france24--2020-01-17--Legendary chef Paul Bocuse's restaurant loses its third Michelin star

The restaurant of famed French chef Paul Bocuse , who died almost two years ago , has lost the coveted Michelin three-star rating it had held since 1965 , the guide said on Friday .
The Michelin Guide told AFP the quality of L'Auberge du Pont de Collonge in Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or near Lyon , near Lyon , “ remained excellent but no longer at the level of three stars ” .
The restaurant , in France ’ s food-obsessed southeast , will have two stars in the 2020 edition .
The guide ’ s boss , Gwendal Poullennec , visited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spokeswoman Elisabeth Boucher-Anselin said .
The chef ’ s Bocuse d ’ Or organisation greeted the news with “ sadness ” .
GL events , which organises the prestigious Bocuse d ’ Or international cooking competition , “ wishes to provide its unwavering support to ‘ Maison Bocuse ’ ” , it said in a statement .
Affectionately known as `` Monsieur Paul '' , Bocuse , one of the most celebrated French chefs of all time , died aged 91 on January 20 , 2018 , after suffering from Parkinson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ‘ Chef of the Century ’ Paul Bocuse is gone , but his legacy lives on “ Although we are overwhelmed by the inspectors ’ decision , there is one thing that we hope never to lose and that is the soul of Monsieur Paul , ” the Bocuse family and the restaurant said in a statement on Friday .
The communiqué touts a recent revamp of the restaurant , unveiled in October , suggesting the updated concept may have come too late to be taken into account before the 2020 Michelin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , currently closed and under renovation , will reopen on January 24 .
Dubbed the “ pope ” of French cuisine , Bocuse helped shake up the food world in the 1970s with the lighter fare of the Nouvelle Cuisine revolution and essentially created the idea of the celebrity chef .
Bocuse ’ s restaurant was the only one in France to keep a three-star rating for more than four decades .

The restaurant of famed French chef Paul Bocuse, who died almost two years ago, has lost the coveted Michelin three-star rating it had held since 1965, the guide said on Friday.
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The Michelin Guide told AFP the quality of L'Auberge du Pont de Collonge in Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or near Lyon, near Lyon, “remained excellent but no longer at the level of three stars”.
The restaurant, in France’s food-obsessed southeast, will have two stars in the 2020 edition.
The guide’s boss, Gwendal Poullennec, visited the restaurant on Thursday to deliver the news, spokeswoman Elisabeth Boucher-Anselin said.
The chef’s Bocuse d’Or organisation greeted the news with “sadness”.
Le mythique restaurant Paul Bocuse perd sa troisième étoile au guide Michelin, selon les organisateurs du concours Bocuse d’Or #AFP pic.twitter.com/M8wzLc3Wm0 — Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) January 17, 2020
GL events, which organises the prestigious Bocuse d’Or international cooking competition, “wishes to provide its unwavering support to ‘Maison Bocuse’”, it said in a statement.
Affectionately known as "Monsieur Paul", Bocuse, one of the most celebrated French chefs of all time, died aged 91 on January 20, 2018, after suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
06:48
>> Read more: ‘Chef of the Century’ Paul Bocuse is gone, but his legacy lives on
“Although we are overwhelmed by the inspectors’ decision, there is one thing that we hope never to lose and that is the soul of Monsieur Paul,” the Bocuse family and the restaurant said in a statement on Friday.
The communiqué touts a recent revamp of the restaurant, unveiled in October, suggesting the updated concept may have come too late to be taken into account before the 2020 Michelin Guide went to print. The restaurant, currently closed and under renovation, will reopen on January 24.
THIS IS FRANCE: Forget the strikes, the flu epidemic, the misery of mid-January, the climate scare ... main headline in France this morning: late chef Paul Bocuse restaurant lost one of its three Michelin stars... #France #Bocuse NB: Bocuse was the God of all chefs https://t.co/sCiwJXhFXu — Geraldine Amiel (@GeraldineAmiel) January 17, 2020
Dubbed the “pope” of French cuisine, Bocuse helped shake up the food world in the 1970s with the lighter fare of the Nouvelle Cuisine revolution and essentially created the idea of the celebrity chef.
Bocuse’s restaurant was the only one in France to keep a three-star rating for more than four decades.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-01-17--Dancing, singing and disrobing: France's unusual pension reform protests

From dancing ballerinas to disrobing lawyers , French workers protesting the current pension reforms and other grievances have been finding innovative and eye-catching ways to show their discontent .
France has been hit by strikes and protests for the past six weeks , driven by anger over government plans to streamline the country ’ s complex pension system .
But numbers at demonstrations have been dwindling in recent days amid signs the movement is running out of steam .
Some , however , have turned to alternative forms of protest to express their discontent at the reforms and other grievances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The trend began on December 24 last year when striking ballet dancers performed a free show on the steps of the famed Palais Garnier opera house in Paris .
A week later , members of the Paris Opera orchestra followed suit with their own public performance .
Others have been using the tools of their trades to get their point across , including lawyers symbolically ditching their robes at the feet of the country ’ s justice minister , doctors discarding their white coats and teachers jettisoning their textbooks .
Further innovative forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoses on government buildings , flashmob dance routines spring up and striking forensics police staging grisly crime scenes .

From dancing ballerinas to disrobing lawyers, French workers protesting the current pension reforms and other grievances have been finding innovative and eye-catching ways to show their discontent.
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France has been hit by strikes and protests for the past six weeks, driven by anger over government plans to streamline the country’s complex pension system. But numbers at demonstrations have been dwindling in recent days amid signs the movement is running out of steam.
Some, however, have turned to alternative forms of protest to express their discontent at the reforms and other grievances in often eye-catching and innovative ways.
The trend began on December 24 last year when striking ballet dancers performed a free show on the steps of the famed Palais Garnier opera house in Paris. A week later, members of the Paris Opera orchestra followed suit with their own public performance.
Others have been using the tools of their trades to get their point across, including lawyers symbolically ditching their robes at the feet of the country’s justice minister, doctors discarding their white coats and teachers jettisoning their textbooks.
Further innovative forms of protest have seen firefighters turn their hoses on government buildings, flashmob dance routines spring up and striking forensics police staging grisly crime scenes.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-01-17--Week in Review: Australian firefighters, gender violence in India and the new generation of French f

Week in Review: Australian firefighters, gender violence in India and the new generation of French fashion designers

