Paris, Nov 24 (AFP/APP):France on Tuesday was set to become the latest country to ease coronavirus restrictions in the run-up to Christmas, as Russia joined in a flurry of encouraging announcements about possible vaccines. In an evening television address, French President Emmanuel Macron was also expected to announce a strategy for procuring vaccines as world governments scramble to put together a complex and lengthy vaccination programme. “We will see a slight relaxing of the lockdown,” Prime Minister Jean Castex told leaders of Macron’s LREM party hours before the president’s primetime appearance, participants told AFP. Hopes over Covid-19 vaccines have given a boost to virus-weary citizens across the globe in recent days, as well as pushing up stock markets. The Dow surged past 30,000 points for the first time ever Tuesday as receding US political uncertainty and hopes for virus vaccines offset worries over spiking Covid-19 cases. Near 1630 GMT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.4 percent to 30,000.08. Care homes first in line But the disease remains rampant and world leaders are urging people to be patient. In Brussels, the EU announced it was concluding a sixth contract to reserve doses — this time for up to 160 … Continue reading France to ease lockdown as world ramps up vaccine preparations