france24--2020-02-06--Coronavirus kills doctor who tried to raise the alarm

This combination of pictures created on February 7 , 2020 shows undated photos obtained on February 7 , 2020 of Chinese coronavirus whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang A Chinese doctor , among the first to raise the alert about China 's new coronavirus , himself died from the pathogen on Friday , emphasizing the depth of a worsening crisis that has killed at least 630 people .
Global panic also spread , with thousands trapped on quarantined cruise ships .
Ophthalmologist Li Wenliang died at 2:58 am , Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on its verified account on Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent out a message about the new coronavirus to colleagues on December 30 , but was later among eight whistleblowers summoned by police for `` rumour-mongering . ''
He later contracted the disease while treating a patient and has been hailed as a hero by Chinese internet users .
Li was among more than 28,000 people who have been infected in China , where authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak , despite ordering millions indoors in a growing number of cities .
Two dozen countries have confirmed cases of the respiratory disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exotic animals in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year .
Thousands of holidaymakers on cruise ships in Hong Kong and Japan face an agonising wait to find out if more among them have been infected .
At least 20 people on the Diamond Princess -- off Yokohama since Monday -- have tested positive .
Some 3,700 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries have been confined to quarters .
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said another cruise ship , the Westerdam , was heading to the country with one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the vessel , capable of carrying nearly 3,000 passengers and crew , would be allowed to disembark .
In Hong Kong , 3,600 people spent a second night confined aboard the World Dream .
Authorities conducted health checks after eight former passengers tested positive for the virus .
Hong Kong has been particularly nervous because the crisis revived memories of another coronavirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) .
It killed nearly 300 people in the city and another 349 on the Chinese mainland in 2002-2003 .
Panic buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of toilet paper following false online claims of shortages , prompting authorities to appeal for calm .
One person has died after contracting the virus in Hong Kong .
While the death toll rises in China with the death of Li and others , experts have stressed that at two percent mortality , 2019-nCoV is far less deadly than SARS , which killed around 10 percent of the people it infected 17 years ago .
The outbreak has nevertheless been declared a global health emergency , prompting several governments to warn against travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , while airlines have halted flights and brought home their citizens .
Almost 200 Canadians showed up at the airport in Wuhan for the country 's first evacuations , most on a commercial airliner chartered by Ottawa , officials said .
Germany 's foreign ministry said it was working to bring home several nationals who had not made it out on a flight that reached Frankfurt last Saturday .
Saudi Arabia banned citizens and resident foreigners from travelling to China , while Air France-KLM extended its flight suspension by another month until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a call that all countries should `` follow World Health Organization guidelines on travel and health in a timely manner '' , state news agency Xinhua reported .
After Britain advised nationals to leave China , Beijing 's ambassador to London said there should not be `` such a panic . ''
China has enacted unprecedented measures to contain the virus , which spread during the Lunar New Year holiday in late January , when millions criss-crossed the country .
But deaths and new infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epicentre in Hubei province , where 18 cities housing 56 million people have been under virtual lockdown since late last month .
There is a shortage of 2,250 medical personnel in Hubei , deputy provincial governor Yang Yunyan said Thursday .
The inability to offer health workers adequate protective gear is hindering the numbers that can be deployed on the front lines , he added .
With Hubei 's capital Wuhan overwhelmed , authorities were due to open a second , 1,600-bed field hospital .
The central government has announced measures intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tax breaks for manufacturers of medical equipment .
BGI Group , a genome sequencing company in southern China , said it had opened a lab in Wuhan able to test 10,000 people a day .
More cities are ordering people to stay indoors .
They include Hangzhou , 175 kilometres ( 110 miles ) from Shanghai , where fences block streets and loudspeakers tell people : `` Do n't go out ! ''
In Beijing -- where streets remain eerily quiet -- restaurants have been barred from accepting reservations for parties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jiangxi province which borders Hubei , pharmacists must send reports to the authorities on anyone buying fever or cough medicine .
The outbreak has also hit major businesses .
Workers making iPhones at tech giant Foxconn 's plant in Henan province , bordering Hubei , will be quarantined for up to two weeks , the company said .
China said it would halve tariffs on $ 75 billion worth of US imports , as part of a trade truce with Washington and as officials look to calm markets unnerved by the outbreak .

A Chinese doctor, among the first to raise the alert about China's new coronavirus, himself died from the pathogen on Friday, emphasizing the depth of a worsening crisis that has killed at least 630 people.
This combination of pictures created on February 7, 2020 shows undated photos obtained on February 7, 2020 of Chinese coronavirus whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang
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Global panic also spread, with thousands trapped on quarantined cruise ships.
Ophthalmologist Li Wenliang died at 2:58 am, Wuhan Central Hospital said in a post on its verified account on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
The 34-year-old sent out a message about the new coronavirus to colleagues on December 30, but was later among eight whistleblowers summoned by police for "rumour-mongering."
The death of a good man. Doctor Li Wenliang. May his young family be protected and supported. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/cZ0wrUQzDM — Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) February 7, 2020
He later contracted the disease while treating a patient and has been hailed as a hero by Chinese internet users.
Li was among more than 28,000 people who have been infected in China, where authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak, despite ordering millions indoors in a growing number of cities.
Two dozen countries have confirmed cases of the respiratory disease, which emerged from a market selling exotic animals in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.
Thousands of holidaymakers on cruise ships in Hong Kong and Japan face an agonising wait to find out if more among them have been infected.
At least 20 people on the Diamond Princess -- off Yokohama since Monday -- have tested positive. Some 3,700 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries have been confined to quarters.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said another cruise ship, the Westerdam, was heading to the country with one confirmed case.
He said no foreigners from the vessel, capable of carrying nearly 3,000 passengers and crew, would be allowed to disembark.
Anxiety in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, 3,600 people spent a second night confined aboard the World Dream. Authorities conducted health checks after eight former passengers tested positive for the virus.
Hong Kong has been particularly nervous because the crisis revived memories of another coronavirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It killed nearly 300 people in the city and another 349 on the Chinese mainland in 2002-2003.
Panic buying in semi-autonomous Hong Kong left supermarkets empty of toilet paper following false online claims of shortages, prompting authorities to appeal for calm.
One person has died after contracting the virus in Hong Kong.
While the death toll rises in China with the death of Li and others, experts have stressed that at two percent mortality, 2019-nCoV is far less deadly than SARS, which killed around 10 percent of the people it infected 17 years ago.
The outbreak has nevertheless been declared a global health emergency, prompting several governments to warn against travel to China and ban arrivals from the country, while airlines have halted flights and brought home their citizens.
Almost 200 Canadians showed up at the airport in Wuhan for the country's first evacuations, most on a commercial airliner chartered by Ottawa, officials said.
Germany's foreign ministry said it was working to bring home several nationals who had not made it out on a flight that reached Frankfurt last Saturday.
Saudi Arabia banned citizens and resident foreigners from travelling to China, while Air France-KLM extended its flight suspension by another month until March 15.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a call that all countries should "follow World Health Organization guidelines on travel and health in a timely manner", state news agency Xinhua reported.
After Britain advised nationals to leave China, Beijing's ambassador to London said there should not be "such a panic."
Short of medical staff
China has enacted unprecedented measures to contain the virus, which spread during the Lunar New Year holiday in late January, when millions criss-crossed the country.
But deaths and new infections continue to rise, especially at the epicentre in Hubei province, where 18 cities housing 56 million people have been under virtual lockdown since late last month.
There is a shortage of 2,250 medical personnel in Hubei, deputy provincial governor Yang Yunyan said Thursday. The inability to offer health workers adequate protective gear is hindering the numbers that can be deployed on the front lines, he added.
With Hubei's capital Wuhan overwhelmed, authorities were due to open a second, 1,600-bed field hospital.
The central government has announced measures intended to ensure the supply of vital resources, with tax breaks for manufacturers of medical equipment.
BGI Group, a genome sequencing company in southern China, said it had opened a lab in Wuhan able to test 10,000 people a day.
'Don't go out'
More cities are ordering people to stay indoors.
They include Hangzhou, 175 kilometres (110 miles) from Shanghai, where fences block streets and loudspeakers tell people: "Don't go out!"
In Beijing -- where streets remain eerily quiet -- restaurants have been barred from accepting reservations for parties.
And in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province which borders Hubei, pharmacists must send reports to the authorities on anyone buying fever or cough medicine.
The outbreak has also hit major businesses.
Workers making iPhones at tech giant Foxconn's plant in Henan province, bordering Hubei, will be quarantined for up to two weeks, the company said.
China said it would halve tariffs on $75 billion worth of US imports, as part of a trade truce with Washington and as officials look to calm markets unnerved by the outbreak.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-07--Long-delayed Iowa caucus results give Buttigieg narrow lead over Sanders

US Senator Bernie Sanders ( L ) and former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg ( R ) participate in the seventh Democratic presidential election debate at Drake University in Des Moines , Iowa on January 14 , 2020 .
Pete Buttigieg narrowly finished first in Iowa 's Democratic presidential caucuses , the state party 's tally showed on Thursday after a long delay , reshaping the 2020 race and raising doubts about the future of one-time front-runner Joe Biden , who finished a disappointing fourth .
The 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana edged out progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 26.1 percent of state-delegate equivalents – the data traditionally used to determine the winner – with 100 percent of precincts counted , the Iowa Democratic Party reported on its website .
However , news organisations including The New York Times and the Associated Press have not identified a victor .
“ The Associated Press calls a race when there is a clear indication of a winner .
Because of a tight margin between former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders and the irregularities in this year ’ s caucus process , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner at this point , '' said Sally Buzbee , the AP ’ s senior vice president and executive editor .
According to the state party ’ s results , US Senator Elizabeth Warren finished third in Iowa with 18 percent , while former Vice President Joe Biden limped to a disappointing fourth with 15.8 percent .
US Senator Amy Klobuchar finished fifth with 12.3 percent .
The results , which were marred by technical and organisational errors , have still reshaped the 2020 race for the Democratic presidential nomination for November 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future of Biden , the one-time front-runner .
Iowa Democrats had poured into 1,600 schools , community centers and other public locations on Monday night to make their choices among the 11 candidates in the Democratic race .
But the Democratic candidates had already departed Iowa and turned their attention to the next nominating contest in New Hampshire on February 11 before the first results were even released in two batches on Tuesday .
Officials blamed inconsistencies related to a new mobile app used for vote-counting for the unusual delay in Iowa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US presidential election campaign that culminates this year on November 3 .
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez called on Thursday for a recanvass of the caucus results after the technical glitch created uncertainty about the accuracy of the tally .
Perez said that would involve an examination of the results from each caucus site rather than a full recount .
He said any review was unlikely to change the composition of the state 's 41 delegates to the Democratic National Convention .
Iowa Democratic Party leader Troy Price suggested in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recanvass if one was requested by a campaign .
Speaking on Thursday in New Hampshire , Sanders thanked Iowans for `` the very strong victory they gave us '' in Monday 's caucuses , pointing to his lead among voters when they first selected candidates at their caucus sites – the first step in the multi-part selection process .
`` In other words , some 6,000 more Iowans came out on caucus night to support our candidacy than the candidacy of anyone else , '' Sanders said .
`` From where I come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes wins , '' he said , arguing that too much emphasis was being put on delegate totals .
Asked later at a CNN event if he would request a recanvass , Sanders said : “ We ’ ve got enough of Iowa .
I think we should move on to New Hampshire.
” He added : `` I suspect that at the end of the day , Mr. Buttigieg and I will have an equal number of delegates to the national convention.
” Party officials initially attributed the delays to a technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but other concerns have since emerged , complicating efforts to release the final tallies .
The Iowa Democratic Party received an `` unusually high volume of inbound calls '' to its caucus hotline on Monday night from `` callers who would hang up immediately after being connected , supporters of President Trump who called to express their displeasure with the Democratic Party , and Iowans looking to confirm details , '' a party official said .
The call volume was `` highly irregular '' compared with previous caucuses , the official said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that more than 100 precincts reported results that were inconsistent , had missing data or were not possible under the caucus rules , casting doubt on the count .
The Iowa Democratic Party declined to comment on inconsistencies .
`` They ca n't count some simple votes and yet they want to take over your healthcare system , '' Trump said of Democrats during an address celebrating his acquittal on impeachment charges .
His own party , however , switched the declared Iowa winner two weeks after its own Iowa caucuses in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders called the caucus debacle a `` screwup '' that was unfair to all candidates .
After Iowa 's reporting issues and delays , the Nevada Democratic Party , which hosts its caucus on February 22 , is `` scrapping both the app and ties to Shadow '' , the company that developed caucus-reporting apps for both Iowa and Nevada , party spokeswoman Molly Forgey said .
`` Luckily for us , we had a series of backup plans in place , '' Forgey added .

Pete Buttigieg narrowly finished first in Iowa's Democratic presidential caucuses, the state party's tally showed on Thursday after a long delay, reshaping the 2020 race and raising doubts about the future of one-time front-runner Joe Biden, who finished a disappointing fourth.
US Senator Bernie Sanders (L) and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (R) participate in the seventh Democratic presidential election debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa on January 14, 2020.
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The 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana edged out progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders by 26.2 percent to 26.1 percent of state-delegate equivalents – the data traditionally used to determine the winner – with 100 percent of precincts counted, the Iowa Democratic Party reported on its website.
However, news organisations including The New York Times and the Associated Press have not identified a victor.
“The Associated Press calls a race when there is a clear indication of a winner. Because of a tight margin between former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders and the irregularities in this year’s caucus process, it is not possible to determine a winner at this point," said Sally Buzbee, the AP’s senior vice president and executive editor.
According to the state party’s results, US Senator Elizabeth Warren finished third in Iowa with 18 percent, while former Vice President Joe Biden limped to a disappointing fourth with 15.8 percent. US Senator Amy Klobuchar finished fifth with 12.3 percent.
The results, which were marred by technical and organisational errors, have still reshaped the 2020 race for the Democratic presidential nomination for November's election, and raised doubts about the future of Biden, the one-time front-runner.
01:46
Iowa Democrats had poured into 1,600 schools, community centers and other public locations on Monday night to make their choices among the 11 candidates in the Democratic race.
But the Democratic candidates had already departed Iowa and turned their attention to the next nominating contest in New Hampshire on February 11 before the first results were even released in two batches on Tuesday.
Officials blamed inconsistencies related to a new mobile app used for vote-counting for the unusual delay in Iowa, the state that traditionally kicks off a US presidential election campaign that culminates this year on November 3.
Official calls for recanvass
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez called on Thursday for a recanvass of the caucus results after the technical glitch created uncertainty about the accuracy of the tally.
Perez said that would involve an examination of the results from each caucus site rather than a full recount.
He said any review was unlikely to change the composition of the state's 41 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Iowa Democratic Party leader Troy Price suggested in a statement Thursday that he would only pursue a recanvass if one was requested by a campaign.
Sanders cites victory in first-step vote
Speaking on Thursday in New Hampshire, Sanders thanked Iowans for "the very strong victory they gave us" in Monday's caucuses, pointing to his lead among voters when they first selected candidates at their caucus sites – the first step in the multi-part selection process.
"In other words, some 6,000 more Iowans came out on caucus night to support our candidacy than the candidacy of anyone else," Sanders said.
"From where I come from the person who gets the most votes wins," he said, arguing that too much emphasis was being put on delegate totals.
Asked later at a CNN event if he would request a recanvass, Sanders said: “We’ve got enough of Iowa. I think we should move on to New Hampshire.”
He added: "I suspect that at the end of the day, Mr. Buttigieg and I will have an equal number of delegates to the national convention.”
'Screwup'
Party officials initially attributed the delays to a technical problem with the new mobile app, but other concerns have since emerged, complicating efforts to release the final tallies.
The Iowa Democratic Party received an "unusually high volume of inbound calls" to its caucus hotline on Monday night from "callers who would hang up immediately after being connected, supporters of President Trump who called to express their displeasure with the Democratic Party, and Iowans looking to confirm details," a party official said.
The call volume was "highly irregular" compared with previous caucuses, the official said.
The New York Times has also reported that more than 100 precincts reported results that were inconsistent, had missing data or were not possible under the caucus rules, casting doubt on the count.
The Iowa Democratic Party declined to comment on inconsistencies.
Both parties have criticised Iowa's process.
"They can't count some simple votes and yet they want to take over your healthcare system," Trump said of Democrats during an address celebrating his acquittal on impeachment charges.
His own party, however, switched the declared Iowa winner two weeks after its own Iowa caucuses in 2012.
In Manchester, New Hampshire, Sanders called the caucus debacle a "screwup" that was unfair to all candidates.
After Iowa's reporting issues and delays, the Nevada Democratic Party, which hosts its caucus on February 22, is "scrapping both the app and ties to Shadow", the company that developed caucus-reporting apps for both Iowa and Nevada, party spokeswoman Molly Forgey said.
"Luckily for us, we had a series of backup plans in place," Forgey added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-07--Jared Kushner blames Palestinians for violence since release of US peace plan

White House senior advisor Jared Kushner arrives for a joint news conference by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the US Middle East peace plan proposal in the East Room of the White House in Washington , D.C. on January 28 .
The chief architect of the U.S. blueprint to resolve the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians on Thursday blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for soaring tensions and violence in the occupied West Bank since the plan 's release last week .
Jared Kushner , the son-in-law and adviser to President Donald Trump who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , said leaders who are ready for a state “ don ’ t call for days of rage and encourage their people to pursue violence if they ’ re not getting what they want.
” He said he thinks Abbas “ was surprised with how good the plan was for the Palestinian people , but he locked himself into a position ” by rejecting it before it came out .
The Palestinian president is going to different forums and putting forward old talking points when the situation on the ground has changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance that they have to actually resolve it in a good way , ” Kushner said .
Abbas is scheduled to address the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday and then appear at a news conference with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert , an opponent of the U.S. plan who was forced to resign a decade ago ahead of a corruption indictment that later sent him to prison for 16 months .
Leaders who had their chances and failed should be encouraging other people ’ s efforts in trying to make peace , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a headline when you ’ re irrelevant and try ... to get involved in a situation to get some attention , '' Kushner said .
“ It comes from a lot of jealousy that they couldn ’ t get it done themselves , ” he added .
After briefing the U.N. Security Council at a private lunch at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations , Kushner told a small group of journalists that the U.S. proposal may be the last chance because the rate of expansion of Israeli settlements may preclude a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kushner said , “ it ’ s very , very difficult to have a contiguous state where you can drive from the top to the bottom.
” “ If you look at the rate of expansion of Israeli settlements and if you look at the aspirations of the Palestinian people you ’ re about to get to a crossroad where you almost can ’ t come back , ” he said .
He said the 180-page plan “ was what we got Israel to agree to ” and the most constructive thing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Israelis and go over it “ line by line.
” “ If they would like to meet , we ’ re happy to do it , but we ’ re not going to chase them , ” Kushner said .
He called his meeting with the Security Council “ very constructive , ” with lots of questions .
British Ambassador Karen Pierce , reflecting the comments of other members , called it “ interesting and productive.
” US plan keeps Israeli settlers in place The U.S. plan , unveiled by President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel , siding with Israel on key contentious issues including borders and the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements .
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war — for an independent state and the removal of many of the more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas .
But under terms of the “ peace vision '' that Kushner oversaw , all Israeli settlers would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley .
The proposed Palestinian state would be demilitarized and give Israel overall security control .
In addition , the areas of east Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians for a capital consist of poor , crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier .
Kushner , who will continue to oversee the peace plan , said he and his team will follow up with the announcement shortly that a U.S.-Israeli commission is being established to turn its “ conceptual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the goal of making sure “ you can have contiguous territory ” for a Palestinian state .
It can take “ a couple of months ” for technical teams to come up with a map , Kushner said , and during that time he and his team plan to consult with European and Middle Eastern governments to further explain the plan .
He said that “ there ’ s a ton of cracks ” in European unity on the U.S. proposal .
“ The European Union was not able to get a consensus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a lot of people ... interested in working on a new approach , which is good , ” Kushner said .
In the Arab world , he said , “ you saw a wide range of statements .
A lot of people put out neutral statements , which is good .
You saw people put out supportive statements , which was good .
And you saw very few critical statements , which I thought was very interesting.
” Arab leaders want to focus on tackling radicalization and extremism and providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the international community is “ tired of this issue ” and wants to see it resolved , Kushner said .
Looking back at the lengthy process of drafting the plan , Kushner said that during four meetings with Abbas , “ I never felt like he was willing to get into details , either because he ’ s not a detail oriented person or because he didn ’ t know what he wanted to accomplish . ''
“ He liked high-level principles , but you can ’ t solve problems in high-level principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with us again , ” Kushner added .
Calling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “ the hardest problem in the world ” to solve , he said the peace plan is “ a good first step ” to start a discussion “ that leads to a better pathway.
” “ Not doing anything was not an option , ” Kushner said .
“ I think the noble thing is to pursue peace and to try to figure out how do you take a complicated problem and make badly needed progress .
”

The chief architect of the U.S. blueprint to resolve the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians on Thursday blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for soaring tensions and violence in the occupied West Bank since the plan's release last week.
White House senior advisor Jared Kushner arrives for a joint news conference by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the US Middle East peace plan proposal in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on January 28.
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Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and adviser to President Donald Trump who spent nearly three years working on the plan, said leaders who are ready for a state “don’t call for days of rage and encourage their people to pursue violence if they’re not getting what they want.”
He said he thinks Abbas “was surprised with how good the plan was for the Palestinian people, but he locked himself into a position” by rejecting it before it came out.
The Palestinian president is going to different forums and putting forward old talking points when the situation on the ground has changed and “this might be the last chance that they have to actually resolve it in a good way,” Kushner said.
Abbas is scheduled to address the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday and then appear at a news conference with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, an opponent of the U.S. plan who was forced to resign a decade ago ahead of a corruption indictment that later sent him to prison for 16 months.
Kushner called Olmert’s appearance “almost pathetic.”
Leaders who had their chances and failed should be encouraging other people’s efforts in trying to make peace, “as opposed to trying to grab a headline when you’re irrelevant and try ... to get involved in a situation to get some attention," Kushner said.
“It comes from a lot of jealousy that they couldn’t get it done themselves,” he added.
Meeting with UN Security Council
After briefing the U.N. Security Council at a private lunch at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Kushner told a small group of journalists that the U.S. proposal may be the last chance because the rate of expansion of Israeli settlements may preclude a contiguous Palestinian state.
Right now, Kushner said, “it’s very, very difficult to have a contiguous state where you can drive from the top to the bottom.”
“If you look at the rate of expansion of Israeli settlements and if you look at the aspirations of the Palestinian people you’re about to get to a crossroad where you almost can’t come back,” he said.
He said the 180-page plan “was what we got Israel to agree to” and the most constructive thing the Palestinians can do is to sit down with the Israelis and go over it “line by line.”
“If they would like to meet, we’re happy to do it, but we’re not going to chase them,” Kushner said.
He called his meeting with the Security Council “very constructive,” with lots of questions. British Ambassador Karen Pierce, reflecting the comments of other members, called it “interesting and productive.”
US plan keeps Israeli settlers in place
The U.S. plan, unveiled by President Donald Trump on Jan. 28, envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel, siding with Israel on key contentious issues including borders and the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements.
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war — for an independent state and the removal of many of the more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas.
But under terms of the “peace vision" that Kushner oversaw, all Israeli settlers would remain in place, and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley.
The proposed Palestinian state would be demilitarized and give Israel overall security control. In addition, the areas of east Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians for a capital consist of poor, crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier.
Kushner, who will continue to oversee the peace plan, said he and his team will follow up with the announcement shortly that a U.S.-Israeli commission is being established to turn its “conceptual map" into a detailed map with the goal of making sure “you can have contiguous territory” for a Palestinian state.
It can take “a couple of months” for technical teams to come up with a map, Kushner said, and during that time he and his team plan to consult with European and Middle Eastern governments to further explain the plan.
He said that “there’s a ton of cracks” in European unity on the U.S. proposal.
“The European Union was not able to get a consensus statement on this, which shows that there’s a lot of people ... interested in working on a new approach, which is good,” Kushner said.
In the Arab world, he said, “you saw a wide range of statements. A lot of people put out neutral statements, which is good. You saw people put out supportive statements, which was good. And you saw very few critical statements, which I thought was very interesting.”
Arab leaders want to focus on tackling radicalization and extremism and providing economic prosperity for their people, and the international community is “tired of this issue” and wants to see it resolved, Kushner said.
Looking back at the lengthy process of drafting the plan, Kushner said that during four meetings with Abbas, “I never felt like he was willing to get into details, either because he’s not a detail oriented person or because he didn’t know what he wanted to accomplish."
“He liked high-level principles, but you can’t solve problems in high-level principles and so they chose not to meet with us again,” Kushner added.
Calling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “the hardest problem in the world” to solve, he said the peace plan is “a good first step” to start a discussion “that leads to a better pathway.”
“Not doing anything was not an option,” Kushner said. “I think the noble thing is to pursue peace and to try to figure out how do you take a complicated problem and make badly needed progress.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-07--Did a doctor in China really collapse during surgery because he had contracted coronavirus?

A video showing a doctor in China collapsing while performing an operation has been circulating on social media , with people claiming that he had contracted the new coronavirus in Wuhan .
Our team took a closer look at this video and found out it tells a different story .
The video , which was shared on Twitter and gained more than 235,000 views on YouTube , looks like security footage of a team of surgeons operating on a patient .
Suddenly , one of the surgeons collapses and the other doctors rush to his aid .
The people sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a hospital in Wuhan , the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic , and that the doctor fainted because he had contracted the virus .
`` What is happening in Wuhan is just terrible '' , tweeted this Spanish speaker .
The title of the video posted on YouTube reads , “ A doctor infected with the virus in a hospital in Wuhan , China.
” However , a small detail in the video caught our eye .
In the top right corner , “ Thursday 17 ” is written in Chinese .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filmed on January 17 , 2020 , which was indeed a Thursday .
However , the city of Wuhan wasn ’ t quarantined until January 23 , six days later .
On January 17 , there were still very few identified cases of the virus .
The doctor could have fallen ill at that time , of course , but the fact that the dates don ’ t quite line up did make us suspicious .
Video filmed in a hospital in Yunnan Province We ran the video through a reverse image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video in Japanese on the Youtube channel of New Tang Dynasty Television .
NTDTVJP is a television channel created by followers of Falun Gong , a spiritual movement that is considered a cult in China .
The channel posted the video on January 25 .
The description of the video reads , in Japanese , “ a doctor in Yunnan collapsed from overwork ” .
The video was also posted on the Chinese video platform Sina by DV现场 , a TV program produced by the public broadcaster in Guangdong , a province in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry !
Thankfully , there were other doctors on hand , ” reads the caption on this video .
The text also says that the footage was filmed in a hospital in Yunnan province and that the doctor collapsed because he was overworked and suffering from hypoglycemia .
If you type the keywords “ doctor ” , “ Yunnan ” and “ faint ” in Chinese into Google , then you ’ ll pull up an article from the Chinese newspaper Beijing News that was published on January 17 .
The article says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Zhenxiong , an administrative district in Yunnan , and confirms that the doctor was suffering from hypoglycemia and overwork .
This provides more evidence that the video wasn ’ t filmed in Wuhan .
While it is hard to prove for certain what afflicted the doctor , we do know that on January 17 , only 44 cases of coronavirus had been reported , 41 in Wuhan and 3 abroad .
No cases had been reported in Yunnan .
Article by Marie Genries

China
People circulated this video on social media, claiming it shows a doctor, ill with coronavirus, collapsing in a hospital in Wuhan. It turns out that’s not the real story.
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A video showing a doctor in China collapsing while performing an operation has been circulating on social media, with people claiming that he had contracted the new coronavirus in Wuhan. Our team took a closer look at this video and found out it tells a different story.
The video, which was shared on Twitter and gained more than 235,000 views on YouTube, looks like security footage of a team of surgeons operating on a patient. Suddenly, one of the surgeons collapses and the other doctors rush to his aid.
The people sharing the video online claim it was filmed in a hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, and that the doctor fainted because he had contracted the virus.
"What is happening in Wuhan is just terrible", tweeted this Spanish speaker.
The title of the video posted on YouTube reads, “A doctor infected with the virus in a hospital in Wuhan, China.”
However, a small detail in the video caught our eye. In the top right corner, “Thursday 17” is written in Chinese. That makes it likely that the video was filmed on January 17, 2020, which was indeed a Thursday. However, the city of Wuhan wasn’t quarantined until January 23, six days later. On January 17, there were still very few identified cases of the virus. The doctor could have fallen ill at that time, of course, but the fact that the dates don’t quite line up did make us suspicious.
Video filmed in a hospital in Yunnan Province
We ran the video through a reverse image search using Invid and immediately found the video in Japanese on the Youtube channel of New Tang Dynasty Television. NTDTVJP is a television channel created by followers of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that is considered a cult in China. The channel posted the video on January 25.
The description of the video reads, in Japanese, “a doctor in Yunnan collapsed from overwork”.
The video was also posted on the Chinese video platform Sina by DV现场, a TV program produced by the public broadcaster in Guangdong, a province in southeastern China.
"Don’t worry! Thankfully, there were other doctors on hand,” reads the caption on this video.
The text also says that the footage was filmed in a hospital in Yunnan province and that the doctor collapsed because he was overworked and suffering from hypoglycemia.
If you type the keywords “doctor”, “Yunnan” and “faint” in Chinese into Google, then you’ll pull up an article from the Chinese newspaper Beijing News that was published on January 17. The article says that the incident occurred in the hospital in Zhenxiong, an administrative district in Yunnan, and confirms that the doctor was suffering from hypoglycemia and overwork.
This provides more evidence that the video wasn’t filmed in Wuhan. While it is hard to prove for certain what afflicted the doctor, we do know that on January 17, only 44 cases of coronavirus had been reported, 41 in Wuhan and 3 abroad. No cases had been reported in Yunnan. Article by Marie Genries


france24--2020-02-09--Brazil's military elite sees France as country's biggest threat, leaked report reveals

France 's President Emmanuel Macron and Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro attend an event on women 's empowerment during the G20 Summit in Osaka , on June 29 , 2019 .
France is expected to be Brazil 's biggest military threat over the next 20 years and could invade the Amazon in 2035 , according to a secret report published by Brazilian media on Friday .
Although the French embassy jokingly `` saluted '' its `` limitless imagination '' , the military document is aimed at redefining the country 's foreign policy strategy and could add yet another chapter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seemingly occupied the minds of Brazil 's military elite ever since French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro engaged in a diplomatic spat last August .
An article published on Friday in the premier daily Folha de São Paulo sourced a leaked military document that reveals Brazil ’ s highest rank-and-file believe France could become the country ’ s biggest threat over the next 20 years , due to a possible dispute over the Amazon .
Named `` Defence scenarios 2040 '' , the 45-page-long document was based on interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listed their biggest concerns and predictions during individual interviews .
But France 's embassy in Brasilia reacted moments later in an ironic tweet , jokingly `` saluting '' the `` limitless imagination of its authors '' .
According to the Folha de São Paulo article , the individual interviews were conducted during meetings at the Defence Ministry 's Superior School of War , which were then compiled into a 20-year-long foreign policy strategy , outlining possible case scenarios .
It includes other `` somewhat delirious hypotheses '' , such as an organised coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music festival by `` Southeast Asian ultranationalists '' , Folha revealed .
Although the document lists four different strategic scenarios , France appears as the only common threat to all – an illustration of the fractured relations between the two countries , which soured in August 2019 when the Amazon fires made headlines and shocked the world .
Brazil 's army has speculated that France could demand the UN back an intervention in 2035 in indigenous lands located in the heart of the Amazon , for example , which would be conducted from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 730-kilometre border with Brazil .
But the document omits , be it intentional or not , that France is actually Brazil 's `` main military partner '' , the French embassy said in its tweet , adding that both armies have had `` a close and friendly relationship for decades , conducting joint operations on a daily basis '' .
Both countries also have signed major partnership agreements , including the construction of submarines and helicopters , and exchange over 7 billion euros of goods every year .
`` This is nonsense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Rubens Barbosa , ambassador and director at the Foreign Relations and International Trade Institute ( Ifrice ) , told Brazilian magazine Veja .
`` How could France go to war against Brazil when it actually is Brasilia 's most important military partner ? ''
According to the article in Folha , as `` delirious '' as some scenarios appear , these are expected to be part of the country 's national defence strategy , which the parliament should start evaluating in June .
`` It has a lot of inconsistencies , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defesanet , told AFP .
According to During , the document was written when both countries were at the peak of their scuffle in August , and has been `` influenced by the dispute between Macron and Bolsonaro '' .
In August , Macron criticised Bolsonaro 's environmental policies as the Amazon 's fires made headlines all over the world , pushed for strong international action and suggested the world 's largest rainforest could become a UN-administered international territory .
A `` colonialist mentality '' , said the Brazilian leader , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brigitte Macron , on social media .
Under increasing international pressure , Bolsonaro then promised to fight the fires .
But last Wednesday , the climate change sceptic unveiled a sweeping plan for the Amazon rainforest that would open indigenous lands to mining , farming and hydroelectric power projects .
`` This latest report risks further tarnishing relations between the two countries , '' Nelson During told AFP .
Brasilia quickly tried to play down the proposal .
In a statement released on Friday evening , the ministry of defence said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document '' , `` the first draft of a primary study '' and did not `` represent the government 's views '' .
Although the document references a future Chinese military base in Argentina , an open conflict with Venezuela , and even a `` terrorist attack by an environmental group '' , the military elite also pens `` realistic geopolitical considerations '' , according to Folha , such as a NATO base in West African Coast in order to stem a growing Chinese presence in Africa .
But the report ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem particularly aligned with President Bolsonaro 's existing agenda , which has led to growing international ties with the US and Israel .
Further proof of the leader ’ s far-right views and policy intentions came to light in the report with references made to NGOs as `` terrorists '' and the depiction of indigenous people as undermining Brazil 's development .

France is expected to be Brazil's biggest military threat over the next 20 years and could invade the Amazon in 2035, according to a secret report published by Brazilian media on Friday. Although the French embassy jokingly "saluted" its "limitless imagination", the military document is aimed at redefining the country's foreign policy strategy and could add yet another chapter to its troubled relations with France.
France's President Emmanuel Macron and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro attend an event on women's empowerment during the G20 Summit in Osaka, on June 29, 2019.
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France has seemingly occupied the minds of Brazil's military elite ever since French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro engaged in a diplomatic spat last August. An article published on Friday in the premier daily Folha de São Paulo sourced a leaked military document that reveals Brazil’s highest rank-and-file believe France could become the country’s biggest threat over the next 20 years, due to a possible dispute over the Amazon.
Named "Defence scenarios 2040", the 45-page-long document was based on interviews with 500 highly-ranked army officers, who listed their biggest concerns and predictions during individual interviews.
But France's embassy in Brasilia reacted moments later in an ironic tweet, jokingly "saluting" the "limitless imagination of its authors".
'Somewhat delirious hypothesis'
According to the Folha de São Paulo article, the individual interviews were conducted during meetings at the Defence Ministry's Superior School of War, which were then compiled into a 20-year-long foreign policy strategy, outlining possible case scenarios.
It includes other "somewhat delirious hypotheses", such as an organised coronavirus attack against the 2039 Rock in Rio music festival by "Southeast Asian ultranationalists", Folha revealed.
Although the document lists four different strategic scenarios, France appears as the only common threat to all – an illustration of the fractured relations between the two countries, which soured in August 2019 when the Amazon fires made headlines and shocked the world.
Brazil's army has speculated that France could demand the UN back an intervention in 2035 in indigenous lands located in the heart of the Amazon, for example, which would be conducted from French Guyana – the French territory shares a 730-kilometre border with Brazil.
France is Brazil's 'main military partner'
But the document omits, be it intentional or not, that France is actually Brazil's "main military partner", the French embassy said in its tweet, adding that both armies have had "a close and friendly relationship for decades, conducting joint operations on a daily basis". Both countries also have signed major partnership agreements, including the construction of submarines and helicopters, and exchange over 7 billion euros of goods every year.
"This is nonsense, a thing written by amateurs," Rubens Barbosa, ambassador and director at the Foreign Relations and International Trade Institute (Ifrice), told Brazilian magazine Veja. "How could France go to war against Brazil when it actually is Brasilia's most important military partner?"
According to the article in Folha, as "delirious" as some scenarios appear, these are expected to be part of the country's national defence strategy, which the parliament should start evaluating in June.
"It has a lot of inconsistencies," Nelson During, director at the website Defesanet, told AFP. According to During, the document was written when both countries were at the peak of their scuffle in August, and has been "influenced by the dispute between Macron and Bolsonaro".
'Tarnishing relations'
In August, Macron criticised Bolsonaro's environmental policies as the Amazon's fires made headlines all over the world, pushed for strong international action and suggested the world's largest rainforest could become a UN-administered international territory. A "colonialist mentality", said the Brazilian leader, who was then caught insulting France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, on social media.
Under increasing international pressure, Bolsonaro then promised to fight the fires. But last Wednesday, the climate change sceptic unveiled a sweeping plan for the Amazon rainforest that would open indigenous lands to mining, farming and hydroelectric power projects.
"This latest report risks further tarnishing relations between the two countries," Nelson During told AFP.
Brasilia quickly tried to play down the proposal. In a statement released on Friday evening, the ministry of defence said the report was nothing but an "academic document", "the first draft of a primary study" and did not "represent the government's views".
#NotaOficial | Sobre matéria recentemente publicada pela @folha, a respeito de cenários de defesa, o documento mencionado pelo veículo não reflete a posição da Escola Superior de Guerra ou do Ministério da Defesa.
Veja nota oficial na íntegra https://t.co/EEeeogK89e pic.twitter.com/b6OBhFz2Dl — Ministério da Defesa (@DefesaGovBr) February 7, 2020
In line with Bolsonaro's views
Although the document references a future Chinese military base in Argentina, an open conflict with Venezuela, and even a "terrorist attack by an environmental group", the military elite also pens "realistic geopolitical considerations", according to Folha, such as a NATO base in West African Coast in order to stem a growing Chinese presence in Africa.
But the report’s projected scenarios for the next 20 years seem particularly aligned with President Bolsonaro's existing agenda, which has led to growing international ties with the US and Israel. Further proof of the leader’s far-right views and policy intentions came to light in the report with references made to NGOs as "terrorists" and the depiction of indigenous people as undermining Brazil's development.
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france24--2020-02-09--South Korean thriller ‘Parasite’ eyes upset on Oscars night

South Korea 's Bong Joon-ho , director of acclaimed thriller `` Parasite '' , is widely seen as the dark horse of this year 's Oscars night .
Hollywood 's awards season comes to a close Sunday at the Oscars , with war epic `` 1917 '' battling a South Korean thriller for glory as a row swirls over the lack of minorities on the night 's star-studded nominee list .
A lavish , spiral stage featuring 40,000 crystals at Los Angeles ' Dolby Theatre will be the glittering setting as the 24 golden statuettes are handed out on Tinseltown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple prizes including best picture is Sam Mendes 's `` 1917 , '' an innovative and personal World War I film that swept up trophies in the build-up to Sunday .
But the movie about two soldiers crossing no-man's-land – filmed to appear like one continuous shot – could find itself in a pitched battle with a movie determined to make history of its own .
`` Parasite , '' about a poor South Korean family infiltrating a wealthy household , looks to be a shoo-in for best international feature – but could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top prizes are coming down between 'Parasite ' and '1917 ' , '' Variety senior film editor Marc Malkin told AFP .
`` Either one winning would be pretty great . ''
The unique ballot system for best picture – which involves voters ranking films – makes the race somewhat tough to predict .
But it could benefit `` Parasite , '' a film that appears impossible to dislike , and whose charismatic director Bong Joon-ho , 50 , has gained cult status at Hollywood 's many awards season galas and soirees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' I liked it , but ... ' '' said Malkin .
`` With 'Parasite , ' it 's ' I love Parasite . '
Period .
The end . ''
He added : `` Bong 's enthusiasm and his joy are completely infectious . ''
Quentin Tarantino 's `` Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood '' remains an outside shot , while Martin Scorsese 's lavish crime epic `` The Irishman '' appears to have slipped out of contention .
The event 's luxury and glamour will contrast with the grief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Golden Age film legend Kirk Douglas and Oscar-winning basketball star Kobe Bryant .
Both titans have been added to a hastily re-edited `` in memoriam '' montage honoring those Hollywood lost this year , with Billie Eilish expected to provide a moving musical accompaniment .
The record Grammy-winning singer , who will soon voice the new James Bond theme , is one of several high-profile musical guests on a night when all five nominated songs will be performed .
Elton John , tipped to win for `` ( I 'm Gon na @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rocketman , '' will feature , as will Cynthia Erivo – the only non-white acting nominee , who also sang and wrote the theme to anti-slavery biopic `` Harriet . ''
No female directors were nominated this year .
`` Who is going to address the complete shutout ... ?
I imagine someone will do that , '' Malkin said .
Irish maestro Eimear Noone will become the first woman to conduct the Oscars orchestra , but diversity among guest hosts and performers is unlikely to assuage anger over this year 's nominations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # OscarsSoWhite but I 'd say it 's # OscarsAsUsual , '' Deadline awards columnist Pete Hammond told AFP .
`` It looks like the Oscars could have been 30 years ago . ''
The Oscars in the acting categories – usually a subject of agonizing deliberation for industry pundits – appear settled , with the same four stars sweeping up rave reviews and prizes all season .
Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger are believed to be far ahead of the competition for best actor and best actress .
Phoenix underwent a striking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supervillain in `` Joker '' – as did Zellweger to play legendary Hollywood diva Judy Garland in `` Judy . ''
Tinseltown favorites Brad Pitt and Laura Dern have their fingertips on the supporting acting prizes , for their work as a laid-back stuntman ( `` Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood '' ) and a cutthroat divorce lawyer ( `` Marriage Story '' ) .
`` I just do n't see where there 's wiggle room when it comes to the acting categories , '' said Malkin .
More fiercely contested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , editing and visual effects , with movies from Nazi satire `` Jojo Rabbit '' to period drama `` Little Women '' and even superhero epic `` Avengers : Endgame '' all in the mix .
The ceremony will go on without a host for a second consecutive time , after last year 's batch of bright guest presenters caused a trend-bucking uplift in TV ratings .
The gala begins at 5 pm in Los Angeles ( 0100 GMT Monday ) .

Hollywood's awards season comes to a close Sunday at the Oscars, with war epic "1917" battling a South Korean thriller for glory as a row swirls over the lack of minorities on the night's star-studded nominee list.
South Korea's Bong Joon-ho, director of acclaimed thriller "Parasite", is widely seen as the dark horse of this year's Oscars night.
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A lavish, spiral stage featuring 40,000 crystals at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre will be the glittering setting as the 24 golden statuettes are handed out on Tinseltown's biggest night.
The frontrunner for multiple prizes including best picture is Sam Mendes's "1917," an innovative and personal World War I film that swept up trophies in the build-up to Sunday.
But the movie about two soldiers crossing no-man's-land – filmed to appear like one continuous shot – could find itself in a pitched battle with a movie determined to make history of its own.
"Parasite," about a poor South Korean family infiltrating a wealthy household, looks to be a shoo-in for best international feature – but could win much more.
"The big top prizes are coming down between 'Parasite' and '1917'," Variety senior film editor Marc Malkin told AFP. "Either one winning would be pretty great."
>> Cannes 2019: 'Parasite' by South Korea’s Bong Joon-ho wins Palme d’Or
The unique ballot system for best picture – which involves voters ranking films – makes the race somewhat tough to predict.
But it could benefit "Parasite," a film that appears impossible to dislike, and whose charismatic director Bong Joon-ho, 50, has gained cult status at Hollywood's many awards season galas and soirees.
"Every other movie, people say 'I liked it, but...'" said Malkin. "With 'Parasite,' it's 'I love Parasite.' Period. The end."
He added: "Bong's enthusiasm and his joy are completely infectious."
Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" remains an outside shot, while Martin Scorsese's lavish crime epic "The Irishman" appears to have slipped out of contention.
Kirk and Kobe
The event's luxury and glamour will contrast with the grief enveloping Los Angeles over the recent deaths of Golden Age film legend Kirk Douglas and Oscar-winning basketball star Kobe Bryant.
Both titans have been added to a hastily re-edited "in memoriam" montage honoring those Hollywood lost this year, with Billie Eilish expected to provide a moving musical accompaniment.
The record Grammy-winning singer, who will soon voice the new James Bond theme, is one of several high-profile musical guests on a night when all five nominated songs will be performed.
Elton John, tipped to win for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from "Rocketman," will feature, as will Cynthia Erivo – the only non-white acting nominee, who also sang and wrote the theme to anti-slavery biopic "Harriet."
No female directors were nominated this year.
"Who is going to address the complete shutout...? I imagine someone will do that," Malkin said.
Irish maestro Eimear Noone will become the first woman to conduct the Oscars orchestra, but diversity among guest hosts and performers is unlikely to assuage anger over this year's nominations.
"I wouldn't call it #OscarsSoWhite but I'd say it's #OscarsAsUsual," Deadline awards columnist Pete Hammond told AFP.
"It looks like the Oscars could have been 30 years ago."
'No scenario'
The Oscars in the acting categories – usually a subject of agonizing deliberation for industry pundits – appear settled, with the same four stars sweeping up rave reviews and prizes all season.
Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger are believed to be far ahead of the competition for best actor and best actress.
Phoenix underwent a striking transformation to portray the title comic book supervillain in "Joker" – as did Zellweger to play legendary Hollywood diva Judy Garland in "Judy."
Tinseltown favorites Brad Pitt and Laura Dern have their fingertips on the supporting acting prizes, for their work as a laid-back stuntman ("Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood") and a cutthroat divorce lawyer ("Marriage Story").
"I just don't see where there's wiggle room when it comes to the acting categories," said Malkin.
More fiercely contested will be the awards for best screenplay, editing and visual effects, with movies from Nazi satire "Jojo Rabbit" to period drama "Little Women" and even superhero epic "Avengers: Endgame" all in the mix.
The ceremony will go on without a host for a second consecutive time, after last year's batch of bright guest presenters caused a trend-bucking uplift in TV ratings.
The gala begins at 5 pm in Los Angeles (0100 GMT Monday).
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-09--Sinn Fein demands place in Irish government after election surge

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald addresses the media after casting her vote in Ireland 's national election , in Dublin , Ireland , February 8 , 2020 .
Support for left-wing Irish nationalists Sinn Fein surged in an election on Saturday , leaving it tied with the party of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar but unlikely to emerge with the highest number of seats .
Irish officials were counting votes following Saturday 's polls with an exit poll forecasting Varadkar 's incumbent Fine Gael party facing a three-way dead heat .
The Ipsos MRBI survey of around 5,000 voters predicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fail and leftists Sinn Fein had each received 22 per cent of first preference votes .
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have traditionally taken turns in power .
In Dublin 's main count centre , staff unsealed and emptied black ballot boxes onto ranks of tables as party members anxiously looked on .
Ireland uses a single transferable vote system to elect multiple deputies from each of the 39 constituencies , meaning the rounds of counting could take at least two days .
Due to the transfers , a likely seat forecast can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes exit poll .
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald arrived at the count centre to a huge fanfare from supporters , having seen her party 's share of the vote double since the last election .
“ This isn ’ t a protest vote .
This is an expression of deep dissatisfaction with the traditional big two parties , '' the 50-year-old leader told FRANCE 24 , claiming a place in government for her party .
`` Ideally I would like us to be in a government that is entirely new , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fine Gail , '' McDonald said , adding that she had begun talks with smaller parties .
`` What we will not accept is any attempt to exclude Sinn Fein , ” she added .
Her party did not field enough candidates to form a majority government .
Earlier , security intervened to calm the mood after Sinn Fein supporters sang a chorus glorifying the early IRA 's fight for independence from Britain .
Sinn Fein were the political wing of the now-defunct Irish Republican Army paramilitary group .
`` This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed Irish elections themselves for the foreseeable future , '' wrote columnist Fintan O'Toole in The Irish Times newspaper .
`` For a huge chunk of voters , change is being seen as something that comes from outside the system . ''
Sinn Fein was `` once inextricable from the IRA '' and considered a `` pariah '' he said , but younger voters in particular were drawn by their promise of addressing income inequality .
The Ipsos MRBI exit poll put Fine Gael on 22.4 percent , Sinn Fein on 22.3 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Greens were next on 7.9 percent and Labour on 4.6 percent .
They could play a role in coalition-forming .
Notably , the exit poll put Sinn Fein comfortably ahead with voters aged 18-24 and 25-34 , with support at 32 percent in each age bracket .
The survey has an estimated margin of error of 1.3 percent .
The 3.3 million-strong electorate was voting for some 159 seats in the Dail , the Republic of Ireland 's lower house of parliament .
Sinn Fein 's Donnchadh O Laoghaire was the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork .
Even once the make-up of the new chamber emerges , it could take much longer to cobble together a government .
Following Ireland 's 2016 election it took 70 days before a new minority coalition government was formed under Fine Gael .
During this year 's election campaign , Fine Gael and Fianna Fail both ruled out working with Sinn Fein , citing the party 's past IRA links .
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also said he would not back Fine Gael in a `` grand coalition '' .
Varadkar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister in June 2017 on taking over the Fine Gael leadership from Enda Kenny , who led the party into power in 2011 .
He plumped for an early election after successfully helping to broker a deal cushioning Britain 's EU exit on January 31 by avoiding a hard border with Northern Ireland .
Varadkar 's campaign was focused on Brexit -- but did not seem to land with voters more concerned with domestic issues .
In the exit poll , just one percent said Brexit was the key factor in how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whilst housing and homelessness was on 26 percent .

Left-wing Irish nationalists Sinn Fein demanded on Sunday to be part of the next government after exit polls suggested a snap election had left them tied with the country’s traditional ruling parties in what analysts described as a seismic shift for Irish politics.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald addresses the media after casting her vote in Ireland's national election, in Dublin, Ireland, February 8, 2020.
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Irish officials were counting votes following Saturday's polls with an exit poll forecasting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar's incumbent Fine Gael party facing a three-way dead heat.
The Ipsos MRBI survey of around 5,000 voters predicted that centrist rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and leftists Sinn Fein had each received around 22 per cent of first preference votes.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have traditionally taken turns in power.
00:54
In Dublin's main count centre, staff unsealed and emptied black ballot boxes onto ranks of tables as party members anxiously looked on.
Ireland uses a single transferable vote system to elect multiple deputies from each of the 39 constituencies, meaning the rounds of counting could take at least two days.
Due to the transfers, a likely seat forecast cannot be extrapolated from the first preference votes exit poll.
Main parties 'in denial'
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald arrived at the count centre to a huge fanfare from supporters, having seen her party's share of the vote almost double since the last election.
“This isn’t a protest vote. This is an expression of deep dissatisfaction with the traditional big two parties," the 50-year-old leader told FRANCE 24, claiming a place in government for her party.
"Ideally I would like us to be in a government that is entirely new, without (…) Fianna Fail and Fine Gail," McDonald said, adding that she had begun talks with smaller parties.
"What we will not accept is any attempt to exclude Sinn Fein,” she added.
Her party did not field enough candidates to form a majority government.
00:47
Earlier, security intervened to calm the mood after Sinn Fein supporters sang a chorus glorifying the early IRA's fight for independence from Britain.
Sinn Fein were the political wing of the now-defunct Irish Republican Army paramilitary group.
"This is not just a change election – it has changed Irish elections themselves for the foreseeable future," wrote columnist Fintan O'Toole in The Irish Times newspaper.
"For a huge chunk of voters, change is being seen as something that comes from outside the system."
Sinn Fein was "once inextricable from the IRA" and considered a "pariah" he said, but younger voters in particular were drawn by their promise of addressing income inequality.
Coalition prospects
The Ipsos MRBI exit poll put Fine Gael on 22.4 percent, Sinn Fein on 22.3 percent and Fianna Fail on 22.2 percent.
The Greens were next on 7.9 percent and Labour on 4.6 percent. They could play a role in coalition-forming.
Notably, the exit poll put Sinn Fein comfortably ahead with voters aged 18-24 and 25-34, with support at 32 percent in each age bracket.
The survey has an estimated margin of error of 1.3 percent.
03:35
The 3.3 million-strong electorate was voting for some 159 seats in the Dail, the Republic of Ireland's lower house of parliament.
Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O Laoghaire was the first deputy returned, in the city of Cork.
Even once the make-up of the new chamber emerges, it could take much longer to cobble together a government.
Following Ireland's 2016 election it took 70 days before a new minority coalition government was formed under Fine Gael.
During this year's election campaign, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail both ruled out working with Sinn Fein, citing the party's past IRA links.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also said he would not back Fine Gael in a "grand coalition".
PM's Brexit focus backfires
Varadkar, 41, became Ireland's prime minister in June 2017 on taking over the Fine Gael leadership from Enda Kenny, who led the party into power in 2011.
He plumped for an early election after successfully helping to broker a deal cushioning Britain's EU exit on January 31 by avoiding a hard border with Northern Ireland.
Varadkar's campaign was focused on Brexit -- but did not seem to land with voters more concerned with domestic issues.
In the exit poll, just one percent said Brexit was the key factor in how they voted.
Health ranked on 32 percent whilst housing and homelessness was on 26 percent.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-02-09--France hold off defiant Italy in 35-22 Six Nations win

France moved top of the Six Nations standings as they claimed a bonus point in an otherwise unimpressive 35-22 defeat @ @ @ @ @ Italy at the Stade de France on Sunday .
Les Bleus , who stunned World @ @ @ @ @ opening game last Sunday , prevailed with tries by Teddy Thomas , Charles Ollivon , @ @ @ @ @ and Baptiste Serin .
Ntamack kicked eight points and Matthieu Jalibert another two .
Italy @ @ @ @ @ by Matteo Minozzi , Federico Ziani and Mattia Bellini , and points from the boot @ @ @ @ @ were unable to avoid a 24th consecutive defeat in the tournament .
Fabien Galthie 's @ @ @ @ @ nine points , ahead of Ireland on points difference .
The two sides , who @ @ @ @ @ of the tournament , are the only two still with a shot at a grand @ @

France moved top of the Six Nations standings as they claimed a bonus point in an otherwise unimpressive 35-22 defeat of a valiant but error-prone Italy at the Stade de France on Sunday.
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Les Bleus, who stunned World Cup runners-up England in their opening game last Sunday, prevailed with tries by Teddy Thomas, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt, Romain Ntamack and Baptiste Serin.
Ntamack kicked eight points and Matthieu Jalibert another two.
Italy enjoyed good spells with tries by Matteo Minozzi, Federico Ziani and Mattia Bellini, and points from the boot of Tommaso Allan, but were unable to avoid a 24th consecutive defeat in the tournament.
If you want something doing...
Replacement scrum-half Baptiste Serin goes from halfway with a magnificent solo try for @FranceRugby#FRAvITA #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/X2cI9Y837c — Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 9, 2020
Fabien Galthie's side lead the table with nine points, ahead of Ireland on points difference. The two sides, who meet in the final day of the tournament, are the only two still with a shot at a grand slam.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-02-09--Thai gunman shot dead after shopping mall siege

Thai security forces evacuate students stranded inside the Terminal 21 shopping mall following a gun battle to try to stop a soldier on a rampage after a mass shooting , Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand February 9 , 2020 .
A Thai soldier who killed at least 26 people before being shot dead in a mall by commandos went on the rampage because of a debt dispute , the kingdom ’ s premier said on Sunday , offering the first official speculation for the motive of an “ unprecedented ” shooting spree .
After a night which seesawed between heavy exchanges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exits by trapped shoppers , sharp-shooters brought an end to the 17-hour-ordeal when they killed the gunman on Sunday morning in Nakhon Ratchasima , also known as Korat .
Twenty-six people including civilians - the youngest a 13-year-old boy - and security forces were killed by the rogue soldier , Thailand ’ s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said .
“ It is unprecedented in Thailand , and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens , ” he said outside a hospital where victims , including at least two undergoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prayut , a gruff former army chief , blamed a “ personal problem ” over the sale of the house for the soldier ’ s rampage , which began on Saturday afternoon near an army barracks and was for several hours relayed by the gunman via Facebook posts .
The attacker , a junior army officer identified as Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma , used a stolen M60 machine gun , rifles and ammunition from one of Thailand ’ s largest barracks as well as a military humvee to carry out the attack .
Prayut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ arsenal .
“ This was not carelessness .
We don ’ t leave the arsenal depot alone - we had people guarding it.
” Most of the dead were killed in an around the mall .
Volleys of gunfire rang out as the siege ran into dawn , hours after Thai security services stormed the ground floor and freed scores of stunned , terrified shoppers from a bloody rampage .
Frightened shoppers sent cascades of messages to friends and family on social media from cupboards , toilets and under tables as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recounted how an ordinary Saturday at the busy shopping centre descended into horror as the gunman entered , sparking an hours long ordeal .
“ It was like a dream ...
I ’ m grateful I survived , ” Sottiyanee Unchalee , 48 , told AFP , explaining she hid in the toilet of a gym inside the mall as she heard the gunfire .
A Filipina teacher Aldrin Baliquing said he was ushered into a storeroom by staff as the shooting began .
“ We were there for six gruelling hours ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Scores of people made a dash for it as police and soldiers in masks and wielding assault rifles took control of the ground floor following a gun battle and scoured the fleeing crowds for the assailant .
Hours later he was shot dead .
Photos showed smiling elite units of soldiers and police emerging from the mall .
Purported video from the scene - shared on social media - showed snipers in webbing on elevated walkways , aiming their rifles downwards as heavy gunfire echoed across a concourse below .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook posts which charted the attack from an army barracks to the city mall .
Despite the prime minister ’ s speculation Jakrapanth ’ s exact motive remained unclear as Korat - a sedate and mid-size town - tried to digest the scale of the atrocity .
The bloodshed began Saturday afternoon when he shot three people - among them at least one soldier - at a senior officer ’ s house and then at the nearby army barracks , before driving a military vehicle to the town centre .
There the gunman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the town centre .
Throughout the day , he posted images of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page as the attack unfolded .
In one Facebook video - since deleted - the assailant , wearing an army helmet , filmed from an open-top jeep , saying , “ I ’ m tired ...
I can ’ t pull my finger anymore ” as he made a trigger symbol with his hand .
There were also photos of a man in a ski mask holding up a pistol .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed the gunman ’ s accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it.
” The city is home to one of the largest barracks in Thailand , a country where the military is enmeshed in politics and society .
The nation also has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world , and several shootings at courthouses last year renewed concern about gun violence .

A Thai soldier who killed at least 26 people before being shot dead in a mall by commandos went on the rampage because of a debt dispute, the kingdom’s premier said on Sunday, offering the first official speculation for the motive of an “unprecedented” shooting spree.
Thai security forces evacuate students stranded inside the Terminal 21 shopping mall following a gun battle to try to stop a soldier on a rampage after a mass shooting, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand February 9, 2020.
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After a night which seesawed between heavy exchanges of gunfire and terrifying dashes for mall exits by trapped shoppers, sharp-shooters brought an end to the 17-hour-ordeal when they killed the gunman on Sunday morning in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat.
Twenty-six people including civilians - the youngest a 13-year-old boy - and security forces were killed by the rogue soldier, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said.
“It is unprecedented in Thailand, and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens,” he said outside a hospital where victims, including at least two undergoing brain surgery, were being treated.
Prayut, a gruff former army chief, blamed a “personal problem” over the sale of the house for the soldier’s rampage, which began on Saturday afternoon near an army barracks and was for several hours relayed by the gunman via Facebook posts.
The attacker, a junior army officer identified as Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma, used a stolen M60 machine gun, rifles and ammunition from one of Thailand’s largest barracks as well as a military humvee to carry out the attack.
Overpowered security
Prayut said he overpowered security at the barracks’ arsenal.
“This was not carelessness. We don’t leave the arsenal depot alone - we had people guarding it.”
Most of the dead were killed in an around the mall.
Volleys of gunfire rang out as the siege ran into dawn, hours after Thai security services stormed the ground floor and freed scores of stunned, terrified shoppers from a bloody rampage.
Frightened shoppers sent cascades of messages to friends and family on social media from cupboards, toilets and under tables as the gunman stalked the mall.
Shocked evacuees recounted how an ordinary Saturday at the busy shopping centre descended into horror as the gunman entered, sparking an hours long ordeal.
“It was like a dream... I’m grateful I survived,” Sottiyanee Unchalee, 48, told AFP, explaining she hid in the toilet of a gym inside the mall as she heard the gunfire.
A Filipina teacher Aldrin Baliquing said he was ushered into a storeroom by staff as the shooting began.
“We were there for six gruelling hours... I’m in shock,” she said.
Scores of people made a dash for it as police and soldiers in masks and wielding assault rifles took control of the ground floor following a gun battle and scoured the fleeing crowds for the assailant.
Hours later he was shot dead. Photos showed smiling elite units of soldiers and police emerging from the mall.
Purported video from the scene - shared on social media - showed snipers in webbing on elevated walkways, aiming their rifles downwards as heavy gunfire echoed across a concourse below.
Stolen weapons
The gunman relayed his shooting spree through Facebook posts which charted the attack from an army barracks to the city mall.
Despite the prime minister’s speculation Jakrapanth’s exact motive remained unclear as Korat - a sedate and mid-size town - tried to digest the scale of the atrocity.
The bloodshed began Saturday afternoon when he shot three people - among them at least one soldier - at a senior officer’s house and then at the nearby army barracks, before driving a military vehicle to the town centre.
There the gunman used the stolen weapons to unleash carnage in the town centre.
Throughout the day, he posted images of himself and wrote several posts on his Facebook page as the attack unfolded.
In one Facebook video - since deleted - the assailant, wearing an army helmet, filmed from an open-top jeep, saying, “I’m tired... I can’t pull my finger anymore” as he made a trigger symbol with his hand.
There were also photos of a man in a ski mask holding up a pistol.
A Facebook spokesperson said: “We have removed the gunman’s accounts from our services and will work around the clock to remove any violating content related to this attack as soon as we become aware of it.”
The city is home to one of the largest barracks in Thailand, a country where the military is enmeshed in politics and society.
The nation also has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world, and several shootings at courthouses last year renewed concern about gun violence.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-02-09--Iranian satellite fails to reach orbit in latest setback for space programme

People gather around a model of a satellite-carrier rocket displayed during a ceremony in Tehran in 2016 .
An Iranian rocket failed to put a satellite into orbit on Sunday , state television reported , the latest setback for a programme the US claims helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program .
The launch happened at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran ’ s Semnan province , some 230 kilometers ( 145 miles ) southeast of Iran ’ s capital , Tehran .
A Simorgh , or “ Phoenix , ” rocket could n't put the Zafar 1 communications satellite into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low speed , Iranian state TV reported .
“ Stage-1 and stage-2 motors of the carrier functioned properly and the satellite was successfully detached from its carrier , but at the end of its path it did not reach the required speed for being put in the orbit , ” Defense Ministry space programme spokesman Ahmad Hosseini told state TV .
Hosseini still sought to portray the failure as a “ remarkable ” achievement for its space programme .
In the days leading up to the launch , Iranian officials had been promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi .
His quick rise through the Islamic Republic ’ s carefully managed political system already is generating speculation he could be a candidate for Iran ’ s 2021 presidential campaign .
The launch had been planned amid celebrations ahead of the February anniversary of Iran 's 1979 Islamic Revolution .
Iran routinely unveils technological achievements for its armed forces , its space program and its nuclear efforts during this time .
Sunday 's failure came after two failed launches of the Payam and Doosti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a launchpad rocket explosion in August .
A separate fire at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in February 2019 also killed three researchers , authorities said at the time .
The rocket explosion in August drew even the attention of US President Donald Trump , who later tweeted what appeared to be a classified surveillance image of the launch failure .
The three failures in a row raised suspicion of outside interference in Iran ’ s programme .
The US alleges such satellite launches defy a UN Security Council resolution calling on Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons .
Iran , which long has said it does not seek nuclear weapons , maintains its satellite launches and rocket tests do not have a military component .
Tehran also says it hasn ’ t violated the UN resolution as it only “ called upon ” Tehran not to conduct such tests .
Over the past decade , Iran has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit and in 2013 launched a monkey into space .
The launch comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018 .
Iran since has begun breaking terms of the deal limiting its enrichment of uranium .
Meanwhile , a series of attacks across the Persian Gulf culminated with a US drone strike in Baghdad killing Iran 's Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani and a retaliatory ballistic missile strike by Iran on Iraqi bases housing American troops earlier this month .
Iran also accidentally shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner taking off from Tehran amid the tensions , killing all 176 people on board @

An Iranian rocket failed to put a satellite into orbit on Sunday, state television reported, the latest setback for a programme the US claims helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program.
People gather around a model of a satellite-carrier rocket displayed during a ceremony in Tehran in 2016.
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The launch happened at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s Semnan province, some 230 kilometers (145 miles) southeast of Iran’s capital, Tehran. A Simorgh, or “Phoenix,” rocket couldn't put the Zafar 1 communications satellite into orbit, however, due to a low speed, Iranian state TV reported.
“Stage-1 and stage-2 motors of the carrier functioned properly and the satellite was successfully detached from its carrier, but at the end of its path it did not reach the required speed for being put in the orbit,” Defense Ministry space programme spokesman Ahmad Hosseini told state TV.
Hosseini still sought to portray the failure as a “remarkable” achievement for its space programme.
In the days leading up to the launch, Iranian officials had been promoting the mission, including the country's Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi. His quick rise through the Islamic Republic’s carefully managed political system already is generating speculation he could be a candidate for Iran’s 2021 presidential campaign.
The launch had been planned amid celebrations ahead of the February anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran routinely unveils technological achievements for its armed forces, its space program and its nuclear efforts during this time.
Sunday's failure came after two failed launches of the Payam and Doosti satellites last year, as well as a launchpad rocket explosion in August. A separate fire at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in February 2019 also killed three researchers, authorities said at the time.
The rocket explosion in August drew even the attention of US President Donald Trump, who later tweeted what appeared to be a classified surveillance image of the launch failure. The three failures in a row raised suspicion of outside interference in Iran’s programme.
The US alleges such satellite launches defy a UN Security Council resolution calling on Iran to undertake no activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
Iran, which long has said it does not seek nuclear weapons, maintains its satellite launches and rocket tests do not have a military component. Tehran also says it hasn’t violated the UN resolution as it only “called upon” Tehran not to conduct such tests.
Over the past decade, Iran has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit and in 2013 launched a monkey into space.
The launch comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in May 2018. Iran since has begun breaking terms of the deal limiting its enrichment of uranium.
Meanwhile, a series of attacks across the Persian Gulf culminated with a US drone strike in Baghdad killing Iran's Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani and a retaliatory ballistic missile strike by Iran on Iraqi bases housing American troops earlier this month. Iran also accidentally shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner taking off from Tehran amid the tensions, killing all 176 people on board.
(AP)
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france24--2020-02-08--In France, two schools to shut as five British nationals among new coronavirus cases

France is closing two schools and trying to reassure vacationers in the Alps after five British citizens , including a 9-year-old child , contracted the new virus from China at a French ski resort .
Saturday 's announcement of the five new cases in France at the height of the ski season is the latest example of how the tentacles of the virus can easily spread across multiple borders .
The five British citizens were staying in a chalet in the Alpine ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc , and were in close contact with another Briton who apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the French Alps and then tested positive for the virus upon return to Britain , French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters Saturday .
That brings the total number of virus cases in France to 11 .
Britain has three confirmed cases .
The new type of coronavirus has infected more than 34,800 people globally and killed more than 700 , nearly all of them in China , since the first illnesses were detected in December .
The five British citizens with new cases of the virus are being held in Lyon-area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were in close contact with them and are now being monitored , the French health ministry said .
The chalet where they were staying housed a British family that lives in Contamines and another family of British vacationers .
The sickened child lives in Contamines and attends a local school , and took French classes at another local school , regional officials told a news conference Saturday .
Both schools will be closed , and the pupils will be monitored for signs of the virus .
Local officials sought to reassure tourists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world 's most prized ski areas that all preventive measures are being taken to stem further spread of the virus .
“ This cluster of cases in France illustrates how the coronavirus can spread to countries indirectly of China .
The French ski resort will have citizens from numerous other countries there , so there are implications for potential onward transmission , '' said Dr. Michael Head , Senior Research Fellow in Global Health , University of Southampton .
“ Singapore is a major transport hub in south-east Asia , so going forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases that have traveled through Singapore.
” France 's prime minister convened a special government meeting Saturday to discuss next steps in fighting the virus , and the government decided to harden its travel warning for China , cautioning against all travel there unless in case of “ imperative ” need .
The patient in Britain apparently contracted the virus after staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore and attending a business conference there Jan. 20-22 , Buzyn said .
There were 94 foreigners in the hotel at the time , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French minister .
The British citizen then spent Jan. 24-28 in the French Alps , and tested positive for the virus after returning home this week .
Separately , a British flight carrying some 150 Britons as well as French citizens from Wuhan is to arrive in the U.K. on Sunday .
In Germany , the latest case of the virus is the wife of a man previously infected who works for an auto parts supplier near Munich that has accounted for most of the 14 German cases confirmed so far .

France is closing two schools and trying to reassure vacationers in the Alps after five British citizens, including a 9-year-old child, contracted the new virus from China at a French ski resort.
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Saturday's announcement of the five new cases in France at the height of the ski season is the latest example of how the tentacles of the virus can easily spread across multiple borders.
The five British citizens were staying in a chalet in the Alpine ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie near Mont Blanc, and were in close contact with another Briton who apparently contracted the virus in Singapore, traveled to the French Alps and then tested positive for the virus upon return to Britain, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters Saturday.
That brings the total number of virus cases in France to 11. Britain has three confirmed cases. The new type of coronavirus has infected more than 34,800 people globally and killed more than 700, nearly all of them in China, since the first illnesses were detected in December.
The five British citizens with new cases of the virus are being held in Lyon-area hospitals, along with six other Britons who were in close contact with them and are now being monitored, the French health ministry said.
The chalet where they were staying housed a British family that lives in Contamines and another family of British vacationers. The sickened child lives in Contamines and attends a local school, and took French classes at another local school, regional officials told a news conference Saturday.
Both schools will be closed, and the pupils will be monitored for signs of the virus.
Local officials sought to reassure tourists descending this weekend on one of the world's most prized ski areas that all preventive measures are being taken to stem further spread of the virus.
“This cluster of cases in France illustrates how the coronavirus can spread to countries indirectly of China. The French ski resort will have citizens from numerous other countries there, so there are implications for potential onward transmission," said Dr. Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton. “Singapore is a major transport hub in south-east Asia, so going forward, we may well find further international cases that have traveled through Singapore.”
France's prime minister convened a special government meeting Saturday to discuss next steps in fighting the virus, and the government decided to harden its travel warning for China, cautioning against all travel there unless in case of “imperative” need.
The patient in Britain apparently contracted the virus after staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore and attending a business conference there Jan. 20-22, Buzyn said. There were 94 foreigners in the hotel at the time, including people from Hubei, according to the French minister.
The British citizen then spent Jan. 24-28 in the French Alps, and tested positive for the virus after returning home this week.
Separately, a British flight carrying some 150 Britons as well as French citizens from Wuhan is to arrive in the U.K. on Sunday.
In Germany, the latest case of the virus is the wife of a man previously infected who works for an auto parts supplier near Munich that has accounted for most of the 14 German cases confirmed so far.
(AP)
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