# data[].attributes.body
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51287430

# data[].attributes.body
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/29/world/sun-image-inouye-telescope-scn/index.html

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/29/us-submarine-trident-nuclear-warhead-patrols-atlantic-ocean

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/movies/joaquin-phoenix-oscars-speech.html

# data[].attributes.body
https://edition.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-02-10-20-intl-hnk/index.html

# data[].attributes.body
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/10/asia/sydney-rain-fires-australia-intl/index.html

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51544121

# data[].attributes.body
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/17/africa/cameroon-village-attack-intl/index.html

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/16/iraq-explosions-rockets-strike-near-us-embassy-in-baghdad?fbclid=IwAR1yO7XxoOavJHN1k_T_wyHg3V_TVrFcoMDEUtb7ahwDqfjdAblTGU7Tkq0

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
an antarctica heat wave melted 20% of an island's snow in 9 days - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A heat wave in Antarctica melted 20% of an island's snow in 9 days

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A nine-day heat wave scorched Antarctica's northern tip earlier this month. New NASA images reveal that nearly a quarter of an Antarctic island's snow cover melted in that time -- an increasingly common symptom of the climate crisis.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
marsquakes: nasa mission discovers that mars is seismically active - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Marsquakes: NASA mission discovers that Mars is seismically active

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Since landing on Mars in November 2018, NASA's InSight mission has found evidence of Marsquakes, among other surprises.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The World Health Organization has said the world should do more to prepare for a possible coronavirus pandemic.

The WHO said it was too early to call the outbreak a pandemic but countries should be "in a phase of preparedness".

A pandemic is when an infectious disease spreads easily from person to person in many parts of the world.

More cases of the virus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19, continue to emerge, with outbreaks in South Korea, Italy and Iran causing concern.

However, most infections are in China, the original source of the virus, where more than 77,000 people have the disease and over 2,600 have died.

More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed in about 30 other countries and there have been more than 20 deaths. Italy reported four more deaths on Monday, raising the total there to seven.

Worldwide stock markets saw sharp falls because of concerns about the economic impact of the virus.

China said it would postpone the annual meeting of the National People's Congress next month, to "continue the efforts" against the coronavirus.

The body, which approves decisions made by the Communist Party, has met every year since 1978.

The proportion of infected people who die from Covid-19 appears to be between 1% and 2%, although the WHO cautions that the mortality rate is not known yet.

On Monday Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain reported their first cases, all involving people who had come from Iran. Officials in Bahrain said the patient infected there was a school bus driver, and several schools had been closed as a result.

Coronavirus: Could it become a pandemic?

Tell us how you've been affected by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk .

Among other developments:

Some upcoming football matches in Italy's Serie A and the Europa League will be played behind closed doors to prevent the spread of the virus, Italy's sports minister says

Gold surged to its highest price in seven years as coronavirus fears led investors to seek a safe haven

South Korean pop group BTS asks fans to stay away from upcoming TV shows, which will be taped without a studio audience

North Korea has quarantined 380 foreigners in a bid to stop the coronavirus from breaking out.

What does the WHO say?

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Monday that the number of new cases in recent days in Iran, Italy and South Korea was "deeply concerning".

However he added: "For the moment we are not witnessing the uncontained global spread of this virus and we are not witnessing large scale severe disease or deaths.

"Does this virus have pandemic potential? Absolutely, it has. Are we there yet? From our assessment, not yet."

"The key message that should give all countries hope, courage and confidence is that this virus can be contained, indeed there are many countries that have done exactly that," Mr Tedros said.

"Using the word 'pandemic' now does not fit the facts but may certainly cause fear."

But Mike Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies programme, said now was the time to make "do everything you would do to prepare for a pandemic".

'Pandemic' is just a word

Is the coronavirus a pandemic? For now the WHO says no. It argues the number of countries with outbreaks, the severity of the disease and the impact on society has not reached pandemic-level.

But some scientists - assessing the same picture - think we are already there and others say we're on the cusp. The surge in cases in South Korea and the deaths in Iran and Italy have dialled up concern over the past few days.

The deaths suggest there are far more cases in those two countries than have been reported and that the virus has been there for some time.

But ultimately the word pandemic is just that - a word - it will not unlock more money or give the WHO new powers. It has already issued the highest warning it can, by declaring the virus a global emergency.

What are the symptoms?

The main signs of infection are fever (high temperature) and a cough as well as shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

What should I do?

Frequent hand washing with soap or gel, avoiding close contact with people who are ill and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands can help cut the risk of infection.

Catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, binning it and washing your hands can minimise the risk of spreading disease.

What is coronavirus and what are the symptoms?

What does 'pandemic' mean?

A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease

The H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak, which killed hundreds of thousands of people, was declared a pandemic by the WHO in 2009

The WHO no longer formally labels an outbreak of disease a "pandemic" but says the term may be used "colloquially"

Its advice to countries - to limit the infections while preparing for wider spread - remains the same

Which are the worst-affected countries?

South Korea - which has the largest number of confirmed cases outside China - reported another 231 infections on Monday taking the total there to more than 830. Eight people have died.

Around 7,700 troops have been quarantined after 11 military members were infected.

But the biggest virus clusters have been linked to a hospital and a religious group near the south-eastern city of Daegu.

Coronavirus: A visual guide to the outbreak

How a misleading coronavirus map went global

Watching loved ones die without care in Wuhan

Italy has the largest number of cases in Europe, 229, and announced a series of drastic measures over the weekend to try to contain the outbreak.

In the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, a lock-down is in place in several small towns. For the next two weeks, 50,000 residents will not be able to leave without special permission.

Even outside the zone, many businesses and schools have suspended activities, and sporting events have been cancelled.

Three deaths announced on Monday were all in Lombardy, Italian media reported.

It is not yet clear how the virus entered the country, officials said.

In China, the government announced a ban on the consumption of wild animals and a crackdown on the hunting, transportation and trade of prohibited species, state media say.

It is thought that the outbreak originated at a market in the city of Wuhan selling wild animals.

China reported 508 new infections on Monday, compared with 409 on Sunday. The bulk of the new cases were in Wuhan. Outside the worst-hit province of Hubei, the number of new infections continues to decline, according to official figures.

The death toll in China rose by 71 to 2,663.

Iran said on Sunday it had 61 confirmed cases of the virus, most of them in the holy city of Qom. Twelve of those infected have died, the highest number of deaths outside China.

On Monday an MP in Qom accused the government of covering up the extent of the outbreak, saying there were 50 deaths in the city alone. However, the country's deputy health minister quickly denied the claim.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
World must prepare for pandemic, says WHO

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The World Health Organization has said the world should do more to prepare for a possible coronavirus pandemic. The WHO said it was too early to call the outbreak a pandemic but countries should be "in a phase of preparedness". A pandemic is when an infectious disease spreads easily from person to person in many parts of the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Scientists have found evidence that Earth was covered by a global ocean that turned the planet into a "water world" more than 3bn years ago.

Telltale chemical signatures were spotted in an ancient chunk of ocean crust which point to a planet once devoid of continents, the largest landmasses on Earth.

If the findings are confirmed by future work, they will help researchers to refine their theories on where and how the first single-celled life emerged on Earth, and what other worlds may be habitable.

"An early Earth without emergent continents may have resembled a 'water world', providing an important environmental constraint on the origin and evolution of life on Earth, as well as its possible existence elsewhere," the scientists write in Nature Geoscience.

Boswell Wing, of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his former postdoctoral student Benjamin Johnson, now at Iowa State University, launched the project to break fresh ground in the debate over what ancient Earth might have looked like.

Their work centred on a geological site called the Panorama district in north-western Australia's outback, where a 3.2bn-year-old slab of ocean floor has been turned on its side. Locked inside the ancient crust are chemical clues about the seawater that covered Earth at the time.

The scientists focused on different types of oxygen that seawater had carried into the crust. In particular, they analysed the relative amounts of two isotopes, oxygen-16 and the ever-so-slightly-heavier oxygen-18, in more than 100 samples of the stone.

They found that seawater contained more oxygen-18 when the crust was formed 3.2bn years ago. The most likely explanation, they believe, is that Earth had no continents at the time, because when these form, the clays they contain absorb the ocean's heavy oxygen isotopes.

"Without continents above the ocean, the oxygen value would be distinct from today, which is exactly what we found," Johnson said. "And it's different in a way that's most easily explained without land to get rained on and without soil formation."

The findings do not mean Earth was entirely landless at the time. The scientists suspect that small "microcontinents" may have poked out of the ocean here and there. But they do not think the planet hosted vast soil-rich continents like those that dominate Earth today.

"I imagine a picture kind of like what it must look like to approach the Galápagos Islands from the west: vast expanses of ocean waters to the north and south with small volcanic rocky islets barely poking above the ocean surface," said Wing.

Other explanations are possible, the researchers note. The same chemical signature could arise if continents formed far slower in the deep past than they do today, or if the continental clays that absorb heavy oxygen isotopes formed in the sea rather than on land.

It remains a mystery when the first continents eventually formed, most likely through the gradual slowing of heat loss from the Earth's interior. But about half a million years ago, Earth was dominated by the supercontinent Gondwana, which lasted into the Jurassic period, about 180m years ago. Wing now plans to look at oxygen isotope ratios in younger oceanic crust in the hope of nailing down when the global continents emerged.

"The oldest preserved continental material is approximately 4bn years old and the subsequent growth and emergence of the continental landmasses is constantly debated," said Alan Hastie, an igneous petrologist at the University of Birmingham.

"Earth scientists use a variety of methods to try to estimate how the volume of the continents has changed over time. This is important as the volcanism associated with continental growth and the erosion of landmasses has modified the composition of Earth's oceans and atmosphere. Therefore, any new study to help us constrain the amount of continental emergence is welcome," he added.
Topics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Earth may have been a 'water world' 3bn years ago, scientists find

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists have found evidence that Earth was covered by a global ocean that turned the planet into a "water world" more than 3bn years ago. Telltale chemical signatures were spotted in an ancient chunk of ocean crust which point to a planet once devoid of continents, the largest landmasses on Earth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
With (CNN) - a population of 602,000, Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries -- yet it suffers from major traffic jams.

But that could be about to change. As of March 1, 2020 all public transport -- trains, trams and buses -- in the country is now free.

The government hopes the move will alleviate heavy congestion and bring environmental benefits, according to Dany Frank, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works.

Landlocked Luxembourg is one of the richest countries in Europe, with the highest per capita GDP in the European Union.

"Luxembourg is a very attractive place for jobs," explains Geoffrey Caruso, a professor at the University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research specializing in land use and transportation.

But its "booming economy" and high concentration of jobs have led to congestion issues, he says.

That year, drivers in Luxembourg City spent an average of 33 hours in traffic jams. It fared worse than European cities Copenhagen and Helsinki, which have comparable population sizes to all of Luxembourg -- yet drivers in both only spent an average of 24 hours in traffic.

Park and rides around Luxembourg's borders in the three neighboring countries, however, will encourage commuters to use free mass transit, according to Frank.

Luxembourg's public transport system covers the whole country and costs $562 million (€508 million) per year to run. Each year, it generates around $46 million in ticket sales, according to the ministry.

The government is putting up the cost of making it free, Frank says. "The country at this very moment is in really good shape. We, the government, want the people to benefit from the good economy."

Caruso is concerned that making transport free may unintentionally deter people who would normally walk or cycle in urban areas. "Rather than walking 500 meters, you see a bus coming and you say, 'I (can) get on and travel 500 meters because it's free,'" he says.

He adds, however, that the new scheme can signal important changes ahead when it comes to Luxembourg's reliance on driving.

"(The government) might say, 'It's important that you ditch your car, and look, we made public transport free' -- and maybe this is helpful given the immense cultural shift we need."

Originally published in 2019, updated March 2, 2020.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
luxembourg makes all public transport free - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Luxembourg makes all public transport free

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With (CNN) - a population of 602,000, Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries -- yet it suffers from major traffic jams. But that could be about to change. As of March 1, 2020 all public transport -- trains, trams and buses -- in the country is now free.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Half of the world’s beaches could disappear by the end of the century, study finds | CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new study finds that around 50% of the world’s beaches could vanish by 2100 because of the combined threats posed by climate change and sea level rise.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
chinese billionaire jack ma donates masks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
test kits to all countries in africa - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Chinese billionaire Jack Ma donates masks, test kits to all countries in Africa

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma is donating masks and test kits to all 54 countries in Africa to help the continent in its fight against the novel coronavirus.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
our eyes on mars: how curiosity sees the red planet - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Our eyes on Mars: How Curiosity sees the Red Planet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NASA's Curiosity rover sits on Mars with a view that no human has ever beheld in person.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
why does south korea have so few coronavirus deaths while italy has so many (opinion) - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why South Korea has so few coronavirus deaths while Italy has so many

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For now it is partly because of vast differences in the affected patients -- young vs. old, smokers vs. not, writes MD and infection specialist Kent Sepkowitz. Soon it also will be due to another reason.

# data[].attributes.body
https://poziomenika.wixsite.com/yournews?fbclid=IwAR1OeQbt59Sh5vqJJsUqluRGX9Ngzt_8aHV9MhLYtd_7n3gqjWD6iX2lwck

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
hong kong appeared to have the coronavirus under control

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hong Kong appeared to have the coronavirus under control, then it let its guard down

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As the sudden surge in cases in Hong Kong shows, quarantines and social distancing must continue well beyond the initial wave of cases, if another round of infections is to be avoided.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
japan asked the international media to change how we write their names. no one listened - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Japan asked the international media to change how we write their names. No one listened

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In a full-page spread on March 2, 1979, the Los Angeles Times introduced its readers to Pinyin, a Chinese romanization system it said was changing the "familiar map of China."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
people in the west are ignoring advice to stay home. that's because it's too confusing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
People in the West are ignoring advice to stay home. That's because it's too confusing, one expert says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In these times of extraordinary global turmoil, the weekend came as a welcome break for many. But anyone looking at the crowds on California beaches or in UK parks would have no clue that a dangerous pandemic has the world in its grip.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It might not show much of a family resemblance but fossil hunters say a newly discovered creature, that looks like a teardrop-shaped jellybean and is about half the size of a grain of rice, is an early relative of humans and a vast array of other animals.

The team discovered the fossils in rocks in the outback of South Australia that are thought to be at least 555m years old.

The researchers say the diminutive creatures are one of the earliest examples of a bilateral organism - animals with features including a front and a back, a plane of symmetry that results in a left and a right side, and often a gut that opens at each end. Humans, pigs, spiders and butterflies are all bilaterians, but creatures such as jellyfish are not.

Dr Scott Evans, of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and a co-author of the research, said: "The major finding of the paper is that this is possibly the oldest bilaterian yet recognised in the fossil record. ​Because humans are bilaterians, we can say that this was a very early relative and possibly one of the first on the diverse bilaterian tree of life."

Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Scott and colleagues in the US and Australia report how they made their discovery in sandstone at sites including fossil-rich Nilpena. They say careful analysis ruled out the possibility that the fossils were actually formed by the action of currents or from microbial mats.

The animal has been named Ikaria wariootia in reference to an Indigenous term for Wilpena Pound, a nearby landmark, and the Warioota Creek that is close to the sites of the find.

The team not only found burrows, but more than 100 fossils of the tiny creatures themselves - essentially impressions of the animal in the rock - an unusual discovery since Ikaria wariootia, like many other animals of the time, were soft-bodied.

That, the researchers say, is important: bilateral organisms are thought to have evolved during the Ediacaran period that stretched from 571m to 539m years ago, however previous evidence for such creatures has largely relied on traces such as the burrows they made.

Guardian graphic

While the creatures were tiny - between 2mm and 7mm in length - their form reveals vital clues.

"One major difference with a grain of rice is that Ikaria had a large and small end," said Evans. "This may seem trivial but that means it had a distinct front and back end, which is the kind of organisation that leads to the variety of things with heads and tails that are around today."

The team say analysis of the burrows suggests Ikaria wariootia would have moved through the sediment of its shallow marine environment rather like an earthworm, by contracting groups of muscles. Furthermore, it would most probably have had a mouth and anus connected by a gut and fed on dead animals and other organic matter - conclusions drawn from the current finds together with evidence from similar burrows discovered several years previously within the fossils of other animals.

"We also can see from the burrows that it targeted food and oxygen, which tells us that it had the ability to sense things in its environment," said Evans, adding that this offered new insights into our oldest bilaterian ancestors.

Prof Simon Conway Morris from the University of Cambridge, who was not involved in the work, described the findings as exciting. He said: "Although the tiny fossils are near the limits of resolution they both tantalisingly suggest a creature very close to the earliest known ancestor of all advanced animals and, even more intriguingly, a likely association with small traces made as the animal forged through the sediment in search of food."
Topics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fossil hunters find evidence of 555m-year-old human relative

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It might not show much of a family resemblance but fossil hunters say a newly discovered creature, that looks like a teardrop-shaped jellybean and is about half the size of a grain of rice, is an early relative of humans and a vast array of other animals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Tokyo Olympic Games will start on 23 July, 2021 and run to 8 August after being postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board met on Monday to make the decision.

