ezorigin--2020-05-18--Monday Sunrise Briefing: A gradual reopening of tourist spots

What can we learn from Greece , Bali , Portugal , Florida , and Hawaii ?
The gradual reopening of tourist destinations for locals is underway .
Greece , which has been under lockdown for two months and has seen few cases of COVID-19 , reopened more than 500 beaches Saturday with strict social distancing rules , including police drones overhead .
The Acropolis reopens today .
Tourism is central to many island and coastal economies and Greece hopes to reopen to international visitors by July .
`` We invite them ... as long as they follow the rules , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , Vice President Mike Pence plans to visit Florida , where today marks the start of next phase of the state ’ s reopening with restaurants and museum capacity rising from 25 to 50 percent , and theme parks may submit plans for reopening .
2 .
Iran ’ s gasoline lifeline to Venezuela .
Five tankers carrying Iranian gasoline worth about $ 45 million are bound for Venezuela , a provocative move apparently aimed at getting Washington ’ s attention .
“ We have n't seen anything like this before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press .
Both nations are struggling under tough U.S. sanctions .
Venezuela , an oil producer , is in desperate need of gasoline and other refined fuel products to keep the country functioning amid an economic collapse under socialist President Nicolas Maduro .
Iran may be inviting a U.S. confrontation - which could boost global oil prices .
`` If the United States , just like pirates , intends to create insecurity on international waterways , it would be taking a dangerous risk and that will certainly not go without repercussion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
3 .
Disloyalty purge ?
Democrats and a few Republicans are upset over President Donald Trump ’ s firing of another inspector general , this time at the U.S. State Department .
There are more than 75 federal inspector generals , who are charged with the detection and prevention of fraud , waste , abuse , and mismanagement .
In this case , Mr. Trump announced late Friday that he was firing Steve Linick , an Obama administration appointee who had reportedly begun an investigation into whether Secretary of State Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ errands , such as walking his dog .
Mr. Trump said Mr. Linick no longer had his “ full confidence.
” Democrats called it “ an illegal act of retaliation ” that undermined the accountability and integrity of the government .
In recent weeks , Mr. Trump has removed three other federal watchdogs .
Helping homeless youth .
A pantheon of Broadway stars , as well as Dolly Parton , Jon Bon Jovi , and Meryl Streep , are participating in performances to raise funds for Covenant House , a nonprofit that provides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth in the U.S .
The show is at 8 p.m .
ET on Amazon Prime Video , iHeartRadio Broadway , Facebook and YouTube , among other sites .
Another 2020 primary election .
Oregon voters have until 8 p.m. to drop off ballots with election clerks in the presidential primary election .
The predominantly Democratic state has had mail-only ballots for two decades , but as of Friday just under 25 percent of the electorate had voted .
How ’ s the rescue going ?
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Fed Chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Senate committee about the multi-trillion-dollar federal rescue packages for individuals and businesses .
Helping kids living in poverty .
Blake Shelton , Ed Sheeran , Kelly Clarkson , Meghan Trainor , James Taylor and Adrienne Warren are among the performers scheduled to participate in the annual “ Red Nose Day Special '' to raise money for American children who live in poverty .
At 9 p.m. on NBC .
Window on Chinese power .
After being postponed by the coronavirus in March , the National People 's Congress is due to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that China is ready to return to normality .
The body is mostly a rubber stamp on Communist Party leadership decisions , but the gathering of nearly 3,000 lawmakers can offer insights about economic and military policy shifts , as well as leadership changes .
Democratic deadline .
Hawaii canceled its in-person April primary and set a Saturday deadline for mail-in ballots .
The state requires anyone arriving from out of state to quarantine for 14 days and recently arrested a New Yorker for violating the ban .
One of the difficult sacrifices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a warm embrace .
But in Rockford , Illinois , Carly Marinaro and her five kids decided they ’ d gone long enough without a squeeze from great grandma .
Mrs. Marinaro built a “ Hug Time ” device - essentially , a thin-plastic wall made with a PVC frame , a window insulation kit , and large-animal veterinary gloves .
“ We could have put a plastic bag over you or over them ... ” Mrs. Marinaro explained to her grandmother , Rose Gagnon , as she approached the front yard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nana !
And cries of , “ It ’ s hug time !
” Nana stepped up and put her arms into the contraption .
“ Ooooh I love you , I love you , ” Ms. Gagnon said , embracing her great grandson while an impatience great-granddaughter hopped up and down saying “ my turn , my turn !
” The video of that first embrace has been viewed on Facebook more than 9.7 million times .
“ I wanted to cry because I couldn ’ t believe that this was happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ms. Gagnon later told WIFR-TV in Rockford , Illinois .
Innovation triumphs over COVID-19 fears .
And nothing can stop a Nana ’ s love from being expressed .
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : ‘ In each other ’ s shadows ’ : Behind Irish outpouring of relief for Navajo In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our roundup of the best children 's picture books for Spring .
Finally , check out the Monitor ’ s selected stories from Friday 's subscription-only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famine : Can world meet food crisis fast enough ?
• Why maternity hospital attack is pushing Afghans toward ‘ tipping point ’ • ‘ In each other ’ s shadows ’ : Behind Irish outpouring of relief for Navajo • Tired of Netflix ?
Museums and theaters bring the arts home .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday news update .
Please give us your feedback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what you think .
Thank you !

What can we learn from Greece, Bali, Portugal, Florida, and Hawaii? The gradual reopening of tourist destinations for locals is underway. Greece, which has been under lockdown for two months and has seen few cases of COVID-19, reopened more than 500 beaches Saturday with strict social distancing rules, including police drones overhead. The Acropolis reopens today. Tourism is central to many island and coastal economies and Greece hopes to reopen to international visitors by July. "We invite them ... as long as they follow the rules," one Greek mayor told Reuters. On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence plans to visit Florida, where today marks the start of next phase of the state’s reopening with restaurants and museum capacity rising from 25 to 50 percent, and theme parks may submit plans for reopening.
2. Iran’s gasoline lifeline to Venezuela. Five tankers carrying Iranian gasoline worth about $45 million are bound for Venezuela, a provocative move apparently aimed at getting Washington’s attention. “We haven't seen anything like this before,” one oil analyst told the Associated Press. Both nations are struggling under tough U.S. sanctions. Venezuela, an oil producer, is in desperate need of gasoline and other refined fuel products to keep the country functioning amid an economic collapse under socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Iran may be inviting a U.S. confrontation - which could boost global oil prices. "If the United States, just like pirates, intends to create insecurity on international waterways, it would be taking a dangerous risk and that will certainly not go without repercussion," Iran's Nour news agency said Saturday.
3. Disloyalty purge? Democrats and a few Republicans are upset over President Donald Trump’s firing of another inspector general, this time at the U.S. State Department. There are more than 75 federal inspector generals, who are charged with the detection and prevention of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. In this case, Mr. Trump announced late Friday that he was firing Steve Linick, an Obama administration appointee who had reportedly begun an investigation into whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used an aide to do personal errands, such as walking his dog. Mr. Trump said Mr. Linick no longer had his “full confidence.” Democrats called it “an illegal act of retaliation” that undermined the accountability and integrity of the government. In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has removed three other federal watchdogs.
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, May 18, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are three news events from this past weekend (while you may have been attending a drive-in movie, bird watching, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens View caption Hide caption New social circles: People relax in marked circles for proper social distancing at Domino Park in Brooklyn, Sunday, May 17, 2020, in New York.
Look Ahead
Monday, May 18
Helping homeless youth. A pantheon of Broadway stars, as well as Dolly Parton, Jon Bon Jovi,and Meryl Streep, are participating in performances to raise funds for Covenant House, a nonprofit that provides shelter and food for homeless and runaway youth in the U.S. The show is at 8 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video, iHeartRadio Broadway, Facebook and YouTube, among other sites.
Tuesday, May 19
Another 2020 primary election. Oregon voters have until 8 p.m. to drop off ballots with election clerks in the presidential primary election. The predominantly Democratic state has had mail-only ballots for two decades, but as of Friday just under 25 percent of the electorate had voted.
How’s the rescue going? Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell are scheduled to testify to a Senate committee about the multi-trillion-dollar federal rescue packages for individuals and businesses.
Thursday, May 21
Helping kids living in poverty. Blake Shelton, Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, James Taylor and Adrienne Warren are among the performers scheduled to participate in the annual “Red Nose Day Special" to raise money for American children who live in poverty. At 9 p.m. on NBC.
Friday, May 22
Window on Chinese power. After being postponed by the coronavirus in March, the National People's Congress is due to start today. It’s a signal that China is ready to return to normality. The body is mostly a rubber stamp on Communist Party leadership decisions, but the gathering of nearly 3,000 lawmakers can offer insights about economic and military policy shifts, as well as leadership changes.
Saturday, May 23
Democratic deadline. Hawaii canceled its in-person April primary and set a Saturday deadline for mail-in ballots. The state requires anyone arriving from out of state to quarantine for 14 days and recently arrested a New Yorker for violating the ban.
Innovation Watch
Carly Marinaro via Facebook View caption Hide caption Finally, a hug! Rose Gagnon embraces her great-grandchildren through a plastic sheet in Rockford, Illinois.
One of the difficult sacrifices in this era of social distancing is a warm embrace.
But in Rockford, Illinois, Carly Marinaro and her five kids decided they’d gone long enough without a squeeze from great grandma. Mrs. Marinaro built a “Hug Time” device - essentially, a thin-plastic wall made with a PVC frame, a window insulation kit, and large-animal veterinary gloves.
“We could have put a plastic bag over you or over them ...” Mrs. Marinaro explained to her grandmother, Rose Gagnon, as she approached the front yard to peels of “Nana! Nana! Nana! And cries of, “It’s hug time!”
Nana stepped up and put her arms into the contraption. “Ooooh I love you, I love you,” Ms. Gagnon said, embracing her great grandson while an impatience great-granddaughter hopped up and down saying “my turn, my turn!”
The video of that first embrace has been viewed on Facebook more than 9.7 million times. “I wanted to cry because I couldn’t believe that this was happening. It just means a lot,” Ms. Gagnon later told WIFR-TV in Rockford, Illinois.
Innovation triumphs over COVID-19 fears. And nothing can stop a Nana’s love from being expressed.
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
‘In each other’s shadows’: Behind Irish outpouring of relief for Navajo
Recommended Why Georgia indictment could pose unique peril for Trump
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our roundup of the best children's picture books for Spring.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!


ezorigin--2020-05-21--Burundi holds high-stakes presidential election amid virus

A crucial election appeared peaceful on Wednesday in the East African nation of Burundi , where President Pierre Nkurunziza is stepping aside after a divisive 15-year rule but will remain `` paramount leader '' in the country that often rejects outside scrutiny .
The vote is one of the most important transfers of power in Burundi since independence in 1962 .
Some observers worry that disputed results could lead to the kind of violence that marked the previous vote in 2015 .
Few face masks were seen , even on the ruling party 's candidate , in crowded lines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands .
Burundi has been criticized for not appearing to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously .
Mr. Nkurunziza himself attended crowded political rallies .
The country has 42 confirmed virus cases but testing has been limited .
`` We are not afraid because the organizers did not require us to distance 1 meter , '' voter Ndayishimiye Innocent said .
`` They saw that God is with us . ''
Regional observers were not present after being told that arriving foreigners would face a 14-day quarantine .
Citizens and journalists said access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual private network .
`` The government is cutting social media so that we do n't tell the world what is happening , '' voter Jean Pierre Bazikamwe said .
Mr. Nkurunziza praised the election because `` no foreigner came to trouble them as it happened in the past . ''
Ahead of the vote , government agents were accused of harassing the main opposition party , the CNL , whose leader Agathon Rwasa , the deputy parliament speaker , was believed to be in a close race with Mr. Nkurunziza 's chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ndayishimiye .
Police accused Mr. Rwasa of making `` incendiary and defamatory '' remarks and inciting revolt .
Mr. Ndayishimiye called on all candidates to accept the results .
`` You can not refuse the decision of Burundians who voted because you also are included in them , '' he said .
Analysts have said Mr. Ndayishimiye , a retired general , would be a front for Mr. Nkurunziza and other powerful ruling party members .
Mr. Rwasa condemned the social media cuts , saying it could be a way of committing election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people 's will .
`` If we are satisfied we will say it , but if we are not we will also say it , '' he said .
One electoral commission official , Zirabura Ferdinand , dismissed concerns : `` As you can see , everything is in order and we expect everything to move along freely and fairly . ''
But demonstrations marked the vote in 2015 , when Mr. Nkurunziza decided to run for a third term that some called unconstitutional .
On Wednesday the president said people would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past they did it due to ignorance '' and asserted that `` they wo n't commit the same mistake . ''
The deadly turmoil after the 2015 vote badly damaged global relations , and Burundi became the first country to leave the International Criminal Court after it started investigating abuses .
The U.N. human rights office reported more than 300 extrajudicial killings and was kicked out of the country .
Burundi 's government has denied it targets its people .
Last week , the World Health Organization 's top official in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic response .
If none of the seven candidates receives more than 50 % of the vote , a runoff election will occur within weeks .
More than 5 million people were registered to vote in the country of nearly 12 million .
Many Burundians were surprised that Mr. Nkurunziza would step aside after a referendum in 2018 extended the length of a presidential term to seven years .
The polls will usher in the post-Pierre Nkurunziza era .
But voters also cast ballots for lawmakers and local level representatives .
Internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were blocked early Wednesday morning .
Burundians stood in long lines outside polling stations , which opened shortly after six am , most centers had hand washing points for people arriving to vote and election officials had some protective equipments in some instances .
After casting his ballot , Nkurunziza praised Burundians for the peaceful conduct of the process which he reiterated had been fully funded with local finances .
He also stressed that politics was meant to serve the greater benefit of the populace .
He arrived at the polling station on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wore a track suit of his club Aleluya FC with a brown cow boy hat with the Burundian flag .
Preliminary results are expected by May 25 .
Critics and rights groups have warned that Mr. Nkurunziza is unpredictable and the election could be a mere formality .
`` We are not going to have a credible election , '' said Stephanie Wolters , an analyst with the South African Institute of International Affairs .
`` If Ndayishimiye is elected , he will have to invite political opposition , civil society back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the national dialogue with the opposition . ''
Some voters reflected the skepticism and uncertainty .
`` I know my vote wo n't be counted but I have to make a change .
That is why I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to come to vote , '' said one , Suzane Bucumi .
`` During the civil war [ from 1993 to 2005 that killed about 300,000 people ] I lost my parents and we were not spending nights in our homes .
I must vote for Evriste Ndayishimiye because it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said voter Marie Nduwimana .
`` We thank the CNDD-FDD because these recent 15 years we have security , '' said Melance Hakizimana , who added that `` in a family there must be a heir to organize the affairs . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Material from Al Jazeera was used in this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

A crucial election appeared peaceful on Wednesday in the East African nation of Burundi, where President Pierre Nkurunziza is stepping aside after a divisive 15-year rule but will remain "paramount leader" in the country that often rejects outside scrutiny.
The vote is one of the most important transfers of power in Burundi since independence in 1962. Some observers worry that disputed results could lead to the kind of violence that marked the previous vote in 2015.
Few face masks were seen, even on the ruling party's candidate, in crowded lines of voters though some paused to wash their hands. Burundi has been criticized for not appearing to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously. Mr. Nkurunziza himself attended crowded political rallies. The country has 42 confirmed virus cases but testing has been limited.
"We are not afraid because the organizers did not require us to distance 1 meter," voter Ndayishimiye Innocent said. "They saw that God is with us."
Regional observers were not present after being told that arriving foreigners would face a 14-day quarantine. Citizens and journalists said access to social media was not possible without a virtual private network.
"The government is cutting social media so that we don't tell the world what is happening," voter Jean Pierre Bazikamwe said.
Mr. Nkurunziza praised the election because "no foreigner came to trouble them as it happened in the past."
Ahead of the vote, government agents were accused of harassing the main opposition party, the CNL, whose leader Agathon Rwasa, the deputy parliament speaker, was believed to be in a close race with Mr. Nkurunziza's chosen successor in the ruling CNDD-FDD, Evariste Ndayishimiye. Police accused Mr. Rwasa of making "incendiary and defamatory" remarks and inciting revolt.
Mr. Ndayishimiye called on all candidates to accept the results. "You cannot refuse the decision of Burundians who voted because you also are included in them," he said.
Analysts have said Mr. Ndayishimiye, a retired general, would be a front for Mr. Nkurunziza and other powerful ruling party members.
Mr. Rwasa condemned the social media cuts, saying it could be a way of committing election fraud. He called for respecting the people's will. "If we are satisfied we will say it, but if we are not we will also say it," he said.
One electoral commission official, Zirabura Ferdinand, dismissed concerns: "As you can see, everything is in order and we expect everything to move along freely and fairly."
But demonstrations marked the vote in 2015, when Mr. Nkurunziza decided to run for a third term that some called unconstitutional.
On Wednesday the president said people would not oppose the results this time "because in the past they did it due to ignorance" and asserted that "they won't commit the same mistake."
The deadly turmoil after the 2015 vote badly damaged global relations, and Burundi became the first country to leave the International Criminal Court after it started investigating abuses. The U.N. human rights office reported more than 300 extrajudicial killings and was kicked out of the country. Burundi's government has denied it targets its people.
Last week, the World Health Organization's top official in Burundi was kicked out amid concerns about the pandemic response.
If none of the seven candidates receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will occur within weeks. More than 5 million people were registered to vote in the country of nearly 12 million.
Many Burundians were surprised that Mr. Nkurunziza would step aside after a referendum in 2018 extended the length of a presidential term to seven years.
Africa News reported:
The polls will usher in the post-Pierre Nkurunziza era. But voters also cast ballots for lawmakers and local level representatives. Internet connectivity for social media and messaging apps were blocked early Wednesday morning. Burundians stood in long lines outside polling stations, which opened shortly after six am, most centers had hand washing points for people arriving to vote and election officials had some protective equipments in some instances. After casting his ballot, Nkurunziza praised Burundians for the peaceful conduct of the process which he reiterated had been fully funded with local finances. He also stressed that politics was meant to serve the greater benefit of the populace. He arrived at the polling station on a bicycle surrounded by his guards, he wore a track suit of his club Aleluya FC with a brown cow boy hat with the Burundian flag. Preliminary results are expected by May 25.
Critics and rights groups have warned that Mr. Nkurunziza is unpredictable and the election could be a mere formality.
"We are not going to have a credible election," said Stephanie Wolters, an analyst with the South African Institute of International Affairs. "If Ndayishimiye is elected, he will have to invite political opposition, civil society back into the country and also participate in the national dialogue with the opposition."
Some voters reflected the skepticism and uncertainty.
"I know my vote won't be counted but I have to make a change. That is why I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to come to vote," said one, Suzane Bucumi.
Recommended Why Georgia indictment could pose unique peril for Trump
Ruling party supporters disagreed.
"During the civil war [from 1993 to 2005 that killed about 300,000 people] I lost my parents and we were not spending nights in our homes. I must vote for Evriste Ndayishimiye because it is the CNDD-FDD who ended the war," said voter Marie Nduwimana.
"We thank the CNDD-FDD because these recent 15 years we have security," said Melance Hakizimana, who added that "in a family there must be a heir to organize the affairs."
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Material from Al Jazeera was used in this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


ezorigin--2020-05-20--A books network in Zimbabwe is now a front-line virus response

“ Thats a massive help , ” texts Elvis when I send him yet another coronavirus fact sheet .
“ I going to send this to my folks and kinsmen.
” He adds “ uyilamulile , ” in Ndebele , one of Zimbabwe ’ s 16 languages , and translates : “ You have fought the battle for us.
” I am learning so much .
But I am no longer – for now – sending out books to remote corners of Zimbabwe as I ’ ve done for the last eight or so years .
In 2011 , Monitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zimbabwe after a couple of Home Forum essays I wrote mentioned the scarcity of books here .
It wasn ’ t just the scarcity of books , but also the price of them .
They remain far out of reach for all but the best-heeled .
Before Zimbabwe ’ s COVID-19 lockdown began March 31 , the lowest paid teachers at government schools were earning less than $ 250 per month .
If it ’ s a choice between buying food and a new book on that wage , which would you choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me went mainly to established libraries : school libraries , a library at a teaching college , the main Turner Memorial Library in downtown Mutare – the so-called diamond city , named for its proximity to the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe .
I sent books to a teacher friend at a school that had seen few new books in a long time , and to a couple who ran evening classes from a garage in a high-density suburb of Harare .
My condition was that recipients had to have asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As best I could , I collated requests and passed the books along .
I recorded parcel dispatch dates and reassured senders that I honestly didn ’ t think their packages had been lost , even if months had elapsed .
Amazingly , the parcels of books have almost never gone astray , a testament to Zimpost , the national mail service .
First I ’ d settle the “ reception fee ” at the post office .
Then , through FedEx and an astonishing network of local helpers , including students at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I got the books , magazines , and sometimes crayons and sharpeners to where they were needed most .
In the last three years , I ’ ve worked increasingly with individuals trying to set up mobile library clubs or build up library resources in remote , underserved parts of the country : Tsholotsho , Hwange , Gweru , Chipinge .
That all had to stop in April .
Even though Zimbabwe and much of southern Africa is far behind the West on the COVID-19 curve , it was imperative not to encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobile library , where a distributor physically brings the books , sometimes in a backpack – to a group of people to share .
Late one night , I discussed with some dedicated project leaders – farmers , parents , administrators , a grad student – how to quickly redirect our efforts , given the coronavirus crisis .
What we decided we wanted most was information about the pandemic to share .
Could I find it , with my faster internet connection in Harare , and share it with them ?
They would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew hadn ’ t been reached .
The best way to distribute the information was via text and WhatsApp .
Smartphones are slightly less common in rural areas here .
But almost everyone has an mbudzi , Shona for “ goat , ” a low-tech “ brick ” cellphone capable of sending and receiving text messages , calls , and mobile money transfers .
We patched together what we could find : public health diagrams , comic strips from UNICEF , and information from the World Health Organization and other international agencies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-known Zimbabwe activist based in Britain , Betty Makoni , helpfully did some Shona translations of critical terms in a Sunday newspaper article , scans of which then spiraled throughout the country via the library clubs .
These book lovers and library club leaders are on the ground in Zimbabwe , in touch with grassroots communities , and determined to help .
A couple of them are also using the lockdown to study free online courses at U.S. institutions .
Meanwhile , I have book parcels under my kitchen table , awaiting distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol of global solidarity and hope in a post-COVID-19 future .
Books and reading and literacy matter more than they ever did in Zimbabwe .
They just look slightly different now .

“Thats a massive help,” texts Elvis when I send him yet another coronavirus fact sheet. “I going to send this to my folks and kinsmen.” He adds “uyilamulile,” in Ndebele, one of Zimbabwe’s 16 languages, and translates: “You have fought the battle for us.”
I am learning so much. But I am no longer – for now – sending out books to remote corners of Zimbabwe as I’ve done for the last eight or so years.
In 2011, Monitor readers began sending parcels of books to Zimbabwe after a couple of Home Forum essays I wrote mentioned the scarcity of books here. It wasn’t just the scarcity of books, but also the price of them. They remain far out of reach for all but the best-heeled. Before Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 lockdown began March 31, the lowest paid teachers at government schools were earning less than $250 per month. If it’s a choice between buying food and a new book on that wage, which would you choose?
The books that Monitor readers sent to me went mainly to established libraries: school libraries, a library at a teaching college, the main Turner Memorial Library in downtown Mutare – the so-called diamond city, named for its proximity to the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe. I sent books to a teacher friend at a school that had seen few new books in a long time, and to a couple who ran evening classes from a garage in a high-density suburb of Harare. My condition was that recipients had to have asked for help with books or magazines. As best I could, I collated requests and passed the books along. I recorded parcel dispatch dates and reassured senders that I honestly didn’t think their packages had been lost, even if months had elapsed. Amazingly, the parcels of books have almost never gone astray, a testament to Zimpost, the national mail service.
First I’d settle the “reception fee” at the post office. Then, through FedEx and an astonishing network of local helpers, including students at the university where I was lecturing, I got the books, magazines, and sometimes crayons and sharpeners to where they were needed most. In the last three years, I’ve worked increasingly with individuals trying to set up mobile library clubs or build up library resources in remote, underserved parts of the country: Tsholotsho, Hwange, Gweru, Chipinge.
That all had to stop in April. Even though Zimbabwe and much of southern Africa is far behind the West on the COVID-19 curve, it was imperative not to encourage nonessential gatherings – such as at a mobile library, where a distributor physically brings the books, sometimes in a backpack – to a group of people to share.
Late one night, I discussed with some dedicated project leaders – farmers, parents, administrators, a grad student – how to quickly redirect our efforts, given the coronavirus crisis. What we decided we wanted most was information about the pandemic to share. Could I find it, with my faster internet connection in Harare, and share it with them? They would in turn distribute it to those they knew hadn’t been reached. The best way to distribute the information was via text and WhatsApp.
Smartphones are slightly less common in rural areas here. But almost everyone has an mbudzi, Shona for “goat,” a low-tech “brick” cellphone capable of sending and receiving text messages, calls, and mobile money transfers.
We patched together what we could find: public health diagrams, comic strips from UNICEF, and information from the World Health Organization and other international agencies. Elvis translated, where necessary. A well-known Zimbabwe activist based in Britain, Betty Makoni, helpfully did some Shona translations of critical terms in a Sunday newspaper article, scans of which then spiraled throughout the country via the library clubs.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
These book lovers and library club leaders are on the ground in Zimbabwe, in touch with grassroots communities, and determined to help. A couple of them are also using the lockdown to study free online courses at U.S. institutions. Meanwhile, I have book parcels under my kitchen table, awaiting distribution. Some have U.S. postmarks, a symbol of global solidarity and hope in a post-COVID-19 future.
Books and reading and literacy matter more than they ever did in Zimbabwe. They just look slightly different now.


ezorigin--2020-05-20--Millions in India, Bangladesh head for safety amid cyclone, virus

A powerful cyclone slammed ashore on Wednesday along the coastline of India and Bangladesh , where more than 2.6 million people fled to shelters in a frantic evacuation made all the more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic .
Cyclone Amphan , the equivalent of a category 3 hurricane , was packing winds of up to 105 miles per hour with maximum gusts of 118 mph .
Authorities warned it could cause extensive damage to flimsy houses and a storm surge could push seawater 15 miles inland , flooding cities including Kolkata .
Coconut trees swayed wildly , electric poles lay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain pounded fishing villages , and rivers surged as the storm battered the coast .
`` The next 24 hours are very crucial .
This is a long haul , '' said M. Mohapatra , India 's meteorological chief .
The region , with 58 million people in the two bordering countries , has some of the most vulnerable communities in South Asia : poor fishing communities in the Sunderbans and over a million Rohingya refugees living in crowded camps in Cox 's Bazar in Bangladesh .
The cyclone could have devastating consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by impacting supply lines and crippling relief measures , said T. Sundaramanan , a health systems consultant in Pondicherry in southeast India .
Tuhin Ghosh , director of the School of Oceanographic Studies at Jadavpur University , said the pandemic 's lockdown has already sapped people 's resilience .
`` Because they are economically down , they are not getting enough food .
...
When another disaster comes , then it 's a double impact . ''
The cyclone made landfall between Digha , a seaside resort in West Bengal , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the storm was likely to pass through the Sunderbans , one of the largest mangrove forests in the world , India 's meteorological department said .
The forests could act as a vital line of defense by dissipating some of the energy from the waves that would otherwise crash into the coastline , said K.J .
Ramesh , the department 's former chief .
But the isolated communities in the vast mangrove forests are among the most vulnerable .
Mr. Ghosh said houses could be inundated and mud homes had already washed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people to safety .
India 's West Bengal state moved nearly 300,000 and Odisha state another 148,486 , officials said .
In refugee camps in Cox 's Bazar , where the first 10 coronavirus cases were confirmed last week , authorities and U.N. workers prepared 50 shelters and assigned 256 volunteer units .
Areas at risk of landslides were stabilized with bamboo and concrete walls .
But the combination of the virus and cyclone could lead to a `` new humanitarian crisis , '' said Manuel Pereira , deputy chief of mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bangladesh .
`` We know that if people are forced to seek communal shelter , they 'll be unable to maintain physical distancing and run the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus , '' Mr. Pereira said .
Masks and hand sanitizers were hastily added to emergency items in the shelters .
Authorities in Bangladesh had assigned a medical team in each shelter , said Bangladesh 's Junior Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman .
Sobrato Das , a fisherman on Mousuni Island in India , close to the Sunderbans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said `` very few people are wearing masks . ''
He said children were crying and women desperately tried to cover their faces with their saris while trying to maintain some distance from each other .
Some cyclone shelters in West Bengal were being used to quarantine virus patients and migrant workers returning to their homes .
The state government asked for trains transporting migrants to be suspended , Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said .
Some schools were turned into shelters , news reports said .
Some in the cyclone 's path saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storm .
In the seaside resort of Digha , many people feared going to the shelters , fisherman Debasis Shyamal said .
`` They have been home for weeks , and are afraid of going into a crowd where they could get infected . ''
The densely populated city of Kolkata , which has nearly 1,500 coronavirus cases , was likely to see flooding , while some centuries-old buildings in the northern half of the city could collapse due to the strong winds , officials warned .
Mr. Ghosh , whose home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by heavy rain and winds , said that Kolkata had `` probably never witnessed this kind of cyclone . ''
The cyclone is bearing down during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan , and some Bangladeshis who fasted during the day reportedly waited until the early morning hours Wednesday before heading for the shelters .
The region is no stranger to devastating cyclones .
Mr. Ramesh , the former chief of India 's weather agency , said it was n't the frequency of cyclones but their intensity that has increased due to changing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by the temperature of the sea 's surface .
Warm ocean water is where storms get their energy , and the amount of heat trapped in the top 2,300 feet of the seas has increased .
`` As a result , cyclones are intensifying faster than before , '' he said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Mr. Alam reported from Dhaka , Bangladesh .
AP writers Sheikh Saaliq , Chonchui Ngashangva , and Emily Schmall in New Delhi contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

A powerful cyclone slammed ashore on Wednesday along the coastline of India and Bangladesh, where more than 2.6 million people fled to shelters in a frantic evacuation made all the more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cyclone Amphan, the equivalent of a category 3 hurricane, was packing winds of up to 105 miles per hour with maximum gusts of 118 mph. Authorities warned it could cause extensive damage to flimsy houses and a storm surge could push seawater 15 miles inland, flooding cities including Kolkata.
Coconut trees swayed wildly, electric poles lay scattered on the roads of Kolkata, rain pounded fishing villages, and rivers surged as the storm battered the coast. "The next 24 hours are very crucial. This is a long haul," said M. Mohapatra, India's meteorological chief.
The region, with 58 million people in the two bordering countries, has some of the most vulnerable communities in South Asia: poor fishing communities in the Sunderbans and over a million Rohingya refugees living in crowded camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.
The cyclone could have devastating consequences for India's fight against the coronavirus by impacting supply lines and crippling relief measures, said T. Sundaramanan, a health systems consultant in Pondicherry in southeast India.
Tuhin Ghosh, director of the School of Oceanographic Studies at Jadavpur University, said the pandemic's lockdown has already sapped people's resilience. "Because they are economically down, they are not getting enough food. ... When another disaster comes, then it's a double impact."
The cyclone made landfall between Digha, a seaside resort in West Bengal, and the Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh. The eye of the storm was likely to pass through the Sunderbans, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world, India's meteorological department said.
The forests could act as a vital line of defense by dissipating some of the energy from the waves that would otherwise crash into the coastline, said K.J. Ramesh, the department's former chief.
But the isolated communities in the vast mangrove forests are among the most vulnerable. Mr. Ghosh said houses could be inundated and mud homes had already washed away.
Bangladesh has evacuated around 2.4 million people to safety. India's West Bengal state moved nearly 300,000 and Odisha state another 148,486, officials said.
In refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, where the first 10 coronavirus cases were confirmed last week, authorities and U.N. workers prepared 50 shelters and assigned 256 volunteer units.
Areas at risk of landslides were stabilized with bamboo and concrete walls. But the combination of the virus and cyclone could lead to a "new humanitarian crisis," said Manuel Pereira, deputy chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Bangladesh.
"We know that if people are forced to seek communal shelter, they'll be unable to maintain physical distancing and run the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus," Mr. Pereira said.
Masks and hand sanitizers were hastily added to emergency items in the shelters. Authorities in Bangladesh had assigned a medical team in each shelter, said Bangladesh's Junior Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman.
Sobrato Das, a fisherman on Mousuni Island in India, close to the Sunderbans, described the shelters as crowded and said "very few people are wearing masks."
He said children were crying and women desperately tried to cover their faces with their saris while trying to maintain some distance from each other.
Some cyclone shelters in West Bengal were being used to quarantine virus patients and migrant workers returning to their homes.
The state government asked for trains transporting migrants to be suspended, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. Some schools were turned into shelters, news reports said.
Some in the cyclone's path saw a choice between the virus and the storm.
In the seaside resort of Digha, many people feared going to the shelters, fisherman Debasis Shyamal said. "They have been home for weeks, and are afraid of going into a crowd where they could get infected."
The densely populated city of Kolkata, which has nearly 1,500 coronavirus cases, was likely to see flooding, while some centuries-old buildings in the northern half of the city could collapse due to the strong winds, officials warned. Mr. Ghosh, whose home in the city's south was being lashed by heavy rain and winds, said that Kolkata had "probably never witnessed this kind of cyclone."
The cyclone is bearing down during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and some Bangladeshis who fasted during the day reportedly waited until the early morning hours Wednesday before heading for the shelters.
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The region is no stranger to devastating cyclones. Mr. Ramesh, the former chief of India's weather agency, said it wasn't the frequency of cyclones but their intensity that has increased due to changing climate patterns.
He said this was caused by the temperature of the sea's surface. Warm ocean water is where storms get their energy, and the amount of heat trapped in the top 2,300 feet of the seas has increased. "As a result, cyclones are intensifying faster than before," he said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mr. Alam reported from Dhaka, Bangladesh. AP writers Sheikh Saaliq, Chonchui Ngashangva, and Emily Schmall in New Delhi contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


ezorigin--2020-06-22--WHO reports biggest one-day surge of coronavirus cases worldwide

The World Health Organization on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count , at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours .
The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied and the U.S. next at 36,617 .
Over 15,400 came in in India .
Experts said rising case counts could reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing , the ending of lockdowns , as well as broader infection .
Overall in the pandemic , WHO reported 8,708,008 cases — 183,020 in the last 24 hours — with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase of 4,743 .
More than two-thirds of those new deaths were reported in the Americas .
In Spain , officials ended a national state of emergency after three months of lockdown , allowing its 47 million residents to freely travel around the country for the first time since March 14 .
The country also dropped a 14-day quarantine for visitors from Britain and the 26 European countries that allow visa-free travel .
But there was only a trickle of travelers at Madrid-Barajas Airport , which on a normal June day would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now have , not having to justify our journey to see our family and friends , this was something that we were really looking forward to , ” Pedro Delgado , 23 , said after arriving from Spain ’ s Canary Islands .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged people to take maximum precautions : “ The virus can return and it can hit us again in a second wave , and we have to do whatever we can to avoid that at all cost.
” At a campaign rally in Tulsa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has tested 25 million people , but the “ bad part ” is that it found more cases .
“ When you do testing to that extent , you ’ re going to find more people , you ’ re going to find more cases , ” Trump said .
“ So I said to my people , ‘ Slow the testing down , please.
’ ″ White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on CNN that Trump was being “ tongue-in-cheek ” and made the comment in a “ light mood.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused Trump of “ putting politics ahead of the safety and economic well-being of the American people.
” The U.S. has the world 's highest number of reported infections , over 2.2 million , and the highest death toll , at about 120,000 , according to Johns Hopkins .
Health officials say robust testing is vital for tracking outbreaks and keeping the virus in check .
The virus appears to be spreading across the West and South .
Arizona reported over 3,100 new infections , just short of Friday ’ s record , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new high of 445 cases .
Every team in Major League Baseball has closed its spring training camp ( in Florida and Arizona ) over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic , a move that came in the wake of the Philadelphia Phillies announcing Friday five players had tested positive for COVID-19 .
The closures come while MLB owners and players try to negotiate a deal to begin the season , and raise the possibility the virus outbreak could scuttle all attempts at starting up this year .
The baseball facilities will undergo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England , lockdown restrictions prevented druids , pagans and party-goers on Sunday from watching the sun rise at the ancient circle of Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice , the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere .
English Heritage , which runs the site , livestreamed it instead .
A few people gathered outside the fence .
The number of confirmed virus cases is still growing rapidly not only in the U.S. but in Brazil , South Africa and other countries , especially in Latin America .
Brazil ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases had risen by more than 50,000 in a day .
President Jair Bolsonaro has been downplaying the risks even as his country has seen nearly 50,000 fatalities , the second-highest death toll in the world .
South Africa reported a one-day high of almost 5,000 new cases on Saturday and 46 deaths .
Despite the increase , President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a further loosening of one of the world ’ s strictest lockdowns .
Casinos , beauty salons and sit-down restaurant service will reopen .
In Europe , a single meatpacking plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so the regional government issued a quarantine for all 6,500 workers , managers and family members .
In Asia , China and South Korea reported new coronavirus cases Sunday in outbreaks that threatened to set back their recoveries .
Chinese authorities recorded 25 new confirmed cases — 22 in Beijing .
In the past week , Beijing tightened travel controls by requiring anyone who wants to leave the Chinese capital , a city of 20 million people , to show proof they tested negative for the virus .
In South Korea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees at a door-to-door sales company in Seoul , and at least 70 other infections are tied to a table tennis club there .
But South Korean officials are reluctant to enforce stronger social distancing to avoid hurting the economy .
Joe McDonald reported from Beijing and Kim Tong-hyung reported from Seoul , South Korea .
AP journalists around the world contributed to this report .

The World Health Organization on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours.
The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied and the U.S. next at 36,617. Over 15,400 came in in India.
Experts said rising case counts could reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing, the ending of lockdowns, as well as broader infection.
Overall in the pandemic, WHO reported 8,708,008 cases — 183,020 in the last 24 hours — with 461,715 deaths worldwide, with a daily increase of 4,743.
More than two-thirds of those new deaths were reported in the Americas.
In Spain, officials ended a national state of emergency after three months of lockdown, allowing its 47 million residents to freely travel around the country for the first time since March 14. The country also dropped a 14-day quarantine for visitors from Britain and the 26 European countries that allow visa-free travel.
But there was only a trickle of travelers at Madrid-Barajas Airport, which on a normal June day would be bustling.
“This freedom that we now have, not having to justify our journey to see our family and friends, this was something that we were really looking forward to,” Pedro Delgado, 23, said after arriving from Spain’s Canary Islands.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged people to take maximum precautions: “The virus can return and it can hit us again in a second wave, and we have to do whatever we can to avoid that at all cost.”
At a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Trump said Saturday the U.S. has tested 25 million people, but the “bad part” is that it found more cases.
“When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find more cases,” Trump said. “So I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please.’″
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on CNN that Trump was being “tongue-in-cheek” and made the comment in a “light mood.”
Democratic rival Joe Biden’s campaign accused Trump of “putting politics ahead of the safety and economic well-being of the American people.”
The U.S. has the world's highest number of reported infections, over 2.2 million, and the highest death toll, at about 120,000, according to Johns Hopkins. Health officials say robust testing is vital for tracking outbreaks and keeping the virus in check.
The virus appears to be spreading across the West and South. Arizona reported over 3,100 new infections, just short of Friday’s record, and 26 deaths. Nevada also reported a new high of 445 cases.
Every team in Major League Baseball has closed its spring training camp (in Florida and Arizona) over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, a move that came in the wake of the Philadelphia Phillies announcing Friday five players had tested positive for COVID-19.
The closures come while MLB owners and players try to negotiate a deal to begin the season, and raise the possibility the virus outbreak could scuttle all attempts at starting up this year.
The baseball facilities will undergo a deep cleaning and disinfecting.
In England, lockdown restrictions prevented druids, pagans and party-goers on Sunday from watching the sun rise at the ancient circle of Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. English Heritage, which runs the site, livestreamed it instead. A few people gathered outside the fence.
“You can’t cancel the sunrise,” druid Arthur Pendragon told the BBC.
The number of confirmed virus cases is still growing rapidly not only in the U.S. but in Brazil, South Africa and other countries, especially in Latin America.
Brazil’s Health Ministry said the total number of cases had risen by more than 50,000 in a day. President Jair Bolsonaro has been downplaying the risks even as his country has seen nearly 50,000 fatalities, the second-highest death toll in the world.
South Africa reported a one-day high of almost 5,000 new cases on Saturday and 46 deaths. Despite the increase, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a further loosening of one of the world’s strictest lockdowns. Casinos, beauty salons and sit-down restaurant service will reopen.
In Europe, a single meatpacking plant in Germany has had over 1,000 cases, so the regional government issued a quarantine for all 6,500 workers, managers and family members.
In Asia, China and South Korea reported new coronavirus cases Sunday in outbreaks that threatened to set back their recoveries.
Chinese authorities recorded 25 new confirmed cases — 22 in Beijing. In the past week, Beijing tightened travel controls by requiring anyone who wants to leave the Chinese capital, a city of 20 million people, to show proof they tested negative for the virus.
In South Korea, nearly 200 infections have been traced to employees at a door-to-door sales company in Seoul, and at least 70 other infections are tied to a table tennis club there. But South Korean officials are reluctant to enforce stronger social distancing to avoid hurting the economy.
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___
Joe McDonald reported from Beijing and Kim Tong-hyung reported from Seoul, South Korea. AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.


ezorigin--2020-06-22--As Russia reopens, Putin takes a back seat to local leaders

“ The crisis of 2020 has been very tough , and there may be some shocks yet to come , ” says Vladimir Klimanov , an expert at a civil service academy .
“ It has been a totally new situation for Russia.
” Mr. Putin ’ s public approval rating has fallen to a “ historic low ” of 59 % amid the crisis , with the ratings of other leaders , including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin , rising significantly .
That is almost certainly due to Mr. Putin ’ s decision to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to local governors and Mr. Mishustin ’ s team of technocrats .
The Russian government ’ s plan to stimulate the economy with social spending , announced early this year , has also been thrown into disarray and been hastily replaced by a $ 70 billion “ recovery program.
” The program ’ s level of success may spell the difference between social stability and unrest over the next year .
Moscow ’ s emergence from its three-month coronavirus shutdown will feature images that look familiar to Americans .
But Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis has exposed social fault lines , and at least temporarily , it has altered the division of powers between Moscow and the country ’ s far-flung regions .
Any news report about Moscow ’ s current , tentative emergence from its draconian three-month coronavirus shutdown will feature images that look thoroughly familiar to Americans .
They include shops reopening with strange new rules about social distancing and clerks who serve customers through plexiglass shields ; people thronging into the streets again , but mostly wearing alien-looking face masks and gloves ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules to picnic in summery urban parks or just bask in ( unaccustomed , for Moscow ) June sunshine .
The news covers tense warnings from medical experts and opposition politicians that restrictions are being eased too fast , too soon , and that it risks triggering a devastating second wave of infections .
Some business leaders , whose livelihoods have been pummeled over the past months , insist that normalization isn ’ t coming fast enough .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few outliers can be heard on TV , claiming the whole thing was a hoax and that Russians were imprisoned for months in their own homes for nothing .
But Russia ’ s political discontents are distinctly different .
There are no mass eruptions in the streets , yet the crisis has nevertheless exposed social fault lines .
It has also forced the Kremlin to recalculate the ambitious plan it floated at the start of 2020 to revamp Russia ’ s political system , change the constitution , and perhaps keep Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And at least temporarily , it has altered the division of powers between long-authoritative Moscow and the country ’ s far-flung regions .
One of the most bitter political gripes making Russian social media rounds is that Mr. Putin is rushing to end the lockdowns so that he can stage the annual Victory Day parade , Russia ’ s most important patriotic holiday , after it had to be postponed from May 9 amid the crisis .
Another important political event , a national referendum to approve the sweeping package of constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
“ There are obvious political considerations behind the decision to quickly lift the lockdowns , and these have nothing to do with public health , ” says Georgy Satarov , a Yeltsin-era Kremlin official who heads the independent INDEM Foundation .
“ They have not estimated the risks with the right priorities.
” Yet many , particularly in Moscow ’ s beleaguered small-business community , are welcoming it .
“ The numbers of new coronavirus cases in Moscow has been steadily falling .
The situation in hospitals is manageable and stable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start unwinding the restrictions , ” says Dmitry Orlov , head of the pro-Kremlin Agency of Political and Economic Communications .
“ Other regions may have different situations , and they have been given the freedom to move at their own speeds.
” The Russian government ’ s plan to stimulate the economy with social spending , announced early this year , has also been thrown into disarray and been hastily replaced by a $ 70 billion “ recovery program.
” The program ’ s level of success may spell the difference between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , as Russian businesses struggle to revive themselves and average Russians battle soaring household debt , high levels of unemployment , and declining faith in government .
“ Russia has taken some bad hits , ” says Ruben Enikolopov , rector of the New Economic School in Moscow .
“ It ’ s not just all the losses from the pandemic and the costs imposed during the lockdown .
We simultaneously saw a massive drop in oil and gas prices , which is a huge shock .
Official figures suggest at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even without all the uncertainty of whether there will be a second wave of the pandemic .
This is already the worst crisis Russia ’ s been through since the 1990s.
” Some economists say the post-COVID-19 slump is likely to be more than 8 % of GDP , and the Kremlin is not using the crisis as an opportunity to advance reform .
Without major initiatives to stimulate small business and diversify the economy , state assistance programs will just end up moving state money through state banks to benefit state corporations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Gaidar Institute in Moscow .
“ I think that if there are no changes in Russia ’ s economic model , we will end up with stability characterized by stagnation , ” he says .
Mr. Putin ’ s public approval rating has fallen to a “ historic low ” of 59 % amid the crisis , with the ratings of other leaders , including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin , rising significantly .
That is almost certainly due to Mr. Putin ’ s decision to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader with his hands on the control panel of a monolithic “ power vertical ” system of authority .
Instead , he has largely left the coronavirus heavy lifting to local governors and Mr. Mishustin ’ s team of technocrats .
That has led to at least a temporary decentralization , with more de facto authority to deal with the crisis passing to Russia ’ s 85 diverse and often remote provinces .
They include 21 often restive ethnic republics such as those in the north Caucasus and Tatarstan , and over 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far east to the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad .
Some observers argue that Moscow ’ s authority could be in danger of unraveling as local officials seize more initiative .
They point to a tough conversation between Mr. Mishustin and regional leaders in early April , in which the prime minister explicitly forbade establishing any “ internal boundaries ” to block interregional trade and travel during pandemic .
At least two regions , Chechnya and Chelyabinsk , openly defied him .
“ We haven ’ t seen anything like that since 1998 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own internal borders , ” says Vladimir Klimanov , an expert with RANEPA , a civil service academy founded by the president .
“ This [ decentralization ] was only for the period of the pandemic , though it ’ s possible that some local leaders , having had a taste of more power , might try to keep it.
” Another rather unprecedented example was the news last week that more than a dozen Russian cities have refused to hold local Victory Day parades on June 24 , citing the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still raging in their regions .
Also surprising was the Kremlin ’ s response : to let it go .
“ They are implementing these powers because the governors , as the president has said , on the ground see better how things really are , ” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov .
“ The crisis of 2020 has been very tough , and there may be some shocks yet to come , ” says Mr. Klimanov .
“ But this isn ’ t like the 1990s .
It was the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic responses , and generally speaking the measures taken have been effective .
It has been a totally new situation for Russia – and for the whole world too.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“The crisis of 2020 has been very tough, and there may be some shocks yet to come,” says Vladimir Klimanov, an expert at a civil service academy. “It has been a totally new situation for Russia.”
Mr. Putin’s public approval rating has fallen to a “historic low” of 59% amid the crisis, with the ratings of other leaders, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, rising significantly. That is almost certainly due to Mr. Putin’s decision to step back and leave the coronavirus heavy lifting to local governors and Mr. Mishustin’s team of technocrats.
Russia and the United States have followed similar arcs in their coronavirus lockdowns. More surprisingly, their governments have also been delegating authority for reopening in similar ways: by deferring to local leaders.
The Russian government’s plan to stimulate the economy with social spending, announced early this year, has also been thrown into disarray and been hastily replaced by a $70 billion “recovery program.” The program’s level of success may spell the difference between social stability and unrest over the next year.
Moscow’s emergence from its three-month coronavirus shutdown will feature images that look familiar to Americans. But Russia’s political discontents are distinctly different. The crisis has exposed social fault lines, and at least temporarily, it has altered the division of powers between Moscow and the country’s far-flung regions.
Any news report about Moscow’s current, tentative emergence from its draconian three-month coronavirus shutdown will feature images that look thoroughly familiar to Americans.
They include shops reopening with strange new rules about social distancing and clerks who serve customers through plexiglass shields; people thronging into the streets again, but mostly wearing alien-looking face masks and gloves; and thousands of people ignoring all the new rules to picnic in summery urban parks or just bask in (unaccustomed, for Moscow) June sunshine.
The news covers tense warnings from medical experts and opposition politicians that restrictions are being eased too fast, too soon, and that it risks triggering a devastating second wave of infections. Some business leaders, whose livelihoods have been pummeled over the past months, insist that normalization isn’t coming fast enough.
Why We Wrote This Russia and the United States have followed similar arcs in their coronavirus lockdowns. More surprisingly, their governments have also been delegating authority for reopening in similar ways: by deferring to local leaders.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
And even a few outliers can be heard on TV, claiming the whole thing was a hoax and that Russians were imprisoned for months in their own homes for nothing.
But Russia’s political discontents are distinctly different. There are no mass eruptions in the streets, yet the crisis has nevertheless exposed social fault lines. It has also forced the Kremlin to recalculate the ambitious plan it floated at the start of 2020 to revamp Russia’s political system, change the constitution, and perhaps keep Vladimir Putin in power for two more terms. And at least temporarily, it has altered the division of powers between long-authoritative Moscow and the country’s far-flung regions.
Reopening too fast?
One of the most bitter political gripes making Russian social media rounds is that Mr. Putin is rushing to end the lockdowns so that he can stage the annual Victory Day parade, Russia’s most important patriotic holiday, after it had to be postponed from May 9 amid the crisis. Another important political event, a national referendum to approve the sweeping package of constitutional changes, is now slated for July 1.
“There are obvious political considerations behind the decision to quickly lift the lockdowns, and these have nothing to do with public health,” says Georgy Satarov, a Yeltsin-era Kremlin official who heads the independent INDEM Foundation. “They have not estimated the risks with the right priorities.”
Yet many, particularly in Moscow’s beleaguered small-business community, are welcoming it.
“The numbers of new coronavirus cases in Moscow has been steadily falling. The situation in hospitals is manageable and stable. This is the right time to start unwinding the restrictions,” says Dmitry Orlov, head of the pro-Kremlin Agency of Political and Economic Communications. “Other regions may have different situations, and they have been given the freedom to move at their own speeds.”
The Russian government’s plan to stimulate the economy with social spending, announced early this year, has also been thrown into disarray and been hastily replaced by a $70 billion “recovery program.” The program’s level of success may spell the difference between social stability and unrest over the next year, as Russian businesses struggle to revive themselves and average Russians battle soaring household debt, high levels of unemployment, and declining faith in government.
Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters View caption Hide caption A shop assistant puts a sale sign on a show window June 18, 2020, as Moscow begins to reopen after its coronavirus lockdown.
“Russia has taken some bad hits,” says Ruben Enikolopov, rector of the New Economic School in Moscow. “It’s not just all the losses from the pandemic and the costs imposed during the lockdown. We simultaneously saw a massive drop in oil and gas prices, which is a huge shock. Official figures suggest at least a 5% drop in GDP, even without all the uncertainty of whether there will be a second wave of the pandemic. This is already the worst crisis Russia’s been through since the 1990s.”
Some economists say the post-COVID-19 slump is likely to be more than 8% of GDP, and the Kremlin is not using the crisis as an opportunity to advance reform. Without major initiatives to stimulate small business and diversify the economy, state assistance programs will just end up moving state money through state banks to benefit state corporations, says Alexei Vedev, an expert with the Gaidar Institute in Moscow.
“I think that if there are no changes in Russia’s economic model, we will end up with stability characterized by stagnation,” he says.
Federalism, Russia-style
Mr. Putin’s public approval rating has fallen to a “historic low” of 59% amid the crisis, with the ratings of other leaders, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, rising significantly. That is almost certainly due to Mr. Putin’s decision to step back from his well-cultivated image as a leader with his hands on the control panel of a monolithic “power vertical” system of authority. Instead, he has largely left the coronavirus heavy lifting to local governors and Mr. Mishustin’s team of technocrats.
That has led to at least a temporary decentralization, with more de facto authority to deal with the crisis passing to Russia’s 85 diverse and often remote provinces. They include 21 often restive ethnic republics such as those in the north Caucasus and Tatarstan, and over 60 regular regions that sprawl from the Pacific far east to the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.
Some observers argue that Moscow’s authority could be in danger of unraveling as local officials seize more initiative. They point to a tough conversation between Mr. Mishustin and regional leaders in early April, in which the prime minister explicitly forbade establishing any “internal boundaries” to block interregional trade and travel during pandemic. At least two regions, Chechnya and Chelyabinsk, openly defied him.
“We haven’t seen anything like that since 1998, where Russian regions try to close their own internal borders,” says Vladimir Klimanov, an expert with RANEPA, a civil service academy founded by the president. “This [decentralization] was only for the period of the pandemic, though it’s possible that some local leaders, having had a taste of more power, might try to keep it.”
Another rather unprecedented example was the news last week that more than a dozen Russian cities have refused to hold local Victory Day parades on June 24, citing the fact that – unlike Moscow – the pandemic is still raging in their regions. Also surprising was the Kremlin’s response: to let it go. “They are implementing these powers because the governors, as the president has said, on the ground see better how things really are,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
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“The crisis of 2020 has been very tough, and there may be some shocks yet to come,” says Mr. Klimanov. “But this isn’t like the 1990s. It was the right move to let regions handle their own pandemic responses, and generally speaking the measures taken have been effective. It has been a totally new situation for Russia – and for the whole world too.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


ezorigin--2020-04-27--How the oil crash affects oil-dependent countries like Iraq

Iraq is planning painful cuts in social benefits relied on by millions of government workers .
Saudi Arabia will likely have to delay mega-projects .
Egypt and Lebanon face a blow as their workers in the Gulf send back less of the much-needed dollars that help keep their fragile economies afloat .
The historic crash in oil prices in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic is reverberating across the Middle East as crude-dependent countries scramble to offset losses from a key source of state revenue – and all this at a time when several of them already face explosive social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arab Gulf oil exporters are expected to contract this year , as much as 5 % in Iraq , according to the International Monetary Fund .
While some Gulf countries can rely on a cushion of foreign currency reserves , nowhere in the region are the circumstances more dire than in Iraq , where oil sales fund 90 % of the state budget .
Iraq saw massive protests in the past months by a populace angry over the weak economy and rampant corruption – and the turmoil could erupt again .
Cutbacks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a population struggling to get by under coronavirus restrictions .
In the capital 's Tahrir Square , protesters are still camped out , determined not to let their movement die .
`` Coming into summer the conditions are developing for a perfect storm for the government , '' said Sajad Jiyad , an Iraq-based analyst .
Oil is currently trading at $ 20 per barrel , dipping even lower some days to levels not seen since 2001 .
Further constraints will be felt as an OPEC agreement to cut production levels by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes hold .
May and June are expected to be particularly difficult as that is when oil storage space will be full , making it harder for countries to market oil , according to Robin Mills , CEO of Dubai-based Qamar Energy .
So far it 's early , and no one has reached a stage where the budget runs out , Mr. Mills said .
`` But that is inevitable – Iraq will probably hit first . ''
In its draft 2020 budget , Iraq had been counting on revenues from oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund badly needed development projects and the bloated public sector , costing nearly $ 45 billion in compensation and pensions .
Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban said recently that revenue from crude exports has dropped by 50 % .
Now officials are debating difficult salary cuts .
One proposed idea would defer paying public sector workers part of their social benefits until the financial sector improves , according to three Iraqi officials .
The question is how much to cut and from whom ; one recommendation is that higher-end earners take a 50 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anonymity so as not to derail ongoing talks .
That would save Iraq hundreds of millions of dollars , but risks triggering unrest .
Public sector workers receive a host of benefits that effectively add 50-70 % to their take-home wages .
They include family allowances and so-called danger pay benefits for security forces .
Still , experts said that wo n't be enough if oil prices remain between $ 20-30 per barrel .
`` Cuts need to be deeper to make a dent in payroll , and even then , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point where cuts are not enough , '' Mr. Jiyad said .
On top of this , expected compliance with OPEC will require Iraq to cut over 1 million barrels per day from production in May and June .
Moreover , the country has been left without an effective executive to carry out reforms by an ongoing leadership vacuum since December , when Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned under pressure from protesters .
Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Kadhimi is due to present his proposed Cabinet to Parliament next week , but he faces opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is in place , a 2020 budget is unlikely to be approved .
This limits Iraq 's ability to borrow from international agencies for budgetary support .
Across the region , the drop in oil prices will derail future investment and development plans .
The region 's largest crude producer , Saudi Arabia , plans to cut spending by 5 % , or about $ 13.3 billion .
Additional cuts and measures are expected as it digs into its roughly $ 500 billion in foreign reserves .
Target dates of Crown Prince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completion of new cities and mega projects will likely be delayed as businesses suffer and foreign investment dips amid the pandemic .
Kuwait has ample reserves as well .
But the island nation of Bahrain faces a debt estimated to be equal to 105 % of its GDP , even after it received a $ 10 billion bailout from its neighbors to avoid defaulting on a $ 750 million Islamic bond repayment in 2018 .
Other giant global oil producers will have to grapple with job losses and economic shocks .
U.S. producers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of employees , and greater job losses are expected as the pandemic drags on .
Many shale producers were already struggling before the pandemic hit , and some have filed for bankruptcy , with more expected .
The price crash has dealt a blow to Russia at a time of partial economic shutdown .
Russian officials say that the nation 's solid hard currency reserves can help sustain the shock and insist low production costs allow Russian oil companies to stay profitable .
The double shock of the pandemic and dropping oil prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egypt , Jordan , and Lebanon , which rely on a large diaspora and workers in oil-rich Arab Gulf countries who send foreign currency home .
In Lebanon , remittances once made up 12.5 % of GDP ; in Egypt , they account for 10 % of GDP .
Coupled with its own economic crisis and financial turmoil , the anticipated losses for Lebanon will be devastating .
`` How are we expected to survive from now on ?
Hunger is knocking at the doors , '' a Lebanese man told reporters this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long line outside a money transfer shop in Beirut , on the last day he would be allowed to collect a wire transfer in dollars from his older brother in Qatar .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Iraq is planning painful cuts in social benefits relied on by millions of government workers. Saudi Arabia will likely have to delay mega-projects. Egypt and Lebanon face a blow as their workers in the Gulf send back less of the much-needed dollars that help keep their fragile economies afloat.
The historic crash in oil prices in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic is reverberating across the Middle East as crude-dependent countries scramble to offset losses from a key source of state revenue – and all this at a time when several of them already face explosive social unrest.
The economies of all the Arab Gulf oil exporters are expected to contract this year, as much as 5% in Iraq, according to the International Monetary Fund.
While some Gulf countries can rely on a cushion of foreign currency reserves, nowhere in the region are the circumstances more dire than in Iraq, where oil sales fund 90% of the state budget.
Iraq saw massive protests in the past months by a populace angry over the weak economy and rampant corruption – and the turmoil could erupt again. Cutbacks in spending will only add to the pain for a population struggling to get by under coronavirus restrictions.
In the capital's Tahrir Square, protesters are still camped out, determined not to let their movement die.
"Coming into summer the conditions are developing for a perfect storm for the government," said Sajad Jiyad, an Iraq-based analyst.
Oil is currently trading at $20 per barrel, dipping even lower some days to levels not seen since 2001. Further constraints will be felt as an OPEC agreement to cut production levels by 23% to stabilize the oil market takes hold. May and June are expected to be particularly difficult as that is when oil storage space will be full, making it harder for countries to market oil, according to Robin Mills, CEO of Dubai-based Qamar Energy.
So far it's early, and no one has reached a stage where the budget runs out, Mr. Mills said. "But that is inevitable – Iraq will probably hit first."
In its draft 2020 budget, Iraq had been counting on revenues from oil prices at $56 a barrel to fund badly needed development projects and the bloated public sector, costing nearly $45 billion in compensation and pensions. Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban said recently that revenue from crude exports has dropped by 50%.
Now officials are debating difficult salary cuts. One proposed idea would defer paying public sector workers part of their social benefits until the financial sector improves, according to three Iraqi officials. The question is how much to cut and from whom; one recommendation is that higher-end earners take a 50% cut. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to derail ongoing talks.
That would save Iraq hundreds of millions of dollars, but risks triggering unrest. Public sector workers receive a host of benefits that effectively add 50-70% to their take-home wages. They include family allowances and so-called danger pay benefits for security forces.
Still, experts said that won't be enough if oil prices remain between $20-30 per barrel.
"Cuts need to be deeper to make a dent in payroll, and even then, if revenues are so low there comes a point where cuts are not enough," Mr. Jiyad said.
On top of this, expected compliance with OPEC will require Iraq to cut over 1 million barrels per day from production in May and June.
Moreover, the country has been left without an effective executive to carry out reforms by an ongoing leadership vacuum since December, when Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned under pressure from protesters. Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Kadhimi is due to present his proposed Cabinet to Parliament next week, but he faces opposition from key political blocs.
Until his government is in place, a 2020 budget is unlikely to be approved. This limits Iraq's ability to borrow from international agencies for budgetary support.
Across the region, the drop in oil prices will derail future investment and development plans.
The region's largest crude producer, Saudi Arabia, plans to cut spending by 5%, or about $13.3 billion. Additional cuts and measures are expected as it digs into its roughly $500 billion in foreign reserves.
Target dates of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan for the completion of new cities and mega projects will likely be delayed as businesses suffer and foreign investment dips amid the pandemic.
Kuwait has ample reserves as well. But the island nation of Bahrain faces a debt estimated to be equal to 105% of its GDP, even after it received a $10 billion bailout from its neighbors to avoid defaulting on a $750 million Islamic bond repayment in 2018.
Other giant global oil producers will have to grapple with job losses and economic shocks.
Recommended Why Georgia indictment could pose unique peril for Trump
U.S. producers and service companies have laid off thousands of employees, and greater job losses are expected as the pandemic drags on. Many shale producers were already struggling before the pandemic hit, and some have filed for bankruptcy, with more expected.
The price crash has dealt a blow to Russia at a time of partial economic shutdown. Russian officials say that the nation's solid hard currency reserves can help sustain the shock and insist low production costs allow Russian oil companies to stay profitable.
The double shock of the pandemic and dropping oil prices is also expected to hit hard in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, which rely on a large diaspora and workers in oil-rich Arab Gulf countries who send foreign currency home.
In Lebanon, remittances once made up 12.5% of GDP; in Egypt, they account for 10% of GDP. Coupled with its own economic crisis and financial turmoil, the anticipated losses for Lebanon will be devastating.
"How are we expected to survive from now on? Hunger is knocking at the doors," a Lebanese man told reporters this week, as he waited in a long line outside a money transfer shop in Beirut, on the last day he would be allowed to collect a wire transfer in dollars from his older brother in Qatar.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


ezorigin--2020-03-19--Sweeter than hand sanitizer: handmade French soaps get a boost

Amid the rapid spread of the new coronavirus across Europe , the hallmark Marseille tradition of soapmaking is enjoying a renaissance , as the French rediscover an essential local product .
Serge Bruna 's grandfather entered the then-booming business in the southern port city more than a century ago .
His father followed suit , although the family enterprise was requisitioned during World War II , when soap was considered an essential commodity .
Today , Mr. Bruna sells soap from the same shopfront on Marseille 's Old Port – wearing a sanitary mask and skintight gloves .
`` Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of virus-repellent soap , it is good to take precautions , '' he said .
Mr. Bruna 's Savonnerie de la Licorne , which runs four soap shops on the Old Port , a museum , and a small factory in the heart of Marseille , has seen its shop sales increase 30 % and delivery orders quadruple since Italy declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus .
`` We had fewer tourists or none at all in our stores , '' he said .
`` On the other hand , [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors and some even came to stockpile . ''
As the public rushed to buy supplies to last during a looming quarantine , Mr. Bruna and his artisans continued making soap by hand , filling the port-view shops as well as boxes destined for export .
BFMTV , a French news outlet , reported on the surge of demand for traditional French soap as hand sanitizer is running out .
During these unusual conditions , soapmakers have to adapt to meet the demand as well as they can .
The Savonnerie Fer à @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marseille , strengthened its teams to support the production while its online sales went from 2,500 to 5,000 euros a day .
The Savonnerie Fer à cheval provided 5,000 soaps to Marseille ’ s naval firefighters and contacted the World Health Organization as well as the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to offer help .
“ We will keep going as long as the chain of supply doesn ’ t stop .
We are here , we ’ re holding on .
We will do everything in our power to supply as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seghin , president of the Savonnerie Fer à cheval , the oldest soap factory in Marseille , said .
With an abundance of local oils , soda , and salt , Marseille boasts a lengthy tradition of producing the natural soaps once prized throughout Europe .
But only a handful of businesses are still active .
Since French shops were ordered closed this week as a public health precaution , the Savonnerie de la Licorne now only carries out deliveries , supplying pharmacies across France and handling individual orders made online .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soaps is more important than before , but I would say that people who have lost the habit of using Marseille soap have all of a sudden rediscovered its properties , '' he said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Material from BFMTV was used in this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Amid the rapid spread of the new coronavirus across Europe, the hallmark Marseille tradition of soapmaking is enjoying a renaissance, as the French rediscover an essential local product.
Serge Bruna's grandfather entered the then-booming business in the southern port city more than a century ago. His father followed suit, although the family enterprise was requisitioned during World War II, when soap was considered an essential commodity.
Today, Mr. Bruna sells soap from the same shopfront on Marseille's Old Port – wearing a sanitary mask and skintight gloves.
"Even though we work in a factory full of virus-repellent soap, it is good to take precautions," he said.
Mr. Bruna's Savonnerie de la Licorne, which runs four soap shops on the Old Port, a museum, and a small factory in the heart of Marseille, has seen its shop sales increase 30% and delivery orders quadruple since Italy declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus.
"We had fewer tourists or none at all in our stores," he said. "On the other hand, [Marseille residents] were much more frequent visitors and some even came to stockpile."
As the public rushed to buy supplies to last during a looming quarantine, Mr. Bruna and his artisans continued making soap by hand, filling the port-view shops as well as boxes destined for export.
BFMTV, a French news outlet, reported on the surge of demand for traditional French soap as hand sanitizer is running out.
During these unusual conditions, soapmakers have to adapt to meet the demand as well as they can. The Savonnerie Fer à cheval, the oldest soap factory in Marseille, strengthened its teams to support the production while its online sales went from 2,500 to 5,000 euros a day. The Savonnerie Fer à cheval provided 5,000 soaps to Marseille’s naval firefighters and contacted the World Health Organization as well as the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to offer help. “We will keep going as long as the chain of supply doesn’t stop. We are here, we’re holding on. We will do everything in our power to supply as many people as possible,” Raphaël Seghin, president of the Savonnerie Fer à cheval, the oldest soap factory in Marseille, said.
With an abundance of local oils, soda, and salt, Marseille boasts a lengthy tradition of producing the natural soaps once prized throughout Europe. But only a handful of businesses are still active.
Since French shops were ordered closed this week as a public health precaution, the Savonnerie de la Licorne now only carries out deliveries, supplying pharmacies across France and handling individual orders made online.
"I'm not sure that making our soaps is more important than before, but I would say that people who have lost the habit of using Marseille soap have all of a sudden rediscovered its properties," he said.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Material from BFMTV was used in this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.