france24--2020-05-23--Brazil surges to second place in Covid-19 cases worldwide

Gravediggers wearing protective suits prepare to bury the coffin of a person who died from Covid-19 during a ceremony with no relatives at Vila Formosa cemetery , Brazil 's biggest cemetery , in Sao Paulo , Brazil on May 22 , 2020 .
Brazil overtook Russia Friday as the country with the second-highest number of coronavirus infections worldwide behind the United States , as the Americas emerged as a new epicenter of the pandemic .
The South American country has now registered 330,890 infections and 21,048 deaths from the new coronavirus , though experts say under-testing means the real figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brazil 's death toll rose by 1,001 in 24 hours , the third time in four days it has come in over 1,000 .
The surge came as the World Health Organization declared South America `` a new epicenter '' of the pandemic .
`` Clearly there is a concern across many of those countries , but clearly the most affected is Brazil at this point , '' said WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan .
The United States has registered more than 1.6 million cases and nearly 96,000 deaths , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brazil 's death toll is currently the sixth-highest in the world , behind the United States , Britain , Italy , Spain and France .
But the crisis is not expected to peak in Brazil until June .
The country of 210 million people has had a disjointed response to the pandemic .
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro , who has famously compared the virus to a `` little flu , '' condemns the stay-at-home measures imposed by state and local authorities , saying they are needlessly harming the economy .

Brazil overtook Russia Friday as the country with the second-highest number of coronavirus infections worldwide behind the United States, as the Americas emerged as a new epicenter of the pandemic.
Gravediggers wearing protective suits prepare to bury the coffin of a person who died from Covid-19 during a ceremony with no relatives at Vila Formosa cemetery, Brazil's biggest cemetery, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 22, 2020.
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The South American country has now registered 330,890 infections and 21,048 deaths from the new coronavirus, though experts say under-testing means the real figures may be 15 times higher or more.
Brazil's death toll rose by 1,001 in 24 hours, the third time in four days it has come in over 1,000.
The surge came as the World Health Organization declared South America "a new epicenter" of the pandemic.
03:12
"Clearly there is a concern across many of those countries, but clearly the most affected is Brazil at this point," said WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan.
The United States has registered more than 1.6 million cases and nearly 96,000 deaths, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Russia has registered 326,488 cases and 3,200 deaths.
Brazil's death toll is currently the sixth-highest in the world, behind the United States, Britain, Italy, Spain and France.
01:56
But the crisis is not expected to peak in Brazil until June.
The country of 210 million people has had a disjointed response to the pandemic.
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has famously compared the virus to a "little flu," condemns the stay-at-home measures imposed by state and local authorities, saying they are needlessly harming the economy.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-23--France ready to mirror UK quarantine on visitors

In this photo from May 4 , passengers wearing protective face masks maintain social distance as they queue at St Pancras Eurostar station in London , Britain .
France regrets a British decision to impose a quarantine on people arriving from mainland Europe , and stands ready to impose reciprocal measures , France 's AFP news agency quoted the interior ministry as saying on Friday .
Britain 's interior minister Priti Patel said earlier on Friday she will introduce a COVID-19 quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad from June 8 , a measure that airlines have warned will devastate their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning Britons , will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will be staying to the authorities .
In France , however , visitors will be invited to voluntarily self-quarantine at home .
`` Now we are past the peak of this virus , we must take steps to guard against imported cases triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease , '' Patel said at a news conference .
Priti said those who breached the quarantine in England could be fined 1,000 pounds ( $ 1,218 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried out by health and border officials .
The quarantine measures will not apply to those arriving from the Irish Republic , and there are also exemptions for freight drivers , medical professionals and seasonal agricultural workers .
Unlike many other countries across the world , Britain has carried out few tests and checks on visitors , with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak .

France regrets a British decision to impose a quarantine on people arriving from mainland Europe, and stands ready to impose reciprocal measures, France's AFP news agency quoted the interior ministry as saying on Friday.
In this photo from May 4, passengers wearing protective face masks maintain social distance as they queue at St Pancras Eurostar station in London, Britain.
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Britain's interior minister Priti Patel said earlier on Friday she will introduce a COVID-19 quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad from June 8, a measure that airlines have warned will devastate their industry.
All international arrivals, including returning Britons, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will be staying to the authorities. In France, however, visitors will be invited to voluntarily self-quarantine at home.
"Now we are past the peak of this virus, we must take steps to guard against imported cases triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease," Patel said at a news conference.
#quarantine « Les voyageurs en provenance du 🇬🇧, quelle que soit leur nationalité, seront invités à effectuer une quatorzaine lorsque la mesure britannique de quatorzaine, annoncée ce soir, entrera en vigueur.» #quarantaine #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/U1ualAAK5q — French Embassy UK (@FranceintheUK) May 22, 2020
Priti said those who breached the quarantine in England could be fined 1,000 pounds ($1,218), and that spot checks would be carried out by health and border officials.
The quarantine measures will not apply to those arriving from the Irish Republic, and there are also exemptions for freight drivers, medical professionals and seasonal agricultural workers.
Unlike many other countries across the world, Britain has carried out few tests and checks on visitors, with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--Covid-19: France allows religious gatherings to resume

Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon Emmanuel Gobilliard holds a streamed live Mass in the empty Saint-Irenee church in Lyon , France on March 24 , 2020 , on the eighth day of France 's Covid-19 lockdown .
France is to allow the resumption of religious gatherings after a two-month hiatus caused by the COVID-19 outbreak , but worshippers will have to wear face masks , the French interior ministry announced .
The ministry said late on Friday that it would issue a decree setting out the new rules for religious gatherings .
Under the decree , a ban on gatherings imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus , would be rescinded .
But collective worship would have to observe conditions , including the wearing of masks , a distance of at least one metre between worshippers and hand-washing , the ministry said in a statement .
The French government relaxed some of its lockdown restrictions earlier this month , but did not ease the ban on collective worship .
That prompted complaints from faith groups , which said they were being treated unfairly .
The ministry statement said it expected worship to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that in some cases faith groups could worship together once the new rules were published , which it said would be `` in the coming hours.
” Muslims -- who make up around 9 % of France 's population , according to a 2017 report by the Pew Research Center -- are this weekend celebrating Eid al-Fitr , the festival marking the end of the holy Muslim month of fasting .

France is to allow the resumption of religious gatherings after a two-month hiatus caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, but worshippers will have to wear face masks, the French interior ministry announced.
Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon Emmanuel Gobilliard holds a streamed live Mass in the empty Saint-Irenee church in Lyon, France on March 24, 2020, on the eighth day of France's Covid-19 lockdown.
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The ministry said late on Friday that it would issue a decree setting out the new rules for religious gatherings.
Under the decree, a ban on gatherings imposed in March, as part of government efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, would be rescinded. But collective worship would have to observe conditions, including the wearing of masks, a distance of at least one metre between worshippers and hand-washing, the ministry said in a statement.
The French government relaxed some of its lockdown restrictions earlier this month, but did not ease the ban on collective worship. That prompted complaints from faith groups, which said they were being treated unfairly.
The ministry statement said it expected worship to resume from the start of June, but that in some cases faith groups could worship together once the new rules were published, which it said would be "in the coming hours.”
Muslims -- who make up around 9% of France's population, according to a 2017 report by the Pew Research Center -- are this weekend celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy Muslim month of fasting.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-22--In France, foreign students struggle with fallout from pandemic

Since lockdown began on March 17 , 2020 , thousands of foreign students have found themselves stranded in France , far away from family and even close friends .
With their daily lives upended by the Covid-19 pandemic many are struggling with stress , isolation and insecurity .
Our reporters met with some of these students to learn more about the difficulties they face .
Far from their relatives , living in cramped university rooms or studettes , thousands of foreign students have had to adapt overnight in response to the health crisis and consequent lockdown by the French government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many had no choice but to ration their meals .
Others found themselves without diplomas , no prospect of an internship or job and in some cases without a valid visa to reside in France .
Ludwig Lebon , an 18 year old originally from Reunion Island , arrived in mainland France in August to take history classes .
When the lockdown began he found himself confined to his nine-square metre room on a university campus , 9,000 kilometres from home and suffering depression .
Ivorian student Aristide Zadi , 28 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis hit .
His internship was cancelled and he was left with 150 euros over two months with which to feed himself .
Adding to the stress of the situation , his residency visa had almost expired .
Unprecedent charitable services have sprung up to meet the high demand for assistance from foreign students like Lebon and Zadi .
At the Maison de la Tunisie the chef and volunteers help to feed those unable to buy food .
During the month of Ramadan they served nearly 230 meals a day -- a blessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Since lockdown began on March 17, 2020, thousands of foreign students have found themselves stranded in France, far away from family and even close friends. With their daily lives upended by the Covid-19 pandemic many are struggling with stress, isolation and insecurity. Our reporters met with some of these students to learn more about the difficulties they face.
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Far from their relatives, living in cramped university rooms or studettes, thousands of foreign students have had to adapt overnight in response to the health crisis and consequent lockdown by the French government. After losing student jobs and income, many had no choice but to ration their meals. Others found themselves without diplomas, no prospect of an internship or job and in some cases without a valid visa to reside in France.
Ludwig Lebon, an 18 year old originally from Reunion Island, arrived in mainland France in August to take history classes. When the lockdown began he found himself confined to his nine-square metre room on a university campus, 9,000 kilometres from home and suffering depression.
Ivorian student Aristide Zadi, 28, was studying international finance before the health crisis hit. His internship was cancelled and he was left with 150 euros over two months with which to feed himself. Adding to the stress of the situation, his residency visa had almost expired.
Unprecedent charitable services have sprung up to meet the high demand for assistance from foreign students like Lebon and Zadi. At the Maison de la Tunisie the chef and volunteers help to feed those unable to buy food. During the month of Ramadan they served nearly 230 meals a day -- a blessing for the many students enduring hardship.
Report by Aurelie Simon, Antoine Boddaert, Alexandre Adam
Voice and translation by Josh Vardey
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france24--2020-05-23--Female students in Israel banned from school after wearing shorts in a heatwave

