france24--2020-05-07--Merkel says Germany's re-opening will have 'emergency brake' in case Covid-19 spikes

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged caution and slammed growing impatience to shake off the curbs on public life Chancellor Angela Merkel announced steps on Wednesday to ease the coronavirus lockdown in Germany but at the same time launched an `` emergency brake '' mechanism allowing for renewed restrictions in case infections pick up again .
Declaring an end to the first phase of the pandemic in Germany , Merkel said there was still a long way to go in the battle against the virus , which has battered Europe 's largest economy .
The government will decide on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding this was a `` very ambitious '' time frame .
Germany went into lockdown in March to contain coronavirus contagion .
Its reproduction rate has been falling for several days , and Merkel said it was now consistently below 1 - meaning a person with the virus infects fewer than one other on average .
`` We are at a point where our goal of slowing the spread of the virus has been achieved and we have been able to protect our health system ... , so it has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing measures , '' Merkel told reporters .
Under measures agreed with Germany 's 16 federal state leaders , people from two households will be allowed to meet , and more shops will open , provided hygiene measures are in place .
But guidelines on people keeping a distance of 1.5 metres ( 5 feet ) from each other and wearing mouth and nose masks on public transport will remain in place .
Germany 's Bundesliga soccer league can resume in the second half of May , Merkel said .
Schools would gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for kindergarten-aged children would be expanded , with details to be regulated by the states .
People in care homes may again receive regular visits from `` a permanent contact person '' , Merkel said after talks with regional leaders .
Their plan includes an `` emergency brake '' , a fail-safe under which restrictions would be reintroduced if an area registers more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days .
`` If something happens locally , we wo n't wait until it has spread through the whole republic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Merkel said .
She said she had a good feeling about Wednesday 's decisions , particularly given the emergency brake , but warned : `` We have to be careful that we do n't lose control of this thing . ''
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 947 to 164,807 , data from the Robert Koch Institute ( RKI ) for infectious diseases showed earlier on Wednesday .
The reported death toll rose by 165 to 6,996 .
The federal and state governments will wait and see how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding : `` We now face a phase in which there will be a lot more ( person-to-person ) contact than was the case up to now . ''
`` We are following a bold path .
We can afford to be a bit bold but we must remain cautious . ''

Chancellor Angela Merkel announced steps on Wednesday to ease the coronavirus lockdown in Germany but at the same time launched an "emergency brake" mechanism allowing for renewed restrictions in case infections pick up again.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged caution and slammed growing impatience to shake off the curbs on public life
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Declaring an end to the first phase of the pandemic in Germany, Merkel said there was still a long way to go in the battle against the virus, which has battered Europe's largest economy.
The government will decide on an economic stimulus package in June, Merkel said, adding this was a "very ambitious" time frame.
Germany went into lockdown in March to contain coronavirus contagion. Its reproduction rate has been falling for several days, and Merkel said it was now consistently below 1 - meaning a person with the virus infects fewer than one other on average.
01:41
"We are at a point where our goal of slowing the spread of the virus has been achieved and we have been able to protect our health system..., so it has been possible to discuss and agree on further easing measures," Merkel told reporters.
Under measures agreed with Germany's 16 federal state leaders, people from two households will be allowed to meet, and more shops will open, provided hygiene measures are in place.
But guidelines on people keeping a distance of 1.5 metres (5 feet) from each other and wearing mouth and nose masks on public transport will remain in place.
Germany's Bundesliga soccer league can resume in the second half of May, Merkel said.
Schools would gradually start reintroducing all pupils and emergency care for kindergarten-aged children would be expanded, with details to be regulated by the states.
People in care homes may again receive regular visits from "a permanent contact person", Merkel said after talks with regional leaders.
Their plan includes an "emergency brake", a fail-safe under which restrictions would be reintroduced if an area registers more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days.
"If something happens locally, we won't wait until it has spread through the whole republic, but rather we will act locally," Merkel said.
She said she had a good feeling about Wednesday's decisions, particularly given the emergency brake, but warned: "We have to be careful that we don't lose control of this thing."
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 947 to 164,807, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed earlier on Wednesday. The reported death toll rose by 165 to 6,996.
The federal and state governments will wait and see how the easing measures pan out, Merkel said, adding: "We now face a phase in which there will be a lot more (person-to-person) contact than was the case up to now."
"We are following a bold path. We can afford to be a bit bold but we must remain cautious."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-07--Covid-19: Air France-KLM reports €815 million first-quarter operating loss

Air France planes remain parked on the runways at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport on April 30 , 2020 .
Two weeks of coronavirus shutdown were enough to hit Air France-KLM with an 815 million-euro ( $ 880 million ) first-quarter operating loss , the airline group said on Thursday - predicting demand could take `` several years '' to recover .
In the month of March there was an `` abrupt plunge in revenue that will obviously extend through the second quarter , '' Chief Financial Officer Frederic Gagey warned .
Many major airlines have sought government help as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to the unprecedented global crisis .
Air France-KLM , which has received 7 billion euros in French-backed rescue aid and Dutch pledges for a further 2 billion to 4 billion , expects to reduce monthly cash burn to 400 million euros in the second quarter thanks to cost-cutting and state-funded furloughs that save 350 million euros a month .
But operating losses will widen `` significantly '' in April-June with 95 % of flights expected to remain grounded by a combination of travel restrictions designed to contain the pandemic and collapsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 % in the third quarter , the group predicted , with customers returning only gradually .
Air France-KLM 's revenue fell 15.5 % to 5.02 billion euros in the first quarter .
Its net loss widened to 1.8 billion euros from 324 million , also swollen by a 455 million-euro impact from over-hedged fuel .
While the initial virus outbreak in China impacted Asia traffic early in the quarter , the full effect of European lockdowns and travel bans was not felt until the second half of March .
The group now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before interest , tax , depreciation and amortization ( EBITDA ) - the first in its history , CFO Gagey said .
Demand is `` not expected to recover to pre-crisis levels before several years , '' the company also warned .
Formally withdrawing its pre-crisis 2020 guidance , Air France-KLM said it now planned to reduce its aircraft fleet by 20 % in 2021 .
Chief Executive Ben Smith will present an updated `` transformation plan '' to investors within months , it said .

Two weeks of coronavirus shutdown were enough to hit Air France-KLM with an 815 million-euro ($880 million) first-quarter operating loss, the airline group said on Thursday - predicting demand could take "several years" to recover.
Air France planes remain parked on the runways at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport on April 30, 2020.
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In the month of March there was an "abrupt plunge in revenue that will obviously extend through the second quarter," Chief Financial Officer Frederic Gagey warned.
Many major airlines have sought government help as they struggle to slash costs and conserve cash in response to the unprecedented global crisis.
Air France-KLM, which has received 7 billion euros in French-backed rescue aid and Dutch pledges for a further 2 billion to 4 billion, expects to reduce monthly cash burn to 400 million euros in the second quarter thanks to cost-cutting and state-funded furloughs that save 350 million euros a month.
But operating losses will widen "significantly" in April-June with 95% of flights expected to remain grounded by a combination of travel restrictions designed to contain the pandemic and collapsed demand.
Capacity will still be down 80% in the third quarter, the group predicted, with customers returning only gradually.
Airline group expects full-year loss
Air France-KLM's revenue fell 15.5% to 5.02 billion euros in the first quarter. Its net loss widened to 1.8 billion euros from 324 million, also swollen by a 455 million-euro impact from over-hedged fuel.
While the initial virus outbreak in China impacted Asia traffic early in the quarter, the full effect of European lockdowns and travel bans was not felt until the second half of March.
The group now expects a full-year loss in operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) - the first in its history, CFO Gagey said.
Demand is "not expected to recover to pre-crisis levels before several years," the company also warned.
Formally withdrawing its pre-crisis 2020 guidance, Air France-KLM said it now planned to reduce its aircraft fleet by 20% in 2021. Chief Executive Ben Smith will present an updated "transformation plan" to investors within months, it said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-07--Covid-19: French economic activity down 33 percent, Insee says

On April 28 , a woman walks past a closed shop with a “ for sale ” sign in the city of Nice in southern France on the 43rd day of the country ’ s Covid-19 lockdown .
Economic activity in France picked up slightly over the last two weeks as the country prepares to emerge from a coronavirus lockdown , but it remains a third below normal levels , the INSEE official statistics agency said on Thursday .
Activity in the euro zone 's second-biggest economy is currently down 33 % from normal levels compared with 35 % two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France gets ready to lift a nationwide lockdown on Monday , the industrial and construction sectors were showing signs of a pick-up after sanitary safeguards were put in place to allow workers to return to their jobs , INSEE said .
Consumer spending , usually the driver of French growth , was down by 32 % from normal levels , little changed from the 33 % INSEE estimated two weeks earlier .
INSEE has been estimating the economic impact of the lockdown since late March by cross-checking a range of data including electricity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more traditional data become available , INSEE is filling out the details in its picture of the economic meltdown , for example with industrial production figures on Thursday showing a freefall of 16.2 % in March from February .
Last week INSEE said in a flash GDP reading that the economy had plunged in the first quarter into its worst recession since at least 1949 , contracting 5.8 % from the previous three months .
The government has rolled out a 110 billion euro ( $ 118.9 billion ) package of crisis measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavily subsidise furloughs for more than one out of two private sector workers to avoid a wave of permanent layoffs .
Even with massive use of the furlough scheme , the French economy shed 453,800 workers in the first quarter as companies did not renew temporary workers contracts en masse , INSEE said on Thursday .
Dark days likely lie ahead even after the lockdown is lifted as companies struggle to find their feet .
For example , manufacturers aim to rein in investment this year by 7 % , the most since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial crisis , executives in the sector told INSEE in a quarterly survey published on Thursday .

Economic activity in France picked up slightly over the last two weeks as the country prepares to emerge from a coronavirus lockdown, but it remains a third below normal levels, the INSEE official statistics agency said on Thursday.
On April 28, a woman walks past a closed shop with a “for sale” sign in the city of Nice in southern France on the 43rd day of the country’s Covid-19 lockdown.
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Activity in the euro zone's second-biggest economy is currently down 33% from normal levels compared with 35% two weeks ago, INSEE said.
As France gets ready to lift a nationwide lockdown on Monday, the industrial and construction sectors were showing signs of a pick-up after sanitary safeguards were put in place to allow workers to return to their jobs, INSEE said.
Consumer spending, usually the driver of French growth, was down by 32% from normal levels, little changed from the 33% INSEE estimated two weeks earlier.
INSEE has been estimating the economic impact of the lockdown since late March by cross-checking a range of data including electricity use and bank card data.
As more traditional data become available, INSEE is filling out the details in its picture of the economic meltdown, for example with industrial production figures on Thursday showing a freefall of 16.2% in March from February.
INSEE: France entered recession in first quarter
Last week INSEE said in a flash GDP reading that the economy had plunged in the first quarter into its worst recession since at least 1949, contracting 5.8% from the previous three months.
The government has rolled out a 110 billion euro ($118.9 billion) package of crisis measures to see companies through the lockdown and heavily subsidise furloughs for more than one out of two private sector workers to avoid a wave of permanent layoffs.
Even with massive use of the furlough scheme, the French economy shed 453,800 workers in the first quarter as companies did not renew temporary workers contracts en masse, INSEE said on Thursday.
Dark days likely lie ahead even after the lockdown is lifted as companies struggle to find their feet.
For example, manufacturers aim to rein in investment this year by 7%, the most since the recession of 2009 after the global financial crisis, executives in the sector told INSEE in a quarterly survey published on Thursday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-07--Covid-19: French chef Ripert feeds New York’s front-line medical workers

Le Bernardin chef and co-owner Eric Ripert prepares meals for health care workers as part of the World Central Kitchen charity at his flagship New York restaurant in New York City on May 6 , 2020 .
Before coronavirus struck New York , one of the world 's premier seafood restaurants Le Bernardin was offering tasting menus including striped bass truffle tartare and grilled lobster mi-cuit .
Today it serves up hundreds of plastic trays of roast chicken , rice and cabbage to feed the city 's medical workers .
Eric Ripert , a three-star chef originally from France , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday for the first time since March 13 -- where from Monday to Friday four of his 180 currently unemployed staff will prepare some 400 daily meals .
Balanced menus including pasta bolognese with broccoli , meatloaf , couscous or tajine are set for delivery to health workers sheltering in the central neighborhood 's hotels , who descended on the embattled city en masse to reinforce hospitals overwhelmed with patients .
`` For now it 's important to help out the overall community , specifically doctors and nurses , '' Ripert , donning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The goal , said the renowned chef , is to assist `` people who take enormous risks , see horrible things during the day -- when they return to their hotel , they can relax and eat something tasty.
” Even if the pandemic has slowed its once relentless pace in New York , the city remains the nation 's coronavirus epicenter , with more than 19,000 confirmed or probable deaths linked to COVID-19 .
The 55-year-old Ripert 's project to deliver meals is in collaboration with the Jose Andres-founded World Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet projected a date to begin relaxing confinement measures .
Ripert hopes he might be able to re-open Le Bernardin in September .
Though that dream date seems far off and is n't fixed , he ca n't help but consider the famous restaurant post-pandemic .
He does n't plan to offer elegant dishes to go , as some Michelin-starred chefs have done the world round -- but `` it definitely wo n't be the same Bernardin it was before the closure , '' he said in a slight accent hailing from France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in the United States .
Still , `` Le Bernardin is a fancy restaurant with three Michelin stars -- we will try to continue to be able to create this experience for our diners , '' he said .
There will have to be more space between the tables and less capacity , said Ripert : currently , without counting two reception lounges , the restaurant can host 120 people .
Staff will need to work wearing masks and gloves while using plenty of disinfectant , Ripert emphasized .
But the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-owner , who is used to seeing his establishment full for both lunch and dinner .
Ripert , who since the pandemic began has posted simple , affordable recipes for his nearly 600,000 Instagram followers , declined to offer insight into his accounting .
But he expects he will need to reduce his staff from 180 pre-crisis down to 40 or 50 employees .
And international clientele , some 30 to 40 percent of his business , will likely drop off until foreign travel is once again in full swing .
But will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will do everything we can to work for our diners to have a quality time at Le Bernardin , and keep our employees able to work , '' the chef said .
`` Then the stars will come -- or not come .
`` Today it 's not really what 's important , when we think of the global crisis we are living , '' he added .
`` We 're not going to overnight -- to be as full of energy as we were takes time , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , and New York will return to the level it was , '' said Ripert , complete with the `` creativity and energy '' the city embodies .

Before coronavirus struck New York, one of the world's premier seafood restaurants Le Bernardin was offering tasting menus including striped bass truffle tartare and grilled lobster mi-cuit.
Le Bernardin chef and co-owner Eric Ripert prepares meals for health care workers as part of the World Central Kitchen charity at his flagship New York restaurant in New York City on May 6, 2020.
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Today it serves up hundreds of plastic trays of roast chicken, rice and cabbage to feed the city's medical workers.
Eric Ripert, a three-star chef originally from France, reopened one of his Manhattan kitchens on Wednesday for the first time since March 13 -- where from Monday to Friday four of his 180 currently unemployed staff will prepare some 400 daily meals.
Balanced menus including pasta bolognese with broccoli, meatloaf, couscous or tajine are set for delivery to health workers sheltering in the central neighborhood's hotels, who descended on the embattled city en masse to reinforce hospitals overwhelmed with patients.
Today May 6 2020
We’re opening @lebernardinny kitchen to cook 400 meals p/day 5 days p/week w support of @wckitchen & our Dear Hero-Friend @chefjoseandres
Today’s Menu: Roast Chicken, Rice, Cabbage & Peas for Healthcare Workers & First Responders ⛑
HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO HELP 🙏🕊 pic.twitter.com/sItwsdiCeQ — Eric Ripert (@ericripert) May 6, 2020
"For now it's important to help out the overall community, specifically doctors and nurses," Ripert, donning a mask and gloves, told AFP.
The goal, said the renowned chef, is to assist "people who take enormous risks, see horrible things during the day -- when they return to their hotel, they can relax and eat something tasty.”
Still luxe
Even if the pandemic has slowed its once relentless pace in New York, the city remains the nation's coronavirus epicenter, with more than 19,000 confirmed or probable deaths linked to COVID-19.
The 55-year-old Ripert's project to deliver meals is in collaboration with the Jose Andres-founded World Central Kitchen aid organization.
Authorities have not yet projected a date to begin relaxing confinement measures. Ripert hopes he might be able to re-open Le Bernardin in September.
Though that dream date seems far off and isn't fixed, he can't help but consider the famous restaurant post-pandemic.
He doesn't plan to offer elegant dishes to go, as some Michelin-starred chefs have done the world round -- but "it definitely won't be the same Bernardin it was before the closure," he said in a slight accent hailing from France's south, still audible despite 31 years in the United States.
Still, "Le Bernardin is a fancy restaurant with three Michelin stars -- we will try to continue to be able to create this experience for our diners," he said.
Reduced capacity
There will have to be more space between the tables and less capacity, said Ripert: currently, without counting two reception lounges, the restaurant can host 120 people.
Staff will need to work wearing masks and gloves while using plenty of disinfectant, Ripert emphasized.
But the economic equation remains in question for the restaurant co-owner, who is used to seeing his establishment full for both lunch and dinner.
Ripert, who since the pandemic began has posted simple, affordable recipes for his nearly 600,000 Instagram followers, declined to offer insight into his accounting.
But he expects he will need to reduce his staff from 180 pre-crisis down to 40 or 50 employees.
And international clientele, some 30 to 40 percent of his business, will likely drop off until foreign travel is once again in full swing.
Staff before stars
But will he keep his stars?
"We will do everything we can to work for our diners to have a quality time at Le Bernardin, and keep our employees able to work," the chef said.
"Then the stars will come -- or not come.
"Today it's not really what's important, when we think of the global crisis we are living," he added.
Ripert doesn't doubt his adopted home's ability to bounce back.
"We're not going to overnight -- to be as full of energy as we were takes time," he said.
"But New York will always be New York, and New York will return to the level it was," said Ripert, complete with the "creativity and energy" the city embodies.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--Israeli MPs approve Netanyahu-Gantz unity government

This combination of file pictures created on September 18 , 2019 shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ( L ) and his former rival Benny Gantz waving to their respective supporters at separate events in Tel Aviv .
Israeli lawmakers approved the formation of a unity government between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his erstwhile rival Benny Gantz Thursday , paving the way to an end to more than a year of deadlock .
Parliament voted by 71 votes to 37 to back the coalition deal that will see rightwinger Netanyahu and Benny Gantz , a centrist former military leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have said they will swear in their new administration on May 13 , with Netanyahu remaining leader for 18 months , before handing over to Gantz .
The proposed government had been challenged in the high court , with opponents arguing Netanyahu was ineligible to rule due to a series of corruption indictments .
They also complained that certain provisions in the coalition deal broke the law .
But the court ruled on Wednesday evening `` there was no legal reason to prevent the formation of a government '' led by Netanyahu .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it `` was not seeking to diminish the severity of the charges '' against Netanyahu , but concluded that those could be handled in his trial , which is due to begin on May 24 .
Netanyahu has been written off by pundits and rivals many times since taking power in 2009 , but the man sometimes dubbed `` the magician '' has invariably found a route to remain in power .
In addition to rebuilding an economy shaken by the coronavirus , the new government will also decide on the possible annexation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a move successive governments have refrained from ever since its occupation in the Six-Day War of 1967 .
Israel has been without a stable government since December 2018 , with the country seeing three successive elections in which Gantz 's centrist Blue and White and Netanyahu 's Likud were near neck-and-neck .
During that time Netanyahu has remained in power in a caretaker capacity .
He has also been charged with accepting improper gifts and illegally trading favours in exchange for positive media coverage .
He denies wrongdoing but if the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first serving Israeli leader to be tried .
After the third election in March , Gantz broke with large parts of his Blue and White alliance and agreed to form a unity government .
He said it was necessary to provide political stability as the country seeks to repair the economic damage wrought by a coronavirus outbreak , which has infected more than 16,000 people .
Gantz 's critics , including many former allies , accused him of betraying his voters after campaigning for cleaner politics and pledging not to serve under an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars ministers from serving while under indictment , there is no such law for prime ministers .
Lawmakers were expected to vote later Thursday to ask President Reuven Rivlin to grant Netanyahu a mandate to form a government .
He will then have a short period to wrap up weeks of bickering about the allocation of ministerial posts and finalise his cabinet line-up .
Former Gantz ally Yair Lapid , poised to become opposition leader , blasted what he termed an excessive focus on ministerial positions .
`` A single mother with two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lost her job will be on the street next month , '' because of the pandemic , Lapid said .
`` That 's what we should be dealing with , not which politician gets which job . ''
In its first months the government will focus on the COVID-19 response .
The country took rapid measures to lock down and has succeeded in limiting the death toll so far to just over 200 in a population of some nine million .
In recent days measures have begun to be eased , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as primary schools .
From July 1 , the government can also decide whether to follow through with the annexation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank , after President Donald Trump gave US blessing for the move which the United Nations says violates international law .
It could also annex the Jordan Valley , another part of the territory Trump says he is ready to recognise as part of Israel .
Either move is liable to trigger Palestinian unrest across the West Bank as well as in the Gaza Strip .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mainstay of their future state and the United Nations has warned that annexation would seriously damage any hopes for lasting peace .

Israeli lawmakers approved the formation of a unity government between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his erstwhile rival Benny Gantz Thursday, paving the way to an end to more than a year of deadlock.
This combination of file pictures created on September 18, 2019 shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and his former rival Benny Gantz waving to their respective supporters at separate events in Tel Aviv.
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Parliament voted by 71 votes to 37 to back the coalition deal that will see rightwinger Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, a centrist former military leader, share power.
The two men have said they will swear in their new administration on May 13, with Netanyahu remaining leader for 18 months, before handing over to Gantz.
01:40
The proposed government had been challenged in the high court, with opponents arguing Netanyahu was ineligible to rule due to a series of corruption indictments.
They also complained that certain provisions in the coalition deal broke the law.
But the court ruled on Wednesday evening "there was no legal reason to prevent the formation of a government" led by Netanyahu.
It added that by approving the coalition it "was not seeking to diminish the severity of the charges" against Netanyahu, but concluded that those could be handled in his trial, which is due to begin on May 24.
Netanyahu has been written off by pundits and rivals many times since taking power in 2009, but the man sometimes dubbed "the magician" has invariably found a route to remain in power.
In addition to rebuilding an economy shaken by the coronavirus, the new government will also decide on the possible annexation of large parts of the West Bank, a move successive governments have refrained from ever since its occupation in the Six-Day War of 1967.
Lost year
Israel has been without a stable government since December 2018, with the country seeing three successive elections in which Gantz's centrist Blue and White and Netanyahu's Likud were near neck-and-neck.
During that time Netanyahu has remained in power in a caretaker capacity.
He has also been charged with accepting improper gifts and illegally trading favours in exchange for positive media coverage.
He denies wrongdoing but if the trial goes ahead as planned will become the first serving Israeli leader to be tried.
After the third election in March, Gantz broke with large parts of his Blue and White alliance and agreed to form a unity government.
He said it was necessary to provide political stability as the country seeks to repair the economic damage wrought by a coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 16,000 people.
Gantz's critics, including many former allies, accused him of betraying his voters after campaigning for cleaner politics and pledging not to serve under an indicted prime minister.
While Israeli law bars ministers from serving while under indictment, there is no such law for prime ministers.
Lawmakers were expected to vote later Thursday to ask President Reuven Rivlin to grant Netanyahu a mandate to form a government.
He will then have a short period to wrap up weeks of bickering about the allocation of ministerial posts and finalise his cabinet line-up.
Former Gantz ally Yair Lapid, poised to become opposition leader, blasted what he termed an excessive focus on ministerial positions.
"A single mother with two children who lives in a rented apartment and lost her job will be on the street next month," because of the pandemic, Lapid said.
"That's what we should be dealing with, not which politician gets which job."
West Bank annexations?
In its first months the government will focus on the COVID-19 response.
The country took rapid measures to lock down and has succeeded in limiting the death toll so far to just over 200 in a population of some nine million.
In recent days measures have begun to be eased, with shops and businesses partially reopening, as well as primary schools.
From July 1, the government can also decide whether to follow through with the annexation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, after President Donald Trump gave US blessing for the move which the United Nations says violates international law.
It could also annex the Jordan Valley, another part of the territory Trump says he is ready to recognise as part of Israel.
Either move is liable to trigger Palestinian unrest across the West Bank as well as in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinians see the West Bank as the mainstay of their future state and the United Nations has warned that annexation would seriously damage any hopes for lasting peace.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--Russian mercenaries are fighting in Libya, UN diplomats say

A man walks through the rubble of a building that was damaged when strongman Khalifa Haftar 's forces shelled the neighbourhood in the Libyan capital Tripoli on May 1 , 2020 .
Mercenaries from the Wagner Group , a Russian paramilitary organization seen as being close to Vladimir Putin , are fighting in Libya , UN diplomats said Wednesday , citing an experts ' report on the country 's arms embargo .
It was the first time the UN has confirmed claims first made in US media that the group is supporting military strongman Khalifa Haftar .
Moscow has denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report also revealed that Haftar was being supported by Syrian fighters .
The Wagner Group is a shadowy private security firm and thousands of its contractors are believed to be in foreign conflicts from Syria and Ukraine to the Central African Republic .
A senior US State Department official has told AFP the group is `` an instrument of the Kremlin 's policy '' in Libya .
`` The Panel has identified the presence of private military operatives from ChVK Wagner in Libya since October 2018 , '' the UN report says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to AFP on condition of anonymity as the document has not yet been made public .
`` Wagner has been providing technical support for the repair of military vehicles , participating in combat operations and engaging in influence operations , '' the UN report says .
They are also involved in `` more specialized military tasks such as acting as artillery Forward Observation Officers and Forward Air Controllers , providing electronic countermeasures expertise and deploying as sniper teams , '' it continued .
`` Their deployment has acted as an effective force multiplier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The experts said they could not independently verify how many Wagner mercenaries were in Libya , but estimated their deployment at between 800 and 1,200 .
The report , submitted on April 24 to the UN Security Council , notes that there are tensions between Wagner and Haftar 's command .
It also revealed that Haftar is receiving help from Syrian fighters , further complicating the conflict .
In February , Turkey said that pro-Turkish Syrians were fighting in Libya in support of the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord ( GNA ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia .
The UN report says Syrian mercenaries are now fighting alongside Haftar -- though it said it could not identify who was responsible for training and financing them .
The fighters reached Libya via at least 33 flights operated by Damascus-based private Syrian company Cham Wings Airlines since the start of this year , according to the report , adding that they numbered less than 2,000 .
The text is an update of the expert panel 's last annual report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existence of foreign armed groups from Chad and Sudan in the conflict , but did not mention Wagner .
Pro-Haftar forces have been battling to seize the capital Tripoli from the GNA since April 2019 .
Foreign military involvement has exacerbated the conflict , with the United Arab Emirates and Russia backing Haftar and Ankara supplying the GNA .
A January truce brokered by Turkey and Russia has been repeatedly violated .
Wagner 's involvement in the conflict was first revealed by The New York Times and The Washington Post last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the latter said it could be as high as several thousand .
The UN report does not recommend sanctions against the groups or any action to prevent their involvement .
A report by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres submitted to the Security Council on Tuesday and obtained by AFP also mentioned foreign mercenaries but did not identify them or recommend any action against them .

Mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization seen as being close to Vladimir Putin, are fighting in Libya, UN diplomats said Wednesday, citing an experts' report on the country's arms embargo.
A man walks through the rubble of a building that was damaged when strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces shelled the neighbourhood in the Libyan capital Tripoli on May 1, 2020.
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It was the first time the UN has confirmed claims first made in US media that the group is supporting military strongman Khalifa Haftar. Moscow has denied being responsible for deploying the group.
The report also revealed that Haftar was being supported by Syrian fighters.
The Wagner Group is a shadowy private security firm and thousands of its contractors are believed to be in foreign conflicts from Syria and Ukraine to the Central African Republic.
A senior US State Department official has told AFP the group is "an instrument of the Kremlin's policy" in Libya.
"The Panel has identified the presence of private military operatives from ChVK Wagner in Libya since October 2018," the UN report says, according to several diplomats who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity as the document has not yet been made public.
"Wagner has been providing technical support for the repair of military vehicles, participating in combat operations and engaging in influence operations," the UN report says.
They are also involved in "more specialized military tasks such as acting as artillery Forward Observation Officers and Forward Air Controllers, providing electronic countermeasures expertise and deploying as sniper teams," it continued.
"Their deployment has acted as an effective force multiplier" for Haftar, it said.
The experts said they could not independently verify how many Wagner mercenaries were in Libya, but estimated their deployment at between 800 and 1,200.
The report, submitted on April 24 to the UN Security Council, notes that there are tensions between Wagner and Haftar's command.
No call for sanctions
It also revealed that Haftar is receiving help from Syrian fighters, further complicating the conflict.
In February, Turkey said that pro-Turkish Syrians were fighting in Libya in support of the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).
Haftar has opened a consulate in Damascus, where the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia.
The UN report says Syrian mercenaries are now fighting alongside Haftar -- though it said it could not identify who was responsible for training and financing them.
The fighters reached Libya via at least 33 flights operated by Damascus-based private Syrian company Cham Wings Airlines since the start of this year, according to the report, adding that they numbered less than 2,000.
The text is an update of the expert panel's last annual report from December, which had noted the existence of foreign armed groups from Chad and Sudan in the conflict, but did not mention Wagner.
Pro-Haftar forces have been battling to seize the capital Tripoli from the GNA since April 2019.
Foreign military involvement has exacerbated the conflict, with the United Arab Emirates and Russia backing Haftar and Ankara supplying the GNA.
A January truce brokered by Turkey and Russia has been repeatedly violated.
Wagner's involvement in the conflict was first revealed by The New York Times and The Washington Post last year. The former put their numbers at 200, while the latter said it could be as high as several thousand.
The UN report does not recommend sanctions against the groups or any action to prevent their involvement.
A report by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres submitted to the Security Council on Tuesday and obtained by AFP also mentioned foreign mercenaries but did not identify them or recommend any action against them.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--Maduro says two captured American 'mercenaries' will be tried in Venezuela

Personal documents are shown by Venezuela 's President Nicolas Maduro during a virtual news conference in Caracas , Venezuela May 6 , 2020 .
Venezuela will try two Americans allegedly captured during a failed raid by mercenaries , President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday as the US vowed to `` use every tool available '' to bring them home .
Venezuela announced on Monday that it had arrested the pair on suspicion of trying to topple Maduro in an operation supported by the US-backed opposition .
`` They are convicts , confessed , caught red-handed and are being judged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela 's civil courts , and the process will be full of guarantees and fair , '' said Maduro .
The leader of the crisis-wracked South American country insisted the Americans , identified as Luke Denman and Airan Berry , were being `` well treated , with respect . ''
Maduro showed the passports of Denman , 34 , and Berry , 41 , on state television .
The US military has confirmed they were former members of the US security forces , US media reported .
In Washington , US Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` use every tool that we have available to try to get them back . ''
US President Donald Trump had denied any involvement by his administration with the mission , and Washington accused Maduro of launching a `` disinformation campaign . ''
Russia , a close ally of Maduro 's , hit out at Trump on Wednesday and described his denials as `` unconvincing . ''
Venezuela 's Attorney General Tarek William Saab said Monday that opposition leader Juan Guaido , who is backed by the US and more than 50 countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract with `` hired mercenaries '' using funds seized by the United States from the state oil company PDVSA .
Denman and Berry are amongst 17 people arrested for allegedly being part of an invasion force that planned to assassinate Maduro but was intercepted early Sunday just off the coast , about 40 minutes from the capital Caracas .
Another eight alleged attackers were killed .
`` They have confessed their guilt , they broke international law , they broke Venezuelan law , '' Maduro said .
`` They 're in the hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be justice in this case with these two Americans and with the rest of the mercenaries , and that the truth will come out . ''
The president repeated his accusation that Trump was directly behind the attack , claiming he contracted with a former US army medic , Jordan Goudreau , to train the mercenary force .
`` President Donald Trump is the direct leader of the whole incursion , '' said Maduro , who showed a video in which Denman confesses he was hired by Goudreau for the mission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international airport in Caracas .
Maduro described it as a `` remake '' of the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion , when Cuban exiles covertly financed and directed by the US government attempted to overthrow then Cuba leader Fidel Castro .
Pompeo mocked Maduro 's claims , saying that if the US `` had been involved , it would have gone differently . ''
Canadian-born Goudreau , an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran , has admitted the existence of the operation in a video , and claims the private security firm he runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela 's opposition .
He told The Washington Post that he hired Denman and Berry as `` supervisors '' and had known them for years .
In the video , Goudreau shows what he claims is a contract signed by Guaido , whose press team subsequently denied having any agreements with private security firms .
Maduro -- who has also accused the president of neighboring Colombia , Ivan Duque , of involvement -- said he would ask the United States to extradite Goudreau .
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that `` all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussing possible measures to help Guaido force Maduro from office .
Washington has also ramped up sanctions against Maduro , top members of his government , and PDVSA .
Venezuela , which is almost entirely dependent on its oil revenues , is reeling from six years of recession , with millions of people facing a shortage of basic necessities .
Poverty has soared while around five million people have fled the country , according to the United Nations .

Venezuela will try two Americans allegedly captured during a failed raid by mercenaries, President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday as the US vowed to "use every tool available" to bring them home.
Personal documents are shown by Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during a virtual news conference in Caracas, Venezuela May 6, 2020.
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Venezuela announced on Monday that it had arrested the pair on suspicion of trying to topple Maduro in an operation supported by the US-backed opposition.
"They are convicts, confessed, caught red-handed and are being judged by the republic's attorney general, by Venezuela's civil courts, and the process will be full of guarantees and fair," said Maduro.
The leader of the crisis-wracked South American country insisted the Americans, identified as Luke Denman and Airan Berry, were being "well treated, with respect."
Maduro showed the passports of Denman, 34, and Berry, 41, on state television. The US military has confirmed they were former members of the US security forces, US media reported.
In Washington, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the government would "use every tool that we have available to try to get them back."
US President Donald Trump had denied any involvement by his administration with the mission, and Washington accused Maduro of launching a "disinformation campaign."
Russia, a close ally of Maduro's, hit out at Trump on Wednesday and described his denials as "unconvincing."
Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab said Monday that opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is backed by the US and more than 50 countries, had signed a $212 million contract with "hired mercenaries" using funds seized by the United States from the state oil company PDVSA.
Denman and Berry are amongst 17 people arrested for allegedly being part of an invasion force that planned to assassinate Maduro but was intercepted early Sunday just off the coast, about 40 minutes from the capital Caracas.
Another eight alleged attackers were killed.
"They have confessed their guilt, they broke international law, they broke Venezuelan law," Maduro said.
"They're in the hands of justice now and we guarantee there will be justice in this case with these two Americans and with the rest of the mercenaries, and that the truth will come out."
Bay of Pigs 'remake'
The president repeated his accusation that Trump was directly behind the attack, claiming he contracted with a former US army medic, Jordan Goudreau, to train the mercenary force.
"President Donald Trump is the direct leader of the whole incursion," said Maduro, who showed a video in which Denman confesses he was hired by Goudreau for the mission, which aimed to take control of the international airport in Caracas.
Maduro described it as a "remake" of the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Cuban exiles covertly financed and directed by the US government attempted to overthrow then Cuba leader Fidel Castro.
Pompeo mocked Maduro's claims, saying that if the US "had been involved, it would have gone differently."
Canadian-born Goudreau, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, has admitted the existence of the operation in a video, and claims the private security firm he runs, Silvercorp USA, was contracted by Venezuela's opposition.
He told The Washington Post that he hired Denman and Berry as "supervisors" and had known them for years.
In the video, Goudreau shows what he claims is a contract signed by Guaido, whose press team subsequently denied having any agreements with private security firms.
Maduro -- who has also accused the president of neighboring Colombia, Ivan Duque, of involvement -- said he would ask the United States to extradite Goudreau.
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that "all options are on the table" when discussing possible measures to help Guaido force Maduro from office.
Washington has also ramped up sanctions against Maduro, top members of his government, and PDVSA.
Venezuela, which is almost entirely dependent on its oil revenues, is reeling from six years of recession, with millions of people facing a shortage of basic necessities.
Poverty has soared while around five million people have fled the country, according to the United Nations.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--Several dead and hundreds injured in Indian gas leak

Policemen stand guard outside the LG Polymers plant in eastern India following a deadly gas leak on May 7 , 2020 .
At least five people have been killed and several hundred hospitalised after a gas leak at a chemicals plant on the east coast of India , police said Thursday .
They said that the gas had leaked out of two 5,000-tonne tanks that had been unattended due to India 's coronavirus lockdown in place since late March .
`` We can confirm at least five deaths right now .
More will be confirmed later .
At least 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unconscious state and overall 200 to 500 locals are still getting treatment ( at the hospitals ) , '' said police official Swaroop Rani in Visakhapatnam .
The plant operated by LG Polymers is located in the outskirts of Visakhapatnam , an industrial port city in the state of Andhra Pradesh .
The city and the surrounding area are home to around five million people .
The gas `` was left there because of the lockdown .
It led to a chemical reaction and heat was produced inside the tanks , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Rani , an assistant commissioner , told AFP .
`` We received an emergency call from the local villagers around 3.30 am in the morning today .
They said there was some gas in the air , '' she said .
`` We reached there immediately .
One could feel the gas in the air and it was not possible for any of us to stay there for more than a few minutes .
Prepared rescue workers started working from around 4.00 am . ''
India witnessed in December 1984 one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas leaked from a pesticide plant in the central city of Bhopal .
Around 3,500 people , mainly in shanties around the plant operated by Union Carbide , died in the days that followed and thousands more in the following years .
People continue to suffer its after-effects to this day .
Government statistics say that at least 100,000 people living near to the Union Carbide plant have been victims of chronic illnesses .
Survivors still suffer from ailments such as respiratory and kidney problems , hormonal imbalances , mental illness and several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made ill by the polluted groundwater and poisonous breastmilk fed to them from birth .
To this day , children are still born disfigured with webbed hands and feet , weak immune systems , stunted growth and congenital disorders owing to the gas that affected their mothers .

Eleven people were killed and hundreds hospitalised after a pre-dawn gas leak at a chemical plant in eastern India on Thursday that left unconscious victims lying in the streets, authorities said.
Policemen stand guard outside the LG Polymers plant in eastern India following a deadly gas leak on May 7, 2020.
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Fears that the death toll from the incident on the outskirts of the Visakhapatnam, an industrial port city in Andhra Pradesh state, might rise significantly were not borne out however.
The gas escaped out of tanks at a complex owned by South Korea's LG Chem that had suspended operations because of India's coronavirus lockdown.
Footage on Indian television channels showed people, including women and children, slumped motionless in the streets after locals raised the alarm in the early hours.
"There was utter confusion and panic. People were unable to breathe, they were gasping for air. Those who were trying to escape collapsed on the roads - kids, women and all," local resident Kumar Reddy, 24, told reporters.
Local police commissioner RK Meena, said that by Thursday afternoon 11 people had been confirmed dead.
B K Naik, district hospitals coordinator, said 1,000 had initially been hospitalised but by the afternoon around 600 remained receiving treatment, with none in a critical condition.
"This is a calamity," Naik told AFP.
Pictures taken by AFP at the King George Hospital in the city early in the day had shown two or three patients on each bed, many of them children, and several unconscious.
Prayers
The incident had echoes of one of the worst industrial disasters in history when gas leaked from a pesticide plant in the central Indian city of Bhopal in 1984.
Around 3,500 people, mainly in shanties around the plant operated by Union Carbide, died in the days that followed and thousands more in the following years. People still suffer its after-effects now.
"I pray for everyone's safety and well-being in Visakhapatnam," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.
The plant, operated by LG Polymers, a subsidiary of LG Chem, is on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam.
The city and the surrounding area are home to around five million people.
LG Chem released a statement in South Korea late on Thursday morning that the "gas leak situation is now under control".
The plant had been left idle because of the coronavirus lockdown, according to Swaroop Rani, an assistant police commissioner in Visakhapatnam.
"(The gas) was left there because of the lockdown. It led to a chemical reaction and heat was produced inside the tanks, and the gas leaked because of that," Rani told AFP.
She said local villagers raised the alarm about 3:30 am, saying there was gas in the air, and police who rushed to the scene had to quickly retreat for fear of being poisoned.
"One could feel the gas in the air and it was not possible for any of us to stay there for more than a few minutes," she said.
LG Chem confirmed the plant, which makes polystyrene products, was not operating because of the lockdown, but there were maintenance staff at the facility, a spokesman in Seoul told AFP.
Rashes, sore eyes
According to the Times of India the dead included an eight-year-old girl, and 5,000 people had fallen sick.
Residents complained of breathing problems, rashes and sore eyes, it added.
Authorities advised people to wear wet clothes and masks, avoid eating uncovered food and consume bananas and milk to "neutralise the effect of the gas".
According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the gas was styrene, which is likely carcinogenic and combined with oxygen in the air forms the more lethal styrene dioxide.
The leak happened because the gas was not stored at the appropriate temperature, causing pressure to build up and breaking the valve, the CSE said.
The container was also "old and not properly maintained" and there was no monitoring mechanism installed to specifically detect styrene, it said.
The incident "shows us that there are ticking bombs out there as the lockdown ends and industries start resuming activities," it added.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-08--Brazil faces 'economic collapse' in 30 days due to lockdown: economy minister

Brazil 's Economy Minister Paulo Guedes wears a protective mask during a news conference after a meeting with President of Brazil 's Supreme Federal Court Dias Toffoli , amid the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak , at the Supreme Federal Court in Brasilia , Brazil May 7 , 2020 .
Brazil could face `` economic collapse '' in a month 's time due to stay-at-home measures to stem the coronavirus outbreak , with food shortages and `` social disorder , '' Economy Minister Paulo Guedes warned Thursday .
Brazil , Latin America 's biggest economy , is also the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region .
But far-right President Jair Bolsonaro -- who appeared alongside Guedes , his free-market economics guru -- opposes stay-at-home measures to slow the virus , saying they are unnecessarily damaging the economy .
`` Within about 30 days , there may start to be shortages on ( store ) shelves and production may become disorganized , leading to a system of economic collapse , of social disorder , '' Guedes said .
`` This is a serious alert . ''
Bolsonaro , who has compared the new coronavirus to a `` little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus problem '' and believed that `` we must save lives . ''
`` But there is a problem that 's worrying us more and more ... and that 's the issue of jobs , of the stalled economy , '' Bolsonaro added .
`` Fighting the virus should n't do more damage than the virus itself . ''
Bolsonaro regularly flouts social distancing measures , hitting the streets in Brasilia and working the crowd in close quarters at rallies of his supporters .
Bolsonaro and Guedes made the comments after paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Supreme Court , Dias Toffoli .
The court recently decided that state and local authorities have the right to determine what social distancing measures to take to contain the spread of the virus , ruling against Bolsonaro 's government , which wants to lift many of the regulations .
Brazil has been hit hard by the pandemic , with more than 135,000 cases and 9,146 deaths .
Those figures have been climbing at an alarming rate .
Experts say under-testing means the real numbers are likely far higher .
Hospitals are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hardest-hit areas , including Sao Paulo , Rio de Janeiro and Manaus , the biggest city in the Amazon region , which has had to turn to refrigerator trucks and mass graves to cope with the number of dead .
Because of the pandemic , Brazil -- which was just coming off a massive recession in 2015 and 2016 -- is facing an economic contraction of 5.3 percent this year , the International Monetary Fund forecasts .
Bolsonaro won election in 2018 promising to jump-start the economy with austerity cuts , privatizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatens to derail that project , battering the economy and forcing the government to undertake massive stimulus spending .

Brazil could face "economic collapse" in a month's time due to stay-at-home measures to stem the coronavirus outbreak, with food shortages and "social disorder," Economy Minister Paulo Guedes warned Thursday.
Brazil's Economy Minister Paulo Guedes wears a protective mask during a news conference after a meeting with President of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court Dias Toffoli, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Supreme Federal Court in Brasilia, Brazil May 7, 2020.
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Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy, is also the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the region.
But far-right President Jair Bolsonaro -- who appeared alongside Guedes, his free-market economics guru -- opposes stay-at-home measures to slow the virus, saying they are unnecessarily damaging the economy.
"Within about 30 days, there may start to be shortages on (store) shelves and production may become disorganized, leading to a system of economic collapse, of social disorder," Guedes said.
"This is a serious alert."
Bolsonaro, who has compared the new coronavirus to a "little flu," said he understood "the virus problem" and believed that "we must save lives."
"But there is a problem that's worrying us more and more... and that's the issue of jobs, of the stalled economy," Bolsonaro added.
"Fighting the virus shouldn't do more damage than the virus itself."
Bolsonaro regularly flouts social distancing measures, hitting the streets in Brasilia and working the crowd in close quarters at rallies of his supporters.
Supreme Court battle
Bolsonaro and Guedes made the comments after paying an unscheduled visit to the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Dias Toffoli.
The court recently decided that state and local authorities have the right to determine what social distancing measures to take to contain the spread of the virus, ruling against Bolsonaro's government, which wants to lift many of the regulations.
Brazil has been hit hard by the pandemic, with more than 135,000 cases and 9,146 deaths.
Those figures have been climbing at an alarming rate. Experts say under-testing means the real numbers are likely far higher.
Hospitals are nearly out of intensive care beds in the hardest-hit areas, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon region, which has had to turn to refrigerator trucks and mass graves to cope with the number of dead.
Because of the pandemic, Brazil -- which was just coming off a massive recession in 2015 and 2016 -- is facing an economic contraction of 5.3 percent this year, the International Monetary Fund forecasts.
Bolsonaro won election in 2018 promising to jump-start the economy with austerity cuts, privatizations and fiscal reforms.
The pandemic now threatens to derail that project, battering the economy and forcing the government to undertake massive stimulus spending.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--France confirms plan to start easing Covid-19 lockdown on May 11

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe stands alongside Health Minister Olivier Veran ( on the right ) at a press conference to present the final details of the government 's plan to ease a nationwide lockdown from May 11 , at the Matignon Hotel on 7 May , 2020 , in Paris .
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Thursday detailed his government ’ s plan for easing Covid-19 confinement measures on May 11 , warning that the exit from lockdown would be gradual and targeted to stem a resurgence of the viral outbreak .
The prime minister confirmed that May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ progressive ” exit from lockdown , ending almost two months of strict confinement for France ’ s 67-million-strong population .
“ Next Monday will mark the start of a very gradual process stretching over several weeks at least , which will allow the country to emerge slowly but steadily from the lockdown , '' Philippe told a news conference , hours after the government put the final touches to its highly-anticipated roadmap .
Philippe said the government was looking to “ strike the right balance between the indispensable resumption of economic ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to ensure the safety of the public .
He said the exit from lockdown would be “ differentiated ” , with restrictions to be lifted gradually and varying between regions .
`` The country is cut in two , with the virus circulating more quickly in some regions , '' he explained .
The French PM unveiled an updated version of the government 's colour-coded map dividing the country between red zones , for high-infection areas , and green zones , where infections have been markedly lower .
The map is designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing measures .
“ Some areas are still seeing an active circulation of the virus or a lot of pressure on hospitals .
Those are classified as red areas , ” Philippe said .
“ We will be ending the lockdown there , but some restrictions will remain in place : middle schools will remain closed , and so will parks and public gardens.
” The prime minister said both the authorities and the public would have to remain `` especially vigilant '' in the densely populated Paris region , a red zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going down but remains high – higher than we had hoped for.
” Beyond the Paris area , administrative regions around Calais , Strasbourg and Dijon will also remain classified as `` red zones '' .
As part of the phased exit from lockdown , primary schools and most businesses — though not cafes and restaurants — will be allowed to reopen as of May 11 , both in red and green zones .
In the latter zones , Philippe said secondary schools , cafes and restaurants may open from early June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An exception will be made for the overseas territory of Mayotte , where “ infections are rising fast ” , Philippe said , warning that the lockdown would be prolonged there .
The elderly and other vulnerable populations , including people with underlying medical conditions , will not be confined to their homes after May 11 , the PM added , though he advised extreme caution .
“ We trust people who know they are vulnerable to do what is necessary to stay safe , ” he said .
The government has urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from home when possible and , if not , to introduce shift working to avoid transport congestion and ensure physical distancing .
Speaking after Philippe , Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne said face masks would be compulsory on public transport for everyone aged 11 and above .
Commuters travelling during rush hour in the Paris region will need to carry a document signed by their employer , she added .
In order to enforce social distancing measures , public transport providers will operate at around 50 % capacity from May 11 , Borne said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach full capacity by early June .
> > Key points of France ’ s strategy for lifting its nationwide Covid-19 lockdown Addressing another sensitive issue , Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said children would begin returning to nursery and primary schools from Monday on a voluntary basis .
Classes will be restricted to 15 pupils in primary schools and 10 in nursery schools .
Blanquer said roughly one million students would be heading back to classrooms next week , with priority given to the children of medical personnel and other key workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` All teachers will be back at school , '' he added — a decision that is likely to anger the many teachers who have described the return to school as dangerously premature .
The coronavirus pandemic has killed almost 26,000 people in France since March 1 , though the number of new hospitalisations and ICU cases has fallen steadily in recent weeks .
Like other governments across Europe , France is wrestling with the conundrum of how best to lift lockdown measures that have battered its economy while staving off a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's news conference , Philippe said the government would reassess at the end of May whether conditions were right to ease restrictions further — or whether some should be reinstated .
If infection figures “ stay low we will be able to move on to the next stage , we ’ ll be able to open up new areas , ” he said .
“ But if they don ’ t change , if they increase , we 'll have to consider future confinement measures.
” The government 's plans to unwind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who say they confusing and premature .
In particular , opposition legislators and some experts have questioned the practicalities of schools reopening , the broad use of public transport and the tough restrictions that will continue to affect areas less affected by the virus .
The government is also under pressure from a deeply sceptical public .
According to an Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting survey published by France Info on Wednesday , 58 % of people surveyed don ’ t trust the government to implement a successful lockdown exit plan .
More than two thirds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure the safety of pupils and teachers , and 74 % say public transport will not be safe ( including 80 % in the Paris region ) .

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Thursday detailed his government’s plan for easing Covid-19 confinement measures on May 11, warning that the exit from lockdown would be gradual and targeted to stem a resurgence of the viral outbreak.
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe stands alongside Health Minister Olivier Veran (on the right) at a press conference to present the final details of the government's plan to ease a nationwide lockdown from May 11, at the Matignon Hotel on 7 May, 2020, in Paris.
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The prime minister confirmed that May 11 would mark the beginning of a “progressive” exit from lockdown, ending almost two months of strict confinement for France’s 67-million-strong population.
“Next Monday will mark the start of a very gradual process stretching over several weeks at least, which will allow the country to emerge slowly but steadily from the lockdown," Philippe told a news conference, hours after the government put the final touches to its highly-anticipated roadmap.
00:33
Philippe said the government was looking to “strike the right balance between the indispensable resumption of economic (...) life and the indispensable need” to ensure the safety of the public. He said the exit from lockdown would be “differentiated”, with restrictions to be lifted gradually and varying between regions.
"The country is cut in two, with the virus circulating more quickly in some regions," he explained.
The French PM unveiled an updated version of the government's colour-coded map dividing the country between red zones, for high-infection areas, and green zones, where infections have been markedly lower. The map is designed to serve as a reference for lockdown easing measures.
“Some areas are still seeing an active circulation of the virus or a lot of pressure on hospitals. Those are classified as red areas,” Philippe said. “We will be ending the lockdown there, but some restrictions will remain in place: middle schools will remain closed, and so will parks and public gardens.”
Extra vigilance in Paris region
The prime minister said both the authorities and the public would have to remain "especially vigilant" in the densely populated Paris region, a red zone, “where the number of cases is going down but remains high – higher than we had hoped for.”
Beyond the Paris area, administrative regions around Calais, Strasbourg and Dijon will also remain classified as "red zones".
00:40
As part of the phased exit from lockdown, primary schools and most businesses — though not cafes and restaurants — will be allowed to reopen as of May 11, both in red and green zones. In the latter zones, Philippe said secondary schools, cafes and restaurants may open from early June if the infection rate remains low.
An exception will be made for the overseas territory of Mayotte, where “infections are rising fast”, Philippe said, warning that the lockdown would be prolonged there.
The elderly and other vulnerable populations, including people with underlying medical conditions, will not be confined to their homes after May 11, the PM added, though he advised extreme caution.
“We trust people who know they are vulnerable to do what is necessary to stay safe,” he said.
French PM Edouard Philippe on the government's plan for easing #Coronavirus lockdown measures: says the vulnerable and elderly should continue to observe social distancing as much as possible. This won't be compulsory. — Sanam Shantyaei (@SanamF24) May 7, 2020
Face masks compulsory
The government has urged companies to ensure employees can continue working from home when possible and, if not, to introduce shift working to avoid transport congestion and ensure physical distancing.
Speaking after Philippe, Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne said face masks would be compulsory on public transport for everyone aged 11 and above. Commuters travelling during rush hour in the Paris region will need to carry a document signed by their employer, she added.
In order to enforce social distancing measures, public transport providers will operate at around 50% capacity from May 11, Borne said, adding that the government was hoping to reach full capacity by early June.
>> Key points of France’s strategy for lifting its nationwide Covid-19 lockdown
Addressing another sensitive issue, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said children would begin returning to nursery and primary schools from Monday on a voluntary basis. Classes will be restricted to 15 pupils in primary schools and 10 in nursery schools.
Blanquer said roughly one million students would be heading back to classrooms next week, with priority given to the children of medical personnel and other key workers, and those with learning difficulties.
"All teachers will be back at school," he added — a decision that is likely to anger the many teachers who have described the return to school as dangerously premature.
Sceptical public
The coronavirus pandemic has killed almost 26,000 people in France since March 1, though the number of new hospitalisations and ICU cases has fallen steadily in recent weeks.
Like other governments across Europe, France is wrestling with the conundrum of how best to lift lockdown measures that have battered its economy while staving off a second wave of contagion.
Wrapping up Thursday's news conference, Philippe said the government would reassess at the end of May whether conditions were right to ease restrictions further — or whether some should be reinstated.
If infection figures “stay low we will be able to move on to the next stage, we’ll be able to open up new areas,” he said. “But if they don’t change, if they increase, we'll have to consider future confinement measures.”
The government's plans to unwind the lockdown have drawn fire from critics, who say they are confusing and premature. In particular, opposition legislators and some experts have questioned the practicalities of schools reopening, the broad use of public transport and the tough restrictions that will continue to affect areas less affected by the virus.
The government is also under pressure from a deeply sceptical public.
According to an Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting survey published by France Info on Wednesday, 58% of people surveyed don’t trust the government to implement a successful lockdown exit plan. More than two thirds believe schools will not be able to ensure the safety of pupils and teachers, and 74% say public transport will not be safe (including 80% in the Paris region).
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france24--2020-05-07--France records 178 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours as total toll from virus nears 26,000

France on Thursday recorded 178 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours , a 0.7 percent rise from the previous day in the lowest rate of increase in four days , taking the total number of deaths to 25,987 .
The number of people in intensive care units fell by 186 or 5.9 percent to 2,961 , according to the health ministry , in a total below the 3,000 threshold for the first time since March 25 .
The number of people in ICU - a key measure of a health system 's ability to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic - is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7,148 seen on April 8 .
The number of people in hospital with coronavirus also fell again to 23,208 from 23,983 , continuing an uninterrupted three-week fall and down almost 30 percent from an April 14 peak of 32,292 .
The latest figures were announced hours after French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe detailed his government ’ s plan for easing Covid-19 confinement measures on May 11 , warning that the exit from lockdown would be gradual and targeted to stem a resurgence of the viral outbreak .
The French PM unveiled an updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dividing the country between red zones , for high-infection areas , and green zones , where infections have been markedly lower .
The map is designed to serve as a reference for lockdown easing measures .

France on Thursday recorded 178 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, a 0.7 percent rise from the previous day in the lowest rate of increase in four days, taking the total number of deaths to 25,987.
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The number of people in intensive care units fell by 186 or 5.9 percent to 2,961, according to the health ministry, in a total below the 3,000 threshold for the first time since March 25.
The number of people in ICU - a key measure of a health system's ability to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic - is now well below half the peak of 7,148 seen on April 8.
The number of people in hospital with coronavirus also fell again to 23,208 from 23,983, continuing an uninterrupted three-week fall and down almost 30 percent from an April 14 peak of 32,292.
The latest figures were announced hours after French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe detailed his government’s plan for easing Covid-19 confinement measures on May 11, warning that the exit from lockdown would be gradual and targeted to stem a resurgence of the viral outbreak.
The French PM unveiled an updated version of the government's colour-coded map dividing the country between red zones, for high-infection areas, and green zones, where infections have been markedly lower. The map is designed to serve as a reference for lockdown easing measures.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--US Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Trump aide Michael Flynn

The US Justice Department on Thursday abruptly withdrew its case against former White House national security advisor Michael Flynn following mounting pressure from President Donald Trump 's political allies on the right , handing the US president a major political victory .
The department said in a filing that Michael Flynn 's December 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI over his Russia contacts was not significant to the case , and said the FBI 's original probe of him had no `` legitimate investigative basis . ''
The move comes as Flynn had been seeking to withdraw his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lying about interactions with Russia 's ambassador to the US , Sergey Kislyak in the weeks before Trump took office .
Flynn was one of several former Trump aides to plead guilty or be convicted at trial in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation that detailed Moscow 's interference in the 2016 US election to boost Trump 's candidacy as well as numerous contacts between Trump 's campaign and Russia .
The sudden about-face is likely to raise new questions among Trump 's critics about the Justice Department 's interventions under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases involving the president 's political allies .
Trump , in reacting to the Justice Department 's decision on Thursday , said he was very happy for Flynn .
The decision to drop the charges comes less than three months after Barr named Jeffrey Jensen , the US attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri , to review the Justice Department 's handling of the case .
In a statement , Jensen said he had `` concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case '' and he had briefed Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a retired Army lieutenant general who served as an adviser to the president during the 2016 campaign , as national security adviser after it emerged that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI about his dealings with Kislyak .
The president in March said he was strongly considering a full pardon for Flynn .
He said the FBI and Justice Department had `` destroyed '' Flynn 's life and that of his family , and cited an unspecified report that they had lost records related to Flynn .
Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of his plea deal .
But he later switched lawyers and tactics , arguing that prosecutors in the case had tricked him into lying about his December 2016 conversations with Kislyak .
The Justice Department had repeatedly denied allegations of prosecutorial misconduct , and US District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected all of Flynn ’ s claims in December .

The US Justice Department on Thursday abruptly withdrew its case against former White House national security advisor Michael Flynn following mounting pressure from President Donald Trump's political allies on the right, handing the US president a major political victory.
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The department said in a filing that Michael Flynn's December 2017 guilty plea for lying to the FBI over his Russia contacts was not significant to the case, and said the FBI's original probe of him had no "legitimate investigative basis."
The move comes as Flynn had been seeking to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea in which he admitted to lying about interactions with Russia's ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak in the weeks before Trump took office.
Flynn was one of several former Trump aides to plead guilty or be convicted at trial in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that detailed Moscow's interference in the 2016 US election to boost Trump's candidacy as well as numerous contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia.
The sudden about-face is likely to raise new questions among Trump's critics about the Justice Department's interventions under Attorney General William Barr into high-profile criminal cases involving the president's political allies.
Trump, in reacting to the Justice Department's decision on Thursday, said he was very happy for Flynn.
A new appointment to review case
The decision to drop the charges comes less than three months after Barr named Jeffrey Jensen, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, to review the Justice Department's handling of the case.
In a statement, Jensen said he had "concluded the proper and just course was to dismiss the case" and he had briefed Barr on these conclusions.
Trump fired Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general who served as an adviser to the president during the 2016 campaign, as national security adviser after it emerged that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence and the FBI about his dealings with Kislyak.
Switching lawyers and tactics
The president in March said he was strongly considering a full pardon for Flynn. He said the FBI and Justice Department had "destroyed" Flynn's life and that of his family, and cited an unspecified report that they had lost records related to Flynn.
Flynn was supposed to help cooperate with prosecutors as part of his plea deal. But he later switched lawyers and tactics, arguing that prosecutors in the case had tricked him into lying about his December 2016 conversations with Kislyak.
The Justice Department had repeatedly denied allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, and US District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected all of Flynn’s claims in December.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-07--Republic of Congo's President Sassou-Nguesso: 'We've noticed a rise in the Covid-19 epidemic'

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 and RFI , the president of the Republic of Congo , Denis Sassou-Nguesso , discussed the Covid-19 pandemic in his country , as well as a controversial treatment developed in Madagascar that the Republic of Congo plans to use .
He also talked about the economic consequences of the health crisis and asked for up to `` $ 500 million '' in aid from the IMF .
Finally , he ruled out the release of two jailed political opponents , Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa , on health and humanitarian grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we 've noticed a rise in the epidemic , '' the Republic of Congo 's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso told FRANCE 24 and RFI in an exclusive interview from the capital Brazzaville .
The Republic of Congo now has ten Covid-19 deaths , `` including two doctors '' , and just over 260 cases of the disease have officially been detected .
`` We believe the epidemic is still very much present , '' Sassou-Nguesso added .
The country 's lockdown , in force since March 31 , was due to be lifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now been extended until May 15 .

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 and RFI, the president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, discussed the Covid-19 pandemic in his country, as well as a controversial treatment developed in Madagascar that the Republic of Congo plans to use. He also talked about the economic consequences of the health crisis and asked for up to "$500 million" in aid from the IMF. Finally, he ruled out the release of two jailed political opponents, Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko and André Okombi Salissa, on health and humanitarian grounds.
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"After 30 days of lockdown, we've noticed a rise in the epidemic," the Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso told FRANCE 24 and RFI in an exclusive interview from the capital Brazzaville. The Republic of Congo now has ten Covid-19 deaths, "including two doctors", and just over 260 cases of the disease have officially been detected.
"We believe the epidemic is still very much present," Sassou-Nguesso added. The country's lockdown, in force since March 31, was due to be lifted at the end of April and has now been extended until May 15.
>> Covid-19 pandemic: Madagascar distributes controversial 'miracle cure'
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france24--2020-05-07--French ex-president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing faces sexual assault allegations

File photo of former French president , Valéry Giscard d'Estaing , at a church service in Paris on Sept. 30 , 2019 .
A German journalist has accused former French President Valéry Giscard d ’ Estaing of repeatedly grabbing her during an interview , and filed a sexual assault complaint with Paris prosecutors , according to French and German news reports .
Giscard ’ s French lawyer said Thursday that the 94-year-old former president “ retains no memory ” of the incident .
Giscard was president of France from 1974-1981 .
German broadcaster WDR reported Wednesday night that it investigated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giscard for WDR in December 2018 .
The journalist said Giscard grabbed her buttocks three times and she tried to push his hand away , according to reports by French daily Le Monde and German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung .
WDR said it asked lawyers to investigate , and then sent a protest letter to Giscard last year saying , “ we can not tolerate our employees being confronted with such situations.
” The journalist filed a legal complaint this March with Paris prosecutors , the reports said .
The prosecutor ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement to The Associated Press , Giscard ’ s lawyer Jean-Marc Fedida suggested possible legal retaliation “ against a particularly undignified and offensive media ( attack ) '' around the accusation .
According to Le Monde , the journalist didn ’ t file a complaint right away because she didn ’ t understand enough about the French justice system , but later changed her mind in part thanks to inspiration from the # MeToo movement against sexual misconduct .

A German journalist has accused former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing of repeatedly grabbing her during an interview, and filed a sexual assault complaint with Paris prosecutors, according to French and German news reports.
File photo of former French president, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, at a church service in Paris on Sept. 30, 2019.
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Giscard’s French lawyer said Thursday that the 94-year-old former president “retains no memory” of the incident. Giscard was president of France from 1974-1981.
German broadcaster WDR reported Wednesday night that it investigated the alleged misconduct after the journalist interviewed Giscard for WDR in December 2018.
The journalist said Giscard grabbed her buttocks three times and she tried to push his hand away, according to reports by French daily Le Monde and German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung.
WDR said it asked lawyers to investigate, and then sent a protest letter to Giscard last year saying, “we cannot tolerate our employees being confronted with such situations.”
The journalist filed a legal complaint this March with Paris prosecutors, the reports said. The prosecutor’s office would not comment Thursday.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Giscard’s lawyer Jean-Marc Fedida suggested possible legal retaliation “against a particularly undignified and offensive media (attack)" around the accusation.
According to Le Monde, the journalist didn’t file a complaint right away because she didn’t understand enough about the French justice system, but later changed her mind in part thanks to inspiration from the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct.
(AP)
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france24--2020-05-07--Face masks for the deaf: Covid 19's communication challenge for the hearing impaired

How to lip read when everyone ’ s face is hidden behind a mask ?
That is the challenge facing deaf people across the world as the Covid-19 pandemic makes face masks a part of daily life .
The answer could be transparent face masks but such masks are in short supply , leading some to make their own .
Over 5 percent of the world ’ s population , or 466 million people , have disabling hearing loss , according to the World Health Organization , and many rely on lip-reading alongside sign language to communicate .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , there are salespeople for example at the post office or at the pharmacy who have masks , ” Céline Rettmann a hearing-impaired high school student from Brussels , Belgium , told Reuters .
“ This is why it is necessary to extend the use of transparent masks to facilitate accessibility for deaf people.
” Deaf associations in several countries , including Belgium , are calling on governments to make these masks more readily available .
But for the time being , many are having to make do with homemade efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a special-needs school in Brussels where teachers have been sewing masks that contain a transparent window to show the mouth .
“ Our children need to communicate with the whole entity , all your face , the things you say , not ( only ) with the hands but ( also ) with the face , ” Wendy Schellemans , a teacher at the school told Reuters .
“ The emotions behind communication .
So when we try to wear these ones - we made these - they could look at everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Across the world entrepreneurs and charities have been stepping in to meet the demand for transparent masks , including in Indonesia , Thailand and Italy , where an auto-workshop that recently switched its production lines to making see-through masks says its creations have proved popular with non-deaf people too .
“ Along the way , we realised that this is not only for the hard of hearing , but also for normal people who can not see the smiles or visual expressions of the person , ” owner Francesco Tortorelli told AFP @

How to lip read when everyone’s face is hidden behind a mask? That is the challenge facing deaf people across the world as the Covid-19 pandemic makes face masks a part of daily life. The answer could be transparent face masks but such masks are in short supply, leading some to make their own.
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Over 5 percent of the world’s population, or 466 million people, have disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization, and many rely on lip-reading alongside sign language to communicate.
“In the current situation, in connection with the coronavirus, there are salespeople for example at the post office or at the pharmacy who have masks,” Céline Rettmann a hearing-impaired high school student from Brussels, Belgium, told Reuters.
“This is why it is necessary to extend the use of transparent masks to facilitate accessibility for deaf people.”
Deaf associations in several countries, including Belgium, are calling on governments to make these masks more readily available.
But for the time being, many are having to make do with homemade efforts, including at the Royal Woluwe Institute, a special-needs school in Brussels where teachers have been sewing masks that contain a transparent window to show the mouth.
“Our children need to communicate with the whole entity, all your face, the things you say, not (only) with the hands but (also) with the face,” Wendy Schellemans, a teacher at the school told Reuters.
“The emotions behind communication. So when we try to wear these ones - we made these - they could look at everything we were telling - even our emotions.”
Across the world entrepreneurs and charities have been stepping in to meet the demand for transparent masks, including in Indonesia, Thailand and Italy, where an auto-workshop that recently switched its production lines to making see-through masks says its creations have proved popular with non-deaf people too.
“Along the way, we realised that this is not only for the hard of hearing, but also for normal people who cannot see the smiles or visual expressions of the person,” owner Francesco Tortorelli told AFP.
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france24--2020-05-07--India to roll out Covid-19 app for low cost Reliance JioPhone in bid to widen tracing

File photo of the Aarogya Setu app logo on a mobile phone in this illustration picture taken May 3 , 2020 .
India will within days roll out a version of its coronavirus contact-tracing application that can run on mobile carrier Reliance Jio 's cheap phones , as it looks to increase the reach of the system , a senior government official said on Thursday .
India , which has imposed the world 's biggest shutdown to battle the spread of the coronavirus , last month launched the Aarogya Setu ( Health Bridge ) app -- a Bluetooth and GPS-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in contact with people who later test positive for COVID-19 .
The app , which has been downloaded more than 83 million times so far , was initially available to India 's roughly 500 million smartphone users on Google 's Android and Apple devices , but not to around 400 million users of more basic feature phones .
Within a week , a version of the app will be rolled out to more than 100 million users of the $ 9 JioPhone - a cheap , internet-enabled feature phone that runs on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior government official told Reuters .
Launched by Reliance Industries ' telecoms unit in 2017 , the phone gives users access to 4G mobile data and apps including Facebook Inc 's popular WhatsApp messenger .
`` We are pushing it ... the testing is going on , '' said the official who declined to be identified as the plan is not public .
India 's technology ministry and Reliance Jio did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment .
Contact tracing apps such as Aarogya Setu are being used in an attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , testing and isolating people exposed to the virus before they spread it to others .
While many countries around the world are using similar apps , some such as Australia and Colombia are turning to technology from Apple and Alphabet 's Google amid citizens ' privacy concerns and glitchy state-backed systems .
The Indian government has also launched a toll-free number that connects feature phone and fixed-line phone users to the Aarogya Setu platform , allowing them to self-assess for COVID-19 via an interactive voice response system .
As India eased some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all public and private sector employees returning to work to use the app , saying company heads will be held responsible for ensuring 100 % coverage among employees .
A French hacker , who goes by the name Elliot Alderson on Twitter , has pointed out privacy flaws in India 's app but the government responded by assuring its citizens that it is safe .

India will within days roll out a version of its coronavirus contact-tracing application that can run on mobile carrier Reliance Jio's cheap phones, as it looks to increase the reach of the system, a senior government official said on Thursday.
File photo of the Aarogya Setu app logo on a mobile phone in this illustration picture taken May 3, 2020.
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India, which has imposed the world's biggest shutdown to battle the spread of the coronavirus, last month launched the Aarogya Setu (Health Bridge) app -- a Bluetooth and GPS-based application which alerts users who may have come in contact with people who later test positive for COVID-19.
The app, which has been downloaded more than 83 million times so far, was initially available to India's roughly 500 million smartphone users on Google's Android and Apple devices, but not to around 400 million users of more basic feature phones.
Within a week, a version of the app will be rolled out to more than 100 million users of the $9 JioPhone - a cheap, internet-enabled feature phone that runs on a mobile operating system named KaiOS, a senior government official told Reuters.
Launched by Reliance Industries' telecoms unit in 2017, the phone gives users access to 4G mobile data and apps including Facebook Inc's popular WhatsApp messenger.
"We are pushing it ... the testing is going on," said the official who declined to be identified as the plan is not public.
India's technology ministry and Reliance Jio did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Contact tracing apps such as Aarogya Setu are being used in an attempt to speed up the process of identifying, testing and isolating people exposed to the virus before they spread it to others.
While many countries around the world are using similar apps, some such as Australia and Colombia are turning to technology from Apple and Alphabet's Google amid citizens' privacy concerns and glitchy state-backed systems.
The Indian government has also launched a toll-free number that connects feature phone and fixed-line phone users to the Aarogya Setu platform, allowing them to self-assess for COVID-19 via an interactive voice response system.
As India eased some of its lockdown restrictions, it ordered all public and private sector employees returning to work to use the app, saying company heads will be held responsible for ensuring 100% coverage among employees.
Hi @SetuAarogya,
A security issue has been found in your app. The privacy of 90 million Indians is at stake. Can you contact me in private?
Regards,
PS: @RahulGandhi was right — Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 5, 2020
A French hacker, who goes by the name Elliot Alderson on Twitter, has pointed out privacy flaws in India's app but the government responded by assuring its citizens that it is safe.
(REUTERS)
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