france24--2020-03-26--Armfuls of baguettes: French adapt bread buying habits to coronavirus lockdown

French baker Sylvain Cabane , wearing a protective face mask , takes a tray of baguettes out of the oven at the bakery `` Ma Boulangerie '' in Vertou , near Nantes on March 17 , 2020 , as France faces the spread of the novel coronavirus .
No longer just a mere staple , the iconic loaf and the French daily ritual of buying it have become loaded with moral , civic and public health considerations that could never have been imagined before the new coronavirus turned life upside down .
In a nation in lockdown , popping out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handy excuse for people to get out of the house .
There is one notable exception : a town on the Mediterranean coast where the mayor has banned people from doing just that , to keep them indoors .
But eschewing the crusty comfort of a fresh-baked baguette has become significant , too – a small sacrifice in this new era where sacrifices are being asked of many .
For some , not buying bread daily and instead staying indoors to try to stay healthy has become an act in itself , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses fighting to save lives in stressed emergency wards .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
Trying to steer a path between their love of bread and beating the virus , some in France are now buying baguettes by the armful and freezing them .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal times .
But defrosting and reheating is now a pragmatic , civic-minded and health-conscious compromise , certainly better than no baguette at all .
The French have baked long loaves for centuries and coined “ baguette ” – or stick – around 120 years ago in Paris .
Millions of French consume billions of baguettes each year , and not just as fuel .
Diners use hunks of bread as tools for pushing food around their plates and onto their forks .
The crust makes the bread easy to grip ; its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bloody juices of cooked meats .
A baguette 's saltiness accentuates flavors , while its doughy neutrality tames the tang of the most pungent cheeses .
“ It ’ s indispensable .
You need bread to push your food stuffs , to give them taste , for nourishment .
It is good for everything , ” masked shopper Yves Lagrellette said this week as he made what has now become his weekly baguette run in Le Vesinet , west of Paris .
He bought five in one go , for freezing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ When the government locked down France earlier this month , shutting down schools and stores deemed non-essential and forcing families indoors , it also gave bakers special dispensation to work every day of the week if they wish .
Baker Margot Hazard says she and her husband , Cyril , feel that with their breads and cakes , they are providing a slice of normalcy to customers who line up , standing apart , outside their door , respecting each other 's space and handwritten signs on the window that read : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The work really is tough at the moment , ” Hazard said .
“ Some clients are very worried about us touching their bread and touching their change .
They are all a bit on edge .
And we are on edge , too.
” But “ it is super important for everyone ’ s morale , ” she added .
“ It ’ s important that people eat what they want to eat , to keep their spirits up.
” “ A life without bread , cheese and wine is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marie and Jean-Claude Lemeux , now work-from-home bankers , agreed .
No sooner had he bought their baguette that he ripped one end off and nibbled it , right there in the street .
That crusty nub of pleasure even has its own name – “ le quignon.
” “ It ’ s better fresh .
It ’ s hot , crusty , ” he said .
And baguette-buying “ allows us to get out.
” “ The sharing of bread is an anchor at the dinner table , at family meals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a need to focus on family , on food , for life to go on .
It ’ s symbolic.
” ‘ The priority is to not get sick ’ But in the Mediterranean town of Sanary-sur-Mer , buying only one baguette risks a police fine of 135 euros ( $ 146 ) .
Mayor Ferdinand Bernhard says people should n't be using the buying of bread as an excuse to go out every day .
“ Anyone caught coming out of a bakery with just one loaf will be fined , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you go once a week , you cut the risk by a factor of seven - for you , the baker , his entourage and yours.
” “ This is no time for people ’ s moods .
The priority is to not get sick , '' he said .
“ You can freeze bread .
You can even live without it .
”

No longer just a mere staple, the iconic loaf and the French daily ritual of buying it have become loaded with moral, civic and public health considerations that could never have been imagined before the new coronavirus turned life upside down.
French baker Sylvain Cabane, wearing a protective face mask, takes a tray of baguettes out of the oven at the bakery "Ma Boulangerie" in Vertou, near Nantes on March 17, 2020, as France faces the spread of the novel coronavirus.
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In a nation in lockdown, popping out for a fresh baguette is proving a handy excuse for people to get out of the house. There is one notable exception: a town on the Mediterranean coast where the mayor has banned people from doing just that, to keep them indoors.
But eschewing the crusty comfort of a fresh-baked baguette has become significant, too – a small sacrifice in this new era where sacrifices are being asked of many. For some, not buying bread daily and instead staying indoors to try to stay healthy has become an act in itself, a gesture of solidarity with the doctors and nurses fighting to save lives in stressed emergency wards.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
Trying to steer a path between their love of bread and beating the virus, some in France are now buying baguettes by the armful and freezing them. That would have been a gastronomic no-no in normal times. But defrosting and reheating is now a pragmatic, civic-minded and health-conscious compromise, certainly better than no baguette at all.
‘It’s indispensable’
The French have baked long loaves for centuries and coined “baguette” – or stick – around 120 years ago in Paris. Millions of French consume billions of baguettes each year, and not just as fuel. Diners use hunks of bread as tools for pushing food around their plates and onto their forks. The crust makes the bread easy to grip; its airy internal sponge soaks up sauces and the bloody juices of cooked meats. A baguette's saltiness accentuates flavors, while its doughy neutrality tames the tang of the most pungent cheeses.
“It’s indispensable. You need bread to push your food stuffs, to give them taste, for nourishment. It is good for everything,” masked shopper Yves Lagrellette said this week as he made what has now become his weekly baguette run in Le Vesinet, west of Paris. He bought five in one go, for freezing. He used to buy one daily.
When the government locked down France earlier this month, shutting down schools and stores deemed non-essential and forcing families indoors, it also gave bakers special dispensation to work every day of the week if they wish.
Baker Margot Hazard says she and her husband, Cyril, feel that with their breads and cakes, they are providing a slice of normalcy to customers who line up, standing apart, outside their door, respecting each other's space and handwritten signs on the window that read: “Three people maximum in the bakery.”
“The work really is tough at the moment,” Hazard said. “Some clients are very worried about us touching their bread and touching their change. They are all a bit on edge. And we are on edge, too.”
But “it is super important for everyone’s morale,” she added. “It’s important that people eat what they want to eat, to keep their spirits up.”
“A life without bread, cheese and wine is not French,” she said.
Customers Marie and Jean-Claude Lemeux, now work-from-home bankers, agreed. No sooner had he bought their baguette that he ripped one end off and nibbled it, right there in the street. That crusty nub of pleasure even has its own name – “le quignon.”
“It’s better fresh. It’s hot, crusty,” he said. And baguette-buying “allows us to get out.”
“The sharing of bread is an anchor at the dinner table, at family meals,” she said. “We feel a need to focus on family, on food, for life to go on. It’s symbolic.”
‘The priority is to not get sick’
But in the Mediterranean town of Sanary-sur-Mer, buying only one baguette risks a police fine of 135 euros ($146). Mayor Ferdinand Bernhard says people shouldn't be using the buying of bread as an excuse to go out every day.
“Anyone caught coming out of a bakery with just one loaf will be fined,” he said in a telephone interview. “If you go once a week, you cut the risk by a factor of seven - for you, the baker, his entourage and yours.”
“This is no time for people’s moods. The priority is to not get sick," he said. “You can freeze bread. You can even live without it.”
“It’s not a sacrifice. It’s an adaptation.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-03-25--Number of coronavirus cases rising quickly across Africa

There are now more than 2,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus across Africa , and there have been over 60 @ @ @ @ @ on the continent have enacted strict measures to slow the spread of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ citizens to stay home .
But for people living in close quarters , social distancing @ @ @ @ @ .
Our correspondents report on the difficult situation in Ivory Coast , where authorities know @ @ @ @ @ areas will be difficult if not impossible .
Also , our correspondent in DR Congo @ @ @ @ @ is coping after President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of emergency and closed borders to @ @ @ @ @ .
The capital Kinshasa is now cut off from the rest of the country .
@ @ @ @ @ nearly a hundred Chadian soldiers have been killed by Boko Haram , in the deadliest @ @ @ @ @ on the country 's armed forces .
The Islamist militants have increased their attacks in @ @ @ @ @ .