The Olympics will still be called Tokyo 2020 despite taking place in 2021.

The Paralympic Games, originally due to start on 24 August, 2020, will now take place between 24 August and 5 September, 2021.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: "I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, we can master this unprecedented challenge.

"Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel."

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons added: "When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport.

"With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 512 days away, the priority for all those involved in the Paralympic movement must be to focus on staying safe with their friends and family during this unprecedented and difficult time."

The Inside Track podcast: Tokyo 2020 postponed

GB Paralympians praise decision to delay Tokyo Games

Tokyo 2020: 'The right decision, made just in time'

The decision to postpone both events was taken to protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved, and to support the containment of the Covid-19 virus.

The new dates also took into consideration the rest of the global sports calendar after the men's football European Championship was postponed to the summer of 2021.

The World Athletics Championships, originally set to take place in Oregon, USA, between 6 August and 15 August 2021, will now be postponed until 2022.

If that is moved back exactly a year it would clash with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham which is set to take place between 27 July and 7 August.

"We support the new 2021 dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This gives our athletes the time they need to get back into training and competition," World Athletics said in a statement.

"Everyone needs to be flexible and compromise and to that end we are now working with the organisers of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon on new dates in 2022.

"We are also in discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the European Championships."

Chief executive of the CGC David Grevemberg said his organisation is "fully committed to hosting a successful Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, during 2022".

He added: "Over the coming days, we will continue to work collaboratively with our international federation partners to ensure the XXII Commonwealth Games maintains its position and stature on the global sporting calendar."

Olympic organisers hope the delay will allow sufficient time to finish the qualification process which will follow the same mitigation measures planned for 2020.

It has previously been confirmed that all athletes already qualified and quota places already assigned will remain unchanged.

Purchased tickets would be valid for rescheduled events or a refund could be requested when the new dates were set, organisers previously confirmed.

On 24 March, Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said the Games would be held in their "complete form" and no later than summer 2021.

Tokyo 2020 organising committee president Yoshiro Mori said he had proposed the 23 July to 8 August timeframe to the IOC, and that Bach had agreed, following consultations with the international sports federations.

"A certain amount of time is required for the selection and qualification of athletes and for their training and preparation, and the consensus was that staging the rescheduled Games during the summer vacation in Japan would be preferable," Mori said.

"In terms of transport, arranging volunteers and the provision of tickets for those in Japan and overseas, as well as allowing for the Covid-19 situation, we think that it would be better to reschedule the Games to one year later than planned, in the summer of 2021."

It is the first time in the Olympic Games' 124-year modern history that they have been delayed, though they were cancelled altogether in 1916 because of World War One and again in 1940 and 1944 for World War Two. Cold War boycotts affected the summer Games in Moscow and Los Angeles in 1980 and 1984 respectively.

BPA "praises speed" of decision

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) has "praised the speed" with which the Tokyo 2020 Games have been rescheduled and hopes it will give athletes the "certainty they need to refocus on achieving their goals".

Mike Sharrock, chief executive of the BPA, said: ""We recognise many challenges still lie ahead in the battle with the global Covid-19 pandemic and athletes will not be able to return to their training schedules for some time yet.

"The clear priority now is stemming this public health crisis and ensuring people follow the Government advice to stay safe and well."

Sharrock added he believes Tokyo 2020 "has the potential to be the biggest and best Paralympics in history".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics: New dates confirmed for 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Tokyo Olympic Games will start on 23 July, 2021 and run to 8 August after being postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board met on Monday to make the decision. The Olympics will still be called Tokyo 2020 despite taking place in 2021.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
uk prime minister moved to intensive care unit with coronavirus symptoms - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Hilary McGann, Angela Dewan, Emma  Reynolds and Luke McGee, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Boris Johnson moved to intensive care unit with coronavirus symptoms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to an intensive care unit Monday after his condition with coronavirus symptoms "worsened," his office has said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The tiger, named Nadia, is believed to be the first known case of an animal infected with Covid-19 in the US.

The Bronx Zoo, in New York City, says the test result was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa.

Nadia, along with six other big cats, is thought to have been infected by an asymptomatic zoo keeper.

The cats started showing symptoms, including a dry cough, late last month after exposure to the employee, who has not been identified.

"This is the first time that any of us know of anywhere in the world that a person infected the animal and the animal got sick," Paul Calle, the chief veterinarian at the zoo, told Reuters news agency on Sunday.

There have been isolated instances of pets testing positive for the coronavirus elsewhere in the world, but experts have stressed there is no evidence they can become sick or spread the disease.

Mr Calle said he intends to share the findings with other zoos and institutions researching the transmission of Covid-19.

Tiger King star in virus isolation, husband says

Pangolins carry strains related to new coronavirus

"We tested the cat [Nadia] out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about Covid-19 will contribute to the world's continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus," the zoo said in a statement.

Nadia, her sister Azul, as well as two Amur tigers and three African lions who showed symptoms, are all expected to make a full recovery, the zoo said.

The big cats did have some decrease in appetite but "are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers", it said.

The zoo said it is not known how the virus will develop in animals like tigers and lions since various species can react differently to new infections, but all the animals will be closely monitored.

None of the zoo's other big cats are showing any signs of illness. All the tigers showing symptoms were housed in the zoo's Tiger Mountain area. It is unclear if the others will be tested.

All four zoos run by the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City, including the Bronx Zoo, have been closed to the public since 16 March. New measures will now be put in place to protect the animals and their caretakers at all the facilities.

Calls to protect great apes from coronavirus

Shenzhen becomes first Chinese city to ban eating cats and dogs

Coronavirus: Five things you need to know

What do we know about animals and the virus?

This coronavirus was first detected in humans in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The coronavirus (called Sars-CoV-2, which causes the disease Covid-19) is thought to have originated in wildlife and been passed to humans via a live animal market in Wuhan.

The pandemic has been driven by human-to-human transmission, but the infection of Nadia raises new questions about human-to-animal transmission.

There have been less than a handful of isolated reports of companion animals testing positive for coronavirus, including two dogs in Hong Kong.

There is "no evidence that any person has been infected with Covid-19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats," the zoo's statement noted.

That is also the view of the World Organisation for Animal Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), which says there is no evidence that pet dogs or cats can pass on the coronavirus.

The World Organisation for Animal Health says studies are under way to understand the issue more. and urges anyone who has become sick to limit contact with pets.

Dr Sarah Caddy, Veterinarian and Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, is among experts to respond to the reports.

"It is surprising that the tiger has become infected with what must have been a fairly low dose of virus - we can assume the tiger did not have continual close contact with the asymptomatic zoo keeper," she said about the transmission.

"It is also interesting that the tiger showed clinical signs consistent with Covid-19 in humans. Although scientific proof is lacking, the chance this is just a coincidence is low."

Conservation experts have warned that the virus could pose a threat to some wildlife like the great apes - and have said measures are needed to reduce the risk of wild gorillas, chimps and orangutans.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tiger at US zoo tests positive for coronavirus

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the coronavirus. The tiger, named Nadia, is believed to be the first known case of an animal infected with Covid-19 in the US. The Bronx Zoo, in New York City, says the test result was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Turkish authorities have imposed new measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, as the number of infections continues to rise sharply.

The country has reported 30,217 confirmed cases and 649 deaths.

Face masks are mandatory on public transport, in markets and other communal spaces, and 31 cities are now closed to all but essential traffic.

Turkey now has the ninth-highest number of cases worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Some 1.3 million people have fallen ill globally and more than 70,000 have died.

On Twitter, Turkey's Health Minister Dr Fahrettin Koca urged people to "stay at home", saying the virus "draws its power from contact".

Follow our live virus updates from around the world

Coronavirus outbreak eats into EU unity

Ex-goalkeeper for Turkey is hospitalised

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked people to practice social distancing and stay "three paces" from one another. Schools are closed, many international and domestic flights are suspended, and mass prayers and public gatherings have been banned.

But critics - including doctors and opposition politicians - say more needs to be done.

The government still has not imposed a full lockdown like those in place in European countries. Data suggests Turkey now has the fastest rising number of confirmed cases in the world.

Mr Erdogan imposed a nationwide confinement order on Friday, for those under 20 years old and anyone over 65 or with a chronic medical condition.

But age groups outside those brackets continue to work. And on Sunday, Mr Erdogan said those aged between 18 and 20 employed in the public or private sector are exempt from the curfew.

"When we counted there were about 1.1 million people using public transport on a work day, and we've seen a lot of private cars on the streets," key opposition figure and Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu told the BBC.

Asked if it was crazy how many people continue to move around, he replied: "It is, absolutely."

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise

LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area

MAPS AND CHARTS: Visual guide to the outbreak

VIDEO: The 20-second hand wash

Growing calls for a lockdown
By Orla Guerin, BBC News, Istanbul
If you want to see what the coronavirus has done to Istanbul, Istiklal Street - or Independence Street - is a good barometer. This wide avenue is a mix of shops, restaurants, and fast food joints with a helping of Art Deco architecture.

On an average weekday it attracts about one million people - a pulsing artery in a packed city. Nowadays the shutters are down, the trams are empty, and there's just a trickle of passers-by. Just a month ago Turkey was still congratulating itself being virus-free. Some here had their doubts, especially since neighbouring Iran was hard hit.

Since the first case was confirmed - on 11 March - the virus has reached every corner of the country, all 81 provinces. President Erdogan has been trying to contain Covid-19 without shutting down the economy. Doctors, trade unions and the opposition say he has not gone far enough. There are growing calls for a total lockdown.

In Turkey - now as before - it does not pay to speak out. One or two medical professionals who did subsequently retracted their statements. More than 400 people have been arrested for what the authorities call "provocative" posts about the virus on social media.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stricter measures in Turkey as cases rise sharply

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Turkish authorities have imposed new measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, as the number of infections continues to rise sharply. The country has reported 30,217 confirmed cases and 649 deaths. Face masks are mandatory on public transport, in markets and other communal spaces, and 31 cities are now closed to all but essential traffic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Florida: "The Sunshine State," or "full of flowers," in the Spanish tongue of Conquistador, Ponce de Leon, who disrupted the lives of some 350,000 native Americans when he landed there in 1513, seeking the legendary Fountain of Youth.

How was he to know he was actually closer to the fountain of DEATH!

Death metal, to be precise, began laying down roots as a standalone heavy metal sub-genre in the modern-day state of Florida as a natural sonic evolution of thrash metal, as that genre reached its commercial peak in the hands of Metallica, Slayer and others.

Yes, there were similar evolutionary steps being taken around the world - most notably by San Francisco's Possessed and Sweden's Nihilist - but few people would dispute the fact that death metal's primary architect, if there is one, was the Orlando-based Chuck Schuldiner, the driving force behind the aptly named band, Death.

And so, with additional input from other fledgling groups formed right there in Mickey Mouse's backyard, like Obituary, Morbid Angel, Deicide and Atheist, death metal became a cottage industry of sorts, centered around Tampa's Morrisound Recording Studio and producer Scott Burns.

It was here that death metal's signature sound took shape, infusing thrash with a heavier, thicker, chunkier guitar sound, incremental songwriting complexity, and, most distinctive of all, growled, guttural, melody-scorning vocals.

Anyway, looking back now, over a quarter-century later, there's no refuting the existence of a "Floridian Death Metal Scene," responsible for so many classic albums, 11 of which we'll revisit below as the discography no dedicated metalhead should live without.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Florida: "The Sunshine State," or "full of flowers," in the Spanish tongue of Conquistador, Ponce de Leon, who disrupted the lives of some 350,000 native Americans when he landed there in 1513, seeking the legendary Fountain of Youth. How was he to know he was actually closer to the fountain of DEATH!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The global economy will contract by 3% this year as countries around the world shrink at the fastest pace in decades, the International Monetary Fund says.

The IMF described the global decline as the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

It said the pandemic had plunged the world into a "crisis like no other".

The Fund added that a prolonged outbreak would test the ability of governments and central banks to control the crisis.

Gita Gopinath, the IMF's chief economist, said the crisis could knock $9 trillion (£7.2 trillion) off global GDP over the next two years.

'Great Lockdown'

While the Fund's latest World Economic Outlook praised the "swift and sizeable" response in countries like the UK, Germany, Japan and the US, it said no country would escape the downturn.

It expects global growth to rebound to 5.8% next year if the pandemic fades in the second half of 2020.

Ms Gopinath said today's "Great Lockdown" presented a "grim reality" for policymakers, who faced "severe uncertainty about the duration and intensity of the shock".

"A partial recovery is projected for 2021," said Ms Gopinath. "But the level of GDP will remain below the pre-virus trend, with considerable uncertainty about the strength of the rebound.

"Much worse growth outcomes are possible and maybe even likely."

Sharpest UK downturn in a century

The IMF predicts the UK economy will shrink by 6.5% in 2020, compared with the IMF's January forecast for 1.4% GDP growth.

A decline of this magnitude would be bigger than the 4.2% drop in output seen in the wake of the financial crisis.

It would also represent the biggest annual fall since 1921, according to reconstructed Bank of England data dating back to the 18th century.

However, this is half the annual rate expected by the OBR, which expects GDP to drop by 35% in the three months to June.

The UK's furlough scheme, which is designed to keep workers in a job amid the government lockdown, is expected to limit the rise in unemployment to 4.8% in 2020, from 3.8% last year.

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged billions of pounds in wage subsidies and loan guarantees to help workers and businesses through the shutdown.

The Bank of England has also slashed interest rates to a new low and freed up billions of pounds for commercial banks to lend.

Global pain

Ms Gopinath said that for the first time since the Great Depression, both advanced and developing economies were expected to fall into recession.

The IMF warned that growth in advanced economies would not get back to its pre-virus peak until at least 2022.

The US economy is expected to contract by 5.9% this year, representing the biggest annual decline since 1946. Unemployment in the US is also expected to jump to 10.4% this year.

A partial recovery is expected in 2021, with expected US growth of 4.7%.

The Chinese economy is expected to expand by just 1.2% this year, which would be the slowest growth since 1976. Australia is expected to suffer its first recession since 1991.

The IMF warned that there were "severe risks of a worse outcome".

It said that if the pandemic took longer to control and there was a second wave in 2021, this would knock an additional 8 percentage points off global GDP.

The Fund said this scenario could trigger a downward spiral in heavily-indebted economies.

It said investors might be unwilling to lend to some of these nations, which would push up borrowing costs.

The IMF added: "This increase in sovereign borrowing costs or simply fear of it materialising, could prevent many countries from providing the income support assumed here."

Economic medicine

While longer lockdowns will constrain economic activity, the IMF said quarantines and social distancing measures were vital.

It said: "Upfront containment measures are essential to slow the spread of the virus and allow health care systems to cope and to help pave the way for an earlier and more robust resumption of economic activity.

"Uncertainty and reduced demand for services could be even worse in a scenario of greater spread without social distancing"

The IMF set out four priorities for dealing with the pandemic.

It called for more money for health care systems, financial support for workers and businesses, continued central bank support and a clear exit plan for the recovery.

It urged the world to work together to find and distribute treatments and a vaccine.

The Fund added that many developing nations would need debt relief in the coming months and years.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'World faces worst decline since 1930s depression'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The global economy will contract by 3% this year as countries around the world shrink at the fastest pace in decades, the International Monetary Fund says. The IMF described the global decline as the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s. It said the pandemic had plunged the world into a "crisis like no other".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Germany's national zoo association (VdZ) argues that zoos, unlike many other businesses, cannot go into hibernation and run down costs. Animals still have to be fed daily and looked after, while a tropical enclosure has to be heated above 20C.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus: German zoo may have to feed animals to each other

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Germany's national zoo association (VdZ) argues that zoos, unlike many other businesses, cannot go into hibernation and run down costs. Animals still have to be fed daily and looked after, while a tropical enclosure has to be heated above 20C.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
(CNN) - The coronavirus pandemic has grounded most of the world's airplanes for the immediate future.

But when aviation eventually reboots, pilots will need to be up to speed.

That doesn't just mean polishing their Ray-Bans and dusting off their navy-blue blazers. It means brushing up on flight-deck skills and ensuring they keep within the boundaries of aviation's stringent safety regulations.

And that is presenting a looming challenge as pilots remain housebound.

"Pilots require frequent training and 'recency' to be able to fly," says Brian Strutton of the British Airline Pilots Association, or BALPA, which represents the interests of all UK pilots.

"Recency" means complying with regulations that stipulate a pilot must have successfully carried out three takeoffs and landings -- one of which using the cockpit's autoland facility -- within the previous 90 days.

To qualify for flying both at daytime and night-time, commercial pilots also need to perform three night-time take-offs and landings within the 90 days, which are harder because the pilot has less visual cues. This covers the three daytime take-offs and landings as well.

But there are other annual checks, as well.

These include the License Proficiency Check, which a pilot would have to do every year to keep their pilot's license valid. Also, the airline that the pilot flies for will have to perform an Operational Proficiency Check every six months.

"Most of these checks could be conducted in what is known as a 'D level' simulator," says Adam Twidell, an experienced pilot and CEO of PrivateFly, a booking platform for on-demand jets.

