He says Africa has to learn from the experience in China and Europe.

Briefing the media, French Ambassador Aurelien Lechevallier says the lockdown imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and other African leaders will hopefully flatten the curve of infections and prevent the numbers from being as high as expected.

(Take in the ambassador clip here)

Lechevallier says he’s not a scientist. and there are a number of factors at stake. 

But the measures and policies such as those taken in South Africa can-play a significant role Fighting COVID 19 requires a strong international response.

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Ambassador Aurelien Lechevallier, briefing the media yesterday, insisted the doctors view in no way reflect the position of the French 

French Ambassador Aurelien Lechevallier says the remarks by  two French doctors show they should be looking after patients rather than saying stupid things that they know nothing about.

There was a need to test vaccines. 

Currently a decades old  anti-tuberculosis medicine known as BCG is being tested on a limited number of COVID 19 patients in Australia, Netherland and France among other countries.

He says this could also be tested in Africa,

(Take in test clip here)

The medicine needs to be tested in different areas with different specificities.

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The French envoy expects publication later this week by the European Union of an action plan spelling this out. .

The French Ambassador was briefing journalists on President Emannuel Macron’s unprecedented inclusion in an African Union board meeting and his subsequent talks with AU chairman, President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He says a four-pillared programme has been devised covering immediate health imperatives; a massive economic stimulus package; provision of food and logistics to the most vulnerable countries; and scientific cooperation in developing a vaccine and the fair allocation of resources and information sharing.

The post France and South Africa working for multilateral aid to Africa fighting COVID19 appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Traditional differences between China, Russia and the three Western powers has paralyzed the world organizations top body on dealing with one of the greatest challenges in its history.

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French Ambassador Aurelien Lechevallier told journalists in Pretoria that France agrees with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres that COVID19 poses a threat to world peace and should get attention from the Security Council.

France believes the crisis calls for unity rather than playing the blame game about where COVID19 originated

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There has been a furious social media reaction to what Dr Jean-Paul Mira said on live French television.

Jean Paul Mira is head of intensive care at Cochin hospital in Paris.

He was being asked on the LCI television channel about testing COVID 19 vaccines. 

Mira said the value of this being done in Europe and Australia was undermined by the number of people there using personal protective equipment.

He suggested, by his own admission provocatively, that it would be more effective in parts of Africa, where there are no masks, no treatment and no intensive care.

Mira’s apologized to those who were hurt, shocked or felt insulted at his remarks clumsily expressed.

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The television station where the doctors voiced this view says they’s been misunderstood.

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Head of intensive care at a Paris hospital Jean-Paul Mira said he was provocatively suggesting Africa for testing a CORONA19 vaccine because there were few masks or treatment on the continent.

A likened it it HIC/AIDS vaccines being tested on prostitutes who were highly exposed to the virus and did not protect themselves.

Dr Camille Locht agreed with him.

Footballer Didier Drogba says it disgusting to use Africans as human guinea pigs.

There has also been an angry response from footballer Samuel Eto’o

The post French doctors suggest COVID19 vaccine should be tested in Africa appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Electricite de France is adamant there were no consequences for safety at the plant  or for environmental safety.

Electricite de France says yesterday fire resulted in a minor explosion that broke out in the turbine hall on the non-nuclear part of unit 1 at the Flamanville nuclear power plant.

The fire was immediately brought under control by the plant’s response team.

As per normal procedure, the fire brigade went to the affected location and confirmed that the fire had been extinguished.

Unit 1 was disconnected from the grid.

There were no casualties.

There were no consequences for safety at the plant or for environmental safety.

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It will put the world on the brink of enforcing the deal struck in the French capital to keep the global average rise in temperatures below 2 degrees Centigrade.

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China, Brazil and the United States ratified the Paris Climate Change agreement earlier this month.

It brought to 27 the number of countries who’ve taken this legal step.

To come into force internationally the agreement has to be ratified by 55 countries.

While there are sound practical reasons to have this measure in place to curb global warming, there are also pressing political pressures.

US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has called global warming a Chinese hoax and warned he’ll scrap the Paris accord.

The goal is to have the issue done and dusted and on the international statute books, presenting  a fait accompli to whoever makes it to White House

The post Activist want to have Paris Climate Change Agreement enacted before US election appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

And he’s indicated the data toll from what appears to be a lone wolf attack  in Nice by a truck driver who mowed down crowd watching a Bastille Day fireworks display may rise beyond 84.

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Francois Hollande says there are 50 people teetering between life and death after the Nice terror truck attacks.

He says the terrorist targetted France’s tourism jewell on its national day because he was making a point about the country of  liberty, equality and fraternity.

That attack was a psychological blow  not only to the victims but to he French nation and he promises to beat those who would indiscriminately kill his people.

This is the third major terrorist attack in France in 18 months.

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The driver of the truck that ploughed into the crowd was shot dead in what might be the deadliest lone wolf attack the world has seen.

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US President Barak Obama and leaders in Europe and Asia have condemned the attack on the Promenade des Anglais.

French President Francois Hollande says its not clear if the attacker had accomplices.

No organization has claimed responsibility.

(take in Francois clip here)

He has extended by three months the state of emergency following two terror attacks in Paris last year.

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