riester , as he visited a bookshop in Vincennes , east of Paris , on the first day of France 's déconfinement .
`` People have come to refill their bookshelves or buy presents for those whose birthdays could not be celebrated , '' a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a paradise for bibliophiles .
Large chain booksellers exist , but independent bookstores are a ubiquitous feature of Parisian neighbourhoods .
Inside , the bustle of the French capital slows to a sedate tempo as patrons browse the shelves .
France has jealously protected its cultural life and institutions for decades .
The French notion of ' l'exception culturelle ' means more than cultural exceptionalism — it points to the belief that national culture should be shielded from free-market forces .
Subsidies , quotas , income support and tax breaks help prop up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is also a law that prevents large bookstores and online retailers from slashing prices , in order to protect writers .
Even so , margins are tight .
`` The difficulty comes if we don ’ t get enough business to cover our costs , '' said Vial , who is worried about a slow rebound .
`` We must hold on for several months .
It ’ s not a given . ''
The government is aware of the perils they and others face .
`` They have very weak margins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could have trouble finding the finances to pay back loans , '' Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said during a visit to a bookstore last week .
`` We could have a string of bankrupt bookstores .
That 's exactly what we want to avoid . ''
Browsing the ICI 's shelves of comics among the 60,000 titles on sale was six-year-old Marcel di Nicola .
The lockdown , his mother Florence said , had been a rare opportunity to focus on reading .
`` We do n't leave him alone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon as homework is done , we need to find another activity and something he can do alone , '' she said .

Neighbourhood bookshops in France survived the advent of television, megastores, online retailing and Kindle. Then came the coronavirus lockdown, an eight-week-long hiatus that has weighed heavily on profit margins and threatens the survival of some stores.
Bookseller Philippe Seyrat, wearing a protective face mask, arranges books at La Sorbonne bookshop in Nice on May 13, 2020.
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France's bookstores were allowed to reopen on Monday for the first time since March 17 as the country began easing lockdown measures put in place to slow the spread of Covid-19.
After almost two months of confinement, the French government is trying to balance the need to resuscitate a crashing economy with the risk that the spread of the deadly virus accelerates once more.
>> Parisians enjoy coffee, company and haircuts as lockdown lifted
At the ICI bookstore in central Paris, wearing a mask is compulsory and hand sanitizer is readily available to allow customers to pick up and flick through whichever book catches their eye.
"People are being careful not to touch the books too much. And we tell them that if they touch the books, they can but they must use the [sanitizing] gel each time," co-founder Anne-Laure Vial told Reuters.
The bookshop's 12 employees are back on the payroll after being temporarily furloughed, and the store has applied for two loans to help cover overhead costs.
Customers are also back "in large numbers", said Culture Minister Franck Riester, as he visited a bookshop in Vincennes, east of Paris, on the first day of France's déconfinement.
"People have come to refill their bookshelves or buy presents for those whose birthdays could not be celebrated," a satisfied Riester told reporters.
France is a paradise for bibliophiles. Large chain booksellers exist, but independent bookstores are a ubiquitous feature of Parisian neighbourhoods.
Inside, the bustle of the French capital slows to a sedate tempo as patrons browse the shelves.
Protecting culture
France has jealously protected its cultural life and institutions for decades. The French notion of 'l'exception culturelle' means more than cultural exceptionalism — it points to the belief that national culture should be shielded from free-market forces.
Subsidies, quotas, income support and tax breaks help prop up French music, cinema and literature. There is also a law that prevents large bookstores and online retailers from slashing prices, in order to protect writers.
Even so, margins are tight.
"The difficulty comes if we don’t get enough business to cover our costs," said Vial, who is worried about a slow rebound. "We must hold on for several months. It’s not a given."
The government is aware of the perils they and others face.
"They have very weak margins, very weak profits, and so they could have trouble finding the finances to pay back loans," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said during a visit to a bookstore last week. "We could have a string of bankrupt bookstores. That's exactly what we want to avoid."
>> French teachers anxious as schools gradually reopen after Covid-19 lockdown
Browsing the ICI's shelves of comics among the 60,000 titles on sale was six-year-old Marcel di Nicola.
The lockdown, his mother Florence said, had been a rare opportunity to focus on reading.
"We don't leave him alone in front of the television. So as soon as homework is done, we need to find another activity and something he can do alone," she said.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-13--Saving summer: EU proposes three-stage plan to boost tourism amid Covid-19

A woman sits at Peraia beach in Thessaloniki on May 5 , 2020 , as Greece begins a gradual easing of its nationwide Covid-19 lockdown .
The EU on Wednesday set out plans for a phased restart of travel this summer , hoping to save millions of tourism jobs threatened by the coronavirus pandemic across Europe , the world 's top holiday destination .
Travel restrictions to combat the virus have already had a devastating impact on the sector , with airlines around the continent forced to shed tens of thousands of jobs .
Tourism is vital to the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of GDP and 12 percent of jobs .
It is especially important to southern countries already struggling with debt and the impact of COVID-19 – notably Greece , Italy and Spain .
`` Today 's guidance can be the chance of a better season for the many Europeans whose livelihood depends on tourism and , of course , for those who would like to travel this summer , '' the EU commission 's executive vice president Margrethe Vestager told reporters .
In a stark sign of the crisis facing the industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wednesday it planned to slash 8,000 jobs as it reported a net loss of over 750 million euros for the first three months of the year .
While decisions about reopening borders fall to national governments , Brussels is urging the 27 EU states to take a coordinated approach to lifting restrictions – after a haphazard start to the crisis in which capitals closed frontiers with little or no consultation .
The EU is proposing a three-stage approach , starting with the current situation in which most non-essential travel across borders is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU wants border restrictions lifted between countries and regions at a similar stage of the pandemic , and where the health situation is improving .
In the final phase , all coronavirus-related border controls would be lifted and travel permitted throughout Europe once again .
Brussels is urging governments to consider economic and social factors as well as health as they weigh up reopening their borders .
Aside from the economic impact , the annual summer holiday is an important ritual cherished by millions of Europeans .
`` This is not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when we all do our part we do n't have to face a summer stuck at home or completely lost for tourism industry , '' Vestager said .
Holidays in the time of coronavirus look set to be rather different than before , with measures in place to minimise the risk of infection .
Travellers should wear facemasks while on shared transport such as planes , trains and buses , as well as at hubs such as airports and railway stations , under the EU recommendations .
Fewer passengers may be allowed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , and buffet trolleys and dining cars will be shuttered .
Hotels and restaurants will be urged to limit guest numbers so they can respect social distancing rules .
In order to keep a close eye on the progress of the disease – and quickly identify any hotspots – EU countries have agreed to ensure contact-tracing phone apps work across borders .