These are the most realistic and offer the highest definition and lifelike responses -- just like flying the real thing.

Simulators are also important to help pilots keep their skills sharp. While much can be practiced using computer games such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, there is no substitute when it comes to ratings, training and certifications. Pilots need to access real, full-scale flight simulators.

But for that to happen, simulators need to be available. In the UK, for example, many facilities offering simulators are closed.

There is also the issue of the availability of instructors and examiners to conduct checks. A co-pilot also needs to be present.

"There's going to be a significant backlog of available simulator slots. When airlines do want to get back to normal operations they won't be able to do it instantly," Twidell tells CNN Travel.

Expense is an issue, too. Simulator time costs around $300 to $400 an hour, and that's without the necessary associated personnel. It's all an enormous undertaking.

Additionally, there are regular fire and smoke training requirements, where pilots have to go into a smoke-filled aircraft and evacuate it. There are also first aid courses and crew resource management training, which involves assessing how crew members work together as a team.

Combine the complexity of the different types of training and certifications that flight crew might have to catch up on if the grounding persists for a prolonged period with the fact that the majority of the world's 290,000-plus active pilots are sitting at home, and the scale of the imminent problem becomes all too apparent.

To help alleviate the pressure accumulating from the potential expiration of the pilots' medical certificates and ratings (additional elements of the pilot's license that allows them to fly specific types of aircraft), time extensions are being granted worldwide by regulatory authorities.

Across Europe, the EU Aviation Safety Agency, or EASA, has extended the deadlines for certain requirements on condition that each airline comes up with a detailed pilot training plan that the agency will assess. If it's a credible plan, an extension could be granted.

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration's assistant chief counsel for enforcement, Naomi Tsuda, says that, due to the extraordinary circumstances related to the pandemic, the FAA will not take legal action against pilots in cases of noncompliance with medical certificate duration standards if their certificate expires between March 31 and June 30, 2020.

"The FAA will reevaluate this decision as circumstances unfold, to determine whether an extension or other action is needed to address this pandemic-related challenge," said Tsuda in an FAA Notice of Enforcement Policy.

In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority, in line with EASA guidance (while the UK is still in the EU), has exempted all operators, aircrew, instructors and examiners engaged in commercial air transport from the normal validity periods for licenses, certificates and ratings that expire before October 31, 2020.

Deferring the expiry of licenses and certificates is certainly helpful. But all of this is incredibly stressful for the airlines' workforces.

The world's longest and largest twin-engine airliner, the Boeing 777-9X, has completed its first test flight from Boeing's wide-body factory near Seattle.

"Over 40 airlines have grounded their entire fleets, including airlines like EasyJet, and the majority of others have grounded 80-90% -- it's just unheard of. That gives you an idea as to how many pilots are not flying aircraft," says Sam Sprules, managing director at pilot recruitment agency AeroProfessional.

Sprules tells CNN that a lot of flight crew are either grounded on minimal pay or being asked to take unpaid leave for the next couple of months.

In some countries, airlines are operating from the furlough or pay subsidy schemes, and in worst case scenarios crew are being terminated.

"Recruiting of flight crew has pretty much dried up at the moment while airlines are rightly focusing on trying to consolidate their finances just to survive," he says.

This is a colossal body-blow to an industry that was booming before the Covid-19 crisis took hold. However, Sprules also says that a small minority of aviation businesses are taking an optimistic approach, believing that recovery will be sooner rather than later.

"What they want to do is keep their recruitment moving to capitalize on the fact that there are a lot of skilled crew in the market right now."

Face-to-face interviews are now replaced with online tools such as Microsoft Office Teams or Skype. Airlines can build up pools of candidates so that as soon as the sector is back into recovery mode and restrictions start to subside they can jump into action.

"We are doing that with a few of our clients -- conducting applicant gathering and documentation screening and getting candidates to a point where we can go no further, until things start to move again," says Sprules.

So besides using computer simulators, how can pilots stuck at home keep their cockpit skills honed?

Karlene Petitt, a US-based Boeing 777 pilot and author of "Normalization of Deviance: A Threat to Aviation Safety," tells CNN that pilots could use this time of grounding for educational improvement.

She says that in an age where certain aspects of the flight deck are automated, pilots need to know, procedurally, how to set up the flight deck, which buttons to push and which checklists to read.

"You start forgetting things if you don't use them," she says. "And much of what we, as pilots, do is cognitive based. If you can keep that alive, then you're not going to lose proficiency.

"It would be nice if the airlines made available online training tools that we had during initial training or during initial type rating, so we could go and maintain proficiency while at home, until we get back into the sky."

Carriers could also have the ability to track and see which of their pilots are actually utilizing those tools, says Petitt, adding that even a home-made low-tech approach could be beneficial too:

In the past, when Petitt was "out of the cockpit" for a couple of years in the days before online pilot training was an option, she made flashcards and what she calls a "paper trainer," a sort of wall poster, to practice cockpit procedures at home.

"We did this years ago. You just physically move and touch the button because the motion of actually touching where you would be touching in the airplane helps to instill it into memory."

Joji Waites, flight safety specialist at BALPA, tells CNN that his organization is ensuring that the few crew that are still flying (on cargo, medical, repatriation, and a few scheduled services) are equipped with protective kits where necessary, and checking that aircraft are properly cleaned.

"For those that are not flying -- those that are furloughed -- the shift is towards well-being," says Waites.

Beyond the practicalities of brushing up procedural skills, pilots need to keep their minds in good shape too.

Flight crew are used to quite a structured way of working and are conditioned to knowing what is coming up in the next month in terms of their flight schedules.

Waites says that BALPA has been sharing, with its members, mental health and well-being tips from the MIND Charity and from Public Health England.

"There are specific resources available," says Waites. "And there is a requirement coming out later this year in August for airlines to have a peer support network program staffed by pilots for pilots for them to raise, confidentially, concerns of well-being and mental health."

Many airlines already have these in place ahead of when the regulation comes out, pointing pilots towards those facilities within their airlines where they can share concerns, by "having people to talk to about their anxieties and what they are going through."

"Pilots are not used to sitting around," says Waites. "We're thinking ahead to the time when things hopefully resume and scheduled flights start up."

Paul Sillers is an aviation journalist specializing in passenger experience and future air travel tech. Follow him at @paulsillers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
what happens when pilots don't get their flying hours? - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What happens when pilots don't get their flying hours?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
(CNN) - The coronavirus pandemic has grounded most of the world's airplanes for the immediate future. But when aviation eventually reboots, pilots will need to be up to speed. That doesn't just mean polishing their Ray-Bans and dusting off their navy-blue blazers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scream Bloody Gore vs. Seven Churches - Which Was the First Death Metal Album?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
History Of Death Metal On Guitar - 1985 - 1990

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Whether Death's debut album Scream Bloody Gore, which came out on May 25, 1987, was the first ever death metal album is open to debate. Some say Possessed's fierce, frantic, Seven Churches, which came out in 1985, takes the crown. Others point to Hellhammer's 1984 EP Apocalyptic Raids. But one thing's for sure -- from the point the band Mantas changed their name to Death and released their 1984 demo Death By Metal they became the reigning champions of death metal.

Fronted by the late Chuck Schuldiner, who sang and played all the bass and guitar at the time, Scream Bloody Gore surfaced when Death were in a state of transition. Chris Reifert - in his only album appearance with the band - played drums. Despite the internal instability, Schuldiner made sure that Death would be around for a while thanks to Scream Bloody Gore.

The album, which featured classic cover art by Ed Repka, was full of blast beats, relatively simple, repetitive riffs, incisive hooks, fiery leads and roaring vocals, all of which became early trademarks of the genre. Many of the songs opened with a deceptively mid-paced melodic intro before bursting into overdrive.

More than half of the songs on Scream Bloody Gore originally appeared in a more primitive form on the band's demos; "Evil Dead" and "Beyond the Unholy Grave" were on 1984's Death By Metal, "Infernal Death" and "Baptized in Blood" were from 1985's Infernal Death and "Zombie Ritual, "Mutilation" and "Land of No Return" appeared on 1986's Mutilation.

Unlike the band's later work, which would take on a more complex technical death metal form partially influenced by jazz and prog rock, the tracks specifically written for Scream Bloody Gore -- "Denial of Life," "Sacrificial," "Regurgitated Guts," "Torn to Pieces" and the title track -- aren't structurally different from the group's previously written material. But they're just as visceral.

Maybe one reason the record sounds so tight and crushing is because Death were able (or forced) to record most of it twice. Originally, Schuldiner produced guitars and drums for the album in a small studio in Florida, but the band's label Combat Records didn't like the mix, so they flew the band to Los Angeles to re-record everything with Randy Burns. Also of note, the track "Sacrificial," was originally called "Sacrificial C---" but Combat refused to release the album unless the Death changed the title.

Scream Bloody Gore was remastered and re-issued in 1999 with the bonus live tracks "Open Casket" and "Choke on It," and came out again in 2008 with another concert cut, "Denial of Life." In 2016, Relapse Records released a massively expanded triple-disc edition of the album, which included the original record as well as seven recordings from the original Florida session and 24 rehearsal demos. The release landed on the Billboard 200 at No. 174, marking the only time Death cracked the charts.
Loudwire contributor Jon Wiederhorn is the co-author of Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal, as well as the co-author of Scott Ian's autobiography, I'm the Man: The Story of That Guy From Anthrax, and Al Jourgensen's autobiography, Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen and the Agnostic Front book My Riot! Grit, Guts and Glory.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
death scream bloody gore album anniversary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
32 Years Ago: Death Start a Revolution With 'Scream Bloody Gore'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whether Death's debut album Scream Bloody Gore, which came out on May 25, 1987, was the first ever death metal album is open to debate. Some say Possessed's fierce, frantic, Seven Churches, which came out in 1985, takes the crown. Others point to Hellhammer's 1984 EP Apocalyptic Raids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus: How long does it take to recover?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recovery from Covid-19 can be a lengthy process, depending on how seriously people get the virus.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
New Zealand says it has stopped community transmission of Covid-19, effectively eliminating the virus.

With new cases in single figures for several days - one on Sunday - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the virus was "currently" eliminated.

But officials have warned against complacency, saying it does not mean a total end to new coronavirus cases.

The news came hours before New Zealand moved out of its toughest level of social restrictions.

From Tuesday, some non-essential business, healthcare and education activity will be able to resume.

Most people will still be required to remain at home at all times and avoid all social interactions.

Follow our live updates from around the world

How New Zealand turned to science and kindness

The 'social bubble' approach to lockdown easing

"We are opening up the economy, but we're not opening up people's social lives," Ms Ardern said at the daily government briefing.

New Zealand, a country of nearly 5 million people, has reported fewer than 1,500 confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus and 19 deaths.

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise

HOPE AND LOSS: Your coronavirus stories

FACE MASKS: Should I be wearing one?

VACCINE: How close are we to finding one?

New Zealand's Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, said the low number of new cases in recent days "does give us confidence that we have achieved our goal of elimination".

He warned that "elimination" did not mean there would be no new cases "but it does mean we know where our cases are coming from".

Ms Ardern said there was "no widespread undetected community transmission in New Zealand", adding: "We have won that battle."

But she said the country "must remain vigilant if we are to keep it that way".

How did New Zealand respond to the virus?

The country brought in some of the toughest restrictions in the world on travel and activity early on in the pandemic, when it only had a few dozen cases.

It closed its borders, started enforcing quarantine of all arrivals in the country, brought in a stringent lockdown and mounted an extensive testing and contact tracing operation.

Beaches, waterfronts and playgrounds were shut on 26 March, as were offices and schools. Bars and restaurants were also closed, including for takeaway and delivery.

Ms Ardern said modelling indicated New Zealand could have had more than 1,000 cases a day if it had not brought in the lockdown so early.

She said the country could never know how bad it would have been but that "through our cumulative actions we have avoided the worst".

New Zealand's remote location and easily sealable borders played in its favour when the virus broke out, experts say.

But the government has also been praised for the clarity of its messaging throughout the crisis.

At midnight local time (12:00 GMT on Monday), New Zealand moved from Level Four lockdown to Level Three. That means most businesses will be able to reopen - including restaurants for takeaways - but not those involving face-to-face contact.

New Zealanders are being told to stick to their "bubble" - a small group of close friends or family - and to stay 2m (6ft) away from people.

Mass gatherings are still banned, shopping centres remain closed and most children will remain away from school. New Zealand's border will remain closed.

What's happening in Australia?

In Australia, the rise in infections has also slowed considerably in recent weeks. There were just 16 new cases recorded on Sunday.

Much like in New Zealand, its government has been praised for its response to the crisis and opinion polls show that trust in the country's leadership has risen.

Restrictions are easing in some areas, with some states planning to relax social distancing rules to permit larger outdoor gatherings this week.

In Queensland from Saturday, people will be free to go shopping for clothes, have a picnic in the park or go for a swim at the beach as long as it is within a 40-minute drive from home.

Western Australia is also joining South Australia in expanding the national two-person limit on gatherings to 10 people.

However, most Australians are still required to stay at home unless they have essential work, shopping or exercise reasons to go out.

More than a million Australians also downloaded a coronavirus contact tracing app within hours of it being released by the government.

Users of the app will be notified if they have had more than 15 minutes of close contact with another user who tests positive for Covid-19.

There are reports that Australia and New Zealand are considering opening up travel between them but no decision has been made.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus 'currently eliminated' in New Zealand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New Zealand says it has stopped community transmission of Covid-19, effectively eliminating the virus. With new cases in single figures for several days - one on Sunday - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the virus was "currently" eliminated. But officials have warned against complacency, saying it does not mean a total end to new coronavirus cases.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last fortnight that India and the US were working together to develop vaccines against the coronavirus.

Mr Pompeo's remark didn't entirely come as a surprise.

The two countries have run an internationally recognised joint vaccine development programme for more than three decades.

They have worked on stopping dengue, enteric diseases, influenza and TB in their tracks. Trials of a dengue vaccine are planned in the near future.

India is among the largest manufacturer of generic drugs and vaccines in the world. It is home to half a dozen major vaccine makers and a host of smaller ones, making doses against polio, meningitis, pneumonia, rotavirus, BCG, measles, mumps and rubella, among other diseases.

Now half a dozen Indian firms are developing vaccines against the virus that causes Covid-19.

One of them is Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker by number of doses produced and sold globally. The 53-year-old company makes 1.5 billion doses every year, mainly from its two facilities in the western city of Pune. (It has two other small plants in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.) Around 7,000 people work for the firm.

The company supplies some 20 vaccines to 165 countries. Some 80% of its vaccines are exported and, at an average of 50 cents a dose, they are some of the cheapest in the world.

Now the firm has stitched up collaboration with Codagenix, an American biotech company, to develop a "live attenuated" vaccine, among the more than 80 reportedly in development all over the world.

This vaccine is created by reducing the virulence - or removing the harmful properties - of a pathogen but keeping it alive. (They cause no or very mild disease because the pathogen is weakened under laboratory conditions.)

"We are planning a set of animal trials [on mice and primates] of this vaccine in April. By September, we should be able to begin human trials," Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of Serum Institute of India, told me over the phone.

Mr Poonawalla's firm has also partnered to mass produce a vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and backed by the UK government. A genetically engineered chimpanzee virus would form the basis for the new vaccine. Human clinical trials began in Oxford on Thursday. If all goes well, scientists hope to make at least a million doses by September.

"It's pretty clear the world is going to need hundreds of millions of doses, ideally by the end of this year, to end this pandemic, to lead us out of lockdown," Prof Adrian Hill, who runs the Jenner Institute at Oxford, told the BBC's Health and Science correspondent James Gallagher.

This is where Indian vaccine makers have a head start over others. Mr Poonawalla's firm alone has an extra capacity of 400 to 500 million doses. "We have lots of capacity as we have invested in it," he says.

There's more. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had announced a partnership with the University of Wisconsin Madison and US-based firm FluGen to make almost 300 million doses of a vaccine for global distribution. Zydus Cadilla is working on two vaccines, while Biological E, Indian Immunologicals, and Mynvax are developing a vaccine each. Another four or five home-grown vaccines are in early stages of development.

"The credit must go to entrepreneurs and pharmaceutical companies who invested in quality manufacturing and in processes that made it possible to produce in bulk. The owners of these companies have also had the goal of doing good for the world, while also running a successful business and this model is a win-win for all," Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), told me.

Experts warn that people should not be expecting a vaccine in the market any time soon.

David Nabarro, professor of global health at Imperial College, London, says humans will have to live with the threat of coronavirus "for the foreseeable future" because there's no guarantee that a vaccine will be successfully developed.

And Tim Lahey, a vaccine researcher at the University of Vermont Medical Centre, warns that there's a "good reason to worry a coronavirus vaccine would elicit harmful immune responses too".

Global Covid-19 infections have hit nearly 3m with more than 206,000 deaths. Developing a safe vaccine which can be mass produced is going to be a time consuming exercise - every lot has to be chemically and biologically tested before being released. "But we are hopeful, very hopeful, of having a safe and efficacious vaccine in two years or less," says Mr Poonawalla.

