france24--2020-01-24--Billions of locusts swarm through East Africa after year of extreme weather

Billions of locusts swarming through East Africa are the result of extreme weather swings and could prove catastrophic for a region still reeling from drought and deadly floods , experts said Friday .
Dense clouds of the ravenous insects have spread from Ethiopia and Somalia into Kenya , in the region 's worse infestation in decades .
The UN 's Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) estimated one swarm in Kenya at around 2,400 square kilometres ( about 930 square miles ) – an area almost the size of Moscow – meaning it could contain up to 200 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own weight in food every day .
The locust invasion is the biggest in Ethiopia and Somalia in 25 years , and the biggest in Kenya in 70 years , according to the FAO .
If unchecked , locust numbers could grow 500 times by June , spreading to Uganda and South Sudan , becoming a plague that will devastate crops and pasture in a region which is already one of the poorest and most vulnerable in the world .
This could lead to `` a major food security problem '' , Guleid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prediction and Applications Centre ( ICPAC ) , told a press conference in Nairobi .
The locusts , he said , were the latest symptom of extreme conditions that saw 2019 start with a drought and end in one of the wettest rainy seasons in four decades in some parts – with floods killing hundreds across East Africa .
The FAO says the current invasion is known as an `` upsurge '' – when an entire region is affected – however if it gets worse and can not be contained , over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is known as a `` plague '' of locusts .
There have been six major desert locust plagues in the 1900s , the last of which was in 1987-89 .
The last major upsurge was in 2003-05 .
Not 'the end of times' Artan said the invasion had come after a year of extremes which included eight cyclones off East Africa , the most in a single year since 1976 .
This was due to a warmer western Indian Ocean , a climate condition known as the Indian Ocean Dipole which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is experiencing its own extremes : bushfires , hail and dust storms .
`` We know East Africa is one of the most vulnerable to climate change .
We know this region will see more extremes , '' he warned .
One expert at the press conference in Nairobi had to reassure attendees that the locust invasion following the drought and floods was not a portent of the biblical `` end of times '' .
The massive swarms entered Kenya in December and have torn through pastureland in the north and centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively lucky as their crops had already matured or been harvested by the time they arrived , herders face another heavy blow as vegetation for their animals is consumed by the voracious locusts .
Artan said the pastoralists were just emerging from three years of drought , and that recovery from a dry spell usually takes them up to five years .
And if the locusts are not brought under control by the start of the next planting and rainy season – typically around March – farmers could see their crops decimated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on plants and blacken the sky , Kenyans have been seen shooting in the air , banging cans and racing around , waving sticks in desperation to shoo them away .
In eastern Meru , residents accused the government of not doing enough , complaining there were still swarms present despite aerial spraying being carried out .
`` They told us that we will not see them again but there are still many of them spotted yesterday and today on trees and vegetation in the farm , '' said Emmanuel Kubai , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurling stones to vegetation to scare them away .
'Bodes ill for the region' Stephen Njoka , director of the Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa , which is based in Nairobi , said Kenya had five aircraft spraying pesticides on swarms , and four others conducting surveillance .
He said the chemicals did not pose a threat to humans and that authorities were doing their best to limit damage to other small insects , pollinators and pastureland .
Similar control operations are under way in Ethiopia and Somalia .
However insecurity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the FAO has said .
The species – desert locusts – are notoriously difficult to control as they often occur in remote areas and can move up to 150 kilometres ( 90 miles ) in one day .
According to the regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group , East Africa is already experiencing a high degree of food insecurity , with over 19 million people experiencing acute hunger .
Save the Children 's regional director for East and Southern Africa , Ian Vale , said in a statement Wednesday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` swarms so thick they can barely see through them '' .
`` This new disaster bodes ill for the region in 2020 ...
The erratic weather of 2019 and the decade prior has already severely eroded the capacity of families to bounce back from unexpected crises . ''

Billions of locusts swarming through East Africa are the result of extreme weather swings and could prove catastrophic for a region still reeling from drought and deadly floods, experts said Friday.
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Dense clouds of the ravenous insects have spread from Ethiopia and Somalia into Kenya, in the region's worse infestation in decades.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated one swarm in Kenya at around 2,400 square kilometres (about 930 square miles) – an area almost the size of Moscow – meaning it could contain up to 200 billion locusts, each of which consumes its own weight in food every day.
The locust invasion is the biggest in Ethiopia and Somalia in 25 years, and the biggest in Kenya in 70 years, according to the FAO.
The swarm of locusts,now in Kitui County.
Spotted also in parts of Kiambu County. Beyond this point will be irreversible gross damage.
Farmers are in distress!
This is fast becoming a national disaster.@FAOKenya @ggonzzalezz @FAO @IFPRI @kilimoKE @PeterMunya @StateHouseKenya pic.twitter.com/iu7p5ZGiEG — AWAK - Association of Women in Agriculture Kenya (@AssociationAwak) January 22, 2020
If unchecked, locust numbers could grow 500 times by June, spreading to Uganda and South Sudan, becoming a plague that will devastate crops and pasture in a region which is already one of the poorest and most vulnerable in the world.
This could lead to "a major food security problem", Guleid Artan from regional expert group the Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), told a press conference in Nairobi.
The locusts, he said, were the latest symptom of extreme conditions that saw 2019 start with a drought and end in one of the wettest rainy seasons in four decades in some parts – with floods killing hundreds across East Africa.
The FAO says the current invasion is known as an "upsurge" – when an entire region is affected – however if it gets worse and cannot be contained, over a year or more, it would become what is known as a "plague" of locusts.
There have been six major desert locust plagues in the 1900s, the last of which was in 1987-89. The last major upsurge was in 2003-05.
Locusts swarms are now a threat to the #foodsecurity of the entire East Africa subregion.
7 things you need to know about #locusts 🦗👇 pic.twitter.com/72wLJ5jBcw — FAO (@FAO) January 24, 2020
Not 'the end of times'
Artan said the invasion had come after a year of extremes which included eight cyclones off East Africa, the most in a single year since 1976.
This was due to a warmer western Indian Ocean, a climate condition known as the Indian Ocean Dipole which has conversely led to severe drought in Australia that is experiencing its own extremes: bushfires, hail and dust storms.
"We know East Africa is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. We know this region will see more extremes," he warned.
One expert at the press conference in Nairobi had to reassure attendees that the locust invasion following the drought and floods was not a portent of the biblical "end of times".
The massive swarms entered Kenya in December and have torn through pastureland in the north and centre of the country.
While farmers were relatively lucky as their crops had already matured or been harvested by the time they arrived, herders face another heavy blow as vegetation for their animals is consumed by the voracious locusts.
Artan said the pastoralists were just emerging from three years of drought, and that recovery from a dry spell usually takes them up to five years.
And if the locusts are not brought under control by the start of the next planting and rainy season – typically around March – farmers could see their crops decimated.
As thick clouds of the insects descend on plants and blacken the sky, Kenyans have been seen shooting in the air, banging cans and racing around, waving sticks in desperation to shoo them away.
In eastern Meru, residents accused the government of not doing enough, complaining there were still swarms present despite aerial spraying being carried out.
"They told us that we will not see them again but there are still many of them spotted yesterday and today on trees and vegetation in the farm," said Emmanuel Kubai, a resident of Igembe North where villagers were hurling stones to vegetation to scare them away.
'Bodes ill for the region'
Stephen Njoka, director of the Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa, which is based in Nairobi, said Kenya had five aircraft spraying pesticides on swarms, and four others conducting surveillance.
He said the chemicals did not pose a threat to humans and that authorities were doing their best to limit damage to other small insects, pollinators and pastureland.
Similar control operations are under way in Ethiopia and Somalia. However insecurity in Somalia was hampering some spraying operations, the FAO has said.
The species – desert locusts – are notoriously difficult to control as they often occur in remote areas and can move up to 150 kilometres (90 miles) in one day.
According to the regional Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, East Africa is already experiencing a high degree of food insecurity, with over 19 million people experiencing acute hunger.
Save the Children's regional director for East and Southern Africa, Ian Vale, said in a statement Wednesday that the charity's staff in Kenya were battling "swarms so thick they can barely see through them".
"This new disaster bodes ill for the region in 2020... The erratic weather of 2019 and the decade prior has already severely eroded the capacity of families to bounce back from unexpected crises."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-24--Trump to appeal to evangelicals with unprecedented speech at anti-abortion rally