The EU on Wednesday set out plans for a phased restart of travel this summer, hoping to save millions of tourism jobs threatened by the coronavirus pandemic across Europe, the world's top holiday destination.
A woman sits at Peraia beach in Thessaloniki on May 5, 2020, as Greece begins a gradual easing of its nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.
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Travel restrictions to combat the virus have already had a devastating impact on the sector, with airlines around the continent forced to shed tens of thousands of jobs.
Tourism is vital to the EU as a whole, accounting for 10 percent of GDP and 12 percent of jobs.
It is especially important to southern countries already struggling with debt and the impact of COVID-19 – notably Greece, Italy and Spain.
01:30
"Today's guidance can be the chance of a better season for the many Europeans whose livelihood depends on tourism and, of course, for those who would like to travel this summer," the EU commission's executive vice president Margrethe Vestager told reporters.
In a stark sign of the crisis facing the industry, the world's biggest tourism group TUI said Wednesday it planned to slash 8,000 jobs as it reported a net loss of over 750 million euros for the first three months of the year.
Phased approach
While decisions about reopening borders fall to national governments, Brussels is urging the 27 EU states to take a coordinated approach to lifting restrictions – after a haphazard start to the crisis in which capitals closed frontiers with little or no consultation.
The EU is proposing a three-stage approach, starting with the current situation in which most non-essential travel across borders is banned.
In the next phase, the EU wants border restrictions lifted between countries and regions at a similar stage of the pandemic, and where the health situation is improving.
In the final phase, all coronavirus-related border controls would be lifted and travel permitted throughout Europe once again.
Brussels is urging governments to consider economic and social factors as well as health as they weigh up reopening their borders.
Face masks on board
Aside from the economic impact, the annual summer holiday is an important ritual cherished by millions of Europeans.
"This is not going to be a normal summer... but when we all do our part we don't have to face a summer stuck at home or completely lost for tourism industry," Vestager said.
Holidays in the time of coronavirus look set to be rather different than before, with measures in place to minimise the risk of infection.
Travellers should wear facemasks while on shared transport such as planes, trains and buses, as well as at hubs such as airports and railway stations, under the EU recommendations.
Fewer passengers may be allowed on board to allow them to maintain safe distancing, and buffet trolleys and dining cars will be shuttered.
Hotels and restaurants will be urged to limit guest numbers so they can respect social distancing rules.
In order to keep a close eye on the progress of the disease – and quickly identify any hotspots – EU countries have agreed to ensure contact-tracing phone apps work across borders.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-13--Paris police disperse Montmartre crowd, enforcing Covid-19 social distancing

People sit on the stairs in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris , on May 12 , 2020 , on the second day of France 's easing of lockdown measures in place for 55 days to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Paris police had to disperse a crowd of revellers on Tuesday evening in front of the Sacré-Coeur basilica in the city ’ s picturesque Montmartre area .
Social distancing measures remain in place to combat Covid-19 , despite France ending its lockdown on the previous day .
Beneath the distinctive , almost Byzantine domed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iconic Montmartre hill , with its sublime panorama of the City of Lights – a crowd of people gathered to drink and celebrate after two months of full-blown confinement measures ended .
To ensure that the lifting of the lockdown does not provoke a resurgence of the coronavirus , gatherings of more than 10 people are banned and people are asked to stay at least two metres away from each other .
Consequently , police asked the crowd to disperse .
France slowly emerged from its torpor on Monday as hairdressers , florists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopened .
But restaurants and bars – at the heart of France ’ s proverbial joie de vivre – are still waiting to learn when they will be back in business and cafe life can resume under the French government ’ s phased-in lifting of restrictions it imposed to stem the country 's coronavirus outbreak .
The revelry in Montmartre came after police in the French capital declared a ban on consuming alcoholic drinks at waterfronts on Monday night , after crowds of people gathered along the banks of the River Seine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s not over .
The virus continues to circulate , ” Health Minister Olivier Véran told reporters during a visit to Limeil-Brevannes in the Paris region .
Véran argued that the scenes witnessed along the canal and the Seine on Monday showed how difficult it is to ensure people comply with a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people .

