france24--2020-03-06--WHO chief warns that countries are not taking coronavirus seriously: 'This is not a drill'

Director-General of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference on the situation of the new coronavirus in Geneva , Switzerland on February 28 , 2020 .
World health officials have warned that countries are not taking the coronavirus crisis seriously enough , as outbreaks surged across Europe and in the United States where medical workers sounded warnings over a `` disturbing '' lack of hospital preparedness .
Global markets tumbled again over concerns about the impact on the economy and as countries took more drastic steps to prevent contagion of a disease that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 100,000 in some 85 nations .
Cases soared in Italy , France , Greece , and Iran , while a cruise ship was held offshore in California to test passengers showing symptoms of the disease -- echoing a harrowing episode in Japan several weeks ago that saw hundreds infected on a luxury liner .
The epidemic has wreaked havoc on international business , tourism , sports events , and schools , with almost 300 million students sent home worldwide .
Even religion is affected : The Vatican said Pope Francis may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been barred from Bethlehem , and Saudi Arabia emptied Islam 's holiest site in Mecca to sterilise it .
China -- where the virus emerged late last year -- still accounts for the majority of cases and deaths , but infections are now rising faster abroad , with South Korea , Iran and Italy major hotspots .
The World Health Organization warned Thursday that a `` long list '' of countries were not showing `` the level of political commitment '' needed to `` match the level of the threat we all face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drill , '' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters .
`` This epidemic is a threat for every country , rich and poor . ''
Tedros called on the heads of government in every country to take charge of the response and `` coordinate all sectors '' , rather than leaving it to health ministries .
What is needed , he said , is `` aggressive preparedness . ''
In the United States , the largest nursing union said a survey of thousands of nurses at hospitals showed `` truly disturbing '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large percentage of our nation 's hospitals are unprepared to safely handle COVID-19 , '' said Jane Thomason , a hygiene specialist with the union .
Nurses are working without necessary personal protective equipment and lack education and training for handling the disease , said National Nurses United director Bonnie Castillo .
The US Congress passed an emergency $ 8.3 billion spending bill to combat the coronavirus on Thursday as the number of cases surged in the country 's northwest and deaths reached 12 .
More than 180 people are infected in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has downplayed the risk , saying the WHO 's conclusion of a 3.4 percent mortality rate was `` false '' .
Admiral Brett Giroir , the assistant secretary of health , estimated the death rate at `` somewhere between 0.1 percent and one percent '' -- closer to the seasonal flu -- due to a high number of unreported cases .
Passengers on a cruise ship stranded off the coast of San Francisco were confined to their cabins Thursday as tests were conducted to determine if any of the nearly 3,500 guests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health officials sounded the alarm after two passengers who had been on board during a previous voyage between San Francisco and Mexico later fell ill and one of them died .
The Grand Princess belongs to Princess Cruises , the company that operated the Diamond Princess -- the coronavirus-stricken ship held off Japan last month from which more than 700 people tested positive and six died .
Cases in China have gradually fallen as tens of millions of people remain under strict quarantine to contain the virus .
But fresh infections rose for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 143 new cases , and 30 more deaths .
China 's death toll now stands at 3,042 with over 80,500 infections .
Beijing faces a new concern with the number of cases imported from abroad rising to 36 .
But cases are increasing faster in other countries .
Italy , which has the biggest outbreak in Europe , has ordered schools and universities shut until March 15 , and on Thursday reported a sharp rise in deaths , bringing the total to 148 .
France also reported a steep jump in cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven deaths , as President Emmanuel Macron warned the country was heading towards an `` inevitable '' epidemic .
Italy unveiled a 7.5-billion-euro ( $ 8.4-billion ) economic rescue plan while South Korea -- the world 's second largest hotspot after China -- has proposed an extra budget of $ 9.9 billion .
Stock markets in Asia were sharply down on Friday , with Tokyo losing more than 3.0 percent by the break , following another sell-off on Wall Street as traders fret about the economic fallout from the disease .

World health officials have warned that countries are not taking the coronavirus crisis seriously enough, as outbreaks surged across Europe and in the United States where medical workers sounded warnings over a "disturbing" lack of hospital preparedness.
Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference on the situation of the new coronavirus in Geneva, Switzerland on February 28, 2020.
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Global markets tumbled again over concerns about the impact on the economy and as countries took more drastic steps to prevent contagion of a disease that has killed over 3,300 people and infected nearly 100,000 in some 85 nations.
Cases soared in Italy, France, Greece, and Iran, while a cruise ship was held offshore in California to test passengers showing symptoms of the disease -- echoing a harrowing episode in Japan several weeks ago that saw hundreds infected on a luxury liner.
The epidemic has wreaked havoc on international business, tourism, sports events, and schools, with almost 300 million students sent home worldwide.
Even religion is affected: The Vatican said Pope Francis may have to change his schedule, tourists have been barred from Bethlehem, and Saudi Arabia emptied Islam's holiest site in Mecca to sterilise it.
China -- where the virus emerged late last year -- still accounts for the majority of cases and deaths, but infections are now rising faster abroad, with South Korea, Iran and Italy major hotspots.
The World Health Organization warned Thursday that a "long list" of countries were not showing "the level of political commitment" needed to "match the level of the threat we all face".
"This is not a drill," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.
"This epidemic is a threat for every country, rich and poor."
Tedros called on the heads of government in every country to take charge of the response and "coordinate all sectors", rather than leaving it to health ministries.
What is needed, he said, is "aggressive preparedness."
In the United States, the largest nursing union said a survey of thousands of nurses at hospitals showed "truly disturbing" results.
"They show that a large percentage of our nation's hospitals are unprepared to safely handle COVID-19," said Jane Thomason, a hygiene specialist with the union.
Nurses are working without necessary personal protective equipment and lack education and training for handling the disease, said National Nurses United director Bonnie Castillo.
US Congress passes emergency bill
The US Congress passed an emergency $8.3 billion spending bill to combat the coronavirus on Thursday as the number of cases surged in the country's northwest and deaths reached 12.
More than 180 people are infected in the United States.
But President Donald Trump has downplayed the risk, saying the WHO's conclusion of a 3.4 percent mortality rate was "false".
Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary of health, estimated the death rate at "somewhere between 0.1 percent and one percent" -- closer to the seasonal flu -- due to a high number of unreported cases.
Passengers on a cruise ship stranded off the coast of San Francisco were confined to their cabins Thursday as tests were conducted to determine if any of the nearly 3,500 guests and crew had contracted the new coronavirus.
Health officials sounded the alarm after two passengers who had been on board during a previous voyage between San Francisco and Mexico later fell ill and one of them died.
The Grand Princess belongs to Princess Cruises, the company that operated the Diamond Princess -- the coronavirus-stricken ship held off Japan last month from which more than 700 people tested positive and six died.
China's death toll over 3,000
Cases in China have gradually fallen as tens of millions of people remain under strict quarantine to contain the virus.
But fresh infections rose for a second consecutive day on Friday, with 143 new cases, and 30 more deaths.
China's death toll now stands at 3,042 with over 80,500 infections.
Beijing faces a new concern with the number of cases imported from abroad rising to 36.
But cases are increasing faster in other countries.
Italy, which has the biggest outbreak in Europe, has ordered schools and universities shut until March 15, and on Thursday reported a sharp rise in deaths, bringing the total to 148.
France also reported a steep jump in cases, bringing its total to 423 with seven deaths, as President Emmanuel Macron warned the country was heading towards an "inevitable" epidemic.
Italy unveiled a 7.5-billion-euro ($8.4-billion) economic rescue plan while South Korea -- the world's second largest hotspot after China -- has proposed an extra budget of $9.9 billion.
Stock markets in Asia were sharply down on Friday, with Tokyo losing more than 3.0 percent by the break, following another sell-off on Wall Street as traders fret about the economic fallout from the disease.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-06--Fear, hoarding and Gallic shrugs as French brace for coronavirus epidemic

