france24--2020-01-21--Thai court acquits opposition party of attempting to overthrow monarchy

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit ( C ) , leader of the opposition Future Forward party , sits with party officials at their headquarters in Bangkok on January 21 , 2020 , to watch the ruling by Thailand 's Constitutional Court on whether the party carried out `` actions '' against the constitutional monarchy .
Thailand ’ s Constitutional Court on Tuesday acquitted the country ’ s third-biggest political party of seeking the overthrow of the country ’ s constitutional monarchy , a case that had highlighted ongoing political divisions in the Southeast Asian nation .
The court ruled that the Future Forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offense , and that the complaint had not been filed according to the correct legal procedure .
The party still faces the threat of dissolution under another pending charge of breaking election laws by taking a large loan from its leader .
The party was founded in 2018 during military rule , and takes progressive positions that are anathema to Thailand ’ s royalist ruling elite .
The party ’ s surprising finish in an election last year and its popularity among young people rattled the government , which is led by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2014 .
The case drew special attention because the complaint had sought to link the party to the mythical conspiracy own as the Illuminati , which is alleged to be an elite organization seeking world domination .
The complaint , filed last year by lawyer Natthaporn Toprayoon , listed statements by party officials supposedly critical of Thai traditions , and pointed out that its logo is an inverted triangle , which if turned right-side up resembles the alleged symbol of the Illuminati .
It claimed the Illuminati had sought to overthrow European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Independence .
The case was one of a series filed against the party and its leader , Thanathorn Juangroongruangkrit .
In November , the Constitutional Court stripped Thanathorn of his lawmaker status , ruling that he violated a regulation on media ownership .
There is a widespread belief that one way or another , the party will end up being disbanded , with its leaders banned from political office for several years .
The party has taken positions explicitly critical of the military for its interference in politics .
It also seeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2014 coup , to make it more democratic .
The party ’ s initial support came from youth and young professionals , but it proved to have wider appeal in many parts of the country .
The army staged coups in 2006 and 2014 , allowing an election last March after five years of military rule .
While in power , it amended the constitution and other laws to try to ensure that pro-democracy parties could not take power .
The military and the courts are the two main pillars of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curb threats to the status quo .
The court ’ s ruling on Tuesday ordered Future Forward to revise its regulations to be clearer in order to comply with the constitution ’ s stating that any political party must not oppose the constitutional monarchy .
The opposition party ’ s popularity was underlined last month when several thousand of its supporters rallied in Bangkok , the nation ’ s capital , in one of the largest political demonstrations since the 2014 coup .
“ I think it shows that people will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time of the large turnout .

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday acquitted the country’s third-biggest political party of seeking the overthrow of the country’s constitutional monarchy, a case that had highlighted ongoing political divisions in the Southeast Asian nation.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (C), leader of the opposition Future Forward party, sits with party officials at their headquarters in Bangkok on January 21, 2020, to watch the ruling by Thailand's Constitutional Court on whether the party carried out "actions" against the constitutional monarchy.
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The court ruled that the Future Forward Party showed no intention of committing the offense, and that the complaint had not been filed according to the correct legal procedure.
The party still faces the threat of dissolution under another pending charge of breaking election laws by taking a large loan from its leader. The party was founded in 2018 during military rule, and takes progressive positions that are anathema to Thailand’s royalist ruling elite.
The party’s surprising finish in an election last year and its popularity among young people rattled the government, which is led by the same people who staged a military coup in 2014.
The case drew special attention because the complaint had sought to link the party to the mythical conspiracy own as the Illuminati, which is alleged to be an elite organization seeking world domination.
The complaint, filed last year by lawyer Natthaporn Toprayoon, listed statements by party officials supposedly critical of Thai traditions, and pointed out that its logo is an inverted triangle, which if turned right-side up resembles the alleged symbol of the Illuminati. It claimed the Illuminati had sought to overthrow European monarchies and influence the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
The case was one of a series filed against the party and its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkrit. In November, the Constitutional Court stripped Thanathorn of his lawmaker status, ruling that he violated a regulation on media ownership.
Critical of the military
There is a widespread belief that one way or another, the party will end up being disbanded, with its leaders banned from political office for several years.
The party has taken positions explicitly critical of the military for its interference in politics. It also seeks to amend the constitution, drafted after the 2014 coup, to make it more democratic.
The party’s initial support came from youth and young professionals, but it proved to have wider appeal in many parts of the country.
The army staged coups in 2006 and 2014, allowing an election last March after five years of military rule. While in power, it amended the constitution and other laws to try to ensure that pro-democracy parties could not take power.
The military and the courts are the two main pillars of the Thai establishment, and have consistently acted to curb threats to the status quo.
The court’s ruling on Tuesday ordered Future Forward to revise its regulations to be clearer in order to comply with the constitution’s stating that any political party must not oppose the constitutional monarchy.
The opposition party’s popularity was underlined last month when several thousand of its supporters rallied in Bangkok, the nation’s capital, in one of the largest political demonstrations since the 2014 coup.
“I think it shows that people will not tolerate dictatorship anymore,” Thanathorn said at the time of the large turnout.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-21--Top Huawei executive's extradition hearing begins in Canada

Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves B.C .
Supreme Court for a lunch break during the first day of her extradition hearing in Vancouver , Canada January 20 , 2020 .
The first stage of an extradition hearing for a senior executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei started in a Vancouver courtroom Monday , a case that has infuriated Beijing , caused a diplomatic uproar between China and Canada and complicated high-stakes trade talks between China and the United States .
Canada ’ s arrest of chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou , the daughter of Huawei ’ s founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s request enraged Beijing to the point it detained two Canadians in apparent retaliation .
Huawei represents China ’ s progress in becoming a technological power and has been a subject of U.S. security concerns for years .
Beijing views Meng ’ s case as an attempt to contain China ’ s rise .
“ Our government has been clear .
We are a rule of law country and we honor our extradition treaty commitments , ” Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at a Cabinet retreat in Manitoba .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we will do.
” China ’ s foreign ministry on Monday accused the United States and Canada of violating Meng ’ s rights and called for her release .
“ It is completely a serious political incident , ” said a ministry spokesman , Geng Shuang .
He urged Canada to “ correct mistakes with concrete actions , release Ms. Meng Wanzhou and let her return safely as soon as possible.
” Washington accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the company ’ s business dealings in Iran .
Meng , who is free on bail and living in one of the two Vancouver mansions she owns , sat next to her lawyers wearing a black dress with white polka dots .
She earlier waved at reporters as she arrived at court .
Meng denies the U.S. allegations .
Her defense team says comments by President Donald Trump suggest the case against her is politically motivated .
“ We trust in Canada ’ s judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s innocence , ” Huawei said in a statement as the proceedings began .
Meng was detained in December 2018 in Vancouver as she was changing flights - on the same day that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for trade talks .
Prosecutors have stressed that Meng ’ s case is separate from the wider China-U.S. trade dispute , but Trump undercut that message weeks after her arrest when he said he would consider intervening in the case if it would help forge a trade deal with Beijing .
China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 ’ trade agreement last week , but most analysts say any meaningful resolution of the main U.S. allegation - that Beijing uses predatory tactics in its drive to supplant America ’ s technological supremacy - could require years of contentious talks .
Trump had raised the possibility of using Huawei ’ s fate as a bargaining chip in the trade talks , but the deal announced Wednesday didn ’ t mention the company .
Huawei is the biggest global supplier of network gear for cellphone and internet companies .
Washington is pressuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology , warning they could be opening themselves up to surveillance and theft .
The initial stage of Meng ’ s extradition hearing this week is focusing on whether Meng ’ s alleged crimes are crimes both in the United States and Canada .
Her lawyers filed a motion Friday arguing that Meng ’ s case is really about U.S. sanctions against Iran , not a fraud case .
Canada does not have similar sanctions on Iran .
Richard Peck , Meng ’ s lawyer , said in court that the fraud allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges are really about the United States attempting to enforce its sanctions on Iran .
“ Would we be here in the absence of U.S. sanctions law ?
My response is no , ” Peck said .
Arguments will continue Tuesday and throughout the week .
The second phase , scheduled for June , will consider defense allegations that Canada Border Services , the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the FBI violated Meng ’ s rights while collecting evidence before she was actually arrested .
The extradition case could take years to resolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of those arrested in Canada on extradition requests from the United States .
were surrendered to U.S. authorities between 2008 and 2018 .
In apparent retaliation for Meng ’ s arrest , China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor .
The two men have been denied access to lawyers and family and are being held in prison cells where the lights are kept on 24-hours-a-day .
China has also placed restrictions on various Canadian exports to China , including canola oil seed and meat .
Last January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a convicted Canadian drug smuggler in a sudden retrial .