Photos of the girl who was told to change out of her dress and into just a T-shirt , shared by the journalist Liran Kog on Twitter .
In a school in Ra'anana , 19 May .
Photo shared by Linor Deutsch .
A group of female students in a school in Ra ’ anana , a city north of Tel Aviv , were banned from entering their school on 18 May because they all had bare legs .
Many schools have a uniform policy that asks that girls ’ legs be covered – even though in this instance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme heatwave in the country .
For these students , it was also the first day back at school after two months of lockdown.At a different school in Petah Tikva on the same day , a teacher forced a seven-year-old girl to change her outfit after the girl came to school wearing a sleeveless dress emblazoned with the school ’ s logo .
She was given a T-shirt to wear instead , but nothing to cover her lower half .
As a result , she was forced to continue the school day just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enduring the mockery of her classmates .
The Ministry of Education has ordered an investigation.In protest , dozens of female students across central Israel , in schools in Kfar Saba , Modiin and Gedera , came to school the following day wearing shorts.The Israeli media Ynet published photos of the girls demonstrating in their shorts lined up outside of their schools , or on their knees with fists raised in protest .
In Gedera , 150 students were eventually allowed in , dressed in shorts , after waiting outside the school gates for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent away while male students , also wearing shorts , were allowed into school.This is an age-old debate in Israel .
One girl in Modiin told Ynet : “ “ Every year we talk to the management [ about the dress code ] who only laugh in our faces .
A lot of teachers did n't even understand what we were doing .
`` The Israeli government hasn ’ t said anything in response to these protests , but Merav Michaeli , a Labour member of the Knesset , spoke out on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a video on Twitter , she said , “ `` Today I want to applaud all of these courageous girls who dared to come to school with their legs [ showing ] .
This was a courageous act .
”

ISRAEL
Students protesting on 19 and 20 May in schools in Ra'anana (left) and Modiin (right). Screen captures from Twitter.
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A group of female students in a school in Ra’anana, a city north of Tel Aviv, were banned from entering their school on 18 May because they all had bare legs. Many schools have a uniform policy that asks that girls’ legs be covered – even though in this instance, it was the second day of an extreme heatwave in the country. For these students, it was also the first day back at school after two months of lockdown.
At a different school in Petah Tikva on the same day, a teacher forced a seven-year-old girl to change her outfit after the girl came to school wearing a sleeveless dress emblazoned with the school’s logo. She was given a T-shirt to wear instead, but nothing to cover her lower half. As a result, she was forced to continue the school day just wearing a T-shirt and her knickers and enduring the mockery of her classmates. The Ministry of Education has ordered an investigation.
עיריית פתח תקווה :
מתחקיר המקרה שבוצע הבוקר עולה כי המורה פעלה מתוך שיקול דעת מוטעה אך במקביל לא מן הנמנע כי הדבר נעשה בתום לב https://t.co/AhWdkdlupW לירן כוג'הינוף (@lirankog) May 20, 2020
Photos of the girl who was told to change out of her dress and into just a T-shirt, shared by the journalist Liran Kog on Twitter.
In protest, dozens of female students across central Israel, in schools in Kfar Saba, Modiin and Gedera, came to school the following day wearing shorts.
The Israeli media Ynet published photos of the girls demonstrating in their shorts lined up outside of their schools, or on their knees with fists raised in protest. In Gedera, 150 students were eventually allowed in, dressed in shorts, after waiting outside the school gates for three hours.
קבוצה גדולה של בנות החטיבה המקבילה ברעננה בה נשלחו אתמול תלמידות להחליף בגדים, התארגנו הבוקר והגיעו במכנסים קצרים. בשילוב עם הרעש הציבורי, ההנהלה הבינה שלא תוכל לשלוח את כולן הביתה ושחררה אותן לכיתות להמשיך ללמוד. כך מגדלות דור צעיר של נשים שלא יתנו שימשטרו אותן ואת גופן. התרגשתי pic.twitter.com/S0HCBS6jGp לינור דויטש (@LinorDeutsch) May 19, 2020
In a school in Ra'anana, 19 May. Photo shared by Linor Deutsch.
In Modiin, girls were repeatedly sent away while male students, also wearing shorts, were allowed into school.
עכשיו זו כבר מחאה מאורגנת מראש. תלמידות עירוני ה' במודיעין נשארו מחוץ לבית הספר אחרי שבאו במכנסיים קצרים הבנים כן נכנסו
"למה הוא נכנס יש לנו אותו מכנס" קראו התלמידות pic.twitter.com/I5Rlwtbsg4 לירן כוג'הינוף (@lirankog) May 20, 2020
This is an age-old debate in Israel. One girl in Modiin told Ynet: ““Every year we talk to the management [about the dress code] who only laugh in our faces. A lot of teachers didn't even understand what we were doing."
The Israeli government hasn’t said anything in response to these protests, but Merav Michaeli, a Labour member of the Knesset, spoke out on social media in support of the students. In a video on Twitter, she said, “"Today I want to applaud all of these courageous girls who dared to come to school with their legs [showing]. This was a courageous act.”


france24--2020-05-23--UK extends bereavement scheme after video by Syrian refugee filmmaker goes viral

A UK government scheme to grant permanent residency to relatives of foreign nationals who died from COVID-19 while working for the National Health Service ( NHS ) has been expanded to also include family members of low-paid NHS workers .
Their earlier exclusion from the scheme had attracted widespread criticism .
The scheme to grant indefinite leave to remain in the UK to bereaved family members of NHS staff had been introduced last month , but in its initial form excluded the relatives of lower paid workers such as cleaners , porters and social care workers .
Various UK trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Labour Party strongly criticized the omission of lower-paid staff .
A Syrian filmmaker then took to social media , addressing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson directly on the issue .
Hassan Akkad said he felt “ stabbed in the back ” when he found out that he as a hospital cleaner would not qualify for the Home Office scheme after working for the NHS during the public health crisis .
Akkad said in his video that he felt “ shocked to find out that you ’ ve decided , your government decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who work as cleaners and porters and social care workers who are … all on minimum wage , you ’ ve decided to exclude us from the bereavement scheme.
” “ So if I die fighting coronavirus my partner … isn ’ t allowed an indefinite leave to remain.
” Akkad stressed that migrants like he were working “ on the frontline , doing these very demanding jobs to help this patient overcome this pandemic .
“ And the least you can do if we die , to give our families indefinite leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had arrived in the UK in late 2015 as part of the major wave of refugees and migrants entering Europe that year , won a BAFTA award for his documentary on his journey .
In April 2020 , he joined a team of cleaners at Whipps Cross hospital in east London , disinfecting hospital wards where patients with COVID-19 were being treated .
Akkad said at the time that he was “ glad to be helping ” during the pandemic , and that this was his way to “ pay it forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open arms.
” Change of heart at the Home Office ?
After its initial posting on May 20 , Akkad ’ s video went viral -- accruing close to 5 million views in the first 48 hours alone .
The Home Office later that day announced a U-turn on its police Wednesday .
Announcing the extension , UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said : “ Every death in this crisis is a tragedy , and sadly some NHS support staff and social care workers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When I announced the introduction of the bereavement scheme in April , I said we would continue to work across government to look at ways to offer further support .
Today we are extending the scheme to NHS support staff and social care workers .
“ We want to ensure families have the support they need and so this will be effective immediately and retrospectively.
” In a second video posted the same day , Hassan Akkad thanked everyone who had supported him in his message to the prime minister , saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted and put pressure on the government ( … ) my colleagues and I are no longer excluded from the bereavement scheme.
” “ Britain is great - because of you .
”

