“We must save our tourism” says PM

There will be a summer tourism season in France, the government has insisted.

However, with social distancing and limited overseas travel, there will be a big drop in trade. Prime Minister Edouard Phi­lippe has said they are facing “probably the worst test of modern times, while at the same time tourism is a jewel in the crown of the French economy”. Saving the industry is a national priority, he said.

Tourism professionals told Connexion that many are expecting at least a 50% reduction in annual turnover. Tourism Minister Jean-Bap­tiste Lemoyne has indicated that French residents will mostly holiday in France, though President Macron hinted at possible Europe-wide travel. At a press conference with Angela Merkel, the president said a co-ordinated plan should be ready by mid-June: “We will have a tourist season in Europe alongside the virus.” [ . . . ]

Continue at Connexion: “We must save our tourism” says PM

Trained French dogs successfully sniff out coronavirus

Tests conducted with trained German Shepherds at a veterinary school in Maisons-Alfort (Val-de-Marne) show a 95% success rate in sniffing out the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

Weeks of trails have produced positive results at veterinary school and research centre l’École Nationale Vétérinaire in Maisons-Alfort, where researchers say their German Shepherds have been trained to detect coronavirus.

During the trial, the dogs had to identify the presence of the virus by smelling sweat samples taken from subjects who were infected with Covid-19.

The school partnered with hospital Beaujon de Clichy to collect sweat samples from both infected and non-infected subjects. The sweat samples were then used to soak pieces of cotton wool which were placed inside metal cones.

The dogs then used their sense of smell to identify whether the sweat sample inside the cone was infected or not.

In 95% of cases, the dogs were correct.

Source: Trained French dogs successfully sniff out coronavirus

Watch the Bilingual Revolution Webinars Online | French Culture

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the US presents a series of webinars for parents and educators who are interested in creating bilingual dual-language programs in public schools. Hosted by author and Education Attaché, Fabrice Jaumont, these webinars will uncover  how parents can make a difference in their community by starting dual-language programs and providing opportunities for more children to become multilingual.

Episode 1: Community Outreach

In order to create a dual-language program in your local school you’ll need to connect with dozens, if not hundreds, of individuals in your community and form a base of interested families. You can start by forming a core group of parents you know and trust. These are parents Continue reading “Watch the Bilingual Revolution Webinars Online | French Culture” →