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PodcastsApril 12, 2020

News Review from April 5 to 11, 2020

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News Review from April 5 to 11, 2020

News of the week from April 5 to 11, 2020: 

  • An update on the condition of Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, infected with Covid-19.
  • Social network TikTok to donate 230 million to help fight the coronavirus.
  • In Colombia, police give zumba classes to the confined population.
  • In the United States, Bernie Sanders withdraws from the election.
  • Life slowly resumes in Wuhan.
  • Vocabulary of the week explained

Transcription

Hello,
 
Welcome to the HelloFrench news review, the podcast that immerses you in the week's news to help you improve your French.
 
Headlines for the week of April 5 to 11, 2020:

  • Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, infecté infected with Covid-19, leaves intensive care but remains hospitalisé hospitalized.
  • Social network TikTok to donate 230 million to help fight the coronavirus.
  • In Colombia, police donne des cours give zumba classes to divertir entertain the confined population.
  • In the United States, Bernie Sanders has s’est retiré withdrawn. Democrat Joe Biden will therefore face Donald Trump in November.
  • Life slowly resumes in Wuhan, foyer de the epicenter of the Covid-19 epidemic.

This week, the condition of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had deteriorated. Sick with Covid-19, he had entered intensive care on Monday. After three days, the 55-year-old leader left the intensive care unit on Thursday evening. He is still currently being treated in hospital. He therefore remains sous étroite surveillance under close monitoring during the guérison recovery phase. Today, Boris Johnson remains the only head of state to have être contaminé been infected by the coronavirus. It is Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary, who now serves as par intérim acting Prime Minister. A complex task in this country very hard hit by the crisis.

TikTok, the social network that makes the world dance on video, is about to donate 230 million euros to help healthcare workers, teachers, and professionals impacted by the virus. This app, which has seen great success since the beginning of lockdown, was téléchargée downloaded 65 million times in March. The company has notably planned 130 million euros directly for healthcare workers in the countries most affected by the disease, for the purchase of masks and protective equipment. It has thus created a support fund for healthcare heroes that will be distributed to major organizations like the Red Cross, which is in charge of redistributing the donations. But TikTok does not stop there, as the company also plans to help professionals who represent the communities that use the app, such as artists, for example, who have lost all source de revenu sources of income with the closure of concert halls and theaters. TikTok is not the only social network to have shown solidaire solidarity in the face of the disease. The founder of Twitter, for his part, donated 920 million euros to help fight Covid-19.

Continuing to party while in lockdown is possible. In Colombia, police give zumba classes from the trottoirs sidewalks to entertain the confined population. In uniform and wearing masks, the Bogota police meet residents three times a day. Residents are invited to participate from their balcon balcony or their fenêtre window. For the government, this activity helps maintain both the physical and mental health of Colombians. 

This week, Bernie Sanders withdrew his candidacy from the American presidential election. He therefore leaves the field to his concurrent competitor in the ongoing Democratic primary: Joe Biden. In 2016, Bernie Sanders, already a candidat candidate, had lost in the Democratic primaries to Hillary Clinton. In these 2020 primaries, he was already far à la traîne behind his rival. However, Bernie Sanders assured that he would work main dans la main hand in hand with Joe Biden to move toward a more progressive America. The Democrat will therefore face Republican Donald Trump on November 3.

Life is resuming in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Covid-19 epidemic. On January 23, Chinese authorities had placed the 11 million inhabitants in quarantine, forced to stay confined at home. 75 days later, life is gradually returning to normal. The regional quarantine has been lifted, transportation is getting back on track, shops are beginning to reopen, and residents are going out into the streets. For the first time in two months, China is no longer recording new décès deaths linked to the coronavirus.

Vocabulary of the week

Expand your French vocabulary - download our list of key words from the week of April 5 to 11, 2020.

Être infecté, être contaminéTo be affected by a disease, to have contracted a disease.
Être hospitaliséTo be in the hospital, to be in a facility where you receive medical care.
Donner des coursTo be a teacher, to give lessons.
Se retire de la courseTo stop a competition, to withdraw from a contest or election, to no longer participate.
Le foyer de...The place of origin, the place where it all started, the epicenter.
Sous étroite surveillanceWhen you are closely monitored, when someone watches what you do or your condition.
La guérisonWhen you have been sick and are in the process of fighting off the disease or are no longer sick.
Par intérimAs a replacement, for a short duration. You replace someone for a short period, for a temporary period.
Le confinementThe act of staying locked in at home, of not going out, of staying indoors.
TéléchargerTo take a document, software, or application from the internet and put it on your phone or computer.
La source de revenuThe money you earn. This can be through working, via investments, or through rental income from housing you rent out, for example.
Solidaire (adjective)Willing to help others, supportive.
Le trottoirThe area next to the road where pedestrians walk (sidewalk).
Le balconAn outdoor space, elevated, in a house or apartment (balcony). 
La fenêtreAn opening in the wall of an apartment or house that allows you to see outside, thanks to a pane of glass. You can open a window.
Le concurrentYour adversary, a person you are opposed to, generally in a fight or competition (competitor).
Le candidatSomeone who applies for a position, a role, or a job. For example: "Je suis candidate pour le poste de chargée de communication" (I am a candidate for the communications manager position).
Le rivalYour adversary, a person you are opposed to, your competitor (rival).
Être à la traîneTo be late, to be behind someone (to lag behind).
Travailler main dans la mainTo work together, in collaboration (to work hand in hand).
La quarantaine/Être mis en quarantaineTo separate people from others, to prevent them from going to other places. Generally, this is to prevent a disease from spreading.
Le décèsThe death of a person.
Elisabeth
Written by
Elisabeth

French as a foreign language teacher · Maison de la Francité Prize 2021 · Creator of the HelloFrench YouTube channel (325K subscribers)

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