The 21:00 to 06:00 curfew will come into force at midnight on Friday, and some 46 million people will now be affected by the measure…reports Asian Lite News
France will extend an overnight curfew to dozens more areas in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced.
“The second wave is now under way,” he said, shortly before the country announced a record 41,622 new cases, the BBC reported.
The 21:00 to 06:00 curfew will come into force at midnight on Friday, and some 46 million people will now be affected by the measure.
Countries around Europe are struggling with rising infection rates.
France, Italy, Spain and the UK are all hot-spots.
“The coming weeks will be hard and the number of deaths will continue to rise,” Castex told a press conference on Thursday. Over the last 24 hours, France recorded 162 more deaths.
“If we fail to stop the pandemic, we will be facing a dire situation and we will have to mull much tougher measures,” he added.
“We still have time to avoid that but we don’t have much time,” he said.
The prime minister’s announcement came less than a week after the same curfew was applied to the Paris region and eight other cities, including Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse.
The restrictions will be extended to 38 more administrative departments as well as the overseas territory of Polynesia, and will remain in place for six weeks.
Macron said Paty had tried to teach his pupils how to become citizens….reports Asian Lite News
French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to “quiet hero” Samuel Paty, the teacher who was beheaded last week on Friday.
Paty was targeted close to his school near Paris for showing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in class. His killer, 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov, was shot dead by police.
Speaking at a televised memorial service on Wednesday, Macron told viewers that France “will not give up our cartoons”, the BBC reported.
The service was attended by the teacher’s family and some 400 guests.
The coffin was brought into the ceremony on the shoulders of a guard of honour and to the sound of the song “One” by the rock group U2.
On top of the casket was Paty’s Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest honour. It was posthumously awarded to Paty.
Macron said Paty had tried to teach his pupils how to become citizens.
“He was killed precisely because he incarnated the Republic”, Macron said. “He was killed because the Islamists want our future. They know that with quiet heroes like him, they will never have it.”
Paty had been the target of threats since he showed the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad during a class on October 6.
The history and geography teacher advised Muslim students to leave the room if they thought they might be offended.
The Spanish government announced that was considering fresh curfews to tackle a resurgence in the number of new coronavirus cases,
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Health Minister Salvador Illa said that imposing a curfew in Madrid and also in some other parts of the country would require invoking a State of Emergency, the Guardian newspaper reported.
The State of Elarm, which restricts mobility into and out of the Spanish capital and a further 12 municipalities in the region, was imposed earlier after they passed several Covid-19 criterias.
The Minister added that a curfew lasting for over two weeks would “require the support of some opposition parties”.
On Tuesday, Spain reported 13,873 new coronavirus cases and 218 fatalities, which increased the overall infection tally and the death toll to 988,322 and 34,210, respectively.
Meanwhile, the country’s Navarre region,has already announced a two-week lockdown which will come into force from Thursday and will be much stricter than the measures imposed on Madrid.
People will only be allowed in and out of Navarre for work, university studies, to care for relatives, or for emergencies, the Guardian quoted the regional government as saying.
Restaurants, cafes and bars will be closed, while shops can open at 40 per cent capacity but close by 9 p.m.
The lockdown in and around the capital is due to expire on Saturday.
The demonstration took place on Sunday at the capital city’s Old Town Square, ended up in clashes between protesters and police…Reports Asian Lite News
More than 100 people were arrested in Prague on suspicion of rioting and attacking officers following a protest against the incumbent Covid-19 restrictions imposed in Czech Republic.
The demonstration, which took place on Sunday at the capital city’s Old Town Square, ended up in clashes between protesters and police after it was officially terminated due to a higher attendance than the permitted limit of 500, reports Xinhua news agency.
Some protesters remained at the square after the demonstration was halted.
They hurled flares, beer bottles, stones and other objects at the police, while some even attempted to break through the security cordon.
The police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the violent protesters.
The Czech News Agency quoted Prague police spokesperson Eva Kropacova as saying that some 20 police officers suffered injuries in brawls with demonstrators.
About 2,000 demonstrators attended the rally.
Most of them did not wear face masks and did not keep the two-metre distance allowed under the current regulation, local media reported.
According to the current regulation, public gatherings of more than six are banned but up to 500 people are allowed to demonstrate if they are divided into separated groups of 20 and wear face masks.
The Czech Republic has witnessed a surge in Covid-19 infections in recent weeks, making it one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe.
The country has so far reported more than 174,000 coronavirus cases and 1,422 deaths.
“The curve of contagion is worrisome, the numbers are serious, and there is a need to intervene urgently.”said Conte…Reports Asian Lite News
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that his government has approved fresh anti-coronavirus curbs after more than 11,000 new cases were reported in just 24 hours.
“The curve of contagion is worrisome, the numbers are serious, and there is a need to intervene urgently,” Xinhua news agency quoted Conte as saying at a televised press conference on Sunday.
“We just approved new measures that should allow us to face this new wave of infections, which is severely affecting not only Italy but the whole of Europe,” he said.
On Sunday, Italy reported 11,705 new infections, which increased the country’s overall caseload to 126,237, according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Health.
The death toll currently stood at 36,543.
“We cannot waste time,” Conte said. “We must act by fielding all the measures necessary to avert a new generalized lockdown… which would end up severely compromising the entire economic fabric.”
He spoke in reference to Italy’s March to May nationwide lockdown, which brought the country’s economy to a halt.
The Prime Minister also detailed the new measures, which include giving city mayors the option of shutting down busy streets and squares after 9 p.m. in a bid to prevent public gatherings; a ban on amateur contact sports; and the suspension of all local fairs, festivals, conferences and congresses.
Pubs, bars, restaurants, pizzerias and ice cream shops can be open for business between the hours of 5 a.m. to midnight, as long as customers are seated.
Rome, Aug. 18, 2020 (Xinhua) — Restaurant staff wait for customers in Rome, Italy, Aug. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting/IANS)
If the customers are standing, then these venues can only serve until 6 p.m., while gaming and betting venues must close at 9 p.m.
“Deliveries are allowed at all times, and takeout is allowed until midnight,” Conte said.
Schools will stay open, with flexible hours for high schools and universities in order to encourage staggered schedules.
“We are aware that we are imposing economic sacrifices to the businesses that will suffer the negative consequences of these closures, and the government is committed to making up for them,” Conte said.
“The EU strongly condemns all such attacks irrespective of their origin.”said Borrell…Reports Asian Lite News
The European Union (EU) welcomed the new ceasefire reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the conflict-ridden Nagorno-Karabakh region, but denounced any violation of the latest humanitarian truce.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Josep Borrell, the bloc welcomed the joint announcement of the ceasefire was made by Armenia and Azerbaijan following the mediation efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron, in coordination with the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, reports Xinhua news agency.
But it “deplores that, unfortunately, violations continue, with reported fighting in and around Nagorno Karabakh”, said the statement.
“This leads to more civilian suffering. It aggravates the conflict between States and respective societies, rendering the healing of wounds even more difficult,” said Borrell,
“The EU strongly condemns all such attacks irrespective of their origin.”
(160405) — NAGORNO-KARABAKH, April 5, 2016 (Xinhua) — Houses damaged in recent conflicts are seen in Azerbaijan’s Gapanli village bordering Nagorno-Karabakh region, on April 5, 2016.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani Defense Ministries both confirmed Tuesday that a ceasefire agreement in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region is currently being prepared. (Xinhua/Tofik Babayev)(dh)
The EU official said he spoke to the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan “to impress upon them that the ceasefire should be unconditional and strictly respected”.
Azerbaijan and Armenia traded accusations of violating the new ceasefire on Sunday, hours after they agreed for the second time to halt fighting in the disputed region.
Following trilateral negotiations between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia that lasted for over two hours in Moscow, the first ceasefire was enforced in the region on October 11.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but mostly governed by the Republic of Artsakh, a de facto independent state with an Armenian ethnic majority.
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, April 2016 and this July.
Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over the region in 1988-94, eventually declaring a ceasefire.
During the meeting, Al Kaabi reviewed the achievements of the creative sector since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic…Reports Asian Lite News
Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, has held a discussion with Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, Iceland’s Minister of Education, Science and Culture, to review options in reinforcing cultural and creative relations between the UAE and Iceland.
During the meeting, Al Kaabi reviewed the achievements of the creative sector since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the efforts of all institutions to provide a rich and creative experience through employing modern digital technologies.
She also explained the objectives of a strategy related to cultural and creative industries currently being developed by the ministry, which aims to encourage investment in the sector and open new markets for creative Emirati exports, through a package of initiatives and incentives to be offered to local talents and the nation’s youth.
“Iceland is currently diversifying its economy by expanding its range of exports and increasing its investment in the tourism sector and creative economy,” Alfreðsdóttir said, noting that this approach has created thousands of jobs for students during the summer break.
Iceland also implemented a policy for the movie industry and is currently drafting a comprehensive programme for creative industries, she added.
The UNAOC chief stressed that togetherness, peace and tolerance are rooted in religions across the faith spectrum…Reports Asian Lite News
Miguel Moratinos, the high representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), condemned the beheading of a teacher in the northwestern suburbs of Paris on Friday.
“The high representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, condemns in the strongest terms the decapitation of a French school teacher on Friday in the town of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine in the north-western suburbs of Paris, France.
The high representative stresses that such heinous crime is unjustifiable whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed,” according to a press statement issued by his spokesperson Nihal Saad on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.
The UNAOC chief stressed that togetherness, peace and tolerance are rooted in religions across the faith spectrum.
He reiterated that respect of the other regardless of their culture, religion, belief or race is crucial to living together in just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.
The high representative emphasized that freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression are anchored in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He also stressed that hate speech and stigma sow division and fragments in societies.
The UNAOC chief reiterated that this horrific crime “should not deter our commitment and will to stand against divisive policies and extremist ideologies in all its manifestations.”
Moratinos expressed his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ family and the government and people of France.
On Friday afternoon, a decapitated man was found on the street near a middle school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburban area of northwest Paris. The victim was a 47-year-old history teacher who had reportedly shown to his students as part of a class on “freedom of expression” caricatures of Mohammad.
Pedestrians wearing face masks are seen in Berlin (IANS)
Europe has continued its battle with a second wave of the novel coronavirus, with several countries reporting a record surge in the number of single-day confirmed cases.
On Friday, Germany, Greece and Slovenia set new records for daily cases, a day after Italy, Portugal and Lithuania hit their single-day highs, reports Xinhua news agency.
German national disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), said that new Covid-19 infections in the country broke Thursday’s record with 7,334 cases confirmed within one day, bringing the total number to 348,557.
Thursday’s daily figure of 6,638 had marked a jump of some 1,500 over the day before. The previous daily infection peak, at around 6,300 cases, was registered in March, German news agency dpa reported.
Increased infection numbers were linked particularly to private celebrations with family and friends. However, there were also more Covid-19-related outbreaks reported in older people’s homes and nursing homes, according to the RKI.
A man wearing a face mask walks past a shop in London, Britain
Meanwhile, France confirmed 25,085 Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, increasing the total count to 834,770.
The number of new infections was lower than a record 30,621 registered on Thursday, but it remained at a high level unseen during the first wave.
In Italy, the first European country battered by the pandemic, 10,010 new coronavirus infections were reported on Friday, pushing the total number to 391,611,.
Due to the grim development, countries have started to turn to tougher measures against the second wave.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday defended his government’s coronavirus restrictions as “the right and responsible thing to do” in the fight to curb the spread of the disease in the country.
“Without action, our health service will be overwhelmed,” he said. “I want to avoid another national lockdown.”
Also on Friday, the region of Kozani in northern Greece became the first area of the country to enter lockdown during the second wave of the pandemic.
Authorities announced that until October 29, protective face masks will be compulsory everywhere, and public gatherings and traveling outside the region are forbidden. Retail shops, restaurants, cinemas, and gyms will remain closed for two weeks.
In Cyprus, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said that because of the possibility of the coronavirus to get out of control in the country, President Nicos Anastasiades would chair a meeting of the scientific team advising the ministry to consider new restrictive measures.
eople wearing face masks walk on the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris, France (Xinhua/Gao Jing/IANS)
In Slovenia, new restrictions kicked in as of Friday in the country’s so-called “red” regions.
Two more of Slovenia’s 12 statistical regions have been turned from “orange” into “red” on the coronavirus incidence meter, which means that lockdown restrictions now apply in nine regions in total.
Bars, restaurants and sports facilities will close in all “red” regions on Saturday as part of the tightened coronavirus measures.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that as the European Union (EU) Summit in Brussels refused to offer London a Canada-style deal, Britain will prepare to embrace a no-trade deal scenario.
Johnson’s remarks came following the EU Summit discussions on Brexit on Thursday. EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he will continue intensive talks in the coming weeks and the EU hopes to reach a deal with Britain, but not at any price, Xinhua news agency reported.
Johnson said Britain wanted nothing more complicated than a Canada-style relationship. But to judge by the latest EU summit in Brussels, that won’t work for the EU because they want the continued ability to control Britain’s legislative freedom and fisheries.
“And given that they have refused to negotiate seriously for much of the last few months, and given that this summit appears explicitly to rule out a Canada-style deal, I have concluded that we should get ready for January 1 (2021) with arrangements that are more like Australia’s based on simple principles of global free trade,” the Prime Minister said.
The Australia-style arrangement is an euphemism for failure to reach a free trade agreement with the EU, which means the Britain-EU trade will fall back on World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in 2021.
He called on British businesses, hauliers and travelers to get ready since there are only 10 weeks until the end of the transition period due on December 31, 2020.
Boris Johnson (L) meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua/IANS)
Johnson said Britain is willing to discuss the practicalities with the EU where a lot of progress has already been made, on such issues as social security, aviation, nuclear cooperation and so on.
“But for whatever reason it is clear from the summit that after (more than) 45 years of membership they are not willing — unless there is some fundamental change of approach — to offer this country the same terms as Canada,” he said.
Johnson said Britain will prepare to embrace the Australia-style arrangement with complete confidence, adding that Britain will prosper mightily as an independent free trading nation, controlling its own borders, fisheries, and setting its own laws.
Prior to the EU Summit, Johnson held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. Both leaders had said an agreement needs to be struck in October to ensure there is enough time for ratification.
Meanwhile, Johnson and Macron also discussed the coronavirus crisis in their bilateral discussions as a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections was reported in their countries.
The discussion took place at a time when Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines to check the spread of the virus in the world.
Britain and the EU started their lengthy and bumpy post-Brexit talks in March after Britain ended its EU membership on Jan. 31, trying to secure a future trade deal before the Brexit transition period expires at the end of the year.