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise

LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area

STRESS: How to look after your mental health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How India will play a major role in a virus vaccine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last fortnight that India and the US were working together to develop vaccines against the coronavirus. Mr Pompeo's remark didn't entirely come as a surprise. The two countries have run an internationally recognised joint vaccine development programme for more than three decades.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
US author Colson Whitehead has become only the fourth writer ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction twice.

The African-American author was honoured for The Nickel Boys, which chronicles the abuse of black boys at a juvenile reform school in Florida.

Whitehead, a 50-year-old New Yorker, won the 2017 prize in the same category for his book Underground Railroad.

Before him, only Booth Tarkington, William Faulkner and John Updike had won the Pulitzer for fiction twice.

The 2020 awards, postponed for several weeks due to the coronavirus, were announced remotely this year in the living room of Pulitzer administrator Dana Canedy.

She noted that the first Pulitzers were awarded in 1917, less than a year before the outbreak of the Spanish Flu.

They are among the highest honours for US-based journalists and authors.

Whitehead has previously said he grew up wanting to be the black version of horror writer Stephen King.

His Nickel Boys was inspired by the real-life horror story of the Dozier School for Boys in the Florida panhandle, where children convicted of minor offences were subjected to violent abuse.

The Harvard graduate's novel was praised by the Pulitzer committee for its "spare and devastating exploration of abuse at a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida that is ultimately a powerful tale of human perseverance, dignity and redemption".

The New York Times newspaper topped the list of publications for journalism honours with three awards, including the prestigious investigative reporting prize for Brian Rosenthal's expose of New York City's taxi industry, showing how predatory lenders exploited vulnerable drivers.

In collaboration with ProPublica, the Anchorage Daily News won what is widely regarded as the most coveted Pulitzer, for Public Service journalism, in recognition of its work on the lack of police coverage in many small towns in Alaska.

The honour for Breaking News photography was awarded to the photography staff at Reuters for their images of last year's Hong Kong protests.

And, for the first time in its history, the Pulitzer committee bestowed a prize in Audio Reporting, which was awarded to the staff of This American Life for its episode The Out Crowd, which examined US President Donald Trump's policy requiring thousands of asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims are adjudicated.

The episode was a collaboration with Molly O'Toole of the Los Angeles Times and Emily Green of Vice News, who will also share the prize.

A posthumous special citation was awarded to African-American civil rights activist and early champion of investigative journalism Ida B Wells, who died in 1931, for her "outstanding and courageous reporting" on lynching. The citation comes with a donation of at least $50,000 (£40,120) in support of Ms Wells' mission, with recipients to be announced.

"It goes without saying that today we announce the Pulitzer winners in deeply challenging times," Ms Canedy said on Monday, though she said journalism was as valuable as ever, with the arts continuing to "sustain, unite and inspire".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Black author makes Pulitzer Prize history

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
US author Colson Whitehead has become only the fourth writer ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction twice. The African-American author was honoured for The Nickel Boys, which chronicles the abuse of black boys at a juvenile reform school in Florida.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Coronavirus has hit Spain hard and its residents have endured the strictest lockdown of any country in Europe. Outside activity was banned, unless it was for going to work or visiting the local supermarket for essentials (only one member of the household at a time). The Guardia Civil rigorously enforced the law: roadblocks stopped cars, IDs, till receipts and distances travelled all checked. Illicit visitors to my local beach were reprimanded and heavily fined. Along the promenade in the village of San Luis de Sabinillas, on the Costa del Sol, the outdoor gyms, petanca courts and children's playgrounds have lain empty, cordoned off by police tape.

Throughout the winter, I cooled my menopausal flushes in the Mediterranean. Recently I've dreamed of clandestine nocturnal dips, but the threat of a €500 fine has chilled my ardour. I made do with workout videos and online parchís (Spanish ludo) with my mum.

Spain is all about socialising, sitting outside till late, having fun, making noise. Children are to be seen and heard. For the first six weeks of the lockdown, the only human life I observed on the streets was from scurrying, paranoid, masked adults. On 26 April, Spanish children were freed from captivity, bringing optimism, energy and joyful noise. Last weekend was the turn of the adults. I planned yoga on the beach, then a socially distanced swim. As with many others, I'd been counting the days. At sunrise on Saturday morning, runners, walkers and cyclists began to arrive at the beach.

"Running is my means of self-care," said Lizzie Evangelista, a lecturer and psychotherapist. "I'm an ultra-distance runner: 190km, or longer, through jungles and deserts. It's a big deal for me. Being allowed to run means being able to breathe again."

"Lack of exercise affects your mood," said her husband, Jo. "It feels like I've been sitting with duct tape around me, not able to do anything to lift my mood. I cycled up into the hills this morning. It was amazing. I could smell the herbs and flowers. Normally, I go as far and as fast as possible, but today I took things slowly, I wanted to savour the moment."

"Mentally oxygenated," was how Elena, 51, described herself after her first sea swim since lockdown. Elena regularly takes part in races along the Mediterranean coast. She explained that, as the owner of an ironmongers' shop, she has been badly hit economically, but she has enjoyed being at home and spending time with her daughter. "I've really missed the social aspect of swimming - I love being part of a group; the fun and laughter, the friendship. I felt a little nervous swimming on my own today and being in a wetsuit was tiring for the first five minutes, but I soon got into the rhythm. I feel great now that I've been back in the sea."

Marisa was more conflicted: "I've been looking forward to swimming, but feeling a bit unsure about coming out and facing the world with the virus still around. It was wonderful being in the water though - a real tonic."

Twins Lola and Angela, 65, celebrated their freedom by walking and dancing on the beach. "My soul is dancing," Lola exclaimed. "I am free and I've realised that we don't appreciate what we've got until we lose it."

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Diego and Francis

Diego Fernandez, a retired doctor who has been volunteering since the outbreak of the virus, took the opportunity to get back on his bike with his friend Francis, 66. "I worry that we will stop being so affectionate, which is part of the character of Andalucía. I saw my six-year-old grandson but I couldn't hug him."

At 8am, I was doing yoga on the beach, warming up for a big swim. Tentatively, I dipped my toes in the water. Despite the spring sunshine, the sea was cold. As always, I took a deep breath and threw myself in, letting out an exhilarated gasp of delight. For 15 minutes I left the world's cares and the confinement of the last 48 days behind me.
* Lola Culsán is co-author of Wild Swimming Spain (Wild Things Publishing, £15.99) Topics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'My soul is dancing': Spain comes out to play after Europe's strictest lockdown

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Coronavirus has hit Spain hard and its residents have endured the strictest lockdown of any country in Europe. Outside activity was banned, unless it was for going to work or visiting the local supermarket for essentials (only one member of the household at a time).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An NHS app which aims to track the spread of coronavirus will be rolled out for the first time later, as part of a trial on the Isle of Wight.

Council and healthcare workers will be the first to try the contact-tracing app, with the rest of the island able to download it from Thursday.

If the trial is successful, it could be available nationwide within weeks.

Concerns have been raised over privacy, though ministers say the app has been designed with this "front of mind".

The app aims to quickly trace recent contacts of anyone who tests positive for the virus.

It is part of the government's strategy for coming out of lockdown, which aims to have widespread testing and contact tracing in place to monitor and reduce any future outbreaks.

If the trial is successful, the app will be rolled out across the whole of the UK by the middle of May, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

What is the UK's test, track and trace strategy?

What is the UK's new contact tracing app?

How does the app work?

The new app - published on Apple and Google's app stores - works by using a Bluetooth connection.

It records when two people who have the app are within a certain distance of each other for longer than a specified amount of time.

If one of those people later reports having symptoms, all the other app users they came into contact with over the last seven days will be alerted and told to self-isolate.

Mr Hancock urged everyone on the Isle of Wight to download the app when it was available to them. Social distancing rules would still be in place during the trial, he said.

"By downloading the app, you are protecting your own health, you are protecting the health of your loved ones and the health of your community," he said.

"Where the Isle of Wight goes, Britain follows."

The island was chosen for the trial because it has a lower number of new infections, is covered by a single NHS trust and because travel to and from the island is quite restricted.

It comes as the the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK reached 28,734, an increase of 288.

The daily increase in deaths is lower than at any point since the end of March, but the figures reported at the weekend tend to be lower and are expected to rise, Mr Hancock said.

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise

WILL I GET PAID IF I CAN'T WORK? Rules on sick pay, wages and time off

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Is it safe to travel?

TESTING: Can I get tested for coronavirus?

Privacy debate

The type of approach used to design the app has raised some privacy concerns.

The app has been designed with a "centralised" approach, meaning there is a central computer which works out which phones have matched and should receive an alert.

This is different to the "decentralised" model used by Apple and Google, where the matches take place on users' handsets.

Some have argued a "centralised" approach gives the app advantages, for example by being able to spot hotspots where the disease is spreading. But others say a central system increases the risk from potential hackers.

The UK's data privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, said "as a general rule, a decentralised approach" would be more in keeping with its principle that organisations should minimise the amount of personal data they collect.

"But that does not in any way mean that a centralised system can't have the same kind of privacy and security protections," said Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham on Monday.

How many confirmed cases are there in your area?

Wristbands, colour-coding - inventive ways out of lockdown

At a virtual meeting on Monday, Parliament's Human Rights Committee also discussed privacy fears. Law professor Orla Lynskey said the option on the app for users to opt in and share their location data "poses a big risk".

But NHSX - the part of the health service that developed the app - said the app will be voluntary, and the only personal data stored by the app at the start would be the first part of the user's postcode.

Additional location data will only be recorded if users agree to a further opt-in request, NHSX added.

NHSX chief executive Matthew Gould said: "The app is designed so you don't have to give it your personal details to use it - it does ask for the first half of your postcode but only that.

"You can use it without giving any other personal details at all - it doesn't know who you are, it doesn't know who you've been near, it doesn't know where you've been."

Mr Hancock said the software was "designed with privacy and security front of mind". He said the data was stored on the phone and only sent to the NHS when someone needs a test.

The UK's "test, track and trace" strategy has seen testing be scaled up over the last month, following Mr Hancock's pledge to reach 100,000 tests by the end of April. The UK passed the target, providing more than 122,000 tests on the last day of April. Latest figures show there were 85,186 tests on Sunday.

To track the virus and study how the virus spreads through the population, 20,000 households will be recruited at random and routinely tested over 12 months.

It comes after draft government plans for getting people back to work during the coronavirus pandemic were leaked. It urges employers to stagger shift times and maximise home-working.

Trade unions warned the guidance could compromise workers' safety and asked for stricter rules for businesses.

In other developments:

A group of Tory MPs are calling for restrictions around funerals to be eased, to allow small-scale ceremonies in churches rather than just at the graveside or crematorium

The government is now paying the wages for nearly a quarter of UK jobs, under the furlough scheme that helps people put on leave due to the pandemic

Nearly half of people in Britain experienced high levels of anxiety as the lockdown began, a survey suggests

Doctors working for Premier League football clubs have raised concerns over plans to resume the football season.

How have you been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803

Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay

Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk

Upload your pictures / video here

Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
First workers to trial NHS virus tracing app

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An NHS app which aims to track the spread of coronavirus will be rolled out for the first time later, as part of a trial on the Isle of Wight. Council and healthcare workers will be the first to try the contact-tracing app, with the rest of the island able to download it from Thursday.

# data[].attributes.body
12.05.2020

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that from Tuesday the nationwide coronavirus lockdown will be eased and businesses will go back to work.

He said the country's "non-working period" imposed to curb the virus had lasted six weeks.

The easing of restrictions will affect all sectors of the economy, Mr Putin said, but some regions may keep tighter controls if necessary.

Russia now has the third-highest number of confirmed infections worldwide.

In the last 24 hours it reported a record daily rise of 11,656 cases, bringing the official total to 221,344.

Coronavirus crisis tests Putin's grip on power

Russia brings army doctors home from Italy

That means Russia now has more confirmed cases than both Italy and the UK. Only Spain and the US have reported more infections.

According to official figures, 2,009 people in Russia have died from the virus. But some question the low figure, and believe the tally is far higher.

What did President Putin say?

In a televised address, the Russian leader announced an end to six weeks of countrywide restrictions, which he said had allowed the country to prepare its health system and save "many thousands of lives".

"Starting from tomorrow, May 12, the national period of non-working days will be over for all sectors of the economy," Mr Putin said. Individual regions however will be able to keep rules in place if needed.

Large public events remain banned and people must still follow "strict sanitation demands", but it is in everyone's interest for the economy "to return to normal quickly", he said, adding that construction and farming should be among the first industries to restart.

But the outbreak is far from over, the president warned, saying that "danger remains".

"We must not allow... a new wave of the epidemic and the growth of serious complications," he said.

The address comes just days after the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, extended the capital's lockdown until 31 May.

Victory parade defies pandemic and upstages Putin

Is pandemic being used for power grab in Europe?

Though construction and industrial workers must now return to work in the city, everyone must wear face masks and gloves in shops and on public transport.

Residents still cannot leave home unless to shop, work or walk the dog, and must have a digital permit to travel.

EUROPE'S EASING: How lockdown is being lifted

THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters

GLOBAL SPREAD: Tracking the pandemic

RECOVERY: How long does it take to get better?

A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?

Moscow is the epicentre of Russia's outbreak, accounting for more than half the country's official confirmed case and death totals.

Mr Sobyanin has however estimated that the capital may have more than 300,000 infections - about three times its confirmed tally of 115,909.

Over the weekend, Russia was forced to cancel its annual World War II Victory Day Parade due to the outbreak.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Putin eases Russian lockdown as cases rise

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that from Tuesday the nationwide coronavirus lockdown will be eased and businesses will go back to work. He said the country's "non-working period" imposed to curb the virus had lasted six weeks. The easing of restrictions will affect all sectors of the economy, Mr Putin said, but some regions may keep tighter controls if necessary.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
France has cautiously begun to lift its lockdown, with millions back in work after eight weeks of restrictions.

Shops are reopening, many pupils are returning to primary schools, and people will not need travel certificates when they leave home.

But some parts of the country - including the capital Paris - remain under tighter controls, with the country split into green and red zones.

The government has faced criticism for howit has handled the crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron won broad support for imposing restrictions on 17 March. But many have attacked the response since then.

More than 26,000 people have died from Covid-19 in France since 1 March - one of the highest tolls in Europe.

Lockdown bites poor as France eases grip

France's first coronavirus case 'was in December'

Cameras to monitor masks and distancing in France

Many other European countries are also easing restrictions on Monday.

Belgium is opening shops, subject to distancing guidelines

The Netherlands is opening libraries, hairdressers and driving schools - and partially restarting primary schools

Both primary and middle schools are restarting in Switzerland, albeit with reduced sizes, and restaurants, bookshops and museums are reopening too

Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed in Spain and some restaurants can open their doors provided they impose social distancing rules

Read more about how Europe is easing lockdown here
Austria, Denmark, Germany and Italy began to lift their lockdown measures earlier.

What's happening in France?

The government has released a detailed plan of how France will slowly come out of lockdown, first brought in on 17 March.

Masks are mandatory on public transport and in secondary schools as they reopen in the coming weeks. Shops also have the right to ask customers to wear one.

Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed, and the elderly and vulnerable will be allowed outside.

People will no longer need travel permits to explain why they have left home. Car journeys of up to 100km (60 miles) from home are allowed, but drivers need permission for distances further than that.

And anyone wanting to travel in Paris during rush hour will need authorisation from their employer.

Subdued first steps in Paris

On the first day out of lockdown in France there was no mass rush back on to the street.

Despite a few hiccups, the Paris commuter system was not put under strain. Metro trains were half-occupied, and there was in the main little difficulty in social distancing.

Shops opened, but shoppers were few. Schools only start reopening on Tuesday. In the BBC's six-storey office building, we are the only company to have reoccupied our premises. Home-working remains the norm.

What it suggests are two things: first that the real test has not yet come. People are obviously hesitant about resuming their old lives. The risk of a second wave will be when - and if - they actually get back to normal.

And second: governments need not be too cautious about setting fixed dates for lockdown easing.

Given sufficient warning and guidance, people react with good sense. There is no post-lockdown big bang.

All shops, leisure centres and cemeteries reopen - bar shopping centres in Paris - but cafes, restaurants and beaches remain shut.

France has been divided into green zones, where the outbreak is not as bad, and red zones, which are still struggling with high numbers of infections.

So while primary schools and nurseries open in much of France on 11 May, schools for 11 to 15-year-olds known as collèges open only in green zones on 18 May. Schools for 15 to 18-year-olds (lycées) are not opening before June.

In many areas Monday is being treated as a preparatory day in schools which are reopening. Lessons with reduced class sizes are to restart on Tuesday, but even so, some local authorities are keeping schools closed, under parental pressure.

In Paris schools are only opening from Thursday, with priority given to socially disadvantaged children and/or those of key workers.

Cafes and restaurants may be able to open in green zones as early as June.

Paris, its suburbs, and the three other north-eastern regions of France all remain in the red zone, as well as the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte. Some 27 million people live in those areas.

