france24--2020-01-25--Lebanese protesters rally in Beirut to mark 100 days of demonstrations

Hundreds of Lebanese gathered outside Beirut 's central government building Saturday to reject the newly formed Cabinet and mark 100 days of anti-government demonstrations .
Protesters breached tight security around the building , removing a metal gate and barbed wire and prompting security forces to respond with water cannon and tear gas .
The protesters say the new Cabinet formed this week represents a corrupt long-serving political class they have been protesting against since October .
Dozens pulled at barbed wire and a metal gate erected between them and security forces guarding the central government building , known as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at security forces , who used water cannon and tear gas to push rioters back .
Hundreds of other protesters filled the street leading to the building .
Blast walls and large cement blocks had been erected behind the barbed wire and soldiers stood on alert a few meters ( yards ) away .
Some protesters scaled those walls and taunted the soldiers .
One waved a large Lebanese flag .
After nearly an hour of clashes , protesters managed to breach the metal gate further .
Security forces fired tear gas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area with intense volleys of tear gas.A man carrying a toddler stood in front of security forces with a raised hand , screaming at security and protesters alike to stop .
But he was sprayed with a stream of water , spurring a journalist to run and grab the shaken little girl from his arms and sprint away .
The clashes stopped briefly.Central Beirut has metamorphosed into a security zone as riot police and soldiers have been heavily deployed , barricades and checkpoints erected .
Security measures prevented protesters from reaching the parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a flash point in recent days for confrontations between protesters and security .
Many shops in the area were installing metal sheets over their windows after clashes left some damaged.The crowd congregated in central Beirut after a day of peaceful marches through different areas of the capital dubbed “ No Confidence.
” Hundreds of protesters urged people to join their rallies.After a new government was formed Tuesday , security forces installed new barriers and metal gates around official buildings and beefed up their presence.After more than 100 days of nationwide protesting against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are divided over whether to continue protesting or give the new Cabinet a chance as the country faces its most dire economic crisis in decades.Protesters on Saturday said the new government is a continuation of the old system .
Although it is made up of experts , it still reflects the powerful political class that has dominated the country since the 1975-1990 civil war .
“ They are the same people , ” one man shouted to a local TV station.The new government is backed by the militant Hezbollah group and its allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 .
But other powerful parties , including that of resigned prime minister Saad Hariri and two Christian parties , are not represented.The peaceful , jubilant protests that characterized the first three months of the uprising have turned violent and a worsening financial crisis is taking its toll .
Many protesters Saturday sought to distance themselves from the violence , some chanting : “ Our protest is peaceful.
” More than 400 protesters and 100 security forces were injured over two nights of clashes last weekend outside the parliament building .
Protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security forces who responded with rubber bullets , tear gas and water cannon .

Hundreds of Lebanese gathered outside Beirut's central government building Saturday to reject the newly formed Cabinet and mark 100 days of anti-government demonstrations. Protesters breached tight security around the building, removing a metal gate and barbed wire, and prompting security forces to respond with water cannon and tear gas.
A demonstrator holds the Lebanese flag during a protest against the newly formed government outside the government headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon January 25, 2020.
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The protesters say the new Cabinet formed this week represents a corrupt long-serving political class they have been protesting against since October.
Dozens pulled at barbed wire and a metal gate erected between them and security forces guarding the central government building, known as the Serail. They hurled stones and firecrackers at security forces, who used water cannon and tear gas to push rioters back. Hundreds of other protesters filled the street leading to the building.
Blast walls and large cement blocks had been erected behind the barbed wire and soldiers stood on alert a few metres away. Some protesters scaled those walls and taunted the soldiers. One waved a large Lebanese flag.
Live from outside the Grand Serail in #Beirut, where protests are trying to break past barricades. https://t.co/jZ0RdyDASc — Timour Azhari (@timourazhari) January 25, 2020
After nearly an hour of clashes, protesters managed to breach the metal gate further. Security forces fired tear gas and then chased the protesters out of the area with intense volleys of tear gas.
A man carrying a toddler stood in front of security forces with a raised hand, screaming at security and protesters alike to stop. But he was sprayed with a stream of water, spurring a journalist to run and grab the shaken little girl from his arms and sprint away. The clashes stopped briefly.
Central Beirut has metamorphosed into a security zone as riot police and soldiers have been heavily deployed, barricades and checkpoints erected. Security measures prevented protesters from reaching the parliament area down the street, which has become a flash point in recent days for confrontations between protesters and security. Many shops in the area were installing metal sheets over their windows after clashes left some damaged.
The crowd congregated in central Beirut after a day of peaceful marches through different areas of the capital dubbed “No Confidence”. Hundreds of protesters urged people to join their rallies.
Out with the old, in with the... old?
After a new government was formed Tuesday, security forces installed new barriers and metal gates around official buildings and beefed up their presence.
After more than 100 days of nationwide protesting against the country's political class, the Lebanese are divided over whether to continue protesting or give the new Cabinet a chance as the country faces its most dire economic crisis in decades.
Protesters on Saturday said the new government is a continuation of the old system. Although it is made up of experts, it still reflects the powerful political class that has dominated the country since the 1975-1990 civil war.
“They are the same people,” one man shouted to a local TV station.
The new government is backed by the militant Hezbollah group and its allies who dominate the current parliament, elected in 2018. But other powerful parties, including that of resigned prime minister Saad Hariri and two Christian parties, are not represented.
The peaceful, jubilant protests that characterised the first three months of the uprising have turned violent and a worsening financial crisis is taking its toll. Many protesters Saturday sought to distance themselves from the violence, some chanting: “Our protest is peaceful.”
More than 400 protesters and 100 security forces were injured over two nights of clashes last weekend outside the parliament building. Protesters hurled stones, firecrackers and flares at security forces who responded with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)
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france24--2020-01-25--China virus death toll rises to 42, more than 1,400 infected worldwide

