npr--2020-02-24--Thousands Attend Kobe Bryant Memorial In Los Angeles

Some 20,000 mourners packed the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday for the public memorial honoring legendary former NBA player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna , who were killed along with seven other people in a helicopter crash last month .
The star-studded ceremony opened with a powerful performance by Beyoncé singing her song `` XO '' which she said was one of Bryant 's favorite songs and includes the lyrics : `` In the darkest hour / I 'll search through the crowd / Your face is all I can see / I 'll give you everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event , the crowd broke out in chants of `` Kobe !
Kobe ! ''
Retired stars NBA stars Michael Jordan , Dwyane Wade , and Tim Duncan along with entertainer Jennifer Lopez and her fiance retired baseball player Alex Rodriguez and late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel were all in attendance for the ceremony .
During his remarks , Kimmel told the crowd he found it difficult to find the positive in the tragedy that claimed the lives of nine people last month , acknowledging , `` It was hard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But later he added : `` The best thing I was able to come up with is this : gratitude .
It seems to me that all we can do is be grateful for the time we had with them and for the time we have left with each other . ''
Vanessa Bryant , Kobe 's widow and the mother of Gianna , delivered her first public remarks since the accident .
Fighting back tears , she remembered first her `` baby girl '' Gigi , who would never leave the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said of her daughter , `` she was daddy 's girl , but I know she loved her mama . ''
Her mother told the Staples Center crowd that her daughter was more than just a tremendous athlete .
She was also kind , an academic who was becoming fluent in Mandarin , and loved baking .
Bryant shared an anecdote about the cake she made her father for his birthday last August , complete with fondant and what looked like blue crystals .
`` Kobe 's birthday cake looked like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding , `` she made the best chocolate chip cookies , she loved watching cooking shows and Cupcake Wars with me and she loved watching Survivor and NBA games with her daddy . ''
At school , her mom said , Gigi helped offer to give the boys basketball coaches some pointers – like the triangle offense , an offensive strategy used by the Lakers during their back-to-back-to-back championships beginning in 2000 .
Later she acknowledged things she would n't be able to do with her daughter .
`` We did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to drive a car .
I wo n't be able to tell her how gorgeous she looks on her wedding day , '' Bryant said .
Turning to her late husband , who she began dating at 17-years-old , she said she never viewed him as a celebrity .
Instead , she rattled off the many nicknames they had for each other and remembered the gifts he made for her .
`` We had hoped to grow old together , '' she said .
`` Two perfectly imperfect people making a beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Bryant said .
Bryant is survived by his wife , and three daughters Natalia , Bianka and Capri .
During his remarks , Jordan , who many compare Kobe 's game to , referred to Bryant as his little brother .
Jordan shared stories about how Bryant would text , sometimes in the wee hours , to pick his brain about post-up moves or footwork .
Over time the two grew close .
`` To do that , you have to put up with the aggravation , the late night calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said jokingly .
The two basketball greats would talk basketball , of course , but also family , business and much more .
With tears streaming down his face , Jordan cracked another joke , this time about his famous `` Crying Jordan '' meme taken during his induction to the Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2009 .
`` Now I 'll have to look at another crying meme ... '' Jordan said before the crowd erupted with laughter .
`` I promises my wife I was n't going to do this because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the next three or four years . ''
`` That is what Kobe Bryant does to me , '' he said .
The memorial 's organizers and members of law enforcement urged fans wanting to pay their respects to the Bryant family to do so from afar if they do n't have a ticket .
The jumbo screens outside the arena will go dark .
Fans are encouraged to watch the memorial online or on TV , where it is being carried live by many news outlets .
`` We kindly ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday 's Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant to please stay home and watch with family and friends .
The Celebration of Life will not be shown on screens outside of STAPLES Center or L.A. LIVE , '' the Staples Center tweeted on Sunday .
For those in attendance at the Staples Center — which some have dubbed `` the house that Kobe built '' — or watching from beyond the walls , the ceremony is infused with symbolism from the lives of the LA Lakers legend and his 13-year-old daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a budding basketball wunderkind in her own right .
The date chosen for the memorial — Feb. 24 , or 2/24/20 — is a combination of their jersey numbers .
She wore No .
2 , while Bryant wore No .
24 in the latter part of his 20-season career with the Lakers .
Even the ticket prices , for those who could get them , had connections to those jersey numbers , according to the Los Angeles Times .
Some tickets were going for `` $ 24.02 , two for $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not all who applied got in ESPN reports that 80,000 people applied for tickets .
Proceeds will go to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation which raises money to provide sports education and training services for young women .
The foundation was originally established as the Mamba Sports Academy , but Bryant 's widow announced that the name was changed to honor their daughter .
`` Because there is no # 24 without # 2 , we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instagram page announcing the name change .
Kobe Bryant gave himself the moniker `` Black Mamba '' after a character in the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill .
Bryant and his daughter were traveling to Gigi 's basketball game in a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter , when it crashed into a hillside in Calabasas , Calif. , on Jan. 26 .
All eight passengers and the pilot were killed .
The Bryants were laid to rest in a private ceremony in Southern California on Feb. 7 .
Along with Bryant and his daughter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli , 56 , his wife Keri Altobelli , 46 , and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli , 14 ; Sarah Chester , 45 , and her daughter Payton Chester , 13 ; as well as Mamba Sports Academy coach Christina Mauser , 38 ; and pilot Ara Zobayan , 50 .
Before the public ceremony got underway , the Los Angeles Times reported Vanessa Bryant has filed a lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters , the company that operated the chopper .
NPR later confirmed the lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the crash .
The National Transportation Safety Board said in its investigative update this month that the chopper 's rotors were both powered and turning at the time of impact , which it said indicates `` the engines showed no evidences of uncontained or catastrophic internal failure . ''
Photos taken shortly after the crash show conditions were foggy in the hills above Calabasas , but as NPR 's Russell Lewis has reported , the final investigative findings are not expected for at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rare mix of speed , agility and an elite level of competitiveness , is considered one of the best to ever play the sport of basketball .
He was drafted into the NBA straight out of high school at age 17 .
He spent his entire pro career with the Lakers , helping power the team to three consecutive NBA titles along with another all-time great , Shaquille O'Neal , in 2000 , 2001 and 2002 .
Bryant helped win back-to-back titles for the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 .
He retired from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015-'16 season , scoring 60 points in his final game .
His career is not without controversy , however .
In 2003 , a 19-year-old woman accused the basketball star of rape .
The criminal case ended in 2004 after the woman refused to participate in trial .
The parties settled a civil lawsuit out of court in 2005 , with Bryant issuing an apology but not an admission of guilt .

Thousands Attend Kobe Bryant Memorial In Los Angeles
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images
Updated 5:17 p.m. ET
Some 20,000 mourners packed the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday for the public memorial honoring legendary former NBA player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who were killed along with seven other people in a helicopter crash last month.
The star-studded ceremony opened with a powerful performance by Beyoncé singing her song "XO" which she said was one of Bryant's favorite songs and includes the lyrics: "In the darkest hour / I'll search through the crowd / Your face is all I can see / I'll give you everything."
At various points throughout the event, the crowd broke out in chants of "Kobe! Kobe!"
Retired NBA stars Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, and Tim Duncan along with entertainer Jennifer Lopez and her fiance retired baseball player Alex Rodriguez and late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel were all in attendance for the ceremony.
During his remarks, Kimmel told the crowd he found it difficult to find the positive in the tragedy that claimed the lives of nine people last month, acknowledging, "It was hard, because there isn't much."
But later he added: "The best thing I was able to come up with is this: gratitude. It seems to me that all we can do is be grateful for the time we had with them and for the time we have left with each other."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Vanessa Bryant speaks
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow and the mother of Gianna, delivered her first public remarks since the accident.
Fighting back tears, she remembered first her "baby girl" Gigi, who would never leave the house without giving her a kiss goodbye. She said of her daughter, "she was daddy's girl, but I know she loved her mama."
Her mother told the Staples Center crowd that her daughter was more than just a tremendous athlete. She was also kind, an academic who was becoming fluent in Mandarin, and loved baking. Bryant shared an anecdote about the cake she made her father for his birthday last August, complete with fondant and what looked like blue crystals.
"Kobe's birthday cake looked like it was professionally decorated," her mother said, adding, "she made the best chocolate chip cookies, she loved watching cooking shows and Cupcake Wars with me and she loved watching Survivor and NBA games with her daddy."
At school, her mom said, Gigi helped offer to give the boys basketball coaches some pointers – like the triangle offense, an offensive strategy used by the Lakers during their back-to-back-to-back championships beginning in 2000.
Later she acknowledged things she wouldn't be able to do with her daughter.
"We didn't get the chance to teach her how to drive a car. I won't be able to tell her how gorgeous she looks on her wedding day," Bryant said.
Turning to her late husband, who she began dating at 17-years-old, she said she never viewed him as a celebrity. Instead, she rattled off the many nicknames they had for each other and remembered the gifts he made for her.
"We had hoped to grow old together," she said. "Two perfectly imperfect people making a beautiful family and raising our sweet amazing girls," Bryant said.
Bryant is survived by his wife, and three daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Michael Jordan's little brother
During his remarks, Jordan, who many compare Kobe's game to, referred to Bryant as his little brother. Jordan shared stories about how Bryant would text, sometimes in the wee hours, to pick his brain about post-up moves or footwork. Over time the two grew close.
"To do that, you have to put up with the aggravation, the late night calls or the dumb questions," Jordan said jokingly.
The two basketball greats would talk basketball, of course, but also family, business and much more.
With tears streaming down his face, Jordan cracked another joke, this time about his famous "Crying Jordan" meme taken during his induction to the Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2009.
"Now I'll have to look at another crying meme..." Jordan said before the crowd erupted with laughter. "I promised my wife I wasn't going to do this because I didn't want to see that for the next three or four years."
"That is what Kobe Bryant does to me," he said.
Ceremony steeped in symbolism
The memorial's organizers and members of law enforcement urged fans wanting to pay their respects to the Bryant family to do so from afar if they don't have a ticket. The jumbo screens outside the arena were dark. Fans were encouraged to watch the memorial online or on TV, where it is being carried live by many news outlets.
"We kindly ask that all fans without a ticket to Monday's Celebration of Life for Kobe & Gianna Bryant to please stay home and watch with family and friends. The Celebration of Life will not be shown on screens outside of STAPLES Center or L.A. LIVE," the Staples Center tweeted on Sunday.
For those in attendance at the Staples Center — which some have dubbed "the house that Kobe built" — or watching from beyond the walls, the ceremony was infused with symbolism from the lives of the LA Lakers legend and his 13-year-old daughter, who was known as Gigi and was a budding basketball wunderkind in her own right.
The date chosen for the memorial — Feb. 24, or 2/24/20 — is a combination of their jersey numbers. She wore No. 2, while Bryant wore No. 24 in the latter part of his 20-season career with the Lakers.
Even the ticket prices, for those who could get them, had connections to those jersey numbers, according to the Los Angeles Times. Some tickets were going for "$24.02, two for $224 or $224 each."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
Not all who applied got in
ESPN reports that 80,000 people applied for tickets. Proceeds will go to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation which raises money to provide sports education and training services for young women. The foundation was originally established as the Mamba Sports Academy, but Bryant's widow announced that the name was changed to honor their daughter.
"Because there is no #24 without #2, we have updated the Mamba Sports Foundation to now be called the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation," Vanessa Bryant wrote on her Instagram page announcing the name change.
Kobe Bryant gave himself the moniker "Black Mamba" after a character in the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Bryant and his daughter were traveling to Gigi's basketball game in a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter, when it crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, Calif., on Jan. 26. All eight passengers and the pilot were killed.
The Bryants were laid to rest in a private ceremony in Southern California on Feb. 7.
Along with Bryant and his daughter, the other seven victims of the crash were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife Keri Altobelli, 46, and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Sarah Chester, 45, and her daughter Payton Chester, 13; as well as Mamba Sports Academy coach Christina Mauser, 38; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
Before the public ceremony got underway, the Los Angeles Times reported Vanessa Bryant has filed a lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters, the company that operated the chopper. NPR later confirmed the lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board said in its investigative update this month that the chopper's rotors were both powered and turning at the time of impact, which it said indicates "the engines showed no evidences of uncontained or catastrophic internal failure."
Photos taken shortly after the crash show conditions were foggy in the hills above Calabasas, but as NPR's Russell Lewis has reported, the final investigative findings are not expected for at least a year.
Bryant, with his rare mix of speed, agility and an elite level of competitiveness, is considered one of the best to ever play the sport of basketball.
He was drafted into the NBA straight out of high school at age 17. He spent his entire pro career with the Lakers, helping power the team to three consecutive NBA titles along with another all-time great, Shaquille O'Neal, in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Bryant helped win back-to-back titles for the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He retired from the NBA at the conclusion of the 2015-'16 season, scoring 60 points in his final game.
His career is not without controversy, however. In 2003, a 19-year-old woman accused the basketball star of rape. The criminal case ended in 2004 after the woman refused to participate in trial. The parties settled a civil lawsuit out of court in 2005, with Bryant issuing an apology but not an admission of guilt.


npr--2020-02-24--Latin America's Militaries Emerge As Power Brokers, Riot Police And Border Forces

But when soldiers briefly occupied El Salvador 's congress this month to intimidate lawmakers into passing an anti-crime bill , the scene recalled one of Latin America 's darkest eras : In the 1970s and 1980s , much of the region was ruled by abusive military dictators .
And it 's not just El Salvador .
With unpopular presidents facing street protests and demands that they crack down on rising crime and corruption and revive stagnant economies , Latin America 's armed forces are once again throwing their weight around .
Perhaps the most dramatic case is Bolivia .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by fraud , Evo Morales claimed to have won a fourth term as Bolivia 's president .
Amid protests and demands that he step down , Morales clung to power .
But then , the country 's armed forces commander weighed in .
In a TV address , Gen. Williams Kaliman said : `` We suggest that the president resign for the good of Bolivia . ''
A few hours later , Morales did just that — then fled to Mexico and later Argentina .
`` It was n't a coup in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military putting its thumb on the scales , '' says Adam Isacson , a military analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America .
Elsewhere , military officers have helped prop up floundering leaders .
For example , when going on TV to announce gas price hikes and other controversial measures , the presidents of Peru , Ecuador , Guatemala and Honduras have surrounded themselves with stern-looking generals .
Such choreographed appearances serve as stark warnings to would-be protesters that the armed forces stand firmly in the president 's corner .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political messaging at key moments , '' Isacson says .
`` That is a political role that is pretty crucial . ''
In Mexico , Central America and Chile , troops have been sent into the streets to hunt down criminals , disperse protesters or block migrants .
Generals and colonels , in turn , are being brought into the inner circles of civilian governments .
In Venezuela , authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro is deeply unpopular but has retained the support of the armed forces by placing officers in charge of an array @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to oil production .
In Brazil , nine of the 22 ministers in President Jair Bolsonaro 's government come from the armed forces .
They include the vice president as well as Gen. Walter Braga Netto , the army 's second highest-ranking officer , who took over last week as Bolsonaro 's chief of staff .
The far-right Bolsonaro , himself a former army captain , even held a military parade last year to commemorate the 1964 coup that ushered in Brazil 's 21-year dictatorship .
`` The president does not consider March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' presidential spokesman Gen. Otávio Rêgo Barros said in response to widespread outrage over the parade .
`` He believes that — considering the danger Brazil was in — society brought together civilians and the military to put the country back on track . ''
However , it turned out to be a tragic period as military strongmen came to dominate South American countries and much of Central America — largely with U.S. government backing .
Amid crackdowns on regime opponents , thousands of people were tortured and killed .
When these dictatorships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilian presidents worked hard to rid their governments of military influence .
`` Everything from getting the military out of policing , getting the military out of nondefense cabinet posts , getting civilians in charge of defense ministries , getting human rights trials for past abuses , '' Isacson says .
He describes this process as a `` brick-by-brick building of this new edifice of civilian control of the military . ''
So , why is this edifice now revealing so many cracks ?
For starters , polls show growing frustration with Latin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late last year in Bolivia , Chile and Colombia , with a variety of demands ranging from new jobs programs , to crackdowns on corruption , to constitutional reforms .
Presidents have reacted by shoring up their inner circles with respected military officers and by deploying troops for handle things like crowd control or even garbage collection during sanitation workers ' strikes .
`` The military becomes sort of the go-to institution at a time when there is a demand from the public to do something , '' says Frank Mora , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heads the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center at Florida International University .
He says that for younger Latin Americans , who never lived under martial law , the armed forces can seem like a benevolent institution that follows orders and gets things done .
True , militaries have helped consolidate authoritarian regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua .
However , Mora and other experts say it 's unlikely that the region will return to full-fledged military rule .
For one thing , officers are actually quite wary about taking on some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It can tarnish their reputations , as was the case in Bolivia , where the caretaker president , Jeanine Áñez , ordered the army to break up anti-government protests in November .
The result was violent clashes in which at least 36 people were killed .
`` They do it reluctantly , and in some cases they get out as quickly as possible , '' Mora says .
`` The military is not trained to do this and they know that .
And that could lead to not just human rights violations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are very concerned about , but it can expose them to corruption . ''
Another constraint is money .
Even as soldiers take on new tasks , Mora says that overall defense spending in Latin America averages about 1.5 % of the region 's gross domestic product — among the lowest of any region in the world , he says .
María Victoria Llorente , director of the Colombian think tank Ideas for Peace Foundation , says militaries did a terrible job of governing back in the 1970s and '80s and that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to repair their prestige .
Not even in Venezuela , where the military is widely seen as propping up President Maduro , have the generals tried to assume full control of the government .
Latin American armies `` already learned their lesson , and it was a very hard lesson , '' Llorente says .
What 's more , she and other analysts say that the way things stand now , Latin American militaries have the best of both worlds .
They enjoy growing clout in government — yet civilian presidents take the @ @ @ @ @ @

Latin America's Militaries Emerge As Power Brokers, Riot Police And Border Forces
Enlarge this image toggle caption Salvador Melendez/AP Salvador Melendez/AP
It wasn't a coup attempt.
But when soldiers briefly occupied El Salvador's congress this month to intimidate lawmakers into passing an anti-crime bill, the scene recalled one of Latin America's darkest eras: In the 1970s and 1980s, much of the region was ruled by abusive military dictators.
And it's not just El Salvador. With unpopular presidents facing street protests and demands that they crack down on rising crime and corruption and revive stagnant economies, Latin America's armed forces are once again throwing their weight around.
Perhaps the most dramatic case is Bolivia. In an election last October that was marred by fraud, Evo Morales claimed to have won a fourth term as Bolivia's president. Amid protests and demands that he step down, Morales clung to power. But then, the country's armed forces commander weighed in.
In a TV address, Gen. Williams Kaliman said: "We suggest that the president resign for the good of Bolivia."
A few hours later, Morales did just that — then fled to Mexico and later Argentina.
"It wasn't a coup in the traditional sense, but it was the military putting its thumb on the scales," says Adam Isacson, a military analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America.
Elsewhere, military officers have helped prop up floundering leaders. For example, when going on TV to announce gas price hikes and other controversial measures, the presidents of Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras have surrounded themselves with stern-looking generals. Such choreographed appearances serve as stark warnings to would-be protesters that the armed forces stand firmly in the president's corner.
"The high command is certainly lending itself to political messaging at key moments," Isacson says. "That is a political role that is pretty crucial."
In Mexico, Central America and Chile, troops have been sent into the streets to hunt down criminals, disperse protesters or block migrants. Generals and colonels, in turn, are being brought into the inner circles of civilian governments.
In Venezuela, authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro is deeply unpopular but has retained the support of the armed forces by placing officers in charge of an array of functions, from state food distribution to oil production.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bruna Prado/AP Bruna Prado/AP
In Brazil, nine of the 22 ministers in President Jair Bolsonaro's government come from the armed forces. They include the vice president as well as Gen. Walter Braga Netto, the army's second highest-ranking officer, who took over last week as Bolsonaro's chief of staff. The far-right Bolsonaro, himself a former army captain, even held a military parade last year to commemorate the 1964 coup that ushered in Brazil's 21-year dictatorship.
"The president does not consider March 31, 1964 a military coup," presidential spokesman Gen. Otávio Rêgo Barros said in response to widespread outrage over the parade. "He believes that — considering the danger Brazil was in — society brought together civilians and the military to put the country back on track."
However, it turned out to be a tragic period as military strongmen came to dominate South American countries and much of Central America — largely with U.S. government backing. Amid crackdowns on regime opponents, thousands of people were tortured and killed. When these dictatorships finally collapsed, a new generation of civilian presidents worked hard to rid their governments of military influence.
"Everything from getting the military out of policing, getting the military out of nondefense cabinet posts, getting civilians in charge of defense ministries, getting human rights trials for past abuses," Isacson says. He describes this process as a "brick-by-brick building of this new edifice of civilian control of the military."
So, why is this edifice now revealing so many cracks?
For starters, polls show growing frustration with Latin America's governments. Mass protests erupted late last year in Bolivia, Chile and Colombia, with a variety of demands ranging from new jobs programs, to crackdowns on corruption, to constitutional reforms. Presidents have reacted by shoring up their inner circles with respected military officers and by deploying troops for handle things like crowd control or even garbage collection during sanitation workers' strikes.
"The military becomes sort of the go-to institution at a time when there is a demand from the public to do something," says Frank Mora, a former U.S. Defense Department official who now heads the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center at Florida International University.
He says that for younger Latin Americans, who never lived under martial law, the armed forces can seem like a benevolent institution that follows orders and gets things done.
True, militaries have helped consolidate authoritarian regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua. However, Mora and other experts say it's unlikely that the region will return to full-fledged military rule.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Natacha Pisarenko/AP Natacha Pisarenko/AP
For one thing, officers are actually quite wary about taking on some of their new duties, especially policing. It can tarnish their reputations, as was the case in Bolivia, where the caretaker president, Jeanine Áñez, ordered the army to break up anti-government protests in November. The result was violent clashes in which at least 36 people were killed.
"They do it reluctantly, and in some cases they get out as quickly as possible," Mora says. "The military is not trained to do this and they know that. And that could lead to not just human rights violations, which many militaries that I have interviewed are very concerned about, but it can expose them to corruption."
Another constraint is money. Even as soldiers take on new tasks, Mora says that overall defense spending in Latin America averages about 1.5% of the region's gross domestic product — among the lowest of any region in the world, he says.
María Victoria Llorente, director of the Colombian think tank Ideas for Peace Foundation, says militaries did a terrible job of governing back in the 1970s and '80s and that they have spent the past three decades trying to repair their prestige. Not even in Venezuela, where the military is widely seen as propping up President Maduro, have the generals tried to assume full control of the government.
Latin American armies "already learned their lesson, and it was a very hard lesson," Llorente says.
What's more, she and other analysts say that the way things stand now, Latin American militaries have the best of both worlds. They enjoy growing clout in government — yet civilian presidents take the rap when things go wrong.


npr--2020-02-24--Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty Of Rape, Sexual Abuse In Mixed Verdict

A Manhattan jury has found Harvey Weinstein guilty of rape and sexual abuse but acquitted him of the most serious charges , capping one of the most closely watched trials of the # MeToo era .
The mixed verdict means the former Hollywood producer will likely spend time in prison .
It also is some measure of vindication for the six women who testified that Weinstein attacked and sought to intimidate them .
Although he was acquitted of the most serious charges — two counts of predatory sexual assault and one count of first-degree rape , which might have put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his life — the jury convicted him of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act .
The convictions stem from allegations by Miriam Haley , whose account was the basis of the criminal sex act charge , and Jessica Mann , whom the jury found had been raped by Weinstein .
The jury reached its decision after about 30 hours of deliberations over five days .
Weinstein did not visibly react as the verdict was read Monday .
But defense lawyer Arthur Aidala said that Weinstein turned to him and that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm innocent .
...
I did n't rape anyone . '
`` The disgraced movie mogul was led from the court in handcuffs and taken to jail .
He could face decades in prison .
It will be up to New York Judge James Burke to determine just how long the 67-year-old will be behind bars .
Sentencing is set for March 11 .
In court , defense attorney Donna Rotunno asked Burke to grant bail on the condition that Weinstein continue to wear an ankle monitor , as he has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant medical issues , '' Rotunno said that Weinstein is `` receiving shots in his eyes so he does not go blind '' and that he is still recovering from an unsuccessful back surgery .
Burke was n't swayed , though he did agree to request that Weinstein be housed in an infirmary unit .
Following the verdict , Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. thanked the women involved in the case for pulling `` our justice system into the 21st century '' by demanding that Weinstein be held accountable for his actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's rape despite the complicated dynamics of power and consent after an assault .
It 's rape even if there is no physical evidence and even if it happened a long time ago , '' said Vance , who also called Weinstein a `` vicious serial sexual predator . ''
Weinstein 's legal team says it intends to file an appeal and request bail as quickly as possible , according to Aidala .
He said defense attorneys are confident that a slew of what he called `` appellate problems '' will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There 's not a doubt in my mind that if his name was Harvey Jones or Harold Jones , he would not have even been charged on this evidence , '' Aidala said .
`` The evidence here was just not that strong . ''
Monday 's verdict represents a milestone for the # MeToo movement supporting sexual assault survivors , which gained traction partly from the revival of allegations against the former movie mogul .
Although the former producer 's treatment of women had long been whispered about , allegations against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the publication of exposés in The New York Times and The New Yorker in October 2017 .
Dozens of women eventually came forward with — or publicly repeated — their sexual assault allegations against Weinstein , many dating back decades .
Among them was actress Rose McGowan , who first spoke out against the powerful producer 20 years ago .
On Friday , McGowan tweeted her relief over the guilty verdicts .
`` I 'm proud of the brave women who testified , they have taken out a monster on earth .
Thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said not one more .
Thank you to the public for examining things more deeply .
I can finally exhale , '' McGowan wrote .
Similarly , Mira Sorvino , who alleges she was sexually harassed and eventually blacklisted by Weinstein , wrote , `` The beginning of # justice .
More to come , my sisters .
# weinsteinguilty . ''
Although many of the allegations exceeded the statute of limitations , some spurred a formal criminal case in New York state .
Vance submitted the initial slate of charges against Weinstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly over the following months , as others were added and one was dropped .
When Weinstein went to trial last month , he faced two counts of predatory sexual assault , one count of rape in the first degree , one count of rape in the third degree and one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree .
A charge of predatory sexual assault carries a heavier sentence because it means the perpetrator assaulted more than one person .
In Weinstein 's case , the prosecution proposed that was The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testified he raped her in the winter of 1993-94 .
In finding Weinstein not guilty of the charges , it suggests the jury — made up of seven men and five women — were unconvinced by Sciorria 's emotional and graphic account .
The accounts of Haley and Mann were the foundation of the two guilty verdicts .
Haley , a former production assistant whom Weinstein offered work , testified during the trial that he invited her to his apartment in 2006 .
She said he pushed her onto a bed , removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performed oral sex on her .
`` I could n't even get away from him at all , let alone get out of the apartment , '' said Haley .
`` Ultimately after a while , I just checked out and decided to endure it .
That was the safest thing for me to do at that point . ''
Mann testified that she met Weinstein nearly seven years after the attack on Haley , at a party in Los Angeles when she was an aspiring actress .
She accused him of forcibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — though because that alleged act happened in LA , it was n't included in the New York charges .
She said her association with Weinstein nevertheless continued , developing into what she called an `` extremely degrading '' sexual relationship .
At one point , Mann said , he pulled her up to a Manhattan hotel room , where he allegedly forced himself on her without using protection .
Mann 's accusations led to the pair of rape charges against the former producer .
Four other women offered their own stories on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors described as a familiar pattern of behavior : initial offers of work to a young actress or model , followed by an encounter alone under false pretenses — then a forced sexual act and weeks of harassment and intimidation afterward .
`` I thought he was a nice person .
I thought he was an OK guy , '' said actress Annabella Sciorra , who testified that Weinstein raped her at her Manhattan apartment in the winter of 1993-1994 .
The alleged incident , while outside the statute of limitations , helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault .
`` I felt confused .
I felt like I wished I had never opened the door . ''
`` When Harvey Weinstein met these witnesses , they were very different : They were scared , they felt isolated and they were alone , '' the lead prosecutor , Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi , said in her closing arguments .
She added that the witnesses did not take the stand `` for a beauty contest , did n't come for money , did n't come for fame . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illuzzi said .
`` They sacrificed their dignity , their privacy and their peace for the prospect that their voices would be enough for justice . ''
Weinstein , for his part , had repeatedly rejected all of the allegations .
Although the producer did not personally take the stand at the trial , he has said that all of these encounters were consensual .
And throughout the trial , his legal team often pointed to what they called friendly correspondence between the women and Weinstein after the alleged incidents .
His lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven men of the jury not to get swept up in the media maelstrom that has surrounded the case .
`` You do n't have to like Mr. Weinstein ; this is not a popularity contest .
And you have to remember that we are not here to criminalize morality — and thank God , because if we were , we would probably all be in some trouble , '' said Rotunno .
`` In this country , it is the unpopular people that need juries the most . ''
In the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguments persuasive — up to a point .
But their verdict does n't end Weinstein 's legal troubles : He is facing a trial in Los Angeles after local prosecutors last month charged Weinstein with raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in 2013 .

Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty Of Rape, Sexual Abuse In Mixed Verdict
Enlarge this image toggle caption Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images
Editor's note: This report includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault accusations.
Updated at 3:42 p.m. ET
A Manhattan jury has found Harvey Weinstein guilty of rape and sexual abuse but acquitted him of the most serious charges, capping one of the most closely watched trials of the #MeToo era. The mixed verdict means the former Hollywood producer will likely spend time in prison.
It also is some measure of vindication for the six women who testified that Weinstein attacked and sought to intimidate them. Although he was acquitted of the most serious charges — two counts of predatory sexual assault and one count of first-degree rape, which might have put him in a cell for the rest of his life — the jury convicted him of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act.
The convictions stem from allegations by Miriam Haley, whose account was the basis of the criminal sex act charge, and Jessica Mann, whom the jury found had been raped by Weinstein.
The jury reached its decision after about 30 hours of deliberations over five days.
Weinstein did not visibly react as the verdict was read Monday. But defense lawyer Arthur Aidala said that Weinstein turned to him and that "all he kept saying is, 'But I'm innocent. ... I didn't rape anyone.' "
The disgraced movie mogul was led from the court in handcuffs and was ordered to jail. Instead, he was taken to Bellevue Hospital for reasons that weren't immediately clear.
He could face decades in prison. It will be up to New York Judge James Burke to determine just how long the 67-year-old will be behind bars. Sentencing is set for March 11.
In court, defense attorney Donna Rotunno asked Burke to grant bail on the condition that Weinstein continue to wear an ankle monitor, as he has done throughout the trial.
Citing his "significant medical issues," Rotunno said that Weinstein is "receiving shots in his eyes so he does not go blind" and that he is still recovering from an unsuccessful back surgery. Burke wasn't swayed, though he did agree to request that Weinstein be housed in an infirmary unit.
Following the verdict, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. thanked the women involved in the case for pulling "our justice system into the 21st century" by demanding that Weinstein be held accountable for his actions, no matter how long ago.
"It's rape despite the complicated dynamics of power and consent after an assault. It's rape even if there is no physical evidence and even if it happened a long time ago," said Vance, who also called Weinstein a "vicious serial sexual predator."
Weinstein's legal team says it intends to file an appeal and request bail as quickly as possible, according to Aidala. He said defense attorneys are confident that a slew of what he called "appellate problems" will ultimately overturn the jury's verdict.
"There's not a doubt in my mind that if his name was Harvey Jones or Harold Jones, he would not have even been charged on this evidence," Aidala said. "The evidence here was just not that strong."
Monday's verdict represents a milestone for the #MeToo movement supporting sexual assault survivors, which gained traction partly from the revival of allegations against the former movie mogul.
Although the former producer's treatment of women had long been whispered about, allegations against him gained traction in national media with the publication of exposés in The New York Times and The New Yorker in October 2017.
Dozens of women eventually came forward with — or publicly repeated — their sexual assault allegations against Weinstein, many dating back decades.
Among them was actress Rose McGowan, who first spoke out against the powerful producer 20 years ago. On Friday, McGowan tweeted her relief over the guilty verdicts.
"I'm proud of the brave women who testified, they have taken out a monster on earth. Thank you to the prosecutor & jury who said not one more. Thank you to the public for examining things more deeply. I can finally exhale," McGowan wrote.
Similarly, Mira Sorvino, who alleges she was sexually harassed and eventually blacklisted by Weinstein, wrote, "The beginning of #justice. More to come, my sisters. #weinsteinguilty."
Although many of the allegations exceeded the statute of limitations, some spurred a formal criminal case in New York state. Vance submitted the initial slate of charges against Weinstein in May 2018. Those charges changed significantly over the following months, as others were added and one was dropped.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elizabeth Williams/AP Elizabeth Williams/AP
When Weinstein went to trial last month, he faced two counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of rape in the first degree, one count of rape in the third degree and one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree.
A charge of predatory sexual assault carries a heavier sentence because it means the perpetrator assaulted more than one person. In Weinstein's case, the prosecution proposed that was The Sopranos' actress Annabella Sciorria, who testified he raped her in the winter of 1993-94.
In finding Weinstein not guilty of the charges, it suggests the jury — made up of seven men and five women — were unconvinced by Sciorria's emotional and graphic account.
The accounts of Haley and Mann were the foundation of the two guilty verdicts.
Haley, a former production assistant whom Weinstein offered work, testified during the trial that he invited her to his apartment in 2006. She said he pushed her onto a bed, removed her tampon over her protests and forcibly performed oral sex on her.
"I couldn't even get away from him at all, let alone get out of the apartment," said Haley. "Ultimately after a while, I just checked out and decided to endure it. That was the safest thing for me to do at that point."
Mann testified that she met Weinstein nearly seven years after the attack on Haley, at a party in Los Angeles when she was an aspiring actress. She accused him of forcibly performing oral sex on her, too — though because that alleged act happened in LA, it wasn't included in the New York charges.
She said her association with Weinstein nevertheless continued, developing into what she called an "extremely degrading" sexual relationship. At one point, Mann said, he pulled her up to a Manhattan hotel room, where he allegedly forced himself on her without using protection. Mann's accusations led to the pair of rape charges against the former producer.
Four other women offered their own stories on the witness stand, testifying to what prosecutors described as a familiar pattern of behavior: initial offers of work to a young actress or model, followed by an encounter alone under false pretenses — then a forced sexual act and weeks of harassment and intimidation afterward.
"I thought he was a nice person. I thought he was an OK guy," said actress Annabella Sciorra, who testified that Weinstein raped her at her Manhattan apartment in the winter of 1993-1994. The alleged incident, while outside the statute of limitations, helped support the two counts of predatory sexual assault. "I felt confused. I felt like I wished I had never opened the door."
"When Harvey Weinstein met these witnesses, they were very different: They were scared, they felt isolated and they were alone," the lead prosecutor, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi, said in her closing arguments. She added that the witnesses did not take the stand "for a beauty contest, didn't come for money, didn't come for fame."
"They came to be heard," Illuzzi said. "They sacrificed their dignity, their privacy and their peace for the prospect that their voices would be enough for justice."
Weinstein, for his part, had repeatedly rejected all of the allegations.
Although the producer did not personally take the stand at the trial, he has said that all of these encounters were consensual. And throughout the trial, his legal team often pointed to what they called friendly correspondence between the women and Weinstein after the alleged incidents.
His lawyers concluded by asking the five women and seven men of the jury not to get swept up in the media maelstrom that has surrounded the case.
"You don't have to like Mr. Weinstein; this is not a popularity contest. And you have to remember that we are not here to criminalize morality — and thank God, because if we were, we would probably all be in some trouble," said Rotunno. "In this country, it is the unpopular people that need juries the most."
In the end, jurors found the defense team's arguments persuasive — up to a point.
But their verdict doesn't end Weinstein's legal troubles: He is facing a trial in Los Angeles after local prosecutors last month charged Weinstein with raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in 2013.


npr--2020-02-24--Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician And An Inspiration For 'Hidden Figures,' Dies

Katherine Johnson , NASA Mathematician And An Inspiration For 'Hidden Figures , ' Dies Katherine Johnson , a mathematician who was one of NASA 's human `` computers '' and an unsung hero of the space agency 's early days , died Monday .
She calculated the flight path for America 's first crewed space mission and moon landing , and she was among the women profiled in the book and movie Hidden Figures .
She was 101 .
Her death was announced by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine .
`` The NASA family will never forget Katherine Johnson 's courage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached without her , '' Bridenstine wrote on Twitter .
`` Her story and her grace continue to inspire the world . ''
Johnson was born in West Virginia in 1918 .
As a young girl , she was fascinated by numbers and it was clear early on she was gifted .
She graduated from high school at 14 and finished college with degrees in math and French from historically black West Virginia State College .
She initially became a teacher but , in 1953 , took a job at the National Advisory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would become NASA .
`` Everybody there was doing research , '' she recalled in later years , `` You had a mission and you worked on it . ''
She was one of a handful of African American women hired to do computing in the guidance and navigation department at Langley 's Research Center in Virginia .
The women battled both racism and sexism .
As Johnson told public television station WHRO in 2011 , none of it held her back : `` I just happened to be working with guys and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permission to go .
And they said , 'Well , the girls do n't usually go . '
and I said , 'Well , is there a law ? '
They said , 'No . '
So then my boss said , 'Let her go . '
`` And she never stopped going , using her extraordinary computing skills to move up the NASA chain .
She hand-computed the trajectory of the first manned launch and continued to be important to the astronauts .
Before John Glenn flew Friendship 7 in 1962 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he asked Johnson to double-check the math of the `` new electronic '' computations .
`` But when he got ready to go , he said , 'Call her .
And if she says the computer is right , I 'll take it , ' `` she recalled .
Margot Lee Shetterly wrote the book Hidden Figures and said that Glenn considered Johnson 's calculations part of his preflight checklist .
`` So the astronaut who became a hero looked to this black woman in the still-segregated South at the time as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure his mission would be a success , '' she told NPR in 2016 .
Johnson did calculations for the first moon landing , and later for the space shuttle program .
President Barack Obama awarded her the nation 's highest civilian honor , the Presidential Medal of Freedom , at a 2015 White House ceremony .
`` In her 33 years at NASA , Katherine was a pioneer who broke the barriers of race and gender , showing generations of young people that everyone can excel in math and science , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Johnson 's accomplishments continued to be highlighted later in life .
She got a standing ovation at the Academy Awards in 2017 and NASA named the Computational Research Facility in her honor .

Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician And An Inspiration For 'Hidden Figures,' Dies
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who was one of NASA's human "computers" and an unsung hero of the space agency's early days, died Monday. She calculated the flight path for America's first crewed space mission and moon landing, and she was among the women profiled in the book and movie Hidden Figures. She was 101.
Her death was announced by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.
"The NASA family will never forget Katherine Johnson's courage and the milestones we could not have reached without her," Bridenstine wrote on Twitter. "Her story and her grace continue to inspire the world."
Johnson was born in West Virginia in 1918. As a young girl, she was fascinated by numbers and it was clear early on she was gifted. She graduated from high school at 14 and finished college with degrees in math and French from historically black West Virginia State College. She initially became a teacher but, in 1953, took a job at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics — the agency that would become NASA. "Everybody there was doing research," she recalled in later years, "You had a mission and you worked on it."
She was one of a handful of African American women hired to do computing in the guidance and navigation department at Langley's Research Center in Virginia. The women battled both racism and sexism. As Johnson told public television station WHRO in 2011, none of it held her back: "I just happened to be working with guys and when they had briefings, I asked permission to go. And they said, 'Well, the girls don't usually go.' and I said, 'Well, is there a law?' They said, 'No.' So then my boss said, 'Let her go.' "
And she never stopped going, using her extraordinary computing skills to move up the NASA chain. She hand-computed the trajectory of the first manned launch and continued to be important to the astronauts.
Enlarge this image toggle caption NASA NASA
Before John Glenn flew Friendship 7 in 1962, becoming the first American to orbit Earth, he asked Johnson to double-check the math of the "new electronic" computations. "But when he got ready to go, he said, 'Call her. And if she says the computer is right, I'll take it,' " she recalled.
Margot Lee Shetterly wrote the book Hidden Figures and said that Glenn considered Johnson's calculations part of his preflight checklist. "So the astronaut who became a hero looked to this black woman in the still-segregated South at the time as one of the key parts of making sure his mission would be a success," she told NPR in 2016.
Johnson did calculations for the first moon landing, and later for the space shuttle program. President Barack Obama awarded her the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, at a 2015 White House ceremony. "In her 33 years at NASA, Katherine was a pioneer who broke the barriers of race and gender, showing generations of young people that everyone can excel in math and science, and reach for the stars," Obama said.
Johnson's accomplishments continued to be highlighted later in life. She got a standing ovation at the Academy Awards in 2017 and NASA named the Computational Research Facility in her honor.


npr--2020-02-24--Dow Tumbles More Than 1000 Points On Fears Of Coronavirus Pandemic

Dow Tumbles More Than 1000 Points On Fears Of Coronavirus Pandemic The coronavirus contagion has spread to Wall Street .
U.S. markets fell sharply Monday amid widening concern that the continuing spread of cases could lead to a global pandemic .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled nearly 1032 points , or 3.56 % All of the major market indexes were down more than 3 % .
Stock markets in Europe and Asia were also down sharply .
`` This is not a health pandemic yet , but it 's rapidly becoming an economic pandemic , '' said Diane Swonk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Investors are spooked by the growing number of infections outside China , and the possible economic fallout if the epidemic can not be contained .
Growing clusters of coronavirus have been diagnosed in South Korea , Italy , and Iran .
South Korea in particular is a major economic player and a big supplier of components used by manufacturers around the world .
The U.S. imported nearly $ 80 billion worth of goods from South Korea last year .
Along with China and Japan , the country is a key supplier of computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and machinery .
`` We import a fair amount of auto products from South Korea , '' said Jay Bryson , acting chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities .
`` If that country were to shut down for any reasonable length of time , then you could have supply chain repercussions here in the auto industry in the United States . ''
In Italy , the number of reported infections ballooned from just three last week to more than 100 , sparking fears of a wider spread in Europe .
`` Think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Very open borders .
And if people are infected in Italy , it could very well spread to other European countries . ''
Italian authorities responded by canceling soccer matches , closing schools and ordering quarantines in a dozen northern towns .
President Trump offered reassurance after the market closed on Monday , tweeting `` The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA . ''
Trump wrote that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization had been `` working hard and very smart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting to look very good to me ! ''
Coronavirus was a main focus of discussion among G20 finance ministers , who held a previously scheduled meeting over the weekend in Saudi Arabia .
In a communique , the finance ministers promised to monitor the outbreak , along with other risks to the global economy , and said they are prepared to take additional action as necessary .
Swonk warned the growing outbreak is , `` feeding into the fears that people have out there , which is a tax on the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those fears trigger lasting changes in behavior , that will make a speedy economic recovery more difficult .

Dow Tumbles More Than 1,000 Points On Fears Of Coronavirus Pandemic
Enlarge this image toggle caption Richard Drew/AP Richard Drew/AP
Updated at 5:05 p.m. ET
The coronavirus contagion has spread to Wall Street.
U.S. markets fell sharply Monday amid widening concern that the continuing spread of cases could lead to a global pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled nearly 1032 points, or 3.56% All of the major market indexes were down more than 3%.
Stock markets in Europe and Asia were also down sharply.
"This is not a health pandemic yet, but it's rapidly becoming an economic pandemic," said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton.
Investors are spooked by the growing number of infections outside China, and the possible economic fallout if the epidemic cannot be contained. Growing clusters of coronavirus have been diagnosed in South Korea, Italy, and Iran.
South Korea in particular is a major economic player and a big supplier of components used by manufacturers around the world. The U.S. imported nearly $80 billion worth of goods from South Korea last year. Along with China and Japan, the country is a key supplier of computer and electronics products, fabricated metal products, and machinery.
"We import a fair amount of auto products from South Korea," said Jay Bryson, acting chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities. "If that country were to shut down for any reasonable length of time, then you could have supply chain repercussions here in the auto industry in the United States."
In Italy, the number of reported infections ballooned from just three last week to more than 100, sparking fears of a wider spread in Europe.
"Think about Europe," Bryson cautioned. "Very open borders. And if people are infected in Italy, it could very well spread to other European countries."
Italian authorities responded by canceling soccer matches, closing schools and ordering quarantines in a dozen northern towns.
President Trump offered reassurance after the market closed on Monday, tweeting "The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA."
Trump wrote that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization had been "working hard and very smart," before adding, "Stock Market starting to look very good to me!"
Coronavirus was a main focus of discussion among G20 finance ministers, who held a previously scheduled meeting over the weekend in Saudi Arabia. In a communique, the finance ministers promised to monitor the outbreak, along with other risks to the global economy, and said they are prepared to take additional action as necessary.
Swonk warned the growing outbreak is, "feeding into the fears that people have out there, which is a tax on the global economy itself." She says if those fears trigger lasting changes in behavior, that will make a speedy economic recovery more difficult.


npr--2020-02-24--An Airbnb For Farmland Hits A Snag, As Farmers Raise Data Privacy Concerns

An Airbnb For Farmland Hits A Snag , As Farmers Raise Data Privacy Concerns Parker Smith grows corn and soybeans on land near Champaign , Ill. , together with his father and uncle .
But Smith Farms does n't own most of the land it uses .
`` About 75 percent of what we farm is rented ground , '' he says .
This is common .
Across the Midwest , about half of all the farmland is owned by landlords who live somewhere else .
Farmers compete to rent that land .
`` There 's only so much ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there want more , so obviously it gets pretty competitive , '' Smith says .
These farmer-landowner relationships can last for decades .
They sometimes feel personal .
So Smith was pretty upset when he heard that a company had sent letters to his landlords a few months ago , offering cash up front to rent the land that he 's been farming .
The letters came from a company called Tillable , based in Chicago .
It 's backed by venture capital .
Corbett Kull , Tillable 's CEO , says that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letters to landowners .
`` A lot '' of them took the offer , he says .
His company will take that land and list it on its website as available to rent .
It 'll take bids from farmers and then sublet it .
American farmers spend about $ 32 billion each year to rent land , and Kull thinks Tillable could be farmland 's AirBnB or Zillow .
`` This is one of the beauties of digital marketplaces , where you can bring two parties together that otherwise might never meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to landowners , though , got a lot of farmers very angry .
`` They 're reaching out to our landlords , that we have relationships with , to sort of go behind the farmer 's back '' and break up those relationships , Smith says .
Smith admits that this kind of thing does happen among farmers competing for land .
But another factor played a big role in farmers ' reaction .
It 's an unproven , very Internet-era suspicion about data and privacy .
Parker Smith , like a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collects all kinds of data about his operations — like how much fertilizer he applies and how much grain he harvests from each small piece of each field .
He pays a company called the Climate Corporation to manage that data and help him understand it .
Last fall , though , the Climate Corporation and Tillable announced a partnership .
And after Smith learned about Tillable 's letters to landowners , Smith had to wonder : Did Tillable target specific landlords because it got access to data about how productive and profitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his data , Smith says , `` they would know yields ; they 'd be able to roughly figure out how much money a guy was making . ''
Just over a week ago , Tillable , the company that 's trying to use the Internet to disrupt farming , was itself disrupted by farmers on the Internet .
Farmers on Twitter started sharing suspicions about the Tillable-Climate Corporation partnership .
They accused the two companies of trafficking in farmer data .
Corbett Kull denies this .
The accusations `` were absolutely false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had never accessed the data from Climate [ Corporation ] . ''
Yet the storm on social media forced the two companies to announce that they were cancelling their partnership .
Kull says this is not a major blow to Tillable 's plans to expand .
But the controversy could have one lasting effect .
Parker Smith says that he never worried about his farm data before , and who might be able to to see it .
Now , he and a lot of other farmers probably will .

An Airbnb For Farmland Hits A Snag, As Farmers Raise Data Privacy Concerns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Parker Smith grows corn and soybeans on land near Champaign, Ill., together with his father and uncle. But Smith Farms doesn't own most of the land it uses. "About 75 percent of what we farm is rented ground," he says.
This is common. Across the Midwest, about half of all the farmland is owned by landlords who live somewhere else. Farmers compete to rent that land. "There's only so much ground, and most of the farmers out there want more, so obviously it gets pretty competitive," Smith says.
These farmer-landowner relationships can last for decades. They sometimes feel personal. So Smith was pretty upset when he heard that a company had sent letters to his landlords a few months ago, offering cash up front to rent the land that he's been farming.
The letters came from a company called Tillable, based in Chicago. It's backed by venture capital.
Corbett Kull, Tillable's CEO, says that his company sent out thousands of these letters to landowners. "A lot" of them took the offer, he says. His company will take that land and list it on its website as available to rent. It'll take bids from farmers and then sublet it.
American farmers spend about $32 billion each year to rent land, and Kull thinks Tillable could be farmland's AirBnB or Zillow. "This is one of the beauties of digital marketplaces, where you can bring two parties together that otherwise might never meet," he says.
Those letters to landowners, though, got a lot of farmers very angry. "They're reaching out to our landlords, that we have relationships with, to sort of go behind the farmer's back" and break up those relationships, Smith says.
Smith admits that this kind of thing does happen among farmers competing for land. But another factor played a big role in farmers' reaction. It's an unproven, very Internet-era suspicion about data and privacy.
Parker Smith, like a lot of farmers, uses equipment that automatically collects all kinds of data about his operations — like how much fertilizer he applies and how much grain he harvests from each small piece of each field. He pays a company called the Climate Corporation to manage that data and help him understand it.
Last fall, though, the Climate Corporation and Tillable announced a partnership. And after Smith learned about Tillable's letters to landowners, Smith had to wonder: Did Tillable target specific landlords because it got access to data about how productive and profitable their land is?
If someone had his data, Smith says, "they would know yields; they'd be able to roughly figure out how much money a guy was making."
Just over a week ago, Tillable, the company that's trying to use the Internet to disrupt farming, was itself disrupted by farmers on the Internet. Farmers on Twitter started sharing suspicions about the Tillable-Climate Corporation partnership. They accused the two companies of trafficking in farmer data.
Corbett Kull denies this. The accusations "were absolutely false," he says. "We had never accessed the data from Climate [Corporation]."
Yet the storm on social media forced the two companies to announce that they were cancelling their partnership.
Kull says this is not a major blow to Tillable's plans to expand. But the controversy could have one lasting effect. Parker Smith says that he never worried about his farm data before, and who might be able to to see it. Now, he and a lot of other farmers probably will.


npr--2020-02-28--Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus

Just For Kids : A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus Kids , this comic is for you .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ that NPR education reporter Cory Turner did .
He asked some experts what kids might @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus discovered in China .
To make this comic , we 've used his @ @ @ @ @ the University of Illinois School of Social Work , Joy Osofsky at LSU Health Sciences @ @ @ @ @ Krystal Lewis at the National Institute of Mental Health .
Print and fold a zine @ @ @ @ @ .
Here are directions on how to fold it .
Malaka Gharib is an NPR @ @ @ @ @ illustrator of I Was Their American Dream : A Graphic Memoir .

Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
Updated on March 16 at 1:56 p.m. ET. This comic has been updated. Click here for the newest version.
Kids, this comic is for you.
It's based on a radio story that NPR education reporter Cory Turner did. He asked some experts what kids might want to know about the new coronavirus discovered in China.
To make this comic, we've used his interviews with Tara Powell at the University of Illinois School of Social Work, Joy Osofsky at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and Krystal Lewis at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Print and fold a zine version of this comic here. Here are directions on how to fold it. To read this comic in Chinese, click here. To read it in Spanish, click here.
Enlarge this image Malaka Gharib/ NPR Malaka Gharib/ NPR
Malaka Gharib/ NPR
Malaka Gharib/ NPR
Malaka Gharib/ NPR
Malaka Gharib/ NPR
Malaka Gharib/ NPR
Malaka Gharib is an NPR editor and the author and illustrator of I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir, about being first-generation Filipino Egyptian American.


npr--2020-02-28--Bernie TV: How The Sanders Campaign's Live Videos Help It Build Community

Bernie TV : How The Sanders Campaign 's Live Videos Help It Build Community Even now , with two early state wins and one virtual tie under its belt , and a chance to pull away from the rest of the presidential primary field on Super Tuesday , the campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has a bit of a chip on its shoulder about the way it says it 's covered by the media .
`` There 's begrudging acceptance of the campaign , is the way I 'd put it , '' campaign manager Faiz Shakir told NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eve of the Nevada caucuses , which Sanders would go on to win by a landslide .
`` Part of that is because it 's an anti-establishment campaign .
And for some people in the quote , unquote establishment , it feels like a personal affront to them . ''
Running against the media is a time-honored political tradition , stretching from President Trump back to President Harry Truman and beyond .
But as they plotted a second White House run early last year , Sanders ' inner circle decided to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media : They decided to effectively create their own online video network to cover their candidate .
Beginning with Sanders ' kickoff rally in Brooklyn last spring , the campaign has streamed every rally .
And it 's created in-house shows starring top staffers .
And while other campaigns — like those of former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker — have dabbled in streaming behind-the-scenes moments , the Sanders campaign has made its livestreaming efforts a central part of its overall messaging , fundraising and organizing strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pocketful of staffers traveling on the same charter plane as Sanders , and always get the prime real estate at the center of the press riser at rallies .
Sanders pays close attention , and often asks what the livestream numbers look like shortly after his rallies end .
The numbers are really big : more than 85 million views over the course of the campaign , spread across traditional social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube , and newer , more niche platforms like the gaming network Twitch .
When Sanders crisscrossed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his campaign noted that while he drew a total of 50,000 supporters to rallies in six states , he also pulled in more than 4 million livestream views .
`` Let 's just do it on our own '' For all of its digital focus , livestreaming was not a big part of the 2016 Sanders presidential campaign .
Sanders began experimenting with the format in January 2018 , when he pitched TV networks on the idea of a town hall focused on his signature issue , `` Medicare for All .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders ' Senate communications director and now the campaign 's creative director , said Sanders pitched a TV network on the idea , but would n't say which one .
`` They said , 'Oh , we 'll talk about it , ' and of course never got back to us .
And so [ Sanders ] said , 'You know what , let 's just do it on our own .
Let 's livestream a town hall , Medicare for All .
We 'll bring in experts and we 'll talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 'll talk to the American people about it . '
`` More than 1 million people streamed the forum , a number that stuck in the minds of Sanders and his advisers .
They did more town halls on climate change and other topics , and as the focus turned to a second presidential run , they decided to make livestreaming a central component of the campaign .
Sanders advisers all remembered what some online supporters often angrily referred to as the `` Bernie Media Blackout '' : how it took until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat Sanders as a contender , and not a gadfly .
Beyond that , they all shared a view that Sanders regularly addresses during his stump speeches : `` the skepticism , '' as Miller-Lewis put it , `` that the media would cover the issues that Bernie cares about , that he 's talking about every single day , and that the American people care about . ''
In addition to broadcasting rallies , the campaign created roundtable shows featuring staffers and volunteers , as well as produced videos and occasional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's overall upward trajectory .
For most of 2019 , streams hovered around 2 million a month .
But once Sanders began gaining momentum , when New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed him after his heart attack , the average views began to climb — 6 million in November , 10 million in December , 12 million in January , according to data provided by the Sanders campaign .
`` More opportunity for people to feel like they 're not alone '' All the while , video director Mia Fermindoza was sitting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , experimenting with ways to increase viewing times and engagement .
Fermindoza joined the Sanders campaign from NowThis News , an online platform that 's well known for its viral progressive videos .
While directing the livestream , Fermindoza would look at the camera angles coming in from the two videographers the campaign sends to every rally .
But she was more focused on what she and Miller-Lewis see as the heart of the livestream : the comments it features from viewers .
A conversation is always running along the righthand side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mirror cable news coverage , the campaign urges supporters to volunteer and contribute .
At the bottom of the screen , a stock ticker-like chyron displays the names of people who comment or donate .
`` We want to be putting out comments from people that are getting excited about donating , '' Fermindoza explained .
`` Like , 'Oh , next time Bernie does this , I 'm throwing in 100 bucks , who wants to be top donor with me ? '
This is a very gaming , Twitch-style , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The money the livestream raises is ultimately `` negligible '' in the grand scheme of the Sanders campaign budget , according to Shakir , the campaign manager — $ 55,000 the night Sanders won Nevada , $ 85,000 when the campaign streamed a Strokes concert the night before the New Hampshire primary .
`` It ends up covering the cost , quite frankly , of us being in these kinds of platforms , investing in the technology we need to livestream these events , and send staffers around the country to cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fermindoza argues the conversation around soliciting and trumpeting donations is far more important than the actual dollars , and gives supporters more ownership of the campaign .
`` You know , how does that make you feel ?
How does that make you feel to see your comment up there , getting other people excited ? ''
she said .
`` All we 're doing is producing more opportunity for people to feel like they 're not alone . ''
That mindset makes sense to Daniel Kreiss , a political scientist at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Media and Journalism who has written two books about digital organizing on presidential campaigns .
He said it all fits with the Sanders campaign mantra of , 'not me , us . '
`` And to the extent that they look to make that physical to other supporters , I think it creates that sense of collective identity — that these are Sanders people , this is the movement , '' Kreiss said .
`` These are the people who are powering the Sanders campaign . ''
Kreiss is skeptical a campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he does n't see any other campaign rivaling Sanders ' efforts on that front .
He views the livestream as the latest evidence of how the internet has fueled Sanders ' rise to front-runner for the Democratic nomination .
Kreiss argues the main thing the internet has done for presidential campaigns is lower the bar for outsiders like Sanders and Trump , making it easier for them to amplify their message and raise money .
Kreiss says one difference between the two was Trump 's ability to set the campaign agenda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't think Sanders has ever had that absolute dominance over the public sphere , '' he said .
`` But he has used the internet in really powerful ways to translate attention and enthusiasm into electoral resources that have fueled his two bids . ''
And while the livestream wo n't fully replace mainstream news outlets any time soon , it 's another way to force a campaign narrative that simply was n't available just a couple of presidential campaigns ago .

Bernie TV: How The Sanders Campaign's Live Videos Help It Build Community
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Even now, with two early state wins and one virtual tie under its belt, and a chance to pull away from the rest of the presidential primary field on Super Tuesday, the campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has a bit of a chip on its shoulder about the way it says it's covered by the media.
"There's begrudging acceptance of the campaign, is the way I'd put it," campaign manager Faiz Shakir told NPR at a crowded Las Vegas rally on the eve of the Nevada caucuses, which Sanders would go on to win by a landslide. "Part of that is because it's an anti-establishment campaign. And for some people in the quote, unquote establishment, it feels like a personal affront to them."
Running against the media is a time-honored political tradition, stretching from President Trump back to President Harry Truman and beyond. But as they plotted a second White House run early last year, Sanders' inner circle decided to do something more with their deep skepticism of the media: They decided to effectively create their own online video network to cover their candidate.
Beginning with Sanders' kickoff rally in Brooklyn last spring, the campaign has streamed every rally. And it's created in-house shows starring top staffers. And while other campaigns — like those of former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker — have dabbled in streaming behind-the-scenes moments, the Sanders campaign has made its livestreaming efforts a central part of its overall messaging, fundraising and organizing strategy.
Livestream videographers Chris Witschy and Aidan Barringer are always among the pocketful of staffers traveling on the same charter plane as Sanders, and always get the prime real estate at the center of the press riser at rallies. Sanders pays close attention, and often asks what the livestream numbers look like shortly after his rallies end.
The numbers are really big: more than 85 million views over the course of the campaign, spread across traditional social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, and newer, more niche platforms like the gaming network Twitch. When Sanders crisscrossed the country over Presidents' Day weekend, his campaign noted that while he drew a total of 50,000 supporters to rallies in six states, he also pulled in more than 4 million livestream views.
"Let's just do it on our own"
For all of its digital focus, livestreaming was not a big part of the 2016 Sanders presidential campaign. Sanders began experimenting with the format in January 2018, when he pitched TV networks on the idea of a town hall focused on his signature issue, "Medicare for All."
Josh Miller-Lewis, at the time Sanders' Senate communications director and now the campaign's creative director, said Sanders pitched a TV network on the idea, but wouldn't say which one.
"They said, 'Oh, we'll talk about it,' and of course never got back to us. And so [Sanders] said, 'You know what, let's just do it on our own. Let's livestream a town hall, Medicare for All. We'll bring in experts and we'll talk about what Medicare for All means, and we'll talk to the American people about it.' "
More than 1 million people streamed the forum, a number that stuck in the minds of Sanders and his advisers. They did more town halls on climate change and other topics, and as the focus turned to a second presidential run, they decided to make livestreaming a central component of the campaign.
Sanders advisers all remembered what some online supporters often angrily referred to as the "Bernie Media Blackout": how it took until late 2015 for most major news outlets to treat Sanders as a contender, and not a gadfly.
Beyond that, they all shared a view that Sanders regularly addresses during his stump speeches: "the skepticism," as Miller-Lewis put it, "that the media would cover the issues that Bernie cares about, that he's talking about every single day, and that the American people care about."
In addition to broadcasting rallies, the campaign created roundtable shows featuring staffers and volunteers, as well as produced videos and occasional town halls.
Eyeballs tracked the campaign's overall upward trajectory. For most of 2019, streams hovered around 2 million a month. But once Sanders began gaining momentum, when New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed him after his heart attack, the average views began to climb — 6 million in November, 10 million in December, 12 million in January, according to data provided by the Sanders campaign.
"More opportunity for people to feel like they're not alone"
All the while, video director Mia Fermindoza was sitting in a control room in Washington, D.C., experimenting with ways to increase viewing times and engagement.
Fermindoza joined the Sanders campaign from NowThis News, an online platform that's well known for its viral progressive videos.
While directing the livestream, Fermindoza would look at the camera angles coming in from the two videographers the campaign sends to every rally. But she was more focused on what she and Miller-Lewis see as the heart of the livestream: the comments it features from viewers.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sanders campaign Sanders campaign
A conversation is always running along the righthand side of the stream. And with graphics that mirror cable news coverage, the campaign urges supporters to volunteer and contribute. At the bottom of the screen, a stock ticker-like chyron displays the names of people who comment or donate.
"We want to be putting out comments from people that are getting excited about donating," Fermindoza explained. "Like, 'Oh, next time Bernie does this, I'm throwing in 100 bucks, who wants to be top donor with me?' This is a very gaming, Twitch-style, and we find that people want that."
The money the livestream raises is ultimately "negligible" in the grand scheme of the Sanders campaign budget, according to Shakir, the campaign manager — $55,000 the night Sanders won Nevada, $85,000 when the campaign streamed a Strokes concert the night before the New Hampshire primary.
"It ends up covering the cost, quite frankly, of us being in these kinds of platforms, investing in the technology we need to livestream these events, and send staffers around the country to cover him," Shakir said.
But Fermindoza argues the conversation around soliciting and trumpeting donations is far more important than the actual dollars, and gives supporters more ownership of the campaign.
"You know, how does that make you feel? How does that make you feel to see your comment up there, getting other people excited?" she said. "All we're doing is producing more opportunity for people to feel like they're not alone."
An internet-fueled rise
That mindset makes sense to Daniel Kreiss, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina's Hussman School of Media and Journalism who has written two books about digital organizing on presidential campaigns. He said it all fits with the Sanders campaign mantra of, 'not me, us.'
"And to the extent that they look to make that physical to other supporters, I think it creates that sense of collective identity — that these are Sanders people, this is the movement," Kreiss said. "These are the people who are powering the Sanders campaign."
Kreiss is skeptical a campaign livestream could fully replace traditional media coverage, but he doesn't see any other campaign rivaling Sanders' efforts on that front. He views the livestream as the latest evidence of how the internet has fueled Sanders' rise to front-runner for the Democratic nomination.
Kreiss argues the main thing the internet has done for presidential campaigns is lower the bar for outsiders like Sanders and Trump, making it easier for them to amplify their message and raise money. Kreiss says one difference between the two was Trump's ability to set the campaign agenda every single day.
"I don't think Sanders has ever had that absolute dominance over the public sphere," he said. "But he has used the internet in really powerful ways to translate attention and enthusiasm into electoral resources that have fueled his two bids."
And while the livestream won't fully replace mainstream news outlets any time soon, it's another way to force a campaign narrative that simply wasn't available just a couple of presidential campaigns ago.