france24--2020-02-24--Massive rally kicks off Trump's first official visit to India

Participants perform Dandiya , a traditional dance , during a rehearsal for the `` Namaste Trump '' event ahead of the visit of US President Donald Trump , in Ahmedabad , India , February 23 , 2020 .
US President Donald Trump arrived in India on Monday for a lightning visit featuring a huge rally at the world ’ s largest cricket stadium and other high-profile photo opportunities , but likely short on concrete achievements .
Trade tensions have grown between the world ’ s two biggest democracies as Trump ’ s “ America First ” drive collides with fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ Make in India ” mantra .
While sharing concerns about China and deepening defence ties , India has bristled at Trump ’ s offer to mediate over the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan , and at unease in Washington over a citizenship law criticised as anti-Muslim .
The billionaire and the tea seller ’ s son were due to address a huge rally of around 100,000 people at the world ’ s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad , in Modi ’ s home state of Gujarat , before Trump and First Lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch sunset .
Excited crowds began queueing at 4:00 am to get into the brand new stadium for the “ Namaste Trump ” rally , payback for a “ Howdy Modi ” event in Houston last year in front of cheering Indian-Americans where Trump likened Modi to Elvis Presley .
“ We hope the US liberalises its visa regime for skilled workers .
They need it and India has too many young skilled and talented people , ” said student Maunas Shastri .
Preparations have been feverish for the visit , with workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wall that locals said was to hide a slum .
Stray dogs , cows and monkeys have been moved away .
Parts of the Taj Mahal , the white marble “ jewel of Muslim art ” according to UNESCO , were given a mud-pack facial to remove stains while efforts were undertaken to lessen the stench of the adjacent river .
Trump told a rally on Thursday that “ six to 10 million people ” would be along the route of his motorcade , but this appears to have been a misunderstanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands .
Trump tweeted en route to India—in Hindi—that he was “ eager to come to India ” while Modi responded by saying that “ guests are next to God ” , a well-known saying .
But behind the platitudes and apparent warm rapport between the two leaders lies a fraught relationship worsened by the trade protectionism of both governments .
Trump has called India the “ tariff king ” and said before the visit that Asia ’ s third-largest economy has been “ hitting us very , very hard for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wide-ranging trade deal , reports said Trump and Modi may instead ink smaller agreements covering Harley-Davidson motorcycle imports and American dairy products , as well as defence pacts .
Also on the cards could be the supply of six nuclear reactors , the fruit of a landmark atomic accord in 2008 .
An Indian government spokesman said the world ’ s fifth-largest economy “ would not like to rush into a deal ” , adding that the issues involved were “ complicated ” .
“ The big missing deliverable at least for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both countries had sought , which is the trade deal , ” Tanvi Madan from the Brookings Institution told reporters .
Other points of friction include defence , with Russia remaining India ’ s biggest supplier despite a possible $ 2.4-billion deal for American helicopters .
The US has pressured India to stop buying Iranian oil , while US businesses have raised concerns over New Delhi ’ s plans to force foreign firms to store Indian consumers ’ personal data inside the country .
In Washington , India has faced criticism over its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently passed citizenship law that critics say is anti-Muslim and which has led to ongoing protests across the nation .
A senior US administration official told reporters Trump would raise concerns about religious freedom in the Hindu-majority nation during the trip , “ which is extremely important to this administration ” .
“ We are concerned ... and I think that the president will talk about these issues in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking to India to continue to uphold its democratic traditions , respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Trump also ridiculed Modi last year for “ constantly telling me he built a library in Afghanistan ” .
“ That ’ s like five hours of what we spend ... And we are supposed to say , ‘ oh , thank you for the library ’ .
I don ’ t know who is using it in Afghanistan , ” Trump had said .

US President Donald Trump arrived in India on Monday for a lightning visit featuring a huge rally at the world’s largest cricket stadium and other high-profile photo opportunities, but likely short on concrete achievements.
Participants perform Dandiya, a traditional dance, during a rehearsal for the "Namaste Trump" event ahead of the visit of US President Donald Trump, in Ahmedabad, India, February 23, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Trade tensions have grown between the world’s two biggest democracies as Trump’s “America First” drive collides with fellow protectionist strongman Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” mantra.
While sharing concerns about China and deepening defence ties, India has bristled at Trump’s offer to mediate over the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan, and at unease in Washington over a citizenship law criticised as anti-Muslim.
The billionaire and the tea seller’s son were due to address a huge rally of around 100,000 people at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, in Modi’s home state of Gujarat, before Trump and First Lady Melania fly to the Taj Mahal to watch sunset.
Excited crowds began queueing at 4:00 am to get into the brand new stadium for the “Namaste Trump” rally, payback for a “Howdy Modi” event in Houston last year in front of cheering Indian-Americans where Trump likened Modi to Elvis Presley.
some scenes from the trump arrival motorcade in india pic.twitter.com/bARsMCzbdy — Justin Sink (@justinsink) February 24, 2020
“We hope the US liberalises its visa regime for skilled workers. They need it and India has too many young skilled and talented people,” said student Maunas Shastri.
Preparations have been feverish for the visit, with workers rushing to finish the stadium and building a wall that locals said was to hide a slum. Stray dogs, cows and monkeys have been moved away.
Parts of the Taj Mahal, the white marble “jewel of Muslim art” according to UNESCO, were given a mud-pack facial to remove stains while efforts were undertaken to lessen the stench of the adjacent river.
Trump told a rally on Thursday that “six to 10 million people” would be along the route of his motorcade, but this appears to have been a misunderstanding. Organisers said there will be tens of thousands.
हम भारत आने के लिए तत्पर हैं । हम रास्ते में हैँ, कुछ ही घंटों में हम सबसे मिलेंगे! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020
Trump tweeted en route to India—in Hindi—that he was “eager to come to India” while Modi responded by saying that “guests are next to God”, a well-known saying.
‘Tariff king’
But behind the platitudes and apparent warm rapport between the two leaders lies a fraught relationship worsened by the trade protectionism of both governments.
Trump has called India the “tariff king” and said before the visit that Asia’s third-largest economy has been “hitting us very, very hard for many, many years”.
Rather than a wide-ranging trade deal, reports said Trump and Modi may instead ink smaller agreements covering Harley-Davidson motorcycle imports and American dairy products, as well as defence pacts.
Also on the cards could be the supply of six nuclear reactors, the fruit of a landmark atomic accord in 2008.
An Indian government spokesman said the world’s fifth-largest economy “would not like to rush into a deal”, adding that the issues involved were “complicated”.
“The big missing deliverable at least for now seems likely to be the one both countries had sought, which is the trade deal,” Tanvi Madan from the Brookings Institution told reporters.
Other points of friction include defence, with Russia remaining India’s biggest supplier despite a possible $2.4-billion deal for American helicopters.
The US has pressured India to stop buying Iranian oil, while US businesses have raised concerns over New Delhi’s plans to force foreign firms to store Indian consumers’ personal data inside the country.
In Washington, India has faced criticism over its clampdown in restive Kashmir, and a recently passed citizenship law that critics say is anti-Muslim and which has led to ongoing protests across the nation.
A senior US administration official told reporters Trump would raise concerns about religious freedom in the Hindu-majority nation during the trip, “which is extremely important to this administration”.
“We are concerned... and I think that the president will talk about these issues in his meetings with Prime Minister Modi and note that the world is looking to India to continue to uphold its democratic traditions, respect for religious minorities,” the official added.
Trump also ridiculed Modi last year for “constantly telling me he built a library in Afghanistan”.
“That’s like five hours of what we spend... And we are supposed to say, ‘oh, thank you for the library’. I don’t know who is using it in Afghanistan,” Trump had said.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--Police demonstration at Haiti's presidential palace turns deadly

Haitian police demanding better working conditions shot up the army headquarters on Sunday , killing two servicemen and wounding a dozen more , the Defence Ministry said , prompting the government to cancel an upcoming carnival .
In a statement issued Sunday evening , the government said it had observed `` with concern and dismay that terror has reigned in certain arteries of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area . ''
In order to avoid a `` bloodbath ... it has been decided to cancel the carnival , '' which was scheduled to take place Tuesday , the statement said .
Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the attack in Port-au-Prince by what the ministry said were gunmen wearing masks .
`` We are under siege .
We are coming under fire with all kinds of weapons -- assault rifles , Molotov cocktails , tear gas , '' said General Jodel Lessage .
He said soldiers had returned fire but did not give an injury toll , nor could he say how many people were at the army headquarters , near the presidential palace , at the time of the attack .
The situation remained tense as night fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haitian police have been demanding better working conditions , in particular the right to form a union so as to ensure transparency in talks with the police hierarchy .
Last week , some officers took to the street , blocking them and setting fire to cars .
On Saturday , President Jovenel Moise announced measures designed to ease the crisis , including the creation of a compensation fund for families of police who die in the line of duty and a fund to provide officers with insurance .
Haiti has witnessed a spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year and fighting between rival crime gangs , which regularly set up roadblocks on Haitian highways .
The destitute Caribbean country has also been gripped by a political crisis for more than a year as people demand the resignation of Moise .
Since coming to power in February 2017 , Moise has faced the anger of an opposition movement that refuses to recognise his victory in an election widely seen as dubious .
Moise is also accused of corruption .

