france24--2020-03-04--Eighty years after millions fled the German army, revisiting the ‘Paris Exodus’

In the summer of 1940 , millions of Parisians fled the French capital in a matter of days to escape the advancing German army .
Eighty years after “ l ’ exode de Paris ” , an exhibition at the Liberation of Paris Museum puts a neglected part of French history in the spotlight .
Bumper to bumper , roads thick with vehicles and their human cargo , they fled in the millions .
Some wheeled bicycles laden with possessions .
Others carried cardboard suitcases bound with string .
Children helped push carts piled high with bags and bedding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered in heavy fur coats .
Two million Parisians poured out of the capital in the early days of June 1940 , swelling the numbers of those already on the road to eight million , a mass movement of people that promptly became known as “ the exodus ” .
The Parisians had packed in a panic , fleeing the advancing German army .
They ’ d seen footage of the bombings in Spain .
They ’ d heard the rumours about the Germans – that they were vicious brutes who would rape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hands off .
And many were still traumatised by the memories of the First World War , when France ’ s Western Front saw years of trench warfare and the deaths of 1.3 million men .
The affluent residents of the city 's 8th and 16th arrondissements ( districts ) were the first to leave .
They fled by car with their mattresses tied to the roofs .
Others sat tight and waited for instructions from their bosses .
But soon , they too , gripped by the contagious fear , packed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much distance between themselves and the Germans as possible .
Only the elderly and the infirm remained , along with those , such as Paul Léataud , who were “ determined to stay ” and didn ’ t want “ to risk finding nothing left when I get back ” .
The Liberation of Paris Museum ’ s first temporary exhibition draws on archive material : film reels and photographs , posters and newspapers , drawings and reminiscences to retrace the lives of those who fled .
It vividly captures the scenes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thick with people trying to catch the last trains out of Paris sit alongside children ’ s drawings of the crowds at Gare de Lyon .
Harried mothers push bicycles laden with children , crowds gather outside makeshift evacuation notices and newspapers – which were briefly obliged to suspend printing – report on the escalating German offensive throughout Europe .
Some scrawl graffiti on walls : “ We lost Robert , Going to Poitiers ” .
Others recalled forgotten children crying by the side of the road or brutality encountered on the route @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ditches or hiding in the woods to cheat death .
The refugees “ brim over the pavements and appear to want to fill houses to bursting .
All vestiges of apathy , reserve and self-control have gone '' , recalled Jean-Marc de Foville .
Photos of children carrying gas masks sit alongside aerial shots of a deserted , silent Paris as a seemingly endless line of people snaked out of the capital , and French democracy crumbled in a matter of days .
For the government , taken by surprise by the advancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuation plan .
For months , ever since France declared war on Germany on September 3 , 1939 , the Western Front had sat quiet and the so-called “ phoney war ” had lulled the French into a false sense of ease .
But on May 10 , the Germans invaded Belgium , the Netherlands and Luxembourg .
On June 3 , Paris was bombed for the first time .
A week later , the Germans were just 30 kilometres from Paris and the government packed up and left , leaving the Parisians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t France ’ s finest hour , ” said Hanna Diamond , the exhibition ’ s curator and author of “ Fleeing Hitler : France 1940.
” “ People were abandoned , ” said Diamond , who explained that the exodus had been “ glossed over ” and buried in the events that followed , the more heroic narratives of Occupation , Resistance and Liberation .
“ However we look at it , nobody knew what to do – the government fled… Who wants to hear about a humiliating defeat ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the panic began to dissipate , some refugees described an almost holiday-like feeling of being on the road , a buoyancy that quickly faded when the petrol ran out and food supplies ran short .
Cars were abandoned , railway stations were stacked high with lost property , and fur coats were of no use in those warm June days .
Mothers became separated from their children , handing over exhausted toddlers to soldiers in lorries , or to others offering lifts , only to find that soldiers took a different path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Red Cross estimated that some 90,000 children were separated from their parents during the exodus .
Family reunions were made even harder to organise by the fact that many of the children were too young to communicate much about their parents , and the babies could say nothing at all .
Some officials , like Jean Moulin , the prefect in Eure-et-Loir , in Chartres , in whose memory the Liberation of Paris Museum is named , refused to leave his post .
Some refugees and French soldiers pillaged villages to survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streaming south with farmers selling glasses of water to those on the road .
But no one exploited the exodus more than Marshal Philippe Pétain , who became chief of state of Vichy France and collaborated with the Nazis in sending thousands of French Jews to the death camps in the years that followed .
‘ My heart goes out to you ’ As France was poised to fall to the Germans and the refugees continued to make their way south , Pétain was appointed prime minister of France .
On June 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany , offering collaboration between the Nazis and his newly appointed Vichy regime , established when the government relocated from Paris to the southern city of Vichy .
But in the uncertain days of June 1940 , Pétain , known as the “ Lion of Verdun ” after his legendary role in the First World War , reassured the refugees that he was with them in their hour of need .
“ ‘ You know , my heart goes out to you , refugees on the road .
I 'm here with you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve gone to England , ” said Pétain , in a dig at Charles De Gaulle , who led French opposition to the Nazis from London .
“ I ’ m here , I 'm sharing this with you.
” Understanding the exodus is key to understanding the Vichy regime , explained Diamond , for whom the flight from Paris was a “ foundational myth ” .
“ Pétain was this very well-established figure – and people thought , ‘ Now the war is over for us , it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't know that that would mean an authoritarian regime and German occupation at the time , they were just terribly relieved that their ordeal was coming to an end , and we can really understand that.
” “ He did milk it – he was very good at that , ” said Diamond , who added that the archives contain hundreds and hundreds of letters from women writing to Pétain during the Vichy regime asking him to be their child ’ s godparent .
In the days that followed the signing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about going home .
Local governments , overwhelmed by the flood of refugees , encouraged them to do so .
A deserted Paris met with no resistance when it fell to the Germans on June 14 , 1940 .
The refugees returned to the French capital to find German troops marching down the Champs-Élysées and swastikas adorning government buildings – and braced themselves for the next chapter in their wartime history : five years of occupation under German rule .
'1940 : Parisian Exodus ' runs at the Liberation of Paris Museum @ @ @ @ @ @

In the summer of 1940, millions of Parisians fled the French capital in a matter of days to escape the advancing German army. Eighty years after “l’exode de Paris”, an exhibition at the Liberation of Paris Museum puts a neglected part of French history in the spotlight.
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Bumper to bumper, roads thick with vehicles and their human cargo, they fled in the millions. Some wheeled bicycles laden with possessions. Others carried cardboard suitcases bound with string. Children helped push carts piled high with bags and bedding. Others carried canaries in cages or were covered in heavy fur coats.
Two million Parisians poured out of the capital in the early days of June 1940, swelling the numbers of those already on the road to eight million, a mass movement of people that promptly became known as “the exodus”.
The Parisians had packed in a panic, fleeing the advancing German army. They’d seen footage of the bombings in Spain. They’d heard the rumours about the Germans – that they were vicious brutes who would rape the women and cut their children’s hands off. And many were still traumatised by the memories of the First World War, when France’s Western Front saw years of trench warfare and the deaths of 1.3 million men.
The affluent residents of the city's 8th and 16th arrondissements (districts) were the first to leave. They fled by car with their mattresses tied to the roofs. Others sat tight and waited for instructions from their bosses. But soon, they too, gripped by the contagious fear, packed up and left, seeking to put as much distance between themselves and the Germans as possible.
A family flees Paris in June 1940 with all their worldly goods. © Roger Viollet
Only the elderly and the infirm remained, along with those, such as Paul Léataud, who were “determined to stay” and didn’t want “to risk finding nothing left when I get back”.
Scenes of chaos
The Liberation of Paris Museum’s first temporary exhibition draws on archive material: film reels and photographs, posters and newspapers, drawings and reminiscences to retrace the lives of those who fled.
It vividly captures the scenes of chaos. Photos showing station platforms thick with people trying to catch the last trains out of Paris sit alongside children’s drawings of the crowds at Gare de Lyon.
Harried mothers push bicycles laden with children, crowds gather outside makeshift evacuation notices and newspapers – which were briefly obliged to suspend printing – report on the escalating German offensive throughout Europe.
A drawing by a schoolgirl, Christiane Crosnier, shows refugees in Montoire sur le Loir, moving south on 17 June 1940. © Christiane Crosnier
Some scrawl graffiti on walls: “We lost Robert, Going to Poitiers”. Others recalled forgotten children crying by the side of the road or brutality encountered on the route. Some remembered lying face down in ditches or hiding in the woods to cheat death.
The refugees “brim over the pavements and appear to want to fill houses to bursting. All vestiges of apathy, reserve and self-control have gone", recalled Jean-Marc de Foville.
Photos of children carrying gas masks sit alongside aerial shots of a deserted, silent Paris as a seemingly endless line of people snaked out of the capital, and French democracy crumbled in a matter of days.
For the government, taken by surprise by the advancing German army, had made no official evacuation plan.
For months, ever since France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, the Western Front had sat quiet and the so-called “phoney war” had lulled the French into a false sense of ease.
But on May 10, the Germans invaded Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. On June 3, Paris was bombed for the first time. A week later, the Germans were just 30 kilometres from Paris and the government packed up and left, leaving the Parisians to fend for themselves.
Some fled on foot, others by bicycle as a trail of human cargo wound its way into the French countryside. © LAPI / Roger Viollet
‘People were abandoned’
“It wasn’t France’s finest hour,” said Hanna Diamond, the exhibition’s curator and author of “Fleeing Hitler: France 1940.”
“People were abandoned,” said Diamond, who explained that the exodus had been “glossed over” and buried in the events that followed, the more heroic narratives of Occupation, Resistance and Liberation.
“However we look at it, nobody knew what to do – the government fled… Who wants to hear about a humiliating defeat?”
Once out of the city and when the panic began to dissipate, some refugees described an almost holiday-like feeling of being on the road, a buoyancy that quickly faded when the petrol ran out and food supplies ran short. Cars were abandoned, railway stations were stacked high with lost property, and fur coats were of no use in those warm June days.
Women's faces etched with fear and fatigue during the flight from Paris. © The LIFE Picture Collection via Carl Mydans
Mothers became separated from their children, handing over exhausted toddlers to soldiers in lorries, or to others offering lifts, only to find that soldiers took a different path to the one they had expected.
The Red Cross estimated that some 90,000 children were separated from their parents during the exodus. Family reunions were made even harder to organise by the fact that many of the children were too young to communicate much about their parents, and the babies could say nothing at all.
Some officials, like Jean Moulin, the prefect in Eure-et-Loir, in Chartres, in whose memory the Liberation of Paris Museum is named, refused to leave his post.
Some refugees and French soldiers pillaged villages to survive. Others took advantage of the refugees streaming south with farmers selling glasses of water to those on the road.
But no one exploited the exodus more than Marshal Philippe Pétain, who became chief of state of Vichy France and collaborated with the Nazis in sending thousands of French Jews to the death camps in the years that followed.
‘My heart goes out to you’
As France was poised to fall to the Germans and the refugees continued to make their way south, Pétain was appointed prime minister of France. On June 22, 1940 he signed an armistice with Germany, offering collaboration between the Nazis and his newly appointed Vichy regime, established when the government relocated from Paris to the southern city of Vichy.
But in the uncertain days of June 1940, Pétain, known as the “Lion of Verdun” after his legendary role in the First World War, reassured the refugees that he was with them in their hour of need.
“‘You know, my heart goes out to you, refugees on the road. I'm here with you. I'm not like some who’ve gone to England,” said Pétain, in a dig at Charles De Gaulle, who led French opposition to the Nazis from London. “I’m here, I'm sharing this with you.”
Understanding the exodus is key to understanding the Vichy regime, explained Diamond, for whom the flight from Paris was a “foundational myth”.
“Pétain was this very well-established figure – and people thought, ‘Now the war is over for us, it’s a return to order’. They didn't know that that would mean an authoritarian regime and German occupation at the time, they were just terribly relieved that their ordeal was coming to an end, and we can really understand that.”
“He did milk it – he was very good at that,” said Diamond, who added that the archives contain hundreds and hundreds of letters from women writing to Pétain during the Vichy regime asking him to be their child’s godparent.
In the days that followed the signing of the armistice with Germany, refugees began to think about going home. Local governments, overwhelmed by the flood of refugees, encouraged them to do so.
A deserted Paris met with no resistance when it fell to the Germans on June 14, 1940. The refugees returned to the French capital to find German troops marching down the Champs-Élysées and swastikas adorning government buildings – and braced themselves for the next chapter in their wartime history: five years of occupation under German rule.
'1940: Parisian Exodus' runs at the Liberation of Paris Museum until August 30, 2020.
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france24--2020-03-04--Sudan central bank announces US sanctions lifted on 157 companies

This picture taken on October 16 , 2019 , shows a view from the outside of a branch of the Bank of Khartoum in the Sudanese capital .
Sudan ’ s central bank said on Wednesday that the United States had informed Khartoum it was lifting sanctions on 157 Sudanese firms , in line with a policy shift by Washington in late 2017 .
Central bank governor Badreddine Abdelrahim said in a statement that “ only a few Sudanese individuals and entities remain under US sanctions for their links to the conflict in Darfur ” , a region hit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The US announced an end to its 20-year-old trade embargo against Sudan in October 2017 , but retained the country on its state sponsors of terrorism list .
Abdelrahim did not indicate why Washington ’ s latest move had come so long after it declared it was ending its sanctions regime .
The announcement comes as Sudan is working to revive its economy and re-enter the international arena following the ouster in April 2019 of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir .
The ex-leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his role in the conflict in the western Darfur region , which left 300,000 people dead and displaced 2.5 million others , according to United Nations data .
Sudan ’ s transitional authorities agreed last month to transfer him to stand trial before the Hague based court .
According to Abdelrahim , the lifting of the sanctions means that the firms concerned—including banking institutions—can now undertake international transactions .
A central bank official recently announced that several Sudanese banks were close to reaching agreements to start issuing US credit cards .
Sudan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the two decades of US sanctions levied over human rights violations and alleged support for “ terrorist ” groups .
Relations deteriorated shortly after Bashir came to power through an Islamist-supported coup in 1989 .
Sudan has been on Washington ’ s list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1993 -- a status the country ’ s transitional authorities are lobbying to overturn .
The founder of Al-Qaeda , Osama Bin Laden , lived in Khartoum between 1992 and 1996 .
Spiralling inflation and acute hardship were the main triggers for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and led to the overthrow of Bashir .

Sudan’s central bank said on Wednesday that the United States had informed Khartoum it was lifting sanctions on 157 Sudanese firms, in line with a policy shift by Washington in late 2017.
This picture taken on October 16, 2019, shows a view from the outside of a branch of the Bank of Khartoum in the Sudanese capital.
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Central bank governor Badreddine Abdelrahim said in a statement that “only a few Sudanese individuals and entities remain under US sanctions for their links to the conflict in Darfur”, a region hit by a protracted conflict that began in 2003.
The US announced an end to its 20-year-old trade embargo against Sudan in October 2017, but retained the country on its state sponsors of terrorism list.
Abdelrahim did not indicate why Washington’s latest move had come so long after it declared it was ending its sanctions regime.
The announcement comes as Sudan is working to revive its economy and re-enter the international arena following the ouster in April 2019 of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
The ex-leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the conflict in the western Darfur region, which left 300,000 people dead and displaced 2.5 million others, according to United Nations data.
Sudan’s transitional authorities agreed last month to transfer him to stand trial before the Hague based court.
International transactions possible
According to Abdelrahim, the lifting of the sanctions means that the firms concerned—including banking institutions—can now undertake international transactions.
A central bank official recently announced that several Sudanese banks were close to reaching agreements to start issuing US credit cards.
Sudan’s economy was dealt a devastating blow by the two decades of US sanctions levied over human rights violations and alleged support for “terrorist” groups.
Relations deteriorated shortly after Bashir came to power through an Islamist-supported coup in 1989.
Sudan has been on Washington’s list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1993 -- a status the country’s transitional authorities are lobbying to overturn.
The founder of Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, lived in Khartoum between 1992 and 1996.
Spiralling inflation and acute hardship were the main triggers for a protest movement that erupted in December 2018 and led to the overthrow of Bashir.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-04--Yankee go home? In Iraq, anti-IS group coalition compromised

Since 2014 , thousands of mainly US troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the local Iraqi forces in @ @ @ @ @ State group .
But back in January , the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani @ @ @ @ @ in Baghdad sparked an escalation in the region , the consequences of which remain unclear @ @ @ @ @ cooperation between the international coalition and the Iraqi forces may well suffer .
Our correspondents @ @ @ @ @ report .

Yankee go home? In Iraq, anti-IS group coalition compromised
05:49 FOCUS © FRANCE 24
Since 2014, thousands of mainly US troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the local Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. But back in January, the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad sparked an escalation in the region, the consequences of which remain unclear. On the ground, cooperation between the international coalition and the Iraqi forces may well suffer. Our correspondents Jack Hewson and Lucile Wassermann report.


france24--2020-03-04--Wave of violence breaks out against Syrians in Turkey

The Syrian community in Turkey has been the target of several violent attacks following the deaths of 33 Turkish soldiers in an air raid carried out by Russian planes in northern Syria on February 27 .
The 3.5 million Syrian refugees who live in Turkey are being confronted with a rising wave of racism , fed by politicians and social media .
`` Yesterday , we lost 33 martyrs and they didn ’ t offer us their condolences , ” tweeted one Turkish social media user .
He is espousing a sentiment shared by a large number of Turks who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the refuge they ’ ve found in Turkey since the start of the Syrian civil war back in 2011 .
`` Now they are running towards Europe , ” he added , referencing the announcement made on February 28 by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he would open Turkey ’ s borders with Greece and Bulgaria because Turkey could no longer deal with the large number of migrants on its soil .
On March 2 , Erdogan called on Europe to “ carry its share of the burden ” of opening its doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated 3.5 million Syrian refugees live in Turkey , there are only around a million in all of Europe .
More than 10,000 migrants converged on the border between Greece and Turkey over the weekend of February 29 after Turkey ’ s announcement that people would no longer be prevented from leaving .
In the meantime , Greek authorities ramped up security on their borders to maximum levels .
Violence targeting Syrians breaks out in several Turkish towns In this tense climate , violence aimed at both the Syrian community and migrants more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey .
On February 29 , one of the Turkish soldiers killed in Idlib was buried in the town of Kahramanmaras , which is located in southeastern Turkey .
Afterwards , a mob formed and attacked Syrian-owned businesses .
This video shows several men kicking the iron shutters of several closed Syrian-owned businesses on Atatürk Boulevard , which runs through the town centre .
You can also see a cordon made up of Turkish police officers trying to protect these businesses .
The mob jeers and boos , though it isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Syrian shopkeepers or the policemen protecting them .
Eventually , police were able to disperse the crowd and reestablish calm in the area , according to local media outlets .
Afraid that the same thing might happen to them , Syrian shopkeepers in Sanliurfa , which is located 200 kilometres to the east of Kahramanmaras , decided to shut their shops on February 28 , according to local newspaper Urfa Birlik .
In the northern town of Samsun , which sits on the banks of the Black Sea , a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 1 .
According to one local news site , the two victims were Iraqi .
Turkish news site T24 reported that the incident happened in the Zafer neighbourhood .
In this video of the attack , you can hear the teenagers here shouting out insults in Turkish .
Zafer mayor Nursen Açar told T24 about the incident in an interview : “ It was a fight between 15- and 16-year-olds .
They were shouting ‘ Our soldiers are dying because of you !
’ as they chased the refugees .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Syrians and other refugees occurred in June 2019 in the Ikitelli neighbourhood in Istanbul after a rumour started circulating that a refugee had assaulted a Turkish child .
For the time being , however , the current wave of violence has not reached those heights .
> > READ ON THE OBSERVERS : Rumour about a sexual assault sparks a wave of violence against Syrians in Turkey

TURKEY
Screengrabs of videos showing incidents that occurred in the Turkish cities of Samsun and Kahramanmaras.
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The Syrian community in Turkey has been the target of several violent attacks following the deaths of 33 Turkish soldiers in an air raid carried out by Russian planes in northern Syria on February 27. The 3.5 million Syrian refugees who live in Turkey are being confronted with a rising wave of racism, fed by politicians and social media.
"Yesterday, we lost 33 martyrs and they didn’t offer us their condolences,” tweeted one Turkish social media user. He is espousing a sentiment shared by a large number of Turks who see Syrians as “ungrateful” for the refuge they’ve found in Turkey since the start of the Syrian civil war back in 2011.
Maziden söylemler
✅Suriyeliler kardeşimiz
✅Onlar masum
✅Onlara gitsin diyenler hakkında işlem yapılır ha
✅15 Temmuz’u Suriyelilerin duasıyla başardık
❌Dün bunlar İçin 33 şehit verdik dönüp başınız sağolsun bile demediler
Şimdi Avrupa’ya koşuyorlar
pic.twitter.com/nOYWKMMH2T İbrahim S COŞKUN ???????? (@ibrahimcoskun) February 29, 2020
"Now they are running towards Europe,” he added, referencing the announcement made on February 28 by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he would open Turkey’s borders with Greece and Bulgaria because Turkey could no longer deal with the large number of migrants on its soil. On March 2, Erdogan called on Europe to “carry its share of the burden” of opening its doors to migrants and refugees. While an estimated 3.5 million Syrian refugees live in Turkey, there are only around a million in all of Europe.
More than 10,000 migrants converged on the border between Greece and Turkey over the weekend of February 29 after Turkey’s announcement that people would no longer be prevented from leaving. In the meantime, Greek authorities ramped up security on their borders to maximum levels.
Violence targeting Syrians breaks out in several Turkish towns
In this tense climate, violence aimed at both the Syrian community and migrants more broadly broke out in several towns across Turkey.
On February 29, one of the Turkish soldiers killed in Idlib was buried in the town of Kahramanmaras, which is located in southeastern Turkey. Afterwards, a mob formed and attacked Syrian-owned businesses.
Suriyeli sığınmacılara ait olduğu iddia edilen iş yerleri Kahramanmaraş'ta şehit cenazesinin ardından saldırıya uğradı.#sehitlermizvar #neguluyorsunerdogan pic.twitter.com/RmwqzsW5Is Celal Şengör (@celalsengor1) February 29, 2020
This video shows several men kicking the iron shutters of several closed Syrian-owned businesses on Atatürk Boulevard, which runs through the town centre. You can also see a cordon made up of Turkish police officers trying to protect these businesses. The mob jeers and boos, though it isn’t clear if this abuse is aimed at the Syrian shopkeepers or the policemen protecting them. Eventually, police were able to disperse the crowd and reestablish calm in the area, according to local media outlets.
Afraid that the same thing might happen to them, Syrian shopkeepers in Sanliurfa, which is located 200 kilometres to the east of Kahramanmaras, decided to shut their shops on February 28, according to local newspaper Urfa Birlik.
In the northern town of Samsun, which sits on the banks of the Black Sea, a group of Turkish teenagers beat up two migrant teens on March 1. According to one local news site, the two victims were Iraqi. Turkish news site T24 reported that the incident happened in the Zafer neighbourhood.
In this video of the attack, you can hear the teenagers here shouting out insults in Turkish.
Zafer mayor Nursen Açar told T24 about the incident in an interview:
“It was a fight between 15- and 16-year-olds. They were shouting ‘Our soldiers are dying because of you!’ as they chased the refugees. No one was seriously hurt.”
Similar violence against Syrians and other refugees occurred in June 2019 in the Ikitelli neighbourhood in Istanbul after a rumour started circulating that a refugee had assaulted a Turkish child. For the time being, however, the current wave of violence has not reached those heights.
>> READ ON THE OBSERVERS: Rumour about a sexual assault sparks a wave of violence against Syrians in Turkey
'This is also fed by a deeply rooted racism against Arabs in general'
Journalist Uraz Aydin is a member of "We want to live together” (Birlikte Yasamak Istiyoruz), an initiative that fights anti-Syrian racism in Turkey.
The racism that Syrians and other migrants face in Turkey comes from all across the political spectrum, from the secular left to the Islamic conservatives who make up the AKP [Editor’s note: Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party]. Many Turkish people believe that the government has accepted too many people – around four million Syrian – and that Syrians have stolen Turkish jobs or contributed to the collapse of the economy. This is all fed by a more deeply rooted racism against Arabs in general. There are a lot of racist stereotypes and cliches that circulate on social media, like photos of Syrians smoking shisha on the beach while Turkish soldiers die on the frontlines in Syria. There is a new wave of violence against Syrians in Turkey almost every time that Turkish soldiers die in Syria. The problem is that the population wants to blame Syrians for this situation and make them the scapegoats. In my opinion, we should be criticising the military intervention.
Khadiga A. is from a Syrian family and is currently studying in Istanbul. She agrees with Aydin that the violence is recurring.
It’s true that there is violence against Syrians every time that a Turkish soldier dies in Syria, but I get the feeling that it is more intense this time because of the large number of soldiers who died. Overall, however, I feel like things have calmed down since June, when the elections meant that there was a large focus on Syrians. It’s also important to remember that a lot of Turkish people support us. I think the situation is much worse for Syrians who left for Europe or those who are in Greece right now.


france24--2020-03-04--Saudi Arabia suspends Umrah pilgrimage due to coronavirus fears

Umrah pilgrims at Soekarno Hatta International Airport , Tangerang , near Jakarta , Indonesia , on February 27 , 2020 , after the cancellation of departures to Mecca following the Saudi government 's temporary ban on overseas pilgrims because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday suspended the year-round “ umrah ” pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina , the interior ministry said .
The Gulf state has decided “ to suspend umrah temporarily for citizens and residents in the kingdom ” , the ministry said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency .
They were also barred from “ visits to the Prophet ’ s mosque in Medina ” , according to a foreign ministry tweet .
The decision comes after Saudi Arabia last week suspended visas for the pilgrimage and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering Mecca and Medina , two of Islam ’ s holiest cities .
Saudi Arabia on Monday confirmed its first case of new coronavirus after one its citizens who had returned from COVID-19 hotspot Iran tested positive .
The unprecedented moves have left thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty over the annual hajj to Mecca scheduled for the end of July .
The holy sites , which draw millions of pilgrims every year , are a potential source of contagion but also a key revenue earner and a pillar of political legitimacy for Saudi rulers .

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday suspended the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the interior ministry said.
Umrah pilgrims at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 27, 2020, after the cancellation of departures to Mecca following the Saudi government's temporary ban on overseas pilgrims because of the coronavirus outbreak.
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The Gulf state has decided “to suspend umrah temporarily for citizens and residents in the kingdom”, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
They were also barred from “visits to the Prophet’s mosque in Medina”, according to a foreign ministry tweet.
The decision comes after Saudi Arabia last week suspended visas for the pilgrimage and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering Mecca and Medina, two of Islam’s holiest cities.
Saudi Arabia on Monday confirmed its first case of new coronavirus after one its citizens who had returned from COVID-19 hotspot Iran tested positive.
The unprecedented moves have left thousands of Muslim pilgrims in limbo, raising uncertainty over the annual hajj to Mecca scheduled for the end of July.
The holy sites, which draw millions of pilgrims every year, are a potential source of contagion but also a key revenue earner and a pillar of political legitimacy for Saudi rulers.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-04--Louvre museum reopens in Paris as staff agree to end coronavirus protest

Visitors queue outside the Pyramid , the main entrance to the Louvre museum , on March 4 , 2020 .
The Louvre museum in Paris reopened to the public Wednesday after management took steps to allay staff fears over the coronavirus spread , which had sparked a two-day work stoppage .
In a statement , the world 's most visited museum said that , faced with the “ legitimate concerns ” of staff over COVID-19 , it had agreed to take “ extra measures ” to ensure the safety of employees and visitors alike .
The museum did not specify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union representative said staff had been given hand sanitisers and would not be required to handle cash at the till .
Staff had refused to work on Sunday and Monday , citing a threat to health .
The museum is closed to the public on Tuesdays .
The health ministry had argued there was no evidence of the “ grave and imminent threat ” to life or health that French employees could cite as a valid reason to refuse to work .
Visitors applauded as the doors opened Wednesday , an AFP reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The closure of the Louvre , which received 9.6 million visitors last year , had caused bitter disappointment among the thousands of tourists who flock each day to the home of the Mona Lisa .
The protest reflected growing jitters over the spread of the coronavirus , which has killed over 3,200 people worldwide , including four in France .
The government at the weekend cancelled all indoor events for more than 5,000 people as a precautionary measure .
The decision led to the cancellation of the French capital ’ s annual book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to bring some 160,000 visitors to Paris this month .
The Paris half-marathon was also cancelled on Sunday , though several hundred determined athletes defied the ban .

The Louvre museum in Paris reopened to the public Wednesday after management took steps to allay staff fears over the coronavirus spread, which had sparked a two-day work stoppage.
Visitors queue outside the Pyramid, the main entrance to the Louvre museum, on March 4, 2020.
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In a statement, the world's most visited museum said that, faced with the “legitimate concerns” of staff over COVID-19, it had agreed to take “extra measures” to ensure the safety of employees and visitors alike.
The museum did not specify what measures were adopted, but a union representative said staff had been given hand sanitisers and would not be required to handle cash at the till.
Staff had refused to work on Sunday and Monday, citing a threat to health. The museum is closed to the public on Tuesdays.
The health ministry had argued there was no evidence of the “grave and imminent threat” to life or health that French employees could cite as a valid reason to refuse to work.
Visitors applauded as the doors opened Wednesday, an AFP reporter at the former royal palace reported.
The closure of the Louvre, which received 9.6 million visitors last year, had caused bitter disappointment among the thousands of tourists who flock each day to the home of the Mona Lisa.
The protest reflected growing jitters over the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed over 3,200 people worldwide, including four in France.
The government at the weekend cancelled all indoor events for more than 5,000 people as a precautionary measure.
The decision led to the cancellation of the French capital’s annual book fair, Livre Paris, which was expected to bring some 160,000 visitors to Paris this month.
The Paris half-marathon was also cancelled on Sunday, though several hundred determined athletes defied the ban.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-03-05--ICC approves investigation into war crimes allegedly committed in Afghanistan

Public Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda attends a trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague , the Netherlands , on July 8 , 2019 .
Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday ruled that an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan by the Taliban , Afghan military and U.S. forces may proceed .
The decision , which comes days after the United States agreed to pull its troops from the long-running conflict , overturns a lower court decision and opens the way for prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to launch a full investigation , despite U.S. government opposition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ... authorise the investigation , '' said presiding Judge Piotr Hofmanski , noting that Bensouda 's preliminary examination had found reasonable grounds to believe war crimes were committed in Afghanistan and that the court has jurisdiction .
Afghanistan is a member of the Hague-based court , though the United States is not and U.S. President Donald Trump 's administration imposed travel restrictions and other sanctions against ICC employees a year ago .
A pretrial panel last year had rejected Bensouda 's 2017 request to open an investigation , arguing that the odds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passage of time , a lack of cooperation from Kabul and Washington , and because it would not `` serve the interests of justice . ''
But Hofmanski said Bensouda should proceed and not limit her investigation to preliminary findings , as that would `` erroneously inhibit the prosecution 's truth-seeking function . ''
Bensouda believes there are grounds to open an investigation into abuses committed between 2003 and 2014 , including alleged mass killings of civilians by the Taliban , as well as the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the CIA .
U.S. forces and other foreign troops entered Afghanistan in 2001 after the Sept. 11 al Qaeda attacks on the United States and overthrew the Taliban government , which had been protecting al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden .
In what has become the United States ' longest war , about 13,000 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan .
The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement on Saturday to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops still in the country , but Washington carried out an air strike on Taliban fighters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began operations in The Hague in 2002 , is a court of last resort for war crimes , genocide and crimes against humanity when committed by nationals of a signatory state , or if they took place on the territory of one of its member states .

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday ruled that an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan military and U.S. forces may proceed.
Public Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda attends a trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, on July 8, 2019.
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The decision, which comes days after the United States agreed to pull its troops from the long-running conflict, overturns a lower court decision and opens the way for prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to launch a full investigation, despite U.S. government opposition.
"The Appeals chamber considers it appropriate to...authorise the investigation," said presiding Judge Piotr Hofmanski, noting that Bensouda's preliminary examination had found reasonable grounds to believe war crimes were committed in Afghanistan and that the court has jurisdiction.
Afghanistan is a member of the Hague-based court, though the United States is not and U.S. President Donald Trump's administration imposed travel restrictions and other sanctions against ICC employees a year ago.
A pretrial panel last year had rejected Bensouda's 2017 request to open an investigation, arguing that the odds of success were low, given the passage of time, a lack of cooperation from Kabul and Washington, and because it would not "serve the interests of justice."
But Hofmanski said Bensouda should proceed and not limit her investigation to preliminary findings, as that would "erroneously inhibit the prosecution's truth-seeking function."
Bensouda believes there are grounds to open an investigation into abuses committed between 2003 and 2014, including alleged mass killings of civilians by the Taliban, as well as the alleged torture of prisoners by Afghan authorities and to a lesser extent by U.S. forces and the CIA.
U.S. forces and other foreign troops entered Afghanistan in 2001 after the Sept. 11 al Qaeda attacks on the United States and overthrew the Taliban government, which had been protecting al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
In what has become the United States' longest war, about 13,000 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan.
The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement on Saturday to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops still in the country, but Washington carried out an air strike on Taliban fighters on Wednesday.
The ICC, which began operations in The Hague in 2002, is a court of last resort for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity when committed by nationals of a signatory state, or if they took place on the territory of one of its member states.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-05--'Caught in the middle of a game': Migrants stranded amid EU-Turkey stand-off

Thousands of migrants have been pushing to cross the border into Greece since Turkey declared its previously guarded gateways to Europe open .
Greece countered accusations from Turkey on Wednesday that it was responsible for the death of a migrant , as its border authorities strove for a sixth day to keep thousands of migrants out by using tear gas , stun grenades and water cannons .
The border tensions followed last week 's decision by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to declare the country 's gateways to Greece open , in an apparent attempt to pressure Europe into offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallout from the Syrian war to its south .
Turkish officials charged that Greek gunfire killed one migrant and wounded five others – a claim that Athens flatly rejected .
The office of Ekrem Canalp , governor for the Turkish border province of Edirne , said the death occurred on the Turkish side of the border close to the Kastanies – or Pazarkule in Turkish – crossing .
Greek border authorities also said Wednesday that Turkish police were firing tear gas at them , and supplied video they said backed their assertion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of migrants have rushed to the border believing they would be able to cross into Europe , only for Greek security forces to push them back .
`` We 're exhausted , we feel as if we 're caught in the middle of a game , where they are pushing us from side to side , '' one migrant told FRANCE 24 's reporters at the border .
`` We want to know if we can cross over , or whether we should return home . ''
Erdogan 's decision to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better life in Europe to try their luck by land and sea .
He has warned that millions of migrants may be headed Europe 's way .
Greek authorities said Wednesday that more than 32,000 attempts to illegally cross the Evros border have been thwarted since Saturday morning , with 231 people – mostly Afghans – arrested .
After a dip on Tuesday when top European Union officials visited the border , attempts roughly tripled to 4,600 Wednesday , while some 15,000 people were gathered along the frontier .
The European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement agreed by European interior ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday , the 27 capitals said the `` situation at the EU 's external borders is not acceptable '' .
The EU statement said the bloc `` strongly rejects Turkey 's use of migratory pressure for political purposes '' .
Earlier , Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's government had denied that it was using the threat of a wave of migrants to `` blackmail '' the EU .
Erdogan made the decision to open the border after a Russia-backed Syrian government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province killed dozens of Turkish soldiers fighting in Syria and prompted nearly a million Syrian civilians to head toward Turkey .
Ankara wants Brussels to step up support for the 3.7 million refugees and migrants that Turkey is already hosting , and back Turkey in its increasingly intense confrontation with the Syrian regime .
But EU members insist Turkey must stick to a previous deal in which Brussels agreed to pay billions of euros in exchange for Turkey preventing refugees and migrants from crossing to Greece .

Greece countered accusations from Turkey on Wednesday that it was responsible for the death of a migrant, as its border authorities strove for a sixth day to keep thousands of migrants out by using tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons.
Thousands of migrants have been pushing to cross the border into Greece since Turkey declared its previously guarded gateways to Europe open.
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The border tensions followed last week's decision by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to declare the country's gateways to Greece open, in an apparent attempt to pressure Europe into offering Turkey more support in dealing with the fallout from the Syrian war to its south.
Turkish officials charged that Greek gunfire killed one migrant and wounded five others – a claim that Athens flatly rejected.
The office of Ekrem Canalp, governor for the Turkish border province of Edirne, said the death occurred on the Turkish side of the border close to the Kastanies – or Pazarkule in Turkish – crossing.
Greek border authorities also said Wednesday that Turkish police were firing tear gas at them, and supplied video they said backed their assertion.
The latest spat comes as tens of thousands of migrants have rushed to the border believing they would be able to cross into Europe, only for Greek security forces to push them back.
"We're exhausted, we feel as if we're caught in the middle of a game, where they are pushing us from side to side," one migrant told FRANCE 24's reporters at the border. "We want to know if we can cross over, or whether we should return home."
02:52
Erdogan's decision to open the border encouraged thousands of people seeking a better life in Europe to try their luck by land and sea. He has warned that millions of migrants may be headed Europe's way.
Greek authorities said Wednesday that more than 32,000 attempts to illegally cross the Evros border have been thwarted since Saturday morning, with 231 people – mostly Afghans – arrested.
After a dip on Tuesday when top European Union officials visited the border, attempts roughly tripled to 4,600 Wednesday, while some 15,000 people were gathered along the frontier.
The European Union has accused Erdogan of blackmail.
In a statement agreed by European interior ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, the 27 capitals said the "situation at the EU's external borders is not acceptable".
The EU statement said the bloc "strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes".
Earlier, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government had denied that it was using the threat of a wave of migrants to "blackmail" the EU.
Erdogan made the decision to open the border after a Russia-backed Syrian government offensive into Syria’s northwestern Idlib province killed dozens of Turkish soldiers fighting in Syria and prompted nearly a million Syrian civilians to head toward Turkey.
Ankara wants Brussels to step up support for the 3.7 million refugees and migrants that Turkey is already hosting, and back Turkey in its increasingly intense confrontation with the Syrian regime.
But EU members insist Turkey must stick to a previous deal in which Brussels agreed to pay billions of euros in exchange for Turkey preventing refugees and migrants from crossing to Greece.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP)
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france24--2020-03-05--Haiti's new PM calls for help in tackling ‘precarious socio-economic situation’

Haiti 's new Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe ( centre ) , standing alongisde President Jovenel Moise ( right ) , is sworn in at a ceremony in the capital Port-au-Prince on March 4 , 2020 .
Haitian Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said on Wednesday during his first public appearance since his appointment by presidential decree that he would focus on fighting insecurity and inequality while boosting the economy .
Jouthe , a trained civil engineer , who was appointed this week by President Jovenel Moise , is considered an experienced policymaker .
He was environment minister and interim finance minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies .
`` We 're living today in a very precarious socio-economic situation which could lead at any time to a humanitarian disaster , our country is in agony , '' he said .
`` My government reiterates its commitment to continue working to improve public finances in order to increase gross domestic product ( GDP ) , reduce inflation , increase public revenues and , above all , fight corruption . ''
Jouthe called on Haitians , the divided political class and international organizations to stand by him at a time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haiti said in a statement it would work with Moise and Jouthe but urged them to improve security and economic growth , and organize `` free , fair and credible legislative elections as soon as technically feasible '' .
Economic repercussions of a three-month countrywide lockdown are still unfolding in what was already the Western Hemisphere 's poorest nation , where around two-thirds of adults are estimated to be unemployed or underemployed .
Moise has been ruling Haiti by decree since January because the mandates of lower house deputies and most senators formally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jouthe replaces Jean Michel Lapin , who was acting prime minister since Moise appointed him in March last year until his resignation in July .
Despite several attempts , his appointment was never approved .

Haitian Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said on Wednesday during his first public appearance since his appointment by presidential decree that he would focus on fighting insecurity and inequality while boosting the economy.
Haiti's new Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe (centre), standing alongisde President Jovenel Moise (right), is sworn in at a ceremony in the capital Port-au-Prince on March 4, 2020.
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Jouthe, a trained civil engineer, who was appointed this week by President Jovenel Moise, is considered an experienced policymaker. He was environment minister and interim finance minister, and also worked for the humanitarian agencies.
"We're living today in a very precarious socio-economic situation which could lead at any time to a humanitarian disaster, our country is in agony," he said.
"My government reiterates its commitment to continue working to improve public finances in order to increase gross domestic product (GDP), reduce inflation, increase public revenues and, above all, fight corruption."
Jouthe called on Haitians, the divided political class and international organizations to stand by him at a time of economic crisis.
The US Embassy in Haiti said in a statement it would work with Moise and Jouthe but urged them to improve security and economic growth, and organize "free, fair and credible legislative elections as soon as technically feasible".
Economic repercussions of a three-month countrywide lockdown are still unfolding in what was already the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, where around two-thirds of adults are estimated to be unemployed or underemployed.
Moise has been ruling Haiti by decree since January because the mandates of lower house deputies and most senators formally expired when no elections were held.
Jouthe replaces Jean Michel Lapin, who was acting prime minister since Moise appointed him in March last year until his resignation in July. Despite several attempts, his appointment was never approved.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-05--Some 300 million students out of school as world steps up coronavirus battle

Lebanese workers spray disinfectant in classrooms and halls of a school in the coastal town of Rmeileh , south of the capital Beirut , on March 2 , 2020 .
More than 290 million students worldwide faced weeks at home on Thursday with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus , as the IMF urged an all-out , global offensive against the epidemic More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus , which has now reached some 80 countries and territories .
The vast majority of global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the virus first emerged late last year , prompting the country to quarantine entire cities , temporarily shut factories and close schools indefinitely .
As the virus spread , other countries have also implemented extraordinary measures , with UNESCO saying Wednesday that 13 countries have closed schools , affecting 290.5 million children , while nine others have implemented localised closures .
While temporary school closures during crises are not new , UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said , `` the global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to education.
” Italy on Wednesday ordered schools and universities shuttered until March 15 , ramping up its response as the national death toll rose to 107 , the deadliest outbreak outside China .
South Korea – the country with the largest number of cases outside China with nearly 6,000 – has postponed the start of the current term until March 23 .
In Japan , nearly all schools are closed after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for classes to be cancelled through March and spring break , slated for late March through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in France this week in areas with the largest numbers of infections .
The German health minister said the outbreak was now a “ global pandemic ” – a term the World Health Organization has stopped short of using , meaning the virus is spreading in several regions through local transmission .
Infections are now rising faster abroad than they are in China , where 31 more deaths and 139 new cases were reported Thursday .
China 's death toll now stands at 3,012 , with over 80,000 infections .
From western Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been stripped of supplies in recent weeks , including toilet paper and hand sanitiser .
American businesses are increasingly concerned over access to goods and the overall economic outlook is more uncertain , the US Federal Reserve said in its beige book survey released on Wednesday .
With the US toll rising to 11 on Wednesday , lawmakers in Congress reached a deal to provide more than $ 8 billion to fight the outbreak .
The virus impact has spread beyond supply chains – stock markets have rumbled as warnings from financial bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession .
The IMF said the epidemic posed a “ serious threat ” and would slow global growth to below last year 's 2.9 percent .
“ At a time of uncertainty ... it is better to do more than to do not enough , ” IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said .
The epidemic “ is a global problem calling for global response , ” she said .
Eurozone ministers agreed after a meeting that they were ready to “ use all appropriate policy tools to achieve strong , sustainable growth ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , governments are scrambling to tighten prevention efforts .
Italy has seen its outbreak swell despite tough measures , including a quarantine of 11 towns with 50,000 people .
New measures include a month-long nationwide ban on fan attendance at sports events , as well as advising people to avoid greetings like kissing on the cheek or shaking hands .
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conti said the country could tackle the outbreak as long as it remained contained .
`` But in case of exponential growth , not just Italy but any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to manage the situation , ” he said .
In Iran , where 92 people have died from the disease , schools have been shut and major cultural and sporting events suspended .
Saudi Arabia has suspended the year-round “ umrah '' pilgrimage , an unprecedented move that raises fresh uncertainty over the annual hajj .
Countries also continue to crack down on international travel .
Israel extended its mandatory quarantine measures – already in place for travellers from Italy and some Asian countries – to cover people from France , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even cinemagoers were not immune from the effects of the virus – the producers of the latest James Bond film pushed back the release of the forthcoming “ No Time To Die '' from April to November .

More than 290 million students worldwide faced weeks at home on Thursday with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus, as the IMF urged an all-out, global offensive against the epidemic
Lebanese workers spray disinfectant in classrooms and halls of a school in the coastal town of Rmeileh, south of the capital Beirut, on March 2, 2020.
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More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which has now reached some 80 countries and territories.
The vast majority of global deaths and infections are in China, where the virus first emerged late last year, prompting the country to quarantine entire cities, temporarily shut factories and close schools indefinitely.
As the virus spread, other countries have also implemented extraordinary measures, with UNESCO saying Wednesday that 13 countries have closed schools, affecting 290.5 million children, while nine others have implemented localised closures.
While temporary school closures during crises are not new, UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said, "the global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and, if prolonged, could threaten the right to education.”
Italy on Wednesday ordered schools and universities shuttered until March 15, ramping up its response as the national death toll rose to 107, the deadliest outbreak outside China.
South Korea – the country with the largest number of cases outside China with nearly 6,000 – has postponed the start of the current term until March 23.
In Japan, nearly all schools are closed after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for classes to be cancelled through March and spring break, slated for late March through early April.
Some 120 schools closed in France this week in areas with the largest numbers of infections. On Thursday, France reported two more coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the country's total death toll to six.
Economic threat
The German health minister said the outbreak was now a “global pandemic” – a term the World Health Organization has stopped short of using, meaning the virus is spreading in several regions through local transmission.
Infections are now rising faster abroad than they are in China, where 31 more deaths and 139 new cases were reported Thursday. China's death toll now stands at 3,012, with over 80,000 infections.
From western Europe to eastern Asia, supermarket shelves have been stripped of supplies in recent weeks, including toilet paper and hand sanitiser.
American businesses are increasingly concerned over access to goods and the overall economic outlook is more uncertain, the US Federal Reserve said in its beige book survey released on Wednesday.
With the US toll rising to 11 on Wednesday, lawmakers in Congress reached a deal to provide more than $8 billion to fight the outbreak.
The virus impact has spread beyond supply chains – stock markets have rumbled as warnings from financial bodies mount that countries could be pushed into recession.
The IMF said the epidemic posed a “serious threat” and would slow global growth to below last year's 2.9 percent.
“At a time of uncertainty... it is better to do more than to do not enough,” IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said.
The epidemic “is a global problem calling for global response,” she said.
Eurozone ministers agreed after a meeting that they were ready to “use all appropriate policy tools to achieve strong, sustainable growth”.
No kissing
As the virus continues its march across the world, governments are scrambling to tighten prevention efforts.
Italy has seen its outbreak swell despite tough measures, including a quarantine of 11 towns with 50,000 people.
New measures include a month-long nationwide ban on fan attendance at sports events, as well as advising people to avoid greetings like kissing on the cheek or shaking hands.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conti said the country could tackle the outbreak as long as it remained contained.
"But in case of exponential growth, not just Italy but any other country in the world would not be able to manage the situation,” he said.
In Iran, where 92 people have died from the disease, schools have been shut and major cultural and sporting events suspended.
Saudi Arabia has suspended the year-round “umrah" pilgrimage, an unprecedented move that raises fresh uncertainty over the annual hajj.
Countries also continue to crack down on international travel.
Israel extended its mandatory quarantine measures – already in place for travellers from Italy and some Asian countries – to cover people from France, Germany, Spain, Austria and Switzerland.
Even cinemagoers were not immune from the effects of the virus – the producers of the latest James Bond film pushed back the release of the forthcoming “No Time To Die" from April to November.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-03-05--Blockbuster Raphael show opens in Rome amid coronavirus angst, conservation row

Raphael ’ s `` Portrait of Pope Leo X with Cardinals Giulio de Medici and Luigi de Rossi '' on display at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome .
An exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of Raphael ’ s death opens in Rome this week , with experts hailing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to admire the Renaissance artist ’ s greatest works in a single show .
But the event ’ s opening has been marred by the coronavirus outbreak sweeping Italy and a row over a treasured portrait some feared was too fragile to move .
The paintings , drawings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Scuderie del Quirinale – the most ambitious collection of Raphael 's works to date – are collectively insured for €4 billion ( $ 4.4 billion ) against theft , vandalism or other damages .
But no amount of money can guarantee that Italy ’ s outbreak of coronavirus , the largest in Europe , won ’ t play havoc with the three-month run in Rome of this year 's eagerly-awaited art blockbuster .
The Roman gallery has sold almost 70,000 tickets in online sales even before the doors open to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , but the government battle to halt the infection could yet wreck the event .
Among the measures that ministers are considering is a ban on public gatherings and ordering people to maintain a distance of at least one metre from one another – a constraint that is hard to imagine in the confined space of a major art show .
`` We are just keeping our fingers crossed and praying it can go ahead as planned , '' said a senior official at the Scuderie as workers put the finishing touches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday and runs until June 2 .
More than 3,000 people in Italy have come down with coronavirus in less than two weeks and the death toll has passed 100 .
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino , known in the English-speaking world as Raphael , was born in 1483 and died just 37 years later after a sudden illness in Rome .
He was one of the most celebrated artists of his age .
The exhibition covers not just his famed paintings , but also his involvement in archaeology , architecture and poetry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tapestry .
The curators have managed to bring together 204 works of art , including 120 by Raphael himself and other pieces that give an insight into the times he lived – a period now known as the High Renaissance , an enlightened age marked by a renewed interest in classical antiquity .
Raphael 's masterpieces are found today in museums around the world , and many of them , including Madrid 's Prado , London 's National Gallery and the Washington National Gallery of Art , have sent their priceless art work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will never see again such a concentration of works by Raphael together in one venue as we do here , '' said Eike Schmidt , the director of Florence 's Uffizi museum which itself offered up nine paintings and 40 drawings .
Showing the passions that Raphael 's work engenders , the entire scientific committee at the Uffizi resigned last month to protest at Schmidt 's decision to loan one of its paintings to the Scuderie in defiance of their recommendation .
The committee said the portrait of Pope Leo X was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and should never be let out of Florence , arguing that the work was too fragile to be moved .
Schmidt overruled them , deciding that such an iconic painting deserved to return to the city it was created in .
Marzia Faietti , who curated the show , spent three years trying to persuade other museums to give up their treasures .
`` We got more than we thought we would get .
I am so grateful .
It just shows the friendships in place between Italy and all these other galleries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the only time and the only place where you can get to see them all . ''

An exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death opens in Rome this week, with experts hailing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to admire the Renaissance artist’s greatest works in a single show. But the event’s opening has been marred by the coronavirus outbreak sweeping Italy and a row over a treasured portrait some feared was too fragile to move.
Raphael’s "Portrait of Pope Leo X with Cardinals Giulio de Medici and Luigi de Rossi" on display at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome.
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The paintings, drawings, tapestries and sketches on show at the Scuderie del Quirinale – the most ambitious collection of Raphael's works to date – are collectively insured for €4 billion ($4.4 billion) against theft, vandalism or other damages.
But no amount of money can guarantee that Italy’s outbreak of coronavirus, the largest in Europe, won’t play havoc with the three-month run in Rome of this year's eagerly-awaited art blockbuster.
The Roman gallery has sold almost 70,000 tickets in online sales even before the doors open to the public, a record for such an exhibition here, but the government battle to halt the infection could yet wreck the event.
Among the measures that ministers are considering is a ban on public gatherings and ordering people to maintain a distance of at least one metre from one another – a constraint that is hard to imagine in the confined space of a major art show.
"We are just keeping our fingers crossed and praying it can go ahead as planned," said a senior official at the Scuderie as workers put the finishing touches to the exhibition, which opened on Thursday and runs until June 2.
More than 3,000 people in Italy have come down with coronavirus in less than two weeks and the death toll has passed 100.
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known in the English-speaking world as Raphael, was born in 1483 and died just 37 years later after a sudden illness in Rome. He was one of the most celebrated artists of his age.
The exhibition covers not just his famed paintings, but also his involvement in archaeology, architecture and poetry, as well as prints, sculpture and tapestry.
The curators have managed to bring together 204 works of art, including 120 by Raphael himself and other pieces that give an insight into the times he lived – a period now known as the High Renaissance, an enlightened age marked by a renewed interest in classical antiquity.
Raphael's masterpieces are found today in museums around the world, and many of them, including Madrid's Prado, London's National Gallery and the Washington National Gallery of Art, have sent their priceless art work to Rome.
"I am sure we will never see again such a concentration of works by Raphael together in one venue as we do here," said Eike Schmidt, the director of Florence's Uffizi museum which itself offered up nine paintings and 40 drawings.
Showing the passions that Raphael's work engenders, the entire scientific committee at the Uffizi resigned last month to protest at Schmidt's decision to loan one of its paintings to the Scuderie in defiance of their recommendation.
The entire scientific committee of the @UffiziGalleries has resigned in protest of the museum's decision to lend Raphael portrait to Rome show when it advised against it https://t.co/Q5w44ulMzS — The Art Newspaper (@TheArtNewspaper) February 26, 2020
The committee said the portrait of Pope Leo X was core to the identity of their collection and should never be let out of Florence, arguing that the work was too fragile to be moved. Schmidt overruled them, deciding that such an iconic painting deserved to return to the city it was created in.
Marzia Faietti, who curated the show, spent three years trying to persuade other museums to give up their treasures.
"We got more than we thought we would get. I am so grateful. It just shows the friendships in place between Italy and all these other galleries," Faietti told Reuters. "This is the only time and the only place where you can get to see them all."
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AP)
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france24--2020-03-05--Erdogan set to meet Putin in Moscow, seeking rapid ceasefire in Idlib

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan , right , and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a ceremony marking the launch of the TurkStream pipeline , which will carry Russian natural gas to southern Europe through Turkey , in Istanbul , Turkey , on January 8 , 2020 .
The leaders of Russia and Turkey meet in Moscow on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions that have threatened to bring their two countries into direct conflict in Syria .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be looking for Russia 's Vladimir Putin to agree to a rapid ceasefire in Idlib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ankara is battling Moscow-backed regime forces .
Intense fighting has killed dozens of Turkish soldiers in Idlib in recent weeks , as Ankara for the first time launched a direct offensive against President Bashar al-Assad 's regime .
Erdogan upped the stakes last week , demanding Europe support his efforts in Syria and prompting a new migration crisis by opening Turkey 's border with Greece to refugees and migrants .
“ ( I hope ) there will be a ceasefire swiftly established ” in Idlib , Erdogan said Wednesday ahead of the talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cease an assault on Idlib , the last rebel stronghold in Syria , and pull back behind lines agreed under a 2018 deal with Russia brokered in Sochi .
Turkey has long backed certain rebel groups against Assad but its priority now is to stop another influx of refugees , as close to a million civilians in Idlib have been displaced by the regime 's latest assault .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the two leaders would discuss the causes and effects of the crisis and “ joint measures ” they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- which launched an air campaign in support of Assad in 2015 -- will be keen to send a message that Turkey can not stand in the way of Syria eventually retaking full control of its territory .
“ There might be a ceasefire announced after the talks between Putin and Erdogan but it 'll be for show , ” a Western diplomat told AFP .
“ I believe Putin will tell Erdogan that 's it for his actions in Syria.
” The Kremlin sees Russia 's campaign in Syria as a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with clout and military bases in the country that establish Moscow as a major player in the Middle East .
Experts say Putin is not looking for a full confrontation with NATO member Turkey but also will not back down .
“ Victory in Syria has become a matter of prestige for Russia -- and for Putin personally , ” said Yury Barmin , a Middle East analyst at the Russian International Affairs Council .
Despite supporting opposing sides in the war , Russia and Turkey have worked closely to try to resolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between their forces .
But that relationship has been strained in recent days , with the two sides trading accusations of violating the Sochi deal , which created a buffer zone and allowed for the deployment of 12 Turkish observation posts .
Ankara says Russia is not fulfilling part of the deal that guaranteed no attacks on Idlib and the status quo on the ground .
Moscow says Turkey is violating the deal by supporting “ illegal armed groups ” and has accused Turkish forces of mingling with “ terrorists ” who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said “ the fortified positions of terrorists have merged with the Turkish observation posts ” deployed under the Sochi deal .
Turkey said Wednesday that at least two more Turkish soldiers had been killed in Idlib , after 34 died in an air strike last week blamed on Damascus .
Turkey officially declared an operation against the Assad regime over the weekend , named “ Spring Shield ” .
It has since downed three Syrian warplanes and killed dozens of regime soldiers and allied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to monitors .
Erdogan warned Europe on Wednesday that it must support Turkey 's “ political and humanitarian solutions in Syria ” if it wants to avoid a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis .
Thousands of migrants have massed at the Turkish-Greek border since Erdogan gave them the green light to try to enter Europe , leading to clashes with Greek police .
Turkey hosts some four million refugees , most of them Syrians but also many Afghans and Iraqis , and Erdogan 's move has sparked concern in Europe of @ @ @ @ @ @

The leaders of Turkey and Russia met in Moscow on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions that have threatened to bring their two countries into direct conflict in Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attend a ceremony marking the launch of the TurkStream pipeline, which will carry Russian natural gas to southern Europe through Turkey, in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 8, 2020.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be looking for Russia's Vladimir Putin to agree to a rapid ceasefire in Idlib, the northwestern province of Syria where Ankara is battling Moscow-backed regime forces.
Intense fighting has killed dozens of Turkish soldiers in Idlib in recent weeks, as Ankara for the first time launched a direct offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
At the start of the talks, which were still underway at 1430 GMT, Putin expressed his regret over the recent killing of Turkish troops in an air strike, saying the Syrian army had not known of their location. He said he hoped their talks would help avoid a repeat of that situation.
Erdogan upped the stakes last week, demanding Europe support his efforts in Syria and prompting a new migration crisis by opening Turkey's border with Greece to refugees and migrants.
“[I hope] there will be a ceasefire swiftly established” in Idlib, Erdogan said Wednesday ahead of the talks.
Ankara wants Assad's forces to cease an assault on Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, and pull back behind lines agreed under a 2018 deal with Russia brokered in Sochi.
Turkey has long backed certain rebel groups against Assad, but its priority now is to stop another influx of refugees, as close to a million civilians in Idlib have been displaced by the regime's latest assault.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the two leaders would discuss the causes and effects of the crisis and “joint measures” they could agree to defuse it.
But Moscow – which launched an air campaign in support of Assad in 2015 – will be keen to send a message that Turkey cannot stand in the way of Syria eventually retaking full control of its territory.
“There might be a ceasefire announced after the talks between Putin and Erdogan but it'll be for show,” a Western diplomat told AFP.
“I believe Putin will tell Erdogan that's it for his actions in Syria.”
Trading accusations
The Kremlin sees Russia's campaign in Syria as a key victory of Putin's foreign policy, with clout and military bases in the country that establish Moscow as a major player in the Middle East.
Experts say Putin is not looking for a full confrontation with NATO member Turkey but also will not back down.
“Victory in Syria has become a matter of prestige for Russia – and for Putin personally,” said Yury Barmin, a Middle East analyst at the Russian International Affairs Council.
Despite supporting opposing sides in the war, Russia and Turkey have worked closely to try to resolve the nine-year conflict and avoid direct confrontation between their forces.
But that relationship has been strained in recent days, with the two sides trading accusations of violating the Sochi deal, which created a buffer zone and allowed for the deployment of 12 Turkish observation posts.
Ankara says Russia is not fulfilling part of the deal that guaranteed no attacks on Idlib and the status quo on the ground.
Moscow says Turkey is violating the deal by supporting “illegal armed groups” and has accused Turkish forces of mingling with “terrorists” who are legitimate targets.
In the latest salvo on Wednesday, Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said “the fortified positions of terrorists have merged with the Turkish observation posts” deployed under the Sochi deal.
Migrants mass on border
Turkey said Wednesday that at least two more Turkish soldiers had been killed in Idlib, after 34 died in an air strike last week blamed on Damascus.
Turkey officially declared an operation against the Assad regime over the weekend, named “Spring Shield”.
It has since downed three Syrian warplanes and killed dozens of regime soldiers and allied fighters – mostly through drone strikes – according to monitors.
Erdogan warned Europe on Wednesday that it must support Turkey's “political and humanitarian solutions in Syria” if it wants to avoid a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis.
Thousands of migrants have massed at the Turkish-Greek border since Erdogan gave them the green light to try to enter Europe, leading to clashes with Greek police.
Turkey hosts some four million refugees, most of them Syrians but also many Afghans and Iraqis, and Erdogan's move has sparked concern in Europe of a renewed influx of migrants.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-05--US lawmakers agree to provide $8.3 billion to fight coronavirus as death toll mounts

Test tube with Corona virus label .
The governor of California declared an emergency as he reported the state 's first fatality from the COVID-19 illness .
The death toll in the United States from the new coronavirus rose to 11 on Wednesday , as lawmakers in Congress agreed to provide more than $ 8 billion to fight the rapidly spreading disease .
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency as he reported the state 's first fatality from the COVID-19 illness – an elderly person who had taken a cruise to Mexico – while health officials in nearby Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
`` The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus , '' Newsom told reporters .
`` This emergency proclamation will help the state further prepare our communities and our health care system in the event it spreads more broadly . ''
Earlier in the day , Los Angeles County officials reported six new cases in the West Coast metropolis , while the number of confirmed cases in New York state rose to 11 .
One of the Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city 's international airport checking overseas travelers for symptoms .
The Department of Homeland Security said the worker was under self-quarantine at home along with family members and was showing mild symptoms .
That person 's last shift at the airport was on February 21 and the symptoms began on February 29 , a statement said .
`` DHS is happy to report that this individual was highly trained and did everything right both on the job and when they began to feel sick , '' the statement said .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct protective equipment and took necessary protections on the job . ''
Nationwide , more than 130 people have so far been infected , with the virus detected in more than a dozen states .
Most of the deaths have been in Washington state including residents of a nursing home .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meanwhile said Republicans and Democrats had reached a deal to fund the response to the outbreak to the tune of $ 8.3 billion .
The House of Representatives passed the measure , and the Senate was to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is the White House 's pointman on the crisis , told reporters he would be traveling to Minnesota on Thursday to visit a 3M plant manufacturing personal protective equipment including masks .
He will then visit Washington state and meet with Governor Jay Inslee to review containment efforts in the Seattle area .
All of the newly infected individuals in Los Angeles were exposed to COVID-19 through close contact , health officials said .
Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , said three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together to northern Italy – a virus hotspot with more than 100 deaths .
Two other cases involved individuals who had come in contact with a family member who had the virus and the last was the airport screener .
`` The step we 're taking today is about preparation , not panic , '' said Mayor Eric Garcetti of the emergency declaration .
Officials said they expected the number of infections in California to rise in the coming days and urged families to brace for possible school closures and the cancelation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 people are known to be infected , the most of any state .
In Washington state , officials in King County , which includes Seattle and where most of the deaths have taken place , said they were purchasing an 85-bed motel to house patients stricken with the virus .

The death toll in the United States from the new coronavirus rose to 11 on Wednesday, as lawmakers in Congress agreed to provide more than $8 billion to fight the rapidly spreading disease.
Test tube with Corona virus label. The governor of California declared an emergency as he reported the state's first fatality from the COVID-19 illness.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency as he reported the state's first fatality from the COVID-19 illness – an elderly person who had taken a cruise to Mexico – while health officials in nearby Washington state said a 10th person had died there.
"The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus," Newsom told reporters.
"This emergency proclamation will help the state further prepare our communities and our health care system in the event it spreads more broadly."
Earlier in the day, Los Angeles County officials reported six new cases in the West Coast metropolis, while the number of confirmed cases in New York state rose to 11.
One of the Los Angeles cases concerns a medical screener at the city's international airport checking overseas travelers for symptoms.
The Department of Homeland Security said the worker was under self-quarantine at home along with family members and was showing mild symptoms.
That person's last shift at the airport was on February 21 and the symptoms began on February 29, a statement said.
"DHS is happy to report that this individual was highly trained and did everything right both on the job and when they began to feel sick," the statement said.
"We are told the individual wore all the correct protective equipment and took necessary protections on the job."
Nationwide, more than 130 people have so far been infected, with the virus detected in more than a dozen states. Most of the deaths have been in Washington state including residents of a nursing home.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meanwhile said Republicans and Democrats had reached a deal to fund the response to the outbreak to the tune of $8.3 billion. The House of Representatives passed the measure, and the Senate was to vote on Thursday.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is the White House's pointman on the crisis, told reporters he would be traveling to Minnesota on Thursday to visit a 3M plant manufacturing personal protective equipment including masks.
He will then visit Washington state and meet with Governor Jay Inslee to review containment efforts in the Seattle area.
'Coordinated, fully-funded response'
All of the newly infected individuals in Los Angeles were exposed to COVID-19 through close contact, health officials said.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said three of the cases concerned travelers who had gone together to northern Italy – a virus hotspot with more than 100 deaths.
Two other cases involved individuals who had come in contact with a family member who had the virus and the last was the airport screener.
"The step we're taking today is about preparation, not panic," said Mayor Eric Garcetti of the emergency declaration.
Officials said they expected the number of infections in California to rise in the coming days and urged families to brace for possible school closures and the cancelation of public events.
Statewide, more than 50 people are known to be infected, the most of any state.
In Washington state, officials in King County, which includes Seattle and where most of the deaths have taken place, said they were purchasing an 85-bed motel to house patients stricken with the virus.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-05--China’s coronavirus death toll surpasses 3000

People wearing protective face masks against the coronavirus in Shanghai , China , on March 4 , 2020 .
Quarantine and other travel restrictions across the country appear to be paying off , with official figures showing a drop in new cases .
China on Thursday reported 31 more deaths from the new coronavirus epidemic , taking the country 's overall toll past 3,000 , with the number of new infections slightly increasing .
At least 3,012 people have now died nationwide in the outbreak that first emerged in the central city of Wuhan , capital of Hubei province , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – 2,305 – and cases have been recorded in Wuhan , which has been under an unprecedented lockdown along with the rest of Hubei since late January .
But the quarantine and other travel restrictions across the country appear to be paying off , with official figures showing a generally steady drop in new cases in recent weeks .
The National Health Commission also reported 139 new cases on Thursday , slightly up from 119 the previous day , raising the overall number of confirmed infections to 80,409 .
Only five of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China is now worried about importing cases from abroad as the virus has since spread to some 80 countries and territories , infecting more than 10,000 and killing more than 200 abroad .

China on Thursday reported 31 more deaths from the new coronavirus epidemic, taking the country's overall toll past 3,000, with the number of new infections slightly increasing.
People wearing protective face masks against the coronavirus in Shanghai, China, on March 4, 2020. Quarantine and other travel restrictions across the country appear to be paying off, with official figures showing a drop in new cases.
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At least 3,012 people have now died nationwide in the outbreak that first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, in December.
Most of the deaths – 2,305 – and cases have been recorded in Wuhan, which has been under an unprecedented lockdown along with the rest of Hubei since late January.
But the quarantine and other travel restrictions across the country appear to be paying off, with official figures showing a generally steady drop in new cases in recent weeks.
The National Health Commission also reported 139 new cases on Thursday, slightly up from 119 the previous day, raising the overall number of confirmed infections to 80,409.
Only five of the new cases were outside Hubei.
But China is now worried about importing cases from abroad as the virus has since spread to some 80 countries and territories, infecting more than 10,000 and killing more than 200 abroad.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-05--Syria says it intercepted Israeli missile attack near Golan Heights

Damaged buildings in Syria 's Quneitra , near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights , pictured in March 2019 .
Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country , state media said early Thursday .
`` Our air defence confronted an Israeli missile attack in the southwest of Quneitra province '' in the south and also in a central region , SANA news agency said .
The short statement released after midnight did not provide details on the targets .
Quneitra province is near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in central Homs province and two areas in Quneitra province where pro-Damascus allies of Lebanese group Hezbollah are present .
But the Britain-based war monitor said there were no immediate reports of a death or any material damage .
Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 , Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria , mainly targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from Hezbollah .
It is rare for the Jewish state to claim such strikes directly .
SANA quoted a military source saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2230 GMT Wednesday ) `` our air defence observed Israeli warplane movement ... Several missiles were fired towards the central region .
`` The hostile missiles were immediately dealt with , and were successfully confronted , none was able to reach its target . ''
In mid-February , Israeli strikes on Damascus airport killed seven Syrian and Iranian fighters , according to the Observatory .

Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country, state media said early Thursday.
Damaged buildings in Syria's Quneitra, near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, pictured in March 2019.
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"Our air defence confronted an Israeli missile attack in the southwest of Quneitra province" in the south and also in a central region, SANA news agency said.
The short statement released after midnight did not provide details on the targets. Quneitra province is near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes targeted two military airports in central Homs province and two areas in Quneitra province where pro-Damascus allies of Lebanese group Hezbollah are present.
But the Britain-based war monitor said there were no immediate reports of a death or any material damage.
Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from Hezbollah.
It is rare for the Jewish state to claim such strikes directly.
SANA quoted a military source saying that at 12.30 am on Thursday (2230 GMT Wednesday) "our air defence observed Israeli warplane movement... Several missiles were fired towards the central region.
"The hostile missiles were immediately dealt with, and were successfully confronted, none was able to reach its target."
In mid-February, Israeli strikes on Damascus airport killed seven Syrian and Iranian fighters, according to the Observatory.
(AFP)
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