france24--2020-04-23--France ignores EU calls to lift export bans on Covid-19 drugs

An ampule of Ebola drug Remdesivir is pictured during a news conference at the University Hospital Eppendorf ( UKE ) in Hamburg , Germany , April 8 , 2020 , as the spread of Covid-19 continues .
France has expanded its list of drugs that face export restrictions through the coronavirus crisis despite repeated calls from the European Union to lift curbs that could cause shortages in other countries , documents show .
The further clampdown on exports was adopted two days before EU leaders hold a conference call on Thursday meant to strengthen financial solidarity across the bloc in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its common market , which is based on free movement of goods .
The European Commission sent a letter on April 7 to the French government urging it to lift export restrictions on dozens of vital medicines to treat coronavirus patients , EU officials told Reuters .
But instead of heeding the call , Paris has vastly extended the list of drugs covered by restrictions , according to a letter seen by Reuters that was sent by the French drugs regulator ANSM to pharmaceutical distributors on April 21 .
The temporary restrictions apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi , are exempted from the export curbs .
The French prime minister 's office , the health ministry and the drugs regulator did not answer requests for comment .
One industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said the French restrictions were aimed at preventing distributors from selling drugs abroad at higher prices during a severe outbreak of COVID-19 , the disease cased by the virus , at home .
Among drugs that distributors can not export from France are antibiotics , painkillers , sedatives and muscle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being tested as possible treatments for COVID-19 , including remdesivir , hydroxychloroquine , lopinavir and ritonavir , ANSM lists show .
The curbs also apply to insulin , which is vital to millions of people with diabetes across Europe .
Several of the affected medicines are not in short supply in France , but are in some other EU states .
That is the case , for instance , with atracurium and rocuronium , two muscle relaxants used to connect critically ill COVID-19 patients to ventilators .
Italy , the Netherlands , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these two drugs could soon no longer be available in their countries , according to an EU internal list of medicines in shortage , dated April 1 and seen by Reuters .
A spokeswoman for the European Commission told Reuters on Thursday France was among the few EU countries that had ignored calls to lift certain trade barriers on medicines .
She said talks were underway to persuade France , a key hub for drugs distribution across Europe , to remove `` disproportionate '' restrictions .
If no compromise is reached , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said .
Half of EU states have drawn up long lists of drugs whose export has been curbed during the coronavirus emergency .
The Commission has repeatedly said these measures , which vary from fully-fledged bans to requirements for export authorisations , risk causing shortages in other countries of the 27-nation bloc .
It sent letters to France , Poland , Latvia , Romania , Slovakia , Hungary and other central-eastern European countries urging them to remove barriers `` that could hamper our collective ability to respond to the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document seen by Reuters .
Some eastern states have partly heeded the EU calls , three EU officials said , citing Poland and Slovakia among countries that have removed some restrictions .
France , the EU 's second-largest economy , caused an outcry from EU partners in early March when it decided to curb exports of personal protection gear , such as face masks .
The measure was judged by Brussels as legal because sales abroad were still allowed if pre-authorised , but that triggered similar moves by other EU states , leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective gear across Europe .
Germany also initially banned the export of protective equipment , but after EU pressure removed restrictions .

France has expanded its list of drugs that face export restrictions through the coronavirus crisis despite repeated calls from the European Union to lift curbs that could cause shortages in other countries, documents show.
An ampule of Ebola drug Remdesivir is pictured during a news conference at the University Hospital Eppendorf (UKE) in Hamburg, Germany, April 8, 2020, as the spread of Covid-19 continues.
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The further clampdown on exports was adopted two days before EU leaders hold a conference call on Thursday meant to strengthen financial solidarity across the bloc in the fight against the pandemic and preserve its common market, which is based on free movement of goods.
The European Commission sent a letter on April 7 to the French government urging it to lift export restrictions on dozens of vital medicines to treat coronavirus patients, EU officials told Reuters.
But instead of heeding the call, Paris has vastly extended the list of drugs covered by restrictions, according to a letter seen by Reuters that was sent by the French drugs regulator ANSM to pharmaceutical distributors on April 21.
The temporary restrictions apply to those distributors. Manufacturers, such as French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi, are exempted from the export curbs.
The French prime minister's office, the health ministry and the drugs regulator did not answer requests for comment.
One industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said the French restrictions were aimed at preventing distributors from selling drugs abroad at higher prices during a severe outbreak of COVID-19, the disease cased by the virus, at home.
Among drugs that distributors cannot export from France are antibiotics, painkillers, sedatives and muscle relaxants, as well as several drugs being tested as possible treatments for COVID-19, including remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and ritonavir, ANSM lists show.
The curbs also apply to insulin, which is vital to millions of people with diabetes across Europe. Several of the affected medicines are not in short supply in France, but are in some other EU states.
That is the case, for instance, with atracurium and rocuronium, two muscle relaxants used to connect critically ill COVID-19 patients to ventilators.
Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium were among EU nations that warned these two drugs could soon no longer be available in their countries, according to an EU internal list of medicines in shortage, dated April 1 and seen by Reuters.
Legal action?
A spokeswoman for the European Commission told Reuters on Thursday France was among the few EU countries that had ignored calls to lift certain trade barriers on medicines.
She said talks were underway to persuade France, a key hub for drugs distribution across Europe, to remove "disproportionate" restrictions. If no compromise is reached, the Commission could take legal action against Paris, she said. Half of EU states have drawn up long lists of drugs whose export has been curbed during the coronavirus emergency.
The Commission has repeatedly said these measures, which vary from fully-fledged bans to requirements for export authorisations, risk causing shortages in other countries of the 27-nation bloc.
It sent letters to France, Poland, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and other central-eastern European countries urging them to remove barriers "that could hamper our collective ability to respond to the coronavirus outbreak effectively," according to an EU document seen by Reuters.
Some eastern states have partly heeded the EU calls, three EU officials said, citing Poland and Slovakia among countries that have removed some restrictions.
France, the EU's second-largest economy, caused an outcry from EU partners in early March when it decided to curb exports of personal protection gear, such as face masks.
The measure was judged by Brussels as legal because sales abroad were still allowed if pre-authorised, but that triggered similar moves by other EU states, leading to delays and exacerbating the shortage of protective gear across Europe.
Germany also initially banned the export of protective equipment, but after EU pressure removed restrictions.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-23--New Caledonia: The French island where lockdown is already over

France is not due to begin lifting its Covid-19 lockdown until May 11 , but in one small part of the country life is already returning to normal .
The French territory of New Caledonia , a small archipelago in the Pacific Ocean , began lifting restrictions on Monday , giving the rest of France a glimpse of what life after lockdown might be like .
`` The first day we opened at 6am , all the regulars came back , ” café manager Betty Levanque , told AFP .
“ The first lunchtime , everyone was really excited but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So that 's hard .
We did n't kiss , we did n't touch , we just looked at each other and said : 'Ah !
We 're happy ! '
'' `` It 's good to be able to go out freely without a certificate , ” added local resident Leslie Garrier , as she ate with her family at a restaurant .
“ And it 's good to take the kids out a bit further than around the house .
They were really happy to be able to come to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this for a long time , so we 're taking advantage of it before they go back to school . ''
The territory of around 270,000 people has been little affected by the pandemic , with just 18 recorded cases and no deaths .
But although the lockdown may have ended , precautions remain in place , including reduced class sizes in schools , and strict hygiene and social distancing rules in bars , shops and restaurants .

France is not due to begin lifting its Covid-19 lockdown until May 11, but in one small part of the country life is already returning to normal. The French territory of New Caledonia, a small archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, began lifting restrictions on Monday, giving the rest of France a glimpse of what life after lockdown might be like.
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"The first day we opened at 6am, all the regulars came back,” café manager Betty Levanque, told AFP.
“The first lunchtime, everyone was really excited but we couldn't kiss each other. So that's hard. We didn't kiss, we didn't touch, we just looked at each other and said: 'Ah! We're happy!'"
"It's good to be able to go out freely without a certificate,” added local resident Leslie Garrier, as she ate with her family at a restaurant.
“And it's good to take the kids out a bit further than around the house. They were really happy to be able to come to the restaurant, they've been waiting for this for a long time, so we're taking advantage of it before they go back to school."
The territory of around 270,000 people has been little affected by the pandemic, with just 18 recorded cases and no deaths.
But although the lockdown may have ended, precautions remain in place, including reduced class sizes in schools, and strict hygiene and social distancing rules in bars, shops and restaurants.
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france24--2020-04-23--From Netflix to sex toys: The businesses benefitting from the Covid-19 pandemic

Amazon is among the companies to see an increase in demand amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on dozens of industries with fears of a global economic recession to rival the Great Depression .
But for a few companies , business is booming as the pandemic triggers a surge in demand for their products .
In supermarkets , shelves have been emptied of goods such as rice , pasta and bread as people in lockdown stock up on staples .
The panic-buying of toilet paper has been reported the world over and Procter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s largest toilet paper manufacturers , has reported a 10 percent surge in US sales this year .
People being forced to stay indoors has also increased demand for home entertainment and Netflix has been one of the biggest beneficiaries .
Some 15.8 million people signed up to the streaming service in the first quarter of this year , more than double the company ’ s own projections .
Others have sought alternative ways to keep themselves occupied at home during the coronavirus pandemic .
Cannabis sales soared by more than 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the drug is legal , according to figures from Flowhub .
Adult toy makers from countries including Denmark , Colombia and New Zealand have said sales are booming .
“ The last week has been crazy .
We have increased the sale by approximately 100 % in all Scandinavian countries .
So I think it 's because now we are used to the new normal and now we need to have a bit more fun actually in our lives , ’ Mathilde Mackowski , co-owner of Danish company Sinful , told Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ match the performance of online retail giant Amazon .
The company has seen ‘ unprecedented demand ’ , according to analysts , as people across the world under lockdown measures turn to online shopping .
Amazon ’ s market value surged to a record high of $ 1.2 trillion in recent weeks , increasing the wealth of owner and the world ’ s richest man , Jeff Bezos , by around $ 24 billion this year , according to Bloomberg .

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on dozens of industries with fears of a global economic recession to rival the Great Depression. But for a few companies, business is booming as the pandemic triggers a surge in demand for their products.
Amazon is among the companies to see an increase in demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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In supermarkets, shelves have been emptied of goods such as rice, pasta and bread as people in lockdown stock up on staples. The panic-buying of toilet paper has been reported the world over and Procter & Gamble, one of the world’s largest toilet paper manufacturers, has reported a 10 percent surge in US sales this year.
People being forced to stay indoors has also increased demand for home entertainment and Netflix has been one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Some 15.8 million people signed up to the streaming service in the first quarter of this year, more than double the company’s own projections.
Others have sought alternative ways to keep themselves occupied at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cannabis sales soared by more than 50 percent in March in several US states where the drug is legal, according to figures from Flowhub.
Adult toy makers from countries including Denmark, Colombia and New Zealand have said sales are booming.
“The last week has been crazy. We have increased the sale by approximately 100% in all Scandinavian countries. So I think it's because now we are used to the new normal and now we need to have a bit more fun actually in our lives,’ Mathilde Mackowski, co-owner of Danish company Sinful, told Reuters.
Few businesses, though, can match the performance of online retail giant Amazon.
The company has seen ‘unprecedented demand’, according to analysts, as people across the world under lockdown measures turn to online shopping.
Amazon’s market value surged to a record high of $1.2 trillion in recent weeks, increasing the wealth of owner and the world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, by around $24 billion this year, according to Bloomberg.
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france24--2020-04-23--Former top White House official on Trump's Covid-19 response: 'Time was lost'

Former top White House official on Trump 's Covid-19 response : 'Time was lost' In an interview with FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @ former top White House official for pandemics , discussed the Trump administration ’ s response @ @ @ @ @ Cameron headed a directorate on pandemics , created under Barack Obama , that was later @ @ @ @ @ .
She told FRANCE 24 that `` time was lost '' due to that decision @ @ @ @ @ reports that a top US vaccine expert has been fired for disagreeing with Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ criticised the US president 's decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization .

Former top White House official on Trump's Covid-19 response: 'Time was lost'
13:07 THE INTERVIEW © FRANCE 24
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Beth Cameron, a former top White House official for pandemics, discussed the Trump administration’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Cameron headed a directorate on pandemics, created under Barack Obama, that was later disbanded by the Trump administration. She told FRANCE 24 that "time was lost" due to that decision. Cameron also reacted to reports that a top US vaccine expert has been fired for disagreeing with Donald Trump. Finally, she strongly criticised the US president's decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization.


france24--2020-04-23--Out of work and hungry, Colombians protest during Covid-19 lockdown

Ceballos filmed this video in El Concejo , which is in the Altavista neighborhood in Medellin ’ s commune 16 on 16 April .
The police came to put out the fire .
At first , they were trying to hand out fines but there were just too many people gathered there .
The police and locals started talking to one another and they had a conversation for a good 15 or 20 minutes .
By the end of it , police promised that the neighbourhood would be a priority for food aid .
`` I ’ d say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respecting stay-at-home orders ” There have been regular pot and pan concerts taking place in the neighbourhood since lockdown began .
People have protested in the past , too , but there ’ s never been such a big turnout .
People are going out into the streets because they are hungry .
A lot of them haven ’ t been able to work for a month or more .
Around 60 to 70 % of people in this neighbourhood work in the informal sector -- this includes street vendors , sex workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d say that only about 50 % of residents are respecting the lockdown .
Others are going out to earn a bit of money because , otherwise , they wouldn ’ t be able to survive .
`` If people have a bit of money , then they buy food not masks ” There ’ s a megaphone right by where people lit the fire on 16 April .
It broadcasts messages from the city authorities every hour , telling people to make sure that they are eating correctly , washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think what people wanted to express by using that location was , `` We want help and not advice !
” If people are starving and they have a bit of money , then they are obviously going to go and buy rice , bananas or tomatoes and not masks .
This megaphone is used to broadcast messages from the city on how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in El Concejo , located in the Altavista neighborhood in Medellin ’ s commune 16 .
( Ceballos filmed this video ) The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came and handed out chicken to people in the neighbourhood , but the portions were really small .
Still , it was the first time in the past month that anyone here had received anything from the authorities .
I think that if people don ’ t get more aid , then they will just keep protesting and the protests will grow .
`` The red cloth hanging up in people ’ s windows mean ‘ We don ’ t have enough to eat in this house ’ ” All around the neighbourhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red cloth hanging up in people ’ s windows .
That means they don ’ t have anything to eat .
We started to see them appear about two weeks after the lockdown went into effect .
In some neighbourhoods in Medellin , they are hanging in almost every window [ Editor ’ s note : These pieces of red cloth , which people hang from their windows or doors during protests , are becoming more and more widespread across the country . ]

COLOMBIA
Screengrabs of the video (below), which was filmed in Medellin, Colombia in mid-April.
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Hungry Colombians have been spilling into the streets, calling on the government to provide more food aid and defying stay-at-home orders that have been in place since 25 March in an effort to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. Some even attempted to loot vehicles transporting food and other essential goods. It’s a sign of a growing crisis in Colombia, where many people who usually work in the informal sector are running out of food and money under lockdown.
The Colombian capital, Bogota, was put on lockdown on 20 March while the rest of the country followed suit on 25 March. Since then, Colombians have been banned from leaving their homes, except to get food, go to the bank or for medical reasons.
On 24 March, street vendors and other people who work in the informal sector, many of whom are Venezuelan, started gathering in the main square in Bogota, calling on the government to provide financial support to those unable to work because of the pandemic. In Colombia, around half of the population works in the informal sector.
Following the initial protest, other small demonstrations calling for increased government support started to pop up across Colombia. These protests have been gaining momentum in recent days, especially in the poorest and hardest-hit neighbourhoods in Bogota, Medellin and Cali. According to reports by local media and posts on social media, authorities haven’t distributed any food at all in some of these neighbourhoods. And even when they do, families say it isn’t enough.
In this video filmed in Bogota, people call out “We’re hungry!” and ask where the authorities are.
Last week, people in some of the most economically deprived neighbourhoods in Medellin actually started looting vehicles carrying food and essential goods that the city was trying to distribute to vulnerable populations. The video (below) shows the looting underway.
#ATENCIÓN | Saqueos en Medellín, las ayudas humanitaria no llegaron a su destino, las personas con hambre saquearon vehículos, esta situación se ha repetido hasta 3 veces ???????????? pic.twitter.com/ObljOEWOto Pluralidad Z (@PluralidadZ) April 15, 2020
This video was filmed in the Olaya Herrera neighbourhood in Medellin’s commune 7. “How awful, they are stealing groceries,” one woman says. “They aren’t waiting, they aren’t waiting in line.”
The video below shows people stopping a truck in the middle of the street in Medellin. They open the doors before letting the truck drive on. There is no indication that they stole any of the goods the truck was transporting, however.
Es tan crítica la situación económica de las personas en situación de vulnerabilidad que hoy fue saqueado un camión en Medellín, enla vía al túnel de Occidente, inmediaciones del barrio Robledo, comuna 7, límites con la comuna 13 pic.twitter.com/2xkJceOKxo ClaudiaJulietaDuque (@JulieDuque1) April 15, 2020
This video was filmed in Medellin, on the road that leads towards the Western tunnel.
"People are taking to the streets because they are hungry"
Twenty-five-year-old Jonier Quiceno Ceballos is a community organiser in the Altavista neighbourhood in Medellin’s commune 16. There was a protest in his neighbourhood on 16 April.
Around 7pm, people started banging pots and pans in their homes [Editor’s note: a type of protest often referred to in Spanish as a 'cacerolazo' or in French as a 'casserole']. Then people started spilling into the streets, still banging pots and pans and bin lids. A group of demonstrators made a fire out of tyres, wood and cardboard. Lots of people came out to see it. There were maybe around 200 or 300 people outside, including women with babies, children and the elderly. Hardly anyone was wearing a mask. La gente tiene hambre en Altavista y se emputo @Danielsuarezvoz @dany_matu @AquinoTicias1 @Gerardoperezh @QuinteroCalle @DonIzquierdo_ @pepin1226 pic.twitter.com/HY1Wts5qFR Jonier Quiceno Ceballos (@joqui___) April 17, 2020 Ceballos filmed this video in El Concejo, which is in the Altavista neighborhood in Medellin’s commune 16 on 16 April. The police came to put out the fire. At first, they were trying to hand out fines but there were just too many people gathered there. The police and locals started talking to one another and they had a conversation for a good 15 or 20 minutes. By the end of it, police promised that the neighbourhood would be a priority for food aid. "I’d say that only about 50% of residents are respecting stay-at-home orders” There have been regular pot and pan concerts taking place in the neighbourhood since lockdown began. People have protested in the past, too, but there’s never been such a big turnout. People are going out into the streets because they are hungry. A lot of them haven’t been able to work for a month or more. Around 60 to 70% of people in this neighbourhood work in the informal sector -- this includes street vendors, sex workers and cobblers to name a few. I’d say that only about 50% of residents are respecting the lockdown. Others are going out to earn a bit of money because, otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to survive. "If people have a bit of money, then they buy food not masks” There’s a megaphone right by where people lit the fire on 16 April. It broadcasts messages from the city authorities every hour, telling people to make sure that they are eating correctly, washing their hands and wearing masks. So I think what people wanted to express by using that location was, "We want help and not advice!” If people are starving and they have a bit of money, then they are obviously going to go and buy rice, bananas or tomatoes and not masks. This megaphone is used to broadcast messages from the city on how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in El Concejo, located in the Altavista neighborhood in Medellin’s commune 16. (Ceballos filmed this video) The day after the protests, city workers came and handed out chicken to people in the neighbourhood, but the portions were really small. Still, it was the first time in the past month that anyone here had received anything from the authorities. I think that if people don’t get more aid, then they will just keep protesting and the protests will grow. "The red cloth hanging up in people’s windows mean ‘We don’t have enough to eat in this house’” All around the neighbourhood, you’ll see pieces of red cloth hanging up in people’s windows. That means they don’t have anything to eat. We started to see them appear about two weeks after the lockdown went into effect. In some neighbourhoods in Medellin, they are hanging in almost every window [Editor’s note: These pieces of red cloth, which people hang from their windows or doors during protests, are becoming more and more widespread across the country.]
In early April, Ceballos started raising money to buy essential goods for the most vulnerable people in his neighbourhood. He has collected donations from both individuals and foundations.
En Altos de la Torre y el Pacífico un cacerolazo #CuarentenaSinHambre reclaman sus ciudadanos@QuinteroCalle pic.twitter.com/5cUNhBw5tS Gerardo Pérez H. (@Gerardoperezh) April 11, 2020
This shows a pot and pan concert and red cloth hanging up in people’s windows in the Altos de la Torre neighbourhood in Villa Hermosa in Medellin’s commune 8.
Cacerolazos en el centro Hay #HambreYSinEmpleo
¿Cómo va la entrega de las ayudas? @QuinteroCalle @AlcaldiadeMed #MedellinMeCuida #MedellinSinHambre pic.twitter.com/3dwGTBOj7O Jorge David Vallejo ♠????♣♦ (@jorgedvallejox) April 17, 2020
This video shows a pot and pan concert and red cloth hanging up in people’s windows in the centre of Medellin on 17 April. A sign hanging up in one window reads, “We don’t have coronavirus nor essential goods here. There are 38 of us living here.” This video was filmed by Melissa Toro from the Putamente Poderosas collective.
According to recent official figures, there have been over 4,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and over 200 deaths in Colombia, which has a population of around 50 million. The country is meant to be under lockdown until at least 11 May.
Article written by Chloé Lauvergnier (@clauvergnier).


france24--2020-04-24--Paris transport chief hopes to be running at 70% capacity when lockdown ends in May

Japanese tourists wear face protection masks in the metro in Paris as the country is hit by an outbreak of coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , France , March 11 , 2020 .
French RATP boss Catherine Guillouard said on Friday that the transport authorities were working towards having 70 % of the Paris transport network operational by May 11 up from 30 % now , ready for when France exits its lockdown .
Making sure 70 % of the transport network was running would be equivalent to delivering about eight million trips a day , she told France Inter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 percent capacity , or 500,000 trips a day .
RATP employees have been supplied with masks , Guillouard said .
Social distancing , on the other hand , will not be possible .
`` It 's absolutely not a question of profitability but of feasibility , ” she said .
If the RATP insisted on social distancing , they would only be able to provide about 2 million trips per day , she added .
Guillouard urged companies to continue allowing employees to work remotely `` for a while '' and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government would have to allow her agents to issue tickets to anyone not wearing a mask on public transportation .
`` If we force people to wear masks , there must also be sanctions , ” she said .
“ We must be given the legal and regulatory basis to do so . ''

French RATP boss Catherine Guillouard said on Friday that the transport authorities were working towards having 70% of the Paris transport network operational by May 11 up from 30% now, ready for when France exits its lockdown.
Japanese tourists wear face protection masks in the metro in Paris as the country is hit by an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), France, March 11, 2020.
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Making sure 70% of the transport network was running would be equivalent to delivering about eight million trips a day, she told France Inter radio. The system is currently at 4 percent capacity, or 500,000 trips a day.
RATP employees have been supplied with masks, Guillouard said. Social distancing, on the other hand, will not be possible. "It's absolutely not a question of profitability but of feasibility,” she said. If the RATP insisted on social distancing, they would only be able to provide about 2 million trips per day, she added.
Guillouard urged companies to continue allowing employees to work remotely "for a while" and to stagger their working hours. Additionally, the government would have to allow her agents to issue tickets to anyone not wearing a mask on public transportation. "If we force people to wear masks, there must also be sanctions,” she said. “We must be given the legal and regulatory basis to do so."
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-24--UK PM Boris Johnson recovering well from COVID-19 and in 'incredible' shape

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson applauds outside 10 Downing Street during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS , as the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues , London , Britain , March 26 , 2020 .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces the biggest conundrum of his premiership as he recuperates from COVID-19 : how to lift a lockdown that is destroying swathes of the British economy without triggering a deadly second wave of the outbreak .
Johnson , 55 , is on the mend at his country residence after spending three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital earlier this month with COVID-19 complications .
He later said he owed his life to the hospital staff .
But as speculation mounts that the prime minister is preparing to return to work , Johnson is under pressure to explain just how and when the world 's fifth largest economy will exit the crippling lockdown .
`` He sounded incredible , '' U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday of how Johnson sounded on a call they had two days earlier .
`` He was ready to go . ''
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said .
`` He 's doing great . ''
Johnson 's government , which was slower than European peers to impose a lockdown , has come under fire for its limited testing capacity and for failing to deliver enough personal protective equipment to front-line health workers .
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Johnson is planning to return to work as early as Monday , and his health minister , Matt Hancock , described the prime minister as cheerful , ebullient and getting much better .
`` That decision is for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Hancock said .
`` I spoke to him yesterday , he 's on very good form and is clearly recovering . ''
The government 's as yet unpublished strategy for unwinding the lockdown will be heavily scrutinised as investors try to work out which major economy will be worst hit by the most severe public health crisis since the 1918 influenza outbreak .
The United Kingdom has the fifth worst official death toll in the world , after the United States , Italy , Spain and France , and government scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only start to decline quickly in another couple of weeks .
Hancock said on Friday that it was too early to lift the lockdown , though economic data indicates Britain 's economy is crumbling under the strain of the lockdown .
According to the country 's budget forecasters , the economy could be heading into its deepest recession in more than 300 years even after the finance ministry and the Bank of England rushed out a string of emergency stimulus measures .
British retail sales fell by the most on record in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus lockdown was dwarfed by a plunge in sales of clothing and most other goods , official figures showed on Friday .
Sales volumes plunged by 5.1 % in March from February , the sharpest drop since the Office for National Statistics records began in 1996 .
It was also a bigger fall than the median forecast for a drop of 4.0 % in a Reuters poll of economists .
`` Clearly there is huge uncertainty as to how deep the downturn proves and how long restrictions remain in place , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in GDP over the next few months seems likely , '' said Thomas Pugh , an economist with Capital Economics .

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces the biggest conundrum of his premiership as he recuperates from COVID-19: how to lift a lockdown that is destroying swathes of the British economy without triggering a deadly second wave of the outbreak.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson applauds outside 10 Downing Street during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain, March 26, 2020.
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Johnson, 55, is on the mend at his country residence after spending three nights in intensive care at a London hospital earlier this month with COVID-19 complications. He later said he owed his life to the hospital staff.
But as speculation mounts that the prime minister is preparing to return to work, Johnson is under pressure to explain just how and when the world's fifth largest economy will exit the crippling lockdown.
"He sounded incredible," U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday of how Johnson sounded on a call they had two days earlier. "He was ready to go."
"It's like the old Boris," Trump said. "He's doing great."
Johnson's government, which was slower than European peers to impose a lockdown, has come under fire for its limited testing capacity and for failing to deliver enough personal protective equipment to front-line health workers.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Johnson is planning to return to work as early as Monday, and his health minister, Matt Hancock, described the prime minister as cheerful, ebullient and getting much better.
"That decision is for the prime minister in consultation with his doctors," Hancock said. "I spoke to him yesterday, he's on very good form and is clearly recovering."
Lockdown
The government's as yet unpublished strategy for unwinding the lockdown will be heavily scrutinised as investors try to work out which major economy will be worst hit by the most severe public health crisis since the 1918 influenza outbreak.
The United Kingdom has the fifth worst official death toll in the world, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France, and government scientists have said that the death rate will only start to decline quickly in another couple of weeks.
Hancock said on Friday that it was too early to lift the lockdown, though economic data indicates Britain's economy is crumbling under the strain of the lockdown.
According to the country's budget forecasters, the economy could be heading into its deepest recession in more than 300 years even after the finance ministry and the Bank of England rushed out a string of emergency stimulus measures.
British retail sales fell by the most on record in March as a surge in food buying for the coronavirus lockdown was dwarfed by a plunge in sales of clothing and most other goods, official figures showed on Friday.
Sales volumes plunged by 5.1% in March from February, the sharpest drop since the Office for National Statistics records began in 1996. It was also a bigger fall than the median forecast for a drop of 4.0% in a Reuters poll of economists.
"Clearly there is huge uncertainty as to how deep the downturn proves and how long restrictions remain in place, a fall in the region of 25% in GDP over the next few months seems likely," said Thomas Pugh, an economist with Capital Economics.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-24--Lockdown saved as many as 60,000 lives in France, study shows

The French government agrees with a study by analysts from the French School of Public Health ( EHESP ) , @ @ @ @ @ prevented 60,000 deaths in France , Health Minister Olivier Véran said Friday morning .
`` @ @ @ @ @ with the analysis .
It is very probable that we have collectively , all the @ @ @ @ @ thousands of lives by respecting confinement , and maybe even more , '' Véran said @ @ @ @ @ that the lockdown had prevented the saturation of intensive care units .
The EHESP analysis @ @ @ @ @ and success of the containment , which needs to be maintained for several more weeks @ @ @ @ @ , the EHESP estimates that one month in lockdown prevented up to 60,000 deaths and @ @ @ @ @ more than 100,000 ICU beds would have been needed by April 20 .
The capacity @ @ @ @ @ was doubled in preparation for the arrival of the epidemic , is only 10,000 beds @

The French government agrees with a study by analysts from the French School of Public Health (EHESP), which concluded that lockdown measures prevented 60,000 deaths in France, Health Minister Olivier Véran said Friday morning.
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"The Department of Health concurs with the analysis. It is very probable that we have collectively, all the French, saved tens of thousands of lives by respecting confinement, and maybe even more," Véran said on France Inter, adding that the lockdown had prevented the saturation of intensive care units.
The EHESP analysis "demonstrates the need for and success of the containment, which needs to be maintained for several more weeks".
Published on Thursday, the EHESP estimates that one month in lockdown prevented up to 60,000 deaths and that without these measures, more than 100,000 ICU beds would have been needed by April 20. The capacity of French hospitals, which was doubled in preparation for the arrival of the epidemic, is only 10,000 beds.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-24--Joe Biden thinks Trump will try to postpone US election

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden addresses supporters at his Super Tuesday night rally in Los Angeles , California , U.S. , March 3 , 2020 .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has predicted that US President Donald Trump will try to postpone the country 's November election in an attempt to win .
`` Mark my words , I think he is gon na try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it ca n't be held , '' Biden said during an online fundraiser Thursday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the only way he thinks he can possibly win . ''
Six months before US voters head to the polls , Trump 's mind is already in election mode .
But with a pandemic raging and job losses climbing to 26.4 million on Thursday , Trump 's path to victory may be harder than he anticipated .
Biden , highlighting Trump 's recent threat to veto emergency funding for the US Post Office , claimed it was an example of the president 's intention to `` do all he can to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
While mail-in voting and absentee ballots remain methods many say could help limit voters spreading coronavirus , Trump maintains they create the potential for fraud .
Meanwhile , dozens of US states have postponed their primary races , which will officially determine who will be the presidential nominee .
The 73-year-old Trump has been criticized for turning his daily White House coronavirus briefings into campaign events -- rallying his base and taking swipes at his detractors such as Biden , who is sheltering at home .
`` We have a sleepy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the press is giving a free pass to , who does n't want to do debates because of COVID , '' Trump said during the Thursday briefing .

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has predicted that US President Donald Trump will try to postpone the country's November election in an attempt to win.
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden addresses supporters at his Super Tuesday night rally in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 3, 2020.
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"Mark my words, I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can't be held," Biden said during an online fundraiser Thursday.
The 77-year-old former vice president said it is "the only way he thinks he can possibly win."
Six months before US voters head to the polls, Trump's mind is already in election mode.
But with a pandemic raging and job losses climbing to 26.4 million on Thursday, Trump's path to victory may be harder than he anticipated.
Biden, highlighting Trump's recent threat to veto emergency funding for the US Post Office, claimed it was an example of the president's intention to "do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote."
While mail-in voting and absentee ballots remain methods many say could help limit voters spreading coronavirus, Trump maintains they create the potential for fraud.
Meanwhile, dozens of US states have postponed their primary races, which will officially determine who will be the presidential nominee.
The 73-year-old Trump has been criticized for turning his daily White House coronavirus briefings into campaign events -- rallying his base and taking swipes at his detractors such as Biden, who is sheltering at home.
"We have a sleepy guy in a basement of a house that the press is giving a free pass to, who doesn't want to do debates because of COVID," Trump said during the Thursday briefing.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-24--Some defiant US states prepare to re-open as unemployment hits 26 million

Employees at Forza Storico attach prepare meals for Emory healthcare workers days before the phased reopening of businesses and restaurants from coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) restrictions in Atlanta , Georgia , U.S. April 21 , 2020 .
An array of U.S. merchants in Georgia and other states prepared on Thursday to reopen for the first time in a month under newly relaxed coronavirus restrictions , as another week of massive unemployment claims highlighted the grim economic toll of the pandemic .
From Tennessee and Texas to Ohio and Montana , a handful of governors around the country have announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business for some workplaces that had been ordered closed in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
Those plans have drawn fire from public health experts and other governors who warn a premature easing of stay-at-home orders and business closures imposed over the past five weeks could trigger a renewed surge in coronavirus cases .
The debate intensified as the number of Americans known to be infected surpassed 870,000 , with nearly 50,000 deaths from COVID-19 , the highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House objections , Georgia Governor Brian Kemp , a Republican , has cleared the way for gyms , hair salons , bowling alleys and tattoo and massage parlors to resume business on Friday , followed by movie theaters and restaurants next week .
South Carolina began to ease restrictions on Monday .
Florida opened some of its beaches last Friday .
Some business owners , despite the financial blow of the forced closures , were less than enthusiastic about reopening just yet .
`` No way is it safe , '' said Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freedom Barber shop in Atlanta , the capital and largest city of Georgia .
`` Not for my barbers , not for my customers .
We looked at the numbers and they do n't look good . ''
He told Reuters he planned to keep his doors closed .
Georgia has recorded nearly 850 deaths out of more than 21,000 cases , the 11th-highest fatality toll among the 50 U.S. states .
Others were more sanguine .
Angie Bullman said she would reopen her suburban Atlanta hair salon on Friday and was fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to get back to work , '' Bullman said .
U.S. Labor Department data released on Thursday showed 26.5 million Americans had sought jobless benefits over the last five weeks , effectively erasing all jobs gained during what had been the longest economic expansion in U.S. history and rendering a level of unemployment not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
While some idled workers have welcomed moves to reopen the economy , others fearful of returning before it is safe to do so face a quandary - state unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits if they refuse work , said Thomas Smith , an associate professor at Emory University 's Goizueta Business School .
`` You 're asking people to put their life on the line , '' Smith said .
`` These people are n't Army Rangers - those people signed up for combat .
A barber did not . ''
The United Auto Workers ( UAW ) union moved on Thursday to keep its members from facing that dilemma , despite steps taken by Detroit 's major automakers to restart production in early May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to permit it .
`` We strongly suggest to our companies in all sectors that an early May date is too soon and too risky , '' UAW President Rory Gamble said , citing insufficient coronavirus testing to assure workplace safety .
Underscoring risks posed to industrial plants , where workers have little if any space for social distancing , the nation 's largest meatpacking union said more than 5,000 meat and food-processing workers have been infected with or exposed to the coronavirus , with 13 deaths .
Major meat processors , deemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutter numerous beef , pork and poultry plants in recent weeks due to outbreaks , limiting U.S. production as demand has increased at grocers .
Although the rate of hospitalizations and other indicators of the outbreak 's severity have begun to level off in recent days , California registered its highest single-day loss of life to date , with 115 deaths reported over the previous 24 hours .
California Governor Gavin Newsom urged state residents to follow stay-at-home orders despite a weekend heat wave that could tempt many to beaches officially still closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit the shore to at least practice social distancing , saying , `` Otherwise , I 'm going to be announcing in a week or so that these numbers ( of hospitalizations ) are going back up . ''
Some mixed news emerged on Thursday from hard-hit New York , where preliminary coronavirus screenings of state residents found antibodies in the blood of nearly 14 % , suggesting some 2.7 million have already been infected , or 10 times the number of cases previously documented .
Although the sample size , 3,000 subjects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatality rate of all those believed to have contracted the virus is 0.5 % , a lower figure than some experts feared .
Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday urged states to follow new federal guidelines for lifting business restrictions on a gradual basis , after two weeks of declining COVID-19 cases are documented and systems are in place for widespread testing and tracing of infected individuals ' close personal contacts .
Several opinion polls have shown a bipartisan majority of Americans want to remain at home to protect themselves from the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only 13 % of Americans polled in a CBS News survey released on Thursday said they would definitely return to public places over the next few weeks if restrictions were lifted now , no matter the status of the outbreak .
After days of political wrangling , the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington on Thursday and overwhelmingly approved a $ 484 billion coronavirus relief bill , funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to nearly $ 3 trillion .
Trump has promised to @ @ @ @ @ @

An array of U.S. merchants in Georgia and other states prepared on Thursday to reopen for the first time in a month under newly relaxed coronavirus restrictions, as another week of massive unemployment claims highlighted the grim economic toll of the pandemic.
Employees at Forza Storico attach prepare meals for Emory healthcare workers days before the phased reopening of businesses and restaurants from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. April 21, 2020.
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From Tennessee and Texas to Ohio and Montana, a handful of governors around the country have announced plans to swiftly allow a return to business for some workplaces that had been ordered closed in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Those plans have drawn fire from public health experts and other governors who warn a premature easing of stay-at-home orders and business closures imposed over the past five weeks could trigger a renewed surge in coronavirus cases.
The debate intensified as the number of Americans known to be infected surpassed 870,000, with nearly 50,000 deaths from COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, according to a Reuters tally.
Contrary to even White House objections, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, has cleared the way for gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and tattoo and massage parlors to resume business on Friday, followed by movie theaters and restaurants next week. South Carolina began to ease restrictions on Monday. Florida opened some of its beaches last Friday.
Some business owners, despite the financial blow of the forced closures, were less than enthusiastic about reopening just yet.
"No way is it safe," said Michael Sponsel, 39, owner of the Freedom Barber shop in Atlanta, the capital and largest city of Georgia. "Not for my barbers, not for my customers. We looked at the numbers and they don't look good."
He told Reuters he planned to keep his doors closed.
Georgia has recorded nearly 850 deaths out of more than 21,000 cases, the 11th-highest fatality toll among the 50 U.S. states.
Others were more sanguine. Angie Bullman said she would reopen her suburban Atlanta hair salon on Friday and was fully booked for the weekend.
"We got to get back to work," Bullman said.
Job gains erased
Millions of Americans share their pain.
U.S. Labor Department data released on Thursday showed 26.5 million Americans had sought jobless benefits over the last five weeks, effectively erasing all jobs gained during what had been the longest economic expansion in U.S. history and rendering a level of unemployment not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
While some idled workers have welcomed moves to reopen the economy, others fearful of returning before it is safe to do so face a quandary - state unemployment laws generally bar them from collecting jobless benefits if they refuse work, said Thomas Smith, an associate professor at Emory University's Goizueta Business School.
"You're asking people to put their life on the line," Smith said. "These people aren't Army Rangers - those people signed up for combat. A barber did not."
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union moved on Thursday to keep its members from facing that dilemma, despite steps taken by Detroit's major automakers to restart production in early May with Michigan's governor under growing pressure to permit it.
"We strongly suggest to our companies in all sectors that an early May date is too soon and too risky," UAW President Rory Gamble said, citing insufficient coronavirus testing to assure workplace safety.
Underscoring risks posed to industrial plants, where workers have little if any space for social distancing, the nation's largest meatpacking union said more than 5,000 meat and food-processing workers have been infected with or exposed to the coronavirus, with 13 deaths.
Major meat processors, deemed essential businesses, have been forced to shutter numerous beef, pork and poultry plants in recent weeks due to outbreaks, limiting U.S. production as demand has increased at grocers.
Although the rate of hospitalizations and other indicators of the outbreak's severity have begun to level off in recent days, California registered its highest single-day loss of life to date, with 115 deaths reported over the previous 24 hours.
California Governor Gavin Newsom urged state residents to follow stay-at-home orders despite a weekend heat wave that could tempt many to beaches officially still closed. He appealed to those who do visit the shore to at least practice social distancing, saying, "Otherwise, I'm going to be announcing in a week or so that these numbers (of hospitalizations) are going back up."
Some mixed news emerged on Thursday from hard-hit New York, where preliminary coronavirus screenings of state residents found antibodies in the blood of nearly 14%, suggesting some 2.7 million have already been infected, or 10 times the number of cases previously documented.
Although the sample size, 3,000 subjects, was relatively small, the implied fatality rate of all those believed to have contracted the virus is 0.5%, a lower figure than some experts feared.
Most favour restrictions
Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday urged states to follow new federal guidelines for lifting business restrictions on a gradual basis, after two weeks of declining COVID-19 cases are documented and systems are in place for widespread testing and tracing of infected individuals' close personal contacts.
Several opinion polls have shown a bipartisan majority of Americans want to remain at home to protect themselves from the coronavirus, despite the impact to the economy.
Only 13% of Americans polled in a CBS News survey released on Thursday said they would definitely return to public places over the next few weeks if restrictions were lifted now, no matter the status of the outbreak.
After days of political wrangling, the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington on Thursday and overwhelmingly approved a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill, funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to nearly $3 trillion. Trump has promised to sign it swiftly into law.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-24--Burkina Faso struggles to tackle terror threat

In West Africa , the nation of Burkina Faso is a weak link in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region .
In the north of the country , which suffers constant terror attacks , entire provinces are threatened .
And an unprecedented humanitarian crisis is underway , with Covid-19 just beginning to spread .
Our reporters Jonathan Walsh and Kalidou Sy went to find out more .
Nothing seems to stop the unbridled expansion of jihadist groups in northern Burkina Faso .
The government 's defence and security forces regularly suffer heavy casualties in attacks by the Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam and Muslims ( GSIM ) , which has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda .
With the Burkinabé army , French soldiers from the Barkhane force recently carried out several major operations in this area , bordering Mali and Niger – but failed to obtain a decisive victory .
Caught in the crossfire , the population is fleeing en masse and the flow of displaced people is growing exponentially .
There are nearly 850,000 of them today , according to the United Nations , ten times more than just a year ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ town of Dori , in the northeast , near the border with Niger .
On the ground , we heard the stories of displaced people who arrive daily and who have often lost loved ones in the violence .
In the Sahel region , schools are also targeted by jihadists .
French-speaking schools , accused of propagating Western culture , are a particular target and many teachers have been murdered .
Some 160 kilometres further south , we also visited a camp for IDPs ( internally displaced persons ) in Pissila , home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s located in the centre-north region , which receives the largest number of displaced people in Burkina Faso .
The first cases of coronavirus have been reported in this part of the country .
And even if their number is currently limited , the spread is underway .
The risk is that Covid-19 will spread among an already highly vulnerable population .

In West Africa, the nation of Burkina Faso is a weak link in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. In the north of the country, which suffers constant terror attacks, entire provinces are threatened. And an unprecedented humanitarian crisis is underway, with Covid-19 just beginning to spread. Our reporters Jonathan Walsh and Kalidou Sy went to find out more.
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Nothing seems to stop the unbridled expansion of jihadist groups in northern Burkina Faso. The government's defence and security forces regularly suffer heavy casualties in attacks by the Islamic State group and the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), which has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. With the Burkinabé army, French soldiers from the Barkhane force recently carried out several major operations in this area, bordering Mali and Niger – but failed to obtain a decisive victory.
Caught in the crossfire, the population is fleeing en masse and the flow of displaced people is growing exponentially. There are nearly 850,000 of them today, according to the United Nations, ten times more than just a year ago. We were able to travel to the town of Dori, in the northeast, near the border with Niger. On the ground, we heard the stories of displaced people who arrive daily and who have often lost loved ones in the violence.
First cases of coronavirus
In the Sahel region, schools are also targeted by jihadists. French-speaking schools, accused of propagating Western culture, are a particular target and many teachers have been murdered.
Some 160 kilometres further south, we also visited a camp for IDPs (internally displaced persons) in Pissila, home to thousands of people. It’s located in the centre-north region, which receives the largest number of displaced people in Burkina Faso. The first cases of coronavirus have been reported in this part of the country. And even if their number is currently limited, the spread is underway. The risk is that Covid-19 will spread among an already highly vulnerable population.
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france24--2020-04-24--Ramadan begins amid unprecedented lockdowns and mosque closures

A worker cleans and sterilises the Kaaba , following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan , in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca , Saudi Arabia April 21 , 2020 .
Picture taken April 21 , 2020 .
Saudi Arabia , home to Islam 's holiest shrines , has announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan will start Friday , as Muslims worldwide face unprecedented restrictions to counter coronavirus .
`` Based on the sighting of the new month 's moon ... it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the month of Ramadan , '' the royal court said Thursday in a statement cited by the SPA news agency .
King Salman said he is saddened that Muslims can not pray at mosques because of coronavirus restrictions .
`` I am pained that the holy month arrives amid circumstances that make us unable to perform group prayers and Taraweeh -- special Ramadan night prayers -- at mosques due to precautionary measures to protect the peoples ' lives and health in combating the coronavirus pandemic , '' the king said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during Ramadan and gather with family to break the fast in the evening .
It is also a month of prayers during which Muslims traditionally converge in large numbers at mosques , especially at night .
But due to the coronavirus , almost all Muslim majority countries have closed mosques and asked people to pray at home in addition to imposing curfews to limit the spread of the deadly virus .
In Yemen , the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Sanaa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggles with war and affliction .
`` People across Yemen will mark Islam 's holy month this year amid ongoing conflict , seasonal diseases , floods and rising prices , in a country where the economic situation does n't allow two thirds of the population to access or afford enough food , '' the ICRC said in a statement .
The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen called for the cessation of hostilities in a war which has killed tens of thousands of civilians .
`` To the parties to the conflict , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirit of the Holy month and put an end to the suffering of your people , '' Martin Griffiths said .
`` Put down the arms .
Release all those who lost their liberty due to the conflict .
Open humanitarian corridors .
Focus on coordinating your efforts to help your country respond to the pandemic outbreak and other emergency needs , '' he added .
Most Arab countries including Syria , Egypt , Tunisia , Jordan and Bahrain have announced Friday as the first day of Ramadan .
Several countries have eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month with Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates , Egypt and other countries reducing the duration of the lockdowns .
The UAE said on Thursday it has decided to ease a total lockdown to an eight-hour nightly curfew and also moved to partially reopen malls and markets .
The start date of Ramadan , the holiest Muslim month , is set by both lunar calculations and physical sightings which determine when one month ends and another begins .

Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines, has announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan will start Friday, as Muslims worldwide face unprecedented restrictions to counter coronavirus.
A worker cleans and sterilises the Kaaba, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia April 21, 2020. Picture taken April 21, 2020.
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"Based on the sighting of the new month's moon ... it has been decided that Friday is the start of the month of Ramadan," the royal court said Thursday in a statement cited by the SPA news agency.
King Salman said he is saddened that Muslims cannot pray at mosques because of coronavirus restrictions.
"I am pained that the holy month arrives amid circumstances that make us unable to perform group prayers and Taraweeh -- special Ramadan night prayers -- at mosques due to precautionary measures to protect the peoples' lives and health in combating the coronavirus pandemic," the king said in a statement cited by SPA.
Observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during Ramadan and gather with family to break the fast in the evening.
It is also a month of prayers during which Muslims traditionally converge in large numbers at mosques, especially at night.
But due to the coronavirus, almost all Muslim majority countries have closed mosques and asked people to pray at home in addition to imposing curfews to limit the spread of the deadly virus.
In Yemen, the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Sanaa noted that Ramadan comes as the country struggles with war and affliction.
"People across Yemen will mark Islam's holy month this year amid ongoing conflict, seasonal diseases, floods and rising prices, in a country where the economic situation doesn't allow two thirds of the population to access or afford enough food," the ICRC said in a statement.
The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen called for the cessation of hostilities in a war which has killed tens of thousands of civilians.
"To the parties to the conflict, I say: be guided by the spirit of the Holy month and put an end to the suffering of your people," Martin Griffiths said.
"Put down the arms. Release all those who lost their liberty due to the conflict. Open humanitarian corridors. Focus on coordinating your efforts to help your country respond to the pandemic outbreak and other emergency needs," he added.
Most Arab countries including Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Bahrain have announced Friday as the first day of Ramadan.
Several countries have eased restrictions on the occasion of the holy month with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and other countries reducing the duration of the lockdowns.
The UAE said on Thursday it has decided to ease a total lockdown to an eight-hour nightly curfew and also moved to partially reopen malls and markets.
The start date of Ramadan, the holiest Muslim month, is set by both lunar calculations and physical sightings which determine when one month ends and another begins.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-24--Trump touts US study claiming heat, sunlight, humidity weaken Covid-19

Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell ( red ) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles ( yellow ) , also known as novel coronavirus , isolated from a patient sample .
Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility ( IRF ) in Fort Detrick , Maryland .
The coronavirus appears to weaken more quickly when exposed to sunlight , heat and humidity , a U.S. official said on Thursday in a potential sign that the pandemic could become less contagious in summer months .
U.S. government researchers have determined that the virus survives best indoors and in dry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and humidity rise - and especially when it is exposed to sunlight , said William Bryan , acting head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 's Science and Technology Directorate .
`` The virus dies quickest in the presence of direct sunlight , '' he told a White House news briefing .
The findings could bolster hopes that the coronavirus will mimic the behavior of other respiratory diseases like influenza , which typically are less contagious in warm weather .
But the coronavirus has also proven lethal in warm-weather places like Singapore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of environmental factors .
President Donald Trump said the findings should be interpreted cautiously , but also claimed vindication for previously suggesting that the coronavirus might recede in summer .
`` I once mentioned that maybe it does go away with heat and light .
And people did n't like that statement that much , '' he said at the briefing .
Sixteen U.S. states are laying plans to restart their economies and ease regulations designed to slow the spread of the pandemic .
Georgia and South Carolina are allowing some businesses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health authorities say could lead to more deaths because they do not have enough tests to assess how many people are infected .
Trump 's administration says states should wait until they have proof that infection rates have dropped steadily for two weeks .
Vice President Mike Pence said states should allow hospitals and other medical facilities to resume elective surgeries , an important source of revenue that some governors have banned in order to keep hospitals clear for coronavirus patients .
Trump said Americans might need to maintain social distancing into early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing signs of progress .
Trump has encouraged protests against social-distancing restrictions in some states .
But he criticized Georgia Governor Brian Kemp , a fellow Republican , for moving too quickly .
`` I want the people in Georgia to be safe , and I do n't want this thing to flare up because you 're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines , '' he said .
More than 874,000 people in the United States are known to have been infected and over 49,600 have died of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the novel coronavirus , according to a Reuters tally .
On nonporous surfaces like stainless steel , the new coronavirus takes 18 hours to lose half its strength in a dark , low-humidity environment , Bryan said .
In a high-humidity environment , that half-life dropped to six hours , and when the virus was exposed to high humidity and sunlight , the half-life dropped to two minutes , he said .
Researchers found a similar effect with the coronavirus that was suspended in the air - simulating the coughing or sneezing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dark room , the virus maintained half its strength for an hour .
But when exposed to sunlight , it lost half its strength in 90 seconds , Bryan said .
Researchers also found that isopropyl alcohol was a more effective disinfectant than bleach , he said .
Trump said researchers should try to apply their findings to coronavirus patients by inserting light or disinfectant into their bodies .
`` Is there a way we can do something like that by injection , inside , or almost a cleaning ? ''
he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to check that . ''

The coronavirus appears to weaken more quickly when exposed to sunlight, heat and humidity, a U.S. official said on Thursday in a potential sign that the pandemic could become less contagious in summer months.
Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), also known as novel coronavirus, isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.
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U.S. government researchers have determined that the virus survives best indoors and in dry conditions, and loses potency when temperatures and humidity rise - and especially when it is exposed to sunlight, said William Bryan, acting head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate.
"The virus dies quickest in the presence of direct sunlight," he told a White House news briefing.
The findings could bolster hopes that the coronavirus will mimic the behavior of other respiratory diseases like influenza, which typically are less contagious in warm weather.
But the coronavirus has also proven lethal in warm-weather places like Singapore, raising broader questions about the impact of environmental factors.
President Donald Trump said the findings should be interpreted cautiously, but also claimed vindication for previously suggesting that the coronavirus might recede in summer.
"I once mentioned that maybe it does go away with heat and light. And people didn't like that statement that much," he said at the briefing.
Sixteen U.S. states are laying plans to restart their economies and ease regulations designed to slow the spread of the pandemic. Georgia and South Carolina are allowing some businesses to reopen this week - a move that health authorities say could lead to more deaths because they do not have enough tests to assess how many people are infected.
Trump's administration says states should wait until they have proof that infection rates have dropped steadily for two weeks.
Vice President Mike Pence said states should allow hospitals and other medical facilities to resume elective surgeries, an important source of revenue that some governors have banned in order to keep hospitals clear for coronavirus patients.
Trump said Americans might need to maintain social distancing into early summer, even though some states were showing signs of progress.
Trump has encouraged protests against social-distancing restrictions in some states. But he criticized Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a fellow Republican, for moving too quickly.
"I want the people in Georgia to be safe, and I don't want this thing to flare up because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines," he said.
More than 874,000 people in the United States are known to have been infected and over 49,600 have died of COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a Reuters tally.
18 hours vs. 2 minutes
On nonporous surfaces like stainless steel, the new coronavirus takes 18 hours to lose half its strength in a dark, low-humidity environment, Bryan said.
In a high-humidity environment, that half-life dropped to six hours, and when the virus was exposed to high humidity and sunlight, the half-life dropped to two minutes, he said.
Researchers found a similar effect with the coronavirus that was suspended in the air - simulating the coughing or sneezing that often spreads the disease. In a dark room, the virus maintained half its strength for an hour. But when exposed to sunlight, it lost half its strength in 90 seconds, Bryan said.
Researchers also found that isopropyl alcohol was a more effective disinfectant than bleach, he said.
Trump said researchers should try to apply their findings to coronavirus patients by inserting light or disinfectant into their bodies.
"Is there a way we can do something like that by injection, inside, or almost a cleaning?" he said. "It would be interesting to check that."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-23--US Congress passes $484bn Covid-19 bailout to help small business, hospitals

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D-MD ) wears a face mask as he walks to the House Chamber ahead of a vote on an additional economic stimulus package passed earlier in the week by the U.S. Senate , on Capitol Hill in Washington , U.S. , April 23 , 2020 .
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $ 484 billion coronavirus relief bill on Thursday , funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented near $ 3 trillion .
The measure passed the Democratic-led House by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting present .
House members were meeting for the first time in weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Lawmakers , many wearing masks , approved the bill during an extended period of voting intended to allow them to remain at a distance from one another in line with public health recommendations .
The House action sent the latest of four relief bills to the White House , where Republican President Donald Trump has promised to sign it quickly into law .
The Republican-led Senate had passed the legislation on a voice vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by some members of both parties prompted congressional leaders to call the full chamber back to Washington for the House vote despite state stay-at-home orders meant to control the spread of the virus .
The House also approved a select committee , with subpoena power , to probe the U.S. response to the coronavirus .
It will have broad powers to investigate how federal dollars are being spent , U.S. preparedness and Trump administration deliberations .
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the panel was essential to ensure funds go to those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans said the committee was not needed , citing existing oversight bodies , and called the panel 's creation another expensive Democratic slap at Trump .
The committee was approved on a vote of 212-182 , along party lines .
The $ 484 billion aid bill is the fourth passed to address the coronavirus crisis .
It provides funds to small businesses and hospitals struggling with the economic toll of a pandemic that has killed more than 47,000 Americans and thrown a record 26 million out of work , wiping out all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in U.S. history .
A handful of lawmakers opposed the legislation , including Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who represents a severely affected area of New York and believes Congress should do even more - and Republican Thomas Massie , known as `` Mr. No '' for his frequent opposition to spending bills .
`` This is really a very , very , very sad day .
We come to the floor with nearly 50,000 dead , a huge number of people , and the uncertainty of it all , '' Pelosi said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last coronavirus relief measure , worth more than $ 2 trillion , in March , also with overwhelming support from both parties .
It was the largest such funding bill ever passed .
The next step will be harder .
The two parties have set the stage for a fight over additional funding for state and local governments reeling from the impact of lost revenue after Republicans refused to include such funds in the current relief bill .
Trump has said he supports more funding for states , and has promised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans have resisted .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested in a radio interview on Wednesday that states could go bankrupt , but said later he did not want states to use federal funds for anything unrelated to the coronavirus .
Democrats castigated McConnell for the remark .
`` Leader McConnell said to our cities and states , to our cops and firemen and teachers , he told them to drop dead , '' said Representative Max Rose , who represents a district of New York City .
Thursday 's voting took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings .
Lawmakers came to the House in alphabetical order in small groups and were told to stand in line , 6 feet ( 1.8 m ) apart , before entering the chamber .
There was also a half-hour break scheduled to clean the chamber between the two votes .
But more than a dozen cleaners descended on the chamber with cloths and spray bottles and wiped it down in less than 10 minutes .
Echoing Trump , many Republicans also want the country - including Congress - to reopen quickly .
Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers should `` get our businesses to open the doors and do what Americans have always been allowed to do , which is go to work . ''
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said the latest aid package should have been passed at least two weeks ago after the Trump administration requested it .
`` Some people unfortunately got laid off because of this delay , '' McCarthy said .
Democrats rejected the charge , saying lawmakers had improved on Trump 's request by adding billions of dollars more for small businesses , @ @ @ @ @

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill on Thursday, funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented near $3 trillion.
U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) wears a face mask as he walks to the House Chamber ahead of a vote on an additional economic stimulus package passed earlier in the week by the U.S. Senate, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 23, 2020.
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The measure passed the Democratic-led House by a vote of 388-5, with one member voting present. House members were meeting for the first time in weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lawmakers, many wearing masks, approved the bill during an extended period of voting intended to allow them to remain at a distance from one another in line with public health recommendations.
The House action sent the latest of four relief bills to the White House, where Republican President Donald Trump has promised to sign it quickly into law.
The Republican-led Senate had passed the legislation on a voice vote on Tuesday. But threats of opposition by some members of both parties prompted congressional leaders to call the full chamber back to Washington for the House vote despite state stay-at-home orders meant to control the spread of the virus.
The House also approved a select committee, with subpoena power, to probe the U.S. response to the coronavirus. It will have broad powers to investigate how federal dollars are being spent, U.S. preparedness and Trump administration deliberations.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the panel was essential to ensure funds go to those who need them and to prevent scams. Republicans said the committee was not needed, citing existing oversight bodies, and called the panel's creation another expensive Democratic slap at Trump. The committee was approved on a vote of 212-182, along party lines.
The $484 billion aid bill is the fourth passed to address the coronavirus crisis. It provides funds to small businesses and hospitals struggling with the economic toll of a pandemic that has killed more than 47,000 Americans and thrown a record 26 million out of work, wiping out all the jobs created during the longest employment boom in U.S. history.
A handful of lawmakers opposed the legislation, including Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents a severely affected area of New York and believes Congress should do even more - and Republican Thomas Massie, known as "Mr. No" for his frequent opposition to spending bills.
"This is really a very, very, very sad day. We come to the floor with nearly 50,000 dead, a huge number of people, and the uncertainty of it all," Pelosi said during debate on the bill.
Congress passed the last coronavirus relief measure, worth more than $2 trillion, in March, also with overwhelming support from both parties. It was the largest such funding bill ever passed.
Trouble ahead
The next step will be harder. The two parties have set the stage for a fight over additional funding for state and local governments reeling from the impact of lost revenue after Republicans refused to include such funds in the current relief bill.
Trump has said he supports more funding for states, and has promised to back it in future legislation.
Congressional Republicans have resisted. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested in a radio interview on Wednesday that states could go bankrupt, but said later he did not want states to use federal funds for anything unrelated to the coronavirus.
Democrats castigated McConnell for the remark. "Leader McConnell said to our cities and states, to our cops and firemen and teachers, he told them to drop dead," said Representative Max Rose, who represents a district of New York City.
Thursday's voting took place under safety protocols that considerably dragged out proceedings. Lawmakers came to the House in alphabetical order in small groups and were told to stand in line, 6 feet (1.8 m) apart, before entering the chamber.
There was also a half-hour break scheduled to clean the chamber between the two votes. But more than a dozen cleaners descended on the chamber with cloths and spray bottles and wiped it down in less than 10 minutes.
Echoing Trump, many Republicans also want the country - including Congress - to reopen quickly. Republican Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina said lawmakers should "get our businesses to open the doors and do what Americans have always been allowed to do, which is go to work."
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said the latest aid package should have been passed at least two weeks ago after the Trump administration requested it. "Some people unfortunately got laid off because of this delay," McCarthy said.
Democrats rejected the charge, saying lawmakers had improved on Trump's request by adding billions of dollars more for small businesses, hospitals and coronavirus testing.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-24--In Australia, misuse of data from virus tracing app will be a crime

Australia will make it illegal for non-health officials to access data collected on smartphone software to trace the spread of the coronavirus , Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday , amid privacy concerns raised by the measure .
Australia has so far avoided the high death toll of other countries , with only 78 deaths , largely as a result of tough restrictions on movement that have brought public life to a standstill .
The federal government has said existing `` social distancing '' measures will remain until at least mid-May , and that its willingness to relax them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smartphone `` app '' to identify who a person with the illness has had contact with .
The tracing app , which is yet to be released , has raised concerns from legal and privacy advocates who have said the location data it collects may be used by unrelated bodies like law enforcement agencies .
Morrison said the government would make any use by non-health officials illegal .
`` It will be illegal for information to go out of that data store to any other person other than that for whom the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support the health worker in the state to be able to undertake the contact tracing , '' he told reporters in Canberra .
Morrison also confirmed a local media report which said the data would be stored on servers managed by AWS , a unit of U.S. internet giant Amazon.com Inc , but added that `` it 's a nationally encrypted data store '' .
The promise of laws to limit use of the app came as the Australian authorities reported another day of low single-digit percentage increases of the illness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in 78 deaths in the country .
With the country 's borders closed for weeks , Morrison said the illness was now in its `` community phase '' , which meant the health authorities hoped to slow the spread by widespread testing - even of people without symptoms - and contact tracing .
The country 's state governments began urging people to come forward for testing , saying they no longer needed to meet previous criteria of having been in contact with an infected person , having been abroad , or experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a third of the country 's coronavirus deaths left the country on Thursday after a month docked in local waters .
The Ruby Princess , owned by Carnival Corp , has become a flashpoint of public anger after being allowed to unload thousands of passengers in Sydney without health checks on March 19 .
Hundreds of its passengers later tested positive to COVID-19 , about 10 % of the country 's overall cases .
Separate criminal , coronial and government investigations have been launched to find out how the ship 's operators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Australia will make it illegal for non-health officials to access data collected on smartphone software to trace the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, amid privacy concerns raised by the measure.
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Australia has so far avoided the high death toll of other countries, with only 78 deaths, largely as a result of tough restrictions on movement that have brought public life to a standstill.
The federal government has said existing "social distancing" measures will remain until at least mid-May, and that its willingness to relax them will depend on whether people download the smartphone "app" to identify who a person with the illness has had contact with.
The tracing app, which is yet to be released, has raised concerns from legal and privacy advocates who have said the location data it collects may be used by unrelated bodies like law enforcement agencies.
Morrison said the government would make any use by non-health officials illegal.
"It will be illegal for information to go out of that data store to any other person other than that for whom the whole thing is designed, and that is to support the health worker in the state to be able to undertake the contact tracing," he told reporters in Canberra.
Morrison also confirmed a local media report which said the data would be stored on servers managed by AWS, a unit of U.S. internet giant Amazon.com Inc, but added that "it's a nationally encrypted data store".
The promise of laws to limit use of the app came as the Australian authorities reported another day of low single-digit percentage increases of the illness, which has infected about 6,700 people and resulted in 78 deaths in the country.
With the country's borders closed for weeks, Morrison said the illness was now in its "community phase", which meant the health authorities hoped to slow the spread by widespread testing - even of people without symptoms - and contact tracing.
The country's state governments began urging people to come forward for testing, saying they no longer needed to meet previous criteria of having been in contact with an infected person, having been abroad, or experiencing flu-like symptoms.
A cruise ship linked to a third of the country's coronavirus deaths left the country on Thursday after a month docked in local waters.
The Ruby Princess, owned by Carnival Corp, has become a flashpoint of public anger after being allowed to unload thousands of passengers in Sydney without health checks on March 19. Hundreds of its passengers later tested positive to COVID-19, about 10% of the country's overall cases.
Separate criminal, coronial and government investigations have been launched to find out how the ship's operators were allowed to let coronavirus patients disembark.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-23--Suspected Fulani attack kills at least a dozen in central Mali

Men in Mali look for their names on a voters list ahead of casting their ballots in the parliamentary elections in Bamako , Mali , 29 March 2020 .
At least twelve people have been killed in an attack on several villages in central Mali , a local official said Thursday , in the latest violence to hit the war-torn country .
Gunmen on motorbikes struck several villages near the town of Bandiagara in central Mali 's Mopti region , according to a relative of one of the victims and an internal UN report .
`` What is killing us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Ali Dolo , the mayor of the rural area where the attacks occurred , adding that the assailants made off with some 500 head of cattle .
Mali is struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency that erupted in 2012 , and which has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives since .
Despite the presence of thousands of French and UN troops , the conflict has engulfed the centre of the country , and spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger .
Central Mali has become the epicentre of violence in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killings and jihadist attacks are now common .
A cousin of one of the victims in Tuesday 's attack , who declined to be named , confirmed the death toll of 12 people and added that six people were also missing .
`` They arrived on more than 50 motorbikes , '' he said .
`` For the moment , we 've found 12 bodies '' .
The toll was also confirmed by an internal United Nations report seen by AFP .
`` Between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. ... alleged Fulani gunmen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that the villages were some 30 kilometres ( 18 miles ) from Bandiagara .
Militant attacks in Mali often have an ethnic dimension .
The pastoralist Fulani people are accused of being close to jihadists , a perception which has led to tit-for-tit massacres between them and traditional hunters .
Dolo , the mayor , also said the attackers had been Fulani .

At least twelve people have been killed in an attack on several villages in central Mali, a local official said Thursday, in the latest violence to hit the war-torn country.
Men in Mali look for their names on a voters list ahead of casting their ballots in the parliamentary elections in Bamako, Mali, 29 March 2020.
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Gunmen on motorbikes struck several villages near the town of Bandiagara in central Mali's Mopti region, according to a relative of one of the victims and an internal UN report.
"What is killing us isn't coronavirus but war," said Ali Dolo, the mayor of the rural area where the attacks occurred, adding that the assailants made off with some 500 head of cattle.
Mali is struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency that erupted in 2012, and which has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives since.
Despite the presence of thousands of French and UN troops, the conflict has engulfed the centre of the country, and spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
Central Mali has become the epicentre of violence in the vast semi-arid country, where ethnically motivated killings and jihadist attacks are now common.
A cousin of one of the victims in Tuesday's attack, who declined to be named, confirmed the death toll of 12 people and added that six people were also missing.
"They arrived on more than 50 motorbikes," he said. "For the moment, we've found 12 bodies".
The toll was also confirmed by an internal United Nations report seen by AFP.
"Between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. ... alleged Fulani gunmen attacked several communities," the report said, adding that the villages were some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Bandiagara.
Militant attacks in Mali often have an ethnic dimension.
The pastoralist Fulani people are accused of being close to jihadists, a perception which has led to tit-for-tit massacres between them and traditional hunters.
Dolo, the mayor, also said the attackers had been Fulani.
(AFP)
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