france24--2020-05-30--Trump 'terminates' the US's relationship with the WHO over Covid-19

The headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva , Switzerland , May 18 , 2020 .
The United States will end its relationship with the World Health Organization over the body 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic , U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday , accusing the U.N. agency of becoming a puppet of China .
The move to quit the Geneva-based body , which the United States formally joined in 1948 , comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over the coronavirus outbreak .
The virus first emerged in China 's Wuhan city late last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garden , Trump said Chinese officials `` ignored their reporting obligations '' to the WHO about the virus - that has killed hundreds of thousands of people globally - and pressured the agency to `` mislead the world . ''
`` China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $ 40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying which is approximately $ 450 million a year , '' he said .
Trump 's decision follows a pledge last week by Chinese President Xi Jinping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO over the next two years to help combat the coronavirus .
The amount almost matches the WHO 's entire annual program budget for last year .
Trump last month halted funding for the 194-member organization , then in a May 18 letter gave the WHO 30 days to commit to reforms .
> > Read more : Trump threatens to permanently cut off US funding to WHO over Covid-19 handling '' Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms , we will be today terminating our relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs , '' Trump said on Friday .
It was not immediately clear when his decision would come into effect .
A 1948 joint resolution of Congress on U.S. membership of the WHO said the country `` reserves its right to withdraw from the organization on a one-year notice . ''
The World Health Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump 's announcement .
It has previously denied Trump 's assertions that it promoted Chinese `` disinformation '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important to remember that the WHO is a platform for cooperation among countries , '' said Donna McKay , executive director of Physicians for Human Rights .
`` Walking away from this critical institution in the midst of an historic pandemic will hurt people both in the United States and around the world . ''
The United States currently owes the WHO more than $ 200 million in assessed contributions , according to the WHO website .
Washington also gives several hundred million dollars annually in voluntary funding tied to specific WHO programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hepatitis and tuberculosis .
Amesh A. Adalja , a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , said that in practice Trump 's decision was unlikely to change the operations of the WHO .
`` From a symbolic or moral standpoint it 's the wrong type of action to be taking in the middle of a pandemic and seems to deflect responsibility for what we in the U.S. failed to do and blame the WHO , '' said Adalja .
> > Read more : Who hijacked the WHO and can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump halted funding to the WHO last month , two Western diplomats said the U.S. suspension was more harmful politically to the WHO than to the agency 's current programs , which are funded for now .
The WHO is an independent international body that works with the United Nations .
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last month that the WHO is `` absolutely critical to the world 's efforts to win the war against COVID-19 . ''
When asked about Trump 's decision , a U.N. spokesman said : `` We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO . ''
Trump has long scorned multilateralism as he focuses on an `` America First '' agenda .
Since taking office , he has quit the U.N. Human Rights Council , the U.N. cultural agency , a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal .
He has also cut funding for the U.N. population fund and the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees .
`` The WHO is the world 's early warning system for infectious diseases , '' said U.S. Representative Nita Lowey , a Democrat who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Now , during a global pandemic that has cost over 100,000 American lives , is not the time to put the country further at risk . ''

The United States will end its relationship with the World Health Organization over the body's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday, accusing the U.N. agency of becoming a puppet of China.
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The move to quit the Geneva-based body, which the United States formally joined in 1948, comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over the coronavirus outbreak. The virus first emerged in China's Wuhan city late last year.
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said Chinese officials "ignored their reporting obligations" to the WHO about the virus - that has killed hundreds of thousands of people globally - and pressured the agency to "mislead the world."
"China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying which is approximately $450 million a year," he said.
We are terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization, which acts at the behest of China. pic.twitter.com/QmTKmsLSbP — The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 29, 2020
Trump's decision follows a pledge last week by Chinese President Xi Jinping to give $2 billion to the WHO over the next two years to help combat the coronavirus. The amount almost matches the WHO's entire annual program budget for last year.
Trump last month halted funding for the 194-member organization, then in a May 18 letter gave the WHO 30 days to commit to reforms.
>> Read more: Trump threatens to permanently cut off US funding to WHO over Covid-19 handling
"Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs," Trump said on Friday.
It was not immediately clear when his decision would come into effect. A 1948 joint resolution of Congress on U.S. membership of the WHO said the country "reserves its right to withdraw from the organization on a one-year notice."
The World Health Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's announcement. It has previously denied Trump's assertions that it promoted Chinese "disinformation" about the virus.
"It's important to remember that the WHO is a platform for cooperation among countries," said Donna McKay, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights. "Walking away from this critical institution in the midst of an historic pandemic will hurt people both in the United States and around the world."
'Absolutely critical'
The United States currently owes the WHO more than $200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website. Washington also gives several hundred million dollars annually in voluntary funding tied to specific WHO programs such as polio eradication, HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis.
Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said that in practice Trump's decision was unlikely to change the operations of the WHO.
"From a symbolic or moral standpoint it's the wrong type of action to be taking in the middle of a pandemic and seems to deflect responsibility for what we in the U.S. failed to do and blame the WHO," said Adalja.
>> Read more: Who hijacked the WHO and can it impact the Covid-19 whodunnit?
When Trump halted funding to the WHO last month, two Western diplomats said the U.S. suspension was more harmful politically to the WHO than to the agency's current programs, which are funded for now.
The WHO is an independent international body that works with the United Nations. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last month that the WHO is "absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against COVID-19."
When asked about Trump's decision, a U.N. spokesman said: "We have consistently called for all states to support WHO."
Trump has long scorned multilateralism as he focuses on an "America First" agenda. Since taking office, he has quit the U.N. Human Rights Council, the U.N. cultural agency, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. He has also cut funding for the U.N. population fund and the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees.
"The WHO is the world's early warning system for infectious diseases," said U.S. Representative Nita Lowey, a Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations. "Now, during a global pandemic that has cost over 100,000 American lives, is not the time to put the country further at risk."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-30--Where was the video showing 'people ill with Covid-19' dancing in a hospital really filmed?

The Zambian Ministry of Health confirms that it was filmed in Zambia The Zambian Minister of Health sent this statement to the FRANCE 24 Observers team .
Some people were amused by the video , while others were angry .
The footage shows a group of about a dozen people , both men and women , gathered in what looks like a hospital room .
Most of them are wearing masks and several of them start dancing and singing .
One of them even starts hitting a drum.Quite a few social media users from both Gabon and the Democratic Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was from their country and denounced the behavior of the people in the video .
Some claimed that the people were ill with Covid-19 , while others said that they were healthcare workers.One social media user in the DRC shared the video , only to have his post shared more than 800 times .
He said : `` Sick people dancing traditional dances , what a vibe at the hospital really the Democratic Republic of the Congo just keeps sinking ” .One social media user from Gabon posted the video along with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the net ” - Images of people ill with Covid-19 in the University Hospital in Libreville .
Pretty surprising !
`` We ran this video through a reverse image search using a tool called InVid ( check out how to use it by clicking here ) .
The search pulled up the very first time the video appeared online , which was on May 13 .
The video was shared on Zambian news sites that explained it had been filmed in the Chinsali quarantine centre in northeast Zambia .
Several different media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the opposition as well as those with government ties also shared the video.We showed this video to several Zambian Observers , who said that they heard words from the Chibemba language , which is spoken by the Bemba people .
It ’ s spoken in Zambia as well as by several groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania .
The people dancing say the words `` tubatwalile abene bakayonawile '' several times , which means something along the lines of `` Bring this to his landlord , so he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ song they are listening to is called `` Nse-nse Tubatwalile '' ( `` Hurry up we deliver theirs '' ) .
It comes from the Luapula region and is often sung during traditional marriages called `` Matebeto '' in Zambia .
You can also see examples of this traditional Zambian dance on YouTube.The FRANCE 24 Observers team contacted the Zambian Ministry of Health to see if this video had , indeed , been filmed in Zambia.We got an official response from the Ministry on May 28 , which said : :It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Covid-19 or something else .
The Zambian Ministry didn ’ t want to give any more details about the men and women dancing together .
A source in the ministry said that an investigation was underway to understand more about what happened.This video shows patients dancing in a hospital in Zambia .
It wasn ’ t filmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Gabon .

DEBUNKED
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An amateur video showing what looks like a group of patients or nurses dancing around a hospital room while wearing masks but not social distancing has been making the rounds on social media. There have been lots of theories about its origins, with some claiming that the video was filmed in Gabon, while others saying the scene took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It turns out, this dance party happened in Zambia and the Zambian Ministry of Health confirmed that to our team.
Some people were amused by the video, while others were angry. The footage shows a group of about a dozen people, both men and women, gathered in what looks like a hospital room. Most of them are wearing masks and several of them start dancing and singing. One of them even starts hitting a drum.
Quite a few social media users from both Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo claimed that the footage was from their country and denounced the behavior of the people in the video. Some claimed that the people were ill with Covid-19, while others said that they were healthcare workers.
One social media user in the DRC shared the video, only to have his post shared more than 800 times. He said : "Sick people dancing traditional dances, what a vibe at the hospital really the Democratic Republic of the Congo just keeps sinking”.
The person who shared this post says that the scene took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Check out the post here . It was also archived by the FRANCE 24 Observers team. If you want to check it out, click here .)
One social media user from Gabon posted the video along with the caption, ‘“Seen and read on the net” - Images of people ill with Covid-19 in the University Hospital in Libreville. Pretty surprising!"
This post claims that the video was filmed at the “University Hospital in Libreville". The post is available here and has been archived here by the FRANCE 24 Observers team.
A video showing a traditional bemba dance from Zambia
We ran this video through a reverse image search using a tool called InVid (check out how to use it by clicking here). The search pulled up the very first time the video appeared online, which was on May 13. The video was shared on Zambian news sites that explained it had been filmed in the Chinsali quarantine centre in northeast Zambia. Several different media outlets, including those that have links to the opposition as well as those with government ties also shared the video.
We showed this video to several Zambian Observers, who said that they heard words from the Chibemba language, which is spoken by the Bemba people. It’s spoken in Zambia as well as by several groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. The people dancing say the words "tubatwalile abene bakayonawile" several times, which means something along the lines of "Bring this to his landlord, so he can ruin it all himself.”
The song they are listening to is called "Nse-nse Tubatwalile" ("Hurry up we deliver theirs"). It comes from the Luapula region and is often sung during traditional marriages called "Matebeto" in Zambia. You can also see examples of this traditional Zambian dance on YouTube.
The Zambian Ministry of Health confirms that it was filmed in Zambia
The FRANCE 24 Observers team contacted the Zambian Ministry of Health to see if this video had, indeed, been filmed in Zambia.
We got an official response from the Ministry on May 28, which said::
We confirm that the video footage that is circulating on social media is from an occurrence that took place in Chinsali General Hospital in Muchinga Province of Zambia on Wednesday 13th May 2020. Whilst medical ethics and respect for the privacy of the patients constrains us from divulging their identities and discussing the circumstances surrounding the video clip, we can however mention that male and female patients are kept separately in all our health facilities including Chinsali General Hospital.
The Zambian Minister of Health sent this statement to the FRANCE 24 Observers team.
It’s impossible to know if these patients really had Covid-19 or something else. The Zambian Ministry didn’t want to give any more details about the men and women dancing together. A source in the ministry said that an investigation was underway to understand more about what happened.
In summary
This video shows patients dancing in a hospital in Zambia. It wasn’t filmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Gabon.
Article by Alexandre Capron (@alexcapron)


france24--2020-05-30--Brazil surpasses Spain with one of the highest Covid-19 death tolls in the world

Cemetery workers wearing protective clothing bury a victim of COVID-19 at the Sao Franciso Xavier cemetery in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , on May 29 , 2020 Brazil on Friday reached 27,878 coronavirus deaths , official figures showed , surpassing the toll of hard-hit Spain and making it the country with the fifth-highest number of fatalities .
The epicentre of the South American coronavirus outbreak , Brazil saw 1,124 deaths in 24 hours , the Ministry of Health said .
It also had a record number of new cases - 26,928 in one day - bringing the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , Britain , Italy and France lead the world in coronavirus deaths .
As of Friday Spain had recorded 27,121 deaths , with virus fatalities there rapidly slowing .
Brazil could soon surpass France , which has seen 28,714 deaths .
Brazil is second in the number of confirmed cases , though trailing far behind the United States which has 1.7 million infections .
Brazil has seen 131.2 coronavirus deaths per one million people - compared to more than 300 in the United States and 580 in Spain - but the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American country .
`` There is no way to foresee '' when the outbreak will peak , the Ministry of Health said , and experts say the number of cases in Brazil could be 15 times higher than the confirmed figure because there has been no widespread testing .

Brazil on Friday reached 27,878 coronavirus deaths, official figures showed, surpassing the toll of hard-hit Spain and making it the country with the fifth-highest number of fatalities.
Cemetery workers wearing protective clothing bury a victim of COVID-19 at the Sao Franciso Xavier cemetery in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 29, 2020
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The epicentre of the South American coronavirus outbreak, Brazil saw 1,124 deaths in 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said.
It also had a record number of new cases - 26,928 in one day - bringing the total number of infections to 465,166.
The United States, Britain, Italy and France lead the world in coronavirus deaths.
As of Friday Spain had recorded 27,121 deaths, with virus fatalities there rapidly slowing. Brazil could soon surpass France, which has seen 28,714 deaths.
Brazil is second in the number of confirmed cases, though trailing far behind the United States which has 1.7 million infections.
Brazil has seen 131.2 coronavirus deaths per one million people - compared to more than 300 in the United States and 580 in Spain - but the pandemic has yet to peak in the South American country.
"There is no way to foresee" when the outbreak will peak, the Ministry of Health said, and experts say the number of cases in Brazil could be 15 times higher than the confirmed figure because there has been no widespread testing.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-29--Louvre preparing to re-open July 6 as France eases Covid-19 lockdown

The Louvre museum in Paris on Friday said it was planning to re-open its doors on July 6 following new steps announced by French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe to ease the country 's Covid-19 lockdown .
In a statement , the Louvre , France 's most visited museum , said a progressive re-opening would entail a reservation system and new signage that would enable `` maximum security conditions '' for visitors in addition to the wearing of masks and recommended social-distancing measures .
The statement came a day after Prime Minister Philippe announced details of the second phase in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus lockdown , which included a nationwide reopening of bars and restaurants from June 2 .
But in Paris , where the risk of coronavirus spread remains higher than in the rest of the mainland , only the outside terraces of eating and drinking establishments can reopen to clients .
French Culture Minister Franck Riester on Friday held a meeting with the presidents of major cultural institutions and following this a provisional re-opening schedule was released .
The Louvre Museum , the Tuileries gardens , the `` jardin du Carrousel '' and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the same public institution , were all preparing for a phased reopening , the statement noted .
The `` jardin du Carrousel '' will open Saturday , May 30 , while the Tuileries garden will open Sunday , May 31 .
Gatherings would still be restricted to groups of no more than 10 people .
The Louvre , which had 9.6 million visitors last year , closed in March , just days before France went into a strict nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the virus .

The Louvre museum in Paris on Friday said it was planning to re-open its doors on July 6 following new steps announced by French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe to ease the country's Covid-19 lockdown.
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In a statement, the Louvre, France's most visited museum, said a progressive re-opening would entail a reservation system and new signage that would enable "maximum security conditions" for visitors in addition to the wearing of masks and recommended social-distancing measures.
[#PresseLouvre]
Le musée du #Louvre, le jardin des #Tuileries et le #MuséeDelacroix préparent leur réouverture et annoncent leur nouvelle programmation culturelle de l'été et de l'automne.
Retrouvez notre communiqué de presse 👇https://t.co/Y48c2qYBoR — Musée du Louvre (@MuseeLouvre) May 29, 2020
The statement came a day after Prime Minister Philippe announced details of the second phase in the gradual lifting of France’s strict coronavirus lockdown, which included a nationwide reopening of bars and restaurants from June 2. But in Paris, where the risk of coronavirus spread remains higher than in the rest of the mainland, only the outside terraces of eating and drinking establishments can reopen to clients.
French Culture Minister Franck Riester on Friday held a meeting with the presidents of major cultural institutions and following this a provisional re-opening schedule was released.
Les musées et monuments nationaux propriété de l’Etat vont rouvrir à partir du 2 juin.
J’ai réuni ce matin les présidentes et présidents de ces établissements pour échanger sur les mesures qui seront prises pour assurer la protection et la santé des personnels et des visiteurs. pic.twitter.com/DFK2QSVx9p — Franck Riester (@franckriester) May 29, 2020
The Louvre Museum, the Tuileries gardens, the "jardin du Carrousel" and the Eugène Delacroix National Museum, all part of the same public institution, were all preparing for a phased reopening, the statement noted.
The "jardin du Carrousel" will open Saturday, May 30, while the Tuileries garden will open Sunday, May 31. Gatherings would still be restricted to groups of no more than 10 people.
The Louvre, which had 9.6 million visitors last year, closed in March, just days before France went into a strict nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of the virus.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-30--SpaceX rocket blasts off on historic private crewed flight

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 , 2020 .
A rocket ship built by Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX company thundered away from Earth with two Americans on Saturday , ushering in a new era of commercial space travel and putting NASA back in the business of launching astronauts from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly a decade .
NASA ’ s Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode skyward aboard a sleek , white-and-black , bullet-shaped Dragon capsule on top of a Falcon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same launch pad used to send the Apollo astronauts to the moon a half-century ago .
The flight had been delayed three days because of stormy weather in Florida .
“ Let 's light this candle , ” Hurley said , borrowing the words used by Alan Shepard on America 's first human spaceflight in 1961 .
The two men are scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Sunday for a stay of up to four months , after which they will return to Earth in a Right Stuff-style splashdown at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloom of the coronavirus outbreak , which has killed over 100,000 Americans , and racial unrest across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd , a handcuffed black man , at the hands of Minneapolis police .
NASA officials and others held out hope the flight would would be a morale-booster .
“ Maybe there ’ s an opportunity here for America to maybe pause and look up and see a bright , shining moment of hope at what the future looks like , that the United States of America can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said before launch .
With the on-time 3:22 p.m. liftoff , SpaceX , founded by Musk , the Tesla electric-car visionary , became the first private company to launch people toward/into orbit , a feat achieved previously by only three governments : the U.S. , Russia and China .
The flight also ended a nine-year launch drought for NASA , the longest such hiatus in its history .
Ever since it retired the space shuttle in 2011 , NASA has relied on Russian spaceships launched from Kazakhstan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space station .
In the intervening years , NASA outsourced the job of designing and building its next generation of spaceships to SpaceX and Boeing , awarding them $ 7 billion in contracts in a public-private partnership aimed at driving down costs and spurring innovation .
Boeing ’ s spaceship , the Starliner capsule , is not expected to fly astronauts until early 2021 .
Musk said earlier in the week that the project is aimed at “ reigniting the dream of space and getting people fired up about the future.
” Ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its commercial partners as it works to send astronauts back to the moon in the next few years , and on to Mars in the 2030s .
Before setting out for the launch pad in a gull-wing Tesla SUV — another Musk product — Behnken pantomimed a hug of his 6-year-old son , Theo , and said : “ Are you going to listen to Mommy and make her life easy ?
” Hurley blew kisses to his 10-year-old son and wife .
Inside Kennedy Space Center , attendance was strictly limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small crowd of a few thousand was a shadow of what it would have been without the threat of COVID-19 .
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence flew in for the event for the second time in four days .
By NASA ’ s count , over 3 million viewers tuned in online .
Despite NASA ’ s insistence that the public stay safe by staying home , spectators gathered along beaches and roads hours in advance .
Among them was Neil Wight , a machinist from Buffalo , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the launch pad from a park in Titusville .
“ It ’ s pretty historically significant in my book , and a lot of other people ’ s books .
With everything that ’ s going on in this country right now , it ’ s important that we do things extraordinary in life , ” Wight said .
“ We ’ ve been bombarded with doom and gloom for the last six , eight weeks , whatever it is , and this is awesome .
It brings a lot of people together.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than two months before liftoff .
The SpaceX technicians who helped them get into their spacesuits wore masks and gloves that made them look like black-clad ninjas .
And at the launch center , the SpaceX controllers were seated far apart .
Hurley , a 53-year-old retired Marine , and Behnken , 49 , an Air Force colonel , are veterans of two space shuttle flights each .
Hurley piloted the space shuttle on the last launch of astronauts from Kennedy , on July 8 , 2011 .
In keeping with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the astronauts wore angular white uniforms with black trim .
Instead of the usual multitude of dials , knobs and switches , the Dragon capsule has three large touchscreens .
SpaceX has been launching cargo capsules to the space station since 2012 .
In preparation for Wednesday ’ s flight , SpaceX sent up a Dragon capsule with only a test dummy aboard last year , and it docked smoothly at the orbiting outpost on autopilot , then returned to Earth in a splashdown .
During the Mercury , Gemini , Apollo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aerospace contractors to build spacecraft according to the agency ’ s designs .
NASA owned and operated the ships .
Under the new , 21st-century partnership , aerospace companies design , build , own and operate the spaceships , and NASA is essentially a paying customer on a list that could eventually include non-government researchers , artists and tourists .
“ What Elon Musk has done for the American space program is he has brought vision and inspiration that we hadn ’ t had ” since the shuttle ’ s retirement in 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch .
He called the SpaceX chief “ brilliant ” and said Musk has “ absolutely delivered ” for NASA .
The mission is technically considered by SpaceX and NASA to be a test flight .
The next SpaceX voyage to the space station , set for the end of August , will have a full , four-person crew : three Americans and one Japanese .
Wednesday ’ s first human flight was originally targeted for around 2015 .
But NASA ’ s commercial crew program encountered bureaucratic delays and technical setbacks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand last year .
Boeing ’ s first Starliner capsule ended up in the wrong orbit during an crew-less test flight in December and was nearly destroyed at the mission ’ s end .
Both companies had trouble with such things as the landing parachutes .

A rocket ship built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company thundered away from Earth with two Americans on Saturday, ushering in a new era of commercial space travel and putting NASA back in the business of launching astronauts from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly a decade.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule lifts off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30, 2020.
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NASA’s Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode skyward aboard a sleek, white-and-black, bullet-shaped Dragon capsule on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, lifting off from the same launch pad used to send the Apollo astronauts to the moon a half-century ago. The flight had been delayed three days because of stormy weather in Florida.
We have liftoff. History is made as @NASA_Astronauts launch from @NASAKennedy for the first time in nine years on the @SpaceX Crew Dragon: pic.twitter.com/alX1t1JBAt — NASA (@NASA) May 30, 2020
“Let's light this candle,” Hurley said, borrowing the words used by Alan Shepard on America's first human spaceflight in 1961.
The two men are scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Sunday for a stay of up to four months, after which they will return to Earth in a Right Stuff-style splashdown at sea.
The mission unfolded amid the gloom of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed over 100,000 Americans, and racial unrest across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police. NASA officials and others held out hope the flight would would be a morale-booster.
“Maybe there’s an opportunity here for America to maybe pause and look up and see a bright, shining moment of hope at what the future looks like, that the United States of America can do extraordinary things even in difficult times,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said before launch.
With the on-time 3:22 p.m. liftoff, SpaceX, founded by Musk, the Tesla electric-car visionary, became the first private company to launch people toward/into orbit, a feat achieved previously by only three governments: the U.S., Russia and China.
The flight also ended a nine-year launch drought for NASA, the longest such hiatus in its history. Ever since it retired the space shuttle in 2011, NASA has relied on Russian spaceships launched from Kazakhstan to take U.S. astronauts to and from the space station.
In the intervening years, NASA outsourced the job of designing and building its next generation of spaceships to SpaceX and Boeing, awarding them $7 billion in contracts in a public-private partnership aimed at driving down costs and spurring innovation. Boeing’s spaceship, the Starliner capsule, is not expected to fly astronauts until early 2021.
Musk said earlier in the week that the project is aimed at “reigniting the dream of space and getting people fired up about the future.”
Ultimately, NASA hopes to rely in part on its commercial partners as it works to send astronauts back to the moon in the next few years, and on to Mars in the 2030s.
Before setting out for the launch pad in a gull-wing Tesla SUV — another Musk product — Behnken pantomimed a hug of his 6-year-old son, Theo, and said: “Are you going to listen to Mommy and make her life easy?” Hurley blew kisses to his 10-year-old son and wife.
Inside Kennedy Space Center, attendance was strictly limited because of the coronavirus, and the small crowd of a few thousand was a shadow of what it would have been without the threat of COVID-19. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence flew in for the event for the second time in four days.
By NASA’s count, over 3 million viewers tuned in online.
Despite NASA’s insistence that the public stay safe by staying home, spectators gathered along beaches and roads hours in advance.
Among them was Neil Wight, a machinist from Buffalo, New York, who staked out a view of the launch pad from a park in Titusville.
“It’s pretty historically significant in my book, and a lot of other people’s books. With everything that’s going on in this country right now, it’s important that we do things extraordinary in life,” Wight said. “We’ve been bombarded with doom and gloom for the last six, eight weeks, whatever it is, and this is awesome. It brings a lot of people together.”
The astronauts were kept in quasi-quarantine for more than two months before liftoff. The SpaceX technicians who helped them get into their spacesuits wore masks and gloves that made them look like black-clad ninjas. And at the launch center, the SpaceX controllers were seated far apart.
Hurley, a 53-year-old retired Marine, and Behnken, 49, an Air Force colonel, are veterans of two space shuttle flights each. Hurley piloted the space shuttle on the last launch of astronauts from Kennedy, on July 8, 2011.
In keeping with Musk’s penchant for futuristic flash, the astronauts wore angular white uniforms with black trim. Instead of the usual multitude of dials, knobs and switches, the Dragon capsule has three large touchscreens.
SpaceX has been launching cargo capsules to the space station since 2012. In preparation for Wednesday’s flight, SpaceX sent up a Dragon capsule with only a test dummy aboard last year, and it docked smoothly at the orbiting outpost on autopilot, then returned to Earth in a splashdown.
During the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and shuttle programs, NASA relied on aerospace contractors to build spacecraft according to the agency’s designs. NASA owned and operated the ships.
Under the new, 21st-century partnership, aerospace companies design, build, own and operate the spaceships, and NASA is essentially a paying customer on a list that could eventually include non-government researchers, artists and tourists.
“What Elon Musk has done for the American space program is he has brought vision and inspiration that we hadn’t had” since the shuttle’s retirement in 2011, Bridenstine said on the eve of launch. He called the SpaceX chief “brilliant” and said Musk has “absolutely delivered” for NASA.
The mission is technically considered by SpaceX and NASA to be a test flight. The next SpaceX voyage to the space station, set for the end of August, will have a full, four-person crew: three Americans and one Japanese.
Wednesday’s first human flight was originally targeted for around 2015. But NASA’s commercial crew program encountered bureaucratic delays and technical setbacks.
A SpaceX capsule exploded on the test stand last year. Boeing’s first Starliner capsule ended up in the wrong orbit during an crew-less test flight in December and was nearly destroyed at the mission’s end. Both companies had trouble with such things as the landing parachutes.
(AP)
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france24--2020-05-30--Trump warns cities, states to get ‘much tougher’ on anti-police protests

Security forces on May 30 , 2020 block the entrance to Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC during a proest against the death in police custody of George Floyd .
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that states and cities must get `` much tougher '' on anti-police protests or the federal government will step in , including by using the military and making arrests .
`` Liberal Governors and Mayors must get MUCH tougher or the Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done , and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tweet .
The warning followed several nights of unrest in some US cities as anger mounted over the death of George Floyd , a handcuffed black man who died after a police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes earlier this week in Minneapolis .
Peaceful protests were held across the country Saturday with demonstrators chanting , `` I ca n't breathe , '' a reference to Floyd 's last words recorded in video footage that went viral earlier this week .
The Pentagon said Saturday it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrambling to contain unrest in Minneapolis , but Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had not requested federal troops .
Jonathan Rath Hoffman , the chief Pentagon spokesman , said several military units had been placed on higher alert “ as a prudent planning measure ” in case Walz asked for help .
Hoffman did not identify the units , but other officials said they are mainly military police .
Hoffman said these were units normally on 48-hour recall to support state authorities in the event of crises like natural disasters .
Defence officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deploy any federal forces to Minnesota unless Walz asked for help .
If he did make such a request , federal units such as military police could provide logistical and other kinds of support to the Minnesota National Guard or state law enforcement , but would not get directly involved in law enforcement under current plans , the officials said .
In Minnesota , Walz fully mobilised the state ’ s National Guard and promised a massive show of force to help quell unrest that has grown increasingly destructive .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any way about the murder of George Floyd , ” Walz said .
“ It is about attacking civil society , instilling fear and disrupting our great cities.
” Meanwhile one person was killed in downtown Detroit late Friday , a Detroit police spokeswoman said Saturday .
The shooting occurred near Detroit 's Greektown entertainment district as officers were confronted with dozens of protesters , said Sgt .
Nicole Kirkwood , a police spokeswoman .
She said an officer was n't involved in the shooting .
A police report released Saturday said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sitting in the driver 's seat of a silver Dodge Caliber in a parking lot with two other male occupants when an unknown person fired shots into the vehicle and then fled on foot .
Of the 60 people who were arrested in Detroit 's overnight protest , 37 do n't live in the city , police Chief James Craig said Saturday .
Although Detroit is about 80 percent black , many of those arrested were white .

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that states and cities must get "much tougher" on anti-police protests or the federal government will step in, including by using the military and making arrests.
Security forces on May 30, 2020 block the entrance to Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC during a proest against the death in police custody of George Floyd.
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"Liberal Governors and Mayors must get MUCH tougher or the Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests," Trump said in a tweet.
Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME! Liberal Governors and Mayors must get MUCH tougher or the Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests. Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
The warning followed several nights of unrest in some US cities as anger mounted over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after a police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes earlier this week in Minneapolis.
Peaceful protests were held across the country Saturday with demonstrators chanting, "I can't breathe," a reference to Floyd's last words recorded in video footage that went viral earlier this week.
#BlackLivesMatters protest going on now in Philadelphia, PA at The Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky Steps) pic.twitter.com/88lgEO4MzF — Cam Countryman (@CamCountryman3) May 30, 2020
Pentagon puts units on alert as ‘prudent planning measure’
The Pentagon said Saturday it was ready to provide military help to authorities scrambling to contain unrest in Minneapolis, but Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had not requested federal troops.
Jonathan Rath Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said several military units had been placed on higher alert “as a prudent planning measure” in case Walz asked for help. Hoffman did not identify the units, but other officials said they are mainly military police.
Hoffman said these were units normally on 48-hour recall to support state authorities in the event of crises like natural disasters.
Defence officials said there was no intent by the Pentagon to deploy any federal forces to Minnesota unless Walz asked for help. If he did make such a request, federal units such as military police could provide logistical and other kinds of support to the Minnesota National Guard or state law enforcement, but would not get directly involved in law enforcement under current plans, the officials said.
Riots ‘no longer’ about Floyd’s murder
In Minnesota, Walz fully mobilised the state’s National Guard and promised a massive show of force to help quell unrest that has grown increasingly destructive.
“The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd,” Walz said. “It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities.”
Meanwhile one person was killed in downtown Detroit late Friday, a Detroit police spokeswoman said Saturday.
The shooting occurred near Detroit's Greektown entertainment district as officers were confronted with dozens of protesters, said Sgt. Nicole Kirkwood, a police spokeswoman. She said an officer wasn't involved in the shooting.
A police report released Saturday said the shooting victim, a 21-year-old man, was sitting in the driver's seat of a silver Dodge Caliber in a parking lot with two other male occupants when an unknown person fired shots into the vehicle and then fled on foot.
Of the 60 people who were arrested in Detroit's overnight protest, 37 don't live in the city, police Chief James Craig said Saturday. Although Detroit is about 80 percent black, many of those arrested were white.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-30--‘The wait is over’: UK gives green light for return of competitive sport

File photo of Britain 's Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden at a news conference at 10 Downing Street , May 20 , 2020 .
After a near three-month shutdown , all competitive sport in Britain can resume from June 1 behind closed doors provided strict conditions are met , the government said on Saturday .
The first major live event is expected to be the 2000 Guineas Stakes horse race at Newmarket on June 6 .
No competitive top-level sport has taken place in Britain since March as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 38,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document published on Saturday by the Department for Digital , Culture , Media and Sport ( DCMS ) , Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden outlined the strict criteria that must be met to allow elite athletes and professional sportsmen to resume .
`` The wait is over .
Live British sport will shortly be back on in safe and carefully controlled environments , '' he said .
`` This guidance provides the safe framework for sports to resume competitions behind closed doors .
It is now up to individual sports to confirm they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's right for them to restart . ''
Dowden also confirmed that preparations were being finalised for the Premier League and English Football League to return to action in June .
Premier League shareholders this week agreed a return to contact training with a provisional restart date for of June 17 , provided all safety requirements are in place .
`` The Premier League welcomes the government 's announcement today , '' a statement from the Premier League said .
`` All major sports , including the Premier League , have been working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol .
`` We have provisionally planned to restart the Premier League on June 17 , but there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety of all involved . ''
The government 's stage three guidance for staging competitive sporting events includes conditions such as players travelling alone to venues , being screened for coronavirus symptoms and maintaining social distancing where possible .

After a near three-month shutdown, all competitive sport in Britain can resume from June 1 behind closed doors provided strict conditions are met, the government said on Saturday.
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The first major live event is expected to be the 2000 Guineas Stakes horse race at Newmarket on June 6.
No competitive top-level sport has taken place in Britain since March as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 38,000 people in the UK.
In a document published on Saturday by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden outlined the strict criteria that must be met to allow elite athletes and professional sportsmen to resume.
"The wait is over. Live British sport will shortly be back on in safe and carefully controlled environments," he said.
"This guidance provides the safe framework for sports to resume competitions behind closed doors. It is now up to individual sports to confirm they can meet these protocols and decide when it's right for them to restart."
Dowden also confirmed that preparations were being finalised for the Premier League and English Football League to return to action in June. Premier League shareholders this week agreed a return to contact training with a provisional restart date for of June 17, provided all safety requirements are in place.
"The Premier League welcomes the government's announcement today," a statement from the Premier League said. "All major sports, including the Premier League, have been working with DCMS to produce the stage three protocol.
"We have provisionally planned to restart the Premier League on June 17, but there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety of all involved."
The government's stage three guidance for staging competitive sporting events includes conditions such as players travelling alone to venues, being screened for coronavirus symptoms and maintaining social distancing where possible.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-30--EU urges Trump to reconsider decision to end US relationship with WHO

The EU on May 30 , 2020 urged President Donald Trump to rethink his decision to terminate the US relationship with the WHO .
The European Union on Saturday urged President Donald Trump to rethink his decision to terminate the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization as spiking infection rates in India and elsewhere reinforced that the pandemic is far from contained .
Trump on Friday charged that the WHO didn ’ t respond adequately to the pandemic and accused the U.N. agency of being under China ’ s “ total control.
” The U.S. is the largest source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its exit is expected to significantly weaken the organization .
Trump said the U.S. would be “ redirecting ” the money to “ other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs , ” without providing specifics .
The head of the EU 's executive arm urged Trump to reconsider .
“ The WHO needs to continue being able to lead the international response to pandemics , current and future , ” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said .
“ For this , the participation and support of all is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO would n't comment on the announcement but South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize called it an “ unfortunate ” turn of events .
“ Certainly , when faced with a serious pandemic , you want all nations in the world to be particularly focused ... on one common enemy , ” he told reporters .
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called Trump 's decision the “ wrong signal at the wrong time.
” He said Berlin would have “ intensive discussions ” with Washington to try to convince the U.S. government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected worldwide is increasing and the crisis is spreading , ” Maas told Germany ’ s Funke media group .
“ We can ’ t tear down the dike in the middle of the flood and build a new one.
” In China , where the virus outbreak began , only four new confirmed cases were reported Saturday , all brought from outside the country , and no new deaths .
Just 63 people remained in treatment .
After judging the situation there now safe , a chartered flight carrying 200 German managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a port city east of Beijing .
A flight carrying another 200 was due in Shanghai on Thursday .
“ I 'm really happy that business is starting again , ” said Karin Wasowski , a Volkswagen employee , before boarding the flight in Frankfurt .
“ I 've been working from a home office but that is , of course , something completely different to being there.
” More than 5,200 German companies operate in China , employing more than 1 million people .
“ This is an important step to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s economies , ” said Jens Hildebrandt , executive director of the German Chamber of Commerce in North China , which helped organize the flights .
“ It is our common interest to contribute in helping the economy return to normalcy and pre-virus levels.
” Close to 6 million coronavirus infections have been reported worldwide , with more than 365,000 deaths and almost 2.5 million recoveries , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
The true dimensions are widely believed to be significantly greater , with experts saying many victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries have lowered the rate of infections , they have moved ahead with relaxing restrictions while keeping a close eye on developments .
In South Korea , credited with one of the most successful programs to fight the pandemic , 39 new cases were reported Saturday , most in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area where officials have linked the infections to warehouse workers .
Authorities have maintained the phased reopening of schools in the hope that the recent transmissions could be contained quickly .
Elite sporting events will be allowed to resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectators .
It paves the way for the planned June 17 return of the Premier League , the world ’ s richest soccer competition .
England ’ s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam warned that despite the easing , the situation overall remained precarious .
“ I believe this is also a very dangerous moment , ’ ’ he said .
“ We have to get this right.
” India registered another record single-day jump of 7,964 cases and 265 deaths .
That put total cases at 173,763 with 4,971 deaths and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry .
The government had been expected to end a 2-month-old nationwide lockdown , but instead extended measures in so-called containment zones — areas that have been isolated due to coronavirus outbreaks — through June 30 .
However , India will allow all economic activities to restart in a phased manner outside those areas starting June 8 , according to the Home Ministry .
A ministry directive said that includes places of worship , hotels , restaurants and shopping malls .
Russia recorded nearly 9,000 new cases overnight .
The national coronavirus task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died of COVID-19 and 396,575 infections have been recorded .
The relatively low mortality rate compared with other countries has prompted skepticism .
The U.S. has been worst hit by the outbreak , with more than 1.7 million cases and almost 103,000 deaths .
Cities and states are under increasing pressure to reopen , however .
The latest figures from the U.S. Labor Department brought to 41 million the running total of Americans who have filed for unemployment since shutdowns took hold in mid-March .
But there have been worrying signs that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not adhering to social distancing guidelines .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel 's office said Saturday that as things stand with America 's pandemic situation , if Trump decides to go ahead with the Group of Seven summit in the U.S. as he has suggested , she would not attend in person .
At the Vatican , Pope Francis recited a special prayer for the end of the pandemic in his biggest post-lockdown gathering to date , joined by a sampling of frontline workers .

The European Union on Saturday urged President Donald Trump to rethink his decision to terminate the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization as spiking infection rates in India and elsewhere reinforced that the pandemic is far from contained.
The EU on May 30, 2020 urged President Donald Trump to rethink his decision to terminate the US relationship with the WHO.
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Trump on Friday charged that the WHO didn’t respond adequately to the pandemic and accused the U.N. agency of being under China’s “total control.”
The U.S. is the largest source of financial support for the WHO, and its exit is expected to significantly weaken the organization. Trump said the U.S. would be “redirecting” the money to “other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs,” without providing specifics.
The head of the EU's executive arm urged Trump to reconsider. “The WHO needs to continue being able to lead the international response to pandemics, current and future,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “For this, the participation and support of all is required and very much needed.”
The WHO wouldn't comment on the announcement but South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize called it an “unfortunate” turn of events.
“Certainly, when faced with a serious pandemic, you want all nations in the world to be particularly focused ... on one common enemy,” he told reporters.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called Trump's decision the “wrong signal at the wrong time.” He said Berlin would have “intensive discussions” with Washington to try to convince the U.S. government to reconsider.
“The number of people infected worldwide is increasing and the crisis is spreading,” Maas told Germany’s Funke media group. “We can’t tear down the dike in the middle of the flood and build a new one.”
In China, where the virus outbreak began, only four new confirmed cases were reported Saturday, all brought from outside the country, and no new deaths. Just 63 people remained in treatment.
After judging the situation there now safe, a chartered flight carrying 200 German managers back to their jobs landed in Tianjin, a port city east of Beijing. A flight carrying another 200 was due in Shanghai on Thursday.
“I'm really happy that business is starting again,” said Karin Wasowski, a Volkswagen employee, before boarding the flight in Frankfurt. “I've been working from a home office but that is, of course, something completely different to being there.”
More than 5,200 German companies operate in China, employing more than 1 million people.
“This is an important step to reconnect China’s and Germany’s economies,” said Jens Hildebrandt, executive director of the German Chamber of Commerce in North China, which helped organize the flights. “It is our common interest to contribute in helping the economy return to normalcy and pre-virus levels.”
Close to 6 million coronavirus infections have been reported worldwide, with more than 365,000 deaths and almost 2.5 million recoveries, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. The true dimensions are widely believed to be significantly greater, with experts saying many victims died without being tested.
As some countries have lowered the rate of infections, they have moved ahead with relaxing restrictions while keeping a close eye on developments.
In South Korea, credited with one of the most successful programs to fight the pandemic, 39 new cases were reported Saturday, most in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area where officials have linked the infections to warehouse workers. Authorities have maintained the phased reopening of schools in the hope that the recent transmissions could be contained quickly.
Elite sporting events will be allowed to resume in England starting Monday, but without spectators. It paves the way for the planned June 17 return of the Premier League, the world’s richest soccer competition.
England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam warned that despite the easing, the situation overall remained precarious. “I believe this is also a very dangerous moment,’’ he said. “We have to get this right.”
India registered another record single-day jump of 7,964 cases and 265 deaths. That put total cases at 173,763 with 4,971 deaths and 82,369 recoveries, according to the health ministry.
The government had been expected to end a 2-month-old nationwide lockdown, but instead extended measures in so-called containment zones — areas that have been isolated due to coronavirus outbreaks — through June 30.
However, India will allow all economic activities to restart in a phased manner outside those areas starting June 8, according to the Home Ministry. A ministry directive said that includes places of worship, hotels, restaurants and shopping malls.
Russia recorded nearly 9,000 new cases overnight. The national coronavirus task force said Saturday that 4,555 Russians have died of COVID-19 and 396,575 infections have been recorded. The relatively low mortality rate compared with other countries has prompted skepticism.
The U.S. has been worst hit by the outbreak, with more than 1.7 million cases and almost 103,000 deaths.
Cities and states are under increasing pressure to reopen, however. The latest figures from the U.S. Labor Department brought to 41 million the running total of Americans who have filed for unemployment since shutdowns took hold in mid-March.
But there have been worrying signs that as restrictions are eased, some people are not adhering to social distancing guidelines.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's office said Saturday that as things stand with America's pandemic situation, if Trump decides to go ahead with the Group of Seven summit in the U.S. as he has suggested, she would not attend in person.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis recited a special prayer for the end of the pandemic in his biggest post-lockdown gathering to date, joined by a sampling of frontline workers.
(AP)
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france24--2020-05-30--Covid-19 ‘super-spreaders’ risk causing second waves

A medical specialist wearing personal protective equipment ( PPE ) walks through a disinfection chamber at the City Clinical Hospital Number 15 named after O. Filatov , which delivers treatment to patients infected with the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , in Moscow , Russia May 25 , 2020 .
As countries across the world outline plans to further ease lockdowns , cases of so-called Covid-19 `` super-spreaders '' in Germany highlight the threat of a potential second wave .
Shortly after things returned to normal in Germany on May 6 , around 100 people were infected with Covid-19 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A few days later , in the northwestern Lower Saxony region , around 20 customers at a small restaurant – which was celebrating its reopening – suffered the same fate .
The German authorities fear that these “ super-spreaders ” and “ super-contamination ” events could bring the dreaded spectre of a second wave to life .
`` Super-spreaders '' largely disappeared from the media discourse at the height of the pandemic .
When the virus was running rampant , the fact that some carriers infect more people than the average did little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast , it is when the total reinfection rate is very low that supercontamination “ makes a big difference ” , noted Jean-Stéphane Dhersin , deputy scientific director of France ’ s National Institute of Mathematical Sciences and a specialist in the modelling of the pandemic .
In scientific terms , the R factor refers to the rate of the virus ’ s reproduction ; that is to say , the average number of people who will be infected by each carrier of Covid-19 .
This is the essential variable for tracking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon as R exceeds 1 , the spread of the disease threatens to get out of control .
French Health Minister Olivier Véran explained this point on April 6 : “ If R is greater than 1 , a patient will contaminate more than one person , therefore the epidemic will increase in magnitude .
If it is less than 1 , little by little coronavirus patients will contaminate fewer people and thus the epidemic can diminish or even disappear.
” It only takes a few `` super-spreaders '' to make an epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Korea with the famous patient # 31 , who single-handedly infected more than 100 people in February .
These `` super-contamination '' episodes also explain “ how the epidemic quickly progressed in Bergamo in Italy ” , Dhersin said .
That is why the significant spread of the disease in slaughterhouses in the US and some European countries has caused so much worry after lockdowns ended .
On the other hand , `` super-spreaders '' only accelerate an epidemic when R is already above one .
In France ’ s case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the country , Véran said on Thursday .
From the R factor to the K factor To assess the risks posed by `` super-contamination '' events , we have to look at the K factor , as well as the R factor .
Also referred to as the dispersion factor , K denotes how even the rate of the spread is between all the different people infecting others .
In other words , whether each carrier infects roughly the same quantity of people or if it varies .
The lower K @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a small number of carriers .
The K factor is close to 1 for the seasonal flu , meaning that all carriers infect about the same number of people .
Scientists have also established that during the 2002 SARS epidemic , K was 0.16 , which is very low – suggesting that `` super-spreaders '' played a big role in the transmission of the virus .
By contrast , scientific estimates for Covid-19 ’ s K factor are very divergent .
In a paper awaiting publication , a team of Swiss researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher for Covid-19 than it was for SARS , so `` super-spreaders '' are much less of an issue than they were in 2002 .
However , a team from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated that 80 percent of infections are caused by only 10 percent of carriers .
In this model , K is very low , at around 0.1 percent , which would mean that `` super-contamination '' events can play a critical role as lockdown measures ease .
The peculiarities of the Covid-19 virus make life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ K factor .
`` Super-spreaders '' are only classified retrospectively , after epidemiologists trace a disease ’ s movements through the population .
But while SARS symptoms “ appeared very quickly , this is not necessarily the case with Covid-19 ” , which complicates attempts to track it , Dhersin noted .
So who are `` super-spreaders ? ''
Why do they infect more people than is usually the case ?
“ This is a really interesting scientific question , ” Christophe Fraser , a professor of pathogen dynamics at Oxford University , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the other hand , we are now well aware of the kind of environments where the coronavirus can spread en masse .
These are “ large gatherings in confined spaces , where people stay close to each other for a long time ” , Dhersin noted .
Such places include the nightclubs where Covid-19 spread in Seoul at the beginning of May , the overcrowded bars of the Austrian ski resort Ischgl – a focal point for the spread of the disease in Europe at the start of the pandemic – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand , scientists can only put forward hypotheses to work out who might be a `` super-spreader '' .
These could be people with relatively weak immune systems or those in the early stages of their illness .
In both of these cases , the viral load is elevated , which suggests they may be more contagious .
Some have speculated that breathing plays a particular role .
A person who breaths relatively fast , with a relatively deep breath , is more likely to become a `` super-spreader '' , Science magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot spots at Zumba classes – which require rapid , strong breathing – than pilates , Gwenan Knight , an infectious disease specialist at Imperial College London , told Science .
This article was translated from the original in French .

As countries across the world outline plans to further ease lockdowns, cases of so-called Covid-19 "super-spreaders" in Germany highlight the threat of a potential second wave.
A medical specialist wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) walks through a disinfection chamber at the City Clinical Hospital Number 15 named after O. Filatov, which delivers treatment to patients infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Moscow, Russia May 25, 2020.
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Shortly after things returned to normal in Germany on May 6, around 100 people were infected with Covid-19 at an evangelical church service in Frankfurt. A few days later, in the northwestern Lower Saxony region, around 20 customers at a small restaurant – which was celebrating its reopening – suffered the same fate. The German authorities fear that these “super-spreaders” and “super-contamination” events could bring the dreaded spectre of a second wave to life.
"Super-spreaders" largely disappeared from the media discourse at the height of the pandemic. When the virus was running rampant, the fact that some carriers infect more people than the average did little to change the overall picture. By contrast, it is when the total reinfection rate is very low that supercontamination “makes a big difference”, noted Jean-Stéphane Dhersin, deputy scientific director of France’s National Institute of Mathematical Sciences and a specialist in the modelling of the pandemic.
In scientific terms, the R factor refers to the rate of the virus’s reproduction; that is to say, the average number of people who will be infected by each carrier of Covid-19. This is the essential variable for tracking the course of a pandemic, because as soon as R exceeds 1, the spread of the disease threatens to get out of control. French Health Minister Olivier Véran explained this point on April 6: “If R is greater than 1, a patient will contaminate more than one person, therefore the epidemic will increase in magnitude. If it is less than 1, little by little coronavirus patients will contaminate fewer people and thus the epidemic can diminish or even disappear.”
It only takes a few "super-spreaders" to make an epidemic surge. This is what happened in South Korea with the famous patient #31, who single-handedly infected more than 100 people in February. These "super-contamination" episodes also explain “how the epidemic quickly progressed in Bergamo in Italy”, Dhersin said.
That is why the significant spread of the disease in slaughterhouses in the US and some European countries has caused so much worry after lockdowns ended. On the other hand, "super-spreaders" only accelerate an epidemic when R is already above one. In France’s case, fortunately R is lower than 1 in most of the country, Véran said on Thursday.
From the R factor to the K factor
To assess the risks posed by "super-contamination" events, we have to look at the K factor, as well as the R factor. Also referred to as the dispersion factor, K denotes how even the rate of the spread is between all the different people infecting others. In other words, whether each carrier infects roughly the same quantity of people or if it varies. The lower K is, the more new infections come from a small number of carriers.
The K factor is close to 1 for the seasonal flu, meaning that all carriers infect about the same number of people. Scientists have also established that during the 2002 SARS epidemic, K was 0.16, which is very low – suggesting that "super-spreaders" played a big role in the transmission of the virus. By contrast, scientific estimates for Covid-19’s K factor are very divergent. In a paper awaiting publication, a team of Swiss researchers said that the K factor is much higher for Covid-19 than it was for SARS, so "super-spreaders" are much less of an issue than they were in 2002.
However, a team from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated that 80 percent of infections are caused by only 10 percent of carriers. In this model, K is very low, at around 0.1 percent, which would mean that "super-contamination" events can play a critical role as lockdown measures ease.
The peculiarities of the Covid-19 virus make life harder for researchers trying to find its K factor. "Super-spreaders" are only classified retrospectively, after epidemiologists trace a disease’s movements through the population. But while SARS symptoms “appeared very quickly, this is not necessarily the case with Covid-19”, which complicates attempts to track it, Dhersin noted.
The Zumba factor
So who are "super-spreaders?" Why do they infect more people than is usually the case? “This is a really interesting scientific question,” Christophe Fraser, a professor of pathogen dynamics at Oxford University, told the American specialist publication Science.
On the other hand, we are now well aware of the kind of environments where the coronavirus can spread en masse. These are “large gatherings in confined spaces, where people stay close to each other for a long time”, Dhersin noted. Such places include the nightclubs where Covid-19 spread in Seoul at the beginning of May, the overcrowded bars of the Austrian ski resort Ischgl – a focal point for the spread of the disease in Europe at the start of the pandemic – and the Frankfurt church.
On the other hand, scientists can only put forward hypotheses to work out who might be a "super-spreader". These could be people with relatively weak immune systems or those in the early stages of their illness. In both of these cases, the viral load is elevated, which suggests they may be more contagious.
Some have speculated that breathing plays a particular role. A person who breaths relatively fast, with a relatively deep breath, is more likely to become a "super-spreader", Science magazine pointed out. There are more Covid-19 hot spots at Zumba classes – which require rapid, strong breathing – than pilates, Gwenan Knight, an infectious disease specialist at Imperial College London, told Science.
This article was translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-05-30--French Covid-19 case numbers extend decline

File photo of a nurse at the intensive care service of the Nantes CHU hospital , on May 19 , 2020 .
France 's coronavirus case numbers were continuing to decline , health officials said on Saturday , with 14,380 patients currently in hospital , down from 14,695 a day earlier .
The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care also fell to 1,325 from 1,361 , the health directorate said in a statement .
The hospital death toll from the virus rose by 57 to 18,444 in the 10th consecutive daily increase below 100 .
Numbers for nursing home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 , the directorate said .
France is set for an easing of restrictions after Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Thursday announced details of the second phase in the gradual lifting of France ’ s strict coronavirus lockdown , which included a nationwide reopening of bars and restaurants from June 2 .
But in Paris , where the risk of coronavirus spread remains higher than in the rest of the mainland , only the outside terraces of eating and drinking establishments can reopen to clients .
On Friday , the Louvre , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to re-open its doors on June 6 as part of a phased opening .

France's coronavirus case numbers continue to decline, health officials said on Saturday, with 14,380 patients currently in hospital, down from 14,695 a day earlier.
File photo of a nurse at the intensive care service of the Nantes CHU hospital, on May 19, 2020.
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The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care also fell to 1,325 from 1,361, the health directorate said in a statement.
The hospital death toll from the virus rose by 57 to 18,444 in the 10th consecutive daily increase below 100.
Numbers for nursing home deaths will next be updated on June 2, the directorate said.
France is set for an easing of restrictions after Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Thursday announced details of the second phase in the gradual lifting of France’s strict coronavirus lockdown, which included a nationwide reopening of bars and restaurants from June 2.
But in Paris, where the risk of Covid-19 infection remains higher than in the rest of the country, only outside terraces of cafés and restaurants can reopen.
On Friday, the Louvre, the world's most visited museum, announced plans to welcome visitors on July 6 as part of a phased re-opening.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-30--‘Armed terrorists’ stage deadly attack on convoy of traders in Burkina Faso

File photo of Burkina Faso soldiers during a training drill at a military camp near Ouagadougo in April 2018 .
At least 15 people were killed in northern Burkina Faso in an attack on a convoy transporting traders in a town in northern Burkina Faso on Friday , the government said on Saturday .
`` The provisional toll mentions 15 dead , wounded and people missing as well as significant material damage , '' said Burkina Faso 's Communications Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou .
The attack in Loroum province , Dandjinou added , was carried out by `` armed terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Military reinforcements were deployed and searches are under way , '' he said .
The victims were mainly traders who came from Titao , around 160 kilometres ( 100 miles ) north of the capital , Ouagadougou , when their vehicles were intercepted by `` armed individuals '' , a Titao resident said .
He added the attack occurred around 5pm local time Friday .
`` The lorries were escorted by 'koglweogo ' ( local self-defence members ) who were among the casualties , '' the resident said on condition of anonymity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' were among the dead and that two lorries were burned .
In January , nine shopkeepers were killed and a vehicle torched along the same road .
The impoverished Sahel country is part of a regional effort to battle an Islamist insurgency , along with Mali , Niger , Mauritania and Chad .
Their militaries , under-equipped and poorly trained , are struggling despite help from France , which has 5,000 troops in the region .
Unrest in Burkina Faso , Mali and Niger killed around 4,000 people last year , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burkina Faso 's armed forces said troops destroyed a militant camp in another province in the north of the country .
It said 10 assailants and a soldier died during the operation .

At least 15 people were killed in northern Burkina Faso in an attack on a convoy transporting traders in a town in northern Burkina Faso on Friday, the government said on Saturday.
File photo of Burkina Faso soldiers during a training drill at a military camp near Ouagadougo in April 2018.
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"The provisional toll mentions 15 dead, wounded and people missing as well as significant material damage," said Burkina Faso's Communications Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou.
The attack in Loroum province, Dandjinou added, was carried out by "armed terrorists", shorthand for jihadists.
"Military reinforcements were deployed and searches are under way," he said.
Dangerous road
The victims were mainly traders who came from Titao, around 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of the capital, Ouagadougou, when their vehicles were intercepted by "armed individuals", a Titao resident said.
He added the attack occurred around 5pm local time Friday.
"The lorries were escorted by 'koglweogo' (local self-defence members) who were among the casualties," the resident said on condition of anonymity.
He said "at least four women" were among the dead and that two lorries were burned.
In January, nine shopkeepers were killed and a vehicle torched along the same road.
Increasing violence, poorly trained militaries
Burkina Faso's armed forces are leading counter-terror operations with increasing frequency.
The impoverished Sahel country is part of a regional effort to battle an Islamist insurgency, along with Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Chad.
Their militaries, under-equipped and poorly trained, are struggling despite help from France, which has 5,000 troops in the region.
Unrest in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger killed around 4,000 people last year, according to UN figures.
On Thursday, Burkina Faso's armed forces said troops destroyed a militant camp in another province in the north of the country. It said 10 assailants and a soldier died during the operation.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-30--Mainstream parties make ‘fragile’ pact against far-right National Rally in France’s Perpignan

In this file photo taken on January 31 , 2020 French far-right party Rassemblement National ( RN ) MP and candidate for the upcoming mayoral elections Louis Aliot speaks on stage during a meeting in Perpignan on January 31 , 2020 .
- In a statment on May 30 , 2020 , the Europe Ecologie - Les Verts ( EELV ) ecologist party 's Vice-President of the Occitanie region and candidate for the upcoming mayoral elections for Perpigna Agnes Langevine has dropped out of the mayoral race against Aliot .
Perpignan on France ’ s Mediterranean coast is seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( formerly National Front ) as it seeks to win a major city in the second round of the country ’ s local elections on June 28 .
All other candidates have dropped out to back the conservative incumbent , but there are doubts as to whether this tactic will hold off the populists .
In withdrawing from the contest on Saturday morning , the Green candidate left it a two-horse race for Perpignan , between the National Rally ( RN ) contender Louis Aliot – a former companion of the party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longstanding mayor Jean-Marc Pujol of the conservative Republicans .
“ I am afraid of the people of Perpignan making a deadly choice with their anger and rage , ” said the former Green candidate Agnès Langevine , who came third in March 's first round , calling on voters to choose Pujol to keep out the National Rally .
The candidate for President Emmanuel Macron 's centrist Republic on the Move party , who was in fourth place , withdrew on Thursday .
Throughout the populist party ’ s long-term upward trajectory at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades , a “ republican front ” has often been invoked to block it – with the other parties from across the political spectrum dropping out after the first round to support RN ’ s opponent in the second .
However , this manoeuvre had mixed success amid RN ’ s surge in France ’ s last local elections in 2014 .
Although the republican front worked in Perpignan during that previous contest , securing Pujol ’ s re-election , this year ’ s first-round results suggest the RN is now in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of the vote and Pujol 30.5 percent in the 2014 first round , this time Aliot had climbed to 35.6 percent – while Pujol ’ s share of the vote plummeted to 18.5 percent .
In this context , many observers see an uphill struggle ahead for 71-year-old Pujol , a councillor in Perpignan since 1989 and the city ’ s mayor since 2009 .
“ On the way to a fragile republican front , ” read a headline in the local newspaper L ’ Indépendant , highlighting Aliot ’ s substantial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he attempts to win the Perpignan mayoralty for a third time , Aliot has played down his affiliation to the National Rally , with campaign leaflets describing him as just a “ candidate for Perpignan mayor ” , omitting any reference to the party .
On Saturday he mocked the use of the republican front , describing it as a “ scam which allows a failed and corrupt system to remain in place ” and saying that “ it ’ s not easy to run a venomous anti-Pujol campaign , then withdraw and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .

Perpignan on France’s Mediterranean coast is seen as the best bet for the National Rally (formerly National Front) as it seeks to win a major city in the second round of the country’s local elections on June 28. All other candidates have dropped out to back the conservative incumbent, but there are doubts as to whether this tactic will hold off the populists.
In this file photo taken on January 31, 2020 French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) MP and candidate for the upcoming mayoral elections Louis Aliot speaks on stage during a meeting in Perpignan on January 31, 2020. - In a statment on May 30, 2020, the Europe Ecologie - Les Verts (EELV) ecologist party's Vice-President of the Occitanie region and candidate for the upcoming mayoral elections for Perpigna Agnes Langevine has dropped out of the mayoral race against Aliot.
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In withdrawing from the contest on Saturday morning, the Green candidate left it a two-horse race for Perpignan, between the National Rally (RN) contender Louis Aliot – a former companion of the party’s leader Marine Le Pen – and longstanding mayor Jean-Marc Pujol of the conservative Republicans.
“I am afraid of the people of Perpignan making a deadly choice with their anger and rage,” said the former Green candidate Agnès Langevine, who came third in March's first round, calling on voters to choose Pujol to keep out the National Rally. The candidate for President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Republic on the Move party, who was in fourth place, withdrew on Thursday.
Throughout the populist party’s long-term upward trajectory at the ballot box over the past few decades, a “republican front” has often been invoked to block it – with the other parties from across the political spectrum dropping out after the first round to support RN’s opponent in the second.
However, this manoeuvre had mixed success amid RN’s surge in France’s last local elections in 2014. Although the republican front worked in Perpignan during that previous contest, securing Pujol’s re-election, this year’s first-round results suggest the RN is now in a stronger position.
Whereas Aliot won 34 percent of the vote and Pujol 30.5 percent in the 2014 first round, this time Aliot had climbed to 35.6 percent – while Pujol’s share of the vote plummeted to 18.5 percent.
In this context, many observers see an uphill struggle ahead for 71-year-old Pujol, a councillor in Perpignan since 1989 and the city’s mayor since 2009. “On the way to a fragile republican front,” read a headline in the local newspaper L’Indépendant, highlighting Aliot’s substantial lead in the first round.
As he attempts to win the Perpignan mayoralty for a third time, Aliot has played down his affiliation to the National Rally, with campaign leaflets describing him as just a “candidate for Perpignan mayor”, omitting any reference to the party.
On Saturday he mocked the use of the republican front, describing it as a “scam which allows a failed and corrupt system to remain in place” and saying that “it’s not easy to run a venomous anti-Pujol campaign, then withdraw and call on people to vote for him”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-31--‘The soul of our city’: Paris restaurants, cafés to reopen for terrace-only service

An essential part of life for a city renowned for its eating and drinking culture , Paris ’ s restaurants , cafés and bars will reopen on June 2 , but only for seating outside – on the grounds that Covid-19 is believed to spread more easily inside .
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced on Thursday that cafés , bars and restaurants could reopen in Paris on June 2 in the second phase of easing the country ’ s lockdown .
Tables are expected to be much further apart than usual to allow for social distancing , while establishments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or drinking inside .
In a city with a similar population density to that of Mumbai , restaurants , cafés and bars have long been seen as an integral part of Parisian life , allowing people to escape the confines of sometimes cramped apartments .
But their reopening is even more of a relief for Paris ’ restaurateurs , who were hit hard by France ’ s two months of full-blown lockdown , which ended on May 11 .
They lost 90 percent of their turnover in April and around 70 percent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a consultant and former CEO of the Frères Blanc restaurant group .
Brun noted , however , that life will not return to normal for restaurant owners anytime soon .
In light of social distancing requirements and the ban on serving people inside , proprietors will be able to “ reconnect with customers , but they won ’ t make any money ” , he told AFP .
“ We ’ re in a hurry ” to get things going again , said one restaurant manager in Paris ’ s central 2nd arrondissement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name as Ludivine .
She told AFP that the restaurant ’ s losses during the lockdown amounted to “ tens of thousands of euros ” .
To ease the situation for restaurateurs , Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo ’ s office will allow establishments to extend their terraces beyond the usual area until September .
The city also plans to temporarily close streets in tourist hotspots to give them extra space , including the iconic Marais district and Rue des Abbesses in Montmartre .
To ensure that the local residents can still get peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fulfil a 10-point charter that will have to be displayed in their windows , including closure at 10pm and provisions to allow pedestrians to pass freely .
“ Paris has to stand in solidarity with our restaurants and bars , ” Hidalgo told local paper Le Parisien on Sunday .
“ They are the soul of our city .
”

An essential part of life for a city renowned for its eating and drinking culture, Paris’s restaurants, cafés and bars will reopen on June 2, but only for seating outside – on the grounds that Covid-19 is believed to spread more easily inside.
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French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced on Thursday that cafés, bars and restaurants could reopen in Paris on June 2 in the second phase of easing the country’s lockdown. Tables are expected to be much further apart than usual to allow for social distancing, while establishments are banned from serving customers for eating or drinking inside.
In a city with a similar population density to that of Mumbai, restaurants, cafés and bars have long been seen as an integral part of Parisian life, allowing people to escape the confines of sometimes cramped apartments.
But their reopening is even more of a relief for Paris’ restaurateurs, who were hit hard by France’s two months of full-blown lockdown, which ended on May 11. They lost 90 percent of their turnover in April and around 70 percent in May, according to Pascal Brun, a consultant and former CEO of the Frères Blanc restaurant group.
Brun noted, however, that life will not return to normal for restaurant owners anytime soon. In light of social distancing requirements and the ban on serving people inside, proprietors will be able to “reconnect with customers, but they won’t make any money”, he told AFP.
“We’re in a hurry” to get things going again, said one restaurant manager in Paris’s central 2nd arrondissement (district), who gave her name as Ludivine. She told AFP that the restaurant’s losses during the lockdown amounted to “tens of thousands of euros”.
To ease the situation for restaurateurs, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s office will allow establishments to extend their terraces beyond the usual area until September. The city also plans to temporarily close streets in tourist hotspots to give them extra space, including the iconic Marais district and Rue des Abbesses in Montmartre.
To ensure that the local residents can still get peace and quiet, establishments will have to fulfil a 10-point charter that will have to be displayed in their windows, including closure at 10pm and provisions to allow pedestrians to pass freely.
“Paris has to stand in solidarity with our restaurants and bars,” Hidalgo told local paper Le Parisien on Sunday. “They are the soul of our city.”
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