France has also begun testing a new app to track and trace the virus - StopCovid - which it hopes to launch on 2 June. Concerns have been raised about right to privacy for users, with parliament set to debate it later in May.

And in April the government announced a new programme to encourage cycling, including free bike repairs up to €50 (£44; $54) and funding for bike lanes throughout the country.

What's been the reaction?

Mr Macron gave a televised address to the nation in March declaring the start of restrictions, saying his country was "at war" with the virus.

The French people broadly supported the move. But since then there has been criticism of his government's handling of the crisis.

Opponents have pointed to low levels of testing compared to other nations, a shortage of medical equipment and what they say was a confused message about wearing masks in public, as evidence of Mr Macron's failings.

An Odoxa opinion poll published last week suggested 58% of the French people do not trust the government to ease the restrictions successfully, and more than a third want to stay under lockdown.

Some 69% do not think schools can be kept safe enough, according to the poll - despite promises to limit class size and enforce social distancing - and 74% of respondents think the same about public transport.

One angry commuter posted scenes from Gare du Nord station in Paris on Monday.

Image Copyright @Laura_Varlet17 @Laura_Varlet17 Report

Image Copyright @Laura_Varlet17 @Laura_Varlet17Report

Despite this, a poll taken earlier in May suggests the French do not think others would be doing a better job than Mr Macron.

Only 20% believed his 2017 presidential opponent, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, would be handling the crisis better, with a similar percentage thinking former President Nicolas Sarkozy would be an improvement.

THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters

AIR TRAVELLERS: The new quarantine rules

GLOBAL SPREAD: Tracking the pandemic

RECOVERY: How long does it take to get better?

A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
France eases lockdown measures after eight weeks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
France has cautiously begun to lift its lockdown, with millions back in work after eight weeks of restrictions. Shops are reopening, many pupils are returning to primary schools, and people will not need travel certificates when they leave home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A patient treated in a hospital near Paris on 27 December for suspected pneumonia actually had the coronavirus, his doctor has said.

This means the virus may have arrived in Europe almost a month earlier than previously thought.

Dr Yves Cohen said a swab taken at the time was recently tested, and came back positive for Covid-19.

The patient, who has since recovered, said he had no idea where he caught the virus as he had not travelled abroad.

Knowing who was the first case is key to understanding how the virus spread.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is possible more early cases will come to light, and spokesman Christian Lindmeier urged countries to check records for similar cases in order to gain a clearer picture of the outbreak.

The French health ministry told the BBC that the government was obtaining confirmation on the case and that it would consider further investigations if they proved necessary.

France is not the only country where subsequent testing points to earlier cases. Two weeks ago, a post-mortem examination carried out in California revealed that the first coronavirus-related death in the US was almost a month earlier than previously thought.

What do we know about the new case?

Dr Cohen, head of emergency medicine at Avicenne and Jean-Verdier hospitals near Paris, said the patient was a 43-year-old man from Bobigny, north-east of Paris.

He told the BBC's Newsday programme that the patient must have been infected between 14 and 22 December, as coronavirus symptoms take between five and 14 days to appear.

Listen to the interview

The patient, Amirouche Hammar was admitted to hospital on 27 December exhibiting a dry cough, a fever and trouble breathing - symptoms which would later become known as main indications of coronavirus.

This was four days before the WHO's China country office was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause being detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Mr Hammar told French broadcaster BFMTV that he had not left France before falling sick. Dr Cohen said while two of the patient's children had also fallen ill, his wife had not shown any symptoms.

But Dr Cohen pointed out that the patient's wife worked at a supermarket near Charles de Gaulle airport and could have come into contact with people who had recently arrived from China. The patient's wife said that "often customers would come directly from the airport, still carrying their suitcases".

"We're wondering whether she was asymptomatic," Dr Cohen said.

What does it tell us?

Could coronavirus have been circulating in Europe in late 2019, many weeks before it was officially recognised and declared a threat there? That is the suggestion being made after a French doctor has revealed that he treated a patient in Paris with all of the symptoms of coronavirus just after Christmas.

How does this change what we know about the pandemic? It might be that the test result is an error and so does not change a thing.

But it if is correct, it could mean spread of the disease was going unchecked in Europe while all eyes were on the East in Wuhan.

Certainly, any laboratories in Europe with samples from patients sick with similar symptoms around that time might want to run a test for coronavirus to see what it reveals so that we can learn more about this new disease.

Why does it matter?

Until now, what were thought to have been the France's first three cases of coronavirus were confirmed on 24 January. Of those, two had been to Wuhan - where the outbreak was first detected - and the third was a close family member.

Mr Hammar's positive test result suggests the virus was present in France much earlier.

The first human-to-human transmission within Europe had until now thought to have been a German man who was infected by a Chinese colleague who visited Germany between 19 and 22 January.

Rowland Kao, a professor of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh, said that if confirmed, Mr Hammar's case highlighted the speed at which an infection starting in a seemingly remote part of the world could quickly seed infections elsewhere.

"It means that the lead time we have for assessment and decision-making can be very short," Prof Kao said.

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE BODY? Doctors on the front line explain

HOPE AND LOSS: Your coronavirus stories

HOW A VIRUS SPREADS: An explanation

TESTING: Can I get tested for coronavirus?

How was the new case found?

Dr Cohen told the BBC that he had the idea to look back at all patients who had been in intensive care units with suspected pneumonia between 2 December and 16 January.

He found 14 patients who had tested negative for pneumonia. He defrosted their samples and tested them for traces of Covid-19.

He said that out of the 14 samples, one tested positive for traces of Covid-19. A second test on that same sample also came back positive. He added that the patient's chest scan was also compatible with the symptoms of Covid-19.

A full report was due later this week, and would be published by the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Dr Cohen added.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
France's first coronavirus case 'was in December'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A patient treated in a hospital near Paris on 27 December for suspected pneumonia actually had the coronavirus, his doctor has said. This means the virus may have arrived in Europe almost a month earlier than previously thought. Dr Yves Cohen said a swab taken at the time was recently tested, and came back positive for Covid-19.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For more than a week, protests have shaken cities across the US following the death of a black man in police custody.

George Floyd, 46, was arrested in the city of Minneapolis on 25 May for allegedly using counterfeit money to buy a pack of cigarettes. He died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes, while he pleaded that he could not breathe.

The officer, Derek Chauvin, 44, has been dismissed from the police department and charged with murder. Three other officers who were on the scene were also sacked and later charged with abetting the crime.

Unrest has broken out across the country. Police have used tear gas and force against demonstrators and President Donald Trump has threatened to send in the military.

Here, we look at some of the context that will help you understand the fuller picture of what is happening.

1) Police violence and the justice system

There are numerous recent examples of African-American people being killed by law enforcement officers in the US.

High-profile cases from recent years include Philando Castile, Terence Crutcher, Michael Brown and Alton Sterling. In these cases the officers involved were not convicted of any criminal offence.

"I'm tired of hearing about black people dying," one protester in Washington DC said. "I'm tired of being afraid just by being stopped by the cops."

In particular, the George Floyd case has drawn comparisons with the death of Eric Garner in July 2014.

Garner, a 43-year-old father of six, was arrested in New York on suspicion of illegally selling loose cigarettes. In a video recorded by a bystander, white police officer Daniel Pantaleo can be seen with his arm wrapped around Garner's neck in a chokehold.

Garner, an asthmatic, was heard repeatedly saying "I can't breathe" before appearing to lose consciousness. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.

A state grand jury declined to charge the officer with murder.

In the case of George Floyd, the speed with which the officers involved were fired, and with which Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged, was unusual.

In 2019, African Americans made up less than 14% of the population but accounted for more than 23% of the just over 1,000 fatal shootings by the police.

African Americans are arrested for drug abuse at a much higher rate than white Americans even though surveys show drug use at similar levels for both groups.

In 2018, African Americans represented almost a third of the country's prison population.

This means there are more than 1,000 African-American inmates in federal or state prisons for every 100,000 African Americans, while there are about 200 white inmates for every 100,000 white Americans.

Data from Minneapolis, where Floyd lived, also reflect these law enforcement trends.

2) This did not happen in isolation

George Floyd's death did not happen in a vacuum. It came on the heels of several other high-profile incidents just in the past few weeks that have provoked debates about racism in the country.

An exchange between the two started because Christian Cooper, a bird watcher, was concerned that the dog could endanger wildlife. He filmed Amy Cooper (no relation) threatening to call the police and tell them "there's an African-American man threatening my life".

After calling the emergency operator she repeated, "He's African American," before pleading for them to send an officer.

Ms Cooper was fired from her job and widely condemned.

The case gained widespread attention in the national media and provoked outrage.

"We live in an age of Ahmaud Arbery, where black men are gunned down because of assumptions people make about black men, black people, and I'm just not going to participate in that," Mr Cooper said.

More on George Floyd's death

Racial divisions in US society are also prevalent in areas such as housing, healthcare and employment.

African Americans are more likely to work in service industry jobs and to live in densely populated areas.

These issues have all contributed to African Americans being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak, which is happening at the same time as the Floyd protests. George Floyd's autopsy concluded he had coronavirus, although this played no part in his death.

New York City has reported that rates of Covid-19 deaths are substantially higher among African Americans than white Americans.

"The coronavirus does not discriminate, but our housing, economic, and health care policies do," said Andre Perry, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities.

"Environmental racism, unaffordable housing, a lack of job opportunities, poverty, and inadequate health care are underlying social conditions, strongly influenced by policy, which place black people and their neighbourhoods at risk."

Minneapolis has a population of about 430,000 people, less than 20% of whom are black.

Even before layoffs caused by the pandemic, 10% of black residents of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul were unemployed compared with 4% of whites.

In 2016, 32% of black people living there fell below the poverty line compared with 6.5% of whites.

Neighbourhoods there are highly segregated and black home ownership is among the lowest in the country.

"The same attitudes that led a cop to kneel in the back of a black man's neck, choking him out are the same attitudes held by people in housing markets who facilitate the region's black-white homeownership gap of 46% to 79%," said Mr Perry.

4) The Trump factor

Donald Trump's presidency began with massive, nationwide protests. Now, it could be ending with them.

The women's marches of January 2017 brought hundreds of thousands to US streets for largely peaceful demonstrations. Following George Floyd's death, the protests in the nation's capital, and across the country, have at times turned violent. And while the 2017 events were in direct reaction to Trump's inauguration, the purpose of latest uprising - addressing racial injustice and policing practices - are not specifically about the president.

The president has taken the demonstrations personally, however. Like the women's marches, his actions suggest he views the Floyd marches as an attempt to undermine his presidency. The first set the stage for his administration, and these latest come just five months before he hopes to be re-elected to a second four-year term.

The politics of the situation has clearly influenced the tenor of his response. He echoed a pledge to restore "law and order" that Richard Nixon used successfully in his 1968 and 1972 presidential victories. Trump's controversial decision to clear protesters and stand for photographs with a Bible in front of a church near the White House hints at a desire to court the evangelical voters he needs in November.

Although the root causes of the Floyd protests predate the Trump presidency, the president - by his words and actions, intentional or not - have added fuel the storm.

5) Militarisation of the police

The protests over George Floyd's death have drawn attention to the use of military equipment by police officers. While images of military vehicles being used for crowd control may appear shocking to some, it is not a new phenomenon in the US.

The Department of Defense began a programme in the 1990s allowing the transfer of excess military equipment to police departments. Preference is meant to be given to anti-drug and counter-terror needs.

It is overseen by the Defense Logistics Agency, which has the final authority over the type and quantity of equipment made available to different agencies. It does not specify how such equipment should be used.

Data show that surplus military equipment transferred to local law enforcement agencies under the 1033 programme has been rising since the mid-2000s, with spikes after 2010.

As of 2015, more than $5bn worth of military equipment had been distributed to law enforcement agencies under the programme.

Paul Poast, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, said prior to the mid-2000s much US military equipment was "simply not as usable for law enforcement".

"With the start of counter-insurgency fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, manufacturers began to develop weapons that one could say had more 'dual-use': be usable in urban counter-insurgency environments and usable by urban law enforcement.

"The surge starting in the 2010s can be explained by both the popularity of the equipment and the beginning of drawing down troops in Iraq. With less need for such equipment in Iraq, the equipment needed to go somewhere," he said.

Equipment given out under the programme includes aircraft, armoured vehicles and bullet-proof helmets.

Mr Poast said the use of military equipment by police was a key example of how large-scale counter-insurgency campaigns abroad can influence domestic security policy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
George Floyd: Five pieces of context to understand the protests

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
All the background that helps explain why these protests are happening, and why now.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Police are appealing for the public's help in solving the Madeleine McCann case, after they announced a child sex offender was the new suspect.

The 43-year-old German man, who has not been named, is currently serving a prison sentence.

He is believed to have been in the area where Madeleine was last seen, when she disappeared in Portugal 13 years ago.

"Someone out there knows a lot more than they're letting on," said the officer leading the Met Police inquiry.

The suspect has been described as white with short blond hair and about 6ft tall with a slim build at the time.

Police have also released photos of two vehicles - a VW camper van and a Jaguar car - which are believed to be linked to the man, as well as a house in Portugal.

The day after Madeleine vanished in 2007, the suspect transferred the Jaguar to someone else's name.

On Wednesday, Germany's federal criminal police office - which is leading this stage of the case - said the man was serving a jail sentence for a sex crime.

He has two previous convictions for "sexual contact with girls", the office added.

'Other persons'

The Met Police, who are working with German and Portuguese police, said the case remained a "missing persons" investigation because it does not have "definitive evidence" as to whether Madeleine is alive or not.

However, German investigators have classed it as a murder inquiry.

"There is reason to assume that there are other persons, apart from the suspect, who have concrete knowledge of the course of the crime and maybe also of the place where the body was left," said German police.

New suspect identified in Madeleine McCann case

Madeleine was aged three when she went missing from an apartment in Praia da Luz on the evening of 3 May 2007, while her parents were with friends at a nearby tapas bar.

Her disappearance sparked a huge and costly police hunt across much of Europe - the most recent Metropolitan Police investigation, which began in 2011, has cost more than £11m.

Det Ch Insp Mark Cranwell, who is in charge of the Met investigation, said the suspect, then aged 30, frequented the Algarve between 1995 and 2007, staying for "days upon end" in his camper van and living a "transient lifestyle".

He was in the Praia de Luz area where the McCann family was staying when she disappeared and received a phone call at 7.32pm, which ended at 8.02pm. Madeleine is believed to have disappeared between 9.10pm and 10pm that evening.

Police have released details of the suspect's phone number (+351 912 730 680) and the number which dialled him (+351 916 510 683), and said any information about these numbers could be "critical".

Det Ch Insp Cranwell said the caller was a "key witness" and should get in touch.

And appealing to the public for details about the suspect, he added: "Some people will know the man we are describing today, the suspect in our investigation. I'm appealing to you directly.

"You may know, you may be aware of some of the things he has done. He may have confided in you about the disappearance of Madeleine.

"More than 13 years have passed and your loyalties may have changed.

"This individual is in prison and we are conscious that some people may have been concerned about contacting police in the past. Now is the time to come forward."

German police said the suspect is thought to have worked jobs including as a waiter, but also committed burglaries in hotels and holiday resorts and dealt drugs.

Christian Hoppe, from the German police, said the suspect may have broken into an apartment before spontaneously kidnapping Madeleine.

Is this the breakthrough? Is this German prisoner the man who can unlock the mystery?

It certainly has the feel of a significant development - police have used those very words.

Evidence, according to detectives, places the man near the scene; the re-registering of his car the next day is undoubtedly suspicious.

And his criminal record, disclosed by the German police, is a disturbing guide as to what his motivations might have been.

But... there have been so many false trails in the case before - clues, sightings and suspects that led nowhere.

Three years ago, during the last major police appeal, Scotland Yard said it was working on one final "critical" line of inquiry.

Now, we're told there's another one. That may explain why Met detectives - who've been involved in the case for nine years - are being rather more cautious than their German counterparts.

In a statement, the McCanns welcomed the appeal: "We would like to thank the police forces involved for their continued efforts in the search for Madeleine.

"All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice.

"We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive, but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace."

More funds pledged for Madeleine McCann search

McCanns mark 10 years without Madeleine

Police said the suspect was one of 600 people that detectives on the UK inquiry, known as Operation Grange, originally looked at, though he had not been a suspect.

After a 10-year anniversary appeal in 2017, "significant" fresh information about him was provided.

Since then, Met detectives have carried out "extensive inquiries" in Portugal and Germany to gather more details about him.

The force said it was trying to "prove or disprove" his involvement in the case and retained an "open mind".

Those with information can contact the Operation Grange incident room on 020 7321 9251.

The Madeleine McCann case: a timeline

3 May 2007: Alarm is raised after Madeleine is found to be missing

September 2007: Kate and Gerry McCann are made "arguidos" - formal suspects - in their daughter's disappearance

July 2008: Portuguese police halt their investigation and lift the "arguido" status of the McCanns and another man, Robert Murat

May 2011: Prime Minister David Cameron asks the Metropolitan Police to help investigate. A two-year review follows

March 2012: Portuguese police launch a review of the original investigation

July 2013: Scotland Yard says it has "new evidence and new witnesses" in the case and opens a formal investigation into Madeleine's disappearance

October 2013: Detectives in Portugal reopen the investigation, citing "new lines of inquiry"

January 2014: British detectives fly to Portugal amid claims they are planning to make arrests

December 2014: Detectives question 11 people who it was thought may have information on the case

September 2015: The British government discloses that the investigation has cost more than £10m

February 2017: Portugal's Supreme Court dismisses a long-running libel case against Goncalo Amaral, former head of the local police investigation, ruling that his book, which alleged the McCanns disposed of Madeleine's body, is protected by freedom of expression laws

April 2017: The only four official suspects investigated by police are ruled out of the investigation but senior officers say they are pursuing a "significant line of inquiry"

November 2018: An extra £150,000 is granted to continue the investigation. It is the latest in a series of six-month extensions which take the cost of Operation Grange to an estimated £11.75m

March 2019: Netflix screens an eight-part documentary about Madeleine's disappearance. Her parents, who did not participate in the film, feel it could "potentially hinder" the police investigation

June 2019: The UK government says it will fund the Met Police inquiry, which began in 2011, until March 2020

June 2020: Police reveal that a 43-year-old German prisoner has been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Police plea for help as Madeleine suspect revealed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Police are appealing for the public's help in solving the Madeleine McCann case, after they announced a child sex offender was the new suspect. The 43-year-old German man, who has not been named, is currently serving a prison sentence. He is believed to have been in the area where Madeleine was last seen, when she disappeared in Portugal 13 years ago.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
us billionaires have become $565 billion richer during the pandemic  - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
US billionaires have become $565 billion richer during the pandemic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The past three months have been financially painful for many Americans -- but not for billionaires.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Doctors in Pakistan are warning that the country's already weak healthcare system could soon be overwhelmed by coronavirus patients.

So far, with fewer than 2,000 deaths, the outbreak hasn't been as deadly as some initially feared. But with the rates of new cases and new fatalities at their highest levels yet, and lockdown restrictions lifted, doctors say intensive care units are now being stretched almost to capacity in many major hospitals.

In Karachi, a city of 15 million people, data shows only a handful of ICU beds still available for Covid-19 patients. Whilst in Lahore, a doctor recounted to the BBC being forced to turn away a patient who needed a ventilator, after he had already been rejected by two other hospitals. Medics in Peshawar and Quetta described being under similar levels of pressure.

Officials acknowledge some hospitals are full but insist there are still large numbers of beds available elsewhere, and are making public information about where are they are, whilst new facilities are in the process of being built in Karachi. But doctors fear the number of critical cases will continue to rise, and say their efforts to treat patients are being hampered by conspiracy theories and mistrust.

"Many ill people try and stay at home... Only when their condition has gotten a lot worse do they come to the hospital," a leading doctor in Quetta told the BBC.

As a result, he said, large numbers of his patients died shortly after arrival or in the ambulance.

"They don't even give us the chance to try and treat them," he lamented.

As well as concerns about the quality of medical care, and a reluctance for family members to be quarantined, bizarre rumours are swirling around, including claims that doctors are being paid by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to falsely declare patients as coronavirus sufferers.

One doctor from Karachi, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC she was recently contacted by a friend asking for medical advice, saying: "'My son is having flu and fever but I do not want to take him to the hospital because doctors are just declaring every fever is Covid, and they're taking 500 rupees ($3; £2.40) per case'."

The theories might sound risible, but they have dangerous consequences - and not just for the patients. Hospitals in Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore have all seen incidents of patients' families attacking staff.

A super-spreading funeral that led to three deaths

Why Pakistan's doctors are so angry

The porous borders where the virus cannot be controlled

At the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi, an isolation ward was trashed by a mob when the body of a patient wasn't handed over immediately to the family. In Pakistan, funerals are normally carried out as soon as possible, as per Islamic tradition, with large numbers of mourners attending - neither of which are possible if someone dies, or is suspected of dying, with coronavirus. Dr Yahya Tunio a leading doctor at the hospital, told the BBC medical staff are "fighting both coronavirus and ignorance".

Dr Jamal Awan, who works at Mayo Hospital Lahore, told the BBC security had to be increased on the wards after a number of recent violent flare-ups. He described the incidents as being rooted in a mix of anger at a lack of resources, and a fear that doctors are secretly killing patients through "poisonous injections".

In one instance at the hospital, a family was told an ICU bed with a ventilator wasn't available for their relative, who was in a critical condition and subsequently died. A doctor on duty at the time, Amara Khalid, told the BBC that 20 to 30 members of the group attempted to attack hospital staff. She said some of the relatives shouted out angrily: "If coronavirus is real... how are you not sick?"

Her husband, also working as a doctor at the time, was pushed inside the ward, and forced to perform CPR on the patient without any safety equipment. Dr Khalid is calling for awareness to be improved about the disease, security for staff improved, and restrictions placed on the numbers of relatives allowed into hospitals.

"I felt terrible, I even thought about leaving the job after that incident but we just can't," she said. "If everybody leaves, then who is going work?"

GLOBAL SPREAD: Tracking the pandemic

RECOVERY: How long does it take to get better?

A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?

VACCINE: How close are we to finding one?

WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE BODY? Doctors on the front line explain

In fact, hundreds of doctors have been infected with coronavirus in Pakistan. At least 30 healthcare workers are reported to have died from it.

At one major hospital in Peshawar, the entire gynaecological department was temporarily closed down after an outbreak amongst staff. A doctor from the hospital told the BBC about 100 of his colleagues had tested positive in total, the vast majority of whom were not even directly working with coronavirus patients.

He added that whilst levels of protective equipment had improved, he was sharing a face shield with colleagues, taking turns to use it on their respective shifts. Like many other doctors, he raised particular concerns about the lack of kit handed out to staff who aren't, in theory, on the frontline against the virus, but remain exposed by caring for patients who may have been infected but have never been tested.

Many doctors fear the worst is yet to come, and have expressed frustration with the decision to lift the bulk of lockdown restrictions last month.

Dr Rizwan Saigol, who works at the Mayo Hospital in Lahore, told the BBC that even prior to the pandemic he had seen families "begging for ventilators". Now, he said, the situation feels "really scary". If the number of cases continues to rise, he added, "our hospitals will get exhausted... We do not have enough ICUs or ventilators".

Prime Minister Imran Khan, however, has insisted the cost of a lockdown is simply too severe for those in the country already living a hand-to-mouth existence.

"Twenty-five per cent of our population lives below the poverty line - that means there are 50 million people who can't afford to eat two meals a day... If we implement a lockdown like they had in Wuhan or Europe, what will happen to them?" he asked during a televised address earlier this week.

Mr Khan has appealed to people to follow social distancing rules, and face masks have been made compulsory in public. But he has clashed at times with local authorities like those in opposition-controlled Sindh province who were the first to impose strict restrictions on movement back in March.

Many healthcare workers, like Dr Yahya Tunio, from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi, say they have seen a "surge in cases since lockdown restrictions were eased" a few weeks ago.

Dr Tunio told the BBC that ICU beds in the hospital, one of the largest in the city, were "full", and that new patients were regularly having to be diverted elsewhere for critical care, even though most other hospitals are also in a similar state. "It is stressful and tense," he added.

Another medic in Karachi, worried about infecting her relatives at home, and exhausted from long hours of work in a hazmat suit in high temperatures, described her feelings on seeing the continued large number of people on the streets.

"It's heart wrenching... why are we going through all that for these people who just don't care about themselves, who blame us for taking bribes?"

"Still," she said, "we are doing it for them."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rumours, fear and rising Covid deaths in Pakistan

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Doctors in Pakistan are warning that the country's already weak healthcare system could soon be overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. So far, with fewer than 2,000 deaths, the outbreak hasn't been as deadly as some initially feared.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The South Korean government plans to stop people sending balloons with anti-North Korean messages across the border.

The announcement came after Kim Yo-jong - sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un - said recent balloon-senders were "human scum".

For years, activists and defectors have sent messages criticising the North and its leadership across the border.

But the South Korean government said the balloons caused "tension".

One group told the BBC they had no plans to stop - and had another one million leaflets on order.

In the past, the balloons have also carried dollar notes, and even chocolate.

In 2014 North Korean soldiers attempted to shoot them down - leading to an exchange of fire across the border.

The North has also sent its own leaflets on helium balloons across the border in the past, demanding - among other things - an end to "further hostilities or stupid actions".

What did Kim Yo-jong say about the balloons?

Kim Yo-jong - who holds a powerful position in the North Korean government - issued a long statement on Thursday, blaming "defectors from the North" for recent leaflets.

"I wonder if the world knows what kind of riff-raff those foolish defectors are," said the statement, translated by KCNA Watch.

"Human scum - little short of wild animals who betrayed their own homeland - are engrossed in such unbecoming acts... they are sure to be called mongrel dogs as they bark in where they should not."

Ms Kim then said the "owners of the mongrel dogs" - that is, the South Korean government - should be held to account.

She threatened to scrap a no-hostility military pact, shut down the North-South liaison office, and withdraw from the joint-venture Kaesong Industrial Park.

How did the South react?

The South Korean government said it was planning legislation against the balloons, which they called "tension-causing".

"Actually, most of the leaflets have been found in our territory, causing environmental pollution and increasing burden on local people to get rid of them," said Ministry of Unification spokesperson Yoh Sang-key.

"Any act that could pose a threat to the life and property of those people should be stopped."

What do the balloon senders say?

Park Sang-hak, the chairman of Fighters for a Free North Korea, said they were undeterred - and had recently ordered another one million leaflets.

His group sent leaflets across the border 11 times last year, and three times this year. The latest was on 31 May - which led to Kim Yo-jong's furious reaction.

S Koreans launch anti-North balloons

What the North Korean 'leaflet bombs' say

Protesters scuffle at N Korea border

"We in South Korea have our own sovereignty, and in this democratic country people have three basic rights - and one of them is freedom of speech," said Mr Park.

"I, Park Sang-hak, am not living in Pyongyang nor am I a slave to the Kim family dictatorship. I am a South Korean citizen.

"The unification ministry has been trying to make this law for the last 15 years. Please go ahead. We are fine. We live in a 5G world now.

"If the leaflets get blocked, then we will send drones. They cannot stop us. Fact and truth cannot be stopped. The voice of 45,000 defectors who seek truth will continue."

'A tricky line to navigate'

This is not a good look. North Korea makes a demand - and hours later, South Korea complies.

These balloon launches have always been a sore point between the two sides.

Seoul is trying to re-establish ties with Pyongyang after a year of very little contact. There's even a push to amend a law which would allow North Korean firms to do businesses in South Korean territory.

The long-term logic of President Moon's administration is that engaging with North Korea will eventually lead to better human rights for its people.

But it's a tricky line to navigate.

South Korea is home to those who've escaped the North Korean regime. They promised them shelter. Most defectors have endured incredible hardship to win the right to free speech.

Pyongyang's statement described defectors as "human scum".

And by appearing to comply with Kim Yo-jong's demands so quickly, it may make some defectors wonder whose side South Korea is really on.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
South Korea plans to stop balloons to North Korea

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The South Korean government plans to stop people sending balloons with anti-North Korean messages across the border. The announcement came after Kim Yo-jong - sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un - said recent balloon-senders were "human scum". For years, activists and defectors have sent messages criticising the North and its leadership across the border.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Any day now, it's possible that two men will be executed in the only European country where the death penalty still exists - but their family will never find out when they were shot, or where they were buried.

Five months ago, Hanna Kostseva was in court when her two brothers, Stanislaw and Ilya, aged 19 and 21, were sentenced to death for murder.

"When the judge read out the verdict to 'apply an exceptional measure of punishment in the form of execution', people in the courtroom began to clap," she says.

"Initially, just one started, then another followed, then a third, and in the whole hall only applause was heard. For me, at that moment, it was like my own life was cut short."

Hanna says she then approached the cage in which her brothers had pleaded guilty to the murder of one of her neighbours. She managed to squeeze close to them and hug them through the bars, and promised she would do everything possible to save their lives.

In reality their fate was already sealed.

A month earlier, the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, had told a Russian radio station the case was under his personal control.

"They're scum, there's no other word for them. They have been in trouble before and have been punished. They killed a teacher - only because she wanted to save two of their sister's children. Their sister is a nothing - an asocial element. The teacher only tried to protect the kids and take them out of the family. These two were knifing her all night."

The brothers' appeal against their sentence was dismissed on 22 May. After that, the only option remaining was to ask the president for clemency.

His decision was probably made by Tuesday 2 June, and if he had decided to spare them it would most likely have been in the news, so the silence is ominous.

In his quarter of a century as Belarus's first and only president, Lukashenko has granted clemency on only one occasion.

Natalya Kostseva, the brothers' mother, was unable to attend the sentencing herself for a reason that may be hard for someone from another country to understand.

The story goes back 19 years, to the day when her husband died. Stanislaw, the youngest of her four children, was then five months old. Ilya was already two.

To feed her family, Natalya worked as a milkmaid on a collective farm. Subsequently she got a job in a transport company, where her shifts sometimes ran late into the night. Stanislaw, Ilya and their older brother were often left in the care of Hanna, the oldest child.

Natalya admits she wasn't a perfect mother. Visiting social workers would enjoy her home-made pies but would also note in their reports that she'd been drinking.

Nevertheless, family photos show a younger woman hugging well-dressed children and grandchildren protectively.

Natalya held out for 13 years. It was when Stanislaw and Ilya were 14 and 16 that they were finally taken away for fighting and skipping school, and placed in a state-run children's home.

In Belarus, when children are taken into care, their parents - in this case, Natalya - have to foot the bill. She still owes 10,000 Belarusian roubles, or about $4,000, so each month a third of her meagre salary is taken by the state, and this will continue for the next eight years, long after her sons' execution.

This is the reason Natalya was unable to travel to visit them in prison in the eastern city of Mogilev, and was unable to attend the hearing when they were sentenced: after she'd missed some payments, a court had ruled that she could not leave the capital, Minsk, until the debt was paid in full.

Since her sons were arrested in April 2019, her only contact with them has been by letter.

The family doesn't dispute that the two young men are murderers and deserve to be punished.

"I'm not justifying them in any way - they are guilty, you shouldn't take a person's life. In one moment, they crossed out someone's life as well as their own and ours," says their sister, Hanna.

It happened soon after Stanislaw's 18th birthday, when - finally released from the children's home - he had gone to stay with Hanna in the house they lived in as children, in the town of Cherykaw, close to the Russian border.

Ilya had already left care on his 18th birthday, two years earlier.

But any joy at being reunited didn't last long. Just a few days later the two brothers went to take revenge on a neighbour - a teacher, who had complained to social services about Hanna's children and suggested that they too be taken into care. Stanislaw and Ilya stabbed her to death then set the house on fire, and were quickly arrested.

After the applause in the courtroom, Hanna says she was hounded out of town.

On one occasion, while her partner and her oldest brother were away working in Russia, someone even tried to break down her door, she says. She then moved into a tiny flat in a former military barracks 140km (90 miles) away, occasionally making a six or seven-hour trip on trains and buses to Mogilev, carrying heavy bags of food for her brothers.

She met each of them separately, because they are forbidden to meet or even write to each other.

It was only after the verdict that Hanna learned that other countries in Europe, including neighbouring Russia and Ukraine, no longer have the death penalty. It was a bitter discovery.

Killers should be sentenced to life in prison, she says.

"Not everyone leaves prison alive, but you have to live through it, to bear it and then be released with a sense of repentance. The death penalty is denying the right to repent."

Death in Minsk

It's thought that more than 400 people have been executed since Belarus became independent in 1991, though numbers have dwindled to a handful per year

The death penalty has not been carried out in any other European country since 1996

President Lukashenko rejects calls for a moratorium citing the "will of the people" - a 1996 referendum in which 80% voted in favour of capital punishment

Women cannot be sentenced to death in Belarus, only men

In court, the brothers begged the victim's family to forgive them, and both have since asked to see a priest, Hanna says.

They have now been moved to a detention centre in the centre of Minsk, close to the Gorky Drama Theatre, a museum of the history of Belarusian cinema, McDonalds and TGI Friday's.

It's an open secret that this is where executions have been carried out for decades.

"Everything is exactly how it was in the Soviet days," says human rights activist Andrey Poluda. "Not a thing has changed. The relatives are not given the bodies of the executed prisoners, they are not told the time of death, the place of the burial is unknown."

A single executioner uses a pistol, according to a former director of the facility, Oleg Alkayev, who now lives in the West.

'They are treated as if they are already dead'

The 'completely childish' man hanged for murder

'The hangman was too tired to hang me - three times'

"During the execution a doctor is present who later confirms the death. A prosecutor is present, too. Sometimes, when I'm on the metro in Minsk, I look around and I wonder if a person who is a part of that system is travelling now, too," Poluda says.

Natalya cannot come to terms with what is about to happen. "If, God forbid, I lose them, I won't go on living - I don't want to," she says.