A sign reading `` Protected area dedicated to coronavirus '' is displayed at Lenval pediatric hospital in Nice , France , March 5 , 2020 .
As France braced to raise its coronavirus alert level warning to 3 and President Emmanuel Macron warned the public late Thursday that an epidemic was “ inevitable ” , reports of the escalating outbreak were met with fear , hoarding and complete indifference .
Empty stores , stolen face masks and Gallic shrugs .
France ’ s escalating coronavirus outbreak – the number of nationwide cases rose to 613 on Friday with nine dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye had sought to downplay the crisis earlier in the week , pointing out that more people were infected with flu in a year than were currently infected with coronavirus .
But on Wednesday she conceded that the government would likely up the epidemic alert to a maximum level 3 , leading to potential travel bans and a clampdown on public activities .
Reports of the coronavirus outbreak has made some French citizens very fearful and sparked panic-buying among others .
Photos of empty shelves in French supermarkets throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week as customers stocked up on pasta , rice and toilet paper .
In the northern Paris suburb of Seine Saint-Denis , shelves had been stripped of pasta and rice at a supermarket in Aulnay-sous-Bois .
In their place read a sign that said : “ These items are currently out of stock due to coronavirus.
” On Saturday , a supermarket in Nice was cleaned out of pasta and rice within a few hours .
“ People were also stocking up on water , milk and canned goods , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ à La Colle-sur-Loup , which urged its customers not to panic .
“ This is not the zombie apocalypse , ” said medical historian Mark Honigsbaum , author of “ The Pandemic Century : One Hundred Years of Panic , Hysteria and Hubris ” .
“ It ’ s probably a good idea to have six rolls of toilet roll at home but not 24.
” Honigsbaum felt the fear of coronavirus was “ understandable , ” given there is no vaccine for the virus and human beings have no immunity to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of panic is a good thing as it makes people more aware ” .
“ The penny hasn ’ t dropped for enough people , ” he added .
“ Too many people are still shaking hands and hanging out in busy pubs or crowded bars.
” French pharmacies have been so inundated with requests for protective face masks that the government said Tuesday it would requisition all masks in the coming months , reserving them for healthcare professionals and those infected by the coronavirus .
Thousands of face masks have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus outbreak , French daily Le Parisien reported on Thursday .
“ Some customers are more anxious than normal , ” said Erica , 31 , a smiling , dark-haired pharmacist in Issy-les-Moulineaux .
“ We sell out of masks and hand gel as soon as they ’ re in stock , ” she said .
“ If we receive 200 in a day , they ’ re all gone in a few hours.
” “ We keep ordering more but we ’ re not receiving them because the laboratories themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are asking us how they should protect themselves , ” she said , adding that , she personally , was not particularly worried .
“ I would have liked to have bought a mask , ” said Claire , 37 , a project engineer who asked not to give her surname , “ but I heard they had all sold out.
” “ It should have been possible to contain the epidemic so that it would not develop in France , ” said Claire , adding however , that she thought the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line with medical advice ” .
“ I ’ m washing my hands regularly , trying not to touch my face , avoiding handshakes and door handles – and disinfecting my hands with hydroalcoholic gel.
” Some look for answers in 'La Peste' The demand for hand sanitiser gel sparked calls for its regulation after reports that prices had doubled or even tripled .
`` I 'm ready to regulate prices of masks and gels by decree if the abuses are numerous , '' Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slapped on hydroalcoholic gels for personal hygiene , regulating the price to €3 per 100 ml .
Meanwhile , staff at the Louvre museum refused to go to work on Sunday and Monday , citing “ legitimate concerns ” over coronavirus .
In a bid to contain the outbreak , Paris authorities cancelled the French capital ’ s book fair , banned the Paris marathon ( a ban some chose to ignore ) while fashion week parties were all but called off .
Some French people have looked for answers in Albert Camus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Plague ) , the story of an outbreak of plague in the Algerian town of Oran , with bookshops reporting a sharp spike in sales .
Others have turned to Steven Soderbergh ’ s medical thriller “ Contagion ” , now listed as one of iTunes ' top 10 rentals .
French anthropologist Frédéric Keck said he thought the French government ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak was very “ rational ” .
“ I think the crisis is rather well-managed in France , communication with the public is quite clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is some common-sense advice and at the same time the government explains that there are difficult measures to be taken and why they are being taken.
” “ There was an excess of precaution in 2009 , ” he said referring to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus , when the government bought two doses of vaccine per individual , more than 90 million doses when only 10 million people were vaccinated .
But many French citizens don ’ t seem to be unduly worried .
Parisians in the northeast of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday evening , where supermarket stocks were perfectly replenished .
“ The empty stores – that ’ s in the huge supermarkets in the suburbs , ” said Nicolas , the manager of French supermarket Franprix in the 18th arrondissement ( district ) .
“ It ’ s true that we ’ re out of hand sanitiser , ” he conceded , “ but everything else is normal.
” “ I ’ m being vigilant , ” Nicolas added .
“ I heard there was a case at the [ nearby ] Bichat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends are particularly worried.
” “ We ’ ve sold a bit more pasta and rice than normal , ” said the manager of health food store La Vie Claire on the rue Caulaincourt , who asked not to give his name .
“ We ’ ve seen a few less customers… but other than that , no real change.
” “ It ’ s true that it ’ s a bit quieter tonight , ” said Frédéric Casado , 38 , the bouncy owner of the Provencal-styled Marinette bar .
“ At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s normally packed , ” he said , glancing around at the handful of clients .
“ We wondered if it was due to the news… but it could also be because it ’ s raining.
” “ We ’ re being careful , '' he added .
“ We ’ re not shaking hands , we ’ re not embracing anymore , we thoroughly disinfect the bar and restaurant every evening.
” Others laughed off the risk of coronavirus and said it was being whipped up into a frenzy by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to get run over in the street than you are to catch coronavirus , ” said Natasha , one of the managers at French supermarket chain Monoprix .
“ If people are buying a bit more toilet paper than normal it ’ s because it ’ s on special offer .
”

As France braced to raise its coronavirus alert level warning to 3 and President Emmanuel Macron warned the public late Thursday that an epidemic was “inevitable”, reports of the escalating outbreak were met with fear, hoarding and complete indifference.
A sign reading "Protected area dedicated to coronavirus" is displayed at Lenval pediatric hospital in Nice, France on March 5, 2020.
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Empty stores, stolen face masks and Gallic shrugs. France’s escalating coronavirus outbreak – the number of nationwide cases rose to 613 on Friday with nine dead – has met with very different reactions.
Government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye had sought to downplay the crisis earlier in the week, pointing out that more people were infected with flu in a year than were currently infected with coronavirus.
But on Wednesday she conceded that the government would likely up the epidemic alert to a maximum level 3, leading to potential travel bans and a clampdown on public activities.
Reports of the coronavirus outbreak has made some French citizens very fearful and sparked panic-buying among others.
Photos of empty shelves in French supermarkets throughout the country were posted on social media earlier this week as customers stocked up on pasta, rice and toilet paper.
In the northern Paris suburb of Seine Saint-Denis, shelves had been stripped of pasta and rice at a supermarket in Aulnay-sous-Bois.
A Aulnay-sous-Bois, des habitants ont dévalisé les rayons du supermarché à cause du Coronavirus https://t.co/ZNuXnwJ1pw pic.twitter.com/7Uo02JTEeg — Aulnay Cap (@AulnayCap) March 3, 2020
In their place read a sign that said: “These items are currently out of stock due to coronavirus.”
On Saturday, a supermarket in Nice was cleaned out of pasta and rice within a few hours.
“People were also stocking up on water, milk and canned goods," said the management of the supermarket Leclerc à La Colle-sur-Loup, which urged its customers not to panic.
“This is not the zombie apocalypse,” said medical historian Mark Honigsbaum, author of “The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria and Hubris”. “It’s probably a good idea to have six rolls of toilet roll at home but not 24.”
Honigsbaum felt the fear of coronavirus was “understandable,” given there is no vaccine for the virus and human beings have no immunity to it.
He also thought that “a bit of panic is a good thing as it makes people more aware”.
“The penny hasn’t dropped for enough people,” he added. “Too many people are still shaking hands and hanging out in busy pubs or crowded bars.”
‘More anxious than normal’
French pharmacies have been so inundated with requests for protective face masks that the government said Tuesday it would requisition all masks in the coming months, reserving them for healthcare professionals and those infected by the coronavirus.
Thousands of face masks have been stolen from French hospitals since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, French daily Le Parisien reported on Thursday.
“Some customers are more anxious than normal,” said Erica, 31, a smiling, dark-haired pharmacist in Issy-les-Moulineaux.
“We sell out of masks and hand gel as soon as they’re in stock,” she said. “If we receive 200 in a day, they’re all gone in a few hours.”
“We keep ordering more but we’re not receiving them because the laboratories themselves are out of stock.”
“People are asking us how they should protect themselves,” she said, adding that, she personally, was not particularly worried.
“I would have liked to have bought a mask,” said Claire, 37, a project engineer who asked not to give her surname, “but I heard they had all sold out.”
“It should have been possible to contain the epidemic so that it would not develop in France,” said Claire, adding however, that she thought the government’s advice seemed “logical and in line with medical advice”.
“I’m washing my hands regularly, trying not to touch my face, avoiding handshakes and door handles – and disinfecting my hands with hydroalcoholic gel.”
Some look for answers in 'La Peste'
The demand for hand sanitiser gel sparked calls for its regulation after reports that prices had doubled or even tripled. "I'm ready to regulate prices of masks and gels by decree if the abuses are numerous," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Twitter.
On Friday a price limit was slapped on hydroalcoholic gels for personal hygiene, regulating the price to €3 per 100 ml.
Meanwhile, staff at the Louvre museum refused to go to work on Sunday and Monday, citing “legitimate concerns” over coronavirus.
In a bid to contain the outbreak, Paris authorities cancelled the French capital’s book fair, banned the Paris marathon (a ban some chose to ignore) while fashion week parties were all but called off.
Some French people have looked for answers in Albert Camus’s “La Peste” (The Plague), the story of an outbreak of plague in the Algerian town of Oran, with bookshops reporting a sharp spike in sales.
Others have turned to Steven Soderbergh’s medical thriller “Contagion”, now listed as one of iTunes' top 10 rentals.
French anthropologist Frédéric Keck told FRANCE 24 that he thought the French government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak was very “rational”.
“I think the crisis is rather well-managed in France, communication with the public is quite clear, quite transparent and quite rational. There is some common-sense advice and at the same time the government explains that there are difficult measures to be taken and why they are being taken.”
“There was an excess of precaution in 2009,” he said referring to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, when the government bought two doses of vaccine per individual, more than 90 million doses when only 10 million people were vaccinated.
‘We no longer shake hands’
But many French citizens don’t seem to be unduly worried. Parisians in the northeast of the city shrugged off fears of coronavirus on Thursday evening, where supermarket stocks were perfectly replenished.
“The empty stores – that’s in the huge supermarkets in the suburbs,” said Nicolas, the manager of French supermarket Franprix in the 18th arrondissement (district). “It’s true that we’re out of hand sanitiser,” he conceded, “but everything else is normal.”
“I’m being vigilant,” Nicolas added. “I heard there was a case at the [nearby] Bichat Hospital. But neither I nor my friends are particularly worried.”
“We’ve sold a bit more pasta and rice than normal,” said the manager of health food store La Vie Claire on the rue Caulaincourt, who asked not to give his name. “We’ve seen a few less customers… but other than that, no real change.”
“It’s true that it’s a bit quieter tonight,” said Frédéric Casado, 38, the bouncy owner of the Provencal-styled Marinette bar. “At this time on a Thursday night it’s normally packed,” he said, glancing around at the handful of clients. “We wondered if it was due to the news… but it could also be because it’s raining.”
“We’re being careful," he added. “We’re not shaking hands, we’re not embracing anymore, we thoroughly disinfect the bar and restaurant every evening.”
Others laughed off the risk of coronavirus and said it was being whipped up into a frenzy by the media.
“You’re more likely to get run over in the street than you are to catch coronavirus,” said Natasha, one of the managers at French supermarket chain Monoprix.
“If people are buying a bit more toilet paper than normal it’s because it’s on special offer.”
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france24--2020-03-06--Suicide bombers kill policeman in attack near US embassy in Tunisia’s capital

Security forces at the scene of Friday 's blast near the US embassy in Tunis .
Two militants on a motorbike blew themselves up outside the US embassy in Tunis on Friday , killing a policeman and injuring several others in the country 's most serious attack in months .
Tunisia 's Interior Ministry said the two militants were killed carrying out the attack , and five police officers were injured .
State news agency TAP later reported the death of one policeman in the attack .
Sirens could be heard on the major highway linking the Berges du Lac @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with central Tunis and suburbs in the north .
The US embassy in a tweet urged people to avoid the area .
FRANCE 24 ’ s correspondent Fadil Aliriza reported a heavy security presence at the scene and what appeared to be body parts on the ground .
Islamic extremists have targeted Tunisia in recent years , killing scores of people .
Last summer , the Islamic State group said it was behind three militant blasts in the capital , including one near the French embassy that killed a policeman and another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation to detain a suspect .
Tunisia 's critical tourism sector is highly vulnerable to militant incidents and was devastated after two major attacks in 2015 , which killed scores of visitors at a beach resort and a popular museum .
Diplomats who have worked with Tunisia on its security capacity say it has grown more effective in preventing and responding to militant attacks in recent years .
Photographs of the blast site posted on social media showed debris strewn around the area of a security checkpoint that controls access to the embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard a very powerful explosion ... we saw the remains of the terrorist lying on the ground after he went on the motorbike towards the police , '' said Amira , a shopkeeper .
Diplomats who have worked with Tunisia on its security capacity say it has grown more effective in preventing and responding to militant attacks in recent years .
An al Qaeda group has been sheltering for years in the desolate , hilly terrain along a stretch of the border with Algeria and sometimes clashes with security forces there , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hundreds of Tunisians have also travelled to Iraq , Syria or Libya in recent years to join the Islamic State group , and in 2016 members of the group rampaged across the border with Libya and fought the army in a border town , but were repulsed .
`` The attack indicates that the security challenge remains a major challenge in Tunisia , '' said local security analyst Ali Zarmedini .

Two militants on a motorbike blew themselves up outside the US embassy in Tunis on Friday, killing a policeman and injuring several others in the country's most serious attack in months.
Security forces at the scene of Friday's blast near the US embassy in Tunis.
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Tunisia's Interior Ministry said the two militants were killed carrying out the attack, and five police officers were injured. State news agency TAP later reported the death of one policeman in the attack.
Sirens could be heard on the major highway linking the Berges du Lac district, where the embassy is located, with central Tunis and suburbs in the north. The US embassy in a tweet urged people to avoid the area.
FRANCE 24’s correspondent Fadil Aliriza reported a heavy security presence at the scene and what appeared to be body parts on the ground.
Emergency personnel are responding to an explosion that occurred near the U.S. Embassy in Tunis. Please avoid the area and monitor local media for updates. — U.S. Embassy Tunis (@usembassytunis) March 6, 2020
Islamic extremists have targeted Tunisia in recent years, killing scores of people.
Last summer, the Islamic State group said it was behind three militant blasts in the capital, including one near the French embassy that killed a policeman and another that wounded five people during a security operation to detain a suspect.
Tunisia's critical tourism sector is highly vulnerable to militant incidents and was devastated after two major attacks in 2015, which killed scores of visitors at a beach resort and a popular museum.
Diplomats who have worked with Tunisia on its security capacity say it has grown more effective in preventing and responding to militant attacks in recent years.
A ‘very powerful explosion’
Photographs of the blast site posted on social media showed debris strewn around the area of a security checkpoint that controls access to the embassy, and damaged vehicles.
"We heard a very powerful explosion ... we saw the remains of the terrorist lying on the ground after he went on the motorbike towards the police," said Amira, a shopkeeper.
Diplomats who have worked with Tunisia on its security capacity say it has grown more effective in preventing and responding to militant attacks in recent years.
An al Qaeda group has been sheltering for years in the desolate, hilly terrain along a stretch of the border with Algeria and sometimes clashes with security forces there, but is regarded as having been closely contained.
Hundreds of Tunisians have also travelled to Iraq, Syria or Libya in recent years to join the Islamic State group, and in 2016 members of the group rampaged across the border with Libya and fought the army in a border town, but were repulsed.
"The attack indicates that the security challenge remains a major challenge in Tunisia," said local security analyst Ali Zarmedini.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-06--Tense calm, sporadic clashes in Idlib as Russia-Turkey ceasefire broadly holds

Picture taken on March 6 , 2020 , shows a damaged house in the town of Binnish , in Syria 's northwestern Idlib province .
Deadly clashes erupted in parts of northwest Syria on Friday but a ceasefire deal between Russia and Turkey aimed at ending months of intense conflict was largely holding elsewhere in the country 's last rebel-held enclave .
A war monitor and rebel sources said the fighting broke out in the Jabal al-Zawiya region in the south of Idlib province between Syrian government forces and jihadist insurgents of the Turkistan Islamic Party .
Fifteen people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Residents and opposition forces said the violence had abated elsewhere .
The clashes , while limited , underline the fragility of Thursday 's deal between Russia , which backs President Bashar al-Assad 's forces , and Turkey .
Ankara supports rebel fighters but has less sway over hardline jihadists who control large parts of Idlib .
The ceasefire aims to contain a conflict that has displaced nearly a million people in three months in Idlib , which borders Turkey .
But analysts and residents said they feared it would not hold in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis nor air protection in any detail .
`` The deal is a failure and a joke , '' said Amar Ahmed , 32 , a farmer who has been displaced for nearly two months and lives in a destroyed building .
`` We want to go back home , to our lands , and for the ( Assad ) regime to leave our home towns . ''
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had vowed repeatedly in recent weeks to reverse advances by Assad 's forces in Idlib .
However , Thursday 's deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cementing significant gains by Syrian government forces .
`` There may be criticism but our priority was for a ceasefire and we achieved it .
Some goals were not reached but that goes for both sides , '' a senior Turkish official said .
The recent fighting sparked what the United Nations says may be the worst humanitarian crisis yet in a war that has driven millions from their homes and killed hundreds of thousands .
Turkey , which has the second largest army in the transatlantic NATO alliance , has tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent a wave of refugees over its southern border .
It already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees .
Russia had repeatedly played down any talk of a refugee crisis and accused Turkey of violating international law by pouring troops and equipment into Idlib since early last month .
About 60 Turkish troops have been killed in that time .
The ceasefire deal establishes a security corridor stretching 6 km ( 3.7 miles ) to the north and south of Idlib 's east-west M4 highway , where joint Russian-Turkish patrols will begin on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further north into the province .
Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed .
The latest one did not detail a `` safe zone '' or describe how displaced people could return to their homes .
`` Any ceasefire arrangement in Idlib , unless it has a no-fly zone dimension , is bound to fail .
Deals in the past never de-escalated .
They merely froze the crisis until the next escalation , '' said Galip Dalay , IPC-Mercator fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the front lines - which have seen heavy air strikes by Russian and Syrian jets , and intense Turkish artillery and drone strikes - were largely quiet after the midnight ceasefire came into effect .
`` There is a ceasefire but there are violations , '' said Abdul Ghani al Sheikh , a rebel fighter from the Turkey-backed Failaq Sham rebel group .
He said government forces were shelling Jabal al Zawya and Atareb , to the south and east of Idlib .
`` But the situation overall is better .
Everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinforcements are still coming , '' he added .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that the first eight hours of the ceasefire had passed with `` relative calm '' , and the skies had been free of Syrian government and Russian warplanes .
A Syrian state reporter , broadcasting from the town of Saraqeb recaptured by Syrian forces last week , said they were reinforcing positions at the front lines .
Naji Mustafa , spokesman for a coalition of rebel factions called the National Liberation Front , said government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and attempts to storm a front line , leaving little trust between the sides .
Ahmad Rahhal , a former general in Syria 's government forces who defected to the opposition , said : `` There is no pullout , and where will the displaced go ( who ) would never accept going to ( Assad ) regime areas ?
What we have heard is not comforting . ''

Deadly clashes erupted in parts of northwest Syria on Friday but a ceasefire deal between Russia and Turkey aimed at ending months of intense conflict was largely holding elsewhere in the country's last rebel-held enclave.
Picture taken on March 6, 2020, shows a damaged house in the town of Binnish, in Syria's northwestern Idlib province.
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A war monitor and rebel sources said the fighting broke out in the Jabal al-Zawiya region in the south of Idlib province between Syrian government forces and jihadist insurgents of the Turkistan Islamic Party. Fifteen people were killed, the Syrian Observatory said.
Residents and opposition forces said the violence had abated elsewhere.
The clashes, while limited, underline the fragility of Thursday's deal between Russia, which backs President Bashar al-Assad's forces, and Turkey. Ankara supports rebel fighters but has less sway over hardline jihadists who control large parts of Idlib.
The ceasefire aims to contain a conflict that has displaced nearly a million people in three months in Idlib, which borders Turkey. But analysts and residents said they feared it would not hold in part because it did not address the humanitarian crisis nor air protection in any detail.
"The deal is a failure and a joke," said Amar Ahmed, 32, a farmer who has been displaced for nearly two months and lives in a destroyed building. "We want to go back home, to our lands, and for the (Assad) regime to leave our home towns."
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had vowed repeatedly in recent weeks to reverse advances by Assad's forces in Idlib. However, Thursday's deal froze the conflict along existing front lines, cementing significant gains by Syrian government forces.
"There may be criticism but our priority was for a ceasefire and we achieved it. Some goals were not reached but that goes for both sides," a senior Turkish official said.
06:54
Humanitarian crisis
The recent fighting sparked what the United Nations says may be the worst humanitarian crisis yet in a war that has driven millions from their homes and killed hundreds of thousands.
Turkey, which has the second largest army in the transatlantic NATO alliance, has tried to resist the Syrian government advance and prevent a wave of refugees over its southern border. It already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees.
Russia had repeatedly played down any talk of a refugee crisis and accused Turkey of violating international law by pouring troops and equipment into Idlib since early last month. About 60 Turkish troops have been killed in that time.
The ceasefire deal establishes a security corridor stretching 6 km (3.7 miles) to the north and south of Idlib's east-west M4 highway, where joint Russian-Turkish patrols will begin on March 15, effectively advancing Russia's presence further north into the province.
Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. The latest one did not detail a "safe zone" or describe how displaced people could return to their homes.
"Any ceasefire arrangement in Idlib, unless it has a no-fly zone dimension, is bound to fail. Deals in the past never de-escalated. They merely froze the crisis until the next escalation," said Galip Dalay, IPC-Mercator fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
Tense calm
Residents and fighters in the region said the front lines - which have seen heavy air strikes by Russian and Syrian jets, and intense Turkish artillery and drone strikes - were largely quiet after the midnight ceasefire came into effect.
"There is a ceasefire but there are violations," said Abdul Ghani al Sheikh, a rebel fighter from the Turkey-backed Failaq Sham rebel group. He said government forces were shelling Jabal al Zawya and Atareb, to the south and east of Idlib.
"But the situation overall is better. Everyone thinks this is all temporary and Turkish reinforcements are still coming," he added.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that the first eight hours of the ceasefire had passed with "relative calm", and the skies had been free of Syrian government and Russian warplanes.
A Syrian state reporter, broadcasting from the town of Saraqeb recaptured by Syrian forces last week, said they were reinforcing positions at the front lines.
Naji Mustafa, spokesman for a coalition of rebel factions called the National Liberation Front, said government forces had violated the ceasefire with shelling and attempts to storm a front line, leaving little trust between the sides.
Ahmad Rahhal, a former general in Syria's government forces who defected to the opposition, said: "There is no pullout, and where will the displaced go (who) would never accept going to (Assad) regime areas? What we have heard is not comforting."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-06--Gunmen stage deadly attack on Shiite memorial service in Afghan capital

Relatives of an Afghan killed in an attack on a Shiite memorial service leave a Kabul hospital , Afghanistan , on March 6 , 2020 .
Gunmen attacked a memorial ceremony for a minority Shiite leader in Kabul Friday , killing at least 29 people and wounding more than 55 others in the first major attack on the Afghan capital since the US reached a troop withdrawal agreement with the Taliban .
The attack occurred in the predominantly Hazara Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul during a memorial ceremony for Abdul Ali Mazari , the leader of Afghanistan 's minority ethnic Hazaras @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Taliban .
A number of senior Afghan officials , including top political leader Abdullah Abdullah , the country 's chief executive and a leading contender in last year 's presidential election , were attending the ceremony when the attack began .
Abdullah escaped unharmed , but at least 27 people , all civilians , were killed , according to Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi .
`` The attack started with a boom , apparently a rocket landed in the area , Abdullah and some other politicians ... escaped the attack unhurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kwazoon , who was also present , told Reuters by telephone .
Leading Afghan broadcaster Tolo News showed live footage of people running for cover as gunfire was heard .
Hours later , the Islamic State ( IS ) group claimed responsibility for the attack , the group ’ s Amaq news agency reported on its Telegram app channel .
The group ’ s regional arm , the Islamic State in Khorasan ( IS-K ) , posted a photograph of two men it claimed were the suicide bombers sitting before a black flag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cartridges and grenades .
The attack came just days after the US and the Taliban signed an ambitious peace deal that lays out a conditions-based path to the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan .
Any US troop pullout would be tied in part to promises by the Taliban to fight terrorism and the IS group .
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted that the attack was `` a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan '' .
Ghani said he had telephoned Abdullah , his longtime political rival .
Abdullah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month declaring Ghani the winner of September 's presidential election .
Dozens of relatives gathered at the morgue of a hospital not far from the blast , with many breaking down in tears as they waited to identify their loved ones .
Ambulances and stretchers bustled back and forth at the hospital to deliver the wounded for treatment .
`` I was at the ceremony when gunshots started .
I rushed toward the door to get out of the area but suddenly my foot was hit by a bullet , '' Mukhtar Jan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
Ali Attayee , at the hospital to support his wounded brother , said : `` Those who committed this crime want to destroy our people at this juncture in society , we 're sorry for those committing such crimes . ''
Several TV journalists were covering the ceremony inside a walled compound when the gunmen began shooting , and a reporter and a cameraman for a local broadcaster were among the wounded .
Karim Khalili , the chief of Afghanistan 's high peace council , was delivering a speech when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurt and later went on TV to denounce the violence .
After opening fire , the two gunmen holed up in a half-finished apartment building , leading to a five-hour standoff with security forces .
The gunmen were eventually killed and security forces were clearing the building , according to the Interior Ministry .
The attack , one of the deadliest in Afghanistan this year , was condemned by the US , the EU and NATO .
`` We strongly condemn today ’ s vicious attack ... We stand with Afghanistan for peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kabul Ross Wilson wrote on Twitter .
The US has sought to spearhead efforts towards a lasting peace arrangement .
Violence decreased during a seven-day hold-down accord with the Taliban before last Saturday 's deal , though the Taliban has since resumed attacks on Afghan forces .
Speaking to reporters Friday , US President Donald Trump said the Taliban could “ possibly ” overrun the democratically elected Afghan government after the US withdrawal .
`` Countries have to take care of themselves , '' Trump told reporters at the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand for so long . ''
Asked if the Taliban could eventually seize power , Trump said it 's `` not supposed to happen that way but it possibly will '' .

Gunmen attacked a memorial ceremony for a minority Shiite leader in Kabul Friday, killing at least 29 people and wounding more than 55 others in the first major attack on the Afghan capital since the US reached a troop withdrawal agreement with the Taliban.
Relatives of an Afghan killed in an attack on a Shiite memorial service leave a Kabul hospital, Afghanistan, on March 6, 2020.
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The attack occurred in the predominantly Hazara Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul during a memorial ceremony for Abdul Ali Mazari, the leader of Afghanistan's minority ethnic Hazaras, who was killed in 1995 by the Taliban.
A number of senior Afghan officials, including top political leader Abdullah Abdullah, the country's chief executive and a leading contender in last year's presidential election, were attending the ceremony when the attack began.
Abdullah escaped unharmed, but at least 27 people, all civilians, were killed, according to Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.
"The attack started with a boom, apparently a rocket landed in the area, Abdullah and some other politicians ... escaped the attack unhurt," Abdullah's spokesman, Fraidoon Kwazoon, who was also present, told Reuters by telephone.
Leading Afghan broadcaster Tolo News showed live footage of people running for cover as gunfire was heard.
Islamic State group claims responsibility
Hours later, the Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack, the group’s Amaq news agency reported on its Telegram app channel.
The group’s regional arm, the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K), posted a photograph of two men it claimed were the suicide bombers sitting before a black flag and surrounded by automatic rifles, bullet cartridges and grenades.
The attack came just days after the US and the Taliban signed an ambitious peace deal that lays out a conditions-based path to the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. Any US troop pullout would be tied in part to promises by the Taliban to fight terrorism and the IS group.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted that the attack was "a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan".
Ghani said he had telephoned Abdullah, his longtime political rival. Abdullah is contesting an Electoral Commission announcement last month declaring Ghani the winner of September's presidential election.
President Ghani called Mr. Abdullah Abdullah and Mr. Khalili after the terrorist attack took place on a gathering in which they had attended to assure himself of their wellbeings. In today's terrorist attack, we lost so many of our innocent fellow-citizen. It is a sad day. — Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) March 6, 2020
Panic at attack site, mourning in morgues
Dozens of relatives gathered at the morgue of a hospital not far from the blast, with many breaking down in tears as they waited to identify their loved ones.
Ambulances and stretchers bustled back and forth at the hospital to deliver the wounded for treatment.
"I was at the ceremony when gunshots started. I rushed toward the door to get out of the area but suddenly my foot was hit by a bullet," Mukhtar Jan told Reuters from a stretcher at the hospital.
Ali Attayee, at the hospital to support his wounded brother, said: "Those who committed this crime want to destroy our people at this juncture in society, we're sorry for those committing such crimes."
Several TV journalists were covering the ceremony inside a walled compound when the gunmen began shooting, and a reporter and a cameraman for a local broadcaster were among the wounded.
Karim Khalili, the chief of Afghanistan's high peace council, was delivering a speech when the gunfire interrupted him. He was not hurt and later went on TV to denounce the violence.
After opening fire, the two gunmen holed up in a half-finished apartment building, leading to a five-hour standoff with security forces. The gunmen were eventually killed and security forces were clearing the building, according to the Interior Ministry.
Trump says Taliban could ‘possibly’ seize power
The attack, one of the deadliest in Afghanistan this year, was condemned by the US, the EU and NATO.
"We strongly condemn today’s vicious attack ... We stand with Afghanistan for peace," the United States chargé d'affaires in Kabul Ross Wilson wrote on Twitter.
The US has sought to spearhead efforts towards a lasting peace arrangement. Violence decreased during a seven-day hold-down accord with the Taliban before last Saturday's deal, though the Taliban has since resumed attacks on Afghan forces.
Speaking to reporters Friday, US President Donald Trump said the Taliban could “possibly” overrun the democratically elected Afghan government after the US withdrawal.
"Countries have to take care of themselves," Trump told reporters at the White House. "You can only hold someone's hand for so long."
Asked if the Taliban could eventually seize power, Trump said it's "not supposed to happen that way but it possibly will".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-06--PSG's football match at Strasbourg postponed due to coronavirus fears

Paris Saint-Germain 's Ligue 1 game at Strasbourg on Saturday has been postponed over coronavirus fears , the French football league ( LFP ) announced on Friday .
`` Following an order from the Bas-Rhin authorities concerning the spread of the coronavirus , the meeting is postponed , '' the LFP said in a statement .
It is the first French league match to be postponed because of the new coronavirus .
Strasbourg 's Alsace region is one of the worst hit by the coronavirus in France , where 613 cases and nine deaths have been reported .
The decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for COVID-19 in the Haut-Rhin region , which neighbours the Bas-Rhin region where Strasbourg is located .
`` The arrival of 26,000 at the Stade de la Meinau , a quarter of which would come from the Haut-Rhin region , is likely to promote the spread of COVID-19 , '' local authorities said in a statement .
Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG will not be too put out by the postponement , as the decision will give them an extra day of rest before their Champions League last-16 second leg against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday .
Several other sporting events in the country have been affected .
The Paris marathon , initially scheduled for April 5 , has been postponed until October 18 and a number of cycling teams have pulled out of the Paris-Nice stage race that starts on Sunday .

Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 game at Strasbourg on Saturday has been postponed over coronavirus fears, the French football league (LFP) announced on Friday.
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"Following an order from the Bas-Rhin authorities concerning the spread of the coronavirus, the meeting is postponed," the LFP said in a statement.
It is the first French league match to be postponed because of the new coronavirus.
Strasbourg's Alsace region is one of the worst hit by the coronavirus in France, where 613 cases and nine deaths have been reported. The decision was made after a number of people tested positive for COVID-19 in the Haut-Rhin region, which neighbours the Bas-Rhin region where Strasbourg is located.
"The arrival of 26,000 at the Stade de la Meinau, a quarter of which would come from the Haut-Rhin region, is likely to promote the spread of COVID-19," local authorities said in a statement.
Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG will not be too put out by the postponement, as the decision will give them an extra day of rest before their Champions League last-16 second leg against Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Several other sporting events in the country have been affected.
The Paris marathon, initially scheduled for April 5, has been postponed until October 18 and a number of cycling teams have pulled out of the Paris-Nice stage race that starts on Sunday.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-06--‘Open the gates,’ migrants chant at Turkey-Greece border

Migrants demonstrate on the Turkey-Greece border buffer zone , near the Pazarkule crossing gate in Edirne , Turkey , on March 6 , 2020 .
Migrants and Greek police traded tear gas and rocks at the border with Turkey on Friday , where thousands of refugees have been encouraged by Ankara to leave for the European Union .
The brief clashes occurred as many desperate migrants tried to break through the fence , according to AFP journalists at the scene , but they quickly ended the volley or rocks and instead sat peacefully chanting `` freedom '' and `` open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of migrants have sprung up around the border since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that his country would no longer stop them from trying to leave .
Many say they are being pushed to attempt illegal entry to Greece .
`` They ( the Turkish military ) told us that if you do n't go to the border ... you will be forced to come back to Turkey and people do n't want to come back because they do n't have any good opportunities , there is n't anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP .
The EU 's diplomatic chief made a direct appeal to the migrants not to go to the Greek border .
`` The border is not open , '' EU High Representative Josep Borrell said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Zagreb .
Turkey and Russia agreed a ceasefire in Syria on Thursday , but Ankara is still threatened by a potential new influx of refugees from the last rebel stronghold of Idlib and has sought to pressure Europe into providing greater assistance .
Turkey already hosts some four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Syrian army , backed by Russian army , have pushed close to a million more towards its border .
On Friday , Greek officials accused Turkey of firing tear gas and smoke bombs at their border guards and providing cutters to migrants to break through fencing .
`` There are coordinated attacks this morning , '' a Greek official told AFP .
`` Apart from intimidation , these attacks are taking place from the Turkish police to help migrants cross the fence border line . ''
Meanwhile , two Greek men were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island of Lesbos , where there has been a violent backlash against those helping the swelling number of arrivals .
`` I will continue to defend my country .
Most of the ( aid groups ) operate like spies .
These gangsters should leave the island , '' said 73-year-old Konstantinos Alvanopoulos after being given a three-month suspended sentence .
Erdogan 's office said the Syrian ceasefire would not alter its policy on refugees leaving for Europe .
`` The Russia-Turkey agreement does not ... change the fact of the European Union 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2016 refugee deal , '' presidential sources told state news agency Anadolu .
Turkey agreed in 2016 to stop letting migrants leave in exchange for six billion euros -- but Ankara says other parts of the deal including improved visa and trade rules were never fulfilled .
Russia , which backs Syrian government forces with air power , agreed to impose a ceasefire in Idlib from midnight and the skies were free of warplanes for the first day in months on Friday , although previous peace agreements have proved temporary .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceasefire , the ceasefire is good news .
At least it 's goodwill -- let 's see how it works , '' Borrell said in Zagreb .
`` But there 's still an extraordinary humanitarian challenge that I think we all face in terms of the sheer numbers of refugees , '' added Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney .

Migrants and Greek police traded tear gas and rocks at the border with Turkey on Friday, where thousands of refugees have been encouraged by Ankara to leave for the European Union.
Migrants demonstrate on the Turkey-Greece border buffer zone, near the Pazarkule crossing gate in Edirne, Turkey, on March 6, 2020.
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The brief clashes occurred as many desperate migrants tried to break through the fence, according to AFP journalists at the scene, but they quickly ended the volley or rocks and instead sat peacefully chanting "freedom" and "open the gates".
Makeshift camps for thousands of migrants have sprung up around the border since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that his country would no longer stop them from trying to leave.
Many say they are being pushed to attempt illegal entry to Greece.
"They (the Turkish military) told us that if you don't go to the border... you will be forced to come back to Turkey and people don't want to come back because they don't have any good opportunities, there isn't anything," Ali, an Iranian, told AFP.
The EU's diplomatic chief made a direct appeal to the migrants not to go to the Greek border.
"The border is not open," EU High Representative Josep Borrell said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Zagreb.
Turkey and Russia agreed a ceasefire in Syria on Thursday, but Ankara is still threatened by a potential new influx of refugees from the last rebel stronghold of Idlib and has sought to pressure Europe into providing greater assistance.
Turkey already hosts some four million refugees, and recent advances by the Syrian army, backed by Russian army, have pushed close to a million more towards its border.
'Coordinated attacks'
On Friday, Greek officials accused Turkey of firing tear gas and smoke bombs at their border guards and providing cutters to migrants to break through fencing.
"There are coordinated attacks this morning," a Greek official told AFP. "Apart from intimidation, these attacks are taking place from the Turkish police to help migrants cross the fence border line."
Meanwhile, two Greek men were convicted of threatening aid workers on the island of Lesbos, where there has been a violent backlash against those helping the swelling number of arrivals.
"I will continue to defend my country. Most of the (aid groups) operate like spies. These gangsters should leave the island," said 73-year-old Konstantinos Alvanopoulos after being given a three-month suspended sentence.
Erdogan's office said the Syrian ceasefire would not alter its policy on refugees leaving for Europe.
"The Russia-Turkey agreement does not... change the fact of the European Union's non-compliance with its promises as part of the 2016 refugee deal," presidential sources told state news agency Anadolu.
Turkey agreed in 2016 to stop letting migrants leave in exchange for six billion euros -- but Ankara says other parts of the deal including improved visa and trade rules were never fulfilled.
Russia, which backs Syrian government forces with air power, agreed to impose a ceasefire in Idlib from midnight and the skies were free of warplanes for the first day in months on Friday, although previous peace agreements have proved temporary.
The EU welcomed the ceasefire.
"For sure I am pleased for the ceasefire, the ceasefire is good news. At least it's goodwill -- let's see how it works," Borrell said in Zagreb.
"But there's still an extraordinary humanitarian challenge that I think we all face in terms of the sheer numbers of refugees," added Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-06--Schools to close in two French departments due to coronavirus, says PM Philippe

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe ( R ) and Health Minister Olivier Véran give a press conference following a ministers meeting on the COVID-19 outbreak caused by the coronavirus , on March 6 , 2020 , in Paris .
Nurseries , kindergartens and schools in two departments worst affected by the coronavirus will be closed for two weeks starting Monday , French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced Friday as the death toll from the virus rose to nine with 613 confirmed cases in France .
Starting Monday , nurseries , kindergartens and schools in the northern Oise department and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , said Philippe on Friday , following a spike in coronavirus cases .
Philippe noted that while children were more immune to the infection , the measures were being taken to “ curb the spread of the virus ” .
Despite the new measures , France maintained its coronavirus alert level warning to 2 since the virus was present in some areas and not across the country , explained the PM .
New restriction on all gatherings except those that are essential have also been put in place in the two departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly as well as those in fragile health or with chronic conditions have been urged to stay home as far as possible .
France ’ s rise in coronavirus infections mirrored a worldwide spike in cases with the World Health Organization ( WHO ) reporting more than 100,000 infections as the virus wove itself deeper into the daily lives of millions across the globe .
The prime minister ’ s announcement came hours after President Emmanuel Macron urged the French to limit visits to elderly people , who are most vulnerable to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove `` heartbreaking '' at times but said the measure was simply one of common sense .
He emphasised that young people should not be visiting the old because `` as we know , they ( the young ) transmit the virus a lot '' .
Those who died in France so far have been old with pre-existing conditions .
The French president shook up his agenda this week to include a visit to an old age home , where he stressed his government ’ s commitment to helping those most vulnerable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to protect the people who are the most fragile in the face of this virus , '' Macron said .
`` The nation is behind our old people.
” Macron ’ s call came a day after a French lawmaker was hospitalised in intensive care after contracting the COVID-19 infection .
A snack bar worker had also contracted the virus and had been confined to home , while another worker in the lawmakers ' dining hall who was suspected of having caught the virus had been hospitalised , the National Assembly said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing concern over the French figures , the EU parliament announced that the venue for next week 's session would be switched from Strasbourg in eastern France to the parliament ’ s second chamber in the Belgian capital , Brussels , which has been closed to the public .
`` The situation related to the spread of the infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has evolved over the last few days and hours .
In particular , new infection clusters have been confirmed and case numbers are rising , '' Parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The necessary security conditions are not in place for the usual transfer of the European Parliament to Strasbourg for the plenary session next week , '' he added .

Nurseries, kindergartens and schools in two departments worst affected by the coronavirus will be closed for two weeks starting Monday, French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced Friday as the death toll from the virus rose to nine with 613 confirmed cases in France.
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe (R) and Health Minister Olivier Véran give a press conference following a ministers meeting on the COVID-19 outbreak caused by the coronavirus, on March 6, 2020, in Paris.
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Starting Monday, nurseries, kindergartens and schools in the northern Oise department and the northeastern Haut-Rhin will be closed for 14 days, said Philippe on Friday, following a spike in coronavirus cases.
Philippe noted that while children were more immune to the infection, the measures were being taken to “curb the spread of the virus”.
Despite the new measures, France maintained its coronavirus alert level warning to 2 since the virus was present in some areas and not across the country, explained the PM.
New restriction on all gatherings except those that are essential have also been put in place in the two departments, he said, continuing that the elderly as well as those in fragile health or with chronic conditions have been urged to stay home as far as possible.
France’s rise in coronavirus infections mirrored a worldwide spike in cases with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting more than 100,000 infections as the virus wove itself deeper into the daily lives of millions across the globe.
Macron urges limits to visits to elderly
The prime minister’s announcement came hours after President Emmanuel Macron urged the French to limit visits to elderly people, who are most vulnerable to a coronavirus infection.
Macron admitted this could prove "heartbreaking" at times but said the measure was simply one of common sense.
He emphasised that young people should not be visiting the old because "as we know, they (the young) transmit the virus a lot".
Those who died in France so far have been old with pre-existing conditions.
The French president shook up his agenda this week to include a visit to an old age home, where he stressed his government’s commitment to helping those most vulnerable to the disease.
"Our absolute priority is to protect the people who are the most fragile in the face of this virus," Macron said. "The nation is behind our old people.”
EU parliament session moves from Strasbourg to Brussels
Macron’s call came a day after a French lawmaker was hospitalised in intensive care after contracting the COVID-19 infection.
A snack bar worker had also contracted the virus and had been confined to home, while another worker in the lawmakers' dining hall who was suspected of having caught the virus had been hospitalised, the National Assembly said Thursday.
In a sign of the growing concern over the French figures, the EU parliament announced that the venue for next week's session would be switched from Strasbourg in eastern France to the parliament’s second chamber in the Belgian capital, Brussels, which has been closed to the public.
"The situation related to the spread of the infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has evolved over the last few days and hours. In particular, new infection clusters have been confirmed and case numbers are rising," Parliament President David Sassoli said in a statement.
"The necessary security conditions are not in place for the usual transfer of the European Parliament to Strasbourg for the plenary session next week," he added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-06--Government clip inspires coronavirus 'safety dance' challenge in Vietnam

A version of the song with English subtitles .
For the time being , 16 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Vietnam , which shares 1,300 kilometres of border with China .
The border town of Son Loi , which has 10,000 residents , was placed in quarantaine on February 13 .
The Vietnamese government ’ s smash hit `` Ghen Cô Vy ' '' ( `` Jealous coronavirus ” ) has already garnered more than 700,000 views and has been picked up by media outlets around the world.What was the magic formula for their viral video ?
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hygiene practices to combat little fluorescent green cartoon versions of the virus .
The song is based on a famous V-pop ( Vietnamese pop ) song called `` Ghen '' [ `` Jealous '' ] , by singers Erik and Min .
The lyrics have been rewritten to advise people on good hygiene : “ Wash our hands , scrub , scrub , scrub them !
Don ’ t touch your eyes , your nose , your mouth !
Avoid places where there ’ s a crowd !
Let ’ s resist corona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article in the US magazine Billboard , the lyrics were re-written by producer Khac Hung , in collaboration with the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health .
The original singers performed the new version .

VIETNAM
Many Vietnamese users made their own versions of a government-produced coronavirus safety video that went viral on TikTok. (Screengrabs: @quynh2001, @im.quangdang, @haotho512)
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The Vietnamese government released a catchy music video on February 22 in an attempt to combat the COVID-19 outbreak by promoting preventive measures like handwashing and avoiding crowded areas. Their strategy worked – the clip, based on a local pop song, went viral on TikTok and a new dance challenge was born on social media. Now hundreds of young Vietnamese social media users are making their own videos showing off preventive measures.
The Vietnamese government’s smash hit "Ghen Cô Vy'" ("Jealous coronavirus”) has already garnered more than 700,000 views and has been picked up by media outlets around the world.
What was the magic formula for their viral video? The clip features dedicated citizens carrying out recommended hygiene practices to combat little fluorescent green cartoon versions of the virus. The song is based on a famous V-pop (Vietnamese pop) song called "Ghen" ["Jealous"], by singers Erik and Min. The lyrics have been rewritten to advise people on good hygiene: “Wash our hands, scrub, scrub, scrub them! Don’t touch your eyes, your nose, your mouth! Avoid places where there’s a crowd! Let’s resist corona, corona!”
According to an article in the US magazine Billboard, the lyrics were re-written by producer Khac Hung, in collaboration with the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health. The original singers performed the new version.
A version of the song with English subtitles.
The video was instant inspiration for Vietnamese social media users, who launched the "#Ghencovychallenge" on Tiktok. Hundreds of young Vietnamese people have posted their own dance videos featuring sweet moves like washing their hands.
For the time being, 16 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Vietnam, which shares 1,300 kilometres of border with China. The border town of Son Loi, which has 10,000 residents, was placed in quarantaine on February 13.


france24--2020-03-06--Egypt reopens Djoser pyramid, country's oldest, after 14-year restoration

The 4,700-year-old step pyramid of Djoser in Egypt 's Saqqara necropolis , south of the capital Cairo .
Egyptian authorities reopened the 4,700-year-old step pyramid of Djoser to the public on Thursday , after years of renovation .
The roughly 60-metre-high ( almost 200 feet ) pyramid dominates the vast Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo , and is part of the ancient capital of Memphis , a UNESCO World Heritage site .
`` We completed the restoration ... of the first and oldest pyramid in Egypt , that of King Djoser , the founder of the Old Kingdom , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday at the site .
It is `` the first building in the world made entirely of stone '' , Enany added .
The Old Kingdom is known as the age of pyramid builders .
Dating to 2,680 BC , the Djoser pyramid was built under the direction of architect Imhotep .
Renovations started in 2006 but were interrupted in 2011 and 2012 for `` security reasons '' , before resuming in 2013 , said Ayman Gamal Eddine , project manager at the antiquities ministry .
A popular uprising in Egypt in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tourism one of the sectors that took a hit in the turmoil that followed .
Thursday 's reopening was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli as well as foreign ambassadors .
The premier said the renovation cost more than 104 million Egyptian pounds ( $ 6.66 million ) .
`` We are working hard to build a new Egypt ... and the restoration of our heritage is at the top of our priorities , '' Madbouli said .
The gigantic Grand Egyptian Museum , overlooking the Giza pyramids , is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , five years later than originally planned .
Controversy erupted in 2014 when Egyptian media reported that the Djoser pyramid had been damaged during restoration work , with several Egyptian NGOs saying the monument 's original facade had been altered .
Enany said on Thursday that after criticism from UNESCO experts , works were undertaken in conformity with the UN body 's norms and `` in 2018 , UNESCO gave us positive reports '' .
Egypt has touted a flurry of archaeological finds in recent years , in the hope of boosting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered multiple shocks since the 2011 uprising .
Last year , authorities unveiled a 4,500-year-old burial ground near the Giza pyramids replete with colourful wooden coffins and limestone statues .
In November 2018 , the ministry announced the discovery of seven sarcophagi , some dating back more than 6,000 years , at a site on the edge of the pyramid complex in Saqqara .
Dozens of mummified cats were also found .
Egypt 's tourist arrivals reached 11.3 million in 2018 , up from 5.3 million in 2016 .

Egyptian authorities reopened the 4,700-year-old step pyramid of Djoser to the public on Thursday, after years of renovation.
The 4,700-year-old step pyramid of Djoser in Egypt's Saqqara necropolis, south of the capital Cairo.
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The roughly 60-metre-high (almost 200 feet) pyramid dominates the vast Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, and is part of the ancient capital of Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
"We completed the restoration ... of the first and oldest pyramid in Egypt, that of King Djoser, the founder of the Old Kingdom," Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled el-Enany said on Thursday at the site.
It is "the first building in the world made entirely of stone", Enany added.
The Old Kingdom is known as the age of pyramid builders.
Dating to 2,680 BC, the Djoser pyramid was built under the direction of architect Imhotep.
A 1992 earthquake caused considerable damage to the monument's interior.
Renovations started in 2006 but were interrupted in 2011 and 2012 for "security reasons", before resuming in 2013, said Ayman Gamal Eddine, project manager at the antiquities ministry.
A popular uprising in Egypt in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak, with tourism one of the sectors that took a hit in the turmoil that followed.
Thursday's reopening was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli as well as foreign ambassadors.
The premier said the renovation cost more than 104 million Egyptian pounds ($6.66 million).
"We are working hard to build a new Egypt ... and the restoration of our heritage is at the top of our priorities," Madbouli said.
The gigantic Grand Egyptian Museum, overlooking the Giza pyramids, is set to open at the end of this year, five years later than originally planned.
Controversy erupted in 2014 when Egyptian media reported that the Djoser pyramid had been damaged during restoration work, with several Egyptian NGOs saying the monument's original facade had been altered.
Enany said on Thursday that after criticism from UNESCO experts, works were undertaken in conformity with the UN body's norms and "in 2018, UNESCO gave us positive reports".
Egypt has touted a flurry of archaeological finds in recent years, in the hope of boosting its vital tourism sector, which has suffered multiple shocks since the 2011 uprising.
Last year, authorities unveiled a 4,500-year-old burial ground near the Giza pyramids replete with colourful wooden coffins and limestone statues.
In November 2018, the ministry announced the discovery of seven sarcophagi, some dating back more than 6,000 years, at a site on the edge of the pyramid complex in Saqqara. Dozens of mummified cats were also found.
Egypt's tourist arrivals reached 11.3 million in 2018, up from 5.3 million in 2016.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-06--Rush on toilet paper: Coronavirus sparks panic buying in Australia

Fear of the spread of coronavirus has sparked panic buying in Australia , where supermarkets have had to limit the @ @ @ @ @ each customer , and police have even had to break up a fight over the @ @ @ @ @ 59 confirmed cases of the potentially deadly virus in Australia , as of Friday morning @ @ @ @ @ enough to spark a rush on essential supplies in some areas , with toilet paper @ @ @ @ @ Some large retail chains have had to limit the number of packs sold to each @ @ @ @ @ at one supermarket police tasered a customer after a fight broke out over quickly dwindling @ @ @ @ @ the only country to have seen panic buying as the virus continues to spread .
@ @ @ @ @ rush on toilet paper , while in France and the US consumers have been scrambling @ @ @ @ @ staples such as rice and pasta .

Fear of the spread of coronavirus has sparked panic buying in Australia, where supermarkets have had to limit the number of packs sold to each customer, and police have even had to break up a fight over the commodity.
There have been reports of people panic buying toilet paper in Australia amid the coronavirus outbreak.
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There have been 59 confirmed cases of the potentially deadly virus in Australia, as of Friday morning. The outbreak has been enough to spark a rush on essential supplies in some areas, with toilet paper in particularly high demand.
Some large retail chains have had to limit the number of packs sold to each customer to four, while at one supermarket police tasered a customer after a fight broke out over quickly dwindling stocks.
Australia is not the only country to have seen panic buying as the virus continues to spread. Japan has also seen a rush on toilet paper, while in France and the US consumers have been scrambling to get hold of food staples such as rice and pasta.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-03-06--Indonesia's tin miners who slave away for the world's computer and phone giants

Indonesia 's tin miners who slave away for the world 's computer and phone giants On the island of Bangka @ @ @ @ @ dig tirelessly at the face of a giant mine .
They 're searching for tin @ @ @ @ @ much as gold to them .
The island supplies a quarter of global production , @ @ @ @ @ and mobile phone giants .
Located east of Sumatra , Bangka was once an island @ @ @ @ @ a gigantic surface mine .
Official mining companies rub shoulders with thousands of illegal miners @ @ @ @ @ the hope of a lucky break .
It 's also an environmental catastrophe , with @ @ @ @ @ life .
Our team reports .

Indonesia's tin miners who slave away for the world's computer and phone giants
17:45 REPORTERS © FRANCE 24
By: Arnaud GUIGUITANT | Guillaume COLLANGES
On the island of Bangka, in Indonesia, men dig tirelessly at the face of a giant mine. They're searching for tin, a metal worth as much as gold to them. The island supplies a quarter of global production, feeding the needs of computer and mobile phone giants. Located east of Sumatra, Bangka was once an island paradise but has now become a gigantic surface mine. Official mining companies rub shoulders with thousands of illegal miners, risking their lives in the hope of a lucky break. It's also an environmental catastrophe, with lagoons now devoid of marine life. Our team reports.


france24--2020-03-06--Week in Review: Remembering the 'Paris Exodus', the Vatican seeks aliens and Paris Fashion Week

Eighty years after millions of Parisians fled the French capital to escape the German army , a new exhibit puts a forgotten part of French history in the spotlight .
We also look at the Vatican Observatory 's search for alien life and France 's Polanski dilemma , after the controversial director took top prize at the César awards ( known as the `` French Oscars '' ) .
The Super Tuesday Democratic primary results have cemented the Democratic contest as a two-horse race and set the stage for a drawn-out tussle for the 2020 presidential nomination .
Investigators in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent to which 12 executives of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus can be held criminally responsible for the rapid spread in the country of COVID-19 , the illness that results from the coronavirus .
Coronavirus : France requisitions face masks for use only by health professionals , those infected French authorities will requisition all face mask stocks and production in the coming months , President Emmanuel Macron has announced , reserving them for use by those actually infected with the coronavirus and those working in the healthcare industry .
Eighty years after millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Paris Exodus' In the summer of 1940 , millions of Parisians fled the French capital in a matter of days to escape the advancing German army .
Eighty years after “ l ’ exode de Paris ” , an exhibition at the Liberation of Paris Museum puts a neglected part of French history in the spotlight .
An exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of Raphael ’ s death opened in Rome this week , with experts hailing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to admire the Renaissance artist ’ s greatest works in a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening has been marred by the coronavirus outbreak sweeping Italy and a row over a treasured portrait some feared was too fragile to move .
Louvre museum reopens in Paris as staff agree to end coronavirus protest The Louvre museum in Paris reopened to the public on Wednesday after management took steps to allay staff fears over the coronavirus spread , which had sparked a two-day closure .
In the first major Paris retrospective devoted to flamboyant French shoe designer Christian Louboutin , an exhibition at Le Palais de La Porte Dorée explores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is used to greet friends , family and colleagues across France , but the traditional `` bise '' – a kiss on each cheek – may now be a health hazard , with government officials advising against it amid the coronavirus epidemic .
‘ Anyone but Trump ’ : The Texas evangelicals who plan to vote Democrat Texas is home to one of the largest evangelical populations in the country , most of which traditionally votes Republican .
But some current and former members of the evangelical community have turned to the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the first exoplanet 24 years ago .
It was named 51 Pegasi b and is located outside our Solar System , 51 light years away from the Sun .
Mayor and Queloz sat down with FRANCE 24 to discuss their groundbreaking research and address the question of whether there could be life beyond our Solar System .
The elite world of French cinema is divided over the 45th César Awards ceremony , the French equivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the controversial and divisive Franco-Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski won three awards , including the coveted Best Director prize .
This was a bitter pill to swallow for many , including feminist groups who had called for a boycott of the ceremony .
Since 2014 , thousands of mainly US troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the local Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State group .
But back in January , the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad sparked an escalation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international coalition and Iraqi forces may be suffering .
This year , three strong messages were conveyed at Paris fashion week : At Dior , Maria Grazia Chiuri once again flaunted her feminist credentials and Marine Serre embraced recycling while Dawei advocated for courtesy and respect .
Chinese designer Dawei chose to self-quarantine , on the remote chance that he brought coronavirus from Beijing .
Carly Rae Jepsen returns to heart-crushing synth pop hits in her fourth album With dozens of millions of albums sold over the past decade , Carly Rae Jepsen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pop stars .
Thanks to worldwide favourites like `` Call me maybe '' or `` I really like you '' , she ’ s perfected the art of catchy , upbeat and yet heart-crushing synth-pop hits .
The Juno-winning , Grammy-nominated star sat down with FRANCE 24 ’ s Florence Villeminot before a recent gig in Paris to talk about her fourth album , `` Dedicated '' .
When people think of Japan they often think of harmony , tranquility and rules but also manga , Hello Kitty , Pokémon and rainbows .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in Japanese , has become Japan 's worldwide image .
But the host country of the 2020 summer Olympics has so much more to offer .
FRANCE 24 's culture editor Eve Jackson takes viewers to Tokyo to check out the vibrant cultural scene in the world 's largest city .
YOU ARE HERE In France 's Limousin region , arts and crafts are a tradition .
For six generations , a family of tilers have been decorating the roofs of houses in the area .
In an old factory , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an old gas oven .
Another Limousin tradition is wool processing .
Vatican Observatory : Looking to the heavens for answers Every year , billions of dollars worldwide are spent on the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence .
From the SETI Institute in California to the Vatican , we tell you what scientists are learning on the probability that other galaxies are indeed hosting life .

WEEK IN REVIEW
Eighty years after millions of Parisians fled the French capital to escape the German army, a new exhibit puts a forgotten part of French history in the spotlight. We also look at the Vatican Observatory's search for alien life and France's Polanski dilemma, after the controversial director took top prize at the César awards (known as the "French Oscars").
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ARTICLES
‘Real battle’ ahead after Biden overtakes Sanders as Democratic front-runner
The Super Tuesday Democratic primary results have cemented the Democratic contest as a two-horse race and set the stage for a drawn-out tussle for the 2020 presidential nomination.
South Korea seeks criminal charges against Christian sect over coronavirus spread
Investigators in South Korea are seeking to establish the extent to which 12 executives of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus can be held criminally responsible for the rapid spread in the country of COVID-19, the illness that results from the coronavirus.
Coronavirus: France requisitions face masks for use only by health professionals, those infected
French authorities will requisition all face mask stocks and production in the coming months, President Emmanuel Macron has announced, reserving them for use by those actually infected with the coronavirus and those working in the healthcare industry.
Eighty years after millions fled the German army, revisiting the ‘Paris Exodus'
In the summer of 1940, millions of Parisians fled the French capital in a matter of days to escape the advancing German army. Eighty years after “l’exode de Paris”, an exhibition at the Liberation of Paris Museum puts a neglected part of French history in the spotlight.
A family flees Paris in June 1940 with all their worldly goods. © Roger Viollet
Blockbuster Raphael show opens in Rome amid coronavirus angst, conservation row
An exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death opened in Rome this week, with experts hailing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to admire the Renaissance artist’s greatest works in a single show. But the event’s opening has been marred by the coronavirus outbreak sweeping Italy and a row over a treasured portrait some feared was too fragile to move.
Louvre museum reopens in Paris as staff agree to end coronavirus protest
The Louvre museum in Paris reopened to the public on Wednesday after management took steps to allay staff fears over the coronavirus spread, which had sparked a two-day closure.
Red soles: Celebrating shoe designer Christian Louboutin's eclectic inspirations
In the first major Paris retrospective devoted to flamboyant French shoe designer Christian Louboutin, an exhibition at Le Palais de La Porte Dorée explores his eclectic influences and inspirations.
Christian Louboutin at the Exhibition[niste] exhibition in Paris. © Christian Louboutin
VIDEO REPORTS
Kissing goodbye to ‘la bise’? Coronavirus threatens traditional French greeting
It is used to greet friends, family and colleagues across France, but the traditional "bise" – a kiss on each cheek – may now be a health hazard, with government officials advising against it amid the coronavirus epidemic.
French government health officials have advised against greeting people with a kiss amid the coronavirus outbreak. © TF1 / FRANCE 24
‘Anyone but Trump’: The Texas evangelicals who plan to vote Democrat
Texas is home to one of the largest evangelical populations in the country, most of which traditionally votes Republican. But some current and former members of the evangelical community have turned to the Democrats, espousing more progressive beliefs.
A liberal church in Austin, Texas, where parishioners lean towards the Democratic Party © France 24 screen grab
TV SHOWS ONLINE
THE INTERVIEW
Nobel laureates Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, exoplanet pioneers
In 2019, Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the first exoplanet 24 years ago. It was named 51 Pegasi b and is located outside our Solar System, 51 light years away from the Sun. Mayor and Queloz sat down with FRANCE 24 to discuss their groundbreaking research and address the question of whether there could be life beyond our Solar System.
The Interview © Screen grab
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Does Polanski's César award highlight a deep problem in French society?
The elite world of French cinema is divided over the 45th César Awards ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscars. A movie by the controversial and divisive Franco-Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski won three awards, including the coveted Best Director prize. This was a bitter pill to swallow for many, including feminist groups who had called for a boycott of the ceremony.
French Connections: The Polanksi dilemma © Screen grab
FOCUS
Yankee go home? In Iraq, anti-IS group coalition compromised
Since 2014, thousands of mainly US troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the local Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. But back in January, the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad sparked an escalation in the region, and coperation between the international coalition and Iraqi forces may be suffering.
Focus © FRANCE 24
FASHION
Paris fashion week: Innovation and progressive values take centre stage
This year, three strong messages were conveyed at Paris fashion week: At Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri once again flaunted her feminist credentials and Marine Serre embraced recycling while Dawei advocated for courtesy and respect. Chinese designer Dawei chose to self-quarantine, on the remote chance that he brought coronavirus from Beijing.
Paris Fashion Week © Screen grab
ENCORE
Carly Rae Jepsen returns to heart-crushing synth pop hits in her fourth album
With dozens of millions of albums sold over the past decade, Carly Rae Jepsen is one of Canada’s biggest pop stars. Thanks to worldwide favourites like "Call me maybe" or "I really like you", she’s perfected the art of catchy, upbeat and yet heart-crushing synth-pop hits. The Juno-winning, Grammy-nominated star sat down with FRANCE 24’s Florence Villeminot before a recent gig in Paris to talk about her fourth album, "Dedicated".
Tokyo: Culture vibes in Japan's new era
When people think of Japan they often think of harmony, tranquility and rules but also manga, Hello Kitty, Pokémon and rainbows. Cuteness, which translates as "kawaii" in Japanese, has become Japan's worldwide image. But the host country of the 2020 summer Olympics has so much more to offer. FRANCE 24's culture editor Eve Jackson takes viewers to Tokyo to check out the vibrant cultural scene in the world's largest city.
Encore! © Screen grab
YOU ARE HERE
The talented craftspeople of France's Limousin region
In France's Limousin region, arts and crafts are a tradition. For six generations, a family of tilers have been decorating the roofs of houses in the area. In an old factory, they make flat tiles by hand, baked in an old gas oven. Another Limousin tradition is wool processing.
LIMOUSIN © FRANCE 24
TECH24
Vatican Observatory: Looking to the heavens for answers
Every year, billions of dollars worldwide are spent on the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. From the SETI Institute in California to the Vatican, we tell you what scientists are learning on the probability that other galaxies are indeed hosting life.
Tech24 © Screen grab
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france24--2020-03-07--Erdogan orders Turkish coastguard to block migrants crossing Aegean Sea

FILE PHOTO : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin ( not pictured ) following their talks in Moscow , Russia on March 5 , 2020 .
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the Turkish coastguard to prevent migrants from crossing the Aegean Sea because of the risks , state media reported .
`` On the orders of the president ... permission will not be given for migrants to cross the Aegean Sea because it is dangerous , '' the coastguard was quoted as saying by Anadolu news agency late Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ border where tear gas and smoke bombs were fired at thousands of migrants amassed at a makeshift camp waiting to cross into Europe .
Greek soldiers and riot police have been manning the borderland , and Greek officials say authorities have thwarted thousands of attempts by migrants to cross in the past eight days .
Over a 24-hour period by Saturday morning , there were more than 1,200 attempts to cross and 27 arrests , a government source said .
`` Greece is doing what every sovereign state has the right to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal crossings , '' Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the CNN network on Friday night .
`` I 'm afraid this is a constant and very systematic provocation on Turkey 's behalf which has nothing to do with the plight of these people .
They are being used by Turkey . ''
Heavy machinery was moved to the border crossing area on the Greek side on Saturday morning and a bulldozer was seen digging embankments close to Kastanies , a border town .
On the Turkish side of the border , Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makeshift migrant camp at Pazarkule , but some migrants are managing to sneak out and tell their stories , reports FRANCE 24 .
Turkey said on February 28 that it would let migrants cross its borders into Europe , saying it could no longer contain the tens of thousands who have been trying to cross since that date , nor a potential fresh influx of migrants due to intensified fighting in northwest Syria .
Turkey on Friday accused the European Union of using migrants as political tools after EU foreign ministers said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bloc .
The EU on Friday pleaded with migrants on the Turkish border to stop trying to cross into Greece but dangled the prospect of more aid for Ankara as a standoff entered a second week .
Most of the migrants were from Afghanistan and Pakistan .

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the Turkish coastguard to prevent migrants from crossing the Aegean Sea because of the risks, state media reported.
FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) following their talks in Moscow, Russia on March 5, 2020.
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"On the orders of the president ... permission will not be given for migrants to cross the Aegean Sea because it is dangerous," the coastguard was quoted as saying by Anadolu news agency late Friday.
On Saturday tensions flared on the Greek-Turkey border, where thousands of migrants amassed at a makeshift camp waiting to cross into Europe.
The Associated Press reported at least two migrants were injured in the latest clash between Greek police and migrants gathered on the Turkish side of a crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies. Officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd, and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts, the AP reported.
< Exclusive: Migrants face tear gas, violence at Greek-Turkish border >>
Greek soldiers and riot police have been manning the borderland, and Greek officials say authorities have thwarted thousands of attempts by migrants to cross in the past eight days. Over a 24-hour period by Saturday morning, there were more than 1,200 attempts to cross and 27 arrests, a government source said.
"Greece is doing what every sovereign state has the right to do, to protect its border from any illegal crossings," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the CNN network on Friday night.
"I'm afraid this is a constant and very systematic provocation on Turkey's behalf which has nothing to do with the plight of these people. They are being used by Turkey."
Erdogan's communications director Fahrettin Altun said Turkey "categorically" rejected Mitsotakis' claims.
Heavy machinery was moved to the border crossing area on the Greek side on Saturday morning and a bulldozer was seen digging embankments close to Kastanies, a border town.
On the Turkish side of the border, Turkish police have banned journalists from accessing the makeshift migrant camp at Pazarkule, but some migrants are managing to sneak out and tell their stories, reports FRANCE 24.
Turkey said on February 28 that it would let migrants cross its borders into Europe, saying it could no longer contain the tens of thousands who have been trying to cross since that date, nor a potential fresh influx of migrants due to intensified fighting in northwest Syria.
Turkey on Friday accused the European Union of using migrants as political tools after EU foreign ministers said they would work to stop illegal migration into the bloc.
The EU on Friday pleaded with migrants on the Turkish border to stop trying to cross into Greece but dangled the prospect of more aid for Ankara as a standoff entered a second week.
Most of the migrants were from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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