The first stage of an extradition hearing for a senior executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei started in a Vancouver courtroom Monday, a case that has infuriated Beijing, caused a diplomatic uproar between China and Canada and complicated high-stakes trade talks between China and the United States.
Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves B.C. Supreme Court for a lunch break during the first day of her extradition hearing in Vancouver, Canada January 20, 2020.
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Canada’s arrest of chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, in late 2018 at America’s request enraged Beijing to the point it detained two Canadians in apparent retaliation.
Huawei represents China’s progress in becoming a technological power and has been a subject of U.S. security concerns for years. Beijing views Meng’s case as an attempt to contain China’s rise.
“Our government has been clear. We are a rule of law country and we honor our extradition treaty commitments,” Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at a Cabinet retreat in Manitoba. “It is what we need to do and what we will do.”
China’s foreign ministry on Monday accused the United States and Canada of violating Meng’s rights and called for her release.
“It is completely a serious political incident,” said a ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang. He urged Canada to “correct mistakes with concrete actions, release Ms. Meng Wanzhou and let her return safely as soon as possible.”
Violation of US sanctions
Washington accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. It says Meng, 47, committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the company’s business dealings in Iran.
Meng, who is free on bail and living in one of the two Vancouver mansions she owns, sat next to her lawyers wearing a black dress with white polka dots. She earlier waved at reporters as she arrived at court.
Meng denies the U.S. allegations. Her defense team says comments by President Donald Trump suggest the case against her is politically motivated.
“We trust in Canada’s judicial system, which will prove Ms. Meng’s innocence,” Huawei said in a statement as the proceedings began.
Meng was detained in December 2018 in Vancouver as she was changing flights - on the same day that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for trade talks.
Prosecutors have stressed that Meng’s case is separate from the wider China-U.S. trade dispute, but Trump undercut that message weeks after her arrest when he said he would consider intervening in the case if it would help forge a trade deal with Beijing.
China and the U.S. reached a ‘Phase 1’ trade agreement last week, but most analysts say any meaningful resolution of the main U.S. allegation - that Beijing uses predatory tactics in its drive to supplant America’s technological supremacy - could require years of contentious talks. Trump had raised the possibility of using Huawei’s fate as a bargaining chip in the trade talks, but the deal announced Wednesday didn’t mention the company.
Huawei is the biggest global supplier of network gear for cellphone and internet companies. Washington is pressuring other countries to limit use of its technology, warning they could be opening themselves up to surveillance and theft.
'Fraud allegations are ‘façade’'
The initial stage of Meng’s extradition hearing this week is focusing on whether Meng’s alleged crimes are crimes both in the United States and Canada. Her lawyers filed a motion Friday arguing that Meng’s case is really about U.S. sanctions against Iran, not a fraud case. Canada does not have similar sanctions on Iran.
Richard Peck, Meng’s lawyer, said in court that the fraud allegations are a ‘façade’ and the charges are really about the United States attempting to enforce its sanctions on Iran. “Would we be here in the absence of U.S. sanctions law? My response is no,” Peck said.
Arguments will continue Tuesday and throughout the week.
The second phase, scheduled for June, will consider defense allegations that Canada Border Services, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the FBI violated Meng’s rights while collecting evidence before she was actually arrested.
The extradition case could take years to resolve if there are appeals. Nearly 90% of those arrested in Canada on extradition requests from the United States. were surrendered to U.S. authorities between 2008 and 2018.
In apparent retaliation for Meng’s arrest, China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor. The two men have been denied access to lawyers and family and are being held in prison cells where the lights are kept on 24-hours-a-day.
China has also placed restrictions on various Canadian exports to China, including canola oil seed and meat. Last January, China also handed a death sentence to a convicted Canadian drug smuggler in a sudden retrial.
“That’s mafia-style pressure,” Lewis, the Washington-based analyst, said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-21--Several killed in Siberia fire

Several killed in Siberia fire

This handout picture released by the Russian Emergencies Ministry shows firefighters working at the site of a fire that broke out in a one-storey wooden shack in the Prichulymsky settlement in Russia 's Tomsk region on January 21 , 2020 .
Eleven people including 10 Uzbek workers died when a fire ripped through a one-storey wooden shack in a remote village in the Siberian region of Tomsk , officials said on Tuesday .
“ The bodies of 11 people have been found , ” Russia ’ s emergencies ministry said in a statement .
Citing preliminary information , regional authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens of Uzbekistan .
The fire broke out on the territory of a private saw mill in the Prichulymsky settlement and the wooden shack was used to house workers despite its substandard conditions , authorities said .
The regional governor arrived at the scene of the tragedy and tasked officials with conducting a fire safety inspection in the entire region .
Investigators said they opened a criminal probe into negligent manslaughter .
Millions of migrant workers from Central Asia live in Russia , where they often perform menial jobs for low pay under @ @ @ @

Eleven people including 10 Uzbek workers died when a fire ripped through a one-storey wooden shack in a remote village in the Siberian region of Tomsk, officials said on Tuesday.
This handout picture released by the Russian Emergencies Ministry shows firefighters working at the site of a fire that broke out in a one-storey wooden shack in the Prichulymsky settlement in Russia's Tomsk region on January 21, 2020.
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“The bodies of 11 people have been found,” Russia’s emergencies ministry said in a statement.
Citing preliminary information, regional authorities said that ten of the victims were citizens of Uzbekistan.
The fire broke out on the territory of a private saw mill in the Prichulymsky settlement and the wooden shack was used to house workers despite its substandard conditions, authorities said.
The regional governor arrived at the scene of the tragedy and tasked officials with conducting a fire safety inspection in the entire region.
Investigators said they opened a criminal probe into negligent manslaughter.
Millions of migrant workers from Central Asia live in Russia, where they often perform menial jobs for low pay under lax safety conditions.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-21--Children go missing as Central American migrants clash with Mexican police

Migrants , part of a caravan travelling to the U.S , cross the Suchiate river from Tecun Uman , in Guatemala , to Ciudad Hidalgo , as seen from Ciudad Hidalgo , Mexico , January 20 , 2020 .
Mexican security forces fired tear gas at rock-hurling Central American migrants who waded across a river into Mexico earlier on Monday , in a chaotic scramble that saw mothers separated from their young children .
The clashes between hundreds of U.S.-bound Central Americans and the Mexican National Guard underscores the challenge President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador faces to contain migration at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
The mostly Honduran migrants numbered around 500 , according to Mexico 's National Migration Institute ( INM ) .
They were part of a group of several thousand people that had set off last week from Honduras , fleeing rampant gang violence and dire job prospects in their homeland .
Video footage showed scattered groups of migrants throwing rocks at a few members of the National Guard militarised police who were on the banks of the river attempting to thwart illegal crossings , while hundreds of others ran past into Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the clashes , the INM said .
`` We did n't come to stay here .
We just want to cross to the other side , '' said Ingrid , 18 , a Honduran migrant .
`` I do n't want to go back to my country because there is nothing there , just hunger . ''
A Reuters witness spoke to at least two mothers whose young children went missing amid the chaos , as the migrants on Mexican soil scattered in an attempt to avoid being detained by Mexican officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 402 migrants and transferred them to immigration stations where they will receive food , water and shelter .
The INM will return them to their home countries via airplane or bus if their legal status can not be resolved .
A spokeswoman at the INM said the institute had no reports of children going missing amid the clashes .
The Reuters witness said that several kilometers from the border , Mexican immigration authorities had filled a bus and pickup trucks with detained migrants .
The Honduran Ambassador to Mexico , Alden Rivera , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hondurans in migration centers and will start deporting them back home by airplane and bus on Tuesday .
Trump has threatened to punish Mexico and Central American countries economically if they fail to curb migrant flows , resulting in a series of agreements aimed at making good on Trump campaign promises to curb immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border .
Over the weekend , at least 2,000 migrants had been camped in the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman , opposite Ciudad Hidalgo on the Mexican side .
The migrants appeared to grow impatient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that connects the two countries , after some were denied permission to cross by assembled Mexican migration officials .
The INM said it informed the migrants it could not allow them to cross into Mexican territory to `` transit '' through and blamed the group 's organizers for `` ignoring the risk to minors and at-risk people '' by crossing the river .
Mexico has offered migrants work in the south , but those who do not accept it or seek asylum will not be issued safe conduct passes to the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interior ministry said .
Mexican authorities had already received nearly 1,100 migrants in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco , the ministry said on Sunday .
According to Guatemala , at least 4,000 people entered from Honduras since Wednesday , making for one of the biggest surges since three Central American governments signed agreements with the Trump administration obliging them to assume more of the responsibility for dealing with migrants .

Mexican security forces fired tear gas at rock-hurling Central American migrants who waded across a river into Mexico earlier on Monday, in a chaotic scramble that saw mothers separated from their young children.
Migrants, part of a caravan travelling to the U.S, cross the Suchiate river from Tecun Uman, in Guatemala, to Ciudad Hidalgo, as seen from Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, January 20, 2020.
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The clashes between hundreds of U.S.-bound Central Americans and the Mexican National Guard underscores the challenge President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador faces to contain migration at the bidding of his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
The mostly Honduran migrants numbered around 500, according to Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM). They were part of a group of several thousand people that had set off last week from Honduras, fleeing rampant gang violence and dire job prospects in their homeland.
Video footage showed scattered groups of migrants throwing rocks at a few members of the National Guard militarised police who were on the banks of the river attempting to thwart illegal crossings, while hundreds of others ran past into Mexico.
Five National Guard police were injured in the clashes, the INM said.
"We didn't come to stay here. We just want to cross to the other side," said Ingrid, 18, a Honduran migrant. "I don't want to go back to my country because there is nothing there, just hunger."
A Reuters witness spoke to at least two mothers whose young children went missing amid the chaos, as the migrants on Mexican soil scattered in an attempt to avoid being detained by Mexican officials.
The INM said it had detained 402 migrants and transferred them to immigration stations where they will receive food, water and shelter. The INM will return them to their home countries via airplane or bus if their legal status cannot be resolved.
A spokeswoman at the INM said the institute had no reports of children going missing amid the clashes.
The Reuters witness said that several kilometers from the border, Mexican immigration authorities had filled a bus and pickup trucks with detained migrants.
The Honduran Ambassador to Mexico, Alden Rivera, said that Mexican authorities have some 1,300 Hondurans in migration centers and will start deporting them back home by airplane and bus on Tuesday.
Trump has threatened to punish Mexico and Central American countries economically if they fail to curb migrant flows, resulting in a series of agreements aimed at making good on Trump campaign promises to curb immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Wading across the river
Over the weekend, at least 2,000 migrants had been camped in the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman, opposite Ciudad Hidalgo on the Mexican side.
The migrants appeared to grow impatient on the bridge over the Suchiate River that connects the two countries, after some were denied permission to cross by assembled Mexican migration officials.
The INM said it informed the migrants it could not allow them to cross into Mexican territory to "transit" through and blamed the group's organizers for "ignoring the risk to minors and at-risk people" by crossing the river.
Mexico has offered migrants work in the south, but those who do not accept it or seek asylum will not be issued safe conduct passes to the United States, and most will be deported, the interior ministry said.
Mexican authorities had already received nearly 1,100 migrants in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, the ministry said on Sunday.
According to Guatemala, at least 4,000 people entered from Honduras since Wednesday, making for one of the biggest surges since three Central American governments signed agreements with the Trump administration obliging them to assume more of the responsibility for dealing with migrants.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-20--Video: Iraqis split on parliament’s call to expel foreign troops

Following the US killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil earlier this month , Iraqi lawmakers have called on the government to expel all foreign forces deployed in the country .
While some Iraqis support the call , others see the continued presence of the US-led coalition in Iraq as vital to protecting the country against the Islamic State ( IS ) group and other militia groups .
FRANCE 24 reports .
On January 5 , the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling on the government to expel the US-led international coalition in Iraq , saying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport two days earlier had been an unacceptable breach of Iraqi sovereignty .
Not the least because the air strike had also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , the deputy commander of the Iran-backed militia group the Popular Mobilization Forces .
Ahmed al-Kanani , an MP for the Al Sadiqoun party which is the political wing of an armed Iraqi group that has close ties to Iran , was one of the lawmakers who had called for the resolution with the aim of ending foreign military presence in Iraq .
`` The US and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Soleimani .
We do n't want them anymore .
It was a declaration of war , '' he said .
But on the streets of Baghdad , where demonstrators have spent weeks calling for the government to resign , many believe the parliament is acting under influence of Iran rather than in the interest of the Iraqi people .
`` We want to be free , without the United States and without Iran .
What 's been the benefit of having American troops here over the last sixteen years ?
What 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
, '' one protester told FRANCE 24 .
Other Iraqis , such as Khalid Alrawi who fled the IS group from the Sunni region of Al Anbar in 2015 , see the US-led coalition presence as vital to maintaining security in parts of the country .
`` In Iraqi Kurdistan and all Sunni regions , I would say that 90 percent of us do not want an American departure .
The cities have been liberated from Daesh , but they are still in the desert , '' Alrawi said .
To watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the video player above .

Following the US killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil earlier this month, Iraqi lawmakers have called on the government to expel all foreign forces deployed in the country. While some Iraqis support the call, others see the continued presence of the US-led coalition in Iraq as vital to protecting the country against the Islamic State (IS) group and other militia groups. FRANCE 24 reports.
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On January 5, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling on the government to expel the US-led international coalition in Iraq, saying the deadly air strike near Baghdad's international airport two days earlier had been an unacceptable breach of Iraqi sovereignty. Not the least because the air strike had also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of the Iran-backed militia group the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Ahmed al-Kanani, an MP for the Al Sadiqoun party which is the political wing of an armed Iraqi group that has close ties to Iran, was one of the lawmakers who had called for the resolution with the aim of ending foreign military presence in Iraq.
"The US and Pentagon stated explicitly they ordered the strike against Soleimani. We don't want them anymore. It was a declaration of war," he said.
But on the streets of Baghdad, where demonstrators have spent weeks calling for the government to resign, many believe the parliament is acting under influence of Iran rather than in the interest of the Iraqi people.
"We want to be free, without the United States and without Iran. What's been the benefit of having American troops here over the last sixteen years? What's the good of having Iran in Iraq?," one protester told FRANCE 24.
Other Iraqis, such as Khalid Alrawi who fled the IS group from the Sunni region of Al Anbar in 2015, see the US-led coalition presence as vital to maintaining security in parts of the country.
"In Iraqi Kurdistan and all Sunni regions, I would say that 90 percent of us do not want an American departure. The cities have been liberated from Daesh, but they are still in the desert," Alrawi said.
To watch the full report, please click on the video player above.
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france24--2020-01-21--LIVE: Trump’s impeachment trial sees partisan clashes over rules, permissible documents

US President Donald Trump 's historic impeachment trial on Tuesday opened in the US Senate where the Republican leader faces charges of “ high crimes and misdemeanors ” .
Trump , who is expected to be acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate , claims he is innocent of the charges .
• The articles state that Trump tried to pressure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 election to help him win , and then tried to thwart a congressional probe of his behaviour .
• Trump will not be present at the trial – he is currently in Davos , Switzerland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters there : “ That whole thing is a hoax .
It goes nowhere because nothing happened .
The only thing we ’ ve done is a great job.
” • This is only the third time an American president has endured an impeachment trial , after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999 .
• The trial comes just weeks before the first primaries of the 2020 US presidential election .
Click on the player above to watch the proceedings in real time .
Or you can also follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our liveblog below .

Trump’s impeachment trial sees partisan clashes over rules, witnesses, admissible documents
The historic impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump opened in the Senate on Tuesday where the Republican president faces charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors”. Trump, who is expected to be acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate, claims he is innocent of the charges.
01:32 US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts swears in the final senator, James Inhofe, as the Chief Justice presides over the start of the US Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2020. © REUTERS
Advertising Read more The US Senate voted 53-47, exactly along party lines, to table several amendments proposed by Democratic US Senator Chuck Schumer: Subpoena White House documents Subpoena State Department documents Subpoena Budget Office documents detailing Trump's aid to Ukraine Subpoena testimony of Mick Mulvaney, Trump's acting chief of staff, central to the Ukraine scandal Subpoena Pentagon documents Subpoena testimony of Trump staffer Robert Blair and a senior official from the Office of Management and Budget, Michael Duffey Require the sharing of evidence by both parties Subpoena testimony of John Bolton, the White House’s former national security adviser Require a vote on any motion to subpoena witnesses and documents Give Chief Justice Roberts the authority to decide whether to allow motions on subpoenas for witnesses and documents
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell had initially planned to compress the 24 hours of argument into two days, which could have led the sessions to go well past midnight. But McConnell extended the time period to three days under pressure from some fellow Republicans.
After nearly 13 hours of debate and discussion, the Senate adjourned after approving Republican rules for Trump’s impeachment trial.
The articles of impeachment state that Trump tried to pressure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 US election to help him win, and then tried to thwart a congressional probe of his behaviour.
Trump will not be present at the trial – he is currently in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. Trump told reporters there: “That whole thing is a hoax. It goes nowhere because nothing happened. The only thing we’ve done is a great job.”
This is only the third time an American president has endured an impeachment trial, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999.
The trial comes just weeks before the first primaries of the 2020 US presidential election. You can follow all the action that took place, plus our reactions, in the liveblog posted below. Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app


france24--2020-01-21--Lebanon announces new government, protestors far from impressed

Designated Prime Minister Hassan Diab ( right ) meets with Lebanon 's President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda , Lebanon , Janaury 21 , 2020 .
Lebanon ended a painful wait Tuesday by unveiling a new cabinet line-up , but the government was promptly scorned by protesters and faces the Herculean task of saving a collapsing economy .
More than a month after he was designated with backing from the powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah and nearly three after his predecessor Saad Hariri resigned under pressure from the street , Prime Minister Hassan Diab 's cabinet of 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former education minister , who was little-known in Lebanon until last month , insisted in his first comments as premier that his cabinet was a technocratic one that would strive to meet protesters ' demands .
`` This is a government that represents the aspirations of the demonstrators who have been mobilised nationwide for more than three months , '' he said .
He said his government `` will strive to meet their demands for an independent judiciary , for the recovery of embezzled funds , for the fight against illegal gains .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of little-known figures , many of them academics and former advisers , but protesters were quick to argue that the absence of the biggest names in Lebanon 's widely reviled hereditary political elite was but a smokescreen .
Groups of demonstrators had gathered in the streets of Beirut before the cabinet was even unveiled , blocking off a main street in the centre of the capital where violent scuffles with the police left dozens wounded over the weekend .
`` We want a new Lebanon , a Lebanon with no corruption , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP as fellow protesters beat drums behind him .
`` They are not taking the Lebanese people seriously with this government , '' he said .
Hilal Khashan , a professor at the American University of Beirut , argued that the idea of a genuinely technocratic government in Lebanon was `` wishful thinking '' .
`` Behind every candidate , there is a political party backing their nomination , '' he said .
Paula Yacoubian , a former journalist and independent MP , scorned the new line-up as `` patches on old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a beat-up car with flaking paint and a caption that read : `` There 's a disagreement over who will be driving ( and ) who will have a seat by the window . ''
`` Hassan Diab did not keep his promise of forming a government of independent '' experts , she said .
Diab , a 61-year-old engineering professor at the American University of Beirut and self-professed technocrat , had been stuck between a political rock and an economic hard place .
Every day that passed without a cabinet had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patience of foreign donors warning that the quasi-bankrupt state could ill afford further delays .
Donors and citizens are pinning their hopes on a new government to spearhead reforms , unlock billions in international aid and help stabilise a plummeting currency .
But analysts argue that there is little Hassan Diab 's new government can do .
`` The task that awaits any cabinet during this serious period is Herculean , '' said Karim Mufti , a political scientist .
`` In view of the multidimensional nature of the crisis , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country 's financial , economic and social problems . ''
A grinding dollar liquidity crisis and informal caps on withdrawals of the greenback have compounded the crisis , leaving Lebanon on the brink of default .
The outgoing government included all of Lebanon 's political factions , but Hariri 's Sunni-dominated movement and some of his allies have opted to stay out of the new cabinet .
This leaves the small country of six million led by a government dominated by the sanctions-hit Hezbollah movement and its allies .
Both the Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shiite Amal party of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri are political allies of the Iran-backed organisation .
Observers have warned that such a lopsided government could struggle to foster enough goodwill at home and abroad to implement much-needed reforms .

Lebanon ended a painful wait Tuesday by unveiling a new cabinet line-up, but the government was promptly scorned by protesters and faces the Herculean task of saving a collapsing economy.
Designated Prime Minister Hassan Diab (R) meets with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon on January 21, 2020.
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More than a month after he was designated with backing from the powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah and nearly three after his predecessor Saad Hariri resigned under pressure from the street, Prime Minister Hassan Diab's cabinet of 20 ministers was announced.
The academic and former education minister, who was little-known in Lebanon until last month, insisted in his first comments as premier that his cabinet was a technocratic one that would strive to meet protesters' demands.
"This is a government that represents the aspirations of the demonstrators who have been mobilised nationwide for more than three months," he said.
He said his government "will strive to meet their demands for an independent judiciary, for the recovery of embezzled funds, for the fight against illegal gains."
01:38
The new cabinet is made up of little-known figures, many of them academics and former advisers, but protesters were quick to argue that the absence of the biggest names in Lebanon's widely reviled hereditary political elite was but a smokescreen.
Groups of demonstrators had gathered in the streets of Beirut before the cabinet was even unveiled, blocking off a main street in the centre of the capital where violent scuffles with the police left dozens wounded over the weekend.
'Not serious'
"We want a new Lebanon, a Lebanon with no corruption," Charbel Kahi, a 37-year-old farmer, told AFP as fellow protesters beat drums behind him.
"They are not taking the Lebanese people seriously with this government," he said.
Hilal Khashan, a professor at the American University of Beirut, argued that the idea of a genuinely technocratic government in Lebanon was "wishful thinking".
"Behind every candidate, there is a political party backing their nomination," he said.
Paula Yacoubian, a former journalist and independent MP, scorned the new line-up as "patches on old clothes".
She posted a picture of a beat-up car with flaking paint and a caption that read: "There's a disagreement over who will be driving (and) who will have a seat by the window."
"Hassan Diab did not keep his promise of forming a government of independent" experts, she said.
Diab, a 61-year-old engineering professor at the American University of Beirut and self-professed technocrat, had been stuck between a political rock and an economic hard place.
Every day that passed without a cabinet had fuelled the anger of protesters and tested the patience of foreign donors warning that the quasi-bankrupt state could ill afford further delays.
Mission impossible?
Donors and citizens are pinning their hopes on a new government to spearhead reforms, unlock billions in international aid and help stabilise a plummeting currency.
But analysts argue that there is little Hassan Diab's new government can do.
"The task that awaits any cabinet during this serious period is Herculean," said Karim Mufti, a political scientist.
"In view of the multidimensional nature of the crisis, it seems difficult to envisage short-term solutions to the country's financial, economic and social problems."
A grinding dollar liquidity crisis and informal caps on withdrawals of the greenback have compounded the crisis, leaving Lebanon on the brink of default.
The outgoing government included all of Lebanon's political factions, but Hariri's Sunni-dominated movement and some of his allies have opted to stay out of the new cabinet.
This leaves the small country of six million led by a government dominated by the sanctions-hit Hezbollah movement and its allies.
Both the Christian bloc of President Michel Aoun and the Shiite Amal party of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri are political allies of the Iran-backed organisation.
Observers have warned that such a lopsided government could struggle to foster enough goodwill at home and abroad to implement much-needed reforms.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-21--Deadly coronavirus reaches the US as China struggles with contagion

A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk towards check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing on January 21 , 2020 , the day that the death toll from a new China virus that is transmittable between humans rose to six .
The United States on Tuesday announced its first case of a new virus that has claimed six lives in China and sickened hundreds , joining countries around the world in ramping up measures to block its spread .
The man , a US resident in his 30s who lives near Seattle , is in good condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and approached authorities himself after reading about the SARS-like virus in news reports .
He is `` currently hospitalized out of an abundance of precaution , and for short term monitoring , not because there was severe illness , '' said Chris Spitters , a Washington state health official .
`` This is an evolving situation and again , we do expect additional patients in the United States and globally , '' added Nancy Messonier , a senior official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained low .
The man entered the country on January 15 after traveling to Wuhan , two days before the US began deploying health officials at major airports to screen passengers arriving from that central Chinese city which is at the heart of the outbreak .
The efforts are to be extended now to a total of five US airports .
It came as countries ramped up measures to block the spread of the virus -- known by its technical name 2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV -- as the number of cases surpassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a major Chinese holiday travel rush .
Fears of a bigger outbreak rose after a prominent expert from China 's National Health Commission confirmed late Monday that the virus can be passed between people .
That conclusion is shared by the CDC , which said `` person-to-person spread is occurring , although it 's unclear how easily the virus spreads between people , '' even as the World Health Organization ( WHO ) adopted a more cautious approach , saying it is still investigating .
The UN agency will hold an emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rare global public health emergency over the disease , which has also been detected in Thailand , Japan and South Korea and Taiwan .
Authorities previously said there was no obvious evidence of person-to-person transmission and animals were suspected to be the source , as a seafood market where live animals were sold in Wuhan was identified as the center of the outbreak .
Hundreds of millions of people are criss-crossing China this week in packed buses , trains and planes to celebrate the Lunar New Year with relatives .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing the total number of people hit by the virus in China to 315 , with the vast majority in Hubei , the province where Wuhan lies , according to officials .
But cases have also been confirmed around the country , including Beijing and Shanghai .
The first case on the self-ruled island of Taiwan was also confirmed Tuesday , with a woman taken to hospital on arrival at the airport from Wuhan .
Wuhan mayor Zhou Xianwang told state broadcaster CCTV Tuesday that the death toll had risen from four to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of its genetic similarities to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) , which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003 .
At four airports in Thailand , authorities introduced mandatory thermal scans of passengers arriving from high-risk areas of China .
In Hong Kong , authorities said they were on `` extreme high alert , '' with passengers from Wuhan required to fill out health declarations and face possible jail time if they do not declare symptoms .
Enhanced screening measures have also been set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nepal , Singapore and Russia , Malaysia and Vietnam .
A man showing symptoms of the disease who had travelled to Wuhan has been put in isolation in Australia as health officials await test results , authorities said Tuesday .
In China , the government announced it was classifying the outbreak in the same category as SARS , meaning compulsory isolation for those diagnosed with the disease and the potential to implement quarantine measures on travel .
In Wuhan , authorities banned tour groups and police were conducting spot checks for animals in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state media said .
It added that city health authorities had scheduled 800 beds to be made available in three hospitals and 1,200 more would soon be ready , and passengers were being screened for fever at the airport , railway stations and bus terminals .
Doctors at the University of Hong Kong released a study on Tuesday estimating that there have been 1,343 cases of the new virus in Wuhan .
The WHO has only called a global public health emergency a handful of times , including during the H1N1 -- or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ebola epidemic that devastated parts of West Africa from 2014 to 2016 .

The United States on Tuesday announced its first case of a new virus that has claimed nine lives in China and sickened hundreds, joining countries around the world in ramping up measures to block its spread.
A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk towards check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing on January 21, 2020, the day that the death toll from a new China virus that is transmittable between humans rose to six.
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The death toll from a new flu-like coronavirus in China rose to nine on Wednesday with 440 confirmed cases, Chinese health officials said as authorities stepped up efforts to control the outbreak by discouraging public gatherings in Hubei province.
Another 2,197 cases of close contact with patients had been confirmed and there was evidence of "respiratory transmission" of the virus, National Health Commission vice-minister Li Bin told reporters.
As China also vowed to tighten containment measures in hospitals, the World Health Organization (WHO) is due to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to determine whether the outbreak of the new coronavirus constitutes a global health emergency.
The virus, originating in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei at the end of last year, has spread to Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as the United States, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
03:18
The Chinese government has been providing daily updates on the number of cases in a bid to head off public panic, as millions of people prepare to travel domestically and abroad for the country's Lunar New Year celebrations starting this week.
Hubei had been asked to minimise public gatherings and people across the country were urged to avoid densely populated areas in general, the health commission said. China also would step up cooperation with the WHO, Li added.
Officials found to have covered up infections would be a "sinner for eternity before the Party and the people", the Chinese Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Commission said in a post on its WeChat social media account that was subsequently deleted.
"I'm not sure that we could expect more of them at this stage in the outbreak, particularly when they are understandably focused on responding to the outbreak and trying to contain it ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations," said Adam Kamradt-Scott, an infectious diseases expert at the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney.
Fears of a pandemic similar to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak that started in China and killed nearly 800 people in 2002-2003 have roiled global markets, with aviation and luxury goods stocks hit particularly hard and the Chinese yuan tumbling.
The WHO said on Tuesday the new coronavirus was likely to spread to other parts of China and possibly other countries in coming days.
WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said new cases would appear as China stepped up monitoring. "If you increase surveillance and testing you are likely to get new numbers," he added.
Flight fears
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, one of the airlines affected the most by the SARS outbreak, said it would allow flight attendants to wear a surgical mask while operating mainland China flights due to concerns over the new virus.
The Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union said it had received a "tremendous" amount of messages from members concerned over catching the virus, and attendants on all flights should have the option to wear a mask.
"All of them are worried about the risk they are taking every time they go to work," the union said on its Facebook page.
Taiwan joined Australia in warning citizens to avoid travel to Wuhan, and airports around the world have stepped up screening of travellers from China.
"I want to call on our nationals please not to visit this region if not necessary," Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on her Facebook page.
A Bank of Korea official said worries over the virus may impact domestic consumer spending.
Fifteen medical personnel are among those infected in China. Symptoms include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. The viral infection can cause pneumonia and can be passed from person to person.
Though the origin of the virus has yet to be identified, the WHO said the primary source was probably animal. Chinese officials have linked the outbreak to Wuhan's seafood market.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-21--Trump attacks environmental 'prophets of doom' at Davos 2020

US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the 50th World Economic Forum ( WEF ) annual meeting in Davos , Switzerland , January 21 , 2020 US President Donald Trump on Tuesday assailed environmental “ prophets of doom ” , delivering an uncompromising message in Davos after Swedish teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg slammed government inaction on the climate crisis .
Thunberg was in the audience in the Swiss Alps to hear a typically bullish speech by Trump , delivered just before the start of his Senate impeachment trial in Washington .
The 50th meeting of the World Economic Forum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ski resort with an avowed focus on climate change but with starkly different visions over global warming laid bare .
“ We must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse , ” said Trump , growling that “ they want to see us do badly ” .
He claimed that “ alarmists ” had been wrong on previous occasions by predicting population crisis , mass starvation and the end of oil .
Trump branded those warning of out-of-control global warming and other environmental disasters “ the heirs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Trump told reporters later that his Davos trip was devoted to meeting “ the most important people in the world and we ’ re bringing back tremendous business ” .
“ The other ’ s just a hoax , ” he said of the “ disgraceful ” impeachment trial .
Before Trump ’ s appearance , Thunberg underlined the message that has inspired millions around the world , saying “ basically nothing has been done ” to fight climate change .
“ It will require much more than this .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 17-year-old said .
Speaking calmly and with a wry smile , Thunberg acknowledged that her campaign which began with school strikes had attracted huge attention without yet achieving concrete change .
“ There is a difference between being heard to actually leading to something , ” she said .
While the WEF and individual business leaders have been detailing their own concerns about climate change , Greenpeace complained in a new report that some of the world ’ s biggest banks , insurers and pension funds have collectively invested $ 1.4 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate deal in 2016 .
Trump in his speech reeled off a list of achievements for the American economy and touted the United States as the “ number one producer of oil and natural gas ” .
There are no expectations that Trump and Thunberg , who have exchanged barbs through Twitter , would actually meet , but the crowded venue and intense schedule mean a chance encounter can not be ruled out .
When Trump and his entourage walked through UN headquarters last year at the annual General Assembly , a photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the president from the sidelines went viral .
Although Trump ’ s Republican party holds a majority in the Senate and is almost sure to acquit him on charges of abusing his power and obstructing Congress , the impeachment adds volatility to an already tense 2020 presidential election .
“ We will never let radical socialists destroy our economy , ” said Trump , apparently referring to his Democratic party opponents ahead of the presidential election in November .
Sustainability is the buzzword at the Davos forum , which began in 1971 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants to encourage them to walk on the icy streets rather than use cars , and the signage paint made out of seaweed .
Trump ’ s opposition to renewable energy , his withdrawal from the Paris accord negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama , and the free hand extended to the fossil fuel industry puts him at odds with the thrust of this year ’ s event .
“ People are paying a lot more attention to climate , ” Eurasia Group president Ian Bremner told AFP at Davos , adding there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players ” , after investment titan BlackRock said it was partially divesting out of coal .
“ But let ’ s be clear—a big part of this is because we failed for a very long time and governments continue to fail , ” he added .
Business leaders are likely also to be concerned by the state of the global economy whose prospects , according to the International Monetary Fund , have improved but remain brittle .
The IMF cut its global growth estimate for 2020 to 3.3 percent , saying that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China and the US had brought some stability but that risks remained .
Activists meanwhile will be pressing for much more concrete action to fight inequality , after Oxfam issued a report outlining how the number of billionaires has doubled in the past decade and the world ’ s 22 richest men now have more wealth than all the women in Africa .

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday assailed environmental “prophets of doom”, delivering an uncompromising message in Davos after Swedish teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg slammed government inaction on the climate crisis.
US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on January 21, 2020
Advertising Read more
Thunberg was in the audience in the Swiss Alps to hear a typically bullish speech by Trump, delivered just before the start of his Senate impeachment trial in Washington.
The 50th meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) got under way in the ski resort with an avowed focus on climate change but with starkly different visions over global warming laid bare.
“We must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse,” said Trump, growling that “they want to see us do badly”.
He claimed that “alarmists” had been wrong on previous occasions by predicting population crisis, mass starvation and the end of oil.
Trump branded those warning of out-of-control global warming and other environmental disasters “the heirs of yesterday’s foolish fortune tellers”.
Trump told reporters later that his Davos trip was devoted to meeting “the most important people in the world and we’re bringing back tremendous business”.
“The other’s just a hoax,” he said of the “disgraceful” impeachment trial.
‘Nothing has been done’
Before Trump’s appearance, Thunberg underlined the message that has inspired millions around the world, saying “basically nothing has been done” to fight climate change.
“It will require much more than this. This is just the very beginning,” the 17-year-old said.
Speaking calmly and with a wry smile, Thunberg acknowledged that her campaign which began with school strikes had attracted huge attention without yet achieving concrete change.
“There is a difference between being heard to actually leading to something,” she said.
While the WEF and individual business leaders have been detailing their own concerns about climate change, Greenpeace complained in a new report that some of the world’s biggest banks, insurers and pension funds have collectively invested $1.4 trillion in fossil fuel companies since the Paris climate deal in 2016.
Trump in his speech reeled off a list of achievements for the American economy and touted the United States as the “number one producer of oil and natural gas”.
Davos showdown?
There are no expectations that Trump and Thunberg, who have exchanged barbs through Twitter, would actually meet, but the crowded venue and intense schedule mean a chance encounter cannot be ruled out.
When Trump and his entourage walked through UN headquarters last year at the annual General Assembly, a photo of the teenager staring in apparent fury at the president from the sidelines went viral.
Although Trump’s Republican party holds a majority in the Senate and is almost sure to acquit him on charges of abusing his power and obstructing Congress, the impeachment adds volatility to an already tense 2020 presidential election.
“We will never let radical socialists destroy our economy,” said Trump, apparently referring to his Democratic party opponents ahead of the presidential election in November.
‘Governments continue to fall’
Sustainability is the buzzword at the Davos forum, which began in 1971, with heel crampons handed out to participants to encourage them to walk on the icy streets rather than use cars, and the signage paint made out of seaweed.
Trump’s opposition to renewable energy, his withdrawal from the Paris accord negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, and the free hand extended to the fossil fuel industry puts him at odds with the thrust of this year’s event.
“People are paying a lot more attention to climate,” Eurasia Group president Ian Bremner told AFP at Davos, adding there was “genuine action by some big players”, after investment titan BlackRock said it was partially divesting out of coal.
“But let’s be clear—a big part of this is because we failed for a very long time and governments continue to fail,” he added.
Business leaders are likely also to be concerned by the state of the global economy whose prospects, according to the International Monetary Fund, have improved but remain brittle.
The IMF cut its global growth estimate for 2020 to 3.3 percent, saying that a recent truce in the trade war between China and the US had brought some stability but that risks remained.
Activists meanwhile will be pressing for much more concrete action to fight inequality, after Oxfam issued a report outlining how the number of billionaires has doubled in the past decade and the world’s 22 richest men now have more wealth than all the women in Africa.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-21--Baghdad protest turns deadly as youths block highway

Iraqi demonstrators try to extinguish tear gas during anti-government protests in Baghdad , Iraq , on January 21 , 2020 .
Iraqi riot police opened fire Tuesday amid clashes with anti-government protesters on a central Baghdad highway , killing one person and wounding over a dozen people , officials said , the latest since violence erupted again last week between demonstrators and security forces .
The clashes on the key Mohammed al-Qassim highway broke out when riot police moved in to disperse a crowd of mostly young men who had gathered there .
The protesters burned tires , halting traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurled Molotov cocktails , or fire bombs at the riot police .
Police shot live rounds and fired tear gas canisters at the crowd .
At least 14 protesters were wounded , their injuries ranging from severe to moderate .
One protester died after being struck by a tear gas canister to the head , according to police and medical officials and activists .
As the violence escalated , the police pulled back , allowing demonstrators to take over the thoroughfare , eyewitnesses said , speaking on condition of anonymity , fearing reprisals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abdul-Mahdi condemned an overnight triple-rocket attack targeting the heavily fortified Green Zone , the seat of Iraq ’ s government , and ordered an investigation into the incident , military spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf said .
The Katyusha rockets had fallen near the U.S. Embassy but caused no casualties .
The Mohammed al-Qassim highway connects areas in Baghdad ’ s Rusafa , a district to the east of the Tigris River .
Protesters have already blocked three central bridges - Sinak , Jumhuriyah and Ahrar .
Blocking the highway threatens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Baghdad .
The Green Zone attack was the second rocket attack to target the area in the last two weeks , amid soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran after a U.S. drone strike killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad earlier this month .
According to a security official , two of the rockets had breached the outermost fence but did not strike near the embassy ’ s heavily fortified walls .
All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations .

Iraqi riot police opened fire Tuesday amid clashes with anti-government protesters on a central Baghdad highway, killing one person and wounding over a dozen people, officials said, the latest since violence erupted again last week between demonstrators and security forces.
Iraqi demonstrators try to extinguish tear gas during anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 21, 2020.
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The clashes on the key Mohammed al-Qassim highway broke out when riot police moved in to disperse a crowd of mostly young men who had gathered there. The protesters burned tires, halting traffic along the key artery and some protesters hurled Molotov cocktails, or fire bombs at the riot police.
Police shot live rounds and fired tear gas canisters at the crowd. At least 14 protesters were wounded, their injuries ranging from severe to moderate. One protester died after being struck by a tear gas canister to the head, according to police and medical officials and activists.
As the violence escalated, the police pulled back, allowing demonstrators to take over the thoroughfare, eyewitnesses said, speaking on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals.
Meanwhile, outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi condemned an overnight triple-rocket attack targeting the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq’s government, and ordered an investigation into the incident, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf said. The Katyusha rockets had fallen near the U.S. Embassy but caused no casualties.
The Mohammed al-Qassim highway connects areas in Baghdad’s Rusafa, a district to the east of the Tigris River. Protesters have already blocked three central bridges - Sinak, Jumhuriyah and Ahrar. Blocking the highway threatens to halt movement altogether in the central part of Baghdad.
The Green Zone attack was the second rocket attack to target the area in the last two weeks, amid soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran after a U.S. drone strike killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad earlier this month.
According to a security official, two of the rockets had breached the outermost fence but did not strike near the embassy’s heavily fortified walls. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-21--Trade war: Will French wine exports turn sour?

In October 2019 , the World Trade Organization ruled in favour of the United States in a long-running dispute over @ @ @ @ @ the green light to impose tariffs on $ 7.5 billion worth of EU goods .
@ @ @ @ @ French wine .
Our US correspondents report on the negative impact the tariffs are now @ @ @ @ @ French wine - as well as consumers .

Trade war: Will French wine exports turn sour?
05:31 FOCUS © FRANCE 24
In October 2019, the World Trade Organization ruled in favour of the United States in a long-running dispute over plane subsidies, giving Washington the green light to impose tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of EU goods. Top of the list was French wine. Our US correspondents report on the negative impact the tariffs are now having on American importers of French wine - as well as consumers.


france24--2020-01-21--Kenyan farmers suffer as swarms of locusts devastate their land

A local radio operating in Wajir city , the capital of the eponymous country , has been warning residents each time that a new wave of locusts descends on the area .
Editor-in-chief Halima Kahiya has spoken to many local residents about the repercussions of this invasion .
This morning , a wave of locusts descended on the village of Shanta Abak .
The local community decided to set the trees on fire in the hope that the smoke would chase them away and , inadvertently , they started a huge brush fire .
Around 40 million locusts have descended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of 12 different waves , according to estimates by the authorities .
It ’ s the worst invasion since 1957 and the worst invasion that I ’ ve ever seen [ Editor ’ s note : Another , smaller invasion took place in 2007 ] .
The government is trying to kill them by flying planes over the area to spray it with insecticide , but that hasn ’ t worked yet .
Everyone is worried , but livestock farmers are the most affected .
The locusts seem to destroy more grazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grass and leaves that our goats , sheep , cows and camels usually feed on .
The dry season was harsh this year and many cattle farmers struggled to feed their animals .
Then , there were strong rains that revived the plants but attracted the locusts .
The herdsmen are afraid that their animals will starve and become malnourished again Before reaching Kenya , swarms of desert locusts swept the Arabian peninsula , Ethiopia , Somalia , Djibouti and Eritrea .
One of the clouds of locusts measured 50 kilometres by 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ square miles ) , according to the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa , which is based in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia .
Desert locusts are the most dangerous type of migratory pests in the world , according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO ) .
They reproduce rapidly and can travel extremely long distances in short amounts of time .
A swarm of locusts can completely destroy a farmer ’ s fields and all his sources of income in a single morning .
A farmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that swarmed Wajir .
In recent days , the Kenyan government announced that it would increase its efforts to aerially spray affected areas with insecticide .
The government admitted on January 16 that the insecticides it had initially used were ineffective .
On January 18 , authorities announced that they were going to start spraying the area with fenitrothion , a powerful insecticide most often used against mosquitos .
Aside from destroying fields , the locusts also make visibility difficult for pilots .
On January 12 , an Ethiopian Airlines flight had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the cockpit .
The FAO is afraid that the swarms will reach other neighbouring countries , including South Sudan and Uganda .
This article was written by Liselotte Mas

KENYA
A farm operator walks through a swarm of locusts that are part of the wave that descended on Kenya in December (Credit: K24 TV).
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Swarms made up of millions of locusts descended on several regions in Kenya in late December, devouring crops and grazing pastures. Farmers are afraid the invasion will destroy their livelihoods and government efforts to spray the area with insecticides have done little to slow down the devastation.
Dozens of videos shared on social media over the past few weeks show swarms of locusts descending on north-eastern Kenya. Some of the videos show the desperate attempts of local people to drive them away by banging pots and pans, yelling, honking horns and even firing shots.
Kenyan police & residents of Wajir County have resorted to firing bullets, shouting, teargas, clapping, whistling and striking metal objects to repel a locust invasion that threatens food security in the region.#LocustInvasion #Kenya #WajirCounty pic.twitter.com/i93wYIDhU5 Povo News (@povonewstv) January 3, 2020
Wajir County is one of the areas most affected by this invasion and farmers there are terrified for their livelihoods.
'The locusts have literally eaten everything'
One of my farms was devastated by the locusts. They attacked the corn and literally ate everything, leaving nothing but the stalk. According to my initial estimates, we’ve lost at least 250,000 Kenyan shillings [Editor’s note: about €2,230]. There were so many locusts in the field that we think that the ground is full of bacteria and we’re afraid to plant anything. So we will likely abandon this site.
Abdinasir Hamud, 32, owns two corn farms in Wajir.
'Branches broke under their weight'
Ahmed B. is a cow herdsman in Wajir.
Right now, we are herding our cattle from one seasonal pasture to another. One night last week, a cloud of locusts descended on us. I watched as they ate all the grass. The branches of the bushes broke under their weight. For the time being, we are trying to bring the animals to pastures that haven’t been affected by the locusts yet, but if this continues… will there be any left?
'It’s the worst invasion since 1957'
A local radio operating in Wajir city, the capital of the eponymous country, has been warning residents each time that a new wave of locusts descends on the area. Editor-in-chief Halima Kahiya has spoken to many local residents about the repercussions of this invasion.
This morning, a wave of locusts descended on the village of Shanta Abak. The local community decided to set the trees on fire in the hope that the smoke would chase them away and, inadvertently, they started a huge brush fire. Around 40 million locusts have descended on our area since late December as part of 12 different waves, according to estimates by the authorities. It’s the worst invasion since 1957 and the worst invasion that I’ve ever seen [Editor’s note: Another, smaller invasion took place in 2007]. The government is trying to kill them by flying planes over the area to spray it with insecticide, but that hasn’t worked yet.
Everyone is worried, but livestock farmers are the most affected. The locusts seem to destroy more grazing land than crops. They eat the grass and leaves that our goats, sheep, cows and camels usually feed on. The dry season was harsh this year and many cattle farmers struggled to feed their animals. Then, there were strong rains that revived the plants but attracted the locusts. The herdsmen are afraid that their animals will starve and become malnourished again
Before reaching Kenya, swarms of desert locusts swept the Arabian peninsula, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea. One of the clouds of locusts measured 50 kilometres by 40 kilometres (2 000 km² or 772 square miles), according to the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa, which is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Desert locusts are the most dangerous type of migratory pests in the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). They reproduce rapidly and can travel extremely long distances in short amounts of time. A swarm of locusts can completely destroy a farmer’s fields and all his sources of income in a single morning.
A farmer took this photo of one the locusts that swarmed Wajir.
In recent days, the Kenyan government announced that it would increase its efforts to aerially spray affected areas with insecticide. The government admitted on January 16 that the insecticides it had initially used were ineffective. On January 18, authorities announced that they were going to start spraying the area with fenitrothion, a powerful insecticide most often used against mosquitos.
Aside from destroying fields, the locusts also make visibility difficult for pilots. On January 12, an Ethiopian Airlines flight had to be rerouted after locusts covered the windshield of the cockpit.
The FAO is afraid that the swarms will reach other neighbouring countries, including South Sudan and Uganda.
This article was written by Liselotte Mas


france24--2020-01-22--Lebanon's new cabinet holds first meeting amid protests and economic ‘catastrophe’

Lebanon 's President Michel Aoun heads the first meeting of the new cabinet at the presidential palace in Baabda , Lebanon on January 22 , 2020 .
Lebanon 's new cabinet held its first meeting on Wednesday , bearing a message of support from the United Nations as ministers begin the urgent task of addressing an economic “ catastrophe ” , as Prime Minister Hassan Diab described the country ’ s situation .
Debt-ridden Lebanon faces an economic `` catastrophe '' , Prime Minister Hassan Diab said Wednesday as his newly unveiled cabinet met for the first time .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic and social dead-end , '' he said in remarks read by a government official after the new cabinet 's inaugural meeting in Beirut .
President Michel Aoun said the new government must tackle the country 's economic woes , win back international confidence and gain the trust of the Lebanese .
`` Your mission is delicate , '' the president 's office cited him as saying at the same meeting , where he presided .
He also said the government would have to work to make up for lost time .
Diab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and financial approach would be `` completely different '' than past governments .
But he also said that dismissing Lebanon 's central bank governor , Riad Salameh , was `` currently out of the question '' .
The prime minister told reporters he had met with a number of foreign ambassadors who had `` all expressed readiness to cooperate '' .
A few moments later , French President Emmanuel Macron , who was visiting Jerusalem and speaking alongside Israeli President Reuven Rivlin , stated that France `` will do everything , during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going through , to help ... our Lebanese friends . ''
Lebanon 's government under Diab was formed on Tuesday after the Iranian-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its allies agreed on a cabinet of 20 specialists .
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will work with Diab to support the reform agenda , Guterres 's spokesman said in a statement , reiterating the UN 's commitment to strengthening Lebanon 's sovereignty , stability and political independence .
The heavily indebted state has been without effective government since Saad Hariri , Lebanon 's main Sunni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West and Gulf Arab states , quit as premier in October following widespread protests against politicians who have led Lebanon into its worst crisis since the 1975-90 war .
Diab was nominated by Hezbollah and its allies last month .
Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist group by the United States .
New Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said on Tuesday that Lebanon needed foreign aid to save it .
He described forthcoming foreign currency sovereign debt maturities as `` a fireball '' .
Protesters took to the streets of Beirut as the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several cities using tyres and other makeshift barriers .
The protests came after a weekend marked by unprecedented violence , as at least 530 people were injured in clashes between protesters and security forces .

Lebanon's new cabinet held its first meeting on Wednesday, bearing a message of support from the United Nations as ministers begin the urgent task of addressing an economic “catastrophe”, as Prime Minister Hassan Diab described the country’s situation.
Lebanon's President Michel Aoun heads the first meeting of the new cabinet at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon on January 22, 2020.
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Debt-ridden Lebanon faces an economic "catastrophe", Prime Minister Hassan Diab said Wednesday as his newly unveiled cabinet met for the first time. "Today we are in a financial, economic and social dead-end," he said in remarks read by a government official after the new cabinet's inaugural meeting in Beirut.
President Michel Aoun said the new government must tackle the country's economic woes, win back international confidence and gain the trust of the Lebanese. "Your mission is delicate," the president's office cited him as saying at the same meeting, where he presided. He also said the government would have to work to make up for lost time.
Diab also said his new government's economic and financial approach would be "completely different" than past governments. But he also said that dismissing Lebanon's central bank governor, Riad Salameh, was "currently out of the question".
The prime minister told reporters he had met with a number of foreign ambassadors who had "all expressed readiness to cooperate".
A few moments later, French President Emmanuel Macron, who was visiting Jerusalem and speaking alongside Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, stated that France "will do everything, during this deep crisis that [Lebanon is] going through, to help...our Lebanese friends."
Lebanon's government under Diab was formed on Tuesday after the Iranian-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its allies agreed on a cabinet of 20 specialists.
UN Secretary-General voices support
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will work with Diab to support the reform agenda, Guterres's spokesman said in a statement, reiterating the UN's commitment to strengthening Lebanon's sovereignty, stability and political independence.
The heavily indebted state has been without effective government since Saad Hariri, Lebanon's main Sunni leader and a traditional ally of the West and Gulf Arab states, quit as premier in October following widespread protests against politicians who have led Lebanon into its worst crisis since the 1975-90 war.
Diab was nominated by Hezbollah and its allies last month. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist group by the United States.
New Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said on Tuesday that Lebanon needed foreign aid to save it. He described forthcoming foreign currency sovereign debt maturities as "a fireball".
Protesters took to the streets of Beirut as the new government was announced and closed roads in several cities using tyres and other makeshift barriers. The protests came after a weekend marked by unprecedented violence, as at least 530 people were injured in clashes between protesters and security forces.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AP and AFP)
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france24--2020-01-22--Top US cybersecurity official warns of threat posed by China's Huawei

Robert Strayer , the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy , granted @ @ @ @ @ in which he discussed the threat posed by equipment from Huawei , the Chinese telecoms @ @ @ @ @ future 5G mobile networks .
`` There 's a larger cyberattack surface area when 5G @ @ @ @ @ have so much more software driving those systems , '' Strayer said .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ to that software ... to be compromised in the future . ''
Huawei `` will @ @ @ @ @ and security services want in China '' , he warned .
The US diplomat also @ @ @ @ @ US elections and said he was `` optimistic '' an agreement could be reached to @ @ @ @ @ between the US and France .
Click on the player above to watch the interview @

Robert Strayer, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy, granted an interview to FRANCE 24 in which he discussed the threat posed by equipment from Huawei, the Chinese telecoms giant, being used in future 5G mobile networks.
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"There's a larger cyberattack surface area when 5G technology is deployed because we have so much more software driving those systems," Strayer said. "A nation-state could cause an update to that software...to be compromised in the future."
Huawei "will do exactly what the intelligence and security services want in China", he warned.
The US diplomat also discussed Russian interference in the US elections and said he was "optimistic" an agreement could be reached to resolve the digital tax row between the US and France.
Click on the player above to watch the interview.
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france24--2020-01-21--Trump’s impeachment trial sees partisan clashes over rules, witnesses, admissible documents

The historic impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump opened in the Senate on Tuesday where the Republican president faces charges of “ high crimes and misdemeanors ” .
Trump , who is expected to be acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate , claims he is innocent of the charges .
• The US Senate voted 53-47 , exactly along party lines , to table several amendments proposed by Democratic US Senator Chuck Schumer : • Subpoena testimony of Mick Mulvaney , Trump 's acting chief of staff , central to the Ukraine scandal • Subpoena testimony of Trump staffer Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office of Management and Budget , Michael Duffey • Require the sharing of evidence by both parties • Subpoena testimony of John Bolton , the White House ’ s former national security adviser • Require a vote on any motion to subpoena witnesses and documents • Give Chief Justice Roberts the authority to decide whether to allow motions on subpoenas for witnesses and documents • Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell had initially planned to compress the 24 hours of argument into two days , which could have led the sessions to go well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time period to three days under pressure from some fellow Republicans .
• After nearly 13 hours of debate and discussion , the Senate adjourned after approving Republican rules for Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
• The articles of impeachment state that Trump tried to pressure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 US election to help him win , and then tried to thwart a congressional probe of his behaviour .
• Trump will not be present at the trial – he is currently in Davos , Switzerland for the World Economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That whole thing is a hoax .
It goes nowhere because nothing happened .
The only thing we ’ ve done is a great job.
” • This is only the third time an American president has endured an impeachment trial , after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999 .
• The trial comes just weeks before the first primaries of the 2020 US presidential election .
You can follow all the action that took place , plus our reactions , in the liveblog posted below .


france24--2020-01-22--Greek parliament elects top judge as country’s first woman president

Greek president-elect Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou , the head of the Council of State , the country 's highest administrative court , speaks during an event in Athens , Greece on October 18 , 2018 .
Greece 's parliament on Wednesday elected the first woman president in the country 's history , a senior judge with expertise in environmental and constitutional law .
A cross-party majority of 261 MPs voted in favour of 63-year-old Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou , parliament chief Costas Tassoulas said .
`` Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou has been elected president of the republic , '' Tassoulas said .
The new president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top administrative court , the Council of State , will take her oath of office on March 13 , he added .
She will take over from Prokopis Pavlopoulos , whose five-year term ends in March .
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis , who personally nominated Sakellaropoulou , called her an `` outstanding '' judge whose candidacy `` unites all Greeks '' .
The daughter of a Supreme Court judge , Sakellaropoulou completed postgraduate studies at Paris 's Sorbonne university .
She was also the first woman to head the Council of State .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Greek state and commander-in-chief , the post is largely ceremonial .
Greek presidents confirm governments and laws and technically have the power to declare war , but only in conjunction with the government .
Backed by the main opposition leftist Syriza and socialist KINAL parties , Sakellaropoulou 's candidacy secured one of the highest vote counts in parliament history .
Mitsotakis had emphasised that the selection breaks with tradition not only because Sakellaropoulou is female , but also because she is not a member of a political party .
Past presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as former ministers .
Sakellaropoulou was welcomed by some commentators as a consensus candidate during a difficult time for Greek foreign policy , amid ongoing tension with Turkey over energy exploration , Aegean territorial rights and migration .
`` The time has come for Greece to open up to the future , '' Mitsotakis said earlier this month , as he submitted Sakellaropoulou 's name for the parliamentary vote .
When Mitsotakis became prime minister in July , he was criticised for appointing just a handful of women to his cabinet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Greeks thought gender equality had been achieved in politics , 69 percent at work and 61 percent in leadership positions .
But Eurostat figures from the same year show a pay gap between men and women in Greece of more than 12 percent in average gross hourly earnings .
Unemployment is also higher among women , with one in five jobless according to the latest official figures .

Greece's parliament on Wednesday elected the first woman president in the country's history, a senior judge with expertise in environmental and constitutional law.
Greek president-elect Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou, the head of the Council of State, the country's highest administrative court, speaks during an event in Athens, Greece on October 18, 2018.
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A cross-party majority of 261 MPs voted in favour of 63-year-old Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou, parliament chief Costas Tassoulas said.
"Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou has been elected president of the republic," Tassoulas said.
The new president, until now the head of Greece's top administrative court, the Council of State, will take her oath of office on March 13, he added.
She will take over from Prokopis Pavlopoulos, whose five-year term ends in March.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who personally nominated Sakellaropoulou, called her an "outstanding" judge whose candidacy "unites all Greeks".
The daughter of a Supreme Court judge, Sakellaropoulou completed postgraduate studies at Paris's Sorbonne university.
She was also the first woman to head the Council of State.
Although the president is nominally the head of the Greek state and commander-in-chief, the post is largely ceremonial.
Greek presidents confirm governments and laws and technically have the power to declare war, but only in conjunction with the government.
Consensus candidate
Backed by the main opposition leftist Syriza and socialist KINAL parties, Sakellaropoulou's candidacy secured one of the highest vote counts in parliament history.
Mitsotakis had emphasised that the selection breaks with tradition not only because Sakellaropoulou is female, but also because she is not a member of a political party.
Past presidents have often been senior party figures, such as former ministers.
Sakellaropoulou was welcomed by some commentators as a consensus candidate during a difficult time for Greek foreign policy, amid ongoing tension with Turkey over energy exploration, Aegean territorial rights and migration.
"The time has come for Greece to open up to the future," Mitsotakis said earlier this month, as he submitted Sakellaropoulou's name for the parliamentary vote.
When Mitsotakis became prime minister in July, he was criticised for appointing just a handful of women to his cabinet.
A 2017 Eurobarometer poll found 63 percent of Greeks thought gender equality had been achieved in politics, 69 percent at work and 61 percent in leadership positions.
But Eurostat figures from the same year show a pay gap between men and women in Greece of more than 12 percent in average gross hourly earnings.
Unemployment is also higher among women, with one in five jobless according to the latest official figures.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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