At some point after the execution has taken place, she will receive a package containing her sons' belongings and an official letter. In it, she will be told that the death sentence has been carried out, and nothing more.
Read Tatsiana Melnichuk and Tatsiana Yanutsevich's report for BBC News Russian
You may also be interested in:
Dead within three hours of arrival at a Russian prison
Earlier this year, two guards who worked at a prison in Yaroslavl, north-east of Moscow, were jailed for abusing an inmate. Despite official claims that Russian penitentiaries are cleaning up their act, prisoners, their relatives and human rights activists tell a very different story. The BBC's Oleg Boldyrev investigated one recent case.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'My brothers on Europe's last death row'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Any day now, it's possible that two men will be executed in the only European country where the death penalty still exists - but their family will never find out when they were shot, or where they were buried.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Coverage: Selected live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app.

Novak Djokovic has apologised for hitting a line judge with a ball at the US Open, saying he is "extremely sorry for creating her such stress".

The world number one was disqualified from his fourth-round match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.

The Serb, 33, who had just had his serve broken, took a ball out of his pocket and hit it behind him, striking the woman in her throat.

"This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,"

"I checked on the linesperson and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling OK.

"I'm extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I'm not disclosing her name to respect her privacy."

'Djokovic will win again - hopefully with a little more humility'

Right decision to disqualify Djokovic, says Henman

After a lengthy discussion, Djokovic was defaulted by tournament officials at Flushing Meadows.

He will lose all ranking points earned at the US Open and will forfeit the prize money he had won at the tournament. He could also be fined for the incident.

"As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being," Djokovic added in a statement on Instagram.

"I apologise to the US Open tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour. I'm very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me.

"Thank you and I'm so sorry."

His exit ended his hopes of winning an 18th Grand Slam title and narrowing the gap on Rafael Nadal (19) and Roger Federer (20) in the race to finish with the most men's major wins.

What happened?

Djokovic showed his frustration after losing serve to trail 6-5 against Carreno Busta in the first set.

He also showed a flash of temper two games earlier at 5-4 - whacking a ball into an advertising board after the Spaniard saved three set points.

Leon Smith, Great Britain's Davis Cup captain, said he was "surprised" Djokovic did not get a warning for that incident, and felt one might have prevented the controversy which followed.

After Djokovic was defaulted, Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "There has to be consistency, if someone hits a ball with that much venom and temper, call a warning.

"The second one can be dangerous and so it proved to be."

Djokovic pleaded his case with tournament referee Soeren Friemel and Grand Slam supervisor Andreas Egli during a long conversation at the net.

Eventually, however, he accepted his fate and shook hands with Carreno Busta, who looked shocked by what had happened as he waited in his chair for a decision.

Friemel said that there was not "any chance of any opportunity of any other decision other than defaulting Novak because the facts were so clear, so obvious" and that there was "no discretion involved".

The tournament referee added: "His point was that he didn't hit the line umpire intentionally. He said 'yes, I was angry, I hit the ball, I hit the line umpire, the facts are very clear, but it wasn't my intent, I didn't do it on purpose, so I shouldn't be defaulted for that'.

"We all agreed that he didn't do it on purpose but the facts are still that he hit the line umpire and that the line umpire was clearly hurt."

Djokovic left Flushing Meadows without doing his news conference.

More controversy for Djokovic in a contrasting 2020

Going into the fourth-round match against Carreno Busta, Djokovic was aiming to extend his unbeaten run in 2020 to a 27th victory.

Instead of receiving more plaudits for his on-court performances, he made an undignified exit in what became the latest controversy involving him this summer.

In June, Djokovic was one of several players - along with Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki - who tested positive for coronavirus after playing at the world number one's Adria Tour competition.

Djokovic apologised for staging the exhibition event in the Balkans, which was held in front of fans and without social distancing rules being observed.

The first leg in Serbia attracted 4,000 fans, and players were later pictured dancing close together in a Belgrade nightclub.

In Croatia's second leg, players were pictured taking part in a basketball match.

Djokovic said they had "met all health protocols" in the two countries, which had relatively low levels of recorded Covid-19 cases at the time.

After announcing his positive test, he conceded it had been "too soon" to stage the event.

In the midst of the pandemic, Djokovic was accused of being opposed to vaccines - something which he later denied - and also drew criticism for saying water could be purified by positivity.

On the eve of the US Open, he found himself at the centre of more controversy after driving the creation of a new players' union.

Djokovic and Canadian Vasek Pospisil led about 70 players in forming the Professional Tennis Players' Association, with those joining unhappy at the ATP's governance and wanting to increase the power of the players.

Nadal and Federer were among those who opposed the new union and questioned its timing, while Britain's former number one Andy Murray called for WTA players to be involved.

Live scores, results and order of play

Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

Liverpool's 30 Year Wait: Behind the scenes of their title triumph

Introvert or Extrovert: Can you truly be one or the other?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Coverage: Selected live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app. Novak Djokovic has apologised for hitting a line judge with a ball at the US Open, saying he is "extremely sorry for creating her such stress".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Witnesses in Belarus say they saw a leading opposition figure being bundled into a minibus in Minsk and driven away, according to local media.

Police have denied detaining Maria Kolesnikova in the Belarusian capital, Interfax news agency reports.

She was one of three women who joined forces to challenge incumbent Alexander Lukashenko in August's presidential election.

Mass unrest followed his re-election amid allegations of vote-rigging.

At least four people have died and hundreds have been injured as authorities have tried to crush dissent in the country.

EU leaders do not recognise the results of the election and have agreed to impose sanctions on Belarus.

But Mr Lukashenko - who has been in power since 1994 - has blamed Western nations for interfering in his country. On Monday, the Kremlin announced he would visit Moscow for talks "in the coming days".

Russia is a close ally of Mr Lukashenko's.

What happened to Maria Kolesnikova?

An eyewitness told Belarus news outlet Tut.by that she saw masked men take Ms Kolesnikova's mobile phone and push her into a minibus on Monday morning.

Police in the capital, Minsk, have not yet commented on the reports.

Ms Kolesnikova was a member of the Co-ordination Council set up by the opposition to ensure a transfer of power. Government authorities have launched a criminal case against opposition leaders, saying the "creation and activity of the Co-ordination Council are aimed at the seizure of state power, and at harming national security".

She is the last of the three women who joined forces against Mr Lukashenko to remain inside Belarus. Veronika Tsepkalo and presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya left the country soon after the vote.

Ms Tikhanovskaya said the latest detentions were an attempt to disrupt the work of the Co-ordination Council.

"The more they try to scare us, the more people will take to the streets," she said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Co-ordination Council said Ms Kolesnikova's whereabouts were "unknown" and accused President Lukashenko of "openly using methods of terror".

In an interview with BBC Russian last month, Ms Kolesnikova described the recent anti-government demonstrations as "not a struggle for power" but "a struggle for human dignity and self-respect". She said she and her team had decided against using bodyguards because there would be "no point".

"I am aware that no number of guards would be of any use if a bus full of riot police stopped us," she said. "We all know what a police state is capable of."

Another female activist, Olga Kovalkova, announced on Saturday that she had fled to Poland amid threats of imprisonment.

What happened on Sunday?

Her arrest follows further demonstrations on Sunday - a key day for street demonstrations since the rallies began.

Eyewitnesses told Russia's Interfax news agency that police began to make arrests in Minsk after the unsanctioned rally ended and people were going home. Video footage on Sunday shows men in plain clothes beating peaceful protesters with batons.

The interior ministry confirmed at least 633 arrests had been made across the republic. It said some 363 people had been sent to detention centres pending court hearings.

Internal Affairs Minister Yuri Karayev defended the actions of the security forces.

"They talk about the brutality of the Belarusian police, and I want to say this: there are no more humane, restrained and cool-headed police anywhere in the world," he was quoted as saying by the official Belta news agency.

In recent days, the security forces have targeted university students as they returned from their holidays, dragging some from the streets and university buildings into unmarked minivans.

One protester in Minsk, who gave her name as Lyudmila, told the BBC earlier that the demonstrators were undeterred by the security forces.

"We are definitely not ready to get back to the life we had for many years now," she said.

"We finally feel like we matter because we've been living in apathy for way too long, and now we just have this feeling of solidarity and we actually think that - well, I feel personally that - changes already are happening, so that's definitely not the time to give up."

Protests have also been reported in other Belarusian cities and towns including Grodno, Mogilev and Gomel.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Belarus protests: Maria Kolesnikova 'detained by masked men'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"They talk about the brutality of the Belarusian police, and I want to say this: there are no more humane, restrained and cool-headed police anywhere in the world," he was quoted as saying by the official Belta news agency.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There is growing pressure in Germany for Chancellor Angela Markel to take a tougher stance over the incident. Last week, she said Mr Navalny was the victim of attempted murder and that the world would look to Russia for answers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Russia's Navalny out of coma after poisoning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There is growing pressure in Germany for Chancellor Angela Markel to take a tougher stance over the incident. Last week, she said Mr Navalny was the victim of attempted murder and that the world would look to Russia for answers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
And if this happens, and the removal of the Queen as head of state is placed on a par with, say, the removal of a statue of a slave trader, then that could pose difficult questions for both the British royal family and the Commonwealth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Barbados to remove Queen Elizabeth as head of state

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
And if this happens, and the removal of the Queen as head of state is placed on a par with, say, the removal of a statue of a slave trader, then that could pose difficult questions for both the British royal family and the Commonwealth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Senegalese, 87, faced corruption and money-laundering charges linked to the Russian doping scandal.

Diack was convicted of accepting bribes from athletes suspected of doping to cover up test results and letting them continue competing, including in the 2012 London Olympics.

He was sentenced to four years in prison, two of them suspended.

Diack's lawyers said he would be appealing against the judgement, which they called "unfair and inhumane".

Diack, who was also given a maximum fine of 500,000 euros (£456,928), was investigated by French authorities for four years over claims he took payments of more than 3m euros to cover up cheating.

The judge said his actions had "undermined the values of athletics and the fight against doping".

Diack has been under house arrest in Paris since November 2015.

Previously one of the most influential figures in world sport, Diack was president of the International Association of Athletics' Federations - now World Athletics - for 16 years until he was replaced by Britain's Lord Coe in August 2015.

Diack's son Papa Massata Diack - who was banned for life from athletics in 2016 - was sentenced to five years in prison and a given a 1m euros fine (£913,850).

After the ruling, World Athletics released a statement in which it said it was "disappointed this happened in our sport" but "grateful for the strong and clear decisions that have been taken against the individuals involved".

Athletics' governing body added that it would like to "reassure everyone that the reforms our congress approved in 2016 will ensure that similar actions by individuals can never happen again in our sport".

"We are grateful for the damages awarded by the Paris Criminal Court totalling 16m euros for embezzled funds and for reputational damage suffered as a direct consequence of these crimes and the resulting media coverage," it added.

"As the court acknowledged, this damage has impacted World Athletics' finances and had a negative impact on World Athletics' image and reputation in a deep and lasting way. We will do everything we can to recover the monies awarded, and return them to the organisation for the development of athletics globally."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Senegalese, 87, faced corruption and money-laundering charges linked to the Russian doping scandal. Diack was convicted of accepting bribes from athletes suspected of doping to cover up test results and letting them continue competing, including in the 2012 London Olympics. He was sentenced to four years in prison, two of them suspended.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
United Nations (UN) investigators say Venezuela's government of has "committed egregious violations" amounting to crimes against humanity.

Cases of killings, torture, violence and disappearances were investigated in a fact-finding mission for the UN Human Rights Council.

The UN team said President Nicolás Maduro and other top officials were implicated.

Venezuela's UN ambassador has described the mission as a "hostile initiative".

Ambassador Jorge Valero said last year that the UN action was part of a US-led campaign. The UN team was blocked from travelling into the country.

Venezuela is suffering a severe economic and political crisis. Millions have fled in recent years.

In the report of its findings on Wednesday, the UN team said Venezuela's security services had been engaged in a pattern of systematic violence since 2014, aimed at suppressing political opposition and generally terrorising the population.

Mr Maduro and the ministers of interior and defence were not only aware of the crimes, but gave orders, coordinated operations and supplied resources, the report said.

It called on Venezuela to hold those responsible to account and to prevent further violations from taking place.

"The Mission found reasonable grounds to believe that Venezuelan authorities and security forces have since 2014 planned and executed serious human rights violations, some of which - including arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture - amount to crimes against humanity," the mission's chairperson, Marta Valiñas, said in a statement.

"Far from being isolated acts, these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to state policies, with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers and senior government officials."

A typical operation might involve weapons being planted in an area thought to be loyal to the opposition, with security services then entering the area and shooting people at point blank range, or detaining them, torturing them, and killing them.

The report also looked into the violent response to opposition protests and the torture of people detained at them.

Investigators made their conclusions after looking into 223 cases. They said almost 3,000 others corroborated "patterns of violations and crimes".

The report will be presented to UN Human Rights Council member states next week, when Venezuela will have a chance to respond.

How significant are these findings?

Analysis by Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Geneva

The UN team was not allowed to travel to Venezuela for this report. This is not unusual; Syria has never allowed the UN to investigate alleged war crimes on the ground. Myanmar, China, and many other countries regularly resist the UN's presence. But this is the 21st Century, modern information technology means the evidence, indeed proof, of serious violations can be gathered without entering the actual crime scene.

And the evidence from Venezuela is detailed, and horrifying. Systematic killing, torture, and sexual violence. What's more, clear evidence the orders came from the very top: Nicolas Maduro, his government, and senior security officials.

The UN investigators have a list of 45 names of those believed to have been directly involved. The UN Human Rights Council is designed to investigate violations, to advise on upholding human rights, but not to sanction. That is the job of the UN Security Council, and here Russia and China, who regularly oppose what they see as meddling in the affairs of a sovereign state, may oppose any action.

But that list of 45 names is significant; it suggests the UN investigators believe they may have a role to play building a case for a prosecution for crimes against humanity in an international tribunal.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Venezuela: UN investigators accuse authorities of crimes against humanity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
United Nations (UN) investigators say Venezuela's government of has "committed egregious violations" amounting to crimes against humanity. Cases of killings, torture, violence and disappearances were investigated in a fact-finding mission for the UN Human Rights Council. The UN team said President Nicolás Maduro and other top officials were implicated.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
US President Donald Trump has used his UN General Assembly speech to attack China, saying it must be held accountable over the Covid-19 pandemic.

He accused China of allowing the coronavirus to "leave China and infect the world".

In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the world must not "politicise" the fight against the coronavirus.

This year's summit at New York is largely being held virtually.

The UN headquarters would normally be full of world leaders and their representatives, but this year - due to to the coronavirus outbreak - leaders have provided pre-recorded messages.

But as often is the case for speeches to the assembly, President Trump used his address to tout his achievements and tear into a rival.

Why US-China relations are at a low their lowest point in decades

US to block some exports citing China's human rights abuses

US China tariffs 'inconsistent' with trade rules says WTO

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague on to the world - China," he said.

"In the earliest days of the virus China locked down travel domestically, while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world. China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they cancelled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes," he added.

President Trump, whose own record on coronavirus is under close scrutiny as the US heads towards elections, has frequently accused Beijing of covering up the virus, saying they could have stopped the disease spreading. China has called the attacks an unfounded distraction.

The US death toll for coronavirus, at nearly 200,000, is the highest in the world and President Trump has often downplayed the disease.

Tensions are high between the US and China on a number of other issues, including trade, technology, Hong Kong and China's treatment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province.

Speaking soon after the US leader, President Xi warned of the risks of a "clash of civilisations".

"We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We will not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in zero sum game," he said.

Trump speaks, with US voters the target
By Laura Trevelyan, BBC News
This was a stump speech by President Trump, who faces re-election in 40 days time. He had Bejing firmly in his sights - blaming what he and his followers call the China virus for taking countless lives.

Mr Trump is trying to deflect attention from his own handling of the pandemic by heaping opprobrium on China, while emphasising US efforts to find a cure.

We will end the pandemic, the US president pledged, saying thanks to our efforts three vaccines are in the final stage of development. For good measure, Mr Trump lumped the UN's World Health Organization into his critique of China - saying the international body, which he's withdrawing US funding from, is virtually controlled by China, blaming it for spreading what he called misinformation about the virus.

This was not a subtle speech. It was a clear attempt to shift blame as Americans are already voting in the presidential election.

The assembly was opened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who, without naming China or the US warned "we must do everything to avoid a new Cold War".

"We are moving in a very dangerous direction," he said. "Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a great fracture - each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities."

He said there was no room for self-interest in the face of the coronavirus. "Populism and nationalism have failed," he said. "Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse."

President Trump gave a very different vision in his speech, saying "only when you take care of your own citizens will you find a true basis for cooperation".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
US-China tensions flare at UN General Assembly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tensions between the US and China came to the fore of the annual UN General Assembly in New York, with US President Donald Trump blaming China for the spread of coronavirus. He called for China to be held "accountable" for the pandemic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Police forces around the world have seized more than $6.5m (£5m) in cash and virtual currencies, as well as drugs and guns in a co-ordinated raid on dark web marketplaces.