There are now more than 2,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus across Africa, and there have been over 60 reported deaths. Many governments on the continent have enacted strict measures to slow the spread of the pandemic, closing borders and asking their citizens to stay home. But for people living in close quarters, social distancing and self-isolation are not possible.
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Our correspondents report on the difficult situation in Ivory Coast, where authorities know that social distancing in poor areas will be difficult if not impossible.
Also, our correspondent in DR Congo tells us how the country is coping after President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of emergency and closed borders to diminish the spread of COVID-19. The capital Kinshasa is now cut off from the rest of the country.
And in other news, nearly a hundred Chadian soldiers have been killed by Boko Haram, in the deadliest attack ever by the group on the country's armed forces. The Islamist militants have increased their attacks in the region in recent months.
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france24--2020-03-26--US Senate unanimously passes $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) enters the Senate Chamber Floor after Congress agreed to a $ 2 trillion dollar economic stimulus package in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 Coronavirus , in Washington , DC , on March 25 , 2020 .
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a $ 2-trillion bill aimed at helping unemployed workers and industries hurt by the coronavirus pandemic , as well as providing billions of dollars to buy urgently needed medical equipment .
After bitter negotiations , the deeply divided Senate came together and passed the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent the massive stimulus package to the House of Representatives , which could vote sometime this week .
President Donald Trump , whose top aides helped negotiate the bipartisan measure , promised to sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk .
“ I will sign it immediately , '' Trump told reporters on Wednesday .
The massive bill – which would be the largest economic stimulus measure ever passed by Congress - includes a $ 500 billion fund to help hard-hit industries and a comparable amount for direct payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of U.S. families .
The package is intended to flood the economy with cash in a bid to stem the impact of an intensifying epidemic that has killed more than 900 people in the United States and infected at least 60,000 .
Only two other nations , China and Italy , have more coronavirus cases and the World Health Organization has warned the United States looks set to become the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic .
Top aides to Trump and senior senators from both parties announced that they had agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early hours of Wednesday after five days of talks .
But it was delayed by criticism from both the right and left on Wednesday , pushing the final vote on passage almost another full day .
Several Republican senators had insisted the bill needed to be changed to ensure that laid-off workers would not be paid more in unemployment benefits than they earned on the job .
However , an amendment that would have changed the unemployment provision failed just before the Senate approved the measure .

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a $2-trillion bill aimed at helping unemployed workers and industries hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, as well as providing billions of dollars to buy urgently needed medical equipment.
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) enters the Senate Chamber Floor after Congress agreed to a $2 trillion dollar economic stimulus package in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 Coronavirus, in Washington, DC, on March 25, 2020.
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After bitter negotiations, the deeply divided Senate came together and passed the bill by a unanimous 96-0 vote, which sent the massive stimulus package to the House of Representatives, which could vote sometime this week.
President Donald Trump, whose top aides helped negotiate the bipartisan measure, promised to sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk. “I will sign it immediately," Trump told reporters on Wednesday.
The massive bill – which would be the largest economic stimulus measure ever passed by Congress - includes a $500 billion fund to help hard-hit industries and a comparable amount for direct payments of up to $3,000 apiece to millions of U.S. families.
The package is intended to flood the economy with cash in a bid to stem the impact of an intensifying epidemic that has killed more than 900 people in the United States and infected at least 60,000.
04:45
Only two other nations, China and Italy, have more coronavirus cases and the World Health Organization has warned the United States looks set to become the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Top aides to Trump and senior senators from both parties announced that they had agreed on the unprecedented stimulus bill in the early hours of Wednesday after five days of talks.
But it was delayed by criticism from both the right and left on Wednesday, pushing the final vote on passage almost another full day.
Several Republican senators had insisted the bill needed to be changed to ensure that laid-off workers would not be paid more in unemployment benefits than they earned on the job. However, an amendment that would have changed the unemployment provision failed just before the Senate approved the measure.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-26--Iran claims ‘no knowledge’ of ex-FBI agent’s fate, after family announces he died

Former FBI agent Bob Levinson in 2007 , before his disappearance in Iran , in a family photo Tehran has no knowledge about the whereabouts of a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in March 2007 , a spokesman for the Iranian mission at the United Nations said on Thursday .
The family of the man , Robert Levinson , said earlier that he had died in Iranian custody .
`` Iran has always maintained that its officials have no knowledge of Mr. Levinson 's whereabouts , and that he is not in Iranian custody .
Those facts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alireza Miryousefi said in a Tweet .
Levinson ’ s family said in a posting on social media and a website on Wednesday : `` Today with aching hearts , we are sharing devastating news about Robert Levinson , the head of our family.
” U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not been told that Levinson was dead .
White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said later that an investigation was still going on but `` we believe that Bob Levinson may have passed away some time ago ” .
Tehran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last November , when it said a legal case involving him was under way at a revolutionary court that handles security-related cases .
Levinson went missing on Iran 's Kish island in the Gulf .

Tehran has no knowledge about the whereabouts of a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in March 2007, a spokesman for the Iranian mission at the United Nations said on Thursday.
Former FBI agent Bob Levinson in 2007, before his disappearance in Iran, in a family photo
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The family of the man, Robert Levinson, said earlier that he had died in Iranian custody.
"Iran has always maintained that its officials have no knowledge of Mr. Levinson's whereabouts, and that he is not in Iranian custody. Those facts have not changed," Iranian mission spokesman Alireza Miryousefi said in a Tweet.
Levinson’s family said in a posting on social media and a website on Wednesday: "Today with aching hearts, we are sharing devastating news about Robert Levinson, the head of our family.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not been told that Levinson was dead. White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien said later that an investigation was still going on but "we believe that Bob Levinson may have passed away some time ago”.
Tehran denied knowledge of Levinson’s whereabouts last November, when it said a legal case involving him was under way at a revolutionary court that handles security-related cases. Levinson went missing on Iran's Kish island in the Gulf.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-25--Christchurch suspect changes plea to guilty in 2019 attack on two mosques

File photo taken on March 16 , 2019 , of Brenton Tarrant , the man charged in the Christchurch attack , at the Christchurch District Court .
In an unexpected reversal , the Australian accused of murdering 51 Muslim worshippers in last year 's mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques pleaded guilty to all charges on Thursday .
Brenton Tarrant , 29 , had previously denied 51 charges of murder , 40 of attempted murder and one of engaging in a terrorist act but changed his plea after a hurriedly arranged court hearing .
`` Yes , guilty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videolink from Auckland Prison as the charges were read out to him .
Tarrant , wearing a grey top , stared intently at the camera while making his plea .
No reason was given for the change , which means Tarrant will no longer stand trial , a process authorities had feared he would use as a platform to promote his racist ideology .
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the admission of guilt would provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered in the attack .
`` These guilty pleas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and also save the families who lost loved ones , those who were injured , and other witnesses , the ordeal of a trial , '' she said .
Judge Cameron Mander recorded convictions on all charges and said Tarrant would be sentenced at a date yet to be determined .
`` The guilty pleas represent a very significant step towards bringing finality to this criminal proceeding , '' he said .
The plea came with New Zealand in its first day of a four-week COVID-19 lockdown .
Mander said sentencing would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their families can attend the court in person '' , he said .
The judge said advance reporting that Thursday 's hearing was taking place was suppressed in case Tarrant changed his mind at the last minute and maintained his innocence .
Tarrant 's trial had been due to start on June 2 and last some six weeks and police commissioner Mike Bush said Thursday 's hearing was hastily arranged after the gunman contacted his lawyers on Tuesday .
`` Police appreciate this news will come as a surprise to the victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have wished to be present in the courtroom , '' he said in a statement .
Bush said imams from the Al Noor and Linwood mosques , the ones targeted by Tarrant , were among only 17 people allowed in court to hear the revised plea .
There was relief in New Zealand 's small and tight-knit Muslim community that they would not have to endure a drawn-out trial raking over painful details of the worst mass shooting in modern New Zealand history .
`` I have been praying for him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Farid Ahmed , whose wife Husna was killed , told TVNZ .
`` I am pleased he is feeling guilty .
It is a good start . ''
Tarrant armed himself with an arsenal of semi-automatic weapons and attacked the Al Noor mosque first , before moving on to the Linwood prayer centre , livestreaming the killings as he went .
His victims were all Muslim and included children , women and the elderly .
In a rambling manifesto posted online before the killing spree , Tarrant said he had moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducting an atrocity against Muslims .
His actions prompted Ardern , who has vowed never to say the killer 's name , to tighten New Zealand 's gun laws and launch a campaign to curb online extremism .

In an unexpected reversal, the Australian accused of murdering 51 Muslim worshippers in last year's mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques pleaded guilty to all charges on Thursday.
File photo taken on March 16, 2019, of Brenton Tarrant, the man charged in the Christchurch attack, at the Christchurch District Court.
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Brenton Tarrant, 29, had previously denied 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of engaging in a terrorist act but changed his plea after a hurriedly arranged court hearing.
"Yes, guilty," Tarrant told Christchurch High Court via videolink from Auckland Prison as the charges were read out to him.
Tarrant, wearing a grey top, stared intently at the camera while making his plea.
No reason was given for the change, which means Tarrant will no longer stand trial, a process authorities had feared he would use as a platform to promote his racist ideology.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the admission of guilt would provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered in the attack.
"These guilty pleas and conviction bring accountability for what happened and also save the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, and other witnesses, the ordeal of a trial," she said.
Judge Cameron Mander recorded convictions on all charges and said Tarrant would be sentenced at a date yet to be determined.
"The guilty pleas represent a very significant step towards bringing finality to this criminal proceeding," he said.
The plea came with New Zealand in its first day of a four-week COVID-19 lockdown.
Mander said sentencing would take place "at a time when victims and their families can attend the court in person", he said.
The judge said advance reporting that Thursday's hearing was taking place was suppressed in case Tarrant changed his mind at the last minute and maintained his innocence.
'The right direction'
Tarrant's trial had been due to start on June 2 and last some six weeks and police commissioner Mike Bush said Thursday's hearing was hastily arranged after the gunman contacted his lawyers on Tuesday.
"Police appreciate this news will come as a surprise to the victims and the public, some of whom may have wished to be present in the courtroom," he said in a statement.
Bush said imams from the Al Noor and Linwood mosques, the ones targeted by Tarrant, were among only 17 people allowed in court to hear the revised plea.
There was relief in New Zealand's small and tight-knit Muslim community that they would not have to endure a drawn-out trial raking over painful details of the worst mass shooting in modern New Zealand history.
"I have been praying for him and he has taken the right direction," Farid Ahmed, whose wife Husna was killed, told TVNZ.
"I am pleased he is feeling guilty. It is a good start."
Tarrant armed himself with an arsenal of semi-automatic weapons and attacked the Al Noor mosque first, before moving on to the Linwood prayer centre, livestreaming the killings as he went.
His victims were all Muslim and included children, women and the elderly.
In a rambling manifesto posted online before the killing spree, Tarrant said he had moved to New Zealand with the specific aim of conducting an atrocity against Muslims.
His actions prompted Ardern, who has vowed never to say the killer's name, to tighten New Zealand's gun laws and launch a campaign to curb online extremism.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-26--More than 500,000 volunteers to help Britain’s NHS cope with coronavirus outbreak

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during his first remote news conference on the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) @ @ @ @ @ on March 25 , 2020 .
More than half a million people volunteered to help @ @ @ @ @ Health Service ( NHS ) since Tuesday to cope with the coronavirus crisis after a @ @ @ @ @ The volunteers will `` be driving medicines from pharmacies to patients , they 'll be @ @ @ @ @ , [ and ] very importantly , they 'll be making regular phone calls to @ @ @ @ @ who are staying on their own at home '' , UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They will be absolutely crucial in the fight against this virus , '' @ @ @

More than half a million people volunteered to help the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) since Tuesday to cope with the coronavirus crisis after a government appeal for volunteers.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during his first remote news conference on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain on March 25, 2020.
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The volunteers will "be driving medicines from pharmacies to patients, they'll be bringing patients home from hospital, [and] very importantly, they'll be making regular phone calls to check on and support people who are staying on their own at home", UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during a news conference.
"They will be absolutely crucial in the fight against this virus," he added.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-26--India considers shutting bank branches nationwide to slow coronavirus spread

Police officers in protective suits arrive in a residential area to check on people under home quarantine in Ahmedabad , India , on March 25 , 2020 , during a 21-day nationwide lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
India ’ s central bank and major lenders are considering shutting down most branches across the country to prevent tens of thousands of employees from getting infected with the coronavirus , four sources familiar with the plan told Reuters .
India is still very much a cash society and banks have been exempted from a 21-day lockdown that began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential service .
Under the plan , in major cities there would likely be only one bank open every five kilometres , the sources said , declining to be identified as it has not yet been publicly disclosed .
In the countryside , where 70 % of people live and often rely only on cash , banks will likely operate on alternate days and redeploy staff to only allow disbursal of welfare cash to the poor , one of the sources said .
`` The general guideline is that branch operation should largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those people who are not familiar with digital transactions , '' a senior banker with a state-run bank told Reuters .
`` Informally , banks are talking to each other to cope up with a situation where there will be some rush for cash withdrawal because it is expected the government will provide cash for the poor directly into their accounts .
”

India’s central bank and major lenders are considering shutting down most branches across the country to prevent tens of thousands of employees from getting infected with the coronavirus, four sources familiar with the plan told Reuters.
Police officers in protective suits arrive in a residential area to check on people under home quarantine in Ahmedabad, India, on March 25, 2020, during a 21-day nationwide lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
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India is still very much a cash society and banks have been exempted from a 21-day lockdown that began this week as they are considered an essential service.
Under the plan, in major cities there would likely be only one bank open every five kilometres, the sources said, declining to be identified as it has not yet been publicly disclosed.
In the countryside, where 70% of people live and often rely only on cash, banks will likely operate on alternate days and redeploy staff to only allow disbursal of welfare cash to the poor, one of the sources said.
"The general guideline is that branch operation should largely be for villages just to take care of those people who are not familiar with digital transactions," a senior banker with a state-run bank told Reuters.
"Informally, banks are talking to each other to cope up with a situation where there will be some rush for cash withdrawal because it is expected the government will provide cash for the poor directly into their accounts.”
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-25--Italy records another 683 coronavirus deaths in one day

A man prays in front of an empty St. Peter 's Square as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in Rome , Italy , March 25 , 2020 .
The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has grown by 683 to 7,503 , the Civil Protection Agency said on Wednesday , a decline in the daily tally of fatalities following a spike the day before .
On Tuesday 743 people died .
That followed 602 deaths on Monday , 650 on Sunday and a record of 793 on Saturday -- the highest daily figure since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 74,386 from a previous 69,176 , the Civil Protection Agency said .
The head of the agency , Angelo Borrelli , was not present at the customary news conference to illustrate the data because he came down with a fever on Wednesday and was himself being tested for coronavirus .
Of those originally infected nationwide , 9,362 had fully recovered on Wednesday compared to 8,326 the day before .
There were 3,489 people in intensive care against a previous 3,396 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp fall in the number of deaths compared with the day before , but remained in a critical situation , with a total of 4,474 deaths and 32,346 cases .
That compared with 4,178 deaths and 30,703 cases reported up to Tuesday .

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has grown by 683 to 7,503, the Civil Protection Agency said on Wednesday, a decline in the daily tally of fatalities following a spike the day before.
A man prays in front of an empty St. Peter's Square as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in Rome, Italy, March 25, 2020.
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On Tuesday 743 people died. That followed 602 deaths on Monday, 650 on Sunday and a record of 793 on Saturday -- the highest daily figure since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21.
The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 74,386 from a previous 69,176, the Civil Protection Agency said. The head of the agency, Angelo Borrelli, was not present at the customary news conference to illustrate the data because he came down with a fever on Wednesday and was himself being tested for coronavirus.
Of those originally infected nationwide, 9,362 had fully recovered on Wednesday compared to 8,326 the day before. There were 3,489 people in intensive care against a previous 3,396.
The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy reported a sharp fall in the number of deaths compared with the day before, but remained in a critical situation, with a total of 4,474 deaths and 32,346 cases.
That compared with 4,178 deaths and 30,703 cases reported up to Tuesday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-26--Mali on lockdown as first coronavirus cases reported, but elections to go ahead

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , arriving at the airport in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso on March 1 , 2019 .
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced a nationwide night-time curfew on Wednesday to limit the spread of coronavirus , but said a parliamentary vote planned for this week will go ahead .
In a televised address , Keita said the government will enforce a curfew between 21:00 to 05:00 , from Thursday , and close land borders in response to the virus .
Freight will still be allowed into the West African state , he said , and markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Malian authorities recorded the country 's first coronavirus infections , in two nationals who had recently arrived from France .
Experts fear the country is particularly exposed to an outbreak because of its jihadist conflict , which first broke out in the north in 2012 and has since engulfed the centre .
Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict , and swathes of Mali 's territory remain outside state control .
Despite the coronavirus risk , Keita said that a long-delayed parliamentary election – whose first round is planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although in `` scrupulous respect '' of health measures .
`` The government will do everything in its power to ensure that this is so , '' he said .
Holding parliamentary elections was a key recommendation from crisis talks in December , which aimed at exploring non-military solutions to the country 's worsening violence .
Mali 's current crop of MPs was elected in 2013 , in a ballot won by Keita 's Rally for Mali party .
Parliamentary elections were meant to take place again in late 2018 following Keita 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several times , with the authorities citing a strike by judges or worsening security .

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced a nationwide night-time curfew on Wednesday to limit the spread of coronavirus, but said a parliamentary vote planned for this week will go ahead.
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, arriving at the airport in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso on March 1, 2019.
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In a televised address, Keita said the government will enforce a curfew between 21:00 to 05:00, from Thursday, and close land borders in response to the virus.
Freight will still be allowed into the West African state, he said, and markets will remain open.
Earlier on Wednesday, Malian authorities recorded the country's first coronavirus infections, in two nationals who had recently arrived from France.
Experts fear the country is particularly exposed to an outbreak because of its jihadist conflict, which first broke out in the north in 2012 and has since engulfed the centre.
Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict, and swathes of Mali's territory remain outside state control.
Despite the coronavirus risk, Keita said that a long-delayed parliamentary election – whose first round is planned for Sunday – will go ahead, although in "scrupulous respect" of health measures.
"The government will do everything in its power to ensure that this is so," he said.
Holding parliamentary elections was a key recommendation from crisis talks in December, which aimed at exploring non-military solutions to the country's worsening violence.
Mali's current crop of MPs was elected in 2013, in a ballot won by Keita's Rally for Mali party.
Parliamentary elections were meant to take place again in late 2018 following Keita's re-election.
But the poll was postponed several times, with the authorities citing a strike by judges or worsening security.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-25--Newly minted Kosovo government ousted over coronavirus policy dispute

Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti delivers a speech during a parliament session in Pristina , Kosovo , on February 3 , 2020 .
Kosovo lawmakers dismissed the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti in a no-confidence vote triggering a political crisis as the Balkan country is trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
With 82 votes against it in the 120-seat parliament , the Cabinet did not survive the vote initiated by coalition partner the Democratic League of Kosovo ( LDK ) , less than two months after the government took power .
It remains unclear how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country can not hold snap elections because of the spread of the respiratory disease .
The government was dismissed after a dispute over whether to declare a state of emergency to combat the coronavirus when the LDK filed a motion for a no-confidence vote after Kurti sacked LDK member Agim Veliu as interior minister .
Veliu had supported calls by Kosovo 's president for a state of emergency to be declared to combat the coronavirus .
Kurti said such a drastic move was not justified .
`` By firing the LDK minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke the governing coalition , '' said Arben Gashi , a member of the LDK .
Kosovo has reported 71 coronavirus cases .
One person died after contracting the respiratory disease .
The removal of the interior minister followed other disagreements , notably on whether a tariff of 100 % on goods produced in Balkan rival Serbia should be abolished .
Kosovo introduced the tariff in November 2018 , saying it would be abolished once Serbia recognised Kosovo .
The move halted dialogue on normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina and angered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which backed Kosovo 's declaration of independence in 2008 following the wars that tore apart the former Yugoslavia .
Kurti decided to partially remove the tariffs , prompting the United States to halt $ 50 million in aid .
Kurti said the reason behind his government 's dismissal was to remove an obstacle to allowing Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and his Serbian counterpart , Aleksandar Vucic , to swap territories as part of the final deal between Pristina and Belgrade .
In 2018 , Thaci and Vucic signaled that they might agree to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two countries have against each other , but both faced strong opposition to the idea domestically and abroad .
“ The reason to dismiss my government is to allow the signing of an already reached deal to swap territories between Kosovo and Serbia , ” Kurti told MPs before the vote .

Kosovo lawmakers dismissed the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti in a no-confidence vote triggering a political crisis as the Balkan country is trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti delivers a speech during a parliament session in Pristina, Kosovo, on February 3, 2020.
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With 82 votes against it in the 120-seat parliament, the Cabinet did not survive the vote initiated by coalition partner the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), less than two months after the government took power.
It remains unclear how the government will continue its work as the country cannot hold snap elections because of the spread of the respiratory disease.
The government was dismissed after a dispute over whether to declare a state of emergency to combat the coronavirus when the LDK filed a motion for a no-confidence vote after Kurti sacked LDK member Agim Veliu as interior minister.
Veliu had supported calls by Kosovo's president for a state of emergency to be declared to combat the coronavirus. Kurti said such a drastic move was not justified.
"By firing the LDK minister without any consultation, the prime minister broke the governing coalition," said Arben Gashi, a member of the LDK.
Kosovo has reported 71 coronavirus cases. One person died after contracting the respiratory disease.
Disagreement over Serbia tariff
The removal of the interior minister followed other disagreements, notably on whether a tariff of 100% on goods produced in Balkan rival Serbia should be abolished.
Kosovo introduced the tariff in November 2018, saying it would be abolished once Serbia recognised Kosovo.
The move halted dialogue on normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina and angered the European Union and the United States, which backed Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008 following the wars that tore apart the former Yugoslavia.
Kurti decided to partially remove the tariffs, prompting the United States to halt $50 million in aid.
Kurti said the reason behind his government's dismissal was to remove an obstacle to allowing Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, to swap territories as part of the final deal between Pristina and Belgrade.
In 2018, Thaci and Vucic signaled that they might agree to a land swap to resolve territorial claims the two countries have against each other, but both faced strong opposition to the idea domestically and abroad.
“The reason to dismiss my government is to allow the signing of an already reached deal to swap territories between Kosovo and Serbia,” Kurti told MPs before the vote.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-16--Trump unveils plan to lift US Covid lockdown in three phases, but no timeline specified

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions about his administration 's plans for `` Opening Up America Again '' during the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington , U.S. , April 16 , 2020 .
U.S. President Donald Trump proposed guidelines on Thursday under which U.S. state governors could act to revive the U.S. economy from its coronavirus shutdown in a staggered , three-stage process .
Speaking at his daily briefing on the coronavirus , which has killed more than 32,600 Americans in a matter of weeks , Trump argued that a prolonged shutdown could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society .
`` We are not opening all at once , but one careful step at a time , '' Trump told reporters , without himself providing details on his guidelines .
`` A prolonged lockdown combined with a forced economic depression would inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health , '' Trump said , adding it could lead to a sharp rise in drug abuse , alcohol abuse , suicide , heart disease . ''
The new federal guidelines recommend that states record a 14-day `` downward trajectory '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of re-opening .
The document lays out Trump 's plan for opening businesses in states across the country that have been ravaged by the pandemic and its economic impact even though the responsibility for such decisions lies with state , not federal , authorities .
Before states re-open , hospitals should have a `` robust testing program '' that includes antibody testing in place for healthcare workers , the guidelines say .
States should have the ability to set up screening and testing sites for people with symptoms and as well as contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to supply personal protective gear independently and handle surges if COVID-19 cases increase again .
The document says the recommendations are `` implementable on a statewide or county-by-county basis at governors ' discretion . ''
Trump has tussled with governors over who has the ultimate authority to mandate a re-opening of states ' economies .
In the first phase of re-opening , the guidelines say groups of more than 10 people should be avoided if appropriate distancing measures are not practical .
Non-essential travel should be minimized , telework should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
Schools remain closed in phase 1 , but large venues such as movies theaters , restaurants , stadiums , and places of worship can open with `` strict physical distancing protocols . ''
Hospitals , which have been hit hard by the health crisis , may resume elective surgeries , which are critical to their income , and gyms can re-open with new protocols .
Bars should remain closed , it said .
In the second phase , applicable to states and regions with `` no evidence of a rebound '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more than 50 be avoided where social distancing is not practical .
Non-essential travel can resume , while schools and youth camps can reconvene and bars with `` diminished standing-room occupancy '' may re-open .
A White House official described the guidelines as conservative and noted that they had been agreed to by the top doctors on the president 's coronavirus task force .
Trump is pushing to get the U.S. economy going again after the coronavirus shutdown left millions of Americans jobless .
More than 20 million people have filed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month and over 90 % of the country have been under stay-at-home orders .
Trump said on Wednesday some states with low numbers of infections will be ready to resume economic activity sooner than those hard hit by the highly contagious virus .
The White House official said that each governor will be able to look to the recommendations as a guide .
`` They are layered , '' the official said , adding they were approved by medical experts on the White House coronavirus task force : infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

U.S. President Donald Trump proposed guidelines on Thursday under which U.S. state governors could act to revive the U.S. economy from its coronavirus shutdown in a staggered, three-stage process.
U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions about his administration's plans for "Opening Up America Again" during the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 16, 2020.
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Speaking at his daily briefing on the coronavirus, which has killed more than 32,600 Americans in a matter of weeks, Trump argued that a prolonged shutdown could be deeply harmful to the U.S. economy and society.
"We are not opening all at once, but one careful step at a time," Trump told reporters, without himself providing details on his guidelines.
00:23
"A prolonged lockdown combined with a forced economic depression would inflict an immense and wide-ranging toll on public health," Trump said, adding it could lead to a sharp rise in drug abuse, alcohol abuse, suicide, heart disease."
The new federal guidelines recommend that states record a 14-day "downward trajectory" in coronavirus cases before beginning a three-phase process of re-opening.
The document lays out Trump's plan for opening businesses in states across the country that have been ravaged by the pandemic and its economic impact even though the responsibility for such decisions lies with state, not federal, authorities.
Before states re-open, hospitals should have a "robust testing program" that includes antibody testing in place for healthcare workers, the guidelines say.
States should have the ability to set up screening and testing sites for people with symptoms and as well as contact tracing capabilities, and healthcare facilities should be able to supply personal protective gear independently and handle surges if COVID-19 cases increase again.
The document says the recommendations are "implementable on a statewide or county-by-county basis at governors' discretion." Trump has tussled with governors over who has the ultimate authority to mandate a re-opening of states' economies.
In the first phase of re-opening, the guidelines say groups of more than 10 people should be avoided if appropriate distancing measures are not practical. Non-essential travel should be minimized, telework should be encouraged, and common areas in offices closed.
Schools remain closed in phase 1, but large venues such as movies theaters, restaurants, stadiums, and places of worship can open with "strict physical distancing protocols."
Hospitals, which have been hit hard by the health crisis, may resume elective surgeries, which are critical to their income, and gyms can re-open with new protocols. Bars should remain closed, it said.
In the second phase, applicable to states and regions with "no evidence of a rebound" in cases, the guidelines recommend groups of more than 50 be avoided where social distancing is not practical. Non-essential travel can resume, while schools and youth camps can reconvene and bars with "diminished standing-room occupancy" may re-open.
Phase three includes unrestricted staffing of workplaces.
A White House official described the guidelines as conservative and noted that they had been agreed to by the top doctors on the president's coronavirus task force.
Trump is pushing to get the U.S. economy going again after the coronavirus shutdown left millions of Americans jobless. More than 20 million people have filed for unemployment in the U.S. in the past month and over 90% of the country have been under stay-at-home orders.
Trump said on Wednesday some states with low numbers of infections will be ready to resume economic activity sooner than those hard hit by the highly contagious virus.
The White House official said that each governor will be able to look to the recommendations as a guide.
"They are layered," the official said, adding they were approved by medical experts on the White House coronavirus task force: infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, task force coordinator Deborah Birx and Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-16--Covid-19: France reports 753 new deaths, hospital admissions drop for second day in a row

Medical staff , wearing protective suits and face masks , work in an intensive care unit for coronavirus disease ( Covid-19 ) patients at the Franco-Britannique hospital in Levallois-Perret near Paris as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in France , on April 15 , 2020 .
France registered 753 more deaths from coronavirus infections on Thursday , bringing the total to 17,920 , the fourth-highest tally in the world , but the number of people in hospital has declined for a second day running .
And , in another sign that the lockdown put in place a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the public health authority , said the total of people in intensive care units ( ICU ) fell for the eighth day in a row , at 6,248 , a low point since April 1 .
`` Our collective efforts demonstrate their effectiveness .
The spread of the virus is stabilizing at a high level ( ... ) and that is good news , '' Salomon said .
Corroborating this observation , senior health officials in Paris - the worst-hit region in France - said there was reason for optimism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view of the number of hospitalisations and admissions to ICU units .
But Salomon said the French health system was still under huge stress and that it was crucial French citizens continued to comply with the lockdown put in place on March 17 and extended to May 11 on Monday .
`` The decline in intensive care needs is consolidating , but 6,248 patients in ICU units is a much higher figure than the initial maximum capacity in these units in France , '' Salomon said .
That number was however at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by almost 1,000 from its April 8 peak of 7,148 .
Before Covid-19 started to spread , France had 5,000 hospital beds equipped with ventilation gear .
At 17,920 , the number of fatalities is up 4.4 % over 24 hours , with the rate of increase decelerating again after speeding up in the two previous days .
France has the fourth highest tally of fatalities in the world , behind the United States , Italy and Spain .
These four countries account for almost two-thirds of the current global total of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in confirmed coronavirus cases in France remained steady at 2.5 % , with 108,847 cases .
In nursing homes however , probable cases shot up by 36 % , reaching 37,213 .
That took the total number of confirmed and possible cases to 146,606 , up 9.4 % , against Wednesday 's increase of 2.2 %

France registered 753 more deaths from coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the total to 17,920, the fourth-highest tally in the world, but the number of people in hospital has declined for a second day running.
Medical staff, wearing protective suits and face masks, work in an intensive care unit for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at the Franco-Britannique hospital in Levallois-Perret near Paris as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in France, on April 15, 2020.
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And, in another sign that the lockdown put in place a month ago is working, Jérôme Salomon, head of the public health authority, said the total of people in intensive care units (ICU) fell for the eighth day in a row, at 6,248, a low point since April 1.
"Our collective efforts demonstrate their effectiveness. The spread of the virus is stabilizing at a high level (...) and that is good news," Salomon said.
Corroborating this observation, senior health officials in Paris - the worst-hit region in France - said there was reason for optimism in the fight against the new coronavirus in view of the number of hospitalisations and admissions to ICU units.
But Salomon said the French health system was still under huge stress and that it was crucial French citizens continued to comply with the lockdown put in place on March 17 and extended to May 11 on Monday.
"The decline in intensive care needs is consolidating, but 6,248 patients in ICU units is a much higher figure than the initial maximum capacity in these units in France," Salomon said.
That number was however at its lowest since April 1 and is down by almost 1,000 from its April 8 peak of 7,148. Before Covid-19 started to spread, France had 5,000 hospital beds equipped with ventilation gear.
At 17,920, the number of fatalities is up 4.4% over 24 hours, with the rate of increase decelerating again after speeding up in the two previous days.
France has the fourth highest tally of fatalities in the world, behind the United States, Italy and Spain. These four countries account for almost two-thirds of the current global total of more than 140,000 deaths.
The rate of increase in confirmed coronavirus cases in France remained steady at 2.5%, with 108,847 cases. In nursing homes however, probable cases shot up by 36%, reaching 37,213.
That took the total number of confirmed and possible cases to 146,606, up 9.4%, against Wednesday's increase of 2.2%
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-16--Italian FM Di Maio calls for 'international alliance' to create Covid-19 vaccine

In an interview with FRANCE 24 in Rome , Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio discussed the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic , which has hit Italy particularly hard .
He also explained Italy 's deconfinement strategy and called for an `` international alliance '' to create a vaccine under UN auspices .
Finally , Di Maio expressed hope that the European Union would be `` on par with the challenge it has to live up to '' .
With Italians living in lockdown since March 9 as part of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic , Italy 's foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Conte administration .
`` With the help of an expert task force , we intend to work on reopening the country , '' Di Maio told FRANCE 24 .
`` We want to reopen those economic segments of the country that can do so under proper conditions because we want to preserve health , '' he added .
The lockdown in Italy is scheduled to be lifted on May 4 .
`` Our goal in terms of going back to normal is a vaccine , '' Di Maio stressed .
Italy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 in Europe , has recorded more than 21,600 fatalities – the heaviest death toll among EU member states – and at least 165,155 cases of people infected with the virus .
As teams of researchers around the world work on a Covid-19 vaccine , the Italian foreign minister said that he had suggested pooling research efforts to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres .
`` I spoke to Antonio Guterres , the SG ( Secretary-General ) of the UN , and I shared with him a proposal that we have , setting up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We all know that if we want life to regain normalcy , we need a vaccine ( … ) We have to accelerate its discovery and its distribution ( ... ) and we need to do this under the aegis of the UN and Guterres is perfectly in agreement with us . ''
> > UN chief calls for global cooperation to speed up Covid-19 vaccine Finally , European leaders are set to hold a summit on April 23 and the European Parliament is calling on them to adopt a massive package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revive the economy .
`` We have high expectations ; we hope the EU will prove to be on par with the challenge it has to live up to , '' Di Maio told FRANCE 24 .
> > European Commission apologises to Italy for lack of help in coronavirus crisis

In an interview with FRANCE 24 in Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio discussed the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit Italy particularly hard. He also explained Italy's deconfinement strategy and called for an "international alliance" to create a vaccine under UN auspices. Finally, Di Maio expressed hope that the European Union would be "on par with the challenge it has to live up to".
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With Italians living in lockdown since March 9 as part of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Italy's foreign minister discussed the deconfinement strategy planned by the Conte administration. "With the help of an expert task force, we intend to work on reopening the country," Di Maio told FRANCE 24. "We want to reopen those economic segments of the country that can do so under proper conditions because we want to preserve health," he added. The lockdown in Italy is scheduled to be lifted on May 4. "Our goal in terms of going back to normal is a vaccine," Di Maio stressed.
Italy, the first country to be affected by Covid-19 in Europe, has recorded more than 21,600 fatalities – the heaviest death toll among EU member states – and at least 165,155 cases of people infected with the virus.
As teams of researchers around the world work on a Covid-19 vaccine, the Italian foreign minister said that he had suggested pooling research efforts to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "I spoke to Antonio Guterres, the SG (Secretary-General) of the UN, and I shared with him a proposal that we have, setting up a huge international alliance for a coronavirus vaccine. We all know that if we want life to regain normalcy, we need a vaccine (…) We have to accelerate its discovery and its distribution (...) and we need to do this under the aegis of the UN and Guterres is perfectly in agreement with us."
>> UN chief calls for global cooperation to speed up Covid-19 vaccine
Finally, European leaders are set to hold a summit on April 23 and the European Parliament is calling on them to adopt a massive package of stimulus and reconstruction measures to help revive the economy.
"We have high expectations; we hope the EU will prove to be on par with the challenge it has to live up to," Di Maio told FRANCE 24.
>> European Commission apologises to Italy for lack of help in coronavirus crisis
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france24--2020-04-16--Covid-19 in France’s nursing homes: ‘Saying goodbye makes all the difference’

A nursing home resident in Brest , France , on March 4 , 2020 .
The elderly will remain under lockdown beyond May 11 , when the rest of the country is expected to begin gradually opening up .
The elderly in France ’ s nursing homes , as in many other countries , are strictly isolated to protect them from Covid-19 , and will remain in lockdown well past May 11 , when the rest of the country is expected to begin gradually opening up .
This is very painful for the families , particularly of those who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To all those , especially the caregivers , who defy government directives in order to let families say goodbye to their loved ones , when possible ; to all those who show common sense and say that if a visitor is properly equipped , the risk for everyone is reduced , and enable family members to respect a basic human right , not allowing their loved ones to die abandoned and alone ; to all those who display humanity : Thank you.
” This message was posted by Virginie Verlyndes on Facebook on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sadness and anger , but also of gratitude to those who made it possible for her grandmother to not die alone despite strict lockdown measures due to the coronavirus .
Simone Verlyndes died that day at age 99 .
“ We wanted to have a nice party for her 100th birthday , ” her grand-daughter , a 38-year-old biologist , told FRANCE 24 .
But her grandmother did n't make it .
A resident of a nursing home in Paris ’ s 14th arrondissement for seven years , Verlyndes died in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taken there .
She tested positive for Covid-19 but was also found to be suffering from a bowel obstruction , discovered too late .
“ My grandmother had felt unwell for several days .
My mother realised this over the phone , she could hear it in her voice .
But we weren ’ t allowed to visit her , ” Virginie Verlyndes said .
To limit the risk of contamination as much as possible , France announced strict isolation measures in nursing homes : Visits by relatives were first limited and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of March , faced with the virus ’ s rapid spread , Health Minister Olivier Véran toughened the rules by recommending the individual isolation of each resident in their bedrooms .
> > Alone and vulnerable : Fears rise that elderly may 'backslide ' during lockdown The measures aim to limit contact – and the risk of contagion – for this particularly vulnerable population .
Since the start of the epidemic in France , more than 6,500 people have died of the coronavirus in health and social care facilities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly , especially in their final moments , is difficult to bear for them and for their relatives , especially in the event of death .
“ On the phone , my grandmother kept saying , ‘ I 'm all alone , I do n't see anyone , I 'm going to die all alone , ’ ” said Verlyndes .
“ For my mother , it was excruciating.
” Psychiatrists and gerontologists have been sounding the alarm .
It is impossible to begin mourning your loss if you were not able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side at their time of death , explained the psychiatrist Serge Hefez on France Inter radio .
Hefez himself lost his mother while she was in lockdown in a nursing home .
“ All the dignity our loved ones have at the end of their lives is when we are with them , hold their hand , reassure them , stay close to them during this passage from life to death , but many are being deprived of this .
We are losing our humanity and entering a kind of barbarity with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the rhythm of life , ” Hefez said .
The call appears to have been heard by French President Emmanuel Macron .
“ I want hospitals and retirement homes to be able to make it possible for close family members , equipped with the necessary protection gear , to visit patients at the end of life , so that they can say goodbye , ” he said in his televised speech about the health crisis on April 13 .
‘ No right age to die if not with dignity ’ “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the difference , ” Verlyndes said .
Thanks to a compassionate doctor who , Verlyndes said , “ agreed to deviate from the rules , out of humanity , ” her grandmother was able to receive a visit by her daughter in her last moments .
“ My mother ( Laurence ) forced them to let her visit .
A doctor heard her distress and allowed her to come despite the ban.
” The staff gave Laurence a mask , gown and gloves , and let her spend half an hour at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My mother was able to take her mother ’ s hand even though the doctor didn ’ t want her to .
She could ask her to open her eyes , speak to her one last time , take a photo for all of us and , most importantly , say goodbye.
” Two hours after her daughter left , Simone Verlyndes died .
“ The fact that she was able to see her mother , speak to her , touch her and tell her she was there – that changed everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grandchildren , ” Virginie Verlyndes said .
“ I am a biologist and I fully understand the concept of natural selection .
My grandmother was 99 years old ; it ’ s a good age to die .
But there ’ s no right age to die if it 's not with dignity.
” This article has been translated from the original in French .

