france24--2020-02-06--At least two dead as high-speed train derails near Milan, Italy

Two people were killed and about 25 injured on Thursday when a high-speed train derailed near Milan in northern Italy , authorities said .
Italian authorities say a high-speed passenger train has derailed in northern Italy , killing two railway workers and injuring 27 people .
Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli has told state radio that the state-railway train went off the rails , striking another train on adjacent tracks in the countryside near the town of Lodi .
He says one of the dead was a train engineer .
Rai state TV says the other train involved is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state railways train had departed from Milan at 5:10 a.m. ( 0410 GMT ) and was headed south to Bologna when it derailed .
Borrelli said two of the injured were in serious condition , while the other 25 were less seriously injured .
The passenger train run is part of a popular high-speed rail service known as Freccia Rossa , or Red Arrow service .
Borrelli says the train was traveling at 298 kph ( about 180 kph ) when it derailed , smashing into the other train .
The cause of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was n't immediately clear which of two trains the dead railway workers were aboard .

Italian authorities say a high-speed passenger train has derailed in northern Italy, killing two railway workers and injuring 27 people.
Two people were killed and about 25 injured on Thursday when a high-speed train derailed near Milan in northern Italy, authorities said.
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Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli has told state radio that the state-railway train went off the rails, striking another train on adjacent tracks in the countryside near the town of Lodi. He says one of the dead was a train engineer.
Rai state TV says the other train involved is a freight train.
Borrelli said the high-speed state railways train had departed from Milan at 5:10 a.m. (0410 GMT) and was headed south to Bologna when it derailed. Borrelli said two of the injured were in serious condition, while the other 25 were less seriously injured.
The passenger train run is part of a popular high-speed rail service known as Freccia Rossa, or Red Arrow service. Borrelli says the train was traveling at 298 kph (about 180 kph) when it derailed, smashing into the other train.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
It wasn't immediately clear which of two trains the dead railway workers were aboard.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-06--Hamas hails Jerusalem car-ramming targeting Israeli troops as 'response' to US peace plan

According to Israeli police , the car ran into the crowd at around 1:45am on Thursday , February 6 ( 11:45pm GMT on Wednesday , February 5 ) in Jerusalem .
A car-ramming wounded 12 Israeli troops and two others early Thursday in an attack that Palestinian Islamist group Hamas hailed as a response to Washington 's controversial Middle East peace plan .
A manhunt was underway for the driver who fled the scene outside a popular Jerusalem entertainment spot .
The attack occurred shortly before 2am ( 12am GMT ) outside the First Station , an historic Ottoman-era railway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural and entertainment centre with bars and restaurants .
The attacker struck in the street outside where the soldiers had been marching , the army said .
One of the soldiers was `` severely injured '' and has been evacuated to hospital .
Public radio said they were new recruits on their way to an induction ceremony at Jerusalem 's Western Wall , the holiest site where Jews can pray .
`` During the incident , a terrorist sped his car towards ( Israeli ) soldiers , '' the army said .
Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who escaped the scene '' .
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said `` the incident is being investigated as a terror attack '' .
There have been car-rammings targeting Israeli troops in the past , in the occupied West Bank as well as Jerusalem .
The Islamist Hamas movement , which controls Gaza , hailed the car-ramming as a `` practical response '' to US President Donald Trump 's controversial Middle East peace plan .
In a statement , Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the attack was part of `` resistance '' operations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It came amid heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians , since the release last month of US President Donald Trump 's long-awaited peace proposals .
The Palestinians have angrily rejected the plan , which unilaterally gives Israel most of what it has sought in previous negotiations .
There have been sporadic clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops since the release of Trump 's proposals .
In the northern West Bank town of Jenin , Israeli forces shot dead 19-year-old Yazan Abu Tabikh on Thursday , in an incident that left seven others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` identified a number of armed terrorists who hurled explosive devices and fired towards them .
The forces responded with riot dispersal means . ''
On Wednesday , a 17-year-old was shot dead by Israeli forces during a protest in the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron .
Israeli military described the teenager as a `` violent rioter '' armed with a Molotov cocktail who posed a threat to troops .
In the Gaza Strip , Israeli aircraft struck Hamas positions early Thursday , after Palestinians fired rockets or mortar rounds at Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jets and ( other ) aircraft targeted Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip , '' an army statement said .
Since Trump 's plan was announced , there has been almost daily fire from Gaza into southern Israel , drawing Israeli retaliation .
There have been no reported casualties .

A car-ramming wounded 12 Israeli troops and two others early Thursday in an attack that Palestinian Islamist group Hamas hailed as a response to Washington's controversial Middle East peace plan.
According to Israeli police, the car ran into the crowd at around 1:45am on Thursday, February 6 (11:45pm GMT on Wednesday, February 5) in Jerusalem.
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A manhunt was underway for the driver who fled the scene outside a popular Jerusalem entertainment spot.
The attack occurred shortly before 2am (12am GMT) outside the First Station, an historic Ottoman-era railway terminus that has been turned into a cultural and entertainment centre with bars and restaurants.
The attacker struck in the street outside where the soldiers had been marching, the army said.
One of the soldiers was "severely injured" and has been evacuated to hospital.
Public radio said they were new recruits on their way to an induction ceremony at Jerusalem's Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray.
"During the incident, a terrorist sped his car towards (Israeli) soldiers," the army said.
Israeli troops "are currently pursuing the terrorist who escaped the scene".
Israeli Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said "the incident is being investigated as a terror attack".
There have been car-rammings targeting Israeli troops in the past, in the occupied West Bank as well as Jerusalem.
Later on Thursday, a gunman shot at a border policeman at the entrance to Jerusalem's walled Old City, lightly wounding him, Israeli police said. Police opened fire on the assailant and killed him.
The Islamist Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, hailed the car-ramming as a "practical response" to US President Donald Trump's controversial Middle East peace plan.
In a statement, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the attack was part of "resistance" operations, but stopped short of claiming responsibility.
It came amid heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, since the release last month of US President Donald Trump's long-awaited peace proposals.
The Palestinians have angrily rejected the plan, which unilaterally gives Israel most of what it has sought in previous negotiations.
Sporadic clashes
There have been sporadic clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops since the release of Trump's proposals.
In the northern West Bank town of Jenin, Israeli forces shot dead 19-year-old Yazan Abu Tabikh on Thursday, in an incident that left seven others wounded.
The army said troops had "identified a number of armed terrorists who hurled explosive devices and fired towards them. The forces responded with riot dispersal means."
On Wednesday, a 17-year-old was shot dead by Israeli forces during a protest in the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron.
Israeli military described the teenager as a "violent rioter" armed with a Molotov cocktail who posed a threat to troops.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli aircraft struck Hamas positions early Thursday, after Palestinians fired rockets or mortar rounds at Israel and launched incendiary balloons.
"Fighter jets and (other) aircraft targeted Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip," an army statement said.
Since Trump's plan was announced, there has been almost daily fire from Gaza into southern Israel, drawing Israeli retaliation.
There have been no reported casualties.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-06--'Heartbroken and bitter': Senegalese urge relatives' return from Wuhan

African states are taking measures to combat the new coronavirus .
A group of Senegalese families asked their government to immediately evacuate their relatives from coronavirus-stricken China on Wednesday , after the president said it lacked the means to airlift them to safety .
Senegal 's President Macky Sall said on Monday that the poor West African country could not match `` big countries '' in organising emergency evacuations from the central Chinese city of Wuhan .
Chinese authorities have cordoned off the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least 560 people and infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senegalese students are stuck in Wuhan , according to their families .
`` Our children demand a minimum , their right to be rescued by their motherland , '' said Yoro Ba , representing a group of families with relatives stranded in Wuhan , at a news conference in Senegal 's capital Dakar on Wednesday .
Occasionally breaking into tears , he pointed out that states such as Algeria and Tunisia were organising evacuations for their citizens and that Senegal had the resources to do so too .
The families were `` distraught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's statement on Monday , Ba said , adding that the students were nonetheless in good health so far .
He claimed , however , that not evacuating them meant `` certain death '' .
On Monday , Sall said Senegal lacked the sophisticated medical infrastructure to evacuate stranded Senegalese , pointing to the charter flights , specialised medical personnel and quarantine facilities that would be required .
Despite a growing economy , Senegal is a poor country where about 40 percent of the population live on less than $ 1.90 ( €1.70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Bank .
However , Sall 's announcement provoked outrage on Twitter .
One prominent Senegalese columnist , for example , asked what the president would do if his own son was stranded in Wuhan .
There has not yet been a confirmed coronavirus case in Africa .
But authorities are on high alert as deep trade links to China put many countries on the continent at risk .

