france24--2020-02-29--French PM Philippe pushes through controversial pension reforms without vote

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe pushed through the Macron government ’ s controversial pension reforms without a parliamentary vote on Saturday , after the opposition filed more than 40,000 amendments to the draft law .
After nearly thirteen days of often fractious debate in France ’ s National Assembly , Philippe explained this surprise move by telling MPs that he needed to “ put an end to this episode of non-debate ” with opponents of the bill , and to “ allow the rest of the legislative process to take place ” .
The bill will become law unless the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within three days , but it would be unlikely to pass , because President Emmanuel Macron 's La République En Marche enjoys a sizeable majority .
The legal instrument Philippe used to force the bill through parliament – Article 49.3 of the French constitution – was created by Charles de Gaulle , the founding father of the Fifth Republic , to allow strong government .
Philippe described it as a `` means , offered to the government by the constitution , to get parliament out of a rut '' , in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening .
France 's unions have been up in arms over these plans to merge the country ’ s 42 different retirement schemes into a single points-based system .
Public transport workers walked off the job for a month and a half in December and January , causing travel misery for millions , particularly in the Paris area .
The government argues that the changes are necessary to make the system fairer for all , while reining in France ’ s budget deficit over the long term .
However , critics say they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer for smaller payouts .

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe pushed through the Macron government’s controversial pension reforms without a parliamentary vote on Saturday, after the opposition filed more than 40,000 amendments to the draft law.
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After nearly thirteen days of often fractious debate in France’s National Assembly, Philippe explained this surprise move by telling MPs that he needed to “put an end to this episode of non-debate” with opponents of the bill, and to “allow the rest of the legislative process to take place”.
The bill will become law unless the National Assembly votes through a censure motion within three days, but it would be unlikely to pass, because President Emmanuel Macron's La République En Marche enjoys a sizeable majority.
The legal instrument Philippe used to force the bill through parliament – Article 49.3 of the French constitution – was created by Charles de Gaulle, the founding father of the Fifth Republic, to allow strong government. Philippe described it as a "means, offered to the government by the constitution, to get parliament out of a rut", in an interview with French TV station TF1 on Saturday evening.
France's unions have been up in arms over these plans to merge the country’s 42 different retirement schemes into a single points-based system.
Public transport workers walked off the job for a month and a half in December and January, causing travel misery for millions, particularly in the Paris area.
The government argues that the changes are necessary to make the system fairer for all, while reining in France’s budget deficit over the long term. However, critics say they will force most French people to work longer for smaller payouts.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-02-29--US, Taliban sign landmark peace deal set to end 18 years of conflict in Afghanistan

The United States signed a landmark peace agreement with Taliban militants on Saturday aimed at bringing an end to 18 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan and allowing U.S. troops to return home from America 's longest war .
Under the agreement , the US would draw its forces down to 8,600 from 13,000 in the next 3-4 months , with the remaining US forces withdrawing in 14 months .
The complete pullout , however , would depend on the Taliban meeting their commitments to prevent terrorism .
The signing could help President Donald Trump fulfill a key campaign promise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” President George W. Bush ordered the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11 , 2001 attacks .
Some US troops currently serving there had not yet been born when the World Trade Center collapsed on that crisp , sunny morning that changed how Americans see the world .
It only took a few months to topple the Taliban and send Osama bin Laden and top al-Qaida militants scrambling across the border into Pakistan , but the war dragged on for years as the United States tried to establish a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the least developed countries in the world .
The Taliban regrouped , and currently hold sway over half the country .
The US spent more than $ 750 billion , and on all sides the war cost tens of thousands of lives lost , permanently scarred and indelibly interrupted .
But the conflict was also frequently ignored by US politicians and the American public .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended the ceremony in Qatar , where the Taliban have a political office , but did not sign the agreement .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar .
The Taliban harboured bin Laden and his al-Qaida network as they plotted , and then celebrated , the hijackings of four airliners that were crashed into lower Manhattan , the Pentagon and a field in western Pennsylvania , killing almost 3,000 people .
Pompeo had privately told a conference of US ambassadors at the State Department this week that he was going only because President Donald Trump had insisted on his participation , according to two people present .
Dozens of Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Qatar in which they waved the militant group 's white flags , according to a video shared on Taliban websites .
“ Today is the day of victory , which has come with the help of Allah , ” said Abbas Stanikzai , one of the Taliban 's lead negotiators , who joined the march .
Trump has repeatedly promised to get the U.S. out of its “ endless wars ” in the Middle East , and the withdrawal of troops could provide a boost as he seeks re-election in a nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US troops are to be withdrawn to 8,600 from about 13,000 in the weeks following Saturday 's signing .
Further drawdowns are to depend on the Taliban meeting certain counter-terrorism conditions , compliance that will be assessed by the United States .
Trump has approached the Taliban agreement cautiously , steering clear of the crowing surrounding other major foreign policy actions , such as his talks with North Korea .
Last September , on short notice , he called off what was to be a signing ceremony with the Taliban at Camp David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But he has since been supportive of the talks led by his special envoy , Zalmay Khalilzad .
Under the agreement , the Taliban promise not to let extremists use the country as a staging ground for attacking the US or its allies .
But US officials are loath to trust the Taliban to fulfill their obligations .
Afghanistan 's future in the balance The prospects for Afghanistan 's future are uncertain .
The agreement sets the stage for peace talks involving Afghan factions , which are likely to be complicated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be released from Afghan-run jails , but it 's not known if the Afghan government will do that .
There are also questions about whether Taliban fighters loyal to various warlords will be willing to disarm .
It 's not clear what will become of gains made in women 's rights since the toppling of the Taliban , which had repressed women and girls under a strict brand of Sharia law .
Women 's rights in Afghanistan had been a top concern of both the Bush and Obama administration , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women still struggling for basic rights .
There are currently more than 16,500 soldiers serving under the NATO banner , of which 8,000 are American .
Germany has the next largest contingent , with 1,300 troops , followed by Britain with 1,100 .
In all , 38 NATO countries are contributing forces to Afghanistan .
The alliance officially concluded its combat mission in 2014 and now provides training and support to Afghan forces .
The US has a separate contingent of 5,000 troops deployed to carry out counter-terrorism missions and provide air and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the start of negotiations with the Taliban , the US has stepped up its air assaults on the Taliban as well as a local Islamic State affiliate .
Last year the US air force dropped more bombs on Afghanistan than in any year since 2013 .
Seven days ago , the Taliban began a seven-day “ reduction of violence '' period , a prerequisite to the peace deal signing .

The United States signed a landmark peace agreement with Taliban militants on Saturday aimed at bringing an end to 18 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan and allowing U.S. troops to return home from America's longest war.
(L to R) US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar shake hands after signing a peace agreement during a ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha on February 29, 2020 (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
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Under the agreement, the US would draw its forces down to 8,600 from 13,000 in the next 3-4 months, with the remaining US forces withdrawing in 14 months.
The complete pullout, however, would depend on the Taliban meeting their commitments to prevent terrorism. The signing could help President Donald Trump fulfill a key campaign promise to extract America from its “endless wars.”
President George W. Bush ordered the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Some US troops currently serving there had not yet been born when the World Trade Center collapsed on that crisp, sunny morning that changed how Americans see the world.
It only took a few months to topple the Taliban and send Osama bin Laden and top al-Qaida militants scrambling across the border into Pakistan, but the war dragged on for years as the United States tried to establish a stable, functioning state in one of the least developed countries in the world. The Taliban regrouped, and currently hold sway over half the country.
The US spent more than $750 billion, and on all sides the war cost tens of thousands of lives lost, permanently scarred and indelibly interrupted. But the conflict was also frequently ignored by US politicians and the American public.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended the ceremony in Qatar, where the Taliban have a political office, but did not sign the agreement. Instead, it was signed by US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
The Taliban harboured bin Laden and his al-Qaida network as they plotted, and then celebrated, the hijackings of four airliners that were crashed into lower Manhattan, the Pentagon and a field in western Pennsylvania, killing almost 3,000 people.
Pompeo had privately told a conference of US ambassadors at the State Department this week that he was going only because President Donald Trump had insisted on his participation, according to two people present.
An 'endless war'
Dozens of Taliban members meanwhile held a small victory march in Qatar in which they waved the militant group's white flags, according to a video shared on Taliban websites. “Today is the day of victory, which has come with the help of Allah,” said Abbas Stanikzai, one of the Taliban's lead negotiators, who joined the march.
Trump has repeatedly promised to get the U.S. out of its “endless wars” in the Middle East, and the withdrawal of troops could provide a boost as he seeks re-election in a nation weary of involvement in distant conflicts.
US troops are to be withdrawn to 8,600 from about 13,000 in the weeks following Saturday's signing. Further drawdowns are to depend on the Taliban meeting certain counter-terrorism conditions, compliance that will be assessed by the United States.
Trump has approached the Taliban agreement cautiously, steering clear of the crowing surrounding other major foreign policy actions, such as his talks with North Korea.
Last September, on short notice, he called off what was to be a signing ceremony with the Taliban at Camp David after a series of new Taliban attacks. But he has since been supportive of the talks led by his special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad.
Under the agreement, the Taliban promise not to let extremists use the country as a staging ground for attacking the US or its allies. But US officials are loath to trust the Taliban to fulfill their obligations.
Afghanistan's future in the balance
The prospects for Afghanistan's future are uncertain. The agreement sets the stage for peace talks involving Afghan factions, which are likely to be complicated. Under the agreement, 5,000 Taliban are to be released from Afghan-run jails, but it's not known if the Afghan government will do that. There are also questions about whether Taliban fighters loyal to various warlords will be willing to disarm.
It's not clear what will become of gains made in women's rights since the toppling of the Taliban, which had repressed women and girls under a strict brand of Sharia law. Women's rights in Afghanistan had been a top concern of both the Bush and Obama administration, but it remains a deeply conservative country, with women still struggling for basic rights.
There are currently more than 16,500 soldiers serving under the NATO banner, of which 8,000 are American. Germany has the next largest contingent, with 1,300 troops, followed by Britain with 1,100.
In all, 38 NATO countries are contributing forces to Afghanistan. The alliance officially concluded its combat mission in 2014 and now provides training and support to Afghan forces.
The US has a separate contingent of 5,000 troops deployed to carry out counter-terrorism missions and provide air and ground support to Afghan forces when requested.
Since the start of negotiations with the Taliban, the US has stepped up its air assaults on the Taliban as well as a local Islamic State affiliate. Last year the US air force dropped more bombs on Afghanistan than in any year since 2013.
Seven days ago, the Taliban began a seven-day “reduction of violence" period, a prerequisite to the peace deal signing.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)
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france24--2020-02-29--Thousands rally in France for exiled Catalan leader Puigdemont

Tens of thousands of Catalan independence supporters gathered in Perpignan , southern France , on Saturday at a rally in support of exiled former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont , who called on the crowd to prepare for the “ definitive struggle ” for independence .
At around 30km from the Spanish border , it is the closest Puigdemont has been to Spain since he fled the country in October 2017 after calling a referendum on independence .
The referendum , which was declared illegal by Spanish courts , led to a short-lived declaration of independence by leaders in the restive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest political crisis in decades .
Puigdemont , who is now a member of the European Parliament and lives in exile in Belgium , urged supporters waving Catalan flags not to give up on the fight for an independent Catalonia .
“ We know that we won ’ t stop and they won ’ t stop us .
We don ’ t have to wait for better times because they are here , ” he said , to cheers from the crowd , which numbered around 70,000 according to local police , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Today we have stepped on Catalan soil as free people , ” he said .
Perpignan , where Catalan is spoken , is a symbolic location for many Catalans , who call the region Northern Catalonia .
Supporters poured into the city , many crossing the border from Spain .
“ Movements like this , with this magnitude , are always a positive thing , ” said entrepreneur Joan Candoll , 50 .
“ I see this as an act of unity , not a political campaign ” .
Puigdemont made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political crisis , which began this week between Spain ’ s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Catalan regional President Quim Torra , who was due to attend the Perpignan rally .
Puigdemont has been unable to return to Spain , where he is wanted on charges of sedition and misuse of public funds for his role in the failed independence bid .
All extradition attempts by Spain have so-far failed , and he can not be detained in France because of his MEP immunity .

Tens of thousands of Catalan independence supporters gathered in Perpignan, southern France, on Saturday at a rally in support of exiled former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who called on the crowd to prepare for the “definitive struggle” for independence.
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At around 30km from the Spanish border, it is the closest Puigdemont has been to Spain since he fled the country in October 2017 after calling a referendum on independence.
The referendum, which was declared illegal by Spanish courts, led to a short-lived declaration of independence by leaders in the restive northeastern region, plunging Spain into its biggest political crisis in decades.
Puigdemont, who is now a member of the European Parliament and lives in exile in Belgium, urged supporters waving Catalan flags not to give up on the fight for an independent Catalonia.
“We know that we won’t stop and they won’t stop us. We don’t have to wait for better times because they are here,” he said, to cheers from the crowd, which numbered around 70,000 according to local police, though organizers put the number closer to 150,000.
“Today we have stepped on Catalan soil as free people,” he said.
Perpignan, where Catalan is spoken, is a symbolic location for many Catalans, who call the region Northern Catalonia.
Supporters poured into the city, many crossing the border from Spain.
“Movements like this, with this magnitude, are always a positive thing,” said entrepreneur Joan Candoll, 50. “I see this as an act of unity, not a political campaign”.
Puigdemont made no mention of talks on the Catalan political crisis, which began this week between Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Catalan regional President Quim Torra, who was due to attend the Perpignan rally.
Puigdemont has been unable to return to Spain, where he is wanted on charges of sedition and misuse of public funds for his role in the failed independence bid. All extradition attempts by Spain have so-far failed, and he cannot be detained in France because of his MEP immunity.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-29--Coronavirus epidemic surges in South Korea as cases exceed 3,000

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear move to spray disinfectant against the spread of the coronavirus at a railway station in Daegu on February 29 , 2020 .
South Korea confirmed 813 more coronavirus cases on Saturday , the biggest increase to date for the country , taking the national total to 3,150 infections with four additional deaths .
Authorities also reported the country ’ s first case of reinfection – a 73-year-old woman who tested positive for a second time after her recovery and release from hospital last week .
The illness recurred “ as her immune system had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) official Kwon Jun-wook .
At least 10 reinfection cases have already been reported in China , Kwon added .
More than 90 percent of the new cases were in Daegu , the centre of the country ’ s outbreak , and its neighbouring North Gyeongsang province , the KCDC said in a statement .
Three women in the Daegu area and one man died of the illness , taking the national toll to 17 , the statement added .
All were aged in their 60s or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has led many events to be cancelled or postponed as the outbreak has hit the world ’ s 12th-largest economy , including concerts by K-pop superstars BTS and the World Team Table Tennis Championships .
The new school term has been delayed by one week nationwide while schools in Daegu by three weeks , and the US and South Korean militaries have postponed forthcoming joint exercises .
Auto giant Hyundai Motor also suspended operations at one of its Ulsan plants after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus .
No citywide quarantine for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday , it recorded 427 infections – fewer new cases than South Korea – following unprecedented quarantine efforts locking down tens of millions of people in the worst-hit cities .
South Korean officials say they are not considering a citywide quarantine for Daegu similar to the lockdown imposed on Wuhan .
Vice health minister Kim Gang-lip said that of those who tested positive for the virus , 80 percent could be treated with medication because they had “ light symptoms ” .
He added that the rest would need more advanced treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been largely deserted for days , apart from long queues at the few shops with masks for sale .
Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and anyone with a fever or respiratory symptoms to stay home .
But South Korea ’ s total is expected to rise further with screening of more than 210,000 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , a secretive entity often accused of being a cult that is linked to around half of the country ’ s cases .
A 61-year-old female member developed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least four church services in Daegu – the country ’ s fourth-largest city with a population of 2.5 million – before being diagnosed .
Facing public criticism , a Shincheonji spokesman said the church members were victims of a “ witch hunt ” .
“ I ask you to discard hatred and criticism against our members , ” said the spokesman in a video posted on the Shincheonji website .
Members of the church have also traveled overseas , causing fear of wider infection .
On February 23 , Israel ordered 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 19 staff from three separate schools , after they were in the proximity of visiting pilgrims from the Shincheonji Church who were carrying the coronavirus .
The South Korean tourists had toured Israeli sites between February 8-15 and upon their return home , 18 of them were discovered to be infected with the virus .
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned top party officials of the “ serious consequences ” of failing to prevent an outbreak on their side of the border .
The impoverished nation , with a weak and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borders to prevent the spread of the disease into its territory .
During a ruling party meeting , Kim called for the country ’ s anti-epidemic headquarters to strengthen screening and tests to seal off all “ channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way , ” Pyongyang ’ s official Korean Central News Agency , or KCNA , said Saturday .
Kim emphasised that all fields and units of the country should “ unconditionally ” obey quarantine instructions laid-out by the anti-epidemic headquarters .
He called for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he described as a tricky virus that spreads rapidly .
“ In case the infectious disease spreading beyond control finds its way into our country , it will entail serious consequences , ” KCNA quoted Kim as saying during the politburo meeting of the Workers ’ Party .
The North has yet to report its first infection from the new coronavirus , but it has been pushing a tough campaign it has described as a matter of “ national existence.
” The country has shut down nearly all cross-border traffic , banned tourists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobilized tens of thousands of health workers to monitor residents and isolate those with symptoms .
The virus has rapidly spread across the world in the past week , causing stock markets to sink to their lowest levels since the 2008 global financial crisis over fears that the disease could wreak havoc on the world economy .
More than 2,900 people have died and over 85,000 have been infected worldwide since it was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year .

South Korea confirmed 813 more coronavirus cases on Saturday, the biggest increase to date for the country, taking the national total to 3,150 infections with four additional deaths.
South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear move to spray disinfectant against the spread of the coronavirus at a railway station in Daegu on February 29, 2020.
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Authorities also reported the country’s first case of reinfection – a 73-year-old woman who tested positive for a second time after her recovery and release from hospital last week.
The illness recurred “as her immune system had declined”, said Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) official Kwon Jun-wook.
At least 10 reinfection cases have already been reported in China, Kwon added.
More than 90 percent of the new cases were in Daegu, the centre of the country’s outbreak, and its neighbouring North Gyeongsang province, the KCDC said in a statement.
Three women in the Daegu area and one man died of the illness, taking the national toll to 17, the statement added. All were aged in their 60s or older.
The surge in confirmed cases has led many events to be cancelled or postponed as the outbreak has hit the world’s 12th-largest economy, including concerts by K-pop superstars BTS and the World Team Table Tennis Championships.
The new school term has been delayed by one week nationwide while schools in Daegu by three weeks, and the US and South Korean militaries have postponed forthcoming joint exercises.
Auto giant Hyundai Motor also suspended operations at one of its Ulsan plants after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus.
No citywide quarantine for now
While China reported 47 more deaths on Saturday, it recorded 427 infections – fewer new cases than South Korea – following unprecedented quarantine efforts locking down tens of millions of people in the worst-hit cities.
South Korean officials say they are not considering a citywide quarantine for Daegu similar to the lockdown imposed on Wuhan.
Vice health minister Kim Gang-lip said that of those who tested positive for the virus, 80 percent could be treated with medication because they had “light symptoms”. He added that the rest would need more advanced treatment in hospitals.
The streets of Daegu have been largely deserted for days, apart from long queues at the few shops with masks for sale.
Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and anyone with a fever or respiratory symptoms to stay home.
Half of cases linked to Shincheonji Church
But South Korea’s total is expected to rise further with screening of more than 210,000 members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive entity often accused of being a cult that is linked to around half of the country’s cases.
A 61-year-old female member developed a fever on February 10, but attended at least four church services in Daegu – the country’s fourth-largest city with a population of 2.5 million – before being diagnosed.
Facing public criticism, a Shincheonji spokesman said the church members were victims of a “witch hunt”.
“I ask you to discard hatred and criticism against our members,” said the spokesman in a video posted on the Shincheonji website.
Members of the church have also traveled overseas, causing fear of wider infection. On February 23, Israel ordered 200 people into quarantine, including 180 pupils and 19 staff from three separate schools, after they were in the proximity of visiting pilgrims from the Shincheonji Church who were carrying the coronavirus.
The South Korean tourists had toured Israeli sites between February 8-15 and upon their return home, 18 of them were discovered to be infected with the virus.
North Korean leader calls for stronger measures
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned top party officials of the “serious consequences” of failing to prevent an outbreak on their side of the border.
The impoverished nation, with a weak and ill-equipped healthcare system, has closed its borders to prevent the spread of the disease into its territory.
During a ruling party meeting, Kim called for the country’s anti-epidemic headquarters to strengthen screening and tests to seal off all “channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way,” Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, said Saturday.
Kim emphasised that all fields and units of the country should “unconditionally” obey quarantine instructions laid-out by the anti-epidemic headquarters. He called for the strict enforcement of preventive measures against what he described as a tricky virus that spreads rapidly.
“In case the infectious disease spreading beyond control finds its way into our country, it will entail serious consequences,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying during the politburo meeting of the Workers’ Party.
The North has yet to report its first infection from the new coronavirus, but it has been pushing a tough campaign it has described as a matter of “national existence.” The country has shut down nearly all cross-border traffic, banned tourists, intensified screening at entry points and mobilized tens of thousands of health workers to monitor residents and isolate those with symptoms.
The virus has rapidly spread across the world in the past week, causing stock markets to sink to their lowest levels since the 2008 global financial crisis over fears that the disease could wreak havoc on the world economy.
More than 2,900 people have died and over 85,000 have been infected worldwide since it was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)
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france24--2020-02-29--Walkouts at 'French Oscars' as Roman Polanski wins best director

Roman Polanski won best director for `` An Officer and a Spy '' at a fractious ceremony for the French Oscars , the Cesars , that ended in walkouts and recrimination in Paris early Saturday .
The entire French academy had been forced to resign earlier this month amid fury that the veteran -- wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977 -- had topped the list of nominations .
Protesters chanting `` Lock up Polanski ! ''
tried to storm the theatre where the ceremony was being held before being pushed back by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Culture Minister Franck Riester had warned that giving the maker of `` Rosemary 's Baby '' a Cesar would be `` symbolically bad given the stance we must take against sexual and sexist violence '' .
But Polanski won two awards , best adapted screenplay and best director -- with the latter prompting Adele Haenel , who was nominated for best actress for `` Portrait of a Lady on Fire '' , to storm out , crying `` Shame ! ''
Haenel has become a hero of the # MeToo movement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first film , Christophe Ruggia , of sexually harassing her when she was only 12 .
Polanski 's film also picked up best costume design .
‘ Public lynching ’ '' Distinguishing Polanski is spitting in the face of all victims , '' Haenel had said in the run-up to the Cesars .
`` It means raping women is n't that bad . ''
Polanski , 86 , and the entire team of his historical drama had boycotted the ceremony , fearing a `` public lynching '' .
`` An Officer and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affair which divided France in the late 19th century when a Jewish army officer was wrongly prosecuted for spying .
`` What place can there be in such deplorable conditions for a film about the defence of truth , the fight for justice , ( against ) blind hate and anti-Semitism ? ''
the director told AFP .
Polanski 's epic , which won two top prizes at the Venice film festival last year , was in the running in 12 categories at the Cesars .
But the big winner on the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , set in one of France 's deprived and restive suburbs .
It took best film and three other prizes including the audience award .
It 's Mali-born director Ladj Ly made an appeal for unity on a highly fraught night , saying `` our enemy is not the other , but poverty '' .
Poisonous atmosphere '' Papicha '' , a touching story of Algerian women fighting for their freedom by Mounia Meddour , also fared well , winning both best first film and best female newcomer for actress Lyna Khoudri .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with itself over Polanski , Hollywood star Brad Pitt also snubbed the event having reportedly been offered an honorary award .
The French press had dubbed the event `` The Cesars of Anguish '' , with Le Parisien daily mocking up a movie poster of Hitchcock 's `` Vertigo '' .
And the ceremony lived up to its billing .
The poisonous atmosphere had already worsened on the eve of the awards when 30 film figures from minority backgrounds lashed the lip service they claimed the industry plays to inclusion .
Casual racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black , North African and Asian-origin performers are mostly confined to stereotypical bit parts in French films .
On the night , one of the signatories of the letter , actress Aissa Maiga , delivering a scathing critique of casual racism in the industry as she presented the prize for best newcomer , including skewering presenter Florence Foresti for once donning blackface .
But it was the absent figure of Polanski which caused most unease , with a presenter only daring to mumble his name when he opened the envelope for his first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's movie was halted last year after another woman , photographer Valentine Monnier , claimed that she had also been raped by the director in 1975 .
But that did not stop it becoming a box office hit in France .
Polanski had told AFP that he had decided to stay away from the ceremony to protect his family and his team from abuse .
`` The activists brandish the figure of 12 women who I am supposed to have molested half a century ago , '' he said .
`` These fantasies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , '' he complained .
( AFP )

Roman Polanski won best director for "An Officer and a Spy" at a fractious ceremony for the French Oscars, the Cesars, that ended in walkouts and recrimination in Paris early Saturday.
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The entire French academy had been forced to resign earlier this month amid fury that the veteran -- wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977 -- had topped the list of nominations.
Protesters chanting "Lock up Polanski!" tried to storm the theatre where the ceremony was being held before being pushed back by police firing tear gas.
And France's Culture Minister Franck Riester had warned that giving the maker of "Rosemary's Baby" a Cesar would be "symbolically bad given the stance we must take against sexual and sexist violence".
But Polanski won two awards, best adapted screenplay and best director -- with the latter prompting Adele Haenel, who was nominated for best actress for "Portrait of a Lady on Fire", to storm out, crying "Shame!"
Haenel has become a hero of the #MeToo movement in France after accusing the director of her first film, Christophe Ruggia, of sexually harassing her when she was only 12.
Polanski's film also picked up best costume design.
‘Public lynching’
"Distinguishing Polanski is spitting in the face of all victims," Haenel had said in the run-up to the Cesars.
"It means raping women isn't that bad."
Polanski, 86, and the entire team of his historical drama had boycotted the ceremony, fearing a "public lynching".
"An Officer and a Spy" is based on the Dreyfus affair which divided France in the late 19th century when a Jewish army officer was wrongly prosecuted for spying.
"What place can there be in such deplorable conditions for a film about the defence of truth, the fight for justice, (against) blind hate and anti-Semitism?" the director told AFP.
Polanski's epic, which won two top prizes at the Venice film festival last year, was in the running in 12 categories at the Cesars.
But the big winner on the night was the Oscar-nominated "Les Miserables", set in one of France's deprived and restive suburbs.
It took best film and three other prizes including the audience award.
It's Mali-born director Ladj Ly made an appeal for unity on a highly fraught night, saying "our enemy is not the other, but poverty".
Poisonous atmosphere
"Papicha", a touching story of Algerian women fighting for their freedom by Mounia Meddour, also fared well, winning both best first film and best female newcomer for actress Lyna Khoudri.
With the French film industry at war with itself over Polanski, Hollywood star Brad Pitt also snubbed the event having reportedly been offered an honorary award.
The French press had dubbed the event "The Cesars of Anguish", with Le Parisien daily mocking up a movie poster of Hitchcock's "Vertigo".
And the ceremony lived up to its billing.
The poisonous atmosphere had already worsened on the eve of the awards when 30 film figures from minority backgrounds lashed the lip service they claimed the industry plays to inclusion.
Casual racism
In a blistering open letter they said black, North African and Asian-origin performers are mostly confined to stereotypical bit parts in French films.
On the night, one of the signatories of the letter, actress Aissa Maiga, delivering a scathing critique of casual racism in the industry as she presented the prize for best newcomer, including skewering presenter Florence Foresti for once donning blackface.
But it was the absent figure of Polanski which caused most unease, with a presenter only daring to mumble his name when he opened the envelope for his first win.
The publicity campaign for Polanski's movie was halted last year after another woman, photographer Valentine Monnier, claimed that she had also been raped by the director in 1975.
But that did not stop it becoming a box office hit in France.
Polanski had told AFP that he had decided to stay away from the ceremony to protect his family and his team from abuse.
"The activists brandish the figure of 12 women who I am supposed to have molested half a century ago," he said.
"These fantasies of sick minds are treated as established fact," he complained.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-29--Balcony concerts and living-room vacations: how Chinese people are beating quarantine boredom

What can you do to keep busy when you are stuck at home for a month ?
People who ’ ve been under quarantine in China for the past month are getting creative to beat their boredom .
Social media sites are full of videos of activities ranging from dance performances staged at home to a concert performed on a balcony .
More than 15 cities in China have been under quarantine for weeks .
In an attempt to beat the boredom of being trapped at home , people have been finding ways to entertain themselves by transforming their homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recent video to go viral on social media shows a couple using pillows and batons to practice boxing and martial arts on their balcony ... with their very eager dog .
This video has been circulating on Chinese social media network Weibo since February 26 along with the hashtag “ boredom at home and dog fighting ” Tens of millions of people were trapped at home during the Lunar New Year , which lasted from January 24 through February 8 , and is usually a time when Chinese people travel to visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families decided to go sightseeing… in their own homes .
This video was posted on Twitter on February 2 along with the caption : “ [ W ] hen the chinese get bored of staying home - they go sightseeing around their home .
Bedside mountain ( with a monster ) , man made waterfall , hot springs , and [ street food ] .
I ’ m on the floor . ''
`` The next step is bed mountain !
” says this dad dressed up as a tour guide as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then he brings them to the shower .
“ Second stop -- the homemade waterfall !
” Before stopping to sample “ local fruit ” in the dining room , the children wade in a “ hot spring ” -- the bathtub filled up with hot water .
Unable to take part in the biggest festivities of the year because of the outbreak , some families organised their own at-home versions of the traditional lion dance , a hallmark of Lunar New Year celebrations .
Two videos copied from Weibo by the FRANCE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lion dances in quarantine .
The first was posted on Weibo on February 18 along with the hashtag , “ Nothing to do at home ” .
The second , published on January 25 , was made by people living in Shanxi , in northern China , who had to cancel their travel plans because of the epidemic .
Fireworks are also a big part of traditional New Year celebrations .
Some people used balloons , toothpicks and good old fashioned yells to replace firecrackers .
This woman imitated fireworks for her amused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weibo on January 29 .
Some of the videos posted feature animals : A video posted to Weibo and republished by the FRANCE 24 Observers .
To illustrate just how bored he was , one man filmed himself inching across the floor .
Instead of giving in to ennui , some people have used the extra time to organise curling tournaments with pots and pans or open-air concerts on their balconies .
This video , which had garnered close to 10,000 views , was posted on Twitter on February 20 .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of TikTok available in China .
This video was widely circulated on Weibo and was picked up by several Chinese media outlets .
It was posted on the evening of February 8 , the day of the lantern festival , which , in China , marks the end to Lunar New Year festivities .
This man invited his neighbours to join in before launching into a well-known song by Taiwanese singer Jay Chou .
Many people on social media said they were incredibly moved by this concert .
After several similar videos appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population that wearing a mask when you are outside is mandatory , even if you are just on your balcony .
For the less lucky youngsters , quarantine means doing homework at home with a teacher who does televised lessons .
This video was posted on Weibo Feb. 23 .

China
From performing the traditional lion dance in their living rooms to imitating fireworks, Chinese people are finding inventive ways to beat the boredom of quarantine.
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What can you do to keep busy when you are stuck at home for a month? People who’ve been under quarantine in China for the past month are getting creative to beat their boredom. Social media sites are full of videos of activities ranging from dance performances staged at home to a concert performed on a balcony.
More than 15 cities in China have been under quarantine for weeks. In an attempt to beat the boredom of being trapped at home, people have been finding ways to entertain themselves by transforming their homes into playgrounds or improvised gyms.
The most recent video to go viral on social media shows a couple using pillows and batons to practice boxing and martial arts on their balcony... with their very eager dog. This video has been circulating on Chinese social media network Weibo since February 26 along with the hashtag “boredom at home and dog fighting”
Tens of millions of people were trapped at home during the Lunar New Year, which lasted from January 24 through February 8, and is usually a time when Chinese people travel to visit family or take a vacation. Some families decided to go sightseeing… in their own homes.
when the chinese get bored of staying home - they go sightseeing around their home
bedside mountain (with a monster), man made waterfall, hot springs, and food street
i’m on the floor ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/sAZfSLK3ug e (@xiaotoumings) February 2, 2020
This video was posted on Twitter on February 2 along with the caption: “[W]hen the chinese get bored of staying home - they go sightseeing around their home. Bedside mountain (with a monster), man made waterfall, hot springs, and [street food]. I’m on the floor."
"The next step is bed mountain!” says this dad dressed up as a tour guide as he leads his children into a bedroom. Then he brings them to the shower. “Second stop-- the homemade waterfall!” Before stopping to sample “local fruit” in the dining room, the children wade in a “hot spring”-- the bathtub filled up with hot water.
Unable to take part in the biggest festivities of the year because of the outbreak, some families organised their own at-home versions of the traditional lion dance, a hallmark of Lunar New Year celebrations.
Two videos copied from Weibo by the FRANCE 24 Observers team show people performing traditional lion dances in quarantine. The first was posted on Weibo on February 18 along with the hashtag, “Nothing to do at home”. The second, published on January 25, was made by people living in Shanxi, in northern China, who had to cancel their travel plans because of the epidemic.
Fireworks are also a big part of traditional New Year celebrations. Some people used balloons, toothpicks and good old fashioned yells to replace firecrackers.
This woman imitated fireworks for her amused family. This video was posted on Weibo on January 29.
Some of the videos posted feature animals:
A video posted to Weibo and republished by the FRANCE 24 Observers.
To illustrate just how bored he was, one man filmed himself inching across the floor.
Lol people here in China are uploading silly videos on Douyin (Chinese TikTok) of them bored at home because the Corona virus means nobody can go out pic.twitter.com/PlHwz0NwqU ⓛⓨⓓⓘⓐ⁷ (@Lydia130613) January 29, 2020
Instead of giving in to ennui, some people have used the extra time to organise curling tournaments with pots and pans or open-air concerts on their balconies.
This video, which had garnered close to 10,000 views, was posted on Twitter on February 20. It was originally posted on Douyin, the version of TikTok available in China.
This video was widely circulated on Weibo and was picked up by several Chinese media outlets. It was posted on the evening of February 8, the day of the lantern festival, which, in China, marks the end to Lunar New Year festivities. This man invited his neighbours to join in before launching into a well-known song by Taiwanese singer Jay Chou. Many people on social media said they were incredibly moved by this concert. After several similar videos appeared online, the Chinese authorities reminded the population that wearing a mask when you are outside is mandatory, even if you are just on your balcony.
For the less lucky youngsters, quarantine means doing homework at home with a teacher who does televised lessons.
This video was posted on Weibo Feb. 23.
Article written by Marie Genries


france24--2020-03-01--Pete Buttigieg to drop out of US presidential race after big Biden win

Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg attends a campaign event in Raleigh , North Carolina , U.S. , February 29 , 2020 .
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg will suspend his campaign for president on Sunday night , a campaign aide said , following his fourth-place finish in the South Carolina Democratic primary easily won by fellow moderate Joe Biden .
Buttigieg 's withdrawal could help Biden , a one-time national Democratic front-runner whose much-needed victory in South Carolina on Saturday gave him momentum heading into the 14-state Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pete is heading back to South Bend and will give a speech tonight suspending his campaign , ” the campaign aide told Reuters .
Buttigieg , a 38-year-old Afghanistan war veteran who would have been the first openly gay U.S. president , had sought to unite Democrats , independents and moderate Republican voters , arguing that his status as a Washington outsider could rebuild the majority needed to defeat Republican President Donald Trump in November 's election .
He entered the race as a relative unknown on the national stage , with two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city as the chief item on his political resume .
But his campaign invested heavily in rural and Trump-leaning counties in Iowa in the hope that a win in its first Democratic nominating contest would give him a boost in states to come .
He did just that , pulling out a narrow victory in Iowa over Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and surprising many in the Democratic establishment with a close second-place finish in New Hampshire .
But Buttigieg 's tenure as mayor , which ended on Jan. 1 , came under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the city 's police force and a fatal shooting of a black resident by a police officer .
He struggled to maintain momentum as the pace of the contests accelerated through demographically diverse Nevada and South Carolina , and he lacked the national profile and long-standing relationships with the black community that helped Biden win South Carolina .

Pete Buttigieg, who entered the Democratic presidential race as a relative unknown and positioned himself as the future of the party during an improbable rise to the top tier of a crowded field, ended his White House bid on Sunday.
Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg attends a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S., February 29, 2020.
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Buttigieg, 38, a former two-term mayor of South Bend, Indiana, an Afghanistan war veteran and the first openly gay candidate to make a competitive run for the U.S. presidency, narrowly won the Iowa caucuses that kicked off the nominating race in February and finished a close second in New Hampshire.
But his early momentum from those rural, mostly white states did not translate into electoral success in the more diverse states of Nevada and South Carolina.
After finishing a distant third in the Nevada caucuses, Buttigieg came in fourth on Saturday in South Carolina, where he won support from just 3% of African-American voters.
The centrist Democrat's withdrawal from the race could help former Vice President Joe Biden, a fellow moderate who got a much-needed victory on Saturday and now is looking to wrest momentum from liberal front-runner Bernie Sanders in this week's 14-state Super Tuesday nominating contests.
Speaking in South Bend, Buttigieg said his campaign began its "unlikely journey" with a staff of four, no big email lists and no personal fortune.
Thank you for inviting me into your homes, sharing your stories, and putting your trust in me. We launched our campaign because Americans are hungry for a new kind of politics that brings us together.
And together we'll beat this president and build the era that must come next. pic.twitter.com/QDajvx1lpL — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) March 2, 2020
"We got into this race in order to defeat the current president and in order to usher in a new kind of politics," Buttigieg told a crowd of supporters. Now, he said, it was time to "step aside and help bring our party and our country together."
In a tweet, Biden said Buttigieg had run a “trail-blazing campaign based on courage, compassion, and honesty,” adding: “This is just the beginning of his time on the national stage.”
.@PeteButtigieg ran a historic, trail-blazing campaign based on courage, compassion, and honesty. We will be a better country for his continued service. This is just the beginning of his time on the national stage. — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) March 2, 2020
Buttigieg had sought to unite Democrats, independents and moderate Republican voters, arguing his status as a Washington outsider could rebuild a majority to defeat Republican President Donald Trump in November's election.
But he faced persistent questions about his ability to win over black voters, a core Democratic voting bloc.
Buttigieg's tenure as South Bend mayor, which ended on Jan. 1, drew scrutiny for a lack of diversity on the local police force and a fatal shooting of a black resident by a police officer. He also lacked Biden's national profile or long-standing relationships with the black community.
Historic campaign
Buttigieg would have been the first openly gay major-party presidential nominee in US history. He did not make his sexuality a centerpiece of his candidacy, although his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, a teacher he married in 2018, regularly accompanied him on the campaign trail.
Buttigieg, often referred to simply as "Mayor Pete," promised a departure from the politics of the past. As a "proud son" of Indiana, he argued he could speak directly to voters struggling economically in crucial swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin that handed Trump the presidency in 2016.
A US Navy veteran who often spoke of his military service and Christian faith, Buttigieg was critical of Sanders' uncompromising liberal proposals, which Buttigieg warned could alienate moderate Democratic voters ahead of "the fight of our lives" to unseat Trump.
00:33
At the televised debate ahead of the South Carolina primary, Buttigieg said Sanders' shifting estimates to fund proposals such as a government-run healthcare system for all would doom the Democratic Party in November.
"I can tell you exactly how it all adds up. It adds up to four more years of Donald Trump," Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg had considerable early success in fundraising, proving popular with the Hollywood and big-tech money scenes. He came under fire from Democratic competitors, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who questioned whether he was beholden to his big-money donors and criticised his ritzy, closed-door fundraiser in a wine cave in California.
His campaign, however, faced tighter purse strings after heavy investments in the first two voting states and raised only $6 million in January. Sanders, by comparison, raised $25 million the same month.
Before Biden's South Carolina win, Buttigieg had argued he was the only candidate who had proven he could beat Sanders in state contests. His campaign had laid out a strategy to get through Super Tuesday contests and focus on later primaries where it believed it had an edge.
That changed as the race remained outsized and questions mounted about possibly non-viable contenders splitting moderate votes to give Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, an easy path to the nomination. A campaign aide told Reuters that Buttigieg was not going to be a "spoiler" who helped Sanders win.
Still, his decision to drop out before Super Tuesday caught some supporters by surprise. Buttigieg spent the day in Selma, Alabama, commemorating a landmark civil rights march in 1965. A big crowd had gathered later on Sunday for the candidate's scheduled event in Dallas when they learned he was no longer coming.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-01--Several Syrian soldiers killed in Turkish drone strikes, war monitor says

Smoke billows over the village of Qaminas , about 6 kilometres southeast of Idlib city in northwestern Syria , following reported Russian air strikes in northwestern Syria on March 1 , 2020 .
Turkish drone strikes in Syria 's Idlib province killed 19 regime soldiers on Sunday , a war monitor reported , as tensions soared between Damascus and Ankara .
The 19 died in strikes on a military convoy in the Jabal al-Zawiya area and a base near Maaret al-Numan city , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said .
The report came hours after Turkey shot down two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the Damascus regime in the country 's northwestern province of Idlib .
Following weeks of violence in and around Idlib , Turkey confirmed the launch of a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces after 34 Turkish soldiers died last week in an air strike blamed on Damascus .
Tensions have intensified between rebel backer Turkey and the regime 's main ally Moscow , but Ankara has insisted it does not want to clash directly with Russian forces .
Turkey has also pressured Europe over the conflict by opening its border for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continent .
The confrontation between Syrian forces and NATO-member Turkey has prompted worries over a wider conflict and a migrant crisis in Europe similar to that of 2015 .
Turkey has 12 observation posts established in rebel-held Idlib following a 2018 deal between Ankara and Moscow signed in the Black Sea resort of Sochi .
But the regime recently has pressed ahead with an assault , killing hundreds of civilians and forcing nearly a million to flee from their homes in the region .
Rebel-supporter Turkey and Damascus ally Russia previously worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib despite being on opposing sides of the nine-year war .
Erdogan on Saturday called on Russia to `` get out of our way '' in Idlib and leave Turkey `` face to face with the regime '' in Idlib .
The latest developments has strained relations between Ankara and Moscow but the Kremlin hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks in Moscow on March 5 or March 6 , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday , Interfax news agency reported .
The talks will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm their focus on resolving the situation in Syria ’ s Idlib region , where the two countries are backing opposing sides in a conflict , Peskov said .
( FRANCE 24 with AFP , AP and REUTERS )

Turkish drone strikes in Syria's Idlib province killed 19 regime soldiers on Sunday, a war monitor reported, as tensions soared between Damascus and Ankara.
Smoke billows over the village of Qaminas, about 6 kilometres southeast of Idlib city in northwestern Syria, following reported Russian air strikes in northwestern Syria on March 1, 2020.
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The 19 died in strikes on a military convoy in the Jabal al-Zawiya area and a base near Maaret al-Numan city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The report came hours after Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes, in an escalating offensive against the Damascus regime in the country's northwestern province of Idlib.
Following weeks of violence in and around Idlib, Turkey confirmed the launch of a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces after 34 Turkish soldiers died last week in an air strike blamed on Damascus.
Tensions have intensified between rebel backer Turkey and the regime's main ally Moscow, but Ankara has insisted it does not want to clash directly with Russian forces.
Turkey has also pressured Europe over the conflict by opening its border for migrants already in Turkey to cross into the continent.
The confrontation between Syrian forces and NATO-member Turkey has prompted worries over a wider conflict and a migrant crisis in Europe similar to that of 2015.
Turkey has 12 observation posts established in rebel-held Idlib following a 2018 deal between Ankara and Moscow signed in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
But the regime recently has pressed ahead with an assault, killing hundreds of civilians and forcing nearly a million to flee from their homes in the region.
Rebel-supporter Turkey and Damascus ally Russia previously worked closely to prevent a regime offensive in Idlib despite being on opposing sides of the nine-year war.
Erdogan on Saturday called on Russia to "get out of our way" in Idlib and leave Turkey "face to face with the regime" in Idlib.
The latest developments has strained relations between Ankara and Moscow but the Kremlin hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks in Moscow on March 5 or March 6, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday, Interfax news agency reported.
The talks will not be easy, but both leaders confirm their focus on resolving the situation in Syria’s Idlib region, where the two countries are backing opposing sides in a conflict, Peskov said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-02--Syrian migrant ‘killed’ as thousands attempt to cross from Turkey into Greece

Migrants wait to cross the border from Turkey into Greece near the town of Kastanies on March 2 , 2020 .
A Syrian migrant seeking to cross from Turkey into Greece died on Monday after Greek security forces intervened to prevent the passage of migrants gathered on the border , Turkish security sources have said .
The incident occurred after the Turkish government opened its border last week to let migrants reach Europe .
There was no immediate comment from Greek officials .
More than 10,000 migrants have attempted to cross by land at the border , where guards from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds caught between the fences in no-man 's land .
At least 1,000 more have reached Greece 's Eastern Aegean islands by boat since Sunday morning , Greek police say .
Earlier on Monday , a child died after being pulled from the sea when a boat capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos , in the first confirmed fatality since Turkey opened its border .
Turkey , which is home to 3.7 million Syrian refugees and has another million on its doorstep from a new surge of fighting , said last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had prevented migrants from reaching the EU .
Greek officials accused Turkey of orchestrating a coordinated effort to drive migrants across the frontier .
`` This movement is guided and encouraged by Turkey , '' government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters after a national security meeting in Athens .
He called the surge of migrants at the border `` an active , serious , severe and asymmetrical threat to the national security of the country '' .
Turkey 's announcement last week threatens to reverse an agreement that halted Western Europe 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two .
Some 4,000 people drowned in Aegean and more than a million reached Greece at the height of the crisis between 2015 and 2016 .
The Greek coast guard said the boat which capsized off Lesbos on Monday morning had been escorted there by a Turkish vessel .
Forty-six people were rescued and two children taken to hospital , one of whom could not be revived .
Another dinghy with about 30 Afghans arrived on Lesbos early in the morning , a Reuters journalist reported from the island .
Thirty-two others were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small island close to Turkey , the coast guard said .
`` This is an invasion , '' Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis told Skai TV on Monday .
Late on Sunday , Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted that Greece was determined to protect its borders and warned migrants not to attempt to cross as security was increased to the maximum .
He is expected to visit the border on Tuesday with Charles Michel , chairman of EU leadership summits .
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his “ full support ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying France was “ ready to contribute to European efforts to lend assistance [ to Greece ] and protect the borders ” .
Clashes between police and migrants broke out on Saturday and Sunday at the land border , and riot police used teargas to repel hundreds of migrants on the Turkish side .
Under a 2016 EU agreement with Turkey , Ankara agreed to stop migrants from crossing into the EU and accept most of them back if they did cross , effectively ending a crisis which toppled several EU governments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In return , the EU offered funds .
But Turkey says the arrangement is in jeopardy with a new wave of Syrian refugees on its southern border , driven there by an escalation of fighting since December .
Last week , at least 33 Turkish troops sent to Syria to monitor a crumbling ceasefire were killed in the Turkish army 's worst attack in nearly 30 years .
The 2016 agreement halted most crossings between Greece and Turkey , although there are more than 40,000 migrants on the Aegean islands in severely @ @ @

A Syrian migrant seeking to cross from Turkey into Greece died after Greek security forces intervened to prevent the passage of migrants gathered on the border, Turkish security sources said Monday. A Greek government spokesman denied the report, calling it Turkish propaganda.
Migrants wait to cross the border from Turkey into Greece near the town of Kastanies on March 2, 2020.
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The incident occurred after the Turkish government opened its border last week to let migrants reach Europe. There was no immediate comment from Greek officials.
More than 10,000 migrants have attempted to cross by land at the border, where guards from both sides have fired tear gas into crowds caught between the fences in no-man's land. At least 1,000 more have reached Greece's Eastern Aegean islands by boat since Sunday morning, Greek police say.
Earlier on Monday, a child died after being pulled from the sea when a boat capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos, in the first confirmed fatality since Turkey opened its border.
Turkey, which is home to 3.7 million Syrian refugees and has another million on its doorstep from a new surge of fighting, said last week it would stop enforcing a 2016 agreement that had prevented migrants from reaching the EU.
Greek officials accused Turkey of orchestrating a coordinated effort to drive migrants across the frontier.
"This movement is guided and encouraged by Turkey," government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters after a national security meeting in Athens. He called the surge of migrants at the border "an active, serious, severe and asymmetrical threat to the national security of the country".
Turkey's announcement last week threatens to reverse an agreement that halted Western Europe's biggest wave of migration since World War Two. Some 4,000 people drowned in Aegean and more than a million reached Greece at the height of the crisis between 2015 and 2016.
The Greek coast guard said the boat which capsized off Lesbos on Monday morning had been escorted there by a Turkish vessel. Forty-six people were rescued and two children taken to hospital, one of whom could not be revived.
Another dinghy with about 30 Afghans arrived on Lesbos early in the morning, a Reuters journalist reported from the island. Thirty-two others were rescued in the seas off Farmakonissi, a small island close to Turkey, the coast guard said.
"This is an invasion," Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis told Skai TV on Monday.
02:06
Late on Sunday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted that Greece was determined to protect its borders and warned migrants not to attempt to cross as security was increased to the maximum. He is expected to visit the border on Tuesday with Charles Michel, chairman of EU leadership summits.
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his “full support” for Greece in a tweet on Sunday, saying France was “ready to contribute to European efforts to lend assistance [to Greece] and protect the borders”.
Under a 2016 EU agreement with Turkey, Ankara agreed to stop migrants from crossing into the EU and accept most of them back if they did cross, effectively ending a crisis which toppled several EU governments and fuelled the rise of the far right.
In return, the EU offered funds. But Turkey says the arrangement is in jeopardy with a new wave of Syrian refugees on its southern border, driven there by an escalation of fighting since December. Last week, at least 33 Turkish troops sent to Syria to monitor a crumbling ceasefire were killed in the Turkish army's worst attack in nearly 30 years.
The 2016 agreement halted most crossings between Greece and Turkey, although there are more than 40,000 migrants on the Aegean islands in severely overcrowded camps.
On Monday, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the 2016 migrant deal between Turkey and the EU was still in place and should be adhered to.
"We are convinced about the value of the agreement and we expect it to be upheld," Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin.
The EU's chief executive, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed sympathy with Turkey over the conflict in Syria but said it was not possible for Ankara to let refugees and migrants on its territory cross into Europe.
"I acknowledge that Turkey is in a difficult situation with regards to the refugees and the migrants. But what we see now cannot be an answer or solution," she told a news conference.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-02--Turkey targets Syrian planes, airports in escalating Idlib fight

An image grab taken from a video released on March 1 , 2020 , by the Turkish Defence Ministry shows an airstrike by the Turkish military on Syrian regime positions .
Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes over Idlib on Sunday and struck a military airport well beyond its frontlines in a sharp escalation of its military operations following the death of dozens of Turkish soldiers last week .
Ankara has ramped up its attacks , including drone strikes , against the Russian-backed Syrian forces since Thursday , when 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Damascus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops and military vehicles in northwest Syria 's Idlib province in the last month to stem advances by Syrian government forces which have displaced 1 million people close to Turkey 's southern border .
Already hosting 3.6 million Syrian refugees , Ankara is determined to prevent any further influx from Syria .
It has also let migrants cross its borders into the European Union , in an apparent effort to press for EU support in tackling the Syria crisis .
Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in the last four days Turkish forces destroyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ howitzers , rocket launchers , a drone and six air defence systems .
He dubbed Turkey 's operation , its fourth incursion in Syria in four years , `` Operation Spring Shield '' .
In response , Syria 's army said it shot down three Turkish drones and warned it would take down any aircraft breaching the air space over the northwest , which has been controlled for years by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's main ally Russia .
Despite the warning , Turkish warplanes downed two Syrian warplanes , while Turkey 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had targeted and rendered unusable Nayrab airport , west of Aleppo city .
Turkey-backed opposition commanders also said Kuweires airport , east of Nayrab , had been bombed since midnight .
Both airports are well inside Syrian government controlled territory , marking a significant expansion of Ankara 's targets .
The fighting has risked drawing Russia and Turkey , who cooperated for years to contain the fighting despite backing rival sides in Syria 's nine-year war , into direct conflict .
`` We have neither the intention nor the notion to face Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ( Syrian ) regime to end the massacre and thereby prevent ... radicalisation and migration , '' Turkey 's Akar said .
He said that 2,212 members of the Syrian forces had been `` neutralised '' , a term used to designate killed , wounded or captured .
The Syrian Observatory , a Britain-based war monitor , said 74 Syrian government troops and pro-Damascus fighters had been killed since Feb. 27 .
Fifty-five Turkish troops were killed in Idlib in February .
Diplomatic efforts by Ankara and Moscow to defuse tensions have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , part of Syria 's last major rebel stronghold .
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that while there was progress in talks between Turkish and Russian delegations , the Idlib issue would only be resolved between presidents Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin .
A senior Turkish official and a security official said the meeting would be held on Thursday in Moscow .
The officials said the two leaders would discuss steps to take in Idlib and that they were expected to reach a mutual agreement .
The Kremlin said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday or Friday .
Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreed on the need to create a `` favourable atmosphere '' to improve working relations between their countries , Russia 's foreign ministry said .
The latest fighting in Idlib has uprooted 1 million civilians since December , many of them women and children fleeing towards the Turkish border .
Turkey said it would allow migrants to cross into Europe in anticipation of an imminent new migrant influx from Idlib , lifting restraints on movement in place since 2016 under a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who sought to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday , witnesses said , with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement .
Turkey 's borders to Europe were closed to migrants under the accord between the Turkish-EU deal that halted the 2015-16 migration crisis , when more than 1 million people crossed into Europe .

Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes over Idlib on Sunday and struck a military airport well beyond its frontlines in a sharp escalation of its military operations following the death of dozens of Turkish soldiers last week.
An image grab taken from a video released on March 1, 2020, by the Turkish Defence Ministry shows an airstrike by the Turkish military on Syrian regime positions.
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Ankara has ramped up its attacks, including drone strikes, against the Russian-backed Syrian forces since Thursday, when 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Damascus.
It has already deployed thousands of troops and military vehicles in northwest Syria's Idlib province in the last month to stem advances by Syrian government forces which have displaced 1 million people close to Turkey's southern border.
Already hosting 3.6 million Syrian refugees, Ankara is determined to prevent any further influx from Syria. It has also let migrants cross its borders into the European Union, in an apparent effort to press for EU support in tackling the Syria crisis.
Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in the last four days Turkish forces destroyed eight helicopters, 103 tanks, 72 howitzers, rocket launchers, a drone and six air defence systems. He dubbed Turkey's operation, its fourth incursion in Syria in four years, "Operation Spring Shield".
In response, Syria's army said it shot down three Turkish drones and warned it would take down any aircraft breaching the air space over the northwest, which has been controlled for years by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main ally Russia.
03:25
Despite the warning, Turkish warplanes downed two Syrian warplanes, while Turkey's state-owned Anadolu agency said the Turkish military had targeted and rendered unusable Nayrab airport, west of Aleppo city.
Turkey-backed opposition commanders also said Kuweires airport, east of Nayrab, had been bombed since midnight. Both airports are well inside Syrian government controlled territory, marking a significant expansion of Ankara's targets.
The fighting has risked drawing Russia and Turkey, who cooperated for years to contain the fighting despite backing rival sides in Syria's nine-year war, into direct conflict.
"We have neither the intention nor the notion to face Russia. Our only intention there is for the (Syrian) regime to end the massacre and thereby prevent ... radicalisation and migration," Turkey's Akar said.
He said that 2,212 members of the Syrian forces had been "neutralised", a term used to designate killed, wounded or captured. The Syrian Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said 74 Syrian government troops and pro-Damascus fighters had been killed since Feb. 27.
Fifty-five Turkish troops were killed in Idlib in February.
Crisis diplomacy
Diplomatic efforts by Ankara and Moscow to defuse tensions have failed to agree a ceasefire in Idlib, part of Syria's last major rebel stronghold.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that while there was progress in talks between Turkish and Russian delegations, the Idlib issue would only be resolved between presidents Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin.
A senior Turkish official and a security official said the meeting would be held on Thursday in Moscow. The officials said the two leaders would discuss steps to take in Idlib and that they were expected to reach a mutual agreement.
The Kremlin said it hoped Erdogan and Putin would meet on Thursday or Friday. Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreed on the need to create a "favourable atmosphere" to improve working relations between their countries, Russia's foreign ministry said.
The latest fighting in Idlib has uprooted 1 million civilians since December, many of them women and children fleeing towards the Turkish border.
Turkey said it would allow migrants to cross into Europe in anticipation of an imminent new migrant influx from Idlib, lifting restraints on movement in place since 2016 under a deal with the European Union.
Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who sought to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday, witnesses said, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.
Turkey's borders to Europe were closed to migrants under the accord between the Turkish-EU deal that halted the 2015-16 migration crisis, when more than 1 million people crossed into Europe.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-01--Buttigieg drops out of US presidential race after big Biden win

Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg attends a campaign event in Raleigh , North Carolina , U.S. , February 29 , 2020 .
Pete Buttigieg , who entered the Democratic presidential race as a relative unknown and positioned himself as the future of the party during an improbable rise to the top tier of a crowded field , ended his White House bid on Sunday .
Buttigieg , 38 , a former two-term mayor of South Bend , Indiana , an Afghanistan war veteran and the first openly gay candidate to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrowly won the Iowa caucuses that kicked off the nominating race in February and finished a close second in New Hampshire .
But his early momentum from those rural , mostly white states did not translate into electoral success in the more diverse states of Nevada and South Carolina .
After finishing a distant third in the Nevada caucuses , Buttigieg came in fourth on Saturday in South Carolina , where he won support from just 3 % of African-American voters .
The centrist Democrat 's withdrawal from the race could help former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate who got a much-needed victory on Saturday and now is looking to wrest momentum from liberal front-runner Bernie Sanders in this week 's 14-state Super Tuesday nominating contests .
Speaking in South Bend , Buttigieg said his campaign began its `` unlikely journey '' with a staff of four , no big email lists and no personal fortune .
`` We got into this race in order to defeat the current president and in order to usher in a new kind of politics , '' Buttigieg told a crowd of supporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to `` step aside and help bring our party and our country together . ''
In a tweet , Biden said Buttigieg had run a “ trail-blazing campaign based on courage , compassion , and honesty , ” adding : “ This is just the beginning of his time on the national stage.
” Buttigieg had sought to unite Democrats , independents and moderate Republican voters , arguing his status as a Washington outsider could rebuild a majority to defeat Republican President Donald Trump in November 's election .
But he faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over black voters , a core Democratic voting bloc .
Buttigieg 's tenure as South Bend mayor , which ended on Jan. 1 , drew scrutiny for a lack of diversity on the local police force and a fatal shooting of a black resident by a police officer .
He also lacked Biden 's national profile or long-standing relationships with the black community .
Buttigieg would have been the first openly gay major-party presidential nominee in US history .
He did not make his sexuality a centerpiece of his candidacy , although his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he married in 2018 , regularly accompanied him on the campaign trail .
Buttigieg , often referred to simply as `` Mayor Pete , '' promised a departure from the politics of the past .
As a `` proud son '' of Indiana , he argued he could speak directly to voters struggling economically in crucial swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin that handed Trump the presidency in 2016 .
A US Navy veteran who often spoke of his military service and Christian faith , Buttigieg was critical of Sanders ' uncompromising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alienate moderate Democratic voters ahead of `` the fight of our lives '' to unseat Trump .
At the televised debate ahead of the South Carolina primary , Buttigieg said Sanders ' shifting estimates to fund proposals such as a government-run healthcare system for all would doom the Democratic Party in November .
`` I can tell you exactly how it all adds up .
It adds up to four more years of Donald Trump , '' Buttigieg said .
Buttigieg had considerable early success in fundraising , proving popular with the Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under fire from Democratic competitors , including Senator Elizabeth Warren , who questioned whether he was beholden to his big-money donors and criticised his ritzy , closed-door fundraiser in a wine cave in California .
His campaign , however , faced tighter purse strings after heavy investments in the first two voting states and raised only $ 6 million in January .
Sanders , by comparison , raised $ 25 million the same month .
Before Biden 's South Carolina win , Buttigieg had argued he was the only candidate who had proven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His campaign had laid out a strategy to get through Super Tuesday contests and focus on later primaries where it believed it had an edge .
That changed as the race remained outsized and questions mounted about possibly non-viable contenders splitting moderate votes to give Sanders , a self-described democratic socialist , an easy path to the nomination .
A campaign aide told Reuters that Buttigieg was not going to be a `` spoiler '' who helped Sanders win .
Still , his decision to drop out before Super Tuesday caught some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in Selma , Alabama , commemorating a landmark civil rights march in 1965 .
A big crowd had gathered later on Sunday for the candidate 's scheduled event in Dallas when they learned he was no longer coming .


france24--2020-03-02--Louvre stays shut as staff and management discuss coronavirus risks

The spreading coronavirus epidemic shut down France 's Louvre museum for a second day on Monday , with workers who guard its famous trove of artworks fearful of being contaminated by the museum 's flow of tourists from around the world .
A sign in multiple languages on the museum 's main entrance read : `` Today the opening of the Louvre is delayed .
We will inform you about a potential opening time as soon as possible .
Thank you for your understanding . ''
Several dozen visitors waited in line outside the ticket office , while others gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff representatives were holding talks on Monday on the risks associated with the coronavirus .
Following a first round of talks , unions said the museum would remain shut all day .
Almost three-quarters of the Louvre 's 9.6 million visitors last year came from abroad .
The world 's most popular museum welcomes tens of thousands of fans daily in Paris .
“ We are very worried because we have visitors from everywhere , ” André Sacristin , a Louvre employee and union representative , told the Associated Press on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , very great , '' Sacristin said in a phone interview .
While there are no known virus infections among the museum 's 2,300 workers , “ it ’ s only a question of time , ” he said .
The shutdown followed a French government decision Saturday to ban indoor public gatherings of more than 5,000 people .
Sacristin said the new measure banning large indoor gatherings exacerbated the fears of Louvre workers that they might be in danger of contamination .
Louvre staffers were also concerned about museum workers from northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to collect works by Leonardo da Vinci that were loaned for a major exhibition , he said .
Italy , with over 1,600 coronavirus cases and 34 deaths , has been the epicentre of the outbreak in Europe .
France raised its number of reported cases to 130 on Sunday , 30 more than the day before .
More than half of France 's regions now have at least one case , and the new patients include one in the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe , the first in France 's overseas territories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in France , and 12 have recovered , the director of the national health agency Jerome Salomon said Sunday .
Most cases can be traced to growing clusters around the country or to people who traveled to virus-hit areas , but authorities are investigating 23 cases whose origin is not yet clear .
Sacristin , who was taking part in Monday 's meeting , said museum visitors should be subjected to health checks to protect staffers and if any cases of coronavirus contamination are confirmed `` then the museum should be closed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be distributed but so far have been given only an alcohol-based solution to disinfect their hands , he said .
“ That did n't please us at all , ” he said .
Union representative Christian Galani questioned why the Louvre isn ’ t covered by the new ban on large indoor gatherings , telling AP , “ You will easily admit that the Louvre Museum is a confined space and that it receives more than 5,000 people a day.
” Culture Minister Frank Reister had argued on France-Info radio that Louvre visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't present the same risk as a closed concert hall , for example .
Other events to have been cancelled include the French capital ’ s annual book fair , Livre Paris , which was expected to bring some 160,000 visitors to Paris later this month .
The French capital ’ s half-marathon was also cancelled on Sunday , though several hundred determined athletes defied the ban .
`` We have to stop this paranoia with what 's happening .
We have to keep things in perspective , '' a runner who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters from the starting line .

The spreading coronavirus epidemic shut down France's Louvre museum for a second day on Monday, with workers who guard its famous trove of artworks fearful of being contaminated by the museum's flow of tourists from around the world.
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A sign in multiple languages on the museum's main entrance read: "Today the opening of the Louvre is delayed. We will inform you about a potential opening time as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding."
Several dozen visitors waited in line outside the ticket office, while others gave up and walked off.
Management and staff representatives were holding talks on Monday on the risks associated with the coronavirus. Following a first round of talks, unions said the museum would remain shut all day.
#coronavirus #CoronaVirusUpdate
Le musée du #Louvre est fermé ce lundi matin. Comme dimanche, une réunion des salariés est en cours pour decider de son ouverture, décision en fin de matinée.@Reuters pic.twitter.com/0v4RubfjlD — Antony Paone (@PaoneAntony) March 2, 2020
Almost three-quarters of the Louvre's 9.6 million visitors last year came from abroad. The world's most popular museum welcomes tens of thousands of fans daily in Paris.
“We are very worried because we have visitors from everywhere,” André Sacristin, a Louvre employee and union representative, told the Associated Press on Sunday.
“The risk is very, very, very great," Sacristin said in a phone interview. While there are no known virus infections among the museum's 2,300 workers, “it’s only a question of time,” he said.
The shutdown followed a French government decision Saturday to ban indoor public gatherings of more than 5,000 people.
Sacristin said the new measure banning large indoor gatherings exacerbated the fears of Louvre workers that they might be in danger of contamination. Louvre staffers were also concerned about museum workers from northern Italy who had come to the museum to collect works by Leonardo da Vinci that were loaned for a major exhibition, he said.
Italy, with over 1,600 coronavirus cases and 34 deaths, has been the epicentre of the outbreak in Europe.
France raised its number of reported cases to 130 on Sunday, 30 more than the day before. More than half of France's regions now have at least one case, and the new patients include one in the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, the first in France's overseas territories. Two people with the virus have died in France, and 12 have recovered, the director of the national health agency Jerome Salomon said Sunday.
Most cases can be traced to growing clusters around the country or to people who traveled to virus-hit areas, but authorities are investigating 23 cases whose origin is not yet clear.
01:32
Sacristin, who was taking part in Monday's meeting, said museum visitors should be subjected to health checks to protect staffers and if any cases of coronavirus contamination are confirmed "then the museum should be closed."
Workers have asked for masks to be distributed but so far have been given only an alcohol-based solution to disinfect their hands, he said.
“That didn't please us at all,” he said.
Union representative Christian Galani questioned why the Louvre isn’t covered by the new ban on large indoor gatherings, telling AP, “You will easily admit that the Louvre Museum is a confined space and that it receives more than 5,000 people a day.”
Culture Minister Frank Reister had argued on France-Info radio that Louvre visitors move from room to room, which doesn't present the same risk as a closed concert hall, for example.
Other events to have been cancelled include the French capital’s annual book fair, Livre Paris, which was expected to bring some 160,000 visitors to Paris later this month.
The French capital’s half-marathon was also cancelled on Sunday, though several hundred determined athletes defied the ban.
"We have to stop this paranoia with what's happening. We have to keep things in perspective," a runner who gave her name only as Chloe told Reuters from the starting line.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-02--US reports second death from coronavirus as New York City confirms first case

Shelves of a CVS pharmacy are stripped of hand sanitizer amid novel coronavirus fears in New York , U.S. February 29 , 2020 .
Health officials in Washington state said on Sunday a second person infected with the coronavirus had died there , while New York 's governor said his state confirmed its first case of the illness .
The Washington death was in the Seattle area and was reported on the website of the Seattle and King County public health department .
On Saturday , the same officials reported the first death from coronavirus in the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus test , Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday night .
He wrote on Twitter that a woman in her 30s contracted coronavirus during a recent trip to Iran and was in quarantine in her home .
He did not say where the woman lived , but the New York Times , citing unnamed state officials , said the woman was in New York City .
`` The patient has respiratory symptoms , but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving in New York , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Donald Trump 's administration scrambled on Sunday to reassure Americans as the disease spreads and businesses cancel conferences and flights .
Administration officials tried to calm market fears that the coronavirus could cause a global recession , saying the public had overreacted and that stocks would bounce back because of the underlying strength of the U.S. economy .
Washington state on Sunday confirmed two other cases at a long-term care facility where a resident and a worker also tested positive for coronavirus and 50 residents and staff were showing symptoms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , with most on the West Coast but new cases in the Chicago area and Rhode Island , aside from New York .
Stock markets plunged last week , with an index of global stocks setting its largest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis , and more than $ 5 trillion wiped off the value of stocks worldwide .
A key energy conference in Houston that brings together oil ministers and energy firms was canceled on Sunday with the organisers of CERAWeek noting that border health checks were becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-essential travel to protect workers .
A world economy conference with Pope Francis due to take place in Italy later this month was also canceled .
Trump said on Sunday that travelers to the United States from countries at high risk of coronavirus would be screened before boarding and on arrival , without specifying which countries .
Delta Air Lines Inc said on Sunday it was suspending until May flights to Milan in northern Italy where most of that country 's coronavirus cases have been reported .
Flights will continue to Rome .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ move late on Saturday .
The United States has 75,000 test kits for coronavirus and will expand that number `` radically '' in coming weeks , U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told ABC 's `` This Week '' on Sunday .
Vice President Mike Pence said the government had contracted 3M Co to produce an extra 35 million respiratory masks a month .
He urged Americans not to buy the masks , which he said were only needed by healthcare workers .
Honeywell International Inc is the other major U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News that clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine would start in six weeks but that a vaccine would likely not be available this season .
Democrats , who will challenge Trump for the presidency in the Nov. 3 election , have criticised his administration for downplaying the crisis and not preparing for the disease to spread in the United States .
Pence , whom Trump appointed last week to run the White House 's coronavirus response , said Americans should brace for more cases but that the `` vast majority '' of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Other than in areas where there are individuals that have been infected with the coronavirus , people need to understand that for the average American , the risk does remain low .
We 're ready , '' Pence told NBC 's `` Meet the Press . ''
The United States has imposed limits on travelers who have visited Iran and recommended against travel to hard-hit areas of Italy and South Korea .
Trump said on Saturday that the United States was also considering shutting the country 's southern border with Mexico to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding : `` We hope we wo n't have to do that . ''
Mexico has reported four coronavirus cases .
Its Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that both governments were in `` close and effective communication , especially the health authorities . ''

Health officials in Washington state said on Sunday a second person infected with the coronavirus had died there, while New York's governor said his state confirmed its first case of the illness.
Shelves of a CVS pharmacy are stripped of hand sanitizer amid novel coronavirus fears in New York, U.S. February 29, 2020.
Advertising Read more
The Washington death was in the Seattle area and was reported on the website of the Seattle and King County public health department. On Saturday, the same officials reported the first death from coronavirus in the United States.
New York state confirmed its first positive coronavirus test, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday night.
He wrote on Twitter that a woman in her 30s contracted coronavirus during a recent trip to Iran and was in quarantine in her home. He did not say where the woman lived, but the New York Times, citing unnamed state officials, said the woman was in New York City.
"The patient has respiratory symptoms, but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving in New York," Cuomo said.
At the federal level, President Donald Trump's administration scrambled on Sunday to reassure Americans as the disease spreads and businesses cancel conferences and flights.
Administration officials tried to calm market fears that the coronavirus could cause a global recession, saying the public had overreacted and that stocks would bounce back because of the underlying strength of the U.S. economy.
Washington state on Sunday confirmed two other cases at a long-term care facility where a resident and a worker also tested positive for coronavirus and 50 residents and staff were showing symptoms.
Over 70 cases have been reported in the United States, with most on the West Coast but new cases in the Chicago area and Rhode Island, aside from New York.
Stock markets plunged last week, with an index of global stocks setting its largest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis, and more than $5 trillion wiped off the value of stocks worldwide.
A key energy conference in Houston that brings together oil ministers and energy firms was canceled on Sunday with the organisers of CERAWeek noting that border health checks were becoming more restrictive and companies had begun barring non-essential travel to protect workers.
A world economy conference with Pope Francis due to take place in Italy later this month was also canceled.
'We're ready'
Trump said on Sunday that travelers to the United States from countries at high risk of coronavirus would be screened before boarding and on arrival, without specifying which countries.
Delta Air Lines Inc said on Sunday it was suspending until May flights to Milan in northern Italy where most of that country's coronavirus cases have been reported. Flights will continue to Rome. American Airlines Group Inc announced a similar move late on Saturday.
The United States has 75,000 test kits for coronavirus and will expand that number "radically" in coming weeks, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.
Vice President Mike Pence said the government had contracted 3M Co to produce an extra 35 million respiratory masks a month. He urged Americans not to buy the masks, which he said were only needed by healthcare workers. Honeywell International Inc is the other major U.S. mask producer.
He also told Fox News that clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine would start in six weeks but that a vaccine would likely not be available this season.
Democrats, who will challenge Trump for the presidency in the Nov. 3 election, have criticised his administration for downplaying the crisis and not preparing for the disease to spread in the United States.
Pence, whom Trump appointed last week to run the White House's coronavirus response, said Americans should brace for more cases but that the "vast majority" of those who contracted the disease would recover.
"Other than in areas where there are individuals that have been infected with the coronavirus, people need to understand that for the average American, the risk does remain low. We're ready," Pence told NBC's "Meet the Press."
The United States has imposed limits on travelers who have visited Iran and recommended against travel to hard-hit areas of Italy and South Korea.
Trump said on Saturday that the United States was also considering shutting the country's southern border with Mexico to control the spread of the virus, adding: "We hope we won't have to do that."
Mexico has reported four coronavirus cases. Its Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that both governments were in "close and effective communication, especially the health authorities."
(REUTERS)
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