france24--2020-05-14--Masks against coronavirus present 'brutal' challenge for the hearing-impaired

Lip-reading is essential for Deborah , who is hearing impaired .
Amid the global Covid-19 pandemic , face masks have @ @ @ @ @ in the fight against the spread of the virus .
As France begins to ease @ @ @ @ @ coverings are now compulsory in order to use public transportation and many shops require masks @ @ @ @ @ what about the hearing-impaired ?
Face masks prevent lip reading and reduce the effectiveness of @ @ @ @ @ hard of hearing and who rely on facial expressions to glean vital meaning from their @ @ @ @ @ 's difficult to explain , yet it feels extremely brutal , '' says Jérémie Boroy @ @ @ @ @ CNCPH , France 's advisory council for disabled people .
An estimated eight percent of @ @ @ @ @ FRANCE 24 's Yena Lee and Noémie Roche take a look at just how difficult @ @ @ @ @ the hearing-impaired and what can be done about it .
To watch their report , @ @ @ @ @ above .

Amid the global Covid-19 pandemic, face masks have been deemed a useful tool in the fight against the spread of the virus. As France begins to ease its lockdown, the facial coverings are now compulsory in order to use public transportation and many shops require masks on their premises. But what about the hearing-impaired?
Lip-reading is essential for Deborah, who is hearing impaired.
Advertising Read more
Face masks prevent lip reading and reduce the effectiveness of communication for those who are hard of hearing and who rely on facial expressions to glean vital meaning from their daily interactions.
"It's difficult to explain, yet it feels extremely brutal," says Jérémie Boroy, the president of the CNCPH, France's advisory council for disabled people. An estimated eight percent of French people are hearing-impaired.
FRANCE 24's Yena Lee and Noémie Roche take a look at just how difficult masks can make life for the hearing-impaired and what can be done about it.
To watch their report, click on the video player above.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--Burkina Faso prosecutor launches probe after 12 'terrorism' suspects die in detention

A Burkina Faso prosecutor has launched an investigation after 12 people died during the same night in detention cells , hours after they were arrested for suspected terrorism-related offences in a town in the east of the country .
The case comes weeks after advocacy group Human Rights Watch said it believed Burkina Faso security forces summarily executed 31 unarmed detainees during operations against Islamist militants .
The prosecutor , Judicael Kadeba , said in a statement late on Wednesday the incident took place the town of Fada N'Gourma , around 220km ( 137 miles ) east of the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested during the night of May 11 - 12 by Burkina Faso security and defence forces for suspected terrorism in a village in the Fada N'Gourma area .
`` Unfortunately 12 of them died during the same night in cells where they were being held , '' Kadeba said .
Burkina Faso has been battling armed Islamist insurgents , some with ties to al Qaeda and Islamic State , since 2017 .
The militants have strengthened their foothold in the northeast and eastern parts of the country around the tri-border region with Niger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region .
HRW said in April the militants have killed more than 300 civilians in Burkina Faso , while the government has killed several hundred men for their alleged support of the groups .
Burkinabe officials have promised to investigate similar allegations in the past , but rights group say the government has not done enough to hold perpetrators accountable .

A Burkina Faso prosecutor has launched an investigation after 12 people died during the same night in detention cells, hours after they were arrested for suspected terrorism-related offences in a town in the east of the country.
Advertising Read more
The case comes weeks after advocacy group Human Rights Watch said it believed Burkina Faso security forces summarily executed 31 unarmed detainees during operations against Islamist militants.
The prosecutor, Judicael Kadeba, said in a statement late on Wednesday the incident took place the town of Fada N'Gourma, around 220km (137 miles) east of the capital Ouagadougou.
He said 25 people were arrested during the night of May 11 - 12 by Burkina Faso security and defence forces for suspected terrorism in a village in the Fada N'Gourma area.
"Unfortunately 12 of them died during the same night in cells where they were being held," Kadeba said.
Burkina Faso has been battling armed Islamist insurgents, some with ties to al Qaeda and Islamic State, since 2017.
The militants have strengthened their foothold in the northeast and eastern parts of the country around the tri-border region with Niger and Mali, known as the Liptako-Gourma region.
HRW said in April the militants have killed more than 300 civilians in Burkina Faso, while the government has killed several hundred men for their alleged support of the groups.
Burkinabe officials have promised to investigate similar allegations in the past, but rights group say the government has not done enough to hold perpetrators accountable.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--Lebanon brings back lockdown for four days as IMF mulls $10 billion aid package

A woman shops at a crowded souk as Lebanon 's government ordered most of the country to shut down again for four days , starting on Wednesday night , to ward off a coronavirus disease resurgence after easing some restrictions , in Sabra , Beirut suburbs , Lebanon , May 13 , 2020 .
Lebanon 's government has ordered most of the country to shut down again for four days , starting on Wednesday night , as it seeks to ward off a coronavirus resurgence after easing some restrictions .
The country has been under lockdown since mid-March to rein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and killed 26 .
Lebanon started lifting restrictions last week as part of a longer-term plan , letting restaurants , hair salons , construction sites and others to re-open at lower capacity .
But the cabinet agreed on Tuesday on the `` full closure '' for four days to curb a rise in new infections in recent days , after a drop in cases that the government had hailed as a success .
`` This achievement is at risk of collapsing '' because some people did not comply with the guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying during the meeting .
Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said the four-day closure , which excludes supermarkets and pharmacies , would also allow teams from the health ministry to conduct more testing .
She added that the government would re-evaluate its original five-stage plan for gradually reopening the economy .
Beirut airport has been closed for nearly two months , except for flights bringing thousands of expatriates home , adding to the rise in infections .
The lockdown already includes an overnight curfew , with security forces patrolling some streets .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was already wrestling with a financial crisis that has slashed more than half the value of its currency since late last year .
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said it has begun remote discussions this week with Lebanon , which is seeking some $ 10 billion of aid to help it out of the worst financial crisis in its history .
Tough negotiations lie ahead for Lebanon , which will be expected to enact economic reforms its sectarian leaders have long avoided , if Beirut hopes to secure international aid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus lockdown , the first round of talks began via videoconferencing .
`` The aim is to reach a comprehensive framework that can help Lebanon address the current challenging economic and social conditions and restore sustainability and growth , '' an IMF spokeswoman said of the talks that began on Monday .
She said the discussions would continue in coming days .
`` We are comfortable with the atmosphere of these initial discussions , and we expect that the upcoming discussions will be equally constructive , '' Lebanon 's Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked for IMF assistance earlier this month , in what Prime Minister Hassan Diab called a `` historic moment '' for a country facing the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-90 civil war .
The talks will be based on a government rescue plan that maps out tens of billions of losses in the financial system .
An international support group including the United States and France said in a statement the decision to request an IMF programme was `` a first step in the right direction '' .
Domestic political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rapid completion of negotiations with the IMF '' , the support group noted , hinting at the need for consensus among Lebanon 's fractious politicians .
Foreign donors , which have helped Lebanon in the past , say they will not think about giving any fresh aid before the state enacts reforms to address rampant corruption and waste – root causes of Lebanon 's economic problems .
`` Whilst there are no quick and easy fixes to economic reconciliation given that there will inevitably be losers in a likely fraught reform process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the need for sweeping action is now , '' said Ehsan Khoman , head of MENA research and strategy at MUFG .
None of Lebanon 's main parties are opposed to going to the IMF , widely seen as the only way for the country to secure support .
However some groups , including the powerful , Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah , have warned against conditions that would violate the country 's sovereignty .
Lebanon descended into crisis late last year as capital inflows dried up and protests erupted against the ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption .
The crisis has more than halved the value of the local currency and fuelled unrest , as inflation , unemployment and poverty soar .
Cash-strapped banks have largely frozen depositors out of their savings for months as dollars have grown ever more scarce .
After defaulting on its sovereign debts in March , Lebanon hopes an IMF programme will help in talks with its creditors .
Some economists see the plan as a good first step but remain sceptical about Lebanon 's ability to enact reforms to cut public sector spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dragging its feet and political wrangling .
`` We are certainly nowhere near out of the woods yet , but a coherent , credible and coordinated IMF rescue package will , over time , reassure investors that Lebanon is on a more sustainable footing , '' said Khoman .
The plan has also faced strong pushback from banks that are projected to sustain losses of some $ 83 billion ( €76m ) .
The banks , major lenders to the government for decades , are working on their own plan that seeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Lebanon's government has ordered most of the country to shut down again for four days, starting on Wednesday night, as it seeks to ward off a coronavirus resurgence after easing some restrictions.
A woman shops at a crowded souk as Lebanon's government ordered most of the country to shut down again for four days, starting on Wednesday night, to ward off a coronavirus disease resurgence after easing some restrictions, in Sabra, Beirut suburbs, Lebanon, May 13, 2020.
Advertising Read more
The country has been under lockdown since mid-March to rein in an outbreak that has infected 870 people and killed 26. Lebanon started lifting restrictions last week as part of a longer-term plan, letting restaurants, hair salons, construction sites and others to re-open at lower capacity.
But the cabinet agreed on Tuesday on the "full closure" for four days to curb a rise in new infections in recent days, after a drop in cases that the government had hailed as a success.
"This achievement is at risk of collapsing" because some people did not comply with the guidelines, Prime Minister Hassan Diab was quoted as saying during the meeting.
Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said the four-day closure, which excludes supermarkets and pharmacies, would also allow teams from the health ministry to conduct more testing.
She added that the government would re-evaluate its original five-stage plan for gradually reopening the economy.
Beirut airport has been closed for nearly two months, except for flights bringing thousands of expatriates home, adding to the rise in infections.
The lockdown already includes an overnight curfew, with security forces patrolling some streets.
The pandemic has compounded woes in Lebanon, which was already wrestling with a financial crisis that has slashed more than half the value of its currency since late last year.
IMF discussing $10 billion aid package
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said it has begun remote discussions this week with Lebanon, which is seeking some $10 billion of aid to help it out of the worst financial crisis in its history.
Tough negotiations lie ahead for Lebanon, which will be expected to enact economic reforms its sectarian leaders have long avoided, if Beirut hopes to secure international aid, analysts say.
With Lebanon in a coronavirus lockdown, the first round of talks began via videoconferencing.
"The aim is to reach a comprehensive framework that can help Lebanon address the current challenging economic and social conditions and restore sustainability and growth," an IMF spokeswoman said of the talks that began on Monday.
She said the discussions would continue in coming days.
"We are comfortable with the atmosphere of these initial discussions, and we expect that the upcoming discussions will be equally constructive," Lebanon's Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said in a statement.
Beirut officially asked for IMF assistance earlier this month, in what Prime Minister Hassan Diab called a "historic moment" for a country facing the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-90 civil war.
The talks will be based on a government rescue plan that maps out tens of billions of losses in the financial system.
An international support group including the United States and France said in a statement the decision to request an IMF programme was "a first step in the right direction".
Domestic political support was "necessary for successful conduct and rapid completion of negotiations with the IMF", the support group noted, hinting at the need for consensus among Lebanon's fractious politicians.
Foreign donors, which have helped Lebanon in the past, say they will not think about giving any fresh aid before the state enacts reforms to address rampant corruption and waste – root causes of Lebanon's economic problems.
"Whilst there are no quick and easy fixes to economic reconciliation given that there will inevitably be losers in a likely fraught reform process, the crisis has become so complex that the need for sweeping action is now," said Ehsan Khoman, head of MENA research and strategy at MUFG.
None of Lebanon's main parties are opposed to going to the IMF, widely seen as the only way for the country to secure support. However some groups, including the powerful, Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, have warned against conditions that would violate the country's sovereignty.
Corruption and cash-strapped banks
Lebanon descended into crisis late last year as capital inflows dried up and protests erupted against the ruling elite over decades of bad governance and corruption.
The crisis has more than halved the value of the local currency and fuelled unrest, as inflation, unemployment and poverty soar.
Cash-strapped banks have largely frozen depositors out of their savings for months as dollars have grown ever more scarce.
After defaulting on its sovereign debts in March, Lebanon hopes an IMF programme will help in talks with its creditors.
Some economists see the plan as a good first step but remain sceptical about Lebanon's ability to enact reforms to cut public sector spending and overhaul the banking sector after years of dragging its feet and political wrangling.
"We are certainly nowhere near out of the woods yet, but a coherent, credible and coordinated IMF rescue package will, over time, reassure investors that Lebanon is on a more sustainable footing," said Khoman.
The plan has also faced strong pushback from banks that are projected to sustain losses of some $83 billion (€76m). The banks, major lenders to the government for decades, are working on their own plan that seeks to keep some of their capital.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-13--Italy approves long-awaited €55 billion bailout package after two-month lockdown

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

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


france24--2020-05-14--Covid-19: Sanofi backpedals on US vaccine priority after French outrage

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

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


france24--2020-05-14--Sacked US whistle-blower warns of 'darkest winter' due to poor pandemic response

Dr. Richard Bright , former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing to discuss protecting scientific integrity in response to the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak on Capitol Hill in Washington , U.S. , May 14 , 2020 .
A whistleblower who says he was removed from his government post for raising concerns about coronavirus preparedness told a congressional hearing on Thursday that the United States could face `` the darkest winter '' of recent times if it does not improve its response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ railed against him on Twitter , whistleblower Rick Bright testified to a U.S. House of Representatives panel about readiness for the outbreak .
Bright was removed last month as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , or BARDA , a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for developing drugs to fight the coronavirus .
`` What we do must be done carefully with guidance from the best scientific minds .
Our window of opportunity is closing .
If we fail to improve our response now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic will get worse and be prolonged , '' Bright said during his testimony .
The pandemic has infected nearly 1.4 million people in the United States , gutted the economy and killed more than 82,000 .
Bright testified to the subcommittee on health that he would `` never forget '' an e-mail he got in January from a U.S. supplier of medical-grade face masks warning of a dire shortage .
`` He said 'we are in deep shit .
The world is .
We need to act , ' '' Bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward to the highest level that I could of HHS and got no response . ''
Bright testified that the U.S. still lacked a comprehensive plan for ensuring a supply of basic supplies like swabs needed to administer coronavirus tests .
Trump , who has been pushing for the U.S. economy to reopen quickly , dismissed Bright as a `` disgruntled employee '' on Twitter on Thursday morning before the hearing begun .
Later on Thursday , Trump told reporters at the White House that he had watched some of Bright ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing more than a really disgruntled , unhappy person , '' Trump said , adding that he did not know Bright .
`` Everything he 's complaining about was achieved , '' HHS Secretary Alex Azar told reporters .
Earlier this week , leading U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warned a Senate committee that a premature lifting of lockdowns could lead to additional outbreaks of the deadly coronavirus .
Trump on Wednesday described Fauci 's warning as not acceptable .
In a whistleblower complaint filed with a government watchdog last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus in January and was met with hostility from HHS leaders .
Bright , who was reassigned to a new government job last month , said he was ousted from BARDA because he resisted efforts to push the drugs hydroxychloroquine and the related chloroquine as cures for COVID-19 , the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus .
Bright said in the statement last month that the U.S. government has promoted the medicines as a `` panacea '' even though they `` clearly lack scientific merit . ''
HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement on Tuesday that he was transferred to a job where he was entrusted to spend around $ 1 billion to develop diagnostic testing .
`` We are deeply disappointed that he has not shown up to work on behalf of the American people and lead on this critical endeavor , '' Oakley said .
Bright testified that he has not started his new government job because he has hypertension and took a medical leave .
The House subcommittee was also hearing on Thursday from Mike Bowen , co-owner of Prestige Ameritech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was Bowen who sent Bright an email in January warning that the United States would run out of medical-grade face masks if it did not ramp up production , according to documents included in Bright 's whistleblower complaint .

A whistleblower who says he was removed from his government post for raising concerns about coronavirus preparedness told a congressional hearing on Thursday that the United States could face "the darkest winter" of recent times if it does not improve its response to the pandemic.
Dr. Richard Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, testifies during a House Subcommittee on Health hearing to discuss protecting scientific integrity in response to the coronavirus outbreak on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., USA, May 14, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Hours after President Donald Trump railed against him on Twitter, whistleblower Rick Bright testified to a U.S. House of Representatives panel about readiness for the outbreak.
Bright was removed last month as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for developing drugs to fight the coronavirus.
"What we do must be done carefully with guidance from the best scientific minds. Our window of opportunity is closing. If we fail to improve our response now, based on science, I fear the pandemic will get worse and be prolonged," Bright said during his testimony.
The pandemic has infected nearly 1.4 million people in the United States, gutted the economy and killed more than 82,000.
Bright testified to the subcommittee on health that he would "never forget" an e-mail he got in January from a U.S. supplier of medical-grade face masks warning of a dire shortage.
"He said 'we are in deep shit. The world is. We need to act,'" Bright said. "And I pushed that forward to the highest level that I could of HHS and got no response."
Dr Rick Bright: "Without better planning, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history ... we have the world's greatest scientists. Let us lead. Let us speak without fear of retribution ... we need a national testing strategy." pic.twitter.com/63UiCK3QQc — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 14, 2020
Bright testified that the U.S. still lacked a comprehensive plan for ensuring a supply of basic supplies like swabs needed to administer coronavirus tests.
Trump, who has been pushing for the U.S. economy to reopen quickly, dismissed Bright as a "disgruntled employee" on Twitter on Thursday morning before the hearing begun.
Later on Thursday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he had watched some of Bright’s hearing.
"To me he's nothing more than a really disgruntled, unhappy person," Trump said, adding that he did not know Bright.
"Everything he's complaining about was achieved," HHS Secretary Alex Azar told reporters.
Earlier this week, leading U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warned a Senate committee that a premature lifting of lockdowns could lead to additional outbreaks of the deadly coronavirus. Trump on Wednesday described Fauci's warning as not acceptable.
In a whistleblower complaint filed with a government watchdog last week, Bright said that he warned about the virus in January and was met with hostility from HHS leaders.
Bright, who was reassigned to a new government job last month, said he was ousted from BARDA because he resisted efforts to push the drugs hydroxychloroquine and the related chloroquine as cures for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.
Bright said in the statement last month that the U.S. government has promoted the medicines as a "panacea" even though they "clearly lack scientific merit."
HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley has disputed Bright's account, saying in a statement on Tuesday that he was transferred to a job where he was entrusted to spend around $1 billion to develop diagnostic testing.
"We are deeply disappointed that he has not shown up to work on behalf of the American people and lead on this critical endeavor," Oakley said.
Bright testified that he has not started his new government job because he has hypertension and took a medical leave.
The House subcommittee was also hearing on Thursday from Mike Bowen, co-owner of Prestige Ameritech, the largest U.S. surgical mask producer.
It was Bowen who sent Bright an email in January warning that the United States would run out of medical-grade face masks if it did not ramp up production, according to documents included in Bright's whistleblower complaint.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--France sees spike in Covid-19 deaths but hospital numbers continue to fall

Workers in protective suits get ready to spray disinfectant at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on May 14 , 2020 .
France 's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 351 to 27,425 on Thursday , the health ministry announced , but the number of patients in hospital and in intensive care units continued to drop .
Thursday ’ s tally marks a significant increase from the 83 deaths reported on Wednesday , owing largely to a delay in reporting fatalities at the country ’ s care homes for the elderly .
The higher tally means France 's overall Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's , making it the fourth highest in the world after the US , the UK and Italy .
Spain earlier on Thursday reported 217 new deaths , taking its toll to 27,321 .
France 's health ministry said in a statement that the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 infections fell again to 20,463 from 21,071 on Wednesday , continuing an uninterrupted downward trend now in its fifth week .
The number of people in intensive care — a key measure of a health system 's ability to cope with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falling by 129 to 2,299 , from more than 7,000 in early April at the height of the crisis .
Both figures are welcome news for the government , which has begun lifting lockdown measures this week in an effort to revive a flagging economy .
The government has warned it will consider locking down the country again if daily new infections rise above 3,000 .
On Thursday , the number of infections increased by 622 to 141,356 , up 0.4 % and the eighth consecutive day that the case tally rose by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The Covid-19 epidemic remains active and the virus is still circulating in France , '' the ministry warned in its statement .
Earlier in the day , Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced an 18-billion-euro ( $ 19 billion ) support package for France 's virus-hit tourism industry , which accounts for almost 8 % of gross domestic product and attracted nearly 90 million foreign visitors last year .

France's death toll from the coronavirus rose by 351 to 27,425 on Thursday, the health ministry announced, but the number of patients in hospital and in intensive care units continued to drop.
Workers in protective suits get ready to spray disinfectant at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on May 14, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Thursday’s tally marks a significant increase from the 83 deaths reported on Wednesday, owing largely to a delay in reporting fatalities at the country’s care homes for the elderly.
The higher tally means France's overall Covid-19 death toll has once again overtaken Spain's, making it the fourth highest in the world after the US, the UK and Italy. Spain earlier on Thursday reported 217 new deaths, taking its toll to 27,321.
France's health ministry said in a statement that the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 infections fell again to 20,463 from 21,071 on Wednesday, continuing an uninterrupted downward trend now in its fifth week.
The number of people in intensive care — a key measure of a health system's ability to cope with the pandemic — also continued its downtrend, falling by 129 to 2,299, from more than 7,000 in early April at the height of the crisis.
Both figures are welcome news for the government, which has begun lifting lockdown measures this week in an effort to revive a flagging economy.
The government has warned it will consider locking down the country again if daily new infections rise above 3,000. On Thursday, the number of infections increased by 622 to 141,356, up 0.4% and the eighth consecutive day that the case tally rose by about half a percentage point or less.
"The Covid-19 epidemic remains active and the virus is still circulating in France," the ministry warned in its statement.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced an 18-billion-euro ($19 billion) support package for France's virus-hit tourism industry, which accounts for almost 8% of gross domestic product and attracted nearly 90 million foreign visitors last year.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--US Senator Burr steps aside as chair while FBI probes pre-pandemic stock sell-off

Sen. Richard Burr ( R-NC ) leaves the U.S. Capitol after voting in Washington , U.S. , May 14 , 2020 .
U.S .
Senator Richard Burr will step aside as chairman of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee , after the FBI seized his mobile telephone in a major escalation of a probe of his stock trades before the downturn sparked by the coronavirus pandemic .
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Burr contacted him on Thursday morning to inform of his decision to step aside temporarily during the investigation .
`` We agreed that this decision would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow , '' McConnell said in a statement .
Burr has denied wrongdoing and said he relied solely on news reports to guide decisions on stock sales , amid reports he and other senators sold shares after private briefings on the risks of the coronavirus crisis .
He told reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday he decided to step aside because he did not want the investigation to distract the intelligence committee from its work .
`` I thought this was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Known for bipartisanship , the Senate panel is about to release an extensive report led by Burr on Russia 's involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election .
U.S. intelligence determined that Moscow sought to meddle in the campaign to boost the Trump candidacy .
Moscow denies such actions .
Trump dismisses the allegations as a hoax .
The Republican senator turned over his phone to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents after they served a search warrant at his Washington home .
The warrant marked a significant step-up in the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when he and other lawmakers were getting regular briefings on the coronavirus outbreak and President Donald Trump and some of his political allies were downplaying the threat to the public .
Trump said he did not know anything about Burr 's decision and had not discussed Burr 's situation with anyone at the Department of Justice .
`` I know nothing about it ... That 's too bad , '' he told reporters .
The Democratic Party in Burr 's home state of North Carolina said he should resign from the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would not run for a fourth six-year Senate term in 2022 .
A senior Justice Department official said the FBI did not conduct a raid , but paid a visit to Burr 's home to collect his cellphone .
Approval of the warrant - a significant development because it was served on a sitting senator - was obtained at the `` highest levels '' of the Justice Department , the official said .
Reuters could not immediately learn precisely when the search warrant was executed .
The warrant was first reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intelligence Committee chairmanship is one of the most important positions in the Senate , approving the president 's nominees to lead the country 's spy agencies and conducting oversight of their operations .
It was not immediately clear who would take over as chairman .
The three senators next in line for seniority on the Republican-led panel - Jim Risch , Marco Rubio and Susan Collins - all chair other committees .
The Senate 's Republican leadership will decide who will take the position .
Other senators whose stock trades have been scrutinized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Senator Kelly Loffler has strongly denied wrongdoing in connection with her sales of millions of dollars in shares in the weeks after lawmakers were first briefed on the virus .
Senator Dianne Feinstein , an intelligence committee Democrat , has turned over documents to the FBI about stock trades by her husband , a spokesman for Feinstein said on Thursday .

U.S. Senator Richard Burr will step aside as chairman of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, after the FBI seized his mobile telephone in a major escalation of a probe of his stock trades before the downturn sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) leaves the US Capitol after voting in Washington D.C., USA, May 14, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Burr contacted him on Thursday morning to inform of his decision to step aside temporarily during the investigation.
"We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow," McConnell said in a statement.
Burr has denied wrongdoing and said he relied solely on news reports to guide decisions on stock sales, amid reports he and other senators sold shares after private briefings on the risks of the coronavirus crisis.
He told reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday he decided to step aside because he did not want the investigation to distract the intelligence committee from its work.
"I thought this was the best thing to do," Burr said.
Known for bipartisanship, the Senate panel is about to release an extensive report led by Burr on Russia's involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence determined that Moscow sought to meddle in the campaign to boost the Trump candidacy.
Moscow denies such actions. Trump dismisses the allegations as a hoax.
The Republican senator turned over his phone to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents after they served a search warrant at his Washington home.
The warrant marked a significant step-up in the investigation of Burr's stock sales in mid-February, when he and other lawmakers were getting regular briefings on the coronavirus outbreak and President Donald Trump and some of his political allies were downplaying the threat to the public.
Trump said he did not know anything about Burr's decision and had not discussed Burr's situation with anyone at the Department of Justice.
"I know nothing about it... That's too bad," he told reporters.
'Highest levels' at justice
The Democratic Party in Burr's home state of North Carolina said he should resign from the Senate. Burr, 64, had already said he would not run for a fourth six-year Senate term in 2022.
A senior Justice Department official said the FBI did not conduct a raid, but paid a visit to Burr's home to collect his cellphone. Approval of the warrant - a significant development because it was served on a sitting senator - was obtained at the "highest levels" of the Justice Department, the official said.
Reuters could not immediately learn precisely when the search warrant was executed. The warrant was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The Intelligence Committee chairmanship is one of the most important positions in the Senate, approving the president's nominees to lead the country's spy agencies and conducting oversight of their operations.
It was not immediately clear who would take over as chairman. The three senators next in line for seniority on the Republican-led panel - Jim Risch, Marco Rubio and Susan Collins - all chair other committees.
The Senate's Republican leadership will decide who will take the position.
Other senators whose stock trades have been scrutinized have denied trading on coronavirus information. Republican Senator Kelly Loffler has strongly denied wrongdoing in connection with her sales of millions of dollars in shares in the weeks after lawmakers were first briefed on the virus.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, an intelligence committee Democrat, has turned over documents to the FBI about stock trades by her husband, a spokesman for Feinstein said on Thursday.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--'Dead and soulless': Covid-19 strips Cannes of films, stars and tourists

'Dead and soulless ' : Covid-19 strips Cannes of films , stars and tourists This should have been the biggest @ @ @ @ @ Cannes , when cinema 's movers and shakers descend on the French Riviera for the @ @ @ @ @ festival , showering the city 's businesses with cash .
Instead , the festival 's @ @ @ @ @ blow to the local economy , with Covid-19 now threatening further havoc during the all-important @ @ @ @ @ of its biggest attraction , the city has turned its famed Palais des Festivals into @ @ @ @ @ , keeping them safe from the virus .
FRANCE 24 's Achraf Abid and Clovis @ @ @

'Dead and soulless': Covid-19 strips Cannes of films, stars and tourists
02:06
This should have been the biggest week of the year for Cannes, when cinema's movers and shakers descend on the French Riviera for the world's most glamorous film festival, showering the city's businesses with cash. Instead, the festival's cancellation has dealt a mighty blow to the local economy, with Covid-19 now threatening further havoc during the all-important summer holiday season. Deprived of its biggest attraction, the city has turned its famed Palais des Festivals into a shelter for the homeless, keeping them safe from the virus. FRANCE 24's Achraf Abid and Clovis Casali report.


france24--2020-05-14--Covid-19 forces France to look at relocating its pharmaceutical industry

Drug capsules on the production line at the plant of French multinational pharmaceutical company Pierre Fabre , in Gien , France on March 21 , 2018 .
Covid-19 has uncovered weaknesses in France ’ s pharmaceutical sector .
With 80 percent of medicines manufactured in Asia , France remains highly dependent on China and India .
Entrepreneurs are now determined to bring France ’ s laboratories back to Europe .
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic , French pharmaceutical companies and political leaders are in agreement about the importance of repatriating production to France or Europe , especially those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortage of masks , gloves , swabs… health has become a question of sovereignty and national security .
From the French President Emmanuel Macron to the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire to Prime Minister Édouard Philippe , everyone is talking about economic sovereignty and promising that health will be a priority .
`` This pandemic has made us aware of our degree of dependence on Asia , '' explains Philippe Lamoureux , managing director of Leem , the umbrella organisation for pharmaceutical companies operating in France .
In 2018 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €56 billion , almost half of which were in exports .
It employs around 100,000 people at 271 production sites .
Good figures in principle , but why do 80 percent of the medicines consumed in France come from Asia ?
Where does this feeling come from that French drug companies are losing their foothold ?
`` Let 's not hide the facts : we have become subcontractors , '' explains Lamoureux , speaking with FRANCE 24 .
Out of 61 European marketing authorisations in 2019 , only five drugs were produced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in Europe , far behind Germany ( 20 ) , Ireland ( 15 ) , Italy ( 11 ) , the United Kingdom ( 10 ) and the Netherlands ( 9 ) .
`` Ten years ago , France was in first place , ” says Lamoureux .
This was a first place won thanks to new drugs developed inside the territory .
Today , however , France mainly manufactures old drugs .
France is home to one of the world 's giants in the sector : Sanofi .
It is considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world in terms of turnover .
And the multinational company does not miss an opportunity to show its patriotism .
Eighteen of its 40 European plants are located in France .
`` We produce in Europe for Europe , in Asia for Asia and in America for America , '' says Philippe Luscan , Sanofi ’ s vice president in charge of Industrial Affairs speaking with FRANCE 24 .
`` For 30 years , I have been pleading for production sites to be linked to the territories .
I have never believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an omnipotent China .
The Covid crisis reinforces my convictions in the defence of a national industry . ''
The coronavirus pandemic has reinforced Sanofi 's vigour .
On February 24 , 2020 , the company announced the creation of a new offshoot with the ambition of becoming the world 's second largest manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients ( APIs ) , after world leader the Swiss Lonza Group .
APIs are the chemical or biological substances in medicines that are the key to their therapeutic effect .
They are currently predominantly manufactured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its headquarters in France and has six European plants with more than 3,000 employees .
It is targeting sales of one billion euros and an IPO on the Paris stock exchange by 2022 .
`` Our calculation is strategic before being economic , '' insists Luscan .
“ Admittedly , our manufacturing costs here will be higher than in Asia , between 10 and 15 percent higher , but that 's the price we have to pay to maintain a pharmaceutical industry in Europe . ''
For manufacturers , the Covid-19 crisis illustrates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unbridled globalisation .
`` It is dangerous to be dependent on a single production site , '' says Jacques Zagury , director of health policy , public affairs and communication at the MSD laboratory ( Merck Shape & Dohme , a subsidiary of Merck & Co ) speaking with FRANCE 24 .
“ However , it would make no sense to simply repatriate everything to Europe .
We just need to diversify our suppliers . ''
MSD manufactures curare , a substance used for relaxing tracheal muscles for intubation .
There has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
In April , MSD had 12 times its normal orders for France alone .
`` Our teams based in the Netherlands were working day and night , and we were able to transfer products originally destined for China to France , '' says Zagury .
What lessons does he believe the crisis has taught his industry ?
`` We worked faster with the national health authorities to reduce delivery times .
This shows that we can make efforts in terms of regulations in emergency situations .
For example , is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all medicines destined for hospitals ? ''
However , according to Nathalie Coutinet , a health economist at the University of Paris 13 speaking with FRANCE 24 , it would be madness to relax regulations .
She adds : `` Let 's not forget that the WHO considers drugs a potentially dangerous product . ''
For her , the problem lies elsewhere : `` Before talking about relocation , let 's first try to protect the existing industry . ''
Coutinet is referring to the Famar factory in Lyon that manufactures Nivaquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chlorpromazine ) , two drugs currently being tested in the fight against Covid-19 .
Famar has been in receivership since June 2019 and is still waiting for a buyer .
Coutinet also mentions the case of the Sperian factory in Plaintel , Brittany , which manufactured masks .
It was closed by the American company Honeywell in 2018 , who then relocated production to Tunisia .
`` We have to stop this destruction , which consists of only taking into consideration the shareholder value of the laboratories and not their public importance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest distributor of dividends behind Total , '' says Coutinet .
“ Manufacturers must be forced by law to produce 30 percent of their pharmaceuticals at home , if they want to have access to the European market , ” says Jean-François Oudet , a clinical researcher speaking with FRANCE 24 .
“ Otherwise companies will continue to flee Europe to make more and more money . ''
If , as Macron has been repeating since the beginning of the pandemic , France is at war with the virus , should n't it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t it also be designing new weapons ?
For Oudet , it is not enough to manufacture the drugs in Europe , we must also stay in the research race .
`` If we miss the shift to megadata and artificial intelligence , we will lose the economic battle and thus our national sovereignty .
Tomorrow 's champions will be the owners of medical data .
It is this way that they will discover new medicine . ''
In 2018 , France announced a €1.5 billion budget for artificial intelligence research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion for China and $ 10 billion for the United States .
Models already exist that doubtless need to be examined .
One example is Civica , a non-profit American company that is focused on producing high-quality generic drugs at the lowest possible cost .
On April 15 , 2020 , a Member of the European Parliament asked the European Commission if this system could be explored .
Europe is still waiting to hear Brussels ’ response .
This article has been translated from the original in French

Covid-19 has uncovered weaknesses in France’s pharmaceutical sector. With 80 percent of medicines manufactured in Asia, France remains highly dependent on China and India. Entrepreneurs are now determined to bring France’s laboratories back to Europe.
Drug capsules on the production line at the plant of French multinational pharmaceutical company Pierre Fabre, in Gien, France on March 21, 2018.
Advertising Read more
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, French pharmaceutical companies and political leaders are in agreement about the importance of repatriating production to France or Europe, especially those that manufacture drugs. With an ongoing shortage of masks, gloves, swabs… health has become a question of sovereignty and national security.
From the French President Emmanuel Macron to the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire to Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, everyone is talking about economic sovereignty and promising that health will be a priority.
"This pandemic has made us aware of our degree of dependence on Asia," explains Philippe Lamoureux, managing director of Leem, the umbrella organisation for pharmaceutical companies operating in France.
‘France is now a subcontractor’
In 2018, the French pharmaceutical industry had a turnover of €56 billion, almost half of which were in exports. It employs around 100,000 people at 271 production sites. Good figures in principle, but why do 80 percent of the medicines consumed in France come from Asia? Where does this feeling come from that French drug companies are losing their foothold?
"Let's not hide the facts: we have become subcontractors," explains Lamoureux, speaking with FRANCE 24. Out of 61 European marketing authorisations in 2019, only five drugs were produced in France. This puts France in sixth place in Europe, far behind Germany (20), Ireland (15), Italy (11), the United Kingdom (10) and the Netherlands (9).
"Ten years ago, France was in first place,” says Lamoureux. This was a first place won thanks to new drugs developed inside the territory. Today, however, France mainly manufactures old drugs.
France is home to one of the world's giants in the sector: Sanofi. It is considered to be the eighth largest laboratory in the world in terms of turnover. And the multinational company does not miss an opportunity to show its patriotism. Eighteen of its 40 European plants are located in France.
"We produce in Europe for Europe, in Asia for Asia and in America for America," says Philippe Luscan, Sanofi’s vice president in charge of Industrial Affairs speaking with FRANCE 24. "For 30 years, I have been pleading for production sites to be linked to the territories. I have never believed in a France without factories or in an omnipotent China. The Covid crisis reinforces my convictions in the defence of a national industry."
Sanofi is building a global giant
The coronavirus pandemic has reinforced Sanofi's vigour. On February 24, 2020, the company announced the creation of a new offshoot with the ambition of becoming the world's second largest manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), after world leader the Swiss Lonza Group. APIs are the chemical or biological substances in medicines that are the key to their therapeutic effect. They are currently predominantly manufactured in Asia.
This new company has its headquarters in France and has six European plants with more than 3,000 employees. It is targeting sales of one billion euros and an IPO on the Paris stock exchange by 2022.
"Our calculation is strategic before being economic," insists Luscan. “Admittedly, our manufacturing costs here will be higher than in Asia, between 10 and 15 percent higher, but that's the price we have to pay to maintain a pharmaceutical industry in Europe."
For manufacturers, the Covid-19 crisis illustrates the limits of a model based on unbridled globalisation. "It is dangerous to be dependent on a single production site," says Jacques Zagury, director of health policy, public affairs and communication at the MSD laboratory (Merck Shape & Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck & Co) speaking with FRANCE 24. “However, it would make no sense to simply repatriate everything to Europe. We just need to diversify our suppliers."
MSD manufactures curare, a substance used for relaxing tracheal muscles for intubation. There has been exceptional demand for it because of the pandemic. In April, MSD had 12 times its normal orders for France alone.
"Our teams based in the Netherlands were working day and night, and we were able to transfer products originally destined for China to France," says Zagury.
What lessons does he believe the crisis has taught his industry? "We worked faster with the national health authorities to reduce delivery times. This shows that we can make efforts in terms of regulations in emergency situations. For example, is it absolutely necessary to have a French-language leaflet for all medicines destined for hospitals?"
‘Protect the existing industry’
However, according to Nathalie Coutinet, a health economist at the University of Paris 13 speaking with FRANCE 24, it would be madness to relax regulations. She adds: "Let's not forget that the WHO considers drugs a potentially dangerous product."
For her, the problem lies elsewhere: "Before talking about relocation, let's first try to protect the existing industry."
Coutinet is referring to the Famar factory in Lyon that manufactures Nivaquine (Chloroquine sulphate) and Largactil (Chlorpromazine), two drugs currently being tested in the fight against Covid-19. Famar has been in receivership since June 2019 and is still waiting for a buyer.
Coutinet also mentions the case of the Sperian factory in Plaintel, Brittany, which manufactured masks. It was closed by the American company Honeywell in 2018, who then relocated production to Tunisia.
"We have to stop this destruction, which consists of only taking into consideration the shareholder value of the laboratories and not their public importance. In France, Sanofi is the second largest distributor of dividends behind Total," says Coutinet.
Forcing 30 percent production in Europe
“Manufacturers must be forced by law to produce 30 percent of their pharmaceuticals at home, if they want to have access to the European market,” says Jean-François Oudet, a clinical researcher speaking with FRANCE 24. “Otherwise companies will continue to flee Europe to make more and more money."
If, as Macron has been repeating since the beginning of the pandemic, France is at war with the virus, shouldn't it be making its own weapons? And shouldn’t it also be designing new weapons? For Oudet, it is not enough to manufacture the drugs in Europe, we must also stay in the research race.
"If we miss the shift to megadata and artificial intelligence, we will lose the economic battle and thus our national sovereignty. Tomorrow's champions will be the owners of medical data. It is this way that they will discover new medicine."
In 2018, France announced a €1.5 billion budget for artificial intelligence research. This compared to more than €65 billion for China and $10 billion for the United States.
Models already exist that doubtless need to be examined. One example is Civica, a non-profit American company that is focused on producing high-quality generic drugs at the lowest possible cost. On April 15, 2020, a Member of the European Parliament asked the European Commission if this system could be explored. Europe is still waiting to hear Brussels’ response.
This article has been translated from the original in French .
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--‘Discovery’ trial of Covid-19 treatments urged to expand patient sample

A British lab involved in the Discovery trial in Cheshire , northwest England , pictured on April 22 , 2020 .
A European clinical trial of four experimental treatments in the fight against Covid-19 is yet to produce conclusive evidence regarding the drugs ’ effectiveness , according to an independent committee tasked with analysing the findings .
“ The committee told us to keep adding [ new patients ] ” to the trial , said Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah , head of infectious diseases at France ’ s Inserm , a biomedical research agency that is coordinating the trial .
Launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” trial aims to evaluate four experimental treatments , including one using lupus drug hydroxychloroquine that was made popular by Marseille researcher Didier Raoult .
The trial was initially supposed to include 3,200 patients from at least seven countries , including 800 from France .
But according to French media reports , only the French contingent has been made available , leaving researchers with a patient sample that is too small to test a variety of treatments .
Speaking to AFP , Professor Yazdanpanah said the committee ’ s evaluation suggested its members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not present a problem of toxicity ” and could therefore be extended .
The recommendation to continue the trial also suggested the committee “ sees some scope for the treatments to prove their effectiveness [ against Covid-19 ] once more patients are included '' , the researcher added .

A European clinical trial of four experimental treatments in the fight against Covid-19 is yet to produce conclusive evidence regarding the drugs’ effectiveness, according to an independent committee tasked with analysing the findings.
A British lab involved in the Discovery trial in Cheshire, northwest England, pictured on April 22, 2020.
Advertising Read more
“The committee told us to keep adding [new patients]” to the trial, said Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, head of infectious diseases at France’s Inserm, a biomedical research agency that is coordinating the trial.
Launched in late March, the “Discovery” trial aims to evaluate four experimental treatments, including one using lupus drug hydroxychloroquine that was made popular by Marseille researcher Didier Raoult.
The trial was initially supposed to include 3,200 patients from at least seven countries, including 800 from France. But according to French media reports, only the French contingent has been made available, leaving researchers with a patient sample that is too small to test a variety of treatments.
Speaking to AFP, Professor Yazdanpanah said the committee’s evaluation suggested its members were satisfied that the trial “does not present a problem of toxicity” and could therefore be extended.
The recommendation to continue the trial also suggested the committee “sees some scope for the treatments to prove their effectiveness [against Covid-19] once more patients are included", the researcher added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--France to impose digital tax with or without international agreement

`` Never has a digital tax been more legitimate and more necessary , '' Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told journalists on Thursday .
France will tax big digital businesses this year whether there is progress or not towards an international deal on a levy , its finance minister said on Thursday , adding such a tax had never been more legitimate or more necessary .
Nearly 140 countries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) are negotiating the first major rewriting of tax rules in more than a generation , to take better account of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Amazon , Facebook , Apple and Google that often book profit in low-tax countries .
Paris offered in January to suspend its digital tax on tech companies ' income in France until the end of the year while any international deal was negotiated .
However , the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has left finance ministries most focused on saving their economies , potentially jeopardising the end of the year deadline .
`` Never has a digital tax been more legitimate and more necessary , '' Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such companies were doing better than most during the coronavirus crisis .
`` In any case , France will apply as it has always indicated a tax on digital giants in 2020 either in an international form if there is a deal or in a national form if there is no deal . ''
In the Czech Republic by contrast , Finance Minister Alena Schillerova said she may delay the introduction of a digital tax until next year , to take advantage of any international rule , and lower the rate to 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
France 's national tax has been a source of contention with Washington , which considers that it unfairly targets US digital companies .
Europe has long pushed to make hugely profitable large tech companies doing business over the internet pay tax where they sell their services , rather than in tax havens deliberately chosen under what is called `` aggressive tax optimisation '' .
EU politicians , seeking funds to prevent climate change and diminish wealth differences across the 27-nation bloc , want to see a company like Google , with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 160 billion , pay more tax in the European countries where it makes money , preferably at a uniform rate .
Frustrated with the lack of global progress because of opposition from the United States where the tech giants are based , some countries like France introduced their own digital tax last year .
Italy , Britain and Spain have also either already introduced their own digital taxes or plan to do so .
Such moves triggered threats of retaliation via trade tariffs from Washington .
The urgency for a solution is increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns around the globe and a shift to working from home .
This is likely to boost the revenues of internet giants but also makes EU governments even more in need of cash to restart their economies from their deepest ever recession expected this year .
Past attempts to create an EU-wide digital tax have failed in the face of opposition from Ireland , where many big US tech companies book profits , and some Nordic countries .

France will tax big digital businesses this year whether there is progress or not towards an international deal on a levy, its finance minister said on Thursday, adding such a tax had never been more legitimate or more necessary.
"Never has a digital tax been more legitimate and more necessary," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told journalists on Thursday.
Advertising Read more
Nearly 140 countries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are negotiating the first major rewriting of tax rules in more than a generation, to take better account of the rise of big tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Google that often book profit in low-tax countries.
Paris offered in January to suspend its digital tax on tech companies' income in France until the end of the year while any international deal was negotiated.
However, the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has left finance ministries most focused on saving their economies, potentially jeopardising the end of the year deadline.
"Never has a digital tax been more legitimate and more necessary," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told journalists on a conference call, adding such companies were doing better than most during the coronavirus crisis.
"In any case, France will apply as it has always indicated a tax on digital giants in 2020 either in an international form if there is a deal or in a national form if there is no deal."
In the Czech Republic by contrast, Finance Minister Alena Schillerova said she may delay the introduction of a digital tax until next year, to take advantage of any international rule, and lower the rate to 5% from a currently proposed 7%.
France's national tax has been a source of contention with Washington, which considers that it unfairly targets US digital companies.
Pay up
Europe has long pushed to make hugely profitable large tech companies doing business over the internet pay tax where they sell their services, rather than in tax havens deliberately chosen under what is called "aggressive tax optimisation".
EU politicians, seeking funds to prevent climate change and diminish wealth differences across the 27-nation bloc, want to see a company like Google, with an annual global revenue of more than $160 billion, pay more tax in the European countries where it makes money, preferably at a uniform rate.
Frustrated with the lack of global progress because of opposition from the United States where the tech giants are based, some countries like France introduced their own digital tax last year. Italy, Britain and Spain have also either already introduced their own digital taxes or plan to do so.
Such moves triggered threats of retaliation via trade tariffs from Washington.
The urgency for a solution is increased by the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered lockdowns around the globe and a shift to working from home. This is likely to boost the revenues of internet giants but also makes EU governments even more in need of cash to restart their economies from their deepest ever recession expected this year.
Past attempts to create an EU-wide digital tax have failed in the face of opposition from Ireland, where many big US tech companies book profits, and some Nordic countries.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-14--Croatian police accused of spray-painting migrants’ heads

A man who was spray-painted in the incident on 2 May .
His face has been blurred for privacy reasons .
All photos were taken by anonymous sources of the organisation No Name Kitchen .
A group of men who were spray-painted in the incident on 6 May .
Their faces have been blurred for privacy .
The Croatian Ministry of the Interior published a response to the allegations on 13 May , after the British newspaper the Guardian published an article about the incident .
It called the accusations “ completely absurd ” and accused the Guardian journalist of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republic of Croatia ” .
The FRANCE 24 Observers spoke to Jack Sapoch , the coordinator of No Name Kitchen ’ s border violence reporting .
A cohort of NGOs monitoring border violence against migrants along the Balkan route have accused the Croatian police of spray-painting refugees with orange paint .
In early May , the organisation No Name Kitchen published photos of men with painted orange crosses on their heads , saying that Croatian authorities had “ [ tagged ] them like livestock ” .No Name Kitchen is based out of Velika @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the border with Croatia , and Sid , a Serbian town also on the Croatian border .
The NGO works with volunteers to provide aid to people moving along the Balkan migrant route towards central Europe.No Name Kitchen said in a Facebook post that on 6 May Croatian border police robbed a group of migrants of their money and their mobile phones and spray-painted them before sending them back to the area of Poljana in Bosnia-Herzegovina .
The group said a similar incident occurred a few days before , on 2 May , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to Glinica , a town in Bosnia-Herzegovina just next to the border with Croatia .

CROATIA
Photos of migrants spray-painted sent by anonymous sources for No Name Kitchen. Their faces have been blurred to keep them anonymous.
Advertising Read more
A cohort of NGOs monitoring border violence against migrants along the Balkan route have accused the Croatian police of spray-painting refugees with orange paint. In early May, the organisation No Name Kitchen published photos of men with painted orange crosses on their heads, saying that Croatian authorities had “[tagged] them like livestock”.
No Name Kitchen is based out of Velika Kladusa, a town in Bosnia-Herzegovina on the border with Croatia, and Sid, a Serbian town also on the Croatian border. The NGO works with volunteers to provide aid to people moving along the Balkan migrant route towards central Europe.
No Name Kitchen said in a Facebook post that on 6 May Croatian border police robbed a group of migrants of their money and their mobile phones and spray-painted them before sending them back to the area of Poljana in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The group said a similar incident occurred a few days before, on 2 May, when a group of men were sent back to Glinica, a town in Bosnia-Herzegovina just next to the border with Croatia.
A man who was spray-painted in the incident on 2 May. His face has been blurred for privacy reasons. All photos were taken by anonymous sources of the organisation No Name Kitchen.
A group of men who were spray-painted in the incident on 6 May. Their faces have been blurred for privacy.
The Croatian Ministry of the Interior published a response to the allegations on 13 May, after the British newspaper the Guardian published an article about the incident. It called the accusations “completely absurd” and accused the Guardian journalist of orchestrating a “pre-meditated attack against the Republic of Croatia”.
The FRANCE 24 Observers spoke to Jack Sapoch, the coordinator of No Name Kitchen’s border violence reporting.
“The men were forcibly spray-painted and had their money and shoes stolen”
The spray-painting incident first came on our radar at the beginning of May. We have an extensive network of local contacts living in border villages who are sympathetic to the plight of migrants and relay information to us. A man who has a house in one of the villages on the border ran into a group of migrants near his house and he mentioned it to us. Then several days later, we received photos [of people with their heads spray-painted] from another one of our contacts who had just spoken to the group of men. They reported that the men had been forcibly spray-painted by Croatian police officers and had had their money and shoes stolen.
One of the men involved in the incident on 2 May, with spray paint on his clothes.
“It is a degrading and humiliating thing to do” This is the first time we’ve seen spray-paint be used. It was surprising to see. It doesn’t make sense, because it’s drawn attention to what’s happening here. When the police break somebody’s phone or take their shoes, it’s certainly cruel but it also has a logic behind it: it deters them from trying to cross the border again on the same day. But the spray-paint is strange. Maybe they do it because it makes the migrants easier to identify. Obviously it is a degrading and humiliating thing to do to someone. A man who was spray-painted on 6 May. His face has been blurred for privacy. It’s distressing to see this case of police officers abusing their authority, and to see that the Croatian government has totally disregarded it. This is while we’re receiving reports that even at this time, the level of aggression from Croatian police officers directed at migrants remains pretty high. These two photographs were taken on 7 May. Faces have been blurred for privacy.
Croatia’s border police has a history of violence towards refugees trying to enter the country. The FRANCE 24 Observers spoke to Karim Abdmeziane, a 36-year-old Algerian refugee who crossed the border from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Croatia in 2018. He was violently pushed back to Bosnia by the Croatian police three times before he successfully made it to Slovenia.
“It’s just like being in a war”
The first time I tried to cross they stole my mobile phone. I had been walking four days in the snow and rain. The second time they stole my possessions and pushed me back. The third time they stole my phone and all my money – over €1000 – and hit me with an electric cord. The Croatian police only care about money. Sometimes you have to give them money to make them let you go. But they just steal everything anyway. That third time they hit me so hard and pushed me all the way back to the border. You walk for days in rain and mud, you have nothing to eat, you hide in the forest, and you are beaten. It’s just like being in a war.
These are the injuries Karim Abdmeziane received from Croatian border police on an attempt to cross the border in 2018. He sent us this photo.
Human Rights Watch in July 2019 called on the EU to stop Croatia’s unlawful pushbacks of migrants to neighbouring countries. A report by the Border Violence Monitoring Network states that in Croatia, “Illegal removal practices have not stopped, in spite of the formal closure of borders” during the global Covid-19 crisis.
Written by Catherine Bennett (@cfbennett2).


france24--2020-05-14--French PM Philippe confirms massive investment plan to aid tourism industry

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

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


france24--2020-05-14--French parents set up woodland classroom in protest at school closure

Children attend classes in woodland near the town of Montmeyran , southeast France , on May 12 , 2020 .
Most primary schools in France have re-opened as the country emerges from Covid-19 lockdown .
But some local mayors have opted to keep schools shut , prompting parents of a small town in the country ’ s southeast to set up their own school in local woodland .
Around nine children , aged 4-7 , attended the first day of classes in woodland owned by one of the parents near the town of Montmeyran , in the Drôme , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in a specially pruned clearing .
Lessons included maths , physics and reading with parents acting as teachers .
The French government authorised primary schools to re-open from May 12 .
But mayors in some towns have decided to keep schools closed for the time being .
In Montmeyran , the mayor says the town lacks the manpower to disinfect the school and ensure safety measures .
The decision has upset some local parents , who say taking time off work to look after their children has become increasingly difficult .
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing their jobs , there are parents who take them to work , there are children who end up in warehouses , it can ’ t go on , ” parent Damien Boyer told AFP .
“ The goal is to remain here as little as possible , because right now we ’ re in the woods , but tomorrow we want to be in school .
”

Most primary schools in France have re-opened as the country emerges from Covid-19 lockdown. But some local mayors have opted to keep schools shut, prompting parents of a small town in the country’s southeast to set up their own school in local woodland.
Children attend classes in woodland near the town of Montmeyran, southeast France, on May 12, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Around nine children, aged 4-7, attended the first day of classes in woodland owned by one of the parents near the town of Montmeyran, in the Drôme, with desks, chairs and whiteboards all set up in a specially pruned clearing.
Lessons included maths, physics and reading with parents acting as teachers.
The French government authorised primary schools to re-open from May 12. But mayors in some towns have decided to keep schools closed for the time being.
In Montmeyran, the mayor says the town lacks the manpower to disinfect the school and ensure safety measures.
The decision has upset some local parents, who say taking time off work to look after their children has become increasingly difficult.
”There are parents in Montmeyran who risk losing their jobs, there are parents who take them to work, there are children who end up in warehouses, it can’t go on,” parent Damien Boyer told AFP.
“The goal is to remain here as little as possible, because right now we’re in the woods, but tomorrow we want to be in school.”
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe