france24--2020-02-04--French police clear last north Paris migrant camp ‘overrun by rats’

Handout by Paris police prefecture of the February 4 , 2020 clean-up of a migrant camp in northern Paris .
French police on Tuesday cleared the last migrant tent camp in northeast Paris , moving 427 people to shelters as part of a plan to take migrants off the streets .
The migrants , who included four women , were living in 266 tents and makeshift shelters in a canal-side camp `` strewn with waste and refuse , overrun by rats and giving off a pestilent and foul-smelling odour of urine and excrement '' , according to the authorities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ began at 6:00 am ( 0500 GMT ) and lasted two hours , the regional prefecture said .
Dozens of informal settlements have sprung up in recent years around the French capital .
Many of the migrants have their sights on the northern Channel port of Calais , a jump-off point for crossings to Britain .
The authorities regularly tear down the camps , saying they pose a health hazard .
Last week , police moved more than 1,400 migrants , including 93 children , from another camp in northern Paris .
Interior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all migrant camps from the city by the end of last year , in part by opening more shelters for asylum seekers but also by deporting those whose claims are rejected .
Police are being deployed to ensure migrants do not return to the razed camps or set up new ones .
`` We are not going to resume a never-ending cycle of evacuations followed by new installations , '' Paris police chief Didier Lallement said last week .
But critics say that unless the government provides long-term lodgings or the prospect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to the streets .
President Emmanuel Macron said last year that France must end its `` lax '' approach to immigration .

French police on Tuesday cleared the last migrant tent camp in northeast Paris, moving 427 people to shelters as part of a plan to take migrants off the streets.
Handout by Paris police prefecture of the February 4, 2020 clean-up of a migrant camp in northern Paris.
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The migrants, who included four women, were living in 266 tents and makeshift shelters in a canal-side camp "strewn with waste and refuse, overrun by rats and giving off a pestilent and foul-smelling odour of urine and excrement", according to the authorities.
The operation to tear down the camp began at 6:00 am (0500 GMT) and lasted two hours, the regional prefecture said.
#Paris19 | Fin de l'opération d'évacuation à la porte de la #Villette des campements qui mettaient en péril la salubrité des lieux et la sécurité des personnes, tant des occupants que des riverains. pic.twitter.com/OCNf4vBdus — Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) February 4, 2020
Dozens of informal settlements have sprung up in recent years around the French capital.
Many of the migrants have their sights on the northern Channel port of Calais, a jump-off point for crossings to Britain.
The authorities regularly tear down the camps, saying they pose a health hazard.
Last week, police moved more than 1,400 migrants, including 93 children, from another camp in northern Paris.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner had promised to clear all migrant camps from the city by the end of last year, in part by opening more shelters for asylum seekers but also by deporting those whose claims are rejected.
Police are being deployed to ensure migrants do not return to the razed camps or set up new ones.
"We are not going to resume a never-ending cycle of evacuations followed by new installations," Paris police chief Didier Lallement said last week.
But critics say that unless the government provides long-term lodgings or the prospect of legal residency, many migrants will just return to the streets.
President Emmanuel Macron said last year that France must end its "lax" approach to immigration.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-04--French company Sanofi investigated over epilepsy drug linked to birth defects

French healthcare company Sanofi said on Tuesday it was being investigated over Depakine , an epilepsy drug which caused birth malfunctions and slow neurological development when taken during pregnancy .
The Paris prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation into the authorisation and marketing of Depakine in October 2016 after French social affairs inspection agency IGAS criticised the slow response of French health authorities and Sanofi over the risks related to the drug and its derivatives .
Sanofi said in a statement that the indictment will allow it to defend itself and to `` prove it has always complied with its to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sodium valproate , the active molecule in the drug , has been on the market since 1967 to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder .
It features on the World Health Organization 's ( WHO ) list of `` essential medicines '' .
IGAS estimated that between 2006 and 2014 , 425 to 450 babies suffered congenital birth defects or were stillborn following exposure to Depakine .
Marine Martin , president of victims association APESAC , said on Twitter she was `` extremely satisfied to see the criminal proceedings she launched in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanofi will have to deal with the tens of thousands of poisoned victims , out of which more than a hundred died '' .
The French firm become aware of the risk of foetus malformation in the 1980s and then , around 2003 , of the drug 's impact on the neurological development of the foetus , with a risk of autism or learning difficulties .
Sanofi , which in January 2019 said that it would not take part in any compensation for Depakine , added it would continue to `` fully cooperate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` confident '' over the outcome of the procedure .
Its shares were up 0.6 % at 09h00 GMT on the Paris stock market , broadly in line with the pharmaceutical sector .
( REUTERS )

French healthcare company Sanofi said on Tuesday it was being investigated over Depakine, an epilepsy drug which caused birth malfunctions and slow neurological development when taken during pregnancy.
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The Paris prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation into the authorisation and marketing of Depakine in October 2016 after French social affairs inspection agency IGAS criticised the slow response of French health authorities and Sanofi over the risks related to the drug and its derivatives.
Sanofi said in a statement that the indictment will allow it to defend itself and to "prove it has always complied with its to duty to inform and been transparent".
Sodium valproate, the active molecule in the drug, has been on the market since 1967 to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It features on the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of "essential medicines".
IGAS estimated that between 2006 and 2014, 425 to 450 babies suffered congenital birth defects or were stillborn following exposure to Depakine.
Marine Martin, president of victims association APESAC, said on Twitter she was "extremely satisfied to see the criminal proceedings she launched in 2016 reach an important threshold".
"Sanofi will have to deal with the tens of thousands of poisoned victims, out of which more than a hundred died".
Ca y est enfin GRANDE VICTOIRE ✌ SANOFI MIS EN EXAMEN au PENAL ⛓dans le dossier de la DEPAKINE 💊
Ma détermination a payé on aura notre grand procès pénal !!!
Communiqué de Presse pic.twitter.com/PtfSlzdNYw — Marine Martin (@_MarineMartin) February 3, 2020
The French firm become aware of the risk of foetus malformation in the 1980s and then, around 2003, of the drug's impact on the neurological development of the foetus, with a risk of autism or learning difficulties.
Sanofi, which in January 2019 said that it would not take part in any compensation for Depakine, added it would continue to "fully cooperate with the judicial authorities", and was "confident" over the outcome of the procedure.
Its shares were up 0.6% at 09h00 GMT on the Paris stock market, broadly in line with the pharmaceutical sector.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-04--Iran blasts France’s calls to free two prominent jailed academics

Pressure from France to secure the release of two prominent French academics , Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal , who have been detained in Iran since June , is unproductive , Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday .
Responding to remarks over the weekend by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian , who called the detentions `` unacceptable , '' Mousavi said , `` I do n't think these kinds of comments and pressure will get them [ the French ] the results they want , '' the Iranian spokesman said at a Tehran press conference .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an expert on Shiite Islam with numerous publications on Iran and Afghanistan .
Marchal is a senior researchers with Sciences Po university in Paris specialised in East Africa .
Detained without trial in Iran since June , the two Sciences Po academics are charged with `` colluding to commit acts against national security '' .
France `` must let due process take its course '' , Mousavi said Monday , adding that the two prisoners were `` accused and guilty '' of security offences .
`` We understand some of the concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know themselves that the two ( prisoners ) are accorded all their legal rights , '' he said .
‘ Unacceptable ’ detention Appearing on a French current affairs show Sunday , Le Drian said `` Iran would make a strong gesture '' by freeing the two academics .
`` We know that they are not in great shape , not always well treated , '' the minister said .
`` We consider their detention unacceptable , we have told the highest authorities this , including President ( Hassan ) Rouhani . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ free Adelkhah and Marchal , Tehran regularly denounces what it calls interference in its domestic affairs .
Iran does not recognise dual nationality and has denied France consular access to Adelkhah .
But such visits are guaranteed to Marchal , Mousavi said .
Researchers as ‘ targets ’ of authoritarian governments On Friday , a committee supporting the detained pair said that Adelkhah 's health was `` alarming '' since she began a hunger strike on December 24 , while Marchal 's was `` very unstable '' .
Speaking at the forum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Po university , said researchers are increasingly becoming targets of authoritarian governments in the Middle East .
`` The risks now facing researchers in the Middle East are unprecedented , '' said Filiu .
`` It started with gunshots at the office of Malcolm Kerr , president of the American University of Beirut , who was murdered in 1984 by Hezbollah , already an arm of the Revolutionary Guards '' of Iran , said Filiu .
`` They were victims of the settling of scores by Iran with Washington and Paris . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of foreigners arrested in Iran during a spike in tensions between Tehran and Washington ’ s allies .
Iran has dropped espionage charges against Adelkhah but she still faces charges of spreading `` propaganda against the political system '' and `` conspiracy against national security '' .
Marchal is accused of `` collusion against national security '' , according to his lawyer .
Adelkhah has refused to return to her cell and held a sit-in in a public area of the prison over the last week , demanding to see Marchal `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his health '' , according to a committee of academics supporting the pair .
Adelkhah has requested access to Marchal , saying she has `` serious concerns '' about his health , the committee said .
Arrests of foreigners including dual nationals in Iran have increased since the United States pulled out a landmark nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions .
France and other European nations have tried to salvage the deal , but tensions soared further after the US killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani earlier this @ @

Pressure from France to secure the release of two prominent French academics, Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal, who have been detained in Iran since June, is unproductive, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday.
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Responding to remarks over the weekend by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who called the detentions "unacceptable," Mousavi said, "I don't think these kinds of comments and pressure will get them [the French] the results they want," the Iranian spokesman said at a Tehran press conference.
Adelkhah, a Franco-Iranian dual national, is an expert on Shiite Islam with numerous publications on Iran and Afghanistan. Marchal is a senior researchers with Sciences Po university in Paris specialised in East Africa.
Detained without trial in Iran since June, the two Sciences Po academics are charged with "colluding to commit acts against national security".
France "must let due process take its course", Mousavi said Monday, adding that the two prisoners were "accused and guilty" of security offences.
"We understand some of the concerns of our French friends, but they know themselves that the two (prisoners) are accorded all their legal rights," he said.
‘Unacceptable’ detention
Appearing on a French current affairs show Sunday, Le Drian said "Iran would make a strong gesture" by freeing the two academics.
"We know that they are not in great shape, not always well treated," the minister said.
"We consider their detention unacceptable, we have told the highest authorities this, including President (Hassan) Rouhani."
Faced with repeated demands from Paris to free Adelkhah and Marchal, Tehran regularly denounces what it calls interference in its domestic affairs.
Iran does not recognise dual nationality and has denied France consular access to Adelkhah. But such visits are guaranteed to Marchal, Mousavi said.
Researchers as ‘targets’ of authoritarian governments
On Friday, a committee supporting the detained pair said that Adelkhah's health was "alarming" since she began a hunger strike on December 24, while Marchal's was "very unstable".
Speaking at the forum, Jean-Pierre Filiu, a historian at Sciences Po university, said researchers are increasingly becoming targets of authoritarian governments in the Middle East.
"The risks now facing researchers in the Middle East are unprecedented," said Filiu. "It started with gunshots at the office of Malcolm Kerr, president of the American University of Beirut, who was murdered in 1984 by Hezbollah, already an arm of the Revolutionary Guards" of Iran, said Filiu. "They were victims of the settling of scores by Iran with Washington and Paris."
The two French researchers are among a number of foreigners arrested in Iran during a spike in tensions between Tehran and Washington’s allies.
Iran has dropped espionage charges against Adelkhah but she still faces charges of spreading "propaganda against the political system" and "conspiracy against national security".
Marchal is accused of "collusion against national security", according to his lawyer.
Adelkhah has refused to return to her cell and held a sit-in in a public area of the prison over the last week, demanding to see Marchal "to comfort him and check the state of his health", according to a committee of academics supporting the pair.
Adelkhah has requested access to Marchal, saying she has "serious concerns" about his health, the committee said.
Arrests of foreigners including dual nationals in Iran have increased since the United States pulled out a landmark nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions.
France and other European nations have tried to salvage the deal, but tensions soared further after the US killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani earlier this month.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-02-04--Franco-Israeli men accused of impersonating French minister go on trial for fraud

A group of men accused of using Skype and a silicone mask to extract tens of millions of euros from the rich and famous by impersonating a top French politician go on trial in Paris Tuesday .
Victims of the fake Jean-Yves Le Drian -- now foreign minister but then in charge of defence -- included billionaire spiritual leader , the Aga Khan , who parted with 20 million euros ( $ 22 million ) .
Starting in 2015 , the `` minister '' made calls by telephone and video link to more than 150 targets -- of whom three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds for a `` secret operation '' with a promise of repayment by the French state .
The money was often said to be for ransom payments or anti-terror operations .
`` I hope that justice will take its course and ensure that these crooks are punished as they should be , '' the real Le Drian told French media over the weekend , adding he was `` appalled '' and `` offended '' by the alleged abuse of his name .
Two Franco-Israeli suspects , Gilbert Chikli , 54 , and Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the masterminds of the group .
In 2015 , a French court convicted Chikli in absentia to seven years in prison for similar scams in 2005 and 2006 , in which he posed as the CEOs of different businesses .
On the run , he was arrested two years later with Lasarevitsch in Ukraine .
On their phones , police found pictures of a silicone mask of Prince Albert II of Monaco , suggesting another hoax was in the planning stages .
A total of seven men go on trial Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lasarevitsch , are charged over both the Le Drian scam and the suspected plot to target Prince Albert , while the seventh is charged solely over the alleged Monaco plot . '
I have a gift' Prosecutors say the Aga Khan , spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims , was conned by a Le Drian impersonator in 2016 and made five transfers for a total 20 million euros to Poland and China .
Three of the payments were frozen , but 7.7 million euros disappeared .
A few months later , Turkish business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wire more than $ 47 million ( 42 million euros ) for what he thought was ransom money for two journalists held hostage in Syria .
Others targeted , albeit unsuccessfully , included Gabon 's President Ali Bongo , French AIDS charity Sidaction , the CEO of the Lafarge cement company and the archbishop of Paris .
The phoney Le Drian even tried to convince the Tunisian government to buy four Airbus Tigre attack helicopters for 19 million euros ( $ 21 million ) .
But in an interview with French television in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was intrigued by the `` game '' of scamming .
`` You 've either got the gift or you have n't , it 's like famous actors .
When it comes to me , you can say that I have a gift , '' he said .
His story inspired a 2015 film , `` Je Compte Sur Vous '' ( I 'm Counting on You ) , with French actor Vincent Elbaz in the starring role .

A group of men accused of using Skype and a silicone mask to extract tens of millions of euros from the rich and famous by impersonating a top French politician go on trial in Paris Tuesday.
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Victims of the fake Jean-Yves Le Drian -- now foreign minister but then in charge of defence -- included billionaire spiritual leader, the Aga Khan, who parted with 20 million euros ($22 million).
Starting in 2015, the "minister" made calls by telephone and video link to more than 150 targets -- of whom three were successfully duped -- often to seek funds for a "secret operation" with a promise of repayment by the French state.
The money was often said to be for ransom payments or anti-terror operations.
"I hope that justice will take its course and ensure that these crooks are punished as they should be," the real Le Drian told French media over the weekend, adding he was "appalled" and "offended" by the alleged abuse of his name.
Two Franco-Israeli suspects, Gilbert Chikli, 54, and Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35, are thought to be the masterminds of the group.
In 2015, a French court convicted Chikli in absentia to seven years in prison for similar scams in 2005 and 2006, in which he posed as the CEOs of different businesses.
On the run, he was arrested two years later with Lasarevitsch in Ukraine. On their phones, police found pictures of a silicone mask of Prince Albert II of Monaco, suggesting another hoax was in the planning stages.
A total of seven men go on trial Tuesday.
Six of the defendants, including Chikli and Lasarevitsch, are charged over both the Le Drian scam and the suspected plot to target Prince Albert, while the seventh is charged solely over the alleged Monaco plot.
'I have a gift'
Prosecutors say the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, was conned by a Le Drian impersonator in 2016 and made five transfers for a total 20 million euros to Poland and China. Three of the payments were frozen, but 7.7 million euros disappeared.
A few months later, Turkish business magnate Inan Kirac was allegedly convinced to wire more than $47 million (42 million euros) for what he thought was ransom money for two journalists held hostage in Syria.
Others targeted, albeit unsuccessfully, included Gabon's President Ali Bongo, French AIDS charity Sidaction, the CEO of the Lafarge cement company and the archbishop of Paris.
The phoney Le Drian even tried to convince the Tunisian government to buy four Airbus Tigre attack helicopters for 19 million euros ($21 million).
Chikli and Lasarevitsch deny the charges.
But in an interview with French television in 2010 over previous scams, Chikli said he was intrigued by the "game" of scamming.
"You've either got the gift or you haven't, it's like famous actors. When it comes to me, you can say that I have a gift," he said.
His story inspired a 2015 film, "Je Compte Sur Vous" (I'm Counting on You), with French actor Vincent Elbaz in the starring role.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-03--Is bat soup a delicacy in China? We debunk a rumour on the origin of the coronavirus

`` This video has been misconstrued by certain people online who are intent on stoking the flames and stirring up a toxic panic [ … ] When the video was filmed , I had no idea that there was a virus ( ... ) .
The bats that you see in the video were raised by local people ; they weren ’ t wild .
People eat bats in many different countries across the globe ( ... ) `` , “ @ wuhan @ coronavirus is spreads [ sic ] through family ’ s chinese bat soup ” , reads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube on January 23 , which has since garnered more than 40,000 views .
The video shows a young woman holding a cooked bat in her hands before ripping it apart and eating it with a friend.The video was also circulated on other sites and garnered hundreds of thousands of views .
Many of the posts were followed by a flurry of hateful comments .
“ It makes sense that they have coronavirus , ” wrote one person on social media .
“ They eat everything except stone and wood.
” However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video that raised doubts on the claims that the video was filmed in Wuhan .
For example , at the end of the video , there is a scene showing a group of women dancing next to a pillar with the name “ Lighthouse Palau ” written on it.We searched for “ Lighthouse Palau ” in Google and quickly came across a hotel with the same name and a similar logo located in the island nation of Palau in the Pacific Ocean.The young woman who features in this video is Weng Mengyun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosts travel shows .
Weng took to the network Weibo on January 22 to respond to the wide circulation of the video .
In her post , she apologised to anyone who was shocked by her video and said that she should have mentioned that there are health risks to eating bat meat .
She said she had filmed the video in 2016 in Palau , and posted it online in 2016 or 2017 .
She said she was angry that the video had been associated with the coronavirus outbreak.The manager of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restaurant shown in this video and that it was called CC Taiyo.Weng ’ s post was widely cited by international media but there was quite a lot of confusion about it .
Articles published by News Australia Foreign Policy and the Sun shared excerpts from her post along with the wrong video [ see below ] , which shows another Chinese woman eating a soup made out of bat meat .

DEBUNKED
Screengrabs from videos circulating on social networks in late January 2020 with captions saying bat soup is eaten in China and could be a source of the Wuhan coronavirus.
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Videos of Asian people selling or eating bats have been circulating on social media since news broke of the coronavirus outbreak in China, with claims that bats are a possible origin of the new virus. The FRANCE 24 Observers team investigated six of the most-shared videos. Five were filmed outside China, in Palau and Indonesia. None of the videos had any documented link to the outbreak.
Some of the videos show people eating soup made from bat meat, while others claim to show the mammal for sale in the seafood market in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, which scientists have suggested as a possible source of the virus.
This tweet in French reads: "The Chinese in Hubei love to eat bats and other wild animals. They often share their dishes on social networks."
However, our team discovered that most of these videos were actually filmed either in the Pacific nation of Palau, or in Indonesia.
Video 1: A Chinese influencer enjoys a new dish… on a Pacific island in 2016
“@wuhan @coronavirus is spreads [sic] through family’s chinese bat soup”, reads the caption on this video posted on YouTube on January 23, which has since garnered more than 40,000 views. The video shows a young woman holding a cooked bat in her hands before ripping it apart and eating it with a friend.
The video was also circulated on other sites and garnered hundreds of thousands of views. Many of the posts were followed by a flurry of hateful comments. “It makes sense that they have coronavirus,” wrote one person on social media. “They eat everything except stone and wood.”
However, our team flagged a few details in the video that raised doubts on the claims that the video was filmed in Wuhan. For example, at the end of the video, there is a scene showing a group of women dancing next to a pillar with the name “Lighthouse Palau” written on it.
We searched for “Lighthouse Palau” in Google and quickly came across a hotel with the same name and a similar logo located in the island nation of Palau in the Pacific Ocean.
The young woman who features in this video is Weng Mengyun, a well-known Chinese influencer who often hosts travel shows. Weng took to the network Weibo on January 22 to respond to the wide circulation of the video. In her post, she apologised to anyone who was shocked by her video and said that she should have mentioned that there are health risks to eating bat meat. She said she had filmed the video in 2016 in Palau, and posted it online in 2016 or 2017. She said she was angry that the video had been associated with the coronavirus outbreak.
"This video has been misconstrued by certain people online who are intent on stoking the flames and stirring up a toxic panic […] When the video was filmed, I had no idea that there was a virus (...). The bats that you see in the video were raised by local people; they weren’t wild. People eat bats in many different countries across the globe (...)", Weng Mengyun wrote on Weibo Jan. 22, 2020.
The manager of a restaurant in Palau said that he recognised the restaurant shown in this video and that it was called CC Taiyo.
Weng’s post was widely cited by international media but there was quite a lot of confusion about it. Articles published by News Australia, Foreign Policy and the Sun shared excerpts from her post along with the wrong video [see below], which shows another Chinese woman eating a soup made out of bat meat.
Video 2: A student at the University of Wuhan eats a bat on China's TikTok
Another video, posted by the Hong Kong news site Apple Daily on January 23, shows a young woman tucking into bat meat soup in a restaurant. The news site hypothesized that bats might be the source of the virus. “Eating bats is out of the ordinary in China but it’s nothing new for Wuhan residents”, the post reads.
The video went viral on social media and was picked up by several media outlets known for sensationalist content including the Daily Mail and Russia Today. Both outlets published articles with headlines indicating that scientists had made a connection between the deadly coronavirus and bats. In truth, bats are considered to be a potential carrier of the virus, but nothing has been established yet.
Several reputed media outlets, like the French version of the Vice news website, also wrote about the video. The original title for the Vice article was “Bat soup, responsible for coronavirus” [Or, in French, “la soupe de chauve-souris, responsable du coronavirus”] although it was later modified.
People took to both Instagram and Facebook to express their disgust at the idea of eating bats. Some claimed that certain Chinese people eat raw bat meat.
If you look at the bottom right corner of the video, you’ll see the logo of the Douyin social media platform (the version of TikTok available inside China) and the handle “77maddie777”.
We found the Douyin account of the person who posted this video (“木タ木琪77”). In her profile, she says she is a student at the University of Wuhan. When we checked her account on January 28, we saw that she had deleted all her posts. She had also added a phrase to her profile, reading “Stop being idiots; these videos are from last summer”; She posted the same message on Touitao, another social media network, along with a screengrab from the video in question.
At left, the Douyin profile of the young woman; at right, her profile on Touitao.
So, the video does show a young Chinese woman eating bat meat. However, the student didn’t specify where the video was filmed. In the video, she is wearing casual clothes and her reference to the fact that the video was filmed “last summer” makes it likely that she made the video while on vacation, but it is not clear where.
However, the dish that she is eating does look like the bat meat soup traditionally served in Palau, where many Chinese tourists vacation. The bat is served whole in a broth. When you’ve finished the broth, you skin the animal yourself or get assistance from a waiter. The young woman likely filmed the video before digging out the bat meat.
Our team reached out to the young woman featured in the video to find out when and where the video was filmed but, for the time being, we haven’t received a response.
Video 3: A close-up of bat soup
Some video montages compiling different videos of people eating bats have also been circulating online.
This next video features in a lot of the same montages as the previous one. This one is a close-up of a bowl of broth with a bat in the middle. This video was shared widely-- it garnered more than four million views on Twitter and was picked up by several media outlets as well as Chinese lawyer Chen Qiushi, who is known for being fiercely critical of the government.
Because the dish in this video closely resembles the bat soup served in Palau, our team showed this video to the restaurant manager on the island.
He said that he recognised the table in the video and that he was sure that it was filmed at a restaurant called Seafood House in Palau. Our team searched the terms “palau restaurant” in the Chinese search engine Baidu and it pulled up about a dozen photos of various local dishes (including bats) being served on a similar table to the one in the close-up video (round, with a raised part in the middle and a white tablecloth with black edging).
Our team contacted the manager of Seafood House but he declined to say whether the video was filmed in his restaurant.
Video 4: A man tries bat soup… in yet another restaurant in Palau
Vidéo posted on Weibo, Jan. 26, 2020.
Another video was widely circulated on Chinese social media network Weibo along with the caption, “In the seafood market in Huanan [Editor’s note: an area of Wuhan], there are lots of bats to eat that carry coronavirus”. This post was viewed more than 80,000 times.
The video in question shows a man sitting in a restaurant. Nothing about it suggests it was filmed in a market. He cuts up the bat before eating, explaining the best procedure as he goes. He says that bat meat is similar to duck meat.
This video was also posted on Instagram by the user @coronavirusdaily along with the caption “Bat restaurant, bat meat in #China”. This post was viewed more than 7,000 times before being taken down.
The decoration in the restaurant in the video looks like that of a well-known restaurant in Palau. We ran a search with the keywords “palau” and “bat” and “restaurant” in Chinese on the Chinese search engine Baidu and pulled up several photos posted by Chinese bloggers who went to Palau.
When we looked at a few of these photos, we immediately saw that the table, plates, floor and murals on the wall were the same as those in the video.
The two screengrabs on left are taken from the video showing a man eating bat soup. The two images on the right are from Chinese blogs documenting trips to Palau.
Video 5: A Filipino couple on vacation in Wuhan? Nope, YouTubers in Palau
Another video that was widely circulated on social media shows a man and a woman eating a bat while speaking together in Tagalog, the language spoken in the Philippines. “Filipinos eat bat soup in Wuhan and could be infected”, reads the caption on one of the postings of this video.
Several different Filipino Facebook pages shared the video and got hundreds of thousands of views. Quite a few of these posts included racist comments about either Chinese people or Fillipinos.
We ran screengrabs of this video through a reverse image search (click here to find out how) and pulled up several postings of this video. The earliest post that we pulled up (“Fruit bat soup. Traditional soup in Palau”) was uploaded to YouTube in July 2019 by the Filipino couple who filmed it. They recently uploaded another video apologising for sharing a “shocking” video.
Video 6: The bat section in the Wuhan market? Nope, this video was filmed in Indonesia
This final video shows a market where bat meat is seen being sold. The Instagram account @coronavirusdaily posted the video, claiming that it was filmed in a market in Wuhan. The video was subsequently taken down , but another version of the same video was posted on Twitter and garnered more than 10,000 views.
We took screengrabs of the video and ran them through a reverse image search on Yandex. We pulled up several similar videos that were all filmed in Indonesia. We then searched the key words “Indonesia” and “bats” in English on YouTube and found the original video, which was published by the well-known YouTube channel Travel Thirsty.
This video, posted online in November 2019, was filmed in a market in the Indonesian town of Manado.
Eating bat meat is “culturally unacceptable” in China
After seeing these videos, many social network users apparently believed that Chinese people have a culture of eating bats, which have a reputation for carrying illnesses and viruses. Some media outlets reported that bats were prized for their meat by some Chinese consumers.
However, our team reached out to several specialists in Chinese culinary traditions, who all said that people in China don’t tend to eat bat meat.
Guansheng Ma is the director of Nutrition and Gastronomy at the University of Beijing.
According to our research, eating bat meat is more than rare in China. It’s actually unacceptable in Chinese culture.
Our Observer Lu Haitao grew up in Wuhan but now lives in Beijing. He agreed.
I have never seen bat meat for sale in markets or restaurants in Wuhan or elsewhere in China. I’ve also never heard anyone talk about eating it. For me, eating bat meat is both inconceivable and disgusting.
William Chan Tat Chuen, an expert in Chinese cuisine, is the author of a book about exchanges between French and Chinese culinary traditions. He agreed with our other Observers, though he did say that bat excremement is occasionally used in Chinese medicine:
Chinese medicine uses bat excrement to improve patients’ vision and to treat dysentery, hemorrhages and diarrhea. It is often mixed into rice porridge or made into a kind of tea. However, I don’t know anyone who has actually used this treatment. Similarly, none of my Chinese friends or family eat bat meat. Chinese medicine doesn’t say anything about eating it. That said, people in China have a different vision of bats than people in Europe. In China, bats represent happiness and people aren’t disgusted by them.
A traditional dish in the Pacific, a vacation destination for many Chinese tourists
Quite a few Chinese tourists were filmed sampling bat meat in Palau in Micronesia. However, according to the manager of a local restaurant, most Chinese tourists are disturbed when, after ordering, they see what the dish actually looks like:
We have Chinese visitors but most of them want to sample seafood. When they see the bat soup, most of them are actually horrified and very few can eat it calmly.
The restaurant manager says that he doesn’t believe eating the soup is dangerous because it has been consumed in Palau for hundreds of years without anything like coronavirus emerging.
Article written by Liselotte Mas


france24--2020-02-03--FGM kills 12-year-old in Egypt as illegal practice resists eradication

The arrest of the parents of a 12-year-old Egyptian girl who died after undergoing genital mutilation and the doctor who performed the procedure highlight the difficulty of eradicating the increasingly medicalised felony practice .
A 12-year-old girl died in the Assiut governance of Upper Egypt last week due to complications she suffered after a retired doctor removed part of her genitals , a practice known as female genital mutilation ( FGM ) , also sometimes referred to as female circumcision .
“ The doctor tried to save her but she passed away , ” the public prosecutor ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , vowing “ firm action ” against anyone carrying out the procedure in the future .
The girl ’ s aunt was also detained .
FGM was outlawed in Egypt in 2008 and was upgraded to a felony in 2016 after a 17-year-old girl bled to death .
The updated law mandates jail sentences of up to seven years for those who carry out the procedure and up to three years for anyone requesting it .
Religious leaders have also said genital cutting is forbidden .
The government regularly runs public service campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but instead of curbing the practice the campaigns have prompted parents to turn to medical personnel to do it , the United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) said in November .
“ About 75 per cent of female genital mutilation in the country is performed by doctors , ” FGM expert Dr. Ayman Sadek said in the UNFPA statement .
The medicalisation of FGM brings with it a new set of challenges , lending the appearance of legitimacy and safety despite the practice having no medical benefits and significant risks—including haemorrhage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childbirth .
Indeed , the girl in Assiut , whom local news sources identified as Nada Abdul Maksoud , underwent the procedure in a clinic where it was performed by a retired doctor .
Parents and practitioners are often not punished for the crime , activists say , but in Maksoud ’ s case women ’ s rights groups expressed outrage and pushed authorities to take action .
FGM generally involves the removal of the labia but can also include sewing up the vaginal opening and cutting or removing the clitoris .
Diminishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way to assure that girls remain pure .
In rural areas in Egypt , husbands ask that their young brides undergo the procedure before marriage .
More than 40 percent of respondents in a 2014 survey said they believed the practice prevents women from committing adultery .
Egypt continues to have one of the highest rates of FGM in the world , with 87 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 having been genitally cut , according to a 2016 survey by UNICEF .
Reda Eldanbouki , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centre for Guidance and Legal Awareness , said that judges and police often treat the perpetrators of FGM cases with leniency .
“ Most of them do not take the cases seriously because they believe that it is for the benefit of the girl to undergo female circumcision for the protection of her chastity , ” he said .
Despite the most recent prosecution , authorities have largely failed to take clear measures that would eliminate FGM .
For starters , the law has loopholes , according to Eldanbouki , criminalising the practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical justification .
“ This clause opens the door to parents as well as physicians to claim that they were not conducting female circumcision but simply removing allegedly discomforting skin growth , ” he said .
Until authorities on all levels take the crime more seriously , little is likely to change , activist say .
“ Many more Egyptian girls will be forced to undergo the procedure , and many of them will die — as long as there is no clear strategy from the state and a true criminalisation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing director of Tadwein Gender Research Center .
Globally , at least 200 million women have been subjected to FGM , according to UNICEF .
FGM is prevalent in 30 countries , in which at least 30 percent of girls under the age 15 have been cut , according to United Nations statistics .
The UN hopes to eradicate the practice by 2030 .
February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation .

The arrest of the parents of a 12-year-old Egyptian girl who died after undergoing genital mutilation and the doctor who performed the procedure highlight the difficulty of eradicating the increasingly medicalised felony practice.
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A 12-year-old girl died in the Assiut governance of Upper Egypt last week due to complications she suffered after a retired doctor removed part of her genitals, a practice known as female genital mutilation (FGM), also sometimes referred to as female circumcision.
“The doctor tried to save her but she passed away,” the public prosecutor’s office said in a statement issued late Thursday, vowing “firm action” against anyone carrying out the procedure in the future. The girl’s aunt was also detained.
FGM was outlawed in Egypt in 2008 and was upgraded to a felony in 2016 after a 17-year-old girl bled to death. The updated law mandates jail sentences of up to seven years for those who carry out the procedure and up to three years for anyone requesting it. Religious leaders have also said genital cutting is forbidden.
The government regularly runs public service campaigns to warn of the danger of FGM, but instead of curbing the practice the campaigns have prompted parents to turn to medical personnel to do it, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said in November. “About 75 per cent of female genital mutilation in the country is performed by doctors,” FGM expert Dr. Ayman Sadek said in the UNFPA statement.
The medicalisation of FGM brings with it a new set of challenges, lending the appearance of legitimacy and safety despite the practice having no medical benefits and significant risks—including haemorrhage, chronic urinary problems and complications in childbirth.
Indeed, the girl in Assiut, whom local news sources identified as Nada Abdul Maksoud, underwent the procedure in a clinic where it was performed by a retired doctor.
Parents and practitioners are often not punished for the crime, activists say, but in Maksoud’s case women’s rights groups expressed outrage and pushed authorities to take action.
FGM generally involves the removal of the labia but can also include sewing up the vaginal opening and cutting or removing the clitoris. Diminishing sexual pleasure, it is viewed as a way to assure that girls remain pure. In rural areas in Egypt, husbands ask that their young brides undergo the procedure before marriage. More than 40 percent of respondents in a 2014 survey said they believed the practice prevents women from committing adultery.
Egypt continues to have one of the highest rates of FGM in the world, with 87 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49 having been genitally cut, according to a 2016 survey by UNICEF.
Reda Eldanbouki, executive director of the Women’s Centre for Guidance and Legal Awareness, said that judges and police often treat the perpetrators of FGM cases with leniency. “Most of them do not take the cases seriously because they believe that it is for the benefit of the girl to undergo female circumcision for the protection of her chastity,” he said.
Despite the most recent prosecution, authorities have largely failed to take clear measures that would eliminate FGM. For starters, the law has loopholes, according to Eldanbouki, criminalising the practice only in cases where there is no medical justification. “This clause opens the door to parents as well as physicians to claim that they were not conducting female circumcision but simply removing allegedly discomforting skin growth,” he said.
Until authorities on all levels take the crime more seriously, little is likely to change, activist say. “Many more Egyptian girls will be forced to undergo the procedure, and many of them will die — as long as there is no clear strategy from the state and a true criminalisation of the practice,” said Amel Fahmy, managing director of Tadwein Gender Research Center.
Globally, at least 200 million women have been subjected to FGM, according to UNICEF. FGM is prevalent in 30 countries, in which at least 30 percent of girls under the age 15 have been cut, according to United Nations statistics. The UN hopes to eradicate the practice by 2030. February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
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france24--2020-02-03--French police shoot knife assailant who entered police station in eastern France

Gendarmes control the access to the gendarmerie headquarters of Dieuze , eastern France , on February 3 , 2020 , after a man was shot by a gendarme after attacking him with a knife .
- The gendarme was lightly wounded in the arm by the attacker , a 19-year-old serviceman .
Police shot and wounded a man armed with a knife after he attacked officers inside a police barracks in eastern France on Monday .
Shortly before the knifeman struck the police facility in Dieuze , near Metz , the local police operations centre received warning that an atrocity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Islamic State , French news agency AFP quoted the local prosecutor as saying .
`` We must relate the facts to a call received by the operational center of the gendarmerie shortly before , in which an individual declared that he was a soldier , that there was going to be carnage in Dieuze and that he was a member of Islamic State , '' prosecutor Christian Mercuri was quoted as telling a news conference in the area .
Several hours after the attack , there had been no claims of responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antiterrorist prosecutor was not investigating the case at this stage .
The knifeman wounded one officer in the hand before he was shot and later taken to hospital , a spokesman for the gendarmerie said .
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner praised the cool response of the officers who accosted the attacker .
The incident in Dieuze will raise further questions over security at police facilities .
In October , an information technology assistant at the police headquarters in central Paris went on a knife rampage inside the building , killing four people before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ converted to Islam a decade earlier .
In Britain on Monday , Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would act to stop the early release of convicted terrorists from jail after an Islamist militant stabbed two people in a street attack in south London .
Paris has suffered major attacks by Islamist militants in recent years .
Coordinated bombings and shootings in November 2015 at the Bataclan theatre and other sites around Paris killed 130 people - the deadliest attacks in France since World War Two .

Police shot and wounded a man armed with a knife after he attacked officers inside a police barracks in eastern France on Monday.
Gendarmes control the access to the gendarmerie headquarters of Dieuze, eastern France, on February 3, 2020, after a man was shot by a gendarme after attacking him with a knife. - The gendarme was lightly wounded in the arm by the attacker, a 19-year-old serviceman.
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Shortly before the knifeman struck the police facility in Dieuze, near Metz, the local police operations centre received warning that an atrocity was to be committed in the name of Islamic State, French news agency AFP quoted the local prosecutor as saying.
"We must relate the facts to a call received by the operational center of the gendarmerie shortly before, in which an individual declared that he was a soldier, that there was going to be carnage in Dieuze and that he was a member of Islamic State," prosecutor Christian Mercuri was quoted as telling a news conference in the area.
Several hours after the attack, there had been no claims of responsibility. A judicial source said the national antiterrorist prosecutor was not investigating the case at this stage.
The knifeman wounded one officer in the hand before he was shot and later taken to hospital, a spokesman for the gendarmerie said.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner praised the cool response of the officers who accosted the attacker.
The incident in Dieuze will raise further questions over security at police facilities.
In October, an information technology assistant at the police headquarters in central Paris went on a knife rampage inside the building, killing four people before he was shot dead. He had converted to Islam a decade earlier.
In Britain on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would act to stop the early release of convicted terrorists from jail after an Islamist militant stabbed two people in a street attack in south London.
Paris has suffered major attacks by Islamist militants in recent years.
Coordinated bombings and shootings in November 2015 at the Bataclan theatre and other sites around Paris killed 130 people - the deadliest attacks in France since World War Two.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: France reports record 418 fatalities in 24 hours, death toll surpasses 3000

An Emergency Medical Aid Service ( SAMU ) van transporting a Covid-19 affected patient arrives at the Centre hospitalier de @ @ @ @ @ , France on March 29 , 2020 .
French health authorities reported 418 new deaths @ @ @ @ @ taking the total to 3,024 or an increase of 16 % , France becoming the @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 fatalities threshold after China , Italy , and Spain .
The daily government tally @ @ @ @ @ in hospital but authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on @ @ @ @ @ which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities .
French health @ @ @ @ @ a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 44,550 , a rise @ @ @ @ @ hours .
Salomon said 5,107 people were in a serious condition needing life support , @ @ @ @ @ Monday , an increase speeding up again after slowing for two days .

French health authorities reported 418 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday, taking the total to 3,024 or an increase of 16 percent, making France the fourth country to cross the 3,000 fatalities threshold after China, Italy and Spain.
An ambulance transporting a COVID-19 patient arrives at the Cote Basque Hospital in Bayonne, France, on March 29, 2020.
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The daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes, which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities.
Health agency director Jérôme Salomon told a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 44,550, a rise of 11 percent in 24 hours.
However, the actual number could be much higher as only those deemed at high risk are currently being tested.
According to Salomon, the most reliable indicator of the virus's spread is the daily admissions to hospital and intensive care.
"From the end of this week, we should have less people who are arriving at hospital and going into intensive care," he said.
Salomon said 5,107 people were in a serious condition needing life support, up 10 percent compared to Monday, an increase speeding up again after slowing for two days.
France has been in lockdown since March 17 in a bid to slow the spread of the epidemic and officials have repeatedly warned it will take time for the measures to bear fruit.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--'Growth of coronavirus slowing down in Italy's Lombardy,' regional VP tells FRANCE 24

In an interview with FRANCE 24 , Fabrizio Sala , the vice president of Italy 's Lombardy region , discussed the deadly coronavirus outbreak in his region , the epicentre of the pandemic in Italy .
He sounded an optimistic note , saying `` we have less people in our hospitals than other days '' and said he was considering a partial resumption of economic activity `` after April '' .
In Italy , more than 10,000 people have died from Covid-19 and more than half of the victims were in Lombardy .
`` More than 6,000 people have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Italy 's northern Lombardy region , told FRANCE 24 .
`` Around 40,000 people are now infected '' by the virus in the region , he added .
Northern Italy is one of the epicentres of the Covid-19 pandemic and authorities there decided to close schools , bars and other public places in a string of towns back on February 21 .
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte later placed the whole country on lockdown on March 9 in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus , with only essential businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures are bearing fruit .
`` The growth of the virus is slowing down , '' he told FRANCE 24 ’ s Marc Perelman .
`` We have less people in our hospitals than other days .
So in the future the situation is positive . ''
Sala also said he was mulling a `` very slow '' reopening of the economy `` after April '' .
`` We are studying how to open because we will be able to open only ( with ) some kind of people , and only some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he explained .

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Fabrizio Sala, the vice president of Italy's Lombardy region, discussed the deadly coronavirus outbreak in his region, the epicentre of the pandemic in Italy. He sounded an optimistic note, saying "we have less people in our hospitals than other days" and said he was considering a partial resumption of economic activity "after April".
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In Italy, more than 10,000 people have died from Covid-19 and more than half of the victims were in Lombardy. "More than 6,000 people have died," Fabrizio Sala, the vice president of Italy's northern Lombardy region, told FRANCE 24. "Around 40,000 people are now infected" by the virus in the region, he added.
Northern Italy is one of the epicentres of the Covid-19 pandemic and authorities there decided to close schools, bars and other public places in a string of towns back on February 21. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte later placed the whole country on lockdown on March 9 in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus, with only essential businesses remaining open.
Sala believes the lockdown measures are bearing fruit. "The growth of the virus is slowing down," he told FRANCE 24’s Marc Perelman. "We have less people in our hospitals than other days. So in the future the situation is positive."
Sala also said he was mulling a "very slow" reopening of the economy "after April". "We are studying how to open because we will be able to open only (with) some kind of people, and only some kind of jobs and so on," he explained.
>> Italy coronavirus death toll tops 10,000 despite lockdown
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france24--2020-03-30--Israel's Netanyahu tests negative for coronavirus, remains in isolation

File image of the acting Israeli Prime Minister , Benjamin Netanyahu , who tested negative for the coronavirus on March @ @ @ @ @ Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tested negative for the coronavirus on Monday after a parliamentary aide was @ @ @ @ @ virus , though the 70-year-old leader would remain in isolation , a spokesman said .
@ @ @ @ @ Twitter that Netanyahu , his family and staff all tested negative , but `` he @ @ @ @ @ instructions are issued by the Ministry of Health '' .
Israel 's Health Ministry regulations @ @ @ @ @ anyone deemed to have been in proximity to a carrier , with the duration reduced @ @ @ @ @ that have passed since the suspected exposure .
Israeli media said the infected aide had @ @ @ @ @ session last week attended by Netanyahu as well as opposition lawmakers with whom he is @ @ @ @ @ coalition government to help address the coronavirus crisis .
An Israeli official said Netanyahu has @ @ @ @ @ holding most meetings by video-conference .

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tested negative for the coronavirus on Monday after a parliamentary aide was confirmed to be carrying the virus, though the 70-year-old leader would remain in isolation, a spokesman said.
File image of the acting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who tested negative for the coronavirus on March 30 2020.
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Spokesman Ofir Gendelman said on Twitter that Netanyahu, his family and staff all tested negative, but "he will remain quarantined until further instructions are issued by the Ministry of Health".
PM Netanyahu's, his family's and staff's #coronavirus tests all came back negative. However, he will remain quarantined until further instructions are issued by the ministry of health. — Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) March 30, 2020
Israel's Health Ministry regulations generally require 14-day self-isolation for anyone deemed to have been in proximity to a carrier, with the duration reduced for the number of days that have passed since the suspected exposure.
Israeli media said the infected aide had been present at a parliament session last week attended by Netanyahu as well as opposition lawmakers with whom he is trying to build an emergency coalition government to help address the coronavirus crisis.
Israel has reported 4,695 cases and 16 fatalities.
An Israeli official said Netanyahu has been following medical advice and holding most meetings by video-conference.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--Spain’s health crisis chief tests positive for coronavirus as infections top China’s

Mayor of Barcelona , Spain , Ada Colau , right , visits a section of the Vall d'Hebron Hospital for coronavirus patients in the city .
Spain ’ s health emergency chief Fernando Simon tested positive for coronavirus , health officials said Monday , as the number of confirmed cases rose to 85,195 , surpassing China ’ s infection tally .
Simon , who led the country 's response to the coronavirus epidemic and maintained regular contact with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez , tested positive for the virus , health official Maria Jose Sierra told a news conference on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday became the third country to surpass China in infections after the United States and Italy .
Sierra announced she was replacing Simon as head of Spain ’ s centre for health emergencies and said some 12,298 health workers had tested positive for coronavirus in Spain , equivalent to around 14 percent of the country 's confirmed cases .
With a population of only 47 million to China 's 1.4 billion , Spain ’ s number of infections reached 85,195 , a rise of 8 percent from the previous day .
Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 24 hours , raising its overall fatalities from the virus to 7,340 , according to health ministry figures .
It was the first decline in the number of deaths in a 24-hour period since Thursday in Spain , which has the world 's second-most-deadly outbreak after Italy .
Spain recorded 838 virus deaths on Sunday .
Officials have pointed to a slower growth rate for both deaths and confirmed cases and expressed hope that the peak of the outbreak was approaching .
Sanchez on Saturday announced even stricter lockdown measures , forcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next two weeks .

Spain’s health emergency chief Fernando Simon tested positive for coronavirus, health officials said Monday, as the number of confirmed cases rose to 85,195, surpassing China’s infection tally.
Mayor of Barcelona, Spain, Ada Colau, right, visits a section of the Vall d'Hebron Hospital for coronavirus patients in the city.
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Simon, who led the country's response to the coronavirus epidemic and maintained regular contact with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, tested positive for the virus, health official Maria Jose Sierra told a news conference on Monday.
The announcement came as Spain on Monday became the third country to surpass China in infections after the United States and Italy.
Sierra announced she was replacing Simon as head of Spain’s centre for health emergencies and said some 12,298 health workers had tested positive for coronavirus in Spain, equivalent to around 14 percent of the country's confirmed cases.
With a population of only 47 million to China's 1.4 billion, Spain’s number of infections reached 85,195, a rise of 8 percent from the previous day. Spain also reported 812 new deaths in the last 24 hours, raising its overall fatalities from the virus to 7,340, according to health ministry figures.
It was the first decline in the number of deaths in a 24-hour period since Thursday in Spain, which has the world's second-most-deadly outbreak after Italy. Spain recorded 838 virus deaths on Sunday.
Officials have pointed to a slower growth rate for both deaths and confirmed cases and expressed hope that the peak of the outbreak was approaching.
Sanchez on Saturday announced even stricter lockdown measures, forcing all non-essential workers to stay home for the next two weeks.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--‘Our lives in lockdown’: How the French are dealing with social isolation

France has been under lockdown since March 17 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic .
From keeping fit to learning how @ @ @ @ @ : FRANCE 24 spoke to people across France , in lockdown since March 17 , @ @ @ @ @ are coping with home confinement amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
Like three billion people across @ @ @ @ @ France have been told to stay indoors to stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Pauline and the Santi family come from a range of backgrounds – Anhe lives alone @ @ @ @ @ no outdoor space while Pauline is one of five people staying at her mother ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
But all have found ways to make the best of being confined to their @ @ @ @ @ upsides to life in lockdown .

From keeping fit to learning how to cook or play guitar: FRANCE 24 spoke to people across France, in lockdown since March 17, to find out how they are coping with home confinement amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
France has been under lockdown since March 17 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Like three billion people across the planet, people in France have been told to stay indoors to stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Anhe, Myriam, Pauline and the Santi family come from a range of backgrounds – Anhe lives alone in his Paris apartment with no outdoor space while Pauline is one of five people staying at her mother’s home in the suburbs.
But all have found ways to make the best of being confined to their homes and have even found upsides to life in lockdown.
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france24--2020-03-30--Putin and Trump hold talks on coronavirus and plunging oil prices

US President Donald Trump and Russia 's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the @ @ @ @ @ Germany , on July 7 , 2017 .
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday discussed @ @ @ @ @ with US President Donald Trump , with the two agreeing on `` consultations '' about @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The heads of state expressed serious concern regarding the scope of the @ @ @ @ @ the world , '' the Kremlin said in a statement .
They `` discussed closer @ @ @ @ @ '' on the coronavirus response , it said , without giving details .
Trump and @ @ @ @ @ on the current state of the global oil market .
They arranged for Russia-US consultations @ @ @ @ @ their respective energy ministers .
The oil prices crashed earlier this month after a collapse @ @ @ @ @ and Moscow , unleashing a price war .
Trump earlier Monday said he was also @ @ @ @ @ lifting of US sanctions .

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday discussed closer cooperation on the coronavirus with US President Donald Trump, with the two agreeing on "consultations" about oil prices, the Kremlin said.
US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017.
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"The heads of state expressed serious concern regarding the scope of the spread of the coronavirus in the world," the Kremlin said in a statement.
They "discussed closer cooperation between the two countries" on the coronavirus response, it said, without giving details.
Trump and Putin also "exchanged opinions on the current state of the global oil market. They arranged for Russia-US consultations on this subject" through their respective energy ministers.
The oil prices crashed earlier this month after a collapse of talks between Saudi-led OPEC and Moscow, unleashing a price war.
Trump earlier Monday said he was also expecting Putin to request the lifting of US sanctions.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-30--UK coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,400 as Prince Charles leaves isolation

A woman wearing a protective face mask walks past a poster of Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson , as the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues , Manchester , Britain , March 30 , 2020 .
The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the United Kingdom rose to 1,408 , according to figures released on Monday .
This was a daily increase of 180 , a smaller rise than the previous set of numbers .
The figures were accurate up to 5pm local time ( 1600 GMT ) on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22,141 positive cases as of 9am local time ( 0800 GMT ) on March 30 , the health ministry said .
The new figures came as British heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles , who had tested positive for coronavirus , emerged out of seven-day self-isolation on Monday .
His spokesman said he was in good health .
Last week , his Clarence House office revealed that Charles , 71 , had been tested after displaying mild symptoms of the virus and had been in self-isolation at his Birkhall home in Scotland , where he continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Queen Elizabeth , who left London for Windsor Castle on March 19 along with her 98-year-old husband , Philip , is in good health .

The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the United Kingdom rose to 1,408, according to figures released on Monday. This was a daily increase of 180, a smaller rise than the previous set of numbers.
A woman wearing a protective face mask walks past a poster of Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Manchester, Britain, March 30, 2020.
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The figures were accurate up to 5pm local time (1600 GMT) on March 29.
There were a total of 22,141 positive cases as of 9am local time (0800 GMT) on March 30, the health ministry said.
The new figures came as British heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, who had tested positive for coronavirus, emerged out of seven-day self-isolation on Monday. His spokesman said he was in good health.
Last week, his Clarence House office revealed that Charles, 71, had been tested after displaying mild symptoms of the virus and had been in self-isolation at his Birkhall home in Scotland, where he continued to work.
Buckingham Palace has previously said that Queen Elizabeth, who left London for Windsor Castle on March 19 along with her 98-year-old husband, Philip, is in good health.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--Tokyo Olympics, postponed due to coronavirus pandemic, to open in July 2021

The Olympic rings at an entrance of the Japan Olympic Museum in Tokyo on March 24 , 2020 .
The organizers said on March 30 that the opening ceremony would take place on July 23 , 2021 , one year , almost to the day , after they were originally scheduled to begin .
The Tokyo Olympics will open next year in the same time slot scheduled for this year 's games .
Tokyo organizers said Monday the opening ceremony would take place on July 23 , 2021 – almost exactly one year after the games were due to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the games is key to preparing for the games , ” Tokyo organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori said .
“ This will only accelerate our progress.
” Last week , the IOC and Japanese organizers postponed the Olympics until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic .
This year 's games were scheduled to open on July 24 and close on Aug. 9 .
But the near exact one-year delay will see the rescheduled closing ceremony on Aug. 8 .
There had been talk of switching the Olympics to spring , a move that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's famous cherry blossoms .
But it would also clash with European soccer and North American sports leagues .
After holding out for weeks , local organizers and the IOC last week postponed the Tokyo Games under pressure from athletes , national Olympic bodies and sports federations .
It 's the first postponement in Olympic history , though there were several cancellations during wartime .
The Paralympics were rescheduled to Aug. 24-Sept. 5 .
Rescheduling to cost in the billions Both Mori and CEO Toshiro Muto have said the cost of rescheduling would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimate billions of dollars – with most of the expenses borne by Japanese taxpayers .
Muto promised transparency in calculating the costs , and testing times deciding how they are divided up .
“ Since it ( the Olympics ) were scheduled for this summer , all the venues had given up hosting any other events during this time , so how do we approach that ?
” Muto asked .
`` In addition , there will need to be guarantees when we book the new dates , and there is a possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be costs incurred and we will need to consider them one by one .
I think that will be the tougher process.
” Katsuhiro Miyamoto , an emeritus professor of sports economics at Kansai University , put the costs as high as $ 4 billion .
That would cover the price of maintaining stadiums , refitting them , paying rentals , penalties and other expenses .
Japan is officially spending $ 12.6 billion to organize the Olympics .
However , an audit bureau of the Japanese government says the costs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending is public money except $ 5.6 billion from a privately funded operating budget .
The Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee is contributing $ 1.3 billion , according to organizing committee documents .
The IOC 's contribution goes into the operating budget .
IOC President Thomas Bach has repeatedly called the Tokyo Olympics the best prepared in history .
However , Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso also termed them “ cursed.
” Aso competed in shooting in the 1976 Olympics , and was born in 1940 .
The Olympics planned for 1940 in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The run-up to these Olympics also saw IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda , who also headed the Japanese Olympic Committee , forced to resign last year amid a bribery scandal .

The Tokyo Olympics will open next year in the same time slot scheduled for this year's games.
The Olympic rings at an entrance of the Japan Olympic Museum in Tokyo on March 24, 2020. The organizers said on March 30 that the opening ceremony would take place on July 23, 2021, one year, almost to the day, after they were originally scheduled to begin.
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Tokyo organizers said Monday the opening ceremony would take place on July 23, 2021 – almost exactly one year after the games were due to start this year.
“The schedule for the games is key to preparing for the games,” Tokyo organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori said. “This will only accelerate our progress.”
Last week, the IOC and Japanese organizers postponed the Olympics until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This year's games were scheduled to open on July 24 and close on Aug. 9. But the near exact one-year delay will see the rescheduled closing ceremony on Aug. 8.
There had been talk of switching the Olympics to spring, a move that would coincide with the blooming of Japan's famous cherry blossoms. But it would also clash with European soccer and North American sports leagues.
IOC, IPC, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolitan Government announce new dates for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 https://t.co/QITtT5dcl8 pic.twitter.com/DHi4u74ZXa — Olympics (@Olympics) March 30, 2020
After holding out for weeks, local organizers and the IOC last week postponed the Tokyo Games under pressure from athletes, national Olympic bodies and sports federations. It's the first postponement in Olympic history, though there were several cancellations during wartime.
The Paralympics were rescheduled to Aug. 24-Sept. 5.
Rescheduling to cost in the billions
Both Mori and CEO Toshiro Muto have said the cost of rescheduling would be “massive” – local reports estimate billions of dollars – with most of the expenses borne by Japanese taxpayers.
Muto promised transparency in calculating the costs, and testing times deciding how they are divided up.
“Since it (the Olympics) were scheduled for this summer, all the venues had given up hosting any other events during this time, so how do we approach that?” Muto asked. "In addition, there will need to be guarantees when we book the new dates, and there is a possibility this will incur rent payments. So there will be costs incurred and we will need to consider them one by one. I think that will be the tougher process.”
Katsuhiro Miyamoto, an emeritus professor of sports economics at Kansai University, put the costs as high as $4 billion. That would cover the price of maintaining stadiums, refitting them, paying rentals, penalties and other expenses.
Japan is officially spending $12.6 billion to organize the Olympics. However, an audit bureau of the Japanese government says the costs are twice that much. All of the spending is public money except $5.6 billion from a privately funded operating budget.
The Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee is contributing $1.3 billion, according to organizing committee documents. The IOC's contribution goes into the operating budget.
IOC President Thomas Bach has repeatedly called the Tokyo Olympics the best prepared in history. However, Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso also termed them “cursed.”
Aso competed in shooting in the 1976 Olympics, and was born in 1940. The Olympics planned for 1940 in Tokyo were canceled because of World War II.
The run-up to these Olympics also saw IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda, who also headed the Japanese Olympic Committee, forced to resign last year amid a bribery scandal.
(AP)
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france24--2020-03-30--Hungary's Orban handed open-ended powers to fight coronavirus, alarming rights groups

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends the plenary session of the Parliament for a vote to grant the government special powers to combat the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) crisis in Budapest , March 30 2020 .
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday secured the right to rule by decree after his Fidesz party passed a law in parliament granting him open-ended extra powers to fight the coronavirus outbreak .
The legislation extending a state of emergency has triggered criticism from opposition parties , human rights groups and the Council of Europe , Europe 's main rights forum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also imposes jail time of up to five years on those hindering measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus in Hungary and on those spreading false information related to the crisis .
Rights groups said this could be used to muzzle journalists .
The government has rejected the accusations , saying the law would empower the government to adopt only measures that were necessary to fight the virus , and parliament could revoke the special powers .
Fidesz has a two-thirds majority in parliament .
`` This is an authorisation limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is solely related to the coronavirus and you are crying a dictatorship , '' state secretary Bence Retvari told the opposition parties before the vote .
Orban , who has gradually increased his power during his decade in office , has been often in conflict with the European Union , and rights organisation over his perceived erosion of democratic checks and balances and the rule of law .
Opposition lawmakers said while they supported the government 's efforts to manage the crisis , they wanted a time limit to the government 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend again if necessary .
Parliament rejected all the amendments proposed by the opposition on Monday .
Orban has said the epidemic was expected to peak in Hungary in June or July and flagged economic stimulus to be announced next month .
Hungary has 447 confirmed cases of the coronavirus , and 15 deaths .

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday secured the right to rule by decree after his Fidesz party passed a law in parliament granting him open-ended extra powers to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends the plenary session of the Parliament for a vote to grant the government special powers to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis in Budapest, March 30 2020.
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The legislation extending a state of emergency has triggered criticism from opposition parties, human rights groups and the Council of Europe, Europe's main rights forum, as it contains no timeframe.
It also imposes jail time of up to five years on those hindering measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus in Hungary and on those spreading false information related to the crisis.
Rights groups said this could be used to muzzle journalists.
The government has rejected the accusations, saying the law would empower the government to adopt only measures that were necessary to fight the virus, and parliament could revoke the special powers. Fidesz has a two-thirds majority in parliament.
Peak expected in June or July
"This is an authorisation limited both in time and scope ... as it is solely related to the coronavirus and you are crying a dictatorship," state secretary Bence Retvari told the opposition parties before the vote.
Orban, who has gradually increased his power during his decade in office, has been often in conflict with the European Union, and rights organisation over his perceived erosion of democratic checks and balances and the rule of law.
Opposition lawmakers said while they supported the government's efforts to manage the crisis, they wanted a time limit to the government's special powers, which parliament could then extend again if necessary.
Parliament rejected all the amendments proposed by the opposition on Monday.
Orban has said the epidemic was expected to peak in Hungary in June or July and flagged economic stimulus to be announced next month. Hungary has 447 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, and 15 deaths.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--France urges firms accepting state aid during crisis not to pay out dividends

French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire looks on during a press conference after a meeting about the economic impact of the Coronavirus ( Covid-19 ) outbreak , at the Economy Ministry in Paris on March 9 , 2020 .
France stepped up on Monday its calls for firms using state aid to keep afloat during the coronavirus crisis to not pay out dividends to shareholders this year .
`` I call on all companies who are putting staff on partial unemployment , that is having their wages paid by the state , to show the greatest restraint possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on BFMTV .
`` Even better to set an example and not pay dividends , '' he added .
`` We also wo n't tolerate companies buying back shares ... share buybacks are not compatible with support from the state treasury , '' said Le Maire .
Companies that make a profit usually return part of that to their shareholders in the form of a dividend .
A firm buying back its shares is another way of returning profits to shareholders .
Le Maire had already last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-backed loan or delay tax payments to help them survive the coronavirus crisis would be barred from paying dividends this year .
Partial unemployment is looking to be another important mechanism to support firms as in effect the state will be paying 70 percent of wages for hours that employees are furloughed .
French companies have already asked to place 2.2 million workers on temporary leave , according to figures released at the weekend .
A number of large French companies such as aircraft manufacturer Airbus and supermarket chain Auchan have already said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition to coercion , firms have an important economic incentive to not pay dividends – it allows them to hold onto cash in case financing becomes difficult or expensive to obtain .

France stepped up on Monday its calls for firms using state aid to keep afloat during the coronavirus crisis to not pay out dividends to shareholders this year.
French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire looks on during a press conference after a meeting about the economic impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, at the Economy Ministry in Paris on March 9, 2020.
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"I call on all companies who are putting staff on partial unemployment, that is having their wages paid by the state, to show the greatest restraint possible in terms of paying dividends," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on BFMTV.
"Even better to set an example and not pay dividends," he added.
"We also won't tolerate companies buying back shares... share buybacks are not compatible with support from the state treasury," said Le Maire.
Companies that make a profit usually return part of that to their shareholders in the form of a dividend.
A firm buying back its shares is another way of returning profits to shareholders.
Le Maire had already last Friday said companies that take out a state-backed loan or delay tax payments to help them survive the coronavirus crisis would be barred from paying dividends this year.
Partial unemployment is looking to be another important mechanism to support firms as in effect the state will be paying 70 percent of wages for hours that employees are furloughed.
French companies have already asked to place 2.2 million workers on temporary leave, according to figures released at the weekend.
A number of large French companies such as aircraft manufacturer Airbus and supermarket chain Auchan have already said they will not pay dividends this year.
In addition to coercion, firms have an important economic incentive to not pay dividends – it allows them to hold onto cash in case financing becomes difficult or expensive to obtain.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-30--Van Gogh painting stolen from Dutch museum during coronavirus closure

Vincent van Gogh 's 1884 painting `` Parsonage Garden at Neunen in Spring '' which was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum in Laren , March 30 2020 .
Thieves stole a painting by Vincent van Gogh overnight from the Singer Laren Museum in the Netherlands , its director said on Monday .
The gallery , in the town of Laren to the east of Amsterdam , is currently shut to the public due to the coronavirus epidemic .
The painting `` Lentetuin '' , or `` Spring Garden , '' which depicts the garden of the rectory at Neunen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on loan from the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands .
`` I am shocked and absolutely livid that this has happened , '' Jan Rudolph de Lorm , director of the Singer Laren Museum , said in a video statement posted on YouTube .
`` This splendid and moving artwork by one of our great artists has been stolen , taken from the community , '' he said .
Police said the thieves had forced the building 's glass front doors open at around 3.15 a.m. ( 0115 GMT ) .
The stolen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with sparse red-flowered bushes and the church building in the background .
Dutch museums have been closed because of the coronavirus outbreak since March 12 .

Thieves stole a painting by Vincent van Gogh overnight from the Singer Laren Museum in the Netherlands, its director said on Monday.
Vincent van Gogh's 1884 painting "Parsonage Garden at Neunen in Spring" which was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum in Laren, March 30 2020.
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The gallery, in the town of Laren to the east of Amsterdam, is currently shut to the public due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The painting "Lentetuin", or "Spring Garden," which depicts the garden of the rectory at Neunen and dates to 1884, had been on loan from the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands.
"I am shocked and absolutely livid that this has happened," Jan Rudolph de Lorm, director of the Singer Laren Museum, said in a video statement posted on YouTube.
"This splendid and moving artwork by one of our great artists has been stolen, taken from the community," he said.
Last night this Van Gogh painting was stolen from the Singer Museum in Laren, the Netherlands. The hunt is on... pic.twitter.com/2K9ltNHRPt — Arthur Brand (@brand_arthur) March 30, 2020
Police said the thieves had forced the building's glass front doors open at around 3.15 a.m. (0115 GMT).
The stolen painting depicts a woman in a garden with sparse red-flowered bushes and the church building in the background.
Dutch museums have been closed because of the coronavirus outbreak since March 12.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--Moscow goes into lockdown, urges other regions to take steps to slow coronavirus

A view of Red Square on March 30 , 2020 , after Moscow authorities announced a partial lockdown in the Russian capital .
Moscow on Monday imposed a lockdown in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus as Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin asked regional authorities to make similar preparations .
The enforcement of the tough new rules , which were suddenly announced by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin late Sunday , coincide with the beginning of a `` non-working '' week declared by President Vladimir Putin last week .
The order came days after Sobyanin , a close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public places , non-essential travel and walks due to the coronavirus epidemic – a recommendation many ignored amid a spell of unusually warm weather over the weekend .
`` It is obvious that not everyone heard us , '' Sobyanin wrote on his website as he announced the tighter quarantine measures , warning the authorities would steadily tighten control over compliance with the new rules .
On Monday , the streets of Moscow were deserted following the closure of all non-essential shops , including restaurants and cafes , but traffic was still seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I ask regional heads to work on the introduction of quarantines similar to the one introduced in Moscow , '' Prime Minister Mishustin said at a government meeting .
The new restrictions apply to all of the city 's residents , regardless of age .
Muscovites will only be allowed to leave their homes in cases of a medical emergency , to travel to jobs judged essential , and to shop for food or medicines .
People will be allowed to take out trash and walk their dogs within a 100-metre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new isolation rules , which will be policed by a vast system of facial-recognition cameras in Moscow , come into force as Russia closes its borders as part of increasingly stringent measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
Russia has so far got off more lightly than many European countries with nine deaths and 1,534 cases , more than 1,000 of which are in Moscow .
Russia recorded 270 new coronavirus infections in the past day .
But some doctors have voiced scepticism about the accuracy of the figures given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature and quality of testing , allegations that the authorities deny .
According to a survey by the Levada Center , only 16 percent of Russians fully trust official information about the coronavirus , while 24 percent said they did not trust it at all .
Russia has halted international flights , closed its borders , announced a non-working week from this weekend , and shuttered shops and entertainment venues in Moscow and some other regions .
The head of Russia 's Orthodox Church on Sunday exhorted believers to pray at home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' instructions `` before someone dies in our families '' .
`` Refrain from visiting churches , '' Patriarch Kirill said , even though Orthodox services went ahead , including one led by him .
Mosques in Muslim majority Chechnya cancelled Friday prayers , Russian news agencies reported .
About 60 percent of Russia 's 144 million people consider themselves Orthodox Christians .
But fewer than usual went to church on Sunday and some were wearing masks , according to media reports .

Moscow on Monday imposed a lockdown in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus as Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin asked regional authorities to make similar preparations.
A view of Red Square on March 30, 2020, after Moscow authorities announced a partial lockdown in the Russian capital.
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The enforcement of the tough new rules, which were suddenly announced by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin late Sunday, coincide with the beginning of a "non-working" week declared by President Vladimir Putin last week.
The order came days after Sobyanin, a close Putin ally, urged Muscovites to avoid public places, non-essential travel and walks due to the coronavirus epidemic – a recommendation many ignored amid a spell of unusually warm weather over the weekend.
"It is obvious that not everyone heard us," Sobyanin wrote on his website as he announced the tighter quarantine measures, warning the authorities would steadily tighten control over compliance with the new rules.
Empty streets, strict measures
On Monday, the streets of Moscow were deserted following the closure of all non-essential shops, including restaurants and cafes, but traffic was still seen on the roads in the city centre.
"I ask regional heads to work on the introduction of quarantines similar to the one introduced in Moscow," Prime Minister Mishustin said at a government meeting.
The new restrictions apply to all of the city's residents, regardless of age.
Muscovites will only be allowed to leave their homes in cases of a medical emergency, to travel to jobs judged essential, and to shop for food or medicines.
People will be allowed to take out trash and walk their dogs within a 100-metre (330-foot) radius of their homes.
The new isolation rules, which will be policed by a vast system of facial-recognition cameras in Moscow, come into force as Russia closes its borders as part of increasingly stringent measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Scepticism about official data
Russia has so far got off more lightly than many European countries with nine deaths and 1,534 cases, more than 1,000 of which are in Moscow. Russia recorded 270 new coronavirus infections in the past day.
But some doctors have voiced scepticism about the accuracy of the figures given what they say has been the patchy nature and quality of testing, allegations that the authorities deny.
According to a survey by the Levada Center, only 16 percent of Russians fully trust official information about the coronavirus, while 24 percent said they did not trust it at all.
Russia has halted international flights, closed its borders, announced a non-working week from this weekend, and shuttered shops and entertainment venues in Moscow and some other regions.
The head of Russia's Orthodox Church on Sunday exhorted believers to pray at home, urging people to adhere strictly to authorities' instructions "before someone dies in our families".
"Refrain from visiting churches," Patriarch Kirill said, even though Orthodox services went ahead, including one led by him. Mosques in Muslim majority Chechnya cancelled Friday prayers, Russian news agencies reported.
About 60 percent of Russia's 144 million people consider themselves Orthodox Christians. But fewer than usual went to church on Sunday and some were wearing masks, according to media reports.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--French high-school students will take baccalaureate finals despite lockdown

French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer tried to reassure parents and students about the completion of the 2020 school year , in light of the coronavirus lockdown .
French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer on Monday said he would announce details of the baccalaureate final exams by the end of the week as French schools entered their third week of a lockdown aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus .
In an interview with French radio station Europe 1 , Blanquer assured worried parents that the baccalaureate exams would be held this academic year so that “ students are not wronged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ” .
Blanquer explained that he had `` been in discussions for several days and throughout the past week with all the representative organisations , teachers , parents and high-school students ” to accommodate different opinions and try to arrive at a consensus .
French schools have been shut since March 16 , a day before the entire nation was put under a strict lockdown .
Schoolchildren across France have since been following their curricula with their teachers by video and email and via televised school programmes on national television .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to stay home until May 4 .
When asked whether the school year could be extended into the summer holidays , he said that , for now at least , the intention was not to cut into the summer holidays .

French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer on Monday said he would announce details of the baccalaureate final exams by the end of the week as French schools entered their third week of a lockdown aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus.
French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer tried to reassure parents and students about the completion of the 2020 school year, in light of the coronavirus lockdown.
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In an interview with French radio station Europe 1, Blanquer assured worried parents that the baccalaureate exams would be held this academic year so that “students are not wronged” and “don't lose a year”.
Blanquer explained that he had "been in discussions for several days and throughout the past week with all the representative organisations, teachers, parents and high-school students” to accommodate different opinions and try to arrive at a consensus.
French schools have been shut since March 16, a day before the entire nation was put under a strict lockdown. Schoolchildren across France have since been following their curricula with their teachers by video and email and via televised school programmes on national television.
Last week, Blanquer said schoolchildren could be forced to stay home until May 4. When asked whether the school year could be extended into the summer holidays, he said that, for now at least, the intention was not to cut into the summer holidays.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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