A UK government scheme to grant permanent residency to relatives of foreign nationals who died from COVID-19 while working for the National Health Service (NHS) has been expanded to also include family members of low-paid NHS workers. Their earlier exclusion from the scheme had attracted widespread criticism.
The scheme to grant indefinite leave to remain in the UK to bereaved family members of NHS staff had been introduced last month, but in its initial form excluded the relatives of lower paid workers such as cleaners, porters and social care workers.
Various UK trade unions, including the GMB, and the Labour Party strongly criticized the omission of lower-paid staff.
Syrian filmmaker goes viral
A Syrian filmmaker then took to social media, addressing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson directly on the issue. Hassan Akkad said he felt “stabbed in the back” when he found out that he as a hospital cleaner would not qualify for the Home Office scheme after working for the NHS during the public health crisis.
Akkad said in his video that he felt “shocked to find out that you’ve decided, your government decided, to exclude myself and my colleagues who work as cleaners and porters and social care workers who are … all on minimum wage, you’ve decided to exclude us from the bereavement scheme.”
“So if I die fighting coronavirus my partner … isn’t allowed an indefinite leave to remain.”
Akkad stressed that migrants like he were working “on the frontline, doing these very demanding jobs to help this patient overcome this pandemic.
“And the least you can do if we die, to give our families indefinite leave to remain.”
Community spirit
Akkad, 32, who had arrived in the UK in late 2015 as part of the major wave of refugees and migrants entering Europe that year, won a BAFTA award for his documentary on his journey.
In April 2020, he joined a team of cleaners at Whipps Cross hospital in east London, disinfecting hospital wards where patients with COVID-19 were being treated. Akkad said at the time that he was “glad to be helping” during the pandemic, and that this was his way to “pay it forward to the community that welcomed me with open arms.”
Change of heart at the Home Office?
After its initial posting on May 20, Akkad’s video went viral -- accruing close to 5 million views in the first 48 hours alone.
The Home Office later that day announced a U-turn on its police Wednesday. Announcing the extension, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Every death in this crisis is a tragedy, and sadly some NHS support staff and social care workers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of saving the lives of others.
“When I announced the introduction of the bereavement scheme in April, I said we would continue to work across government to look at ways to offer further support. Today we are extending the scheme to NHS support staff and social care workers.
“We want to ensure families have the support they need and so this will be effective immediately and retrospectively.”
In a second video posted the same day, Hassan Akkad thanked everyone who had supported him in his message to the prime minister, saying that “thanks to all of you who tweeted and put pressure on the government (…) my colleagues and I are no longer excluded from the bereavement scheme.”
“Britain is great - because of you.”


france24--2020-05-23--Afghan president and Taliban declare three-day Eid ceasefire from Sunday

Former Afghan Taliban fighters stand next to weapons before handing them over as part of a government peace and reconciliation process at a ceremony in Jalalabad on March 1 , 2020 .
The Taliban declared a three-day Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan starting Sunday , via a tweet on Saturday from the hardline Islamist group , and the country 's president said the government would reciprocate .
The move came as fighting between the two sides had intensified despite the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Do not carry out any offensive operations against the enemy anywhere , if any action is taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself , '' Zabihullah Mujahid , a Taliban spokesman , tweeted .
He added that the ceasefire was declared solely for Eid festivities marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan .
Afghanistan 's President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the Taliban 's ceasefire announcement and extended the offer of peace .
`` As Commander-in-Chief I have instructed ANDSF ( Afghan National Defense and Security Forces ) to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked , '' he said in a tweet .
Last month , the Taliban rejected a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Ramadan , saying a truce was `` not rational '' as they ramped up attacks on Afghan forces .
At least 146 civilians were killed and 430 wounded by the Taliban during Ramadan , Javid Faisal , a spokesman for the country 's main intelligence and security office in Kabul , said on Saturday .

The Taliban declared a three-day Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan starting Sunday, via a tweet on Saturday from the hardline Islamist group, and the country's president said the government would reciprocate.
Former Afghan Taliban fighters stand next to weapons before handing them over as part of a government peace and reconciliation process at a ceremony in Jalalabad on March 1, 2020.
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The move came as fighting between the two sides had intensified despite the coronavirus pandemic.
"Do not carry out any offensive operations against the enemy anywhere, if any action is taken against you by the enemy, defend yourself," Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, tweeted. He added that the ceasefire was declared solely for Eid festivities marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the Taliban's ceasefire announcement and extended the offer of peace. "As Commander-in-Chief I have instructed ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces) to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked," he said in a tweet.
I welcome the ceasefire announcement by the Taliban. The Afghan government extends the offer of peace. As Commander in Chief I have instructed ANDSF to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked. Further details will be given in my speech tomorrow morning. — Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) May 23, 2020
Last month, the Taliban rejected a government call for a ceasefire across Afghanistan for Ramadan, saying a truce was "not rational" as they ramped up attacks on Afghan forces.
At least 146 civilians were killed and 430 wounded by the Taliban during Ramadan, Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the country's main intelligence and security office in Kabul, said on Saturday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--UK PM Johnson resists calls to fire adviser Cummings over breaking lockdown

Number 10 Downing Street special advisor Dominic Cummings gets out of his car as he arrives at his home in London on May 23 , 2020 after allegations he broke coronavirus lockdown rules by travelling across the country in March .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resisted calls on Saturday from opposition parties to sack senior adviser Dominic Cummings after he travelled 400 km ( 250 miles ) to northern England while his wife showed COVID-19 symptoms .
Cummings , who masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum , travelled to Durham in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already in place .
Johnson 's office said Cummings made the journey to ensure his 4-year-old son could be properly cared for as his wife was ill with COVID-19 and there was a `` high likelihood '' that Cummings would himself become unwell .
`` I behaved reasonably and legally , '' Cummings told reporters outside his house after telling them to stay 2 metres apart in accordance with government guidelines .
Asked if he would consider his position , he said : `` Obviously not . ''
He then chided reporters for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 Brexit referendum .
`` You guys are probably all about as right about that as you were about Brexit : do you remember how right you all were about that ? ''
Cummings said .
`` I can tell you that the PM provides Mr Cummings with his full support , '' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told reporters , adding that he did not know when the prime minister found out about the journey .
Downing Street said Cummings ' `` actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines '' .
The Guardian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported the story , reported later on Saturday that Cummings may have made a second trip to northern England during the lockdown .
Reuters was unable to immediately verify those reports .
But opposition parties called for Johnson to sack Cummings and Labour called on the country 's most senior civil servant , Mark Sedwill , to open an investigation into the journey .
`` The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for the prime minister ’ s most senior adviser , '' Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cummings ' journey , Johnson imposed a lockdown in the United Kingdom and asked people to stay at home .
He said on March 23 that people `` should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home '' .
Shortly after Johnson announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 , Cummings sprinted out of Downing Street on March 27 and developed symptoms on the weekend of March 28-29 .
Government guidelines say that those who have COVID-19 or suspect they have it should self-isolate for at least seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave their house for any reason .
The Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats called for Cummings to be sacked .
Other prominent figures have resigned after breaking lockdown rules .
Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson quit as a member of the government 's scientific advisory group after he was visited at home by his girlfriend .
Scotland ’ s chief medical officer , Catherine Calderwood , stepped down after she was caught making two trips to her second home .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resisted calls on Saturday from opposition parties to sack senior adviser Dominic Cummings after he travelled 400 km (250 miles) to northern England while his wife showed COVID-19 symptoms.
Number 10 Downing Street special advisor Dominic Cummings gets out of his car as he arrives at his home in London on May 23, 2020 after allegations he broke coronavirus lockdown rules by travelling across the country in March.
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Cummings, who masterminded the 2016 campaign to leave the European Union during the Brexit referendum, travelled to Durham in late March, when a strict lockdown was already in place.
Johnson's office said Cummings made the journey to ensure his 4-year-old son could be properly cared for as his wife was ill with COVID-19 and there was a "high likelihood" that Cummings would himself become unwell.
"I behaved reasonably and legally," Cummings told reporters outside his house after telling them to stay 2 metres apart in accordance with government guidelines.
Asked if he would consider his position, he said: "Obviously not." He then chided reporters for being wrong about the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.
"You guys are probably all about as right about that as you were about Brexit: do you remember how right you all were about that?" Cummings said.
Ministers voiced support for the senior adviser.
"I can tell you that the PM provides Mr Cummings with his full support," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told reporters, adding that he did not know when the prime minister found out about the journey.
Downing Street said Cummings' "actions were in line with coronavirus guidelines".
The Guardian and the Mirror newspapers, which first reported the story, reported later on Saturday that Cummings may have made a second trip to northern England during the lockdown. Reuters was unable to immediately verify those reports.
"Sack Cummings"
But opposition parties called for Johnson to sack Cummings and Labour called on the country's most senior civil servant, Mark Sedwill, to open an investigation into the journey.
"The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for the prime minister’s most senior adviser," Labour said.
Just a few days before Cummings' journey, Johnson imposed a lockdown in the United Kingdom and asked people to stay at home. He said on March 23 that people "should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home".
Shortly after Johnson announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, Cummings sprinted out of Downing Street on March 27 and developed symptoms on the weekend of March 28-29.
Government guidelines say that those who have COVID-19 or suspect they have it should self-isolate for at least seven days along with their household and not leave their house for any reason.
The Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats called for Cummings to be sacked.
Other prominent figures have resigned after breaking lockdown rules.
Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson quit as a member of the government's scientific advisory group after he was visited at home by his girlfriend. Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, stepped down after she was caught making two trips to her second home.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--Spain's far right hold car protest against Covid-19 lockdown

Demonstrators carry Spanish flags during a drive-in protest organised by Spain 's far-right party Vox against the government 's handling of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic in Madrid , Spain , May 23 , 2020 .
Thousands of cars and motor-bikes honking horns and waving Spanish flags drove in procession through Madrid on Saturday as part of a nationwide protest called by the far-right Vox party against the country 's coronavirus lockdown .
Spain , which imposed one of Europe 's toughest lockdowns on March 14 , has started to ease restrictions , but Madrid and Barcelona have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more severe coronavirus outbreaks .
The protesters called for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias , of the centre-left Socialists and left-wing Podemos coalition , to resign over their handling of the coronavirus crisis , and , in particular , the lockdowns and the damage done to the economy and jobs .
`` It is time to end the # stateofabuse that Pedro Sanchez and Pablo Iglesias are using to gag Spaniards , '' Vox said in a statement , referring to a Twitter hash tag .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the government of unemployment and misery that has abandoned our self-employed and workers . ''
Vox leader Santiago Abascal , who was leading the procession in Madrid , made a speech that was broadcast on EsRadio so people could listen in their cars .
He said the government was `` directly responsible for the worst management of this crisis on the entire planet . ''
Sanchez is due to make a speech later on Saturday that will be broadcast on television .
Protests against the lockdown started in Madrid 's wealthy Salamanca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banging pots and pans .
But Saturday 's procession marked the first organised protest against the government since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic .
Vox urged people to protest in every regional capital , and similar car processions took place in Seville and Barcelona , among others .
Madrid and Barcelona are preparing to ease their lockdowns from Monday as infections have slowed .
This will allow outdoor dining and gatherings of up to 10 people .
Spain has registered 28,628 deaths from COVID-19 and 234,824 cases .

Thousands of cars and motor-bikes honking horns and waving Spanish flags drove in procession through Madrid on Saturday as part of a nationwide protest called by the far-right Vox party against the country's coronavirus lockdown.
Demonstrators carry Spanish flags during a drive-in protest organised by Spain's far-right party Vox against the government's handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Madrid, Spain, May 23, 2020.
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Spain, which imposed one of Europe's toughest lockdowns on March 14, has started to ease restrictions, but Madrid and Barcelona have remained in lockdown for longer because of more severe coronavirus outbreaks.
The protesters called for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias, of the centre-left Socialists and left-wing Podemos coalition, to resign over their handling of the coronavirus crisis, and, in particular, the lockdowns and the damage done to the economy and jobs.
"It is time to end the #stateofabuse that Pedro Sanchez and Pablo Iglesias are using to gag Spaniards," Vox said in a statement, referring to a Twitter hash tag.
"It is time to make a big noise against the government of unemployment and misery that has abandoned our self-employed and workers."
Vox leader Santiago Abascal, who was leading the procession in Madrid, made a speech that was broadcast on EsRadio so people could listen in their cars. He said the government was "directly responsible for the worst management of this crisis on the entire planet."
Sanchez is due to make a speech later on Saturday that will be broadcast on television.
Protests against the lockdown started in Madrid's wealthy Salamanca neighbourhood last week, where people started banging pots and pans. But Saturday's procession marked the first organised protest against the government since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Vox urged people to protest in every regional capital, and similar car processions took place in Seville and Barcelona, among others.
Madrid and Barcelona are preparing to ease their lockdowns from Monday as infections have slowed. This will allow outdoor dining and gatherings of up to 10 people.
Spain has registered 28,628 deaths from COVID-19 and 234,824 cases.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--Brazil's Bolsonaro rocked by leaked video about right to control police

Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with journalists while wearing a protective face mask as he arrives at Alvorada Palace , amid the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak , in Brasilia , Brazil , May 22 , 2020 .
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he was unwilling to see his family get `` screwed '' because of his inability to change law enforcement officials , according to an expletive-laden video released on Friday set to deepen the political crisis surrounding him .
Coming at the end of a challenging week in Brazil , which is now the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases behind the United States , the video prompted Bolsonaro 's fans and detractors to hurl abuse at each other from their apartment windows in cities across the country .
The political scandal centers on an accusation by former Justice Minister Sergio Moro , a popular anti-graft crusader , that Bolsonaro leaned on him to change senior federal police officials amid investigations into members of the president 's political clan .
In the recording of an April 22 ministerial meeting , which was released by a Supreme Court justice on Friday , Bolsonaro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his prerogative to change security officials , their bosses or even ministers .
`` I 've tried to change our security people in Rio de Janeiro officially , and I was n't able to .
That 's over .
I wo n't wait for my family or my friends to get screwed , '' Bolsonaro said .
`` If you ca n't change ( the official ) , change his boss .
You ca n't change the boss ?
Change the minister .
End of story .
We 're not kidding around , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the release of the video , Bolsonaro said there was `` no indication of interference in the federal police . ''
In a radio interview with Jovem Pan , he said he had been talking about his own personal security and not senior members of the federal police .
The video comes at a bad time for Bolsonaro .
His political woes have led to rumblings about impeachment .
He is also under pressure for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
`` The truth was said , shown on video , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts , '' Moro , who quit last month , wrote on Twitter .
Before becoming president , Bolsonaro represented Rio state as a federal lawmaker for nearly 30 years .
His son , Senator Flavio Bolsonaro , also got his start there , and is under investigation over allegations of corruption .
Right-wing Senator Major Olimpio , who was once Bolsonaro 's lieutenant in Congress , said the video still left doubts as to whether Bolsonaro really intended to interfere in the federal police and for what reason .
Brazilian political parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In one of those probes , the parties have asked for the seizure of Bolsonaro 's cell phone .
The national security adviser , former General Augusto Heleno , said in a statement he was outraged by the `` inconceivable '' request for the president 's phone .
It could `` have unpredictable consequences for the stability of the country , '' he said .

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he was unwilling to see his family get "screwed" because of his inability to change law enforcement officials, according to an expletive-laden video released on Friday set to deepen the political crisis surrounding him.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro speaks with journalists while wearing a protective face mask as he arrives at Alvorada Palace, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brasilia, Brazil, May 22, 2020.
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Coming at the end of a challenging week in Brazil, which is now the world's No. 2 hot spot for coronavirus cases behind the United States, the video prompted Bolsonaro's fans and detractors to hurl abuse at each other from their apartment windows in cities across the country.
The political scandal centers on an accusation by former Justice Minister Sergio Moro, a popular anti-graft crusader, that Bolsonaro leaned on him to change senior federal police officials amid investigations into members of the president's political clan.
Moro's accusations have led to a federal criminal probe.
In the recording of an April 22 ministerial meeting, which was released by a Supreme Court justice on Friday, Bolsonaro said in coarse language that it was his prerogative to change security officials, their bosses or even ministers.
"I've tried to change our security people in Rio de Janeiro officially, and I wasn't able to. That's over. I won't wait for my family or my friends to get screwed," Bolsonaro said.
"If you can't change (the official), change his boss. You can't change the boss? Change the minister. End of story. We're not kidding around," he added.
'No interference in federal police'
Writing on Facebook after the release of the video, Bolsonaro said there was "no indication of interference in the federal police." In a radio interview with Jovem Pan, he said he had been talking about his own personal security and not senior members of the federal police.
The video comes at a bad time for Bolsonaro. His political woes have led to rumblings about impeachment. He is also under pressure for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
"The truth was said, shown on video, messages, depositions, and proved with facts," Moro, who quit last month, wrote on Twitter.
Before becoming president, Bolsonaro represented Rio state as a federal lawmaker for nearly 30 years. His son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, also got his start there, and is under investigation over allegations of corruption.
Right-wing Senator Major Olimpio, who was once Bolsonaro's lieutenant in Congress, said the video still left doubts as to whether Bolsonaro really intended to interfere in the federal police and for what reason.
Brazilian political parties are also investigating the president's conduct. In one of those probes, the parties have asked for the seizure of Bolsonaro's cell phone.
The national security adviser, former General Augusto Heleno, said in a statement he was outraged by the "inconceivable" request for the president's phone. It could "have unpredictable consequences for the stability of the country," he said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--Covid-19: Study concludes hydroxychloroquine could do more harm than good

The largest study yet shows that anti-malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine andchloroquine have no beneficial impact in treating coronavirus Malaria drugs pushed by President Donald Trump as treatments for the coronavirus did not help and were tied to a greater risk of death and heart rhythm problems in a new study of nearly 100,000 patients around the world .
Friday ’ s report in the journal Lancet is not a rigorous test of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine , but it is by far the largest look at their use to treat Covid-19 in real world settings , spanning 671 hospitals on six continents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit , but we saw a very consistent signal of harm , ” said one study leader , Dr. Mandeep Mehra , a heart specialist at Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital in Boston .
Researchers estimate that the death rate attributable to use of the drugs , with or without an antibiotic such as azithromycin , is roughly 13 % versus 9 % for patients not taking them .
The risk of developing a serious heart rhythm problem is more than five times greater .
Separately on Friday , the New England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health of remdesivir , a Gilead Sciences drug that is the first to show any evidence of benefit against the coronavirus in a large , rigorous experiment .
As previously announced , in a study of 1,063 patients sick enough to be hospitalized , the drug shortened the time to recovery by 31 % — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care .
After two weeks , about 7.1 % of those on the drug had died vs. 11.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placebo , but the difference was too small to say it could not have been due to chance .
Researchers will track the patients for another two weeks to see if death rates change over time .
A statement from the NIH says the results support making the drug standard therapy for patients hospitalized with severe disease and needing supplemental oxygen — the group that seemed to benefit most .
The drug is not yet approved , but its use is being allowed on an emergency basis .
'Unlikely to see major benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malaria drugs was less rigorous and observational , but its size and scope gives it a lot of impact , said Dr. David Aronoff , infectious diseases chief at Vanderbilt University Medical Center .
“ It really does give us some degree of confidence that we are unlikely to see major benefits from these drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 and possibly harm , ” said Aronoff , who was not involved in the research .
Trump repeatedly has pushed the malaria drugs , and has said he is taking hydroxychloroquine to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
The drugs are approved for treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and for preventing and treating malaria , but no large rigorous tests have found them safe or effective for preventing or treating COVID-19 .
People sick enough to be hospitalized with the coronavirus are not the same as healthy people taking the drugs in other situations , so safety can not be assumed from prior use , Mehra said .
These drugs also have potentially serious side effects .
The Food and Drug Administration has warned against taking hydroxychloroquine with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should only be used for coronavirus in formal studies .
Lacking results from stricter tests , “ one needs to look at real-world evidence ” to gauge safety or effectiveness , Mehra said .
The results on these patients , from a long-established global research database , are “ as real world as a database can get , ” he said .
His study looked at nearly 15,000 people with COVID-19 getting one of the malaria drugs with or without one of the suggested antibiotics and more than 81,000 patients getting none of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took chloroquine alone , 3,783 took that plus an antibiotic , 3,016 took hydroxychloroquine alone and 6,221 took that plus an antibiotic .
About 9 % of patients taking none of the drugs died in the hospital , versus 16 % on chloroquine , 18 % on hydroxychloroquine , 22 % on chloroquine plus an antibiotic , and 24 % on hydroxychloroquine plus an antibiotic .
After taking into account age , smoking , various health conditions and other factors that affect survival , researchers estimate that use of the drugs may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the excess risk of death they observed .
About 8 % of those taking hydroxychloroquine and an antibiotic developed a heart rhythm problem vs. 0.3 % of the patients not taking any of the drugs in the study .
More of these problems were seen with the other drugs , too .
The results suggest these drugs are “ not useful and may be harmful ” in people hospitalized with COVID-19 , professor Christian Funck-Brentano , of the Sorbonne University in Paris , wrote in a commentary published by the journal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Experiments underway now to test these drugs in a strict manner “ need to be completed and should not be stopped prematurely , ” Aronoff said .
Even though the Lancet study was large , observational look-backs like this “ can not control for every possible factor that may be responsible for observed results , ” he said .

Malaria drugs pushed by President Donald Trump as treatments for the coronavirus did not help and were tied to a greater risk of death and heart rhythm problems in a new study of nearly 100,000 patients around the world.
The largest study yet shows that anti-malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine andchloroquine have no beneficial impact in treating coronavirus
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Friday’s report in the journal Lancet is not a rigorous test of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, but it is by far the largest look at their use to treat Covid-19 in real world settings, spanning 671 hospitals on six continents.
“Not only is there no benefit, but we saw a very consistent signal of harm,” said one study leader, Dr. Mandeep Mehra, a heart specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Researchers estimate that the death rate attributable to use of the drugs, with or without an antibiotic such as azithromycin, is roughly 13% versus 9% for patients not taking them. The risk of developing a serious heart rhythm problem is more than five times greater.
Separately on Friday, the New England Journal of Medicine published preliminary results of a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health of remdesivir, a Gilead Sciences drug that is the first to show any evidence of benefit against the coronavirus in a large, rigorous experiment.
As previously announced, in a study of 1,063 patients sick enough to be hospitalized, the drug shortened the time to recovery by 31% — 11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care. After two weeks, about 7.1% of those on the drug had died vs. 11.9% of a comparison group given a placebo, but the difference was too small to say it could not have been due to chance. Researchers will track the patients for another two weeks to see if death rates change over time.
00:42
A statement from the NIH says the results support making the drug standard therapy for patients hospitalized with severe disease and needing supplemental oxygen — the group that seemed to benefit most. The drug is not yet approved, but its use is being allowed on an emergency basis.
'Unlikely to see major benefits from these drugs'
The study of the malaria drugs was less rigorous and observational, but its size and scope gives it a lot of impact, said Dr. David Aronoff, infectious diseases chief at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“It really does give us some degree of confidence that we are unlikely to see major benefits from these drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 and possibly harm,” said Aronoff, who was not involved in the research.
Trump repeatedly has pushed the malaria drugs, and has said he is taking hydroxychloroquine to try to prevent infection or minimize symptoms from the coronavirus.
Pres. Trump says he is taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent symptoms should he get coronavirus
The FDA issued a warning against using hydroxychloroquine outside of clinical trials or hospitals, citing reports of ‘serious heart rhythm problems’ in patients https://t.co/GQoxquYhww pic.twitter.com/Yz9obNu9ga — NowThis (@nowthisnews) May 18, 2020
The drugs are approved for treating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and for preventing and treating malaria, but no large rigorous tests have found them safe or effective for preventing or treating COVID-19. People sick enough to be hospitalized with the coronavirus are not the same as healthy people taking the drugs in other situations, so safety cannot be assumed from prior use, Mehra said.
These drugs also have potentially serious side effects. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against taking hydroxychloroquine with antibiotics and has said the malaria drug should only be used for coronavirus in formal studies.
'Need real-world evidence'
Lacking results from stricter tests, “one needs to look at real-world evidence” to gauge safety or effectiveness, Mehra said. The results on these patients, from a long-established global research database, are “as real world as a database can get,” he said.
His study looked at nearly 15,000 people with COVID-19 getting one of the malaria drugs with or without one of the suggested antibiotics and more than 81,000 patients getting none of those medications.
In all, 1,868 took chloroquine alone, 3,783 took that plus an antibiotic, 3,016 took hydroxychloroquine alone and 6,221 took that plus an antibiotic.
About 9% of patients taking none of the drugs died in the hospital, versus 16% on chloroquine, 18% on hydroxychloroquine, 22% on chloroquine plus an antibiotic, and 24% on hydroxychloroquine plus an antibiotic.
After taking into account age, smoking, various health conditions and other factors that affect survival, researchers estimate that use of the drugs may have contributed to 34% to 45% of the excess risk of death they observed.
About 8% of those taking hydroxychloroquine and an antibiotic developed a heart rhythm problem vs. 0.3% of the patients not taking any of the drugs in the study. More of these problems were seen with the other drugs, too.
The results suggest these drugs are “not useful and may be harmful” in people hospitalized with COVID-19, professor Christian Funck-Brentano, of the Sorbonne University in Paris, wrote in a commentary published by the journal. He had no role in the study.
Experiments underway now to test these drugs in a strict manner “need to be completed and should not be stopped prematurely,” Aronoff said.
Even though the Lancet study was large, observational look-backs like this “cannot control for every possible factor that may be responsible for observed results,” he said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-05-23--Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt in empty stadium

Bayern Munich 's German forward Thomas Mueller ( R ) shoots to score the second goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt on May 23 , 2020 in Munich , southern Germany .
Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2 on Saturday , surviving a brief second-half comeback scare to stay four points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga with seven games left to play .
The Bavarians thought they had the match wrapped up after efforts from Leon Goretzka , Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski had given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allianz Arena .
Eintracht defender Martin Hinteregger caught the Bayern defence napping to strike twice in three minutes and inject new life into the encounter .
Yet the visitors then quickly gave away two goals - with Alphonso Davies pouncing on a defensive error on the hour and Hinteregger scoring an own goal in the 74th minute .
Bayern , who had former player and club boss Franz Beckenbauer watching from the stands in a rare public appearance , are on 61 points with Dortmund , who host the Bavarians on Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VfL Wolfsburg .
The Bundesliga resumed last week , with no fans in attendance , after being suspended for more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
It was the first match to be played without fans at Bayern 's home ground but the champions looked unaffected as Mueller set up their first goal with his 17th assist of the season and grabbed the second himself .
Poland striker Lewandowski , chasing Gerd Mueller 's 40-goal record haul from the 1971/72 season , hit his 27th of the campaign a minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal scare .
But Bayern kept their cool for their 12th win in their last 13 games that kept them favourites for an eighth straight title .
Dortmund were far from their best in their 2-0 win at Wolfsburg and are hoping defender Mats Hummels can recover from a heel injury , that forced him out at halftime , for Tuesday 's game against Bayern .
Germany international Kai Havertz scored a brace for the second match in the row to lead Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 53 .
RB Leipzig , on 51 , travel to Mainz 05 on Sunday .

Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2 on Saturday, surviving a brief second-half comeback scare to stay four points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga with seven games left to play.
Bayern Munich's German forward Thomas Mueller (R) shoots to score the second goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt on May 23, 2020 in Munich, southern Germany.
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The Bavarians thought they had the match wrapped up after efforts from Leon Goretzka, Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski had given them a 3-0 lead in the empty Allianz Arena.
Eintracht defender Martin Hinteregger caught the Bayern defence napping to strike twice in three minutes and inject new life into the encounter.
Yet the visitors then quickly gave away two goals - with Alphonso Davies pouncing on a defensive error on the hour and Hinteregger scoring an own goal in the 74th minute.
Bayern, who had former player and club boss Franz Beckenbauer watching from the stands in a rare public appearance, are on 61 points with Dortmund, who host the Bavarians on Tuesday, on 57 following their 2-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg.
The Bundesliga resumed last week, with no fans in attendance, after being suspended for more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unruffled champions
It was the first match to be played without fans at Bayern's home ground but the champions looked unaffected as Mueller set up their first goal with his 17th assist of the season and grabbed the second himself.
Poland striker Lewandowski, chasing Gerd Mueller's 40-goal record haul from the 1971/72 season, hit his 27th of the campaign a minute after the restart before Hinteregger's two goal scare.
But Bayern kept their cool for their 12th win in their last 13 games that kept them favourites for an eighth straight title.
Dortmund were far from their best in their 2-0 win at Wolfsburg and are hoping defender Mats Hummels can recover from a heel injury, that forced him out at halftime, for Tuesday's game against Bayern.
Germany international Kai Havertz scored a brace for the second match in the row to lead Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach as they leap-frogged their opponents to go third on 53.
RB Leipzig, on 51, travel to Mainz 05 on Sunday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--Covid-19: Number of intensive care cases in France continues to decline

A patient is treated at the emergency room of the Centre Hospitalier de Mayotte ( CHM ) hospital on the island of Mayotte on May 21 2020 .
The number of patients in France in intensive care as a result of the coronavirus pandemic continued to fall on Saturday , with 1,665 patients .
This was a drop of 36 in 24 hours , according to a statement issued by the French health authorities .
The total number of patients in intensive care `` remains high '' with 5,600 patients suffering from all causes , not just Covid-19 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital with coronavirus in France fell to 17,178 on Saturday .
This is a drop of 205 since Friday and continues a gradual decline that has lasted more than five weeks since a high of 32,292 on April 14 .
The next complete death toll update will officially be released on Monday May 26 , as this is a holiday weekend in France .
The latest death toll was 28,289 in France on Friday evening , with 74 additional deaths recorded in hospital between Thursday and Friday by Santé Publique France in hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not include deaths recorded in care homes and other similar establishments since Thursday .
Since the beginning of the epidemic , 100,225 people have been hospitalised in France , including 17,701 in intensive care .
64,547 people have been sent home cured from hospital .

Coronavirus infection rates in France have slowed further and the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital and intensive care continued to fall, health ministry figures showed, a sign that social distancing is keeping contagion in check for now.
A patient is treated at the emergency room of the Centre Hospitalier de Mayotte (CHM) hospital on the island of Mayotte on May 21 2020.
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Nearly two weeks after lockdown ended, health ministry data on Saturday showed the number of confirmed cases rose by 250 to 144,806 over 24 hours, an increase of 0.2%, below the average 0.3% increase of the past seven days and well below the average 0.8% increase seen in the last week of lockdown.
Italy and Spain have also reported confirmed cases going up by 0.3% on average in the past seven days.
The number of people in hospital with coronavirus in France fell by 205 to 17,178 on Saturday, continuing a gradual decline that has continued for more than five weeks since a high of 32,292 on April 14. The number of people in intensive care fell by 36 or 2.1% to 1,665, a slide that has been uninterrupted for six weeks since the April 8 peak at 7,148.
Both numbers are key measures of a national health system's ability to cope with the epidemic.
The French government is watching the infection rate and the hospital numbers closely in order to decide whether to loosen lockdown measures further in the weeks ahead.
The ministry said France's cumulative coronavirus death toll stood at 28,332, an increase of 117 or 0.4% compared to Thursday. Friday's death toll data were not available.
The ministry said it will update the death toll again on Monday.
After showing a higher death toll than Spain for 10 days, France again fell below Spain, which reported an increase of several hundred deaths on Friday.
On Saturday, Spain's cumulative death toll stood at 28,678, or 346 more than France, making Spain again the country with the world's fourth-highest death toll after the United States, Britain and Italy.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--‘We will represent France’: Video gamers ready for Euro 2020 e-tourney

21-year-old Lotfi Derradji , one of the two players of the French eFoot team , poses with his computer screen on May 20 , 2020 in Villepinte near Paris .
Euro 2020 may have been swept from the calendar due to coronavirus , but UEFA 's video-game eTournament version kicks off on Saturday regardless .
Instead of Kylian Mbappe , Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo racing around the pitch , gamers will slug it out , contesting the first ever eEuro from their armchairs .
`` The weight of the whole thing is on our shoulders , '' said 21-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Paris suburbs but 'plays ' for Monaco where he was crowned French champion in 2018 .
`` We will represent France not on the pitch but on the console , we 're getting huge amounts of support , '' said Derradji 's international and club teammate , Walid Rachid Tebane , who won the individual European title in June 2019 .
`` We are disappointed that the Euros have been postponed but at the same time it switches more attention on to us , '' added Derradji , who has been playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthusiast - Antoine Griezmann .
These two bespectacled eSports professionals earn 2,000-6,000 euros a month , but can boost that with the 40,000 euros up for grabs this weekend and its commercial tie-ins .
Using a Playstation console , the group matches are a single two-versus-two contest .
Matches in the knockout stages will be best of three contests and a mixture of one-versus-one and two-versus-two .
The final will be best of five .
`` A Kylian Mbappe will always be more fluid to play with than a Mitroglou but in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' explains Derradji , referring to Kostas Mitroglou a Greek striker who is on Marseille 's books .
`` It will never replace real football though , let 's not get carried away .
`` It 's not always easy to convince people about an event where the competitors are sat down . ''
But the popularity of on-line games such as Fortnite and League of Legends with a young audience is seen by UEFA as a sign that the landscape is changing .
UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein says the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The ( games and emergence of gamers ) represent an opportunity to be seized , '' he says .
`` We have seen an explosion of events over the past few months because it represents an alternative for sports fans , '' he told AFP .
`` And some of them have attracted significant audiences . ''
He added : `` We hope for a minimum of four million viewers over the weekend . ''
`` We have seen that fans deprived of sports are tuning in to watch esports competitions even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Euro 2020 may have been swept from the calendar due to coronavirus, but UEFA's video-game eTournament version kicks off on Saturday regardless.
21-year-old Lotfi Derradji, one of the two players of the French eFoot team, poses with his computer screen on May 20, 2020 in Villepinte near Paris.
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Instead of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo racing around the pitch, gamers will slug it out, contesting the first ever eEuro from their armchairs.
"The weight of the whole thing is on our shoulders," said 21-year-old Frenchman Lotfi Derradji, who comes from the Paris suburbs but 'plays' for Monaco where he was crowned French champion in 2018.
"We will represent France not on the pitch but on the console, we're getting huge amounts of support," said Derradji's international and club teammate, Walid Rachid Tebane, who won the individual European title in June 2019.
"We are disappointed that the Euros have been postponed but at the same time it switches more attention on to us," added Derradji, who has been playing with international French striker - and gaming enthusiast - Antoine Griezmann.
These two bespectacled eSports professionals earn 2,000-6,000 euros a month, but can boost that with the 40,000 euros up for grabs this weekend and its commercial tie-ins.
Electronic version
Using a Playstation console, the group matches are a single two-versus-two contest.
Matches in the knockout stages will be best of three contests and a mixture of one-versus-one and two-versus-two. The final will be best of five.
"A Kylian Mbappe will always be more fluid to play with than a Mitroglou but in the game he isn't better than him," explains Derradji, referring to Kostas Mitroglou a Greek striker who is on Marseille's books.
"It will never replace real football though, let's not get carried away.
"It's not always easy to convince people about an event where the competitors are sat down."
But the popularity of on-line games such as Fortnite and League of Legends with a young audience is seen by UEFA as a sign that the landscape is changing.
UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein says the lockdown has been a boon for eSports.
"The (games and emergence of gamers) represent an opportunity to be seized," he says.
"We have seen an explosion of events over the past few months because it represents an alternative for sports fans," he told AFP.
"And some of them have attracted significant audiences."
He added: "We hope for a minimum of four million viewers over the weekend."
"We have seen that fans deprived of sports are tuning in to watch esports competitions even if they had never done that before."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-23--Covid-19: Car rental company Hertz files for bankruptcy in US and Canada

In this file photo , a sign is posted in front of a Hertz car sales and rental office on August 8 , 2017 in South San Francisco , California .
The car rental company , hit by the coronavirus pandemic , has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and Canada , the company announced Friday .
The car rental company Hertz , hard hit by the global coronavirus pandemic , has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and Canada , it announced Friday .
`` The impact of COVID-19 on travel demand was sudden and dramatic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's revenue and future bookings , '' Hertz said in a press release .
Hertz said it took `` immediate action '' to prioritize the health and safety of employees and customers and eliminate `` all non-essential spending '' .
`` However , uncertainty remains as to when revenue will return and when the used-car market will fully re-open for sales , which necessitated today 's action , '' it said .
Its main international operating regions , including Europe , Australia and New Zealand , were not included in the US Chapter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs in North America , or 26.3 percent of its global workforce , by April 21 to save money after the coronavirus shutdowns paralysed travel and crippled the economy .
Chapter 11 is a mechanism that allows a company that is no longer able to repay its debt to restructure itself without creditors .
`` The financial reorganization will provide Hertz a path toward a more robust financial structure that best positions the Company for the future as it navigates what could be a prolonged travel and overall global economic recovery , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchise sites , which are not owned by the company , are also not included in the Chapter 11 proceeding .

The car rental company Hertz, hard hit by the global coronavirus pandemic, has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and Canada, it announced Friday.
In this file photo, a sign is posted in front of a Hertz car sales and rental office on August 8, 2017 in South San Francisco, California. The car rental company, hit by the coronavirus pandemic, has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and Canada, the company announced Friday.
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"The impact of COVID-19 on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the Company's revenue and future bookings," Hertz said in a press release.
Hertz said it took "immediate action" to prioritize the health and safety of employees and customers and eliminate "all non-essential spending".
"However, uncertainty remains as to when revenue will return and when the used-car market will fully re-open for sales, which necessitated today's action," it said.
Its main international operating regions, including Europe, Australia and New Zealand, were not included in the US Chapter 11 filing.
Hertz had cut 10,000 jobs in North America, or 26.3 percent of its global workforce, by April 21 to save money after the coronavirus shutdowns paralysed travel and crippled the economy.
Chapter 11 is a mechanism that allows a company that is no longer able to repay its debt to restructure itself without creditors.
"The financial reorganization will provide Hertz a path toward a more robust financial structure that best positions the Company for the future as it navigates what could be a prolonged travel and overall global economic recovery," the Hertz statement said.
Hertz' franchise sites, which are not owned by the company, are also not included in the Chapter 11 proceeding.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-23--Spanish football league to resume from June 8

Atletico Madrid v Sevilla in Le Liga match in Madrid , Spain , on March 7 2020 , before the coronavirus crisis forced a postponement of this series .
Spanish soccer 's top flight division La Liga can return to action from June 8 after being disrupted by the novel coronavirus pandemic , Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday .
All organised soccer in Spain was provisionally suspended on March 12 although clubs in the top two divisions have since returned to group training .
La Liga has yet to officially confirm a date on which it will resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously he hoped the season could do so from June 12 .
`` Spain has done what it needed to do and now new horizons can open for everyone .
The time has come to recover many of our daily activities .
From June 8 La Liga will be able to return , '' Sanchez said on Saturday .
`` Spanish football has a huge following but it will not be the only recreation activity that will return . ''
Spain is one of the countries worst-affected by the coronavirus outbreak , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 234,000 cases of infection diagnosed .
But the daily death toll has been steadily declining , with only 56 deaths registered on Friday .
Spain has also begun to relax one of Europe 's strictest lockdowns , with the provinces of Madrid and Barcelona set to allow gatherings of up to 10 people from Monday as they move into the first phase of a de-escalation .

Spanish soccer's top flight division La Liga can return to action from June 8 after being disrupted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla in Le Liga match in Madrid, Spain, on March 7 2020, before the coronavirus crisis forced a postponement of this series.
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All organised soccer in Spain was provisionally suspended on March 12 although clubs in the top two divisions have since returned to group training.
La Liga has yet to officially confirm a date on which it will resume, although president Javier Tebas had said previously he hoped the season could do so from June 12.
"Spain has done what it needed to do and now new horizons can open for everyone. The time has come to recover many of our daily activities. From June 8 La Liga will be able to return," Sanchez said on Saturday.
"Spanish football has a huge following but it will not be the only recreation activity that will return."
Spain is one of the countries worst-affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 28,000 deaths and more than 234,000 cases of infection diagnosed. But the daily death toll has been steadily declining, with only 56 deaths registered on Friday.
Spain has also begun to relax one of Europe's strictest lockdowns, with the provinces of Madrid and Barcelona set to allow gatherings of up to 10 people from Monday as they move into the first phase of a de-escalation.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-23--Argentina defaults for second time in 20 years but continues credit negotiations

Argentine one hundred peso bills are displayed in this picture illustration taken September 3 , 2019 .
Argentina defaulted on Friday for the second time in less than 20 years after failing to pay $ 500 million of interest on its bond debt , but it continues to negotiate a restructure with creditors , Finance Minister Martin Guzman said .
`` There is still a significant distance to go but , more importantly , all sides remain at the table to find a solution , '' he said .
The default - Argentina 's ninth overall - was widely expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was extending , for a second time , talks with international creditors on restructuring $ 66 billion of its debt .
The new deadline is June 2 .
President Alberto Fernandez 's government is expecting to come to an agreement before Argentina suffers the full effects of its default .
Thursday 's announcement of the extension `` provides flexibility in case the Republic decides to make modifications in the coming days to ensure a sustainable agreement with our creditors , '' Guzman said .
The crisis-wracked South American country , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , currently owes $ 324 billion , amounting to around 90 percent of its GDP .
The crisis was aggravated when its economy was hit - like others all over the world - by the coronavirus pandemic .
Although it is one of the world leaders in food exports , Argentina has already defaulted eight times in its history , most recently in 2001 when it owed $ 100 billion .
Ratings agency Moody 's said the default would provoke `` significant losses for investors . ''
`` Moody 's expects that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt will very probably become more complicated , '' said vice president Gabriel Torres .
Argentina 's main group of creditors is demanding `` a direct and immediate discussion '' on its restructure plans .
`` The group is happy to see that Argentina has expressed its intention to work with the creditors , but actions speak louder than words , '' said the Ad Hoc group made up of investment funds including BlackRock and Fidelity .
`` Over the last month , Argentina has communicated virtually nothing of substance to its creditors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buenos Aires Stock Exchange was down 1.03 percent at the close on Friday to 40,962.76 points .
Stocks had risen 3.99 percent throughout the week as negotiations between the governor and creditors continued .
Guzman has taken an aggressive stance on debt , in part driven by a need to free up resources to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Argentina asked bondholders for a three-year grace period on debt repayment , a 62 percent reduction on interest amounting to $ 37.9 billion , and 5.4 percent on capital -- or $ 3.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counter offer that the government says it is studying .
`` If the majority agrees to the exchange , the default will be very short .
I do n't think there will be a reduction in the letters of credit '' that would impede essential imports , economist Marina Dal Poggetto from EcoGo told AFP .
`` But if negotiations take a long time , we 'll pay dearly . ''
The International Monetary Fund , which is supporting Argentina in its restructuring plan , says it has been encouraged by the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach a deal , '' spokesman Gerry Rice said .
But analysts Capital Economics said `` there is a growing risk that the restructuring talks drag on into next year . ''
Yet more bond interest payments are due at the end of June , which could be delayed by a month .
If by then there is no restructuring agreement , `` bondholders will probably consider it more convenient to litigate given they think it unlikely that Argentina will be able to reach a short-term agreement , '' Ignacio Labaqui of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bondholders take Argentina to court in the United States , it would be `` a waterfall of bad news for the country , '' said Sebastian Maril , from the Fin.Guru consultancy .
Now that Argentina has defaulted , it also runs the risk of its debt being bought at a cut-price deal by speculative funds that could then choose to pursue much bigger rewards through litigation .
Such funds , known as `` vultures '' in Argentina , did so successfully in New York courts in 2014 .

Argentina defaulted on Friday for the second time in less than 20 years after failing to pay $500 million of interest on its bond debt, but it continues to negotiate a restructure with creditors, Finance Minister Martin Guzman said.
Argentine one hundred peso bills are displayed in this picture illustration taken September 3, 2019.
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"There is still a significant distance to go but, more importantly, all sides remain at the table to find a solution," he said.
The default - Argentina's ninth overall - was widely expected after the economic ministry announced on Thursday that it was extending, for a second time, talks with international creditors on restructuring $66 billion of its debt. The new deadline is June 2.
President Alberto Fernandez's government is expecting to come to an agreement before Argentina suffers the full effects of its default.
Thursday's announcement of the extension "provides flexibility in case the Republic decides to make modifications in the coming days to ensure a sustainable agreement with our creditors," Guzman said.
The crisis-wracked South American country, which has been in recession for two years, currently owes $324 billion, amounting to around 90 percent of its GDP.
The crisis was aggravated when its economy was hit - like others all over the world - by the coronavirus pandemic.
Although it is one of the world leaders in food exports, Argentina has already defaulted eight times in its history, most recently in 2001 when it owed $100 billion.
This triggered a painful social and economic crisis.
'Significant losses'
Ratings agency Moody's said the default would provoke "significant losses for investors."
"Moody's expects that the panorama for the restructure of Argentina's debt will very probably become more complicated," said vice president Gabriel Torres.
Argentina's main group of creditors is demanding "a direct and immediate discussion" on its restructure plans.
"The group is happy to see that Argentina has expressed its intention to work with the creditors, but actions speak louder than words," said the Ad Hoc group made up of investment funds including BlackRock and Fidelity.
"Over the last month, Argentina has communicated virtually nothing of substance to its creditors."
The Merval index on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange was down 1.03 percent at the close on Friday to 40,962.76 points. Stocks had risen 3.99 percent throughout the week as negotiations between the governor and creditors continued.
Guzman has taken an aggressive stance on debt, in part driven by a need to free up resources to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Argentina asked bondholders for a three-year grace period on debt repayment, a 62 percent reduction on interest amounting to $37.9 billion, and 5.4 percent on capital -- or $3.6 billion.
This was rejected with a counter offer that the government says it is studying.
"If the majority agrees to the exchange, the default will be very short. I don't think there will be a reduction in the letters of credit" that would impede essential imports, economist Marina Dal Poggetto from EcoGo told AFP.
"But if negotiations take a long time, we'll pay dearly."
The International Monetary Fund, which is supporting Argentina in its restructuring plan, says it has been encouraged by the "willingness of both sides to continue discussions to reach a deal," spokesman Gerry Rice said.
But analysts Capital Economics said "there is a growing risk that the restructuring talks drag on into next year."
'Waterfall of bad news'
Yet more bond interest payments are due at the end of June, which could be delayed by a month.
If by then there is no restructuring agreement, "bondholders will probably consider it more convenient to litigate given they think it unlikely that Argentina will be able to reach a short-term agreement," Ignacio Labaqui of Medley Global Advisors told AFP.
If bondholders take Argentina to court in the United States, it would be "a waterfall of bad news for the country," said Sebastian Maril, from the Fin.Guru consultancy.
Now that Argentina has defaulted, it also runs the risk of its debt being bought at a cut-price deal by speculative funds that could then choose to pursue much bigger rewards through litigation.
Such funds, known as "vultures" in Argentina, did so successfully in New York courts in 2014.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-22--Covid-19: French health authorities suspend death toll announcements until May 25

French health authorities for a second day did not report the daily additional deaths linked to the infection , adding @ @ @ @ @ Friday those figures will be updated Monday , May 25 .
As of Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ stood at 28,215 , the fourth-highest in the world behind the United States , Britain @ @ @ @ @ of confirmed cases increased by 393 to 144,556 , an increase of 0.3 % , @ @ @ @ @ rise per day seen since the end of a lockdown on May 11 .
On @ @ @ @ @ cases rose by 318 .

French health authorities for a second day did not report the daily additional deaths linked to the infection, adding in a statement published on Friday those figures will be updated Monday, May 25.
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As of Thursday, the country's fatalities toll stood at 28,215, the fourth-highest in the world behind the United States, Britain and Italy.
The number of confirmed cases increased by 393 to 144,556, an increase of 0.3%, in line with the average rise per day seen since the end of a lockdown on May 11. On Wednesday, the number of cases rose by 318.
On Saturday, Europe's coronavirus infections topped 2 million.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-24--Hong Kong police fire tear gas at protesters opposed to China’s security law

Protesters react to tear gas during a march against Beijing 's plans to impose national security legislation in Hong Kong , China on May 24 , 2020 .
Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands protesting on Sunday against Beijing ’ s plan to directly impose national security laws on the city , signalling a return to mass protests that roiled the financial hub last year .
Crowds thronged the bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay , where echoes of `` Hong Kong independence , the only way out , '' and other slogans rang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black hoodie and surgical mask held a banner that said : `` I stand for Hong Kong 's independence.
” Calls for independence are anathema to China ’ s Communist Party leaders , who say such a notion for the Chinese-ruled city is a `` red line '' that can not be crossed .
The proposed new national security framework stresses Beijing ’ s intent “ to prevent , stop and punish ” such acts .
The protest - the first since Beijing proposed national security laws on Thursday - poses a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as authorities struggle to tame public opposition to China 's tightening grip over the global financial hub .
`` I am worried that after the implementation of the national security law , they will go after those being charged before and the police will be further out of control , '' said Twinnie , 16 , a secondary school student who declined to give her last name .
`` I am afraid of being arrested but I still need to come out and protest for the future of Hong Kong.
” Concerns over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The demonstrations come amid concerns over the fate of the `` one country , two systems '' formula that has governed Hong Kong since the former British colony 's return to Chinese rule in 1997 .
The arrangement guarantees the city broad freedoms not seen on the mainland , including a free press and independent judiciary .
Sunday 's rally , the largest since COVID-19 lockdowns began , was initially organised against a national anthem bill but the proposed national security laws sparked calls for more people to take to the streets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reassure the public and foreign investors over the security laws , that have sent a chill through financial markets and drawn a rebuke from foreign governments , human rights groups and some business lobbies .
Police conducted stop-and-search operations in Causeway Bay and warned people not to violate a ban on gatherings of more than eight , imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus .
They said protesters hurled umbrellas , water bottles and other objects at them and they responded with tear gas `` to stop the violent acts of rioters.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other debris to set up road blocks , leaving key thoroughfares deserted .
Police said more than 40 people were arrested .
Many shops and other businesses shuttered early .
The chaotic scenes evoked memories of sometimes violent anti-government protests that roiled the city last year , drawing as many as two million people to one protest alone .
China has dismissed other countries ' complaints about the proposed legislation as `` meddling , '' saying the proposed laws will not harm Hong Kong autonomy or foreign investors .
In a bold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small group of democracy activists protested outside Beijing 's main representative office in the city , chanting , `` National security law is destroying two systems.
” '' It ’ s a moveable red line .
In future they can arrest , lock up and silence anyone they want in the name of national security .
We have to resist it , '' protester Avery Ng of the League for Social Democrats told Reuters .
Nearly 200 political figures from around the world said in a statement the proposed laws were a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rule of law and fundamental freedoms ” .
Hong Kong has increasingly become a pawn in deteriorating relations between Washington and Beijing , and observers will be watching for any signs that the broader community is growing resigned to greater Chinese control or if activists are gearing up for a fresh wave of unrest .
The Chinese government 's top diplomat said the proposed legislation would target a narrow category of acts and would have no impact on the city 's freedoms nor the interests of foreign firms .
Last year 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest political crisis in decades , battered the economy and posed the gravest popular challenge to President Xi since he came to power in 2012 .

Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of people who rallied on Sunday to protest against Beijing's plan to impose national security laws on the city.
Protesters react to tear gas during a march against Beijing's plans to impose national security legislation in Hong Kong, China on May 24, 2020.
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In a return of the unrest that roiled Hong Kong last year, crowds thronged the Causeway Bay shopping area in defiance of curbs imposed to contain the coronavirus. Chants of "Hong Kong independence, the only way out," echoed through the streets.
To Communist Party leaders, calls for independence for the semi-autonmous city are anathema and the proposed new national security framework stresses Beijing’s intent "to prevent, stop and punish" such acts.
As dusk fell, police and demonstrators faced off in the nightlife district of Wan Chai.
The day's events pose a new challenge to Beijing's authority as it struggles to tame public opposition to its tightening grip over Hong Kong, a trade and business gateway for mainland China.
The security laws have also worried financial markets and drawn a rebuke from foreign governments, human rights groups and some business lobbies.
"I am worried that after the implementation of the national security law, they will go after those being charged before and the police will be further out of control," said Twinnie, 16, a secondary school student who declined to give her last name.
"I am afraid of being arrested but I still need to come out and protest for the future of Hong Kong."
The demonstrations come amid concerns over the fate of the "one country, two systems" formula that has governed Hong Kong since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997. The arrangement guarantees the city broad freedoms not seen on the mainland, including a free press and independent judiciary.
Washington said on Sunday China's proposed legislation could lead to U.S. sanctions.
"It looks like, with this national security law, they're going to basically take over Hong Kong and if they do ... Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo will likely be unable to certify that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy and if that happens there will be sanctions that will be imposed on Hong Kong and China," National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien told NBC television.
As the city government sought to give reassurances over the new laws, police conducted stop-and-search operations in Causeway Bay and warned people not to violate a ban on gatherings of more than eight.
That restriction, imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, has kept protesters largely off the streets in recent months.
Protesters set up road blocks and hurled umbrellas, water bottles and other objects, police said, adding that they responded with tear gas and made more than 120 arrests.
Many shops and other businesses closed early.
The scenes evoked memories of last year's sometimes violent anti-government protests, which drew up to two million people in the biggest single protest.
'We have to resist it'
A small group of democracy activists protested outside Beijing's main representative office in the city, chanting: "National security law is destroying two systems."
"In future they can arrest, lock up and silence anyone they want in the name of national security. We have to resist it," protester Avery Ng of the League for Social Democrats told Reuters.
Nearly 200 political figures from around the world said in a statement the proposed laws were a "comprehensive assault on the city's autonomy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms".
China has dismissed foreign complaints as "meddling," and said the proposed laws will not harm Hong Kong's autonomy or investors.
Beijing's top diplomat said the proposed legislation would target a narrow category of acts and would have no impact on the city's freedoms nor the interests of foreign firms.
Last year's anti-government protests plunged Hong Kong into its biggest political crisis in decades, battered the economy, and posed the gravest popular challenge to President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
(REUTERS)
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