jerusalempost--2020-01-22--Canada, Iran at odds over who should analyze downed plane's black boxes

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada , which lost 57 of the 176 people killed in the crash , said Iran did not have the ability to read the data and he demanded the cockpit and flight recorders should be sent to France .
Kiev wants the recorders sent to Ukraine .
The U.S.-built Boeing 737 flown by Ukraine International Airlines was shot down in error by Iranian forces on Jan. 8 during a period of tit-for-tat military strikes that included the killing by the United States of a senior Iranian general on Jan. 3 .
Tehran , already embroiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States over its nuclear program , has given mixed signals about whether it would hand over the recorders .
An Iranian aviation official had said on Saturday the black boxes would be sent to Ukraine , only to backtrack in comments reported a day later , saying they would be analyzed at home .
A further delay in sending them abroad is likely to increase international pressure on Iran , whose military has said it shot the plane down by mistake while on high alert in the tense hours after Iran fired missiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the appropriate supplies and equipment are provided , the information can be taken out and reconstructed in a short period of time , '' Iran 's Civil Aviation Organization said in its second preliminary report on the disaster released late on Monday .
A list of equipment Iran needs has been sent to French accident agency BEA and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board , the Iranian aviation body said .
`` Until now , these countries have not given a positive response to sending the equipment to ( Iran ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface-to-air TOR-M1 missiles had been launched minutes after the Ukrainian plane took off from Tehran .
Iran 's aviation body says it does not have equipment needed to download information from the model of recorders on the three-year-old Boeing 737 .
General Electric Co has received a license from the U.S. Treasury Department to help in the investigation of the crash , a GE spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday .
Under U.S. sanctions law , the Treasury 's Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) must grant approval for U.S. investigators to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Iran .
GE co-owns with France 's Safran SA the French-U.S. firm CFM that made the plane 's engines .
Trudeau said the data should be downloaded immediately .
`` There need to be qualified experts doing that but it 's also a question of technology and equipment and that is not available in Iran , '' he told a news conference in Winnipeg , Manitoba .
`` There has been broad consensus in the international community that France would be the right place to send those boxes ( and ) we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that . ''
Trudeau also said Tehran 's refusal to acknowledge dual citizenship was posing a challenge when it came to helping support the families of the Canadian victims , many of whom had close ties to Iran .
Iran , which took several days to acknowledge its role in bringing down the plane and faced street protests at home as a result , fired its missiles at U.S. targets in response to a U.S. drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on Jan. 3 .
Iran has for years faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase modern planes and buy products with U.S. technology .
Many passenger planes used in Iran are decades old .
Under Tehran 's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers , Iran received sanctions relief in return for curbing its nuclear work .
But Washington reimposed U.S. sanctions after withdrawing from the pact in 2018 , a move that led to the steady escalation of tension in recent months between the United States and Iran .
European governments say they want to save the deal but have also suggested it may be time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's call for a deal that would go beyond Iran 's nuclear work and include its missile program and activities in the region .
Iran says it will not negotiate with sanctions in place .
Since the plane disaster , Iran 's judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi has said compensation should be paid to families of the victims , many of whom were Iranians or dual nationals .

Iran said it had asked the U.S. and French authorities for equipment to download information from black boxes on a downed Ukrainian airliner, potentially angering countries which want the recorders analyzed abroad.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, which lost 57 of the 176 people killed in the crash, said Iran did not have the ability to read the data and he demanded the cockpit and flight recorders should be sent to France. Kiev wants the recorders sent to Ukraine.
The U.S.-built Boeing 737 flown by Ukraine International Airlines was shot down in error by Iranian forces on Jan. 8 during a period of tit-for-tat military strikes that included the killing by the United States of a senior Iranian general on Jan. 3.
Tehran, already embroiled in a long-running standoff with the United States over its nuclear program, has given mixed signals about whether it would hand over the recorders.
An Iranian aviation official had said on Saturday the black boxes would be sent to Ukraine, only to backtrack in comments reported a day later, saying they would be analyzed at home.
A further delay in sending them abroad is likely to increase international pressure on Iran, whose military has said it shot the plane down by mistake while on high alert in the tense hours after Iran fired missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq.
"If the appropriate supplies and equipment are provided, the information can be taken out and reconstructed in a short period of time," Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said in its second preliminary report on the disaster released late on Monday.
A list of equipment Iran needs has been sent to French accident agency BEA and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Iranian aviation body said.
"Until now, these countries have not given a positive response to sending the equipment to (Iran)," it said. It said two surface-to-air TOR-M1 missiles had been launched minutes after the Ukrainian plane took off from Tehran.
'MAXIMUM PRESSURE'
Iran's aviation body says it does not have equipment needed to download information from the model of recorders on the three-year-old Boeing 737.
General Electric Co has received a license from the U.S. Treasury Department to help in the investigation of the crash, a GE spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.
Under U.S. sanctions law, the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) must grant approval for U.S. investigators to participate in the probe and potentially travel to Iran.
GE co-owns with France's Safran SA the French-U.S. firm CFM that made the plane's engines.
Trudeau said the data should be downloaded immediately.
"There need to be qualified experts doing that but it's also a question of technology and equipment and that is not available in Iran," he told a news conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
"There has been broad consensus in the international community that France would be the right place to send those boxes (and) we continue to pressure Iran to do just that."
Trudeau also said Tehran's refusal to acknowledge dual citizenship was posing a challenge when it came to helping support the families of the Canadian victims, many of whom had close ties to Iran.
Iran, which took several days to acknowledge its role in bringing down the plane and faced street protests at home as a result, fired its missiles at U.S. targets in response to a U.S. drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on Jan. 3.
Iran has for years faced U.S. sanctions that limited its ability to purchase modern planes and buy products with U.S. technology. Many passenger planes used in Iran are decades old.
Under Tehran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, Iran received sanctions relief in return for curbing its nuclear work. But Washington reimposed U.S. sanctions after withdrawing from the pact in 2018, a move that led to the steady escalation of tension in recent months between the United States and Iran.
European governments say they want to save the deal but have also suggested it may be time for a broader pact, in line with Trump's call for a deal that would go beyond Iran's nuclear work and include its missile program and activities in the region.
Iran says it will not negotiate with sanctions in place.
Since the plane disaster, Iran's judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi has said compensation should be paid to families of the victims, many of whom were Iranians or dual nationals.
Canada, Ukraine, Britain, Afghanistan and Sweden, which all lost citizens, have demanded Iran make the payouts.


jerusalempost--2020-01-22--Senate's McConnell eases marathon late-night impeachment schedule

Republican senators decided to relax the schedule during a lunch on Tuesday just before the trial was gaveled to order .
That left the Republican-controlled chamber to consider a set of procedural rules that were hurriedly revised by hand , there being no time to reprint the formal resolution .
Minority Democrats had complained bitterly that the original plan , which could have meant 12 hours of lawyers ' opening statements each day , `` could force presentations to take place at two or three in the morning ... literally in the dark of night , '' as Senate Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Mike Braun acknowledged lawmakers ' personal comfort had something to do with the Republican climbdown to a somewhat more relaxed schedule .
After sitting through the preliminary trial motions on Tuesday , he told reporters , `` I do n't think I 'd be as apt to say I could sit through 12 or 14 hours or whatever it might be . ''
The new plan allows up to 48 hours of opening arguments over six days , instead of four , from the House of Representatives lawmakers making the case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The trial is set to start each day at 1 p.m. ( 1800 GMT ) .
Democrats have called on the Senate to remove Trump from office for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden , a political rival , and then impeding the inquiry into the matter .
Trump denies any wrongdoing .
Republicans on Tuesday also agreed to change the proposed trial rules to allow the House record of its impeachment inquiry to be automatically admitted into evidence .
The Senate was expected to approve the plan for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans decided the changes at lunch and presented them afterwards to McConnell , who had left early .
`` It was pretty much a ( Republican ) conference consensus that that made a lot more sense , '' said Senator Ron Johnson , another Republican .
Those who expressed concerns included Senator Susan Collins , a centrist and so far the only Republican to say she is likely to support calling witnesses .
She was concerned the more aggressive timetable and evidence rules originally proposed by McConnell did not follow the model of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton , a Democrat , two decades ago .
Clinton was acquitted .
`` Her position has been that the trial should follow the Clinton model as much as possible , '' said Collins spokeswoman Annie Clark .
The changes marked a rare climb-down by McConnell , who had only unveiled the proposed trial rules on Monday night .
`` Obviously he ’ s willing to take feedback , '' a McConnell spokesman said .

The septuagenarian members of the U.S. Senate could get a little more sleep during President Donald Trump's impeachment trial after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell backed off a plan for 48 hours of arguments over four days, a schedule that had raised the specter of sessions lasting well past midnight.
Republican senators decided to relax the schedule during a lunch on Tuesday just before the trial was gaveled to order. That left the Republican-controlled chamber to consider a set of procedural rules that were hurriedly revised by hand, there being no time to reprint the formal resolution.
Minority Democrats had complained bitterly that the original plan, which could have meant 12 hours of lawyers' opening statements each day, "could force presentations to take place at two or three in the morning ... literally in the dark of night," as Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer put it.
Republican Senator Mike Braun acknowledged lawmakers' personal comfort had something to do with the Republican climbdown to a somewhat more relaxed schedule. After sitting through the preliminary trial motions on Tuesday, he told reporters, "I don't think I'd be as apt to say I could sit through 12 or 14 hours or whatever it might be."
The new plan allows up to 48 hours of opening arguments over six days, instead of four, from the House of Representatives lawmakers making the case for impeachment and Trump's defense team. The trial is set to start each day at 1 p.m. (1800 GMT).
Democrats have called on the Senate to remove Trump from office for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a political rival, and then impeding the inquiry into the matter. Trump denies any wrongdoing.
Republicans on Tuesday also agreed to change the proposed trial rules to allow the House record of its impeachment inquiry to be automatically admitted into evidence. The Senate was expected to approve the plan for the trial later on Tuesday.
Braun said Republicans decided the changes at lunch and presented them afterwards to McConnell, who had left early.
"It was pretty much a (Republican) conference consensus that that made a lot more sense," said Senator Ron Johnson, another Republican.
Those who expressed concerns included Senator Susan Collins, a centrist and so far the only Republican to say she is likely to support calling witnesses. She was concerned the more aggressive timetable and evidence rules originally proposed by McConnell did not follow the model of the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, two decades ago. Clinton was acquitted.
"Her position has been that the trial should follow the Clinton model as much as possible," said Collins spokeswoman Annie Clark.
The changes marked a rare climb-down by McConnell, who had only unveiled the proposed trial rules on Monday night. "Obviously he’s willing to take feedback," a McConnell spokesman said.
Senator Richard Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, said of the Republican revisions: "When you're hanging onto an indefensible position, you quickly abandon it."


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--German President Steinmeier: I stand here in Jerusalem laden with guilt

German President Frank Walter Steinmeier chose to address the audience of the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in English and emphasized @ @ @ @ @ responsibility of the Germans to the Holocaust and the Second World War .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ with historical guilt , ” he said , “ Germany ’ s responsibility does not @ @ @

German President Frank Walter Steinmeier chose to address the audience of the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in English and emphasized in his Thursday speech the responsibility of the Germans to the Holocaust and the Second World War.
“I stand here in Jerusalem laden with historical guilt,” he said, “Germany’s responsibility does not expire.”


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--German President Steinmeier in Hebrew, ‘thank God we are here today’

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German President Frank Walter Steinmeier chose to address the audience of the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in Hebrew by reciting in Hebrew, “thank God we are here today.”He continued in English, opting not to speak in German, and said that “Germans tried to dehumanize them [the Jews]…they did not succeed.”


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Police detains Israeli man who said he wants to ‘take Putin down’

Police arrested an Israeli man who approached a Jerusalem police officer and told her he wants to “ take down @ @ @ @ @ Putin '' who is visiting Israel to honor the memory of the Holocaust , Ynet @ @ @ @

Police arrested an Israeli man who approached a Jerusalem police officer and told her he wants to “take down [Russian President Vladimir] Putin" who is visiting Israel to honor the memory of the Holocaust, Ynet reported on Thursday.
The man was immediately arrested and claimed during his interrogation he was joking.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Macron: France knows exactly what it owns those who resisted the Nazis

French President Emmanuel Macron said during his Thursday speech at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum that “ France knows exactly @ @ @ @ @ who hid Jewish children and adults from the authorities during the Vichy government .
Calling @ @ @ @ @ ” he vowed “ never again ” to a standing ovation from the crowd .

French President Emmanuel Macron said during his Thursday speech at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum that “France knows exactly what it owes” those who hid Jewish children and adults from the authorities during the Vichy government.
Calling those who survived “heroes” he vowed “never again” to a standing ovation from the crowd.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Macron: There were terrible things in France as well

French President Emmanuel Macron said during his speech on Thursday at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum that the facts of the Holcoaust matter. “One cannot say anything [at all], there are facts,” he said.He spoke of the duty to remember the horrors of the Holocaust and mentioned that “there were terrible things in France as well.”France chose to collaborate with the Nazis and the Jews of Paris were sent to their deaths in July 1942. The Jews were sent to Drancy internment camp and from there to death camps built in occupied Poland.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Putin proposes 2020 summit with leaders of Russia, France, China, U.S

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday proposed holding a summit between the leaders of Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain in 2020 to discuss global problems.Putin was speaking during an official state visit to Israel to honor the memory of the Holocaust.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Pence: What we remember here can never happen again

Vice President of the US Mike Pence said in his Thursday speech at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum that “what we remember here today can never happen again.”He mentioned the heroism of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust who “rose from the ashes to rebuild the Jewish state.”“The American people had been with you every step of the way,” he said.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Pence: We remember when the powerless cry for help

Vice President of the US Mike Pence said in his Thursday speech at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum that “today we remember when the powerless cry for help and the powerful refuse to answer.”He mentioned Poland and Polish towns as the sites where the Nazi war crimes took place and the 2019 visit he and his wife took to learn more about the Holocaust in Auschwitz.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Putin: Russians, Ukrainians were declared ‘inferior’ by the Nazis

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that, during the Second World War, “Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and other people” were declared as “inferior” by the Nazis and their history and culture were meant to be eradicated during his Thursday speech at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum.Putin did not mention the Poles in his speech.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--US Democrats push resistant Republicans to join case for ousting Trump

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff and other Democratic impeachment managers are pressing their argument that Trump should be convicted of two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden last year , and impeding the inquiry into the matter .
Blocked so far in their drive to persuade the Republican-led Senate to let them call new witnesses , Democrats are using their time instead to outline an extensive narrative , complete with video clips , based on the testimony presented during hearings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The case focuses on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden , a leading 2020 Democratic presidential contender , and his son on unsubstantiated corruption charges as well as a discredited theory that Ukraine , not Russia , meddled in the 2016 U.S. election .
U.S. military aid to Ukraine was frozen for a period of time .
`` We have the evidence to prove President Trump ordered the aid withheld , he did so to force Ukraine to help his re-election campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that stretched for eight hours .
`` We can and will prove President Trump guilty of this conduct and of obstructing the investigation into his conduct . ''
Trump denies any wrongdoing and his fellow Republicans in the Senate say his behavior does not fit the description of `` high crimes and misdemeanors '' outlined in the U.S. Constitution as a reason to oust a president .
He is almost certain to be acquitted by the 100-member Senate , where a two-thirds majority is needed to remove him from office .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second term in November 's election .
Democrats have two more days to make their arguments .
Trump 's defense team , starting on Saturday , will have three days for rebuttal .
Trump is relying on a core group of White House lawyers and outside counsel to undermine the Democratic case .
Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said it was unclear whether the Trump defense would need all three days .
`` We will make a determination on our presentation based on what we are responding to and based on our affirmative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't know if it will take 10 hours , 14 hours , 24 hours or six hours . ''
The House impeachment managers ' presentation appeared to have little impact on the Senate ’ s deep partisan split .
`` I didn ’ t hear anything new , at all , '' said Republican Senator John Barrasso , who added : “ It still seems to me as if this was an effort by Democrats , in a very partisan way , to bring a case against President Trump because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2016 election and are concerned that they ’ re going to have real problems in the 2020 election.
” But Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said : “ Anyone following this testimony will see that the truth is right there in plain sight .
It ’ s very clear that President Trump used all the agencies of the federal government to pursue his scheme.
” Senator John Kennedy , a Republican close to Trump , was listening to what he called Schiff 's `` eloquent '' presentation .
`` Most if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the case of the defense for the first time , '' Kennedy said , adding that most senators had not read a transcript of the House proceedings .
`` Senators , because they 've been busy being senators , have not heard the case . ''
Avidly tracking the Senate trial even during a trip this week to the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , Trump told reporters on Wednesday he was the victim of a `` takedown attempt . ''
He arrived back in Washington on Wednesday night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan majority of Americans wanting to see new witnesses testify in the impeachment trial .

Democrats planned to plow ahead on Thursday at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial with their arguments for removing him from office, but Republicans showed no signs of softening their resistance to the Democratic case.
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff and other Democratic impeachment managers are pressing their argument that Trump should be convicted of two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden last year, and impeding the inquiry into the matter.
Blocked so far in their drive to persuade the Republican-led Senate to let them call new witnesses, Democrats are using their time instead to outline an extensive narrative, complete with video clips, based on the testimony presented during hearings in the Democratic-led House of Representatives.
The case focuses on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden, a leading 2020 Democratic presidential contender, and his son on unsubstantiated corruption charges as well as a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 U.S. election. U.S. military aid to Ukraine was frozen for a period of time.
"We have the evidence to prove President Trump ordered the aid withheld, he did so to force Ukraine to help his re-election campaign," Schiff said during arguments on Wednesday that stretched for eight hours. "We can and will prove President Trump guilty of this conduct and of obstructing the investigation into his conduct."
Trump denies any wrongdoing and his fellow Republicans in the Senate say his behavior does not fit the description of "high crimes and misdemeanors" outlined in the U.S. Constitution as a reason to oust a president.
He is almost certain to be acquitted by the 100-member Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed to remove him from office. But the case could help determine whether Trump wins a second term in November's election.
Democrats have two more days to make their arguments. Trump's defense team, starting on Saturday, will have three days for rebuttal. Trump is relying on a core group of White House lawyers and outside counsel to undermine the Democratic case.
Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said it was unclear whether the Trump defense would need all three days.
"We will make a determination on our presentation based on what we are responding to and based on our affirmative case," Sekulow said. "I don't know if it will take 10 hours, 14 hours, 24 hours or six hours."
PARTISAN DIVIDE
The House impeachment managers' presentation appeared to have little impact on the Senate’s deep partisan split.
"I didn’t hear anything new, at all," said Republican Senator John Barrasso, who added: “It still seems to me as if this was an effort by Democrats, in a very partisan way, to bring a case against President Trump because they weren’t happy with the results of the 2016 election and are concerned that they’re going to have real problems in the 2020 election.”
But Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said: “Anyone following this testimony will see that the truth is right there in plain sight. It’s very clear that President Trump used all the agencies of the federal government to pursue his scheme.”
Senator John Kennedy, a Republican close to Trump, was listening to what he called Schiff's "eloquent" presentation.
"Most if not all senators are hearing the prosecution and the case of the defense for the first time," Kennedy said, adding that most senators had not read a transcript of the House proceedings. "Senators, because they've been busy being senators, have not heard the case."
Avidly tracking the Senate trial even during a trip this week to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump told reporters on Wednesday he was the victim of a "takedown attempt." He arrived back in Washington on Wednesday night.
A Reuters-Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found a bipartisan majority of Americans wanting to see new witnesses testify in the impeachment trial.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Beijing cancels New Year events to curb virus spread - report

China's capital city Beijing canceled major public events including two well-known Lunar New Year temple fairs, the state-run Beijing News said on Thursday, as authorities try to curb the spread of a deadly coronavirus outbreak.Separately, the country's railway operator, China State Railway Group, said passengers would be able to receive full refunds on tickets nationwide starting on Friday.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Extradition hearing for WikiLeaks' Assange to be split in two parts

The hearing to decide whether WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange can be extradited from Britain to the United States will be split into two, with the second half delayed until May, a British judged ruled on Thursday.Following applications from Assange’s legal team and lawyers representing the United States, Judge Vanessa Baraitser at Westminster Magistrates' Court agreed that the hearing would start on Feb. 24 for a week, with the remaining three weeks taking place from May 18.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Chinese movies scrap Lunar New Year premieres due to virus outbreak

The Chinese New Year holiday is traditionally a high season for movie distributors and cinema chains as people gather and enjoy leisure activities such as watching movies during the week-long holiday .
But the new coronavirus has prompted a lockdown of central China 's Wuhan city , where the outbreak started , as well as in neighboring Huanggang , and has led many people to cancel their travels plans and avoid public areas .
`` Detective Chinatown 3 , '' the third episode of a popular comedy whose first two installments were commercially successful , also said it would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned .
A statement by `` Lost in Russia '' said its premiere date would be rescheduled because there were risks of the virus spreading in enclosed areas such as cinemas .
China 's film box office raked in 64.2 billion yuan ( $ 9.30 billion ) in 2019 , according to the country 's film administration , making it the second-largest market for movie makers after the United States .
The virus and its impact on the film industry has driven down the share prices of related companies in recent days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind `` Detective Chinatown 3 , '' dropped 21 % in the four-trading day week , declining as much as 7 % on Thursday alone .

A virus outbreak in China has prompted seven Chinese films that were set to premiere during the country's Lunar New Year holiday to postpone screenings, forgoing what is usually the best week of the year at the Chinese box office.
The Chinese New Year holiday is traditionally a high season for movie distributors and cinema chains as people gather and enjoy leisure activities such as watching movies during the week-long holiday.
But the new coronavirus has prompted a lockdown of central China's Wuhan city, where the outbreak started, as well as in neighboring Huanggang, and has led many people to cancel their travels plans and avoid public areas.
The canceled screenings include a film about China's national female volleyball team titled "Leap," starring actress Gong Li.
"Detective Chinatown 3," the third episode of a popular comedy whose first two installments were commercially successful, also said it would not open on Jan. 25, as formerly planned.
A statement by "Lost in Russia" said its premiere date would be rescheduled because there were risks of the virus spreading in enclosed areas such as cinemas.
China's film box office raked in 64.2 billion yuan ($9.30 billion) in 2019, according to the country's film administration, making it the second-largest market for movie makers after the United States.
The virus and its impact on the film industry has driven down the share prices of related companies in recent days.
Wanda Film Holding Co., the producer behind "Detective Chinatown 3," dropped 21% in the four-trading day week, declining as much as 7% on Thursday alone.
Alibaba Pictures that participated in the distribution of "Leap" and "Detective Chinatown 3" fell 13% this week.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Greenpeace loses Norway Arctic oil lawsuit appeal

The verdict upheld a ruling made by a lower court , rejecting arguments by Greenpeace and the Nature and Youth group that a 2015-2016 oil licensing round that gave awards to Equinor and others had breached Norway 's constitution .
`` The verdict is unanimous , '' the Borgarting Appeals Court said in its written decision .
But unlike the original district court decision , which found that the use of Norwegian oil by foreign customers was not relevant to the case , the appeals court found that such use abroad should in fact be part of the consideration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the court to find in favor of the environmental groups , Borgarting concluded .
Greenpeace immediately said it would appeal the case to Norway 's supreme court .
The lawsuit is seen as part of an emerging branch of law worldwide where plaintiffs seek to use a nation 's founding principles to make the case for curbing emissions .
The green groups argued the government decision contravened local and international law .
They cited article 112 of Norway 's constitution , which guarantees the right of current and future generations to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming .
`` The court 's verdict is a big step in the right direction , and the reason is that the right to a healthy environment according to the constitution is acknowledged by the court of appeal , '' Greenpeace Norway chief Frode Pleym told reporters .
`` The court of appeal also acknowledges that the emissions from Norwegian oil burned abroad are relevant , '' he added .
Oil and gas extraction has helped make Norway one of the wealthiest nations on earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product and a $ 1.1 trillion sovereign wealth fund stemming from petroleum income .
The government handed out 10 Arctic exploration permits in the contested 23rd licensing round , including three in the southeastern part of the Barents Sea , near Norway 's border with Russia .
`` The court agrees with the state that the Barents Sea petroleum activity does not contravene the constitution , '' the ministry said in a statement .
Oil companies have already drilled exploration wells in some licenses , but have not made any significant discoveries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one license later this year .
A win at the appeals court could have set a precedent for other climate cases globally , while limiting exploration by western Europe 's biggest oil and gas producer , the plaintiffs said at the outset of the trial .
But while environmental groups said more petroleum resources had already been discovered than could be exploited without breaching the Paris goals , the government argued that any decision to drill was for parliament to make , not the courts .
There has been a surge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigners viewing even unsuccessful litigation as an effective way of pressuring governments to be more ambitious about averting climate catastrophe .
Over 1,500 climate-related cases were brought in 28 countries , mostly in the United States , between 2007 and 2020 , according to Joana Setzer , a fellow at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics .
Most defendants are governments , but lawsuits are increasingly targeting bid oil and gas companies , she said .

An Oslo appeals court approved Norway's plans for more oil exploration in the Arctic on Thursday, dismissing a lawsuit by environmentalists who had said it violated people's right to a healthy environment.
The verdict upheld a ruling made by a lower court, rejecting arguments by Greenpeace and the Nature and Youth group that a 2015-2016 oil licensing round that gave awards to Equinor and others had breached Norway's constitution.
"The verdict is unanimous," the Borgarting Appeals Court said in its written decision.
But unlike the original district court decision, which found that the use of Norwegian oil by foreign customers was not relevant to the case, the appeals court found that such use abroad should in fact be part of the consideration.
However, the argument was not enough for the court to find in favor of the environmental groups, Borgarting concluded.
Greenpeace immediately said it would appeal the case to Norway's supreme court.
The lawsuit is seen as part of an emerging branch of law worldwide where plaintiffs seek to use a nation's founding principles to make the case for curbing emissions.
The green groups argued the government decision contravened local and international law. They cited article 112 of Norway's constitution, which guarantees the right of current and future generations to a healthy and sustainable environment, as well as the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming.
"The court's verdict is a big step in the right direction, and the reason is that the right to a healthy environment according to the constitution is acknowledged by the court of appeal," Greenpeace Norway chief Frode Pleym told reporters.
"The court of appeal also acknowledges that the emissions from Norwegian oil burned abroad are relevant," he added.
Oil and gas extraction has helped make Norway one of the wealthiest nations on earth, with the third-highest per-capita gross domestic product and a $1.1 trillion sovereign wealth fund stemming from petroleum income.
The government handed out 10 Arctic exploration permits in the contested 23rd licensing round, including three in the southeastern part of the Barents Sea, near Norway's border with Russia.
Norway's energy ministry welcomed the verdict.
"The court agrees with the state that the Barents Sea petroleum activity does not contravene the constitution," the ministry said in a statement.
Oil companies have already drilled exploration wells in some licenses, but have not made any significant discoveries.
Aker BP plans to drill a well in one license later this year.
A win at the appeals court could have set a precedent for other climate cases globally, while limiting exploration by western Europe's biggest oil and gas producer, the plaintiffs said at the outset of the trial.
But while environmental groups said more petroleum resources had already been discovered than could be exploited without breaching the Paris goals, the government argued that any decision to drill was for parliament to make, not the courts.
There has been a surge in climate-related lawsuits in recent years, with campaigners viewing even unsuccessful litigation as an effective way of pressuring governments to be more ambitious about averting climate catastrophe.
Over 1,500 climate-related cases were brought in 28 countries, mostly in the United States, between 2007 and 2020, according to Joana Setzer, a fellow at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics.
Most defendants are governments, but lawsuits are increasingly targeting bid oil and gas companies, she said.
New lawsuits draw on advancements in attribution science, which can find causal links between carbon emissions and climate-related damage.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--China SARS fighter returns to spotlight in coronavirus battle

Zhong Nanshan , despite his advanced age , was appointed to lead the National Health Commission 's investigation into the new virus , which has rattled millions of Chinese who are traveling for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday , which starts on Saturday , and jolted global markets .
His announcement on Monday that the virus could spread between humans - local officials had previously said the possibility of such transmission was limited - ratcheted up worries about the outbreak .
The same night , Chinese President Xi Jinping called for resolute action to curb the spread .
Zhong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ muscle-bound physique - photos of him lifting weights are widely circulated online - became a household name in 2003 , when China was accused of covering up a major outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) .
On Tuesday , he told a press briefing in the southern city of Guangzhou , where he is based , that the government had been forthright about reporting cases and has been transparent in managing the outbreak .
Early on Thursday , officials in Wuhan , a metropolis of 11 million people , closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus - a move that sources said Zhong had advocated for .
Zhong and the National Health Commission could not immediately be reached for comment .
During the new virus outbreak , Beijing has warned officials that they face public shame if they cover up any infections .
That marks a departure from 2003 , when in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion , Zhong , a respiratory diseases specialist , gave media his candid , pessimistic assessment of the severity of the SARS crisis .
Footage from the time shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understood about SARS ' source , transmission and treatment .
In a 2016 documentary by state broadcaster CCTV , which praised Zhong for `` daring to treat and daring to speak , '' Zhong recalled a journalist asking amid the SARS outbreak whether the disease was under control .
`` I could n't help myself .
I said it 's not at all under control . ''
As many as 774 people died in the SARS epidemic , which reached nearly 30 countries .
Zhong was instrumental in China 's efforts to understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left China 's health authorities struggling to rebuild public trust , Zhong was hailed for his integrity and has remained a public figure ever since , weighing in on public health issues such as air pollution and food safety .

The public face of China's effort to control a new strain of coronavirus, which has killed 17 and infected nearly 600, is an 83-year-old doctor who became a household name 17 years ago for "daring to speak" in the fight against SARS.
Zhong Nanshan, despite his advanced age, was appointed to lead the National Health Commission's investigation into the new virus, which has rattled millions of Chinese who are traveling for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on Saturday, and jolted global markets.
His announcement on Monday that the virus could spread between humans - local officials had previously said the possibility of such transmission was limited - ratcheted up worries about the outbreak. The same night, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for resolute action to curb the spread.
Zhong, who is also well-known for his muscle-bound physique - photos of him lifting weights are widely circulated online - became a household name in 2003, when China was accused of covering up a major outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
On Tuesday, he told a press briefing in the southern city of Guangzhou, where he is based, that the government had been forthright about reporting cases and has been transparent in managing the outbreak.
Early on Thursday, officials in Wuhan, a metropolis of 11 million people, closed off transport links to prevent the spread of the virus - a move that sources said Zhong had advocated for.
Zhong and the National Health Commission could not immediately be reached for comment.
During the new virus outbreak, Beijing has warned officials that they face public shame if they cover up any infections.
"DARING TO SPEAK"
That marks a departure from 2003, when in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, Zhong, a respiratory diseases specialist, gave media his candid, pessimistic assessment of the severity of the SARS crisis.
Footage from the time shows him telling journalists how little was then understood about SARS' source, transmission and treatment.
In a 2016 documentary by state broadcaster CCTV, which praised Zhong for "daring to treat and daring to speak," Zhong recalled a journalist asking amid the SARS outbreak whether the disease was under control.
"I couldn't help myself. I said it's not at all under control."
As many as 774 people died in the SARS epidemic, which reached nearly 30 countries.
Zhong was instrumental in China's efforts to understand and combat the virus.
While SARS left China's health authorities struggling to rebuild public trust, Zhong was hailed for his integrity and has remained a public figure ever since, weighing in on public health issues such as air pollution and food safety.
"What's the point of being the world's number one in GDP if eating, drinking, and breathing are all in doubt?" he said in an interview with Chinese media in 2013.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Egypt starts screening travelers from China for new coronavirus

There are doctors and health monitors in arrival halls equipped with medical devices needed to examine passengers coming from China @ @ @ @ @ Flight attendants have also been instructed to report any coronavirus suspected cases among travelers and @ @ @ @ @ isolated and sent to hospital , the sources added .

Egypt's Cairo airport started screening passengers arriving from China for signs of the new coronavirus outbreak, airport sources said on Thursday.
There are doctors and health monitors in arrival halls equipped with medical devices needed to examine passengers coming from China, the sources said.
Flight attendants have also been instructed to report any coronavirus suspected cases among travelers and any suspected cases would be isolated and sent to hospital, the sources added.
All airports in Egypt are on high alert and have received the same instructions, but most of the flights coming from China arrive in Cairo airport, the sources said.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Cardinal Kurt Koch visits the Western Wall

Cardinal Kurt Koch, who is in Jerusalem to participate in the Fifth World Holocaust Forum representing the Holy See, visited the Western Wall and other holy sites on Thursday morning.The cardinal, who heads the Pontifical Council for Promoting Cristian Unity, has visited Jerusalem several times in the past, including as part of the delegation that came with Pope Benedict in 2009.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--World Court orders Myanmar to impose measures to protect Rohingya

In a victory for Gambia , which filed the case accusing Myanmar of genocide , the panel of 17 judges @ @ @ @ @ Myanmar to protect any evidence of crimes that could be used by the court in @ @ @

The International Court of Justice on Thursday ordered Myanmar to take sweeping provisional measures to protect its Muslim Rohingya population and avoid acts that could constitute genocide.
In a victory for Gambia, which filed the case accusing Myanmar of genocide, the panel of 17 judges unanimously supported imposing measures on Myanmar to protect any evidence of crimes that could be used by the court in later hearings.
The Rohingya remain "at serious risk of genocide," the court found, ordering Myanmar to report back within four months on the steps it had taken to comply with its decision.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--China's Huanggang suspends public transport, closes indoor venues over coronavirus

Authorities have also mandated that indoor entertainment venues including movie theaters and internet cafes be closed by the same deadline @ @ @ @ @ not to leave the city other than under special circumstances , the broadcaster said .

China's Huanggang city is suspending its public bus and railway system from the end of Thursday due to the coronavirus outbreak, the city's public television said.
Authorities have also mandated that indoor entertainment venues including movie theaters and internet cafes be closed by the same deadline, and are asking citizens not to leave the city other than under special circumstances, the broadcaster said.
Huanggang is close to Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of the outbreak. Wuhan's city government shut all urban transport networks and suspended outgoing flights from 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Thursday.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Dubai to screen passengers on China flights amid virus outbreak

Dubai will screen passengers arriving on direct flights from China, the emirate's airport operator said on Thursday, as the coronavirus outbreak in China that has killed 17 spreads.Passengers arriving at Dubai International, the world's third busiest airport, will be thermally screened, Dubai Airports said.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Myanmar leader Suu Kyi says Rohingya 'exaggerated' abuses

In an opinion piece published in the Financial Times ahead of an initial International Court of Justice ruling on the @ @ @ @ @ was the victim of `` unsubstantiated narratives '' by human rights groups and U.N investigators @ @ @ @ @ country could itself punish perpetrators through domestic mechanisms .

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Thursday that "war crimes" may have been committed against Rohingya Muslims but denied genocide, saying refugees had "exaggerated" the extent of abuses against them.
In an opinion piece published in the Financial Times ahead of an initial International Court of Justice ruling on the issue, she said Myanmar was the victim of "unsubstantiated narratives" by human rights groups and U.N investigators.
She also said the country could itself punish perpetrators through domestic mechanisms.
The ICJ is ruling on Thursday on a request by Gambia for emergency measures in Myanmar to halt violence immediately against Rohingya, to protect the ethnic minority and to preserve evidence of past abuses.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Russian lawmakers back Putin's sweeping government reforms in first vote

Russia's lower house of parliament backed sweeping constitutional reform legislation put forward by President Vladimir Putin in a preliminary vote on Thursday, the Interfax news agency reported.Putin's proposed reforms are widely seen as giving him scope to retain influence once his current term expires in 2024, though he said at the weekend he did not favor the Soviet-era practice of having leaders for life who die in office.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Militants set off car bombs, storm army positions in Syria's Idlib

Militants in Syria set off car bombs and used heavy gunfire to storm army positions in Idlib on Thursday, state news agency SANA reported.The militant attack forced the army to redeploy and clashes were ongoing, SANA added.Idlib is the last rebel-held swathe of territory in the country and hundreds of thousands of people in the area have fled in recent weeks amid heavy airstrikes by Russian and Syrian forces.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Coronavirus spotlights Japan contagion risks as Tokyo Olympics loom

The disease that has killed 17 people and infected almost 600 has already affected Olympics-related events in China , with the cancellation of boxing matches set for the city of Wuhan , seen as the epicenter of the outbreak , and women 's soccer qualifiers shifted to Nanjing .
.
Although Japan has seen just one case , the outbreak highlights the risk of contagion given the millions of visitors expected for the Summer Games .
`` We have to be very careful about what kind of infectious diseases will appear at the Tokyo Olympics , '' Kazuhiro Tateda , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diseases , told a briefing on Wednesday .
`` At these kinds of mass gatherings , the risks increase that infectious diseases and resistant bacteria can be carried in . ''
Organizers of the Summer Games said they were working with authorities .
`` Countermeasures against infectious diseases constitute an important part of our plans to host a safe and secure games , '' Tokyo 2020 said in a statement .
It would not be the first time that fears of disease have clouded Olympic preparations .
In 2016 , the Zika virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the postponement or relocation of the games in Brazil .
They went ahead as scheduled .
Japan on Thursday raised its infectious disease advisory level for Wuhan , urging citizens to avoid non-urgent trips .
Until recently , Japanese health authorities were more concerned about beefing up routine vaccinations before foreign visitors arrive this summer .
A patchwork policy toward inoculation over the past few decades has left large portions of the Japanese population unprotected against common diseases .
Outbreaks of rubella , which can cause birth defects , prompted the CDC to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 .
Ahead of the Olympics , the health ministry has been conducting catch-up vaccinations of middle-aged men who were left out of rubella vaccinations in the 1970s and 1980s .
Japan has no mandatory vaccination for mumps , which in other parts of the world is usually bundled with measles and rubella in MMR shots .
Japan is fourth in the world in mumps cases , after China , Nepal and Burkina Faso , according to WHO data .
As for the coronavirus , the dangers of public panic and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease itself , said Ikuo Tsunoda , professor of microbiology at Kindai University .
He compared it to the mad cow disease scare in the early 2000s that prompted Japan to ban beef imports from the United States and other countries despite little evidence of human transmission .
`` This coronavirus , of course it 's somewhat deadly , but uncertain or inaccurate information spreads so quickly , '' Tsunoda said .

An outbreak of a new virus in China has raised fears of a global pandemic, forcing Japan to confront the possibility of deadly contagion and disruption as it prepares to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
The disease that has killed 17 people and infected almost 600 has already affected Olympics-related events in China, with the cancellation of boxing matches set for the city of Wuhan, seen as the epicenter of the outbreak, and women's soccer qualifiers shifted to Nanjing. .
Although Japan has seen just one case, the outbreak highlights the risk of contagion given the millions of visitors expected for the Summer Games.
"We have to be very careful about what kind of infectious diseases will appear at the Tokyo Olympics," Kazuhiro Tateda, president of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, told a briefing on Wednesday.
"At these kinds of mass gatherings, the risks increase that infectious diseases and resistant bacteria can be carried in."
Organizers of the Summer Games said they were working with authorities.
"Countermeasures against infectious diseases constitute an important part of our plans to host a safe and secure games," Tokyo 2020 said in a statement.
It would not be the first time that fears of disease have clouded Olympic preparations.
In 2016, the Zika virus prompted some health experts to call for the postponement or relocation of the games in Brazil. They went ahead as scheduled.
Japan on Thursday raised its infectious disease advisory level for Wuhan, urging citizens to avoid non-urgent trips.
PATCHWORK VACCINATION
Until recently, Japanese health authorities were more concerned about beefing up routine vaccinations before foreign visitors arrive this summer. A patchwork policy toward inoculation over the past few decades has left large portions of the Japanese population unprotected against common diseases.
Outbreaks of rubella, which can cause birth defects, prompted the CDC to warn pregnant women about traveling to Japan in 2018. Ahead of the Olympics, the health ministry has been conducting catch-up vaccinations of middle-aged men who were left out of rubella vaccinations in the 1970s and 1980s.
Japan has no mandatory vaccination for mumps, which in other parts of the world is usually bundled with measles and rubella in MMR shots. Japan is fourth in the world in mumps cases, after China, Nepal and Burkina Faso, according to WHO data.
As for the coronavirus, the dangers of public panic and the resulting economic fallout may be greater than the disease itself, said Ikuo Tsunoda, professor of microbiology at Kindai University.
He compared it to the mad cow disease scare in the early 2000s that prompted Japan to ban beef imports from the United States and other countries despite little evidence of human transmission.
"This coronavirus, of course it's somewhat deadly, but uncertain or inaccurate information spreads so quickly," Tsunoda said.
"Rather than the virus itself, rumors make the public panic, and that causes a mess."


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Passengers from China's Wuhan arriving in Rome checked for coronavirus

Passengers on a China Southern Airlines flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan arriving at Rome's Fiumicino airport early on Thursday were checked for signs of coronavirus, an airport spokesman said.The check on the 202 passengers and crew was the first since Italian health authorities ordered special control measures to prevent transmission of the virus this week. There was no information on any possible suspected cases.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Iran welcomes dialog with Gulf neighbors - foreign minister tweets

`` Iran remains open to dialog with its neighbors and we announce our readiness to participate in any complementary work @ @ @ @ @ of the region , '' Zarif wrote in Arabic on Twitter .

Iran welcomes dialog with its Gulf neighbors, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday, amid heightened tension in the Middle East.
"Iran remains open to dialog with its neighbors and we announce our readiness to participate in any complementary work that is in the interest of the region," Zarif wrote in Arabic on Twitter.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--China's latest virus outbreak exposes perils of exotic wildlife trade

China 's markets , where wild and often poached animals are packed together , have been described as a breeding ground for disease and an incubator for a multitude of viruses to evolve and jump the species barrier to humans .
More than 500 people have been infected by the new flu-like virus that authorities say emerged from illegally traded wildlife in a seafood market in the central Chinese city , with the death toll at 17 and expected to rise .
`` The origin of the new coronavirus is the wildlife sold illegally in a Wuhan seafood market , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Disease Control and Prevention , told a briefing .
Preliminary research suggested that in the most recent stage of its evolution , the Wuhan virus was passed on to humans from snakes .
But Chinese government medical adviser Zhong Nanshan has also identified badgers and rats as possible sources .
Conservationists and health experts have long denounced the trade in wildlife for its impact on biodiversity and the potential for spreading disease in markets .
`` The animal welfare part of this is obvious , but much more hidden is this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together in a very small area , with secretions and urine mixed up together , '' said Christian Walzer , executive director of the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society .
China 's wet markets have already been blamed for outbreaks of other infectious diseases in China and southeast Asia , including the virus responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) , which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003 .
`` The other thing you have to consider is that these animals are massively stressed in these cages so their immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walzer .
`` It is a perfect system .
You could n't do it any better if you tried , '' Walzer said of the markets ' propensity to generate viruses .
Photographs taken at the Wuhan market before it was closed at the end of last year show cages packed with snakes , porcupines and foxes .
Media said about 50 types of wild animal were on sale at the market , including endangered pangolins .
According to a report by the China Business Journal , a state-owned paper that interviewed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , snakes , ducks and wild rabbits were popular at the market .
Since the outbreak began , authorities in Wuhan and elsewhere have shut down markets , zoos and forest parks , suspended trade in live poultry and the trade and transport of wild animals , though residents in some areas said the measures appeared to be largely symbolic .
The southeastern province of Guangdong , where a wide variety of animals are sold , has long been regarded as a prime source of new diseases .
Scientists believe SARS was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - with the blame initially falling on masked palm civets , which are considered a delicacy .
Authorities slaughtered thousands of the animals although bats were later believed to have been the source of SARS .
After SARS , China tried to improve the way the animal trade is regulated .
At the same time , authorities have tried to curb the poaching of exotic species and has a long list of officially protected wildlife .
But efforts to protect animals often lose out to generations of tradition .
Environmentalists have long campaigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of wild animals in Chinese medicine and to develop synthetic alternatives .
But many animal products are still easily available .
Snakes , peacocks and even crocodiles are on sale via Taobao , a Chinese e-commerce website run by Alibaba .
Reuters contacted an Inner Mongolia resident named Gong Jian who sells snake , camel , crocodile and deer meat via WeChat .
Given booming business , he said he was aiming to expand his online marketing .

A new coronavirus spreading from the city of Wuhan has put a spotlight on China's poorly regulated wild animal trade - driven by relentless demand for exotic delicacies and ingredients for traditional medicine.
China's markets, where wild and often poached animals are packed together, have been described as a breeding ground for disease and an incubator for a multitude of viruses to evolve and jump the species barrier to humans.
More than 500 people have been infected by the new flu-like virus that authorities say emerged from illegally traded wildlife in a seafood market in the central Chinese city, with the death toll at 17 and expected to rise.
"The origin of the new coronavirus is the wildlife sold illegally in a Wuhan seafood market," Gao Fu, director of China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told a briefing.
Preliminary research suggested that in the most recent stage of its evolution, the Wuhan virus was passed on to humans from snakes. But Chinese government medical adviser Zhong Nanshan has also identified badgers and rats as possible sources.
Conservationists and health experts have long denounced the trade in wildlife for its impact on biodiversity and the potential for spreading disease in markets.
"The animal welfare part of this is obvious, but much more hidden is this stashing and mixing of all these species together in a very small area, with secretions and urine mixed up together," said Christian Walzer, executive director of the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society.
China's wet markets have already been blamed for outbreaks of other infectious diseases in China and southeast Asia, including the virus responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003.
"The other thing you have to consider is that these animals are massively stressed in these cages so their immune systems fail very quickly," said Walzer.
"It is a perfect system. You couldn't do it any better if you tried," Walzer said of the markets' propensity to generate viruses.
MARKET FORCES
Photographs taken at the Wuhan market before it was closed at the end of last year show cages packed with snakes, porcupines and foxes. Media said about 50 types of wild animal were on sale at the market, including endangered pangolins.
According to a report by the China Business Journal, a state-owned paper that interviewed the sister of a vendor infected by the virus, snakes, ducks and wild rabbits were popular at the market.
Since the outbreak began, authorities in Wuhan and elsewhere have shut down markets, zoos and forest parks, suspended trade in live poultry and the trade and transport of wild animals, though residents in some areas said the measures appeared to be largely symbolic.
The southeastern province of Guangdong, where a wide variety of animals are sold, has long been regarded as a prime source of new diseases.
Scientists believe SARS was caused by cross-species transmission in the province - with the blame initially falling on masked palm civets, which are considered a delicacy.
Authorities slaughtered thousands of the animals although bats were later believed to have been the source of SARS.
After SARS, China tried to improve the way the animal trade is regulated. At the same time, authorities have tried to curb the poaching of exotic species and has a long list of officially protected wildlife.
But efforts to protect animals often lose out to generations of tradition.
Environmentalists have long campaigned for new laws to restrict the use of wild animals in Chinese medicine and to develop synthetic alternatives.
But many animal products are still easily available.
Snakes, peacocks and even crocodiles are on sale via Taobao, a Chinese e-commerce website run by Alibaba.
Reuters contacted an Inner Mongolia resident named Gong Jian who sells snake, camel, crocodile and deer meat via WeChat.
Given booming business, he said he was aiming to expand his online marketing.
"Customers really like the crocodile - they stew it," he said.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 strikes city of Adak in Alaska

The quake was at a depth of 10 km , according to USGS .

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck 81 kilometers (50 miles) west of the city of Adak in Alaska, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday.
The quake was at a depth of 10 km, according to USGS.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Magnitude 5.5 quake strikes northern Argentina - USGS

An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck northern Argentina on Thursday close to the town of El Hoyo but, the U.S. Geological Survey said.The quake, located 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of the town, was very deep, some 560.4 kilometers (348.2 miles) below the surface, and unlikely to cause any damage.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Hezbollah base in Iraq attacked by airstrike - report

A Hezbollah military base in Iraq was attacked by airstrike on Thursday night, according to initial reports.This is a developing story.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Labor chairman Shmuli: Israel won’t be able to ‘digest’ lands it annexes

Labor chairman Itzik Shmuli responded to Thursday news reports about the US Deal of the Century by saying “ even @ @ @ @ @ to the annexation won ’ t allow Israel to digest what it can not swallow.
@ @ @ @ @ being reported is not a chance for peace but an “ incendiary bang ” he @ @ @ @ @ to deal with “ millions of Palestinians ” currently in the lands it wishes to @ @

Labor chairman Itzik Shmuli responded to Thursday news reports about the US Deal of the Century by saying “even [an] American permit to the annexation won’t allow Israel to digest what it cannot swallow.”
Warning that what is being reported is not a chance for peace but an “incendiary bang” he argued Israel will be unable to deal with “millions of Palestinians” currently in the lands it wishes to control.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--40-year old woman stabbed in Jerusalem

40-year old woman stabbed in Jerusalem

A woman in her 40 ’ s was stabbed on Thursday in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ein Karem by another @ @ @ @ @ Hadassah University Hospital , Mako reported .

A woman in her 40’s was stabbed on Thursday in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ein Karem by another woman and was taken to Hadassah University Hospital, Mako reported.
Police arrested the alleged stabber and is currently investigating her.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Red alert heard in Nir Am, Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council

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Red alerts have sounded in Nir Am, the Gaza border communities, Sha'ar haNegev regional council on Thursday evening.No casualties were reported, one rocket landed in agriculture fields.The alerts were sounded following news reports concerning the so-called Deal of the Century suggested by US President Donald Trump.IDF Spokesperson unit reported that the cause of the alert sounding was an explosion within the Gaza Strip, as the rocket did not pose a danger to any Gaza Border community and should not have set off any alarms.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Trump welcomes Netanyahu, Gantz to a Tuesday White House meeting

US President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz ahead of their planned Tuesday visit in the White House to learn more about the Deal of the Century, a press release reported on Thursday."The United States and Israel are strong partners," the press release reported, "and the Prime Minister’s visit is an opportunity to discuss our shared regional and national security interests."


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Macron: France knows exactly what it owes those who resisted the Nazis

French President Emmanuel Macron said during his Thursday speech at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum that “France knows exactly what it owes” those who hid Jewish children and adults from the authorities during the Vichy government.
Calling those who survived “heroes” he vowed “never again” to a standing ovation from the crowd.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Putin met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem on Thursday following his speech at the fifth Holocaust forum, Channel 7 reported.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--IDF increases West Bank security amid speculations of peace plan roll out

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief political rival, Benny Gantz, are expected to be at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the “Deal of the Century” with US President Donald Trump.Preliminary reports Thursday indicated that the plan would give Israel sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and all the settlements and make Jerusalem the capital of Israel.Shortly thereafter Trump tweeted: “The United States looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister @Netanyahu & Blue & White Chairman @Gantzbe to the @WhiteHouse next week. Reports about details and timing of our closely-held peace plan are purely speculative.”At a meeting at the US Embassy in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, US Vice President Mike Pence invited Netanyahu and Gantz to Washington to discuss “regional issues as well as the prospect of peace in the Holy Land.”“The United States and Israel are strong partners, and the Prime Minister’s visit is an opportunity to discuss our shared regional and national security interests,” the White House said in a subsequent statement.“We’ve had no better friend than President Trump,” Netanyahu said following the invitation. “That friendship is expressed in the fact that we’re in the American Embassy in Jerusalem, that Jerusalem was recognized by President Trump as Israel’s capital, that President Trump has recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and now, with this invitation, I think that the president is seeking to give Israel peace and security, the peace and security that it deserves.“So, I gladly accept your invitation, his invitation to come to Washington and discuss with him his ideas on how to advance peace and to work closely with him to advance that goal,” the prime minister said. “With such friends in the White House, with such backing from the United States, we should get as broad a consensus as possible around the efforts to achieve security and peace, peace and security for the State of Israel.”KAN News speculated that the US plan allows for Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and settlements in Area C, as well as a for a demilitarized Palestinian state incorporating open portions of Area C.Channel 12 reported that apart from 15 isolated settlements, all of them will be linked contiguously, and Israel will be able to apply sovereignty immediately if it agrees to the plan. Moreover, Jerusalem would be undivided under Israeli control. In addition, all of Israel’s security demands were accepted.The peace plan includes demanding that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, demilitarize the Gaza Strip and take away Hamas’s weapons, and recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Channel 12 reported.Under the plan, Palestinians reportedly will not have control of any borders.The US peace team headed by special adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Avi Berkowitz was expected to visit Israel this week to discuss the plan. However, the team canceled the trip at the last minute.The IDF reported on Thursday that it had increased security in the West Bank amid expectations of the rollout, expecting a potential violent escalation.A source close to Gantz said he saw the plan and does not think it will be politically damaging to him.News of the plan and its rollout was met with mixed reactions.Defense Minister Naftali Bennett responded that his right-wing Yamina Party would not allow any territory to be ceded to Arabs or for a Palestinian state to be established.“Israel may be facing a historic opportunity along with significant dangers,” he said.Beit El Council head Shai Alon warned that the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank would create a second war front with the Palestinians, akin to Gaza.“According to reports, we are talking about recognition of a Palestinian state,” he said. “If that is correct, we are talking about a second Gaza war [in the West Bank] that will take place in the heart of the nation. We will see missiles on Kfar Saba, Ra’anana, Hadera and other areas of Gush Dan.“The creation of a Palestinian state between the Jordan Valley and the sea will [push] the region to new heights of terrorism and violence that we have never known and do not want to know,” Alon said.However, the settler movement largely celebrated the potential upcoming move.“This is a dramatic historic moment,” Yesha head and Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Elhayani said. He called it a “huge diplomatic achievement for the prime minister.“The application of Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, the [northwestern part of the] Dead Sea and settlements in Judea and Samaria is the fulfillment of the Zionist dream and a fateful moment in the history of the settlement movement,” Elhayani said.News of the possible imminent publication of the plan comes as Netanyahu is under pressure from Yamina to take steps as early as next week to annex the Jordan Valley and the Megilot region of the Dead Sea. However, sources said the White House had asked the prime minister to hold off on any unilateral moves until after publication of the US plan.Joint List leader Ayman Odeh said: “I don’t yet know what the ‘Deal of the Century’ includes, but I know full well what is the tragedy of the century: The solution for the [Arab-Israeli] conflict has been known for years, but the governments of Israel prefer [the Jewish settlements of] Ofra and Yitzhar to ending the occupation and a peaceful future of our children.”He said Netanyahu and Trump are attempting to “save each other” from their respective legal difficulties.Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi called the American invitation extended to Netanyahu and Gantz to visit the White House and learn the details of the deal “active participation in the Likud elections campaign.”“Never did a foreign element [such as the US] get so involved in the Israeli elections,” he said.“No American administration will be able to extinguish the aspiration of a people [Palestinians] to rid themselves of an occupier [Israel] and win its freedom,” Tibi said.


jerusalempost--2020-01-23--Mandelblit rejects an appeal to investigate Netanyahu ties with newspaper

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said on Thursday he rejects a request to open an investigation into the relationship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the daily newspaper Yisrael Hayom, Walla reported.He claimed that no evidence was found to justify such an investigation.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--EU's Borrell extends timeline for dispute mechanism on Iran deal

BRUSSELS - The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell on Friday extended the time available to discuss ways to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran under a dispute mechanism triggered by France, Germany and Britain.Britain, France and Germany formally accused Iran on Jan. 14 of violating the terms of its 2015 agreement to curb its nuclear program, which eventually could lead to the reimposing of U.N. sanctions lifted under the deal."There is agreement that more time is needed due to the complexity of the issues involved. The timeline is therefore extended," Borrell said in a statement. Under the agreement between Iran and world powers, Borrell serves as guarantor.Borrell was notified earlier this month by Paris, London and Berlin that they had triggered the dispute mechanism, in theory starting a 15-day process to resolve issues with Iran.There are some questions over when the 15-day period should start because Iran has not formally recognised the consultation process, officials have said.China and Russia are also signatories to the deal signed in Vienna in 2015 and have publicly expressed misgivings about the Europeans' decision to trigger the mechanism. All sides say they want to save the deal, which U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from in May 2018, reimposing economic sanctions on Iran.After months of gradual steps to reduce compliance, Iran said on Jan. 6 it would scrap limits on enriching uranium.Borrell said the joint commission that regulates the Iran nuclear deal will meet in February. He did not give a date.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Large explosion rips through building in Houston, Texas

HOUSTON - A massive explosion ripped through a building in Houston, Texas early on Friday, injuring at least one person, shattering windows and creating a noise heard by people across a wide area, officials and media said.Smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the area around the blast and emergency vehicles converged on the area."This is still an active scene. Avoid the area," Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said on Twitter."We will advise of the possible cause of the explosion as soon as we have concrete info," he said.A hazardous materials team was responding to the area and at least one person was taken to the hospital, the Houston Fire Department said on Twitter.The explosion took place in Gessner Road, in the northwest of the city, Houston police said in a Twitter post.ABC's local affiliate KTRK said residents had reported broken windows and doors from the blast and said at least one person had been seen with injuries.It said the blast appeared to have originated at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, a machining and manufacturing company.The company did not respond to a phone call.The blast occurred at around 4:25 a.m. (1025 GMT).Mike Iscovitz, a meteorologist with the local Fox News channel, said the huge blast had shown up on local weather radar and was felt more than 20 miles (32 km) away."Radar clearly shows this brief FLASH of reflectivity from NW Houston," he tweeted.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Breaking precedent, Trump to attend Washington anti-abortion march

Donald Trump will become the first U.S. president to attend the annual "March for Life" to be held in Washington on Friday, organizers said, underscoring his outspoken support for the anti-abortion movement as it celebrates key legislative gains.Thousands of protesters from around the country were expected to converge in the nation's capital for the event, which began in 1973 after the U.S. Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision, established a woman's constitutional right to get an abortion."See you on Friday ... Big Crowd!" Trump posted on Twitter on Tuesday in response to a tweet from March for Life promoting the event.With the 2020 presidential campaign season heating up, abortion remains one of the most divisive issues in the United States. Opponents cite religious beliefs to declare it immoral, while abortion-rights activists say the procedure is protected by a constitutional guarantee that gives women control over their bodies and futures.About 58% of American adults say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll last year.Even so, anti-abortion advocates made significant legislative strides in 2019. Twenty-five bans on various types of abortions were signed into law, according to the Guttmacher Institute, although many have not taken effect because of pending legal challenges.Conservative lawmakers have said some of the bans were passed with the knowledge that they likely would be struck down in court but with the hope that those rulings might prompt the Supreme Court to review its Roe v. Wade decision.In Roe v. Wade, the court found that certain state laws outlawing abortion were an unconstitutional violation of a woman’s right to privacy, effectively legalizing abortion nationwide.Even though he had declared support for abortion rights years earlier, Trump vowed during his 2016 campaign to appoint Supreme Court justices he believed would overturn Roe. Since his election, he has appointed two justices to the court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, cementing the court’s 5-4 conservative majority."You’ve heard a lot of religious leaders and a lot of Republicans say that this president is the biggest champion for life ... the biggest advocate for the pro-life movement in history," White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told reporters on Thursday.March For Life President Jeanne Mancini said the organization "was deeply honored" to welcome Trump in person, after he delivered televised remarks in support of the anti-abortion movement at the 2019 march. Vice President Mike Pence attended the event in person last year.Past U.S. presidents have opted to stay from the march. Republicans Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both delivered remarks remotely.In June, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on a case that could drastically limit doctors' ability to provide abortions in Louisiana, a Republican stronghold state. The case will test the willingness of the court to uphold Republican-backed abortion restrictions being pursued in numerous conservative states.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Iraq's top cleric calls for formation of new government

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s leading Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged Iraq's political parties on Friday to form a new government as soon as possible, and urged authorities to respect protesters' right to express themselves.Sistani, who delivered his message through a representative at Friday prayer in the holy city of Kerbala, reiterated calls to foreign powers to respect Iraq's sovereignty.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Bulgaria set to expel two Russian diplomats over espionage

SOFIA - Bulgaria is likely to expel two Russian diplomats over spying allegations, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said on Friday."We have received the letters from the prosecutors with the allegations," said Zaharieva. "We will undertake the actions that we are obliged to undertake and will most probably declare them 'persona non grata'."Zaharieva said she would summon the Russian ambassador.Prosecutors had said on Friday that the Russians were engaged in espionage but could not be charged due to diplomatic immunity


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Vladimir Putin appoints former economy minister Maxim Oreshkin as adviser

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday appointed former economy minister Maxim Oreshkin as his adviser following the resignation of his government last week, a Kremlin decree said.Oreshkin, 37, was replaced as economy minister this week by 40-year-old Maxim Reshetnikov, a former regional governor. Putin also named Vladimir Medinsky, who was replaced as culture minister during the reshuffle, as one of his advisers.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Sea of Galilee rises by 4 cm

Sea of Galilee rises by 4 cm

The Sea of Galilee rose by four centimeters on Thursday, reaching -210.49 meters under sea level, according to Ynet.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Shanghai Disney to be closed from Saturday to help prevent spread of virus

BEIJING - The Shanghai government said Shanghai Disneyland will be closed from Saturday to help prevent the spread of a deadly virus that broke out in the Chinese city Wuhan.China is on a seven-day Lunar New Year holiday starting Friday, a period when the Shanghai Disney park would be usually packed with tourists.Last year Shanghai Disney had to stop selling tickets to visitors as the park was overcrowded.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Hermon mountain closed to visitors due to snow

The Hermon mountain was closed to visitors on Friday due to snow collecting on the access road, according to Ynet. About 6 inches (15 cm) of snow fell on the lower part of the mountain.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Air tanker dropped fire retardant shortly before crash that killed 3 US firemen

SYDNEY - An air tanker that crashed in Australia on Thursday killing three U.S. firefighters dropped fire retardant shortly before the fatal accident, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Friday.The C-130 Hercules tanker plane lost contact with authorities while battling blazes in the country's alpine region, known as the Snowy Mountains, located in the country's east."Not long after the aircraft had discharged the retardant the aircraft impacted terrain, killing the three on-board," said ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood, who added that it was too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.Air tankers typically carry 15,000 liters of water or fire retardant for release over blazes in areas that ground crews find hard to reach.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--1 arrested, 2 still wanted for deadly Seattle rush-hour shooting

The arrest of Jamel Jackson , 21 , who was himself wounded , came as Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best pledged an all-out effort to curb gun violence in Seattle , which has long prided itself as one of the nation 's safest large cities .
`` While we are better than many cities when it comes to gun violence , we are not immune to gun violence , '' Durkan told reporters a day after the shooting , which unfolded in the heart of a busy shopping district near Pike Place Market at the peak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altercation outside a fast-food restaurant escalated into gun violence among three men , Chief Best recounted at the news conference .
`` Guns were pulled , shots were fired , people were running and the subjects fled from each other , '' she said .
Scores of shoppers , commuters and pedestrians scurried for cover in the pandemonium , and victims were found spread over an area of a block and a half , officials said .
One woman , about 50 years of age , was pronounced dead at the scene .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene , but no guns have yet been recovered , Best said .
Police detectives viewing video footage recognized one of the armed men as a known gang member and convicted felon who was thus prohibited by law from carrying a gun , Best said .
He was arrested at the hospital where he and six other people had been taken for treatment of gunshot wounds and was booked on unlawful possession of a firearm , police said .
Two other suspects , identified by police as Marquise Tolbert and William Ray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as having lengthy arrest records , remained at large .
Best said they should be considered armed and dangerous .
The shooting marked the third episode of gun violence in two days in the downtown area of Seattle , a city of about 750,000 residents that ranks as the most populous in the Pacific Northwest .

One man was arrested on Thursday and two more were being sought as suspects in a gunfight that erupted the evening before on a busy street in downtown Seattle, leaving one woman dead and six other bystanders wounded, city officials said.
The arrest of Jamel Jackson, 21, who was himself wounded, came as Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best pledged an all-out effort to curb gun violence in Seattle, which has long prided itself as one of the nation's safest large cities.
"While we are better than many cities when it comes to gun violence, we are not immune to gun violence," Durkan told reporters a day after the shooting, which unfolded in the heart of a busy shopping district near Pike Place Market at the peak of Wednesday's evening rush hour.
An altercation outside a fast-food restaurant escalated into gun violence among three men, Chief Best recounted at the news conference.
"Guns were pulled, shots were fired, people were running and the subjects fled from each other," she said.
Scores of shoppers, commuters and pedestrians scurried for cover in the pandemonium, and victims were found spread over an area of a block and a half, officials said. One woman, about 50 years of age, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Twenty shell casings were later collected at the scene, but no guns have yet been recovered, Best said.
Police detectives viewing video footage recognized one of the armed men as a known gang member and convicted felon who was thus prohibited by law from carrying a gun, Best said.
He was arrested at the hospital where he and six other people had been taken for treatment of gunshot wounds and was booked on unlawful possession of a firearm, police said.
Two other suspects, identified by police as Marquise Tolbert and William Ray Tolliver, both aged 24 and described as having lengthy arrest records, remained at large. Best said they should be considered armed and dangerous.
The shooting marked the third episode of gun violence in two days in the downtown area of Seattle, a city of about 750,000 residents that ranks as the most populous in the Pacific Northwest.
But Durkan and Best acknowledged a recent uptick in gang violence, and they vowed to intensify crime prevention and gun-control measures that they credited with helping Seattle police take more than 1,100 guns off city streets last year.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Death toll of Turkish earthquake rises to 18

The death toll of the earthquake in eastern Turkey rose to 18 , local authorities reported on Saturday .
Buildings @ @ @ @ @ region .
The 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Friday , the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre @ @ @ @ @ The quake 's epicenter was in the city of Elazig , 550 kilometers ( 342 @ @ @ @ @ country 's capital , Ankara , at a depth of 10 kilometers ( 6.21 miles @ @ @ @ @ .

ELAZIG, Turkey - Rescue teams working through the night pulled 45 people from collapsed buildings, Turkey's disaster authority said on Sunday, as the death toll from a powerful earthquake in the country's east rose to 35.Rescuers operating in sub-zero temperatures used drills, mechanical diggers and their bare hands to continue the search for survivors at three sites in Elazig province, where the magnitude 6.8 quake struck on Friday evening.It killed 31 people there and four in the neighboring province of Malatya, and was followed by more than 700 aftershocks, Disaster and Emergency Authority AFAD said on Sunday. More than 1,600 sustained injuries.Broadcast footage showed a 35-year-old woman and her infant daughter emerging from rubble in the Mustafa Pasa district of Elazig, some 550 km (340 miles) east of the capital Ankara.Rescuers who heard their screams took several hours to reach them in temperatures as low as -4 degrees Celsius (24.8°F), state media said. The woman's husband was among those who died.AFAD said search and rescue operations were still underway at three different sites in Elazig.Other provinces sent thousands of emergency workers to support rescue efforts, which were also supplemented by hundreds of volunteers, officials said. Tents, beds and blankets were provided to shelter those displaced by the quake.AFAD urged residents not to return to damaged buildings because of the potential risk of collapse. It said officials had identified 645 heavily damaged and 76 collapsed buildings in the two provinces.President Tayyip Erdogan said steel-framed houses would be rapidly built in the region to provide housing for displaced residents. Speaking on Saturday during a visit to Elazig and Malatya, he called the quake a test for Turkey.The country has a history of powerful earthquakes. More than 17,000 people were killed in August 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude quake struck Izmit, a city southeast of Istanbul.In 2011 a quake in the eastern city of Van killed more than 500.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--France confirms first three cases of coronavirus in Europe

France confirmed on Friday its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus , with two patients being hospitalised in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux .
Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news conference authorities had confirmed two cases , Europe 's first , and that more cases were likely to occur in France .
In a separate statement on Friday , the health ministry announced the third case , a relative of one of the first two .
Earlier , the charity SOS Medecins said it had treated one of the cases , a patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a fever and who said he had been in contact with people from Wuhan in China , the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak .
Buzyn said the patient was 48 years old and had returned two days ago from a trip to China which included a stop in Wuhan .
`` He 's been put in an isolated room so as to avoid any contact with the outside world .
He 's fine '' , she said .
Most of the cases and all of the deaths so far have been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on travel and public gatherings .

France confirmed on Friday its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, with two patients being hospitalised in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news conference authorities had confirmed two cases, Europe's first, and that more cases were likely to occur in France.
In a separate statement on Friday, the health ministry announced the third case, a relative of one of the first two.
Earlier, the charity SOS Medecins said it had treated one of the cases, a patient of Chinese origin who was showing symptoms of a fever and who said he had been in contact with people from Wuhan in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.
Buzyn said the patient was 48 years old and had returned two days ago from a trip to China which included a stop in Wuhan.
"He's been put in an isolated room so as to avoid any contact with the outside world. He's fine", she said.
Most of the cases and all of the deaths so far have been in China, where officials have imposed severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Trump thanks Chinese President Xi for efforts to contain Coronavirus

US President Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday using his Twitter account for the efforts undertaken by @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus .
“ China has been working very hard , ” Trump wrote , “ @ @ @ @ @ efforts and transparency ” before adding “ it will all work out well.
” 15 @ @ @ @ @ in the central-China province of Hubei .
So far patients with the virus were reported @ @ @ @ @ and the US .

US President Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday using his Twitter account for the efforts undertaken by his government to contain the coronavirus.
China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020
“China has been working very hard,” Trump wrote, “the US greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency” before adding “it will all work out well.”
15 Coronavirus related deaths were reported in the central-China province of Hubei. So far patients with the virus were reported in France, Mexico, and the US.
More than a dozen pharmacies in Manhattan's Chinatown had run out of face masks or only had a few left on Friday, Reuters reported.
Pharmacists said hundreds of locals had rushed to buy masks for protection from the newly discovered coronavirus that has killed 26 people in China and infected at least 800 others, including a case in Chicago and another near Seattle.


jerusalempost--2020-01-24--Coronavirus worries have surgical masks flying off shelves in New York

Teresa Zhan , a pharmacist in Manhattan 's Chinatown , had not seen protective face masks sell out in her @ @ @ @ @ until this week , when China 's coronavirus arrived in the United States just days @ @ @ @ @ .
More than a dozen pharmacies in the tiny district had run out of face @ @ @ @ @ few left on Friday .
Pharmacists said hundreds of locals had rushed to buy masks @ @ @ @ @ discovered coronavirus that has killed 26 people in China and infected at least 800 others @ @ @ @ @ Chicago and another near Seattle .
`` Everybody 's been coming in the morning and @ @ @ @ @ face masks ?
Do you have face masks ? ''
Zhan said .
During a @ @ @ @ @ will purchase one or two surgical masks at a time to protect themselves from the @ @ @ @ @ `` Now they 're like , give me the whole box , '' she said @

Teresa Zhan, a pharmacist in Manhattan's Chinatown, had not seen protective face masks sell out in her 10 years as an employee until this week, when China's coronavirus arrived in the United States just days before Lunar New Year celebrations.
More than a dozen pharmacies in the tiny district had run out of face masks or only had a few left on Friday. Pharmacists said hundreds of locals had rushed to buy masks for protection from the newly discovered coronavirus that has killed 26 people in China and infected at least 800 others, including a case in Chicago and another near Seattle.
"Everybody's been coming in the morning and saying, do you have face masks? Do you have face masks?" Zhan said.
During a typical flu season, customers will purchase one or two surgical masks at a time to protect themselves from the virus, Zhan said.
"Now they're like, give me the whole box," she said.