Haitian police demanding better working conditions shot up the army headquarters on Sunday, killing two servicemen and wounding a dozen more, the Defence Ministry said, prompting the government to cancel an upcoming carnival.
Advertising Read more
In a statement issued Sunday evening, the government said it had observed "with concern and dismay that terror has reigned in certain arteries of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area."
In order to avoid a "bloodbath... it has been decided to cancel the carnival," which was scheduled to take place Tuesday, the statement said.
Media reports had said six people were wounded in the attack in Port-au-Prince by what the ministry said were gunmen wearing masks.
"We are under siege. We are coming under fire with all kinds of weapons -- assault rifles, Molotov cocktails, tear gas," said General Jodel Lessage.
He said soldiers had returned fire but did not give an injury toll, nor could he say how many people were at the army headquarters, near the presidential palace, at the time of the attack.
The situation remained tense as night fell in the city.
For months, Haitian police have been demanding better working conditions, in particular the right to form a union so as to ensure transparency in talks with the police hierarchy.
Last week, some officers took to the street, blocking them and setting fire to cars.
On Saturday, President Jovenel Moise announced measures designed to ease the crisis, including the creation of a compensation fund for families of police who die in the line of duty and a fund to provide officers with insurance.
Haiti has witnessed a spike in kidnappings for ransom since the beginning of the year and fighting between rival crime gangs, which regularly set up roadblocks on Haitian highways.
The destitute Caribbean country has also been gripped by a political crisis for more than a year as people demand the resignation of Moise.
Since coming to power in February 2017, Moise has faced the anger of an opposition movement that refuses to recognise his victory in an election widely seen as dubious. Moise is also accused of corruption.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--Israel strikes Gaza and Syria after Palestinian rocket attacks

Flame and smoke are seen during Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip , February 23 , 2020 .
Israeli fighter jets launched air strikes on suspected Islamic Jihad positions in Syria , the Israeli military said on Monday , after the militant group and Israel exchanged rockets and air strikes around Gaza .
Israeli aircraft hit what the military said were Islamic Jihad sites in the Gaza Strip and Syria late Sunday , after the Palestinian militant group fired a barrage of rockets at Israel .
In a new flareup a week ahead of a fresh general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Force carried out strikes on `` dozens of Islamic Jihad terror sites '' throughout Gaza and near the Syrian capital Damascus , a military statement said .
There were no immediate reports of fatalities in either Gaza , which lies to the west of Israel , or Syria , which is to the country 's north .
Islamic Jihad , which along with allied group Hamas has fought three wars with Israel in Gaza since 2008 , operates in both territories .
A military aircraft also fired at `` Islamic Jihad terror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northern Gaza Strip , the army said .
`` A hit was identified , '' it added , with health officials in Gaza saying four people were wounded in the strikes .
In Syria , the Israeli army said it had struck Islamic Jihad targets outside Damascus , including a base `` used as a hub '' for the group 's activities in the country .
An AFP correspondent in Damascus heard several strong explosions shortly before midnight ( 2200 GMT ) .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
The Syrian state news agency Sana said `` most of the enemy missiles were shot down before reaching their targets '' , stressing that `` no airport '' was struck .
Earlier Sunday , more than 20 rockets and mortars were launched from Gaza towards Israel , setting off warning sirens in the southern city of Ashkelon and several other locations , the army said .
More than a dozen were intercepted by the Jewish state 's Iron Dome missile defence system , the Israeli army said .
There were no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed responsibility for the rockets , calling them a response to the killing of one its fighters along the Gaza border early Sunday .
Israel said the man had been part of a cell seeking to plant an explosive device on the border fence .
Islamic Jihad identified the dead man as Mohammed al-Naem , 27 , a member of its armed wing .
A video later emerged on social media showing a bulldozer approaching a body while a group of young , apparently unarmed men , were trying to retrieve it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the men ultimately run away as the bulldozer scoops up the body .
A tank can be seen positioned nearby .
Israel 's hawkish Defence Minister Naftali Bennett has pursued a policy of retaining the bodies of militants from Gaza as bargaining chips to pressure Hamas , which has held the bodies of two Israeli soldiers since 2014 .
Hamas is also believed to be detaining two Israeli citizens who entered Gaza separately and whose families say suffer from mental illness .
Israel has a general election on March 2 , its third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls in April and September 2019 .
Embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , facing trial over a series of corruption allegations , is again neck and neck with centrist challenger Benny Gantz , a former military general .
Hamas and Israel last fought a full-scale war in 2014 but smaller flareups are relatively common .
In November , Islamic Jihad and Israel fought a three-day conflict that left 35 Palestinians dead and more than 100 wounded , according to official figures .
There were no Israeli fatalities .
Under the informal agreements in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eased a blockade of the impoverished Palestinian enclave in exchange for relative calm .

Israeli fighter jets launched air strikes on suspected Islamic Jihad positions in Syria, the Israeli military said on Monday, after the militant group and Israel exchanged rockets and air strikes around Gaza. The Palestinian militant group later declared a unilateral cease-fire.
Flame and smoke are seen during Israeli air strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, February 23, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Israeli aircraft hit what the military said were Islamic Jihad sites in the Gaza Strip and Syria late Sunday, after the Palestinian militant group fired a barrage of rockets at Israel.
In a new flareup a week ahead of a fresh general election in the Jewish state, the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on "dozens of Islamic Jihad terror sites" throughout Gaza and near the Syrian capital Damascus, a military statement said.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities in either Gaza, which lies to the west of Israel, or Syria, which is to the country's north.
Islamic Jihad, which along with allied group Hamas has fought three wars with Israel in Gaza since 2008, operates in both territories.
A military aircraft also fired at "Islamic Jihad terror operatives preparing to launch rockets" from the northern Gaza Strip, the army said.
"A hit was identified," it added, with health officials in Gaza saying four people were wounded in the strikes.
In Syria, the Israeli army said it had struck Islamic Jihad targets outside Damascus, including a base "used as a hub" for the group's activities in the country.
An AFP correspondent in Damascus heard several strong explosions shortly before midnight (2200 GMT).
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attacks were "near the Damascus international airport".
The Syrian state news agency Sana said "most of the enemy missiles were shot down before reaching their targets", stressing that "no airport" was struck.
Bulldozed
Earlier Sunday, more than 20 rockets and mortars were launched from Gaza towards Israel, setting off warning sirens in the southern city of Ashkelon and several other locations, the army said.
More than a dozen were intercepted by the Jewish state's Iron Dome missile defence system, the Israeli army said. There were no reports of serious injuries.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rockets, calling them a response to the killing of one its fighters along the Gaza border early Sunday.
Israel said the man had been part of a cell seeking to plant an explosive device on the border fence.
Islamic Jihad identified the dead man as Mohammed al-Naem, 27, a member of its armed wing.
A video later emerged on social media showing a bulldozer approaching a body while a group of young, apparently unarmed men, were trying to retrieve it.
The sound of gunfire is heard and the men ultimately run away as the bulldozer scoops up the body.
A tank can be seen positioned nearby.
Israel's hawkish Defence Minister Naftali Bennett has pursued a policy of retaining the bodies of militants from Gaza as bargaining chips to pressure Hamas, which has held the bodies of two Israeli soldiers since 2014.
Hamas is also believed to be detaining two Israeli citizens who entered Gaza separately and whose families say suffer from mental illness.
Israel has a general election on March 2, its third in less than a year after deadlocked polls in April and September 2019.
Embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing trial over a series of corruption allegations, is again neck and neck with centrist challenger Benny Gantz, a former military general.
Hamas and Israel last fought a full-scale war in 2014 but smaller flareups are relatively common.
In November, Islamic Jihad and Israel fought a three-day conflict that left 35 Palestinians dead and more than 100 wounded, according to official figures. There were no Israeli fatalities.
Under the informal agreements in the past year, Israel has slightly eased a blockade of the impoverished Palestinian enclave in exchange for relative calm.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--In India, a Trump-Modi bromance with personal business and electability topping the agenda

US President Donald Trump ’ s two-day visit to India may be a matter of pageantry over policy , but it served the domestic agendas of both leaders and , more importantly , the interests of Trump ’ s family business and Modi ’ s backers among the Indian diaspora in America .
Two years ago , when the US president ’ s eldest son , Donald Trump Jr. , arrived in India , newspapers featured full front-page ads of the Trump princeling with all-cap headers screaming , “ TRUMP HAS ARRIVED .
HAVE YOU ?
” and “ TRUMP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The all-important invitation was for a champagne dinner with the US president ’ s son , which could be snagged by anyone putting down a $ 39,000 deposit for a luxury apartment in the latest Trump Tower project located in a suburb of the capital , New Delhi .
India has the most Trump-branded projects outside the United States and the relationship between the American billionaire-president and affluent , aspirational Indians – and Americans of Indian origin – has been a special one .
Weeks before his victory in the November 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” campaign rally hosted by the Republican Hindu Coalition in Edison , New Jersey .
Following opening acts featuring dancing stars , the Republican candidate proclaimed his love for the wealthiest immigrant group in the United States .
“ I am a big fan of Hindu , ” said Trump .
“ Big , big fan.
” Trump ’ s mix-up of religion and country could not have bothered the 5,000-odd guests at the event .
Hindu hardliners have reciprocated Trump ’ s fandom ; their vision of a Hindu rashtra – or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Muslims and migrants , dovetails neatly with Trump ’ s tough stance on Muslim immigration .
Then there are the usual areas of US-India policy overlap , which will be repeated during Trump ’ s two-day visit .
Relations between the world ’ s two largest democracies have been historically shaped by a shared alarm over a rising , increasingly assertive China .
A tough position on Islamist terrorism also resonates well in New Delhi and Trump ’ s Washington DC .
At a massive stadium rally in the western Indian city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge applause for touting a theme that most Western leaders note on India .
“ The United States and India are also firmly united in our ironclad resolve to defend our citizens from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism , ” said Trump as more than 100,000 people – most sporting white caps emblazoned with “ Namaste Trump , ” or Welcome Trump – roared their approval .
“ Today the ISIS territorial caliphate has been one hundred percent destroyed and the monster known as al-Baghdadi , the founder and leader of ISIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referring to the Islamic State ( IS ) group ’ s Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi .
Style over substance Despite the pomp , grandeur and media coverage , Trump ’ s first official visit to India has so far seen the absence of substantive deliverables .
A much-awaited US-India trade deal was expected to be the centrepiece of the visit , but negotiations have been stuck over tariffs and price controls with Trump ’ s “ American First ” drive clashing with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s protectionist “ Make in India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agenda , as expected between weapons producing nations and a major arms buyer such as India .
But Russia remains a major supplier , with New Delhi agreeing to buy Moscow 's $ 5.4 billion S-400 missile defence system despite the threat of US sanctions .
In the absence of significant bilateral initiatives , the US president ’ s latest visit to India has been dismissed as more style than substance with the optics of a Trump-Modi bromance against a backdrop of glitz and kitsch .
Domestic political goals The biggest takeaways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Trump and Modi , with wealth and electability topping the agenda .
“ The point of this visit is for domestic political reasons for the leaders of both countries , ” explained Mira Kamdar , author of “ India in the 21st Century ” and former member of the New York Times editorial board .
“ Trump gets to court the Indian-American vote and show he ’ s loved abroad .
Modi shows himself as the best pal of the leader of the US and gets to have the president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been focusing on the November 2020 presidential election and the public relations boost in populous , colourful India – unlike visits to the UK , which bring out more protesters than fans – is a welcome change for the Republican incumbent .
The four million-strong Indian community in the United States is not a substantive voting base for Trump .
A little over half of them are Hindu and tend to vote left in the US , according to the Pew Research Center .
But it is a well-educated and affluent community that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the current US president .
Modi , too , has a lot to gain from an uncritical endorsement from the leader of the free world .
Despite his landslide victory in the 2019 Indian general elections , Modi has faced widespread protests against his administration ’ s controversial citizenship amendment and registration policies , which critics say target Muslims and contravene the secular democratic principles of the Indian constitution .
On Monday , as Trump and his family were visiting the Taj Mahal ( described by UNESCO as the “ jewel of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke out in New Delhi , when Modi supporters chanting Hindu religious slogans faced off with protesters opposing the government 's citizenship and registration policies .
Meanwhile Modi ’ s image as the Indian economy 's best hope has suffered a battering with the country experiencing its slowest growth in a decade amid a shadow banking crisis , weak investment and a slump in spending .
‘ Trump the statesman and Trump the businessman ’ That downturn has hit the Trump Organization ’ s five projects in India , with completed Trump Towers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developers scramble for buyers on other properties still under construction .
Conflicts of interest with his business dealings have dogged the US president since he took office and nowhere , according to the US news site Politico , “ are the lines more blurred between Trump the statesman and Trump the salesman than in India.
” Ignoring calls to fully separate from his company when he was elected president , Trump has instead placed his holdings in a trust designed to maintain assets for his benefit .
But ethics experts have called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust funds and can withdraw money at any point without the public ’ s knowledge .
While Trump the president has been wooing the leader of the world ’ s largest democracy , his company has been relentlessly promoting its projects in the Indian market .
His family has supported his Indian business interests since he got into the White House , with champagne dinners and meetings with the US president ’ s children offered as incentives to potential clients .
They in turn have been helped by political associates and major funders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party ( BJP ) .
In a detailed report in The New Republic magazine , investigative journalist Anjali Kamat examined the Trump Organization ’ s partner in Mumbai , India ’ s commercial capital , for his business and political connections .
The Lodha Group , one of India ’ s largest real-estate developers , was founded by Mangal Prabhat Lodha , president of the BJP ’ s Mumbai division and member of the legislative assembly of Maharashtra , the country ’ s second largest state of which Mumbai is the capital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but unlike the US president , the Indian politician does not face the same level of scrutiny in the opaque , corruption-ridden Indian real estate sector .
The cliques of businessmen backing Modi and Trump are often a tangle of mutually enriching circuits that investigators are still unraveling .
The latest issue of the Indian magazine , The Caravan , for instance , featured an investigative report of how a major Modi backer , Mukesh Ambani , a leading Indian businessman and chairman of Reliance Industries Limited , managed to import oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an influential lobbyist , Brian Ballard , known to be a close aide and old friend of the US president .
‘ Diaspora diplomacy ’ on display Apart from the economic benefits of individuals related or close to the two leaders , Trump ’ s lavish reception in India is a display of the power of what the BJP calls “ diaspora diplomacy ” .
For decades , the emigration of educated Indians to the United States was viewed as “ brain drain ” by India and a loss for its development ambitions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly after the deadly 2002 Gujarat riots , when Modi was banned from travelling to the US and UK for his role in overseeing the violence .
With the help of the Indian diaspora , working through organisations linked to a network of Hindu extremist groups , the visa was overturned when Modi became prime minister in 2014 .
The community has since acted as what Vijay Chauthaiwale , head of the BJP ’ s foreign affairs cell , called “ our biggest soft power , ” in an interview with The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobbying US Congress , contributing to political campaigns , defending the Modi administration ’ s increasingly divisive authoritarian agenda and whitewashing its human rights abuses , according to The Intercept .
For the party ’ s overseas supporters , Trump ’ s gala visit to India also serves as a form of payment for their loyalty and hard work , according to some experts .
“ This could be also seen as a sort of payoff for the financial and diplomatic support Modi and the BJP has got from the diaspora , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their supporters the view that people can be patriotic Americans and support Modi .
”

US President Donald Trump’s two-day visit to India may be a matter of pageantry over policy, but it served the domestic agendas of both leaders and, more importantly, the interests of Trump’s family business and Modi’s backers among the Indian diaspora in America.
Advertising Read more
Two years ago, when the US president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., arrived in India, newspapers featured full front-page ads of the Trump princeling with all-cap headers screaming, “TRUMP HAS ARRIVED. HAVE YOU?” and “TRUMP IS HERE. ARE YOU INVITED?”
The all-important invitation was for a champagne dinner with the US president’s son, which could be snagged by anyone putting down a $39,000 deposit for a luxury apartment in the latest Trump Tower project located in a suburb of the capital, New Delhi.
India has the most Trump-branded projects outside the United States and the relationship between the American billionaire-president and affluent, aspirational Indians – and Americans of Indian origin – has been a special one.
Weeks before his victory in the November 2016 election, Trump addressed a “Bollywood-style” campaign rally hosted by the Republican Hindu Coalition in Edison, New Jersey. Following opening acts featuring dancing stars, the Republican candidate proclaimed his love for the wealthiest immigrant group in the United States. “I am a big fan of Hindu,” said Trump. “Big, big fan.”
Trump’s mix-up of religion and country could not have bothered the 5,000-odd guests at the event. Hindu hardliners have reciprocated Trump’s fandom; their vision of a Hindu rashtra – or Hindu nation – which marginalises India’s Muslims and migrants, dovetails neatly with Trump’s tough stance on Muslim immigration.
Then there are the usual areas of US-India policy overlap, which will be repeated during Trump’s two-day visit.
Relations between the world’s two largest democracies have been historically shaped by a shared alarm over a rising, increasingly assertive China.
A tough position on Islamist terrorism also resonates well in New Delhi and Trump’s Washington DC.
At a massive stadium rally in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Monday, Trump received huge applause for touting a theme that most Western leaders note on India visits.
“The United States and India are also firmly united in our ironclad resolve to defend our citizens from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism,” said Trump as more than 100,000 people – most sporting white caps emblazoned with “Namaste Trump,” or Welcome Trump – roared their approval.
“Today the ISIS territorial caliphate has been one hundred percent destroyed and the monster known as al-Baghdadi, the founder and leader of ISIS, is dead,” said Trump referring to the Islamic State (IS) group’s Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Watch | "India and the US are committed to defend our people from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism": #DonaldTrump at #NamasteTrump event #TrumpModiMeet #TrumpIndiaVisit pic.twitter.com/lfIHpYd1qS — NDTV (@ndtv) February 24, 2020
Style over substance
Despite the pomp, grandeur and media coverage, Trump’s first official visit to India has so far seen the absence of substantive deliverables. A much-awaited US-India trade deal was expected to be the centrepiece of the visit, but negotiations have been stuck over tariffs and price controls with Trump’s “American First” drive clashing with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s protectionist “Make in India” mantra.
Defence deals are on the agenda, as expected between weapons producing nations and a major arms buyer such as India. But Russia remains a major supplier, with New Delhi agreeing to buy Moscow's $5.4 billion S-400 missile defence system despite the threat of US sanctions.
In the absence of significant bilateral initiatives, the US president’s latest visit to India has been dismissed as more style than substance with the optics of a Trump-Modi bromance against a backdrop of glitz and kitsch.
Domestic political goals
The biggest takeaways of the trip are personal, for both Trump and Modi, with wealth and electability topping the agenda. “The point of this visit is for domestic political reasons for the leaders of both countries,” explained Mira Kamdar, author of “India in the 21st Century” and former member of the New York Times editorial board. “Trump gets to court the Indian-American vote and show he’s loved abroad. Modi shows himself as the best pal of the leader of the US and gets to have the president of the United States endorse him.”
Trump has been focusing on the November 2020 presidential election and the public relations boost in populous, colourful India – unlike visits to the UK, which bring out more protesters than fans – is a welcome change for the Republican incumbent.
The four million-strong Indian community in the United States is not a substantive voting base for Trump. A little over half of them are Hindu and tend to vote left in the US, according to the Pew Research Center. But it is a well-educated and affluent community that also includes disproportionately powerful and loyal supporters of the current US president.
Modi, too, has a lot to gain from an uncritical endorsement from the leader of the free world.
Despite his landslide victory in the 2019 Indian general elections, Modi has faced widespread protests against his administration’s controversial citizenship amendment and registration policies, which critics say target Muslims and contravene the secular democratic principles of the Indian constitution.
On Monday, as Trump and his family were visiting the Taj Mahal (described by UNESCO as the “jewel of Muslim art in India”) clashes broke out in New Delhi, when Modi supporters chanting Hindu religious slogans faced off with protesters opposing the government's citizenship and registration policies.
Meanwhile Modi’s image as the Indian economy's best hope has suffered a battering with the country experiencing its slowest growth in a decade amid a shadow banking crisis, weak investment and a slump in spending.
‘Trump the statesman and Trump the salesman’
That downturn has hit the Trump Organization’s five projects in India, with completed Trump Towers standing mostly vacant in some cities while developers scramble for buyers on other properties still under construction.
Conflicts of interest with his business dealings have dogged the US president since he took office and nowhere, according to the US news site Politico, “are the lines more blurred between Trump the statesman and Trump the salesman than in India.”
Ignoring calls to fully separate from his company when he was elected president, Trump has instead placed his holdings in a trust designed to maintain assets for his benefit. But ethics experts have called the move meaningless since Trump can access the trust funds and can withdraw money at any point without the public’s knowledge.
While Trump the president has been wooing the leader of the world’s largest democracy, his company has been relentlessly promoting its projects in the Indian market. His family has supported his Indian business interests since he got into the White House, with champagne dinners and meetings with the US president’s children offered as incentives to potential clients.
They in turn have been helped by political associates and major funders of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a detailed report in The New Republic magazine, investigative journalist Anjali Kamat examined the Trump Organization’s partner in Mumbai -- India’s commercial capital -- for his business and political connections. The Lodha Group, one of India’s largest real-estate developers, was founded by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, president of the BJP’s Mumbai division and member of the legislative assembly of Maharashtra, the country’s second largest state of which Mumbai is the capital.
Like Trump, Lodha is a businessman-politician, but unlike the US president, the Indian politician does not face the same level of scrutiny in the opaque, corruption-ridden Indian real estate sector.
The cliques of businessmen backing Modi and Trump are often a tangle of mutually enriching circuits that investigators are still unraveling.
The latest issue of the Indian magazine, The Caravan, for instance, featured an investigative report of how a major Modi backer, Mukesh Ambani, a leading Indian businessman and chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, managed to import oil from Venezuela despite US sanctions by hiring an influential lobbyist, Brian Ballard, known to be a close aide and old friend of the US president.
‘Diaspora diplomacy’ on display
Apart from the economic benefits of individuals related or close to the two leaders, Trump’s lavish reception in India is a display of the power of what the BJP calls “diaspora diplomacy”.
For decades, the emigration of educated Indians to the United States was viewed as a “brain drain” by India and a loss for its development ambitions. That view has changed under Modi, particularly after the deadly 2002 Gujarat riots, when Modi was banned from travelling to the US and UK for his role in overseeing the violence.
With the help of the Indian diaspora, working through organisations linked to a network of Hindu extremist groups, the visa was overturned when Modi became prime minister in 2014.
The community has since acted as what Vijay Chauthaiwale, head of the BJP’s foreign affairs cell, called “our biggest soft power,” in an interview with The Intercept.
The diaspora diplomacy agenda includes lobbying US Congress, contributing to political campaigns, defending the Modi administration’s increasingly divisive authoritarian agenda and whitewashing its human rights abuses, according to The Intercept.
For the party’s overseas supporters, Trump’s gala visit to India also serves as a form of payment for their loyalty and hard work, according to some experts. “This could be also seen as a sort of payoff for the financial and diplomatic support Modi and the BJP has got from the diaspora,” said Kamdar. “It reinforces for their supporters the view that people can be patriotic Americans and support Modi.”
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--Weinstein found guilty in landmark sex assault trial, but cleared of top charges

Harvey Weinstein was cleared of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault charges that could have seen him jailed for life .
Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of sexual assault and rape but cleared of the most serious predatory sexual assault charges , a verdict hailed as a historic victory by the # MeToo Movement against sexual abuse .
The jury of seven men and five women , delivering their decision before a packed New York courtroom , found the once powerful Hollywood producer guilty of criminal sexual acts in the first degree and rape in the third degree .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault , charges that could have seen him jailed for life .
He instead faces up to 29 years in prison on the two felony convictions .
The ashen-faced defendant , who attended the trial hunched over a walker , showed little emotion in the moments after the verdict was delivered .
He was later taken into custody pending sentencing , which was scheduled for March 11 .
His lawyer Donna Rotunno vowed an appeal , saying `` the fight is not over '' and applauding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man . ''
The mixed verdict offered a large measure of vindication for the dozens of women who made allegations against him .
It was the most high-profile sex assault conviction in the United States since Bill Cosby was found guilty in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years prior .
The Time 's Up foundation , formed in the wake of the Weinstein case , celebrated the outcome as marking `` a new era of justice . ''
`` Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no going back , '' it said in a statement .
Manhattan 's top prosecutor Cyrus Vance praised the women who testified against him as having changed `` the course of history . ''
`` This is the new landscape for sexual violence survivors .
This is a new day , '' Vance told reporters outside the New York courthouse .
`` We all owe an immense debt to you , who had the courage beyond measure to speak your story to the world , to the courtroom , at great personal risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since allegations against him ignited a global reckoning against men abusing positions of power in October 2017 .
But with many claims too old to prosecute , the jury considered charges related to just two : ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi .
The predatory sexual assault charges included testimony from `` The Sopranos '' actress Annabella Sciorra , who said Weinstein raped her in her New York apartment in the winter of 1993-94 .
Six women took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assaulted by Weinstein .
They were subjected to ferocious cross-examination as Weinstein 's defense team argued that his relationships were consensual and transactional .
The prosecution cast Weinstein as a conniving predator who demanded sex in exchange for access to a film universe where he reigned , but presented no forensic evidence or witness accounts .
The state 's case instead rested on asking the jury to believe the women .
Ashley Judd , who has said Weinstein destroyed her film career after she rejected his sexual advances , tweeted thanks after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who testified in this case , and walked through traumatic hell , you did a public service to girls and women everywhere , thank you . ''
Weinstein , who has always said his sexual relations were consensual , was charged with raping former actress Mann in the DoubleTree hotel in midtown Manhattan in 2013 .
He was also charged with forcing oral sex on former production assistant Haleyi at his New York apartment in July 2006 while she was on her period .
The charges of predatory sexual assault , a serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person , were the most grave and carried a sentence of life in prison .
For the jury to convict Weinstein of that they would have had to believe either Mann or Haleyi plus Sciorra .
Sciorra 's allegation was too old to be prosecuted as an individual crime but she was included in the indictment to bolster the predatory sexual assault charge .
Ex-model Lauren Young had also told the court that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in the bathroom of a Beverly Hills hotel room in 2013 when she was a 22-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , where Young 's allegations form part of a separate sex crimes investigation against Weinstein being carried out by prosecutors in the California city .
Los Angeles prosecutors accuse him of raping an Italian model in February 2013 and of assaulting Young the following night .

Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of sexual assault and rape but cleared of the most serious predatory sexual assault charges, a verdict hailed as a historic victory by the #MeToo Movement against sexual abuse.
Harvey Weinstein was cleared of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault charges that could have seen him jailed for life.
Advertising Read more
The jury of seven men and five women, delivering their decision before a packed New York courtroom, found the once powerful Hollywood producer guilty of criminal sexual acts in the first degree and rape in the third degree.
However, the 67-year-old Oscar-winner was found not guilty of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault, charges that could have seen him jailed for life.
He instead faces up to 29 years in prison on the two felony convictions.
The ashen-faced defendant, who attended the trial hunched over a walker, showed little emotion in the moments after the verdict was delivered. He was later taken into custody pending sentencing, which was scheduled for March 11.
His lawyer Donna Rotunno vowed an appeal, saying "the fight is not over" and applauding Weinstein for taking the decision "like a man."
The mixed verdict offered a large measure of vindication for the dozens of women who made allegations against him.
It was the most high-profile sex assault conviction in the United States since Bill Cosby was found guilty in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years prior.
The Time's Up foundation, formed in the wake of the Weinstein case, celebrated the outcome as marking "a new era of justice."
"Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: There's no going back," it said in a statement.
Manhattan's top prosecutor Cyrus Vance praised the women who testified against him as having changed "the course of history."
"This is the new landscape for sexual violence survivors. This is a new day," Vance told reporters outside the New York courthouse.
"We all owe an immense debt to you, who had the courage beyond measure to speak your story to the world, to the courtroom, at great personal risk, and in great personal pain."
'Public service'
More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since allegations against him ignited a global reckoning against men abusing positions of power in October 2017.
But with many claims too old to prosecute, the jury considered charges related to just two: ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi.
The predatory sexual assault charges included testimony from "The Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in her New York apartment in the winter of 1993-94.
Six women took the stand to say they had been sexually assaulted by Weinstein.
They were subjected to ferocious cross-examination as Weinstein's defense team argued that his relationships were consensual and transactional.
The prosecution cast Weinstein as a conniving predator who demanded sex in exchange for access to a film universe where he reigned, but presented no forensic evidence or witness accounts.
The state's case instead rested on asking the jury to believe the women.
Ashley Judd, who has said Weinstein destroyed her film career after she rejected his sexual advances, tweeted thanks after the verdict dropped: "For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you."
Next stop, LA
Weinstein, who has always said his sexual relations were consensual, was charged with raping former actress Mann in the DoubleTree hotel in midtown Manhattan in 2013.
He was also charged with forcing oral sex on former production assistant Haleyi at his New York apartment in July 2006 while she was on her period.
The charges of predatory sexual assault, a serious sex crime committed against more than one person, were the most grave and carried a sentence of life in prison.
For the jury to convict Weinstein of that they would have had to believe either Mann or Haleyi plus Sciorra.
Sciorra's allegation was too old to be prosecuted as an individual crime but she was included in the indictment to bolster the predatory sexual assault charge.
Ex-model Lauren Young had also told the court that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in the bathroom of a Beverly Hills hotel room in 2013 when she was a 22-year-old aspiring actress.
Eyes now turn to Los Angeles, where Young's allegations form part of a separate sex crimes investigation against Weinstein being carried out by prosecutors in the California city.
Los Angeles prosecutors accuse him of raping an Italian model in February 2013 and of assaulting Young the following night.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--As coronavirus spreads, WHO urges world to ‘prepare for potential pandemic’

A police officer mans a checkpoint outside the town of Zorlesco in Italy 's northern Lombardy region , where residents have been ordered to stay home amid a rapidly worsening coronavirus outbreak .
The World Health Organization on Monday said the new coronavirus epidemic had `` peaked '' in China but warned that a surge in cases elsewhere was `` deeply concerning '' and that all countries should prepare for a possible pandemic .
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the peak in China occurred between January 23 and February 2 and the number of new cases there `` has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This virus can be contained , '' he told reporters in Geneva , praising China for helping to prevent an even bigger spread of the disease through unprecedented lockdowns and quarantines in or near the outbreak 's epicentre .
“ Does this virus have pandemic potential ?
Absolutely , yes , ” Tedros added , but “ for the moment we 're not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus.
” An acceleration of cases in other parts of the world has prompted countries to adopt drastic measures similar to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 towns and South Korea ordered the entire 2.5 million residents of the city of Daegu to remain indoors .
The virus 's spread has also caused steep falls in several European stock markets – with Milan plunging 5.4 percent – and a boost for safe-haven gold amid fears the epidemic could hit a global economic recovery .
The spread of the disease – officially known as COVID-19 – continued unabated with Afghanistan , Bahrain , Iraq , Kuwait and Oman announcing their first cases on Monday .
China also continued its preventive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponing its agenda-setting annual parliament meeting for the first time since the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s .
In Iran , the death toll climbed on Monday by four to 12 – the highest number for any country outside China .
But there were concerns the situation might be worse than officially acknowledged .
The semi-official ILNA news agency quoted one local lawmaker in hard-hit Qom – a religious centre – who said 50 people had died there .
The Iranian government denied the report , and pledged transparency .
Even so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran , an unusually small number that would mean an extremely high mortality rate .
In comparison , 2,592 people have died in China out of 77,000 infections .
Michael Ryan , head of WHO 's health emergencies programme , said a team from the UN agency would be arriving in Iran on Tuesday .
But he cautioned against drawing any conclusions about the mortality rate .
Iran `` may only be detecting severe cases '' because the epidemic was still at an early stage , he said .
`` We need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened in Iran , but clearly there have been gatherings for religious festivals , and then people coming and then moving afterwards , '' he said .
South Korea has also seen a rapid rise in infections since a cluster sprouted in a religious sect in Daegu last week .
Local officials reported more than 200 infections and two more deaths on Monday , bringing the total cases to more than 830 – by far the most outside China .
Eight people have died from the virus there , and President Moon Jae-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus alert to the highest `` red '' level .
As part of the containment efforts , school holidays were extended nationally while the 2.5 million people in Daegu were told to remain indoors .
Authorities in Hong Kong announced that from Tuesday it would not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents .
Mongolia earlier announced it would not allow flights from South Korea to land .
Speaking in Geneva , South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa warned governments against `` taking action that would fan public panic .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ xenophobia and hatred , discriminatory immigration controls and arbitrary repatriation , '' she said .
Fears were also growing in Europe , with Italy reporting three more deaths Monday , bringing the total to six .
More than 200 people have been infected there , most of them in the northern Lombardy region , and several Serie A football games were postponed over the weekend .
The famed Venice Carnival was also cut short , and some Milan Fashion Week runway shows were cancelled .
More than 50,000 people in about a dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay home , and police set up checkpoints to enforce a blockade .
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said that residents could face weeks of lockdown .
French citizens returning from Lombardy and neighbouring Veneto have been instructed to avoid `` all non-essential outings '' and keep their children home from school .
The Italian regions , along with South Korea , have been added to a list of places that are covered by a series of official health recommendations , including mainland China , Hong Kong , Macau and Singapore .
EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` moderate to high '' risk of more new coronavirus clusters of the type happening in northern Italy , but the European Commission in Brussels said it did not see a basis at this time for border controls to be reimposed in the Schengen zone .

The World Health Organization on Monday said the new coronavirus epidemic had "peaked" in China but warned that a surge in cases elsewhere was "deeply concerning" and that all countries should prepare for a possible pandemic.
A police officer mans a checkpoint outside the town of Zorlesco in Italy's northern Lombardy region, where residents have been ordered to stay home amid a rapidly worsening coronavirus outbreak.
Advertising Read more
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the peak in China occurred between January 23 and February 2 and the number of new cases there "has been declining steadily since then”.
"This virus can be contained," he told reporters in Geneva, praising China for helping to prevent an even bigger spread of the disease through unprecedented lockdowns and quarantines in or near the outbreak's epicentre.
“Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely, yes,” Tedros added, but “for the moment we're not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus.”
An acceleration of cases in other parts of the world has prompted countries to adopt drastic measures similar to China’s. Italy has locked down 11 towns and South Korea ordered the entire 2.5 million residents of the city of Daegu to remain indoors.
The virus's spread has also caused steep falls in several European stock markets – with Milan plunging 5.4 percent – and a boost for safe-haven gold amid fears the epidemic could hit a global economic recovery.
The spread of the disease – officially known as COVID-19 – continued unabated with Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman announcing their first cases on Monday.
China also continued its preventive measures against the virus, on Monday postponing its agenda-setting annual parliament meeting for the first time since the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s.
Iran denies cover-up
In Iran, the death toll climbed on Monday by four to 12 – the highest number for any country outside China.
But there were concerns the situation might be worse than officially acknowledged. The semi-official ILNA news agency quoted one local lawmaker in hard-hit Qom – a religious centre – who said 50 people had died there.
The Iranian government denied the report, and pledged transparency.
Even so, authorities have only reported 64 infections in Iran, an unusually small number that would mean an extremely high mortality rate. In comparison, 2,592 people have died in China out of 77,000 infections.
Michael Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies programme, said a team from the UN agency would be arriving in Iran on Tuesday.
But he cautioned against drawing any conclusions about the mortality rate. Iran "may only be detecting severe cases" because the epidemic was still at an early stage, he said.
"We need to understand the exact dynamics of what has happened in Iran, but clearly there have been gatherings for religious festivals, and then people coming and then moving afterwards," he said.
Seoul warns against fanning 'public panic'
South Korea has also seen a rapid rise in infections since a cluster sprouted in a religious sect in Daegu last week.
Local officials reported more than 200 infections and two more deaths on Monday, bringing the total cases to more than 830 – by far the most outside China.
Eight people have died from the virus there, and President Moon Jae-in over the weekend raised the country's virus alert to the highest "red" level.
As part of the containment efforts, school holidays were extended nationally while the 2.5 million people in Daegu were told to remain indoors.
Authorities in Hong Kong announced that from Tuesday it would not allow arrivals from South Korea other than returning residents. Mongolia earlier announced it would not allow flights from South Korea to land.
Speaking in Geneva, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa warned governments against "taking action that would fan public panic.
"I am deeply concerned at incidents of xenophobia and hatred, discriminatory immigration controls and arbitrary repatriation," she said.
Italy curbs football, fashion gatherings
Fears were also growing in Europe, with Italy reporting three more deaths Monday, bringing the total to six.
More than 200 people have been infected there, most of them in the northern Lombardy region, and several Serie A football games were postponed over the weekend.
The famed Venice Carnival was also cut short, and some Milan Fashion Week runway shows were cancelled.
More than 50,000 people in about a dozen northern Italian towns have been told to stay home, and police set up checkpoints to enforce a blockade.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said that residents could face weeks of lockdown.
French citizens returning from Lombardy and neighbouring Veneto have been instructed to avoid "all non-essential outings" and keep their children home from school.
The Italian regions, along with South Korea, have been added to a list of places that are covered by a series of official health recommendations, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.
EU health officials on Monday warned of a "moderate to high" risk of more new coronavirus clusters of the type happening in northern Italy, but the European Commission in Brussels said it did not see a basis at this time for border controls to be reimposed in the Schengen zone.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--Basketball legends honour Kobe and Gianna Bryant at LA memorial

An emotional Michael Jordan speaks during the memorial ceremony at Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 24 , 2020 .
A gallery of basketball legends joined thousands of Kobe Bryant fans in Los Angeles on Monday to pay homage to the transcendent NBA star , his daughter and seven others who died last month in a helicopter crash that sent shockwaves through the world of sports and beyond .
Michael Jordan , Magic Johnson and former Bryant teammate Shaquille O'Neal were among the attendees at the `` Celebration of Life '' memorial at the Staples Center , Bryant 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers .
The event , which opened with a performance by singer Beyonce and a montage of Bryant 's basketball highlights , featured an emotional address by Bryant 's widow , Vanessa , who spoke about losing her 13-year-old daughter Gianna and the husband she called her `` soulmate . ''
`` He was mine .
He was my everything , '' she said of the man she began dating when she was 17 .
Vanessa Bryant recalled how Gianna loved to watch Disney movies with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
`` Gianna Bryant is an amazingly sweet and gentle soul , '' Vanessa told the crowd through tears .
`` Her smile was like sunshine .
Her smile took up her entire face . ''
Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmell cried as he read out the names of all of the deceased and expressed the shock and misery felt by loyal fans of the self-proclaimed `` Black Mamba , '' who dazzled the Los Angeles community well beyond his time on the court .
`` This is a sad day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , of their lives , and of life itself in the building where those of us who are Lakers fans and Kobe fans celebrated so many of the best times of our lives , '' said Kimmell , who had Bryant on his show many times .
Bryant , 41 , and the others were killed in the crash while en route to a youth basketball tournament at which Kobe was planning to coach his daughter and her teammates .
Vanessa Bryant filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the operator of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday from the Los Angeles Times .
The pilot was one of those killed in the crash .
Fans gathered outside the arena hours before the event started , many of them clad in Lakers purple and gold .
`` I have been a Kobe fan for a long , long time .
It is so sad , especially with the children .
But it has really brought the city together , '' said Bubacar Drammeh , who stood outside the venue and planned to watch the memorial on TV .
Inside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Concession stands were closed and cell phone use discouraged .
Attendees were not allowed in if they arrived late and were not allowed to leave early .
Bryant , who joined the National Basketball Association at age 18 straight out of high school , was a five-time NBA champion and fourth-highest scorer in league history with 33,643 points .
The Lakers , where he spent his entire career , retired both of his jersey numbers - 8 and 24 , which hang from the arena 's rafters .
Tributes to Bryant have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers displayed on the Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel , city buses bearing `` RIP Kobe '' signs and purple and gold lights added to the pylons at LAX airport .
`` Kobe was like a brother to all of us , he was family and this means a lot , '' said Henry Martinez , 37 , from Los Angeles .
`` Even though I did n't get in and the tickets are tight , I 'm still going to come out here and show my respects to Kobe Bryant . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after his death , the league announced its All-Star Game Most Valuable Player honor would be permanently named for the late superstar .

A gallery of basketball legends joined thousands of Kobe Bryant fans in Los Angeles on Monday to pay homage to the transcendent NBA star, his daughter and seven others who died last month in a helicopter crash that sent shockwaves through the world of sports and beyond.
An emotional Michael Jordan speaks during the memorial ceremony at Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 24, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and former Bryant teammate Shaquille O'Neal were among the attendees at the "Celebration of Life" memorial at the Staples Center, Bryant's home arena during most of his storied, 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The event, which opened with a performance by singer Beyonce and a montage of Bryant's basketball highlights, featured an emotional address by Bryant's widow, Vanessa, who spoke about losing her 13-year-old daughter Gianna and the husband she called her "soulmate."
"He was mine. He was my everything," she said of the man she began dating when she was 17.
Vanessa Bryant recalled how Gianna loved to watch Disney movies with her sisters and enjoyed baking for her family.
"Gianna Bryant is an amazingly sweet and gentle soul," Vanessa told the crowd through tears. "Her smile was like sunshine. Her smile took up her entire face."
“As I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be.”
Michael Jordan on Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/dTSp7VDosP — NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmell cried as he read out the names of all of the deceased and expressed the shock and misery felt by loyal fans of the self-proclaimed "Black Mamba," who dazzled the Los Angeles community well beyond his time on the court.
"This is a sad day, but it is also a celebration of life, of their lives, and of life itself in the building where those of us who are Lakers fans and Kobe fans celebrated so many of the best times of our lives," said Kimmell, who had Bryant on his show many times.
Bryant, 41, and the others were killed in the crash while en route to a youth basketball tournament at which Kobe was planning to coach his daughter and her teammates.
Vanessa Bryant filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the operator of the helicopter, according to a report on Monday from the Los Angeles Times. The pilot was one of those killed in the crash.
Fans gathered outside the arena hours before the event started, many of them clad in Lakers purple and gold.
"I have been a Kobe fan for a long, long time. It is so sad, especially with the children. But it has really brought the city together," said Bubacar Drammeh, who stood outside the venue and planned to watch the memorial on TV.
Somber mood
Inside the Staples Center, the mood was somber. Concession stands were closed and cell phone use discouraged. Attendees were not allowed in if they arrived late and were not allowed to leave early.
Bryant, who joined the National Basketball Association at age 18 straight out of high school, was a five-time NBA champion and fourth-highest scorer in league history with 33,643 points.
The Lakers, where he spent his entire career, retired both of his jersey numbers - 8 and 24, which hang from the arena's rafters.
Beyoncé opens Kobe & Gianna's Celebration of Life with one of his favorite songs.
(via @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/SfcdOhtbLx — NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2020
Tributes to Bryant have appeared across the city, with his numbers displayed on the Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel, city buses bearing "RIP Kobe" signs and purple and gold lights added to the pylons at LAX airport.
"Kobe was like a brother to all of us, he was family and this means a lot," said Henry Martinez, 37, from Los Angeles. "Even though I didn't get in and the tickets are tight, I'm still going to come out here and show my respects to Kobe Bryant."
During the annual NBA All-Star weekend three weeks after his death, the league announced its All-Star Game Most Valuable Player honor would be permanently named for the late superstar.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--Legal loopholes allow endangered rosewood to be exported from Mali to China

This tweet posted by a furniture store in Singapore features examples of luxury furniture made with rosewood In 2015 , Interpol seized the equivalent of $ 216 million in kosso wood ( €230 million or 15 billion CFA francs ) illegally harvested in nine countries in West Africa including Benin , Ivory Coast and Mali .
Licencing illegal exportation ?
China imported more than 155,000 cubic metres of kosso wood from Mali between 2017 and 2019 , for a total value of $ 125 million ( €114 million , or 75 billion CFA francs ) , according to numbers published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lucrative business for GIB , formerly a government-owned enterprise , that has the only exploitation permit granted by the National Directorate of Waters and Forests .
Our team examined permits granted to the company by the directorate in January 2017 and January 2019 .
The 2017 permit grants the company the right to export 87 cubic metres of “ sawn ” kosso wood for a Chinese partner .
The 2019 licence authorises the exportation of 513 cubic metres of `` processed wood '' for another Chinese company .
Our team spoke to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Water and Forests , who said these licences should never have been granted : Under To ensure that these standards are upheld , wood that is bound for export must have a certificate of origin from the forestry service .
The reference numbers for this certificate should be listed on any exportation permit to ensure that the wood can be traced .
But these permits don ’ t have a reference number for a certificate of origin .
That 's not strictly speaking legal .
These permits are illegal .
First of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Sawn wood ” and “ processed wood ” are not the same thing as “ transformed wood , ” which is the only commodity that can be exported legally .
This language is just a way to exploit a loophole and make it seem as if the wood being exported has been processed here in Mali.Under CITES , wood sold on the international market must be legally sourced .
That means that there must be a forest land use allocation system with defined quotas .
There must also be environmental impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wood that is bound for export must have a certificate of origin from the forestry service .
The reference numbers for this certificate should be listed on any exportation permit to ensure that the wood can be traced .
But these permits don ’ t have a reference number for a certificate of origin .
That 's not strictly speaking legal .
In 2014 , Mali announced an interministerial decree banning the exportation of all raw wood , including kosso wood .
The decree has not prevented exports , however .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than 52,000 cubic metres of kosso wood was exported from Mali to China in 2017 .
In 2018 , Mali adopted another decree allowing the exportation of wood that had been `` transformed '' from its raw state.Naomi Basik Treanor , an expert in governance with the American NGO Forest Trends , told our team that there has been a real rise in demand for rosewood in China .

MALI
Kosso wood cut into cants, or squared-off logs, being loaded onto trucks. Our Observer works for a Chinese company that buys wood from the Malian company Générale Industrie du Bois.
Advertising Read more
Kosso, an endangered type of rosewood that grows in West Africa, is under threat because of high demand in China, where its timber is used to make luxury furniture. The harvest and export of kosso wood is supposed to be strictly controlled as it is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (or CITES). This is not the case in Mali, however, where companies exploit legal loopholes to export large quantities of the precious wood.
Every day, the Générale Industrie du Bois (GIB), or General Timber Manufacturing – the only company in Mali authorised to export wood – exports tons of kosso wood on behalf of Chinese companies.
The scientific name for kosso wood is "pterocarpus erinaceus". This type of rosewood is known by many names. In China, they call it “hongmu", while in Mali, it is known locally as "n’guénou". In other areas, it is known as barwood or vène wood.
Kosso wood, which grows in several countries in the arid Sahel region in Western Africa, is one of several types of richly-hued rosewood that is turned into luxury furniture in China. In 2016, kosso wood was added to the CITES Appendix II, meaning that all trade in the wood is subject to international regulation.
This video, filmed in early 2020, shows GIB workers loading kosso wood onto a truck.
An employee of the Chinese company buying the kosso wood supervises as it is loaded onto the trucks. (Our Observer took this photo in 2019).
The extraction and export of this wood should be subject to strict regulation. But our Observer, who works for a Chinese company that buys kosso wood in Mali and has asked to remain anonymous, says the wood is being over-harvested in the West African state.
The export of kosso wood is highly regulated internationally. But in the Kayes region in Mali, trees are being chopped down with no effective oversight because of the Chinese. This is leading to deforestation. Already, we are suffering the effects of climate change. We shouldn’t be just chopping down trees without thought. But even though kosso is classified as an endangered species, the Directorate of Forestry and Water continues to grant the Générale Industrie du Bois a permit for extracting and exporting this wood. This needs to stop.
Mali has 12 million hectares of forest, but according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, it is disappearing fast: The country loses roughly 100,000 hectares each year because of the overexploitation of wood.
"Rosewood is the timber that is most widely sold illegally in the world”
In 2014, Mali announced an interministerial decree banning the exportation of all raw wood, including kosso wood. The decree has not prevented exports, however. According to the database on the CITES website, more than 52,000 cubic metres of kosso wood was exported from Mali to China in 2017. In 2018, Mali adopted another decree allowing the exportation of wood that had been "transformed" from its raw state.
Naomi Basik Treanor, an expert in governance with the American NGO Forest Trends, told our team that there has been a real rise in demand for rosewood in China.
Rosewood is the forest product that is most widely sold illegally in the world. There’s a larger illegal market for rosewood than ivory, rhino horn or pangolin. This precious wood is used to make luxury furniture and the demand for it has risen in China with the growth of the middle class. In the past, China sourced this wood in southeast Asia. But with the high demand in China, rosewood has practically disappeared from that part of the world. As a result, those countries have increased legal protections for rosewood and China has had to seek out other markets in West Africa.
This tweet posted by a furniture store in Singapore features examples of luxury furniture made with rosewood.
In 2015, Interpol seized the equivalent of $216 million in kosso wood (€230 million or 15 billion CFA francs) illegally harvested in nine countries in West Africa including Benin, Ivory Coast and Mali.
Licencing illegal exportation?
China imported more than 155,000 cubic metres of kosso wood from Mali between 2017 and 2019, for a total value of $125 million (€114 million, or 75 billion CFA francs), according to numbers published by Forest Trends. It is a lucrative business for GIB, formerly a government-owned enterprise, that has the only exploitation permit granted by the National Directorate of Waters and Forests.
Our team examined permits granted to the company by the directorate in January 2017 and January 2019. The 2017 permit grants the company the right to export 87 cubic metres of “sawn” kosso wood for a Chinese partner. The 2019 licence authorises the exportation of 513 cubic metres of "processed wood" for another Chinese company.
Our team spoke to a former high-ranking official within the Directorate of Water and Forests, who said these licences should never have been granted:
These permits are illegal. First of all, they use vague, undefined terms. “Sawn wood” and “processed wood” are not the same thing as “transformed wood,” which is the only commodity that can be exported legally. This language is just a way to exploit a loophole and make it seem as if the wood being exported has been processed here in Mali. Under CITES, wood sold on the international market must be legally sourced. That means that there must be a forest land use allocation system with defined quotas. There must also be environmental impact reports. To ensure that these standards are upheld, wood that is bound for export must have a certificate of origin from the forestry service. The reference numbers for this certificate should be listed on any exportation permit to ensure that the wood can be traced. But these permits don’t have a reference number for a certificate of origin. That's not strictly speaking legal.
"The wood that our company sells is transformed”
Aboubacrine Sidick Cissé, the director of GIB, rejects these allegations. He says that the resources his company exports are sourced legally.
As long as the wood is legally sourced, you can sell it anywhere in the world, even Washington. I operate in compliance with the law. My partners are in China so I have the right to export to China. We don’t export raw wood, contrary to what certain people allege. The wood that this company exports is all transformed, which is what the law allows. After the trees are cut down, the wood is cut into logs. Then the sides are squared off. As soon as wood is cut into squared-off logs [Editor's note: known as cants], that’s already a form of processing. How can you say that sawn wood or processed wood isn’t transformed wood? You don’t have to be a technician to understand that.
The director of GIB also told the France 24 Observers team that the logging firms his company works with have at least 50 management plans for the forested areas of Kayes, which is one of the most heavily forested regions in Mali. He didn’t respond to our enquiries as to how much wood his company exports annually.
Our team reached out to both Bouraima Camara and Mamadou Gakou, the two directors of the Directorate of Water and Forests who signed the exploitation permits granted to GIB in 2017 and 2019, but they did not respond to our questions about the legality of the documents.
Our team also tried to reach the Directorate of Water and Forests without success. We will update this article if they do respond.
Unclear laws
The CITES glossary distinguishes between “sawn wood” and “transformed wood”. However, the 2018 decree regulating the extraction of forest products and their sale in Mali does not define the degree to which wood must be “transformed” before it is exported. The Malian Forestry Code does not have a fixed definition either, which means that the law is open to interpretation.
So should wood that has been cut into cants, or squared-off logs, be considered “transformed wood”? We showed the videos and photos of wood destined for export by GIB to a legal expert who specialises in international commerce:
The photos and videos show logs that have been squared off. That’s not “transformed wood”. That’s just wood that’s had a chainsaw hack off a bit of the edges. But it hasn’t been turned into wood planks, for example. There is not much of a difference between raw wood and squared-off logs. You just use a chainsaw to give the logs edges to make them stack more easily into a container.
“The extraction of kosso wood has major consequences on the entire ecosystem”
Basik Treanor, of Forest Trends, says that the laws around the export of endangered wood are not clear in many countries, which makes it easy to get around them.
It is a global problem. In many countries, information on what is allowed for export is unclear: The laws are hard to access, and the definitions of what can and cannot be exported are vague. It’s common to have a lack of clarity in the legislation. There can be a lack of coordination between the different ministries and the customs service, for instance. Chinese demand for West African rosewood degrades the water supply for local communities. It’s changing the climate. The entire ecocystem is impacted. The trees that are cut are often large, old trees that capture a lot of CO2.
This photo shows the destruction caused by kosso wood extraction. It was taken in 2019 by a bailiff under the orders of Bailloh Bah, a local elected official in the town of Sagalo in the region of Kayes.
Bailloh Bah, an elected official in the town of Sagalo in the region of Kayes, has been fighting against the extraction of kosso wood in his area for years. He told the France 24 Observers about the consequences that the over-exploitation of this resource has had in his area:
It’s a very difficult fight. In my town, I'm the only one standing up for the trees. Here, there are hardly any forests left. I did everything I could but it is impossible. Mali is an arid, desert country, yet we are letting people ravage the little forest that we have. It’s terrible. These trees are more than 300 years old and they get chopped down in a day. The consequences are extremely serious. It prevents us from getting rain. How are the animals going to live after all this?
Article written by Hermann Boko


france24--2020-02-24--NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who inspired the film ‘Hidden Figures’, dies at 101

Katherine Johnson , the black woman whose mathematical genius took her from a behind-the-scenes job in a segregated NASA as portrayed in the film “ Hidden Figures ” to a key role in sending humans to the moon , died on Monday at the age of 101 , NASA said .
“ Our NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old , ” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine posted to Twitter .
“ She was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten.
” Johnson was awarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Barack Obama in 2015 , and in 2016 he cited her in his State of the Union Address as an example of America 's spirit of discovery .
“ She 's one of the greatest minds ever to grace our agency or our country , ” then NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said when Johnson was presented the presidential medal .
In 2016 , NASA named a research facility for Johnson in her hometown of Hampton , Virginia , and a year later her alma mater , West Virginia State , marked her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a scholarship in her name and erecting a statue .
Johnson and her black colleagues at the fledgling NASA were known as “ computers ” when that term was used not for a programmed electronic device but for a person who did computations .
They were little known to the public for decades but gained overdue recognition when the book “ Hidden Figures ” was published and the 2016 Oscar-nominated movie hit the screens .
Johnson attended the 2017 Oscars ceremony , joining the film 's cast in presenting an award for documentaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Johnson had a groundbreaking career of 33 years with the space agency , working on the Mercury and Apollo missions , including the first moon landing in 1969 , and the early years of the space shuttle program .
Astronaut John Glenn thought so much of her that he insisted Johnson be consulted before his historic earth-orbiting flight in 1962 .
“ Get the girl to check the numbers , ” he said .
“ He knew I had done ( the calculations ) before for him and they trusted my work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 .
During the space race between the United States and the former Soviet Union that began in the late 1950s , Johnson and her co-workers ran the numbers for unmanned rocket launches , test flights and airplane safety studies using pencils , slide rules and mechanical calculating machines .
But they did their work in facilities separate from white workers and were required to use separate restrooms and dining facilities .
Johnson always said she was too busy with her work to be concerned with racism .
“ She did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existed , ” Margot Lee Shetterly wrote in “ Hidden Figures.
” “ She knew just as well as any other black person the tax levied upon them because of their color .
But she did n't feel it in the same way .
She wished it away , willed it out of existence inasmuch as her daily life was concerned.
” As a girl , Johnson was fascinated by numbers and counted everything , even the steps she took while walking and the dishes she washed after dinner .
She grew up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational opportunities for blacks were limited because of segregation .
But her mother , a former teacher , and her father , a farmer and handyman , stressed education and moved the family 120 miles to a town that had a high school for black children .
Johnson 's math skills got her into West Virginia State College at age 15 .
She zipped through the school 's math program , earning degrees in math and French before becoming one of the first black students in the graduate school at West Virginia University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven years , Johnson went to work for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics , a forerunner of NASA , in Hampton in 1953 with dozens of other black women .
Johnson found herself in a realm made up almost exclusively of white men when she was chosen to be part of the team supporting the 1961 mission that made Alan Shepard the first American in space .
She would go on to calculate crucial rocket trajectories , orbital paths and launch windows .
Johnson made the transition to the computer era and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or co-writing 26 research reports before retiring in 1986 , NASA said .
She said she was most proud of her contributions to the first moon mission , which included the calculations that synched the lunar lander craft and the orbiting command module .
Johnson and her first husband , James Goble , who died in 1956 , had three daughters .
She married Lieutenant Colonel James Johnson in 1959 .

Katherine Johnson, the black woman whose mathematical genius took her from a behind-the-scenes job in a segregated NASA as portrayed in the film “Hidden Figures” to a key role in sending humans to the moon, died on Monday at the age of 101, NASA said.
Advertising Read more
“Our NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine posted to Twitter. “She was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten.”
Johnson was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in 2015, and in 2016 he cited her in his State of the Union Address as an example of America's spirit of discovery.
“She's one of the greatest minds ever to grace our agency or our country,” then NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said when Johnson was presented the presidential medal.
We're saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson. Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers: https://t.co/Tl3tsHAfYB pic.twitter.com/dGiGmEVvAW — NASA (@NASA) February 24, 2020
In 2016, NASA named a research facility for Johnson in her hometown of Hampton, Virginia, and a year later her alma mater, West Virginia State, marked her 100th birthday in August 2018 by establishing a scholarship in her name and erecting a statue.
Johnson and her black colleagues at the fledgling NASA were known as “computers” when that term was used not for a programmed electronic device but for a person who did computations. They were little known to the public for decades but gained overdue recognition when the book “Hidden Figures” was published and the 2016 Oscar-nominated movie hit the screens. Johnson attended the 2017 Oscars ceremony, joining the film's cast in presenting an award for documentaries, and was given a standing ovation.
Johnson had a groundbreaking career of 33 years with the space agency, working on the Mercury and Apollo missions, including the first moon landing in 1969, and the early years of the space shuttle program. Astronaut John Glenn thought so much of her that he insisted Johnson be consulted before his historic earth-orbiting flight in 1962.
“Get the girl to check the numbers,” he said.
“He knew I had done (the calculations) before for him and they trusted my work,” Johnson told the Washington Post in 2017.
Ignored the racism
During the space race between the United States and the former Soviet Union that began in the late 1950s, Johnson and her co-workers ran the numbers for unmanned rocket launches, test flights and airplane safety studies using pencils, slide rules and mechanical calculating machines. But they did their work in facilities separate from white workers and were required to use separate restrooms and dining facilities.
Johnson always said she was too busy with her work to be concerned with racism.
“She didn't close her eyes to the racism that existed,” Margot Lee Shetterly wrote in “Hidden Figures.” “She knew just as well as any other black person the tax levied upon them because of their color. But she didn't feel it in the same way. She wished it away, willed it out of existence inasmuch as her daily life was concerned.”
As a girl, Johnson was fascinated by numbers and counted everything, even the steps she took while walking and the dishes she washed after dinner.
She grew up in West Virginia at a time when educational opportunities for blacks were limited because of segregation. But her mother, a former teacher, and her father, a farmer and handyman, stressed education and moved the family 120 miles to a town that had a high school for black children.
From 2015, President @BarackObama says Katherine Johnson "was a pioneer who broke the barriers of race and gender, showing generations of young people that everyone can excel in math and science, and reach for the stars." RIP. pic.twitter.com/s05hgjKpMK — CSPAN (@cspan) February 24, 2020
Johnson's math skills got her into West Virginia State College at age 15. She zipped through the school's math program, earning degrees in math and French before becoming one of the first black students in the graduate school at West Virginia University in 1938.
After teaching school for seven years, Johnson went to work for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, a forerunner of NASA, in Hampton in 1953 with dozens of other black women.
Johnson found herself in a realm made up almost exclusively of white men when she was chosen to be part of the team supporting the 1961 mission that made Alan Shepard the first American in space. She would go on to calculate crucial rocket trajectories, orbital paths and launch windows.
Johnson made the transition to the computer era and worked on the shuttle program while writing or co-writing 26 research reports before retiring in 1986, NASA said.
She said she was most proud of her contributions to the first moon mission, which included the calculations that synched the lunar lander craft and the orbiting command module.
Johnson and her first husband, James Goble, who died in 1956, had three daughters. She married Lieutenant Colonel James Johnson in 1959.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-02-24--‘Marsquakes’: NASA lander confirms seismic activity on red planet

File image of the Martian surface taken by NASA 's InSight robot on November 26 , 2018 , the day it landed on the red planet .
Mars is a constantly tremoring `` living '' body , researchers said Monday as they unveiled measurements of seismic activity on the red planet showing similar tremble rates to Earth or the Moon .
For 15 months NASA 's InSight robot craft scoured the surface of Earth 's neighbour , and measured hundreds of so-called `` Marsquakes '' .
These included several tremors that contained the same frequency patterns as tremors caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plates .
`` This is the first mission focused on taking direct geophysical measurements of any planet besides Earth , and it 's given us our first real understanding of Mars ' interior structure and geological processes , '' said Nicholas Schmerr , an assistant professor of geology at the University of Maryland and a co-author of the study in Nature Geoscience .
Another team of researchers found that at least 20 of the quakes measured by the InSight lander had the equivalent strength of a magnitude 3-4 earthquake .
After a six-and-a-half-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the NASA probe landed on Mars ' Elysium plain in November 2018 , pressing an ear to the planet for the first time .
Mars had long been thought to be seismically active , but the InSight lander gave scientists proof of consistent and occasionally powerful tremors .
While the studies show at least 170 tremors measured over 225 days , the quakes have continued to the present day , according to Philippe Lognonne , a researcher at Paris ' Institut de Physique du Globe , part of the 500-strong international team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 460 events had been picked up by InSight 's instruments .
Charles Yana , project chief of the InSight monitoring system at the French Cnes space agency , said that the frequency of seismic activity was `` pretty surprising as the models had n't predicted so many . ''
InSight is also providing data to scientists about Mars ' weather patterns , its atmosphere , geology and magnetic field .
The probe has even established a daily profile of wind strengths on the red planet .
During the day , heating from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaching its peak in late afternoon .
By evening , the wind is gone and there is silence on the surface .
For Schmerr , `` understanding these processes is part of a bigger question about the planet itself .
`` Can it support life , or did it ever ?
Life exists at the edge , where the equilibrium is off , '' he said .
`` Think of areas on Earth such as the thermal vents at the deep ocean ridges where chemistry provides the energy for life rather than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mars remains unresolved , however -- whether or not its core is still liquid , like Earth 's .
`` If it turns out there is liquid magma on Mars , and if we can pinpoint where the planet is most geologically active , it might guide future missions searching for the potential for life , '' said Schmerr .

Mars is a constantly tremoring "living" body, researchers said Monday as they unveiled measurements of seismic activity on the red planet showing similar tremble rates to Earth or the Moon.
File image of the Martian surface taken by NASA's InSight robot on November 26, 2018, the day it landed on the red planet.
Advertising Read more
For 15 months NASA's InSight robot craft scoured the surface of Earth's neighbour, and measured hundreds of so-called "Marsquakes".
These included several tremors that contained the same frequency patterns as tremors caused by the movement of Earth's own tectonic plates.
"This is the first mission focused on taking direct geophysical measurements of any planet besides Earth, and it's given us our first real understanding of Mars' interior structure and geological processes," said Nicholas Schmerr, an assistant professor of geology at the University of Maryland and a co-author of the study in Nature Geoscience.
Mars is alive, and I’m getting more of the big picture every day:
✅ marsquakes!
✅ whirlwinds!
✅ mysterious magnetic pulses!
Lots of new science, as my team releases findings from my experiments here on #Mars. Read all about it: https://t.co/bQ6uhIPusV — NASA InSight (@NASAInSight) February 24, 2020
Another team of researchers found that at least 20 of the quakes measured by the InSight lander had the equivalent strength of a magnitude 3-4 earthquake.
After a six-and-a-half-month voyage through 480 million kilometres of space, the NASA probe landed on Mars' Elysium plain in November 2018, pressing an ear to the planet for the first time.
Mars had long been thought to be seismically active, but the InSight lander gave scientists proof of consistent and occasionally powerful tremors.
Windy planet
While the studies show at least 170 tremors measured over 225 days, the quakes have continued to the present day, according to Philippe Lognonne, a researcher at Paris' Institut de Physique du Globe, part of the 500-strong international team working on InSight.
He said at least 460 events had been picked up by InSight's instruments.
Charles Yana, project chief of the InSight monitoring system at the French Cnes space agency, said that the frequency of seismic activity was "pretty surprising as the models hadn't predicted so many."
InSight is also providing data to scientists about Mars' weather patterns, its atmosphere, geology and magnetic field.
The probe has even established a daily profile of wind strengths on the red planet.
During the day, heating from the Sun causes wind to build, reaching its peak in late afternoon. By evening, the wind is gone and there is silence on the surface.
For Schmerr, "understanding these processes is part of a bigger question about the planet itself.
"Can it support life, or did it ever? Life exists at the edge, where the equilibrium is off," he said.
"Think of areas on Earth such as the thermal vents at the deep ocean ridges where chemistry provides the energy for life rather than the Sun."
A key mystery of Mars remains unresolved, however -- whether or not its core is still liquid, like Earth's.
"If it turns out there is liquid magma on Mars, and if we can pinpoint where the planet is most geologically active, it might guide future missions searching for the potential for life," said Schmerr.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe