france24--2020-01-24--Trump to unveil stalled Middle East peace plan ahead of Netanyahu and Gantz White House visit

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech in Jerusalem on May 30 , 2019 .
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will release details of his long-delayed peace plan for the Middle East before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his election rival Benny Gantz visit the White House next week .
The political aspects of the peace initiative have been closely guarded .
Only the economic proposals have been unveiled .
Trump discussed the timing of the plan 's release with two architects of the plan , senior advisers Jared Kushner and Avi Berkowitz , on Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Switzerland on Wednesday .
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to the Miami area for a political event , Trump said Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first , but that `` it 's actually very positive for them . ''
`` It 's a great plan , '' said Trump , who will meet with Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday .
`` It 's a plan that really would work . ''
Vice President Mike Pence , on a visit to Jerusalem , extended an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the visit .
It was not immediately clear whether Trump would meet the two leaders separately or together .
The Trump Middle East peace proposal is a document , dozens of pages long , that addresses in detail the thorny political issues between Israel and the Palestinians , such as the status of Jerusalem .
U.S. officials made no mention of inviting the Palestinians , and Nabil Abu Rudeineh , a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas , said : `` We warn Israel and the U.S. administration not to cross any red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had spoken `` briefly '' to the Palestinians and would speak to them again `` in a period of time . ''
Netanyahu said he had accepted the U.S. invitation .
His office said he would fly to the United States on Sunday .
A Gantz spokesman did not respond when asked whether Gantz had accepted Trump ’ s invitation .
Netanyahu , a veteran right-wing Israeli leader , faces political and legal troubles at home - he is heading for his third election in less than a year , and was indicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denies any wrongdoing .
Israeli political analysts viewed Trump 's invitation as a boost to Netanyahu , his right-wing ally .
Netanyahu 's principal domestic political rival Gantz , a centrist former general , this week lifted his objection to having the peace plan be published before Israel 's March election .
He had previously objected to it as interference in the vote .
The launch of Trump 's plan to end the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been delayed numerous times over the last two years .
A source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said bringing both Netanyahu and Gantz in on the details is aimed at defusing any suggestion that Trump might be favoring one Israeli candidate over another .
Trump is facing his own political clock , preoccupied with his bid for re-election in November , and could ill afford to wait for months for Israel to decide who its next prime minister will be , the source said .
`` If we waited we could be in the same position four months from now and never put out the plan , '' the source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product of three years of work by Kushner , Berkowitz and former envoy Jason Greenblatt .
Kushner proposed a $ 50 billion economic plan for the Middle East last July at a conference in Bahrain .
Kushner and Berkowitz had been scheduled to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia after attending the World Economic Conference in Davos , Switzerland , this week , but opted instead to discuss the issue with Trump on his flight home , the source said .
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2014 and Palestinians have called Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before its publication , citing what they see as his pro-Israel policies .
The Trump administration has reversed decades of U.S. policy on the conflict , refraining from endorsing the two-state solution - the longtime international formula which envisages a Palestinian state co-existing with Israel .
It has also recognized Jerusalem as Israel 's capital and moved its embassy there .
More recently , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in November that the United States no longer viewed Israel ’ s settlements on West Bank land as `` inconsistent with international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the international community view the settlements as illegal under international law .
Israel disputes this , citing historical , biblical and political ties to the land , as well as security needs .
Netanyahu announced during an election campaign last September that he intends to annex the Jordan Valley , a large swathe of the Israeli-occupied West Bank .
Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war and Palestinians , who signed interim peace deals with Israel in the 1990s , seek to make the area part of a future state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited self-rule in the West Bank , has publicly refused to engage politically with the Trump administration .
They fear the plan will dash their hopes for an independent state in the West Bank , east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip .
Trump , who will seek a second term in a Nov. 3 election , faces his own problems at home with Democrats seeking to oust the Republican president on impeachment charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress .

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will release details of his long-delayed peace plan for the Middle East before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his election rival Benny Gantz visit the White House next week.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech in Jerusalem on May 30, 2019.
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The political aspects of the peace initiative have been closely guarded. Only the economic proposals have been unveiled.
Trump discussed the timing of the plan's release with two architects of the plan, senior advisers Jared Kushner and Avi Berkowitz, on Air Force One while returning to Washington from Switzerland on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to the Miami area for a political event, Trump said Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first, but that "it's actually very positive for them."
"It's a great plan," said Trump, who will meet with Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. "It's a plan that really would work."
Vice President Mike Pence, on a visit to Jerusalem, extended an invitation to Netanyahu and Gantz to make the visit. It was not immediately clear whether Trump would meet the two leaders separately or together.
The Trump Middle East peace proposal is a document, dozens of pages long, that addresses in detail the thorny political issues between Israel and the Palestinians, such as the status of Jerusalem.
U.S. officials made no mention of inviting the Palestinians, and Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "We warn Israel and the U.S. administration not to cross any red lines."
Trump indicated his administration had spoken "briefly" to the Palestinians and would speak to them again "in a period of time."
Netanyahu said he had accepted the U.S. invitation. His office said he would fly to the United States on Sunday. A Gantz spokesman did not respond when asked whether Gantz had accepted Trump’s invitation.
Netanyahu, a veteran right-wing Israeli leader, faces political and legal troubles at home - he is heading for his third election in less than a year, and was indicted on criminal charges in November. He denies any wrongdoing.
Israeli political analysts viewed Trump's invitation as a boost to Netanyahu, his right-wing ally.
Netanyahu's principal domestic political rival Gantz, a centrist former general, this week lifted his objection to having the peace plan be published before Israel's March election. He had previously objected to it as interference in the vote.
Long-delayed plan
The launch of Trump's plan to end the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been delayed numerous times over the last two years.
A source familiar with the peace team's thinking said bringing both Netanyahu and Gantz in on the details is aimed at defusing any suggestion that Trump might be favoring one Israeli candidate over another.
Trump is facing his own political clock, preoccupied with his bid for re-election in November, and could ill afford to wait for months for Israel to decide who its next prime minister will be, the source said.
"If we waited we could be in the same position four months from now and never put out the plan," the source said.
The political proposal is the product of three years of work by Kushner, Berkowitz and former envoy Jason Greenblatt. Kushner proposed a $50 billion economic plan for the Middle East last July at a conference in Bahrain.
Kushner and Berkowitz had been scheduled to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia after attending the World Economic Conference in Davos, Switzerland, this week, but opted instead to discuss the issue with Trump on his flight home, the source said.
Policy reversal
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2014 and Palestinians have called Trump’s proposal dead in the water, even before its publication, citing what they see as his pro-Israel policies.
The Trump administration has reversed decades of U.S. policy on the conflict, refraining from endorsing the two-state solution - the longtime international formula which envisages a Palestinian state co-existing with Israel.
It has also recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy there. More recently, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in November that the United States no longer viewed Israel’s settlements on West Bank land as "inconsistent with international law".
Palestinians and most of the international community view the settlements as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this, citing historical, biblical and political ties to the land, as well as security needs.
Netanyahu announced during an election campaign last September that he intends to annex the Jordan Valley, a large swathe of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war and Palestinians, who signed interim peace deals with Israel in the 1990s, seek to make the area part of a future state.
Abbas's Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, has publicly refused to engage politically with the Trump administration.
They fear the plan will dash their hopes for an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Trump, who will seek a second term in a Nov. 3 election, faces his own problems at home with Democrats seeking to oust the Republican president on impeachment charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-24--France confirms first three cases of Wuhan coronavirus

Three cases of the coronavirus have been `` confirmed '' in France , the first in Europe , according to the French Health Ministry .
The first case involved a patient in hospital in the southwestern city of Bordeaux while the second was in Paris , the minister told reporters .
Both had recently travelled to China and had now been placed in isolation .
The third case , in Paris , was announced later in the evening by the French Health Ministry .
`` We are in the process of tracing the history of these patients who have tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the people they have been in contact with , '' Buzyn said .
`` We have today the first European cases probably because we developed the test very quickly and we are capable of identifying them . ''
The first patient , 48 , returned to France on January 22 .
The patient , described as `` well '' , had `` passed through Wuhan '' , the Chinese city at the centre of the deadly outbreak , and was hospitalised on Thursday in Bordeaux .
`` We know that since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had contact with a dozen people , we are going to contact them . ''
She said she had only just received information on the second case and was not yet in a position to make it public .
`` You have to treat an epidemic as you treat a fire , quickly to locate the source '' and `` contain it as quickly as possible , '' Buzyn added .
The previously unknown virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong in 2002-2003 .
The outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan , an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in China 's centre , spreading to several other countries including the United States .
To date the death toll stands at 26 .

France confirmed on Friday its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, with two patients being hospitalised in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn talking about the first European cases of coronavirus, in Paris, January 24, 2020.
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Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news conference authorities had confirmed two cases, Europe's first, and that more cases were likely to occur in France.
In a separate statement on Friday, the health ministry announced the third case, a relative of one of the first two.
Earlier, the charity SOS Medecins said it had treated one of the cases, a patient of Chinese origin who was showing symptoms of a fever and who said he had been in contact with people from Wuhan in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.
Buzyn said the patient was 48 years old and had returned two days ago from a trip to China which included a stop in Wuhan.
"He's been put in an isolated room so as to avoid any contact with the outside world. He's fine", she said.
Most of the cases and all of the deaths so far have been in China, where officials have imposed severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings.
The virus has created alarm, but there are still many unknowns surrounding it, such as just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. It can lead to pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases.
The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the virus an "emergency in China", but stopped short of declaring it a global health emergency.
Buzyn said the official advice to those suspecting they might have caught the virus was not to go to hospital - to avoid spreading it - but to call a special number where they would be told what to do.
The minister said she planned to hold daily news conferences on the issue.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-24--Trump calls himself ‘defender of unborn children’ at anti-abortion rally

President Donald Trump called it his “ profound honor ” on Friday to be the first president to attend the annual anti-abortion gathering in Washington called the March for Life .
He used his speech to attack Democrats as embracing “ radical and extreme positions ” on abortion and praised those attending the event , saying “ unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House . ''
Trump once declared in a 1999 interview that “ I am pro-choice in every respect.
” Now , as he heads into the 2020 election , Trump continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have proven to be among his most loyal backers .
“ Every life brings love into this world .
Every child brings joy to a family .
Every person is worth protecting , ” Trump said , prompting loud cheers from the many thousands attending the march .
Trump is counting on the support of his base of conservative activists to help bring him across the finish line .
“ I think it ’ s a brilliant move , '' said Ralph Reed , chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters .
Reed said the president 's appearance would “ energize and remind pro-life voters what a great friend this president and administration has been.
” It also shows how much times have changed .
Past presidents who opposed abortion , including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush , steered clear of personally attending the march to avoid being too closely associated with demonstrators eager to outlaw the procedure .
They sent remarks for others to deliver , spoke via telephone hookup or invited organizers to visit the White House .
Over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party has undergone a “ revolution , ” displaying a new willingness to “ embrace the issue as not only being morally right but politically smart , ” said Mallory Quigley , a spokeswoman for the Susan B. Anthony List and Women Speak Out PAC .
The group is planning to spend $ 52 million this cycle to help elect candidates opposed to abortion rights .
Its president , Marjorie Dannenfelser , will serve as national co-chair of a new campaign coalition , “ Pro-life Voices for Trump.
” According to Pew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 in 10 Americans said abortion should be legal in all or most cases .
Over time , though , both the Republican and Democratic parties have taken harder-line positions for and against abortion rights .
“ There used to be a middle in this country and candidates would not want to alienate the middle , ” said Ari Fleischer , who served as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush .
“ And it just seems that that is over and that both parties play to their bases to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition , Flesicher said , Trump is far less tethered to tradition than past presidents and “ happy to go where his predecessors haven ’ t. ” During his first three years in office , Trump has embraced socially conservative policies , particularly on the issue of abortion .
He 's appointing judges who oppose abortion , cutting taxpayer funding for abortion services and painting Democrats who support abortion rights as extreme in their views .
“ President Trump has done more for the pro-life community than any other president , so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first president in history to attend the March for Life on the National Mall , ” said White House spokesman Judd Deere .
This is not the first time Trump has given serious consideration to an appearance .
Last year , he wanted to go and came close to attending , according to a person familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning .
But the trip never came together because of concerns about security so Trump joined the event via video satellite from the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal' Trump 's thinking on the matter was simple : If he supported the cause , “ why wouldn ’ t he show up to their big event ?
” said Matt Schlapp , chair of the American Conservative Union and a close ally of the White House .
He said the appearance would be deeply significant for those in participants .
“ I 've had people be moved to tears over the fact that he ’ s going , ” said Schlapp .
“ It ’ s a big deal.
” During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent a clear message to the thousands of people braving the cold on the National Mall .
“ As president , I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence , the right to life , ” he said .
The rhetoric underscored Trump 's dramatic evolution on the issue from his days as a freewheeling New York deal-maker , when he described himself as “ very pro-choice ” in a 1999 interview on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press . ''
During his 2016 campaign for the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed and that he was now opposed to abortion , but for three exceptions : In the case of rape , incest and when the life of the mother is at risk .
Yet Trump 's unfamiliarity with the language of abortion activism was clear , including when he offered a bungled response during a televised town hall and was forced to clarify his position on abortion three times in a single day .
Asked , hypothetically , what would happen if abortion were outlawed , Trump said there would have to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women who have them , prompting a backlash that managed to unite abortion rights activists and opponents , including organizers of the March for Life .
Asked to clarify his position , Trump 's campaign initially issued a statement saying he believed the issue should rest with state governments .
He later issued a second statement that said doctors , not women , should be punished for illegal abortions .
Since that time , however , Trump has – to the shock of many – become a darling of the anti-abortion movement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump and they will crawl across broken glass to get him re-elected , '' said Reed , who expressed amazement at the transformation .
Critics , for their part , accuse Trump of using the march to try to distract from his impeachment trial in the Senate .
Ilyse Hogue , president of NARAL Pro-Choice America , called it “ an act of desperation , plain and simple , ” and accused Trump of taking “ refuge in his ability to whip up a radical anti-choice base , spewing falsehoods when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund , accused the president of carrying out “ a full-out assault on our health and our rights.
” “ While Trump stands with the small number of Americans who want politicians to interfere with their personal health decisions , we 'll be standing with the nearly 80 percent of Americans who support abortion access , '' she said .
Views of abortion have remained relatively stable over two decades of polling , and it ’ s a minority of Americans who hold extreme opinions – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all cases .
But polling does suggest a widening partisan gap on the question of support for abortion rights in all or most cases , along with some movement on both sides of the aisle further into their extreme positions .
The first march took place on the west steps of the Capitol in January 1974 , the year after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade , the landmark ruling that established a woman 's legal right to abortion .

President Donald Trump called it his “profound honor” on Friday to be the first president to attend the annual anti-abortion gathering in Washington called the March for Life.
Pro-life demonstrators listen to US President Donald Trump as he speaks at the 47th annual "March for Life" in Washington, DC, on January 24, 2020.
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He used his speech to attack Democrats as embracing “radical and extreme positions” on abortion and praised those attending the event, saying “unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House."
Trump once declared in a 1999 interview that “I am pro-choice in every respect.” Now, as he heads into the 2020 election, Trump continues to reach out to the white evangelical voters who have proven to be among his most loyal backers.
“Every life brings love into this world. Every child brings joy to a family. Every person is worth protecting,” Trump said, prompting loud cheers from the many thousands attending the march.
Trump is counting on the support of his base of conservative activists to help bring him across the finish line.
“I think it’s a brilliant move," said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and one of Trump's most prominent evangelical supporters. Reed said the president's appearance would “energize and remind pro-life voters what a great friend this president and administration has been.”
It also shows how much times have changed.
00:28
Past presidents who opposed abortion, including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, steered clear of personally attending the march to avoid being too closely associated with demonstrators eager to outlaw the procedure. They sent remarks for others to deliver, spoke via telephone hookup or invited organizers to visit the White House.
Over the last 10 years, however, the Republican Party has undergone a “revolution,” displaying a new willingness to “embrace the issue as not only being morally right but politically smart,” said Mallory Quigley, a spokeswoman for the Susan B. Anthony List and Women Speak Out PAC. The group is planning to spend $52 million this cycle to help elect candidates opposed to abortion rights. Its president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, will serve as national co-chair of a new campaign coalition, “Pro-life Voices for Trump.”
According to Pew Research Center polling in 2019, roughly 6 in 10 Americans said abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Over time, though, both the Republican and Democratic parties have taken harder-line positions for and against abortion rights.
“There used to be a middle in this country and candidates would not want to alienate the middle,” said Ari Fleischer, who served as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush. “And it just seems that that is over, and that both parties play to their bases to get maximum turnout from their base.”
In addition, Flesicher said, Trump is far less tethered to tradition than past presidents and “happy to go where his predecessors haven’t.”
00:17
During his first three years in office, Trump has embraced socially conservative policies, particularly on the issue of abortion. He's appointing judges who oppose abortion, cutting taxpayer funding for abortion services and painting Democrats who support abortion rights as extreme in their views.
“President Trump has done more for the pro-life community than any other president, so it is fitting that he would be the first president in history to attend the March for Life on the National Mall,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere.
This is not the first time Trump has given serious consideration to an appearance. Last year, he wanted to go and came close to attending, according to a person familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. But the trip never came together because of concerns about security so Trump joined the event via video satellite from the White House Rose Garden instead.
'It's big deal'
Trump's thinking on the matter was simple: If he supported the cause, “why wouldn’t he show up to their big event?” said Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union and a close ally of the White House. He said the appearance would be deeply significant for those participating.
“I've had people be moved to tears over the fact that he’s going,” said Schlapp. “It’s a big deal.”
During his video address last year, Trump sent a clear message to the thousands of people braving the cold on the National Mall. “As president, I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence, the right to life,” he said.
The rhetoric underscored Trump's dramatic evolution on the issue from his days as a freewheeling New York deal-maker, when he described himself as “very pro-choice” in a 1999 interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press."
During his 2016 campaign for the Republican nomination, Trump said his views had changed and that he was now opposed to abortion, but for three exceptions: In the case of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk.
Yet Trump's unfamiliarity with the language of abortion activism was clear, including when he offered a bungled response during a televised town hall and was forced to clarify his position on abortion three times in a single day.
Asked, hypothetically, what would happen if abortion were outlawed, Trump said there would have to "be some form of punishment" for women who have them, prompting a backlash that managed to unite abortion rights activists and opponents, including organizers of the March for Life.
Asked to clarify his position, Trump's campaign initially issued a statement saying he believed the issue should rest with state governments. He later issued a second statement that said doctors, not women, should be punished for illegal abortions.
Since that time, however, Trump has – to the shock of many – become a darling of the anti-abortion movement.
“These voters who are pro-life love Donald Trump and they will crawl across broken glass to get him re-elected," said Reed, who expressed amazement at the transformation.
Critics, for their part, accuse Trump of using the march to try to distract from his impeachment trial in the Senate.
Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, called it “an act of desperation, plain and simple,” and accused Trump of taking “refuge in his ability to whip up a radical anti-choice base, spewing falsehoods when he feels threatened.”
Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, accused the president of carrying out “a full-out assault on our health and our rights.”
“While Trump stands with the small number of Americans who want politicians to interfere with their personal health decisions, we'll be standing with the nearly 80 percent of Americans who support abortion access," she said.
Views of abortion have remained relatively stable over two decades of polling, and it’s a minority of Americans who hold extreme opinions – that abortion should be legal or illegal in all cases. But polling does suggest a widening partisan gap on the question of support for abortion rights in all or most cases, along with some movement on both sides of the aisle further into their extreme positions.
The first march took place on the west steps of the Capitol in January 1974, the year after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established a woman's legal right to abortion.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-24--Actress Rosie Perez backs up Annabella Sciorra's rape allegation in Weinstein trial

Actors Rosie Perez exits after testifying during film producer Harvey Weinstein 's sexual assault trial at New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City , New York , U.S. , January 24 , 2020 .
Actress Rosie Perez took the stand in the rape trial of Harvey Weinstein on Friday to bolster the account of friend and fellow actress Annabella Sciorra , who said she was raped by the former Hollywood producer in the early 1990s .
Perez , whose film credits include Spike Lee 's `` Do the Right Thing , '' told jurors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including that Weinstein had pinned her arms above her head as he raped her .
Weinstein , 67 , has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting two other women , Mimi Haleyi and Jessica Mann .
Sciorra , who appeared in `` The Sopranos , '' testified on Thursday that Weinstein violently raped her more than 25 years ago .
While that allegation is too old to support a separate rape charge against Weinstein , prosecutors hope it will show that he is a repeat sexual predator - the charge that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since 2017 , more than 80 women , including many famous actresses , have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct .
The accusations fueled the # MeToo movement , in which women have accused powerful men in business , entertainment , media and politics of sexual misconduct .
Weinstein 's trial is widely seen as a watershed moment for the movement .
Weinstein has denied any nonconsensual sex , and his lawyers said in opening statements on Wednesday that emails from his accusers would show they maintained warm relations with him after the alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecution , said she called Sciorra one night to invite her to go out , but Sciorra answered in a `` strange whisper of a voice . ''
When she asked Sciorra what was wrong , Sciorra answered , `` I think something bad happened .
I think I was raped . ''
Perez testified that when she asked Sciorra who had raped her , Sciorra said only , `` I ca n't , I ca n't . ''
Months later , Perez said , she heard rumors that Weinstein was stalking Sciorra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapist .
Perez said she called Sciorra , who confirmed her suspicion .
Perez said she urged Sciorra to go to the police , but Sciorra refused , saying , `` He 'd destroy me . ''
Weinstein lawyer Damon Cheronis cross-examined Perez , pressing her about the details of her first phone call to Sciorra and asking her whether she went to check on her friend after the conversation .
Perez said she had not .
`` I was in a panic , '' she said , becoming animated .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Earlier Friday , forensic psychiatrist Barbara Ziv testified as an expert for prosecutors about why some sexual assault victims do not report attacks or avoid their abusers .
Ziv said most victims of rapes and sexual assaults know their attackers , do not fight back during the attacks , and many maintain relationships with their attackers .
`` They 're hoping that this was just an aberration , '' said Ziv , who teaches at Temple University in Philadelphia .
Her testimony could help prosecutors show jurors why some women who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed in contact with him after it occurred .
On cross-examination , Cheronis asked Ziv if a woman could view a consensual encounter years later as nonconsensual because she had come to regret it .
`` Anything is possible , '' Ziv answered , though she said it was not the norm .

Rosie Perez took the stand in the rape trial of Harvey Weinstein on Friday to bolster the account of friend and fellow actress Annabella Sciorra, who said she was raped by the former Hollywood producer in the early 1990s.
Actress Rosie Perez exits after testifying during film producer Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial at New York Criminal Court, New York, USA, January 24, 2020.
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Perez, whose film credits include Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing," told jurors that Sciorra shared details of the alleged assault, including that Weinstein had pinned her arms above her head as he raped her.
Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting two other women, Mimi Haleyi and Jessica Mann.
Sciorra, who appeared in "The Sopranos," testified on Thursday that Weinstein violently raped her more than 25 years ago.
While that allegation is too old to support a separate rape charge against Weinstein, prosecutors hope it will show that he is a repeat sexual predator - the charge that could put him in prison for life.
Since 2017, more than 80 women, including many famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
The accusations fueled the #MeToo movement, in which women have accused powerful men in business, entertainment, media and politics of sexual misconduct. Weinstein's trial is widely seen as a watershed moment for the movement.
Weinstein has denied any nonconsensual sex, and his lawyers said in opening statements on Wednesday that emails from his accusers would show they maintained warm relations with him after the alleged attacks.
Perez, testifying for the prosecution, said she called Sciorra one night to invite her to go out, but Sciorra answered in a "strange whisper of a voice."
When she asked Sciorra what was wrong, Sciorra answered, "I think something bad happened. I think I was raped."
Perez testified that when she asked Sciorra who had raped her, Sciorra said only, "I can't, I can't."
Months later, Perez said, she heard rumors that Weinstein was stalking Sciorra in London and concluded he was the rapist. Perez said she called Sciorra, who confirmed her suspicion.
Perez said she urged Sciorra to go to the police, but Sciorra refused, saying, "He'd destroy me."
Weinstein lawyer Damon Cheronis cross-examined Perez, pressing her about the details of her first phone call to Sciorra and asking her whether she went to check on her friend after the conversation.
Perez said she had not.
"I was in a panic," she said, becoming animated. "I didn't know what to do."
Earlier Friday, forensic psychiatrist Barbara Ziv testified as an expert for prosecutors about why some sexual assault victims do not report attacks or avoid their abusers.
Ziv said most victims of rapes and sexual assaults know their attackers, do not fight back during the attacks, and many maintain relationships with their attackers.
"They're hoping that this was just an aberration," said Ziv, who teaches at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her testimony could help prosecutors show jurors why some women who have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct might have stayed in contact with him after it occurred.
On cross-examination, Cheronis asked Ziv if a woman could view a consensual encounter years later as nonconsensual because she had come to regret it.
"Anything is possible," Ziv answered, though she said it was not the norm.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-24--Four members of French NGO Christians of the Middle East 'missing in Baghdad'

Four male employees of a French Christian NGO , three French nationals and one Iraqi , have been missing in Baghdad since Monday , the charity announced Friday .
The four members of the influential SOS Chretiens d'Orient ( Christians of the Middle East ) charity went missing near the French embassy in the Iraqi capital , the organisation 's director Benjamin Blanchard told a press conference in Paris .
No ransom demand has been received as yet and no group has claimed responsibility for their disappearance , he added .
SOS Chretiens d'Orient has been working with persecuted Christians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jihadists overran the province of Mosul , displacing tens of thousands of minority Christians and Yazidis .
It is principally active in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil , where many Christians sought refuge .
The missing workers were in Baghdad `` to renew their visas and register the association with Iraqi authorities , '' Blanchard said .
They were also due to inspect the group 's activities in the city , including the opening of a new school .
They left their hotel by car for a meeting `` which posed no problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French and Iraqi authorities were working together to try locate them .
The NGO 's director described the men as `` experienced staff members who have been working with us for years '' and who had `` perfect knowledge of conflict zones '' .
He refused to give the mens ' identities .
Helping Christians remain in the Middle East The French foreign ministry and the French embassy in Iraq refused to comment on their disappearance .
Baghdad has been gripped by demonstrations for several months .
The protests initially targeted a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbouring Iran .
But in recent weeks America 's military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3 .
SOS Chretiens d'Orient , which is also active in Syria , Lebanon and Egypt , is one of several Western charities working with Christians in the Middle East .
The aim of the group is to `` help Christian communities remain ( in the region ) and rebuild '' their lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is fiercely critical of Islam , portraying it as a threat to Christianity in the Middle East , drew criticism in the past for sending young French volunteers to Syria and Iraq for months at a time .
Photos regularly published by the NGO on Twitter show volunteers visiting Christian families in Arbil and conducting French language classes .
Before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 , Iraq 's Christian population ran to an estimated 1.5 million .
By the summer of 2019 , their number had fallen to around 250,000 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech in Britain last year .

Four male employees of a French Christian NGO, three French nationals and one Iraqi, have been missing in Baghdad since Monday, the charity announced Friday.
Jeanne Der Agopian, press relations officer of the French charity SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East), and Benjamin Blanchard, the charity's director general, give a news conference in Paris on January 24, 2020, after four of the NGO's members went missing in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
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The four members of the influential SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) charity went missing near the French embassy in the Iraqi capital, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told a press conference in Paris.
No ransom demand has been received as yet and no group has claimed responsibility for their disappearance, he added.
SOS Chretiens d'Orient has been working with persecuted Christians in Iraq since 2014 when Islamic State jihadists overran the province of Mosul, displacing tens of thousands of minority Christians and Yazidis.
It is principally active in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, where many Christians sought refuge.
The missing workers were in Baghdad "to renew their visas and register the association with Iraqi authorities," Blanchard said.
They were also due to inspect the group's activities in the city, including the opening of a new school.
They left their hotel by car for a meeting "which posed no problem," Blanchard said, adding that French and Iraqi authorities were working together to try locate them.
The NGO's director described the men as "experienced staff members who have been working with us for years" and who had "perfect knowledge of conflict zones".
He refused to give the mens' identities.
Helping Christians remain in the Middle East
The French foreign ministry and the French embassy in Iraq refused to comment on their disappearance.
Baghdad has been gripped by demonstrations for several months. The protests initially targeted a government widely seen as corrupt and meddling by neighbouring Iran.
But in recent weeks America's military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3.
SOS Chretiens d'Orient, which is also active in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, is one of several Western charities working with Christians in the Middle East.
The aim of the group is to "help Christian communities remain (in the region) and rebuild" their lives, Blanchard said.
The organisation, which is fiercely critical of Islam, portraying it as a threat to Christianity in the Middle East, drew criticism in the past for sending young French volunteers to Syria and Iraq for months at a time.
Photos regularly published by the NGO on Twitter show volunteers visiting Christian families in Arbil and conducting French language classes.
Before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Iraq's Christian population ran to an estimated 1.5 million.
By the summer of 2019, their number had fallen to around 250,000, Arbil Archbishop Bashar Warda said during a speech in Britain last year.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-01-24--Thousands protest as Macron’s government adopts pension reform plan

Protesters march in Marseille , France , on January 24 , 2020 , as part as a nationwide multi-sector strike against the French government 's pensions overhaul .
France ’ s hardleft trade unions on Friday threatened industrial action for months to come , as they searched for a way to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch the biggest overhaul of the country ’ s pension system since World War II .
After a brief respite from a seven-week strike that extended over the Christmas period , French unions called for major shutdowns and demonstrations on Friday to show their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s pension reform plan .
The call came as Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented the new plan instituting a “ universal system ” of point-based pensions to the cabinet Friday , before it is sent to the National Assembly , France ’ s lower house , where debates will begin February 17 .
The unions on Friday brought thousands of protesters into the streets for a seventh day of nationwide demonstrations , which took place as their large-scale protests have been petering out and they are increasingly resorting to wildcat actions to cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Yves Veyrier , head of the Force Ouvrière union , told reporters ahead of a street march in Paris .
“ We have weeks , months , of protest ahead of us.
” On Thursday evening , demonstrators held torch-lit protests in Paris ahead of a “ Black Friday ” of strikes and shutdowns .
Reforms needed to create flexible job market , says Macron France ’ s hardline CGT union 's leader , Philippe Martinez , warned that opposition to the pension reform “ has not weakened ” in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with polls showing that 61 percent of French people are calling for the reform to be withdrawn .
The CFE-CGC confederation of trade unions however declared it wanted to “ take ( a ) break ” after Friday ’ s mobilisation .
“ Our members are difficult to mobilise on a long-term basis , they have responsibilities and are not asking for economic activity to be too disrupted , ” said senior CFE-CGC official Gérard Mardiné .
Macron wants to streamline the existing setup of 42 different pension schemes , each with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , into a single system that gives every pensioner the same rights for each euro contributed .
The myriad special benefits deter job mobility , says Macron , for whom the reform is central to a drive to create a more flexible labour market .
'We Shall Overcome ' say protesters Trade union opponents say the reform will require people to work longer for a full pension .
`` I still believe in our fight , '' said one protester in Paris who identified herself as Karine and carried a banner reading 'We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants left electricity generation reduced by 6.4 percent of available capacity , according to grid operator data .
Power demand is outstripping supply due to cold weather , leaving France a net importer of electricity from its neighbours .
French Prime Minister Philippe insists the pension reform must result in a balanced pension budget by 2027 .
Under pressure from the unions , he has withdrawn a proposal to raise the retirement age for a full pension by two years to 64 .
But unions must now find another way to balance the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added back in before the bill is due to be voted into law this summer .
Friday is the 51st day of France ’ s longest strike in 40 years and unions hope there will be enough protesters in the streets to force the government to back down .

France’s hardleft trade unions on Friday threatened industrial action for months to come, as they searched for a way to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch the biggest overhaul of the country’s pension system since World War II.
Protesters march in Marseille, France, on January 24, 2020, as part as a nationwide multi-sector strike against the French government's pensions overhaul.
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After a brief respite from a seven-week strike that extended over the Christmas period, French unions called for major shutdowns and demonstrations on Friday to show their “determination” to halt Macron’s pension reform plan.
The call came as Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented the new plan instituting a “universal system” of point-based pensions to the cabinet Friday, before it is sent to the National Assembly, France’s lower house, where debates will begin February 17.
The unions on Friday brought thousands of protesters into the streets for a seventh day of nationwide demonstrations, which took place as their large-scale protests have been petering out and they are increasingly resorting to wildcat actions to cause disruption.
“Our determination remains intact,” Yves Veyrier, head of the Force Ouvrière union, told reporters ahead of a street march in Paris. “We have weeks, months, of protest ahead of us.”
On Thursday evening, demonstrators held torch-lit protests in Paris ahead of a “Black Friday” of strikes and shutdowns.
Reforms needed to create flexible job market, says Macron
France’s hardline CGT union's leader, Philippe Martinez, warned that opposition to the pension reform “has not weakened” in an interview with the Public Sénat TV station, with polls showing that 61 percent of French people are calling for the reform to be withdrawn.
The CFE-CGC confederation of trade unions however declared it wanted to “take (a) break” after Friday’s mobilisation. “Our members are difficult to mobilise on a long-term basis, they have responsibilities and are not asking for economic activity to be too disrupted,” said senior CFE-CGC official Gérard Mardiné.
Macron wants to streamline the existing setup of 42 different pension schemes, each with their own levels of contributions and benefits, into a single system that gives every pensioner the same rights for each euro contributed.
The myriad special benefits deter job mobility, says Macron, for whom the reform is central to a drive to create a more flexible labour market.
'We Shall Overcome' say protesters
Trade union opponents say the reform will require people to work longer for a full pension.
"I still believe in our fight," said one protester in Paris who identified herself as Karine and carried a banner reading 'We Shall Overcome'.
Walkouts at power plants left electricity generation reduced by 6.4 percent of available capacity, according to grid operator data. Power demand is outstripping supply due to cold weather, leaving France a net importer of electricity from its neighbours.
French Prime Minister Philippe insists the pension reform must result in a balanced pension budget by 2027.
Under pressure from the unions, he has withdrawn a proposal to raise the retirement age for a full pension by two years to 64. But unions must now find another way to balance the pension books or the provision will be added back in before the bill is due to be voted into law this summer.
Friday is the 51st day of France’s longest strike in 40 years and unions hope there will be enough protesters in the streets to force the government to back down.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-24--Deadly earthquake rattles eastern Turkey

Rescuers work on a collapsed building after an earthquake in Elazig Province , Turkey , January 24 , 2020 .
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 hit eastern Turkey on Friday , killing at least 18 people , causing buildings to collapse and sending panicked residents rushing into the street .
Rescue teams were being sent to the scene of the quake , which had its epicentre in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in the eastern province of Elazig .
“ It was very scary , furniture fell on top of us .
We rushed outside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the provincial capital of Elazig , told AFP .
“ We will spend the coming days in a farmhouse outside the city , ” she said .
The Turkish government ’ s disaster and emergency management agency ( AFAD ) said the quake hit Sivrice at around 8:55 pm ( 1755 GMT ) .
The agency said the quake killed eight people in Elazig province and six others in the neighbouring province of Malatya , which lies to the southwest .
The US Geological Survey assessed its magnitude at 6.7 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometres ( about six miles ) .
Turkish television showed images of people stuck in apartments rushing outside in panic , as well as a fire on the roof of one building .
Footage also showed rescue teams searching for survivors trapped in a collapsed building in the region .
Turkey lies on major faultlines and is prone to frequent earthquakes .
AFAD said 60 aftershocks were recorded after Friday ’ s quake , adding that more than 400 rescue teams were directed toward the region .
Turkey ’ s leading communications companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quake region with internet and that phone calls would be free of charge .
‘ Everybody is in the street ' “ Sivrice was shaken very seriously , we have directed our rescue teams to the region , ” Soylu , who is due to go to the affected area , told reporters .
Sivrice – a town with a population of about 4,000 people – is situated south of Elazig city on the shores of Hazar lake – one of the most popular tourist spots in the region and the source of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home to a “ Sunken City ” , with archeologists finding archeological traces dating back 4,000 years in its waters .
The tremor was felt in several parts of eastern Turkey near the Iraqi and Syrian borders , the Turkish broadcaster NTV reported , adding that neighbouring cities had mobilised rescue teams for the quake area .
“ We have sent four teams to the quake region , ” Recep Salci of Turkey ’ s Search and Rescue Association ( AKUT ) told AFP .
“ We have news of collapsed buildings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of need.
” Zekeriya Gunes , 68 , a resident of Elazig city , said a building 200 metres down on his street had collapsed but he did not know whether it was inhabited .
“ Everybody is in the street , it was very powerful , very scary , ” he said .
Ferda , 39 , said she felt worried and desperate .
“ It lasted quite long , maybe 30 seconds , ” she told AFP .
“ I panicked and was undecided whether to go out in this cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quake struck near the East Anatolian Fault in an area that has no documented large rupture since an earthquake in 1875 .
‘ Under control for now ’ In 1999 , a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Izmit in western Turkey , leaving more than 17,000 people dead including about 1,000 in the country ’ s largest city Istanbul .
“ My wholehearted sympathy to President @ RTErdogan and the Turkish people following the devastating earthquake that has hit Turkey .
Our search and rescue teams stand ready to assist , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter .
In Athens , the Greek premier ’ s office said later that Mitsotakis had spoken by phone to Erdogan .
“ The Turkish president ... said Turkish teams had the situation under control for now and that it would be re-evaluated in the morning , ” his office added .
In September last year , a 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul , causing residents to flee buildings in the economic capital .
Experts have long warned a large quake could devastate the city of 15 million people , which has allowed widespread @ @ @ @ @

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey reached 22 on Saturday, asrescuers searched for an estimated 22 more people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
A villager on January 25, 2020 surveys the damage from an earthquake the previous night in Sivrice, near Elazig, Turkey.
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The magnitude 6.8 quake shook Elazig province, about 550 km (340 miles) east of the capital Ankara, and was followed by more than 270 aftershocks, 12 of which had magnitudes over 4.
Eighteen people were killed in Elazig and four more in the neighbouring province of Malatya, said Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD), adding 1,031 others were injured and in hospitals in the region. It said rescue efforts were underway at three different sites in Elazig.
Footage early on Saturday showed emergency workers rescuing three people in Elazig after 12 hours under the rubble. Another woman in Elazig was rescued after 13 hours, while authorities listened for voices, with the government saying 30 more people were still trapped.
02:01
Our houses collapsed
State broadcaster TRT showed footage of dozens of workers in the dawn light using shovels to dig out a partly collapsed building in Elazig. Windows were smashed and balconies from at least four storeys had crashed to the ground.
Teams worked through the night with their hands, drills and mechanical diggers to remove bricks and plaster from the ruins in the province where the overnight temperature dipped to -8 degrees Celsius.
"Our houses collapsed ... we cannot go inside them," said a 32-year-old man from the town of Sivrice, epicentre of the quake which struck shortly before 9 p.m. (1800 GMT).
"In our village some people lost their lives. I hope God will help us," said the man, who gave only his first name, Sinasi. "Our animals died. Our families gathered around the fire to spend the night, covered with blankets," Sinasi said as he and a relative tried to warm themselves by a small fire.
Syria, Iran and Lebanon feel quake impact
State media in Syria and Iran both reported the earthquake was felt in those countries. Local media in Lebanon said the cities of Beirut and Tripoli also felt the quake.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described it as a "Level 3" incident according to the country's emergency response plan, meaning it called for a national response but did not require international help.
He said Turkey, which straddles seismic faultlines and is prone to earthquakes, had learnt lessons from previous disasters which helped it address Friday's incident. Drones were deployed in search operations and to communicate between provinces.
Emergency teams and rescue equipment were sent from other provinces to Elazig after the quake. Flag-carrier Turkish Airlines started additional flights to Elazig from Ankara and Istanbul to help transport rescuers.
AFAD warned residents not to return to damaged buildings because of the danger of further aftershocks. It said beds, blankets and tents were being sent to the area, where some people sheltered in sports gymnasiums. Turkey's Kizilay aid group also sent food, heaters and other materials to the region.
"I wish God's mercy to our brothers who lost their lives in the earthquake, and urgent healing for those who were injured," President Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter. He said his Interior, Health, and Environment and Urbanisation ministers were in the region for inspections.
Turkey has a history of powerful earthquakes. More than 17,000 people were killed in August 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude quake struck the western city of Limit, 90 km (55 miles) southeast of Istanbul. About 500,000 people were made homeless.
In 2011, an earthquake struck the eastern city of Van and the town of Ercis, some 100 km (60 miles) to the north, killing at least 523 people.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-01-24--‘No, no America!’: Baghdad protesters demand American troops leave Iraq

Waving national flags and banners denouncing U.S. President Donald Trump , tens of thousands of Iraqis marched peacefully through Baghdad on Friday to demand the ouster of U.S. troops from their country in a protest organized by a populist Shiite cleric .
Later Friday night , two anti-government protesters were shot and killed by security forces in separate demonstrations a few kilometers ( miles ) from where the big anti-U.S. rally had taken place , two medical officials and one security official said .
The rally by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr and Iranian-backed militias came amid heightened tensions following a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed a top Iranian general in the Iraqi capital , fanning anti-U.S. sentiment .
There were no official estimates of the turnout and organizers gave varying figures , but it clearly fell short of the “ million-man ” march that had been called for by al-Sadr .
Officials and experts said the rally was the cleric 's attempt to capitalize on brewing anti-American feeling and show he had the upper hand among Iraqis as political elites wrangle over who should be the next prime minister .
Large crowds gathered on the Muslim day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , no America !
” at a central square .
Some of al-Sadr 's followers were shrouded in white capes to symbolize the fact that they were ready to die for the cause .
“ Hey Trump !
We will not allow you to turn Iraq into a battlefield , ” read one banner .
A child held up a poster reading , “ Death to America .
Death to Israel.
” Apparently seeking to show control , his supporters did not clash with the heavy security presence or target the separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a possibility feared by activists .
In his weekly Friday sermon , Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani , Iraq 's most revered Shiite cleric , called on political parties stop stalling and move the talks forward .
“ The formation of the new government is constitutionally long overdue , it is necessary for the various parties concerned to cooperate , ” al-Sistani said in a sermon delivered via a representative , “ it is an important step toward resolving the current crisis.
” Roads and bridges leading to the heavily fortified Green Zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and home to several foreign diplomatic compounds including the U.S. Embassy , were barricaded by concrete barriers .
Iraqi security forces stood guard , blocking access to the gates of the zone .
The protesters , mostly Shiites from the capital but also from Iraq 's southern provinces , walked to an assembly point in the Jadriya neighborhood .
Al-Sadr , whose party won the most seats in the May 2018 parliamentary elections , had called the rally to demand the withdrawal of American troops following the Jan. 3 U.S. drone strike near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen. Qassem Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis .
The killing drew the ire of Iraqi officials from across the political spectrum .
According to U.S. military officials , rather than draw down , Americans have poured 20,000 additional troops in the Middle East to counter what Washington describes as an escalating threat from Iran .
There are about 5,200 U.S. troops in Iraq , where they help train and assist Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State group .
Iran has long sought the withdrawal of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. strike that killed Soleimani in Baghdad has added new impetus to the effort .
In a statement Friday , al-Sadr called for canceling existing security agreements , closing U.S. military bases , ending the work of American security companies and shutting off access to Iraqi airspace .
If the conditions are met , “ the resistance will temporarily stop until the last soldier leaves Iraq , ” al-Sadr said , referring to American troops .
Al-Sadr , whose followers fought U.S. troops after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to oust dictator Saddam Hussein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call on supporters to clog streets and paralyze all movement in Baghdad.The rally came at a critical time as rival political blocs are jockeying over the selection of a prime minister to replace outgoing Adel Abdul-Mahdi .
It was supported by mainstream Shiite parties , including that of al-Sadr 's political rival Hadi al-Ameri , who heads the Fatah bloc in parliament , as well as the Popular Mobilization Units , an umbrella group comprised of an array of militias , including Iran-backed groups .
Al-Sadr “ proved once again he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street , cleverly prevented any targeting of protesters in Tahrir Square , ” tweeted Farhad Alaadin , head of the Iraqi Advisory Council and a former presidential adviser .
In response to a public outcry over the U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis , parliament passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to expel foreign troops .
Kurdish and most Sunni lawmakers boycotted the vote .
“ The American forces should leave , ” said an 18-year-old protester , Amer Saad .
“ I am ready to fight against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police and militiamen of the Popular Mobilization Units also closed off roads leading to the protest site , in both the Karada and Jadriya neighborhoods .
2 anti-government protesters killed A different set of protesters in Tahrir Square , who have been carrying out separate demonstrations since October critical of government corruption , high unemployment and Iranian influence in Iraqi politics , carefully watched al-Sadr 's anti-U.S. rally , but no confrontation took place .
They remained at their sit-in tents in the square , where they have been camped out for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After nightfall , two of the anti-government protesters were shot and killed and at least 26 were wounded when security forces opened fire with live ammunition to disperse the crowds , officials said , speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations .
The protesters had clashed with the forces near a key highway that connects areas east of the Tigris River and has been a focus of recent violence .
“ I am not against the Sadrist movement 's demonstrations today , but if Muqtada asks for the exit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise the same slogan against Iranian interference , to be honest , ” anti-government protester Yahya Mohammed said earlier in the day of the anti-U.S. crowds..
In neighboring Iran , Ali Shamkhani , the secretary of Iran ’ s Supreme National Security Council , said the Baghdad march was a “ countdown '' to expelling U.S. forces .
“ It indicated that Iraqi people are the flagship on the path of expelling the U.S. from the region , ” he said .
Cleric Mohammad Hassan Abutorabifard who led Friday prayers in the Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraqis at the rally “ stood by Iranians '' following Soleimani 's killing .
`` The legitimacy of the West-appointed puppet rulers in the region has totally collapsed , '' he said .
( AP )

Waving national flags and banners denouncing U.S. President Donald Trump, tens of thousands of Iraqis marched peacefully through Baghdad on Friday to demand the ouster of U.S. troops from their country in a protest organized by a populist Shiite cleric.
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Later Friday night, two anti-government protesters were shot and killed by security forces in separate demonstrations a few kilometers (miles) from where the big anti-U.S. rally had taken place, two medical officials and one security official said.
The rally by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr and Iranian-backed militias came amid heightened tensions following a U.S. drone strike earlier this month that killed a top Iranian general in the Iraqi capital, fanning anti-U.S. sentiment.
There were no official estimates of the turnout and organizers gave varying figures, but it clearly fell short of the “million-man” march that had been called for by al-Sadr.
Officials and experts said the rally was the cleric's attempt to capitalize on brewing anti-American feeling and show he had the upper hand among Iraqis as political elites wrangle over who should be the next prime minister.
Large crowds gathered on the Muslim day of prayer as loudspeakers blasted, “No, no America!” at a central square. Some of al-Sadr's followers were shrouded in white capes to symbolize the fact that they were ready to die for the cause.
“Hey Trump! We will not allow you to turn Iraq into a battlefield,” read one banner. A child held up a poster reading, “Death to America. Death to Israel.”
Apparently seeking to show control, his supporters did not clash with the heavy security presence or target the separate, anti-government protests in neighboring Tahrir Square, a possibility feared by activists.
New government 'long overdue'
In his weekly Friday sermon, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric, called on political parties stop stalling and move the talks forward.
“The formation of the new government is constitutionally long overdue, it is necessary for the various parties concerned to cooperate,” al-Sistani said in a sermon delivered via a representative,“it is an important step toward resolving the current crisis.”
Roads and bridges leading to the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's government and home to several foreign diplomatic compounds including the U.S. Embassy, were barricaded by concrete barriers. Iraqi security forces stood guard, blocking access to the gates of the zone.
The protesters, mostly Shiites from the capital but also from Iraq's southern provinces, walked to an assembly point in the Jadriya neighborhood.
Al-Sadr, whose party won the most seats in the May 2018 parliamentary elections, had called the rally to demand the withdrawal of American troops following the Jan. 3 U.S. drone strike near Baghdad's airport that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The killing drew the ire of Iraqi officials from across the political spectrum.
According to U.S. military officials, rather than draw down, Americans have poured 20,000 additional troops in the Middle East to counter what Washington describes as an escalating threat from Iran. There are about 5,200 U.S. troops in Iraq, where they help train and assist Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State group.
Iran has long sought the withdrawal of American forces from neighboring Iraq, but the U.S. strike that killed Soleimani in Baghdad has added new impetus to the effort.
In a statement Friday, al-Sadr called for canceling existing security agreements, closing U.S. military bases, ending the work of American security companies and shutting off access to Iraqi airspace.
If the conditions are met, “the resistance will temporarily stop until the last soldier leaves Iraq,” al-Sadr said, referring to American troops.
01:39
Al-Sadr, whose followers fought U.S. troops after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to oust dictator Saddam Hussein, derives political capital from his ability to call on supporters to clog streets and paralyze all movement in Baghdad.The rally came at a critical time as rival political blocs are jockeying over the selection of a prime minister to replace outgoing Adel Abdul-Mahdi. It was supported by mainstream Shiite parties, including that of al-Sadr's political rival Hadi al-Ameri, who heads the Fatah bloc in parliament, as well as the Popular Mobilization Units, an umbrella group comprised of an array of militias, including Iran-backed groups.
Al-Sadr “proved once again he can amass the crowds to take them to the street, cleverly prevented any targeting of protesters in Tahrir Square,” tweeted Farhad Alaadin, head of the Iraqi Advisory Council and a former presidential adviser.
In response to a public outcry over the U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis, parliament passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to expel foreign troops. Kurdish and most Sunni lawmakers boycotted the vote.
“The American forces should leave,” said an 18-year-old protester, Amer Saad. “I am ready to fight against the Americans if Muqtada al-Sadr asks us.”
Police and militiamen of the Popular Mobilization Units also closed off roads leading to the protest site, in both the Karada and Jadriya neighborhoods.
2 anti-government protesters killed
A different set of protesters in Tahrir Square, who have been carrying out separate demonstrations since October critical of government corruption, high unemployment and Iranian influence in Iraqi politics, carefully watched al-Sadr's anti-U.S. rally, but no confrontation took place.
They remained at their sit-in tents in the square, where they have been camped out for months, after Friday's anti-U.S. demonstration ended.
After nightfall, two of the anti-government protesters were shot and killed and at least 26 were wounded when security forces opened fire with live ammunition to disperse the crowds, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The protesters had clashed with the forces near a key highway that connects areas east of the Tigris River and has been a focus of recent violence.
“I am not against the Sadrist movement's demonstrations today, but if Muqtada asks for the exit of the Americans and nonintervention, he should raise the same slogan against Iranian interference, to be honest,” anti-government protester Yahya Mohammed said earlier in the day of the anti-U.S. crowds..
In neighboring Iran, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the Baghdad march was a “countdown" to expelling U.S. forces. “It indicated that Iraqi people are the flagship on the path of expelling the U.S. from the region,” he said.
Cleric Mohammad Hassan Abutorabifard who led Friday prayers in the Iranian capital, Tehran, told worshipers that Iraqis at the rally “stood by Iranians" following Soleimani's killing.
"The legitimacy of the West-appointed puppet rulers in the region has totally collapsed," he said.
(AP)
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france24--2020-01-24--Videos from Wuhan, ‘ground zero’ of the coronavirus

In Wuhan , the city identified as ground zero of the deadly coronavirus , authorities are doing what they can to contain the spread of the illness , including putting the city in lockdown .
The virus has infected over 800 people , and killed at least 26 .
China has imposed transport bans in an area that covers 41 million people – meaning that people can not get in or out of quarantined Wuhan .
As a result , many videos and photos of life inside the city where the virus is spreading are being shared online .
Videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main train stations in Wuhan have been making the rounds on social media .
This video has been viewed over 88,000 times on Twitter .
In this video , police in green uniforms and black face masks stand guard outside the entrance to the station .
We have verified that this video is at the Hankou railway station – the station signs behind the guards also appear in photographs taken by professional agency photographers from the Associated Press and Getty Images , the background matches Google images of the station ’ s façade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we can see in this video posted to Twitter : This video was filmed at the Hankou Hospital in Wuhan .
The person filming narrates what he sees : `` There ’ s a sea of people , many with a high fever .
Three or four doctors are directing patients .
I estimate that they ’ ll have to wait for up to four hours .
I don ’ t know what the government ’ s plans are – does it want these people to receive treatment quickly or wait for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originally posted on Weibo by someone claiming to be a nurse in the Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan .
The video has been viewed over 94,000 times since being posted at 7am local time on January 24 , 2020 .
It shows a number of people piled into a corridor awaiting treatment , all with masks covering their faces .
Medical workers walk amongst them in full hazmat suits .
The most shocking detail : dead bodies lying on the ground , covered in blankets or plastic .
The person who posted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take away the corpses .
The journalist Thomas Yau from the South China Morning Post verified aspects of the video on Twitter .
He picked up on different clues in the video : a blanket over one of the bodies and a plastic bag , both with `` Wuhan '' written on them , and a sign on the floor pointing patients towards a `` chest pain clinic '' .
We were able to verify these details .
On the blanket it also says `` Red Cross '' , confirming that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Cross Hospital .
The woman who posted the video on Weibo also posted the following desperate appeal .
This is the translation of the text .
There are many more videos circulating online that the FRANCE 24 Observers were not able to independently verify .

CHINA
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In Wuhan, the city identified as ground zero of the deadly coronavirus, authorities are doing what they can to contain the spread of the illness, including putting the city in lockdown.
The virus has infected over 800 people, and killed at least 26. China has imposed transport bans in an area that covers 41 million people – meaning that people cannot get in or out of quarantined Wuhan. As a result, many videos and photos of life inside the city where the virus is spreading are being shared online.
Station lockdown
Videos of police closing down one of the main train stations in Wuhan have been making the rounds on social media.
This video has been viewed over 88,000 times on Twitter.
In this video, police in green uniforms and black face masks stand guard outside the entrance to the station. We have verified that this video is at the Hankou railway station – the station signs behind the guards also appear in photographs taken by professional agency photographers from the Associated Press and Getty Images, the background matches Google images of the station’s façade, and it also ties in with what we can see in this video posted to Twitter:
Crowds fill hospitals
This video was filmed at the Hankou Hospital in Wuhan.
[Thread] Collected #China #WuhanPneumonia videos:
A view of Hankou Hospital, allegedly one of the hospitals designated to take #WuhanPneumonia patients.
The person who filmed this ranted about a severe lack of medical staff, long wait time and poor government arrangements. pic.twitter.com/pXhoPgkl9E W. B. Yeats (@WBYeats1865) January 23, 2020
The person filming narrates what he sees: "There’s a sea of people, many with a high fever. Three or four doctors are directing patients. I estimate that they’ll have to wait for up to four hours. I don’t know what the government’s plans are – does it want these people to receive treatment quickly or wait for their death?"
Bodies in the corridors
This video was originally posted on Weibo by someone claiming to be a nurse in the Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan.
A weibo video posted by a person claiming to be a nurse in #Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. She said medical workers and patients were stuck with three deceased in a packed hospital corridor. No one is here to take care of the bodies. #WuhanPneumonia pic.twitter.com/MKumfLDPki Thomas Yau (@Tominmedill) January 24, 2020
The video has been viewed over 94,000 times since being posted at 7am local time on January 24, 2020.
It shows a number of people piled into a corridor awaiting treatment, all with masks covering their faces. Medical workers walk amongst them in full hazmat suits. The most shocking detail: dead bodies lying on the ground, covered in blankets or plastic. The person who posted the video wrote that no one was able to take away the corpses.
The journalist Thomas Yau from the South China Morning Post verified aspects of the video on Twitter. He picked up on different clues in the video: a blanket over one of the bodies and a plastic bag, both with "Wuhan" written on them, and a sign on the floor pointing patients towards a "chest pain clinic".
The blanket over one of the bodies and a plastic bag both read "Wuhan". So this video was taken in one of the city's hospitals. pic.twitter.com/8u1mjzcFwj Thomas Yau (@Tominmedill) January 24, 2020
We were able to verify these details. On the blanket it also says "Red Cross", confirming that the video was taken in Wuhan’s Red Cross Hospital.
The woman who posted the video on Weibo also posted the following desperate appeal.
Saw this video on Weibo couple minutes ago. The person who filmed this is a nurse. Her husband is a doctor and he is infected. pic.twitter.com/F9euLhxocI passionateweirdo (@mengs96) January 24, 2020
This is the translation of the text.
I beg everyone to save the people of Wuhan! I am a nurse, my husband has been infected. The news reports and reality are seriously different!!! My husband has already had a fever continuously for eight days without any turn for the better, a CT scan clearly shows that his lungs have already been infected! Over the last eight days I have used all my connections in Wuhan’s hospitals, but he still hasn’t been hospitalised! The top management has told doctors to refuse to hospitalise patients! To refuse to test for the virus! To refuse to make a definite diagnosis! They even make the hospital staff sign a confidentiality agreement! I have been under huge psychological pressure in the last eight days! The hospitals won’t take him, but I don’t dare go back home, I rush from one hospital to another, but not one of them will hospitalise him! They won’t make a diagnosis! It’s so bad, I’m starting to lose hope, I’m really worried that I will soon not be able to cope! Wandering around in the hospital(s), there are no beds available, the hospital staff are all working extra hours and as hard as they can, but it’s not enough, now even if you manage to get into the emergency room, which is already almost impossible, you just stay in the emergency room, because there are no beds! Ambulances (120) are still continuously bringing in sick people, whether people are sick or not, they are all put together in this appointed hospital. All sick people could be infected, that way everyone could die!
There are many more videos circulating online that the FRANCE 24 Observers were not able to independently verify.
“There aren’t enough health workers or beds at the hospital”
Our colleagues at RFI Chinese spoke to the renowned Chinese writer Fang Fang, a resident of Wuhan. She talked about the atmosphere in the city.
The residents of Wuhan are inevitably upset, even panicking, and all that because of the inefficacy of the measures taken by the authorities. This afternoon, when I left, there was no one around. Big shops were closed, but little shops were open, and they hadn’t run out of stock either. You could still find face masks and all kinds of food. People who haven’t been affected by the virus have been advised to stay at home, where it’s safe. We’re all very worried about those who are ill. There aren’t enough health workers. There’s a lack of beds too, and they’re queueing up at the hospital, it’s awful. Ill people can’t be looked after properly, as all of the measures taken by the authorities have come too late. Those people weren’t put in quarantine earlier, everyone can still get around freely. It’s a really serious problem.
Article by Catherine Bennett (cfbennett2).


france24--2020-01-24--Paris to host NBA game as league aims to boost its popularity in France

The NBA will hold a game in Paris for “ many more years ” to come , commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday , and the league would like to have a doubleheader in the French capital and London if ever its schedule allows it .
On the eve of the first-ever regular season NBA game in Paris between Giannis Antetokounmpo 's Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets , with its French forward , Nicolas Batum , Silver said a commitment to return to France next year had been made but the details were still to be tied down for 2022 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Paris next January .
We will be in Paris for many more years but I ca n't commit now that that will include the year after next .
The only commitment we have is for next year , ” Silver told reporters .
“ We have n't set the teams yet but we 're in active discussions with a few teams .
We are oversubscribed already in terms of team interest in coming.
” Silver said the 82-game NBA season allowed little time for teams to travel to Europe but the league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more games could be held outside the United States .
The managing director of NBA Europe and the Middle East , Ralph Rivera , told The Washington Post that Paris had been chosen because of the popularity of basketball culture in France .
“ It 's a combination of fans , where do we have a place with a strong fan interest ?
And also , where the teams are interested in playing ?
And for a regular season game the arena , the capacity and calibre of arena so that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Some 120,000 people tried to get tickets for the game , but the venue in the French capital , the AccorHotels Arena , seats only 16,000 .
Tony Parker , the French player who won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs , will receive a special award before tip-off Friday .
( FRANCE 24 with AFP )

The NBA will hold a game in Paris for “many more years” to come, commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, and the league would like to have a doubleheader in the French capital and London if ever its schedule allows it.
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On the eve of the first-ever regular season NBA game in Paris between Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets, with its French forward, Nicolas Batum, Silver said a commitment to return to France next year had been made but the details were still to be tied down for 2022.
“We will be playing again in Paris next January. We will be in Paris for many more years but I can't commit now that that will include the year after next. The only commitment we have is for next year,” Silver told reporters.
“We haven't set the teams yet but we're in active discussions with a few teams. We are oversubscribed already in terms of team interest in coming.”
Silver said the 82-game NBA season allowed little time for teams to travel to Europe but the league was examining its schedule to see where more games could be held outside the United States.
The announcement was made ahead of the NBA Paris Game 2020, which will feature the @hornets and @Bucks playing the first-ever regular season NBA game in France on Friday, 1/24 at the AccorHotels Arena. #NBAParis pic.twitter.com/wYbjmUmyKN — NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2020
The managing director of NBA Europe and the Middle East, Ralph Rivera, told The Washington Post that Paris had been chosen because of the popularity of basketball culture in France.
“It's a combination of fans, where do we have a place with a strong fan interest? And also, where the teams are interested in playing? And for a regular season game the arena, the capacity and calibre of arena so that we can deliver that NBA experience,” Rivera said.
Some 120,000 people tried to get tickets for the game, but the venue in the French capital, the AccorHotels Arena, seats only 16,000.
Tony Parker, the French player who won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs, will receive a special award before tip-off Friday.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-01-24--DR Congo: Crimes and no punishment

DR Congo: Crimes and no punishment

This Friday , January 24 , the Democratic Republic of Congo marks the first anniversary of the inauguration of Félix Tshisekedi as president .
One of his challenges is to heal the wounds left by the two wars that ravaged the country between 1996 and 2003 , leaving several million people dead .
To understand the Democratic Republic of Congo today , we need to examine the two Congo Wars ( 1996-1997 and 1998-2003 ) .
Although not well known , they caused the deaths of millions of people , mainly civilians – the largest death toll in a conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Why did these wars take place ?
What role did the 1994 Rwandan genocide play in these conflicts and what was the involvement of neighbouring countries , such as Rwanda and Uganda ?
Finally , what impact have the Congo Wars had on the DR Congo of 2019 ?
From Kinshasa to Kisangani , FRANCE 24 ’ s correspondents and senior reporters , Thomas Nicolon and Nicolas Germain , met with witnesses and perpetrators of these conflicts and focused on the key issue of impunity for war crimes .
They were also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , Félix Tshisekedi , who told them he was not opposed to the creation of a special court for war crimes committed in the country .
While some of the alleged perpetrators of those crimes remain in powerful positions today , the victims are seeking justice .
Our reporters Nicolas Germain and Thomas Nicolon went to the scene of the worst atrocities to hear from victims .
They bring us this exclusive documentary .
Click on the player above to watch .
> > Also read our Reporter 's Notebook in the @ @ @ @

This Friday, January 24, the Democratic Republic of Congo marks the first anniversary of the inauguration of Félix Tshisekedi as president. One of his challenges is to heal the wounds left by the two wars that ravaged the country between 1996 and 2003, leaving several million people dead.
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To understand the Democratic Republic of Congo today, we need to examine the two Congo Wars (1996-1997 and 1998-2003). Although not well known, they caused the deaths of millions of people, mainly civilians – the largest death toll in a conflict since the end of World War II.
Why did these wars take place? What role did the 1994 Rwandan genocide play in these conflicts and what was the involvement of neighbouring countries, such as Rwanda and Uganda? Finally, what impact have the Congo Wars had on the DR Congo of 2019?
From Kinshasa to Kisangani, FRANCE 24’s correspondents and senior reporters, Thomas Nicolon and Nicolas Germain, met with witnesses and perpetrators of these conflicts and focused on the key issue of impunity for war crimes. They were also able to meet the country's current president, Félix Tshisekedi, who told them he was not opposed to the creation of a special court for war crimes committed in the country.
While some of the alleged perpetrators of those crimes remain in powerful positions today, the victims are seeking justice. Our reporters Nicolas Germain and Thomas Nicolon went to the scene of the worst atrocities to hear from victims. They bring us this exclusive documentary.
Click on the player above to watch the full report.
>> Also read our Reporter's Notebook in the Democratic Republic of Congo
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france24--2020-01-24--China coronavirus: A new SARS?

China coronavirus: A new SARS?

An outbreak of a new type of coronavirus has killed at least 26 people in China .
The outbreak in China of a new form of coronavirus , the same family of virus as SARS , has raised fears of an international pandemic , like the one that killed nearly 800 people in 2003 and 2004 .
But just how deadly is the new virus and how worried should we be ?
FRANCE 24 spoke to infectious disease specialist Dr. Anne Cori to find out .
The virus , which first appeared in the central Chinese city of Wuhan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , with more than 800 confirmed cases .
According to Dr. Cori , the genome of the new virus shows it is a close relation of SARS ( severe acute respiratory syndrome ) , though for the time being is much less deadly .
“ It is still too early to say if the mortality rate is in the same order of that as SARS , which was at 10 percent , which is high , ” she told FRANCE 24 , but added : “ It ’ s clear the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died from it.
” How rapidly and how far it spreads will depend largely on how easily the virus , which is believed to have begun with an animal-to-human transmission , is spread among humans .
“ All the epidemics we have seen have been due mainly to human-to-human transmission , ” she said .
“ For the moment , we ’ re not in a position to say the same thing for the new virus .
”

The outbreak in China of a new form of coronavirus, the same family of virus as SARS, has raised fears of an international pandemic, like the one that killed nearly 800 people in 2003 and 2004. But just how deadly is the new virus and how worried should we be? FRANCE 24 spoke to infectious disease specialist Dr. Anne Cori to find out.
An outbreak of a new type of coronavirus has killed at least 26 people in China.
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The virus, which first appeared in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has claimed at least 26 lives so far, with more than 800 confirmed cases.
According to Dr. Cori, the genome of the new virus shows it is a close relation of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), though for the time being is much less deadly.
“It is still too early to say if the mortality rate is in the same order of that as SARS, which was at 10 percent, which is high,” she told FRANCE 24, but added: “It’s clear the new virus is fairly severe, as people have died from it.”
How rapidly and how far it spreads will depend largely on how easily the virus, which is believed to have begun with an animal-to-human transmission, is spread among humans.
“All the epidemics we have seen have been due mainly to human-to-human transmission,” she said. “For the moment, we’re not in a position to say the same thing for the new virus.”
(FRANCE 24)
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