france24--2020-04-26--Conspiracy theories and fake news: Fighting the Covid-19 ‘infodemic’

US President Donald Trump at one of his daily White House news briefings .
Disinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic have flooded the internet – often with an additional nudge from world leaders and celebrities – presenting a challenge for health authorities , social media platforms , journalists , fact-checkers and concerned citizens worldwide .
US health officials scrambled this week to put out a fire started by President Donald Trump when he suggested in his Thursday press briefing that injecting disinfectant might be worth studying for the treatment of Covid-19 .
As worried Americans called hotlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts reacted strongly , warning people against trying such dangerous homemade remedies .
Disinformation is a scourge of our era that tends to piggyback on any crisis , particularly a global one like the current pandemic : From conspiracy theories about how it began ( in a Chinese or American lab ? )
and how it spreads ( boosted by 5G networks ? )
, to fake news about the reappearance of seldom viewed animals in ports and canals , to bogus remedies ( some deadlier than the disease itself ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re not just fighting an epidemic ; we ’ re fighting an infodemic , ” World Health Organization ( WHO ) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in February .
The WHO defines an infodemic as “ an over-abundance of information , some accurate and some not , that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it ” .
The current infodemic has been worsened by the global scale of the health crisis and by the contributions of social media influencers and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and the Oxford Internet Institute entitled , Types , claims and sources of Covid-19 misinformation , “ false information spread by politicians , celebrities , and other prominent public figures ” accounted for 69 percent of total engagement on social media , even though their claims made up just 20 percent of those included in the study ’ s sample .
With 78.4 million followers on Twitter and a TV audience that sometimes surpasses 10 million viewers for his daily briefings , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading global influencers .
In his briefing at the White House on Thursday , Trump suggested that strong sunlight or UV light could be used to treat Covid-19 .
He then went on to muse about the potential benefits of disinfectant as a treatment .
“ I see the disinfectant , where it knocks it out in a minute – one minute , ” Trump said of the virus .
“ And is there a way we can do something like that , by injection inside or almost a cleaning ?
” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have to comment on this , but people should under no circumstances ingest or inject bleach or disinfectant , ” Patrice Harris , president of the American Medical Association , said in a statement Friday .
“ Rest assured when we eventually find a treatment for or vaccine against Covid-19 , it will not be in the cleaning supplies aisle.
” Reckitt Benckiser , the manufacturer of the disinfectant Lysol , wrote on its website : “ As a global leader in health and hygiene products , we must be clear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be administered into the human body ( through injection , ingestion , or any other route ) .
” The White House said on Friday that Trump was being sarcastic in his disinfectant comments and blamed the media for taking his words out of context .
“ Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines , ” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement .
But it wasn ’ t the first time Trump made unsubstantiated remarks about possible treatments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump announced in a news briefing that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was being fast-tracked for approval by the FDA .
“ Now , a drug called chloroquine – and some people would add to it ‘ hydroxy ’ – Hydroxychloroquine .
So chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine .
Now , this is a common malaria drug ...
It ’ s shown very encouraging – very , very encouraging early results .
And we ’ re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately .
And that ’ s where the FDA ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been so great .
They – they ’ ve gone through the approval process ; it ’ s been approved .
And they did it – they took it down from many , many months to immediate , ” Trump said .
Days later , a man in the US state of Arizona died after he and his wife ingested chloroquine phosphate , used for treating parasites in fish .
The man ’ s wife told NBC News they took it after she ’ d watched televised briefings during which President Trump talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On April 24 , the FDA strongly warned against using the prescription hydroxychloroquine , or chloroquine , for treating the virus outside of hospitals or clinical trials due to the risk of heart rhythm problems .
Social media platforms , often hesitant to take decisive action against political disinformation and fake news , have stepped up and are taking action .
On March 17 , several leading technology companies and social media firms issued a joint statement committing to “ helping millions of people stay connected while also jointly combating fraud and misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our platforms , and sharing critical updates in coordination with government healthcare agencies around the world ” .
According to the Reuters Institute study , the platforms have indeed removed , or attached warnings to , social media posts flagged as false by independent fact-checkers .
But the response varied from company to company .
“ On Twitter , 59 % of posts rated as false in our sample by fact-checkers remain up .
On YouTube , 27 % remain up , and on Facebook , 24 % of false-rated content in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the study found .
Google announced that it was setting up a 24-hour incident-response team that removes misinformation from search results and from YouTube , and that it would send users seeking information about the coronavirus to the WHO website and to other official health agencies .
Among the measures taken was a decision in late March to remove posts shared by Brazil ’ s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro containing disinformation about the virus .
YouTube pulled two videos from Bolsonaro ’ s account and Facebook removed posts on its platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) where Bolsonaro , like Trump , touted the benefits of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in treating Covid-19 .
Twitter earlier had also removed two tweets that included a video showing the Brazilian leader praising the drug and calling for an end to social distancing .
Bolsonaro has dismissed Covid-19 as a “ fantasy ” and a “ small flu ” , even as cases have been overwhelming hospitals , morgues and cemeteries across Latin America ’ s largest country .
He recently also fired his health minister and joined protests in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors .
News media and fact-checking organisations have also been working to dispel fake news and keep the public informed with facts from doctors , scientists and internationally recognised institutions like the WHO .
The Reuters Institute study found that independent fact-checkers moved especially quickly to debunk false information about the pandemic , with the number of English-language fact-checks rising more than 900 percent between January and March .
“ The growing willingness of some news media to call out falsehoods and lies from prominent politicians can perhaps help counter this ( though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the report ’ s authors wrote .
And the decision by Twitter , Facebook and YouTube to remove Bolsonaro ’ s posts “ was in our view an important moment in how platform companies handle the problem that a lot of misinformation comes from the top ” , the report said .
The concerted , aggressive effort by social media to limit the spread of harmful content about the virus has been welcomed by NGOs , fact-checking organisations and others .
But the platforms are not promising that this effort will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation .
In a recent interview with the New York Times , Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it was easier to differentiate between good and bad information in a medical crisis than in politics .
WHO directives and clear-cut scientific data make it simpler to discern the fake from the true .
“ When you ’ re dealing with a pandemic , a lot of the stuff we ’ re seeing just crossed the threshold , ” Zuckerberg said .
“ So it ’ s easier to set policies that are a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much harder line.
” Using the same tactics to fight political disinformation is more complex because of the concern for freedom of speech .
And critics have already sounded the alarm , even over the recent measures taken to fight the spread of Covid-19 misinformation .
“ Twitter says it will delete posts that ‘ could lead to widespread panic , social unrest , or large-scale disorder ’ .
That could be absolutely anything , ” Dan Gainor , vice president of the conservative content analysis group Media Research Center , told Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that show China lied and tens of thousands of Americans died ?
Will it delete posts about protests ?
Or just protests Twitter disagrees with ?
” Gainor asked .
“ Twitter has served as a newswire showing breaking news photos and video from around the world .
Now Twitter wants to restrict that information , ” he told the US network .
“ It ’ s a rule only a dictator could love.
” Some governments have already been criticised for adopting measures against the spread of fake news during the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the longer term .
Hungary passed a law in March giving sweeping powers to Prime Minister Viktor Orban that include heavy prison terms for publishers of “ false information ” about the virus or the government ’ s own measures , sparking new concerns for dwindling press freedoms in the country .
In Bulgaria , the government proposed a similarly controversial law , mandating prison terms for those spreading fake news about infectious diseases , AFP reported .
Algerian lawmakers also passed a law criminalising the broadcast of “ fake news ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state security ” , according to AFP .
The law , opposed by protesters and rights activists , “ criminalises ... the broadcast of fake news that seeks to undermine order and public security ” as well as “ state security and national unity ” .
Fact-checking organisations have not only stepped up their efforts to debunk disinformation , they are also providing educational programmes on news literacy and tips for citizens on how to identify fake news .
The International Fact Checking Network , a unit of the nonprofit Poynter Institute for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CoronaVirusFacts alliance in January that has united more than 100 fact-checkers from around the world to publish , share and translate facts surrounding the new coronavirus .
It shares a variety of Covid-19 resources , including fact-checking tools , tips for journalists , reports and newsletters .
Some suggestions to safeguard oneself against the infodemic include taking a deep breath before sharing the latest news about the virus – especially if it ’ s emotional or divisive ; referring to the WHO website or your national health website to get acquainted with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease ; and , in general , trusting scientists over politicians .
One of the most common ways misinformation has been spread is through photos that were altered or presented out of context .
The fact-checker First Draft offers a toolbox to help verify images .
Vishvas News , an Indian fact-checking organisation , offers a guide to checking both images and videos .
Disinformation has been around for millennia and is not likely to stop spreading anytime soon .
But the hope is that the measures being taken now ( and tips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better sense of the current infodemic .
And as the experts continue studying the coronavirus – its modes of transmission , infection and mortality rates – more reliable information will gradually eclipse the fictions , while scientists continue to test treatments and work on developing a vaccine .

Disinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic have flooded the internet – often with an additional nudge from world leaders and celebrities – presenting a challenge for health authorities, social media platforms, journalists, fact-checkers and concerned citizens worldwide.
Advertising Read more
US health officials scrambled this week to put out a fire started by President Donald Trump when he suggested in his Thursday press briefing that injecting disinfectant might be worth studying for the treatment of Covid-19.
As worried Americans called hotlines to request more information, doctors and health experts reacted strongly, warning people against trying such dangerous homemade remedies.
Disinformation is a scourge of our era that tends to piggyback on any crisis, particularly a global one like the current pandemic: From conspiracy theories about how it began (in a Chinese or American lab?) and how it spreads (boosted by 5G networks?), to fake news about the reappearance of seldom viewed animals in ports and canals, to bogus remedies (some deadlier than the disease itself), the internet is awash with it.
“We’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic,” World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in February.
The WHO defines an infodemic as “an over-abundance of information, some accurate and some not, that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it”.
Top-down spread
The current infodemic has been worsened by the global scale of the health crisis and by the contributions of social media influencers and even some world leaders.
According to a study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and the Oxford Internet Institute entitled, Types, claims and sources of Covid-19 misinformation, “false information spread by politicians, celebrities, and other prominent public figures” accounted for 69 percent of total engagement on social media, even though their claims made up just 20 percent of those included in the study’s sample.
With 78.4 million followers on Twitter and a TV audience that sometimes surpasses 10 million viewers for his daily briefings, Trump is one of the world’s leading global influencers.
In his briefing at the White House on Thursday, Trump suggested that strong sunlight or UV light could be used to treat Covid-19. He then went on to muse about the potential benefits of disinfectant as a treatment.
“I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute – one minute,” Trump said of the virus. “And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?” he asked.
Health officials worldwide reacted strongly, warning people not to ingest disinfectant.
“It is unfortunate that I have to comment on this, but people should under no circumstances ingest or inject bleach or disinfectant,” Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement Friday. “Rest assured when we eventually find a treatment for or vaccine against Covid-19, it will not be in the cleaning supplies aisle.”
Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of the disinfectant Lysol, wrote on its website: “As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion, or any other route).”
The White House said on Friday that Trump was being sarcastic in his disinfectant comments and blamed the media for taking his words out of context.
“Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.
But it wasn’t the first time Trump made unsubstantiated remarks about possible treatments for the virus. In March, Trump announced in a news briefing that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was being fast-tracked for approval by the FDA.
“Now, a drug called chloroquine – and some people would add to it ‘hydroxy’ – Hydroxychloroquine. So chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. Now, this is a common malaria drug ... It’s shown very encouraging – very, very encouraging early results. And we’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately. And that’s where the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) has been so great. They – they’ve gone through the approval process; it’s been approved. And they did it – they took it down from many, many months to immediate,” Trump said.
Days later, a man in the US state of Arizona died after he and his wife ingested chloroquine phosphate, used for treating parasites in fish. The man’s wife told NBC News they took it after she’d watched televised briefings during which President Trump talked about the potential benefits of chloroquine.
On April 24, the FDA strongly warned against using the prescription hydroxychloroquine, or chloroquine, for treating the virus outside of hospitals or clinical trials due to the risk of heart rhythm problems.
Social media steps up
Social media platforms, often hesitant to take decisive action against political disinformation and fake news, have stepped up and are taking action.
On March 17, several leading technology companies and social media firms issued a joint statement committing to “helping millions of people stay connected while also jointly combating fraud and misinformation about the virus, elevating authoritative content on our platforms, and sharing critical updates in coordination with government healthcare agencies around the world”.
According to the Reuters Institute study, the platforms have indeed removed, or attached warnings to, social media posts flagged as false by independent fact-checkers.
But the response varied from company to company. “On Twitter, 59% of posts rated as false in our sample by fact-checkers remain up. On YouTube, 27% remain up, and on Facebook, 24% of false-rated content in our sample remains up without warning labels,” the study found.
Google announced that it was setting up a 24-hour incident-response team that removes misinformation from search results and from YouTube, and that it would send users seeking information about the coronavirus to the WHO website and to other official health agencies.
Among the measures taken was a decision in late March to remove posts shared by Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro containing disinformation about the virus.
YouTube pulled two videos from Bolsonaro’s account and Facebook removed posts on its platform and on Instagram (which it owns) where Bolsonaro, like Trump, touted the benefits of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in treating Covid-19.
Twitter earlier had also removed two tweets that included a video showing the Brazilian leader praising the drug and calling for an end to social distancing.
Bolsonaro has dismissed Covid-19 as a “fantasy” and a “small flu”, even as cases have been overwhelming hospitals, morgues and cemeteries across Latin America’s largest country. He recently also fired his health minister and joined protests in the capital Brasilia against shutdown measures imposed by governors.
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro marching with his supporters, in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 19, 2020, to protest against quarantine and social distancing measures amid the Covid-19 outbreak, © Ueslei Marcelino, Reuters
News media and fact-checkers
News media and fact-checking organisations have also been working to dispel fake news and keep the public informed with facts from doctors, scientists and internationally recognised institutions like the WHO.
The Reuters Institute study found that independent fact-checkers moved especially quickly to debunk false information about the pandemic, with the number of English-language fact-checks rising more than 900 percent between January and March.
“The growing willingness of some news media to call out falsehoods and lies from prominent politicians can perhaps help counter this (though it risks alienating their strongest supporters),” the report’s authors wrote.
And the decision by Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to remove Bolsonaro’s posts “was in our view an important moment in how platform companies handle the problem that a lot of misinformation comes from the top”, the report said.
A perceived threat to free speech
The concerted, aggressive effort by social media to limit the spread of harmful content about the virus has been welcomed by NGOs, fact-checking organisations and others. But the platforms are not promising that this effort will spill over into the battle against political misinformation.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said it was easier to differentiate between good and bad information in a medical crisis than in politics. WHO directives and clear-cut scientific data make it simpler to discern the fake from the true.
“When you’re dealing with a pandemic, a lot of the stuff we’re seeing just crossed the threshold,” Zuckerberg said. “So it’s easier to set policies that are a little more black and white and take a much harder line.”
Using the same tactics to fight political disinformation is more complex because of the concern for freedom of speech. And critics have already sounded the alarm, even over the recent measures taken to fight the spread of Covid-19 misinformation.
“Twitter says it will delete posts that ‘could lead to widespread panic, social unrest, or large-scale disorder’. That could be absolutely anything,” Dan Gainor, vice president of the conservative content analysis group Media Research Center, told Fox News.
“Will it delete posts that show China lied and tens of thousands of Americans died? Will it delete posts about protests? Or just protests Twitter disagrees with?” Gainor asked.
“Twitter has served as a newswire showing breaking news photos and video from around the world. Now Twitter wants to restrict that information,” he told the US network. “It’s a rule only a dictator could love.”
Since introducing our updated policies on March 18, we’ve removed over 2,230 Tweets containing misleading and potentially harmful content. Our automated systems have challenged more than 3.4 million accounts targeting manipulative discussions around COVID-19. — Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) April 22, 2020
Some governments have already been criticised for adopting measures against the spread of fake news during the epidemic that are seen as threatening free speech in the longer term.
Hungary passed a law in March giving sweeping powers to Prime Minister Viktor Orban that include heavy prison terms for publishers of “false information” about the virus or the government’s own measures, sparking new concerns for dwindling press freedoms in the country.
In Bulgaria, the government proposed a similarly controversial law, mandating prison terms for those spreading fake news about infectious diseases, AFP reported.
Algerian lawmakers also passed a law criminalising the broadcast of “fake news” deemed harmful to “public order and state security”, according to AFP. The law, opposed by protesters and rights activists, “criminalises ... the broadcast of fake news that seeks to undermine order and public security” as well as “state security and national unity”.
Tips from fact-checkers
Fact-checking organisations have not only stepped up their efforts to debunk disinformation, they are also providing educational programmes on news literacy and tips for citizens on how to identify fake news.
The International Fact Checking Network, a unit of the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies, set up a #CoronaVirusFacts alliance in January that has united more than 100 fact-checkers from around the world to publish, share and translate facts surrounding the new coronavirus. It shares a variety of Covid-19 resources, including fact-checking tools, tips for journalists, reports and newsletters.
Some suggestions to safeguard oneself against the infodemic include taking a deep breath before sharing the latest news about the virus – especially if it’s emotional or divisive; referring to the WHO website or your national health website to get acquainted with the facts (and misperceptions) about the disease; and, in general, trusting scientists over politicians.
One of the most common ways misinformation has been spread is through photos that were altered or presented out of context. The fact-checker First Draft offers a toolbox to help verify images. Vishvas News, an Indian fact-checking organisation, offers a guide to checking both images and videos.
Disinformation has been around for millennia and is not likely to stop spreading anytime soon. But the hope is that the measures being taken now (and tips from fact-checkers) could help people make better sense of the current infodemic.
And as the experts continue studying the coronavirus – its modes of transmission, infection and mortality rates – more reliable information will gradually eclipse the fictions, while scientists continue to test treatments and work on developing a vaccine.
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france24--2020-04-26--Covid-19: France records 242 new deaths, marking a major drop in its daily toll

A medical staff member , wearing protective suit and face mask , works in the Intensive Care Unit ( ICU ) for coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) patients at the Centre Cardiologique du Nord private hospital in Saint-Denis near Paris as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in France , April 22 , 2020 .
France reported a big fall in its coronavirus death toll on Sunday , with 242 deaths in 24 hours , a drop of more than a third on the previous day .
The epidemic has now claimed 22,856 lives in the country since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The deaths in hospitals - 152 - was the lowest daily toll in five weeks , they said , while 90 people died in nursing and care homes .
The numbers of people leaving intensive care units ( ICUs ) has also outpaced the numbers of those entering those units .
The lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to slow the spread of the virus has been in place in France since March 17 and is due to be lifted on May 11 .
France has also offered retailers some relief by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 11 , although some curbs could remain in certain areas to delay any new wave of the virus .
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is due to present the government 's plan to unwind the lockdown to parliament on April 28 , and parliament will then vote on the measures .
Philippe wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday that the government plan would centre on six key areas - public health , schools , businesses , public transport and public gatherings .
The scientific council advising the government on the pandemic wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11-18 should wear masks to help thwart the virus .
Politicians are also debating whether or not to proceed with a software and mobile phone application aimed at being able to trace the coronavirus , with some expressing concerns over the potential for data abuse and privacy violations .

France reported a big fall in its coronavirus death toll on Sunday, with 242 deaths in 24 hours, a drop of more than a third on the previous day.
A medical staff member, wearing protective suit and face mask, works in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients at the Centre Cardiologique du Nord private hospital in Saint-Denis near Paris as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in France, April 22, 2020.
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The epidemic has now claimed 22,856 lives in the country since the beginning of March, health officials said.
The deaths in hospitals - 152 - was the lowest daily toll in five weeks, they said, while 90 people died in nursing and care homes.
The numbers of people leaving intensive care units (ICUs) has also outpaced the numbers of those entering those units.
The lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to slow the spread of the virus has been in place in France since March 17 and is due to be lifted on May 11.
France has also offered retailers some relief by saying it wants them to reopen on May 11, although some curbs could remain in certain areas to delay any new wave of the virus.
Unwinding the lockdown
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is due to present the government's plan to unwind the lockdown to parliament on April 28, and parliament will then vote on the measures.
Philippe wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday that the government plan would centre on six key areas - public health, schools, businesses, public transport and public gatherings.
The scientific council advising the government on the pandemic wrote over the weekend that school children aged 11-18 should wear masks to help thwart the virus.
Politicians are also debating whether or not to proceed with a software and mobile phone application aimed at being able to trace the coronavirus, with some expressing concerns over the potential for data abuse and privacy violations.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP)
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france24--2020-04-26--Saudi Arabia abolishes the dealth penalty for crimes committed by minors

Saudi Arabia 's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the 40th Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , on 10 December 2019 .
Saudi Arabia on Sunday ended the death penalty for crimes committed by minors after effectively abolishing floggings as the kingdom seeks to blunt criticism over its human rights record .
The reforms underscore a push by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to modernise the ultra-conservative kingdom long associated with a fundamentalist strain of Wahhabi Islam .
The death penalty has been eliminated for those convicted of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights Commission president Awwad Alawwad said in a statement , citing a royal decree .
`` Instead , the individual will receive a prison sentence of no longer than 10 years in a juvenile detention facility , '' the statement said .
The decree is expected to spare the lives of at least six men from the minority Shiite community who are on death row .
The were accused of taking part in anti-government protests during the Arab Spring uprisings while they were under the age of 18 .
United Nations human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia last year to halt plans to execute them .
`` This is an important day for Saudi Arabia , '' said Awwad Alawwad .
`` The decree helps us in establishing a more modern penal code . ''
The kingdom has one of the world 's highest rates of execution , with suspects convicted of terrorism , homicide , rape , armed robbery and drug trafficking facing the death penalty .
Saudi Arabia executed at least 187 people in 2019 , according to a tally based on official data , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put to death .
Since January 12 people were executed , according to official data .
Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of trials in the kingdom , an absolute monarchy governed under a strict form of Islamic law .
On Saturday , the HRC announced Saudi Arabia had effectively abolished flogging as a punishment , which have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups .
The most high-profile instance of flogging in recent years was the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi who was sentenced to 10 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on charges of `` insulting '' Islam .
But `` hudud '' or harsher punishment under Islamic law such as floggings are still applicable for serious offences , a Saudi official said .
`` Hudud '' , which means `` boundaries '' in Arabic , is meted out for such sins as rape , murder or theft .
But `` hudud '' punishments are rarely meted out as many offences must be proved by a confession or be verified by several adult Muslim witnesses , the official added .

Saudi Arabia on Sunday ended the death penalty for crimes committed by minors after effectively abolishing floggings as the kingdom seeks to blunt criticism over its human rights record.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the 40th Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 10 December 2019.
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The reforms underscore a push by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to modernise the ultra-conservative kingdom long associated with a fundamentalist strain of Wahhabi Islam.
The death penalty has been eliminated for those convicted of crimes committed while they were minors, Human Rights Commission president Awwad Alawwad said in a statement, citing a royal decree.
"Instead, the individual will receive a prison sentence of no longer than 10 years in a juvenile detention facility," the statement said.
The decree is expected to spare the lives of at least six men from the minority Shiite community who are on death row.
The were accused of taking part in anti-government protests during the Arab Spring uprisings while they were under the age of 18.
United Nations human rights experts made an urgent appeal to Saudi Arabia last year to halt plans to execute them.
"This is an important day for Saudi Arabia," said Awwad Alawwad.
"The decree helps us in establishing a more modern penal code."
High rate of execution
The kingdom has one of the world's highest rates of execution, with suspects convicted of terrorism, homicide, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking facing the death penalty.
Saudi Arabia executed at least 187 people in 2019, according to a tally based on official data, the highest since 1995 when 195 people were put to death.
Since January 12 people were executed, according to official data.
Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of trials in the kingdom, an absolute monarchy governed under a strict form of Islamic law.
On Saturday, the HRC announced Saudi Arabia had effectively abolished flogging as a punishment, which have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups.
The most high-profile instance of flogging in recent years was the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes in 2014 on charges of "insulting" Islam.
But "hudud" or harsher punishment under Islamic law such as floggings are still applicable for serious offences, a Saudi official said.
"Hudud", which means "boundaries" in Arabic, is meted out for such sins as rape, murder or theft.
But "hudud" punishments are rarely meted out as many offences must be proved by a confession or be verified by several adult Muslim witnesses, the official added.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-26--New York aims to start re-opening from Covid-19 lockdown after May 15: Cuomo

A sign in a restaurant window during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 21 , 2020 in New York City .
New York , which has ground to a halt to stop the coronavirus pandemic , may start reopening manufacturing and construction after May 15 , Governor Andrew Cuomo said Sunday .
Cuomo , however , said that any easing of measures would take place first in the north of the state and not in the New York City metropolitan region , by far the hardest-hit area in the United States .
`` The regions that would be more likely able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions , '' Cuomo told reporters .
`` Downstate New York is going to be more complicated . ''
He said that any potential reopening of New York City , the country 's most populous city , could need to be coordinated with authorities in the adjacent states of New Jersey and Connecticut .
A lockdown of New York ordered by Cuomo is set to expire on May 15 .
Under a plan for reopening , the first sectors would be construction and manufacturing .
Cuomo said the state was operating with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's going to bring people in from all across the board . ''
Cuomo has called for a two-week delay before the next stage of reopenings , which would include most offices , to ensure that the first phase does not trigger a resurgence of the virus .
The governor stressed that any final decision would be conditioned on a downturn in COVID-19 hospitalizations between now and May 15 .
The state on Sunday reported 367 fatalities in the previous 24 hours , the lowest number since March 30 when 332 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in New York state , accounting for around a third of the deaths in the United States .
To reopen , businesses will need to present New York authorities with plans that show they are ensuring sanitation to reduce the risk of virus transmission .
Cuomo said that no full-scale return to normal could come until the reopening of schools , which would allow parents to work outside of home .
New York state has not made a decision on reopening the education system , although Mayor Bill de Blasio has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school year cancelled in the city .
Cuomo said that some school districts were studying whether to hold summer sessions to make up for lost time .

New York, which has ground to a halt to stop the coronavirus pandemic, may start reopening manufacturing and construction after May 15, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Sunday.
A sign in a restaurant window during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 21, 2020 in New York City.
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Cuomo, however, said that any easing of measures would take place first in the north of the state and not in the New York City metropolitan region, by far the hardest-hit area in the United States.
"The regions that would be more likely able to open sooner would be the upstate regions," Cuomo told reporters. "Downstate New York is going to be more complicated."
00:26
He said that any potential reopening of New York City, the country's most populous city, could need to be coordinated with authorities in the adjacent states of New Jersey and Connecticut.
A lockdown of New York ordered by Cuomo is set to expire on May 15. Under a plan for reopening, the first sectors would be construction and manufacturing.
Cuomo said the state was operating with a caveat -- "don't do anything that's going to bring people in from all across the board."
Cuomo has called for a two-week delay before the next stage of reopenings, which would include most offices, to ensure that the first phase does not trigger a resurgence of the virus.
The governor stressed that any final decision would be conditioned on a downturn in COVID-19 hospitalizations between now and May 15.
Lowest number of fatalities since March 30
The state on Sunday reported 367 fatalities in the previous 24 hours, the lowest number since March 30 when 332 people died.
COVID-19 has now killed 16,966 people in New York state, accounting for around a third of the deaths in the United States.
To reopen, businesses will need to present New York authorities with plans that show they are ensuring sanitation to reduce the risk of virus transmission.
Cuomo said that no full-scale return to normal could come until the reopening of schools, which would allow parents to work outside of home.
New York state has not made a decision on reopening the education system, although Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that he considers the rest of the school year cancelled in the city.
Cuomo said that some school districts were studying whether to hold summer sessions to make up for lost time.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-26--Iran says Covid-19 cases surpass 90,000 as death toll declines

A woman walks past the closed gate outside the Imamzadeh Saleh in the Iranian capital Tehran 's Shemiran district on April 25 , 2020 .
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Iran has passed 90,000 , according to official figures released Sunday , as Tehran announced its lowest number of new deaths in weeks .
Health authorities have registered 1,153 new cases of the COVID-19 illness since midday Saturday , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 90,481 , health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a daily news briefing .
Sixty additional fatalities were recorded , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
It is the country 's lowest number of officially declared deaths since March 10 .
Iran announced its first novel coronavirus cases in February , and is the worst-hit country in the Middle East .
Jahanpour said Iranians needed to continue to respect health and social distancing measures , despite the decreasing death toll .
There has been speculation abroad that the real number of coronavirus deaths and infections in Iran could be higher , and even some local officials have questioned the declared figures .
Since April 11 , authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses and have relaxed some domestic travel restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the virus .
Meanwhile , some health officials in the Islamic republic have warned of the risk of a fresh outbreak .
Alireza Zali , the anti-coronavirus coordinator for the capital , criticised `` hasty reopenings '' that could `` create new waves of sickness in Tehran and complicate efforts to bring the epidemic under control '' , in comments quoted Saturday by semi-official news agency ISNA .
Another senior health ministry official has expressed similar fears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer provide provincial breakdowns of coronavirus cases and deaths , but Tehran province is considered to be among the worst affected .

The number of novel coronavirus cases in Iran has passed 90,000, according to official figures released Sunday, as Tehran announced its lowest number of new deaths in weeks.
A woman walks past the closed gate outside the Imamzadeh Saleh in the Iranian capital Tehran's Shemiran district on April 25, 2020.
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Health authorities have registered 1,153 new cases of the COVID-19 illness since midday Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 90,481, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a daily news briefing.
Sixty additional fatalities were recorded, with the overall death toll reaching 5,710, he added.
It is the country's lowest number of officially declared deaths since March 10.
Iran announced its first novel coronavirus cases in February, and is the worst-hit country in the Middle East.
Jahanpour said Iranians needed to continue to respect health and social distancing measures, despite the decreasing death toll.
There has been speculation abroad that the real number of coronavirus deaths and infections in Iran could be higher, and even some local officials have questioned the declared figures.
Phased reopening of businesses
Since April 11, authorities have allowed the phased reopening of some businesses and have relaxed some domestic travel restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the virus.
Schools, universities, mosques, Shiite shrines, cinemas and sports stadiums, however, remain closed.
Meanwhile, some health officials in the Islamic republic have warned of the risk of a fresh outbreak.
Alireza Zali, the anti-coronavirus coordinator for the capital, criticised "hasty reopenings" that could "create new waves of sickness in Tehran and complicate efforts to bring the epidemic under control", in comments quoted Saturday by semi-official news agency ISNA.
Another senior health ministry official has expressed similar fears for other hard-hit provinces.
Iranian authorities no longer provide provincial breakdowns of coronavirus cases and deaths, but Tehran province is considered to be among the worst affected.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-26--Covid-19: French opera houses make masks instead of tutus

A man wearing a facemask walks up steps out of a metro station in front of the Opera Garnier in Paris on April 21 , 2020 .
Normally they make tutus and elaborate costumes for some of the greatest opera and ballet stars in the world .
But the costume makers from opera houses across France are now turning their considerable talents to making masks .
Since the beginning of April , Christine Neumeister , the costume director of the Paris Opera , has been driving around collecting masks 30 of her couturiers have made while locked down at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Red Cross and a Paris maternity hospital , and the following week they made a similar number for the Salvation Army .
Packed into `` tutu bags '' marked `` Opera de Paris '' , they have to be among the chicest personal protection accessories around - although staff from the French couture houses Dior and Louis Vuitton have also been volunteering to turn their hands to mask making .
`` We have the material and the know-how , '' said German-born Neumeister .
`` It 's also rewarding for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is an art in itself , can be useful in this moment of crisis , '' she added .
`` My German grandmother used to say that during the war people who could make something with their hands were the heroes , the kings and the queens . ''
With chronic shortages of masks for the general public and even medical and nursing home staff in France , there is no shortage of takers .
The country is likely to make wearing mask obligatory in some public spaces when its strict lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mask-making in the costume departments of opera houses across France only began in earnest after the official norms were posted online at the end of March .
Neumeister `` opted for a mask with three folds which resembles a surgical one and which allows you to breath better than the duck-beak model . ''
She said it was made with lightweight poplin with a cotton fleece in the middle .
`` It has to be washable to 60 degrees Celsius ( 140F ) . ''
Neumeister said it takes about 20 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff were working in their studio .
Isabelle Daumas and 20 of her colleagues from the Toulouse Opera in southwest France will also start turning out masks to the same high standards from Monday .
And like several staff and artists from the Capitole de Toulouse , which houses the opera , a ballet and orchestra , every day she has been helping to disinfect centres set up to receive people who may have COVID-19 .
At the Marseille Opera , they have gone even further , asking for their masks to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for use by their staff .
Rather than working from home , `` five or six people work each day in the studio '' , sticking rigidly to social distancing rules , said Aude Eisinger , who set up the drive for the local council .
With 1,000 masks a week to turn out , `` we are drawing on the opera 's stock of fabrics because getting fresh supplies is difficult , '' she added .
It 's a similar situation at the Bordeaux Opera where technical director Yves Jouen said `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much out of stock . ''
There a small group of costume makers cut the fabric in the opera 's workshops before delivering them to the homes of their colleagues who do the sewing .
`` We even have musicians from the orchestra who are sewers lending a hand , '' Jouen said .

Normally they make tutus and elaborate costumes for some of the greatest opera and ballet stars in the world. But the costume makers from opera houses across France are now turning their considerable talents to making masks.
A man wearing a facemask walks up steps out of a metro station in front of the Opera Garnier in Paris on April 21, 2020.
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Since the beginning of April, Christine Neumeister, the costume director of the Paris Opera, has been driving around collecting masks 30 of her couturiers have made while locked down at home.
The first week they made 1,000 for the Red Cross and a Paris maternity hospital, and the following week they made a similar number for the Salvation Army.
Packed into "tutu bags" marked "Opera de Paris", they have to be among the chicest personal protection accessories around - although staff from the French couture houses Dior and Louis Vuitton have also been volunteering to turn their hands to mask making.
Useful in a crisis
"We have the material and the know-how," said German-born Neumeister.
"It's also rewarding for us too to know that our work, which is an art in itself, can be useful in this moment of crisis," she added.
"My German grandmother used to say that during the war people who could make something with their hands were the heroes, the kings and the queens."
With chronic shortages of masks for the general public and even medical and nursing home staff in France, there is no shortage of takers.
The country is likely to make wearing mask obligatory in some public spaces when its strict lockdown begins to be relaxed from May 11.
Mask-making in the costume departments of opera houses across France only began in earnest after the official norms were posted online at the end of March.
Neumeister "opted for a mask with three folds which resembles a surgical one and which allows you to breath better than the duck-beak model."
She said it was made with lightweight poplin with a cotton fleece in the middle. "It has to be washable to 60 degrees Celsius (140F)."
Neumeister said it takes about 20 minutes to make, slower than if her staff were working in their studio.
Fabric shortages
Isabelle Daumas and 20 of her colleagues from the Toulouse Opera in southwest France will also start turning out masks to the same high standards from Monday.
And like several staff and artists from the Capitole de Toulouse, which houses the opera, a ballet and orchestra, every day she has been helping to disinfect centres set up to receive people who may have COVID-19.
At the Marseille Opera, they have gone even further, asking for their masks to get the official imprimatur of the local authorities for use by their staff.
Rather than working from home, "five or six people work each day in the studio", sticking rigidly to social distancing rules, said Aude Eisinger, who set up the drive for the local council.
With 1,000 masks a week to turn out, "we are drawing on the opera's stock of fabrics because getting fresh supplies is difficult," she added.
It's a similar situation at the Bordeaux Opera where technical director Yves Jouen said "our usual suppliers of fabric are pretty much out of stock."
There a small group of costume makers cut the fabric in the opera's workshops before delivering them to the homes of their colleagues who do the sewing.
"We even have musicians from the orchestra who are sewers lending a hand," Jouen said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-27--Pelosi endorses Biden as ‘voice of reason and resilience’ for US president

File photo of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who endorsed Joe Biden on April 27 , 2020 for the November presidential race .
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed Joe Biden for president , joining a list of top Democrats , who have thrown their support behind the former vice president .
`` Today I am proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States because he will be an extraordinary president , '' said Pelosi in the pre-recorded message .
Her endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate follows that of US Senators Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama and former vice president Al Gore , who all threw their weight behind Biden earlier this month .
In her video statement , Pelosi cited Biden 's experience in government , including his role in passing the Affordable Care Act , as evidence of his leadership qualities .
She said Biden is well-positioned to lead the country amid the ongoing coronanvirus outbreak .
`` As we face coronavirus , Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience , with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The endorsement comes at an opportune time for Biden , who has struggled to maintain a high profile during the Covid-19 pandemic and sustain the momentum he had built up in his lightning-quick run toward becoming the Democratic nominee .
Besides current and past Democratic leaders , Biden has also won endorsements from some other key stakeholders such as Washington state Governor Jay Inslee , a prominent climate change campaigner , and the 400,000-member United Auto Workers union .
The endorsements have given Biden a series of headlines at a time when his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus outbreak , and when US President Donald Trump has dominated media attention with his combative White House briefings .
The Democrats are eager to project unity heading into the presidential race against Trump for the November 3 general elections .
In recent weeks , the more moderate Biden has made attempts to win the support of the liberal backers of Sanders and Warren .

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed Joe Biden for president, joining a list of top Democrats, who have thrown their support behind the former vice president.
File photo of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who endorsed Joe Biden on April 27, 2020 for the November presidential race.
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"Today I am proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States because he will be an extraordinary president," said Pelosi in the pre-recorded message.
Her endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate follows that of US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, former president Barack Obama and former vice president Al Gore, who all threw their weight behind Biden earlier this month.
In her video statement, Pelosi cited Biden's experience in government, including his role in passing the Affordable Care Act, as evidence of his leadership qualities. She said Biden is well-positioned to lead the country amid the ongoing coronanvirus outbreak.
"As we face coronavirus, Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience, with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis," Pelosi said in her endorsement.
A boost during pandemic campaign lull
The endorsement comes at an opportune time for Biden, who has struggled to maintain a high profile during the Covid-19 pandemic and sustain the momentum he had built up in his lightning-quick run toward becoming the Democratic nominee.
Besides current and past Democratic leaders, Biden has also won endorsements from some other key stakeholders such as Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a prominent climate change campaigner, and the 400,000-member United Auto Workers union.
The endorsements have given Biden a series of headlines at a time when his campaign is effectively on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak, and when US President Donald Trump has dominated media attention with his combative White House briefings.
The Democrats are eager to project unity heading into the presidential race against Trump for the November 3 general elections.
In recent weeks, the more moderate Biden has made attempts to win the support of the liberal backers of Sanders and Warren.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-27--Europe prepares to roll back Covid-19 restrictions

Norway opened up primary schools across the country April 27 as Europe prepared to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions .
The governments of France , Italy and Spain are releasing plans this week for an easing of lockdowns imposed to curtail the spread of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic as other EU nations are monitoring how the continent ’ s hardest-hit countries handle the lifting of restrictions .
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe will present the government 's plan to unwind the Covid-19 lockdown to parliament on Tuesday and parliament will then vote on the measures .
Italy , which has recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll from the disease , is also set to emerge from lockdown , the longest to date , with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte promising Italians on Sunday they would soon be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives as the country .
The Spanish government has also announced a gradual reopening of economic activity in the coming weeks , with children allowed outdoors for a brief period over the weekend , for the first time in weeks .
Europe 's four worst-affected countries all reported marked drops in their daily death tolls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have peaked in some places -- at least for now .
But leaders and experts remain divided on how quickly to revive shuttered economies while maintaining a delicate balance between freedom and safety .
Germany 's economy minister urged the country 's 16 federal states on Monday to go slowly in lifting coronavirus restrictions to avoid the outbreak spreading further and being forced to backtrack later .
Under Germany 's decentralised political system , the states have the power to implement and rescind the social distancing measures on which Berlin is relying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chancellor Angela Merkel is resisting pressure from some to further ease restrictions .
Meanwhile British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work Monday after recovering from Covid-19 .
Johnson had been recuperating at the British prime ministerial retreat , Chequers , outside London since his release from hospital on April 12 .
The prime minister 's return to work came as pressure intensified on his government on several fronts over its handling of the crisis .
Speaking from outside his Downing Street office Monday , Johnson said his government would outline plans for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming days , but warned that there would be difficult judgments required .
`` We simply can not spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made , though clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days , '' said Johnson .
`` I want to serve notice now that these decisions will be taken with the maximum possible transparency , '' he added .
`` Of course we will be relying as ever on the science to inform us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In France , the death toll from the coronavirus rose by 242 to 22,856 , the health ministry said on Sunday , marking a steady fall in the daily death toll that has lasted over two weeks .
The numbers of people leaving intensive care units ( ICUs ) has also outpaced the numbers of those entering those units .
The lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to slow the spread of the virus has been in place since March 17 and is due to be lifted on May 11 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 11 , the government has yet to finalise how this might work in practice .
France has also offered retailers some relief by saying it wants them to reopen on May 11 , although some curbs could remain in certain areas to delay any new wave of the virus .
Prime Minister Philippe wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday that the government plan would centre on six key areas - public health , schools , businesses , public transport and public gatherings .
France 's scientific council advising the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that school children aged 11-18 should wear masks to help thwart the virus .
Politicians are also debating whether or not to proceed with a software and mobile phone application aimed at being able to trace the coronavirus , with some expressing concerns over the potential for data abuse and privacy violations .

The governments of France, Italy and Spain are releasing plans this week for an easing of lockdowns imposed to curtail the spread of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic as other EU nations are monitoring how the continent’s hardest-hit countries handle the lifting of restrictions.
Norway opened up primary schools across the country April 27 as Europe prepared to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
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French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe will present the government's plan to unwind the Covid-19 lockdown to parliament on Tuesday and parliament will then vote on the measures.
Italy, which has recorded the world’s highest official death toll from the disease, is also set to emerge from lockdown, the longest to date, with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte promising Italians on Sunday they would soon be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives as the country.
The Spanish government has also announced a gradual reopening of economic activity in the coming weeks, with children allowed outdoors for a brief period over the weekend, for the first time in weeks.
Europe's four worst-affected countries all reported marked drops in their daily death tolls, offering hope that the outbreak may have peaked in some places -- at least for now.
But leaders and experts remain divided on how quickly to revive shuttered economies while maintaining a delicate balance between freedom and safety.
Germany's economy minister urged the country's 16 federal states on Monday to go slowly in lifting coronavirus restrictions to avoid the outbreak spreading further and being forced to backtrack later.
Under Germany's decentralised political system, the states have the power to implement and rescind the social distancing measures on which Berlin is relying to slow the virus's spread, and Chancellor Angela Merkel is resisting pressure from some to further ease restrictions.
Johnson, back at work, to detail exit plan
Meanwhile British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work Monday after recovering from Covid-19.
Johnson had been recuperating at the British prime ministerial retreat, Chequers, outside London since his release from hospital on April 12.
The prime minister's return to work came as pressure intensified on his government on several fronts over its handling of the crisis.
Speaking from outside his Downing Street office Monday, Johnson said his government would outline plans for an easing of the coronavirus lockdown in the coming days, but warned that there would be difficult judgments required.
"We simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made, though clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days," said Johnson.
"I want to serve notice now that these decisions will be taken with the maximum possible transparency," he added. "Of course we will be relying as ever on the science to inform us, as we have from the beginning."
France eyes re-opening schools
In France, the death toll from the coronavirus rose by 242 to 22,856, the health ministry said on Sunday, marking a steady fall in the daily death toll that has lasted over two weeks.
The numbers of people leaving intensive care units (ICUs) has also outpaced the numbers of those entering those units.
The lockdown ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to slow the spread of the virus has been in place since March 17 and is due to be lifted on May 11.
While Macron is aiming to re-open schools on May 11, the government has yet to finalise how this might work in practice.
France has also offered retailers some relief by saying it wants them to reopen on May 11, although some curbs could remain in certain areas to delay any new wave of the virus.
School children should wear masks
Prime Minister Philippe wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday that the government plan would centre on six key areas - public health, schools, businesses, public transport and public gatherings.
France's scientific council advising the government on the pandemic wrote over the weekend that school children aged 11-18 should wear masks to help thwart the virus.
Politicians are also debating whether or not to proceed with a software and mobile phone application aimed at being able to trace the coronavirus, with some expressing concerns over the potential for data abuse and privacy violations.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-27--Back at work, UK's Johnson says easing Covid-19 restrictions too risky

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson , back at work after recovering from COVID-19 , said on Monday it was still too dangerous to relax a stringent lockdown hammering the economy as that may cause a deadly second outbreak .
Speaking outside his Downing Street residence a month and a day since testing positive for the virus which threatened his life , Johnson compared the disease to a street criminal that the British people had wrestled to the floor .
Stressing it was still a time of maximum risk , he said he understood the concerns of business and would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made clear that there was to be no swift lifting of the lockdown .
`` We simply can not spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made , though clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days , '' Johnson said , looking healthy again .
`` If we can show the same spirit of unity and determination as we 've all shown in the past six weeks then I have absolutely no doubt that we will beat it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific advisers are divided over how and when the world 's fifth largest economy should start returning to work , even in limited form .
`` We must also recognise the risk of a second spike , the risk of losing control of that virus and letting the reproduction rate go back over one because that would mean not only a new wave of death and disease but also an economic disaster , '' he said .
`` I ask you to contain your impatience because I believe we are coming now to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this conflict and in spite of all the suffering we have so nearly succeeded . ''
The United Kingdom is one of the worst-hit nations , with more than 20,732 hospital deaths reported as of Saturday .
But the most stringent lockdown in peacetime has left the economy facing possibly the deepest recession in three centuries and the biggest debt splurge since World War Two .
At the start of the outbreak , Johnson initially resisted imposing a draconian lockdown but then changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed on March 23 , his government has faced criticism from opposition parties and some doctors for initially delaying the lockdown , limited testing capabilities , and lack of protective equipment for health workers .
Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer urged Johnson to set out when and how an economic and social lockdown might be eased - as did some Conservative Party donors .
`` Simply acting as if this discussion is not happening is not credible , '' Starmer wrote in a letter to Johnson .
Johnson is expected to announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eased as early as this week , the Daily Telegraph reported .
Latest data on Sunday showed deaths related to COVID-19 in hospitals were up by 413 in the previous 24 hours , the lowest daily rise this month .
A total of 29,058 tests were carried out on April 25 .
Based on those statistics , the United Kingdom has the fifth worst death toll in the world , after the United States , Italy , Spain and France .
But the full British toll is much higher as statistics for deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes - are slower to be published .
However , Stephen Powis , medical director of the National Health Service in England , said the `` very definite '' downward trend in coronavirus cases in hospital demonstrated that social distancing was reducing virus transmission and spread .

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, back at work after recovering from Covid-19, said on Monday it was still too dangerous to relax a stringent lockdown hammering the economy as that may cause a deadly second outbreak.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks outside 10 Downing Street in London after recovering from the coronavirus disease, April 27, 2020.
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Speaking outside his Downing Street residence a month and a day since testing positive for the virus that threatened his life, Johnson compared the disease to a street criminal that the British people had wrestled to the floor.
Stressing it was still a time of maximum risk, he said he understood the concerns of business and would consult with opposition parties – but he made clear that there was to be no swift lifting of the lockdown.
"We simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow or even when those changes will be made, though clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days," Johnson said, looking healthy again.
"If we can show the same spirit of unity and determination as we've all shown in the past six weeks, then I have absolutely no doubt that we will beat it."
00:41
Johnson's government, party and scientific advisers are divided over how and when the world's sixth largest economy should start returning to work, even in limited form.
"We must also recognise the risk of a second spike, the risk of losing control of that virus and letting the reproduction rate go back over one, because that would mean not only a new wave of death and disease but also an economic disaster," he said.
"I ask you to contain your impatience because I believe we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict and, in spite of all the suffering, we have so nearly succeeded."
The United Kingdom is one of the worst-hit countries in the world, with more than 20,732 hospital deaths reported as of Saturday.
But the most stringent lockdown in peacetime has left the economy facing possibly the deepest recession in three centuries and the biggest debt splurge since World War Two.
Criticism
At the start of the outbreak, Johnson initially resisted imposing a draconian lockdown, but then changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die.
Since the lockdown was imposed on March 23, his government has faced criticism from opposition parties and some doctors for initially delaying the lockdown, limited testing capabilities and the lack of personal protective equipment for health workers.
Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer urged Johnson to set out when and how an economic and social lockdown might be eased – as did some Conservative Party donors.
"Simply acting as if this discussion is not happening is not credible," Starmer wrote in a letter to Johnson.
Johnson is expected to announce plans for how the lockdown could be eased as early as this week, UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported.
On Monday, a further 329 people had died of the novel coronavirus in English hospitals, bringing the total to 18,749, said health officials.
Of those 329, 22 had no known underlying health conditions, and were aged between 29 and 89 years old.
Based on those statistics, the United Kingdom has the fifth worst death toll in the world, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France.
But the full British toll is much higher as statistics for deaths outside hospital, for example in care homes, are slower to be published.
However, Stephen Powis, medical director of the National Health Service in England, said the "very definite" downward trend in coronavirus cases in hospital demonstrated that social distancing was reducing virus transmission and spread.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-27--Saudi-led coalition calls for end to escalation in south Yemen

Yemen 's southern separatists had signed a power-sharing deal in November that quelled a battle for the south which had seen them seize control of Aden The Saudi-led military coalition on Monday rejected Yemen separatists ' declaration of self-rule over the country 's south and demanded `` an end to any escalatory actions '' .
The separatists ' move complicates a long and separate conflict , fought by the coalition and the internationally recognised government , against Huthi rebels who control much of the north .
Yemen 's separatists signed a power-sharing deal in Riyadh last November that quelled a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within a civil war '' -- for the south that had in August seen them seize control of the second city of Aden .
`` Following the surprising announcement of a state of emergency by the Southern Transitional Council , we re-emphasise the need to promptly implement the Riyadh Agreement , '' the coalition said according to tweets from the official Saudi Press Agency .
`` The Coalition demands an end to any escalatory actions and calls for return to the Agreement by the participating parties . ''
The STC , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arab Emirates , on Sunday declared self-rule in southern Yemen , accusing the government of failing to perform its duties and of `` conspiring '' against the southern cause .
The government has condemned the move and said the separatists -- who have long agitated for independence in the south -- would be responsible for the `` catastrophic and dangerous '' outcome .
The breakdown between the one-time allies comes as the coalition has extended a unilateral ceasefire aimed at fending off the coronavirus pandemic -- an olive branch rejected by the Huthis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 21 people were killed in flash flooding this month , with Aden 's streets submerged and homes destroyed .
The United Nations said Sunday that more than 100,000 people across Yemen have been affected by the torrential rains which had damaged roads , bridges and the electricity grid , and contaminated water supplies .
`` Countless families have lost everything , '' Lise Grande , the UN 's Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen , said in statement .
`` This tragedy comes on top of the COVID-19 crisis , which comes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which came on top of the worst cholera outbreak in modern history , '' she added .
`` The solution is clear .
The parties to the conflict need to find the courage to stop fighting and start negotiating . ''
The Riyadh pact on power-sharing for the south had been hailed as averting the complete break-up of the country , but with a lack of implementation , observers have said it is effectively defunct .
Cracks emerged soon after it was signed , with complaints over food shortages in the south , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lack of funds to pay public sector employees .
`` We in ( Saudi Arabia ) and UAE strongly believe that the internationally backed Riyadh agreement has guaranteed an opportunity for the brotherly Yemeni people to live in peace , '' Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said in a tweet .
`` We reject any hostilities that will jeopardise the safety and stability of Yemen , '' he said .
While the government and the STC are technically allies in the long war against the Huthis , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent state -- as it was before unification in 1990 .
On Sunday Aden residents reported heavy deployments of STC forces in the city and a separatist source told AFP they had set up checkpoints `` at all government facilities , including the central bank and port of Aden '' .
Hussam Radman , a research fellow for the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies , said the separatists were already in control of the military and security in Aden , where they have popular support .
`` But with this declaration , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the provisional capital that has witnessed an unprecedented decline lately '' in the provision of services and economic performance , he told AFP .

The Saudi-led military coalition on Monday rejected Yemen separatists' declaration of self-rule over the country's south and demanded "an end to any escalatory actions".
Yemen's southern separatists had signed a power-sharing deal in November that quelled a battle for the south which had seen them seize control of Aden
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The separatists' move complicates a long and separate conflict, fought by the coalition and the internationally recognised government, against Huthi rebels who control much of the north.
Yemen's separatists signed a power-sharing deal in Riyadh last November that quelled a battle -- dubbed a "civil war within a civil war" -- for the south that had in August seen them seize control of the second city of Aden.
"Following the surprising announcement of a state of emergency by the Southern Transitional Council, we re-emphasise the need to promptly implement the Riyadh Agreement," the coalition said according to tweets from the official Saudi Press Agency.
"The Coalition demands an end to any escalatory actions and calls for return to the Agreement by the participating parties."
The STC, which is backed by key coalition partner the United Arab Emirates, on Sunday declared self-rule in southern Yemen, accusing the government of failing to perform its duties and of "conspiring" against the southern cause.
01:34
The government has condemned the move and said the separatists -- who have long agitated for independence in the south -- would be responsible for the "catastrophic and dangerous" outcome.
The breakdown between the one-time allies comes as the coalition has extended a unilateral ceasefire aimed at fending off the coronavirus pandemic -- an olive branch rejected by the Huthis.
Compounding the country's troubles, at least 21 people were killed in flash flooding this month, with Aden's streets submerged and homes destroyed.
The United Nations said Sunday that more than 100,000 people across Yemen have been affected by the torrential rains which had damaged roads, bridges and the electricity grid, and contaminated water supplies.
"Countless families have lost everything," Lise Grande, the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said in statement.
"This tragedy comes on top of the COVID-19 crisis, which comes on top of the pre-famine last year, which came on top of the worst cholera outbreak in modern history," she added.
"The solution is clear. The parties to the conflict need to find the courage to stop fighting and start negotiating."
'Return to the agreement'
The Riyadh pact on power-sharing for the south had been hailed as averting the complete break-up of the country, but with a lack of implementation, observers have said it is effectively defunct.
Cracks emerged soon after it was signed, with complaints over food shortages in the south, a sharp depreciation of the currency and a lack of funds to pay public sector employees.
"We in (Saudi Arabia) and UAE strongly believe that the internationally backed Riyadh agreement has guaranteed an opportunity for the brotherly Yemeni people to live in peace," Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said in a tweet.
"We reject any hostilities that will jeopardise the safety and stability of Yemen," he said.
While the government and the STC are technically allies in the long war against the Huthis, the secessionists believe the south should be an independent state -- as it was before unification in 1990.
On Sunday Aden residents reported heavy deployments of STC forces in the city and a separatist source told AFP they had set up checkpoints "at all government facilities, including the central bank and port of Aden".
Hussam Radman, a research fellow for the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, said the separatists were already in control of the military and security in Aden, where they have popular support.
"But with this declaration, it will become responsible for the administrative side in the provisional capital that has witnessed an unprecedented decline lately" in the provision of services and economic performance, he told AFP.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-27--French police watchdog to probe alleged racist incident as housing estate tensions soar

A video clip of alleged racist behaviour by police officers in the Ile-Saint-Denis area near Paris has sparked an investigation @ @ @ @ @ .
France 's IGPN internal police watchdog will investigate an incident of alleged racist behaviour @ @ @ @ @ Ile-Saint-Denis area near Paris , Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Monday , as tension @ @ @ @ @ `` A video showing a police intervention in the sector of Ile-Saint-Denis has led to @ @ @ @ @ wrote on his Twitter account early on Monday .
`` All light will be shed @ @ @ @ @ IGPN has been alerted .
Racism has no place in the Republican police force .
@ @ @ @ @ movement ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to tackle the coronavirus outbreak have exacerbated deep-seated social @ @ @ @ @ high-rise estates around the French capital .
Violent clashes broke out last week between youths @ @ @ @ @ areas , as well as other parts of the country , such as Roubaix in @ @ @

France's IGPN internal police watchdog will investigate an incident of alleged racist behaviour by police officers in the Ile-Saint-Denis area near Paris, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Monday, as tension simmers on housing estates.
A video clip of alleged racist behaviour by police officers in the Ile-Saint-Denis area near Paris has sparked an investigation by France's police watchdog.
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"A video showing a police intervention in the sector of Ile-Saint-Denis has led to legitimate indignation," Castaner wrote on his Twitter account early on Monday.
"All light will be shed on the matter. The IGPN has been alerted. Racism has no place in the Republican police force."
Une vidéo montrant une intervention de police dans le secteur de l’Île-Saint-Denis suscite une indignation légitime.
Toute la lumière sera faite. L’IGPN est saisie.
Le racisme n’a pas sa place dans la police républicaine. — Christophe Castaner (@CCastaner) April 26, 2020
Stringent curbs on public movement ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to tackle the coronavirus outbreak have exacerbated deep-seated social tensions in the low-income, high-rise estates around the French capital.
🔴 GLAÇANT
À L’ile-Saint-Denis très tôt ce matin(1h43), lors d’une interpellation des policiers repêchent un homme qui s’est jeté dans la Seine pour leur fuir, je vous laisse découvrir la suite : pic.twitter.com/vcqepo7NNZ — Taha Bouhafs (@T_Bouhafs) April 26, 2020
Violent clashes broke out last week between youths and police in several such areas, as well as other parts of the country, such as Roubaix in the north.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-27--North Korea's Kim Jong-un is 'alive and well', says Seoul

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks as he takes part in a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers ' Party of Korea ( WPK ) in this image released by North Korea 's Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA ) on April 11 , 2020 .
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is `` alive and well '' , a top security adviser to the South 's President Moon Jae-in said , downplaying rumours over Kim 's health following his absence from a key anniversary .
`` Our government position is firm , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security Moon Chung-in , in an interview with CNN on Sunday .
`` Kim Jong-un is alive and well . ''
The adviser said that Kim had been staying in Wonsan -- a resort town in the country 's east -- since April 13 , adding : `` No suspicious movements have so far been detected . ''
Conjecture about Kim 's health has grown since his conspicuous absence from the April 15 celebrations for the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il Sung , the North 's founder -- the most important day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim has not made a public appearance since presiding over a Workers ' Party politburo meeting on April 11 , and the following day state media reported him inspecting fighter jets at an air defence unit .
His absence has unleashed a series of unconfirmed media reports over his condition , which officials in Seoul previously poured cold water on .
`` We have nothing to confirm and no special movement has been detected inside North Korea as of now , '' the South 's presidential office said in a statement last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlet run mostly by North Korean defectors , has reported Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure earlier this month .
Citing an unidentified source inside the country , it said Kim , who is in his mid-30s , had needed urgent treatment due to heavy smoking , obesity and fatigue .
Soon afterwards , CNN reported that Washington was `` monitoring intelligence '' that Kim was in `` grave danger '' after undergoing surgery , quoting what it said was an anonymous US official .
US President Donald Trump on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to state when he was last in touch with him .
On Monday , the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that Kim had sent a message of thanks to workers on the giant Wonsan Kalma coastal tourism project .
It was the latest in a series of reports in recent days of statements issued or actions taken in Kim 's name , although none has carried any pictures of him .
Satellite images reviewed by 38North , a US-based think tank , showed a train probably belonging to Kim at a station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the train 's presence did not `` indicate anything about his health '' but did `` lend weight '' to reports he was staying on the country 's eastern coast .
Reporting from inside the isolated North is notoriously difficult , especially on anything to do with its leadership , which is among its most closely guarded secrets .
Previous absences from the public eye on Kim 's part have prompted speculation about his health .
In 2014 he dropped out of sight for nearly six weeks before reappearing with a cane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spy agency said he had undergone surgery to remove a cyst from his ankle .

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is "alive and well", a top security adviser to the South's President Moon Jae-in said, downplaying rumours over Kim's health following his absence from a key anniversary.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks as he takes part in a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 11, 2020.
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"Our government position is firm," said Moon's special adviser on national security Moon Chung-in, in an interview with CNN on Sunday. "Kim Jong-un is alive and well."
The adviser said that Kim had been staying in Wonsan -- a resort town in the country's east -- since April 13, adding: "No suspicious movements have so far been detected."
Conjecture about Kim's health has grown since his conspicuous absence from the April 15 celebrations for the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il Sung, the North's founder -- the most important day in the country's political calendar.
Kim has not made a public appearance since presiding over a Workers' Party politburo meeting on April 11, and the following day state media reported him inspecting fighter jets at an air defence unit.
His absence has unleashed a series of unconfirmed media reports over his condition, which officials in Seoul previously poured cold water on.
"We have nothing to confirm and no special movement has been detected inside North Korea as of now," the South's presidential office said in a statement last week.
Daily NK, an online media outlet run mostly by North Korean defectors, has reported Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure earlier this month.
Citing an unidentified source inside the country, it said Kim, who is in his mid-30s, had needed urgent treatment due to heavy smoking, obesity and fatigue.
Soon afterwards, CNN reported that Washington was "monitoring intelligence" that Kim was in "grave danger" after undergoing surgery, quoting what it said was an anonymous US official.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday rejected reports that Kim was ailing but declined to state when he was last in touch with him.
On Monday, the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that Kim had sent a message of thanks to workers on the giant Wonsan Kalma coastal tourism project.
It was the latest in a series of reports in recent days of statements issued or actions taken in Kim's name, although none has carried any pictures of him.
Satellite images reviewed by 38North, a US-based think tank, showed a train probably belonging to Kim at a station in Wonsan last week.
It cautioned that the train's presence did not "indicate anything about his health" but did "lend weight" to reports he was staying on the country's eastern coast.
Reporting from inside the isolated North is notoriously difficult, especially on anything to do with its leadership, which is among its most closely guarded secrets.
Previous absences from the public eye on Kim's part have prompted speculation about his health.
In 2014 he dropped out of sight for nearly six weeks before reappearing with a cane. Days later, the South's spy agency said he had undergone surgery to remove a cyst from his ankle.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-27--Demonstrators block roads in Lebanon protest over dire economy

Lebanese demonstrators wear face masks as they chant slogans during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese pound currency outside Lebanon 's Central Bank in Beirut , Lebanon April 23 , 2020 .
Demonstrators blocked roads through Lebanon late Sunday to protest the deteriorating economic situation , despite a lockdown and curfew imposed because of the coronavirus , according to the official news agency .
Police quickly intervened to reopen the highways where the demonstrators burned tyres to block roads , the ANI national news agency said .
In Zalqa sector , northeast of Beirut , six people were injured , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP without providing further details .
An AFP photographer saw protesters setting tyres ablaze on the highway north of the capital , in the suburbs of Dbaiyeh , before the army and police moved in .
Protesters also mobilised in the main northern city of Tripoli , according to ANI .
And south of Beirut , young people set tyres ablaze on the Damour highway , the agency said .
Protesters have staged several daytime demonstrations recently , including a convoy of cars in the capital last week , despite the coronavirus lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement erupted in October last year , with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the ruling elite and the rampant graft critics say has brought the economy to its knees .
Lebanon 's worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war is now compounded by the coronavirus lockdown .
Poverty has risen to 45 percent of the population , according to official estimates .
Its economy is forecast to contract 12 percent in 2020 , according to the International Monetary Fund .
The Lebanese pound has also plummeted against the dollar , @ @ @ @ @

Demonstrators blocked roads through Lebanon late Sunday to protest the deteriorating economic situation, despite a lockdown and curfew imposed because of the coronavirus, according to the official news agency.
Lebanese demonstrators wear face masks as they chant slogans during a protest against the collapsing Lebanese pound currency outside Lebanon's Central Bank in Beirut, Lebanon April 23, 2020.
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Police quickly intervened to reopen the highways where the demonstrators burned tyres to block roads, the ANI national news agency said.
In Zalqa sector, northeast of Beirut, six people were injured, Lebanese Red Cross official Rodney Eid told AFP without providing further details.
An AFP photographer saw protesters setting tyres ablaze on the highway north of the capital, in the suburbs of Dbaiyeh, before the army and police moved in.
Protesters also mobilised in the main northern city of Tripoli, according to ANI.
And south of Beirut, young people set tyres ablaze on the Damour highway, the agency said.
Protesters have staged several daytime demonstrations recently, including a convoy of cars in the capital last week, despite the coronavirus lockdown and nighttime curfew.
A nationwide protest movement erupted in October last year, with hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the ruling elite and the rampant graft critics say has brought the economy to its knees.
Lebanon's worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war is now compounded by the coronavirus lockdown. Poverty has risen to 45 percent of the population, according to official estimates.
Its economy is forecast to contract 12 percent in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The Lebanese pound has also plummeted against the dollar, resulting in high inflation.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-27--French police seize 14,000 face masks bound for black market

File photo of people wearing a face mask stand on the empty Trocadero esplanade near the Eiffel Tower in Paris @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , French police have seized 140,000 face masks intended for the black market in @ @ @ @ @ start of the coronavirus pandemic .
It is the largest seizure since the French government @ @ @ @ @ masks to prioritise their distribution to health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ while they were unloading boxes in Saint-Denis , just north of Paris , a police @ @ @ @ @ One of them said he was a business owner and had bought the masks , @ @ @ @ @ masks , in the Netherlands for a total of 80,000 euros ( $ 87,000 ) @ @ @ @ @ be sold to construction workers for a large profit , according to police .
In @ @ @ @ @ China were seized from a warehouse near Paris and 28,800 masks were discovered in a @ @ @ @ @ Chinese wholesalers , also in the Paris region .

French police have seized 140,000 face masks intended for the black market in a record haul since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
File photo of people wearing a face mask stand on the empty Trocadero esplanade near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on April 20, 2020,
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It is the largest seizure since the French government banned the resale of protective masks to prioritise their distribution to health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two individuals were arrested while they were unloading boxes in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris, a police source said on Sunday.
One of them said he was a business owner and had bought the masks, including 5,000 high protection FFP2 masks, in the Netherlands for a total of 80,000 euros ($87,000).
The masks were to be sold to construction workers for a large profit, according to police.
In March, 32,500 masks from China were seized from a warehouse near Paris and 28,800 masks were discovered in a shop in a district of Chinese wholesalers, also in the Paris region.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-27--Pet adoption in times of lockdown: Spotlight on the challenges in France

Pet adoption in times of lockdown : Spotlight on the challenges in France The lockdown orders aimed at limiting the @ @ @ @ @ people are stuck at home , with plenty of free time and limited social contact @ @ @ @ @ has seemed a perfect opportunity to welcome a new furry friend into their lives .
@ @ @ @ @ , adopting a pet has n't been easy .
Animal welfare organisations both large and @ @ @ @ @ as they try to find homes for the country 's four-legged orphans .
FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @

Pet adoption in times of lockdown: Spotlight on the challenges in France
03:32 FOCUS © FRANCE 24
By: Bryan QUINN
The lockdown orders aimed at limiting the spread of Covid-19 mean most people are stuck at home, with plenty of free time and limited social contact. For some, this has seemed a perfect opportunity to welcome a new furry friend into their lives. Here in France, though, adopting a pet hasn't been easy. Animal welfare organisations both large and small have faced major challenges as they try to find homes for the country's four-legged orphans. FRANCE 24's Bryan Quinn reports.