A group of Senegalese families asked their government to immediately evacuate their relatives from coronavirus-stricken China on Wednesday, after the president said it lacked the means to airlift them to safety.
African states are taking measures to combat the new coronavirus.
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Senegal's President Macky Sall said on Monday that the poor West African country could not match "big countries" in organising emergency evacuations from the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Chinese authorities have cordoned off the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least 560 people and infected over 28,000 more in China.
Thirteen Senegalese students are stuck in Wuhan, according to their families.
"Our children demand a minimum, their right to be rescued by their motherland," said Yoro Ba, representing a group of families with relatives stranded in Wuhan, at a news conference in Senegal's capital Dakar on Wednesday.
Occasionally breaking into tears, he pointed out that states such as Algeria and Tunisia were organising evacuations for their citizens and that Senegal had the resources to do so too.
The families were "distraught, heartbroken and bitter" at Sall's statement on Monday, Ba said, adding that the students were nonetheless in good health so far.
He claimed, however, that not evacuating them meant "certain death".
On Monday, Sall said Senegal lacked the sophisticated medical infrastructure to evacuate stranded Senegalese, pointing to the charter flights, specialised medical personnel and quarantine facilities that would be required.
Despite a growing economy, Senegal is a poor country where about 40 percent of the population live on less than $1.90 (€1.70) a day, according to the World Bank.
However, Sall's announcement provoked outrage on Twitter. One prominent Senegalese columnist, for example, asked what the president would do if his own son was stranded in Wuhan.
There has not yet been a confirmed coronavirus case in Africa. But authorities are on high alert as deep trade links to China put many countries on the continent at risk.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-02-06--Algeria replaces state energy firm CEO amid ongoing political crisis

Sonatrach is the state energy company in oil- and gas-rich Algeria .
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Wednesday appointed Toufik Hakkar as the new head ofstate energy firm Sonatrach , state television reported .
Hakkar , a senior Sonatrach executive , will replace Kamel Eddine Chikhi who was only named head of the company three months ago , the latest in a rapid carousel of changes at the top in recent years .
Algeria , a major gas supplier to Europe , relies on hydrocarbons sales for 60 % of its budget revenue but they have slumped since the oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big decline in foreign currency reserves .
Latest figures show oil and gas earnings reached $ 30.25 billion in the first 11 months of 2019 , a 15 % fall from the same period a year earlier as domestic demand and lower output reduced export volumes .
The North African country has responded by trying to boost production capacity , and is seeking investment from international oil companies to help it to do so .
In December , it passed a new law to encourage such investments while still barring foreign companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy projects .
Falling energy revenues are hitting the state budget , for which a 9 % cut in public spending was approved for this year , while leaving politically sensitive subsidies unchanged .
Any major cuts in government programmes would be particularly difficult given the major political crisis that has rocked Algeria for the past year , with a mass protest movement that helped oust the veteran president in April .
Tebboune was elected in December in a vote that the protesters rejected , saying no election was legitimate while the ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new government last month .

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Wednesday appointed Toufik Hakkar as the new head ofstate energy firm Sonatrach, state television reported.
Sonatrach is the state energy company in oil- and gas-rich Algeria.
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Hakkar, a senior Sonatrach executive, will replace Kamel Eddine Chikhi who was only named head of the company three months ago, the latest in a rapid carousel of changes at the top in recent years.
Algeria, a major gas supplier to Europe, relies on hydrocarbons sales for 60% of its budget revenue but they have slumped since the oil price fell in 2014, leading to a big decline in foreign currency reserves.
Latest figures show oil and gas earnings reached $30.25 billion in the first 11 months of 2019, a 15% fall from the same period a year earlier as domestic demand and lower output reduced export volumes.
The North African country has responded by trying to boost production capacity, and is seeking investment from international oil companies to help it to do so.
In December, it passed a new law to encourage such investments while still barring foreign companies from owning a majority share in Algerian energy projects.
Falling energy revenues are hitting the state budget, for which a 9% cut in public spending was approved for this year, while leaving politically sensitive subsidies unchanged.
Any major cuts in government programmes would be particularly difficult given the major political crisis that has
rocked Algeria for the past year, with a mass protest movement that helped oust the veteran president in April.
Tebboune was elected in December in a vote that the protesters rejected, saying no election was legitimate while the ruling elite remained in place. He appointed a new government last month.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-06--China halves some tariffs on US imports in first phase of trade war truce

The US and China have had a lengthy trade standoff that looks to have some relief .
China said on Thursday it will halve additional tariffs levied against 1,717 products imported from the United States last year , following the signing of a Phase 1 trade deal that brought a truce to a bruising trade war .
China 's finance ministry said in a statement that tariff reductions for the relevant goods , which were initially announced on Sept. 1 , will take effect from 0501 GMT on Feb. 14 .
The reductions come about three weeks after the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington , which included China 's promise to boost purchases of U.S. goods and services by $ 200 billion over two years in exchange for the United States rolling back some tariffs imposed against Chinese goods .
China 's finance ministry said in a statement that additional tariffs levied on some goods will be cut to 5 % from 10 % previously , while extra tariffs on some goods will be lowered to 2.5 % from 5 % previously .
The ministry did not state the value of the goods that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and the United States can abide by the trade deal and implement it to boost market confidence , push bilateral trade development and aid global economic growth , the ministry added .
Some analysts said following the trade deal that China may need to roll back some of the tariffs on U.S. goods such as soybeans and crude oil in order to meet its purchasing commitments .

China said on Thursday it will halve additional tariffs levied against 1,717 products imported from the United States last year, following the signing of a Phase 1 trade deal that brought a truce to a bruising trade war.
The US and China have had a lengthy trade standoff that looks to have some relief.
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China's finance ministry said in a statement that tariff reductions for the relevant goods, which were initially announced on Sept. 1, will take effect from 0501 GMT on Feb. 14.
The reductions come about three weeks after the two countries signed the Phase 1 trade deal in Washington, which included China's promise to boost purchases of U.S. goods and services by $200 billion over two years in exchange for the United States rolling back some tariffs imposed against Chinese goods.
China's finance ministry said in a statement that additional tariffs levied on some goods will be cut to 5% from 10% previously, while extra tariffs on some goods will be lowered to 2.5% from 5% previously. The ministry did not state the value of the goods that are affected by the decision.
China hopes it and the United States can abide by the trade deal and implement it to boost market confidence, push bilateral trade development and aid global economic growth, the ministry added.
Some analysts said following the trade deal that China may need to roll back some of the tariffs on U.S. goods such as soybeans and crude oil in order to meet its purchasing commitments.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-05--Romney breaks ranks with Republicans and votes to convict Trump

Republican Senator Mitt Romney issued a scathing criticism of Donald Trump on Wednesday as he broke with his party and voted to convict the U.S. president for abuse of power in his impeachment trial .
Romney , the 2012 Republican presidential nominee , said he believes Trump was guilty of “ an appalling abuse of public trust '' when he pressured Ukraine 's leaders to investigate political foe Joe Biden .
The Utah senator noted that as a “ profoundly religious ” person , he was bound by the oath senators took to administer impartial justice .
“ My faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am , ” he said .
Romney announced his decision during an eight-minute speech on the Senate floor , as Romney became the first senator to bolt what so far has been a strict party-line divide over whether to oust Trump .
The two men have had a tumultuous relationship since Trump began his successful presidential campaign .
`` What he did was not 'perfect , ' '' Romney said on the Senate floor , as Trump has described his call with Ukraine 's president that was at the heart of the scandal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flagrant assault on our electoral rights , our national security and our fundamental values .
Corrupting an election to keep one 's self in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one 's oath of office that I can imagine . ''
The Republican-controlled Senate was scheduled to hold its historic vote at 4pm EST ( 2100 GMT ) on whether to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine in only the third presidential impeachment trial in US history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charges on December 18 , 2019 .
Romney , a moderate and elder statesman in his party , is the only Republican senator to announce that he plans to vote to remove Trump from office .
The impeachment drama that has consumed Washington since September will come to an end with Wednesday 's vote , allowing Trump to pivot toward campaigning for the November election .
While the vote is historic , the outcome of acquittal appears assured .
A two-thirds majority vote would be necessary to remove him .
Republicans hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and none of them has called for conviction .
Trump , America 's 45th president , would have to turn over his office to Vice President Mike Pence if convicted on either charge .
After facing the darkest chapter of his presidency , Trump , 73 , is seeking a second four-year term in the November 3 election .
'Our country deserves better than this' As they did on Tuesday , senators ahead of the vote made a series of speeches explaining their decision in the trial .
It remains to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their party to hand Trump a bipartisan acquittal .
Democratic Senator Doug Jones , facing a tough re-election bid this year in Republican-dominated Alabama , said he would vote to convict Trump on both charges and voiced alarm at the arguments by the president 's lawyers in favor of virtually unchecked presidential power .
Jones also issued an appeal for unity at a time of deep partisan divisions in Washington and nationwide .
`` Our country deserves better than this .
They deserve better from the president .
They deserve better from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to come together to set aside partisan differences and to focus on what we have in common as Americans , '' Jones said .
The impeachment charges against Trump centered on his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Biden and his son Hunter Biden and the president 's subsequent actions to block testimony and documents sought by the House in its impeachment investigation .
Democrats accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $ 391 million in security aid passed by Congress to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists as leverage to pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is seeking his party 's nomination to challenge Trump in November .
Trump denied wrongdoing and most Republicans in the House and Senate rallied around him .
Over the past few days , some Republican senators have criticised Trump 's behavior but said it did not warrant his ouster .
`` I hope our Democratic colleagues will finally accept the results of this trial , just as they have not accepted the results of the 2016 election , '' said Republican Senator John Cornyn , saying he hopes they do not launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's time for our country to come together , to heal the wounds that divide us . ''
'Two systems of justice' Democratic Senator Kamala Harris said the trial underscored that `` in America there are two systems of justice : one for the powerful and another for everyone else .
`` Donald Trump knows all this better than anybody , '' Harris said .
`` After the Senate votes today , Donald Trump will want the American people to feel cynical .
He will want us not to care .
He will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful and we have no power .
We 're not going to let him get away with that , '' Harris added .
The House launched its impeachment inquiry in September .
The Senate trial began on Jan. 16 .
Senate Republicans voted down a Democratic bid to call witnesses such as former national security adviser John Bolton and present new evidence in the trial .
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told reporters that Democrats likely would subpoena Bolton , who in an unpublished book manuscript described Trump as playing a central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to investigate the president .
Trump is the third US president to have been impeached .
The two others , Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868 , were left in power by the Senate .
( FRANCE 24 with AFP , AP and REUTERS )

Republican Senator Mitt Romney issued a scathing criticism of Donald Trump on Wednesday as he broke with his party and voted to convict the U.S. president for abuse of power in his impeachment trial.
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Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, said he believes Trump was guilty of “an appalling abuse of public trust" when he pressured Ukraine's leaders to investigate political foe Joe Biden.
The Utah senator noted that as a “profoundly religious” person, he was bound by the oath senators took to administer impartial justice. “My faith is at the heart of who I am,” he said.
Romney announced his decision during an eight-minute speech on the Senate floor, as Romney became the first senator to bolt what so far has been a strict party-line divide over whether to oust Trump. The two men have had a tumultuous relationship since Trump began his successful presidential campaign.
"What he did was not 'perfect,'" Romney said on the Senate floor, as Trump has described his call with Ukraine's president that was at the heart of the scandal. "No, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security and our fundamental values. Corrupting an election to keep one's self in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one's oath of office that I can imagine."
My thoughts on today’s impeachment vote → https://t.co/Tk1OJWnEdc — Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) February 5, 2020
The Republican-controlled Senate was scheduled to hold its historic vote at 4pm EST (2100 GMT) on whether to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine in only the third presidential impeachment trial in US history.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives approved the charges on December 18, 2019.
Romney, a moderate and elder statesman in his party, is the only Republican senator to announce that he plans to vote to remove Trump from office.
The impeachment drama that has consumed Washington since September will come to an end with Wednesday's vote, allowing Trump to pivot toward campaigning for the November election.
While the vote is historic, the outcome of acquittal appears assured. A two-thirds majority vote would be necessary to remove him. Republicans hold 53 of the Senate's 100 seats, and none of them has called for conviction. Trump, America's 45th president, would have to turn over his office to Vice President Mike Pence if convicted on either charge.
After facing the darkest chapter of his presidency, Trump, 73, is seeking a second four-year term in the November 3 election.
'Our country deserves better than this'
As they did on Tuesday, senators ahead of the vote made a series of speeches explaining their decision in the trial. It remains to be seen whether any Democratic senators break ranks from their party to hand Trump a bipartisan acquittal.
Democratic Senator Doug Jones, facing a tough re-election bid this year in Republican-dominated Alabama, said he would vote to convict Trump on both charges and voiced alarm at the arguments by the president's lawyers in favor of virtually unchecked presidential power.
Jones also issued an appeal for unity at a time of deep partisan divisions in Washington and nationwide.
"Our country deserves better than this. They deserve better from the president. They deserve better from the Congress. We must find a way to come together to set aside partisan differences and to focus on what we have in common as Americans," Jones said.
The impeachment charges against Trump centered on his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Biden and his son Hunter Biden and the president's subsequent actions to block testimony and documents sought by the House in its impeachment investigation.
Sen. Romney showed true bravery and courage today! He put country before party and made history in such an honorable and inspiring way!#brave #ImpeachmentDay #ImpeachedForLife #Romney https://t.co/r9NQlsdvPD — Biden2020 (@BidenPOTUS46) February 5, 2020
Democrats accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid passed by Congress to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists as leverage to pressure Kiev to help him smear Biden, who is seeking his party's nomination to challenge Trump in November.
Trump denied wrongdoing and most Republicans in the House and Senate rallied around him. Over the past few days, some Republican senators have criticised Trump's behavior but said it did not warrant his ouster.
"I hope our Democratic colleagues will finally accept the results of this trial, just as they have not accepted the
results of the 2016 election," said Republican Senator John Cornyn, saying he hopes they do not launch a second impeachment inquiry. "It's time for our country to come together, to heal the wounds that divide us."
'Two systems of justice'
Democratic Senator Kamala Harris said the trial underscored that "in America there are two systems of justice: one for the powerful and another for everyone else.
"Donald Trump knows all this better than anybody," Harris said.
"After the Senate votes today, Donald Trump will want the American people to feel cynical. He will want us not to care. He will want us to think he is all powerful and we have no power. We're not going to let him get away with that," Harris added.
The House launched its impeachment inquiry in September. The Senate trial began on Jan. 16. Senate Republicans voted down a Democratic bid to call witnesses such as former national security adviser John Bolton and present new evidence in the trial.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told reporters that Democrats likely would subpoena Bolton, who in an unpublished book manuscript described Trump as playing a central role in pressuring Ukraine, as they continue to investigate the president.
Trump is the third US president to have been impeached. The two others, Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868, were left in power by the Senate.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-06--Doctor who alerted world about coronavirus dies of it as China's death toll surpasses 630

The world scientific community has been on the hunt for a cure .
A Chinese doctor , among the first to raise the alert about China 's new coronavirus , himself died from the pathogen on Friday , emphasizing the depth of a worsening crisis that has killed more than 560 people .
Global panic also spread , with thousands trapped on quarantined cruise ships .
Ophthalmologist Li Wenliang died at 2:58 am , Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on its verified account on Chinese social media platform Weibo .
The 34-year-old sent out a message about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but was later among eight whistleblowers summoned by police for `` rumour-mongering . ''
He later contracted the disease while treating a patient and has been hailed as a hero by Chinese internet users .
Li was among more than 28,000 people who have been infected in China , where authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak , despite ordering millions indoors in a growing number of cities .
Two dozen countries have confirmed cases of the respiratory disease , which emerged from a market selling exotic animals in the central Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thousands of holidaymakers on cruise ships in Hong Kong and Japan face an agonising wait to find out if more among them have been infected .
At least 20 people on the Diamond Princess -- off Yokohama since Monday -- have tested positive .
Some 3,700 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries have been confined to quarters .
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said another cruise ship , the Westerdam , was heading to the country with one confirmed case .
He said no foreigners from the vessel , capable of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be allowed to disembark .
In Hong Kong , 3,600 people were spending a second night confined aboard the World Dream .
Authorities conducted health checks after eight former passengers tested positive for the virus .
Hong Kong has been particularly nervous because the crisis revived memories of another coronavirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) .
It killed nearly 300 people in the city and another 349 on the Chinese mainland in 2002-2003 .
Panic buying in semi-autonomous Hong Kong left supermarkets empty of toilet paper following false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appeal for calm .
One person has died after contracting the virus in Hong Kong .
While the death toll rises in China with the death of Li and others , experts have stressed that at two percent mortality , 2019-nCoV is far less deadly than SARS , which killed around 10 percent of the people it infected 17 years ago .
The outbreak has nevertheless been declared a global health emergency , prompting several governments to warn against travel to China and ban arrivals from the country , while airlines have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Almost 200 Canadians showed up at the airport in Wuhan for the country 's first evacuations , most on a commercial airliner chartered by Ottawa , officials said .
Germany 's foreign ministry said it was working to bring home several nationals who had not made it out on a flight that reached Frankfurt last Saturday .
Saudi Arabia banned citizens and resident foreigners from travelling to China , while Air France-KLM extended its flight suspension by another month until March 15 .
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries should `` follow World Health Organization guidelines on travel and health in a timely manner '' , state news agency Xinhua reported .
After Britain advised nationals to leave China , Beijing 's ambassador to London said there should not be `` such a panic . ''
China has enacted unprecedented measures to contain the virus , which spread during the Lunar New Year holiday in late January , when millions criss-crossed the country .
But deaths and new infections continue to rise , especially at the epicentre in Hubei province , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been under virtual lockdown since late last month .
There is a shortage of 2,250 medical personnel in Hubei , deputy provincial governor Yang Yunyan said Thursday .
The inability to offer health workers adequate protective gear is hindering the numbers that can be deployed on the front lines , he added .
With Hubei 's capital Wuhan overwhelmed , authorities were due to open a second , 1,600-bed field hospital .
The first , with 1,000 beds , opened earlier this week , and authorities said they were converting public buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has announced measures intended to ensure the supply of vital resources , with tax breaks for manufacturers of medical equipment .
`` We must make all-out efforts across the country to meet the need for essential medical supplies and medical professionals in Hubei province , '' Premier Li Keqiang said , according to Xinhua .
BGI Group , a genome sequencing company in southern China , said it had opened a lab in Wuhan able to test 10,000 people a day .
More cities are ordering people to stay indoors .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles ) from Shanghai , where fences block streets and loudspeakers tell people : `` Do n't go out ! ''
In Beijing -- where streets remain eerily quiet -- restaurants have been barred from accepting reservations for parties .
And in Nanchang , the capital of Jiangxi province which borders Hubei , pharmacists must send reports to the authorities on anyone buying fever or cough medicine .
The outbreak has also hit major businesses .
Workers making iPhones at tech giant Foxconn 's plant in Henan province , bordering Hubei , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the company said .
China said it would halve tariffs on $ 75 billion worth of US imports , as part of a trade truce with Washington and as officials look to calm markets unnerved by the outbreak .

A Chinese doctor, among the first to raise the alert about China's new coronavirus, himself died from the pathogen on Friday, emphasizing the depth of a worsening crisis that has killed at least 630 people.
This combination of pictures created on February 7, 2020 shows undated photos obtained on February 7, 2020 of Chinese coronavirus whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang
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Global panic also spread, with thousands trapped on quarantined cruise ships.
Ophthalmologist Li Wenliang died at 2:58 am, Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on its verified account on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
The 34-year-old sent out a message about the new coronavirus to colleagues on December 30, but was later among eight whistleblowers summoned by police for "rumour-mongering."
The death of a good man. Doctor Li Wenliang. May his young family be protected and supported. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/cZ0wrUQzDM — Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) February 7, 2020
He later contracted the disease while treating a patient and has been hailed as a hero by Chinese internet users.
Li was among more than 28,000 people who have been infected in China, where authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak, despite ordering millions indoors in a growing number of cities.
Two dozen countries have confirmed cases of the respiratory disease, which emerged from a market selling exotic animals in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.
Thousands of holidaymakers on cruise ships in Hong Kong and Japan face an agonising wait to find out if more among them have been infected.
At least 20 people on the Diamond Princess -- off Yokohama since Monday -- have tested positive. Some 3,700 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries have been confined to quarters.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said another cruise ship, the Westerdam, was heading to the country with one confirmed case.
He said no foreigners from the vessel, capable of carrying nearly 3,000 passengers and crew, would be allowed to disembark.
Anxiety in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, 3,600 people spent a second night confined aboard the World Dream. Authorities conducted health checks after eight former passengers tested positive for the virus.
Hong Kong has been particularly nervous because the crisis revived memories of another coronavirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It killed nearly 300 people in the city and another 349 on the Chinese mainland in 2002-2003.
Panic buying in semi-autonomous Hong Kong left supermarkets empty of toilet paper following false online claims of shortages, prompting authorities to appeal for calm.
One person has died after contracting the virus in Hong Kong.
While the death toll rises in China with the death of Li and others, experts have stressed that at two percent mortality, 2019-nCoV is far less deadly than SARS, which killed around 10 percent of the people it infected 17 years ago.
The outbreak has nevertheless been declared a global health emergency, prompting several governments to warn against travel to China and ban arrivals from the country, while airlines have halted flights and brought home their citizens.
Almost 200 Canadians showed up at the airport in Wuhan for the country's first evacuations, most on a commercial airliner chartered by Ottawa, officials said.
Germany's foreign ministry said it was working to bring home several nationals who had not made it out on a flight that reached Frankfurt last Saturday.
Saudi Arabia banned citizens and resident foreigners from travelling to China, while Air France-KLM extended its flight suspension by another month until March 15.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a call that all countries should "follow World Health Organization guidelines on travel and health in a timely manner", state news agency Xinhua reported.
After Britain advised nationals to leave China, Beijing's ambassador to London said there should not be "such a panic."
Short of medical staff
China has enacted unprecedented measures to contain the virus, which spread during the Lunar New Year holiday in late January, when millions criss-crossed the country.
But deaths and new infections continue to rise, especially at the epicentre in Hubei province, where 18 cities housing 56 million people have been under virtual lockdown since late last month.
There is a shortage of 2,250 medical personnel in Hubei, deputy provincial governor Yang Yunyan said Thursday. The inability to offer health workers adequate protective gear is hindering the numbers that can be deployed on the front lines, he added.
With Hubei's capital Wuhan overwhelmed, authorities were due to open a second, 1,600-bed field hospital.
The central government has announced measures intended to ensure the supply of vital resources, with tax breaks for manufacturers of medical equipment.
BGI Group, a genome sequencing company in southern China, said it had opened a lab in Wuhan able to test 10,000 people a day.
'Don't go out'
More cities are ordering people to stay indoors.
They include Hangzhou, 175 kilometres (110 miles) from Shanghai, where fences block streets and loudspeakers tell people: "Don't go out!"
In Beijing -- where streets remain eerily quiet -- restaurants have been barred from accepting reservations for parties.
And in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province which borders Hubei, pharmacists must send reports to the authorities on anyone buying fever or cough medicine.
The outbreak has also hit major businesses.
Workers making iPhones at tech giant Foxconn's plant in Henan province, bordering Hubei, will be quarantined for up to two weeks, the company said.
China said it would halve tariffs on $75 billion worth of US imports, as part of a trade truce with Washington and as officials look to calm markets unnerved by the outbreak.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-06--‘Evil, corrupt, dirty cops, leakers, liars’: Trump blasts impeachment ‘witch hunt’

A day after the Republican-controlled US Senate acquitted him of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges , President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a tirade against the impeachment process and his political opponents while praising his administration ’ s track record .
In his first formal response to the Senate acquittal , Trump described the impeachment process as a “ very unfair situation ” and described his Democratic opponents as “ vicious ” .
Speaking to a select audience at the White House East Room , the US president repeatedly used the term “ dirty cops ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he believed personally targeted him , including former FBI director James Comey – who was fired by the 45th US president in 2017 – and Robert Mueller , who investigated allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US elections .
As Trump spoke , supporters in the East Room broke out into periodic rounds of applause .
The invitees included Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and several Cabinet members , including Attorney General William Barr , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , and staunch House allies .
For the second time Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national daily , the Washington Post , emblazoned with a banner “ Trump acquitted ” headline .
“ This is the only good headline I ’ ve ever had in the Washington Post , ” Trump joked to laughter from the audience .
The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday voted to acquit Trump on charges brought by the Democratic-led House of Representatives , only the third time in US history that a president has been impeached .
The acquittal was Trump 's biggest victory yet over his Democratic foes in Congress , who attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or seek new evidence at the trial .
'Inappropriate ' comments at prayer event Earlier Thursday , speaking at a prayer event that was attended by congressional leaders , including Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – who led the impeachment charge against him – Trump shattered the usual veneer of bipartisanship at the annual Washington event .
“ As everybody knows , my family , our great country and your president have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people , '' said Trump .
“ They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by so doing very badly hurt our nation , ” said Trump , displaying two newspapers , including the Washington Post , with the Senate acquittal story .
`` I do n't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong .
Nor do I like people who say ' I pray for you , ' when they know that that 's not so , '' Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast .
He avoided greeting Pelosi , who sat a few seats away on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's comments were inappropriate , especially at a prayer breakfast .
`` He 's talking about things he knows little about – faith and prayer , '' she told a news conference .
Asked if House Democrats could still work with the White House following impeachment : `` That would be up to him .
It certainly has n't changed in terms of us . ''
Meanwhile the Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez on Thursday called for a recanvass of the Iowa caucuses after an array of problems delayed results from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Enough is enough .
In light of the problems that have emerged in the implementation of the delegate selection plan and in order to assure public confidence in the results , I am calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to immediately begin a recanvass , '' Perez said in a Twitter post .
No winner has been declared four days after the caucuses took place in 1,600 locations throughout Iowa on Monday night .
With 97 percent of precincts counted , Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were leading , according to the Iowa Democratic Party .

A day after the Republican-controlled US Senate acquitted him of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress charges, President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a tirade against the impeachment process and his political opponents while praising his administration’s track record.
US President Donald Trump holds up a copy of the Washington Post in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, February 6, 2020.
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In his first formal response to the Senate acquittal, Trump described the impeachment process as a “very unfair situation” and described his Democratic opponents as “vicious”.
Speaking to a select audience at the White House East Room, the US president repeatedly used the term “dirty cops” to describe a string of people and parties that he believed personally targeted him, including former FBI director James Comey – who was fired by the 45th US president in 2017 – and Robert Mueller, who investigated allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US elections.
01:53
As Trump spoke, supporters in the East Room broke out into periodic rounds of applause. The invitees included Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and several Cabinet members, including Attorney General William Barr, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and staunch House allies.For the second time Thursday, Trump held aloft a copy of the national daily, the Washington Post, emblazoned with a banner “Trump acquitted” headline. “This is the only good headline I’ve ever had in the Washington Post,” Trump joked to laughter from the audience.
The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday voted to acquit Trump on charges brought by the Democratic-led House of Representatives, only the third time in US history that a president has been impeached.
The acquittal was Trump's biggest victory yet over his Democratic foes in Congress, who attacked Senate Republicans for refusing to call witnesses or seek new evidence at the trial.
'Inappropriate' comments at prayer event
Earlier Thursday, speaking at a prayer event that was attended by congressional leaders, including Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – who led the impeachment charge against him – Trump shattered the usual veneer of bipartisanship at the annual Washington event.
“As everybody knows, my family, our great country and your president have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people," said Trump.
“They have done everything possible to destroy us and by so doing very badly hurt our nation,” said Trump, displaying two newspapers, including the Washington Post, with the Senate acquittal story.
"I don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong. Nor do I like people who say 'I pray for you,' when they know that that's not so," Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast.
He avoided greeting Pelosi, who sat a few seats away on the dais.
Pelosi said later that Trump's comments were inappropriate, especially at a prayer breakfast.
"He's talking about things he knows little about – faith and prayer," she told a news conference.
03:03
Asked if House Democrats could still work with the White House following impeachment: "That would be up to him. It certainly hasn't changed in terms of us."
Democrats call for Iowa caucaus recanvass
Meanwhile the Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez on Thursday called for a recanvass of the Iowa caucuses after an array of problems delayed results from the party's first 2020 presidential nomination contest.
"Enough is enough. In light of the problems that have emerged in the implementation of the delegate selection plan and in order to assure public confidence in the results, I am calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to immediately begin a recanvass," Perez said in a Twitter post.
No winner has been declared four days after the caucuses took place in 1,600 locations throughout Iowa on Monday night. With 97 percent of precincts counted, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, the
38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, were leading, according to the Iowa Democratic Party.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-06--‘Floating prison’: Life on board coronavirus cruise ship

The Diamond Princess cruise ship , which has been placed under quarantine following an outbreak of coronavirus .
What was supposed to be a luxury cruise has turned into a `` floating prison '' for passengers on board the Diamond Princess .
The ship has been placed under a two-week quarantine following an outbreak on board of the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 500 people in China .
Passengers have been confined to their cabins , left to fight off a mix of anxiety and boredom .
Some have been posting updates on conditions on board the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not going to be a luxury cruise , it ’ s going to be like a floating prison , '' passenger David Abel said in a video posted on Facebook .
“ How do we cope with it ?
We can either be creative and thinking positive things or we can be dragging ourselves down into the gutter . ''
Other passengers posted images of sparse meals , crew in face masks and once bustling common areas now eerily deserted .
On Wednesday night the ship was allowed to dock at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on much needed supplies .
Medical teams on board have been screening passengers for signs of the virus .
So far , 20 passengers diagnosed with the coronavirus strain have been removed and taken to hospital .

What was supposed to be a luxury cruise has turned into a "floating prison" for passengers on board the Diamond Princess. The ship has been placed under a two-week quarantine following an outbreak on board of the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 630 people in China.
The Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been placed under quarantine following an outbreak of coronavirus.
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Passengers have been confined to their cabins, left to fight off a mix of anxiety and boredom. Some have been posting updates on conditions on board the ship on social media.
“It’s not going to be a luxury cruise, it’s going to be like a floating prison," passenger David Abel said in a video posted on Facebook.
“How do we cope with it? We can either be creative and thinking positive things or we can be dragging ourselves down into the gutter."
Other passengers posted images of sparse meals, crew in face masks and once bustling common areas now eerily deserted.
On Wednesday night the ship was allowed to dock at the Japanese port city of Yokohama and take on much needed supplies.
Medical teams on board have been screening passengers for signs of the virus. So far, 20 passengers diagnosed with the coronavirus strain have been removed and taken to hospital.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-06--Exclusive: At the heart of Iraq's uprising

Exclusive : At the heart of Iraq 's uprising On Wednesday evening , at least seven protesters were shot dead @ @ @ @ @ of Najaf , sparking fresh anti-government rallies across the country .
Since the start of @ @ @ @ @ , several hundred people , mostly demonstrators , have been killed in clashes , while @ @ @ @ @ been injured .
Our reporters Cyril Payen and Amar Al Hameedawi travelled to the south @ @ @ @ @ the heart of the protests .
For the past four months , tensions have been @ @ @ @ @ Iraqi cities of Nassiriya , Basra , Kerbala and Najaf .
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ of civil society or veterans – take huge risks to occupy neighbourhoods .
Their goal @ @ @ @ @ of the authorities in Baghdad , the power of religious militias as well as foreign @ @ @ @ @ FRANCE 24 brings you an exclusive report at the heart of Iraq ’ s uprising @ @ @ @ @ to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr clashes with protesters in Baghdad

Exclusive: At the heart of Iraq's uprising
15:44 REPORTERS © FRANCE 24
By: Cyril PAYEN Follow | Amar Al HAMEEDAWI
On Wednesday evening, at least seven protesters were shot dead in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, sparking fresh anti-government rallies across the country. Since the start of the protest movement in October, several hundred people, mostly demonstrators, have been killed in clashes, while tens of thousands more have been injured. Our reporters Cyril Payen and Amar Al Hameedawi travelled to the south of Iraq to get to the heart of the protests.


france24--2020-02-06--Stumping for Bernie: Larry Sanders on his younger brother

Stumping for Bernie : Larry Sanders on his younger brother He refers to his brother as `` Bernard '' , @ @ @ @ @ years by calling health care reform the crucial campaign issue of 2020 , and after @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden `` will limp on but his candidacy 's finished '' .
FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @ 84 , who made his life in Oxford , acts as the UK Green Party @ @ @ @ @ social services… and came to Paris as part of his canvassing efforts for Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @

Stumping for Bernie: Larry Sanders on his younger brother
10:18 Larry Sanders. © FRANCE 24
He refers to his brother as "Bernard", echoes his junior of six years by calling health care reform the crucial campaign issue of 2020, and after Iowa's results, predicts Joe Biden "will limp on but his candidacy's finished". FRANCE 24 speaks to Larry Sanders, 84, who made his life in Oxford, acts as the UK Green Party's spokesperson for health and social services… and came to Paris as part of his canvassing efforts for Bernie Sanders’ second US presidential run.


france24--2020-02-06--Real Madrid knocked out of Copa del Ray by Real Sociedad

Real Madrid were knocked out of the Copa del Rey on Thursday as Martin Odegaard put on a creative masterclass against his parent club to lead Real Sociedad to a thrilling 4-3 victory .
Madrid conceded as many goals in 69 minutes as they had in their last 11 matches , torn apart at the Santiago Bernabeu by an electric La Real side , who deservedly advanced to the semi-finals .
Odegaard , on loan from Real Madrid but allowed to face his own club , scored the opener before the superb Alexander Isak hit two to give Real Sociedad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodrygo both scored late in the second half and while Mikel Merino also added a fourth for the visitors , a Nacho Fernandez header set up a pulsating final three minutes , in which Andoni Gorosabel was also sent off .
Ten-man Real Sociedad held on for a sensational win to progress to the last four while Madrid 's run without success in Spain 's domestic cup extends to six years .
The only consolation might have been the display of the 21-year-old Odegaard , who is beginning to live up to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On loan at Sociedad , the plan was for Odegaard to stay one more year at Anoeta but this glittering display , that earned him a standing ovation from the home fans when he went off , may well persuade Madrid to recall him early .
Their 21-game unbeaten streak comes to an end after an uncharacteristically careless performance in which a rotated side highlighted the importance of the likes of Casemiro , Raphael Varane and Thibaut Courtois .
Courtois ' replacement Alphonse Areola was at fault for at least one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at left-back , a position the more dependable Ferland Mendy has made his own in recent weeks .
Eden Hazard is training again but the wait for his return goes on while Gareth Bale was again left out of the squad completely .
Yet Zinedine Zidane 's changes should take nothing away from Real Sociedad , who showed why they were pushing for a place in La Liga 's top four earlier this season , before a dip in form has seen them slip to eighth .
Warning signs There were early warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot was blocked by the diving Eder Militao and from the resulting corner , the Swede was picked out with a driven cross only to skew his finish .
Isak was involved in the opener too after 22 minutes , as his effort was saved by Areola , who then failed to readjust in time to prevent Odegaard firing through his legs .
Ander Barrenetxea had only come on at half-time but nine minutes into the second half , he had set up a second .
It was the first of two goals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's floated cross was met brilliantly by the acrobatic Isak , who then made it three shortly after , rifling in at the near post after the ball had deflected to his feet .
Marcelo had been the defender beaten but a wild five minutes saw the Brazilian make amends as he caught Alex Remiro off guard , also at the near post , with a driven shot from the angle .
Madrid had the momentum but remained two behind with 10 minutes left after Merino tapped in for La Real before Rodrygo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finishing off a Vinicius pull-back .
Even in injury-time , victory was not safe .
Nacho headed in Karim Benzema 's cross with three of the six allotted minuets left before Gorosabel was shown a second yellow card .
Sergio Ramos might even have made it 4-4 but headed straight into the hands of Remiro .

The Copa del Rey's new single-elimination format claimed its biggest victims on Thursday, with Real Madrid and Barcelona both being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Real Sociedad's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) vies with Real Madrid's German midfielder Toni Kroos during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) quarter-final football match at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, Spain on February 6.
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Madrid lost 4-3 to Real Sociedad at home before Barcelona conceded a late goal to lose 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on the most surprising night of a competition filled with upsets.
Defending champion Valencia also lost on Tuesday and Villarreal was eliminated on Wednesday. Sevilla and Atlético Madrid had already been ousted in previous rounds.
Only the semifinals are being played over two legs this season, giving smaller clubs greater chances of knocking out bigger teams.
The surprising last four will also include Granada and second-division club Mirandés. It's the first time in a decade that neither Madrid nor Barcelona made it to the last four in the Copa. At least one of the Spanish powerhouses had reached the final every year since the 2009-10 season, when Sevilla won the title. Barcelona made the final the last six years in a row.
“This is the new Copa,” Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said. “We are playing one match, away from home, and in one play you are eliminated.”
Real Sociedad ended Madrid's 21-game unbeaten run with its win at the Santiago Bernabéu to reach the semifinals for the first time in six years.
Athletic got past Barcelona thanks to Iñaki Williams' winner three minutes into second-half stoppage time, adding to the club's struggles since it fired coach Ernesto Valverde and replaced him with Quique Setién.
Barcelona is yet to impress under the new coach, and players and club directors have been at odds recently.
“I think we took a step forward. We played better than our opponent,” Setién said. “Everything went well except for the result.”
Barcelona dominated throughout the second half and came close to breaking the deadlock with clear chances for Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi near the end. But it was Athletic that found the late winner when Williams flicked a header into the far corner after a cross by Ibai Gómez.
Athletic, the second-most successful club in the Copa with 23 titles, behind Barcelona, had needed penalty shootouts to advance against second-division clubs in the two previous rounds.
Messi made his 75th Copa appearance, equaling the Barcelona record held by Josep Samitier since 1932.
'Our fans deserved a prize like this'
Real Sociedad's victory halted Madrid's eight-game winning streak and handed the club its first loss in all competitions since October.
It also ended Madrid's hopes of winning the cup competition for the first time since 2014.
Real Sociedad, a semifinalist in 2014, will be looking to win its third Copa del Rey trophy — and first since 1987.
“Our fans deserved a prize like this," Real Sociedad coach Imano Alguacil said. ”This victory means a lot, coming at a packed Bernabéu, against a team like Real Madrid, with our team playing well. You can imagine how we are feeling right now."
The visitors looked in control for most of the match but Madrid came close to pulling off the comeback after scoring late goals in the second half.
“We gave everything we had in the end, but it was too late,” Madrid defender Marcelo said. “It's hard to come back after conceding four goals at home. It's disappointing, but we still have other competitions ahead of us.”
Madrid had been dominant thanks in part to a stout defense, having conceded only 13 goals in 22 Spanish league matches.
Young Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard, playing for Real Sociedad on a loan from Madrid, didn't celebrate after opening the scoring in the 22nd minute off the rebound of a save by Madrid goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Young Swedish striker Alexander Isak added to the lead with goals two minutes apart early in the second half — a volley in the 54th and a shot into the top corner in the 56th.
The 20-year-old Isak — who has scored in five consecutive matches — had already had a goal disallowed for offside after video review just minutes after the break.
Marcelo pulled Madrid closer with a low shot from inside the area in the 59th, but Mikel Merino increased the visitors' lead again from close range in the 69th.
Rodrygo netted Madrid's second in the 81st, two minutes after Vinícius Júnior had a goal disallowed by video review. The third came through a header by Nacho Ramos three minutes into stoppage time.
Real Sociedad defender Andoni Gorosabel was sent off just before the final whistle.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-06--Deadly spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence as unrest flares

A spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence on Thursday killed three Arabs and wounded a dozen Israeli troops in a rash of attacks and clashes a week after the Trump administration released its long-anticipated Middle East plan .
In the West Bank , Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians , one during violent clashes , according to Israeli authorities .
The shootings came hours after a car-ramming in Jerusalem targeted Israeli soldiers and a gunman wounded a policeman in suspected Palestinian attacks .
Long-simmering Palestinian unrest has been stoked by anger at US President Donald Trump 's Middle East plan , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Palestinians when it was announced last week .
The plan would give Israel most of what it has sought during decades of conflict , including the disputed holy city of Jerusalem and nearly all the occupied land on which it has built settlements .
At the entrance to Jerusalem 's walled Old City , a gunman shot at a border policeman , lightly wounding him , Israeli police said .
Police opened fire on the assailant and killed him .
The shooting took place not far from a popular nightlife venue where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rammed into Israeli soldiers who were sight-seeing after basic training .
One soldier was badly injured and another sustained moderate injuries , the Magen David Adom ambulance service said .
Twelve others were lightly injured .
Police said they were treating the car-ramming incident , which took place near the Palestinian neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem , as a terrorist attack .
The driver was still at large , police said .
`` It is just a matter of time - and not much time - until we get our hands on the attacker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will win , '' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement .
Israeli troops kill 19-year-old in Jenin In the West Bank city of Jenin , a 19-year-old man was shot dead by troops while throwing rocks at them , Palestinians said .
Jenin governor Akram Rajoub said the 19-year-old casualty was a student at an academy that trains budding police officers , and was throwing stones at the troops .
An Israeli military spokesman said soldiers came to Jenin to demolish the home of a Palestinian who was involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settler .
Troops opened fire at Palestinians who shot and threw bombs at them in Jenin , the spokesman said .
Palestinian authorities said another Palestinian man , a police officer , had been killed at a Jenin police station by Israeli gunfire .
Israeli officials did not comment and it was unclear whether that incident was directly linked to the clashes in the West Bank city .
Stone-throwing Palestinian teen killed On Wednesday , Israeli troops shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian elsewhere in the West Bank , saying he had thrown a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Trump 's plan .
He was the first fatality since the plan was announced .
The Israeli military said that there had been a `` violent riot '' , during which `` troops identified a Palestinian who hurled a Molotov cocktail at them '' .
`` The troops responded with fire in order to remove the threat , '' it added .
Witnesses told AFP news agency that about 15 protesters had thrown stones at the troops .
In clashes following the killing , a Palestinian security official was shot by Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also Thursday , Israel struck Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip after three mortar shells were fired at Israel .
There was no immediate report of injuries on either side .
‘ Deal of century ’ brings no peace Unveiled last week at the White House with much fanfare , Trump ’ s plan envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel .
It sides with Israel on key contentious issues that have bedeviled past peace efforts , including borders and the status of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and attaches nearly impossible conditions for granting the Palestinians their hoped-for state .
The plan was greeted ecstatically in Israel , with Netanyahu vowing to speed ahead with annexing parts of the West Bank .
But under pressure from the US administration he appears to be scaling back on that promise .
The Palestinians dismissed the plan as “ nonsense ” and have promised to resist it .
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel for the deaths , linking them to what Trump has billed as the `` deal of the century '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the international community , view the settlements in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem - territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war - as illegal and a major obstacle to peace .

A spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence on Thursday killed three Arabs and wounded a dozen Israeli troops in a rash of attacks and clashes a week after the Trump administration released its long-anticipated Middle East plan.
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In the West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians, one during violent clashes, according to Israeli authorities. The shootings came hours after a car-ramming in Jerusalem targeted Israeli soldiers and a gunman wounded a policeman in suspected Palestinian attacks.
Long-simmering Palestinian unrest has been stoked by anger at US President Donald Trump's Middle East plan, which was embraced by Israel and rejected by the Palestinians when it was announced last week.
The plan would give Israel most of what it has sought during decades of conflict, including the disputed holy city of Jerusalem and nearly all the occupied land on which it has built settlements.
At the entrance to Jerusalem's walled Old City, a gunman shot at a border policeman, lightly wounding him, Israeli police said. Police opened fire on the assailant and killed him.
The shooting took place not far from a popular nightlife venue where a few hours earlier, a car rammed into Israeli soldiers who were sight-seeing after basic training.
One soldier was badly injured and another sustained moderate injuries, the Magen David Adom ambulance service said. Twelve others were lightly injured.
Police said they were treating the car-ramming incident, which took place near the Palestinian neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem, as a terrorist attack. The driver was still at large, police said.
"It is just a matter of time - and not much time - until we get our hands on the attacker. Terrorism will not defeat us, we will win," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Israeli troops kill 19-year-old in Jenin
In the West Bank city of Jenin, a 19-year-old man was shot dead by troops while throwing rocks at them, Palestinians said.
Jenin governor Akram Rajoub said the 19-year-old casualty was a student at an academy that trains budding police officers, and was throwing stones at the troops.
An Israeli military spokesman said soldiers came to Jenin to demolish the home of a Palestinian who was involved in the 2018 killing of a Jewish settler. Troops opened fire at Palestinians who shot and threw bombs at them in Jenin, the spokesman said.
Palestinian authorities said another Palestinian man, a police officer, had been killed at a Jenin police station by Israeli gunfire.
Israeli officials did not comment and it was unclear whether that incident was directly linked to the clashes in the West Bank city.
Stone-throwing Palestinian teen killed
On Wednesday, Israeli troops shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian elsewhere in the West Bank, saying he had thrown a fire-bomb at them during a violent protest against Trump's plan. He was the first fatality since the plan was announced.
The Israeli military said that there had been a "violent riot", during which "troops identified a Palestinian who hurled a Molotov cocktail at them".
"The troops responded with fire in order to remove the threat," it added.
Witnesses told AFP news agency that about 15 protesters had thrown stones at the troops.
In clashes following the killing, a Palestinian security official was shot by Israeli troops and later died of his injuries.
Also Thursday, Israel struck Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip after three mortar shells were fired at Israel. There was no immediate report of injuries on either side.
‘Deal of century’ brings no peace
Unveiled last week at the White House with much fanfare, Trump’s plan envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel. It sides with Israel on key contentious issues that have bedeviled past peace efforts, including borders and the status of Jerusalem and Jewish West Bank settlements, and attaches nearly impossible conditions for granting the Palestinians their hoped-for state.
The plan was greeted ecstatically in Israel, with Netanyahu vowing to speed ahead with annexing parts of the West Bank. But under pressure from the US administration he appears to be scaling back on that promise.
The Palestinians dismissed the plan as “nonsense” and have promised to resist it. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel for the deaths, linking them to what Trump has billed as the "deal of the century".
The Palestinians, as well as much of the international community, view the settlements in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem - territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war - as illegal and a major obstacle to peace.
(FRANCE 24 with AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-06--German regional governor quits, calls for new polls after ‘stain’ of far-right support

The premier of Germany 's Thuringia state Thomas Kemmerich resigned Thursday and called for snap regional polls , a day after he was voted into office with help from far-right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) lawmakers , sparking a political earthquake .
`` We have decided to apply for the dissolution of the state parliament , '' Kemmerich from the German liberal Free Democrats ( FDP ) told reporters .
`` We want new elections to remove the stain of the AfD 's support for the office of the premiership , '' he said , adding that his resignation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise election of Kemmerich by Thuringia 's state legislature with the help of the far-right AfD has turned into a major embarrassment for Germany 's mainstream centre-right parties and revived questions about the future of the country 's governing coalition .
Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose party 's own regional lawmakers voted for Kemmerich Wednesday against national leaders ' wishes - on Thursday condemned his election as “ inexcusable ” and said the result must not stand .
Thuringia 's last election in October produced an inconclusive result .
The governor is elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need democratic majorities ’ The shock result turned into a major embarrassment for Germany 's mainstream centre-right parties and revived questions about the future of the country 's governing coalition .
Kemmerich initially held out against mounting pressure to resign , insisting that he had done and would do no deals with AfD .
But with no prospect of forming a viable state government , he broke a political taboo by seeking the AfD 's support Wednesday .
But a little more than 24 hours later , Kemmerich was forced to pull the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that his party would seek the dissolution of the state legislature .
“ With this , we want to bring about new elections in order to clear the stain of support by AfD from the office of governor , '' he said .
“ Democrats need democratic majorities , ” he added , though he insisted that he had made no mistakes .
‘ A bad day for democracy ’ Previous governor Bodo Ramelow 's Left Party finished first in the election , followed by AfD and Merkel 's CDU .
Kemmerich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDU , only just mustered enough support to enter the legislature , with five of its 90 seats .
They likely will struggle to win seats in a new election .
The last election stripped Ramelow 's left-wing coalition of its majority .
In a first for Germany , it produced no majority for any combination without either Ramelow 's Left Party - which the centre-right shuns as a descendant of East Germany 's ruling communists , though Ramelow is moderate - or AfD , which is particularly strong and radical in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit to South Africa that the outcome had been “ foreseeable ” - “ so one has to say that this event is inexcusable , and the result must be reversed.
” She said that the CDU must not participate in Kemmerich 's government .
“ It was a bad day for democracy , ” she said , adding that everything must now be done to show that what happened in Thuringia does n't reflect “ what the CDU thinks and does '' .
Leaders of Merkel 's often-tense coalition with the center-left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss the Thuringia mess .
Social Democrat leaders have said it raises questions for the CDU that demand quick answers , fueling renewed speculation over whether the coalition will last until its term ends late next year .
Merkel said her party has sent “ very clear ” signals after Wednesday 's events .
Martin Florack , a political scientist at the University of Duisburg , told ARD television that the fiasco weakens Kramp-Karrenbauer and leaves “ the impression that the CDU in Berlin has no influence in Thuringia.
” Merkel 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run to succeed her as chancellor in the next election .
Kramp-Karrenbauer , who narrowly defeated a more conservative rival in 2018 , has struggled to impose her authority on the party .

The premier of Germany's Thuringia state Thomas Kemmerich resigned Thursday and called for snap regional polls, a day after he was voted into office with help from far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) lawmakers, sparking a political earthquake.
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"We have decided to apply for the dissolution of the state parliament," Kemmerich from the German liberal Free Democrats (FDP) told reporters.
"We want new elections to remove the stain of the AfD's support for the office of the premiership," he said, adding that his resignation was "unavoidable".
Wednesday's surprise election of Kemmerich by Thuringia's state legislature with the help of the far-right AfD has turned into a major embarrassment for Germany's mainstream centre-right parties and revived questions about the future of the country's governing coalition.
01:17
Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose party's own regional lawmakers voted for Kemmerich Wednesday against national leaders' wishes - on Thursday condemned his election as “inexcusable” and said the result must not stand.Thuringia's last election in October produced an inconclusive result. The governor is elected by the state legislature.The shock result turned into a major embarrassment for Germany's mainstream centre-right parties and revived questions about the future of the country's governing coalition.Kemmerich initially held out against mounting pressure to resign, insisting that he had done and would do no deals with AfD. But with no prospect of forming a viable state government, he broke a political taboo by seeking the AfD's support Wednesday.
But a little more than 24 hours later, Kemmerich was forced to pull the plug on the controversial alliance.
He announced that his party would seek the dissolution of the state legislature.
“With this, we want to bring about new elections in order to clear the stain of support by AfD from the office of governor," he said.
“Democrats need democratic majorities,” he added, though he insisted that he had made no mistakes.
‘A bad day for democracy’
Previous governor Bodo Ramelow's Left Party finished first in the election, followed by AfD and Merkel's CDU. Kemmerich's Free Democrats, traditional allies of the CDU, only just mustered enough support to enter the legislature, with five of its 90 seats. They likely will struggle to win seats in a new election.
The last election stripped Ramelow's left-wing coalition of its majority. In a first for Germany, it produced no majority for any combination without either Ramelow's Left Party - which the centre-right shuns as a descendant of East Germany's ruling communists, though Ramelow is moderate - or AfD, which is particularly strong and radical in the east.
Merkel said during a visit to South Africa that the outcome had been “foreseeable” - “so one has to say that this event is inexcusable, and the result must be reversed.” She said that the CDU must not participate in Kemmerich's government.
“It was a bad day for democracy,” she said, adding that everything must now be done to show that what happened in Thuringia doesn't reflect “what the CDU thinks and does".
Leaders of Merkel's often-tense coalition with the center-left Social Democrats are to meet on Saturday to discuss the Thuringia mess. Social Democrat leaders have said it raises questions for the CDU that demand quick answers, fueling renewed speculation over whether the coalition will last until its term ends late next year.
Merkel said her party has sent “very clear” signals after Wednesday's events.
Martin Florack, a political scientist at the University of Duisburg, told ARD television that the fiasco weakens Kramp-Karrenbauer and leaves “the impression that the CDU in Berlin has no influence in Thuringia.”
Merkel's party has yet to decide who will run to succeed her as chancellor in the next election. Kramp-Karrenbauer, who narrowly defeated a more conservative rival in 2018, has struggled to impose her authority on the party.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-06--West Africa: Meet the African-Americans returning to the continent

West Africa : Meet the African-Americans returning to the continent Last year , to mark four centuries since the start @ @ @ @ @ a project to encourage people of African descent from around the world to visit their @ @ @ @ @ , some 750,000 people heeded the call and travelled to the country in 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ even further and have answered the call to settle and invest on the continent , @ @ @ @ @ entrepreneurial force .
Our West Africa correspondents report from Togo and Benin .

West Africa: Meet the African-Americans returning to the continent
05:42 FOCUS © FRANCE 24
By: Emmanuelle SODJI | Emmanuelle LANDAIS | Jahëna LOUISIN
Last year, to mark four centuries since the start of slavery, Ghana launched a project to encourage people of African descent from around the world to visit their motherland. As a result, some 750,000 people heeded the call and travelled to the country in 2019. But some African-Americans have gone even further and have answered the call to settle and invest on the continent, transforming their trauma into an entrepreneurial force. Our West Africa correspondents report from Togo and Benin.


france24--2020-02-06--Hong Kong residents join massive queues for masks as fears of coronavirus spread

This Facebook Live streamed on the evening of February 4 , 2020 shows large numbers of people waiting in line for the shop to open the next day .
This image shows the queue the next day .
The photo was taken about 120 metres from the place where masks were being sold .
This image posted on Twitter shows boxes of 30 masks and 50 masks sold for 1,380 and 1,780 Hong Kong dollars respectively ( equivalent to 160 and 208 euros ) .
Boxes of 50 masks normally retail for around 50 Hong Kong dollars according to media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been reported in Hong Kong , a semi-autonomous territory of China , by February 5 , 2020 .
The spread of this new virus , which was first transmitted to humans in Wuhan , China , has been all the more frightening for Hong Kong residents because of the 2003 SARS epidemic .
SARS , a virus which also emerged in China , killed 299 people in Hong Kong and brought the local economy to its knees.In an attempt to prevent this kind of devastation a second time round , Hong Kong residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , which can prevent infected people from transmitting the virus to others and are recommended in high-risk areas.Hong Kong residents have been posting photos of empty shelves and long waiting queues forming in front of pharmacies.On February 3 , the Hong Kong company Luck Well International Holdings announced on Facebook that they would be selling 11,000 boxes of 50 masks for 80 Hong Kong dollars apiece ( equivalent to about 9.30 euros ) .
According to media reports , boxes of masks normally retail for around 50 Hong Kong dollars.The sale began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first death from coronavirus was announced in Hong Kong .
According to the South China Morning Post , more than 10,000 people queued in front of the shop .
Some had spent the night in the queue , hoping to improve their chances of getting the allotted two boxes per customer.The large numbers can be explained by the fact that Hong Kong residents have had an increasingly difficult time getting masks from pharmacies and other stores .
Some shops have also hiked their prices in response to the demand .
Some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you understand why people have to line up for a box of masks selling at HKD80 ?
Do you know the government is just lying about [ the fact that ] the price of masks is reasonable ?
” reads this tweet.One social media user offered help to anyone in Hong Kong who was struggling to find a mask.In a second tweet he explained that he didn ’ t want any money for the masks and asked recipients not to resell them.Afraid that the close links between continental China and Hong Kong will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the island , doctors held a protest and more than 2,700 medical personnel went on strike to try and push Hong Kong ’ s government to shut down its border with China .

CHINA
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People across Hong Kong are desperate to get their hands on masks, particularly after the terrority recorded its first death from coronavirus on February 4. The next day, thousands of people lined up in front of a shop that had just received a new shipment of masks. Videos of the huge queue started circulating on social media in a sign of the alarm spreading across the city.
Eighteen cases of coronavirus had been reported in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous territory of China, by February 5, 2020. The spread of this new virus, which was first transmitted to humans in Wuhan, China, has been all the more frightening for Hong Kong residents because of the 2003 SARS epidemic. SARS, a virus which also emerged in China, killed 299 people in Hong Kong and brought the local economy to its knees.
In an attempt to prevent this kind of devastation a second time round, Hong Kong residents have been rushing to buy so-called face masks, which can prevent infected people from transmitting the virus to others and are recommended in high-risk areas.
Hong Kong residents have been posting photos of empty shelves and long waiting queues forming in front of pharmacies.
There is only one thing that matters to Hong Kong people right now: long queue for face masks outside of Cheung Chau’s Watson’s this morning. Source: my dad. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/HcxbMM3UWA Vivienne Chow (@VivienneChow) January 30, 2020
Bonjour made the announcement only an hour ago. Lines formed within half an hour and all 400 quotas have been given out at this shop. First 20 now entering the shop. Despite the tight supply and tension, worth noting the orderly manner of #hongkong people. pic.twitter.com/bCN9TCAeJb Rachel Cheung (@rachel_cheung1) January 31, 2020
[Long queues at outlets across Hong Kong selling masks, as panic buying continues amid Wuhan coronavirus outbreak]
Hong Kong is now under the severe hit of Coronavirus, and unfortunately, our earloop masks here now face tremendous supply shortage. pic.twitter.com/uTpEcGDA5q Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 ???? (@joshuawongcf) January 30, 2020
A queue made up of 10,000 people
On February 3, the Hong Kong company Luck Well International Holdings announced on Facebook that they would be selling 11,000 boxes of 50 masks for 80 Hong Kong dollars apiece (equivalent to about 9.30 euros). According to media reports, boxes of masks normally retail for around 50 Hong Kong dollars.
The sale began on February 5, the day after the first death from coronavirus was announced in Hong Kong. According to the South China Morning Post, more than 10,000 people queued in front of the shop. Some had spent the night in the queue, hoping to improve their chances of getting the allotted two boxes per customer.
This Facebook Live streamed on the evening of February 4, 2020 shows large numbers of people waiting in line for the shop to open the next day.
This image shows the queue the next day. The photo was taken about 120 metres from the place where masks were being sold.
The large numbers can be explained by the fact that Hong Kong residents have had an increasingly difficult time getting masks from pharmacies and other stores. Some shops have also hiked their prices in response to the demand. Some people denounced this practice on Twitter.
A frd of mine saw masks selling at this price: HKD1380, HKD 1780.
Do you understand why people have to line up for a box of masks selling at HKD80? Do you know the government is just lying about the price of masks is reasonable? pic.twitter.com/zgAwqvshaR Wazowski???? (@imshinbei) February 5, 2020
This image posted on Twitter shows boxes of 30 masks and 50 masks sold for 1,380 and 1,780 Hong Kong dollars respectively (equivalent to 160 and 208 euros). Boxes of 50 masks normally retail for around 50 Hong Kong dollars according to media reports.
“Do you understand why people have to line up for a box of masks selling at HKD80? Do you know the government is just lying about [the fact that] the price of masks is reasonable?” reads this tweet.
One social media user offered help to anyone in Hong Kong who was struggling to find a mask.
Anyone in #hongkong who is in urgent need of masks? Pls DM me. I have some spare shipped over from relatives in JP. Will ask them to get more and I am shipping some back from UK. STAY SAFE!#HONGKONG #coronavirus #WuhanCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/n5jr2e3zmb Taro (@taro_taylor) January 30, 2020
In a second tweet he explained that he didn’t want any money for the masks and asked recipients not to resell them.
Afraid that the close links between continental China and Hong Kong will mean an increase in cases of coronavirus on the island, doctors held a protest and more than 2,700 medical personnel went on strike to try and push Hong Kong’s government to shut down its border with China.