france24--2020-03-09--Harry and Meghan wave royal goodbye at Commonwealth Day ceremony

Britain 's Prince Harry and Meghan , Duchess of Sussex , leave after the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London , Britain March 9 , 2020 .
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan bowed out as senior royals on Monday , joining Queen Elizabeth II for a Commonwealth Day ceremony in London before setting off on their own .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were cheered as they joined other members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey in their final public engagement before stepping back from their roles on March 31 .
Meghan , wearing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harry as they briefly spoke with dignitaries , before the arrival of the queen .
They appeared to mouth `` hello '' to Harry 's brother William and his wife Kate as they took their seats , despite rumours of a rift between the siblings .
The couple , who unlike last year were not part of the monarch 's procession , watched on as singer Alexandra Burke performed and boxer Anthony Joshua gave a speech about the `` shared vision '' of the Commonwealth community .
They chatted with choirboys on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church , before heading into their car and disappearing from the royal limelight .
Harry and Meghan rocked the monarchy with their announcement in January that they wanted to break free from the constraints of royalty , and will no longer represent the monarch as they pursue a new , financially independent life based in Canada .
They complained about media intrusion -- a long-running issue for Harry , who watched how photographers pursued his mother Diana until her death in a Paris car crash in 1997 .
Their decision to leave prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Britain , but both Harry and Meghan have received a warm welcome in their final flurry of engagements .
The couple received a standing ovation as they took their seats at an evening of military band music at London 's Royal Albert Hall on Saturday .
And Meghan drew shrieks of delight from school children in Dagenham , east of London , when she made an unannounced visit on Friday .
`` She really is beautiful , innit ? ''
head boy Aker Okoye , 16 , told the audience after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek .
In a visit to mark International Women 's Day , Meghan paid tribute to the women whose strike at the nearby Ford Motor Plant in 1968 helped pave the way for the 1970 Equal Pay Act .
`` No matter what colour you are , no matter what gender you are , you have a voice and you certainly have the right to speak up for what is right , '' she told the children .
Harry is the youngest son of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prince Charles .
Despite stepping back from the royal frontline , the 35-year-old will remain sixth in line to the throne .
But from the end of this month , he and his wife will no longer use the `` Royal Highness '' style or use public funds , except for their security .
The couple had previously spoken about their struggle with the limelight since their fairytale wedding in May 2018 , and the birth of their first child Archie the following year .
At one of his final events last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prince expressed his pride at serving the monarch .
`` Once served , always serving ! ''
Harry , a former soldier who served two tours in Afghanistan , told the audience at the Endeavour Fund .
He will no longer perform any duties associated with his military appointments , but said that he would always support the armed services .
`` A lot of you tonight have told me you have my back , well I 'm also here to tell you , I 've always got yours , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep their personal patronages , and his military posts will not be filled for a year .
The queen and the couple have agreed to review the new arrangements in 12 months time , giving them a route back to royal life .
The monarch , 93 , told Harry during lunch last week that they would always be welcome , The Sun reported .

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan bowed out as senior royals on Monday, joining Queen Elizabeth II for a Commonwealth Day ceremony in London before setting off on their own.
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave after the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain March 9, 2020.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were cheered as they joined other members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey in their final public engagement before stepping back from their roles on March 31.
Meghan, wearing an emerald green dress and hat, joined Harry as they briefly spoke with dignitaries, before the arrival of the queen.
They appeared to mouth "hello" to Harry's brother William and his wife Kate as they took their seats, despite rumours of a rift between the siblings.
The couple, who unlike last year were not part of the monarch's procession, watched on as singer Alexandra Burke performed and boxer Anthony Joshua gave a speech about the "shared vision" of the Commonwealth community.
They chatted with choirboys on the way out of the famous central London church, before heading into their car and disappearing from the royal limelight.
Her Majesty - who attended in her role as Head of the Commonwealth - was supported by other members of the Royal Family. pic.twitter.com/ucwUIQbvxX — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 9, 2020
Anger and dismay
Harry and Meghan rocked the monarchy with their announcement in January that they wanted to break free from the constraints of royalty, and will no longer represent the monarch as they pursue a new, financially independent life based in Canada.
They complained about media intrusion -- a long-running issue for Harry, who watched how photographers pursued his mother Diana until her death in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Their decision to leave prompted anger and dismay among many royal fans in Britain, but both Harry and Meghan have received a warm welcome in their final flurry of engagements.
The couple received a standing ovation as they took their seats at an evening of military band music at London's Royal Albert Hall on Saturday.
And Meghan drew shrieks of delight from school children in Dagenham, east of London, when she made an unannounced visit on Friday.
"She really is beautiful, innit?" head boy Aker Okoye, 16, told the audience after the duchess asked him up on stage and he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
In a visit to mark International Women's Day, Meghan paid tribute to the women whose strike at the nearby Ford Motor Plant in 1968 helped pave the way for the 1970 Equal Pay Act.
"No matter what colour you are, no matter what gender you are, you have a voice and you certainly have the right to speak up for what is right," she told the children.
Always serving
Harry is the youngest son of the queen's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles. Despite stepping back from the royal frontline, the 35-year-old will remain sixth in line to the throne.
But from the end of this month, he and his wife will no longer use the "Royal Highness" style or use public funds, except for their security.
The couple had previously spoken about their struggle with the limelight since their fairytale wedding in May 2018, and the birth of their first child Archie the following year.
At one of his final events last week, with injured military veterans, the prince expressed his pride at serving the monarch.
"Once served, always serving!" Harry, a former soldier who served two tours in Afghanistan, told the audience at the Endeavour Fund.
He will no longer perform any duties associated with his military appointments, but said that he would always support the armed services.
"A lot of you tonight have told me you have my back, well I'm also here to tell you, I've always got yours," he said.
But both he and Meghan will keep their personal patronages, and his military posts will not be filled for a year.
The queen and the couple have agreed to review the new arrangements in 12 months time, giving them a route back to royal life.
The monarch, 93, told Harry during lunch last week that they would always be welcome, The Sun reported.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-09--Max von Sydow, legendary star of 'The Exorcist' and 'The Seventh Seal', dies at 90

Max von Sydow , the self-described “ shy boy ” -turned-actor known to art house audiences through his work with Swedish director Ingmar Bergman and later to moviegoers everywhere when he played the priest in the horror classic “ The Exorcist , ” has died .
He was 90 .
His agent Jean Diamond said Monday the actor , who was born in Sweden but became a French citizen in 2002 , died Sunday From his 1949 screen debut in the Swedish film `` Only a Mother , '' von Sydow starred in close to 200 film and TV productions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He received two Academy Award nominations- for best actor in 1988 for his gripping portrayal of an impoverished farmer in `` Pelle the Conqueror , ” and best supporting actor in 2012 for his role as a mute in “ Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
” More recently , he received an Emmy nomination for his work as the Three-Eyed Raven in HBO ’ s “ Game of Thrones.
” He was a mainstay in nearly a dozen classic , angst-ridden films by Bergman , including “ Wild Strawberries , ” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Seventh Seal , '' in which he was featured in one of Bergman ’ s most memorable scenes as the medieval knight who plays a game of chess against the grim reaper .
He made his Hollywood debut as Jesus in the 1965 film `` The Greatest Story Ever Told , '' but gained widespread international fame as the devil-evicting priest in William Friedkin 's controversial 1973 film `` The Exorcist . ''
Tall and lanky , with sullen blue eyes , a narrow face , pale complexion and a deep and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often typecast in Hollywood as the sophisticated villain .
“ What I as an actor look for is a variety of parts .
It is very boring to be stuck in more or less one type of character , ” he once said in an interview .
In 1980 , von Sydow starred as the evil emperor Ming the Merciless in `` Flash Gordon . ''
He turned down the role as the sinister Dr. No in the first James Bond film with the same name , but later appeared as the cat-stroking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Never Say Never Again , '' starring Sean Connery as Bond .
He also played a tormented painter in Woody Allen 's `` Hannah and Her Sisters '' and portrayed the devil in `` Needful Things , '' a 1991 horror film based on a novel by Stephen King .
In 2015 , he appeared briefly in the blockbuster “ Star Wars : The Force Awakens.
” While his characters were often sinister , tormented or evil , the soft-spoken von Sydow said he became an actor to overcome his own shyness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I was a kid , '' he said in an Associated Press interview .
`` When I started acting in an amateur group in high school , although I was n't aware of it at the time , I suddenly got a tool in my hand that was wonderful .
I was allowed to express all kinds of strange things that I never dared to express before .
Now I could do it with the character as a shield , as a defense , and as an excuse .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profession as some kind of a mental therapy . ''
Von Sydow was born April 10 , 1929 , into a family of academics in the southern Swedish city of Lund .
He was baptized Carl Adolf von Sydow , but later changed his first name to Max , saying his given name was “ not a good name ” after World War II .
Although his family was not interested in theater , he said his father was a master of telling adventure stories that fueled his imagination as a child .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor and formed a theater society with his friends after seeing his first play , William Shakespeare ’ s ” A Midsummer Night ’ s Dream , ” at age 14 .
He studied at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm and acted in small municipality theaters in Sweden for eight years - an experience he later described as crucial for his career .
“ I ’ m very grateful to the schooling I had in Sweden because in order to learn acting you have to work , work , work , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owe very much to those years.
” It was during this period he first met Bergman .
In addition to “ The Seventh Seal , ” he would star in 10 other Bergman films , including `` The Magician , '' `` The Virgin Spring '' and `` Wild Strawberries , '' and develop a close relationship with Sweden 's most famous moviemaker .
`` I ca n't say exactly what influence he 's had on me , but it must be enormous , '' he said of Bergman .
`` We did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much younger .
We were free - he had n't yet become world famous and I was just a regular stage actor with a few film roles to my credit .
We worked hard and had a lot of fun . ''
Von Sydow married Swedish actress Christina Olin in 1951 and had two sons , Clas and Henrik .
The couple later divorced and he remarried French filmmaker Catherine Brelet in 1997 with whom he had two more sons , Yvan and Cedric .

Max von Sydow, the self-described “shy boy”-turned-actor known to art house audiences through his work with Swedish director Ingmar Bergman and later to moviegoers everywhere when he played the priest in the horror classic “The Exorcist,” has died. He was 90.
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His agent Jean Diamond said Monday the actor, who was born in Sweden but became a French citizen in 2002, died Sunday
From his 1949 screen debut in the Swedish film "Only a Mother," von Sydow starred in close to 200 film and TV productions, remaining active well into his 80s. He received two Academy Award nominations- for best actor in 1988 for his gripping portrayal of an impoverished farmer in "Pelle the Conqueror,” and best supporting actor in 2012 for his role as a mute in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.” More recently, he received an Emmy nomination for his work as the Three-Eyed Raven in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”
He was a mainstay in nearly a dozen classic, angst-ridden films by Bergman, including “Wild Strawberries,” “Shame” and the 1957 release "The Seventh Seal," in which he was featured in one of Bergman’s most memorable scenes as the medieval knight who plays a game of chess against the grim reaper.
He made his Hollywood debut as Jesus in the 1965 film "The Greatest Story Ever Told," but gained widespread international fame as the devil-evicting priest in William Friedkin's controversial 1973 film "The Exorcist." Tall and lanky, with sullen blue eyes, a narrow face, pale complexion and a deep and accented speaking voice, von Sydow was often typecast in Hollywood as the sophisticated villain.
“What I as an actor look for is a variety of parts. It is very boring to be stuck in more or less one type of character,” he once said in an interview.
In 1980, von Sydow starred as the evil emperor Ming the Merciless in "Flash Gordon." He turned down the role as the sinister Dr. No in the first James Bond film with the same name, but later appeared as the cat-stroking villain Ernst Blofeld in the 1983 "Never Say Never Again," starring Sean Connery as Bond.
He also played a tormented painter in Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters" and portrayed the devil in "Needful Things," a 1991 horror film based on a novel by Stephen King. In 2015, he appeared briefly in the blockbuster “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
While his characters were often sinister, tormented or evil, the soft-spoken von Sydow said he became an actor to overcome his own shyness.
"I was a very shy boy when I was a kid," he said in an Associated Press interview. "When I started acting in an amateur group in high school, although I wasn't aware of it at the time, I suddenly got a tool in my hand that was wonderful. I was allowed to express all kinds of strange things that I never dared to express before. Now I could do it with the character as a shield, as a defense, and as an excuse.
"I think that for many years I used my profession as some kind of a mental therapy."
Von Sydow was born April 10, 1929, into a family of academics in the southern Swedish city of Lund. He was baptized Carl Adolf von Sydow, but later changed his first name to Max, saying his given name was “not a good name” after World War II.
Although his family was not interested in theater, he said his father was a master of telling adventure stories that fueled his imagination as a child. He decided he wanted to be an actor and formed a theater society with his friends after seeing his first play, William Shakespeare’s ”A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at age 14.
He studied at the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm and acted in small municipality theaters in Sweden for eight years - an experience he later described as crucial for his career.
“I’m very grateful to the schooling I had in Sweden because in order to learn acting you have to work, work, work,” he said. “I think I owe very much to those years.”
It was during this period he first met Bergman. In addition to “The Seventh Seal,” he would star in 10 other Bergman films, including "The Magician," "The Virgin Spring" and "Wild Strawberries," and develop a close relationship with Sweden's most famous moviemaker.
"I can't say exactly what influence he's had on me, but it must be enormous," he said of Bergman. "We did most of that work when we were much younger. We were free - he hadn't yet become world famous and I was just a regular stage actor with a few film roles to my credit. We worked hard and had a lot of fun."
Von Sydow married Swedish actress Christina Olin in 1951 and had two sons, Clas and Henrik. The couple later divorced and he remarried French filmmaker Catherine Brelet in 1997 with whom he had two more sons, Yvan and Cedric.
(AP)
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france24--2020-03-09--Louvre restricts entry, French concerts cancelled over coronavirus fears

Visitors queue outside the Pyramid , the main entrance to the Louvre museum , on March 4 , 2020 .
The Louvre said Monday it was restricting entry to the world 's most visited museum , as concerts were cancelled across France because of the new coronavirus .
France is one of the European countries hit hardest by the virus , having recorded more than 1000 cases and 21 deaths .
Only people who have already reserved a ticket online , or those who normally benefit from free entry , will be allowed into the Paris landmark , the Louvre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast museum was forced to close for two days last week when staff refused to work over health fears .
Pop concerts across the country were postponed or hung in the balance after the government banned public gatherings of more than 1,000 people late Sunday .
Madonna 's Paris concerts , as part of her `` Madame X '' tour , on Tuesday and Wednesday were also cancelled , her promoters announced Monday .
The concerts have been tentatively rescheduled for March 10 and 11 .
The Paris Philharmonie -- the biggest classic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was cancelling all events in its main 2,400-seat auditorium until further notice , starting with Monday 's concert by Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis .
Paris Saint-Germain was ordered to play Wednesday 's home Champions League tie against German club Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors .
Theatre and opera managers in the city were meeting Monday to decide how to react to the ban , with several venues including the Paris Opera well above the 1,000-place limit .
In Lyon , France 's third largest city , concerts by Simple Minds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been postponed .
`` Up to now we have been putting back concerts to June , '' said Thierry Teodori , head of the 17,000-capacity Halle Tony Garnier .
`` But now we are having to postpone concerts for a year because there are no slots left for the autumn or next winter , '' he told AFP .
Series Mania , one of Europe 's biggest series festivals which is due to take place in the northern city of Lille later this month , said it was trying to ride out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for patience , tweeting , `` We are looking at solutions that respect the government order . ''
The Cannes film festival -- the world 's biggest -- has been bullish about weathering the storm .
It plans to announce its line-up for the enormous event in May as usual next month .
But the Louvre , which also attracts visitors from all over the world , was more cautious .
`` Faced with Covid-19 , the museum has decided to regulate entry , '' the museum said in a statement , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy a ticket .
More than 9.6 million people visited the Louvre last year , most of them from abroad , with American and Chinese tourists the biggest groups .
Having taken a huge financial hit during a record-breaking French transport strike which left Paris theatres empty at the turn of the year , the virus could be catastrophic for the entertainment industry .
`` I do n't know if ( cancelling large shows ) will kill the virus ... but for the performing arts , the virus could be fatal blow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the French record label Tot ou tard .

The Louvre said Monday it was restricting entry to the world's most visited museum, as concerts were cancelled across France because of the new coronavirus. France is one of the European countries hit hardest by the virus, having recorded more than 1000 cases and 21 deaths.
Visitors queue outside the Pyramid, the main entrance to the Louvre museum, on March 4, 2020.
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Only people who have already reserved a ticket online, or those who normally benefit from free entry, will be allowed into the Paris landmark, the Louvre said.
The restriction comes after the vast museum was forced to close for two days last week when staff refused to work over health fears.
Pop concerts across the country were postponed or hung in the balance after the government banned public gatherings of more than 1,000 people late Sunday.
Madonna's Paris concerts, as part of her "Madame X" tour, on Tuesday and Wednesday were also cancelled, her promoters announced Monday. The concerts have been tentatively rescheduled for March 10 and 11.
>> Read more: France's culture minister has coronavirus
The Paris Philharmonie -- the biggest classic music venue in the French capital -- said it was cancelling all events in its main 2,400-seat auditorium until further notice, starting with Monday's concert by Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis.
Paris Saint-Germain was ordered to play Wednesday's home Champions League tie against German club Borussia Dortmund behind closed doors.
Theatre and opera managers in the city were meeting Monday to decide how to react to the ban, with several venues including the Paris Opera well above the 1,000-place limit.
'Fatal blow'
In Lyon, France's third largest city, concerts by Simple Minds and a string of French rappers have already been postponed.
"Up to now we have been putting back concerts to June," said Thierry Teodori, head of the 17,000-capacity Halle Tony Garnier.
"But now we are having to postpone concerts for a year because there are no slots left for the autumn or next winter," he told AFP.
Series Mania, one of Europe's biggest series festivals which is due to take place in the northern city of Lille later this month, said it was trying to ride out the crisis.
Its director Laurence Herszberg appealed for patience, tweeting, "We are looking at solutions that respect the government order."
The Cannes film festival -- the world's biggest -- has been bullish about weathering the storm.
It plans to announce its line-up for the enormous event in May as usual next month.
But the Louvre, which also attracts visitors from all over the world, was more cautious.
"Faced with Covid-19, the museum has decided to regulate entry," the museum said in a statement, adding visitors can no longer turn up and buy a ticket.
More than 9.6 million people visited the Louvre last year, most of them from abroad, with American and Chinese tourists the biggest groups.
Having taken a huge financial hit during a record-breaking French transport strike which left Paris theatres empty at the turn of the year, the virus could be catastrophic for the entertainment industry.
"I don't know if (cancelling large shows) will kill the virus... but for the performing arts, the virus could be fatal blow," said Vincent Frerebeau, the founder of the French record label Tot ou tard.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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france24--2020-03-09--Video: The daily life of migrants trapped at the Turkey-Greece border

In this video , two Iranian migrants named Reza and Muhamad explain to our team in English and Persian what it ’ s like to live in the makeshift camp in Pazarkule .
At the beginning , they hold up tear gas canisters used by Greek border guards to push back those trying to cross .
These screengrabs were taken from a video showing people carrying three injured men .
The two images on the right show the same man .
A Turkish journalist took these photos in Pazarkule and posted them on Instagram .
Originally from Afghanistan , Muhittin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three days in Pazarkule trying to cross the border before giving up and returning to Istanbul where he works as a waiter in a shisha bar.Greek authorities announced on March 5 that they had prevented 35,000 people from entering the territory in just five days .
Reports by major media outlets covering the border as well as videos filmed by the migrants themselves show Greek border guards using large amounts of tear gas to push back migrants trying to get through border fences.All of the migrants who spoke to our team said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out by Greek border guards .
The violence is what made Muhittin decide to give up and return to Istanbul.Their stories were corroborated by several journalists who reported from Pazarkule .
Belal Khaled , a journalist with Turkish television channel TRT , took photos of several migrants who had been sent back to Turkey wearing just their underwear .
Some of them had marks across their backs where they had been hit.Other photos and videos filmed by migrants that showed similar injuries also circulated on social media.French news agency France Agence Presse ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cellphones had accumulated next to the entrance of the police station in Tychero , which is located 10 kilometres from Ispala ( 80 kilometres to the south of Pazarkule ) .
On the other side of the border , there were migrants walking barefoot who said that Greek police had taken their shoes .
AFP journalists also witnessed Greek soldiers who were wearing masks take migrants away in military vehicles or in vans without licence plates.Greece and Turkey have been carrying out a fierce “ image war ” about what is happening at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other of carrying out abuses and sharing false information.Turkey has accused Greek border guards of killing migrants , including one who was shot during clashes at the border .
Greece denies this and has called it “ fake news ” .On the other hand , Greek authorities have accused Turkish forces of setting off smoke bombs and tear gas on the Greek side of the border and giving the migrants wire cutters to cut the fences erected to keep them out.Several migrants told our team that they had seen people with gunshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure how they had sustained these injuries .
They also showed us videos showing the injured people , though we were not able to establish the nature of their injuries.We haven ’ t seen any photos of bullets or plastic pellets that would help confirm these claims.However , the use of tear gas has been widely documented .
Investigative site Bellingcat reported that one of the kinds of munitions found at the site can be lethal if fired into a crowd at close range.Journalists with Bellingcat examined the type of tear gas canister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expended munitions near the areas where migrants are trying to enter Greece .
Markings on these projectiles indicate they are long range tear-gas rounds made by Defence Technology – Federal Laboratories .
These powerful , pointed projectiles can be potentially lethal to anyone hit directly .
Amnesty International identified similar munitions resulting in the deaths of scores of protesters in Iraq .

TURKEY/GREECE
Screengrabs of a video and photos taken in Pazarkule on the border between Greece and Turkey.
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Thousands of migrants, most of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, have rushed to the border separating Turkey and Greece after the Turkish government announced on February 28 that it would no longer stop migrants from crossing into Europe. Our team spoke to migrants trapped at the border who describe difficult living conditions and violent Greek border guards.
Some of the migrants trapped at the border crossing in Pazarkule have been posting on social media about their attempts to cross the River Meriç, which separates Greece and Turkey. Their videos show young men and families with children living in rough conditions in nearby fields. Several migrants who tried to cross the border at this location told our journalists that many people were sleeping under little more than plastic tarps and keeping warm by small campfires.
Our team put together this compilation of videos filmed by migrants living near the Pazarkule border post. Most of these videos were posted on TikTok.
"We burn wood every night to keep warm”
Sasan (not his real name) is a 32-year-old man from Iran who has been living in Turkey for the past four years. He was studying for a masters in the town of Kayseri, which is about 1,000 kilometres from Pazarkule, when he decided to try to make the journey to Europe. He wanted to remain anonymous for fear that speaking to the media could jeopardize his immigration status in Turkey.
When the Turkish government announced that they would open the borders, I didn’t hesitate. I was living in Kayseri with family and a few friends. A group of 17 of us chartered a dolmus [Editor’s note: a minibus that serves as a group taxi] for 250 Turkish pounds per person (equivalent to around €36). We brought tents with us, and we gather wood to make small fires every night. The Turkish government does distribute food, but it isn’t enough, and you have to queue for hours to get anything, so we make trips into neighboring towns and villages to get supplies.
A Syrian migrant named Mahmoud made this video to show our team where he sleeps every night.
"The babies cry all the time”
Originally from Afghanistan, Muhittin is 21 years old. He spent three days in Pazarkule trying to cross the border before giving up and returning to Istanbul where he works as a waiter in a shisha bar.
I came to Turkey alone after I finished high school. My dream is to reach Europe, ideally France or Germany. When I got to Pazarkule, I didn’t have anything, not even a tent, so I slept on the ground. I protected myself as best as I could with a plastic tarp but I was so cold at night that I couldn’t sleep. Add to that all the babies who wouldn’t stop crying. It was exhausting. At that time, Turkish soldiers were handing out food twice a day but it wasn’t much. A pack of biscuits and a bottle of water per person and there was never enough for everyone.
Greek authorities announced on March 5 that they had prevented 35,000 people from entering the territory in just five days. Reports by major media outlets covering the border as well as videos filmed by the migrants themselves show Greek border guards using large amounts of tear gas to push back migrants trying to get through border fences.
"Greek police arrested and strip-searched an Afghan family”
All of the migrants who spoke to our team said that they had experienced or witnessed violence carried out by Greek border guards. The violence is what made Muhittin decide to give up and return to Istanbul.
I tried to cross the river by boat on two separate occasions. But when we got to the other side, we saw about 30 police officers waiting for us. I was in a group with babies so we decided to turn back. I was also thinking about the stories my friends had told me about being arrested after having made the crossing. I was especially thinking about one Afghan family that I know. They sold everything they owned in Istanbul. They were arrested and strip-searched by Greek police. They told me that the police took the €7,000 that they had in cash as well as the men’s clothes and their cellphones. The police eventually sent them back to Turkey, gave them back €300 and told them not to come back. They also returned to Istanbul, but they have nothing left and had to sleep in the street.
In this video, two Iranian migrants named Reza and Muhamad explain to our team in English and Persian what it’s like to live in the makeshift camp in Pazarkule. At the beginning, they hold up tear gas canisters used by Greek border guards to push back those trying to cross.
Their stories were corroborated by several journalists who reported from Pazarkule. Belal Khaled, a journalist with Turkish television channel TRT, took photos of several migrants who had been sent back to Turkey wearing just their underwear. Some of them had marks across their backs where they had been hit.
Greek security forces force the refugees who crossed the border to return naked into Turkish territory
Photo : Belal Khaled pic.twitter.com/NwkhEzTYs6 Belal Khaled (@BelalKhaled) March 6, 2020
Other photos and videos filmed by migrants that showed similar injuries also circulated on social media.
İşkence yapılıp çıplak bırakılarak insanlık onuru incitiliyor.
Üst başlarını soyup iç çamaşırlarıyla geri yollayan yunan polisi taciz ateşleriyle sınır hattındaki göçmenleri tehdit ediyor...#HumanRightsRefugee pic.twitter.com/qINH43CSMI leons nasa (@leonsnasa) March 4, 2020
French news agency France Agence Presse (AFP) reported that muddy shoes and cellphones had accumulated next to the entrance of the police station in Tychero, which is located 10 kilometres from Ispala (80 kilometres to the south of Pazarkule). On the other side of the border, there were migrants walking barefoot who said that Greek police had taken their shoes. AFP journalists also witnessed Greek soldiers who were wearing masks take migrants away in military vehicles or in vans without licence plates.
A "image war” between Athens and Ankara
Greece and Turkey have been carrying out a fierce “image war” about what is happening at the border, with both sides accusing the other of carrying out abuses and sharing false information.
Turkey has accused Greek border guards of killing migrants, including one who was shot during clashes at the border. Greece denies this and has called it “fake news”.
On the other hand, Greek authorities have accused Turkish forces of setting off smoke bombs and tear gas on the Greek side of the border and giving the migrants wire cutters to cut the fences erected to keep them out.
Several migrants told our team that they had seen people with gunshot wounds, though they weren’t sure how they had sustained these injuries. They also showed us videos showing the injured people, though we were not able to establish the nature of their injuries.
These screengrabs were taken from a video showing people carrying three injured men. The two images on the right show the same man.
We haven’t seen any photos of bullets or plastic pellets that would help confirm these claims.
However, the use of tear gas has been widely documented. Investigative site Bellingcat reported that one of the kinds of munitions found at the site can be lethal if fired into a crowd at close range.
A Turkish journalist took these photos in Pazarkule and posted them on Instagram.
Journalists with Bellingcat examined the type of tear gas canister on the picture above, which shows expended munitions near the areas where migrants are trying to enter Greece. Markings on these projectiles indicate they are long range tear-gas rounds made by Defence Technology – Federal Laboratories. These powerful, pointed projectiles can be potentially lethal to anyone hit directly. Amnesty International identified similar munitions resulting in the deaths of scores of protesters in Iraq.
"I experienced a lot of racism in Turkey”
All of the migrants who spoke to our team said that they were leaving Turkey for Europe in hopes of a better life, better work opportunities in particular. Muhittin says Afghan migrants are often given pitiful salaries in Turkey, which he says is due to racism.
Turkey won’t give us papers in order to work here legally. Some Afghans who I know have been living and working here for ten years and still don’t have proper papers. We are discriminated against in terms of salaries as well. Afghans who work in factories or on construction sites are often expected to work 13 or 14 hours a day for a monthly salary of €180. The minimum for Turkish workers is €350 and their days aren’t longer than nine or ten hours.
Sasan said there were other reasons that he wanted to leave.
I’ve experienced a lot of racism here. I am staying in Pazarkule and trying to persist in spite of the conditions because if we go back to Turkey, that will be even harder with the new political climate. Rights are being eroded and interviews with immigration officials are becoming more and more difficult. My only choice is to move on to Europe. The Turks don’t want us and I am an Iranian political refugee; I’d risk prison if I return to my country.
READ ON THE OBSERVERS >> Wave of violence breaks out against Syrians in Turkey


france24--2020-03-09--Afghan rivals hold duelling inaugurations amid attack on political rally

Afghanistan 's leadership rivals Ashraf Ghani ( left ) and Abdullah Abdullah ( right ) side by side at a NATO Summit in Warsaw , Poland July 8 , 2016 .
President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday as opposition leader , while his former electoral opponent Abdullah Abdullah held a rival inauguration .
Ghani 's ceremony was disrupted by the sound of two rockets hitting the edge of the compound of the presidential palace compound in the capital Kabul , Reuters witnesses said .
The Islamic State ( IS ) group claimed responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders were preparing to hold parallel presidential inaugurations on Monday , after the pair failed to reach a deal in the face of a unified and resurgent Taliban .
The spat has raised fears for Afghanistan 's fragile democracy as the US prepares to leave the country following an agreement with the insurgents last month , with President Donald Trump committed to ending America 's longest war .
As hundreds of people had assembled at two venues inside the presidential palace complex to watch the rival swearing-in ceremonies , two blasts were heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caliphate soldiers targeted the inauguration of the tyrant Ashraf Ghani '' , firing 10 rockets near the presidential palace in Kabul , the IS group subsequently said in a statement released via its usual social media channels .
`` I have no bulletproof vest on , only my shirt , I will stay even if I have to sacrifice my head , '' Ghani told the remaining crowd , as sirens sounded overhead .
Polls were held in September but incumbent Ashraf Ghani was only declared to have won a second term in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud , sparking a furious response by former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah , who vowed to form his own parallel government .
Last-minute talks reportedly extended late into the night Sunday as the two sides sought to broker an agreement .
But by Monday morning , there was little indication a solution had been found , with Ghani 's spokesman only announcing that his inauguration would be delayed by several hours .
Abdullah 's spokesman Faraidoon Khwazoon told AFP the ceremony would go ahead as planned but cautioned : `` Things can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the bickering posed a risk to the US withdrawal deal , which requires the Taliban to hold talks with Kabul .
Widening divisions among Afghan politicians would leave the insurgents with the upper hand in those negotiations .
Their game of thrones has left many Afghans despairing for their country 's future , worried that Kabul 's politicians will be no match for the Taliban in any peace talks .
`` It is impossible to have two presidents in one country , '' said Ahmad Jawed , 22 , who urged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside and only think of their country instead of fighting for power '' .
He told AFP that `` instead of holding oath-taking ceremonies they should talk to each other to find a solution '' .
Afghans have shown little enthusiasm for Abdullah , Ghani or the election process in general .
Most of them abstained in last year 's lacklustre poll that saw candidates pitch few ideas or policies .
Unemployment is high , and even university graduates like Jawed are struggling to find work , while violence has continued unabated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the US-Taliban deal .
In the deadliest attack to hit Afghanistan in weeks , Islamic State group gunmen shot dead 32 people and wounded dozens of others at a Friday rally in Kabul commemorating a politician from the Hazara ethnic group .
The Taliban have also ramped up attacks on Afghan forces and civilians .
The ceremonies will take place under heightened security , with road closures and multiple checkpoints set up in Kabul hours before the two men were due to be sworn in .
Dozens of supporters waited at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential palace , where both men were expected to hold their ceremonies .
Experts say the infighting is likely to cost the government , which is already under pressure after being shut out of the Doha negotiations .
According to the agreement signed in Qatar , foreign troops will withdraw from Afghanistan in 14 months , in return for various security commitments from the Taliban and a pledge to hold talks with Kabul .
Political analyst Atta Noori said the squabbling would `` gravely affect the government 's position in the upcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only way ( forward ) if they want to win on the negotiating table , '' he told AFP .
The prolonged political crisis has brought back memories of the angrily contested 2014 election , which also saw Ghani declared the winner .
That time , Abdullah 's supporters held violent demonstrations before the US finally intervened to broker an awkward deal between the two rivals , with Ghani as the president and Abdullah as the chief executive .
The renewed bickering has added to the frustrations of ordinary Afghans .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never act on their promises , '' Kabul resident Noman Formuli said .
`` They had promised to bring security , they failed .
They promised jobs for the country , they failed , '' the 24-year-old told AFP .
`` We are tired of seeing them '' .

President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday as opposition leader, while his former electoral opponent Abdullah Abdullah held a rival inauguration. Ghani's ceremony was disrupted by the sound of two rockets hitting the edge of the compound of the presidential palace compound in the capital Kabul, Reuters witnesses said. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Afghanistan's leadership rivals Ashraf Ghani (left) and Abdullah Abdullah (right) side by side at a NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland July 8, 2016.
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Afghanistan's two rival leaders were preparing to hold parallel presidential inaugurations on Monday, after the pair failed to reach a deal in the face of a unified and resurgent Taliban.
The spat has raised fears for Afghanistan's fragile democracy as the US prepares to leave the country following an agreement with the insurgents last month, with President Donald Trump committed to ending America's longest war.
As hundreds of people had assembled at two venues inside the presidential palace complex to watch the rival swearing-in ceremonies, two blasts were heard, prompting some to flee. "Caliphate soldiers targeted the inauguration of the tyrant Ashraf Ghani", firing 10 rockets near the presidential palace in Kabul, the IS group subsequently said in a statement released via its usual social media channels.
"I have no bulletproof vest on, only my shirt, I will stay even if I have to sacrifice my head," Ghani told the remaining crowd, as sirens sounded overhead.
Polls were held in September but incumbent Ashraf Ghani was only declared to have won a second term in February after repeated delays and accusations of voter fraud, sparking a furious response by former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, who vowed to form his own parallel government.
Last-minute talks reportedly extended late into the night Sunday as the two sides sought to broker an agreement.
But by Monday morning, there was little indication a solution had been found, with Ghani's spokesman only announcing that his inauguration would be delayed by several hours.
Abdullah's spokesman Faraidoon Khwazoon told AFP the ceremony would go ahead as planned but cautioned: "Things can change".
Washington had earlier warned that the bickering posed a risk to the US withdrawal deal, which requires the Taliban to hold talks with Kabul.
Widening divisions among Afghan politicians would leave the insurgents with the upper hand in those negotiations.
Fight for power
Their game of thrones has left many Afghans despairing for their country's future, worried that Kabul's politicians will be no match for the Taliban in any peace talks.
"It is impossible to have two presidents in one country," said Ahmad Jawed, 22, who urged the men "to put their personal interests aside and only think of their country instead of fighting for power".
He told AFP that "instead of holding oath-taking ceremonies they should talk to each other to find a solution".
Afghans have shown little enthusiasm for Abdullah, Ghani or the election process in general. Most of them abstained in last year's lacklustre poll that saw candidates pitch few ideas or policies.
Unemployment is high, and even university graduates like Jawed are struggling to find work, while violence has continued unabated, except for during a week-long partial truce ahead of the US-Taliban deal.
In the deadliest attack to hit Afghanistan in weeks, Islamic State group gunmen shot dead 32 people and wounded dozens of others at a Friday rally in Kabul commemorating a politician from the Hazara ethnic group.
The Taliban have also ramped up attacks on Afghan forces and civilians.
Heightened security
The ceremonies will take place under heightened security, with road closures and multiple checkpoints set up in Kabul hours before the two men were due to be sworn in.
Dozens of supporters waited at two separate venues inside the grounds of the presidential palace, where both men were expected to hold their ceremonies.
Experts say the infighting is likely to cost the government, which is already under pressure after being shut out of the Doha negotiations.
According to the agreement signed in Qatar, foreign troops will withdraw from Afghanistan in 14 months, in return for various security commitments from the Taliban and a pledge to hold talks with Kabul.
Political analyst Atta Noori said the squabbling would "gravely affect the government's position in the upcoming intra-Afghan talks".
"Unity is the only way (forward) if they want to win on the negotiating table," he told AFP.
The prolonged political crisis has brought back memories of the angrily contested 2014 election, which also saw Ghani declared the winner.
That time, Abdullah's supporters held violent demonstrations before the US finally intervened to broker an awkward deal between the two rivals, with Ghani as the president and Abdullah as the chief executive.
The renewed bickering has added to the frustrations of ordinary Afghans.
"They make promises during the campaign but never act on their promises," Kabul resident Noman Formuli said.
"They had promised to bring security, they failed. They promised jobs for the country, they failed," the 24-year-old told AFP.
"We are tired of seeing them".
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-09--France-Ireland Six Nations clash postponed due to coronavirus fears

France during its Six Nations game against Scotland in , Edinburgh , Britain , on March 8 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ between France and Ireland was postponed Monday in a move aimed at preventing the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ sports minister Roxana Maracineanu said the decision was taken after discussions with tournament organizers and @ @ @ @ @ The match was due to take place on Saturday at the Stade de France .
@ @ @ @ @ game has yet to be announced .
Earlier , Paris police said the Champions League @ @ @ @ @ Borussia Dortmund will be played without fans .
Maracineanu said it was not possible to @ @ @ @ @ of the “ crowded ” calendar .
France has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ 1,200 cases of the virus as of Monday , the second largest number of cases @ @ @ @ @ So far , 21 people in France have died .
Protests , exams and public @ @ @ @ @ the ban on large gatherings .

The Six Nations rugby match between France and Ireland was postponed Monday in a move aimed at preventing the coronavirus from further spreading.
France during its Six Nations game against Scotland in, Edinburgh, Britain, on March 8, 2020.
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French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu said the decision was taken after discussions with tournament organizers and the French rugby federation.
The match was due to take place on Saturday at the Stade de France. A new date for the game has yet to be announced.
Earlier, Paris police said the Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund will be played without fans. Maracineanu said it was not possible to postpone the soccer match because of the “crowded” calendar.
France has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people. The country reported 1,200 cases of the virus as of Monday, the second largest number of cases in Europe after Italy.
So far, 21 people in France have died. Protests, exams and public transport could be exempt from the ban on large gatherings.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-03-09--Marie Curie 'wasn't always very nice', says director of biopic ‘Radioactive’

The Marie Curie biopic 'Radioactive ' will be released in Europe later this month .
Marie Curie `` was n't always very nice '' , said Marjane Satrapi of the hero of her new film , `` Radioactive '' .
The most famous woman scientist ever had to fight her corner in what was -- and still is -- a man 's world , said Satrapi , best known as the maker of the Oscar-nominated animated classic , `` Persepolis '' .
`` How are you supposed to become Marie Curie if you are cute , gentle and terribly nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` When you were as focused as Curie was , you do n't have the time to be touchy feely ... and people accept that [ single-mindedness ] much less from a woman , '' she insisted .
Satrapi , 50 , was forever destined to make a film about the Polish-born physicist and chemist , the first woman to win the Nobel Prize , and the only person ever to have won it in different fields .
`` She was a huge figure for me from my childhood because she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be , '' Satrapi told AFP in her Paris studio .
She was brought up to hero worship Curie and the French feminist Simone de Beauvoir , she added .
However researching the film , Satrapi discovered that while Curie -- played by the British `` Gone Girl '' star Rosamund Pike -- `` was a woman of great integrity ... she was n't always very nice . ''
She could n't afford to be given the enormous obstacles the woman who discovered both radium and polonium had to overcome , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logic , they made out that women were too emotional to study science , that they are all hormones and feelings .
But through her heroic and action-packed life , `` Curie became the living example that it was completely possible -- which is very important , '' the director insisted .
`` I 'm for feminism by actions rather than words , '' Satrapi added .
`` It 's no good to have slogans if there is not action behind them .
I prefer women who do things -- it is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men 's equals . ''
Curie was `` not only the equal , but most of the time was better '' than the men in her field , Satrapi insisted .
`` Radioactive '' -- which is released across much of Europe later his month -- tells her remarkable story through the research Curie and her husband Pierre ( played by English actor Sam Riley ) carried out on radioactivity , discoveries that would lead to breakthroughs in medicine but also to the atomic bomb .
Satrapi , who is now working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Curie was a powerful symbol at a time when women have found their voice again with the # MeToo movement .
`` Things are going to change but we can not sweep away 5,000 years of patriarchy in two days , '' said the illustrator-turned-director .
# MeToo has become 'too much' '' It 's great that women are speaking up ( but ) we kept our mouths shut for so long that it has become a bit too much ... We have to find a balance , '' Satrapi said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , particularly about how women are represented on the screen .
`` Half of the Earth 's population are women , so it 's normal that half of stories should be about us -- yet that is not the case , '' she argued .
`` And when we see women it is always in relation to a man : as someone 's wife or their mother , '' she added .
That said , Satrapi noted she has no intention of spending the rest of her career making films `` about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women '' who have been under-appreciated .
`` I 've made films about men too ...
It 's Curie who interested me , '' she said .

Marie Curie "wasn't always very nice", said Marjane Satrapi of the hero of her new film, "Radioactive".
The Marie Curie biopic 'Radioactive' will be released in Europe later this month.
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The most famous woman scientist ever had to fight her corner in what was -- and still is -- a man's world, said Satrapi, best known as the maker of the Oscar-nominated animated classic, "Persepolis".
"How are you supposed to become Marie Curie if you are cute, gentle and terribly nice?" the acclaimed Iranian-born graphic novelist said.
"When you were as focused as Curie was, you don't have the time to be touchy feely... and people accept that [single-mindedness] much less from a woman," she insisted.
Satrapi, 50, was forever destined to make a film about the Polish-born physicist and chemist, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the only person ever to have won it in different fields.
"She was a huge figure for me from my childhood because she was the woman my mother wanted me to be," Satrapi told AFP in her Paris studio.
She was brought up to hero worship Curie and the French feminist Simone de Beauvoir, she added.
However researching the film, Satrapi discovered that while Curie -- played by the British "Gone Girl" star Rosamund Pike -- "was a woman of great integrity... she wasn't always very nice."
She couldn't afford to be given the enormous obstacles the woman who discovered both radium and polonium had to overcome, said Satrapi.
Feminism of 'actions not words'
"Since science depends on logic, they made out that women were too emotional to study science, that they are all hormones and feelings.
But through her heroic and action-packed life, "Curie became the living example that it was completely possible -- which is very important," the director insisted.
"I'm for feminism by actions rather than words," Satrapi added. "It's no good to have slogans if there is not action behind them. I prefer women who do things -- it is only by our actions that we'll become men's equals."
Curie was "not only the equal, but most of the time was better" than the men in her field, Satrapi insisted.
"Radioactive" -- which is released across much of Europe later his month -- tells her remarkable story through the research Curie and her husband Pierre (played by English actor Sam Riley) carried out on radioactivity, discoveries that would lead to breakthroughs in medicine but also to the atomic bomb.
Satrapi, who is now working on a series of paintings about women, said Curie was a powerful symbol at a time when women have found their voice again with the #MeToo movement.
"Things are going to change but we cannot sweep away 5,000 years of patriarchy in two days," said the illustrator-turned-director.
#MeToo has become 'too much'
"It's great that women are speaking up (but) we kept our mouths shut for so long that it has become a bit too much... We have to find a balance," Satrapi said.
Yet there is so much still to do, particularly about how women are represented on the screen.
"Half of the Earth's population are women, so it's normal that half of stories should be about us -- yet that is not the case," she argued.
"And when we see women it is always in relation to a man: as someone's wife or their mother," she added.
That said, Satrapi noted she has no intention of spending the rest of her career making films "about the long list of all the extraordinary women" who have been under-appreciated.
"I've made films about men too... It's Curie who interested me," she said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-10--China's Xi visits Wuhan as number of new coronavirus cases drops

People wearing masks walk past a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping on a street as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Shanghai , China February 10 , 2020 .
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan , the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak , on Tuesday , the first time he has done so since the epidemic began and a sign that Beijing believes its control efforts are at a turning point , as new cases tumble .
His arrival in the city , where the virus is believed to have first taken hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread in mainland China has sharply slowed in the past week and as attention has turned to preventing imported infections from overseas hot spots such as Iran , Italy and South Korea .
News of the visit gave a lift to Chinese stocks , with the blue-chip index climbing back into positive territory after falling as much as 1 % in morning trade .
`` It is obvious that Xi could not have visited Wuhan earlier because the risk of him contracting the virus there was initially too high , '' Zhang Ming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing , told Reuters .
`` He is there now to reap the harvest .
His being there means the CCP ( Communist Party of China ) may declare victory against the virus soon , '' Zhang said .
China came in for criticism at home and globally over its early response to the outbreak , suppressing information and downplaying its risks , but its draconian efforts at control , including the lock-down of Wuhan and Hubei province where it is originated , have been effective at curbing the spread .
Hubei province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said on Tuesday it would implement a `` health code '' system to allow people in areas at a medium or low risk of contracting the coronavirus to start travelling .
During his trip to Wuhan , Xi will `` visit and express regards to medical workers , military officers and soldiers , community workers , police officers , officials and volunteers who have been fighting the epidemic on the front line , as well as patients and residents during the inspection , '' state news agency Xinhua said .
Mainland China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the National Health Commission said on Tuesday , down from 40 a day earlier .
It also marked the third straight day of no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases outside of Hubei .
Of the new cases , 17 were in Wuhan , while one was in Beijing and one other in Guangdong due to people arriving from abroad , according to the health authority .
That brings the total number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 80,754 .
However , Chinese authorities have ramped up warnings about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to China from viral hot spots abroad such as Iran and Italy .
The one case in Beijing on Monday was due to a traveller from Britain , and the one in Guangdong was an imported case from Spain .
As of Monday , there have been 69 imported cases .
Since the outbreak , 59,897 patients have been discharged from hospitals in China .
Recently discharged patients need to go into quarantine for 14 days .
In Wuhan , 12 of the 14 temporary hospitals dedicated to treating coronavirus patients have closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut on Tuesday .
On Saturday , a small hotel used to quarantine people under observation in southern Fujian province collapsed , killing 20 , while 10 had yet to be rescued .
Of the 71 people inside the hotel in Quanzhou city at the time of the collapse , 58 were in under quarantine , the Quanzhou city government said .
As of the end of Monday , the overall death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in China reached 3,136 , up by 17 from the previous day .
Hubei reported 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wuhan .
Xi , who was mostly absent from Chinese state media coverage of the crisis in its early days , has become for more visible in recent weeks .
The Global Times , a nationalist tabloid published by the official People 's Daily , on Tuesday detailed the various instructions and actions Xi had given and taken between Jan. 7 and March 2 to combat the epidemic .
`` Xi personally commands the people 's war against the epidemic .
He has been paying constant attention to the epidemic prevention and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructions every day , '' the newspaper said .

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, on Tuesday, the first time he has done so since the epidemic began and a sign that Beijing believes its control efforts are at a turning point, as new cases tumble.
People wearing masks walk past a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping on a street as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Shanghai, China February 10, 2020.
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His arrival in the city, where the virus is believed to have first taken hold late last year, comes after its spread in mainland China has sharply slowed in the past week and as attention has turned to preventing imported infections from overseas hot spots such as Iran, Italy and South Korea.
News of the visit gave a lift to Chinese stocks, with the blue-chip index climbing back into positive territory after falling as much as 1% in morning trade.
"It is obvious that Xi could not have visited Wuhan earlier because the risk of him contracting the virus there was initially too high," Zhang Ming, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing, told Reuters.
"He is there now to reap the harvest. His being there means the CCP (Communist Party of China) may declare victory against the virus soon," Zhang said.
01:34
China came in for criticism at home and globally over its early response to the outbreak, suppressing information and downplaying its risks, but its draconian efforts at control, including the lock-down of Wuhan and Hubei province where it is originated, have been effective at curbing the spread.
Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, said on Tuesday it would implement a "health code" system to allow people in areas at a medium or low risk of contracting the coronavirus to start travelling.
During his trip to Wuhan, Xi will "visit and express regards to medical workers, military officers and soldiers, community workers, police officers, officials and volunteers who have been fighting the epidemic on the front line, as well as patients and residents during the inspection," state news agency Xinhua said.
New cases fall
Mainland China had 19 new coronavirus infections on Monday, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday, down from 40 a day earlier. It also marked the third straight day of no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases outside of Hubei.
Of the new cases, 17 were in Wuhan, while one was in Beijing and one other in Guangdong due to people arriving from abroad, according to the health authority.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 80,754.
However, Chinese authorities have ramped up warnings about the risks from foreigners and Chinese nationals travelling to China from viral hot spots abroad such as Iran and Italy.
The one case in Beijing on Monday was due to a traveller from Britain, and the one in Guangdong was an imported case from Spain. As of Monday, there have been 69 imported cases.
Since the outbreak, 59,897 patients have been discharged from hospitals in China. Recently discharged patients need to go into quarantine for 14 days.
In Wuhan, 12 of the 14 temporary hospitals dedicated to treating coronavirus patients have closed, with the remaining two due to shut on Tuesday.
On Saturday, a small hotel used to quarantine people under observation in southern Fujian province collapsed, killing 20, while 10 had yet to be rescued.
Of the 71 people inside the hotel in Quanzhou city at the time of the collapse, 58 were in under quarantine, the Quanzhou city government said.
As of the end of Monday, the overall death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in China reached 3,136, up by 17 from the previous day.
Hubei reported 17 new deaths, all of which were in Wuhan.
Xi, who was mostly absent from Chinese state media coverage of the crisis in its early days, has become for more visible in recent weeks.
The Global Times, a nationalist tabloid published by the official People's Daily, on Tuesday detailed the various instructions and actions Xi had given and taken between Jan. 7 and March 2 to combat the epidemic.
"Xi personally commands the people's war against the epidemic. He has been paying constant attention to the epidemic prevention and control work and made oral or written instructions every day," the newspaper said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-10--Biden and Sanders face off as six states, including key battleground Michigan, hold primary contests

A voter casts his ballots into a voting machine for the Democratic presidential primary election at a polling place in Herndon , Virginia , on March 3 , 2020 .
US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , surging in the polls and with several weighty endorsements in his pocket , and rival Bernie Sanders hit the campaign trail in Michigan on Monday on the eve of a primary vote in the key battleground state .
Biden , 77 , was joined at an event in Flint , Michigan , by Cory Booker just hours after the New Jersey senator and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his support behind the former vice president .
`` This could be the turning point not just of a primary campaign , '' Booker said .
`` This could be the day we turned a whole nation around . ''
Michigan is the biggest prize of six states that hold primaries on Tuesday to decide on a Democratic candidate to face Republican incumbent Donald Trump in November .
Speaking at the event with Booker in Flint , Biden said Michigan `` is an important contest not just for the Democratic primary .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine who the next president of the United States is going to be , '' he said .
`` We 're not looking for a revolution , '' Biden said in a jab at Sanders , the 78-year-old senator from Vermont who is a self-described democratic socialist .
`` What we ought to be able to do is trust the water that comes out of the pipes , '' Biden said in a reference to a drinking water pollution crisis gripping Flint for the past six years .
Sanders was campaigning in Detroit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a roundtable with experts on the coronavirus , which has left at least 26 people dead in the United States and sent stock markets plunging .
Sanders criticized Trump 's handling of the crisis .
`` Donald Trump does not have a natural ability to understand the coronavirus and his reckless statements are confusing people in this country and all over the world , '' Sanders said .
Booker , the charismatic former mayor of Newark who dropped out of the race in January , is the latest prominent African-American politician to back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his third following unsuccessful runs in 1988 and 2008 .
California Senator Kamala Harris , who ended her campaign for the nomination in December , also endorsed Biden , who served for eight years as vice president to Barack Obama , America 's first black president , as did another also-ran , former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick .
Booker and Harris , both touted as possible vice presidential picks for Biden , were to join him for a `` Get Out the Vote '' rally in Detroit on Monday evening .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the South Carolina primary on February 29 , with endorsements from key African-American leaders helping him claim the frontrunner mantle in the race .
Former Democratic candidates Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar , Michael Bloomberg and Beto O'Rourke have also swung behind Biden , seeing a moderate as having the best chance of defeating Trump .
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren , who dropped out of the race last week and has a sizeable following on the left , has yet to decide whether to endorse Biden or Sanders .
Tuesday 's primaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and Sanders since all the other major candidates dropped out of the grueling nomination battle that began more than a year ago .
Besides Michigan , Democrats will also be voting in Idaho , Mississippi , Missouri , North Dakota and Washington .
Michigan is shaping up as a must win for Sanders , who narrowly won the state over Hillary Clinton during his failed 2016 bid for the Democratic nomination .
The latest polls for Michigan , however , have Biden with a lead of between 15 and 20 points .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there by nearly 19 points while he leads Sanders by a narrow two-point margin in Washington .
Sanders , desperate to reboot his campaign after losing 10 of the 14 states which voted on Super Tuesday last week , cancelled plans to speak in Mississippi , Missouri and Illinois in order to focus on Michigan .
Sanders gained the endorsement of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson on Sunday .
Jackson endorsed Sanders at a rally on Sunday in Grand Rapids , Michigan , repaying the Vermont senator for having supported his 1988 bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand with Bernie Sanders today because he stood with me , '' Jackson said .
`` I stand with him because he stands with you . ''
Biden 's Super Tuesday surge brought an influx of donations -- $ 22 million in the past few days , his campaign said in a statement Sunday .
It said $ 12 million would be spent on hiring new staff and launching a major media campaign in battleground states .

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, surging in the polls and with several weighty endorsements in his pocket, and rival Bernie Sanders hit the campaign trail in Michigan on Monday on the eve of a primary vote in the key battleground state.
A voter casts his ballots into a voting machine for the Democratic presidential primary election at a polling place in Herndon, Virginia, on March 3, 2020.
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Biden, 77, was joined at an event in Flint, Michigan, by Cory Booker just hours after the New Jersey senator and one-time presidential hopeful announced he was throwing his support behind the former vice president.
"This could be the turning point not just of a primary campaign," Booker said. "This could be the day we turned a whole nation around."
Michigan is the biggest prize of six states that hold primaries on Tuesday to decide on a Democratic candidate to face Republican incumbent Donald Trump in November.
Speaking at the event with Booker in Flint, Biden said Michigan "is an important contest not just for the Democratic primary.
"The outcome of Michigan in November may determine who the next president of the United States is going to be," he said.
"We're not looking for a revolution," Biden said in a jab at Sanders, the 78-year-old senator from Vermont who is a self-described democratic socialist.
"What we ought to be able to do is trust the water that comes out of the pipes," Biden said in a reference to a drinking water pollution crisis gripping Flint for the past six years.
Sanders was campaigning in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday and held a roundtable with experts on the coronavirus, which has left at least 26 people dead in the United States and sent stock markets plunging.
Sanders criticized Trump's handling of the crisis.
"Donald Trump does not have a natural ability to understand the coronavirus and his reckless statements are confusing people in this country and all over the world," Sanders said.
Booker, the charismatic former mayor of Newark who dropped out of the race in January, is the latest prominent African-American politician to back Biden's bid for the White House, his third following unsuccessful runs in 1988 and 2008.
California Senator Kamala Harris, who ended her campaign for the nomination in December, also endorsed Biden, who served for eight years as vice president to Barack Obama, America's first black president, as did another also-ran, former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick.
Booker and Harris, both touted as possible vice presidential picks for Biden, were to join him for a "Get Out the Vote" rally in Detroit on Monday evening.
Biden leads in polls
Biden has surged since scoring a decisive victory in the South Carolina primary on February 29, with endorsements from key African-American leaders helping him claim the frontrunner mantle in the race.
Former Democratic candidates Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Michael Bloomberg and Beto O'Rourke have also swung behind Biden, seeing a moderate as having the best chance of defeating Trump.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who dropped out of the race last week and has a sizeable following on the left, has yet to decide whether to endorse Biden or Sanders.
Tuesday's primaries will be the first one-on-one duel between Biden and Sanders since all the other major candidates dropped out of the grueling nomination battle that began more than a year ago.
Besides Michigan, Democrats will also be voting in Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington.
Michigan is shaping up as a must win for Sanders, who narrowly won the state over Hillary Clinton during his failed 2016 bid for the Democratic nomination.
The latest polls for Michigan, however, have Biden with a lead of between 15 and 20 points.
The latest Missouri poll has Biden up there by nearly 19 points while he leads Sanders by a narrow two-point margin in Washington.
Sanders, desperate to reboot his campaign after losing 10 of the 14 states which voted on Super Tuesday last week, cancelled plans to speak in Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois in order to focus on Michigan.
Sanders gained the endorsement of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson on Sunday.
Jackson endorsed Sanders at a rally on Sunday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, repaying the Vermont senator for having supported his 1988 bid for the White House.
"I stand with Bernie Sanders today because he stood with me," Jackson said. "I stand with him because he stands with you."
Biden's Super Tuesday surge brought an influx of donations -- $22 million in the past few days, his campaign said in a statement Sunday.
It said $12 million would be spent on hiring new staff and launching a major media campaign in battleground states.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-10--Turkey’s Erdogan leaves EU talks without agreement on migrants

Stern-faced EU leaders warned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to respect the terms of a previous deal to keep migrants away from Europe 's borders , after the Turkish leader came to Brussels to demand more support .
There was no disguising the tension at the European Council after the talks , with Erdogan choosing to head straight for the airport rather than a news conference with EU presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel .
`` Clearly we do have our disagreements , but we have spoken plainly and we have spoken openly to each other , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the European Commission , told reporters .
Von der Leyen and Michel both stressed that the 2016 deal between the EU and Turkey -- under which Ankara agreed to block migrants and refugees from heading to Greece in exchange for billions of euros in EU aid -- remains valid .
And Michel said that the top EU diplomat , Josep Borrell , would be working with his Turkish counterpart foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in the next few days `` to be certain that we are on the same page that we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in Turkey and at the level of the European Union , in order to implement the deal . ''
Erdogan did not speak to reporters after the meeting , despite Turkish officials saying earlier that he planned to do so .
A Turkish presidential source said only : `` The meeting at the EU was productive . ''
Beforehand , Erdogan had made clear that his priority was to seek more support for his country in the conflict in Syria and to cope with millions of refugees from the fighting .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held talks with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg , and told him bluntly : `` NATO is in a critical process in which it needs to clearly show its alliance solidarity . ''
`` Our allies should display their solidarity with our country without discrimination and without laying down political conditions , '' he said .
`` It is very important that the support we demand is met without any further delay . ''
Erdogan also appeared annoyed that -- rather than listening to his concerns -- Von der Leyen and Michel have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' against migrants encouraged to leave Turkey .
And he had harsh words for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ' Greek government , which has already been allocated 700 million euros ( $ 800 million ) by Brussels to secure his borders and cope with the new arrivals .
`` It is irrational and inconsiderate that an ally and a neighbouring country point to Turkey as responsible for the irregular migration , '' Erdogan said .
`` We will not allow this country to try to get unfair gains by using its current position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk lying down , responding furiously in an address to the German Council on Foreign Relations .
`` Why do we spend so much on defence ?
It 's because our neighbour is Turkey and not Denmark , '' he said .
`` As prime minister of Greece I do n't have to listen to lessons on human rights from Turkey . ''
Tens of thousands of asylum-seekers have been trying to break through the land border from Turkey for a week after Ankara announced it would no longer prevent people from trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which hosts around four million mostly Syrian refugees , has repeatedly railed against what it describes as unfair burden-sharing .
Germany said the EU was considering taking in up to 1,500 child refugees to ease pressure on overwhelmed camps on Greek islands facing a new wave of arrivals from Turkey .
Von der Leyen said France , Portugal , Luxembourg and Finland had offered to join Germany in taking some .
On Friday , Erdogan ordered the Turkish coastguard to prevent risky Aegean sea crossings after more than 1,700 migrants landed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Turkey 's policy of allowing migrants and refugees to leave by land remains in place , and the instruction only affects sea crossings .
In 2016 , Turkey and the EU agreed a deal whereby Brussels would provide billions of euros in aid in exchange for Turkey curbing the flow of migrants .
But Ankara has repeatedly accused the bloc of not fulfilling promises made as Europe suffered its worst refugee crisis since World War II , when over one million people fled to the continent in 2015 .
Erdogan has felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Syria 's northwestern province of Idlib fled towards the Turkish border during a recent Syrian regime assault backed by Russia and Iran .

Stern-faced EU leaders warned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to respect the terms of a previous deal to keep migrants away from Europe's borders, after the Turkish leader came to Brussels to demand more support.
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There was no disguising the tension at the European Council after the talks, with Erdogan choosing to head straight for the airport rather than a news conference with EU presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.
"Clearly we do have our disagreements, but we have spoken plainly and we have spoken openly to each other," Von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, told reporters.
Von der Leyen and Michel both stressed that the 2016 deal between the EU and Turkey -- under which Ankara agreed to block migrants and refugees from heading to Greece in exchange for billions of euros in EU aid -- remains valid.
And Michel said that the top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, would be working with his Turkish counterpart foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in the next few days "to be certain that we are on the same page that we have the same interpretation about what we do, in Turkey and at the level of the European Union, in order to implement the deal."
Erdogan did not speak to reporters after the meeting, despite Turkish officials saying earlier that he planned to do so. A Turkish presidential source said only: "The meeting at the EU was productive."
Beforehand, Erdogan had made clear that his priority was to seek more support for his country in the conflict in Syria and to cope with millions of refugees from the fighting.
01:17
Before heading to the European Council, he held talks with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, and told him bluntly: "NATO is in a critical process in which it needs to clearly show its alliance solidarity."
"Our allies should display their solidarity with our country without discrimination and without laying down political conditions," he said. "It is very important that the support we demand is met without any further delay."
'Irrational and inconsiderate'
Erdogan also appeared annoyed that -- rather than listening to his concerns -- Von der Leyen and Michel have backed Greece as Europe's "shield" against migrants encouraged to leave Turkey.
And he had harsh words for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' Greek government, which has already been allocated 700 million euros ($800 million) by Brussels to secure his borders and cope with the new arrivals.
"It is irrational and inconsiderate that an ally and a neighbouring country point to Turkey as responsible for the irregular migration," Erdogan said.
"We will not allow this country to try to get unfair gains by using its current position."
Mitsotakis did not take such talk lying down, responding furiously in an address to the German Council on Foreign Relations.
"Why do we spend so much on defence? It's because our neighbour is Turkey and not Denmark," he said. "As prime minister of Greece I don't have to listen to lessons on human rights from Turkey."
Tens of thousands of asylum-seekers have been trying to break through the land border from Turkey for a week after Ankara announced it would no longer prevent people from trying to cross into the EU.
Turkey, which hosts around four million mostly Syrian refugees, has repeatedly railed against what it describes as unfair burden-sharing.
'Fulfilling promises'
Germany said the EU was considering taking in up to 1,500 child refugees to ease pressure on overwhelmed camps on Greek islands facing a new wave of arrivals from Turkey.
Von der Leyen said France, Portugal, Luxembourg and Finland had offered to join Germany in taking some.
On Friday, Erdogan ordered the Turkish coastguard to prevent risky Aegean sea crossings after more than 1,700 migrants landed on Lesbos and four other Aegean islands.
But Turkey's policy of allowing migrants and refugees to leave by land remains in place, and the instruction only affects sea crossings.
In 2016, Turkey and the EU agreed a deal whereby Brussels would provide billions of euros in aid in exchange for Turkey curbing the flow of migrants.
But Ankara has repeatedly accused the bloc of not fulfilling promises made as Europe suffered its worst refugee crisis since World War II, when over one million people fled to the continent in 2015.
Erdogan has felt extra pressure as nearly one million people in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib fled towards the Turkish border during a recent Syrian regime assault backed by Russia and Iran.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-10--Oil prices rise giving stocks support after 'Black Monday'

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) in New York , U.S. , March 9 , 2020 .
A bounce in the price of oil provided some support to under-pressure stocks in early Asian trade on Tuesday , a day after global equities suffered their biggest losses in more than a decade .
Global stock markets had capitulated on what has become known as `` Black Monday '' , with the Dow on Wall Street plunging more than 2,000 points , triggering an emergency break in early trade .
But there was some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around six percent after plunging by a third the previous day , in their worst session since the 1991 Gulf War .
Equity markets were a lot calmer across Asia , though they continued to fluctuate through the morning .
But Tokyo ended the morning 1.5 percent lower , Taipei lost one percent , Seoul eased 0.3 percent , Wellington dropped 1.3 percent and Manila gave up 0.7 percent .
Traders remain on edge and AxiCorp 's Stephen Innes warned the panic had not yet stopped , with `` growing evidence that an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underway '' .
`` Severe weakness in energy markets is quickly cascading into broader declines in commodity markets , high-yield credit , and equities , '' he said .
He added that `` a fiscal response is wholly justified , and regardless of whether or not governments can respond fast enough , all they need to do is drop a number '' .
If the `` US , China , Europe , and Japan get on the phone and agree on a figure like something in the quadrillions , the fiscal pump will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alka-Seltzer moment '' .
Speculation is mounting that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again , having slashed them last week , while the European Central Bank is due to meet this week .
And Donald Trump said his administration would be meeting lawmakers to discuss economic relief measures to mitigate the impact of the disease as it spreads through the United States .
Still , while governments and central banks have unleashed , or are preparing to unleash , stimulus , the spread of COVID-19 is putting a huge strain on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession .
But that has now been compounded by an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia .
Top exporter Saudi Arabia slashed the prices it charges customers following a bust-up with Moscow over crude output cuts , starting a price war that sent traders into a tailspin .
Chris Lafakis , energy economist at Moody 's Analytics , said : `` With COVID-19 already savaging demand for travel and transportation , the last thing oil producers needed was a supply shock that would hit their pocketbooks even more .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crude oil that appears likely to persist for months . ''
The panic was felt around the world , with Frankfurt seeing its sharpest single fall since 2001 , London 's FTSE losing more than seven percent and Paris collapsing more than eight percent in its worst daily drop since the 2008 financial crisis .
Brazil 's Ibovespa index finished down more than 12 percent .
The rush for safe investments also sent yields on US Treasuries to record lows .
While the outbreak appears to be slowing in China , investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing in Europe and the United States .
Italy is now the worst-hit country outside China , with more than 9,000 cases and hundreds of deaths .
On Monday , Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he was extending restrictions on travel and public gatherings initially imposed on the north to the entire country .
Milan 's FTSE MIB crashed 11 percent Monday .

A bounce in the price of oil provided some support to under-pressure stocks in early Asian trade on Tuesday, a day after global equities suffered their biggest losses in more than a decade.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., March 9, 2020.
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Global stock markets had capitulated on what has become known as "Black Monday", with the Dow on Wall Street plunging more than 2,000 points, triggering an emergency break in early trade.
But there was some relief on Tuesday as oil prices jumped around six percent after plunging by a third the previous day, in their worst session since the 1991 Gulf War.
Equity markets were a lot calmer across Asia, though they continued to fluctuate through the morning.
Hong Kong rose 0.3 percent, Sydney added 1.2 percent and Singapore gained 1.4 percent and Jakarta added 2.4 percent.
But Tokyo ended the morning 1.5 percent lower, Taipei lost one percent, Seoul eased 0.3 percent, Wellington dropped 1.3 percent and Manila gave up 0.7 percent.
Traders remain on edge and AxiCorp's Stephen Innes warned the panic had not yet stopped, with "growing evidence that an oil shock of historic proportions is now underway".
"Severe weakness in energy markets is quickly cascading into broader declines in commodity markets, high-yield credit, and equities," he said.
He added that "a fiscal response is wholly justified, and regardless of whether or not governments can respond fast enough, all they need to do is drop a number".
42:51
If the "US, China, Europe, and Japan get on the phone and agree on a figure like something in the quadrillions, the fiscal pump will likely provide oil markets with a much-needed Alka-Seltzer moment".
Speculation is mounting that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again, having slashed them last week, while the European Central Bank is due to meet this week.
And Donald Trump said his administration would be meeting lawmakers to discuss economic relief measures to mitigate the impact of the disease as it spreads through the United States.
Italy imposes new measures
Still, while governments and central banks have unleashed, or are preparing to unleash, stimulus, the spread of COVID-19 is putting a huge strain on economies and stoking concerns of a worldwide recession.
But that has now been compounded by an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Top exporter Saudi Arabia slashed the prices it charges customers following a bust-up with Moscow over crude output cuts, starting a price war that sent traders into a tailspin.
Chris Lafakis, energy economist at Moody's Analytics, said: "With COVID-19 already savaging demand for travel and transportation, the last thing oil producers needed was a supply shock that would hit their pocketbooks even more.
"The world is now drowning in a glut of crude oil that appears likely to persist for months."
The panic was felt around the world, with Frankfurt seeing its sharpest single fall since 2001, London's FTSE losing more than seven percent and Paris collapsing more than eight percent in its worst daily drop since the 2008 financial crisis.
Brazil's Ibovespa index finished down more than 12 percent.
The rush for safe investments also sent yields on US Treasuries to record lows.
While the outbreak appears to be slowing in China, investors are desperately looking for signs of an easing in Europe and the United States.
Italy is now the worst-hit country outside China, with more than 9,000 cases and hundreds of deaths. On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he was extending restrictions on travel and public gatherings initially imposed on the north to the entire country. Milan's FTSE MIB crashed 11 percent Monday.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-10--Mexican women stage nationwide ‘Day Without Us’ strike

Mexico was hit by a nationwide 'Day Without Women ' as the country 's female population protested against gender-based violence , on March 9 , 2020 .
Shoe shops , perfumiers and even ministry reception counters were left eerily empty in Mexico on Monday as the country ’ s female population staged a nationwide “ Day Without Us ” strike to protest against gender-based violence .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Laurence Cuvillier , Matthieu Comin and Alison Sargent report .
An average of 10 women were killed in Mexico each day in 2019 .
It is a death toll that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sisters to walk out of their jobs on Monday to underscore what a society without them would look like .
The nationwide wildcat strike , which is expected to cost the Mexican economy $ 1 billion , follows a series of protests held on International Women ’ s Day to protest violence against women .
At the country ’ s labour ministry , where 62 percent of the workforce are women , men have been temporarily deployed to work the counters .
“ Today , I have had to replace one of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job , but I ’ m out of practice because usually there are mostly women sitting in these seats , ” one male employee told FRANCE 24 .
To watch the full report , please click on the player above .

On the ground
Shops were left eerily empty and the labour ministry was particularly hard hit on Monday as Mexico’s female population staged a nationwide “Day Without Us” strike to protest against gender-based violence. FRANCE 24’s Laurence Cuvillier, Matthieu Comin and Alison Sargent report.
Mexico was hit by a nationwide 'Day Without Women' as the country's female population protested against gender-based violence, on March 9, 2020.
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An average of 10 women were killed in Mexico each day in 2019. It is a death toll that prompted millions of mothers, daughters and sisters to walk out of their jobs on Monday to underscore what a society without them would look like. The nationwide wildcat strike, which is expected to cost the Mexican economy $1 billion, follows a series of protests held on International Women’s Day to protest violence against women.
At the country’s labour ministry, where 62 percent of the workforce are women, men have been temporarily deployed to work the counters.
“Today, I have had to replace one of my colleagues. I used to do this job, but I’m out of practice because usually there are mostly women sitting in these seats,” one male employee of the labour ministry told FRANCE 24.
To watch the full report, please click on the player above.
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france24--2020-03-10--Coronavirus: Criminals pose as Paris police to 'fine' Chinese tourists for wearing face masks

Many visitors and locals have taken to wearing face masks in Paris during the coronavirus outbreak .
The coronavirus has sparked a new type of crime in France , with Chinese visitors wearing protective face masks finding themselves targeted by people posing as police and health officials , and forced to pay fines of up to 150 euros .
`` Warning for Chinese citizens in France against criminals posing as police , '' is the headline on the Chinese embassy in Paris website , published on 7 March .
The statement says that several “ Chinese students in France reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing face masks in public , ” allegedly in violation of the “ face mask law ” .
According to the embassy , the students were informed of their alleged infrimgement by people posing as “ policemen ” .
According to a 2010 “ law prohibiting the covering of one ’ s face in public places ” , wearing a mask concealing one ’ s identity in public is forbidden , and doing so can carry a fine of up to 150 euros .
The law , passed under then French President Nicolas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country to impose a ban on full-face Islamic veils and niqabs , as well as masks , helmets , balaclavas and other face covering garments in public places .
But the law does not apply if wearing a mask is “ justified by health concerns ” .
Currently French health authorities encourage people who are affected by the coronavirus , to wear face masks .
The latest figures from the French Ministry of Health , on 9 March , said there were 1,126 Covid-19 cases in the country , with 19 deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people pretending to be government health officials “ entered the houses of Chinese people ” living in France , to “ carry out robberies ” .
“ We have verified with the French police and judiciary that this is criminal behaviour by fake policemen , ” writes the website , advising people who face similar problems to phone the consular help desk .

CORONAVIRUS - FRANCE
The coronavirus has sparked a new type of crime in France, with Chinese visitors wearing protective face masks finding themselves targeted by people posing as police and health officials and forced to pay fines of up to 150 euros, according to the Chinese embassy.
Many visitors and locals have taken to wearing face masks in Paris during the coronavirus outbreak.
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"Warning for Chinese citizens in France against criminals posing as police," is the headline on the Chinese embassy in Paris website, published on 7 March.
The statement says that several “Chinese students in France reported that they were fined 150 euros for wearing face masks in public,” allegedly in violation of the “face mask law”.
The Chinese embassy in Paris warns against "fake policemen" fining people wearing face masks against the coronavirus Chinese embassy Paris website screengrab
According to the embassy, the students were informed of their alleged infringement by people posing as “policemen”.
According to a 2010 “law prohibiting the covering of one’s face in public places”, wearing a mask concealing one’s identity in public is forbidden, and doing so can carry a fine of up to 150 euros.
Health reasons
The law, passed under then French President Nicolas Sarkozy, made France the first European country to impose a ban on full-face Islamic veils and niqabs, as well as masks, helmets, balaclavas and other face covering garments in public places.
But the law does not apply if wearing a mask is “justified by health concerns”.
Currently French health authorities encourage people who are affected by the coronavirus, to wear face masks.
The latest figures from the French Ministry of Health, on 9 March, said there were 1,126 Covid-19 cases in the country, with 19 deaths.
The Chinese embassy statement also said that people pretending to be government health officials “entered the houses of Chinese people” living in France, to “carry out robberies”.
“We have verified with the French police and judiciary that this is criminal behaviour by fake policemen,” writes the website, advising people who face similar problems to phone the consular help desk.
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