Paris police had to disperse a crowd of revellers on Tuesday evening in front of the Sacré-Coeur basilica in the city’s picturesque Montmartre area. Social distancing measures remain in place to combat Covid-19, despite France ending its lockdown on the previous day.
People sit on the stairs in front of the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris, on May 12, 2020, on the second day of France's easing of lockdown measures in place for 55 days to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Beneath the distinctive, almost Byzantine domed grace of the Sacré-Coeur – on the iconic Montmartre hill, with its sublime panorama of the City of Lights – a crowd of people gathered to drink and celebrate after two months of full-blown confinement measures ended.
To ensure that the lifting of the lockdown does not provoke a resurgence of the coronavirus, gatherings of more than 10 people are banned and people are asked to stay at least two metres away from each other. Consequently, police asked the crowd to disperse.
France slowly emerged from its torpor on Monday as hairdressers, florists, nail salons and some other businesses reopened.
But restaurants and bars – at the heart of France’s proverbial joie de vivre – are still waiting to learn when they will be back in business and cafe life can resume under the French government’s phased-in lifting of restrictions it imposed to stem the country's coronavirus outbreak.
The revelry in Montmartre came after police in the French capital declared a ban on consuming alcoholic drinks at waterfronts on Monday night, after crowds of people gathered along the banks of the River Seine and the Canal Saint-Martin in east of Paris.
“It’s not over. The virus continues to circulate,” Health Minister Olivier Véran told reporters during a visit to Limeil-Brevannes in the Paris region.
Véran argued that the scenes witnessed along the canal and the Seine on Monday showed how difficult it is to ensure people comply with a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-13--Focus on Covid-19, France tells China after Taiwan arms deal threat

A French-made Lafayette-class frigate ( centre ) takes part in military exercises off the coast of Taiwan on September 17 , 2014 .
France dismissed Chinese warnings on Wednesday about selling arms to Taiwan , saying it was implementing existing deals and that China and other countries should focus on battling the coronavirus pandemic instead .
China has warned France not to “ harm Sino-French relations ” by selling arms to neighbouring Taiwan , which is planning to buy weapons as part of an upgrade to a French-made warship fleet bought 30 years ago .
China says that Taiwan is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this principle must be accepted by any country with which it has diplomatic relations .
Arms sales to Taiwan are always highly sensitive and regularly prompt a strong reaction from Beijing .
Taiwan is mostly equipped with US-made weapons , but in 1991 France sold Taiwan six Lafayette frigates , to China 's anger .
France also sold Taiwan 60 Mirage fighter jets in 1992 .
Taiwan last month said it was seeking to buy equipment from France to upgrade the ships ' missile interference system .
Speaking in Beijing on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said China resolutely opposed any arms sales to Taiwan .
`` We have already expressed our serious concern to France , '' he told a daily news briefing .
`` We again urge the French side to abide by the one China principle and withdraw the arms sale plan to Taiwan to avoid harming Sino-French relations , '' the spokesman added .
France rejected the Chinese criticism , saying it was merely fulfilling contractual obligations and that everyone 's focus at this time should be on fighting the coronavirus epidemic .
The French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying it followed a `` one China '' policy as agreed with Beijing in 1994 and continued to urge both sides to hold dialogue .
`` France strictly respects the contractual agreements that it formed with Taiwan and nothing has changed in its position since 1994 , '' the statement said .
`` Faced with the Covid-19 crisis , all our attention and all our efforts should be focused on the fight against the pandemic , '' the ministry added .
The timing of the dispute is awkward for Paris , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid a critical shortage of protective gear to stem the spread of Covid-19 .
Last month , the French foreign ministry summoned China 's ambassador over posts and tweets by the embassy defending Beijing 's response to the pandemic and criticising the West 's handling of the outbreak .
China describes Taiwan as its most sensitive and important territorial issue , and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control .
Taiwan has shown no interest in being ruled by autocratic China .
Taiwan says it needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the growing threat from China , which has in recent months stepped up its military drills near the democratic , self-governing island .

France dismissed Chinese warnings on Wednesday about selling arms to Taiwan, saying it was implementing existing deals and that China and other countries should focus on battling the coronavirus pandemic instead.
A French-made Lafayette-class frigate (centre) takes part in military exercises off the coast of Taiwan on September 17, 2014.
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China has warned France not to “harm Sino-French relations” by selling arms to neighbouring Taiwan, which is planning to buy weapons as part of an upgrade to a French-made warship fleet bought 30 years ago.
China says that Taiwan is part of "one China" and that this principle must be accepted by any country with which it has diplomatic relations. Arms sales to Taiwan are always highly sensitive and regularly prompt a strong reaction from Beijing.
Taiwan is mostly equipped with US-made weapons, but in 1991 France sold Taiwan six Lafayette frigates, to China's anger. France also sold Taiwan 60 Mirage fighter jets in 1992.
Taiwan last month said it was seeking to buy equipment from France to upgrade the ships' missile interference system.
'Serious concern'
Speaking in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China resolutely opposed any arms sales to Taiwan.
"We have already expressed our serious concern to France," he told a daily news briefing.
"We again urge the French side to abide by the one China principle and withdraw the arms sale plan to Taiwan to avoid harming Sino-French relations," the spokesman added.
France rejected the Chinese criticism, saying it was merely fulfilling contractual obligations and that everyone's focus at this time should be on fighting the coronavirus epidemic.
The French foreign ministry issued a statement on Wednesday saying it followed a "one China" policy as agreed with Beijing in 1994 and continued to urge both sides to hold dialogue.
"France strictly respects the contractual agreements that it formed with Taiwan and nothing has changed in its position since 1994," the statement said.
"Faced with the Covid-19 crisis, all our attention and all our efforts should be focused on the fight against the pandemic," the ministry added.
Pandemic spat
The timing of the dispute is awkward for Paris, which has ordered millions of face masks from China amid a critical shortage of protective gear to stem the spread of Covid-19.
Last month, the French foreign ministry summoned China's ambassador over posts and tweets by the embassy defending Beijing's response to the pandemic and criticising the West's handling of the outbreak.
China describes Taiwan as its most sensitive and important territorial issue, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan has shown no interest in being ruled by autocratic China.
Taiwan says it needs to upgrade its armed forces to deal with the growing threat from China, which has in recent months stepped up its military drills near the democratic, self-governing island.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP)
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france24--2020-05-13--Covid-19: 'French restaurant owners are in distress,' Michelin-starred chef warns

Since the beginning of the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic in France , Michelin-starred chef Philippe Etchebest has been @ @ @ @ @ general public about the state of the restaurant industry .
All restaurants in France have @ @ @ @ @ and there is no word yet on when they can reopen .
In an interview @ @ @ @ @ warned that `` morale could n't be any lower '' among restaurant owners and that @ @ @ @ @ suicides in the profession .

Covid-19: 'French restaurant owners are in distress,' Michelin-starred chef warns
12:44 THE INTERVIEW © FRANCE 24
Since the beginning of the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic in France, Michelin-starred chef Philippe Etchebest has been alerting the government and the general public about the state of the restaurant industry. All restaurants in France have been closed since March 15 and there is no word yet on when they can reopen. In an interview with FRANCE 24, Etchebest warned that "morale couldn't be any lower" among restaurant owners and that there have already been two suicides in the profession.


france24--2020-05-13--‘We've managed to keep Covid-19 under control in Tunisia,’ PM tells FRANCE 24

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 , Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh discussed his country 's handling of the @ @ @ @ @ confidence about the step-by-step easing of the lockdown that is underway but called on his @ @ @ @ @ vigilant '' .
Tunisia 's Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh hailed the handling of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ displayed cautious optimism , saying that the trend in the number of cases was encouraging @ @ @ @ @ ) curve is quite good , '' he told FRANCE 24 in an exclusive interview @ @ @ @ @ cases of contamination have been recorded `` for the last two days '' .
Tunisia @ @ @ @ @ lockdown to fight the pandemic .
The policy appears to have paid off : Only @ @ @ @ @ recorded , for 1,032 people infected .

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh discussed his country's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. He expressed confidence about the step-by-step easing of the lockdown that is underway but called on his fellow citizens to "remain vigilant".
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Tunisia's Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh hailed the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in his country and displayed cautious optimism, saying that the trend in the number of cases was encouraging. "The (Covid-19) curve is quite good," he told FRANCE 24 in an exclusive interview, adding that no new cases of contamination have been recorded "for the last two days".
Tunisia imposed a strict and early lockdown to fight the pandemic. The policy appears to have paid off: Only 45 deaths have been officially recorded, for 1,032 people infected.
>> Tunisia orders lockdown due to coronavirus, postpones loan repayments for poor
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france24--2020-05-14--French PM Édouard Philippe confirms €1.3 billion investment plan to aid tourism industry

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe takes part in a video-conference with members of the tourism industry during an inter-ministerial committee @ @ @ @ @ , France , May 14 , 2020 .
The French government on Thursday unveiled a @ @ @ @ @ billion ) investment plan for the country 's tourism sector , which has been hit @ @ @ @ @ and the resulting shutdown in tourist attractions and hotels .
`` What is good for @ @ @ @ @ often good for the whole of France , '' said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe .
@ @ @ @ @ visited France in 2018 , making it the most visited country in the world , @ @ @ @ @ Tourism accounts for about 7 % of France 's €2.3 trillion economy .

France announced an €18 billion ($19.4 billion) rescue plan Thursday to help its tourism sector through the coronavirus crisis that has shuttered hotels and restaurants in one of the world's most visited destinations.
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe takes part in a video-conference with members of the tourism industry during an inter-ministerial committee at Hôtel Matignon in Paris, France, May 14, 2020.
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The plan includes €1.3 billion in direct public investment as well as government-guaranteed loans and extended access to a "solidarity fund", Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced.
"Whatever strikes tourism obviously strikes at the heart of France," the premier said, underscoring the importance of reviving a sector that generates nearly eight percent of the country's economic output and employs some two million people.
The €1.3 billion "will generate private investments" for total direct investment in the sector worth about €7 billion, said Philippe.
Add to that a rash of aid measures that include deferring loan repayments, the government intervention represents "a commitment of more than €18 billion in public finances: it is without precedent, it is massive, it is necessary," he said.
"What is good for the tourism industry, is often good for the whole of #France," said French PM @EPhilippePM unveiling a €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) investment plan for the country's #tourism sector ✈https://t.co/CKIFzi053c pic.twitter.com/uCYb8Z7L7U — FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) May 14, 2020
France received nearly 90 million foreign tourists last year, said the premier, but a nationwide lockdown to curb coronavirus spread has resulted in 95 percent of its hotels being shuttered since mid-March.
The country started cautiously lifting confinement measures Monday, allowing people to return to work but keeping cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, major museums and public parks shuttered along with a 100-kilometre (62-mile) limit on travel from the home.
The country remains on high alert, with heightened precautions in so-called "red zones" -- including Paris and the wider Ile-de-France region -- where the virus remains active.
"There is not a lot of certainty on the subject given what we do not know about the evolution of the virus, but we must set a course and open horizons," insisted Philippe.
Cafes and restaurants in green zones should be able to reopen from June 2, he announced, provided the epidemic does not deviate from its downward course and adequate protective measures are in place.
Philippe also said French people will be allowed to depart for the summer holidays in July and August -- but only in France and its overseas departments.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-14--France accuses Venezuela of harassing Caracas embassy, summons envoy

France has summoned Venezuela 's envoy over accusations President Nicolas Maduro 's government has been harassing its embassy in Caracas , including by cutting water and electricity to the ambassador 's residence , diplomats said on Thursday .
France is among dozens of nations which do not recognise Maduro 's disputed 2018 re-election and consider opposition leader Juan Guaido to be Venezuela 's rightful president .
Maduro has previously accused French ambassador Romain Nadal of meddling in internal affairs , and diplomats say the services to his home in Caracas have been cut since the start of May .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent days , which hinder the normal functioning of our diplomatic mission in Caracas , '' deputy foreign ministry spokesman Olivier Gauvin said in a statement , adding that the measures contravened the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations .
`` French officials expect these measures to be rescinded without delay in order to restore normal operations at our diplomatic mission . ''
Venezuela 's embassy in Paris could not be immediately reached for comment .
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Guaido at the presidential palace in January , reiterating calls for free and transparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this , and the fact French diplomats were at the airport when Guaido returned to Caracas in February , may have prompted Maduro 's government to ramp up pressure on European countries in the Venezuelan capital .
`` There are too many factors to think that this is a coincidence and other diplomatic missions have also been affected by this , '' said a French official .

France has summoned Venezuela's envoy over accusations President Nicolas Maduro's government has been harassing its embassy in Caracas, including by cutting water and electricity to the ambassador's residence, diplomats said on Thursday.
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France is among dozens of nations which do not recognise Maduro's disputed 2018 re-election and consider opposition leader Juan Guaido to be Venezuela's rightful president.
Maduro has previously accused French ambassador Romain Nadal of meddling in internal affairs, and diplomats say the services to his home in Caracas have been cut since the start of May.
"France strongly condemns the measures taken in recent days, which hinder the normal functioning of our diplomatic mission in Caracas," deputy foreign ministry spokesman Olivier Gauvin said in a statement, adding that the measures contravened the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
"French officials expect these measures to be rescinded without delay in order to restore normal operations at our diplomatic mission."
#Venezuela🇻🇪
Francia expresa su firme condena de las medidas tomadas en los últimos días que socavan el funcionamiento normal de nuestra representación diplomática en #Caracas .
Lee la declaración 👉https://t.co/V7M26uoO0m — Francia en Venezuela (@EmbaFrancia) May 13, 2020
Venezuela's embassy in Paris could not be immediately reached for comment.
President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Guaido at the presidential palace in January, reiterating calls for free and transparent elections in the country.
Diplomats said that this, and the fact French diplomats were at the airport when Guaido returned to Caracas in February, may have prompted Maduro's government to ramp up pressure on European countries in the Venezuelan capital.
"There are too many factors to think that this is a coincidence and other diplomatic missions have also been affected by this," said a French official.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-14--Coronavirus 'may never go away', WHO says

A woman wearing a protective mask walks in front of a graffiti amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , May 13 , 2020 .
The new coronavirus may never go away and populations around the world will have to learn to live with it , the World Health Organization warned Wednesday .
As some countries around the world begin gradually easing lockdown restrictions imposed in a bid to stop the novel coronavirus from spreading , the WHO said it may never be wiped out entirely .
The virus first emerged in Wuhan in China late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 4.2 million people and killed nearly 300,000 worldwide .
`` We have a new virus entering the human population for the first time and therefore it is very hard to predict when we will prevail over it , '' said Michael Ryan , the WHO 's emergencies director .
`` This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away , '' he told a virtual press conference in Geneva .
`` HIV has not gone away -- but we have come to terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of humanity has been put under some form of lockdown since the coronavirus crisis began .
But the WHO warned there was no way to guarantee that easing the restrictions would not trigger a second wave of infections .
`` Many countries would like to get out of the different measures , '' said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
`` But our recommendation is still the alert at any country should be at the highest level possible . ''
'Long way to go' Ryan added that there was a `` long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the path to returning to normal , insisting that countries would have to stay the course .
`` There is some magical thinking going on that lockdowns work perfectly and that unlocking lockdowns will go great .
Both are fraught with dangers , '' the Irish epidemiologist said .
Ryan also condemned attacks on healthcare workers that were linked to the pandemic , saying more than 35 `` quite serious '' such incidents were recorded in April alone in 11 countries .
He said the attacks were often over-reactions from ill-informed communities -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 is bringing out the best in us , but it 's also bringing out some of the worst , '' he said .
`` People feel empowered to take out their frustrations on individuals who are purely trying to help .
`` These are senseless acts of violence and discrimination that must be resisted . ''
But he insisted that in finding a way to conquer the virus was a chance for humanity to take a major step forward by finding a vaccine and making it widely accessible .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Ryan said .

The new coronavirus may never go away and populations around the world will have to learn to live with it, the World Health Organization warned Wednesday.
A woman wearing a protective mask walks in front of a graffiti amid the coronavirus disease outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2020.
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As some countries around the world begin gradually easing lockdown restrictions imposed in a bid to stop the novel coronavirus from spreading, the WHO said it may never be wiped out entirely.
The virus first emerged in Wuhan in China late last year and has since infected more than 4.2 million people and killed nearly 300,000 worldwide.
"We have a new virus entering the human population for the first time and therefore it is very hard to predict when we will prevail over it," said Michael Ryan, the WHO's emergencies director.
"This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away," he told a virtual press conference in Geneva.
"HIV has not gone away -- but we have come to terms with the virus."
Dr. Mike Ryan, the head of the World Health Organization emergencies program, said that the novel coronavirus may become ‘another endemic virus in our communities’ and ‘may never go away’ https://t.co/vnfbFP3LDr pic.twitter.com/vUDJaGMHDn — Reuters (@Reuters) May 14, 2020
More than half of humanity has been put under some form of lockdown since the coronavirus crisis began.
But the WHO warned there was no way to guarantee that easing the restrictions would not trigger a second wave of infections.
"Many countries would like to get out of the different measures," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"But our recommendation is still the alert at any country should be at the highest level possible."
'Long way to go'
Ryan added that there was a "long, long way to go" on the path to returning to normal, insisting that countries would have to stay the course.
"There is some magical thinking going on that lockdowns work perfectly and that unlocking lockdowns will go great. Both are fraught with dangers," the Irish epidemiologist said.
Ryan also condemned attacks on healthcare workers that were linked to the pandemic, saying more than 35 "quite serious" such incidents were recorded in April alone in 11 countries.
He said the attacks were often over-reactions from ill-informed communities -- while others were more sinister.
"COVID-19 is bringing out the best in us, but it's also bringing out some of the worst," he said.
"People feel empowered to take out their frustrations on individuals who are purely trying to help.
"These are senseless acts of violence and discrimination that must be resisted."
But he insisted that in finding a way to conquer the virus was a chance for humanity to take a major step forward by finding a vaccine and making it widely accessible.
"It's a massive opportunity for the world," Ryan said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-14--France says 'unacceptable' for Sanofi to give coronavirus vaccine to US first

The French government warned Thursday that it would be `` unacceptable '' for pharmaceutical giant Sanofi to reserve any Covid-19 vaccine for the United States first , after the firm 's chief said he would give preference to the American market .
`` For us , it would be unacceptable for there to be privileged access to such and such a country for financial reasons , '' deputy finance minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher told Sud Radio .
Sanofi 's CEO Paul Hudson said Wednesday that if its efforts to find a coronavirus vaccine pan out , he would supply the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in taking the risk '' , after it expanded a partnership with his company earlier this year .
`` That 's how it will be because they 've invested to try and protect their population , to restart their economy , '' he told Bloomberg News .
In April , Sanofi joined with Britain 's GlaxoSmithKline to work on a vaccine , though trials have not even started , and any successful treatment would be available towards the end of next year at the earliest .
Their project is being funded in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authority ( BARDA ) of the US Department of Health and Human Services .
But Hudson 's comments drew outrage from French health associations , not least since Sanofi has benefited from tens of millions of euros in research credits from the French state in recent years .
Pannier-Runacher said she had immediately contacted the group after the comments from Hudson , a British citizen who took over as Sanofi 's chief last year .
`` The head of Sanofi 's French division confirmed to me that a vaccine would be available in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French as well , not least because it has production capacity in France , '' said Pannier-Runacher .
Worldwide , more than 90 vaccines are currently being developed against Covid-19 , with eight of them in the clinical trial phase .

French drugmaker Sanofi said on Thursday it would ensure a future vaccine against Covid-19 reaches all regions of the world at the same time, a day after its CEO angered the French government by saying the US would enjoy priority access.
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"There will be no particular advance given to any country," Serge Weinberg, chairman of the French pharmaceutical giant, told France 2 television.
"We are organised with several manufacturing units. Some of them are in the United States but even more of them are in Europe and France," Weinberg said, adding that earlier comments by the company’s chief executive had been “altered”.
Paul Hudson, Sanofi’s CEO, told Bloomberg on Wednesday that vaccine doses produced in the United States could go to US patients first, given the country had supported the research financially.
His comments prompted outrage in France, with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe stressing that Sanofi was “profoundly French” and warning that equal access to a vaccine was “non-negotiable”.
Comme l’a indiqué @EmmanuelMacron, un vaccin contre le #COVID19 devra être un bien public mondial. L’égal accès de tous au vaccin n’est pas négociable. — Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippePM) May 14, 2020
On Thursday, Hudson said he was sorry that his earlier remarks had created such a storm. He said it was vital that any coronavirus vaccine reach all regions. But he stood firm on the need for a faster, more collaborative European effort in the hunt for a vaccine to the new coronavirus that has killed over 298,000 globally and crippled economies worldwide.
"I have been campaigning on European readiness to treat Covid-19 for months, building capacity in Europe, making sure we are ready, getting governments in the EU aligned," Hudson told an event organised by the Financial Times.
01:34
Sanofi, which has urged stronger European coordination in the hunt for a vaccine and has US financial support, clarified that any such vaccine would be made available to all.
There is currently no vaccine and no known treatment for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Drugmakers are racing to develop what would be a lucrative prize, but have sought financial support to mitigate the risks.
Sanofi is working on two vaccine projects against Covid-19. One is with British rival GlaxoSmithKline Plc that has received financial support from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the US Health Department, and the other with US company Translate Bio that will use a different technology.
‘Clumsy’
Given the support from BARDA, vaccine doses produced by Sanofi in the United States are expected to go to US patients first, a prospect that has raised concern in Europe.
"A vaccine against Covid-19 should be a public good for the world. The equal access of all to the virus is non-negotiable," Philippe said on Thursday.
Philippe said he had reinforced this message to Sanofi's chairman who in return had assured the prime minister of the distribution in France of any Sanofi vaccine.
Hudson's initial comments upset President Emmanuel Macron, an Élysée palace official said. A presidency official will meet with Sanofi representatives next week, the official added.
Earlier in the day, French Health Minister Olivier Véran said he had been "reassured" by a conversation with the head of Sanofi, describing Hudson’s comments on Wednesday as “clumsy”.
"I believe it was a phrase, as far as I can understand, that was a bit clumsy, and perhaps taken out of context, and I was quite reassured by the conversation I had with the head of Sanofi," Veran told C News television.
Sanofi has 18 production sites in France and operates in 31 other countries.
>> Covid-19 forces France to look at relocating its pharmaceutical industry
Hudson said Europe lacked a body akin to BARDA.
"That model does not exist in Europe," he said, even though there was support from governments to establish one.
The controversy has raised questions over whether Europe has been too slow to respond in terms of organising and funding vaccine research. Sanofi reiterated on Thursday that the United States had moved more quickly in this regard.
The charity Oxfam said pharmaceutical companies should not be able to decide "who lives and who dies".
Officials meeting at the World Health Assembly next week must demand that vaccines and tests are patent-free, Oxfam said in a statement. They should also be distributed equitably to all countries.
"Governments must work together to stop corporations profiteering from the pandemic and save the lives of people across the globe," Oxfam said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-14--Israel's unity government set to be sworn in after over a year of deadlock

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ( R ) has agreed to govern jointly with his former rival , retired general Benny Gantz An Israeli unity government agreed between former army chief Benny Gantz and veteran right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to be sworn in on Thursday evening , ending more than a year of political deadlock .
Former Israeli army chief Gabi Ashkenazi , who spent nearly four decades in the military , will be nominated as Israel 's next foreign minister , his Blue and White alliance said Wednesday .
Ashkenazi held talks with US Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` appointment as minister of foreign affairs this coming Thursday , '' said Blue and White , which is led by the incoming alternate prime minister , Gantz .
Foreign affairs was a key profile secured by Blue and White in coalition talks with Netanyahu 's Likud party , along with the defence ministry , which will be led by Gantz .
Ashkenazi joined Israel 's army in 1972 and fought in the Yom Kippur war a year later .
He also took part in Operation Entebbe , an Israeli commando raid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hijacked by Palestinian and German militants and diverted to Uganda 's main airport .
Netanyahu 's brother Yonatan was killed in the operation .
Ashkenazi went on to take part in or lead a series of high-profile and sometimes controversial operations .
Turkey put Ashkenazi and three other Israeli military leaders on trial in absentia in 2012 over the deadly 2010 storming of a Turkish ship that had been bound for Gaza .
He was army chief during Israel 's war with Hamas in Gaza in 2008-2009 .

An Israeli unity government agreed between former army chief Benny Gantz and veteran right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to be sworn in on Thursday evening, ending more than a year of political deadlock.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) has agreed to govern jointly with his former rival, retired general Benny Gantz
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Former Israeli army chief Gabi Ashkenazi, who spent nearly four decades in the military, will be nominated as Israel's next foreign minister, his Blue and White alliance said Wednesday.
Ashkenazi held talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jerusalem ahead of his "appointment as minister of foreign affairs this coming Thursday," said Blue and White, which is led by the incoming alternate prime minister, Gantz.
Foreign affairs was a key profile secured by Blue and White in coalition talks with Netanyahu's Likud party, along with the defence ministry, which will be led by Gantz.
Ashkenazi joined Israel's army in 1972 and fought in the Yom Kippur war a year later.
He also took part in Operation Entebbe, an Israeli commando raid to rescue hostages from a plane that had been hijacked by Palestinian and German militants and diverted to Uganda's main airport.
Netanyahu's brother Yonatan was killed in the operation.
Ashkenazi went on to take part in or lead a series of high-profile and sometimes controversial operations.
Turkey put Ashkenazi and three other Israeli military leaders on trial in absentia in 2012 over the deadly 2010 storming of a Turkish ship that had been bound for Gaza.
He was army chief during Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza in 2008-2009.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-14--US says China is trying to steal Covid-19 vaccine as lockdown discord continues

US President Donald Trump holds a chart on coronavirus testing during a coronavirus disease response meeting with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Colorado Governor Jared Polis in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington , US , May 13 , 2020 .
Chinese hackers are trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research , US authorities said Wednesday , ratcheting up tensions between the superpowers as markets slumped on warnings from the US Federal Reserve that prolonged shutdowns could cause `` lasting damage . ''
Europe , meanwhile , pushed ahead with plans to gradually reopen for summer tourism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second wave of infections in the pandemic that has forced more than half of humanity behind closed doors in recent months .
With some countries scrambling after a fresh surge in cases and the global death toll exceeding 294,000 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) warned that the virus `` may never go away . ''
There is no proven therapy for COVID-19 .
An effective vaccine could allow countries and economies to fully reopen and potentially earn millions of dollars for its creators .
Amid such high stakes , hackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research and intellectual property related to treatments and vaccines , two US security agencies warned .
`` China 's efforts to target these sectors pose a significant threat to our nation 's response to COVID-19 , '' the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) said .
Neither agency offered evidence or examples to support the allegation .
Washington , which has confirmed almost 1.4 million US cases of the virus and more than 84,000 deaths , has increasingly blamed Beijing for the outbreak that first emerged in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied the US accusations .
The value of a vaccine was underscored as Jerome Powell , head of the US Federal Reserve , cautioned Wednesday that lingering shutdowns could cause `` lasting '' economic damage .
Powell 's warning burst the balloon on Wall Street , analysts said , with stocks sliding on the comments even as he also said the US economy should rebound `` substantially '' once the outbreak is reined in .
Trump , trying to jumpstart the world 's largest economy as he seeks re-election this year , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci , who has cautioned that reopening too soon risks triggering an uncontrollable outbreak .
On Wednesday , the president dismissed Fauci 's call for caution as `` not acceptable , '' and in an excerpt of an interview with Fox Business to air in full on Thursday , Trump said : `` I totally disagree with him on schools . ''
Some hint of the cost of moving too quickly could be seen in European markets , given a further mauling by data showing fresh outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now the country with the second-highest number of virus cases , recorded more than 10,000 new infections after authorities this week eased stay-at-home orders .
Fears were also growing of a second wave in China , with the northeastern city of Jilin put in partial lockdown and Wuhan , where the virus was first detected last year , planning to test its entire population after clusters of new cases .
Still , with no vaccine in sight and dire economic data pointing to the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigate reopening .
Desperate to save millions of tourism jobs , the European Union set out plans for a phased restart of travel this summer , with border controls to be eventually lifted and measures to minimize infections , like wearing masks on shared transport .
In France , some beaches reopened on Wednesday -- but only for swimming and fishing , while sunbathing remained prohibited .
People in England were allowed to leave their homes more freely , as data showed the British economy shrinking by two percent in January-March , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a far worse contraction to come .
Elsewhere , cases were surging .
Chile imposed a total lockdown in its capital Santiago after a 60 percent leap in infections over the past 24 hours .
Argentine officials were watching Buenos Aires warily after one of its poorest and most densely populated neighborhoods showed a spike in infections .
Water had been cut off in Villa 31 for eight days .
Brazil is emerging as a new global hotspot despite President Jair Bolsonaro dismissing the pandemic as a `` little flu . ''
Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the virus spreads through the developing world , where health care systems are under-funded and isolation is often not possible .
In northern Nigeria , fears that the virus is spreading have seen hospitals shut their doors to the sick .
Civil servant Binta Mohammed said she had to watch her husband die from `` diabetic complications . ''
`` The four private hospitals we took him to refused to admit him for fear he had the virus , '' she said .
But there were stories of hope , including two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spain , 113-year-old Maria Branyas fought off the illness during weeks of isolation at a retirement home where several other residents died from the disease .
And in Russia , 100-year-old Pelageya Poyarkova clutched a bouquet of red roses as she was discharged from a Moscow hospital after her own recovery .
`` She turned out to be a tough old lady , '' the hospital 's acting director Vsevolod Belousov said .

Chinese hackers are trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research, US authorities said Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions between the superpowers as markets slumped on warnings from the US Federal Reserve that prolonged shutdowns could cause "lasting damage."
US President Donald Trump holds a chart on coronavirus testing during a coronavirus disease response meeting with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Colorado Governor Jared Polis in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, US, May 13, 2020.
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Europe, meanwhile, pushed ahead with plans to gradually reopen for summer tourism, even as fears persist of a second wave of infections in the pandemic that has forced more than half of humanity behind closed doors in recent months.
With some countries scrambling after a fresh surge in cases and the global death toll exceeding 294,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the virus "may never go away."
There is no proven therapy for COVID-19. An effective vaccine could allow countries and economies to fully reopen and potentially earn millions of dollars for its creators.
Amid such high stakes, hackers linked to Beijing are attempting to steal research and intellectual property related to treatments and vaccines, two US security agencies warned.
"China's efforts to target these sectors pose a significant threat to our nation's response to COVID-19," the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said.
Neither agency offered evidence or examples to support the allegation.
Washington, which has confirmed almost 1.4 million US cases of the virus and more than 84,000 deaths, has increasingly blamed Beijing for the outbreak that first emerged in China late last year.
Beijing has repeatedly denied the US accusations.
'Lasting damage'
The value of a vaccine was underscored as Jerome Powell, head of the US Federal Reserve, cautioned Wednesday that lingering shutdowns could cause "lasting" economic damage.
Powell's warning burst the balloon on Wall Street, analysts said, with stocks sliding on the comments even as he also said the US economy should rebound "substantially" once the outbreak is reined in.
Trump, trying to jumpstart the world's largest economy as he seeks re-election this year, is pushing past warnings from health officials -- particularly top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci, who has cautioned that reopening too soon risks triggering an uncontrollable outbreak.
On Wednesday, the president dismissed Fauci's call for caution as "not acceptable," and in an excerpt of an interview with Fox Business to air in full on Thursday, Trump said: "I totally disagree with him on schools."
00:19
Some hint of the cost of moving too quickly could be seen in European markets, given a further mauling by data showing fresh outbreaks in South Korea and Germany.
Russia, now the country with the second-highest number of virus cases, recorded more than 10,000 new infections after authorities this week eased stay-at-home orders.
Fears were also growing of a second wave in China, with the northeastern city of Jilin put in partial lockdown and Wuhan, where the virus was first detected last year, planning to test its entire population after clusters of new cases.
France reopens some beaches
Still, with no vaccine in sight and dire economic data pointing to the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s, many countries were trying to navigate reopening.
Desperate to save millions of tourism jobs, the European Union set out plans for a phased restart of travel this summer, with border controls to be eventually lifted and measures to minimize infections, like wearing masks on shared transport.
In France, some beaches reopened on Wednesday -- but only for swimming and fishing, while sunbathing remained prohibited.
People in England were allowed to leave their homes more freely, as data showed the British economy shrinking by two percent in January-March, its fastest slump since 2008 -- and with a far worse contraction to come.
Hospitals turn people away
Elsewhere, cases were surging. Chile imposed a total lockdown in its capital Santiago after a 60 percent leap in infections over the past 24 hours.
Argentine officials were watching Buenos Aires warily after one of its poorest and most densely populated neighborhoods showed a spike in infections. Water had been cut off in Villa 31 for eight days.
Brazil is emerging as a new global hotspot despite President Jair Bolsonaro dismissing the pandemic as a "little flu."
Health experts have warned of potentially devastating consequences as the virus spreads through the developing world, where health care systems are under-funded and isolation is often not possible.
In northern Nigeria, fears that the virus is spreading have seen hospitals shut their doors to the sick.
Civil servant Binta Mohammed said she had to watch her husband die from "diabetic complications."
"The four private hospitals we took him to refused to admit him for fear he had the virus," she said.
'Tough old lady'
But there were stories of hope, including two centenarians who survived the virus.
In Spain, 113-year-old Maria Branyas fought off the illness during weeks of isolation at a retirement home where several other residents died from the disease.
And in Russia, 100-year-old Pelageya Poyarkova clutched a bouquet of red roses as she was discharged from a Moscow hospital after her own recovery.
"She turned out to be a tough old lady," the hospital's acting director Vsevolod Belousov said.
(AFP)
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