Australian firefighters report from the frontline of the inferno ; brutal gender attacks are still happening in India , but now the women are learning to fight back ; Putin announces an unknown as Russia 's new Prime Minister , Mikhail Mishustin ; and Jordan 's King Abdullah II speaks exclusively to FRANCE 24 about escalating tensions in the Middle East .
Mikhail Mishustin : The unknown tax chief surprisingly promoted to Russian PM by Putin President Vladimir Putin nominated a new prime minister on Wednesday 15 January after the shock resignation of Dmitry Medvedev , who has been at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Medvedev will be succeeded by Mikhail Mishustin , who until now was a barely known tax chief with no political clout .
So who is this political newcomer ?
A deadly revolt on January 14 by Sudanese security forces protesting against their severance packages has underscored the importance of reforming and restructuring the country ’ s hydra-headed security services .
But it ’ s a daunting task with ambitious armed men jostling for power .
Ethiopian PM Ahmed asks South Africa for help in talks on Nile dam construction He won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end a 20-year-old border dispute with neighbouring Eritrea , but Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is finding reaching an agreement with Egypt over its project to build a dam on the Blue Nile far more difficult .
Macron calls on US in anti-jihadist fight in Sahel , but solutions lie in Africa and may not be military At the end of a recent summit on the Sahel , French President Emmanuel Macron pledged extra troops and called on the US to maintain its military support to combat a spiraling Islamist militancy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by local security forces may be part of the problem , not the solution .
‘ We can not afford instability in our part of the world , ’ King Abdullah II of Jordan tells FRANCE 24 King Abdullah II of Jordan sat down for an exclusive interview on January 12 with FRANCE 24 's Marc Perelman to discuss a number of issues including the escalating tensions between Iran and the US , the stalled peace process in Israel and the ongoing conflict in Syria .
A classic Putin move .
The master @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard with the sacking of his cabinet , the kicking upstairs of longtime shadow Dmitry Medvedev , and plans for a constitutional reform that the opposition suspects is all about keeping the reins of power beyond the end of his term-limited mandate in 2024 .
'Inside My Heart ' : The plight of three families forced to flee Syria and Afghanistan Filmmaker Debra Kellner spent almost three years following the journeys of three families forced to flee war-torn Syria and Afghanistan as they searched for somewhere to call home in Europe .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewers to see the human stories behind the migrant statistics .
She joined us for Perspective to talk about meeting the families at a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos , why she was inspired to make the documentary and what has happened to the families since .
Australia 's wildfires : The devastating damage to flora and fauna Scientists say the huge bushfires still burning across Australia will become routine unless more is done to cut carbon emissions .
In Perspective , we spoke to Professor Andrew Beattie from Macquarie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleagues have already estimated that the final nationwide animal death toll from the fires will be in the billions , with many warning it will take decades for the damage caused to wildlife to be repaired .
'Shadowplay ' : Dracula , Dublin and the dark side of Victorian theatre Irish novelist Joseph O'Connor is an author who likes to plunge his readers back in time , taking us onboard a famine ship in his bestseller `` Star of the Sea '' , or across post-Civil War America in `` Redemption Falls '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once again in his latest book `` Shadowplay '' , which retells the life of the vampire creator Bram Stoker .
This latest offering has already won him the Novel of the Year prize at the 2019 Irish Book Awards .
He joined us for Perspective .
French senior citizens at work : A choice for some , a necessity for others French workers ' and employers ' unions have until April to find a way to balance out the country 's pension schemes .
If they fail , the government will reintroduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its reform plan , which would force all French citizens to work until the age of 64 to be eligible for a full pension .
Thousands of asylum seekers waiting in streets , makeshift camps around Paris After an asylum seekers ’ camp in northern Paris was cleared last November , France plans to continue to break up others across the country .
Although the number of places in shelters has doubled , with over 108,000 beds available for asylum seekers , makeshift camps are still scattered around the capital 's ring road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in squalid conditions .
FRANCE 24 ’ s team reports .
In Malta , the Labour Party has chosen Robert Abela to be the country 's new prime minister .
He 'll replace Joseph Muscat , who was forced to resign following widespread anger over his perceived efforts to protect friends and allies from a probe into the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia .
Mathilde Bénézet , Céline Schmitt and Wassim Cornet take a look back at the scandal that brought down the Maltese premier .
With a death warrant being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a young woman in New Delhi , we take a look at why brutal assaults on women still continue in India .
We talk to journalist , Rituparna Chatterjee , who 's at the forefront of the nation 's # MeToo movement .
Also , we report on how self-defence classes are on the rise in India .
Plus we meet the new mayor of the Colombian capital , Bogota , who is not only the first woman in the job but is openly lesbian .
Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cope with new rules ?
With Brexit on the horizon , how are businesses in Northern Ireland preparing for their unique situation after leaving the EU ?
We speak to Stephen Kelly , chief executive of Manufacturing Northern Ireland , which represents industry there .
Also , as China and the United States sign a ceasefire in their trade war , how much damage has been done to the world 's two largest economies ?
And we have a report from France , where charity supermarkets aimed at students are selling essentials for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sam Mendes 's breathless WWI film takes us to the trenches Its technical prowess and its haunting tension has seen `` 1917 '' nominated for 10 Academy awards .
Here , film critic Lisa Nesselson tells us why the film transports modern viewers to the frontline of the Great War and brings home the horror of relentless armed conflict .
We also revisit the work of screenwriter and director Paul Schrader , as the Forum des Images in Paris celebrates the work of the man who wrote `` Taxi Driver '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ river Bestselling author and former New York Times Paris bureau chief Elaine Sciolino speaks to Eve Jackson about her new book `` The Seine : The River That Made Paris '' , its fascinating history and how its water saved Notre-Dame Cathedral during last year 's fire .
Music show : 'The new Dawn ' of Cameroonian internet sensation Irma Singer-songwriter Irma Pany speaks to Eve Jackson about finding fame on YouTube , how her new album , `` The Dawn '' , served as a sort of therapy and why it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of every aspect of her music .
They ’ re between 19 and 30 years old and are determined to do things differently .
They don ’ t advertise in magazines , and don ’ t even sell their clothes in boutiques – although they might make an exception for a pop-up shop !
An impressive crop of young fashion designers recently came together to exhibit their creations at the third edition of the Open Mode Festival , at Paris 's Grande Halle de la Villette .
So what do this new generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clue : Eco-responsible fashion is centre stage !
As the crisis in Australia enters its fifth consecutive month , more than 150 fires are still raging across the continent , some of them merging to create what ’ s known as mega-blazes .
We hear first-hand accounts of the flames as well as analysis from experts , activists and journalists in an effort to try to understand the amplitude of this human and environmental catastrophe .

WEEK IN REVIEW
Australian firefighters report from the frontline of the inferno; brutal gender attacks are still happening in India, but now the women are learning to fight back; Putin announces an unknown as Russia's new Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin; and Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks exclusively to FRANCE 24 about escalating tensions in the Middle East.
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ARTICLES
Mikhail Mishustin: The unknown tax chief surprisingly promoted to Russian PM by Putin
President Vladimir Putin nominated a new prime minister on Wednesday 15 January after the shock resignation of Dmitry Medvedev, who has been at the head of the government since 2012. Medvedev will be succeeded by Mikhail Mishustin, who until now was a barely known tax chief with no political clout. So who is this political newcomer?
El presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, asiste a una reunión con el jefe del Servicio Federal de Impuestos, Mikhail Mishustin, en Sochi, Rusia, 20 de noviembre de 2018. Fotografía tomada el 20 de noviembre de 2018. © Sputnik / Alexey Nikolskiy / Kremlin
Sudan’s ‘predicted nightmare’ revolt highlights risks to democratic transition
A deadly revolt on January 14 by Sudanese security forces protesting against their severance packages has underscored the importance of reforming and restructuring the country’s hydra-headed security services. But it’s a daunting task with ambitious armed men jostling for power.
Ethiopian PM Ahmed asks South Africa for help in talks on Nile dam construction
He won the Nobel Peace Prize for forging a deal to end a 20-year-old border dispute with neighbouring Eritrea, but Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is finding reaching an agreement with Egypt over its project to build a dam on the Blue Nile far more difficult.
Macron calls on US in anti-jihadist fight in Sahel, but solutions lie in Africa and may not be military
At the end of a recent summit on the Sahel, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged extra troops and called on the US to maintain its military support to combat a spiraling Islamist militancy. But support for corrupt regimes overseeing abuses by local security forces may be part of the problem, not the solution.
Violence has spiked in the Sahel, a vast region between the Sahara and the African savannah, despite the presence of French and UN troops. © AFP Archive.
TV SHOWS ONLINE
THE INTERVIEW
‘We cannot afford instability in our part of the world,’ King Abdullah II of Jordan tells FRANCE 24
King Abdullah II of Jordan sat down for an exclusive interview on January 12 with FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman to discuss a number of issues including the escalating tensions between Iran and the US, the stalled peace process in Israel and the ongoing conflict in Syria.
King Abdullah II of Jordan in an interview with France 24 in Amman, January 20 2020 © France24
THE DEBATE
Kremlin reshuffle: Will Putin reforms guarantee grip on power?
A classic Putin move. The master of the Kremlin catching all comers off guard with the sacking of his cabinet, the kicking upstairs of longtime shadow Dmitry Medvedev, and plans for a constitutional reform that the opposition suspects is all about keeping the reins of power beyond the end of his term-limited mandate in 2024.
THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24
PERSPECTIVE
'Inside My Heart': The plight of three families forced to flee Syria and Afghanistan
Filmmaker Debra Kellner spent almost three years following the journeys of three families forced to flee war-torn Syria and Afghanistan as they searched for somewhere to call home in Europe. Her documentary "Inside My Heart" allows viewers to see the human stories behind the migrant statistics. She joined us for Perspective to talk about meeting the families at a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, why she was inspired to make the documentary and what has happened to the families since.
PERSPECTIVE © FRANCE 24
Australia's wildfires: The devastating damage to flora and fauna
Scientists say the huge bushfires still burning across Australia will become routine unless more is done to cut carbon emissions. In Perspective, we spoke to Professor Andrew Beattie from Macquarie University in Sydney. He and his colleagues have already estimated that the final nationwide animal death toll from the fires will be in the billions, with many warning it will take decades for the damage caused to wildlife to be repaired.
perspective © France24
'Shadowplay': Dracula, Dublin and the dark side of Victorian theatre
Irish novelist Joseph O'Connor is an author who likes to plunge his readers back in time, taking us onboard a famine ship in his bestseller "Star of the Sea", or across post-Civil War America in "Redemption Falls". O'Connor has wound the clock back once again in his latest book "Shadowplay", which retells the life of the vampire creator Bram Stoker. This latest offering has already won him the Novel of the Year prize at the 2019 Irish Book Awards. He joined us for Perspective.
FOCUS
French senior citizens at work: A choice for some, a necessity for others
French workers' and employers' unions have until April to find a way to balance out the country's pension schemes. If they fail, the government will reintroduce the controversial "pivot age" in its reform plan, which would force all French citizens to work until the age of 64 to be eligible for a full pension.
Thousands of asylum seekers waiting in streets, makeshift camps around Paris
After an asylum seekers’ camp in northern Paris was cleared last November, France plans to continue to break up others across the country. Although the number of places in shelters has doubled, with over 108,000 beds available for asylum seekers, makeshift camps are still scattered around the capital's ring road, where several thousand people are living in squalid conditions. FRANCE 24’s team reports.
December 2019: An asylum camp at Porte de la Chapelle, Paris. More than 1,500 people live there in deplorable sanitary and security conditions. © France 24
Malta's Joseph Muscat: The fall of a prime minister
In Malta, the Labour Party has chosen Robert Abela to be the country's new prime minister. He'll replace Joseph Muscat, who was forced to resign following widespread anger over his perceived efforts to protect friends and allies from a probe into the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Mathilde Bénézet, Céline Schmitt and Wassim Cornet take a look back at the scandal that brought down the Maltese premier.
FOCUS Malta Joseph Muscat © FRANCE 24
THE 51 PERCENT
Gender violence in India: Brutal attacks against women continue
With a death warrant being issued for the four men convicted of the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a young woman in New Delhi, we take a look at why brutal assaults on women still continue in India. We talk to journalist, Rituparna Chatterjee, who's at the forefront of the nation's #MeToo movement. Also, we report on how self-defence classes are on the rise in India. Plus we meet the new mayor of the Colombian capital, Bogota, who is not only the first woman in the job but is openly lesbian.
51 Percent Gender Violence in India © FRANCE 24
PEOPLE & PROFIT
Northern Ireland after Brexit: How will businesses cope with new rules?
With Brexit on the horizon, how are businesses in Northern Ireland preparing for their unique situation after leaving the EU? We speak to Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing Northern Ireland, which represents industry there. Also, as China and the United States sign a ceasefire in their trade war, how much damage has been done to the world's two largest economies? And we have a report from France, where charity supermarkets aimed at students are selling essentials for next to nothing.
Northern Ireland © APTV
ENCORE!
'1917': Sam Mendes's breathless WWI film takes us to the trenches
Its technical prowess and its haunting tension has seen "1917" nominated for 10 Academy awards. Here, film critic Lisa Nesselson tells us why the film transports modern viewers to the frontline of the Great War and brings home the horror of relentless armed conflict. We also revisit the work of screenwriter and director Paul Schrader, as the Forum des Images in Paris celebrates the work of the man who wrote "Taxi Driver".
George MacKay as Schofield in 1917, the new epic from Sam Mendes. © 2019 Universal Pictures and Storyteller Distribution Co
The Seine: The world's most romantic river
Bestselling author and former New York Times Paris bureau chief Elaine Sciolino speaks to Eve Jackson about her new book "The Seine: The River That Made Paris", its fascinating history and how its water saved Notre-Dame Cathedral during last year's fire.
ENCORE! © France 24
Music show: 'The new Dawn' of Cameroonian internet sensation Irma
Singer-songwriter Irma Pany speaks to Eve Jackson about finding fame on YouTube, how her new album, "The Dawn", served as a sort of therapy and why it's important for her to keep creative control of every aspect of her music.
FASHION
Open Mode Festival: Young creative minds lay foundations for eco-responsible fashion
They’re between 19 and 30 years old and are determined to do things differently. They don’t advertise in magazines, and don’t even sell their clothes in boutiques – although they might make an exception for a pop-up shop! An impressive crop of young fashion designers recently came together to exhibit their creations at the third edition of the Open Mode Festival, at Paris's Grande Halle de la Villette. So what do this new generation of designers want? Here's a clue: Eco-responsible fashion is centre stage!
FASHION - Open Mode Festival screengrab © FRANCE 24
DOWN TO EARTH
FRANCE 24 Special Edition: Australia Inferno
As the crisis in Australia enters its fifth consecutive month, more than 150 fires are still raging across the continent, some of them merging to create what’s known as mega-blazes. We hear first-hand accounts of the flames as well as analysis from experts, activists and journalists in an effort to try to understand the amplitude of this human and environmental catastrophe.
Australia inferno Down to Earth. © FRANCE 24
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france24--2020-01-17--Did police in Guinea fire on protesters?

The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to Albert Damatang Camara , the Minister of Public Safety .
He told our team that he had also seen the video but said the shots didn ’ t come from a lethal weapon.The ballistics expert says he isn ’ t convinced by the Minister ’ s argument that the sound was made by an exploding tear gas cannister.We also watched a second video that has been circulating on social media .
It shows security forces firing their weapons while being filmed without their knowledge.The ballistics expert says that an assault rifle fired the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can see a curved cartridge clip on the weapon that ’ s typical of an AKM or AK-47 .
The strap used to carry the weapon is also typical of an assault rifle.Camara did tell our team that another video filmed in the Cosa neighbourhood did show officers firing live ammunition , but he wouldn ’ t tell us which one.
“ An internal investigation is being carried out to identify the person responsible and punish him , ” he said.Videos posted on social media show police officers destroying property , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to part of Ratoma ’ s local market.Faced with the “ poor behaviour of certain officers ” that “ undermines the noble efforts of the National Police ” , Ansoumane Camara , the Director General of the National Police , announced in a circular note on Wednesday that a special investigation commission would be established to identify those responsible for these crimes .

Guinea
Screengrabs of videos circulating on social media that show security forces firing on civilians during protests in Guinea.
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Thousands of people took to the streets in cities across the west African nation of Guinea on January 13. A deadly crackdown ensued – two people were killed, including one 21-year-old student, and videos emerged showing the police firing live ammunition. The FRANCE 24 Observers team investigated.
The protests were called by a coalition called The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (In French, FNDC or Le Front national de la défense de la Constitution), which brings together civil society groups and opposition parties who oppose a constitutional reform that would allow Guinean President Alpha Condé to serve a third term. One of the most prominent members of the FNDC is Cellou Dalein Diallo, who is the head of the opposition party UFDG.
Readers sent our team numerous videos showing brutal police violence towards protesters. One of those videos clearly shows a police officer shoot at several people who are standing in the entrance of a building. This video (below) was filmed in the Cosa neighbourhood in Ratoma, a town that makes up the urban sprawl of the Guinean capital Conakry. The footage was originally posted on the Facebook page of the website Vérité 224.
When our team looked into the footage, we found out that the shooting happened right in front of Dogomet Clinic. That’s significant because the clinic was holding the body of 21-year-old student Mamadou Sow, who was killed by police according to his family – although the government contests this narrative.
Sow was drinking coffee in a neighbourhood café when a police officer shot him in the chest, according to his big brother Abdoulaye Sow who spoke to the FRANCE 24 Observers.
'Officers fired in the direction of the hospital'
The person who filmed this video didn’t want to speak to the press. However, the FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to a witness who was inside the clinic when the shooting occurred. He asked to remain anonymous.
On Monday, I got a call that a young man had been shot in the chest and killed, and that his body was in Dogomet Clinic. I went to the clinic and the family of the victim were already gathered there. It was about 2pm. Friends of the family were stopping by to pay their respects, so there were lots of people there. That’s when the police showed up. They wanted to arrest the young men who were standing in the entrance to the clinic and the parents of the victim. Some people resisted arrest and the officers fired shots in the direction of the hospital. Luckily, no one was injured.
Our Observer also sent us photos of cartridge cases and bullets that he found near the clinic. We sent these images to a ballistics expert.
Cartridge cases found near Dogomet Clinic in Cosa.
'This caliber wasn’t made for those meant to be keeping the peace'
These are 7.62 x 39 mm caliber bullets, which fit assault rifles like AK-47s, Kalashnikovs and AKMs. The cartridge case has the code "539" on it, which means it was made back in 1978 in the Tula arsenal in the then USSR. The shots were fired by weapons meant for war. This caliber of bullet wasn’t made for those meant to be keeping the peace.
The ammunitions expert also watched the video of the shots being fired:
The shots fired in the video sound like 7.62 x 39 mm caliber bullets being fired by an assault rifle. The noise does reverberate and change a little because of the walls on either side of the area where it detonates.
The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to Albert Damatang Camara, the Minister of Public Safety. He told our team that he had also seen the video but said the shots didn’t come from a lethal weapon.
The footage isn’t very clear because you see people coming and going. But that shot wasn’t fired by a lethal weapon. It’s the sound of a tear gas canister that was launched by a Cougar [a type of grenade launcher]. Our men have been unequivocal about that. As for the photos showing the cartridge cases that were found nearby, well, we are in an area where a lot of weapons circulate. In the days leading up to the protests, several people were arrested for possession of war weapons. So even if weapons or ammunition from war weapons were found on site, it doesn’t mean that they belong to the police, to soldiers or to gendarmes.
The ballistics expert says he isn’t convinced by the Minister’s argument that the sound was made by an exploding tear gas cannister.
If you use a Cougar to launch a tear gas cannister, it doesn’t fire horizontally. But that is clearly what is happening in the video. The smoke from the weapon is at face-level, which is what happens when a gun is at shoulder level. Assault rifles are what sit on people’s shoulders.
We also watched a second video that has been circulating on social media. It shows security forces firing their weapons while being filmed without their knowledge.
The ballistics expert says that an assault rifle fired the shots you can hear in this video. You can see a curved cartridge clip on the weapon that’s typical of an AKM or AK-47. The strap used to carry the weapon is also typical of an assault rifle.
Camara did tell our team that another video filmed in the Cosa neighbourhood did show officers firing live ammunition, but he wouldn’t tell us which one.
“An internal investigation is being carried out to identify the person responsible and punish him,” he said.
Ratoma, a site of recurring violence
Videos posted on social media show police officers destroying property, beating people up and even setting fire to part of Ratoma’s local market.
Faced with the “poor behaviour of certain officers” that “undermines the noble efforts of the National Police”, Ansoumane Camara, the Director General of the National Police, announced in a circular note on Wednesday that a special investigation commission would be established to identify those responsible for these crimes.
'There may have been errors'
The Ratoma neighbourhood, which is a bastion of the opposition, is the sight of frequent clashes between security forces and civilians. Back in October, a similarly violent crackdown quashed protests and resulted in the death of about a dozen people, including 18-year-old Bah Thierno Sadou. The police then fired tear gas at his grieving family.
Back in October 2019, a Ratoma resident told the FRANCE 24 Observers that the area was often targeted by security forces during demonstrations.
We put that statement to the Minister for Public Safety, Albert Damatang Camara:
Normal security protocols are put in place to manage peaceful protests. But when it gets more violent, it can be difficult to know who is protesting peacefully and who has criminal intentions. It’s possible that errors have been made. But I contest the idea that there is a specific location where we sent gendarmes and police to shoot on the population.
This article was written by Hermann Boko


france24--2020-01-16--US Senators sworn in for impeachment trial as watchdog group accuses Trump of breaking the law

House impeachment managers ( from left ) Adam Schiff , Jerrold Nadler , Zoe Lofgren , Hakeem Jeffries and Jason Crow arriving for the start of the Senate impeachment trial in the US Capitol in Washington , D.C. , January 16 , 2020 .
As the US Senate formally opened the impeachment trial on whether to remove Donald Trump from office , a nonpartisan congressional watchdog on Thursday dealt the Republican president a blow by concluding that the White House violated the law by withholding security aid approved for Ukraine by US lawmakers .
Democrat Adam Schiff , who heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members who will serve as prosecutors , appeared on the Senate floor to read the two charges passed by the House on December 18 accusing Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine .
The trial 's opening formalities continued , with US Chief Justice John Roberts sworn in to preside over the proceedings .
Roberts then swore in all 99 senators who were present to serve as jurors .
After the swearings-in , the Senate adjourned until 1:00 pm ( 1800 GMT ) on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its case against the president in only the third impeachment trial in US history .
The abuse of power cited by the House included Trump 's withholding of $ 391 million ( €351m ) in security aid for Ukraine , a move Democrats have said was aimed at pressuring Kiev into investigating political rival Joe Biden , the president 's possible opponent in the 2020 US general election .
`` Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( GAO ) concluded , referring to the fact that Congress had already voted to appropriate the funds .
An arm of Congress , the GAO is viewed as a top auditing agency for the federal government that advises lawmakers and various government entities on how taxpayer dollars are spent .
While the agency 's assessment was a setback to Trump , it was unclear how or even if it would figure in his trial in the Republican-led Senate given that key issues such as whether witnesses will appear or new evidence will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats said the GAO report showed the importance of the Senate hearing from witnesses and considering new documents in the trial .
`` This reinforces – again – the need for documents and eyewitnesses in the Senate , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a news conference .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a Republican , has said senators should consider only the evidence amassed by the House .
The House voted on Wednesday 228-193 , largely along party lines , to give the Senate the task of putting Trump on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquit him , keeping Trump in office , as none of its 53 Republicans has voiced support for removing him , a step that requires a two-thirds majority .
Trump has ridiculed the impeachment process for months , and he responded to the opening of the trial by once more branding it a `` hoax '' .
`` I think it should go very quickly , '' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office .
`` It 's totally partisan , ” Trump said .
`` I 've got to go through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Democrats so they can try and win an election . ''
The GAO issued its opinion after receiving a letter enquiring about the aid from Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen .
The agency 's findings are not legally binding , but its reports are seen by lawmakers as objective , reliable and generally uncontested .
The GAO has no prosecutorial power .
Its report noted that the US Constitution grants a president no unilateral authority to withhold funds in the way that Trump did .
Instead , a president has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending only in limited circumstances expressly provided by law .
Holding up money for a policy reason , which the Trump administration did in this case , is not permitted , the report said .
Asked about the GAO report , House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy defended Trump 's withholding of aid , citing concerns about corruption in Ukraine 's new government .
`` I think it was the rightful thing to do , '' McCarthy told a news conference .
Congress approved the $ 391 million to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The money ultimately was provided to Kiev in September after the controversy had spilled into public view .
A pivotal event leading to Trump 's December 18 impeachment by the House and his coming trial in the Senate was a July 25 call in which he asked Ukraine 's president to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden over unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and to look into a discredited theory that Ukraine , not Russia , interfered in the 2016 US election .
Schiff indicated that the House prosecutors were considering calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , as a witness if the Senate permits testimony in the trial .
`` We are continuing to review his ( media ) interviews and the materials he has provided to evaluate his potential testimony in the Senate trial , '' Schiff said in a statement .
Giuliani has said Parnas , a Ukraine-born US citizen , helped him in investigating the Bidens .
Documents released this week indicate Parnas was also involved in monitoring the movements of former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch before Trump removed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so by Giuliani .
In several stunning media interviews this week , Parnas said the US president was fully aware of efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden .
The 47-year-old Florida businessman told MSNBC he delivered an ultimatum in May to Volodymyr Zelensky , the incoming president of Ukraine , that no senior US officials would attend his inauguration and all American aid to the war-torn country would be withheld if an investigation into Biden wasn ’ t announced .
The day after Parnas said he delivered the message , the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would no longer be attending Zelensky ’ s inauguration .
Parnas said every communication he had with Zelensky 's team was at the direction of Giuliani , whom he regularly overheard briefing Trump about their progress by phone .
“ President Trump knew exactly what was going on , '' said Parnas , who is himself facing a raft of criminal charges related to campaign finance violations .
`` He was aware of all my movements .
I would n't do anything without the consent of Rudy Giuliani , or the President , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maddow .
Democrats have said Trump abused his power by asking a foreign government to interfere in a US election for his own benefit at the expense of American national security .
Republicans have argued that Trump 's actions did not rise to the level of impeachable offenses .
They have accused Democrats of using the Ukraine affair as a way to nullify Trump 's 2016 election victory .
The Senate will formally notify the White House of Trump 's impending trial later on Thursday .

As the US Senate formally opened the impeachment trial on whether to remove Donald Trump from office, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog on Thursday dealt the Republican president a blow by concluding that the White House violated the law by withholding security aid approved for Ukraine by US lawmakers.
House impeachment managers (from left) Adam Schiff, Jerrold Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Hakeem Jeffries and Jason Crow arriving for the start of the Senate impeachment trial in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., January 16, 2020.
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Democrat Adam Schiff, who heads a team of seven House of Representatives members who will serve as prosecutors, appeared on the Senate floor to read the two charges passed by the House on December 18 accusing Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine.
The trial's opening formalities continued, with US Chief Justice John Roberts sworn in to preside over the proceedings. Roberts then swore in all 99 senators who were present to serve as jurors.
After the swearings-in, the Senate adjourned until 1:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Tuesday, when the prosecution begins laying out its case against the president in only the third impeachment trial in US history.
The abuse of power cited by the House included Trump's withholding of $391 million (€351m) in security aid for Ukraine, a move Democrats have said was aimed at pressuring Kiev into investigating political rival Joe Biden, the president's possible opponent in the 2020 US general election.
03:22
"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law," the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded, referring to the fact that Congress had already voted to appropriate the funds.
An arm of Congress, the GAO is viewed as a top auditing agency for the federal government that advises lawmakers and various government entities on how taxpayer dollars are spent.
While the agency's assessment was a setback to Trump, it was unclear how or even if it would figure in his trial in the Republican-led Senate given that key issues such as whether witnesses will appear or new evidence will be considered remain up in the air.
Democrats said the GAO report showed the importance of the Senate hearing from witnesses and considering new documents in the trial.
"This reinforces – again – the need for documents and eyewitnesses in the Senate," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a news conference.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has said senators should consider only the evidence amassed by the House.
The House voted on Wednesday 228-193, largely along party lines, to give the Senate the task of putting Trump on trial. The Senate is expected to acquit him, keeping Trump in office, as none of its 53 Republicans has voiced support for removing him, a step that requires a two-thirds majority.
Trump has ridiculed the impeachment process for months, and he responded to the opening of the trial by once more branding it a "hoax".
"I think it should go very quickly," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
"It's totally partisan,” Trump said. "I've got to go through a hoax, a phony hoax put out by the Democrats so they can try and win an election."
04:33
Democrat sought report
The GAO issued its opinion after receiving a letter enquiring about the aid from Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. The agency's findings are not legally binding, but its reports are seen by lawmakers as objective, reliable and generally uncontested. The GAO has no prosecutorial power.
Its report noted that the US Constitution grants a president no unilateral authority to withhold funds in the way that Trump did. Instead, a president has a "strictly circumscribed authority" to withhold spending only in limited circumstances expressly provided by law. Holding up money for a policy reason, which the Trump administration did in this case, is not permitted, the report said.
Asked about the GAO report, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy defended Trump's withholding of aid, citing concerns about corruption in Ukraine's new government.
"I think it was the rightful thing to do," McCarthy told a news conference.
Congress approved the $391 million to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country. The money ultimately was provided to Kiev in September after the controversy had spilled into public view.
A pivotal event leading to Trump's December 18 impeachment by the House and his coming trial in the Senate was a July 25 call in which he asked Ukraine's president to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden over unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and to look into a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election.
I JUST GOT IMPEACHED FOR MAKING A PERFECT PHONE CALL! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2020
Schiff indicated that the House prosecutors were considering calling Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, as a witness if the Senate permits testimony in the trial.
"We are continuing to review his (media) interviews and the materials he has provided to evaluate his potential testimony in the Senate trial," Schiff said in a statement.
Giuliani has said Parnas, a Ukraine-born US citizen, helped him in investigating the Bidens. Documents released this week indicate Parnas was also involved in monitoring the movements of former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch before Trump removed her in May after being urged to do so by Giuliani.
In several stunning media interviews this week, Parnas said the US president was fully aware of efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden.
The 47-year-old Florida businessman told MSNBC he delivered an ultimatum in May to Volodymyr Zelensky, the incoming president of Ukraine, that no senior US officials would attend his inauguration and all American aid to the war-torn country would be withheld if an investigation into Biden wasn’t announced. The day after Parnas said he delivered the message, the State Department announced that Vice President Mike Pence would no longer be attending Zelensky’s inauguration.
Parnas said every communication he had with Zelensky's team was at the direction of Giuliani, whom he regularly overheard briefing Trump about their progress by phone.
“President Trump knew exactly what was going on," said Parnas, who is himself facing a raft of criminal charges related to campaign finance violations. "He was aware of all my movements. I wouldn't do anything without the consent of Rudy Giuliani, or the President,” he told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.
"It wasn't just military aid. It was all aid," Parnas tells @maddow. "Basically the relationships would be sour. We would stop giving them any kind of aid, unless... there were several demands at the point — the most important one was the announcement of the Biden investigation." pic.twitter.com/DYwDUofVnl — MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 16, 2020
Democrats have said Trump abused his power by asking a foreign government to interfere in a US election for his own benefit at the expense of American national security.
Republicans have argued that Trump's actions did not rise to the level of impeachable offenses. They have accused Democrats of using the Ukraine affair as a way to nullify Trump's 2016 election victory.
The Senate will formally notify the White House of Trump's impending trial later on Thursday.
01:53
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AP and AFP)
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france24--2020-01-17--French far-right leader Marine Le Pen announces 2022 presidential bid

French far-right party Rassemblement National ( RN ) leader Marine Le Pen poses after her New Year press conference on January 16 , 2020 , at the party 's headquarters in Nanterre , near Paris .
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen isn ’ t wasting time .
She announced her intention to stand in France ’ s 2022 presidential elections .
“ My decision is made , ” Le Pen said Thursday as she presented her New Year ’ s wishes .
Le Pen said she is proposing a “ grand alternative to put the country back on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Le Pen reached the runoff in the 2017 election but lost badly to Emmanuel Macron , who is now in the midst of one of the most difficult periods of his presidency .
In addition to the grassroots yellow vest movement that ’ s seeking social and economic justice , Macron is facing a strike over reforms to the country ’ s pension system that has run for 43 days .
She noted that her candidacy must be approved at her National Rally party ’ s congress in 2021 , something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party and European parliamentary deputy , said on BFMTV should pose no problem .
Regarding the early announcement of her candidacy , he said it gives France a “ message of hope.
” Ahead of municipal elections in March , Le Pen is seeking to lure disenchanted voters from the center-right , and even from the far-left .

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen isn’t wasting time. She announced her intention to stand in France’s 2022 presidential elections.
French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) leader Marine Le Pen poses after her New Year press conference on January 16, 2020, at the party's headquarters in Nanterre, near Paris.
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“My decision is made,” Le Pen said Thursday as she presented her New Year’s wishes.
Le Pen said she is proposing a “grand alternative to put the country back on its feet” and create “national unity.”
Le Pen reached the runoff in the 2017 election but lost badly to Emmanuel Macron, who is now in the midst of one of the most difficult periods of his presidency. In addition to the grassroots yellow vest movement that’s seeking social and economic justice, Macron is facing a strike over reforms to the country’s pension system that has run for 43 days.
She noted that her candidacy must be approved at her National Rally party’s congress in 2021, something that Jordan Bardella, a rising star in the party and European parliamentary deputy, said on BFMTV should pose no problem.
Regarding the early announcement of her candidacy, he said it gives France a “message of hope.”
Ahead of municipal elections in March, Le Pen is seeking to lure disenchanted voters from the center-right, and even from the far-left.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-16--French unions stage marches and block ports as impact of transport strikes weakens

French CGT labour union leader Philippe Martinez attends a demonstration against the French government 's pension reform plans in Paris on January 16 , 2020 , as France faces its 43rd consecutive day of strikes .
Thousands of striking workers poured into streets across France on Thursday for a sixth day of mass demonstrations , as French trade unions also blocked ports and disrupted power production , searching for a way to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch a planned pension overhaul as the impact of transport strikes weakens .
According to the hardliner CGT union , almost 250,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pension overhaul .
The numbers were far fewer than on January 10 , when approximately 370,000 people demonstrated in Paris , according to the same CGT , while France ’ s interior ministry then counted 56,000 .
According to French authorities , 187,000 people marched in France on Thursday , including 23,000 in Paris .
Meanwhile , the Occurrence firm , mandated by a collective of media outlets including the AFP news agency to provide independent counts during mass gatherings , said 28,000 people took to the streets of Paris .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of a strike that again snarled train traffic and caused misery for millions of commuters in the Paris area especially , but the industrial action has lost momentum since Macron 's government made a concession over the age of retirement and as strikers face mounting financial pressure to return to work .
`` It 's never too late to force a government to cave in , '' said Philippe Martinez , head of the CGT , before the street march in Paris .
`` Our determination is still just as strong '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 5 , he said .
The rallies came with a short-term increase in the number of striking workers at train operator SNCF , with 10 percent walking off the job compared with 4.3 percent on Monday , still far fewer than on December 5 , when over half of workers took part .
But the moderate CFDT union , France 's largest , did not take part in the rally , after welcoming a move by French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe to temporarily withdraw a measure that would have forced people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full pension .
Data collated by Reuters from public transport agencies show the number of SNCF and Paris métro trains operating has risen , and strike observance by workers has fallen .
The CGT this week set its sights on French ports as the participation rates in strikes on Paris public transport services declined .
Ferry services to Britain suffered delays and at least 20 bulk carriers waiting to export cereals were kept at anchor outside France 's major ports , data from financial data provider Refinitiv showed .
On Thursday , vessels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tons of cereals , mostly wheat , were held up outside the ports , data showed .
A three-day walkout by dockers which began on Tuesday has led to production outages at some livestock feed factories .
In the electricity sector , output was down about 9 % of available capacity .
Prime Minister Philippe ’ s offer to withdraw plans to raise the retirement age for full pension benefits by two years to 64 if the pension budget can be balanced another way drove a wedge between unions determined to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform .
President Macron , a former investment banker , wants to streamline France 's convoluted pension system and give French people an incentive to stay in work longer to pay for some of the most generous retirement benefits in the industrialised world .
It would be the biggest overhaul of the system since World War Two and is central to the president 's drive to make the French labour force more flexible and more competitive globally .

Thousands of striking workers poured into streets across France on Thursday for a sixth day of mass demonstrations, as French trade unions also blocked ports and disrupted power production, searching for a way to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch a planned pension overhaul as the impact of transport strikes weakens.
French CGT labour union leader Philippe Martinez attends a demonstration against the French government's pension reform plans in Paris on January 16, 2020, as France faces its 43rd consecutive day of strikes.
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According to the hardliner CGT union, almost 250,000 people marched in the streets of Paris against the pension overhaul. The numbers were far fewer than on January 10, when approximately 370,000 people demonstrated in Paris, according to the same CGT, while France’s interior ministry then counted 56,000.
According to French authorities, 187,000 people marched in France on Thursday, including 23,000 in Paris. Meanwhile, the Occurrence firm, mandated by a collective of media outlets including the AFP news agency to provide independent counts during mass gatherings, said 28,000 people took to the streets of Paris.
Today’s rallies came on the 43rd day of a strike that again snarled train traffic and caused misery for millions of commuters in the Paris area especially, but the industrial action has lost momentum since Macron's government made a concession over the age of retirement and as strikers face mounting financial pressure to return to work.
"It's never too late to force a government to cave in," said Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT, before the street march in Paris. "Our determination is still just as strong" as when the strikes were launched on December 5, he said.
00:59
The rallies came with a short-term increase in the number of striking workers at train operator SNCF, with 10 percent walking off the job compared with 4.3 percent on Monday, still far fewer than on December 5, when over half of workers took part.
But the moderate CFDT union, France's largest, did not take part in the rally, after welcoming a move by French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe to temporarily withdraw a measure that would have forced people to work until 64 to qualify for a full pension.
Data collated by Reuters from public transport agencies show the number of SNCF and Paris métro trains operating has risen, and strike observance by workers has fallen.
French ports blocked
The CGT this week set its sights on French ports as the participation rates in strikes on Paris public transport services declined.
Ferry services to Britain suffered delays and at least 20 bulk carriers waiting to export cereals were kept at anchor outside France's major ports, data from financial data provider Refinitiv showed.
On Thursday, vessels set to export a total of 536,000 tons of cereals, mostly wheat, were held up outside the ports, data showed.
A three-day walkout by dockers which began on Tuesday has led to production outages at some livestock feed factories.
In the electricity sector, output was down about 9% of available capacity.
01:37
Wedge between unions
Prime Minister Philippe’s offer to withdraw plans to raise the retirement age for full pension benefits by two years to 64 if the pension budget can be balanced another way drove a wedge between unions determined to see the reform scrapped and those more open to reform.
President Macron, a former investment banker, wants to streamline France's convoluted pension system and give French people an incentive to stay in work longer to pay for some of the most generous retirement benefits in the industrialised world.
It would be the biggest overhaul of the system since World War Two and is central to the president's drive to make the French labour force more flexible and more competitive globally.
Trade unions accuse Macron of eroding hard-earned benefits.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-17--US troops were injured in Iran's retaliatory strike on Iraqi base, despite prior claims

US Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team , 82nd Airborne Division , walk toward an awaiting aircraft prior to departing for the Middle East from Fort Bragg , North Carolina , USA , January 5 , 2020 .
At least 11 American troops were injured in an Iranian attack on an Iraqi base where American soldiers were deployed , US Central Command said Thursday , although the US military had previously maintained there were no casualties .
`` While no US service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on al-Asad Air base , several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blast and are still being assessed , '' US Central Command spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement .
At the time of the attack , most of the 1,500 US soldiers at the base had been tucked away in bunkers , after advance warning from superiors .
The strike caused significant material damage but no casualties , according to previous reports from the US military .
US President Donald Trump also said on the morning following the volley that `` no American were harmed in last night 's attack . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the days following the attack , out of an abundance of caution , some service members were transported from al-Asad Air Base . ''
`` At this time , eight individuals have been transported to Landstuhl , and three have been transported to Camp Arifjan , '' he said , referring to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait .
In addition to the sprawling Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq , Iran 's missiles also targeted a base in Arbil , housing both American and other foreign troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remnants of the Islamic State jihadist group .
`` When deemed fit for duty , the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening , '' Urban said .

At least 11 American troops were injured in an Iranian attack on an Iraqi base where American soldiers were deployed, US Central Command said Thursday, although the US military had previously maintained there were no casualties.
US Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, walk toward an awaiting aircraft prior to departing for the Middle East from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA, January 5, 2020.
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"While no US service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on al-Asad Air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed," US Central Command spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement.
At the time of the attack, most of the 1,500 US soldiers at the base had been tucked away in bunkers, after advance warning from superiors.
The strike caused significant material damage but no casualties, according to previous reports from the US military.
US President Donald Trump also said on the morning following the volley that "no American were harmed in last night's attack."
However, Urban said that "in the days following the attack, out of an abundance of caution, some service members were transported from al-Asad Air Base."
"At this time, eight individuals have been transported to Landstuhl, and three have been transported to Camp Arifjan," he said, referring to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.
In addition to the sprawling Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, Iran's missiles also targeted a base in Arbil, housing both American and other foreign troops deployed in a US-led coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State jihadist group.
"When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening," Urban said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-17--UN says children of jihadists are in grave danger, calls for them to be repatriated from Syria

A Syrian refugee boy sits on a bike at a camp in Bar Elias , in the Bekaa Valley , Lebanon , January 13 , 2020 .
UN investigators on Thursday called for thousands of children of jihadists who fought for the Islamic State group to be repatriated from Syria .
The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a report that the children were in a `` particularly precarious '' situation since they often lacked official papers .
`` This , in turn , jeopardises their rights to a nationality , hinders family reunification processes and puts them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse , '' the report said .
The UN says around 28,000 children of foreign fighters are living in Syrian camps -- 20,000 of them from Iraq .
Thousands more are believed to be held in prisons , where teenage children are being detained alongside adults .
Commission chair Paulo Pinheiro said the detention of children with adults was `` a terrible violation '' , urging the relevant governments to take action to stop this .
`` All this delay in not taking these children from these prisons is outrageous .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Following the collapse of the self-proclaimed caliphate of IS last year , foreign fighters from nearly 50 countries were detained in Syria and Iraq .
Many of their relatives are held in the overcrowded Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria , home to around 68,000 and where more than 500 people -- mostly children -- died in 2019 .
The UN commission called on governments to recognise papers issued by non-state actors such as the IS group and witness testimonies to allow the children to obtain official documents .
UNHCR human rights official Marie-Dominique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that roughly 700 to 750 children with European links were being held in camps in northeast Syria , with 300 of them said to be French .
Some countries have started to repatriate the children -- with or without their parents -- on humanitarian grounds .
But the UN investigators criticised the practice of revoking citizenship of suspected IS fighters used by countries including Britain , Denmark and France .
Its report said the practice had `` negatively impacted children , including their ability to exercise basic human rights '' .
`` States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including from statelessness .
Failing to abide by such fundamental principles would be a clear derogation of duty , '' Commissioner Hanny Megally said .
The report also criticised plans by some countries to repatriate children without their mothers , saying it could `` run counter to the principle of the 'best interests of the child ' '' .
The UN set up its Commission of Inquiry on Syria to investigate human rights abuses shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in 2011 .
In its report on Thursday it also accused the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes against humanity , including murder , rape and torture .

UN investigators on Thursday called for thousands of children of jihadists who fought for the Islamic State group to be repatriated from Syria.
A Syrian refugee boy sits on a bike at a camp in Bar Elias, in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, January 13, 2020.
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The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a report that the children were in a "particularly precarious" situation since they often lacked official papers.
"This, in turn, jeopardises their rights to a nationality, hinders family reunification processes and puts them at a higher risk of exploitation and abuse," the report said.
The UN says around 28,000 children of foreign fighters are living in Syrian camps -- 20,000 of them from Iraq.
Thousands more are believed to be held in prisons, where teenage children are being detained alongside adults.
Commission chair Paulo Pinheiro said the detention of children with adults was "a terrible violation", urging the relevant governments to take action to stop this.
03:01
"All this delay in not taking these children from these prisons is outrageous. It's a scandal," he said.
Following the collapse of the self-proclaimed caliphate of IS last year, foreign fighters from nearly 50 countries were detained in Syria and Iraq.
Many of their relatives are held in the overcrowded Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, home to around 68,000 and where more than 500 people -- mostly children -- died in 2019.
The UN commission called on governments to recognise papers issued by non-state actors such as the IS group and witness testimonies to allow the children to obtain official documents.
UNHCR human rights official Marie-Dominique Parent told the European Parliament in November that roughly 700 to 750 children with European links were being held in camps in northeast Syria, with 300 of them said to be French.
Some countries have started to repatriate the children -- with or without their parents -- on humanitarian grounds.
But the UN investigators criticised the practice of revoking citizenship of suspected IS fighters used by countries including Britain, Denmark and France.
Its report said the practice had "negatively impacted children, including their ability to exercise basic human rights".
"States have well-defined obligations to protect children, including from statelessness. Failing to abide by such fundamental principles would be a clear derogation of duty," Commissioner Hanny Megally said.
The report also criticised plans by some countries to repatriate children without their mothers, saying it could "run counter to the principle of the 'best interests of the child'".
The UN set up its Commission of Inquiry on Syria to investigate human rights abuses shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in 2011.
In its report on Thursday it also accused the Syrian government of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and torture.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-17--Attack on Fulani village in Mali kills over a dozen in latest spate of ethnic violence

A June 30 , 2018 protest in Bamako , Mali staged by the Mouvement Peul , an ethnic Foulani organisation , following an attack on Koumaga .
Fourteen people were killed and two wounded on Thursday in an attack on a Fulani village in central Mali , according to the UN , in an apparent bout of ethnic violence .
The figure , from a UN report on the incident , revises down an earlier death toll of 15 people given by a security official , and reported by AFP .
According to the report , armed men on motorbikes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the Dozo , attacked Siba village in the early hours of Thursday morning .
They fired at villagers with hunting rifles and set fire to houses .
Thirteen men and one girl died in the attack , while two people were wounded and livestock was also stolen .
The security official , who requested anonymity , said that some victims had their throats slit in their sleep .
Tensions between the mostly Fulani villagers of Siba , and neighbouring village of Synda , which is mostly inhabited by traditional Dogon hunters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report said .
Some Synda villagers were robbed of cattle on Wedneday , the report added , quoting local sources , in an incident blamed on Fulani .
Islamist militants launched an insurgency in northern Mali in 2012 , stoking a conflict that has since spread to the centre of the country and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger .
The conflict has frequently taken on an ethnic dimension , with attacks targeting Fulani people often perceived as being close to jihadists .
Radical preacher and jihadist leader Amadou Koufa , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ethnic group , who are traditionally nomadic herders .
Deadly clashes between Fulani and the sedentary Bambara and Dogon ethnic groups have increased .
Around 160 Fulani died in March last year in Ogossagou , near the border with Burkina Faso , in a massacre blamed on a Dogon militia .
In June , around 75 Dogons were killed in the villages of Sobane Da , Gangafani and Yoro , in an attack blamed on Fulani militants .
There had been a lull in ethnic violence since August , since armed Fulani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ceasefire .

Fourteen people were killed and two wounded on Thursday in an attack on a Fulani village in central Mali, according to the UN, in an apparent bout of ethnic violence.
A June 30, 2018 protest in Bamako, Mali staged by the Mouvement Peul, an ethnic Foulani organisation, following an attack on Koumaga.
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The figure, from a UN report on the incident, revises down an earlier death toll of 15 people given by a security official, and reported by AFP.
According to the report, armed men on motorbikes, wearing the garb of traditional hunters known as the Dozo, attacked Siba village in the early hours of Thursday morning.
They fired at villagers with hunting rifles and set fire to houses. Thirteen men and one girl died in the attack, while two people were wounded and livestock was also stolen.
The security official, who requested anonymity, said that some victims had their throats slit in their sleep.
Terrified villagers buried the dead on Thursday, a local teacher told AFP.
Tensions between the mostly Fulani villagers of Siba, and neighbouring village of Synda, which is mostly inhabited by traditional Dogon hunters, have existed for some time, the report said.
Some Synda villagers were robbed of cattle on Wedneday, the report added, quoting local sources, in an incident blamed on Fulani.
Islamist militants launched an insurgency in northern Mali in 2012, stoking a conflict that has since spread to the centre of the country and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The conflict has frequently taken on an ethnic dimension, with attacks targeting Fulani people often perceived as being close to jihadists.
Radical preacher and jihadist leader Amadou Koufa, for example, is Fulani and has recruited from the ethnic group, who are traditionally nomadic herders.
Deadly clashes between Fulani and the sedentary Bambara and Dogon ethnic groups have increased.
Around 160 Fulani died in March last year in Ogossagou, near the border with Burkina Faso, in a massacre blamed on a Dogon militia.
In June, around 75 Dogons were killed in the villages of Sobane Da, Gangafani and Yoro, in an attack blamed on Fulani militants.
There had been a lull in ethnic violence since August, since armed Fulani and Dogon groups from central Mali agreed a ceasefire.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-16--By overwhelming margin, US senators approve new North American trade deal

A visitor walks outside of the US Capitol in Washington , D.C. on January 15 , 2020 .
The US Senate on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to approve a new North American trade pact , handing President Donald Trump a second trade win in as many days just as his impeachment trial was set to begin .
After a brief debate , lawmakers voted 89-10 in favor of a bill allowing the US-Mexico-Canada agreement to take effect , overhauling trade relations among the three countries .
The bill faced some opposition , including from Democratic leader Chuck Schumer , who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change , and from Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania , who complained that it erected barriers to free trade .
Given that the bill was negotiated at his instigation , Trump 's signature is not in doubt , however .
Adoption of the continent-wide agreement comes less than a day after Washington and Beijing reached a separate partial deal , pausing their trade war and letting US farmers and businesses breathe a sigh of relief .
The USMCA is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job killer and threatened to scrap outright .
House lawmakers voted last month to adopt the USMCA after winning changes to the text , including stronger guarantees that Mexican labour reforms can be enforced .
Mexican lawmakers adopted those changes last month while Canada has yet to vote on the text , the final step for it to enter into force .
Trump had long blamed NAFTA for the offshoring of American jobs , and negotiations for what would become the USCMA began in August of 2017 .
Mexican and Canadian officials likewise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an era before the rise of digital commerce , was in need of an update .
The earlier NAFTA created a vast free-trade zone across North America , leading to radical shifts in the makeup of industries in the three countries and vastly increasing cross-border exchanges in goods , services and people .
While the agreement produced winners and losers in some areas , economists say overall it increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America .
Businesses and the agricultural lobby in recent months had urgently pressed lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end trade uncertainty .
US trade with Canada and Mexico supports 12 million American jobs and 49 of 50 US states list Mexico or Canada among their three top export destinations , according to the US Chamber of Commerce .
Canada and Mexico together represent 40 percent of the growth in US goods exports .
Trade with those two countries reached $ 1.4 trillion in 2018 .
On approving the text of a law to implement the USMCA , Democrats last month said it would energize the US economy while supporting US workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to affordable medications .
Trump aides believed it vindicated the president 's maximum pressure strategy , including the use of punitive tariffs to extract concessions .
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reiterated Sunday that the agreement and the new China trade agreement would boost US growth in 2020 .
Trump is battling for re-election in 10 months but first faces an impeachment trial that swings into motion Thursday with the swearing in of senator-jurors before opening in earnest next Tuesday .

The US Senate on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to approve a new North American trade pact, handing President Donald Trump a second trade win in as many days just as his impeachment trial was set to begin.
A visitor walks outside of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 15, 2020.
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After a brief debate, lawmakers voted 89-10 in favor of a bill allowing the US-Mexico-Canada agreement to take effect, overhauling trade relations among the three countries.
The bill faced some opposition, including from Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who said it failed to address the threat of climate change, and from Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who complained that it erected barriers to free trade.
Given that the bill was negotiated at his instigation, Trump's signature is not in doubt, however.
Adoption of the continent-wide agreement comes less than a day after Washington and Beijing reached a separate partial deal, pausing their trade war and letting US farmers and businesses breathe a sigh of relief.
The USMCA is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long lambasted as a job killer and threatened to scrap outright.
House lawmakers voted last month to adopt the USMCA after winning changes to the text, including stronger guarantees that Mexican labour reforms can be enforced.
Mexican lawmakers adopted those changes last month while Canada has yet to vote on the text, the final step for it to enter into force.
Trump had long blamed NAFTA for the offshoring of American jobs, and negotiations for what would become the USCMA began in August of 2017.
Mexican and Canadian officials likewise conceded that the 26-year-old NAFTA, ratified in an era before the rise of digital commerce, was in need of an update.
Trump strategy vindicated?
The earlier NAFTA created a vast free-trade zone across North America, leading to radical shifts in the makeup of industries in the three countries and vastly increasing cross-border exchanges in goods, services and people.
While the agreement produced winners and losers in some areas, economists say overall it increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America.
Businesses and the agricultural lobby in recent months had urgently pressed lawmakers to advance the new treaty and help end trade uncertainty.
US trade with Canada and Mexico supports 12 million American jobs and 49 of 50 US states list Mexico or Canada among their three top export destinations, according to the US Chamber of Commerce.
Canada and Mexico together represent 40 percent of the growth in US goods exports. Trade with those two countries reached $1.4 trillion in 2018.
On approving the text of a law to implement the USMCA, Democrats last month said it would energize the US economy while supporting US workers, protecting the environment and improving access to affordable medications.
Trump aides believed it vindicated the president's maximum pressure strategy, including the use of punitive tariffs to extract concessions.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reiterated Sunday that the agreement and the new China trade agreement would boost US growth in 2020.
Trump is battling for re-election in 10 months but first faces an impeachment trial that swings into motion Thursday with the swearing in of senator-jurors before opening in earnest next Tuesday.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-01-16--Mikhail Mishustin: the unknown tax chief surprisingly promoted to Russian PM by Putin

President Vladimir Putin nominated a new prime minister on Wednesday 15 January after the shock resignation of Dmitry Medvedev , who has been at the head of the government since 2012 .
Medvedev will be succeeded by Mikhail Mishustin , who until now was a barely known tax chief with no political clout .
After announcing a profound overhaul of Russian institutions and a reform of the constitution in his annual State of the Nation address , Putin proposed Mishustin as the new head of government , following the surprise resignation of the prime minister in office for nearly eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the head of the Russian tax service since 2010 until Medvedev ’ s bombshell announcement propelled him to the position of PM .
Russia ’ s lawmakers quickly approved Mishustin as prime minister on Thursday in a vote in the Duma , or the lower house , less than 24 hours after Putin had nominated him .
Mishustin received 383 votes of 424 cast , with no votes against and 41 abstentions in a victory that had been all but assured when he won the unanimous backing of his party , United Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chamber .
Mishustin will have a week to propose a new government and ministers .
He told United Russia that some changes in the cabinet would be made but did not elaborate , lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky told Interfax .
Mishustin , a 53-year-old Moscow civil servant who shares a passion for ice hockey with Putin , is little known by the general public .
Known as a technocrat who loves new technologies and has remained well out of the Russian political arena , his appointment has shocked some experts .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surprise , ” reports Nick Holdsworth , FRANCE 24 ’ s correspondent in Russia .
“ Commentators had instead put forward other names , including Sergey Sobyanin , the mayor of Moscow who is known to be loyal to President Putin.
” An engineer and economist by training , Mishustin is described by Russian state media as an efficient servant of the state and the creator of the “ best tax collection system in the world ” , according to the Russia-24 television channel .
On the website of the Russian Presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his work are duly praised by the head of state in the reports of his annual meetings with Putin .
Married with three children , Mikhail Mishustin joined the Russian administration in 1998 .
He served as Deputy Minister of the taxation department and worked in several government agencies .
He is described by political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann to AFP as “ an ideologically neutral figure ” .
After a two-year stint in the private sector at the head of an investment fund , UFG Asset Management , he was appointed head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task of thoroughly modernising it .
A promoter of the digitisation of the Russian economy , Mishustin is behind the creation of a centralised database designed to improve the efficiency of tax collection and to be accessible to all administrations .
“ This is certainly an unexpected appointment , but that doesn ’ t mean it will be rejected .
He has a great deal of experience behind him , ” said Ilyas Umakhanov , vice-president of the Council of the Federation , the upper house of parliament , before Mishustin had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been forged in the system.
” During his presidential terms from 2000 to 2008 , Putin had already appointed officials who were unfamiliar to the public – like Mikhail Fradkov in 2004 .
Their key qualities included that they never sought to overshadow the Russian President .
The announcement of major constitutional reforms and the change of government announced on Wednesday are seen by analysts and opponents as an indication that Putin is now looking very seriously at his political future after the end of his last term as President in 2024 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is two years into his fourth presidential term and has steered the country since 1999 , could be laying the groundwork to assume a new position or remain in a powerful behind-the-scenes role .
Independent political analyst Maria Lipman said to AFP that Putin ’ s announcement indicated that he wanted to “ stay on as number one in the country , without any competitors ” .
She said he could be deliberately weakening the presidency before relinquishing the role .
Russia ’ s opposition also said the proposals indicate Putin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader Alexei Navalny said on Twitter that Putin ’ s only goal was to “ remain the sole leader for life ” .
This article was translated from the original in French .

President Vladimir Putin nominated a new prime minister on Wednesday 15 January after the shock resignation of Dmitry Medvedev, who has been at the head of the government since 2012. Medvedev will be succeeded by Mikhail Mishustin, who until now was a barely known tax chief with no political clout.
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After announcing a profound overhaul of Russian institutions and a reform of the constitution in his annual State of the Nation address, Putin proposed Mishustin as the new head of government, following the surprise resignation of the prime minister in office for nearly eight years, Medvedev.
Mishustin had been the head of the Russian tax service since 2010 until Medvedev’s bombshell announcement propelled him to the position of PM.
Russia’s lawmakers quickly approved Mishustin as prime minister on Thursday in a vote in the Duma, or the lower house, less than 24 hours after Putin had nominated him.
Mishustin received 383 votes of 424 cast, with no votes against and 41 abstentions in a victory that had been all but assured when he won the unanimous backing of his party, United Russia, which has a strong majority in the chamber.
Mishustin will have a week to propose a new government and ministers.
He told United Russia that some changes in the cabinet would be made but did not elaborate, lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky told Interfax.
‘Surprise nomination’
Mishustin, a 53-year-old Moscow civil servant who shares a passion for ice hockey with Putin, is little known by the general public.
Known as a technocrat who loves new technologies and has remained well out of the Russian political arena, his appointment has shocked some experts. “The appointment of an obscure second-rate unknown is a surprise,” reports Nick Holdsworth, FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Russia.
“Commentators had instead put forward other names, including Sergey Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow who is known to be loyal to President Putin.”
An engineer and economist by training, Mishustin is described by Russian state media as an efficient servant of the state and the creator of the “best tax collection system in the world”, according to the Russia-24 television channel.
On the website of the Russian Presidency, the results of his service and his work are duly praised by the head of state in the reports of his annual meetings with Putin.
‘Forged in the system’
Married with three children, Mikhail Mishustin joined the Russian administration in 1998. He served as Deputy Minister of the taxation department and worked in several government agencies. He is described by political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann to AFP as “an ideologically neutral figure”.
After a two-year stint in the private sector at the head of an investment fund, UFG Asset Management, he was appointed head of the tax department in 2010 with the task of thoroughly modernising it.
This quotes from the @ft’s article interviewing #Mishustin are worth to be mentioned here👇
8/ pic.twitter.com/tdswDX6pQ3 — Alexander Valchyshen (@AlexValchyshen) January 15, 2020
A promoter of the digitisation of the Russian economy, Mishustin is behind the creation of a centralised database designed to improve the efficiency of tax collection and to be accessible to all administrations.
“This is certainly an unexpected appointment, but that doesn’t mean it will be rejected. He has a great deal of experience behind him,” said Ilyas Umakhanov, vice-president of the Council of the Federation, the upper house of parliament, before Mishustin had been approved. “He is someone who has been forged in the system.”
During his presidential terms from 2000 to 2008, Putin had already appointed officials who were unfamiliar to the public – like Mikhail Fradkov in 2004. Their key qualities included that they never sought to overshadow the Russian President.
The announcement of major constitutional reforms and the change of government announced on Wednesday are seen by analysts and opponents as an indication that Putin is now looking very seriously at his political future after the end of his last term as President in 2024.
Some suggested 67-year-old Putin, who is two years into his fourth presidential term and has steered the country since 1999, could be laying the groundwork to assume a new position or remain in a powerful behind-the-scenes role.
Independent political analyst Maria Lipman said to AFP that Putin’s announcement indicated that he wanted to “stay on as number one in the country, without any competitors”.
She said he could be deliberately weakening the presidency before relinquishing the role.
Russia’s opposition also said the proposals indicate Putin’s desire to stay in power.
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on Twitter that Putin’s only goal was to “remain the sole leader for life”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
This article was translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-01-16--Battered female faces in Italian street art highlight gender violence

People walk past `` Just because I am a woman '' , a new series of works by Italian pop artist and activist AleXsandro Palombo that depicts some of the women protagonists of world politics as victims of gender violence , on January 15 , 2020 in Milan , Italy .
Angela Merkel with two black eyes and a nasty gash on her nose , Brigitte Macron with a sliced lip , Hillary Clinton with a puffed eye bruised shut : the scarred faces of international female figures are displayed on the streets of Milan in a poster campaign against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Disfiguring the instantly recognisable faces of female leaders to warn about violence against women , Palombo has created a series of seven startling posters .
His chosen ‘ victims ’ range from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the young American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the French First Lady Brigitte Macron .
The line-up is completed with the former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton , the de facto head of the Burmese government Aung San Suu Kyi , Indian politician Sonia Gandhi and former US First Lady Michelle Obama .
For this campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman ’ , Palombo features these familiar faces in unfamiliar grimaces along with the text : ‘ I ’ m a victim of domestic violence - I get paid less - I ’ ve experienced genital mutilation - I do not have the right to dress as I want - I can ’ t decide who I ’ m going to marry - I was raped ’ .
The title ‘ Just because I ’ m a woman ’ references a song written by Dolly Parton .
“ Violence against women is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of race , class or religion , ” the posters stress .
Contemporary artist and activist Palombo wants this work to show how global leaders can be as vulnerable as any other woman , that no woman is immune from gender violence .
His aim is “ to illustrate the drama that involves millions of women throughout the world ( ... ) with the intent to denounce , raise awareness and get a more incisive response from the institutions and politics ” , explained his press office in a statement .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in politics have undergone over the years , as recently as when Brigitte Macron was attacked by the Brazilian President Bolsonaro , highlight the strong sexism and male chauvinism that still exists in world politics.
” Palombo is known for hijacking iconic visuals for his own politically motivated messages .
Among his most important works are “ Disabled Disney Princesses ” and “ The Simpsons Go to Auschwitz ” .
For International Women ’ s Rights Day in 2015 , he launched the # BriefMessage online campaign , inviting women to denounce violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then sharing the photo on the Internet .
“ Violence against women is a real war that kills tens of thousands of women around the world every year , ” said Palombo in his artist statement .
“ It is a crime against humanity , a violation of human rights in the public and private spheres that affects all women just because they are women .
As of today , the governments ’ responses are still insufficient .
”

Angela Merkel with two black eyes and a nasty gash on her nose, Brigitte Macron with a sliced lip, Hillary Clinton with a puffed eye bruised shut: the scarred faces of international female figures are displayed on the streets of Milan in a poster campaign against gender violence by Italian artist AleXsandro Palombo.
People walk past "Just because I am a woman", a new series of works by Italian pop artist and activist AleXsandro Palombo that depicts some of the women protagonists of world politics as victims of gender violence, on January 15, 2020 in Milan, Italy.
Advertising Read more
Disfiguring the instantly recognisable faces of female leaders to warn about violence against women, Palombo has created a series of seven startling posters.
His chosen ‘victims’ range from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the young American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the French First Lady Brigitte Macron. The line-up is completed with the former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the de facto head of the Burmese government Aung San Suu Kyi, Indian politician Sonia Gandhi and former US First Lady Michelle Obama.
For this campaign entitled ‘Just because I’m a woman’, Palombo features these familiar faces in unfamiliar grimaces along with the text: ‘I’m a victim of domestic violence - I get paid less - I’ve experienced genital mutilation - I do not have the right to dress as I want - I can’t decide who I’m going to marry - I was raped’.
The title ‘Just because I’m a woman’ references a song written by Dolly Parton. “Violence against women is a global problem that affects everyone regardless of race, class or religion,” the posters stress.
Contemporary artist and activist Palombo wants this work to show how global leaders can be as vulnerable as any other woman, that no woman is immune from gender violence.
His aim is “to illustrate the drama that involves millions of women throughout the world (...) with the intent to denounce, raise awareness and get a more incisive response from the institutions and politics”, explained his press office in a statement.
“The violent and sexist attacks that many women in politics have undergone over the years, as recently as when Brigitte Macron was attacked by the Brazilian President Bolsonaro, highlight the strong sexism and male chauvinism that still exists in world politics.”
Palombo is known for hijacking iconic visuals for his own politically motivated messages. Among his most important works are “Disabled Disney Princesses” and “The Simpsons Go to Auschwitz”.
For International Women’s Rights Day in 2015, he launched the #BriefMessage online campaign, inviting women to denounce violence by writing a message on their underwear and then sharing the photo on the Internet.
Good men teach their children to respect women. Respect is reciprocal. #briefmessage picture: Alexsandro Palombo pic.twitter.com/jh16RLK6tp — Health&PoliticsToday (@the_litmus) March 8, 2015
“Violence against women is a real war that kills tens of thousands of women around the world every year,” said Palombo in his artist statement. “It is a crime against humanity, a violation of human rights in the public and private spheres that affects all women just because they are women. As of today, the governments’ responses are still insufficient.”
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france24--2020-01-17--In Pakistan, ‘dirty theatre’ is a hit

In Pakistan, ‘dirty theatre’ is a hit

Pakistan 's pop culture has seen better days .
The combined effects of censorship , religious conservatism and economic crisis @ @ @ @ @ once flourishing film industry .
However , so-called `` dirty theatre '' has been thriving @ @ @ @ @ authorities , these lucrative vaudeville plays are based on heavy sexual innuendo , misogynistic dialogue @ @ @ @ @ this creates a novel distraction , exclusively for male audiences , it does nothing to @ @ @ @ @ or boost freedom of speech .
Our correspondents report .

In Pakistan, ‘dirty theatre’ is a hit
05:18 FOCUS © FRANCE 24
Pakistan's pop culture has seen better days. The combined effects of censorship, religious conservatism and economic crisis have all but obliterated a once flourishing film industry. However, so-called "dirty theatre" has been thriving lately. Tolerated by the authorities, these lucrative vaudeville plays are based on heavy sexual innuendo, misogynistic dialogue and lascivious dances. While this creates a novel distraction, exclusively for male audiences, it does nothing to improve the image of women or boost freedom of speech. Our correspondents report.