france24--2020-05-05--Venezuela arrests two US ‘mercenaries’ after alleged raid to capture Maduro

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said authorities arrested two U.S. citizens among a group of “ mercenaries ” on Monday , a day after a beach raid purportedly aimed at capturing the socialist leader that authorities say they foiled .
Maduro held up a pair of blue U.S. passports , reading off the names and birth dates on them in a nationwide broadcast on state television .
He showed images of the fishing boats the alleged attackers rode in on and equipment like walkie-talkies and night-vision glasses collected in what Maduro called an “ intense ” couple of days .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and neighboring Colombia , both of which have denied involvement .
“ The United States government is fully and completely involved in this defeated raid , ” Maduro said , praising members of a fishing village for cornering one group in the sweep netting the “ professional American mercenaries.
” Before dawn on Sunday , officials say the first attack started on a beach near Venezuela 's port city of La Guaira , when security forces made the first two arrests and killed eight others attempting to make a landing by speedboats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified as as Luke Denman and Airan Berry , both former U.S. special forces soldiers .
Florida-based ex-Green Beret Jordan Goudreau said earlier Monday that he was working with the two men in a mission intending to detain Maduro and “ liberate ” Venezuela .
Goudreau has claimed responsibility for the operation .
The two served in Iraq and Afghanistan with him in the U.S. military , Goudreau said , adding that they were part of this alleged mission in Venezuela called “ Operation Gideon.
” The aim was to capture Maduro .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and economic crisis under Maduro ’ s rule .
Crumbling public services such as running water , electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate .
But Maduro still controls all levers of power despite a U.S.-led campaign to oust him .
It recently indicted Maduro as a drug trafficker and offered a $ 15 million reward for his arrest .
Venezuela and the United States broke diplomatic ties last year amid heightened tensions , so there is no U.S. embassy in Caracas .
Officials from the U.S. State Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Associated Press for comment .
“ I ’ ve tried to engage everybody I know at every level , ” Goudreau said of the attempt to help his detained colleagues .
“ Nobody ’ s returning my calls .
It ’ s a nightmare.
” Goudreau ’ s account of the confusing raid has at times seemed contradictory — for example , he says he was plotting a rebellion for months while claiming not to have received a single penny .
Meanwhile , a self-aggrandizing Maduro has thrived broadcasting videos on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a flawless defense of the nation ’ s sovereignty .
Kay Denman , the mother of one of the Americans , said the last time she heard from her son was a few weeks when he texted her from an undisclosed location to ask how she was coping with the coronavirus pandemic .
She said she never heard her son discuss Venezuela and only learned of his possible capture there after his friends called when they saw the reports on social media .
“ The first time I heard Jordan Goudreau ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when reached at her home in Austin , Texas .
Goudreau has said he reached an agreement with the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to overthrow Maduro , which Guaidó has denied .
The opposition leader said he had nothing to do with Sunday 's raid .
Goudreau says Guaidó never fulfilled the agreement , but the former Green Beret pushed ahead with an underfunded operation with just 60 fighters , including the two U.S. veterans .
He said he last communicated with Denman and Berry when they were adrift in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Venezuela .
They were still in their boat following an initial confrontation with the Venezuelan Navy early Sunday , he said .
“ They were running dangerously low on fuel , ” Goudreau said .
“ If they had gone onto landfall , they would have gone to a safe house.
” Goudreau said the two were waiting for a boat on the Caribbean island of Aruba with emergency fuel to help extract them .
Venezuelan state TV showed showed images on state TV of several unidentified men handcuffed and lying prone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed authorities handling a shirtless man in handcuffs .
He was identified as a National Guardsman Capt .
Antonio Sequea , who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago .
Goudreau said Sequea was a commander working with him in recent days on the ground in Venezuela .
Maduro ally and Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that in total they ’ ve arrested 114 people suspected in the attempted attack and they are on the hunt of 92 others .
Goudreau , a three-time Bronze Star U.S. combat veteran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly seaborne raid from Colombia .
Goudreau said the operation had received no aid from Guaidó or the U.S. or Colombian governments .
Opposition politicians and U.S. authorities issued statements suggesting Maduro ’ s allies had fabricated the assault to draw attention away from the country ’ s problems .
Goudreau said by telephone earlier Monday that 52 other fighters had infiltrated Venezuelan territory and were in the first stage of a mission to recruit members of the security forces to join their cause .
An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army general — who now faces U.S. narcotics charges — to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela ’ s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia .
The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro ’ s arrest .

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said authorities arrested two U.S. citizens among a group of “mercenaries” on Monday, a day after a beach raid purportedly aimed at capturing the socialist leader that authorities say they foiled.
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Maduro held up a pair of blue U.S. passports, reading off the names and birth dates on them in a nationwide broadcast on state television. He showed images of the fishing boats the alleged attackers rode in on and equipment like walkie-talkies and night-vision glasses collected in what Maduro called an “intense” couple of days. He blamed the attacks on the Trump administration and neighboring Colombia, both of which have denied involvement.
“The United States government is fully and completely involved in this defeated raid,” Maduro said, praising members of a fishing village for cornering one group in the sweep netting the “professional American mercenaries.”
Informé al pueblo sobre la Operación Militar Negro Primero, “Aplastamiento del Enemigo”, que llevamos adelante en unión cívico–militar–policial para enfrentar las agresiones del imperio de EE.UU. y la oligarquía colombiana que pretende llenar de sangre nuestro suelo sagrado. pic.twitter.com/mz2wcqhJHZ — Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) May 5, 2020
Before dawn on Sunday, officials say the first attack started on a beach near Venezuela's port city of La Guaira, when security forces made the first two arrests and killed eight others attempting to make a landing by speedboats.
The two U.S. citizens arrested Monday were identified as as Luke Denman and Airan Berry, both former U.S. special forces soldiers.
Florida-based ex-Green Beret Jordan Goudreau said earlier Monday that he was working with the two men in a mission intending to detain Maduro and “liberate” Venezuela. Goudreau has claimed responsibility for the operation.
The two served in Iraq and Afghanistan with him in the U.S. military, Goudreau said, adding that they were part of this alleged mission in Venezuela called “Operation Gideon.” The aim was to capture Maduro.
Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate. But Maduro still controls all levers of power despite a U.S.-led campaign to oust him. It recently indicted Maduro as a drug trafficker and offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.
Venezuela and the United States broke diplomatic ties last year amid heightened tensions, so there is no U.S. embassy in Caracas. Officials from the U.S. State Department did not respond Monday to a request by The Associated Press for comment.
“I’ve tried to engage everybody I know at every level,” Goudreau said of the attempt to help his detained colleagues. “Nobody’s returning my calls. It’s a nightmare.”
Goudreau’s account of the confusing raid has at times seemed contradictory — for example, he says he was plotting a rebellion for months while claiming not to have received a single penny. Meanwhile, a self-aggrandizing Maduro has thrived broadcasting videos on state TV of what he says was a flawless defense of the nation’s sovereignty.
Kay Denman, the mother of one of the Americans, said the last time she heard from her son was a few weeks when he texted her from an undisclosed location to ask how she was coping with the coronavirus pandemic. She said she never heard her son discuss Venezuela and only learned of his possible capture there after his friends called when they saw the reports on social media.
“The first time I heard Jordan Goudreau’s name was today,” she said when reached at her home in Austin, Texas.
Goudreau has said he reached an agreement with the U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to overthrow Maduro, which Guaidó has denied. The opposition leader said he had nothing to do with Sunday's raid.
Goudreau says Guaidó never fulfilled the agreement, but the former Green Beret pushed ahead with an underfunded operation with just 60 fighters, including the two U.S. veterans.
He said he last communicated with Denman and Berry when they were adrift in a boat “hugging” the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. They were still in their boat following an initial confrontation with the Venezuelan Navy early Sunday, he said.
“They were running dangerously low on fuel,” Goudreau said. “If they had gone onto landfall, they would have gone to a safe house.”
Goudreau said the two were waiting for a boat on the Caribbean island of Aruba with emergency fuel to help extract them.
Venezuelan state TV showed showed images on state TV of several unidentified men handcuffed and lying prone in a street. One video clip showed authorities handling a shirtless man in handcuffs.
He was identified as a National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago. Goudreau said Sequea was a commander working with him in recent days on the ground in Venezuela.
Maduro ally and Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that in total they’ve arrested 114 people suspected in the attempted attack and they are on the hunt of 92 others.
Goudreau, a three-time Bronze Star U.S. combat veteran, claims to have helped organize the deadly seaborne raid from Colombia. Goudreau said the operation had received no aid from Guaidó or the U.S. or Colombian governments.
Opposition politicians and U.S. authorities issued statements suggesting Maduro’s allies had fabricated the assault to draw attention away from the country’s problems.
Goudreau said by telephone earlier Monday that 52 other fighters had infiltrated Venezuelan territory and were in the first stage of a mission to recruit members of the security forces to join their cause.
An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau had been working with a retired Venezuelan army general — who now faces U.S. narcotics charges — to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro’s arrest.
(AP)
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france24--2020-05-05--French hospital discovers country's first known Covid-19 case, from December

A medical staff member works in the Intensive Care Unit for coronavirus disease ( Covid-19 ) patients at the Centre Cardiologique du Nord private hospital in Saint-Denis near Paris on April 22 , 2020 .
A French hospital which has retested old samples from pneumonia patients discovered that it treated a man who had Covid-19 as early as Dec. 27 , nearly a month before the French government confirmed its first cases .
Yves Cohen , head of resuscitation at the Avicenne and Jean Verdier hospitals in the northern suburbs of Paris , told French media that scientists had retested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and January who tested negative for the flu .
`` Of the 24 , we had one who was positive for Covid-19 on Dec. 27 , '' he told the news channel on Sunday .
The samples had all initially been collected to detect flu using PCR tests , the same genetic screening process that can also be used to detect the presence of the novel coronavirus in patients infected at the time the sample is collected .
Each sample was retested several times to ensure there were no errors , he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately available for comment on Monday .
France , which has seen almost 25,000 people die from the virus since March 1 , confirmed its first three COVID-19 cases on Jan. 24 , including two patients in Paris and another in the southwestern city of Bordeaux .
Cohen said it was too early to know if the patient whose Dec. 27 test was Covid-19 positive is France 's `` patient zero '' .
Knowing who was the first is critical to understanding how the virus spread .
Cohen said the patient had survived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first contamination has been carried out .
`` He was sick for 15 days and infected his two children , but not his wife , who works in a supermarket .
`` He was amazed , he did n't understand how he had been infected .
We put the puzzle together and he had not made any trips .
The only contact that he had was with his wife . ''
The man 's wife worked alongside a Sushi stand , close to colleagues of Chinese origin , Cohen said .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelled to China , and the local health authority should investigate , he said .
`` We 're wondering whether she was asymptomatic , '' he said .
`` He may be the 'patient zero ' , but perhaps there are others in other regions .
All the negative PCRs for pneumonia must be tested again .
The virus was probably circulating ( then ) , '' he said .

A French hospital which has retested old samples from pneumonia patients discovered that it treated a man who had Covid-19 as early as Dec. 27, nearly a month before the French government confirmed its first cases.
A medical staff member works in the Intensive Care Unit for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at the Centre Cardiologique du Nord private hospital in Saint-Denis near Paris on April 22, 2020.
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Yves Cohen, head of resuscitation at the Avicenne and Jean Verdier hospitals in the northern suburbs of Paris, told French media that scientists had retested samples from 24 patients treated in December and January who tested negative for the flu.
"Of the 24, we had one who was positive for Covid-19 on Dec. 27," he told the news channel on Sunday.
The samples had all initially been collected to detect flu using PCR tests, the same genetic screening process that can also be used to detect the presence of the novel coronavirus in patients infected at the time the sample is collected.
Each sample was retested several times to ensure there were no errors, he added. Neither Cohen nor his team were immediately available for comment on Monday.
France, which has seen almost 25,000 people die from the virus since March 1, confirmed its first three COVID-19 cases on Jan. 24, including two patients in Paris and another in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
Cohen said it was too early to know if the patient whose Dec. 27 test was Covid-19 positive is France's "patient zero". Knowing who was the first is critical to understanding how the virus spread.
Cohen said the patient had survived and that a first investigation to trace the first contamination has been carried out.
"He was sick for 15 days and infected his two children, but not his wife, who works in a supermarket.
"He was amazed, he didn't understand how he had been infected. We put the puzzle together and he had not made any trips. The only contact that he had was with his wife."
The man's wife worked alongside a Sushi stand, close to colleagues of Chinese origin, Cohen said. It was not clear whether those colleagues had travelled to China, and the local health authority should investigate, he said.
"We're wondering whether she was asymptomatic," he said.
"He may be the 'patient zero', but perhaps there are others in other regions. All the negative PCRs for pneumonia must be tested again. The virus was probably circulating (then)," he said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-04--Peru releases opposition leader Keiko Fujimori from pre-trial detention

Peruvian politician Keiko Fujimori wears a face mask against the spread of the coronavirus while leaving Santa Monica jail in the Chorrillos district of Lima on May 4 , 2020 .
Peru 's opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was released on Monday from a 15-month pre-trial detention on corruption charges after just three months , an AFP reporter witnessed .
Fujimori , who left the woman 's prison in the capital Lima on bail wearing a face mask and white gloves , had earlier announced on Twitter that she would head straight from the facility to take a coronavirus test before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came four days after a court granted her bail of 70,000 soles ( $ 20,000 ) .
Fujimori had asked to be released due to fears she might contract the novel coronavirus in the Chorrillos women 's jail .
`` The first thing I 'm going to do after leaving and ( before ) arriving home is undergo a molecular test so as not to put my family at risk , '' mother of two Fujimori wrote on Twitter .
She was jailed in January just two months after being released from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's most popular politician , Fujimori is accused of accepting $ 1.2 million in illicit party funding from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht for her unsuccessful 2011 presidential election campaign .
Odebrecht is embroiled in a wide-ranging corruption scandal and has admitted to paying hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to win juicy contracts in 12 countries .
At least $ 29 million was paid to Peruvian officials from 2004 , including to bribe four former presidents , the company has said .
Alejandro Toledo , Ollanta Humala , Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the scandal .
Peruvian television showed images of an employee of a private laboratory waiting outside Fujimori 's home to test her for the novel coronavirus .
She has been barred from living in the same house as her American husband Mark Villanella as he is under investigation in the same case .

Peru's opposition leader Keiko Fujimori was released on Monday from a 15-month pre-trial detention on corruption charges after just three months, an AFP reporter witnessed.
Peruvian politician Keiko Fujimori wears a face mask against the spread of the coronavirus while leaving Santa Monica jail in the Chorrillos district of Lima on May 4, 2020.
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Fujimori, who left the woman's prison in the capital Lima on bail wearing a face mask and white gloves, had earlier announced on Twitter that she would head straight from the facility to take a coronavirus test before going home.
The 44-year-old's release came four days after a court granted her bail of 70,000 soles ($20,000).
Fujimori had asked to be released due to fears she might contract the novel coronavirus in the Chorrillos women's jail.
"The first thing I'm going to do after leaving and (before) arriving home is undergo a molecular test so as not to put my family at risk," mother of two Fujimori wrote on Twitter.
She was jailed in January just two months after being released from a previous 13-month pre-trial detention.
Once Peru's most popular politician, Fujimori is accused of accepting $1.2 million in illicit party funding from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht for her unsuccessful 2011 presidential election campaign.
Odebrecht is embroiled in a wide-ranging corruption scandal and has admitted to paying hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to win juicy contracts in 12 countries.
At least $29 million was paid to Peruvian officials from 2004, including to bribe four former presidents, the company has said.
Alejandro Toledo, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and the late Alan Garcia have been implicated in the scandal.
Peruvian television showed images of an employee of a private laboratory waiting outside Fujimori's home to test her for the novel coronavirus.
She has been barred from living in the same house as her American husband Mark Villanella as he is under investigation in the same case.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-04--Syria says Israeli jets attacked military outposts near Aleppo

Syrian air defences thwarted an Israeli missile attack on a research centre and a military base in the northern province of Aleppo , state media said on Monday , in the fifth such strikes in two weeks on suspected Iranian targets .
The Syrian army said in a statement that Israel hit military barracks in al Safirah in the eastern Aleppo countryside .
Earlier , state television had said a research centre was targeted .
The army said it was now assessing the damage caused by the strikes .
A regional intelligence source said Israel was stepping up raids in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the region , including Syria , were distracted by the coronavirus pandemic .
An Israeli army spokeswoman declined to comment on the report .
Western intelligence sources say Iranian-backed militias have long been entrenched in Aleppo province , where they have bases and a command centre and installed advanced weapons , part of a growing presence across government-controlled Syria .
The Scientific Studies and Research Center is one of several facilities where Western intelligence and opposition sources suspect Syria , with the help of Iranian researchers , is working on developing chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces have used against civilians in rebel-held areas .
Damascus and its ally Moscow deny they have used chemical weapons that have killed hundreds of civilians in the course of the nine-year conflict and blame jihadist rebels for such attacks .
Israel has previously struck several military research facilities believed to have been centres for chemical and biological weapons .
Israeli helicopters fired several rockets from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on targets inside southern Syria known to be a base for Lebanon 's Hezbollah militia , Syria and intelligence sources said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are targeted when it announces details of Israeli raids .
Major blasts in an ammunition depot near Homs city on the same day were also believed to be from an Israeli strike , a war monitor and intelligence sources said .
Israel has acknowledged in recent years it has conducted many raids inside Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011 where it sees Iran 's presence as a strategic threat .
Regional intelligence sources say that Israel 's escalating strikes on Syria are part of a shadow war sanctioned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has undermined in the last two years Iran 's extensive military power without triggering a major escalation .
Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett told Israeli media last week that Israel would step up its campaign against Iran in Syria .
Separately , a regional intelligence source said Israeli jets are believed to have hit Iranian-backed militias entrenched in the border town of Albukamal near the border with Iraq where Iraqi Shi ’ ite paramilitary groups have a strong foothold .
The US military struck Iran-backed militia groups last January in areas in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in what US officials then said was a response to escalating provocations from Iran .
Iran 's support alongside Russia has helped Assad turn the tide against a military opposition that had seized large tracts of territory and sought to overthrow his authoritarian rule .

Syrian air defences thwarted an Israeli missile attack on a research centre and a military base in the northern province of Aleppo, state media said on Monday, in the fifth such strikes in two weeks on suspected Iranian targets.
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The Syrian army said in a statement that Israel hit military barracks in al Safirah in the eastern Aleppo countryside. Earlier, state television had said a research centre was targeted. The army said it was now assessing the damage caused by the strikes.
A regional intelligence source said Israel was stepping up raids in Syria at a time when world attention and the region, including Syria, were distracted by the coronavirus pandemic.
An Israeli army spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.
Western intelligence sources say Iranian-backed militias have long been entrenched in Aleppo province, where they have bases and a command centre and installed advanced weapons, part of a growing presence across government-controlled Syria.
The Scientific Studies and Research Center is one of several facilities where Western intelligence and opposition sources suspect Syria, with the help of Iranian researchers, is working on developing chemical weapons that they say Bashar al-Assad's forces have used against civilians in rebel-held areas.
Damascus and its ally Moscow deny they have used chemical weapons that have killed hundreds of civilians in the course of the nine-year conflict and blame jihadist rebels for such attacks.
Israel has previously struck several military research facilities believed to have been centres for chemical and biological weapons.
Israeli helicopters fired several rockets from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on targets inside southern Syria known to be a base for Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, Syria and intelligence sources said.
The Syrian government does not say Iranian bases are targeted when it announces details of Israeli raids.
Major blasts in an ammunition depot near Homs city on the same day were also believed to be from an Israeli strike, a war monitor and intelligence sources said.
'US-sanctioned shadow war'
Israel has acknowledged in recent years it has conducted many raids inside Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011 where it sees Iran's presence as a strategic threat.
Regional intelligence sources say that Israel's escalating strikes on Syria are part of a shadow war sanctioned by Washington and part of the anti-Iran policy that has undermined in the last two years Iran's extensive military power without triggering a major escalation.
Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett told Israeli media last week that Israel would step up its campaign against Iran in Syria.
Separately, a regional intelligence source said Israeli jets are believed to have hit Iranian-backed militias entrenched in the border town of Albukamal near the border with Iraq where Iraqi Shi’ite paramilitary groups have a strong foothold.
The US military struck Iran-backed militia groups last January in areas in Iraq and Syria along that border area in what US officials then said was a response to escalating provocations from Iran.
Iran's support alongside Russia has helped Assad turn the tide against a military opposition that had seized large tracts of territory and sought to overthrow his authoritarian rule.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-05--The New York Times, Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica win Pulitzer prizes

The New York Times won three Pulitzer Prizes in 2020 .
The New York Times picked up the most awards as the 2020 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced virtually on Monday owing to the coronavirus outbreak .
Prize board administrator Dana Canedy declared the winners from her living room via a livestream on YouTube rather than at a ceremony at New York 's Columbia University .
The Times collected three awards , including for Brian M. Rosenthal 's investigative report into New York City 's taxi industry that revealed predatory loans that took advantage of vulnerable drivers .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of stories on Russian President Vladimir Putin 's regime .
The paper 's Nikole Hannah-Jones won best commentary for a personal essay that viewed America 's origins through the lens of enslaved Africans .
The Pulitzers are generally regarded as the highest honour that US-based journalists and organisations can receive .
The Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica won the Pulitzer Prize for public service journalism on Monday for revealing one-third of Alaska 's villages had no police protection .
Reuters won the breaking news photography award for pictures of the Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky won the breaking news reporting prize for its coverage of hundreds of last-minute pardons from Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin .
The explanatory reporting prize was awarded to the staff of The Washington Post for a series that showed the effects of extreme temperatures on the planet .
The Baltimore Sun took home the local reporting accolade for reporting on a financial relationship between the city 's mayor and a public hospital system that her office oversaw .
Two organizations won the national reporting award : ProPublica for an investigation into a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Seattle Times for coverage that exposed design flaws in Boeing 's 737 Max .
Ben Taub of The New Yorker won the feature writing award for a story on a Guantanamo Bay guard 's growing friendship with a captor who was tortured .
The Associated Press was awarded the feature photography prize for images showing life in the contested Kashmir as India revoked its semi-autonomous status .
A special citation was awarded to Ida B .
Wells , an early pioneer of investigative journalism and a civil rights icon .

The New York Times picked up the most awards as the 2020 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced virtually on Monday owing to the coronavirus outbreak.
The New York Times won three Pulitzer Prizes in 2020.
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Prize board administrator Dana Canedy declared the winners from her living room via a livestream on YouTube rather than at a ceremony at New York's Columbia University.
The Times collected three awards, including for Brian M. Rosenthal's investigative report into New York City's taxi industry that revealed predatory loans that took advantage of vulnerable drivers.
It also won the international reporting prize for a series of stories on Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime.
The paper's Nikole Hannah-Jones won best commentary for a personal essay that viewed America's origins through the lens of enslaved Africans.
The Pulitzers are generally regarded as the highest honour that US-based journalists and organisations can receive.
The Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica won the Pulitzer Prize for public service journalism on Monday for revealing one-third of Alaska's villages had no police protection.
Reuters won the breaking news photography award for pictures of the Hong Kong protests.
The Courier-Journal in Lexington, Kentucky won the breaking news reporting prize for its coverage of hundreds of last-minute pardons from Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin.
The explanatory reporting prize was awarded to the staff of The Washington Post for a series that showed the effects of extreme temperatures on the planet.
The Baltimore Sun took home the local reporting accolade for reporting on a financial relationship between the city's mayor and a public hospital system that her office oversaw.
Two organizations won the national reporting award: ProPublica for an investigation into a series of accidents in the US Navy and The Seattle Times for coverage that exposed design flaws in Boeing's 737 Max.
Ben Taub of The New Yorker won the feature writing award for a story on a Guantanamo Bay guard's growing friendship with a captor who was tortured.
The Associated Press was awarded the feature photography prize for images showing life in the contested Kashmir as India revoked its semi-autonomous status.
A special citation was awarded to Ida B. Wells, an early pioneer of investigative journalism and a civil rights icon.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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france24--2020-05-05--France records 330 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, highest in six days

A man wearing a protective face mask walks past a sign reading `` Mandatory mask .
For our common health , wear a mask `` at a Paris metro station on May 5 , 2020 .
The number of people who died from Covid-19 in France increased by 330 to 25,531 on Tuesday , the sharpest rate of increase in six days , government data showed .
France 's health ministry said the number of people in intensive care units fell to 3,430 from 3,696 on Monday , down for a 27th consecutive day .
The number of people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25,775 from 25,548 , also continuing a now uninterrupted three-week fall .
France is set to begin easing its lockdown on May 11 , when people will be allowed to move up to 100 kilometres ( 60 miles ) around their residence without a justification form .
Movement beyond 100 kms will still need a justification form .
Macron called for caution and “ pragmatism ” regarding travel outside the 100-kilometre zone to avoid accelerating the spread of the virus into low infection zones .
France released a colour-coded map last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red for high infection areas to green for low infection zones .
The map is designed to serve as a reference for lockdown easing measures .
The French government ’ s lockdown easing measures have drawn fire from critics who say they are confusing and the country is not ready to cope with the strict social distancing and other protective measures that will be required after May 11 to avoid a flare-up of the epidemic .
But the government has defended its time table with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Monday asserting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imperatively and quickly '' .

The number of people who died from Covid-19 in France increased by 330 to 25,531 on Tuesday, the sharpest rate of increase in six days, government data showed.
A man wearing a protective face mask walks past a sign reading "Mandatory mask. For our common health, wear a mask " at a Paris metro station on May 5, 2020.
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France's health ministry said the number of people in intensive care units fell to 3,430 from 3,696 on Monday, down for a 27th consecutive day.
The number of people in hospital with coronavirus also fell again to 25,775 from 25,548, also continuing a now uninterrupted three-week fall.
Lockdown easing starts May 11
France is set to begin easing its lockdown on May 11, when people will be allowed to move up to 100 kilometres (60 miles) around their residence without a justification form. Movement beyond 100 kms will still need a justification form.
Macron called for caution and “pragmatism” regarding travel outside the 100-kilometre zone to avoid accelerating the spread of the virus into low infection zones.
France released a colour-coded map last week, dividing the country into zones ranging from red for high infection areas to green for low infection zones. The map is designed to serve as a reference for lockdown easing measures.
The French government’s lockdown easing measures have drawn fire from critics who say they are confusing and the country is not ready to cope with the strict social distancing and other protective measures that will be required after May 11 to avoid a flare-up of the epidemic.
But the government has defended its time table with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Monday asserting that, "economic life must resume imperatively and quickly".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-05--Challenges abound for prisoners released early from French prisons due to Covid-19

The release of more than 11,000 people from French jails has eased overcrowding and reduced the potential for Covid-19 contamination , but has created a new set of problems , advocates say .
In response to the coronavirus crises , France has released roughly 11,500 people who were within three months of completing their sentences or awaiting trial from its infamously overcrowded prisons .
Short sentences were deferred .
While that may sound like good news for the not-yet-incarcerated and newly liberated , in many cases it presents a whole new set of issues .
The rate of recidivism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To help reduce the chances that people will re-offend , an organisation called Wake up Café begins working with many detainees while they are still incarcerated and provides training and support once they are released .
Those lucky enough to be part of Wake up Café ’ s program re-offend at a rate of less than 10 percent .
With all the newly liberated in the past few months , the demand for such services has spiked .
“ The need is enormous , ” said Domitie Bourgain , sponsorship and communication manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently working with 215 people—a stretch for the five-year-old organisation but a drop in the bucket when compared to the total need .
The stakes are particularly high as the first few months out of prison are decisive .
Roughly half of those who re-offend within five years do so in the first year after release .
“ The need for support for wakers [ as participants in the program are called ] is going to be even greater than we imagined , ” Wake up Café President Pierre Bouriez said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : thousands of people coming out of prison find themselves thrown into the wilderness at a time when nature is not very welcoming.
” Wake up Café is experiencing the same kinds of disruptions the pandemic has caused everywhere , much to the detriment of “ wakers ” , as people in the program are called .
The organisation has been unable to provide the individual , in-person support it normally does and has been relying on Zoom and on telephone calls—sometimes daily .
Virtual contact often falls short for those who need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges for those getting out of prison are immense , ” Bourgain said .
Being released early means that many prisoners didn ’ t have time to fully prepare for their freedom .
Many of them are now living with family members in often small and over-crowded apartments , said Marion Bonnot , development and sponsorship officer for Wake up Café .
They don ’ t have jobs and aren ’ t able to get the training to help them find one .
With the economy at a virtual standstill , doing so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while being released from prison may bring with it the promise of liberty , with France on lockdown , former detainees are going from “ one confinement to another ” , Bonnot said .
That has its own psychological impact .
Given the pandemic , those in jail are left with only difficult options : to be incarcerated in overcrowded prisons and risk infection or face the challenges of early release in a deteriorating economy .
“ I think in one sense it ’ s which problem do you want to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you might be causing , ” said Richard Garside , director of the Center for Crime and Justice Studies in the UK , who is studying the responses of different governments in Europe .
“ It depends which you think is more of a problem.
” The public can play its part by doing what it can to help people re-integrate into society , Bourgain said .
That includes hiring those recently released , volunteering to work with them and providing financial support to groups such as Wake up Café .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the likelihood is they will be back in prison before long .
`` That ’ s the issue of today , ” Bourgain said .
“ It won ’ t be surprising if there is a huge overpopulation [ in prisons ] in six months.
” But while the prospect of releasing people from prison before they are prepared to re-integrate into society is less than ideal , it beats the alternative , Garside argued .
“ I ’ d rather see people alive and potentially posing a recidivism risk than dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people get released from prison .
Some of them would have gone on to be reconvicted anyway , some of them wouldn ’ t have been.
” You can contribute to Wake up Café ’ s efforts here .

The release of more than 11,000 people from French jails has eased overcrowding and reduced the potential for Covid-19 contamination, but has created a new set of problems, advocates say.
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In response to the coronavirus crises, France has released roughly 11,500 people who were within three months of completing their sentences or awaiting trial from its infamously overcrowded prisons. Short sentences were deferred. While that may sound like good news for the not-yet-incarcerated and newly liberated, in many cases it presents a whole new set of issues.
The rate of recidivism in France is more than 60 percent. To help reduce the chances that people will re-offend, an organisation called Wake up Café begins working with many detainees while they are still incarcerated and provides training and support once they are released. Those lucky enough to be part of Wake up Café’s program re-offend at a rate of less than 10 percent.
With all the newly liberated in the past few months, the demand for such services has spiked. “The need is enormous,” said Domitie Bourgain, sponsorship and communication manager for the organisation. The group is currently working with 215 people—a stretch for the five-year-old organisation but a drop in the bucket when compared to the total need.
The stakes are particularly high as the first few months out of prison are decisive. Roughly half of those who re-offend within five years do so in the first year after release.
“The need for support for wakers [as participants in the program are called] is going to be even greater than we imagined,” Wake up Café President Pierre Bouriez said in a statement. “The challenge is unbelievable: thousands of people coming out of prison find themselves thrown into the wilderness at a time when nature is not very welcoming.”
Wake up Café is experiencing the same kinds of disruptions the pandemic has caused everywhere, much to the detriment of “wakers”, as people in the program are called. The organisation has been unable to provide the individual, in-person support it normally does and has been relying on Zoom and on telephone calls—sometimes daily. Virtual contact often falls short for those who need help with administrative processes.
“The challenges for those getting out of prison are immense,” Bourgain said.
Being released early means that many prisoners didn’t have time to fully prepare for their freedom. Many of them are now living with family members in often small and over-crowded apartments, said Marion Bonnot, development and sponsorship officer for Wake up Café. They don’t have jobs and aren’t able to get the training to help them find one. With the economy at a virtual standstill, doing so will be harder than ever. And while being released from prison may bring with it the promise of liberty, with France on lockdown, former detainees are going from “one confinement to another”, Bonnot said. That has its own psychological impact.
Given the pandemic, those in jail are left with only difficult options: to be incarcerated in overcrowded prisons and risk infection or face the challenges of early release in a deteriorating economy.
“I think in one sense it’s which problem do you want to try to avoid and which problem do you accept that you might be causing,” said Richard Garside, director of the Center for Crime and Justice Studies in the UK, who is studying the responses of different governments in Europe. “It depends which you think is more of a problem.”
The public can play its part by doing what it can to help people re-integrate into society, Bourgain said. That includes hiring those recently released, volunteering to work with them and providing financial support to groups such as Wake up Café. If they are unable to find their place, the likelihood is they will be back in prison before long. "That’s the issue of today,” Bourgain said. “It won’t be surprising if there is a huge overpopulation [in prisons] in six months.”
But while the prospect of releasing people from prison before they are prepared to re-integrate into society is less than ideal, it beats the alternative, Garside argued. “I’d rather see people alive and potentially posing a recidivism risk than dead,” he said. “Most people get released from prison. Some of them would have gone on to be reconvicted anyway, some of them wouldn’t have been.”
You can contribute to Wake up Café’s efforts here.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-05-05--Trump says Venezuela alleged plot has ‘nothing to do’ with US govt

President Donald Trump on May 5 , 2020 denied US government involvement in an alleged Venezuela coup plot .
President Donald Trump on Tuesday denied any involvement by the U.S. government in what Venezuelan officials have called a failed armed incursion in the South American country that led to the capture of two American `` mercenaries . ''
Trump made the comment to reporters at the White House after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said authorities there had detained two U.S. citizens working with a U.S. military veteran who has claimed responsibility for a failed armed operation .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard about it , '' Trump said when asked about the incident and the Americans ' arrests .
`` But it has nothing to do with our government . ''
In a state television address , Maduro said authorities arrested 13 `` terrorists '' on Monday involved in what he described as a plot coordinated with Washington to enter the country via the Caribbean coast and oust him .
Eight people were killed during the foiled incursion attempt on Sunday , Venezuelan authorities said .
Maduro showed what he said were the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airan Berry and Luke Denman , whom he said were in custody and had been working with Jordan Goudreau , an American military veteran who leads a Florida-based security company called Silvercorp USA .
The State Department did not provide any immediate comment on the alleged arrests .
U.S. officials , speaking on condition of anonymity , had strongly denied any U.S. government role involvement in the incursions .
Washington has waged a campaign of economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Venezuela in an effort to oust Maduro , a socialist it accuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maduro 's government says the United States wants to control Venezuela 's massive oil reserves .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday denied any involvement by the U.S. government in what Venezuelan officials have called a failed armed incursion in the South American country that led to the capture of two American "mercenaries."
President Donald Trump on May 5, 2020 denied US government involvement in an alleged Venezuela coup plot.
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Trump made the comment to reporters at the White House after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said authorities there had detained two U.S. citizens working with a U.S. military veteran who has claimed responsibility for a failed armed operation.
"We'll find out. We just heard about it," Trump said when asked about the incident and the Americans' arrests. "But it has nothing to do with our government."
In a state television address, Maduro said authorities arrested 13 "terrorists" on Monday involved in what he described as a plot coordinated with Washington to enter the country via the Caribbean coast and oust him.
Eight people were killed during the foiled incursion attempt on Sunday, Venezuelan authorities said.
Maduro showed what he said were the U.S. passports and other identification cards belonging to Airan Berry and Luke Denman, whom he said were in custody and had been working with Jordan Goudreau, an American military veteran who leads a Florida-based security company called Silvercorp USA.
The State Department did not provide any immediate comment on the alleged arrests. U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, had strongly denied any U.S. government role involvement in the incursions.
Washington has waged a campaign of economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Venezuela in an effort to oust Maduro, a socialist it accuses of having rigged elections in 2018. Maduro's government says the United States wants to control Venezuela's massive oil reserves.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-05--Sale of Covid-19 masks in French supermarkets sparks controversy

French supermarkets have promised to put millions of masks on sale to protect against Covid-19 .
Some health professionals are asking for an explanation about these deliveries after weeks of shortages and rationing .
The controversy keeps growing : On May 4 , millions of single-use masks went on sale in France in supermarket chains .
The announcement by Agnès Pannier-Runacher , secretary of state to the minister of the economy and finance , provoked the indignation of many health professionals , who have been calling for more masks for weeks .
Supermarkets , with the support of the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have been stockpiling them .
Seven associations for health professionals , including those for doctors , midwives and nurses , expressed their “ dismay ” in a letter on April 30 over the sale of thousands of masks in supermarkets , authorised against a backdrop of “ shortages ” for health professionals .
“ How is it possible that our carers have not been able to be equipped with masks when we are announcing with great fanfare the staggering figures of masks on sale to the public ?
” they asked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of surgical masks , which are more effective in protecting against the virus , will be sold in supermarkets .
“ No one would have criticised mass distribution channels for distributing consumer masks to the general public .
That would have been a useful addition to the arsenal of defense against the virus , ” they wrote .
It was less the initiative than the quantity of masks promised in supermarkets that made the signatories of the letter snap : “ 100 million here , 50 million there .
What could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ growing indecency ” .
The Leclerc supermarket cooperative expects to receive an order of 170 million masks , the cooperative 's president , Michel Edouard Leclerc , said on the BFMTV cable news channel on Thursday .
Meanwhile , Carrefour supermarket chain CEO Alexandre Bompard announced Wednesday that his group had secured some 225 million masks for the coming weeks , including 175 million surgical masks and 50 million textile masks , and Système U 's president , Dominique Schelcher , told France Info radio that the chain would distribute roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How to make your own face mask to protect against the coronavirus The supermarket groups are committed to selling these surgical and consumer masks at cost or at a low margin .
While the price of single-use masks may not exceed €0.95 per unit under the ceiling set by the government , the price of masks for the general public is not regulated because of the diversity of models .
The supermarkets have strenuously defended themselves against accusations that they had built up “ hidden stocks ” of masks .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bond that has been built between health workers and the economic world , ” Leclerc said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche newspaper , deeming the controversy “ null , childish , sterile ” .
“ It 's defamation to say that Leclerc or Système U hid the masks in basements while others needed them .
We have to stop the nonsense , ” he added .
“ The masks are arriving now , so this idea of hidden stocks , of stockpiling , these are bad , made-up scenarios.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple : our orders for surgical masks for sale to the public date from April 24 , the day the government authorized them .
Before that , we had just enough to protect our teams.
” “ This controversy over masks is senseless and unfounded , ” he added .
As the storm of controversy escalates , the government is trying to calm things down .
In an interview with the dailies Le Parisien and Aujourd'hui En France , Health Minister Olivier Véran said the “ mass retailers do not really have mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the time being ” .
By refuting the existence of hidden stocks , Véran hopes to reassure healthcare workers .
“ My priority is [ that they ] have surgical masks .
Supermarkets may sell their stocks as long as this condition is respected.… We 're coming out of a period when healthcare workers did n't always have access to a sufficient quantity of masks .
So I understand their feelings and even their anger , '' he said .
Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari also sought to ease tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered .
“ As of two days ago , we had received about 500 million masks since the start of the airlift .
Of these , half were state-ordered and the other half came from supermarket chains ... .
All the orders placed a few weeks ago are arriving now and they have to go through customs , ” he said on France 3 television .
Djebbari said the situation has also changed since the beginning of the lockdown .
“ Today 's circumstances are not the same as a few weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrive ” to meet the demands of the caregivers , he said .
Some politicians , unconvinced by these explanations , have jumped into the debate .
Senator Nathalie Delattre , a member of the centrist Radical Movement representing the Gironde , has called for a commission of inquiry to be set up .
“ Either supermarkets have infinitely superior striking power than the state and managed to obtain so many masks in so little time , in which case the commission will have to shed full light on the inadequacies of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a letter to Senate President Gérard Larcher , given to AFP , “ or supermarkets are making a mockery of the French people 's health and will have to answer this : How many lives could have been saved if these stocks had been distributed rather than stored while waiting to be sold ?
” Renaud Muselier , president of the center-right party Les Républicains in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region , threatened in a tweet to file a “ complaint for the endangering of lives and failure to assist a person in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three days `` to prove that they did not have a secret stock of masks during the crisis ” .
Another detractor of the retail chains is Damien Abad , leader of the Les Réublicans deputies .
He castigated the government for its “ lack of foresight ” , charging that it has been “ replaced by supermarkets ” .
Matthieu Orphelin , the Maine-et-Loire deputy and former Macron supporter , and Yannick Jadot , leader of the ecologists , asked that healthcare workers be given priority in receiving the masks intended for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and ordinary citizens should now be able to get the masks they need when lockdown ends on May 11 .
“ There will be enough masks for all French people , ” Prime Minister Édouard Philippe promised on April 28 when he presented the plan to loosen the lockdown .
This article has been translated from the original French .

French supermarkets have promised to put millions of masks on sale to protect against Covid-19. Some health professionals are asking for an explanation about these deliveries after weeks of shortages and rationing.
Advertising Read more
The controversy keeps growing: On May 4, millions of single-use masks went on sale in France in supermarket chains. The announcement by Agnès Pannier-Runacher, secretary of state to the minister of the economy and finance, provoked the indignation of many health professionals, who have been calling for more masks for weeks.
Supermarkets, with the support of the government, are defending themselves against accusations that they have been stockpiling them.
Seven associations for health professionals, including those for doctors, midwives and nurses, expressed their “dismay” in a letter on April 30 over the sale of thousands of masks in supermarkets, authorised against a backdrop of “shortages” for health professionals.
“How is it possible that our carers have not been able to be equipped with masks when we are announcing with great fanfare the staggering figures of masks on sale to the public?” they asked.
The healthcare representatives are particularly upset that millions of surgical masks, which are more effective in protecting against the virus, will be sold in supermarkets.
“No one would have criticised mass distribution channels for distributing consumer masks to the general public. That would have been a useful addition to the arsenal of defense against the virus,” they wrote.
‘Growing indecency’
It was less the initiative than the quantity of masks promised in supermarkets that made the signatories of the letter snap: “100 million here, 50 million there. What could be better?” they wrote, denouncing a “growing indecency”.
The Leclerc supermarket cooperative expects to receive an order of 170 million masks, the cooperative's president, Michel Edouard Leclerc, said on the BFMTV cable news channel on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Carrefour supermarket chain CEO Alexandre Bompard announced Wednesday that his group had secured some 225 million masks for the coming weeks, including 175 million surgical masks and 50 million textile masks, and Système U's president, Dominique Schelcher, told France Info radio that the chain would distribute roughly 15 million masks.
>>> How to make your own face mask to protect against the coronavirus
The supermarket groups are committed to selling these surgical and consumer masks at cost or at a low margin. While the price of single-use masks may not exceed €0.95 per unit under the ceiling set by the government, the price of masks for the general public is not regulated because of the diversity of models.
The supermarkets have strenuously defended themselves against accusations that they had built up “hidden stocks” of masks.
“I think it's disgusting because it breaks the bond that has been built between health workers and the economic world,” Leclerc said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, deeming the controversy “null, childish, sterile”.
“It's defamation to say that Leclerc or Système U hid the masks in basements while others needed them. We have to stop the nonsense,” he added. “The masks are arriving now, so this idea of hidden stocks, of stockpiling, these are bad, made-up scenarios.”
Schelcher tweeted, "The situation is simple: our orders for surgical masks for sale to the public date from April 24, the day the government authorized them. Before that, we had just enough to protect our teams.”
“This controversy over masks is senseless and unfounded,” he added.
Upcoming deliveries, not hidden mask stocks
As the storm of controversy escalates, the government is trying to calm things down. In an interview with the dailies Le Parisien and Aujourd'hui En France, Health Minister Olivier Véran said the “mass retailers do not really have mask stocks and have simply announced upcoming deliveries for the time being”.
By refuting the existence of hidden stocks, Véran hopes to reassure healthcare workers. “My priority is [that they] have surgical masks. Supermarkets may sell their stocks as long as this condition is respected.… We're coming out of a period when healthcare workers didn't always have access to a sufficient quantity of masks. So I understand their feelings and even their anger," he said.
Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari also sought to ease tensions by explaining how the masks have been ordered. “As of two days ago, we had received about 500 million masks since the start of the airlift. Of these, half were state-ordered and the other half came from supermarket chains.... All the orders placed a few weeks ago are arriving now and they have to go through customs,” he said on France 3 television.
Djebbari said the situation has also changed since the beginning of the lockdown. “Today's circumstances are not the same as a few weeks ago,” when imports “struggled to arrive” to meet the demands of the caregivers, he said.
Call for inquiry
Some politicians, unconvinced by these explanations, have jumped into the debate. Senator Nathalie Delattre, a member of the centrist Radical Movement representing the Gironde, has called for a commission of inquiry to be set up.
“Either supermarkets have infinitely superior striking power than the state and managed to obtain so many masks in so little time, in which case the commission will have to shed full light on the inadequacies of the national decision-making chain,” she wrote in a letter to Senate President Gérard Larcher, given to AFP, “or supermarkets are making a mockery of the French people's health and will have to answer this: How many lives could have been saved if these stocks had been distributed rather than stored while waiting to be sold?”
Renaud Muselier, president of the center-right party Les Républicains in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, threatened in a tweet to file a “complaint for the endangering of lives and failure to assist a person in danger”. He gave the supermarkets three days "to prove that they did not have a secret stock of masks during the crisis”.
Another detractor of the retail chains is Damien Abad, leader of the Les Réublicans deputies. He castigated the government for its “lack of foresight”, charging that it has been “replaced by supermarkets”.
Matthieu Orphelin, the Maine-et-Loire deputy and former Macron supporter, and Yannick Jadot, leader of the ecologists, asked that healthcare workers be given priority in receiving the masks intended for mass distribution.
In principle, healthcare workers and ordinary citizens should now be able to get the masks they need when lockdown ends on May 11. “There will be enough masks for all French people,” Prime Minister Édouard Philippe promised on April 28 when he presented the plan to loosen the lockdown.
This article has been translated from the original French.
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france24--2020-05-05--France to limit international travel this summer, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that it was unlikely that French people would be able to undertake major foreign trips this summer and that even trips within Europe may have to be limited in order to reduce the risk of a resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic .
`` It is too soon to say whether we can take holidays .
What I can say is that we will limit major international travel , even during the summer holidays .
We will stay amoung Europeans and , depending on how the epidemic evolves , we might have to reduce that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early June , '' Macron told reporters during a visit to a school outside Paris .
France is set to end its lockdown on May 11 , when people will be allowed to move up to 100 kilometres ( 60 miles ) around their residence without a justification form .
Movement beyond 100 kms will still need a justification form .
Macron called for caution and “ pragmatism ” regarding travel outside the 100-kilometre zone to avoid accelerating the spread of the virus into low infection zones .
France released a colour-coded map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zones ranging from red , for high infection areas , to green for low infection zones .
The map is designed to serve as a reference for lockdown easing measures .
In an interview with French TV stations TF1 and France 2 , Macron called on green zone residents to also exercise caution by maintaining social distancing .
`` Let ’ s be very clear : We know how the virus works and for whom it is very dangerous , '' the French president said .
“ For someone who is fragile and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very dangerous . ''
Macron cautioned against residents in green zones dropping their guard and believing “ everything goes back to normal ” after May 11 and urged “ the whole country ” to act with “ prudence ” and a “ spirit of responsibility ” .
The French government ’ s lockdown easing measures have drawn fire from critics who say they are confusing and the country is not ready to cope with the strict social distancing and other protective measures that will be required after May 11 to avoid a flare-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 300 mayors from the greater Paris region , including Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo , penned an open letter to Macron urging him to delay school returns , saying they need more time for the vast reorganisation of classrooms and daily routines .
But the government has defended its time table with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Monday asserting that , `` economic life must resume imperatively and quickly '' .
Macron on Tuesday echoed the need for the easing measures .
`` I perfectly understand the reluctance of teachers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because no one knows how long we 'll have to live with the virus .
We ca n't say for months and months -- the country is n't living anymore , ” he said .
“ We had to decide about this unprecedented lockdown , and now we have to start a new phase , where we must continue handling the epidemic , while still retaining the life of a free nation . ''

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday it was unlikely that French people will be able to take long-distance trips this summer and that even trips within Europe may have to be limited to reduce the risk of a resurgence of the coronavirus.
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"It is too soon to say whether we can take holidays. What I can say is that we will limit major international travel, even during the summer holidays. We will stay amoung Europeans and, depending on how the epidemic evolves, we might have to reduce that a little more. We will know early June," Macron told reporters during a visit to a school outside Paris.
France is set to end its lockdown on May 11, when people will be allowed to move up to 100 kilometres (60 miles) around their residence without a justification form. Movement beyond 100 kms will still need a justification form.
Caution in the green zone
Macron called for caution and “pragmatism” regarding travel outside the 100-kilometre zone to avoid accelerating the spread of the virus into low infection zones.
France released a colour-coded map last week, dividing the country into zones ranging from red, for high infection areas, to green for low infection zones. The map is designed to serve as a reference for lockdown easing measures.
In an interview with French TV stations TF1 and France 2, Macron called on green zone residents to also exercise caution by maintaining social distancing. "Let’s be very clear: We know how the virus works and for whom it is very dangerous," the French president said. “For someone who is fragile and old, even the green zone is very dangerous."
Macron cautioned against residents in green zones dropping their guard and believing “everything goes back to normal” after May 11 and urged “the whole country” to act with “prudence” and a “spirit of responsibility”.
‘Economic life must resume’
The French government’s lockdown easing measures have drawn fire from critics who say they are confusing and the country is not ready to cope with the strict social distancing and other protective measures that will be required after May 11 to avoid a flare-up of the epidemic.
On Sunday, more than 300 mayors from the greater Paris region, including Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, penned an open letter to Macron urging him to delay school returns, saying they need more time for the vast reorganisation of classrooms and daily routines.
03:01
But the government has defended its time table with French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Monday asserting that, "economic life must resume imperatively and quickly".
Macron on Tuesday echoed the need for the easing measures. "I perfectly understand the reluctance of teachers, things will happen calmly, with dialogue, because no one knows how long we'll have to live with the virus. We can't say for months and months -- the country isn't living anymore,” he said.
00:26
“We had to decide about this unprecedented lockdown, and now we have to start a new phase, where we must continue handling the epidemic, while still retaining the life of a free nation."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-05--Lockdown living with top French DJ Bob Sinclar’s nostalgic live sets

Millions of us are in confinement around the world – all searching for activities to occupy us and cheer us @ @ @ @ @ mid-March , French DJ and producer Bob Sinclar has been gathering hundreds of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ uplifting funk via Facebook and Instagram .
He spoke to Eve Jackson about keeping the @ @ @ @ @

Lockdown living with top French DJ Bob Sinclar’s nostalgic live sets
12:26 ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
Millions of us are in confinement around the world – all searching for activities to occupy us and cheer us up. Every day since mid-March, French DJ and producer Bob Sinclar has been gathering hundreds of thousands of people for one hour of uplifting funk via Facebook and Instagram. He spoke to Eve Jackson about keeping the groove going in confinement.


france24--2020-05-05--Covid-19 in Madagascar: The president’s controversial ‘miracle cure’

Last month , the president of Madagascar and the country ’ s Institute for Applied Research launched Covid-Organics ( CVO ) , a drink derived from the artemisia plant they claim can treat and prevent Covid-19 .
Now other countries in the region are beginning to import the herbal remedy , despite a lack of scientific research to back up its billing as a miracle cure for the coronavirus .
“ All trials and tests have been conducted and its effectiveness in reducing and elimination of symptoms has been proven in the treatment of Covid-19 patients in Madagascar , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drink on April 20 .
Though little information on the trials has been made available – Rajoelina says two patients have been cured so far using the concoction – the president has been enthusiastically promoting the herbal tea as a Covid-19 cure on social media while encouraging other African leaders to import it .
In recent days , both Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau have taken delivery of thousands of doses of the drink while Tanzania , Senegal and Congo Brazzaville have said they will do likewise .
Artemisia is used for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some species have been found to have anti-malarial properties .
However , the promotion of the drink , which has been handed out to school children in Madagascar and at distribution points in towns and cities , has caused alarm for researchers both in the country and among the international scientific community , who say there is no evidence to back up the claim it can treat Covid-19 .
“ You can not immediately say ‘ here is an effective drug ’ even if it has a historical , traditional medicinal use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a research protocol , ” said Michel Yao , emergency operations manager for Africa at WHO .
“ Maybe they have identified something promising but there is not yet any evidence that can allow us to propose it or to recognise it as such .
“ The NGO Transparency International has also demanded more transparency from the Malagasy government over the drink ’ s promotion .
“ We can only worry about the opacity around [ the drink ’ s ] advertising , its imposition on the general public , its composition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Ketakandriana Rafitoson of Transparency International Madagascar .
“ It would be shameful if the effects produced by CVO were more disastrous in the long term than the devastation caused by Covid-19 itself .
“ Madagascar has recorded 149 Covid-19 to date , with no confirmed deaths .

Last month, the president of Madagascar and the country’s Institute for Applied Research launched Covid-Organics (CVO), a drink derived from the artemisia plant they claim can treat and prevent Covid-19. Now other countries in the region are beginning to import the herbal remedy, despite a lack of scientific research to back up its billing as a miracle cure for the coronavirus.
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“All trials and tests have been conducted and its effectiveness in reducing and elimination of symptoms has been proven in the treatment of Covid-19 patients in Madagascar,” President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar said of the drink on April 20.
Though little information on the trials has been made available – Rajoelina says two patients have been cured so far using the concoction – the president has been enthusiastically promoting the herbal tea as a Covid-19 cure on social media while encouraging other African leaders to import it.
In recent days, both Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau have taken delivery of thousands of doses of the drink while Tanzania, Senegal and Congo Brazzaville have said they will do likewise.
Artemisia is used for a range of medicinal purposes across Africa and some species have been found to have anti-malarial properties.
However, the promotion of the drink, which has been handed out to school children in Madagascar and at distribution points in towns and cities, has caused alarm for researchers both in the country and among the international scientific community, who say there is no evidence to back up the claim it can treat Covid-19.
“You cannot immediately say ‘here is an effective drug’ even if it has a historical, traditional medicinal use. It is absolutely necessary to set up a research protocol,” said Michel Yao, emergency operations manager for Africa at WHO.
“Maybe they have identified something promising but there is not yet any evidence that can allow us to propose it or to recognise it as such. “
The NGO Transparency International has also demanded more transparency from the Malagasy government over the drink’s promotion.
“We can only worry about the opacity around [the drink’s] advertising, its imposition on the general public, its composition, its side effects and its funding,” said Ketakandriana Rafitoson of Transparency International Madagascar.
“It would be shameful if the effects produced by CVO were more disastrous in the long term than the devastation caused by Covid-19 itself. “
Madagascar has recorded 149 Covid-19 to date, with no confirmed deaths.
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france24--2020-05-05--Paris to turn more streets over to bicycles as Covid-19 lockdown lifts

Some of the busiest traffic arteries in Paris will be reserved for cyclists in a bid to limit crowds on public transport when France begins lifting its coronavirus lockdown next week , the city 's mayor said .
`` In total , 50 kilometres ( 30 miles ) of lanes normally used by cars will be reserved for bicycles , '' Anne Hidalgo told the Parisien newspaper in an interview published Tuesday .
She also said another 30 streets would be made pedestrian-only , `` in particular around schools to avoid groups of people , '' she said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rue de Rivoli , the main east-west thoroughfare through the heart of the French capital , would be only for bikes starting May 11 .
Other streets will include the Boulevard Saint-Michel in the Left Bank 's Saint-Germain neighbourhood , and the express tunnel under the chaotic roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe .
Many Paris suburbs have also announced plans for new bike lanes , hoping to reduce pressure on heavily used commuter trains and buses as well as the Paris metro , where many seats will now be off-limits to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bracing for the return of residents after an estimated 20 to 25 percent of its population of some 2.2 million fled to country homes or elsewhere before the nationwide stay-at-home orders came into effect on March 17 .
Health experts warn that the social distancing necessary to avoid a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases will be difficult in large cities , especially for people who rely on mass transport to get to work .
Hidalgo , who is running for re-election , has been pushing for years to reduce car use in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and closing off dozens of streets completely .
She said some of the street closures could be made permanent even after the crisis has passed .
`` I know that the majority of Parisians do not want to see a return of cars and pollution , '' the mayor said .
The French government has unveiled a 20 million euro ( $ 22 million ) package to spur cycling post-lockdown , including a 50 euro subsidy for bike repairs or tune-ups .
`` As the lockdown ends , we need bicycles to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solutions , Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne said Monday .

Some of the busiest traffic arteries in Paris will be reserved for cyclists in a bid to limit crowds on public transport when France begins lifting its coronavirus lockdown next week, the city's mayor said.
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"In total, 50 kilometres (30 miles) of lanes normally used by cars will be reserved for bicycles," Anne Hidalgo told the Parisien newspaper in an interview published Tuesday.
She also said another 30 streets would be made pedestrian-only, "in particular around schools to avoid groups of people," she said.
The mayor had already announced last week that the Rue de Rivoli, the main east-west thoroughfare through the heart of the French capital, would be only for bikes starting May 11.
Other streets will include the Boulevard Saint-Michel in the Left Bank's Saint-Germain neighbourhood, and the express tunnel under the chaotic roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe.
#COVIDー19 #Deconfinement à Paris : 50 km de voies d'habitude réservées aux voitures seront consacrés aux vélos >> https://t.co/YqTBy3Azxt pic.twitter.com/A7er2iU0z1 — Le Parisien Infog (@LeParisienInfog) May 5, 2020
Many Paris suburbs have also announced plans for new bike lanes, hoping to reduce pressure on heavily used commuter trains and buses as well as the Paris metro, where many seats will now be off-limits to keep people apart.
Paris officials are bracing for the return of residents after an estimated 20 to 25 percent of its population of some 2.2 million fled to country homes or elsewhere before the nationwide stay-at-home orders came into effect on March 17.
Health experts warn that the social distancing necessary to avoid a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases will be difficult in large cities, especially for people who rely on mass transport to get to work.
From Bogotá to Berlin cities cities around the world are betting on bicycles to get around once lockdowns begin to ease. Temporary or permanent, is this a once in a generation time to change the way we move? #popupbikelanes With @POB_journo Full show https://t.co/4qAUMY5HgN pic.twitter.com/AkRyE9D8qE — Down to Earth – France 24 (@DownToEarth) May 4, 2020
Hidalgo, who is running for re-election, has been pushing for years to reduce car use in the capital by reducing lanes and speed limits, and closing off dozens of streets completely.
She said some of the street closures could be made permanent even after the crisis has passed.
"I know that the majority of Parisians do not want to see a return of cars and pollution," the mayor said.
The French government has unveiled a 20 million euro ($22 million) package to spur cycling post-lockdown, including a 50 euro subsidy for bike repairs or tune-ups.
"As the lockdown ends, we need bicycles to fully take their place" as transportation solutions, Environment Minister Elisabeth Borne said Monday.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-06--Covid-19: France’s Muslims decry shortage of space in cemeteries

Some Muslims in France have found that there is n't enough space in cemeteries to bury their loved ones .
@ @ @ @ @ from the Covid-19 pandemic , Muslims in the country have sometimes struggled to find space @ @ @ @ @ loved ones .
FRANCE 24 talks to some of the people affected .
Mamadou ’ @ @ @ @ @ to be repatriated to Mali , the country of his birth , after his death @ @ @ @ @ the Covid-19 travel restrictions , that was not possible .
Consequently the the family waited @ @ @ @ @ father in France .
During that period , “ we weren ’ t at peace @ @ @ @ @ “ We didn ’ t eat ; we didn ’ t sleep.
” Click on @ @ @ @ @ watch FRANCE 24 's report .

As France counts the toll from the Covid-19 pandemic, Muslims in the country have sometimes struggled to find space in cemeteries to bury their loved ones. FRANCE 24 talks to some of the people affected.
Some Muslims in France have found that there isn't enough space in cemeteries to bury their loved ones.
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Mamadou’s father wanted his body to be repatriated to Mali, the country of his birth, after his death. But in light of the Covid-19 travel restrictions, that was not possible. Consequently the the family waited 18 days to bury their father in France. During that period, “we weren’t at peace”, he said. “We didn’t eat; we didn’t sleep.”
Click on the video player above to watch FRANCE 24's report.
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france24--2020-05-06--NYC housing activists call for nationwide #CancelRent strike

Dylan is one of many New Yorkers participating in the city 's rent strike .
In hard-hit New York , thousands of people have joined a rent strike movement dubbed # CancelRent as the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread .
They ’ re now calling for a nationwide strike on the same theme .
FRANCE 24 reports from New York City .
When the landlord came knocking for the rent at the start of the month , Dylan and his flatmates refused to pay : “ We told him that that we weren ’ t able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we didn ’ t have any income .
He was not pleased.
” Dylan lost his job , and therefore his income , in a nightclub when the coronavirus crisis hit .
The city hasn ’ t seen anything like it since the Great Depression .
Some landlords have said that tenants don ’ t have to pay their rent .
Mario Salerno , who lets out several properties in Brooklyn , is one such landlord : “ A lot of them lost their jobs , a lot of them were struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become homeless so I ’ m telling them to relax.
” But Jay Martin , who runs an organisation representing the Big Apple ’ s landlords , said that – far from being a form of extortion – rent payments are always needed to pay for the upkeep of the buildings : “ In saying ‘ cancel rent ’ , what you ’ re essentially saying is : we ’ re removing the ability to keep maintaining these buildings.
” More than a third of the 71,000 recorded US deaths from the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst-hit state in the country .
Click on the video player above to watch FRANCE 24 's report .

In hard-hit New York, thousands of people have joined a rent strike movement dubbed #CancelRent as the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread. They’re now calling for a nationwide strike on the same theme. FRANCE 24 reports from New York City.
Dylan is one of many New Yorkers participating in the city's rent strike.
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When the landlord came knocking for the rent at the start of the month, Dylan and his flatmates refused to pay: “We told him that that we weren’t able to pay the rent at the moment because we didn’t have any income. He was not pleased.” Dylan lost his job, and therefore his income, in a nightclub when the coronavirus crisis hit.
The city hasn’t seen anything like it since the Great Depression. Some landlords have said that tenants don’t have to pay their rent. Mario Salerno, who lets out several properties in Brooklyn, is one such landlord: “A lot of them lost their jobs, a lot of them were struggling, a lot of them would have become homeless so I’m telling them to relax.”
But Jay Martin, who runs an organisation representing the Big Apple’s landlords, said that – far from being a form of extortion – rent payments are always needed to pay for the upkeep of the buildings: “In saying ‘cancel rent’, what you’re essentially saying is: we’re removing the ability to keep maintaining these buildings.”
More than a third of the 71,000 recorded US deaths from the coronavirus have been recorded in New York, the worst-hit state in the country.
Click on the video player above to watch FRANCE 24's report.
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france24--2020-05-06--Brazilian Amazon mayor pleads for world help in fight against Covid-19

Members of the emergency medical service SAMU transport a patient suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 , to the hospital in Manaus , Brazil , on May 5 , 2020 .
The mayor of Manaus , the biggest city in the Amazon rainforest region , asked world leaders Tuesday for help fighting the novel coronavirus , which has brought his city 's health system to the brink of collapse .
Manaus is the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas , which has been devastated by the pandemic .
Mayor Arthur Virgilio sent video messages and letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 world leaders , including US President Donald Trump , German Chancellor Angela Merkel , French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe .
`` He emphasized the Amazon region 's historic role in preserving the world 's largest tropical rainforest , '' his office said in a statement .
With only one intensive care unit to serve a state more than four times the area of Germany , Manaus has been overwhelmed by the outbreak , leaving hospitals to store cadavers in refrigerator trucks .
Amazonas state has registered 649 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For decades , we have played an important role for the health of the planet , keeping 96 percent of our original forest , '' Virgilio said in his video to Macron , speaking in French .
`` Now , in return , we need medical personnel , ventilators , protective equipment , anything that can save the lives of those who protect the great forest . ''
Virgilio issued a similar appeal Saturday to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg , asking her to use her influence to help his city deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several tearful TV interviews since the start of the crisis .
Though not densely populated , the Amazon region is home to indigenous groups particularly vulnerable to outside diseases and has limited public health infrastructure .
Brazil is the Latin American country hit hardest by the pandemic , with 7,921 deaths so far .

The mayor of Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon rainforest region, asked world leaders Tuesday for help fighting the novel coronavirus, which has brought his city's health system to the brink of collapse.
Members of the emergency medical service SAMU transport a patient suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus COVID-19, to the hospital in Manaus, Brazil, on May 5, 2020.
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Manaus is the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas, which has been devastated by the pandemic.
Mayor Arthur Virgilio sent video messages and letters pleading for funds and medical equipment to 21 world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
"He emphasized the Amazon region's historic role in preserving the world's largest tropical rainforest," his office said in a statement.
With only one intensive care unit to serve a state more than four times the area of Germany, Manaus has been overwhelmed by the outbreak, leaving hospitals to store cadavers in refrigerator trucks.
Amazonas state has registered 649 deaths from COVID-19 so far.
"For decades, we have played an important role for the health of the planet, keeping 96 percent of our original forest," Virgilio said in his video to Macron, speaking in French.
"Now, in return, we need medical personnel, ventilators, protective equipment, anything that can save the lives of those who protect the great forest."
Virgilio issued a similar appeal Saturday to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, asking her to use her influence to help his city deal with the pandemic.
He has also given several tearful TV interviews since the start of the crisis.
Though not densely populated, the Amazon region is home to indigenous groups particularly vulnerable to outside diseases and has limited public health infrastructure.
Brazil is the Latin American country hit hardest by the pandemic, with 7,921 deaths so far.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-06--Afghan doctors battle Covid-19 as civil war rages on

After a study suggested that around a third of people in Kabul tested positive for Covid-19 , FRANCE 24 spoke @ @ @ @ @ of the fight against the virus in the Afghan capital , as civil war continues @ @ @ @ @ A third of people in the Afghan capital Kabul have tested positive for Covid-19 , @ @ @ @ @ .
FRANCE 24 spoke to Afghan doctors on the Covid-19 frontline as civil war continues @ @ @ @ @ One-third of 500 random coronavirus tests in Kabul came back positive , health officials announced @ @ @ @ @ of widespread undetected infections in one of the world ’ s most fragile nations .
@ @ @ @ @ are in lockdown , but compliance has not been widespread .
More than 250,000 Afghans @ @ @ @ @ since the beginning of the year , travelling across Afghanistan without being tested or quarantined @ @ @ @ @ player above to watch FRANCE 24 's report .

A third of people in the Afghan capital Kabul have tested positive for Covid-19, according to a recent study. FRANCE 24 spoke to Afghan doctors on the Covid-19 frontline as civil war continues to ravage the country.
After a study suggested that around a third of people in Kabul tested positive for Covid-19, FRANCE 24 spoke to doctors on the frontline of the fight against the virus in the Afghan capital, as civil war continues to rack the country.
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One-third of 500 random coronavirus tests in Kabul came back positive, health officials announced on Sunday, raising fears of widespread undetected infections in one of the world’s most fragile nations.
Kabul and most other cities are in lockdown, but compliance has not been widespread. More than 250,000 Afghans returned home from hard-hit Iran since the beginning of the year, travelling across Afghanistan without being tested or quarantined.
Click on the video player above to watch FRANCE 24's report.
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france24--2020-05-06--France, Tunisia urge UN Security Council to adopt Covid-19 resolution

In this file photo taken on September 19 , 2017 a view of the United Nations headquarters during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly September in New York .
- The UN Security Council 's failure to act in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic is a `` shame '' its acting president said May 1 , 2020 , lamenting `` stumbling blocks '' preventing the body from fulfilling its responsibilities .
France and Tunisia urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in major conflicts to tackle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have paralyzed the United Nations ’ most powerful body .
France , one of five veto-wielding permanent council members , and Tunisia , one of 10 elected members , melded their rival resolutions in hopes of winning approval for the first council resolution since COVID-19 started circling the globe .
But diplomats say a vote has been held up primarily over a dispute between the United States and China on including a reference to the World Health Organization .
President Donald Trump suspended funding to WHO in early April , accusing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus from spreading when it first surfaced in China , saying it “ must be held accountable , ’ ’ and accusing WHO of parroting Beijing .
China strongly supports WHO and is insisting that its role in calling for global action on COVID-19 be included in any resolution , diplomats say , while the U.S. insists on a reference to “ transparency ” on COVID-19 and no mention of the WHO .
Ambassadors from the 15 council nations met privately Tuesday on the French-Tunisian draft resolution and France ’ s U.N @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was “ a good discussion.
” “ France and Tunisia are working hard on it , things are moving forward , ” he said .
“ The Security Council must act now.
” Tunisia ’ s U.N .
Ambassador Kais Kabtani told several journalists that the two countries are working “ very hard to present a final package deal ” and are relying “ on the spirit of compromise from the council members.
” At the meeting , he said , “ Tunisia highlighted the urgency of concluding the ongoing consultations process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next few days ” “ It ’ s a moment of truth for the United Nations and the multilateral system which faces the most difficult crisis the U.N. has been confronted with since World War II , '' Kabtani said .
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly approved two resolutions on COVID-19 in April .
One recognizes “ the unprecedented effects ” of the pandemic and calls for “ intensified international cooperation to contain , mitigate and defeat ” the new coronavirus .
The other urges global action to rapidly scale up development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines and medical equipment to confront the pandemic .
General Assembly resolutions reflect the opinion of governments around the world but are not legally binding .
By contrast , Security Council resolutions are legally binding .
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , who called for a cease-fire to all global conflicts on March 23 to tackle COVID-19 , told reporters last Thursday : “ It is my hope the Security Council will be able to find unity and adopt decisions that can help to make cease-fires meaningful and real.
” The draft French-Tunisian resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are on the Security Council agenda from Syria and Yemen to Libya , South Sudan and Congo , and calls for all parties to armed conflicts “ to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days ” to deliver aid .
The draft , obtained by The Associated Press , states that these measures do not apply to military operations against the Islamic State and al-Qaida extremist groups and their affiliates .

France and Tunisia urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in major conflicts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic after weeks of contentious negotiations that have paralyzed the United Nations’ most powerful body.
In this file photo taken on September 19, 2017 a view of the United Nations headquarters during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly September in New York. - The UN Security Council's failure to act in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic is a "shame" its acting president said May 1, 2020, lamenting "stumbling blocks" preventing the body from fulfilling its responsibilities.
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France, one of five veto-wielding permanent council members, and Tunisia, one of 10 elected members, melded their rival resolutions in hopes of winning approval for the first council resolution since COVID-19 started circling the globe. But diplomats say a vote has been held up primarily over a dispute between the United States and China on including a reference to the World Health Organization.
President Donald Trump suspended funding to WHO in early April, accusing the U.N. health agency of failing to stop the virus from spreading when it first surfaced in China, saying it “must be held accountable,’’ and accusing WHO of parroting Beijing.
China strongly supports WHO and is insisting that its role in calling for global action on COVID-19 be included in any resolution, diplomats say, while the U.S. insists on a reference to “transparency” on COVID-19 and no mention of the WHO.
Ambassadors from the 15 council nations met privately Tuesday on the French-Tunisian draft resolution and France’s U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said later it was “a good discussion.”
“France and Tunisia are working hard on it, things are moving forward,” he said. “The Security Council must act now.”
Tunisia’s U.N. Ambassador Kais Kabtani told several journalists that the two countries are working “very hard to present a final package deal” and are relying “on the spirit of compromise from the council members.”
At the meeting, he said, “Tunisia highlighted the urgency of concluding the ongoing consultations process on the draft resolution on COVID-19 in the next few days”
“It’s a moment of truth for the United Nations and the multilateral system which faces the most difficult crisis the U.N. has been confronted with since World War II," Kabtani said.
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly approved two resolutions on COVID-19 in April.
One recognizes “the unprecedented effects” of the pandemic and calls for “intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat” the new coronavirus. The other urges global action to rapidly scale up development, manufacturing and access to medicine, vaccines and medical equipment to confront the pandemic.
General Assembly resolutions reflect the opinion of governments around the world but are not legally binding. By contrast, Security Council resolutions are legally binding.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for a cease-fire to all global conflicts on March 23 to tackle COVID-19, told reporters last Thursday: “It is my hope the Security Council will be able to find unity and adopt decisions that can help to make cease-fires meaningful and real.”
The draft French-Tunisian resolution demands an immediate cease-fire in major conflicts that are on the Security Council agenda from Syria and Yemen to Libya, South Sudan and Congo, and calls for all parties to armed conflicts “to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days” to deliver aid.
The draft, obtained by The Associated Press, states that these measures do not apply to military operations against the Islamic State and al-Qaida extremist groups and their affiliates.
(AP)
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