Pictures uploaded to social media on January 25 , 2020 by the Central Hospital of Wuhan show medical staff attending to a patient , in Wuhan , China .
President Xi Jinping said China was facing a “ grave situation ” as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped to 42 , overshadowing celebrations of the Lunar New Year that began on Saturday .
With more than 1,400 people infected worldwide , most of them in China , Hong Kong declared a virus emergency , scrapped celebrations and restricted links to mainland China .
Australia confirmed its first four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and France reported Europe ’ s first cases on Friday , as health authorities around the world scrambled to prevent a pandemic .
The United States is arranging a charter flight on Sunday to bring its citizens and diplomats back from Wuhan , the central Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak , the Wall Street Journal reported .
In Hong Kong , with five confirmed cases , the city ’ s leader Carrie Lam said flights and high speed rail trips between the city and Wuhan will be halted .
Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lunar New Year holidays will remain closed until Feb. 17 .
Xi held a politburo meeting on Saturday on measures to fight the « accelerating » outbreak , state television reported .
As of 8 p.m. local time ( 1200 GMT ) on Saturday , the death toll in China had risen to 42 , authorities reported .
Some 1,372 people in China had been infected with the virus - traced to a seafood market in Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife .
The virus has also been detected in Thailand , Vietnam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Taiwan , Nepal , and the United States .
In Hubei province , where Wuhan is located , officials appealed for masks and protective suits .
`` We are steadily pushing forward the disease control and prevention ...
But right now we are facing an extremely severe public health crisis , '' Hu Yinghai , deputy director-general of the Civil Affairs Department , told a news briefing .
The newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because there are still many unknowns surrounding it , such as how dangerous it is and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can cause pneumonia , which has been deadly in some cases .
Ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said it was halting inter-city services to and from Beijing from Sunday , while the capital will also stop running inter-province shuttle buses .
State broadcaster CCTV , citing an announcement from China ’ s tourism industry association , said the country would halt all group tours , both at home and abroad , from Monday .
Wuhan said it would ban non-essential vehicles from its downtown starting Sunday , further paralysing a city of 11 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , with nearly all flights cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town .
Authorities have since imposed transport restrictions on nearly all of Hubei province , which has a population of 59 million .
Protective suits Australia confirmed its first four cases in two different cities on Saturday , and the country ’ s chief health official said he expected more cases as Australia is a popular destination for Chinese tourists .
State-run China Global Television Network reported on Saturday that a doctor who had been treating patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had died from the virus .
U.S. coffee chain Starbucks said it was closing all its outlets in Hubei province for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday , following a similar move by McDonald ’ s in five Hubei cities .
Workers in white protective suits checked temperatures of passengers entering the subway at Beijing ’ s central railway station on Saturday , while some train services in the eastern Yangtze River Delta region were suspended , the local railway operator said .
'Global health threat' There are fears transmission could accelerate as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the holiday , although many have cancelled their plans .
Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China , although some health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings .
In an illustration of how such efforts could miss cases , doctors at a Paris hospital said that two of the three Chinese nationals in France who have been diagnosed with the virus had arrived in the country without showing symptoms .
The World Health Organisation this week stopped short of calling the outbreak a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease specialists at Imperial College , London on Saturday said that despite this , the epidemic « represents a clear and ongoing global health threat » adding : « It is uncertain at the current time whether it is possible to contain the continuing epidemic within China .
» While China has called for transparency in managing the crisis , after cover-up of the 2002/2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome spread , officials in Wuhan have been criticised for their handling of the current outbreak .
In rare public dissent , a senior journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling Communist Party called on Friday for a « immediate » change of leadership in Wuhan on the Twitter-like Weibo .
The post was later removed .
Hubei province , where authorities are rushing to build a 1,000 bed hospital in six days , announced on Saturday that there were 658 patients affected by the virus in treatment , 57 of whom were critically ill. Shanghai Disneyland was closed from Saturday .
Beijing ’ s Lama Temple , where people make offerings for the new year , has also closed , as have @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Xi Jinping said China was facing a “grave situation” as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped to 42, overshadowing celebrations of the Lunar New Year that began on Saturday.
Pictures uploaded to social media on January 25, 2020 by the Central Hospital of Wuhan show medical staff attending to a patient, in Wuhan, China.
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China also announced further transport restrictions.
With more than 1,400 people infected worldwide, most of them in China, Hong Kong declared a virus emergency, scrapped celebrations and restricted links to mainland China.
Australia confirmed its first four cases on Saturday, Malaysia confirmed four and France reported Europe’s first cases on Friday, as health authorities around the world scrambled to prevent a pandemic.
Because nothing says ‘don’t worry’ quite like this image https://t.co/JvZYO0cVH5 — Mark Urban (@MarkUrban01) January 24, 2020
The United States is arranging a charter flight on Sunday to bring its citizens and diplomats back from Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In Hong Kong, with five confirmed cases, the city’s leader Carrie Lam said flights and high speed rail trips between the city and Wuhan will be halted. Schools in Hong Kong that are currently on Lunar New Year holidays will remain closed until Feb. 17.
Xi held a politburo meeting on Saturday on measures to fight the « accelerating » outbreak, state television reported.
As of 8 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Saturday, the death toll in China had risen to 42, authorities reported. Some 1,372 people in China had been infected with the virus - traced to a seafood market in Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife.
The virus has also been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, and the United States.
In Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, officials appealed for masks and protective suits.
"We are steadily pushing forward the disease control and prevention ... But right now we are facing an extremely severe public health crisis," Hu Yinghai, deputy director-general of the Civil Affairs Department, told a news briefing.
The newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because there are still many unknowns surrounding it, such as how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. It can cause pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases.
Ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said it was halting inter-city services to and from Beijing from Sunday, while the capital will also stop running inter-province shuttle buses.
State broadcaster CCTV, citing an announcement from China’s tourism industry association, said the country would halt all group tours, both at home and abroad, from Monday.
Wuhan said it would ban non-essential vehicles from its downtown starting Sunday, further paralysing a city of 11 million that has been on virtual lockdown since Thursday, with nearly all flights cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town.
Authorities have since imposed transport restrictions on nearly all of Hubei province, which has a population of 59 million.
Protective suits
Australia confirmed its first four cases in two different cities on Saturday, and the country’s chief health official said he expected more cases as Australia is a popular destination for Chinese tourists.
State-run China Global Television Network reported on Saturday that a doctor who had been treating patients in Wuhan, 62-year-old Liang Wudong, had died from the virus.
U.S. coffee chain Starbucks said it was closing all its outlets in Hubei province for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, following a similar move by McDonald’s in five Hubei cities.
Workers in white protective suits checked temperatures of passengers entering the subway at Beijing’s central railway station on Saturday, while some train services in the eastern Yangtze River Delta region were suspended, the local railway operator said.
'Global health threat'
There are fears transmission could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel during the holiday, although many have cancelled their plans.
Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China, although some health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings.
In an illustration of how such efforts could miss cases, doctors at a Paris hospital said that two of the three Chinese nationals in France who have been diagnosed with the virus had arrived in the country without showing symptoms.
The World Health Organisation this week stopped short of calling the outbreak a global health emergency.
A report by infectious disease specialists at Imperial College, London on Saturday said that despite this, the epidemic « represents a clear and ongoing global health threat » adding: « It is uncertain at the current time whether it is possible to contain the continuing epidemic within China. »
While China has called for transparency in managing the crisis, after cover-up of the 2002/2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome spread, officials in Wuhan have been criticised for their handling of the current outbreak.
In rare public dissent, a senior journalist at a Hubei newspaper run by the ruling Communist Party called on Friday for a « immediate » change of leadership in Wuhan on the Twitter-like Weibo. The post was later removed.
Hubei province, where authorities are rushing to build a 1,000 bed hospital in six days, announced on Saturday that there were 658 patients affected by the virus in treatment, 57 of whom were critically ill.
Shanghai Disneyland was closed from Saturday. Beijing’s Lama Temple, where people make offerings for the new year, has also closed, as have some other temples.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-25--France prepares evacuation of its citizens from coronavirus-hit Wuhan, China

A nurse waits for transportation as she re-enters the city to return to Wuhan Yaxin General Hospital , on one of the roads blocked by the police to restrict people leaving Wuhan in China on January 25 , 2020 , during a deadly virus outbreak that began there .
France is planning to evacuate its citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus epidemic , the French Foreign Ministry said on Saturday .
A statement on the official webpage of the French consulate in Wuhan said that France was “ considering … setting up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their spouses and children to leave Wuhan ” .
The French Foreign ministry has set up an emergency phone line .
On Saturday , an official answering the line told FRANCE 24 that the bus transport details were still being worked out , but that the plan was to take French citizens trapped in Wuhan to another Chinese city , where they would undergo a 14-day quarantine before being allowed to move on .
French automotive group PSA , maker of the Peugeot and Citroen brands , said on Sunday that it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Wuhan area .
The PSA staement said that 38 people would be evacuated and that the initiative will be executed in full collaboration with the Chinese authorities and the French general consulate .
PSA said the evacuees will remain in quarantine in Changsha before traveling back to their home countries .
Wuhan , a city of 11 million people , has been on virtual lockdown since Thursday , with nearly all flights cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town .
Some foreigners report that they have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures checked .
Among them , Sébastien Spaeth , a manager at the Wuhan French International School , told FRANCE 24 that he managed to leave on Thursday .
“ Despite the lockdown , it seems that foreigners can still leave … The locals have been very well briefed .
They are a very disciplined people , much easier to manage than the French .
Here in Sichuan ( another province west of Wuhan ) , Chinese people are telling us that we are not reasonable , that we may be propagating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a medical test ” , Spaeth told FRANCE 24 on Saturday .
The US is also planning to evacuate its diplomats and citizens from Wuhan .
US officials are arranging a charter flight on Sunday to bring about 230 people outside the epidemic-stricken city , the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday , citing a person familiar with the operation .
The source said that other governments were currently negotiating with Chinese authorities to arrange similar evacuation .

France is planning to evacuate its citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus epidemic, the French Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
A nurse waits for transportation as she re-enters the city to return to Wuhan Yaxin General Hospital, on one of the roads blocked by the police to restrict people leaving Wuhan in China on January 25, 2020, during a deadly virus outbreak that began there.
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A statement on the official webpage of the French consulate in Wuhan said that France was “considering … setting up a bus service allowing French citizens, their spouses and children to leave Wuhan”.
The French Foreign ministry has set up an emergency phone line. On Saturday, an official answering the line told FRANCE 24 that the bus transport details were still being worked out, but that the plan was to take French citizens trapped in Wuhan to another Chinese city, where they would undergo a 14-day quarantine before being allowed to move on.
French automotive group PSA, maker of the Peugeot and Citroen brands, said on Sunday that it will also planning expat staff and their families from the Wuhan area. The PSA staement said that 38 people would be evacuated and that the initiative will be executed in full collaboration with the Chinese authorities and the French general consulate.
PSA said the evacuees will remain in quarantine in Changsha before traveling back to their home countries.
Lockdown
Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, has been on virtual lockdown since Thursday, with nearly all flights cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town. Some foreigners report that they have been able to leave town after having their temperatures checked.
Among them, Sébastien Spaeth, a manager at the Wuhan French International School, told FRANCE 24 that he managed to leave on Thursday. “Despite the lockdown, it seems that foreigners can still leave … The locals have been very well briefed. They are a very disciplined people, much easier to manage than the French. Here in Sichuan (another province west of Wuhan), Chinese people are telling us that we are not reasonable, that we may be propagating the virus. We are going to undergo a medical test”, Spaeth told FRANCE 24 on Saturday.
The US is also planning to evacuate its diplomats and citizens from Wuhan. US officials are arranging a charter flight on Sunday to bring about 230 people outside the epidemic-stricken city, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing a person familiar with the operation.
The source said that other governments were currently negotiating with Chinese authorities to arrange similar evacuation.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
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france24--2020-01-25--Several killed as Iraqi forces raid Baghdad protest camp

Iraqi security forces raided Baghdad ’ s main protest site on Saturday and tried to eject protesters in southern cities , firing tear gas and bullets killing four people and wounding dozens more , police and medical sources said .
The new push to end the sit-ins and restore order came hours after populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr , who counts millions of supporters in Baghdad and the south , said he would halt his involvement in anti-government unrest .
Sadr ’ s supporters , who had bolstered the anti-government protesters and sometimes played a role in protecting them from attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began withdrawing from sit-ins early on Saturday after Sadr ’ s announcement .
Clashes then took place after authorities began removing concrete barriers near Tahrir Square where anti-government demonstrators have camped out for months , and across at least one main bridge over the Tigris River in the capital , Reuters reporters said .
In the southern city of Basra , security forces raided the main anti-government sit-in overnight and deployed in force to stop protesters gathering there again , security sources said .
Police arrested at least 16 protesters in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least one person was killed and more than 30 injured in clashes between police and protesters near Tahrir Square .
Another three died and 14 were wounded in the southern city of Nassiriya when security forces took control of a bridge occupied for days by demonstrators , security sources and medics said .
Iraq ’ s security forces have used tear gas and live ammunition against mostly peaceful protesters since anti-government unrest broke out in Baghdad on Oct. 1 .
More than 450 people have died in the violence , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The demonstrators demand the removal of what they see as a corrupt Iraqi ruling elite and the end of interference in politics by foreign powers , especially Iran which has come to dominate state institutions since the toppling of Saddam Hussein in a 2003 U.S.-led invasion .
The actions of the security forces appeared to be an attempt to fully clear anti-government sit-ins and end months of demonstrations .
The raids began hours after al-Sadr said he would halt the involvement of his supporters .
Sadr had supported the demands of protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the provision of services and jobs soon after the demonstrations began in October , but stopped short of calling all his followers to join in .
Many of Sadr ’ s millions of supporters , often hailing from Baghdad ’ s slums , have however been involved in the protests .
Sadr ’ s followers , in a rally on Friday separate from the anti-government protests , called for the removal of U.S. troops from the country .
The march dissipated after several hours .
Sadr wrote on Twitter late on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the issue ( of protesters ) , either negatively or positively , so that they can shepherd the fate of Iraq . ''
He did not elaborate .
In Basra , protesters urged Sadr to reconsider what they said was a withdrawal of support for popular demonstrations .
In a letter circulated on social media , they called for the support of Sadrists , without which they feared attacks by security forces .

Iraqi security forces raided Baghdad’s main protest site on Saturday and tried to eject protesters in southern cities, firing tear gas and bullets killing four people and wounding dozens more, police and medical sources said.
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The new push to end the sit-ins and restore order came hours after populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who counts millions of supporters in Baghdad and the south, said he would halt his involvement in anti-government unrest.
Sadr’s supporters, who had bolstered the anti-government protesters and sometimes played a role in protecting them from attacks by security forces and unidentified gunmen, began withdrawing from sit-ins early on Saturday after Sadr’s announcement.
Clashes then took place after authorities began removing concrete barriers near Tahrir Square where anti-government demonstrators have camped out for months, and across at least one main bridge over the Tigris River in the capital, Reuters reporters said.
Major crackdown on protestors in Iraq underway. Muqtada al-Sadr’s support was critical but it was withdrawn after he struck a deal with the government & Iran’s proxies - they have carte blanche to neutralise the protestors. Huge boost for Iran & its allies pic.twitter.com/9IEP4TxEOP — Ranj Alaaldin (@RanjAlaaldin) January 25, 2020
In the southern city of Basra, security forces raided the main anti-government sit-in overnight and deployed in force to stop protesters gathering there again, security sources said. Police arrested at least 16 protesters in the city, they said.
In Baghdad, at least one person was killed and more than 30 injured in clashes between police and protesters near Tahrir Square. Another three died and 14 were wounded in the southern city of Nassiriya when security forces took control of a bridge occupied for days by demonstrators, security sources and medics said.
Iraq’s security forces have used tear gas and live ammunition against mostly peaceful protesters since anti-government unrest broke out in Baghdad on Oct. 1. More than 450 people have died in the violence, according to a Reuters tally from police and medics.
Months of demonstrations
The demonstrators demand the removal of what they see as a corrupt Iraqi ruling elite and the end of interference in politics by foreign powers, especially Iran which has come to dominate state institutions since the toppling of Saddam Hussein in a 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
The actions of the security forces appeared to be an attempt to fully clear anti-government sit-ins and end months of demonstrations. The raids began hours after al-Sadr said he would halt the involvement of his supporters.
Sadr had supported the demands of protesters for the removal of corrupt politicians and for the provision of services and jobs soon after the demonstrations began in October, but stopped short of calling all his followers to join in.
Many of Sadr’s millions of supporters, often hailing from Baghdad’s slums, have however been involved in the protests.
Sadr’s followers, in a rally on Friday separate from the anti-government protests, called for the removal of U.S. troops from the country. The march dissipated after several hours.
Sadr wrote on Twitter late on Friday he would "try not to interfere in the issue (of protesters), either negatively or positively, so that they can shepherd the fate of Iraq." He did not elaborate.
In Basra, protesters urged Sadr to reconsider what they said was a withdrawal of support for popular demonstrations. In a letter circulated on social media, they called for the support of Sadrists, without which they feared attacks by security forces.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-25--Nine years after Egyptian revolution started, Tahrir Square icon languishes in jail

Photographs are all Alaa Abdel Fattah ’ s family have since the Egyptian activist was arrested again in September 2019 .
On January 25 , 2011 , demonstrations against police brutality to mark Egypt ’ s National Police Day , spiralled into what came to be called the Arab Spring .
But nine years later , following a brutal crackdown by the Egyptian military , many icons of Cairo ’ s Tahrir Square uprising are facing police brutality in detention .
FRANCE 24 met the family of a prominent activist behind bars .
Alaa Abdel Fattah ’ s last public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was commemorating his father , Egypt ’ s prominent human rights activist and lawyer , Ahmed Seif El-Islam .
In an interview with FRANCE 24 on the sidelines of the event , the 38-year-old Egyptian software developer , blogger and activist talked about a familiar subject : fear .
“ The fear is there .
But also the defiance is there .
It 's always important to continue to defend our rights , ” said Abdel Fattah .
Three weeks later , he was arrested once again and taken to Egypt ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as al-Aqrab , where “ prison officers blindfolded him , stripped him of his clothing , beat and kicked him repeatedly ” , according to Amnesty International .
Intimidation and opposition are a recurring theme in Abdel Fattah ’ s family .
His father was in and out of jails , under former Egyptian strongmen Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak , while Abdel Fattah was a child .
His mother , Laila Soueif , is a mathematics professor and well-known Egyptian human and women ’ s rights campaigner .
His sisters are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is about prison ’ Sitting at the dining table , Abdel Fattah ’ s mother and sister , Mona Seif , smile as they sift through family photographs .
That ’ s all they have of him for now .
“ His whole life is about prison , ” explains Seif of her brother who has been in and out of Egyptian prisons since the 2013 military coup ousted the country ’ s only democratically elected prisoner and a deadly crackdown on opposition figures commenced .
Abdel Fattah is not the only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egypt ’ s latest strongman , Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has overseen a period of abuses and brutality that has superseded the track records of his predecessors .
Under the guise of fighting terrorism , Egyptian authorities have imprisoned , tortured , put to death , oppressed or disappeared tens of thousands of civilians .
“ They are targeting political figures .
They are targeting academics .
They are targeting writers .
They are targeting journalists and lawyers on a greater scale than we have ever seen before .
But they are also targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is the main intimidating tactic they are using right now , ” explains Seif .
Abdel Fattah receives just one hot meal per week , which his mother and sister cook for him .
Their lives revolve around their visits to the prison and their fight to keep him alive .
“ The prisons are no longer a place for rehabilitation , '' says Seif .
`` They are more like concentration camps where the prisoners are subjected to extremely harsh and criminal conditions .
”

On January 25, 2011, demonstrations against police brutality to mark Egypt’s National Police Day, spiralled into what came to be called the Arab Spring. But nine years later, following a brutal crackdown by the Egyptian military, many icons of Cairo’s Tahrir Square uprising are facing police brutality in detention. FRANCE 24 met the family of a prominent activist behind bars.
Photographs are all Alaa Abdel Fattah’s family have since the Egyptian activist was arrested again in September 2019.
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Alaa Abdel Fattah’s last public appearance was in September 2019, when he was commemorating his father, Egypt’s prominent human rights activist and lawyer, Ahmed Seif El-Islam.
In an interview with FRANCE 24 on the sidelines of the event, the 38-year-old Egyptian software developer, blogger and activist talked about a familiar subject: fear.
“The fear is there. But also the defiance is there. It's always important to continue to defend our rights,” said Abdel Fattah.
Three weeks later, he was arrested once again and taken to Egypt’s notorious Tora maximum security prison, known as al-Aqrab, where “prison officers blindfolded him, stripped him of his clothing, beat and kicked him repeatedly”, according to Amnesty International.
Intimidation and opposition are a recurring theme in Abdel Fattah’s family. His father was in and out of jails, under former Egyptian strongmen Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, while Abdel Fattah was a child. His mother, Laila Soueif, is a mathematics professor and well-known Egyptian human and women’s rights campaigner. His sisters are also activists.
‘His whole life is about prison’
Sitting at the dining table, Abdel Fattah’s mother and sister, Mona Seif, smile as they sift through family photographs. That’s all they have of him for now.
“His whole life is about prison,” explains Seif of her brother who has been in and out of Egyptian prisons since the 2013 military coup ousted the country’s only democratically elected prisoner and a deadly crackdown on opposition figures commenced.
Abdel Fattah is not the only one. Since he came to power, Egypt’s latest strongman, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has overseen a period of abuses and brutality that has superseded the track records of his predecessors. Under the guise of fighting terrorism, Egyptian authorities have imprisoned, tortured, put to death, oppressed or disappeared tens of thousands of civilians.
“They are targeting political figures. They are targeting academics. They are targeting writers. They are targeting journalists and lawyers on a greater scale than we have ever seen before. But they are also targeting people in the street and I think this is the main intimidating tactic they are using right now,” explains Seif.
Abdel Fattah receives just one hot meal per week, which his mother and sister cook for him. Their lives revolve around their visits to the prison and their fight to keep him alive.
“The prisons are no longer a place for rehabilitation," says Seif. "They are more like concentration camps where the prisoners are subjected to extremely harsh and criminal conditions.”
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france24--2020-01-25--China scrambles to build hospital in 10 days

This aerial photo on January 24 , 2020 shows excavators at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China 's central Hubei province .
China is scrambling to build a 1,000-bed hospital in just 10 days as authorities grapple with the spiralling outbreak of a virus that has left at least 41 dead , and infected hundreds of others .
The mobile facility in the central city of Wuhan , birthplace of the Coronavirus epidemic , is expected to be in use by February 3 .
State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the construction site where dozens of brightly coloured diggers and trucks were hard at work .
`` We 've mobilised all the workers left in Wuhan to work in shifts to ensure round-the-clock construction , '' said Zhang Chongxi , manager of building group Wuhan Construction .
The hospital will have a capacity of 1,000 beds spread over 25,000 square metres ( 270,000 square feet ) , the official Xinhua news agency said .
Xinhua said the new facility is aimed at `` alleviating the shortage of medical treatment resources and improving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Construction began amid reports of overwhelmed hospitals and bed shortages as the number of infected patients in the country reached 830 .
China has form in building hospitals at short notice .
In 2003 the Xiaotangshan Hospital was built in barely a week to cater to patients suffering from SARS , or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , which killed 349 people in mainland China and 299 in Hong Kong in 2002-2003 .
Wuhan is believed to be using the prefabricated structures of Xiaotangshan Hospital as a template for its own model .
Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the new virus by isolating patients in 61 clinics and designated hospitals .
Forty military doctors were being brought in to help with intensive care at the Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital , state TV reported Friday .
The medics include doctors with experience combating SARS or Ebola and will be dispatched to hospitals that are reportedly short on beds due to a crush of infected patients and worried locals .
In a sign that the city is feeling the pressure , Hubei governor Jiang Chaoliang said in a meeting Friday that Wuhan must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places and designated hospital beds '' , according to a statement on the government 's website .
Chinese officials believe the Coronavirus originated from wild animals at a seafood market in Wuhan , but it has since spread to several countries around Asia and beyond .
The outbreak has prompted authorities in at least eight Chinese cities to impose travel restrictions and cancel public events to curb the spread , as millions go on lockdown ahead of Chinese New Year .

China is scrambling to build a 1,000-bed hospital in just 10 days as authorities grapple with the spiralling outbreak of a virus that has left at least 41 dead, and infected hundreds of others.
This aerial photo on January 24, 2020 shows excavators at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province.
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The mobile facility in the central city of Wuhan, birthplace of the Coronavirus epidemic, is expected to be in use by February 3.
State TV showed a flurry of activity at the construction site where dozens of brightly coloured diggers and trucks were hard at work.
"We've mobilised all the workers left in Wuhan to work in shifts to ensure round-the-clock construction," said Zhang Chongxi, manager of building group Wuhan Construction.
The hospital will have a capacity of 1,000 beds spread over 25,000 square metres (270,000 square feet), the official Xinhua news agency said.
Xinhua said the new facility is aimed at "alleviating the shortage of medical treatment resources and improving the ability to care for patients".
Construction began amid reports of overwhelmed hospitals and bed shortages as the number of infected patients in the country reached 830.
SARS hospital at short notice
China has form in building hospitals at short notice. In 2003 the Xiaotangshan Hospital was built in barely a week to cater to patients suffering from SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed 349 people in mainland China and 299 in Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
Wuhan is believed to be using the prefabricated structures of Xiaotangshan Hospital as a template for its own model.
Wuhan has to date been centralising its treatment of the new virus by isolating patients in 61 clinics and designated hospitals.
Forty military doctors were being brought in to help with intensive care at the Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, state TV reported Friday. The medics include doctors with experience combating SARS or Ebola and will be dispatched to hospitals that are reportedly short on beds due to a crush of infected patients and worried locals.
In a sign that the city is feeling the pressure, Hubei governor Jiang Chaoliang said in a meeting Friday that Wuhan must "make every effort to increase isolation places and designated hospital beds", according to a statement on the government's website.
Chinese officials believe the Coronavirus originated from wild animals at a seafood market in Wuhan, but it has since spread to several countries around Asia and beyond.
The outbreak has prompted authorities in at least eight Chinese cities to impose travel restrictions and cancel public events to curb the spread, as millions go on lockdown ahead of Chinese New Year.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-01-26--China virus death toll rises as Xi warns of ‘grave situation’

