france24--2020-05-18--Motorcyclist's death spurs clashes with police in Paris suburb

Youths clashed with police into the early hours of Monday in a Paris suburb after the death of a young man in a motorcycle accident , which some in the community blamed on the police , Le Parisien newspaper and residents reported .
The trouble in Argenteuil , a suburb on the northern outskirts of Paris , marks the latest outbreak of disorder as France 's strict lockdown rules to tackle the novel coronavirus have increased social tensions .
Videos posted on social media showed teams of CRS riot police moving into housing estates .
Some youths let off fireworks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire and police tear gas swirled in the air .
Associates of the deceased accident victim , identified as Sabri Choubi , 18 , said his death was caused by a collision with a police car .
Officials at the Paris police department did not immediately respond to a request for a comment .
Clashes broke out in various council housing estates around Paris last month .
France 's banlieues - high-rise , low-income neighbourhoods that encircle many of its cities - are frequently flashpoints of anger over social and economic inequality and @ @ @ @ @

Youths clashed with police into the early hours of Monday in a Paris suburb after the death of a young man in a motorcycle accident, which some in the community blamed on the police, Le Parisien newspaper and residents reported.
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The trouble in Argenteuil, a suburb on the northern outskirts of Paris, marks the latest outbreak of disorder as France's strict lockdown rules to tackle the novel coronavirus have increased social tensions.
Videos posted on social media showed teams of CRS riot police moving into housing estates. Some youths let off fireworks, while bins had been set on fire and police tear gas swirled in the air.
Associates of the deceased accident victim, identified as Sabri Choubi, 18, said his death was caused by a collision with a police car.
Officials at the Paris police department did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Clashes broke out in various council housing estates around Paris last month.
France's banlieues - high-rise, low-income neighbourhoods that encircle many of its cities - are frequently flashpoints of anger over social and economic inequality and allegations of heavy-handed policing.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-18--Hamster tests show face masks reduce transmission risk of coronavirus

A group of experts in Hong Kong have conducted tests on hamsters that show that face masks drastically reduce transmission of the coronavirus .
Tests on hamsters reveal the widespread use of face masks reduces transmission of the deadly coronavirus , a team of leading experts in Hong Kong said Sunday .
The research by the University of Hong Kong is some of the first to specifically investigate whether masks can stop symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers from infecting others .
Led by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung , one of the world ’ s top coronavirus experts , the team placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease next to healthy animals .
Surgical masks were placed between the two cages with air flow travelling from the infected animals to the healthy ones .
The researchers found non-contact transmission of the virus could be reduced by more than 60 percent when the masks were used .
Two thirds of the healthy hamsters were infected within a week if no masks were applied .
The infection rate plunged to just over 15 percent when surgical masks were put on the cage of the infected animals and by about 35 percent when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hamsters .
Those that did become infected were also found to have less of the virus within their bodies than those infected without a mask .
“ It ’ s very clear that the effect of masking the infected , especially when they are asymptomatic—or symptomatic—it ’ s much more important than anything else , ” Yuen told reporters Sunday .
“ It also explained why universal masking is important because we now have known that a large number of those infected have no symptom.
” Yuen was one of the microbiologists who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current coronavirus—when it emerged in 2003 , killing some 300 people in Hong Kong .
Armed with knowledge from that fight , he advised Hong Kongers early in the current pandemic to adopt universal masking , something embraced by the city ’ s residents .
At the time the World Health Organisation and many other foreign health authorities dismissed using masks widely among the public , saying they should instead go to frontline medical workers .
Four months after its first COVID-19 case was detected , Hong Kong has largely managed to contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and four deaths .
Experts have credited widespread mask use as well as efficient testing , tracing and treatment in the city of 7.5 million for the relatively low numbers .

Tests on hamsters reveal the widespread use of face masks reduces transmission of the deadly coronavirus, a team of leading experts in Hong Kong said Sunday.
A group of experts in Hong Kong have conducted tests on hamsters that show that face masks drastically reduce transmission of the coronavirus.
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The research by the University of Hong Kong is some of the first to specifically investigate whether masks can stop symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers from infecting others.
Led by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, one of the world’s top coronavirus experts, the team placed hamsters that were artificially infected with the disease next to healthy animals.
Surgical masks were placed between the two cages with air flow travelling from the infected animals to the healthy ones.
The researchers found non-contact transmission of the virus could be reduced by more than 60 percent when the masks were used.
Two thirds of the healthy hamsters were infected within a week if no masks were applied.
The infection rate plunged to just over 15 percent when surgical masks were put on the cage of the infected animals and by about 35 percent when placed on the cage with the healthy hamsters.
Those that did become infected were also found to have less of the virus within their bodies than those infected without a mask.
“It’s very clear that the effect of masking the infected, especially when they are asymptomatic—or symptomatic—it’s much more important than anything else,” Yuen told reporters Sunday.
“It also explained why universal masking is important because we now have known that a large number of those infected have no symptom.”
Yuen was one of the microbiologists who discovered the SARS virus—a predecessor of the current coronavirus—when it emerged in 2003, killing some 300 people in Hong Kong.
Armed with knowledge from that fight, he advised Hong Kongers early in the current pandemic to adopt universal masking, something embraced by the city’s residents.
At the time the World Health Organisation and many other foreign health authorities dismissed using masks widely among the public, saying they should instead go to frontline medical workers.
Four months after its first COVID-19 case was detected, Hong Kong has largely managed to contain the disease with just over 1,000 infections and four deaths.
Experts have credited widespread mask use as well as efficient testing, tracing and treatment in the city of 7.5 million for the relatively low numbers.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-18--France announces plans to subsidise clean car purchases to save automakers

Renault and PSA are racing to shift to electric vehicles as authorities worldwide sharply reduce emission limits .
France is preparing a package of measures to shore up automakers stung by the coronavirus crisis , including subsidies to encourage purchases of electric vehicles , Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Monday .
“ I will announce a plan within two weeks ... to relaunch car buying as well as the industry ’ s transition to a more sustainable model , ” Le Maire told France Info radio .
“ That means supporting purchases of clean cars .
We need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerating our environment transition and to encourage the French to buy cars that today are still too expensive , ” he said .
French automakers Renault and PSA , whose brands include Peugeot , Citroen and Opel , are reeling from factory and dealership closures that sent French auto sales plunging 89 percent in April from the year earlier .
Renault in particular was already struggling to recover from the management crisis following the ouster of Carlos Ghosn last year after his arrest in Japan on financial misconduct charges while head of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is already preparing a €5 billion ( $ 5.4 billion ) emergency loan for Renault , which has announced a plan to cut spending by €2 billion that could include site closures and the phase-out of several older models .
But analysts note that Renault ’ s total market capitalisation now stands at just €5.4 billion , and its credit ratings have been cut to “ junk ” status by major ratings agencies .
Like other European carmakers , Renault and PSA are also racing to shift to electric vehicles as authorities worldwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said he would present by July 1 a rescue plan for France ’ s aeronautics sector “ and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that go with it , in the Toulouse region and elsewhere , ” a reference to the city where pan-European planemaker Airbus is headquartered .

France is preparing a package of measures to shore up automakers stung by the coronavirus crisis, including subsidies to encourage purchases of electric vehicles, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Monday.
Renault and PSA are racing to shift to electric vehicles as authorities worldwide sharply reduce emission limits.
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“I will announce a plan within two weeks... to relaunch car buying as well as the industry’s transition to a more sustainable model,” Le Maire told France Info radio.
“That means supporting purchases of clean cars. We need to use this crisis as a lever for accelerating our environment transition and to encourage the French to buy cars that today are still too expensive,” he said.
French automakers Renault and PSA, whose brands include Peugeot, Citroen and Opel, are reeling from factory and dealership closures that sent French auto sales plunging 89 percent in April from the year earlier.
Renault in particular was already struggling to recover from the management crisis following the ouster of Carlos Ghosn last year after his arrest in Japan on financial misconduct charges while head of its alliance partner Nissan.
The French state is already preparing a €5 billion ($5.4 billion) emergency loan for Renault, which has announced a plan to cut spending by €2 billion that could include site closures and the phase-out of several older models.
But analysts note that Renault’s total market capitalisation now stands at just €5.4 billion, and its credit ratings have been cut to “junk” status by major ratings agencies.
Like other European carmakers, Renault and PSA are also racing to shift to electric vehicles as authorities worldwide sharply reduce emission limits.
Le Maire also said he would present by July 1 a rescue plan for France’s aeronautics sector “and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that go with it, in the Toulouse region and elsewhere,” a reference to the city where pan-European planemaker Airbus is headquartered.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-18--Bolsonaro poses with children at Brazil protest, flouting Covid-19 health advice

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro holds a child in a military costume as they both wave during a rally in Brasilia on May 17 , 2020 , amid the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Wearing a face mask , Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro posed for photographs with children plucked out of a crowd of supporters on Sunday , disregarding public health advice aimed at containing one of the world 's worst coronavirus outbreaks .
Bolsonaro 's latest flouting of social-distancing guidelines came after he lost two health ministers in a month , both of whom resisted his fight against quarantines .
Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those of Spain and Italy on Saturday , making it the site of the world 's fourth-largest outbreak .
Health Ministry figures released on Sunday evening showed that 7,938 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours , bringing the total above 241,000 , while the death toll increased by 485 to 16,118 .
In an online video , Bolsonaro said he welcomed the demonstration at the presidential palace in what has become a nearly biweekly affair , with the president and supporters defying quarantines that have the support of most Brazilians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) want freedom , they want democracy , they want respect , '' he said , adding that Brazilians want to get the economy back up and running as quickly as possible .
An opinion poll released last Tuesday showed two-thirds of Brazilians agreed with the need for social distancing to contain the outbreak , which governors and health experts recommend , while Bolsonaro tries to open gyms , hair salons and other businesses .
On Friday , Nelson Teich resigned as health minister as he and the president showed themselves increasingly out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rollback of state quarantines and for the widespread use of unproven drugs , such as chloroquine , to fight the virus .
`` Chlo-ro-quine !
Chlo-ro-quine ! ''
chanted Bolsonaro 's supporters outside the presidential palace in Sunday , as well as `` We want to work ! ''
Banging drums , blowing horns and letting off fireworks , the crowd created a carnival atmosphere .
Wearing a white face mask and flanked by ministers , security and friends , including a child at his side dressed head to toe in army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waving , smiling and giving the thumbs up .
He mingled with the crowd less than during other recent demonstrations , but he did pose for photographs with at least three young children .
Vice President Hamilton Mourao , who went into isolation on Saturday after the diagnosis of a public servant near him last week , tested negative for the coronavirus , his office said on Sunday .
Nationwide testing in Brazil still lags far behind European nations .
Brazil had processed nearly 338,000 novel coronavirus tests in official labs by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Health Ministry .
An additional 145,000 tests were under analysis or waiting in line .
By contrast , Italy and Spain have each run some 1.9 million official diagnostic tests for the virus .

Wearing a face mask, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro posed for photographs with children plucked out of a crowd of supporters on Sunday, disregarding public health advice aimed at containing one of the world's worst coronavirus outbreaks.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro holds a child in a military costume as they both wave during a rally in Brasilia on May 17, 2020, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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Bolsonaro's latest flouting of social-distancing guidelines came after he lost two health ministers in a month, both of whom resisted his fight against quarantines. Brazil's confirmed cases of the virus passed those of Spain and Italy on Saturday, making it the site of the world's fourth-largest outbreak.
Health Ministry figures released on Sunday evening showed that 7,938 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total above 241,000, while the death toll increased by 485 to 16,118.
In an online video, Bolsonaro said he welcomed the demonstration at the presidential palace in what has become a nearly biweekly affair, with the president and supporters defying quarantines that have the support of most Brazilians.
"Above all (the people) want freedom, they want democracy, they want respect," he said, adding that Brazilians want to get the economy back up and running as quickly as possible.
An opinion poll released last Tuesday showed two-thirds of Brazilians agreed with the need for social distancing to contain the outbreak, which governors and health experts recommend, while Bolsonaro tries to open gyms, hair salons and other businesses.
On Friday, Nelson Teich resigned as health minister as he and the president showed themselves increasingly out of step, with Bolsonaro calling for a rollback of state quarantines and for the widespread use of unproven drugs, such as chloroquine, to fight the virus.
"Chlo-ro-quine! Chlo-ro-quine!" chanted Bolsonaro's supporters outside the presidential palace in Sunday, as well as "We want to work!"
Banging drums, blowing horns and letting off fireworks, the crowd created a carnival atmosphere.
Wearing a white face mask and flanked by ministers, security and friends, including a child at his side dressed head to toe in army fatigues, Bolsonaro approached his supporters, waving, smiling and giving the thumbs up.
He mingled with the crowd less than during other recent demonstrations, but he did pose for photographs with at least three young children.
Vice President Hamilton Mourao, who went into isolation on Saturday after the diagnosis of a public servant near him last week, tested negative for the coronavirus, his office said on Sunday.
Nationwide testing in Brazil still lags far behind European nations. Brazil had processed nearly 338,000 novel coronavirus tests in official labs by the beginning of last week, according to the Health Ministry. An additional 145,000 tests were under analysis or waiting in line.
By contrast, Italy and Spain have each run some 1.9 million official diagnostic tests for the virus.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-18--Saint Peter's reopens to Vatican visitors as Italy pursues reopening

Swiss guard members wear protective face masks , during the spread of the coronavirus disease , at the Vatican , on May 15 , 2020 .
Saint Peter 's Basilica throws its doors open to visitors on Monday , marking a relative return to normality at the Vatican and beyond in Italy , where most business activity is set to resume .
Public masses also resume throughout the predominantly Catholic country after a two-month hiatus , while restaurants , bars , cafes , shops and hairdressers , among other businesses , are all expected to reopen .
In the face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francis , churches in Rome were shuttered at the beginning of the coronavirus emergency in early March .
Most , however , opened shortly thereafter , with entry reserved for prayer only .
`` I share the joy of those communities who can finally reunite as liturgical assemblies , a sign of hope for all society , '' Francis said on Sunday during his live-streamed prayer .
Italy 's lockdown not only extinguished most business activity in the country , but radically disrupted Italians ' personal lives , including attending mass .
Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his residence inside the Vatican City .
The Argentine pontiff is not yet expected to lead any public religious ceremonies either in the basilica , which can accommodate 60,000 people , or in Saint Peter 's Square , as the Vatican seeks to avoid crowds .
Francis will , however , celebrate a private mass on Monday , broadcast by video , in front of the tomb of John Paul II , on the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Polish-born pontiff .
In Milan , the Duomo cathedral will conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the cathedral said it had introduced gadgets worn around the neck that beep softly , flash and vibrate if visitors approach too closely to one another .
In preparation for the reopening of Saint Peter 's , the largest Catholic church in the world was disinfected on Friday , with workers in full protective suits and masks spraying down the surface of the 23,000-square metre ( 250,000-square foot ) site .
The Vatican State , an independent enclave in the heart of Rome , has applied the same anti-virus measures as Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus stands at nearly 32,000 .
The basilica , as well as three other papal basilicas , is expected to follow a recommendation from Italy 's interior ministry limiting attendance at religious celebrations in enclosed places of worship to 200 people .
Across Italy 's tens of thousands of churches , Catholics will be able to attend not only masses but also weddings and funerals , provided they abide by a series of measures , including wearing masks and sitting or standing well spaced apart .
More than 800,000 commercial activities which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuseppe Conte imposed restrictions on March 9 should be able to reopen on Monday , said Confcommercio , Italy 's largest business association .

Saint Peter's Basilica throws its doors open to visitors on Monday, marking a relative return to normality at the Vatican and beyond in Italy, where most business activity is set to resume.
Swiss guard members wear protective face masks, during the spread of the coronavirus disease, at the Vatican, on May 15, 2020.
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Public masses also resume throughout the predominantly Catholic country after a two-month hiatus, while restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and hairdressers, among other businesses, are all expected to reopen.
In the face of much opposition, including from Pope Francis, churches in Rome were shuttered at the beginning of the coronavirus emergency in early March.
Most, however, opened shortly thereafter, with entry reserved for prayer only.
"I share the joy of those communities who can finally reunite as liturgical assemblies, a sign of hope for all society," Francis said on Sunday during his live-streamed prayer.
03:09
Italy's lockdown not only extinguished most business activity in the country, but radically disrupted Italians' personal lives, including attending mass.
Francis has been livestreaming mass from a chapel at his residence inside the Vatican City.
The Argentine pontiff is not yet expected to lead any public religious ceremonies either in the basilica, which can accommodate 60,000 people, or in Saint Peter's Square, as the Vatican seeks to avoid crowds.
Francis will, however, celebrate a private mass on Monday, broadcast by video, in front of the tomb of John Paul II, on the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Polish-born pontiff.
In Milan, the Duomo cathedral will conduct mass at 10:30 GMT. On Friday, the cathedral said it had introduced gadgets worn around the neck that beep softly, flash and vibrate if visitors approach too closely to one another.
Disinfection
In preparation for the reopening of Saint Peter's, the largest Catholic church in the world was disinfected on Friday, with workers in full protective suits and masks spraying down the surface of the 23,000-square metre (250,000-square foot) site.
The Vatican State, an independent enclave in the heart of Rome, has applied the same anti-virus measures as Italy, where the official death toll from the virus stands at nearly 32,000.
The basilica, as well as three other papal basilicas, is expected to follow a recommendation from Italy's interior ministry limiting attendance at religious celebrations in enclosed places of worship to 200 people.
Across Italy's tens of thousands of churches, Catholics will be able to attend not only masses but also weddings and funerals, provided they abide by a series of measures, including wearing masks and sitting or standing well spaced apart.
More than 800,000 commercial activities which have been under lockdown since Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed restrictions on March 9 should be able to reopen on Monday, said Confcommercio, Italy's largest business association.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-19--French scientific council not opposed to local election run-off in June

Voting at a polling station in Lyon , France , during the first round of local elections on March 15 , 2020 .
France 's scientific council said Tuesday that it is not opposed to the holding of a second round of local elections in June , although it noted the `` significant '' health risks inherent in an election campaign .
The panel advised the government to reevaluate the conditions for the vote 15 days before it is held .
French voters went to the polls for the first round of nationwide local elections on March 15 , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures amid the coronavirus outbreak .
A second and final round of voting , initially due to take place on March 22 , was postponed .
Although 30,000 municipalities elected their officials in the first round , 5,000 more require a run-off .
The scientific council advising the government on the pandemic sought `` to emphasise that the health situation had markedly improved compared to the start of the lockdown '' , it said in the advice published Tuesday .
`` However , it is difficult to anticipate an uncertain situation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that there are `` significant health risks linked to an electoral campaign ...
If the elections are organised , the organisation of the campaign should be profoundly modified '' .
The body asked that health conditions be reevaluated 15 days before any vote is held and that sustained monitoring take place during the 15 days that follow the election .
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe asked the council at the end of March to deliver its advice on the holding of a second vote , but the government has not systematically followed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 28,000 people have died as a result of Covid-19 in France , which began easing lockdown measures on May 11 .

France's scientific council said Tuesday that it is not opposed to the holding of a second round of local elections in June, although it noted the "significant" health risks inherent in an election campaign. The panel advised the government to reevaluate the conditions for the vote 15 days before it is held.
Voting at a polling station in Lyon, France, during the first round of local elections on March 15, 2020.
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French voters went to the polls for the first round of nationwide local elections on March 15, two days before the country imposed strict lockdown measures amid the coronavirus outbreak. A second and final round of voting, initially due to take place on March 22, was postponed. Although 30,000 municipalities elected their officials in the first round, 5,000 more require a run-off.
The scientific council advising the government on the pandemic sought "to emphasise that the health situation had markedly improved compared to the start of the lockdown", it said in the advice published Tuesday. "However, it is difficult to anticipate an uncertain situation for the weeks to come."
The panel noted that there are "significant health risks linked to an electoral campaign... If the elections are organised, the organisation of the campaign should be profoundly modified".
The body asked that health conditions be reevaluated 15 days before any vote is held and that sustained monitoring take place during the 15 days that follow the election.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe asked the council at the end of March to deliver its advice on the holding of a second vote, but the government has not systematically followed the panel's advice throughout the pandemic.
More than 28,000 people have died as a result of Covid-19 in France, which began easing lockdown measures on May 11.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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france24--2020-05-19--French returning from abroad asked to place themselves in Covid-19 quarantine

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian leaves the Élysée Palace following the weekly cabinet meeting in Paris , France , October 21 , 2019 .
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday said that as of May 20 , French citizens and residents returning from abroad will be asked to place themselves in voluntary coronavirus quarantine .
“ As of Wednesday , we will ask all French people … returning to France and people who reside in France to put themselves in a voluntary two-week quarantine , ” Le Drian told broadcaster LCI , adding that the request will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from countries outside the European Union .
The measure will not affect non-EU foreign visitors as the bloc ’ s exterior borders remain closed in a bid to contain the coronavirus epidemic .
There has been no quarantine for citizens or residents returning to French soil until now .
The new measure will rely on “ individual responsibility ” , Le Drian explained .
Returning travellers can choose whether to observe the autonomous lockdown at home or another venue .
In March , the European Union banned foreign nationals from entering its Schengen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 of 27 member states , with exceptions for medical workers and essential travel .
Last week , it set out plans for a phased restart of travel , urging member states to reopen internal borders while recommending that external frontiers remain shut until at least the middle of June .
“ Concerning the internal borders , we have reciprocity agreements with neighbouring countries and one can imagine that progressively , provided the easing of the lockdown works and the pandemic does not resume , we will be able to reconsider these closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think that progressively from June 15 , we will be able to start a generalised easing , at least that is what I hope.
” France ’ s main Charles-de-Gaulle airport , north of Paris , has installed thermal cameras to detect arriving passengers with a high fever , one of the symptoms of coronavirus infection .

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday said that as of May 20, French citizens and residents returning from abroad will be asked to place themselves in voluntary coronavirus quarantine.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian leaves the Élysée Palace following the weekly cabinet meeting in Paris, France, October 21, 2019.
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“As of Wednesday, we will ask all French people … returning to France and people who reside in France to put themselves in a voluntary two-week quarantine,” Le Drian told broadcaster LCI, adding that the request will only be made for those who return from countries outside the European Union.
The measure will not affect non-EU foreign visitors as the bloc’s exterior borders remain closed in a bid to contain the coronavirus epidemic.
There has been no quarantine for citizens or residents returning to French soil until now.
The new measure will rely on “individual responsibility”, Le Drian explained. Returning travellers can choose whether to observe the autonomous lockdown at home or another venue.
In March, the European Union banned foreign nationals from entering its Schengen area, an open border zone comprising 22 of 27 member states, with exceptions for medical workers and essential travel.
Last week, it set out plans for a phased restart of travel, urging member states to reopen internal borders while recommending that external frontiers remain shut until at least the middle of June.
“Concerning the internal borders, we have reciprocity agreements with neighbouring countries and one can imagine that progressively, provided the easing of the lockdown works and the pandemic does not resume, we will be able to reconsider these closure measures,” said Le Drian.
“I think that progressively from June 15, we will be able to start a generalised easing, at least that is what I hope.”
France’s main Charles-de-Gaulle airport, north of Paris, has installed thermal cameras to detect arriving passengers with a high fever, one of the symptoms of coronavirus infection.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-19--Trump threatens to permanently cut off US funding to WHO over Covid-19 handling

US President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington , D.C. , USA , May 18 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump threatened to permanently freeze US funding to the World Health Organization unless `` substantive improvements '' were made within the next 30 days .
Washington suspended funding to the WHO in mid-April , accusing it of being too close to Beijing and covering up and mismanaging the coronavirus pandemic .
On Monday , Trump tweeted images of a letter he sent to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , saying the letter was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump lists what he says are examples of the WHO 's shortcomings in managing the pandemic , including ignoring early reports of the emergence of the virus and being too close to China .
`` It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world .
The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China , '' Trump said in the letter .
`` If the World Health Organization does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next 30 days , I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization , '' he said .
Trump 's threat came after the World Health Organization said it would launch an independent review of its response to the coronavirus pandemic .
US President Donald Trump has branded the global body a `` puppet of China '' .
Washington is locked in an increasingly bitter spat with Beijing over the new coronavirus pandemic and has also taken aim at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off its first ever virtual assembly .
A resolution tabled by the European Union called for an `` impartial , independent and comprehensive evaluation '' of the international response to the pandemic , which has so far infected nearly 4.8 million people and killed more than 317,000 .
The WHO 's Tedros acknowledged there had been shortcomings and told the virtual assembly he welcomed calls for a review .
`` I will initiate an independent evaluation at the earliest appropriate moment to review experience gained and lessons learned , and to make recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and response , '' he said .
`` But one thing is abundantly clear .
The world must never be the same .
`` We do not need a review to tell us that we must all do everything in our power to ensure this never happens again , '' Tedros said .
A wide range of country leaders and health ministers hailed the WHO 's efforts but US health secretary Alex Azar said its `` failure '' to obtain and provide vital information on Covid-19 had cost lives .
`` We must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons this outbreak spun out of control : there was a failure by this organization to obtain the information that the world needed , and that failure cost many lives , '' Azar said in a video address to the WHO 's main annual meeting .

President Donald Trump threatened to permanently freeze US funding to the World Health Organization unless "substantive improvements" were made within the next 30 days.
US President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, May 18, 2020.
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Washington suspended funding to the WHO in mid-April, accusing it of being too close to Beijing and covering up and mismanaging the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday, Trump tweeted images of a letter he sent to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, saying the letter was "self-explanator".
In the letter, Trump lists what he says are examples of the WHO's shortcomings in managing the pandemic, including ignoring early reports of the emergence of the virus and being too close to China.
"It is clear the repeated missteps by you and your organization in responding to the pandemic have been extremely costly for the world. The only way forward for the World Health Organization is if it can actually demonstrate independence from China," Trump said in the letter.
"If the World Health Organization does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days, I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization," he said.
This is the letter sent to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization. It is self-explanatory! pic.twitter.com/pF2kzPUpDv — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2020
Trump's threat came after the World Health Organization said it would launch an independent review of its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
US President Donald Trump has branded the global body a "puppet of China".
Washington is locked in an increasingly bitter spat with Beijing over the new coronavirus pandemic and has also taken aim at the WHO, which on Monday kicked off its first ever virtual assembly.
01:08
A resolution tabled by the European Union called for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the international response to the pandemic, which has so far infected nearly 4.8 million people and killed more than 317,000.
The WHO's Tedros acknowledged there had been shortcomings and told the virtual assembly he welcomed calls for a review.
"I will initiate an independent evaluation at the earliest appropriate moment to review experience gained and lessons learned, and to make recommendations to improve national and global pandemic preparedness and response," he said.
"But one thing is abundantly clear. The world must never be the same.
"We do not need a review to tell us that we must all do everything in our power to ensure this never happens again," Tedros said.
06:03
A wide range of country leaders and health ministers hailed the WHO's efforts but US health secretary Alex Azar said its "failure" to obtain and provide vital information on Covid-19 had cost lives.
"We must be frank about one of the primary reasons this outbreak spun out of control: there was a failure by this organization to obtain the information that the world needed, and that failure cost many lives," Azar said in a video address to the WHO's main annual meeting.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-19--Lesotho’s PM resigns amid mounting pressure following ex-wife’s murder

Thabane has denied any involvement in the murder of his ex-wife .
Lesotho ’ s beleaguered prime minister , Thomas Thabane , finally resigned on Tuesday , ending a months-long crisis that engulfed the kingdom after he was accused of having a part in his ex-wife ’ s murder .
“ I come before you today to announce that the work that you assigned me may not be over but the time to retire from the great theatre of action , take leave from public life and office has finally arrived , ” he said in nationwide TV address .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plagued by instability since early this year , when police accused Thabane of having a hand in the killing of his estranged wife in June 2017 .
Thabane and his then wife Lipolelo Thabane , 58 , were in the midst of a bitter divorce when she was shot dead outside her home two days before her husband ’ s inauguration .
Police have since found Thabane ’ s mobile number in communications records from the crime scene .
Thabane , 80 , who has denied any involvement in the murder , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Lesotho’s beleaguered prime minister, Thomas Thabane, finally resigned on Tuesday, ending a months-long crisis that engulfed the kingdom after he was accused of having a part in his ex-wife’s murder.
Thabane has denied any involvement in the murder of his ex-wife.
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“I come before you today to announce that the work that you assigned me may not be over but the time to retire from the great theatre of action, take leave from public life and office has finally arrived,” he said in nationwide TV address.
The tiny southern African state has been plagued by instability since early this year, when police accused Thabane of having a hand in the killing of his estranged wife in June 2017.
Thabane and his then wife Lipolelo Thabane, 58, were in the midst of a bitter divorce when she was shot dead outside her home two days before her husband’s inauguration.
Police have since found Thabane’s mobile number in communications records from the crime scene.
Thabane, 80, who has denied any involvement in the murder, had been under mounting pressure to resign.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-19--Macron deprived of outright majority as party defectors form new parliamentary group

Macron deprived of outright majority as party defectors form new parliamentary group Defectors from Emmanuel Macron ’ s ruling party @ @ @ @ @ new group in France ’ s lower house of parliament on Tuesday , depriving the @ @ @ @ @ and raising pressure for more left-wing policies .
The defecting members of parliament launched their @ @ @ @ @ , Solidarity ” ( EDS ) group , featuring high-profile politicians including one-time Macron loyalists @ @ @ @ @ .
Macron ’ s party , formed after the former investment banker won the presidency @ @ @ @ @ suffered a string of defections in recent months by parliamentarians frustrated by his tight grip @ @ @ @ @ policies .
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Defectors from President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party announced the creation of a new group in France’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday, depriving the president of an outright majority and raising pressure for more left-wing policies.
The new parliamentary group consists of several former Macron loyalists.
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Seven lawmakers are splintering from Macron's La République En Marche (LREM) to join the new "Ecology, Democracy, Solidarity" group, which will count 17 parliamentarians in its ranks, including one-time Macron loyalist Cédric Villani.
That means the ruling party now only has 288 MPs in the National Assembly, one short of an absolute majority, and down from the 314 Macron had after he redrew the political landscape in 2017.
However, 17 is significantly less than the 58 MPs suggested by media reports earlier this month, indicating that party bigwigs had managed to stem the flow.
"The pressure from the executive, the party and the group was such that we had to move the announcement forward," one defector told REUTERS. "Many eventually decided not to take the plunge."
Macron's party, formed by the former banker to propel him to the presidency in 2017, had already suffered a string of defections by lawmakers frustrated by his tight grip on decision-making and his pro-business policies.
The French president can still count on the support of a smaller alliance partner, the centrist MoDem. However, the arithmetic may now give MoDem more leverage over policymaking in the final two years of Macron's mandate.
His reform drive has been stalled by the coronavirus pandemic, just as he was seeking to regain momentum after months of protests over his controversial pension reform and the "Yellow Vest" unrest.
The defectors do not consider themselves as opposition, but will push the government to adopt greener and more worker-friendly reforms to prevent voters from switching to the far-right, they said.
"If we don't show results quickly, the risk is that the French choose the worst in 2022, that's what we want to avoid at all cost," said Aurélien Taché, a prominent defector.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-19--China offers farmers cash to drop wildlife trade in wake of coronavirus outbreak

Farmers in China are being offered cash to quit breeding exotic animals as pressure grows to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade that has been blamed for the coronavirus outbreak .
Authorities have for the first time pledged to buy out breeders in an attempt to curb the practice , animal rights activists say .
China has in recent months banned the sale of wild animals for food , citing the risk of diseases spreading to humans , but the trade remains legal for other purposes including research and traditional medicine .
The deadly coronavirus -- first reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is widely believed to have passed from bats to people before spreading worldwide .
Two central provinces have outlined details of a buyout programme to help farmers transition to alternative livelihoods .
Hunan on Friday set out a compensation scheme to persuade breeders to rear other livestock or produce tea and herbal medicines .
Authorities are offering to pay 120 yuan ( $ 16 ) per kilogram of cobra , king rattlesnake or rat snake , while a kilogram of bamboo rat will fetch 75 yuan .
A civet cat -- the animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syndrome ( SARS ) to humans in another coronavirus outbreak nearly two decades ago -- is worth 600 yuan .
Neighbouring Jiangxi province has also released documents on plans to help farmers dispose of animals and financial aid .
The state-run Jiangxi Daily newspaper reported last week that the province has more than 2,300 licensed breeders , mostly rearing wild animals for food .
Their animals are worth about 1.6 billion yuan ( $ 225 million ) , the report said .
Both Jiangxi and Hunan border Hubei , the province where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights group Humane Society International ( HSI ) said Hunan and Jiangxi are `` major wildlife breeding provinces '' , with Jiangxi seeing a rapid expansion of the trade over the last decade .
Revenues from breeding reached 10 billion yuan in 2018 , it said .
HSI China policy specialist Peter Li told AFP that similar plans should be rolled out across the country .
But he cautioned that Hunan 's proposals leave room for farmers to continue breeding exotic creatures as long as the animals are not sent to food markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not include many wild animals bred for fur , traditional Chinese medicine or entertainment .
Li said Chinese authorities are nevertheless moving in the right direction .
`` In the past 20 years , a lot of people have been telling the Chinese government to buy out certain wildlife breeding operations , for example bear farming , '' he said .
`` This is the first time that the Chinese government actually decided to do it , which opens a precedent ... ( for when ) other production needs to be phased out @ @

Farmers in China are being offered cash to quit breeding exotic animals as pressure grows to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade that has been blamed for the coronavirus outbreak.
Advertising Read more
Authorities have for the first time pledged to buy out breeders in an attempt to curb the practice, animal rights activists say.
China has in recent months banned the sale of wild animals for food, citing the risk of diseases spreading to humans, but the trade remains legal for other purposes including research and traditional medicine.
The deadly coronavirus -- first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan -- is widely believed to have passed from bats to people before spreading worldwide.
Two central provinces have outlined details of a buyout programme to help farmers transition to alternative livelihoods.
Hunan on Friday set out a compensation scheme to persuade breeders to rear other livestock or produce tea and herbal medicines.
Authorities are offering to pay 120 yuan ($16) per kilogram of cobra, king rattlesnake or rat snake, while a kilogram of bamboo rat will fetch 75 yuan.
A civet cat -- the animal believed to have carried Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to humans in another coronavirus outbreak nearly two decades ago -- is worth 600 yuan.
Neighbouring Jiangxi province has also released documents on plans to help farmers dispose of animals and financial aid.
The state-run Jiangxi Daily newspaper reported last week that the province has more than 2,300 licensed breeders, mostly rearing wild animals for food.
Their animals are worth about 1.6 billion yuan ($225 million), the report said.
Both Jiangxi and Hunan border Hubei, the province where the coronavirus first emerged in December.
Animal rights group Humane Society International (HSI) said Hunan and Jiangxi are "major wildlife breeding provinces", with Jiangxi seeing a rapid expansion of the trade over the last decade.
Revenues from breeding reached 10 billion yuan in 2018, it said.
HSI China policy specialist Peter Li told AFP that similar plans should be rolled out across the country.
But he cautioned that Hunan's proposals leave room for farmers to continue breeding exotic creatures as long as the animals are not sent to food markets.
The province's plan also does not include many wild animals bred for fur, traditional Chinese medicine or entertainment.
Li said Chinese authorities are nevertheless moving in the right direction.
"In the past 20 years, a lot of people have been telling the Chinese government to buy out certain wildlife breeding operations, for example bear farming," he said.
"This is the first time that the Chinese government actually decided to do it, which opens a precedent... (for when) other production needs to be phased out."
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-19--Popular European party spots mull inventive ways to lure tourists back

Tourists buy drinks at a bar in the Cypriot resort town of Ayia Napa on July 18 , 2019 .
The Mediterranean resort town of Ayia Napa in Cyprus is known for its boisterous parties .
Each summer , thousands of young foreign tourists pack the dance floors of its nightlife district after a day at the beach .
But the pandemic silenced the exuberant Napa Strip district as the island nation of Cyprus went into a lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus .
Now nightclub owners wonder when social distancing rules will be eased enough for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new parties will look like .
“ We know at nightclubs , young people will go to dance and have a good time .
But then you have to tell them that they have to keep 2 meters ( 6 feet ) apart from each other ?
” asked Charalambos Alexandrou , the spokesman for a group representing local clubs , bars and restaurants .
Across southern Europe , in places where tourism drives much of the economy , officials are weighing how to entice travelers to come back , even while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes-competing needs of health and business , authorities are introducing measures to reassure visitors that taking a holiday is safe again .
Still , those are not likely to solve the quandary facing Ayia Napa ’ s nightclub businesses .
Alexandrou said this will be “ a season of trying to survive , ” not seeking a profit .
One idea being considered is asking holidaymakers to take a COVID-19 test prior to their arrival .
Cyprus has officially reported 916 cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths .
The country ’ s deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Cyprus will initially look to bring tourists from nearby countries that have managed to contain the virus — Greece , Israel , the United Arab Emirates and some central European and Nordic nations .
Authorities will take more time to assess the course of the pandemic in the United Kingdom and Russia , the island ’ s primary tourism markets , before rolling out the red carpet for those countries .
Tourists in the near future will have to navigate a different set of expectations , routines and rules to counter the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cyprus Hotel Managers ’ Association , said new rules being announced soon will mean that from the moment tourists step out of their bus or taxi from the airport , their luggage will be disinfected and taken straight to their rooms .
Reception procedures will be done electronically , with employees behind a plexiglass screen and cleaning staff in full protective gear .
Guests eyeing a vacation in Portugal , another major southern European holiday destination , will probably look beyond a hotel ’ s online reviews to see if it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now being awarded by local tourism officials .
The seal indicates that the establishment , be it a hotel , restaurant or other venue , has enacted recommended hygiene and safety procedures to protect against the virus .
The idea has been a big success in a desperate sector that accounts for 15 % of Portugal ’ s gross domestic product and 9 % of the country ’ s jobs .
The online classes needed to obtain the seal are being attended by around 4,000 people a week .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to travel and having confidence in the place where they ’ re going , ” said Luís Araújo , president of the government agency Turismo de Portugal Portugal lies at the opposite end of the Mediterranean Sea from Cyprus , but its challenge is the same : how to reconcile social distancing and hygiene rules with fun and relaxation .
The Portuguese government says discotheques will be the last places to open , but many hotels intend to start reopening June 1 .
Among the changes being adopted : Guests will not check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last occupant has checked out , to allow time for thorough cleaning and airing of the space .
Waiting for sunbeds may come to an end as some hotel guests will get one for their own exclusive use .
Buffets are unlikely to be offered , but room service is expected to thrive .
Another challenge is how to reopen southern Europe ’ s famous beaches .
Portugal has come up with a plan to get people back on the sand starting on June 6 .
Sunbathers must stay 1.5 meters ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 3 meters ( 10 feet ) apart .
New signs and an app will use a traffic-light system of red , yellow and green indicating which beaches are full , partly full or have few people .
Paddle boats and water slides will be prohibited .
In an attempt to shore up public confidence , Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa went to his local cafe for morning coffee and had lunch at a Lisbon restaurant with the speaker of parliament on Monday , the first day those businesses reopened after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make tourists feel safe , worries about the coronavirus are not going away .
U.K. personal trainer Kenny Dyer canceled an Easter vacation in Cyprus and is hopeful of venturing back in October .
But Dyer attached a condition that governments may find hard to guarantee .
“ I wouldn ’ t want to fly somewhere where there ’ s a sudden spike in coronavirus cases , and I would have to be quarantined abroad , ” Dyer said .

The Mediterranean resort town of Ayia Napa in Cyprus is known for its boisterous parties. Each summer, thousands of young foreign tourists pack the dance floors of its nightlife district after a day at the beach.
Tourists buy drinks at a bar in the Cypriot resort town of Ayia Napa on July 18, 2019.
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But the pandemic silenced the exuberant Napa Strip district as the island nation of Cyprus went into a lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Now nightclub owners wonder when social distancing rules will be eased enough for the party to resume — and what those new parties will look like.
“We know at nightclubs, young people will go to dance and have a good time. But then you have to tell them that they have to keep 2 meters (6 feet) apart from each other?” asked Charalambos Alexandrou, the spokesman for a group representing local clubs, bars and restaurants.
Across southern Europe, in places where tourism drives much of the economy, officials are weighing how to entice travelers to come back, even while the pandemic remains a threat. Juggling the sometimes-competing needs of health and business, authorities are introducing measures to reassure visitors that taking a holiday is safe again.
Still, those are not likely to solve the quandary facing Ayia Napa’s nightclub businesses.
Alexandrou said this will be “a season of trying to survive,” not seeking a profit.
One idea being considered is asking holidaymakers to take a COVID-19 test prior to their arrival. Cyprus has officially reported 916 cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths.
The country’s deputy minister for tourism, Savvas Perdios, said Cyprus will initially look to bring tourists from nearby countries that have managed to contain the virus — Greece, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and some central European and Nordic nations.
Authorities will take more time to assess the course of the pandemic in the United Kingdom and Russia, the island’s primary tourism markets, before rolling out the red carpet for those countries.
Tourists in the near future will have to navigate a different set of expectations, routines and rules to counter the virus.
Christos Angelides, president of the Cyprus Hotel Managers’ Association, said new rules being announced soon will mean that from the moment tourists step out of their bus or taxi from the airport, their luggage will be disinfected and taken straight to their rooms. Reception procedures will be done electronically, with employees behind a plexiglass screen and cleaning staff in full protective gear.
Guests eyeing a vacation in Portugal, another major southern European holiday destination, will probably look beyond a hotel’s online reviews to see if it has the “Clean&Safe” seal now being awarded by local tourism officials. The seal indicates that the establishment, be it a hotel, restaurant or other venue, has enacted recommended hygiene and safety procedures to protect against the virus.
The idea has been a big success in a desperate sector that accounts for 15% of Portugal’s gross domestic product and 9% of the country’s jobs. The online classes needed to obtain the seal are being attended by around 4,000 people a week.
“It’s a question of making people feel safe to travel and having confidence in the place where they’re going,” said Luís Araújo, president of the government agency Turismo de Portugal
Portugal lies at the opposite end of the Mediterranean Sea from Cyprus, but its challenge is the same: how to reconcile social distancing and hygiene rules with fun and relaxation.
“Restrictions scare away any tourist,” Araújo acknowledged.
The Portuguese government says discotheques will be the last places to open, but many hotels intend to start reopening June 1.
Among the changes being adopted: Guests will not check into their rooms until 24 hours after the last occupant has checked out, to allow time for thorough cleaning and airing of the space. Waiting for sunbeds may come to an end as some hotel guests will get one for their own exclusive use.
Buffets are unlikely to be offered, but room service is expected to thrive.
Another challenge is how to reopen southern Europe’s famous beaches.
Portugal has come up with a plan to get people back on the sand starting on June 6. Sunbathers must stay 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart, with umbrellas at least 3 meters (10 feet) apart. New signs and an app will use a traffic-light system of red, yellow and green indicating which beaches are full, partly full or have few people. Paddle boats and water slides will be prohibited.
In an attempt to shore up public confidence, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa went to his local cafe for morning coffee and had lunch at a Lisbon restaurant with the speaker of parliament on Monday, the first day those businesses reopened after a lockdown.
Even with all the efforts to make tourists feel safe, worries about the coronavirus are not going away.
U.K. personal trainer Kenny Dyer canceled an Easter vacation in Cyprus and is hopeful of venturing back in October. But Dyer attached a condition that governments may find hard to guarantee.
“I wouldn’t want to fly somewhere where there’s a sudden spike in coronavirus cases, and I would have to be quarantined abroad,” Dyer said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-05-19--European auto market plunged more than 75 percent in April amid coronavirus pandemic

Workers wear protective masks at the Volkswagen assembly line after VW re-starts Europe 's largest car factory following the coronavirus shutdown , in Wolfsburg , Germany , April 27 , 2020 .
Europe 's auto market plunged further in April , with sales down by 76.3 percent from the same month a year earlier , figures released Tuesday by a sector federation showed .
New car registrations had already fallen by an annualised 55.1 percent in March , owing to the impact of the coronavirus , according to the European Automobile Manufacturer 's Association ( ACEA ) .
The numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 were in place , and saw `` the strongest monthly drop since records began '' , an ACEA statement said .
Every EU nation suffered double-digit losses , but Italy and Spain were hit the hardest and posted drops of 97.6 percent and 96.5 percent respectively , it added .
Denmark and Sweden fared the best , but their markets were nonetheless off by more than a third , the data showed .
In terms of manufacturers , the FCA group that includes Fiat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most , with sales that were 87.7 percent lower in April at 10,419 vehicles , ACEA said .
BMW , Mitsubishi and Volvo posted the smallest drops , but they were all almost two-thirds below their level of the previous year .
In France , Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Monday said a package of measures is being prepared to shore up the country 's automakers stung by the coronavirus crisis , including subsidies to encourage purchases of electric vehicles .
`` I will announce a plan within two weeks ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the industry 's transition to a more sustainable model , '' Le Maire told France Info radio .

Europe's auto market plunged further in April, with sales down by 76.3 percent from the same month a year earlier, figures released Tuesday by a sector federation showed.
Workers wear protective masks at the Volkswagen assembly line after VW re-starts Europe's largest car factory following the coronavirus shutdown, in Wolfsburg, Germany, April 27, 2020.
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New car registrations had already fallen by an annualised 55.1 percent in March, owing to the impact of the coronavirus, according to the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association (ACEA).
The numbers for April represented the first full month that restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 were in place, and saw "the strongest monthly drop since records began", an ACEA statement said.
Every EU nation suffered double-digit losses, but Italy and Spain were hit the hardest and posted drops of 97.6 percent and 96.5 percent respectively, it added.
Denmark and Sweden fared the best, but their markets were nonetheless off by more than a third, the data showed.
In terms of manufacturers, the FCA group that includes Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep and Alfa Romeo suffered the most, with sales that were 87.7 percent lower in April at 10,419 vehicles, ACEA said.
BMW, Mitsubishi and Volvo posted the smallest drops, but they were all almost two-thirds below their level of the previous year.
In France, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Monday said a package of measures is being prepared to shore up the country's automakers stung by the coronavirus crisis, including subsidies to encourage purchases of electric vehicles.
"I will announce a plan within two weeks... to relaunch car buying as well as the industry's transition to a more sustainable model," Le Maire told France Info radio.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-19--Brazil overtakes Britain to become country with third-highest number of Covid-19 cases

Gravediggers carry the coffin of Avelino Fernandes Filho , 74 , who passed away from the coronavirus disease , during his funeral in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , May 18 , 2020 .
Brazil recorded 674 new coronavirus deaths on Monday , the Health Ministry said , and announced a total of 254,220 confirmed cases , overtaking Britain to become the country with the third-highest number of infections behind the United States and Russia .
Brazil has registered 16,792 Covid-19 deaths , the sixth-highest toll in the world .
But experts say under-testing means the real figures could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giant South American country of 210 million people is torn by a political battle over how to respond to the virus .
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro compares the virus to a `` little flu , '' condemns the `` hysteria '' surrounding it and is urging the country to get back to work to stop an economic crash .
State and local authorities , however , are largely calling on citizens to stay home and practice social distancing -- backed by the Supreme Court , which gave them the final say in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nelson Teich resigned , becoming the second top health official to leave the post since the pandemic began .
Bolsonaro fired the first after publicly battling over stay-at-home measures , and the second resigned last week after less than a month on the job , reportedly over the president 's insistence on widespread use of the controversial and unproven malaria drug chloroquine to treat the disease .
General Eduardo Pazuello is the interim health chief and Bolsonaro is in no hurry to choose his replacement , sources say .
Hospitals in several areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the hardest-hit cities have begun burying victims in mass graves , even as the number of infections continues to soar .

Brazil recorded 674 new coronavirus deaths on Monday, the Health Ministry said, and announced a total of 254,220 confirmed cases, overtaking Britain to become the country with the third-highest number of infections behind the United States and Russia.
Gravediggers carry the coffin of Avelino Fernandes Filho, 74, who passed away from the coronavirus disease, during his funeral in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 18, 2020.
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Brazil has registered 16,792 Covid-19 deaths, the sixth-highest toll in the world.
But experts say under-testing means the real figures could be 15 times higher or more.
The giant South American country of 210 million people is torn by a political battle over how to respond to the virus.
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro compares the virus to a "little flu," condemns the "hysteria" surrounding it and is urging the country to get back to work to stop an economic crash.
State and local authorities, however, are largely calling on citizens to stay home and practice social distancing -- backed by the Supreme Court, which gave them the final say in the matter.
Last week, Health Minister Nelson Teich resigned, becoming the second top health official to leave the post since the pandemic began.
Bolsonaro fired the first after publicly battling over stay-at-home measures, and the second resigned last week after less than a month on the job, reportedly over the president's insistence on widespread use of the controversial and unproven malaria drug chloroquine to treat the disease.
General Eduardo Pazuello is the interim health chief and Bolsonaro is in no hurry to choose his replacement, sources say.
Hospitals in several areas are meanwhile operating close to full capacity, and the hardest-hit cities have begun burying victims in mass graves, even as the number of infections continues to soar.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-19--Wild protests break out in Chile over Covid-19 lockdown food shortages

Wild protests have broken out in one of Santiago ’ s poorest neighbourhoods over food shortage during Covid-19 lockdown , on May 18 , 2020 .
Police and protesters clashed in Santiago on Monday amid a city-wide lockdown meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus as local officials warned that food shortages had hit one of the Chilean capital´s poorest neighborhoods A group of protesters threw rocks , shouted and burned piles of wood along a street in the destitute neighborhood on Santiago ’ s southern fringe .
Images on social media and local television showed police spraying tear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing crowd .
The municipality said in a statement that families were going hungry in the poorest sectors of El Bosque , a neighborhood where many work informally , or not at all .
The city district has been under quarantine since mid-April , city officials said in a statement .
“ The last weeks we have had a great demand from neighbors for food , ” El Bosque Mayor Sadi Melo , of Chile´s opposition Socialist party , told Radio BioBio .
“ We are in a very complex situation of hunger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of Latin America´s most prosperous cities .
But a stark rich-poor divide and a growing sense of inequality prompted mass protests in late 2019 .
Many of the demands lodged by protesters last year , from increased pensions to higher pay , remain unresolved .
In a statement , Melo´s office said El Bosque had distributed more than 2,000 aid packages to the neediest families .
But it warned the central government “ not to continue to burden municipalities with an economic responsibility we can not cover.
” Chile´s center-right president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address later on Monday that his government would deliver 2.5 million baskets of food and cleaning supplies directly to homes by late this week or early next .
“ We will prioritize the most vulnerable families , ” Pinera said , calling the planned delivery of food “ historic.
” The South American nation has already announced a massive stimulus package worth nearly 7 % of gross domestic product to ease the economic impact of the pandemic , although opposition leaders and social groups have criticized the package as inadequate .
The government´s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deferred tax payments and government-backed credit lines for small business .
Chile surpassed 40,000 cases of the new coronavirus last week amid a sharp spike in infections that has seen hospitals approach collapse in the weeks ahead of the Southern Hemisphere winter .
The country now has 46,059 total cases and 478 deaths .

Police and protesters clashed in Santiago on Monday amid a city-wide lockdown meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus as local officials warned that food shortages had hit one of the Chilean capital´s poorest neighborhoods
Wild protests have broken out in one of Santiago’s poorest neighbourhoods over food shortage during Covid-19 lockdown, on May 18, 2020.
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A group of protesters threw rocks, shouted and burned piles of wood along a street in the destitute neighborhood on Santiago’s southern fringe.
Images on social media and local television showed police spraying tear gas and water cannons to disperse the growing crowd.
The municipality said in a statement that families were going hungry in the poorest sectors of El Bosque, a neighborhood where many work informally, or not at all. The city district has been under quarantine since mid-April, city officials said in a statement.
“The last weeks we have had a great demand from neighbors for food,” El Bosque Mayor Sadi Melo, of Chile´s opposition Socialist party, told Radio BioBio. “We are in a very complex situation of hunger and lack of work.”
Santiago is one of Latin America´s most prosperous cities. But a stark rich-poor divide and a growing sense of inequality prompted mass protests in late 2019. Many of the demands lodged by protesters last year, from increased pensions to higher pay, remain unresolved.
In a statement, Melo´s office said El Bosque had distributed more than 2,000 aid packages to the neediest families. But it warned the central government “not to continue to burden municipalities with an economic responsibility we cannot cover.”
Chile´s center-right president, Sebastian Pinera, said in a televised address later on Monday that his government would deliver 2.5 million baskets of food and cleaning supplies directly to homes by late this week or early next.
“We will prioritize the most vulnerable families,” Pinera said, calling the planned delivery of food “historic.”
The South American nation has already announced a massive stimulus package worth nearly 7% of gross domestic product to ease the economic impact of the pandemic, although opposition leaders and social groups have criticized the package as inadequate.
The government´s proposed measures include beefed-up unemployment checks, deferred tax payments and government-backed credit lines for small business.
Chile surpassed 40,000 cases of the new coronavirus last week amid a sharp spike in infections that has seen hospitals approach collapse in the weeks ahead of the Southern Hemisphere winter. The country now has 46,059 total cases and 478 deaths.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-19--'We can get it done here': African tech tackles coronavirus locally

Staff member Georgina Wilson holds a part of a drone during preparations for the delivery of medical supplies at the drone delivery service base run by operator Zipline in Omenako , 70km north of Accra , Ghana , on April 23 , 2019 .
Watching from afar as much of the world was brought to its knees by the coronavirus , African scientists , engineers and innovators have turned to homegrown solutions to prepare for the worst case scenario .
By the time the virus hit Africa , where cases have risen relatively slowly , images of overwhelmed hospitals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear had been streaming in for weeks .
Mehul Shah from Ultra Red Technologies , a 3D printing company in Nairobi , said he and his partner Neeval Shah quickly realised they could be `` first responders '' in producing locally-made equipment .
In only three days they put together a working design for 3D-printed face shields made up of a visor that clips onto a plastic sheet .
They currently produce around 500 a day .
`` It 's very important that we can show Kenyans that we can do this here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on importation .
We have got the innovative know-how and the means to get this done here , '' he told AFP .
The team is also helping produce components that would allow ventilators to be used on more than one patient , as well as printing parts for locally-made ventilators .
While Kenya only has 912 cases and 50 deaths after a little over two months , `` we are preparing for the worst case scenario , '' Mehul said .
He said it was `` a first '' to see manufacturers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much .
`` All the companies are looking at how they can use their resources to help out .
All the competitors who would be fighting against each other are all coming together . ''
In Benin , the start-up Blolab -- a digital fabrication laboratory - has also been printing 3D face shields .
Developers in Kenya 's thriving tech scene are among several on the continent working on contact tracing apps .
FabLab , an innovation hub in western Kisumu has developed an application called Msafari ( Safari means journey in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public transport .
With it , passengers entering a minibus taxi -- known as a matatu -- can input a simple code on their phone along with the vehicle registration number .
`` If one of those passengers tested positive we are now able to trace all the contacts who checked in on that particular vehicle , `` said Tairus Ooyi , the lead app developer and data scientist at FabLab .
Another busy area of innovation has been the production of ventilators , which have been in short supply even in rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swamped hospitals .
Most African countries have only a handful of the machines and 10 have none at all , according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention .
In Kenya , engineering students in collaboration with the medical department at the Kenyatta University , produced a low-cost ventilator at a tenth of the price of an imported machine -- estimated at $ 10,000 .
Doctor Gordon Ogweno , a medical professor at the university said Kenya had about 50 working ventilators for a population of more than 50 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ available material ... pandemics can come and go but other conditions also require critical care , '' he said .
In Ghana , the Academic City College in Accra and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi managed to produce a ventilator costing between $ 500 and $ 1,000 which takes only an hour to assemble .
A group of Rwandan biomedical scientists at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional College in Kigali have also been testing a locally made prototype ventilator .
Meanwhile in Somalia , which has limited capacity to respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adawe has invented an automated resuscitator .
While doctors normally need to pump oxygen via an Ambu bag valve mask by hand on patients struggling to breathe , Adawe 's contraption -- made up of a wooden box , pipes and an electric system -- pushes oxygen from an air tank into a mask placed over the patient 's mouth .
`` I saw people having difficulties in breathing and many have died because they could not get a machine to help them provide vital oxygen , '' said Adawe , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items -- African countries are also employing other technology to tackle the virus .
Rwanda last week began using four humanoid robots in coronavirus treatment centres to minimise human to human contact .
They can screen temperatures and monitor the status of patients .
In Ghana , the US-based company Zipline which uses drones to ferry medicines , blood and vaccines to avoid poor roads , has begun to transport coronavirus tests .
`` The government told us that their biggest challenge is that the virus has spread out of the cities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rural areas and the logistics from the rural areas to the cities are very difficult , '' said Zipline CEO in Ghana , Daniel Marfo .

Watching from afar as much of the world was brought to its knees by the coronavirus, African scientists, engineers and innovators have turned to homegrown solutions to prepare for the worst case scenario.
Staff member Georgina Wilson holds a part of a drone during preparations for the delivery of medical supplies at the drone delivery service base run by operator Zipline in Omenako, 70km north of Accra, Ghana, on April 23, 2019.
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By the time the virus hit Africa, where cases have risen relatively slowly, images of overwhelmed hospitals and stories of health workers strapped for protective gear had been streaming in for weeks.
Mehul Shah from Ultra Red Technologies, a 3D printing company in Nairobi, said he and his partner Neeval Shah quickly realised they could be "first responders" in producing locally-made equipment.
In only three days they put together a working design for 3D-printed face shields made up of a visor that clips onto a plastic sheet. They currently produce around 500 a day.
"It's very important that we can show Kenyans that we can do this here and we don't need to rely on importation. We have got the innovative know-how and the means to get this done here," he told AFP.
The team is also helping produce components that would allow ventilators to be used on more than one patient, as well as printing parts for locally-made ventilators.
While Kenya only has 912 cases and 50 deaths after a little over two months, "we are preparing for the worst case scenario," Mehul said.
He said it was "a first" to see manufacturers in Kenya and even worldwide collaborating so much.
"All the companies are looking at how they can use their resources to help out. All the competitors who would be fighting against each other are all coming together."
In Benin, the start-up Blolab -- a digital fabrication laboratory - has also been printing 3D face shields.
Contact-tracing apps
Developers in Kenya's thriving tech scene are among several on the continent working on contact tracing apps.
FabLab, an innovation hub in western Kisumu has developed an application called Msafari (Safari means journey in Swahili) which can track passengers on public transport.
With it, passengers entering a minibus taxi -- known as a matatu -- can input a simple code on their phone along with the vehicle registration number.
"If one of those passengers tested positive we are now able to trace all the contacts who checked in on that particular vehicle, " said Tairus Ooyi, the lead app developer and data scientist at FabLab.
Low-cost ventilators
Another busy area of innovation has been the production of ventilators, which have been in short supply even in rich countries as COVID-19 patients needing oxygen have swamped hospitals.
Most African countries have only a handful of the machines and 10 have none at all, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Kenya, engineering students in collaboration with the medical department at the Kenyatta University, produced a low-cost ventilator at a tenth of the price of an imported machine -- estimated at $10,000.
Doctor Gordon Ogweno, a medical professor at the university said Kenya had about 50 working ventilators for a population of more than 50 million.
"We are making machines with locally available material ... pandemics can come and go but other conditions also require critical care," he said.
The ventilator is undergoing clinical trials.
In Ghana, the Academic City College in Accra and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi managed to produce a ventilator costing between $500 and $1,000 which takes only an hour to assemble.
A group of Rwandan biomedical scientists at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional College in Kigali have also been testing a locally made prototype ventilator.
Meanwhile in Somalia, which has limited capacity to respond to its growing caseload, 21-year-old Mohamed Adawe has invented an automated resuscitator.
While doctors normally need to pump oxygen via an Ambu bag valve mask by hand on patients struggling to breathe, Adawe's contraption -- made up of a wooden box, pipes and an electric system -- pushes oxygen from an air tank into a mask placed over the patient's mouth.
"I saw people having difficulties in breathing and many have died because they could not get a machine to help them provide vital oxygen," said Adawe, who is studying public health.
Drones and robots
Aside from locally-made items -- African countries are also employing other technology to tackle the virus.
Rwanda last week began using four humanoid robots in coronavirus treatment centres to minimise human to human contact. They can screen temperatures and monitor the status of patients.
#COVID19 has strained global delivery of routine healthcare services like childhood vaccinations.
Thanks in part to a partnership with @gavi, @zipline quadrupled vaccine deliveries as Ghana’s lockdown began to help ensure access to care was uninterrupted. #VaccinesWork pic.twitter.com/8d2BENB8lz — Zipline (@zipline) April 29, 2020
In Ghana, the US-based company Zipline which uses drones to ferry medicines, blood and vaccines to avoid poor roads, has begun to transport coronavirus tests.
"The government told us that their biggest challenge is that the virus has spread out of the cities, they have suspected cases popping up in the rural areas and the logistics from the rural areas to the cities are very difficult," said Zipline CEO in Ghana, Daniel Marfo.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-19--French government ordered to lift coronavirus lockdown ban on religious meetings

Sacristan Stephane , wearing a face mask , poses inside the Sainte Reparate Cathedral in Nice during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in France , on April 30 , 2020 .
France 's highest administrative court ruled Monday that the government must lift a blanket ban on meetings at places of worship imposed as part of measures to combat the coronavirus .
After receiving complaints from several individuals and associations , the Council of State said that such a ban on freedom of worship caused `` a damage that is serious and manifestly illegal '' .
It told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next eight days .
The latest government decree on measures to combat the coronavirus -- even after the lockdown in France was eased from May 11 -- bans all gatherings in places of worship except funerals which are limited to 20 people .
But the Council of State ruled this ban was `` disproportionate in nature . ''
It remains to be seen what move the government will take to respect the decision while retaining a safe environment in churches , mosques and other places of worship .
Bruno Retailleau , who leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate , wrote on Twitter that the ruling was `` good news for the freedom of religion which is a fundamental right '' .

France's highest administrative court ruled Monday that the government must lift a blanket ban on meetings at places of worship imposed as part of measures to combat the coronavirus.
Sacristan Stephane, wearing a face mask, poses inside the Sainte Reparate Cathedral in Nice during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in France, on April 30, 2020.
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After receiving complaints from several individuals and associations, the Council of State said that such a ban on freedom of worship caused "a damage that is serious and manifestly illegal".
It told the government to lift the ban within the next eight days.
The latest government decree on measures to combat the coronavirus -- even after the lockdown in France was eased from May 11 -- bans all gatherings in places of worship except funerals which are limited to 20 people.
But the Council of State ruled this ban was "disproportionate in nature."
It remains to be seen what move the government will take to respect the decision while retaining a safe environment in churches, mosques and other places of worship.
Bruno Retailleau, who leads the right-wing Republicans in the upper house Senate, wrote on Twitter that the ruling was "good news for the freedom of religion which is a fundamental right".
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe