france24--2020-05-07--Madonna says she was sick with Covid-19 on Paris leg of ‘cursed’ tour

Madonna performs at the Pride Island concert during New York City Pride on June 30 , 2019 .
Madonna said Thursday she has recovered from the Covid-19 disease , which forced her to pull out of a string of concerts in Paris in February and March .
The `` Queen of Pop '' said she had tested positive for antibodies which may mean she had Covid-19 -- though at the time she said she did n't realise she had it .
`` I am not currently sick , '' she told her 15 million followers on Instagram .
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you had the virus , which I clearly did as I was sick at the end of my tour in Paris over seven weeks ago along with many other artists in my show , '' she said .
The 61-year-old star only played a single night in Paris on February 22 before calling off the next show , citing `` ongoing injuries '' .
She later called off two further Paris concerts -- the last in her Madame X world tour -- after French authorities banned large gatherings in a bid to stem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
`` At the time we all thought we had a bad flu , '' Madonna wrote in her post .
`` Thank God we are all healthy and well now . ''
The Paris dates on Madonna 's tour seem to have been cursed , with her opening night concert not starting till after midnight , three and a half hours late .
Scientists are sceptical about the accuracy of many antibody tests which claim to show a person has had the virus .
Some warned that even those tests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may produce false positives .
The singer revealed she had the virus after sharing an article about her donating $ 1.1 million ( one million euros ) towards research to find a vaccine for the coronavirus .
Madonna was among 200 artists and scientists who signed an open letter Wednesday calling for radical change across the world rather than `` a return to normal '' after the coronavirus lockdowns .
Alongside Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett , Jane Fonda and Marion Cotillard and a clutch of Nobel Prize winners , she pleaded for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical transformation '' of economies to help save the planet .
`` The ongoing ecological catastrophe is a meta-crisis , '' the open letter said .
`` Unlike a pandemic ... a global ecological collapse will have immeasurable consequences , '' it added .
Madonna made a large donation to a fund organised by the EU to find a vaccine for COVID-19 , European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen revealed last week .

Madonna said Thursday she has recovered from the Covid-19 disease, which forced her to pull out of a string of concerts in Paris in February and March.
Madonna performs at the Pride Island concert during New York City Pride on June 30, 2019.
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The "Queen of Pop" said she had tested positive for antibodies which may mean she had Covid-19 -- though at the time she said she didn't realise she had it.
"I am not currently sick," she told her 15 million followers on Instagram.
"When you test positive for anti-bodies it means you had the virus, which I clearly did as I was sick at the end of my tour in Paris over seven weeks ago along with many other artists in my show," she said.
The 61-year-old star only played a single night in Paris on February 22 before calling off the next show, citing "ongoing injuries".
She later called off two further Paris concerts -- the last in her Madame X world tour -- after French authorities banned large gatherings in a bid to stem the spread of the virus in early March.
"At the time we all thought we had a bad flu," Madonna wrote in her post.
"Thank God we are all healthy and well now."
'Cursed'
The Paris dates on Madonna's tour seem to have been cursed, with her opening night concert not starting till after midnight, three and a half hours late.
Scientists are sceptical about the accuracy of many antibody tests which claim to show a person has had the virus.
Some warned that even those tests that meet the US government's informal standards may produce false positives.
The singer revealed she had the virus after sharing an article about her donating $1.1 million (one million euros) towards research to find a vaccine for the coronavirus.
Madonna was among 200 artists and scientists who signed an open letter Wednesday calling for radical change across the world rather than "a return to normal" after the coronavirus lockdowns.
Alongside Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett, Jane Fonda and Marion Cotillard and a clutch of Nobel Prize winners, she pleaded for an end to unbridled consumerism and a "radical transformation" of economies to help save the planet.
"The ongoing ecological catastrophe is a meta-crisis," the open letter said.
"Unlike a pandemic... a global ecological collapse will have immeasurable consequences," it added.
Madonna made a large donation to a fund organised by the EU to find a vaccine for COVID-19, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen revealed last week.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--Polish MPs permit postal ballot in delayed presidential election

( FILE PHOTO ) Jaroslaw Kaczynski , the powerful leader of the governing Law and Justice ( PiS ) .
Poland 's parliament on Thursday passed legislation paving the way for a presidential election delayed by the coronavirus pandemic to go ahead via a postal ballot , a move the opposition said jeopardised democracy .
It came amid a chaotic week during which voters were left in the dark as to whether they would be able to cast ballots in a presidential election scheduled for Sunday despite an ongoing coronavirus lockdown .
In a last-minute delay , the governing right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed late on Wednesday to postpone the vote after it became clear it would be impossible to hold safely given the pandemic .
The party managed to shore up opposition within its own ranks against the controversial postal ballot with 236 votes in favour , 213 against and 11 abstentions in the 460-seat parliament .
Analysts and the opposition raised the alarm over the PiS approach to postponing the presidential vote , arguing it was out of step with democratic standards .
Although a new election date was not immediately clear , PiS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media on Thursday that the election could take place as soon as June .
Opinion polls suggest PiS-allied incumbent President Andrzej Duda could capture more than 50 percent of the vote for a first-round victory .
Centrist and leftist opposition parties have rejected any attempt to hold the election via a postal ballot , insisting it could open the door to election fraud .
Borys Budka , leader of the centrist Civic Platform main opposition party , accused the PiS government of `` failing '' to keep their promise of `` equal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters with ) a postal service instead . ''
`` This absolutely does not guarantee free , fair and democratic elections , '' he said .
The opposition insists that under the constitution voting rules must be changed at least six months before voting day .
The Pi government has also rejected opposition calls to declare a state of disaster or emergency over the pandemic that would automatically postpone the election .
Under the emergency measures , the ballot could be held 90 days after they are formally called off .
Leftist presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliamentary inquiry to investigate the legal chaos surrounding the delayed presidential election and to hold government leaders legally accountable .
`` All of this has led to the most serious crisis we have had since 1989 , '' Biedron told reporters Thursday in parliament , referring to the breakthrough year when Poland transitioned from communism to democracy .

Poland's parliament on Thursday passed legislation paving the way for a presidential election delayed by the coronavirus pandemic to go ahead via a postal ballot, a move the opposition said jeopardised democracy.
(FILE PHOTO) Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the powerful leader of the governing Law and Justice (PiS).
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It came amid a chaotic week during which voters were left in the dark as to whether they would be able to cast ballots in a presidential election scheduled for Sunday despite an ongoing coronavirus lockdown.
In a last-minute delay, the governing right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party agreed late on Wednesday to postpone the vote after it became clear it would be impossible to hold safely given the pandemic.
The party managed to shore up opposition within its own ranks against the controversial postal ballot with 236 votes in favour, 213 against and 11 abstentions in the 460-seat parliament.
Analysts and the opposition raised the alarm over the PiS approach to postponing the presidential vote, arguing it was out of step with democratic standards.
Although a new election date was not immediately clear, PiS deputy prime minister Jacek Sasin told local media on Thursday that the election could take place as soon as June.
Opinion polls suggest PiS-allied incumbent President Andrzej Duda could capture more than 50 percent of the vote for a first-round victory.
Centrist and leftist opposition parties have rejected any attempt to hold the election via a postal ballot, insisting it could open the door to election fraud.
Borys Budka, leader of the centrist Civic Platform main opposition party, accused the PiS government of "failing" to keep their promise of "equal, free and universal elections and providing (voters with) a postal service instead."
"This absolutely does not guarantee free, fair and democratic elections," he said.
The opposition insists that under the constitution voting rules must be changed at least six months before voting day.
The Pi government has also rejected opposition calls to declare a state of disaster or emergency over the pandemic that would automatically postpone the election.
Under the emergency measures, the ballot could be held 90 days after they are formally called off.
Leftist presidential candidate Robert Biedron called for an independent parliamentary inquiry to investigate the legal chaos surrounding the delayed presidential election and to hold government leaders legally accountable.
"All of this has led to the most serious crisis we have had since 1989," Biedron told reporters Thursday in parliament, referring to the breakthrough year when Poland transitioned from communism to democracy.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-07--Paris by Night: FRANCE 24 meets night wanderers amid Covid-19 lockdown

France ’ s lockdown measures are among the strictest in Europe as the country bids to stamp out the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ known for its night wanderers but the last few weeks has seen its lively and @ @ @ @ @ and silence .
However , not all Parisians are respecting lockdown measures and FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @ .
Some are simply wandering the streets .
Others are out and about because the @ @ @ @ @ home .

Paris by Night: FRANCE 24 meets night wanderers amid Covid-19 lockdown
12:09 Screengrab of people wandering around at night through an empty Paris. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
Video by: Armelle CAUX
France’s lockdown measures are among the strictest in Europe as the country bids to stamp out the Covid-19 pandemic. Paris is usually known for its night wanderers but the last few weeks has seen its lively and vibrant atmosphere replaced by calm and silence. However, not all Parisians are respecting lockdown measures and FRANCE 24 went out to meet them. Some are simply wandering the streets. Others are out and about because the streets are what they call home.


france24--2020-05-08--France marks VE day anniversary in shadow of Covid-19

French President Emmanuel Macron and French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe attend a ceremony to mark the end of World War II at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris , France May 8 , 2020 .
France on Friday marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe ( VE ) day with President Emmanuel Macron attending a scaled-down ceremony on Paris ’ s Champs-Élysées .
Click on the player to see how the commemorations unfolded .
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the statue of General Charles de Gaulle in Paris before attending a commemoration ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the war from London after his country had been invaded by Germany in 1940 .
France had been liberated in 1944 .
Friday ’ s commemorations took place on a much smaller scale than normal for such an important anniversary .
Marches and parades were considered too risky for World War II veterans who are already at a very advanced age .
“ This was supposed to be an important ceremony because it is the 75 years of this Victory in Europe day .
The veterans are of course getting older every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last great anniversaries that could have taken place with their presence , ” said FRANCE 24 ’ s James André , reporting from a nearly deserted Champs-Élysées .

France on Friday marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) day with President Emmanuel Macron attending a scaled-down ceremony on Paris’s Champs-Élysées. Click on the player to see how the commemorations unfolded.
French President Emmanuel Macron and French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe attend a ceremony to mark the end of World War II at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France May 8, 2020.
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French President Emmanuel Macron visited the statue of General Charles de Gaulle in Paris before attending a commemoration ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.
De Gaulle led the Free French Forces during the war from London after his country had been invaded by Germany in 1940. France had been liberated in 1944.
Friday’s commemorations took place on a much smaller scale than normal for such an important anniversary. Marches and parades were considered too risky for World War II veterans who are already at a very advanced age.
“This was supposed to be an important ceremony because it is the 75 years of this Victory in Europe day. The veterans are of course getting older every year and this is probably one of the last great anniversaries that could have taken place with their presence,” said FRANCE 24’s James André, reporting from a nearly deserted Champs-Élysées.
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france24--2020-05-08--Taiwan’s vice president says 'possibility' that Covid-19 came from Chinese laboratory

In an interview with FRANCE 24 , Taiwan 's Vice President Chen Chien-jen , an epidemiologist by training , discussed his country 's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic , while criticising the response of China and the World Health Organization .
Chen refused to rule out the `` possibility '' that the coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan .
He also expressed concern about a second wave of the virus appearing in autumn or winter .
Taiwan has some 440 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and so far only six deaths , despite being relatively close to the epicentre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chien-jen told FRANCE 24 his country had been able to control the pandemic because it took a very early decision to quarantine travellers from the Chinese city of Wuhan and quickly isolate and trace confirmed cases .
He explained that this rapid reaction was a result of the experience of the SARS outbreak in 2003 .
Reacting to the Trump administration 's claims that the virus had most likely originated at a laboratory in Wuhan – and not a seafood market as claimed by China – Chen said this theory could not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know was a thorough scientific probe .
`` The origin of the virus has to be examined scientifically and so far we can see that the virus originated from Wuhan .
Whether it is from a laboratory or from the natural infection sources needs further confirmation , '' he said , adding that the laboratory theory was `` one of the possibilities '' .
He said that China clearly did not give the true figures of victims of the pandemic , saying that in the early stages , `` only severe pneumonia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , thereby underestimating the real figures .
Call for independent probe of WHO ’ s handling of pandemic Chen claimed Taiwan had sent a clear warning to the World Health Organization on December 31 , 2019 about the human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus and lambasted the WHO for brushing it aside .
He also accused the organisation of reacting too late by declaring the virus a `` Public Health Emergency of International Concern '' only at the end of January .
He called for a full independent investigation into how the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Australia .
He claimed that Taiwan should be allowed to participate as an observer to the next meeting of the World Health Assembly scheduled on May 17 , but added that China was opposed to it and that so far Taiwan had not been invited to the meeting .
The Taiwanese vice president also strongly refuted claims by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that Taiwan had spread racist attacks against him .
‘ I believe that a second wave definitely will come ’ Chen , who is an epidemiologist by training , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second wave of the virus in the coming months and said this was an additional reason for all countries to work closely together in fighting the virus .
`` Of course I believe that a second wave definitely will come .
As of now , the population infected with the virus is too small to achieve herd immunity ( … ) I believe a second peak is likely to appear in autumn , winter this year .
We have to keep on the surveillance of this virus to see whether it will become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , asked whether he feared this health crisis would create even more tensions with China , Chen said he held out hope that it would on the contrary usher in more collaboration between Beijing and Taipei .

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Taiwan's Vice President Chen Chien-jen, an epidemiologist by training, discussed his country's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, while criticising the response of China and the World Health Organization. Chen refused to rule out the "possibility" that the coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. He also expressed concern about a second wave of the virus appearing in autumn or winter.
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Taiwan has some 440 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and so far only six deaths, despite being relatively close to the epicentre of the virus. Vice President Chen Chien-jen told FRANCE 24 his country had been able to control the pandemic because it took a very early decision to quarantine travellers from the Chinese city of Wuhan and quickly isolate and trace confirmed cases. He explained that this rapid reaction was a result of the experience of the SARS outbreak in 2003.
Reacting to the Trump administration's claims that the virus had most likely originated at a laboratory in Wuhan – and not a seafood market as claimed by China – Chen said this theory could not be ruled out but that the only way to know was a thorough scientific probe. "The origin of the virus has to be examined scientifically and so far we can see that the virus originated from Wuhan. Whether it is from a laboratory or from the natural infection sources needs further confirmation," he said, adding that the laboratory theory was "one of the possibilities".
He said that China clearly did not give the true figures of victims of the pandemic, saying that in the early stages, "only severe pneumonia cases were isolated and treated in hospital", thereby underestimating the real figures.
Call for independent probe of WHO’s handling of pandemic
Chen claimed Taiwan had sent a clear warning to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019 about the human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus and lambasted the WHO for brushing it aside. He also accused the organisation of reacting too late by declaring the virus a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" only at the end of January. He called for a full independent investigation into how the WHO handled the pandemic, echoing the US and Australia.
He claimed that Taiwan should be allowed to participate as an observer to the next meeting of the World Health Assembly scheduled on May 17, but added that China was opposed to it and that so far Taiwan had not been invited to the meeting.
The Taiwanese vice president also strongly refuted claims by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that Taiwan had spread racist attacks against him.
‘I believe that a second wave definitely will come’
Chen, who is an epidemiologist by training, explained that he was concerned about a second wave of the virus in the coming months and said this was an additional reason for all countries to work closely together in fighting the virus. "Of course I believe that a second wave definitely will come. As of now, the population infected with the virus is too small to achieve herd immunity (…) I believe a second peak is likely to appear in autumn, winter this year. We have to keep on the surveillance of this virus to see whether it will become a seasonal infectious disease."
Finally, asked whether he feared this health crisis would create even more tensions with China, Chen said he held out hope that it would on the contrary usher in more collaboration between Beijing and Taipei.
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france24--2020-05-08--Nazi defeat that ended WWII is a 'day of gratitude': President Steinmeier

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a speech during a wreath laying ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the end @ @ @ @ @ at the Neue Wache Memorial in Berlin , Germany , May 8 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ for the Nazi defeat that ended World War II in Europe 75 years ago , @ @ @ @ @ a landmark commemoration speech on Friday .
`` Today , we Germans are allowed to @ @ @ @ @ liberation is a day of gratitude ! ''
Steinmeier said at a solemn Berlin ceremony @ @ @ @ @ of Nazi Germany 's unconditional surrender to the Allies is a one-off public holiday in @ @ @ @ @ events have been scaled down because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Steinmeier 's words recalled @ @ @ @ @ 's watershed speech in 1985 when he became the first to call on Germans to @ @ @ @ @ a day of defeat , but as a day of liberation from the Nazi tyranny @

Germans feel "gratitude" for the Nazi defeat that ended World War II in Europe 75 years ago, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a landmark commemoration speech on Friday.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a speech during a wreath laying ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two, at the Neue Wache Memorial in Berlin, Germany, May 8, 2020.
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"Today, we Germans are allowed to say: the day of liberation is a day of gratitude!" Steinmeier said at a solemn Berlin ceremony.
The May 8 anniversary of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies is a one-off public holiday in Berlin this year, although events have been scaled down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Steinmeier's words recalled former president Richard von Weizsaecker's watershed speech in 1985 when he became the first to call on Germans to remember May 8 not as a day of defeat, but as a day of liberation from the Nazi tyranny.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-08--China, US agree to move forward with trade deal despite Covid-19 blame game

FILE PHOTO : U.S. President Donald Trump stands Chinese Vice Premier Liu He after signing `` phase one '' of the U.S.-China trade agreement in the East Room of the White House in Washington , U.S. , January 15 , 2020 .
Chinese and US trade representatives agreed Friday to `` create favourable conditions '' for the phase one trade deal signed in January , Beijing officials said , despite recent tensions over the coronavirus pandemic .
China 's Vice Premier Liu He , who had led Beijing 's negotiations , held a call on Friday morning with US Trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mnuchin , according to a notice from the Ministry of Commerce .
`` Both sides said they should strengthen macroeconomic and public health cooperation , strive to create a favourable atmosphere and conditions for the implementation of the phase one US-China economic and trade agreement , promoting positive results , '' the notice said .
The countries have also agreed to maintain communication and coordination .
The exchange took place after both nations recently traded barbs over the deadly virus .
Last week , US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs against China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a top-security lab in the central Chinese city of Wuhan , where the pathogen first emerged late last year .
In January , Beijing agreed to import an additional $ 200 billion in US products over two years , above the levels purchased in 2017 , marking a truce in a bruising trade war .

Chinese and US trade representatives agreed Friday to "create favourable conditions" for the phase one trade deal signed in January, Beijing officials said, despite recent tensions over the coronavirus pandemic.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump stands Chinese Vice Premier Liu He after signing "phase one" of the U.S.-China trade agreement in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 15, 2020.
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China's Vice Premier Liu He, who had led Beijing's negotiations, held a call on Friday morning with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to a notice from the Ministry of Commerce.
"Both sides said they should strengthen macroeconomic and public health cooperation, strive to create a favourable atmosphere and conditions for the implementation of the phase one US-China economic and trade agreement, promoting positive results," the notice said.
The countries have also agreed to maintain communication and coordination.
The exchange took place after both nations recently traded barbs over the deadly virus.
Last week, US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs against China after claiming there was evidence linking COVID-19 to a top-security lab in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pathogen first emerged late last year.
In January, Beijing agreed to import an additional $200 billion in US products over two years, above the levels purchased in 2017, marking a truce in a bruising trade war.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-08--Europe marks 75th anniversary of VE day under lockdown

An undated handout photo released by Britain 's Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) on May 5 , 2020 , shows Royal Marines , Royal Engineers and Royal Navy personnel that form the crew of the British military vessel RFA ( Royal Fleet Auxiliary ) Argus celebrating 75 years since VE day ( Victory in Europe Day ) marking the end on World War II on May 8 .
A continent devastated by the coronavirus will on Friday mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe , known as Victory in Europe ( VE ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current global crisis was laid bare .
Large-scale parades that had been envisaged to commemorate victory over the Nazis have been downsized as the world grapples with a fearsome new enemy that has killed 277,000 people and sickened more than 3.7 million .
While parts of Europe appeared to be over the hump of new infections , the United States ' death toll showed no signs of slowing , and Brazil warned of chaos with the pandemic running out of control .
`` Within about 30 days , there may start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become disorganised , leading to a system of economic collapse , of social disorder , '' Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said .
Brazil is Latin America 's worst-affected nation , with more than 135,000 infections and 9,100 confirmed deaths , although experts say the true figures are far higher .
But far-right President Jair Bolsonaro opposes stay-at-home measures to slow the spread , saying they are unnecessarily damaging the economy .
US President Donald Trump is also pushing for lockdowns to be lifted , as he tries to steady the economy ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't stay closed and locked down for years , '' he said Thursday , as the US death toll topped 75,500 .
Another 3.2 million people filed unemployment claims in the United States last week , bringing the total who have lost their jobs in the lockdown to 33.5 million .
Germany and France on Thursday reported major slumps in industrial production and Britain said its economic output would plummet by 14 percent this year .
Across Europe , many countries are now easing restrictions , with some shops and schools re-opening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Norway to open up pubs on June 1 .
Britain was on Thursday reviewing lockdown measures , with Prime Minister Boris Johnson expected to offer a roadmap on Sunday .
The easing has already begun in Germany , while France is due on Monday to start emerging from its lockdown , though Paris will remain restricted .
Despite limitations , some ceremonies were to go ahead Friday in commemoration of the end of hostilities in World War II .
The anniversary of Nazi Germany 's 1945 unconditional surrender after a war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday in Berlin this year .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier are due to lay wreaths at the country 's main memorial .
Ceremonies across France have been drastically scaled down , although President Emmanuel Macron will still be attending an event on the Champs-Élysées .
In Britain , street parades by veterans have been cancelled .
Russia had originally planned a huge military display on its May 9 Victory Day , but now only a flypast will take place over Red Square .
President Vladimir Putin will lay flowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memorial , before making a TV address that will not only touch on the war , but is also expected to chart out the country 's next steps in battling the virus .
Most of Europe has seen significant drops in new infections , but cases are on the rise in Russia , with another 11,000 reported Thursday .
Moscow 's lockdown has been extended until May 31 .

A continent devastated by the coronavirus will on Friday mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, known as Victory in Europe (VE) day, as the economic destruction of the current global crisis was laid bare.
An undated handout photo released by Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) on May 5, 2020, shows Royal Marines, Royal Engineers and Royal Navy personnel that form the crew of the British military vessel RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Argus celebrating 75 years since VE day (Victory in Europe Day) marking the end on World War II on May 8.
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Large-scale parades that had been envisaged to commemorate victory over the Nazis have been downsized as the world grapples with a fearsome new enemy that has killed 277,000 people and sickened more than 3.7 million.
While parts of Europe appeared to be over the hump of new infections, the United States' death toll showed no signs of slowing, and Brazil warned of chaos with the pandemic running out of control.
"Within about 30 days, there may start to be shortages on shelves and production may become disorganised, leading to a system of economic collapse, of social disorder," Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said.
Brazil is Latin America's worst-affected nation, with more than 135,000 infections and 9,100 confirmed deaths, although experts say the true figures are far higher.
But far-right President Jair Bolsonaro opposes stay-at-home measures to slow the spread, saying they are unnecessarily damaging the economy.
US President Donald Trump is also pushing for lockdowns to be lifted, as he tries to steady the economy ahead of November polls.
"This country can't stay closed and locked down for years," he said Thursday, as the US death toll topped 75,500.
Another 3.2 million people filed unemployment claims in the United States last week, bringing the total who have lost their jobs in the lockdown to 33.5 million.
Germany and France on Thursday reported major slumps in industrial production and Britain said its economic output would plummet by 14 percent this year.
Across Europe, many countries are now easing restrictions, with some shops and schools re-opening, Italy allowing Catholics to soon attend mass, and Norway to open up pubs on June 1.
Britain was on Thursday reviewing lockdown measures, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson expected to offer a roadmap on Sunday.
The easing has already begun in Germany, while France is due on Monday to start emerging from its lockdown, though Paris will remain restricted.
Wreaths
Despite limitations, some ceremonies were to go ahead Friday in commemoration of the end of hostilities in World War II.
The anniversary of Nazi Germany's 1945 unconditional surrender after a war that cost 50 million lives is a holiday in Berlin this year.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier are due to lay wreaths at the country's main memorial.
Ceremonies across France have been drastically scaled down, although President Emmanuel Macron will still be attending an event on the Champs-Élysées.
In Britain, street parades by veterans have been cancelled.
Russia had originally planned a huge military display on its May 9 Victory Day, but now only a flypast will take place over Red Square.
President Vladimir Putin will lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier memorial, before making a TV address that will not only touch on the war, but is also expected to chart out the country's next steps in battling the virus.
Most of Europe has seen significant drops in new infections, but cases are on the rise in Russia, with another 11,000 reported Thursday.
Moscow's lockdown has been extended until May 31.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-08--China's new spaceship returns safely to Earth

This file photo taken on May 5 , 2020 shows a Long March 5B rocket lifting off from the Wenchang launch site on China 's southern Hainan island .
China 's new prototype spacecraft `` successfully landed '' on Friday , marking an important step in its ambitions to run a permanent space station and send astronauts to the moon .
The spacecraft - which was launched Tuesday - arrived safely at a predetermined site , the China Manned Space Agency said , after a hitch in an earlier part of the key test .
It said the cabin structure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site as being intact .
The test vessel was launched with a cargo capsule aboard a new type of carrier rocket from the Wenchang launch site on the southern island of Hainan .
The space agency said the vessel was in orbit for two days and 19 hours and had completed a number of experiments .
Its return has also verified the spacecraft 's capabilities such as its heat resistance .
It is hoped the spaceship will one day transport astronauts to a space station that China plans to complete by 2022 - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's safe landing follows a snag in an earlier part of the test when an unspecified `` anomaly '' occurred during the return of the cargo capsule .

China's new prototype spacecraft "successfully landed" on Friday, marking an important step in its ambitions to run a permanent space station and send astronauts to the moon.
This file photo taken on May 5, 2020 shows a Long March 5B rocket lifting off from the Wenchang launch site on China's southern Hainan island.
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The spacecraft - which was launched Tuesday - arrived safely at a predetermined site, the China Manned Space Agency said, after a hitch in an earlier part of the key test.
It said the cabin structure of the spacecraft had been confirmed on site as being intact.
The test vessel was launched with a cargo capsule aboard a new type of carrier rocket from the Wenchang launch site on the southern island of Hainan.
The space agency said the vessel was in orbit for two days and 19 hours and had completed a number of experiments.
Its return has also verified the spacecraft's capabilities such as its heat resistance.
It is hoped the spaceship will one day transport astronauts to a space station that China plans to complete by 2022 - and eventually to the Moon.
Friday's safe landing follows a snag in an earlier part of the test when an unspecified "anomaly" occurred during the return of the cargo capsule.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-08--Week in Review: Covid-19 prisoner releases, how a pandemic affects film and France's Rance Valley

This week we took a look at Iran 's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic , the troubles that lie ahead for prisoners on early release due to the coronavirus and China 's `` mask diplomacy '' .
We also investigate how Covid-19 is affecting the French cinema industry and the role of US forces in the Sahel region 's war on terror .
The release of more than 11,000 people from French jails has eased overcrowding and reduced the potential for Covid-19 contamination but has created a new set of challenges .
French supermarkets have promised to put millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
But some health professionals are demanding an explanation after weeks of mask shortages and rationing .
Parisians were roasted for spreadiing the coronavirus when they raced for the countryside ahead of France ’ s nationwide lockdown .
While some are now itching to go back to the cities , others are reluctant to surrender their bucolic havens for a return to urban life in the age of Covid-19 .
French President Emmanuel Macron says it is unlikely that French people will be able to take long-distance trips this summer and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be limited to reduce the risk of a resurgence of the coronavirus .
Can the unmasking of China ’ s Covid-19 ‘ mask diplomacy ’ stem Beijing ’ s global power grab ?
The Covid-19 outbreak found China uniquely positioned for a global soft-power grab , with Beijing using its supplies of medical equipment to launch a round of “ mask diplomacy ” .
But then a steady flow of anti-Beijing headlines followed by an aggressive diplomatic onslaught unravelled the gains .
Face masks for the deaf : Covid 19 's communication challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 : UN warns of ‘ disastrous ’ conditions in Latin America ’ s jails Protests and riots have hit prisons across South America in recent weeks over fears of the spread of Covid-19 within their walls .
Now , the UN is warning that overcrowding , unsanitary conditions and lack of access to healthcare is causing the “ rapid spread ” of the virus in detention facilities throughout Latin America .
For many farmers the Covid-19 pandemic has been brutal , with large orders cancelled and revenue plunging .
But some small-scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales .
In hard-hit New York , thousands of people have joined a rent strike movement dubbed # CancelRent as the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread .
They ’ re now calling for a nationwide strike .
German soldiers reached the gates of Paris in June 1940 , forcing many Parisians to flee the City of Lights .
In all , 8-10 million refugees left their homes to escape the Nazi invasion – almost a quarter of the French population at the time .
France under lockdown : Staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a difference How are the French coping with life in lockdown , and what does a deserted Paris look like ?
Film show : How is Covid-19 impacting the French cinema industry ?
With 6,000 cinemas closed , 200 film shoots scrapped in just one month , more than €150 million lost and more than half the population signed up to a streaming service , we take a look at the effect the coronavirus has had on the French film industry .
We also take a look at the unexpected revival of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing and the release of Terrence Mallick 's `` A Hidden Life '' on VOD .
Millions are in confinement around the world , and all of us are searching for activities to cheer us up .
Every day since mid-March , French DJ and producer Bob Sinclar has been gathering hundreds of thousands of people for one hour of uplifting funk via Facebook and Instagram .
'We do n't have a strategy of herd immunity , ' Swedish FM says Sweden 's Foreign Minister Ann Linde spoke to FRANCE 24 about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her country , which has thus far avoided imposing a lockdown and has instead relied on trust and self-discipline .
But she denied that this approach was akin to relying on herd immunity .
Are US forces essential to war on terror in Africa 's Sahel region ?
In the fight against terrorist groups in Africa , US forces provide crucial support to the G5 Sahel group ( which comprises Burkina Faso , Chad , Mali , Mauritania and Niger ) with intelligence , logistics and supplies .
But as the terror threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa is no longer a priority for the Pentagon , which is looking at withdrawing US troops Covid-19 : Doctor speaks out about Iran 's handling of pandemic Iran is one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East , with authorities there reporting more than 6,000 deaths .
But observers and health experts say the numbers are actually much higher .
After weighing the economic risks against health concerns , the country 's leadership has decided to reopen businesses in late April followed by schools and mosques .
We speak to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front lines of the battle against Covid-19 .
He asked for his identity to be concealed .
YOU ARE HERE Brittany 's Rance valley , a pocket of tranquillity between land and sea It flows for just 100 kilometres , but the Rance river in France 's Brittany region is home to an exceptional and ever-changing array of biodiversity .
Its mouth has been home to France 's only tidal power station for half a century .
We see how the 400-metre-long dam also acts as a road bridge between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 percent of households in Brittany get their power from this green energy source .
We then travel farther up the valley , where we find boats , old mills ... and a famous seal named Joséphine .
Professional football in Europe has not been spared by the Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting lockdowns .
With colossal sums of money at stake , the impact on the clubs has been a financial catastophe .
In France , the government has cancelled the rest of the Ligue 1 season .
But in some countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sessions have resumed and league games could soon be back .
But how to play football amid the coronavirus threat ?
And will supporters get to see their idols anytime soon ?
Transport via two wheels is cheap , clean , and allows for mass travel while maintaining safe distances .
From Bogotá to Berlin , cities around the world are betting on bicycles to take over when coronavirus lockdowns ease .
Medical staff are feeling the full physical and psychological impacts of the Covid-19 crisis .
In a bid to help the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
But the crisis doesn ’ t end at the hospital gates , and front-liners are also witnessing the effects on their private lives ; we take a look at how this pandemic is affecting their children .
Plus , among the exceptional measures taken to deal with a sudden influx of patients , French authorities promptly called upon medical and nursing students to offer backup .
A woman 's work : Has Covid-19 seen the return of the '50s housewife ?
Has a side-effect of the lockdown been the return of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again assumed to be in charge of running the household even while working from home ?
Or are domestic responsibilities now equally divided ?
The right stuff : Are female leaders better at managing Covid-19 ?
While a number of male leaders have done well during the Covid-19 crisis , few with female leaders have done badly .
We talk to Margaret Heffernan , an entrepreneur and author of `` Uncharted '' , about whether women are more likely to be made of the right stuff when it comes to managing pandemics .

WEEK IN REVIEW
This week we took a look at Iran's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the troubles that lie ahead for prisoners on early release due to the coronavirus and China's "mask diplomacy". We also investigate how Covid-19 is affecting the French cinema industry and the role of US forces in the Sahel region's war on terror.
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ARTICLES
Challenges abound for prisoners released early from French prisons
The release of more than 11,000 people from French jails has eased overcrowding and reduced the potential for Covid-19 contamination but has created a new set of challenges.
Sale of Covid-19 masks in French supermarkets sparks controversy
French supermarkets have promised to put millions of masks on sale to help protect against Covid-19. But some health professionals are demanding an explanation after weeks of mask shortages and rationing.
Exiled Parisians face bittersweet homecoming as France eases Covid-19 lockdown
Parisians were roasted for spreadiing the coronavirus when they raced for the countryside ahead of France’s nationwide lockdown. While some are now itching to go back to the cities, others are reluctant to surrender their bucolic havens for a return to urban life in the age of Covid-19.
France to limit international summer travel over coronavirus fears
French President Emmanuel Macron says it is unlikely that French people will be able to take long-distance trips this summer and that even trips within Europe may have to be limited to reduce the risk of a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Can the unmasking of China’s Covid-19 ‘mask diplomacy’ stem Beijing’s global power grab?
The Covid-19 outbreak found China uniquely positioned for a global soft-power grab, with Beijing using its supplies of medical equipment to launch a round of “mask diplomacy”. But then a steady flow of anti-Beijing headlines followed by an aggressive diplomatic onslaught unravelled the gains.
VIDEO REPORTS
Paris by Night: FRANCE 24 meets the night wanderers of the Covid-19 lockdown
France’s lockdown is among the strictest in Europe as the country bids to stamp out Covid-19. Paris is usually known for its night wanderers, but the last few weeks have seen its vibrant atmosphere replaced by silence. However, not all Parisians are respecting lockdown measures and FRANCE 24 went out to meet them. Some are simply wandering the streets; others are out and about because the streets are where they call home.
Screengrab of people wandering around at night through an empty Paris. © FRANCE 24 screengrab.
Face masks for the deaf: Covid 19's communication challenge for the hearing impaired
How to lip read when everyone’s face is hidden behind a mask? That is the challenge facing deaf people across the world as the Covid-19 pandemic makes face masks a part of daily life. The answer could be transparent face masks but such masks are in short supply, leading some to make their own.
A transparent face mask on a mannequin in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on April 29, 2020. © AFP / FRANCE 24
Locked up with Covid-19: UN warns of ‘disastrous’ conditions in Latin America’s jails
Protests and riots have hit prisons across South America in recent weeks over fears of the spread of Covid-19 within their walls. Now, the UN is warning that overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and lack of access to healthcare is causing the “rapid spread” of the virus in detention facilities throughout Latin America.
The UN has warned that overcrowding and poor conditions in Latin American jails is leading to the rapid spread of Covid-19 among inmates. © Reuters / France 24
Covid-19: France's small-scale farmers see 'glimmer of hope'
For many farmers the Covid-19 pandemic has been brutal, with large orders cancelled and revenue plunging. But some small-scale farmers have noticed a rise in direct sales.
NYC housing activists call for nationwide #CancelRent strike
In hard-hit New York, thousands of people have joined a rent strike movement dubbed #CancelRent as the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread. They’re now calling for a nationwide strike.
Dylan is one of many NYC participating in the city's rent strike. © Jessica le Masurier, FRANCE 24
WEBDOC
Exodus: Refugees remember the 1940 German invasion
German soldiers reached the gates of Paris in June 1940, forcing many Parisians to flee the City of Lights. In all, 8-10 million refugees left their homes to escape the Nazi invasion – almost a quarter of the French population at the time.
Exodus: Refugees remember the 1940 German invasion © F24
TV SHOWS ONLINE
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
France under lockdown: Staying in shape and sightseeing with a difference
How are the French coping with life in lockdown, and what does a deserted Paris look like?
FRENCH CONNECTIONS © FRANCE 24
ENCORE!
Film show: How is Covid-19 impacting the French cinema industry?
With 6,000 cinemas closed, 200 film shoots scrapped in just one month, more than €150 million lost and more than half the population signed up to a streaming service, we take a look at the effect the coronavirus has had on the French film industry. We also take a look at the unexpected revival of the drive-in theatre in the era of social distancing and the release of Terrence Mallick's "A Hidden Life" on VOD.
ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
Lockdown living with top French DJ Bob Sinclar’s nostalgic live sets
Millions are in confinement around the world, and all of us are searching for activities to cheer us up. Every day since mid-March, French DJ and producer Bob Sinclar has been gathering hundreds of thousands of people for one hour of uplifting funk via Facebook and Instagram.
ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
TALKING EUROPE
'We don't have a strategy of herd immunity,' Swedish FM says
Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde spoke to FRANCE 24 about the Covid-19 pandemic and the approach adopted in her country, which has thus far avoided imposing a lockdown and has instead relied on trust and self-discipline. But she denied that this approach was akin to relying on herd immunity.
TALKING EUROPE © FRANCE 24
REPORTERS
Are US forces essential to war on terror in Africa's Sahel region?
In the fight against terrorist groups in Africa, US forces provide crucial support to the G5 Sahel group (which comprises Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) with intelligence, logistics and supplies. But as the terror threat continues to spread throughout the region, Africa is no longer a priority for the Pentagon, which is looking at withdrawing US troops
MIDDLE EAST MATTERS
Covid-19: Doctor speaks out about Iran's handling of pandemic
Iran is one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East, with authorities there reporting more than 6,000 deaths. But observers and health experts say the numbers are actually much higher. After weighing the economic risks against health concerns, the country's leadership has decided to reopen businesses in late April followed by schools and mosques. We speak to a doctor from Tehran, who has been on the front lines of the battle against Covid-19. He asked for his identity to be concealed.
MIDDLE EAST MATTERS © FRANCE 24
YOU ARE HERE
Brittany's Rance Valley, a pocket of tranquillity between land and sea
It flows for just 100 kilometres, but the Rance river in France's Brittany region is home to an exceptional and ever-changing array of biodiversity. Its mouth has been home to France's only tidal power station for half a century. We see how the 400-metre-long dam also acts as a road bridge between the towns of Dinard and Saint-Malo. Some 17 percent of households in Brittany get their power from this green energy source. We then travel farther up the valley, where we find boats, old mills ... and a famous seal named Joséphine.
Podcast © FMM
FOCUS
European professional football red-carded by Covid-19 pandemic
Professional football in Europe has not been spared by the Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting lockdowns. With colossal sums of money at stake, the impact on the clubs has been a financial catastophe. In France, the government has cancelled the rest of the Ligue 1 season. But in some countries, including Germany and Austria, training sessions have resumed and league games could soon be back. But how to play football amid the coronavirus threat? And will supporters get to see their idols anytime soon?
DOWN TO EARTH
Bicycles: Riding out of lockdown
Transport via two wheels is cheap, clean, and allows for mass travel while maintaining safe distances. From Bogotá to Berlin, cities around the world are betting on bicycles to take over when coronavirus lockdowns ease.
DOWN TO EARTH © FRANCE 24
FRANCE IN FOCUS
Treating Covid-19: the toll on France's medical workers
Medical staff are feeling the full physical and psychological impacts of the Covid-19 crisis. In a bid to help the helpers, most hospitals now offer much-needed support. But the crisis doesn’t end at the hospital gates, and front-liners are also witnessing the effects on their private lives; we take a look at how this pandemic is affecting their children. Plus, among the exceptional measures taken to deal with a sudden influx of patients, French authorities promptly called upon medical and nursing students to offer backup.
THE 51 PERCENT
A woman's work: Has Covid-19 seen the return of the '50s housewife?
Has a side-effect of the lockdown been the return of the 1950s housewife, with women once again assumed to be in charge of running the household even while working from home? Or are domestic responsibilities now equally divided?
THE 51 PERCENT © Getty Images/SuperStock RM - SuperStock
The right stuff: Are female leaders better at managing Covid-19?
While a number of male leaders have done well during the Covid-19 crisis, few with female leaders have done badly. We talk to Margaret Heffernan, an entrepreneur and author of "Uncharted", about whether women are more likely to be made of the right stuff when it comes to managing pandemics.
THE 51 PERCENT © FRANCE 24
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france24--2020-05-08--Indian police file complaint against chemical firm after deadly gas leak

Rescuers evacuate people following a gas leak incident at an LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam on May 7 , 2020 .
Indian police have filed a complaint against an LG Chem subsidiary over a toxic gas leak at its chemical plant in the south of the country that killed 11 people and sickened almost a thousand more .
Authorities doubled the evacuation area around the factory in Andhra Pradesh to a 5 kilometre ( 3 mile ) radius on Friday , a day after the gas first began leaking .
Around 800 people were hospitalised .
A copy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LG Chem 's subsidiary LG Polymers , viewed by Reuters , cited several counts of negligence and culpable homicide .
The report , which precedes a full police investigation and potential charges , refers to negligent handling of poisonous substances and causing hurt and endangering public life due to negligence .
Culpable homicide is classifed as not amounting to murder .
An LG Chem spokesman in Seoul declined to comment on the police report .
There was confusion about whether Friday 's expanded evacuation orders were sparked by a renewed leak , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official , or by the fear that rising temperatures at the plant could lead to another leak .
LG Chem said on Friday there was no second leak at the plant , which makes polystyrene products used in manufacturing electric fan blades , cups and cutlery and containers for cosmetic products .
`` LG Chem has asked the police to evacuate residents as a precautionary measure as there are concerns that tank temperatures would rise , '' South Korea 's biggest petrochemical maker said in a statement .
`` We are taking necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tank . ''
N. Surendra Anand , a fire officer in Visakhapatnam district , had earlier told Reuters that more people were being evacuated because of renewed emissions from the plant : `` the situation is tense . ''
Residents said police began moving them out of their homes and into waiting buses from around midnight .
Srijana Gummalla , commissioner of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation , said gas emissions had been fluctuating through the day and had largely subsided .
LG Chem shares fell as much as 2.4 % in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground to be down 0.6 % against the broader South Korea market 's 1 % gain .
The stock lost nearly 2 % on Thursday .
India 's government has formed a committee , which includes senior bureaucrats , to investigate the leak , identified by authorities as coming from styrene , a principal raw material at the plant .
The factory was in the process of reopening after a weeks-long shutdown imposed by Indian authorities to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus , local officials and the company said .
Andhra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a televised address on Thursday that the leak occurred because the styrene had been stored for a long period of time .

Indian police have filed a complaint against an LG Chem subsidiary over a toxic gas leak at its chemical plant in the south of the country that killed 11 people and sickened almost a thousand more.
Rescuers evacuate people following a gas leak incident at an LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam on May 7, 2020.
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Authorities doubled the evacuation area around the factory in Andhra Pradesh to a 5 kilometre (3 mile) radius on Friday, a day after the gas first began leaking. Around 800 people were hospitalised.
A copy of the police complaint filed against the management of LG Chem's subsidiary LG Polymers, viewed by Reuters, cited several counts of negligence and culpable homicide.
The report, which precedes a full police investigation and potential charges, refers to negligent handling of poisonous substances and causing hurt and endangering public life due to negligence. Culpable homicide is classifed as not amounting to murder.
An LG Chem spokesman in Seoul declined to comment on the police report.
There was confusion about whether Friday's expanded evacuation orders were sparked by a renewed leak, as reported by at least one local fire official, or by the fear that rising temperatures at the plant could lead to another leak.
LG Chem said on Friday there was no second leak at the plant, which makes polystyrene products used in manufacturing electric fan blades, cups and cutlery and containers for cosmetic products.
"LG Chem has asked the police to evacuate residents as a precautionary measure as there are concerns that tank temperatures would rise," South Korea's biggest petrochemical maker said in a statement. "We are taking necessary measures, including putting water into the tank."
'The situation is tense'
N. Surendra Anand, a fire officer in Visakhapatnam district, had earlier told Reuters that more people were being evacuated because of renewed emissions from the plant: "the situation is tense." Residents said police began moving them out of their homes and into waiting buses from around midnight.
Srijana Gummalla, commissioner of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, said gas emissions had been fluctuating through the day and had largely subsided.
LG Chem shares fell as much as 2.4% in early trade on Friday, before regaining some ground to be down 0.6% against the broader South Korea market's 1% gain. The stock lost nearly 2% on Thursday.
India's government has formed a committee, which includes senior bureaucrats, to investigate the leak, identified by authorities as coming from styrene, a principal raw material at the plant.
The factory was in the process of reopening after a weeks-long shutdown imposed by Indian authorities to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, local officials and the company said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said in a televised address on Thursday that the leak occurred because the styrene had been stored for a long period of time.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-08--Biden should quit White House race, says sexual assault accuser Tara Reade

In this file photo taken on May 18 , 2019 , former US Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the kick off of his presidential election campaign in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania The woman who accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 called on him to drop out of the US presidential race , saying Thursday she 'd take a polygraph about the alleged encounter if he would .
Tara Reade said in March that Biden , the Democratic Party 's presumptive presidential nominee , sexually assaulted her in a Capitol Hill corridor 27 years ago when she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
The accusation is the biggest imbroglio of Biden 's presidential campaign .
The candidate has denied wrongdoing .
`` Joe Biden , please step forward and be held accountable .
You should not be running on character for the president of the United States , '' Reade told journalist Megyn Kelly in a clip released Thursday .
`` You want him to withdraw ? ''
Kelly asks .
`` I wish he would , but he wo n't , '' she said , adding that `` I think it 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was Reade 's first on-camera interview since Biden , 77 , released a statement Friday saying the incident `` never happened . ''
Reade , now 56 , alleged in March that Biden pinned her against a wall , put his hands `` down my skirt '' and violated her .
Reade 's public account evolved over time .
In early 2019 she was among multiple women who accused Biden not of assault , but of touching them inappropriately , or in ways that made them feel uncomfortable .
She has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and filed an incident report with Washington police in early April in which she did not name Biden .
Reade `` absolutely '' would testify under oath about what happened , she said .
Asked if she would take a polygraph test , she said Biden should be asked to do so .
`` What kind of precedent does that set for survivors of violence ?
Does that mean we 're presumed guilty , and we all have to present polygraphs ? ''
she asked .
`` I will take one if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
`` But I am not a criminal . ''
On Friday Biden went on MSNBC to refute her allegations , while stressing that accusers should be heard .
`` I do n't know why after 27 years all of this gets raised , '' Biden added .
`` But I 'm not going to question her motive .
I 'm not going to attack her . ''
Reade in the past has publicly expressed support for Bernie Sanders , the progressive candidate who quit the Democratic nomination race in April and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divided on the alleged assault .
According to a Monmouth University poll released Wednesday , 37 percent said the accusation is probably true , 32 percent said it 's probably not true , and 31 percent were undecided .
The same poll shows support for Biden for president inching up from 48 percent in March to 50 percent today .
Support for President Donald Trump , Biden 's rival in November 's election , slid from 45 percent in March to 41 percent now , likely due to his response to the coronavirus @ @

The woman who accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 called on him to drop out of the US presidential race, saying Thursday she'd take a polygraph about the alleged encounter if he would.
In this file photo taken on May 18, 2019, former US Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the kick off of his presidential election campaign in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Tara Reade said in March that Biden, the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee, sexually assaulted her in a Capitol Hill corridor 27 years ago when she was a 29-year-old aide in the then-senator's office.
The accusation is the biggest imbroglio of Biden's presidential campaign. The candidate has denied wrongdoing.
"Joe Biden, please step forward and be held accountable. You should not be running on character for the president of the United States," Reade told journalist Megyn Kelly in a clip released Thursday.
"You want him to withdraw?" Kelly asks.
"I wish he would, but he won't," she said, adding that "I think it's a little late" for an apology.
It was Reade's first on-camera interview since Biden, 77, released a statement Friday saying the incident "never happened."
Reade, now 56, alleged in March that Biden pinned her against a wall, put his hands "down my skirt" and violated her.
Reade's public account evolved over time. In early 2019 she was among multiple women who accused Biden not of assault, but of touching them inappropriately, or in ways that made them feel uncomfortable.
She has since presented a more serious claim of assault, and filed an incident report with Washington police in early April in which she did not name Biden.
'Are survivors of assault presumed guilty?'
Reade "absolutely" would testify under oath about what happened, she said. Asked if she would take a polygraph test, she said Biden should be asked to do so.
"What kind of precedent does that set for survivors of violence? Does that mean we're presumed guilty, and we all have to present polygraphs?" she asked.
"I will take one if Joe Biden takes one," Reade added. "But I am not a criminal."
On Friday Biden went on MSNBC to refute her allegations, while stressing that accusers should be heard.
"I don't know why after 27 years all of this gets raised," Biden added. "But I'm not going to question her motive. I'm not going to attack her."
Reade in the past has publicly expressed support for Bernie Sanders, the progressive candidate who quit the Democratic nomination race in April and quickly endorsed Biden.
American voters are divided on the alleged assault.
According to a Monmouth University poll released Wednesday, 37 percent said the accusation is probably true, 32 percent said it's probably not true, and 31 percent were undecided.
The same poll shows support for Biden for president inching up from 48 percent in March to 50 percent today.
Support for President Donald Trump, Biden's rival in November's election, slid from 45 percent in March to 41 percent now, likely due to his response to the coronavirus crisis.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-08--Brazil faces 'economic collapse' in 30 days due to lockdown, minister says

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

Brazil could face "economic collapse" in a month's time due to stay-at-home measures to stem the coronavirus outbreak, with food shortages and "social disorder," Economy Minister Paulo Guedes warned Thursday.
Brazil's Economy Minister Paulo Guedes wears a protective mask during a news conference after a meeting with President of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court Dias Toffoli, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Supreme Federal Court in Brasilia, Brazil May 7, 2020.
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Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy, is also the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the region.
But far-right President Jair Bolsonaro -- who appeared alongside Guedes, his free-market economics guru -- opposes stay-at-home measures to slow the virus, saying they are unnecessarily damaging the economy.
"Within about 30 days, there may start to be shortages on (store) shelves and production may become disorganized, leading to a system of economic collapse, of social disorder," Guedes said.
"This is a serious alert."
Bolsonaro, who has compared the new coronavirus to a "little flu," said he understood "the virus problem" and believed that "we must save lives."
"But there is a problem that's worrying us more and more... and that's the issue of jobs, of the stalled economy," Bolsonaro added.
"Fighting the virus shouldn't do more damage than the virus itself."
Bolsonaro regularly flouts social distancing measures, hitting the streets in Brasilia and working the crowd in close quarters at rallies of his supporters.
Supreme Court battle
Bolsonaro and Guedes made the comments after paying an unscheduled visit to the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Dias Toffoli.
The court recently decided that state and local authorities have the right to determine what social distancing measures to take to contain the spread of the virus, ruling against Bolsonaro's government, which wants to lift many of the regulations.
Brazil has been hit hard by the pandemic, with more than 135,000 cases and 9,146 deaths.
Those figures have been climbing at an alarming rate. Experts say under-testing means the real numbers are likely far higher.
Hospitals are nearly out of intensive care beds in the hardest-hit areas, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon region, which has had to turn to refrigerator trucks and mass graves to cope with the number of dead.
Because of the pandemic, Brazil -- which was just coming off a massive recession in 2015 and 2016 -- is facing an economic contraction of 5.3 percent this year, the International Monetary Fund forecasts.
Bolsonaro won election in 2018 promising to jump-start the economy with austerity cuts, privatizations and fiscal reforms.
The pandemic now threatens to derail that project, battering the economy and forcing the government to undertake massive stimulus spending.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-08--White man, son in US state of Georgia charged with murder of unarmed black jogger

A cross with flowers and a letter A sits at the entrance to the Satilla Shores neighborhood where Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed May 7 , 2020 in Brunswick , Georgia .
A white former police officer and his son were arrested on Thursday in Georgia and charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black man , an incident that touched off a furor in the community and among civil rights activists nationwide .
Gregory McMichael , 64 , and his son Travis , 34 , were taken into custody by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in the town of Brunswick , the agency said in a statement .
The Feb. 23 shooting death of Arbery , 25 , as he ran unarmed through the small town was captured on video by an unnamed witness in a vehicle near the scene .
The video 's wide broadcast in recent days ignited outrage among activists , politicians and celebrities who saw the incident as the latest case of white perpetrators killing a black man and going unpunished .
It was not immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had retained attorneys .
A district attorney appointed to handle the high-profile case after two other prosecutors recused themselves said on Wednesday he would ask a county grand jury to decide if the two men should face charges .
The men 's arrest by the GBI , one day after the agency opened an investigation into the case , appears to have sidelined any grand jury probe .
The video footage shows Arbery jogging down a narrow two-lane road and around the McMichaels ' white pickup truck , which had stopped in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open .
As Arbery crosses back in front of the truck , a gunshot is fired .
Arbery is then seen struggling with a man holding a long gun as a second man stands in the bed of the truck brandishing a revolver .
Two more shots are heard before Arbery stumbles and falls face down onto the asphalt .
The GBI said it was Travis McMichael who fired the fatal round .
According to a police report obtained by the New York Times , Gregory McMichael , a former Glynn County police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told detectives the incident began when he spotted Arbery from his front yard `` hauling ass '' down the street .
McMichael told police that , because he suspected Arbery in a string of recent neighborhood break-ins , he and his son gave chase in the truck , with Gregory McMichael carrying a .357 Magnum revolver and Travis armed with a shotgun .
Gregory McMichael said Arbery began to `` violently attack '' his son , fighting him for the shotgun , prompting Travis to open fire .
According to a letter obtained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brunswick argued there was not probable cause to arrest the McMichaels because they were legally carrying firearms , had a right to pursue a burglary suspect and use deadly force to protect themselves .

A white former police officer and his son were arrested on Thursday in Georgia and charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black man, an incident that touched off a furor in the community and among civil rights activists nationwide.
A cross with flowers and a letter A sits at the entrance to the Satilla Shores neighborhood where Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed May 7, 2020 in Brunswick, Georgia.
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Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis, 34, were taken into custody by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and charged with aggravated assault as well as murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in the town of Brunswick, the agency said in a statement.
The Feb. 23 shooting death of Arbery, 25, as he ran unarmed through the small town was captured on video by an unnamed witness in a vehicle near the scene. The video's wide broadcast in recent days ignited outrage among activists, politicians and celebrities who saw the incident as the latest case of white perpetrators killing a black man and going unpunished.
It was not immediately clear on Thursday if the two men had retained attorneys.
A district attorney appointed to handle the high-profile case after two other prosecutors recused themselves said on Wednesday he would ask a county grand jury to decide if the two men should face charges.
The men's arrest by the GBI, one day after the agency opened an investigation into the case, appears to have sidelined any grand jury probe.
Three shots
The video footage shows Arbery jogging down a narrow two-lane road and around the McMichaels' white pickup truck, which had stopped in the right lane with its driver's door open.
As Arbery crosses back in front of the truck, a gunshot is fired. Arbery is then seen struggling with a man holding a long gun as a second man stands in the bed of the truck brandishing a revolver. Two more shots are heard before Arbery stumbles and falls face down onto the asphalt.
The GBI said it was Travis McMichael who fired the fatal round.
According to a police report obtained by the New York Times, Gregory McMichael, a former Glynn County police officer and district attorney's investigator, told detectives the incident began when he spotted Arbery from his front yard "hauling ass" down the street.
McMichael told police that, because he suspected Arbery in a string of recent neighborhood break-ins, he and his son gave chase in the truck, with Gregory McMichael carrying a .357 Magnum revolver and Travis armed with a shotgun.
Gregory McMichael said Arbery began to "violently attack" his son, fighting him for the shotgun, prompting Travis to open fire.
According to a letter obtained by the Times, the prosecutor in Brunswick argued there was not probable cause to arrest the McMichaels because they were legally carrying firearms, had a right to pursue a burglary suspect and use deadly force to protect themselves.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-07--US Justice Department drops case against ex-Trump aide Michael Flynn

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

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