The elderly in France’s nursing homes, as in many other countries, are strictly isolated to protect them from Covid-19, and will remain in lockdown well past May 11, when the rest of the country is expected to begin gradually opening up. This is very painful for the families, particularly of those who are at the end of life.
A nursing home resident in Brest, France, on March 4, 2020. The elderly will remain under lockdown beyond May 11, when the rest of the country is expected to begin gradually opening up.
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“To all those, especially the caregivers, who defy government directives in order to let families say goodbye to their loved ones, when possible; to all those who show common sense and say that if a visitor is properly equipped, the risk for everyone is reduced, and enable family members to respect a basic human right, not allowing their loved ones to die abandoned and alone; to all those who display humanity: Thank you.”
This message was posted by Virginie Verlyndes on Facebook on April 9, 2020, a day of sadness and anger, but also of gratitude to those who made it possible for her grandmother to not die alone despite strict lockdown measures due to the coronavirus. Simone Verlyndes died that day at age 99.
“We wanted to have a nice party for her 100th birthday,” her grand-daughter, a 38-year-old biologist, told FRANCE 24. But her grandmother didn't make it.
A resident of a nursing home in Paris’s 14th arrondissement for seven years, Verlyndes died in a hospital emergency room several hours after she was taken there. She tested positive for Covid-19 but was also found to be suffering from a bowel obstruction, discovered too late.
“My grandmother had felt unwell for several days. My mother realised this over the phone, she could hear it in her voice. But we weren’t allowed to visit her,” Virginie Verlyndes said.
To limit the risk of contamination as much as possible, France announced strict isolation measures in nursing homes: Visits by relatives were first limited and then banned in mid-March.
Then, at the end of March, faced with the virus’s rapid spread, Health Minister Olivier Véran toughened the rules by recommending the individual isolation of each resident in their bedrooms.
>> Alone and vulnerable: Fears rise that elderly may 'backslide' during lockdown
‘Losing our humanity’
The measures aim to limit contact – and the risk of contagion – for this particularly vulnerable population. Since the start of the epidemic in France, more than 6,500 people have died of the coronavirus in health and social care facilities, including nursing homes.
But isolating the elderly, especially in their final moments, is difficult to bear for them and for their relatives, especially in the event of death. “On the phone, my grandmother kept saying, ‘I'm all alone, I don't see anyone, I'm going to die all alone,’” said Verlyndes. “For my mother, it was excruciating.”
Psychiatrists and gerontologists have been sounding the alarm. It is impossible to begin mourning your loss if you were not able to be at your loved one’s side at their time of death, explained the psychiatrist Serge Hefez on France Inter radio. Hefez himself lost his mother while she was in lockdown in a nursing home.
“All the dignity our loved ones have at the end of their lives is when we are with them, hold their hand, reassure them, stay close to them during this passage from life to death, but many are being deprived of this. We are losing our humanity and entering a kind of barbarity with an over-protective hygiene, even though death is part of the rhythm of life,” Hefez said.
The call appears to have been heard by French President Emmanuel Macron.
“I want hospitals and retirement homes to be able to make it possible for close family members, equipped with the necessary protection gear, to visit patients at the end of life, so that they can say goodbye,” he said in his televised speech about the health crisis on April 13.
Je souhaite que les hôpitaux et les maisons de retraite puissent permettre d’organiser pour les plus proches, avec les bonnes protections, la visite aux malades en fin de vie, afin de pouvoir leur dire adieu. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 13, 2020
‘No right age to die if not with dignity’
“Saying goodbye to your elderly relative makes all the difference,” Verlyndes said. Thanks to a compassionate doctor who, Verlyndes said, “agreed to deviate from the rules, out of humanity,” her grandmother was able to receive a visit by her daughter in her last moments.
“My mother (Laurence) forced them to let her visit. A doctor heard her distress and allowed her to come despite the ban.”
The staff gave Laurence a mask, gown and gloves, and let her spend half an hour at the bedside of her dying mother. “My mother was able to take her mother’s hand even though the doctor didn’t want her to. She could ask her to open her eyes, speak to her one last time, take a photo for all of us and, most importantly, say goodbye.”
Two hours after her daughter left, Simone Verlyndes died. “The fact that she was able to see her mother, speak to her, touch her and tell her she was there – that changed everything. For her and for us, the grandchildren,” Virginie Verlyndes said.
“I am a biologist and I fully understand the concept of natural selection. My grandmother was 99 years old; it’s a good age to die. But there’s no right age to die if it's not with dignity.”
This article has been translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-04-16--Brazil’s Bolsonaro fires health minister after dispute over Covid-19

Brazil ’ s President Jair Bolsonaro fired his health minister on Thursday after a series of disagreements over government efforts to contain the new coronavirus .
“ I just heard from the President Jair Bolsonaro the news of my dismissal from the health ministry , ” Luiz Henrique Mandetta posted on his verified Twitter profile , adding that he wished success to his replacement , who is yet to be named officially .
Mandetta , a doctor , garnered popular support for his pandemic response that included promotion of broad isolation measures enacted by state governors .
Bolsonaro , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ little flu , ” said shutting down the economy would cause more damage than confining only high-risk Brazilians , and touted the yet-unproven efficacy of an anti-malarial drug .
Mandetta has drawn comparisons to Dr. Anthony Fauci , U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s top virus expert .
Fauci and Mandetta have often made public statements about the virus that differed with those of their bosses .
Afterward , Bolsonaro and Trump ’ s bases each took to Twitter to call for removal of their country ’ s top health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week that Fauci ’ s job is secure .
Republicans close to the White House say Trump has complained about Fauci ’ s positive media attention and sought to leave him out of task force briefings .
Bolsonaro , likewise , had convened doctors without inviting Mandetta and , in a televised interview earlier this month , said Mandetta had failed to show “ humility.
” A few days later , on April 5 , Bolsonaro told a group of supporters that he would act against officials in his government who “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were widely understood as signaling an end to Mandetta ’ s tenure , so much so that the minister said the next day his subordinates had cleaned out his desk .
He survived , but questions have since swirled over whether Bolsonaro had indeed backed away from dismissing the man whose COVID-19 response was welcomed by many Brazilians , or if he were just biding his time while recruiting a replacement .
On Wednesday , with Mandetta ’ s dismissal looking near certain , his health surveillance secretary Wanderson de Oliveira tendered his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health ministry for more than a decade , de Oliveira presided over many of the press conferences when Mandetta was unable , and was also a booster of quarantine measures to prevent the virus ’ spread .
To many people ’ s surprise , de Oliveira appeared alongside Mandetta at their conference on the same day , saying he had refused his secretary ’ s resignation .
“ We are going to work together until the moment we leave together , ” Mandetta said .
While rising quickly , the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively low in relation to the country ’ s massive population of 211 million .
There have been almost 2,000 deaths .

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro fired his health minister on Thursday after a series of disagreements over government efforts to contain the new coronavirus. “I just heard from the President Jair Bolsonaro the news of my dismissal from the health ministry,” Luiz Henrique Mandetta posted on his verified Twitter profile, adding that he wished success to his replacement, who is yet to be named officially.
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Mandetta, a doctor, garnered popular support for his pandemic response that included promotion of broad isolation measures enacted by state governors. Bolsonaro, for his part, repeatedly characterized the virus as a “little flu,” said shutting down the economy would cause more damage than confining only high-risk Brazilians, and touted the yet-unproven efficacy of an anti-malarial drug.
Mandetta has drawn comparisons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. President Donald Trump’s top virus expert. Fauci and Mandetta have often made public statements about the virus that differed with those of their bosses. Afterward, Bolsonaro and Trump’s bases each took to Twitter to call for removal of their country’s top health official. The White House has said this week that Fauci’s job is secure.
Republicans close to the White House say Trump has complained about Fauci’s positive media attention and sought to leave him out of task force briefings. Bolsonaro, likewise, had convened doctors without inviting Mandetta and, in a televised interview earlier this month, said Mandetta had failed to show “humility.” A few days later, on April 5, Bolsonaro told a group of supporters that he would act against officials in his government who “are full of themselves.”
Those comments were widely understood as signaling an end to Mandetta’s tenure, so much so that the minister said the next day his subordinates had cleaned out his desk.
He survived, but questions have since swirled over whether Bolsonaro had indeed backed away from dismissing the man whose COVID-19 response was welcomed by many Brazilians, or if he were just biding his time while recruiting a replacement.
On Wednesday, with Mandetta’s dismissal looking near certain, his health surveillance secretary Wanderson de Oliveira tendered his resignation. An epidemiologist who worked at the health ministry for more than a decade, de Oliveira presided over many of the press conferences when Mandetta was unable, and was also a booster of quarantine measures to prevent the virus’ spread.
To many people’s surprise, de Oliveira appeared alongside Mandetta at their conference on the same day, saying he had refused his secretary’s resignation.
“We are going to work together until the moment we leave together,” Mandetta said.
While rising quickly, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil is still relatively low in relation to the country’s massive population of 211 million. There have been almost 2,000 deaths.
(AP)
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france24--2020-04-16--No money, no water, no food: Covid-19 lockdown in a Paris Roma slum

France has been placed in lockdown since March 17 in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19 .
But the cramped and squalid conditions in the country 's hundreds of slums , where many of France 's Roma population live , make social distancing and good hygiene nearly impossible .
Aid agencies are now warning of a potential health disaster .
In a shanty town in Saint-Denis , on the outskirts of Paris , nearly half of the approximately 200 inhabitants have gone , choosing to move elsewhere when the pandemic began to take hold in France .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic utilities , such as running water and healthcare .
“ We are facing a double health crisis in the slums because when coronavirus arrives people will have big problems getting access to healthcare , and also they lack the basics like access to water , to toilets , in many of the shanty towns , it 's very tough for them , ” Adeline Grippon of Médecins du Monde , one of the aid agencies working in the slum , told AFP .
“ What 's more , they live crammed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confine themselves and isolate people who could infect them.
” So far , few Covid-19 cases have been recorded in France ’ s shanty towns .
But aid agencies warn that could soon change .
`` In many places we work , there is usually an epidemic lag , meaning isolated sites like this one begin to have the first case later than the rest of the society in which they are located , ” said Thierry Benlahsen , director of Solidarités International .
“ And by the time the virus reaches these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few weeks – the situation deteriorates very , very quickly .
”

France has been placed in lockdown since March 17 in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19. But the cramped and squalid conditions in the country's hundreds of slums, where many of France's Roma population live, make social distancing and good hygiene nearly impossible. Aid agencies are now warning of a potential health disaster.
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In a shanty town in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, nearly half of the approximately 200 inhabitants have gone, choosing to move elsewhere when the pandemic began to take hold in France.
But those who remain face limited access to basic utilities, such as running water and healthcare.
“We are facing a double health crisis in the slums because when coronavirus arrives people will have big problems getting access to healthcare, and also they lack the basics like access to water, to toilets, in many of the shanty towns, it's very tough for them,” Adeline Grippon of Médecins du Monde, one of the aid agencies working in the slum, told AFP.
“What's more, they live crammed into small shacks, so they can't confine themselves and isolate people who could infect them.”
So far, few Covid-19 cases have been recorded in France’s shanty towns. But aid agencies warn that could soon change.
"In many places we work, there is usually an epidemic lag, meaning isolated sites like this one begin to have the first case later than the rest of the society in which they are located,” said Thierry Benlahsen, director of Solidarités International.
“And by the time the virus reaches these sites – in a few days, a few weeks – the situation deteriorates very, very quickly.”
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france24--2020-04-16--Coming weeks 'critical' as Europe's Covid-19 deaths pass 90,000

Medical workers in protective gear sit in a camper van preparing to test people nearing the end of their quarantine period in Turin , Italy , on April 16 , 2020 .
Europe is in the eye of the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic , with the number of cases nearing a million , and should move with extreme caution when considering easing lockdowns , the World Health Organization 's regional director said on Thursday .
`` Case numbers across the region continue to climb .
In the past 10 days , the number of cases reported in Europe has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the WHO 's European director , Hans Kluge , told reporters in an online briefing .
This meant that about 50 % of the global burden of Covid-19 was in Europe , Kluge said .
`` The storm clouds of this pandemic still hang heavily over the European region , '' he added .
With a total of 90,180 deaths out of some 1,047,279 infections , Europe is the hardest-hit continent by the pandemic , which has killed a total of 137,499 worldwide , according to an AFP tally based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths have been seen in Italy with 21,645 and Spain with 19,130 , followed by France with 17,167 deaths and Britain 12,868 .
As some countries start to consider whether restrictions may be eased and whether schools and some workplaces might start to reopen , the WHO 's regional director said it was critical to understand the complexity and uncertainty of such transitioning .
Companies and politicians across the world are worried about the economic impact of a long shutdown , and some countries in Europe — such as Germany , Denmark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about how to ease some societal restrictions .
Kluge said the WHO recognised that social distancing policies designed to slow the spread of the virus `` are affecting lives and livelihoods '' .
`` People are rightly asking : How much do we have to endure ?
And for how long ?
In response , we , governments , and health authorities must come up with answers to identify when , under what conditions and how we can consider a safe transition . ''
Any step to lift lockdown measures must firstly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including that evidence shows a country 's Covid-19 transmission is being controlled , outbreak risks are minimised , and that health systems have the capacity to identify , test , trace and isolate Covid-19 cases .
`` We remain in the eye of the storm ...
If you can not ensure these criteria are in place before easing restrictions , I urge you to re-think , '' he said , adding : `` There is no fast track back to normal . ''

Europe is in the eye of the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the number of cases nearing a million, and should move with extreme caution when considering easing lockdowns, the World Health Organization's regional director said on Thursday.
Medical workers in protective gear sit in a camper van preparing to test people nearing the end of their quarantine period in Turin, Italy, on April 16, 2020.
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"Case numbers across the region continue to climb. In the past 10 days, the number of cases reported in Europe has nearly doubled to close to 1 million," the WHO's European director, Hans Kluge, told reporters in an online briefing.
This meant that about 50% of the global burden of Covid-19 was in Europe, Kluge said.
"The storm clouds of this pandemic still hang heavily over the European region," he added.
We remain in the eye of the storm. When we put proven measures in place - ensuring that we can identify, isolate and test all suspect cases, and quarantine and monitor the health of all close contacts @hans_kluge — WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) April 16, 2020
With a total of 90,180 deaths out of some 1,047,279 infections, Europe is the hardest-hit continent by the pandemic, which has killed a total of 137,499 worldwide, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
The largest number of deaths have been seen in Italy with 21,645 and Spain with 19,130, followed by France with 17,167 deaths and Britain 12,868.
As some countries start to consider whether restrictions may be eased and whether schools and some workplaces might start to reopen, the WHO's regional director said it was critical to understand the complexity and uncertainty of such transitioning.
Companies and politicians across the world are worried about the economic impact of a long shutdown, and some countries in Europe — such as Germany, Denmark, Spain and others — are beginning to think about how to ease some societal restrictions.
Kluge said the WHO recognised that social distancing policies designed to slow the spread of the virus "are affecting lives and livelihoods".
"People are rightly asking: How much do we have to endure? And for how long? In response, we, governments, and health authorities must come up with answers to identify when, under what conditions and how we can consider a safe transition."
Any step to lift lockdown measures must firstly ensure several key things, he said, including that evidence shows a country's Covid-19 transmission is being controlled, outbreak risks are minimised, and that health systems have the capacity to identify, test, trace and isolate Covid-19 cases.
"We remain in the eye of the storm...If you cannot ensure these criteria are in place before easing restrictions, I urge you to re-think," he said, adding: "There is no fast track back to normal."
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP)
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france24--2020-04-16--'Much more is needed', World Bank chief says of Covid-19 debt relief for poor countries

In an interview with FRANCE 24 , David Malpass , the President of the World Bank , discussed the global economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic , as well as the debt moratorium for the world 's poorest nations agreed to by G20 finance ministers and central bankers on April 15 .
Speaking to FRANCE 24 , World Bank President David Malpass welcomed the G20 's move to provide temporary debt relief worth around $ 20 billion to low-income countries , but warned that `` much more is needed '' .
`` For at least several countries , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozen countries , the pause should continue and that becomes a form of debt cancellation .
I think that will be needed .
Keep in mind that many of the countries simply had too much debt even before the pandemic struck , so that means there needed to be a new thought process on this system .
I had complained about it before the pandemic that it was debt piling on debt , '' Malpass told FRANCE 24 's Business Editor Stephen Carroll .
On April 15 , G20 finance ministers and central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the world 's poorest countries for a duration of one year .
The initiative will provide around $ 20 billion of immediate liquidity , which can be used by those countries – whose healthcare systems and infrastructure are already fragile – The World Bank chief also told FRANCE 24 that the deep recession sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic will create `` a very difficult situation '' in developing countries .
`` There will be companies that shut down – to the extent that there are private sector companies – and from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more difficult for the governments to provide .
I think one of the key difficulties – there are multiple : health , education and food , the basics that people and children need – are all going to be under massive pressure , '' he explained .

In an interview with FRANCE 24, David Malpass, the President of the World Bank, discussed the global economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the debt moratorium for the world's poorest nations agreed to by G20 finance ministers and central bankers on April 15.
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Speaking to FRANCE 24, World Bank President David Malpass welcomed the G20's move to provide temporary debt relief worth around $20 billion to low-income countries, but warned that "much more is needed".
"For at least several countries, and I think it will end up being several dozen countries, the pause should continue and that becomes a form of debt cancellation. I think that will be needed. Keep in mind that many of the countries simply had too much debt even before the pandemic struck, so that means there needed to be a new thought process on this system. I had complained about it before the pandemic that it was debt piling on debt," Malpass told FRANCE 24's Business Editor Stephen Carroll.
>> Covid-19: G20 endorses temporary debt relief for the poorest countries
On April 15, G20 finance ministers and central bankers agreed to suspend debt service payments for the world's poorest countries for a duration of one year. The initiative will provide around $20 billion of immediate liquidity, which can be used by those countries – whose healthcare systems and infrastructure are already fragile –
to focus on tackling Covid-19.
The World Bank chief also told FRANCE 24 that the deep recession sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic will create "a very difficult situation" in developing countries.
"There will be companies that shut down – to the extent that there are private sector companies – and from the standpoint of government workers, their pay is more difficult for the governments to provide. I think one of the key difficulties – there are multiple: health, education and food, the basics that people and children need – are all going to be under massive pressure," he explained.
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