A paramilitary police officer wearing a protective facemask stands guard at the exit of the Forbidden City in Beijing on January 25 , 2020 .
China extended long-distance travel curbs Sunday as the death toll from the new coronavirus rose to 56 with more than 2,000 people infected globally as foreign consulates and multinationals planned limited evacuations of personnel and citizens from Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak .
Chinese President Xi Jinping called the outbreak a grave situation , and the government stepped up efforts to restrict travel and public gatherings while rushing medical staff and supplies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest figures reported in China Sunday morning cover the previous 24 hours and mark an increase of 15 deaths and 688 cases for a total of 1,975 infections .
The government also reported five cases in Hong Kong , two in Macao and three in Taiwan .
Small numbers of cases have been found in Thailand , Japan , South Korea , France , the US , Vietnam , Singapore , Malaysia , Nepal and Australia .
The outbreak has prompted widening curbs on movements within China , with Wuhan , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown , with transports links all-but severed except for emergency vehicles .
In France , the lead doctor at a Paris hospital treating two infected patients said the illness appears less serious than comparable outbreaks of the past .
French officials on Friday reported three confirmed cases of the newly identified coronavirus in France , the first ones in Europe .
The third patient is at a hospital in Bordeaux .
The head of France ’ s health department , Jérôme Salomon , said Saturday evening that all three are doing “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it will evacuate its employees from Wuhan , quarantine them and then bring them to France .
The Foreign Ministry said it was working on `` eventual options '' to evacuate French citizens from Wuhan “ who want to leave ” .
It did n't elaborate .
Health authorities in Beijing urged people not to shake hands but instead salute using a traditional cupped-hand gesture .
The advice was sent in a text message that went out to mobile phone users in the city on Sunday morning .
The outbreak has overshadowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is typically a festive time of year , with public events cancelled and many tourist sites shut .
Many people on social media have been calling for the week-long holiday to be extended to help prevent further spread of the virus .
Transportation curbs continued to widen , with the northern city of Tianjin to shut all inter-province shuttle buses from January 27 , the official People 's Daily reported on Sunday .
It will halt all group tours , both at home and abroad , from Monday .
US consulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Department said on Sunday it will relocate personnel at its Wuhan consulate to the United States and will offer a limited number of seats to private US citizens on a January 28 flight to San Francisco .
Canada said it discovered its first case : the man is his 50s and recently flew from Wuhan to Guangzhou , China , and then on to Toronto .
In Hong Kong , with five confirmed cases , the city 's leader Carrie Lam said flights and high-speed rail trips between the city and Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong that are currently on Lunar New Year holidays will remain closed until February 17 .
Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park closed on Sunday `` out of consideration for the health and safety of our guests and cast members '' .
`` We are in close contact with health authorities and the government about the situation and will announce a reopening date once they determine it is advisable , '' the park said in a statement .
Shanghai Disneyland , which expected 100,000 visitors daily through the Lunar New Year holidays , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus has created alarm because there are still many unknowns surrounding it , such as how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people .
It can cause pneumonia , which has been deadly in some cases .
There are fears transmission could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel during the holiday , although many have cancelled their plans , and airlines and railways in China are providing full refunds for tickets .
Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China , although some health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of such screenings .
A report by infectious disease specialists at Imperial College , London on Saturday said the epidemic `` represents a clear and ongoing global health threat '' , adding : `` It is uncertain at the current time whether it is possible to contain the continuing epidemic within China . ''
Wuhan is building two new hospitals with a combined 2,300 beds to treat patients .

China extended long-distance travel curbs Sunday as the death toll from the new coronavirus rose to 56 with more than 2,000 people infected globally as foreign consulates and multinationals planned limited evacuations of personnel and citizens from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.
A paramilitary police officer wearing a protective facemask stands guard at the exit of the Forbidden City in Beijing on January 25, 2020.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping called the outbreak a grave situation, and the government stepped up efforts to restrict travel and public gatherings while rushing medical staff and supplies to Wuhan, which remains on lockdown.
The latest figures reported in China Sunday morning cover the previous 24 hours and mark an increase of 15 deaths and 688 cases for a total of 1,975 infections.
The government also reported five cases in Hong Kong, two in Macao and three in Taiwan. Small numbers of cases have been found in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, France, the US, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal and Australia.
The outbreak has prompted widening curbs on movements within China, with Wuhan, a city of 11 million, on virtual lockdown, with transports links all-but severed except for emergency vehicles.
In France, the lead doctor at a Paris hospital treating two infected patients said the illness appears less serious than comparable outbreaks of the past. French officials on Friday reported three confirmed cases of the newly identified coronavirus in France, the first ones in Europe. The third patient is at a hospital in Bordeaux. The head of France’s health department, Jérôme Salomon, said Saturday evening that all three are doing “very well”.
French automaker PSA Group said it will evacuate its employees from Wuhan, quarantine them and then bring them to France. The Foreign Ministry said it was working on "eventual options" to evacuate French citizens from Wuhan “who want to leave”. It didn't elaborate.
Health authorities in Beijing urged people not to shake hands but instead salute using a traditional cupped-hand gesture. The advice was sent in a text message that went out to mobile phone users in the city on Sunday morning.
The outbreak has overshadowed the start of the Lunar New Year, which is typically a festive time of year, with public events cancelled and many tourist sites shut. Many people on social media have been calling for the week-long holiday to be extended to help prevent further spread of the virus.
Transportation curbs continued to widen, with the northern city of Tianjin to shut all inter-province shuttle buses from January 27, the official People's Daily reported on Sunday. It will halt all group tours, both at home and abroad, from Monday.
US consulate to evacuate personnel from Wuhan
The US State Department said on Sunday it will relocate personnel at its Wuhan consulate to the United States and will offer a limited number of seats to private US citizens on a January 28 flight to San Francisco.
Canada said it discovered its first case: the man is his 50s and recently flew from Wuhan to Guangzhou, China, and then on to Toronto.
In Hong Kong, with five confirmed cases, the city's leader Carrie Lam said flights and high-speed rail trips between the city and Wuhan will be halted. Schools in Hong Kong that are currently on Lunar New Year holidays will remain closed until February 17.
Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park closed on Sunday "out of consideration for the health and safety of our guests and cast members".
"We are in close contact with health authorities and the government about the situation and will announce a reopening date once they determine it is advisable," the park said in a statement.
Shanghai Disneyland, which expected 100,000 visitors daily through the Lunar New Year holidays, has already closed.
Stepped up screenings
The newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because there are still many unknowns surrounding it, such as how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. It can cause pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases.
There are fears transmission could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel during the holiday, although many have cancelled their plans, and airlines and railways in China are providing full refunds for tickets.
Airports around the world have stepped up screening of passengers from China, although some health officials and experts have questioned the effectiveness of such screenings.
A report by infectious disease specialists at Imperial College, London on Saturday said the epidemic "represents a clear and ongoing global health threat", adding: "It is uncertain at the current time whether it is possible to contain the continuing epidemic within China."
Wuhan is building two new hospitals with a combined 2,300 beds to treat patients.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-26--Italians vote in regional polls that could be a bellwether for far-right party

Voters in two Italian regions , Emilia Romagna in the north and Calabria in the south , went to the polls on Sunday in local elections that could help propel far-right , opposition leader Matteo Salvini to national power .
Both regions are currently controlled by the centre-left and while polls have long predicted a win for the right in the underdeveloped Calabria , the result in the north is far less certain and politically much more significant .
One of Italy 's wealthiest regions , Emilia Romagna is home to the Ferrari sports car and Parmesan cheese and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two .
Salvini has spent weeks relentlessly campaigning in the area and hopes that an upset victory for his League party and its rightist partners would so destabilise the coalition government in Rome that it could even collapse .
`` If you give us a hand , we 'll go on Monday and ask for early elections to give this country strong , coherent government , '' Salvini 's ally Giorgia Meloni , head of the Brothers of Italy party , told a closing rally in Emilia Romagna on Friday .
Salvini 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region during the campaign , especially in the smaller towns and cities , as has his pledge to slash taxes .
Underscoring his confrontational style of politics , Salvini caused a stir last week by ringing the interphone at the apartment of a family of Tunisian migrants and , in front of TV cameras , asked if they were drug dealers .
Salvini served as interior minister until last August , when , in a rare miscalculation , he walked out of government with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement , expecting to trigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would easily win .
Instead , 5-Star hooked up with the centre-left Democratic Party ( PD ) and shunted him into opposition .
Looking to exact revenge and confirm his ascendancy in Italy , Salvini has since concentrated all his efforts on winning a stream of local votes .
The PD has dismissed suggestions that Sunday 's vote is a de-facto referendum on its often fractious coalition .
It remains hopeful that the high approval rating of its incumbent governor Stefano Bonaccini will eventually win the day .
`` Salvini is trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has nothing to say about Emilia Romagna .
He is using the vote for his own personal ends to bring the government down , '' Bonaccini told Reuters .
Voting in both Calabria and Emilia Romagna ends at 11.00 p.m. ( 2200 GMT ) , when the first exit polls will be released .
A definitive result from Emilia Romagna is expected by early Monday .

Voters in two Italian regions, Emilia Romagna in the north and Calabria in the south, went to the polls on Sunday in local elections that could help propel far-right, opposition leader Matteo Salvini to national power.
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Both regions are currently controlled by the centre-left and while polls have long predicted a win for the right in the underdeveloped Calabria, the result in the north is far less certain and politically much more significant.
One of Italy's wealthiest regions, Emilia Romagna is home to the Ferrari sports car and Parmesan cheese and has been a left-wing stronghold since World War Two.
Salvini has spent weeks relentlessly campaigning in the area and hopes that an upset victory for his League party and its rightist partners would so destabilise the coalition government in Rome that it could even collapse.
"If you give us a hand, we'll go on Monday and ask for early elections to give this country strong, coherent government," Salvini's ally Giorgia Meloni, head of the Brothers of Italy party, told a closing rally in Emilia Romagna on Friday.
Salvini's anti-immigrant, anti-European message has resonated in the region during the campaign, especially in the smaller towns and cities, as has his pledge to slash taxes.
Underscoring his confrontational style of politics, Salvini caused a stir last week by ringing the interphone at the apartment of a family of Tunisian migrants and, in front of TV cameras, asked if they were drug dealers.
Salvini served as interior minister until last August, when, in a rare miscalculation, he walked out of government with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, expecting to trigger a national election that polls predicted he would easily win.
Instead, 5-Star hooked up with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and shunted him into opposition. Looking to exact revenge and confirm his ascendancy in Italy, Salvini has since concentrated all his efforts on winning a stream of local votes.
The PD has dismissed suggestions that Sunday's vote is a de-facto referendum on its often fractious coalition. It remains hopeful that the high approval rating of its incumbent governor Stefano Bonaccini will eventually win the day.
"Salvini is trying to make the campaign about national issues because he has nothing to say about Emilia Romagna. He is using the vote for his own personal ends to bring the government down," Bonaccini told Reuters.
Voting in both Calabria and Emilia Romagna ends at 11.00 p.m. (2200 GMT), when the first exit polls will be released. A definitive result from Emilia Romagna is expected by early Monday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-26--Lebanon’s ‘Mother of the Revolution’ ready to cling on until real change comes

Lina Boubess has been protesting on Beirut streets since anti-government demonstrations broke out in Lebanon in October 2019 .
Leila Boubess became an icon of Lebanon ’ s protest movement when a photograph of her trying to prevent an arrest went viral last year .
More than 100 days after she took to the streets demanding change , Boubess tells FRANCE 24 she ’ s not ready to quit – yet .
In November 2019 , a photograph of an elderly Lebanese woman hugging a young protester as riot police tried to arrest him went viral on social media sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a trendy visor cap , the woman wrapped her arms around the young man ’ s shoulders , clinging ferociously on , as police yanked his arm .
It wasn ’ t long before Leila Boubess earned a nickname : `` The Mother of the Revolution '' .
Saturday marked the 100th day of anti-government protests since Lebanese citizens across sectarian , class and geographic divides took to the streets to demand a change of government and a political system that has seen entrenched elites retain power , mismanaging the country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 100 days , Boubess has joined the protests every single day and she ’ s seen a lot of changes during this period .
“ It broke a lot of taboos , ” she explained , walking down a Beirut street surrounded by protesters .
“ Before they used to divide us into sectarianism .
Now no , the people are in the street they ’ re united .
I go to the street , they don ’ t ask you… . ''
Boubess has to cut short her answers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by young protesters , accompanied by rhythmic clapping , drowns out her reply .
She breaks into a giant grin , proclaiming , “ Love you !
Love you !
” as a protester hugs her to even louder applause .
“ I ’ m proud of this generation , ” said Boubess , who ’ s just a few weeks shy of 60 .
“ When I look at them , hope comes back .
I see the passion in their eyes .
They ’ re adamant they want a change.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Lebanon ’ s protest movement has largely been peaceful since it began October 17 , 2019 .
But over the past two weeks , demonstrations have turned violent , leaving hundreds wounded and dozens arrested .
Although a new prime minister , Hassan Diab , has taken over from Saad Hariri following the latter ’ s resignation , many protesters say the country ’ s new cabinet merely represents a swap of new figures representing the old vested interests .
Lebanon has one of the world 's highest debt-to-GDP ratios and economists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the near-bankrupt country could repay its creditors .
The Lebanese pound has lost over a third of its value against the dollar in the parallel market and banks are tightening restrictions on dollar transactions amid a liquidity crunch .
Boubess though is not giving up hope .
“ If you want real change , you have to be patient , ” she explained .
The past few days have seen several developments that have led to divisions among the protesters .
Should the recent violence be a reason to step back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Should they give the new government the opportunity to make change or are they just more of the same ?
The answers to those questions will determine how , and if , the protest movement continues .
Either way , Boubess vows she will be there to witness it .

Lina Boubess became an icon of Lebanon’s protest movement when a photograph of her trying to prevent an arrest went viral last year. More than 100 days after she took to the streets demanding change, Boubess tells FRANCE 24 she’s not ready to quit – yet.
Lina Boubess has been protesting on Beirut streets since anti-government demonstrations broke out in Lebanon in October 2019.
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In November 2019, a photograph of an elderly Lebanese woman hugging a young protester as riot police tried to arrest him went viral on social media sites.
Wearing a bright red T-shirt topped with a trendy visor cap, the woman wrapped her arms around the young man’s shoulders, clinging ferociously on, as police yanked his arm.
It wasn’t long before Lina Boubess earned a nickname: "The Mother of the Revolution".
My favorite shot from this revolution by @myriamboulos |
This is Lina Boubess. Lina has been on the streets since day one. Her tears on live TV today moved us all.
Thank you for your energy Lina, we need a lot more like you ♥🇱🇧#ثورة #ثورة_١٧_تشرين #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/91tKWDLDbx — Tamara-تمارا Bsaibes (@TamaraBsaibesA) January 22, 2020
Saturday marked the 100th day of anti-government protests since Lebanese citizens across sectarian, class and geographic divides took to the streets to demand a change of government and a political system that has seen entrenched elites retain power, mismanaging the country and its economy in the process.
Over the past 100 days, Boubess has joined the protests every single day and she’s seen a lot of changes during this period.
“It broke a lot of taboos,” she explains, walking down a Beirut street surrounded by protesters. “Before they used to divide us into sectarianism. Now no, the people are in the street they’re united. I go to the street, they don’t ask you…."
Boubess has to cut short her answers as chants of “Lina! Lina!” by young protesters, accompanied by rhythmic clapping, drowns out her reply.
She breaks into a giant grin, proclaiming, “Love you! Love you!” as a protester hugs her to even louder applause.
“I’m proud of this generation,” says Boubess, who’s just a few weeks shy of 60. “When I look at them, hope comes back. I see the passion in their eyes. They’re adamant they want a change.”
‘You have to be patient’
Lebanon’s protest movement has largely been peaceful since it began October 17, 2019. But over the past two weeks, demonstrations have turned violent, leaving hundreds wounded and dozens arrested.
Although a new prime minister, Hassan Diab, has taken over from Saad Hariri following the latter’s resignation, many protesters say the country’s new cabinet merely represents a swap of new figures representing the old vested interests.
Lebanon has one of the world's highest debt-to-GDP ratios and economists have argued it is hard to see how the near-bankrupt country could repay its creditors.
The Lebanese pound has lost over a third of its value against the dollar in the parallel market and banks are tightening restrictions on dollar transactions amid a liquidity crunch.
Boubess though is not giving up hope. “If you want real change, you have to be patient,” she explained.
The past few days have seen several developments that have led to divisions among the protesters. Should the recent violence be a reason to step back, or should it make them more determined? Should they give the new government the opportunity to make change or are they just more of the same? The answers to those questions will determine how, and if, the protest movement continues. Either way, Boubess vows she will be there to witness it.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-26--Trump lawyers start defence by accusing Democrats of trying to subvert US elections

President Donald Trump 's lawyers plunged into his impeachment trial defense Saturday by accusing Democrats of striving to overturn the 2016 election , arguing that investigations of Trump 's dealings with Ukraine have not been a fact-finding mission but a politically motivated effort to drive him from the White House .
“ They 're here to perpetrate the most massive interference in an election in American history , '' White House counsel Pat Cipollone told senators .
“ And we ca n't allow that to happen . ''
The Trump legal team 's arguments in the rare Saturday session were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abused his power when he asked Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and then obstructed Congress as it tried to investigate .
The lawyers are mounting a wide-ranging , aggressive defense asserting an expansive view of presidential powers and portraying Trump as besieged by political opponents determined to ensure he wo n't be reelected this November .
“ They 're asking you to tear up all the ballots across this country on your own initiative , take that decision away from the American people , '' Cipollone said .
Though Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team made clear that it intends to paint the impeachment case as a mere continuation of the investigations that have shadowed the president since before he took office - including one into allegations of Russian election interference on his behalf .
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow suggested Democrats were investigating the president over Ukraine simply because they could n't bring him down for Russia .
“ That - for this , '' said Sekulow , holding up a copy of special counsel Robert Mueller 's report , which he accused Democrats of attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia but did not allege a criminal conspiracy to tip the election .
From the White House , Trump tweeted his response : “ Any fair minded person watching the Senate trial today would be able to see how unfairly I have been treated and that this is indeed the totally partisan Impeachment Hoax that EVERYBODY , including the Democrats , truly knows it is . ''
His team made only a two-hour presentation , reserving the heart of its case for Monday .
Acquittal appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 53-47 majority in the Senate , and a two-thirds vote would be required for conviction and removal from office .
Republican senators already eager to clear Trump said Saturday that the White House presentation had shredded the Democratic case .
Several of the senators shook hands with Trump 's lawyers after their presentation .
The visitors galleries were filled , onlookers watching for the historic proceedings and the rare weekend session of Senate .
The Trump attorneys are responding to two articles of impeachment approved last month by the House - one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden at the same time the administration withheld military aid from the country , and the other that accuses him of obstructing Congress by directing aides not to testify or produce documents .
Trump 's defense team took center stage following three days of methodical and passionate arguments from Democrats , who wrapped up Friday by warning that Trump will persist in abusing his power and endangering American democracy unless Congress intervenes to remove him before the 2020 election .
They also implored Republicans to allow new testimony to be heard before senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their case that Trump invited Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election , the seven Democratic prosecutors peppered their arguments with video clips , email correspondence and lessons in American history .
At stake , they said , was the security of U.S. elections , America 's place in the world and checks on presidential power On Saturday morning , House managers made the procession across the Capitol at 9:30 to deliver the 28,578-page record of their case to the Senate .
Republicans accused Democrats of cherrypicking evidence and omitting information favorable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light actions that Trump was legitimately empowered to take .
They focused particular scorn on Schiff , trying to undercut his credibility .
Schiff later told reporters : “ When your client is guilty , when your client is dead to rights , you don ’ t want to talk about your client , you want to attack the prosecution.
” The Trump team had teased the idea that it would draw attention on Biden and his son , Hunter , who served on the board of a Ukraine gas company , Burisma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But neither Biden was a focus of Saturday arguments .
Instead , Republicans argued that there was no evidence that Trump made the security aid contingent on Ukraine announcing an investigation into the Bidens and that Ukraine did n't even know that the money had been paused until shortly before it was released .
Trump had reason to be concerned about corruption in Ukraine and the aid was ultimately released , they said .
“ Most of the Democratic witnesses have never spoken to the president at all , let alone about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House Counsel Michael Purpura .
Pupura told the senators the July 25 call in which Trump asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the Biden investigation was consistent with the president 's concerns about corruption , though Trump never mentioned that word , according to the rough transcript released by the White House .
Pupura said everyone knows that when Trump asked Zelenskiy to “ do us a favor , '' he meant the U.S. , not himself .
“ This entire impeachment process is about the house managers ' insistence that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Sekulow said .
“ They can read everybody 's intention .
Even when the principal speakers , the witnesses themselves , insist that those interpretations are wrong.
” Defense lawyers say Trump was a victim not only of Democratic rage but also of overzealous agents and prosecutors .
Sekulow cited mistakes made by the FBI in its surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide in the now-concluded Trump-Russia election investigation , and referred to the multi-million-dollar cost of that probe .
“ You can not simply decide this case in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the president 's lawyers , Alan Dershowitz , is expected to argue next week that an impeachable offense requires criminal-like conduct , even though many legal scholars say that 's not true .
Sekulow also said the Bidens would be discussed in the days ahead .
The Senate is heading next week toward a pivotal vote on Democratic demands for testimony from top Trump aides , including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton , who refused to appear before the House .
It would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority to seek witnesses , and so far the numbers appear lacking .
Sen. Lindsey Graham , a Republican ally of Trump 's , said he thought the legal team had successfully poked holes in the Democrats ' case and that the Democrats had “ told a story probably beyond what the market would bear . ''
He said he had spoken to Trump two days ago , when he was leaving Davos , Switzerland .
Asked if Trump had any observations on the trial , Graham replied : “ Yeah , he @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump's lawyers plunged into his impeachment trial defense Saturday by accusing Democrats of striving to overturn the 2016 election, arguing that investigations of Trump's dealings with Ukraine have not been a fact-finding mission but a politically motivated effort to drive him from the White House.
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“They're here to perpetrate the most massive interference in an election in American history," White House counsel Pat Cipollone told senators. “And we can't allow that to happen."
The Trump legal team's arguments in the rare Saturday session were aimed at rebutting allegations that the president abused his power when he asked Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and then obstructed Congress as it tried to investigate. The lawyers are mounting a wide-ranging, aggressive defense asserting an expansive view of presidential powers and portraying Trump as besieged by political opponents determined to ensure he won't be reelected this November.
“They're asking you to tear up all the ballots across this country on your own initiative, take that decision away from the American people," Cipollone said.
Though Trump is the one on trial, the defense team made clear that it intends to paint the impeachment case as a mere continuation of the investigations that have shadowed the president since before he took office - including one into allegations of Russian election interference on his behalf. Trump attorney Jay Sekulow suggested Democrats were investigating the president over Ukraine simply because they couldn't bring him down for Russia.
“That - for this," said Sekulow, holding up a copy of special counsel Robert Mueller's report, which he accused Democrats of attempting to “relitigate." That report detailed ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia but did not allege a criminal conspiracy to tip the election.
01:29
'Impeachment Hoax,' says Trump
From the White House, Trump tweeted his response: “Any fair minded person watching the Senate trial today would be able to see how unfairly I have been treated and that this is indeed the totally partisan Impeachment Hoax that EVERYBODY, including the Democrats, truly knows it is."
His team made only a two-hour presentation, reserving the heart of its case for Monday.
Acquittal appears likely, given that Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and a two-thirds vote would be required for conviction and removal from office. Republican senators already eager to clear Trump said Saturday that the White House presentation had shredded the Democratic case.
Several of the senators shook hands with Trump's lawyers after their presentation. The visitors galleries were filled, onlookers watching for the historic proceedings and the rare weekend session of Senate.
The Trump attorneys are responding to two articles of impeachment approved last month by the House - one that accuses him of encouraging Ukraine to investigate Biden at the same time the administration withheld military aid from the country, and the other that accuses him of obstructing Congress by directing aides not to testify or produce documents.
'Give America a fair trial,' say Democrats
Trump's defense team took center stage following three days of methodical and passionate arguments from Democrats, who wrapped up Friday by warning that Trump will persist in abusing his power and endangering American democracy unless Congress intervenes to remove him before the 2020 election. They also implored Republicans to allow new testimony to be heard before senators render a final verdict.
“Give America a fair trial,” said California Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead Democratic impeachment manager. “She’s worth it.”
In making their case that Trump invited Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election, the seven Democratic prosecutors peppered their arguments with video clips, email correspondence and lessons in American history. At stake, they said, was the security of U.S. elections, America's place in the world and checks on presidential power
On Saturday morning, House managers made the procession across the Capitol at 9:30 to deliver the 28,578-page record of their case to the Senate.
Republicans accused Democrats of cherrypicking evidence and omitting information favorable to the president, casting in a nefarious light actions that Trump was legitimately empowered to take. They focused particular scorn on Schiff, trying to undercut his credibility.
Schiff later told reporters: “When your client is guilty, when your client is dead to rights, you don’t want to talk about your client, you want to attack the prosecution.”
The Trump team had teased the idea that it would draw attention on Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukraine gas company, Burisma, while his father was vice president. But neither Biden was a focus of Saturday arguments.
Instead, Republicans argued that there was no evidence that Trump made the security aid contingent on Ukraine announcing an investigation into the Bidens and that Ukraine didn't even know that the money had been paused until shortly before it was released.
Trump had reason to be concerned about corruption in Ukraine and the aid was ultimately released, they said.
“Most of the Democratic witnesses have never spoken to the president at all, let alone about Ukraine security assistance," said deputy White House Counsel Michael Purpura.
Pupura told the senators the July 25 call in which Trump asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the Biden investigation was consistent with the president's concerns about corruption, though Trump never mentioned that word, according to the rough transcript released by the White House.
Pupura said everyone knows that when Trump asked Zelenskiy to “do us a favor," he meant the U.S., not himself.
“This entire impeachment process is about the house managers' insistence that they are able to read everybody's thoughts," Sekulow said. “They can read everybody's intention. Even when the principal speakers, the witnesses themselves, insist that those interpretations are wrong.”
Lawyers say Trump a victim of overzealous agents, prosecutors
Defense lawyers say Trump was a victim not only of Democratic rage but also of overzealous agents and prosecutors. Sekulow cited mistakes made by the FBI in its surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide in the now-concluded Trump-Russia election investigation, and referred to the multi-million-dollar cost of that probe.
“You cannot simply decide this case in a vacuum," he said.
One of the president's lawyers, Alan Dershowitz, is expected to argue next week that an impeachable offense requires criminal-like conduct, even though many legal scholars say that's not true. Sekulow also said the Bidens would be discussed in the days ahead.
The Senate is heading next week toward a pivotal vote on Democratic demands for testimony from top Trump aides, including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, who refused to appear before the House. It would take four Republican senators to join the Democratic minority to seek witnesses, and so far the numbers appear lacking.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican ally of Trump's, said he thought the legal team had successfully poked holes in the Democrats' case and that the Democrats had “told a story probably beyond what the market would bear."
He said he had spoken to Trump two days ago, when he was leaving Davos, Switzerland.
Asked if Trump had any observations on the trial, Graham replied: “Yeah, he hates it.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-26--French citizens in coronavirus-hit Wuhan 'to be evacuated by airplane'

An officer gestures in front of one of the roads blocked by the police to restrict people leaving Wuhan in China 's central Hubei province on January 25 , 2020 .
French citizens will be evacuated from the Wuhan area in China that is the centre of a coronavirusoutbreak , French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said on Sunday .
`` French citizens will be repatriated by airplane directly to France , with the agreement of the Chinese authorities .
This will take place midweek , '' Buzyn told reporters .
Several other countries are planning for evacuations from Wuhan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government in an attempt to halt the spread of the pneumonia-like virus that has killed 56 people and infected nearly 2,000 people .
The U.S. Consulate in Wuhan announced it will evacuate its personnel and some private citizens aboard a charter flight on Tuesday .
French hospitals are treating three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and more are likely , officials said .
The confirmed cases are all Chinese citizens who recently returned from travels there .
French automaker PSA said Saturday it was evacuating its expatriate employees and their families from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It did not elaborate .
Medical teams at Paris airport French medical teams on Sunday began meeting passengers arriving on flights from China at Paris ' Charles de Gaulle and other airports , a new effort to catch possible cases early on .
France has decided not to take the temperatures of arriving passengers because it “ provides a false sense of safety , ” the health minister said .
She said in each of France 's three confirmed cases , they arrived without a fever.Buzyn said there was no reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with masks.She also said a decision to cancel a Chinese New Year 's fete in Paris , which has a large Chinese population , was not based on a medical decision .
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said the city 's Chinese residents were simply not in the mood for a party , given the spread of the virus.The Chinese community in Rome said there wo n't be any public celebrations of the Lunar New Year on Feb. 2 either for the same reason .

French citizens will be evacuated from the Wuhan area in China that is the centre of a coronavirus outbreak, French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn said on Sunday.
An officer at one of the roads blocked by the police to restrict people leaving Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 25, 2020.
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“French citizens will be repatriated by airplane directly to France, with the agreement of the Chinese authorities. This will take place midweek,” Buzyn told reporters.
Several other countries are planning for evacuations from Wuhan, which is under lockdown by the Chinese government in an attempt to halt the spread of the pneumonia-like virus that has killed 80 people and infected 2,750 people.
The US consulate in Wuhan announced it would evacuate its personnel and some private citizens aboard a charter flight on Tuesday.
French hospitals are treating three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and more are likely, officials said. The confirmed cases are all Chinese citizens who recently returned from travels there.
French automaker PSA said Saturday it was evacuating its expatriate employees and their families from Wuhan and quarantining them in another city. It did not elaborate.
Medical teams at Paris airport
French medical teams on Sunday began meeting passengers arriving on flights from China at Paris's Charles de Gaulle and other airports, a new effort to catch possible cases early on.
01:56
France has decided not to take the temperatures of arriving passengers because it “provides a false sense of safety,” the health minister said. She said in each of France's three confirmed cases, they arrived without a fever.
Buzyn said there was no reason for France's general public to go outside with masks.
She also said a decision to cancel a Chinese New Year's fete in Paris, which has a large Chinese population, was not based on a medical decision. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said the city's Chinese residents were simply not in the mood for a party, given the spread of the virus.
The Chinese community in Rome said there would not be any public celebrations of the Lunar New Year on February 2 either for the same reason.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-26--Basketball legend Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash

( FILES ) In this file photo taken on November 21 , 2015 Kobe Bryant ( 24 ) of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the Lakers NBA match up with the Toronto Raptors , at Staples Center in Los Angeles , California .
- According to multiple US media sources , Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas , California on January 26 , 2020 .
Kobe Bryant , the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
He was 41 .
Bryant died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas , California , a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press .
It was unclear if family members were on the helicopter .
The crash happened around 10 a.m. near about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles .
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said it was a Sikorsky S-76 and it was not known what caused the crash .
The LA County Sheriff ’ s Department confirmed five dead in the crash , but had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Los Angeles in coastal Orange County for much of his adult life , and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California ’ s notorious traffic .
Even as a player , he often traveled to practices and games by helicopter , and he kept up the practice after retirement as he attended to his business ventures .
Colin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard “ what sounded like a low-flying airplane or helicopter.
” “ Ït was very foggy so we couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But then we heard some sputtering , and then a boom.
” A short time later the fog cleared a bit and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home .
Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history , finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific scorer with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic .
He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night , when the Lakers ’ LeBron James passed him for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bryant ’ s hometown .
“ Continuing to move the game forward ( at ) KingJames , ” Bryant wrote in his last tweet .
“ Much respect my brother.
” Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game ’ s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise .
He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion , and he earned 12 selections to the NBA ’ s All-Defensive teams .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to NBA titles in 2000 , 2001 and 2002 .
He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010 .
Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game .
Bryant looms large over the current generation of NBA players .
After James passed Bryant on Saturday , he remembered listening to Bryant when the superstar came to speak at a childhood basketball camp .
“ I remember one thing he said : If you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be one of the greats , you ’ ve got to put the work in , ” James said .
“ There ’ s no substitution for work.
” James later teamed up with Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing .
“ He had zero flaws offensively , ” James said .
“ Zero .
You backed off of him , he could shoot the 3 .
You body him up a little bit , he could go around you .
He could shoot from mid-range .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throws .
...
He was just immortal offensively because of his skill set and his work ethic.
” Bryant was a basketball superstar for his entire adult life .
He entered the NBA draft straight out of high school in 1996 after a childhood spent partly in Italy , where his father , former NBA player Joe “ Jellybean ” Bryant , played professionally .
The Lakers acquired the 17-year-old Bryant in a trade shortly after Charlotte drafted him , and he immediately became one of the most exciting and intriguing players in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had signed with the Lakers as a free agent .
Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest as an upstart rookie , and the Lakers gradually grew into a team that won three consecutive championships .
Bryant and Gasol formed the nucleus of another championship team in 2008 , reaching three straight NBA Finals and eventually winning two more titles .
In 2003 , Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort .
He had said the two had consensual sex .
Prosecutors later dropped the felony sexual assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accuser .

Kobe Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. He was 41.
(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 21, 2015 Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the Lakers NBA match up with the Toronto Raptors,at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. - According to multiple US media sources, Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020.
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Bryant died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. It was unclear if family members were on the helicopter. The crash happened around 10 a.m. near about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said it was a Sikorsky S-76 and it was not known what caused the crash. The LA County Sheriff’s Department confirmed five dead in the crash, but had not released identities.
It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt. The FAA and NTSB are investigating. — City of Calabasas (@CityofCalabasas) January 26, 2020
Bryant lived south of Los Angeles in coastal Orange County for much of his adult life, and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California’s notorious traffic. Even as a player, he often traveled to practices and games by helicopter, and he kept up the practice after retirement as he attended to his business ventures.
Colin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard “what sounded like a low-flying airplane or helicopter.”
“Ït was very foggy so we couldn’t see anything,” he said. “But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom.”
A short time later the fog cleared a bit and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home.
Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific scorer with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ LeBron James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.
“Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.”
Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.
He teamed with Shaquille O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.
Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.
Bryant looms large over the current generation of NBA players. After James passed Bryant on Saturday, he remembered listening to Bryant when the superstar came to speak at a childhood basketball camp.
“I remember one thing he said: If you want to be great at it, or want to be one of the greats, you’ve got to put the work in,” James said. “There’s no substitution for work.”
James later teamed up with Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.
“He had zero flaws offensively,” James said. “Zero. You backed off of him, he could shoot the 3. You body him up a little bit, he could go around you. He could shoot from mid-range. He could post. He could make free throws. ... He was just immortal offensively because of his skill set and his work ethic.”
Bryant was a basketball superstar for his entire adult life. He entered the NBA draft straight out of high school in 1996 after a childhood spent partly in Italy, where his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played professionally.
The Lakers acquired the 17-year-old Bryant in a trade shortly after Charlotte drafted him, and he immediately became one of the most exciting and intriguing players in the sport alongside O’Neal, who had signed with the Lakers as a free agent. Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest as an upstart rookie, and the Lakers gradually grew into a team that won three consecutive championships.
Bryant and Gasol formed the nucleus of another championship team in 2008, reaching three straight NBA Finals and eventually winning two more titles.
In 2003, Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He had said the two had consensual sex. Prosecutors later dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant at the request of the accuser.
(AP)
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