US President Donald Trump delivers a speech via video from the White House to the March for Life on January 19 , 2018 .
Donald Trump will become the first sitting US president to address the March for Life anti-abortion rally when he speaks on Friday .
Trump will use the rally to strengthen his ties with his conservative evangelical Christian base in the run-up to the 2020 US elections .
No US president has ever attended the March for Life , an annual anti-abortion rally protesting against both the practice and legality of abortion , in the event 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year in Washington , DC around the anniversary of the landmark Roe vs Wade Supreme Court case .
In that case , the court ruled on January 22 , 1973 that the Constitution must protect a pregnant woman ’ s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction .
Every year since becoming president , Trump has welcomed representatives from the March for Life to the White House .
But this is the first time that he will go in person to the protest .
Trump made this surprise announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ See you on Friday ... Big Crowd !
” Trump ’ s critics see it as an attempt to divert attention from the impeachment trial , which opened on Tuesday in the Senate .
Also on Twitter , the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America , Ilyse Hogue , described the president ’ s announcement as “ a desperate attempt to divert attention from his criminal presidency and fire up his radical base ” .
The planned address is the latest example of Trump continuing to woo evangelical Christians .
“ This is definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it is also the latest gesture of support from Donald Trump to a key part of his conservative base : the religious right , ” said FRANCE 24 ’ s Washington correspondent Kethevane Gorjesthani .
“ As a political block , they ’ ve stood by him throughout all the controversies , despite his divorces , despite his lack of obvious interest in religion .
All of that is because because Donald Trump has delivered on one of their key issues : abortion.
” “ Since taking office , the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed countless very conservative judges from the lower courts all the way to the Supreme Court .
He has also cut federal funding for abortion and has pushed for more laws restricting access to abortions .
Donald Trump is now hoping that these same conservative voters will once again turn out at the polls for him , ” said Gorjesthani .
Trump ’ s administration has already embraced the march in unprecedented ways .
In 2017 , Mike Pence became the first sitting vice president to attend the event .
The following year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House incumbent himself addressed the march by video , promising that his administration “ will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence , and that is the right to life ” .
Writing in the conservative news outlet The Daily Wire on Wednesday , Russell Vought , Trump ’ s acting director of the Office of Management and Budget , called him “ the most pro-life president in history ” and celebrated what he called “ a golden chapter for our movement ” .
“ Trump is seeking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicole Bacharan , a political scientist specialising in American politics and author of `` Le Monde selon Trump '' ( The World According to Trump ) , speaking with FRANCE 24 .
“ Trump governs for his electorate : those that are anti-immigration , but also pro-life , '' Bacharan said .
The latter category is widely represented among evangelical Christians , 81 % of whom voted for the Republican candidate in 2016 .
By speaking at the March for Life , the president intends to directly address his electoral base , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bacharan .
“ But also to remind them of what he has already done for their movement and to tell them that he is prepared to commit even more to it '' .
Abortion remains a highly divisive issue in America .
According to a study published by Pew Research Center in August 2019 , 61 percent of Americans believe that voluntary termination of pregnancy should be legalised in all cases , compared to 38 percent who believe it should be prohibited in all circumstances .
As soon as Donald Trump came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was particularly aggressive on the issue of abortion rights .
It introduced a ban on funding international NGOs that support abortion , and a reduction in aid for abortions .
Trump also nominated two conservative judges for the Supreme Court , Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , who were both confirmed by the Senate .
In 2019 , several conservative states in the south and centre of the United States ( the `` Bible Belt '' ) tightened the laws pertaining to abortion .
As a result , access to abortion is declining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a New York Times study published on 31 May 2019 .
Dozens of specialized clinics in the country have closed in recent years , with more than 11 million women in the United States living more than an hour 's drive from one .
In January 2019 , New York State passed a law protecting the right to terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks in certain cases , while in the same year , the governors of Georgia , Kentucky , Mississippi and Ohio signed controversial ‘ heartbeat ’ bills banning abortions if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s announcement came a few days after the pro-life political action group the Susan B. Anthony List announced that it would spend $ 52 million to support the president and other pro-life Republican candidates throughout the 2020 election cycle , a sum the group called a record .
Trump ’ s aim by breaking protocol to attend this Friday ’ s March for Life is clear : He wants to solidify his old evangelical base and attract those who are not regular voters .
`` Up until now , evangelicals have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncultured .
Above all , this gives them a sense of legitimacy , ” Bacharan said .
This piece is an adaptation by Sophie Gorman from the original in French .

Donald Trump will become the first sitting US president to address the March for Life anti-abortion rally when he speaks on Friday. Trump will use the rally to strengthen his ties with his conservative evangelical Christian base in the run-up to the 2020 US elections.
US President Donald Trump delivers a speech via video from the White House to the March for Life on January 19, 2018.
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No US president has ever attended the March for Life, an annual anti-abortion rally protesting against both the practice and legality of abortion, in the event's 47-year history. It is held every year in Washington, DC around the anniversary of the landmark Roe vs Wade Supreme Court case.
In that case, the court ruled on January 22, 1973 that the Constitution must protect a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.
Every year since becoming president, Trump has welcomed representatives from the March for Life to the White House. But this is the first time that he will go in person to the protest.
See you on Friday...Big Crowd! https://t.co/MFyWLG4HFZ — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2020
Trump made this surprise announcement on Twitter on Wednesday, writing “See you on Friday...Big Crowd!”
Trump’s critics see it as an attempt to divert attention from the impeachment trial, which opened on Tuesday in the Senate.
Also on Twitter, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Ilyse Hogue, described the president’s announcement as “a desperate attempt to divert attention from his criminal presidency and fire up his radical base”.
BREAKING: In a desperate attempt to divert attention from his criminal presidency and fire up his radical base, Trump will be the 1st POTUS to attend the annual gathering of anti-choicers on Friday, which he announced today on the anniversary of #RoevWade bc that's how he rolls. https://t.co/xN5TzktwLL — ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) January 22, 2020
The planned address is the latest example of Trump continuing to woo evangelical Christians.
“This is definitely a watershed moment for the pro-life movement, but it is also the latest gesture of support from Donald Trump to a key part of his conservative base: the religious right,” said FRANCE 24’s Washington correspondent Kethevane Gorjesthani.
“As a political block, they’ve stood by him throughout all the controversies, despite his divorces, despite his lack of obvious interest in religion. All of that is because because Donald Trump has delivered on one of their key issues: abortion.”
“Since taking office, the man who once called himself very pro-choice has appointed countless very conservative judges from the lower courts all the way to the Supreme Court. He has also cut federal funding for abortion and has pushed for more laws restricting access to abortions. Donald Trump is now hoping that these same conservative voters will once again turn out at the polls for him,” said Gorjesthani.
‘The most pro-life president in history’
Trump’s administration has already embraced the march in unprecedented ways. In 2017, Mike Pence became the first sitting vice president to attend the event.
The following year, in January 2018, the White House incumbent himself addressed the march by video, promising that his administration “will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence, and that is the right to life”.
Writing in the conservative news outlet The Daily Wire on Wednesday, Russell Vought, Trump’s acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, called him “the most pro-life president in history” and celebrated what he called “a golden chapter for our movement”.
“Trump is seeking to reaffirm his pro-life position," confirmed Nicole Bacharan, a political scientist specialising in American politics and author of "Le Monde selon Trump" (The World According to Trump), speaking with FRANCE 24.
“Trump governs for his electorate: those that are anti-immigration, but also pro-life," Bacharan said. The latter category is widely represented among evangelical Christians, 81% of whom voted for the Republican candidate in 2016.
By speaking at the March for Life, the president intends to directly address his electoral base, “to prove his loyalty", says Bacharan. “But also to remind them of what he has already done for their movement and to tell them that he is prepared to commit even more to it".
‘Good people can have different opinions about what decisions they might make about their own bodies’ — Celebs including @DebraMessing, @BradleyWhitford, and @SophiaBush explain how the abortion debate is really about freedom and human rights #RoeVWade pic.twitter.com/x9X6bOL3Ao — NowThis (@nowthisnews) January 22, 2020
Abortion remains a highly divisive issue in America. According to a study published by Pew Research Center in August 2019, 61 percent of Americans believe that voluntary termination of pregnancy should be legalised in all cases, compared to 38 percent who believe it should be prohibited in all circumstances.
As soon as Donald Trump came to power in January 2017, his administration was particularly aggressive on the issue of abortion rights. It introduced a ban on funding international NGOs that support abortion, and a reduction in aid for abortions.
Trump also nominated two conservative judges for the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who were both confirmed by the Senate. In 2019, several conservative states in the south and centre of the United States (the "Bible Belt") tightened the laws pertaining to abortion.
As a result, access to abortion is declining in the United States, according to a New York Times study published on 31 May 2019. Dozens of specialized clinics in the country have closed in recent years, with more than 11 million women in the United States living more than an hour's drive from one.
In January 2019, New York State passed a law protecting the right to terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks in certain cases, while in the same year, the governors of Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio signed controversial ‘heartbeat’ bills banning abortions if an embryonic heartbeat could be detected.
Pro-life candidates receive ‘record’ funding
Trump’s announcement came a few days after the pro-life political action group the Susan B. Anthony List announced that it would spend $52 million to support the president and other pro-life Republican candidates throughout the 2020 election cycle, a sum the group called a record.
President @realDonaldTrump is the most #ProLife president in U.S. history.
From the moment he was sworn in, his administration hit the ground running to defend LIFE.
Let's WIN in November to secure FOUR MORE YEARS of WINNING for babies & moms to Make America Pro-Life Again!! 👍 pic.twitter.com/yqkMpJyTcY — Susan B. Anthony List (@SBAList) January 23, 2020
Trump’s aim by breaking protocol to attend this Friday’s March for Life is clear: He wants to solidify his old evangelical base and attract those who are not regular voters.
"Up until now, evangelicals have long been considered a marginal group and uncultured. Above all, this gives them a sense of legitimacy,” Bacharan said.
This piece is an adaptation by Sophie Gorman from the original in French.
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france24--2020-01-24--Chinese traveller says she avoided coronavirus screening when entering France

A woman from Wuhan , the town in eastern China that has been at the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak , took to the Chinese social media site WeChat on January 22 to post about how she had avoided screening for the disease when arriving in France .
In the same post , she explains that she actually was exhibiting symptoms of the virus , also known as 2019-nCoV , when she landed in Lyon , including a cough and fever that she managed to reduce by taking antipyretics .
More than 830 people have been infected and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began in Wuhan in late December .
The woman 's posts were quickly picked up and spread rapidly across French social media outlets , with people panicking that she would be the first case of the virus in France .
Post by @ Conflits_FR ( translated from French ) : Confirmation that a Chinese woman from # Wuhan who , upon landing in # Lyon , bragged on WeChat that she had avoided screening at the airport in spite of her cough and fever .
There is no proof that she has # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chinese Embassy in France confirmed the rumour on January 23 and said that they had “ made contact with the individual in question ” and told her to “ immediately call 15 [ Editor ’ s note : the French emergency number ] and seek urgent emergency medical care '' .
The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in France shared a statement on the @ AmbassadeChine Twitter account after making contact with the ill traveller who bragged about avoiding coronavirus screening upon her entry to France .
French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no suspicious cases ” of coronavirus have been detected in France for the time being and that while two cases had been investigated , neither turned out to be the virus in question .
The minister said that “ all travellers coming from Wuhan get information about proper conduct . ''

FRANCE
Screengrabs of messages posted by a Chinese traveller on the social media site WeChat where she explains how she avoided screening for coronavirus when entering France.
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A woman from Wuhan, the town in eastern China that has been at the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, took to the Chinese social media site WeChat on January 22 to post about how she had avoided screening for the disease when arriving in France. In the same post, she explains that she actually was exhibiting symptoms of the virus, also known as 2019-nCoV, when she landed in Lyon, including a cough and fever that she managed to reduce by taking antipyretics.
More than 830 people have been infected and at least 26 have died since the outbreak began in Wuhan in late December.
The woman's posts were quickly picked up and spread rapidly across French social media outlets, with people panicking that she would be the first case of the virus in France.
???? Confirmation qu'une Chinoise de #Wuhan arrivée à #Lyon s'est vantée sur WeChat d'avoir réussi à éviter le contrôle à la douane à l'aéroport malgré sa fièvre et sa toux inquiétante. Rien ne prouve qu'elle est infectée par le #coronavirus mais son attitude est irresponsable. pic.twitter.com/nxIrL9ds1u Conflits (@Conflits_FR) January 22, 2020
Post by @Conflits_FR (translated from French): Confirmation that a Chinese woman from #Wuhan who, upon landing in #Lyon, bragged on WeChat that she had avoided screening at the airport in spite of her cough and fever. There is no proof that she has #coronavirus but her attitude is irresponsible.
The Chinese Embassy in France confirmed the rumour on January 23 and said that they had “made contact with the individual in question” and told her to “immediately call 15 [Editor’s note: the French emergency number] and seek urgent emergency medical care".
Déclaration du porte-parole de l'Ambassade de Chine en France https://t.co/ZowEEQUCuq Ambassade de Chine en France (@AmbassadeChine) January 23, 2020
The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in France shared a statement on the @AmbassadeChine Twitter account after making contact with the ill traveller who bragged about avoiding coronavirus screening upon her entry to France.
French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn said during a news briefing that “no suspicious cases” of coronavirus have been detected in France for the time being and that while two cases had been investigated, neither turned out to be the virus in question. The minister said that “all travellers coming from Wuhan get information about proper conduct."


france24--2020-01-24--France confirms first three cases of Wuhan coronavirus in Europe

French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn talking about the first European cases of coronavirus , in Paris , January 24 , 2020 .
France confirmed on Friday its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus , with two patients being hospitalised in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux .
Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news conference authorities had confirmed two cases , Europe 's first , and that more cases were likely to occur in France .
In a separate statement on Friday , the health ministry announced the third case , a relative of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charity SOS Medecins said it had treated one of the cases , a patient of Chinese origin who was showing symptoms of a fever and who said he had been in contact with people from Wuhan in China , the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak .
Buzyn said the patient was 48 years old and had returned two days ago from a trip to China which included a stop in Wuhan .
`` He 's been put in an isolated room so as to avoid any contact with the outside world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most of the cases and all of the deaths so far have been in China , where officials have imposed severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings .
The virus has created alarm , but there are still many unknowns surrounding it , such as just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people .
It can lead to pneumonia , which has been deadly in some cases .
The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the virus an `` emergency in China '' , but stopped short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buzyn said the official advice to those suspecting they might have caught the virus was not to go to hospital - to avoid spreading it - but to call a special number where they would be told what to do .
The minister said she planned to hold daily news conferences on the issue .

France confirmed on Friday its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, with two patients being hospitalised in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn talking about the first European cases of coronavirus, in Paris, January 24, 2020.
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Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news conference authorities had confirmed two cases, Europe's first, and that more cases were likely to occur in France.
In a separate statement on Friday, the health ministry announced the third case, a relative of one of the first two.
Earlier, the charity SOS Medecins said it had treated one of the cases, a patient of Chinese origin who was showing symptoms of a fever and who said he had been in contact with people from Wuhan in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.
Buzyn said the patient was 48 years old and had returned two days ago from a trip to China which included a stop in Wuhan.
"He's been put in an isolated room so as to avoid any contact with the outside world. He's fine", she said.
Most of the cases and all of the deaths so far have been in China, where officials have imposed severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings.
The virus has created alarm, but there are still many unknowns surrounding it, such as just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. It can lead to pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases.
The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the virus an "emergency in China", but stopped short of declaring it a global health emergency.
Buzyn said the official advice to those suspecting they might have caught the virus was not to go to hospital - to avoid spreading it - but to call a special number where they would be told what to do.
The minister said she planned to hold daily news conferences on the issue.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-25--China virus death toll rises to 41, more than 1,300 infected worldwide

Pictures uploaded to social media on January 25 , 2020 by the Central Hospital of Wuhan show medical staff attending to a patient , in Wuhan , China .
China said 41 people have now died from a new coronavirus that has infected more than 1,300 people globally , as health authorities around the world scramble to prevent a global pandemic .
The total number of confirmed cases in China now stands at 1,287 , the National Health Commission said in a statement on Saturday .
The death roll has risen from 26 reported on Friday .
All the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak that has been in virtual quarantine as China scrambles to contain the virus spread .
The vast majority of the cases and all of the confirmed deaths to date have been in China , but the virus has also been detected in Thailand , Vietnam , Singapore , Japan , South Korea , Taiwan , Nepal , France and the United States .
China has deployed 450 military medical staff , some with experience combating SARS or Ebola , to a central city stricken by a virus that has killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
The medics , who arrived in Wuhan on military aircraft late Friday , will be dispatched to hospitals with large numbers of infected patients , according to the official Xinhua news agency .
The move marks a dramatic escalation in the central government 's involvement to contain the virus .
It also follows reports of bed shortages in hospitals designated to deal with the outbreak in Wuhan , which has borne the brunt of the health emergency .
The government has even started construction on a special hospital in Wuhan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to finish it within a staggering 10 days .
Xinhua said the military team is composed of experts in respiratory health , infectious diseases , hospital infection control and intensive care .
Human-to-human transmission has been observed in the virus , which health authorities believe to have originated in a market in Wuhan that traded illegally in wildlife .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the new coronavirus an `` emergency in China '' this week but stopped short of declaring it of international concern .
The virus continues to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe 's first confirmed cases on Friday evening .
Wuhan , a city of 11 million and the capital of central Hubei province , is in virtual lockdown .
Nearly all flights at Wuhan 's airport have been cancelled and checkpoints block the main roads leading out of town .
Authorities have since imposed similar lockdowns on more than 10 cities near Wuhan as part of the ongoing containment effort .
As Wuhan slides into isolation , pharmacies have begun to run out of supplies and hospitals have been flooded with nervous residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 1,000-bed hospital by Monday , state media said .
Hubei 's health authority said on Saturday there were 658 patients affected by the virus in medical care , 57 of whom were critically ill. '' It must be confusing and infuriating that on the weekend the government reassured citizens that the virus did not spread between humans and was under control , and then , only four days later , to initiate an unprecedented lockdown of Wuhan and other cities , '' said Mary Gallagher , director of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because there are still many unknowns surrounding it , such as how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people .
It can cause pneumonia , which has been deadly in some cases .
Symptoms include fever , difficulty breathing and coughing .
Most of the fatalities have been in elderly patients , many with pre-existing conditions , the WHO said .
Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China , though some health officials and experts have questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown .
Health officials fear the transmission rate could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for the Lunar New Year , which began on Saturday .

President Xi Jinping said China was facing a “grave situation” as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped to 42, overshadowing celebrations of the Lunar New Year that began on Saturday.
Pictures uploaded to social media on January 25, 2020 by the Central Hospital of Wuhan show medical staff attending to a patient, in Wuhan, China.
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China also announced further transport restrictions.
With more than 1,400 people infected worldwide, most of them in China, Hong Kong declared a virus emergency, scrapped celebrations and restricted links to mainland China.
Australia confirmed its first four cases on Saturday, Malaysia confirmed four and France reported Europe’s first cases on Friday, as health authorities around the world scrambled to prevent a pandemic.
Because nothing says ‘don’t worry’ quite like this image https://t.co/JvZYO0cVH5 — Mark Urban (@MarkUrban01) January 24, 2020
The United States is arranging a charter flight on Sunday to bring its citizens and diplomats back from Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In Hong Kong, with five confirmed cases, the city’s leader Carrie Lam said flights and high speed rail trips between the city and Wuhan will be halted. Schools in Hong Kong that are currently on Lunar New Year holidays will remain closed until Feb. 17.
Xi held a politburo meeting on Saturday on measures to fight the « accelerating » outbreak, state television reported.
As of 8 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Saturday, the death toll in China had risen to 42, authorities reported. Some 1,372 people in China had been infected with the virus - traced to a seafood market in Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife.
The virus has also been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, and the United States.
In Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, officials appealed for masks and protective suits.
"We are steadily pushing forward the disease control and prevention ... But right now we are facing an extremely severe public health crisis," Hu Yinghai, deputy director-general of the Civil Affairs Department, told a news briefing.
The newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because there are still many unknowns surrounding it, such as how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. It can cause pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases.
Ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said it was halting inter-city services to and from Beijing from Sunday, while the capital will also stop running inter-province shuttle buses.
State broadcaster CCTV, citing an announcement from China’s tourism industry association, said the country would halt all group tours, both at home and abroad, from Monday.
Wuhan said it would ban non-essential vehicles from its downtown starting Sunday, further paralysing a city of 11 million that has been on virtual lockdown since Thursday, with nearly all flights cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town.
Authorities have since imposed transport restrictions on nearly all of Hubei province, which has a population of 59 million.
Protective suits
Australia confirmed its first four cases in two different cities on Saturday, and the country’s chief health official said he expected more cases as Australia is a popular destination for Chinese tourists.
State-run China Global Television Network reported on Saturday that a doctor who had been treating patients in Wuhan, 62-year-old Liang Wudong, had died from the virus.
U.S. coffee chain Starbucks said it was closing all its outlets in Hubei province for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, following a similar move by McDonald’s in five Hubei cities.
Workers in white protective suits checked temperatures of passengers entering the subway at Beijing’s central railway station on Saturday, while some train services in the eastern Yangtze River Delta region were suspended, the local railway operator said.
'Global health threat'
There are fears transmission could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel during the holiday, although many have cancelled their plans.
Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China, although some health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings.
In an illustration of how such efforts could miss cases, doctors at a Paris hospital said that two of the three Chinese nationals in France who have been diagnosed with the virus had arrived in the country without showing symptoms.
The World Health Organisation this week stopped short of calling the outbreak a global health emergency.
A report by infectious disease specialists at Imperial College, London on Saturday said that despite this, the epidemic « represents a clear and ongoing global health threat » adding: « It is uncertain at the current time whether it is possible to contain the continuing epidemic within China. »
While China has called for transparency in managing the crisis, after cover-up of the 2002/2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome spread, officials in Wuhan have been criticised for their handling of the current outbreak.
In rare public dissent, a senior journalist at a Hubei newspaper run by the ruling Communist Party called on Friday for a « immediate » change of leadership in Wuhan on the Twitter-like Weibo. The post was later removed.
Hubei province, where authorities are rushing to build a 1,000 bed hospital in six days, announced on Saturday that there were 658 patients affected by the virus in treatment, 57 of whom were critically ill.
Shanghai Disneyland was closed from Saturday. Beijing’s Lama Temple, where people make offerings for the new year, has also closed, as have some other temples.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-25--US says 34 troops suffered traumatic brain injury in Iran strikes on Iraqi base

Traumatic brain injury , or TBI , has become a bigger concern for the US military in recent years .
The Pentagon disclosed Friday that 34 US service members had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following Iran ’ s missile strikes on an Iraqi base earlier this month , a number higher than the military had previously announced .
The revelation belies US President Donald Trump ’ s initial claim that no Americans were harmed in the attack .
Eight of the 34 injured arrived in the US on Friday from Germany , where they and nine others had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile strike on Iraq 's Ain al-Asad air base .
The nine still in Germany are receiving treatment and evaluation at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center , the largest US military hospital outside the continental United States .
Jonathan Hoffman , the chief Pentagon spokesman , said the eight in the US will be treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland , or at their home bases .
The exact nature of their injuries and their service and unit affiliations were not disclosed .
Trump and other top officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the January 3 killing of Iran ’ s Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani had not killed or injured any US service members .
The military said symptoms of concussion or traumatic brain injury were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known only days later .
Many were in bunkers before nearly a dozen Iranian ballistic missiles exploded .
Last week , US military officials said 11 troops had been treated and transferred out of Iraq for concussion symptoms after the attack on the Ain al-Asad base .
Responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davos Wednesday , Trump appeared to dismiss the injuries .
“ I heard they had headaches , ” said Trump at a news conference .
“ I don ’ t consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries I have seen.
” Senator Jack Reed , a Rhode Island Democrat and his party ’ s ranking member on the Armed Services Committee ( and who served as an officer in the 82nd Airborne Division ) , called on Trump to apologise .
“ TBI is a serious matter , ” said Reed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brain Injury .
“ It is not a ‘ headache ' , and it ’ s plain wrong for President Trump to diminish their wounds .
He may not have meant to disrespect them , but President Trump ’ s comments were an insult to our troops .
He owes them an apology.
” TBI has become a larger concern for the military in recent years as medical science improves its understanding of its causes and effects on brain function .
It can involve varying degrees of impairment of thinking , memory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The severity and duration of the injury can vary widely .
Renewed questions of US military policy on brain injuries The question of US casualties took on added importance at the time of the Iranian strike because the degree of damage was seen as influencing a US decision on whether to counterattack and risk a broader war with Iran .
Trump chose not to retaliate , and the Iranians then indicated their strike was sufficient for the time being .
Pentagon officials have said there had been no effort to minimise or delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling of the injuries following Tehran 's attack has renewed questions over the US military 's policy regarding how it deals with suspected brain injuries .
While the US military has to immediately report incidents threatening life , limb or eyesight , it does not have an urgent requirement to do so with suspected TBI , which can take time to manifest and diagnose .
Hoffman said US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had directed the Pentagon to review the process for tracking and reporting injuries .
`` The goal is to be as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people and our service members with the best information , '' Hoffman said .
Various health and medical groups for years have been trying to raise awareness about the seriousness of brain injuries , including concussions .
According to Pentagon data , about 408,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2000 .

The Pentagon disclosed Friday that 34 US service members had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following Iran’s missile strikes on an Iraqi base earlier this month, a number higher than the military had previously announced. The revelation belies US President Donald Trump’s initial claim that no Americans were harmed in the attack.
Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, has become a bigger concern for the US military in recent years.
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Eight of the 34 injured arrived in the US on Friday from Germany, where they and nine others had been flown days after the January 8 missile strike on Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base. The nine still in Germany are receiving treatment and evaluation at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest US military hospital outside the continental United States.
Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said the eight in the US will be treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, or at their home bases. The exact nature of their injuries and their service and unit affiliations were not disclosed.
Trump and other top officials initially said Iran's retaliatory strikes for the January 3 killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani had not killed or injured any US service members.
The military said symptoms of concussion or traumatic brain injury were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known only days later. Many were in bunkers before nearly a dozen Iranian ballistic missiles exploded.
Trump: 'I heard they had headaches'
Last week, US military officials said 11 troops had been treated and transferred out of Iraq for concussion symptoms after the attack on the Ain al-Asad base.
Responding to the disclosure while he was in Davos Wednesday, Trump appeared to dismiss the injuries.
“I heard they had headaches,” said Trump at a news conference. “I don’t consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries I have seen.”
Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat and his party’s ranking member on the Armed Services Committee (and who served as an officer in the 82nd Airborne Division), called on Trump to apologise.
“TBI is a serious matter,” said Reed in a statement, referring to Traumatic Brain Injury. “It is not a ‘headache', and it’s plain wrong for President Trump to diminish their wounds. He may not have meant to disrespect them, but President Trump’s comments were an insult to our troops. He owes them an apology.”
Pres Trump owes our troops an apology. pic.twitter.com/IZduZySg4J — Senator Jack Reed (@SenJackReed) January 25, 2020
TBI has become a larger concern for the military in recent years as medical science improves its understanding of its causes and effects on brain function. It can involve varying degrees of impairment of thinking, memory, vision, hearing and other functions. The severity and duration of the injury can vary widely.
Renewed questions of US military policy on brain injuries
The question of US casualties took on added importance at the time of the Iranian strike because the degree of damage was seen as influencing a US decision on whether to counterattack and risk a broader war with Iran. Trump chose not to retaliate, and the Iranians then indicated their strike was sufficient for the time being.
Pentagon officials have said there had been no effort to minimise or delay information on concussive injuries, but its handling of the injuries following Tehran's attack has renewed questions over the US military's policy regarding how it deals with suspected brain injuries.
While the US military has to immediately report incidents threatening life, limb or eyesight, it does not have an urgent requirement to do so with suspected TBI, which can take time to manifest and diagnose.
Hoffman said US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had directed the Pentagon to review the process for tracking and reporting injuries.
"The goal is to be as transparent, accurate and to provide the American people and our service members with the best information," Hoffman said.
Various health and medical groups for years have been trying to raise awareness about the seriousness of brain injuries, including concussions.
According to Pentagon data, about 408,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2000.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-25--France’s first NBA regular season game draws PSG superstars, eager fans

Paris Saint-Germain footballers ( from left ) Mauro Icardi , Kylian Mbappé , Neymar and Thiago Silva pose ahead of the NBA match in Paris on January 24 , 2020 .
With the world ’ s two most expensive soccer players cheering him on in Paris on Friday night , Giannis Antetokounmpo took a while to entertain them .
The Greek star found his rhythm late in the game and had 30 points and 12 rebounds to help the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 116-103 for their eighth straight win .
The first NBA regular-season game in France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arena , among them Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé — France 's World Cup-winning star .
“ It 's insane .
The crazy part is that we ’ re really big fans of them and they ’ re big fans of the team .
You never expect them to know who we are and what we do , and be fans of the Bucks , '' said Antetokounmpo , the NBA MVP and PSG fan .
“ But it was amazing they came to the game .
They came to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , took pictures with them.
” Milwaukee improved to 40-6 .
The Bucks have the best 46-game start in franchise history .
They were 39-7 in 1970-71 when they went on to win the NBA championship .
It was slow-going early on , however , for a sluggish-looking Bucks side which had perhaps done a little too much sight-seeing in recent days , including a visit from Antetokounmpo to PSG 's stadium .
`` I only practiced once before the game .
It ’ s kind of hard to get into a rhythm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball as much , ” said Antetokounmpo , who had his fourth triple-double of the season on Monday against the Chicago Bulls .
“ Hopefully , we can learn from the game .
Close to the third quarter the bench came back in and did a great job .
In the fourth quarter we were able to close out the game.
” Eric Bledsoe added 20 points and five assists for the Bucks , while Malik Monk led Charlotte with 31 points .
“ I thought Malik was fantastic , made plays for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ athlete , ” Hornets coach James Borrego said .
“ The challenge now is to do it on a night-to-night basis.
” The Hornets have lost eight in a row — the longest for the Hornets since dropping 10 straight in the 2014-15 season .
Milwaukee rallied to tie it at 78 going into the fourth quarter .
Pat Connaughton put the Bucks in front with a dunk in the fourth .
Then Antetokounmpo got going , drawing a foul as he slalomed through the defense .
“ Our guys competed hard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game against the best team in the NBA , ” Borrego said .
“ The start of the fourth starts with a turnover and that set the tone for the rest of the quarter .
It spiraled from there.
” Budenholzer , meanwhile , improved to 100-28 in regular-season games with the Bucks .
There was a reason why this win was such a grind for long periods .
“ I thought Charlotte was great tonight , ” Budenholzer said .
“ Their defense was great.
” There was , naturally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Former San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker was given a huge ovation by the crowd when he was presented to fans before the game .
So was Ronny Turiaf , an NBA champion with the Miami Heat in 2012 .
Nicolas Batum , who scored five points for the Hornets , raised his hand to the crowd chanting his name at the end .
This was Milwaukee ’ s second time playing a regular-season game outside of North America .
The Bucks beat New York in London on Jan. 15 , 2015 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the teams at the Feb. 16 All-Star Game in Chicago because he was the leading Eastern Conference vote-getter , is set to become the first player in Bucks history to start four consecutive All-Star Games .
When the NBA picked the Hornets to play in the game back on March 28 , Charlotte had Parker and All-Star guard Kemba Walker on the roster .
That was before Parker retired and Walker signed with Boston in free agency .

With the world’s two most expensive soccer players, Paris-Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, cheering him on in Paris on Friday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo took a while to entertain them.
Paris Saint-Germain footballers (from left) Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Thiago Silva pose ahead of the NBA match in Paris on January 24, 2020.
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The Greek star found his rhythm late in the game and had 30 points and 12 rebounds to help the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 116-103 for their eighth straight win.
The first NBA regular-season game in France drew some famous faces to the Bercy Arena, among them Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé — France's World Cup-winning star.
“It's insane. The crazy part is that we’re really big fans of them and they’re big fans of the team. You never expect them to know who we are and what we do, and be fans of the Bucks," said Antetokounmpo, the NBA MVP and PSG fan. “But it was amazing they came to the game. They came to the locker room afterwards, we exchanged jerseys, took pictures with them.”
Paris-Bercy, the scene of the grand première. © Yann Buxeda, France 24
Milwaukee improved to 40-6. The Bucks have the best 46-game start in franchise history. They were 39-7 in 1970-71 when they went on to win the NBA championship.
It was slow-going early on, however, for a sluggish-looking Bucks side which had perhaps done a little too much sight-seeing in recent days, including a visit from Antetokounmpo to PSG's stadium.
"I only practiced once before the game. It’s kind of hard to get into a rhythm. We weren’t moving the ball as much,” said Antetokounmpo, who had his fourth triple-double of the season on Monday against the Chicago Bulls. “Hopefully, we can learn from the game. Close to the third quarter the bench came back in and did a great job. In the fourth quarter we were able to close out the game.”
Eric Bledsoe added 20 points and five assists for the Bucks, while Malik Monk led Charlotte with 31 points.
“I thought Malik was fantastic, made plays for us. He’s an incredible athlete,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “The challenge now is to do it on a night-to-night basis.”
The Hornets have lost eight in a row — the longest for the Hornets since dropping 10 straight in the 2014-15 season.
Milwaukee rallied to tie it at 78 going into the fourth quarter. Pat Connaughton put the Bucks in front with a dunk in the fourth. Then Antetokounmpo got going, drawing a foul as he slalomed through the defense.
“Our guys competed hard, put us in a position to win the game against the best team in the NBA,” Borrego said. “The start of the fourth starts with a turnover and that set the tone for the rest of the quarter. It spiraled from there.”
Budenholzer, meanwhile, improved to 100-28 in regular-season games with the Bucks.
There was a reason why this win was such a grind for long periods.
“I thought Charlotte was great tonight,” Budenholzer said. “Their defense was great.”
There was, naturally, a French feel to the night.
Former San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker was given a huge ovation by the crowd when he was presented to fans before the game. So was Ronny Turiaf, an NBA champion with the Miami Heat in 2012.
An homage to Tony Parker © Yann Buxeda, France 24
Nicolas Batum, who scored five points for the Hornets, raised his hand to the crowd chanting his name at the end.
This was Milwaukee’s second time playing a regular-season game outside of North America. The Bucks beat New York in London on Jan. 15, 2015. Antetokounmpo, who will captain one of the teams at the Feb. 16 All-Star Game in Chicago because he was the leading Eastern Conference vote-getter, is set to become the first player in Bucks history to start four consecutive All-Star Games.
When the NBA picked the Hornets to play in the game back on March 28, Charlotte had Parker and All-Star guard Kemba Walker on the roster. That was before Parker retired and Walker signed with Boston in free agency.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-25--Democrats warn at impeachment trial that Trump will abuse his office again if not removed

House of Representatives managers Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff ( centre ) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler ( right ) speak to reporters on the fourth day of the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump , Washington , USA , January 24 , 2020 .
Democratic lawmakers concluded their opening arguments in Republican President Donald Trump 's impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate on Friday with a warning that he was a threat to democracy and would abuse his power again if he is not removed from office .
On the third and final day of opening statements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump abused his office by pressuring Kiev to investigate Joe Biden , a former vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential contender , and then obstructed Congress ' inquiry into the matter by barring witnesses and withholding documents .
`` If it meets the standard of impeachable conduct , as we have proved , it does n't matter whether you like him .
It does n't matter whether you dislike him , '' said Representative Adam Schiff , who made the final presentation for the prosecution in what is the third such proceeding in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he is a danger to the country , because he will do it again .
And none of us can have confidence , based on his record , that he will not do it again , because he is telling us every day that he will , '' Schiff said .
Trump denies any wrongdoing and describes the impeachment as a hoax .
The president 's legal team will open its defense arguments on Saturday , and will have up to 24 hours over three days to make its case .
Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session would begin at 10 a.m .
ET ( 1500 GMT ) and run for several hours .
The Democratic-led House of Representatives last month passed two articles of impeachment , setting the stage for a trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to oust Trump before he seeks a second term in a November election .
Representative Hakeem Jeffries , another of the Democrats prosecuting the case , said Trump was `` calling the shots '' in soliciting Ukraine 's interference in the 2020 U.S. election and others in the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the misconduct when it was exposed .
`` President Trump tried to cheat , he got caught and then he worked hard to cover it up , '' said Jeffries , who added there was a `` toxic mess '' in the White House that needed to be cleaned up on behalf of the American people .
Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter , who served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in U.S. military aid to Ukraine as leverage for his demands .
Democrats also said Trump 's refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony in the impeachment inquiry was a textbook case of obstruction .
They showed video clips of Trump 's attacks on several witnesses in the inquiry and said it amounted to `` witness intimidation . ''
`` This is a determination by President Trump that he wants to be all-powerful .
He does not have to respect the Congress .
He does not have to respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his will goes .
He is a dictator , '' Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler said .
Trump 's allies have argued his conduct does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense .
The U.S. Constitution sets out the impeachment process for removing a president who commits `` high crimes and misdemeanors . ''
`` He has shown neither remorse nor acknowledgement of wrongdoing , '' said Democratic Representative Adam Schiff , who has spearheaded the prosecution of Trump in the trial .
`` Do you think if we do nothing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Schiff urged Republican senators to show `` political courage '' and agree to hear from more witnesses in the trial .
Republicans voted along party lines earlier in the week to block Democratic requests for four administration witnesses , including former national security adviser John Bolton .
`` I implore you , give America a fair trial .
She 's worth it , '' Schiff said .
Democrats this week have outlined their charges that Trump only grew interested in corruption in Ukraine when it appeared that Biden could become a serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! '
ABC News said on Friday it had heard an audio recording from April 2018 in which Trump is heard saying he wants the dismissal of then-U.S. ambassador in Ukraine , Marie Yovanovitch .
`` Get rid of her ! ''
Trump said in the recording , according to ABC News .
If true , that would bolster Democrats ' argument that Trump associates spent nearly a year trying to oust Yovanovitch because they saw her as an obstacle in their efforts to pressure Ukraine .
Trump fired Yovanovitch in May 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump said he had the right to fire ambassadors if he wished .
`` I want to have ambassadors that are chosen by me , '' he said .
The president is expected to be acquitted in the Senate , where a two-thirds vote is required to convict and remove a president from office .
No Republican senator has voiced any support for his ouster .
Senator Rick Scott told reporters on Friday that the Democrats had `` done a poor job '' prosecuting the case while his Republican colleague Senator Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a circumstantial case that was a `` tough sell . ''
Democrats have focused their attention on a small group of Republican moderates they believe might support their efforts to bolster their case against Trump with the inclusion of new witness testimony and additional evidence .
`` We know we 'll never get Trump , '' Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the start of Friday 's session .
`` But four Republican senators can step forward and say that we need witnesses and documents .
And there are 12 or 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about witnesses and documents . ''

Democratic lawmakers concluded their opening arguments in Republican President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate on Friday with a warning that he was a threat to democracy and would abuse his power again if he is not removed from office.
House of Representatives managers Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (centre) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (right) speak to reporters on the fourth day of the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Washington, USA, January 24, 2020.
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On the third and final day of opening statements, Democrats tried to cement their case that Trump abused his office by pressuring Kiev to investigate Joe Biden, a former vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential contender, and then obstructed Congress' inquiry into the matter by barring witnesses and withholding documents.
"If it meets the standard of impeachable conduct, as we have proved, it doesn't matter whether you like him. It doesn't matter whether you dislike him," said Representative Adam Schiff, who made the final presentation for the prosecution in what is the third such proceeding in U.S. history.
"What matters is whether he is a danger to the country, because he will do it again. And none of us can have confidence, based on his record, that he will not do it again, because he is telling us every day that he will," Schiff said.
Trump denies any wrongdoing and describes the impeachment as a hoax.
The president's legal team will open its defense arguments on Saturday, and will have up to 24 hours over three days to make its case. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday's session would begin at 10 a.m. ET (1500 GMT) and run for several hours.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives last month passed two articles of impeachment, setting the stage for a trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to oust Trump before he seeks a second term in a November election.
Representative Hakeem Jeffries, another of the Democrats prosecuting the case, said Trump was "calling the shots" in soliciting Ukraine's interference in the 2020 U.S. election and others in the White House assisted him in trying to hide evidence of the misconduct when it was exposed.
"President Trump tried to cheat, he got caught and then he worked hard to cover it up," said Jeffries, who added there was a "toxic mess" in the White House that needed to be cleaned up on behalf of the American people.
Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. They say Trump temporarily withheld $391 million in U.S. military aid to Ukraine as leverage for his demands.
Democrats also said Trump's refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony in the impeachment inquiry was a textbook case of obstruction. They showed video clips of Trump's attacks on several witnesses in the inquiry and said it amounted to "witness intimidation."
"This is a determination by President Trump that he wants to be all-powerful. He does not have to respect the Congress. He does not have to respect the representatives of the people. Only his will goes. He is a dictator," Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler said.
Trump's allies have argued his conduct does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense. The U.S. Constitution sets out the impeachment process for removing a president who commits "high crimes and misdemeanors."
"He has shown neither remorse nor acknowledgement of wrongdoing," said Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, who has spearheaded the prosecution of Trump in the trial. "Do you think if we do nothing, it's going to stop now?"
Schiff urged Republican senators to show "political courage" and agree to hear from more witnesses in the trial. Republicans voted along party lines earlier in the week to block Democratic requests for four administration witnesses, including former national security adviser John Bolton.
"I implore you, give America a fair trial. She's worth it," Schiff said.
Democrats this week have outlined their charges that Trump only grew interested in corruption in Ukraine when it appeared that Biden could become a serious political threat.
'Get rid of her!'
ABC News said on Friday it had heard an audio recording from April 2018 in which Trump is heard saying he wants the dismissal of then-U.S. ambassador in Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.
"Get rid of her!" Trump said in the recording, according to ABC News.
If true, that would bolster Democrats' argument that Trump associates spent nearly a year trying to oust Yovanovitch because they saw her as an obstacle in their efforts to pressure Ukraine.
Trump fired Yovanovitch in May 2019. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he had the right to fire ambassadors if he wished.
"I want to have ambassadors that are chosen by me," he said.
The president is expected to be acquitted in the Senate, where a two-thirds vote is required to convict and remove a president from office. No Republican senator has voiced any support for his ouster.
Senator Rick Scott told reporters on Friday that the Democrats had "done a poor job" prosecuting the case while his Republican colleague Senator Mike Braun said Democrats were trying to build a circumstantial case that was a "tough sell."
Democrats have focused their attention on a small group of Republican moderates they believe might support their efforts to bolster their case against Trump with the inclusion of new witness testimony and additional evidence.
"We know we'll never get Trump," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the start of Friday's session. "But four Republican senators can step forward and say that we need witnesses and documents. And there are 12 or 13 who have never said a bad word about witnesses and documents."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-25--New coronavirus appears ‘less serious’ than SARS, says French doctor

A man wears a face mask on the Trocadero esplanade in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris , France , January 25 , 2020 , as France confirmed three cases of the new coronavirus .
The lead doctor treating two Paris hospital patients for the new virus in China said Saturday that the illness appears less serious than comparable outbreaks of the past and that the chance of a European epidemic appears weak at this stage .
French officials on Friday reported three confirmed cases of the newly identified coronavirus in France , the first ones in Europe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bordeaux .
The head of France ’ s health department , Jerome Salomon , said Saturday evening that all three are doing “ very well.
” Still , France remained concerned about its citizens in Wuhan , the now-locked down Chinese city where the outbreak began .
France ’ s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that French and Chinese officials were studying “ eventual options that would allow our nationals who wish to leave.
” The French consulate in Wuhan is in constant contact with citizens , the Foreign Ministry said , without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city .
Starting Sunday , medical teams will be at France ’ s airports , notably Paris ’ Charles de Gaulle , to help passengers arriving from various Chinese cities with questions , concerns or medical needs , health chief Salomon said .
The virus so far has infected more than 1,200 people and killed at least 41 .
The vast majority of the infections and all the deaths have been in mainland China .
Dr. Yazdan Yazdanpaneh said the two patients at Paris ’ Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital are a couple from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first was detected .
The 31-year-old man and 30-year-old woman arrived in France on Jan. 18 without symptoms , but one developed symptoms the next day and the other soon followed , the doctor said .
The two are staying in separate , specially equipped rooms and are doing well , physically and psychologically , Yazdanpaneh said .
He could not speculate when they might be released from the hospital .
Ways in which the virus can be transmitted remain unclear .
Yazdanpaneh , a leading French expert who heads Bichat ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imported from China were “ not a surprise ” and that France had prepared , including by developing a test that provides rapid results for suspected cases .
On the other hand , he said , the chance of “ an epidemic in France or in Europe is weak , extremely weak.
” “ This illness is a lot less serious - and we don ’ t say this based on two patients , but talking to our international colleagues - than , for example , SARS , ” Yazdanpaneh said , referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory syndrome that killed hundreds of people .
The mortality rate for the viral illness identified in China last month is currently thought to be less than 5 % , whereas it was double that for SARS , he said .
He said the mers coronavirus in Saudi Arabia also appears more serious than the virus in China .
The man and woman receiving care in Paris were taken to Bichat on Friday morning and tests for the coronavirus were known to be positive by evening , Yazdanpaneh said .
The two rooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called negative pressure rooms that air enters but can not escape to guard against transmission .
Bichat has seven such rooms .

The lead doctor treating two Paris hospital patients for the new virus from China said Saturday that the illness appears less serious than comparable outbreaks of the past and that the chance of a European epidemic appears weak at this stage.
A man wears a face mask on the Trocadero esplanade in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, January 25, 2020, as France confirmed three cases of the new coronavirus.
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French officials on Friday reported three confirmed cases of the newly identified coronavirus in France, the first ones in Europe. The third patient is at a hospital in Bordeaux. The head of France’s health department, Jerome Salomon, said Saturday evening that all three are doing “very well.”
Still, France remained concerned about its citizens in Wuhan, the now-locked down Chinese city where the outbreak began. France’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that French and Chinese officials were studying “eventual options that would allow our nationals who wish to leave.”
The French consulate in Wuhan is in constant contact with citizens, the Foreign Ministry said, without saying how many of them are in the city.
Starting Sunday, medical teams will be at France’s airports, notably Paris’ Charles de Gaulle, to help passengers arriving from various Chinese cities with questions, concerns or medical needs, health chief Salomon said.
The virus so far has infected more than 1,200 people and killed at least 41. The vast majority of the infections and all the deaths have been in mainland China.
Dr. Yazdan Yazdanpaneh said the two patients at Paris’ Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital are a couple from Wuhan, where the viral respiratory illness first was detected.
The 31-year-old man and 30-year-old woman arrived in France on Jan. 18 without symptoms, but one developed symptoms the next day and the other soon followed, the doctor said.
The two are staying in separate, specially equipped rooms and are doing well, physically and psychologically, Yazdanpaneh said. He could not speculate when they might be released from the hospital. Ways in which the virus can be transmitted remain unclear.
Yazdanpaneh, a leading French expert who heads Bichat’s infectious diseases unit, said that cases imported from China were “not a surprise” and that France had prepared, including by developing a test that provides rapid results for suspected cases.
On the other hand, he said, the chance of “an epidemic in France or in Europe is weak, extremely weak.”
“This illness is a lot less serious - and we don’t say this based on two patients, but talking to our international colleagues - than, for example, SARS,” Yazdanpaneh said, referring to the 2002 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome that killed hundreds of people.
The mortality rate for the viral illness identified in China last month is currently thought to be less than 5%, whereas it was double that for SARS, he said.
He said the mers coronavirus in Saudi Arabia also appears more serious than the virus in China.
The man and woman receiving care in Paris were taken to Bichat on Friday morning and tests for the coronavirus were known to be positive by evening, Yazdanpaneh said.
The two rooms where they are being cared for are so-called negative pressure rooms that air enters but cannot escape to guard against transmission. Bichat has seven such rooms.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-25--'They're killing Paris': Restaurants count the cost of 'catastrophic' strikes

Rodolpe Paquin , chef and owner of Le Repaire du Cartouche , has seen business plummet during Paris 's record-breaking strikes .
After seven weeks of a record-breaking strike that shuttered the Paris rail network and brought chaos to the French capital , Paris ’ s restaurant owners are still counting the cost .
FRANCE 24 reports .
A stream of protesters pours past a restaurant in downtown Paris .
Holding placards , singing loudly , sometimes clad in the bright orange vests of the hardline CGT union , they make their way to Paris ’ s protest central , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant ’ s telephone , normally humming with calls , sits silent .
Smells from the kitchen waft up into the seating area .
Inside the wood-panelled warmth of Le Repaire de Cartouche , where clients come to enjoy wild game , terrine and its wine list , the chef was wryly despairing .
“ I ’ m up to my ass in these protesters , ” sighed Rodolphe Paquin , the restaurant ’ s genial , silver-haired chef and owner , as he surfaced from the kitchen in chef ’ s whites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing every day , ” said Paquin , raising his voice to be heard above the clamour outside .
“ Just look , ” he said , gesturing at the window .
“ Bunch of morons , ” he muttered .
For the last seven weeks he ’ s seen his varied clientele of locals , rugby players , models and Japanese tourists dwindle to a trickle .
“ In a good year we do 150 covers on a Saturday night .
Last Saturday we did five , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dinners – of between six to 10 , or up to 80 people .
This year we just did one.
” Since December 5 , Paris has been besieged by strikes in protest at French President Emmanuel Macron ’ s bid to reform the country ’ s pensions into a single , universal points-based system .
Unions claim the reforms will make people work longer for less and launched a record-breaking seven weeks of strikes .
The Paris métro has sat largely shuttered , ballets and operas have been cancelled , and restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , according to the GNI , the French national association of independent hotel and restaurant professionals .
By mid-January the GNI put the estimated drop in restaurant revenue at between 10 and 25 percent , for an estimated total of €220 million .
Some unions declared a “ pause ” in the transport strike on Monday but on Friday protesters had once again taken to the streets in a seventh day of nationwide action against the reforms .
“ What gets me more than anything , ” said Paquin , “ is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work 35 hours [ The French working week ] , at the end of your life you ’ re not going to be earning €5,000 .
When I work 35 hours that ’ s when I don ’ t come to work .
Most of the team here start at 10 and leave at midnight.
” “ And if you start working at 28 and you want to retire at 52 , that ’ s not a career , that ’ s a trial period , ” he said .
“ Either we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” All of Paris ’ s restaurants have been badly hit by the strikes , but Paquin 's has been hit harder than most .
Sitting in what Paquin wryly referred to as the “ golden triangle ” of Bastille , Nation and République – where most of the city ’ s protests take place – the restaurant has been surrounded by cordoned-off streets , escalating protests and police vans parked outside .
“ We spend more time letting the CRS ( police ) in to take a piss and have a coffee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” laughed Paquin .
“ Why would you come into the area ?
” he asked .
“ When you risk being hassled by angry protesters ? ''
“ They ’ re killing Paris , ” he said of the protesters .
“ ’ I ’ d sell tomorrow if someone offered me a good price.
” “ It ’ s been a ghost town , ” said Holybelly ’ s Nicolas Alary , 33 , who for the past six years has run two Australian-styled breakfast and lunch cafés with his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 2019-2020 , as like the dark time where I would go to bed at night , not knowing if we would make it.
” As soon as the strike kicked in , their largely tourist clientele – who often queue around the block for Paris ’ s best pancakes – disappeared overnight , explained Alary .
“ December is historically a great month for us … But we could see our cash flow just just melting … To be honest I don ’ t even want to look at the figures.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff spent their days folding napkins , polishing glasses and cleaning “ every single corner of this place ” .
“ I think the scariest thing about this whole thing was that there was no end to it , ” said Alary , who explained that the French tax system made it very hard for them to keep a buffer .
Alary was so worried that he began posting on Instagram about how tough it was .
To his delight , locals responded and some walked for hours to come and support them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come out of the strike , he said , was a fresh solidarity between French chefs and the support he received from the local community .
Alary was keen not to be seen to be taking sides .
But he felt the strikers were “ taking money from the pockets of the wrong people ” , and felt bad that he hadn ’ t been able to give staff a Christmas bonus that year .
Although he voted for Macron , he said that next time he would vote for “ whoever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible ” .
“ This country is shutting down when change is offered .
At least we ’ ll know we have five years of no strikes .
I just want to be allowed to work.
” For now he just hopes that the “ pause ” in the strikes turns into a very long one .
As soon as the métro began running on Monday , it was like a “ tap coming on ” , said Alary .
Despite Friday ’ s demonstration kicking off a few minutes down the road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the smell of fresh coffee .
A group of tourists were gathered outside .
“ Yes , this is more like it , ” said Alary , looking reassured , as he glanced around at the red leather banquettes .
But far away from the protests , on the other side of town in the affluent 7th arrondissement ( district ) , the impact of the strike was still being felt .
Despite the Paris métro ’ s return to mostly normal service , Stéphane Jégo of Chez L ’ Ami Jean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick up .
It has been “ catastrophic ” , said Jégo , a vital , dark-haired 48-year-old .
“ We ’ re losing between €2,500 to 3,000 a day.
” “ It hasn ’ t been this bad since Charlie , ” he said , referring to the deadly terror attack on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in January 2015 , “ but that was just one night.
” “ People come here because it ’ s warm and cosy , they want to be surrounded by friends and comforted with delicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saucepans simmered and staff slapped down cutlery on tables .
He ’ s got used to the phone ringing every morning with cancellations , deliveries arriving two hours late and Parisians being on edge .
“ I have friends who ’ ve shut shop – they can ’ t keep going any more , ” he said , adding that his own kitty couldn ’ t sustain them for much longer .
“ But you can ’ t just let people go , ” he said , referring to his “ incredible ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had walked for more than two hours to be at work on time .
Jégo was keen to stress the strike ’ s impact on the whole food chain , including producers , explaining that the restaurant ’ s old-school cuisine is sourced from a particular carrot producer or a pigeon producer , rather than big brands .
“ We ’ re in the middle of truffle season , ” he said , growing visibly animated , “ and we couldn ’ t buy any because we didn ’ t have the customers.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chefs , thought the timing of the strike was particularly egregious , when December is their busiest month .
And he was tired of what he saw as the government ’ s “ tactic ” of letting the protesters wear themselves out .
“ We ’ ve been taken hostage by a small part of the population , ” said Jégo , “ who struggle to understand that we have to evolve.
” “ You can have the best food in the world , the best restaurant , in the best city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

After seven weeks of a record-breaking strike that shuttered the Paris rail network and brought chaos to the French capital, Paris’s restaurant owners are still counting the cost. FRANCE 24 reports.
Rodolpe Paquin, chef and owner of Le Repaire du Cartouche, has seen business plummet during Paris's record-breaking strikes.
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A stream of protesters pours past a restaurant in downtown Paris. Holding placards, singing loudly, sometimes clad in the bright orange vests of the hardline CGT union, they make their way to Paris’s protest central, La Place de la République.
The restaurant’s telephone, normally humming with calls, sits silent. Smells from the kitchen waft up into the seating area. Inside the wood-panelled warmth of Le Repaire de Cartouche, where clients come to enjoy wild game, terrine and its wine list, the chef was wryly despairing.
“I’m up to my ass in these protesters,” sighed Rodolphe Paquin, the restaurant’s genial, silver-haired chef and owner, as he surfaced from the kitchen in chef’s whites.
“It’s the same thing every day,” said Paquin, raising his voice to be heard above the clamour outside. “Just look,” he said, gesturing at the window. “Bunch of morons,” he muttered.
Protesters head down the Boulevard Filles du Calvaire, just in front of the Repaire du Cartouche restaurant, for a seventh day of nationwide protests. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
For the last seven weeks he’s seen his varied clientele of locals, rugby players, models and Japanese tourists dwindle to a trickle.
“In a good year we do 150 covers on a Saturday night. Last Saturday we did five,” he said.
“Normally we do about 50 family Christmas dinners – of between six to 10, or up to 80 people. This year we just did one.”
Since December 5, Paris has been besieged by strikes in protest at French President Emmanuel Macron’s bid to reform the country’s pensions into a single, universal points-based system. Unions claim the reforms will make people work longer for less and launched a record-breaking seven weeks of strikes.
The Paris métro has sat largely shuttered, ballets and operas have been cancelled, and restaurant and hotel takings have been “catastrophic”, according to the GNI, the French national association of independent hotel and restaurant professionals.
By mid-January the GNI put the estimated drop in restaurant revenue at between 10 and 25 percent, for an estimated total of €220 million.
Some unions declared a “pause” in the transport strike on Monday but on Friday protesters had once again taken to the streets in a seventh day of nationwide action against the reforms.
“What gets me more than anything,” said Paquin, “is the hypocrisy.”
“If you only work 35 hours [the French working week], at the end of your life you’re not going to be earning €5,000. When I work 35 hours that’s when I don’t come to work. Most of the team here start at 10 and leave at midnight.
“And if you start working at 28 and you want to retire at 52, that’s not a career, that’s a trial period,” he said. “Either we evolve or we fall into the ravine.”
All of Paris’s restaurants have been badly hit by the strikes, but Paquin's has been hit harder than most.
Sitting in what Paquin wryly referred to as the “golden triangle” of Bastille, Nation and République – where most of the city’s protests take place – the restaurant has been surrounded by cordoned-off streets, escalating protests and police vans parked outside.
“We spend more time letting the CRS (police) in to take a piss and have a coffee than we do attending to clients,” laughed Paquin.
“Why would you come into the area?” he asked. “When you risk being hassled by angry protesters?"
“They’re killing Paris,” he said of the protesters. “’I’d sell tomorrow if someone offered me a good price.”
‘A ghost town’
“It’s been a ghost town,” said Holybelly’s Nicolas Alary, 33, who for the past six years has run two Australian-styled breakfast and lunch cafés with his wife Sarah.
“I will remember December January 2019-2020, as like the dark time where I would go to bed at night, not knowing if we would make it.”
As soon as the strike kicked in, their largely tourist clientele – who often queue around the block for Paris’s best pancakes – disappeared overnight, explained Alary.
Nicolas Alary of Holybelly café said he had a very "dark time" during the strikes. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
“December is historically a great month for us … But we could see our cash flow just just melting … To be honest I don’t even want to look at the figures.”
With no customers to wait on, staff spent their days folding napkins, polishing glasses and cleaning “every single corner of this place”.
“I think the scariest thing about this whole thing was that there was no end to it,” said Alary, who explained that the French tax system made it very hard for them to keep a buffer.
Alary was so worried that he began posting on Instagram about how tough it was. To his delight, locals responded and some walked for hours to come and support them. One of the more positive things to come out of the strike, he said, was a fresh solidarity between French chefs and the support he received from the local community.
Alary was keen not to be seen to be taking sides. But he felt the strikers were “taking money from the pockets of the wrong people”, and felt bad that he hadn’t been able to give staff a Christmas bonus that year.
Although he voted for Macron, he said that next time he would vote for “whoever is promising to do as little as possible”.
“This country is shutting down when change is offered. At least we’ll know we have five years of no strikes. I just want to be allowed to work.”
'The scariest thing was that there was no end to it,' said Alary of the strikes. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
For now he just hopes that the “pause” in the strikes turns into a very long one. As soon as the métro began running on Monday, it was like a “tap coming on”, said Alary.
Despite Friday’s demonstration kicking off a few minutes down the road, the café was humming with customers and the smell of fresh coffee. A group of tourists were gathered outside.
“Yes, this is more like it,” said Alary, looking reassured, as he glanced around at the red leather banquettes.
‘Catastrophic’
But far away from the protests, on the other side of town in the affluent 7th arrondissement (district), the impact of the strike was still being felt. Despite the Paris métro’s return to mostly normal service, Stéphane Jégo of Chez L’Ami Jean, said that business had failed to pick up.
It has been “catastrophic”, said Jégo, a vital, dark-haired 48-year-old. “We’re losing between €2,500 to 3,000 a day.”
“It hasn’t been this bad since Charlie,” he said, referring to the deadly terror attack on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, “but that was just one night.”
Stéphane Jégo said the strikes had been "catastrophic" for his business. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
“People come here because it’s warm and cosy, they want to be surrounded by friends and comforted with delicious food,” he said, as saucepans simmered and staff slapped down cutlery on tables.
He’s got used to the phone ringing every morning with cancellations, deliveries arriving two hours late and Parisians being on edge.
“I have friends who’ve shut shop – they can’t keep going any more,” he said, adding that his own kitty couldn’t sustain them for much longer.
“But you can’t just let people go,” he said, referring to his “incredible” team of 18, some of whom had walked for more than two hours to be at work on time.
Jégo was keen to stress the strike’s impact on the whole food chain, including producers, explaining that the restaurant’s old-school cuisine is sourced from a particular carrot producer or a pigeon producer, rather than big brands.
“We’re in the middle of truffle season,” he said, growing visibly animated, “and we couldn’t buy any because we didn’t have the customers.”
"I haven't been this worried in seven years," said Stéphane Jégo of Chez L'Ami Jean. © Charlotte Wilkins, FRANCE 24
Jégo, along with his fellow chefs, thought the timing of the strike was particularly egregious, when December is their busiest month. And he was tired of what he saw as the government’s “tactic” of letting the protesters wear themselves out.
“We’ve been taken hostage by a small part of the population,” said Jégo, “who struggle to understand that we have to evolve.”
“You can have the best food in the world, the best restaurant, in the best city. But without customers, you have nothing.”
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