Some 179 people were arrested across Europe and the US, and 500kg (1,102lb) of drugs and 64 guns confiscated.

It ends the "golden age" of these underground marketplaces, Europol said.

"The hidden internet is no longer hidden", said Edvardas Sileris, head of Europol's cyber-crime centre.

The operation, known as DisrupTor, was a joint effort between the Department of Justice and Europol. It is believed that the criminals engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit goods and services across the US and Europe.

Drugs seized including fentanyl, oxycodone, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and MDMA.

Of those arrested 119 were based in the US, two in Canada, 42 in Germany, eight in the Netherlands, four in the UK, three in Austria and one in Sweden.

Police are getting better at targeting operations on the dark web - a part of the internet that is accessible only through specialised tools. This latest raid follows the takedown of the Wall Street market last year, which was then thought to be the second largest illegal online market on the dark web.

Mr Sileris said: "Law enforcement is most effective when working together, and today's announcement sends a strong message to criminals selling or buying illicit goods on the dark web: the hidden internet is no longer hidden and your anonymous activity is not anonymous."

"With the spike in opioid-related overdose deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic, we recognise that today's announcement is important and timely," said FBI director Christopher Wray.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dark web drugs raid leads to 179 arrests

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Police forces around the world have seized more than $6.5m (£5m) in cash and virtual currencies, as well as drugs and guns in a co-ordinated raid on dark web marketplaces. Some 179 people were arrested across Europe and the US, and 500kg (1,102lb) of drugs and 64 guns confiscated.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lebanon explosion 'destroys Hezbollah arms depot'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Security sources say the blast in the village of Ain Qana was the result of an accident.

# data[].attributes.body
8.10

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Eddie Van Halen, who has died at the age of 65, opened up dozens of new possibilities for the electric guitar with his wildly inventive, and largely self-taught, techniques.

Combining lightning-quick, two-handed picking techniques with hammer-ons, pull-offs, complex harmonics and an array of innovative devices he patented, the guitarist became a pole star for generations of musicians.

"Ed's a once- or twice-in-a-century kind of guy," his friend Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains said earlier this year. "There's Hendrix, and there's Eddie Van Halen. Those two guys tilted the world on its axis."

Tributes paid to 'Mozart of rock' Eddie Van Halen

Fellow guitar legend Joe Satriani reflected in 2015: "Eddie put the smile back in rock guitar at a time when it was all getting a bit broody. He also scared the hell out of a million guitarists because he was so damn good."

'Beyond mind-blowing'

The son of a Dutch band leader, Van Halen was originally a pianist, playing at weddings and bar mitzvahs with his family after they emigrated to Pasadena, California, in 1962.

A prodigious talent, he beat 5,000 students to first prize in a local piano recital for four years in a row, despite being unable to read a note of music.

"I fooled my teacher for six years," he told Rolling Stone magazine in 1995. "He never knew. I'd watch his fingers, and I'd play it."

In his teens, he switched to drums, then guitar, and formed his first band with his brother Alex in 1964. The Broken Combs made their debut one lunchtime in Pasadena Elementary School, and cemented the siblings' desire to become professional musicians.

Eddie started out by imitating UK rock trio Cream, learning Eric Clapton's solos by note by note.

But it was watching Led Zeppelin at the Los Angeles Forum in the early 1970s that changed his guitar playing forever. A light bulb went off as Jimmy Page played the solo from Heartbreaker, using both hands to tap out notes on the neck of the guitar.

For Page, it was an opportunity to showboat - but Eddie took the technique and refined it, enabling him to play a seemingly impossible flurry of notes and pinched harmonics.

"It's like having a sixth finger on your left hand," he explained in 1978. "Instead of picking, you're hitting a note on the fretboard."

Image Copyright Zócalo Public Square Zócalo Public SquareReport

The approach was so revolutionary that Alex encouraged his brother to play with his back to the audience so other bands wouldn't steal it before Van Halen had a record deal.

Once their self-titled debut album was released in 1978, however, Eddie's fellow guitarists were dazzled.

"It was beyond mind blowing," said Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist Zakk Wylde. "I'm going, 'That can't be a guitar. What is that?"

LA punk musician Phast Phreddie Patterson wrote in a 1978 edition of Waxpaper: "Edward wails his guitar like his life depended on it. Boyishly grinning... like a kid with a new toy, he tries to get as many noises out of his instrument as electronically possible. The results are unbelievable."

'No' to long solos

Eddie never claimed to have invented the "two-handed tap" technique - classical guitarists had been using their picking hands to play notes their fretting hand would normally cover for years - but he did popularise it for the rock audience.

"And on top of that, I never really heard anyone do with it what I did," he said in a 2017 interview. "Which was actual pieces of music."

That, really, is the key. Eddie always prioritised melody and feeling over flamboyant technique. And while Van Halen's material leaned towards hard rock, they always employed catchy hooks and memorable riffs.

Some of his best work was his most economical. On the chorus of Jamie's Cryin', he replies to David Lee Roth's vocal ("Oh-oh-oh, Jamie's crying") with a simple two-note phrase that has all the taut precision of a Motown backing vocal.

Image Copyright VHTelevision VHTelevisionReport

On record, he even kept his solos short, structuring them like mini-movements within songs, with a defined beginning, middle and end.

"I haven't heard anyone do a long interesting guitar solo outside of early Clapton," he observed.

One exception comes on Eruption, from Van Halen's debut album, which is simply 102 seconds of molten-hot finger work, as Eddie dive-bombs over the fretboard, incorporating both classical scales and his tapping technique.

The song was originally the guitarist's warm-up exercise, but when producer Ted Templeman overheard it, he smartly realised it was worth showcasing.

"I played it two or three times for the record, and we kept the one that seemed to flow," Eddie later recalled. "I didn't even play it right. There's a mistake at the top end of it. Whenever I hear it, I always think, man, I could have played that better."

Image Copyright Van Halen - Topic Van Halen - TopicReport

Always a perfectionist, he even outdid Michael Jackson. After being asked to play on 1983's Beat It, Eddie not only recorded one of pop's most memorable solos, he rearranged the song.

"I didn't know how he would react," Eddie told CNN. "So I warned him before he listened. I said, 'Look, I changed the middle section of your song.'

"Now in my mind, he's either going to have his bodyguards kick me out for butchering his song, or he's going to like it. And so he gave it a listen, and he turned to me and went, 'Wow, thank you so much for having the passion to not just come in and blaze a solo, but to actually care about the song, and make it better.'"

According to legend, Eddie's 20-second solo on Beat It was so incendiary the speakers in the studio control room caught fire. In the heat, the seemingly insurmountable barrier between white rock and black pop was razed to the ground.

Image Copyright michaeljacksonVEVO michaeljacksonVEVOReport

By the end of the 1980s, Van Halen's fingerprints were all over rock music - but the star dismissed many of his acolytes as "typewriter players".

"They all play as fast as they can, as loud as they can, scream as high as they can. But they don't even scream or play fast with a unique quality," he said in 1985. "It leaves me cold."

'Always a tinkerer'

But while his playing style launched thousands of imitators, it wasn't Eddie's only innovation.

In 1985, he patented a device that allowed musicians to sling a guitar around their necks and lock it into a horizontal position to "create new techniques and sounds previously unknown to any player".

He also created a new type of guitar head and invented a device, known as the D-Tuna, that helped guitarists to switch between alternate tunings on the fly. Along with guitarist Floyd Rose, he even created a whammy bar that worked without leaving the strings out of tune.

Speaking to Popular Mechanics in 2015, Eddie said he had "always been a tinkerer" and started modifying his own instruments out of necessity.

"My playing style really grew from the fact that I couldn't afford a distortion pedal. I had to try to squeeze those sounds out of my guitar... so I started hammering away with a screwdriver."

Eddie's custom-made guitars gave Van Halen a unique tone and sound, while his famous Shark - which was cut into a 'Flying V' shape with a chainsaw - prompted dozens of aspiring guitarists to vandalise their instruments.

His souped-up "Frankenstrat" even featured in an exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art last year.

"Nobody taught me how to do guitar work: I learned by trial and error," he told Guitar Player magazine. "I have messed up a lot of good guitars that way, but now I know what I'm doing, and I can do whatever I want to get them the way I want them. I hate store-bought, off-the-rack guitars."

The handicraft was evidence of an almost obsessive drive to conjure up the sounds Eddie Van Halen heard in his head. It probably didn't make him easy to work with - the band's internal politics and shifting line-ups were beyond complicated - but his love for, and impact on, rock music are hard to overestimate.

"When I'm home on a break, I lock myself in my room and play guitar," he told Guitar World in 1981. "After two or three hours, I start getting into this total meditation. It's a feeling few people experience, and that's usually when I come up with weird stuff. It just flows.

"If you're a musician you just play until you die. It's not an ordinary job."
Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'He scared the hell out of a million guitarists'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Eddie Van Halen, who has died at the age of 65, opened up dozens of new possibilities for the electric guitar with his wildly inventive, and largely self-taught, techniques. Combining lightning-quick, two-handed picking techniques with hammer-ons, pull-offs, complex harmonics and an array of innovative devices he patented, the guitarist became a pole star for generations of musicians.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins has said that movie-going is facing a real threat of extinction.

Her new superhero movie has been delayed three times during the coronavirus pandemic.

She is among dozens of top Hollywood directors appealing to the US government to provide a financial lifeline to cinemas.

Ms Jenkins's warning comes as cinemas in the UK are also struggling with a recent spate of delayed film releases.

"If we shut this down, this will not be a reversible process," she said in an interview with Reuters news agency. "We could lose movie theatre-going forever."

Cinemas across the world are struggling financially with tough Covid-19 social restrictions limiting customers, along with a lack of blockbuster movies to attract them.

In the US, the National Association of Theatre Owners said 69% of small and mid-sized cinema companies could be forced to file for bankruptcy or shut down permanently.

America is the world's biggest movie market in terms of box office revenues, with China catching up rapidly.

Odeon to open weekends-only at some cinemas

New James Bond film pushed back - again

'My Cineworld job doesn't feel like work'

Ms Jenkins said widespread closures would lead Hollywood studios to stop investing in films for cinemas, and turn to online streaming instead.

"It could be the kind of thing that happened to the music industry," she added. "Where you could crumble the entire industry by making it something that can't be profitable."

Some of this year's major Hollywood films, including Walt Disney's Mulan, skipped cinemas and went straight to streaming.

Ms Jenkins said that there is no option for her sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, to go straight to streaming.

The superhero movie, starring Gal Gadot, is now scheduled for release on Christmas Day. That is a delay of six months from its original premiere date in June.

More delays

Last week it was announced that the release of the new James Bond film has been delayed again.

The premiere of No Time To Die had already been moved from April to November because of the pandemic. It is now scheduled for April 2021.

Blockbuster remake Dune has also seen its release date delayed. The Warner Bros sci-fi epic was due for release in December but has been been pushed back to October 2021.

Warner Bros has also delayed The Batman, now due in March 2022.

In the UK, Odeon is cutting the opening hours for some of its cinemas to weekends only because of delays to new film releases.

The chain, which operates 120 theatres, said it will affect a quarter of its cinemas, which will now open between Friday and Sunday.

It comes as Cineworld said it will temporarily close its UK and US venues, affecting 45,000 jobs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Movie-going could 'become extinct' warns director

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins has said that movie-going is facing a real threat of extinction. Her new superhero movie has been delayed three times during the coronavirus pandemic. Jenkins is among dozens of top Hollywood directors appealing to the US government to provide a financial lifeline to cinemas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A stolen Chinese calligraphy scroll worth millions has been found in Hong Kong, after it was cut into half.

Thieves had stolen the scroll by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong from an art collector's home in a burglary last month.

They then sold it at a fraction of its value. It was apparently cut up as the 2.8m-long (9ft) scroll was deemed too long to display, said Hong Kong police.

The original owner says the artwork's value has been "definitely affected".

Massive heist

The scroll, which contains stanzas of poetry handwritten by the founder of the People's Republic of China, is estimated to be worth around $300m (£230m) by its owner.

It was stolen in a massive heist on 10 September, when three men broke into the home of Fu Chunxiao, a well-known collector of stamps and revolutionary art.

They also made off with antique stamps, copper coins and other pieces of calligraphy by Mao. The total haul was worth HK$5bn ($645m, £500m) according to Mr Fu, who was reportedly in mainland China when the burglary took place.

The thieves sold one of the pieces to another art collector for just HK$500 ($64, £50) to a purchaser who, according to The South China Morning Post, believed the artwork was a fake.

The buyer then saw a public appeal by police, and surrendered himself with both pieces of the scroll on 22 September.

It is unclear who exactly had cut the artwork. Senior superintendent Tony Ho of the Hong Kong police said: "Someone thought the calligraphy was too long... and difficult to show and display. That's why it was cut in half."

"It was heartbreaking to see it be torn into two pieces," Mr Fu told the Post. "It will definitely affect its value but the impact remains to be seen."

Police later arrested the 49-year-old buyer on suspicion of handling stolen property, though he has now been released on bail.

One suspected burglar has also been arrested, but the other two burglars who broke into Mr Fu's home still remain at large.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stolen Mao scroll worth millions found cut in half

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The largest unexploded World War Two bomb ever found in Poland has detonated during an attempt to defuse it.

The RAF dropped the Tallboy or "earthquake" bomb in a raid in 1945 which sank the German cruiser Lützow.

The Polish Navy said there had been a 50:50 chance the bomb would explode and all the divers were unharmed.

The bomb was at the bottom of a Baltic Sea shipping canal, and about 750 residents near the port city of Swinoujscie were evacuated.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
WW2 bomb explodes during attempt to defuse it

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The largest unexploded World War Two bomb ever found in Poland has detonated during an attempt to defuse it. The RAF dropped the Tallboy or "earthquake" bomb in a raid in 1945 which sank the German cruiser Lützow. The Polish Navy said there had been a 50:50 chance the bomb would explode and all the divers were unharmed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Twitter has suspended a network of accounts claiming to be owned by Black supporters of Donald Trump and his re-election campaign due to spam and platform manipulation, it said Tuesday.

The company is investigating the activity and may suspend additional similar accounts if they are found to be violating its policies, a spokesperson said.

The Washington Post first reported on the investigation, citing more than a dozen accounts using identical, inauthentic language including the phrase: "YES IM BLACK AND IM VOTING FOR TRUMP!!!"

A review of some of the suspended accounts shows they often used stolen images to appear real. The accounts sometimes claimed to be owned by military veterans or members of law enforcement.

This is not the first time Twitter has had to address a spam operation claiming to be led by Black voters. NBC News also reported spam operations from fake accounts posing as Black Trump supporters in August.

Some accounts were able to attract thousands of followers before they were suspended. One tweet, for example, amassed more than 10,000 retweets before it was removed, NBC News found. Another account allegedly used a photo of a veteran who died last month to pose as a Trump supporter.

Polls show about 10% of Black voters in the US support Trump. These accounts raised suspicion for their identical language and stock image avatars.

Meanwhile, research shows Black Americans have been negatively impacted by misinformation campaigns online in recent months, particularly those focused on spreading misinformation about Covid-19.

"Black lives are consistently put in danger, and it is incumbent upon community actors, media, government, and tech companies alike to do their part to ensure that timely, local, relevant and redundant public health messages are served to all communities," a study from Harvard's Shorenstein Center found.

Twitter rules prohibit using the platform "in a manner intended to artificially amplify or suppress information or engage in behavior that manipulates or disrupts people's experience on Twitter", a Twitter spokesman told the Guardian.

The company reports campaigns discovered to be state-backed in its public archive. This month it revealed it had suspended more than 1,500 accounts affiliated with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Thailand and Russia that had sought to spread misinformation. It did not say where it believed the network of people posing as Black Trump supporters originated or whether it was state-backed.
Reuters contributed reporting

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Twitter suspends accounts for posing as Black Trump supporters

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Twitter has suspended a network of accounts claiming to be owned by Black supporters of Donald Trump and his re-election campaign due to spam and platform manipulation, it said Tuesday. The company is investigating the activity and may suspend additional similar accounts if they are found to be violating its policies, a spokesperson said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
>> Wypróbuj „Przegląd Sportowy" w wersji mobilnej. Najlepsze artykuły przeczytasz nie wychodząc z domu
W Altibox Norway Chess bierze udział sześciu czołowych zawodników świata, a pula nagród wynosi w przeliczeniu ponad 700 tysięcy złotych. Zmagania toczą się systemem każdy z każdym - mecz i rewanż; przy czym w drugiej rundzie rywale spotykają się w odwrotnej kolejności niż w pierwszej, dlatego po sobotniej przegranej Carlsen tak szybko miał okazję do rewanżu w rywalizacji z Polakiem. A zwycięstwo naszego zawodnika naprawdę miało swoją wymowę. W szachach klasycznych norweski mistrz szachowy nie przegrywał przez 125 kolejnych partii, czyli od szachownicy odchodził niepokonany przez 2 lata 2 miesiące i 10 dni!

W sobotę, grając czarnymi poddał partię Dudzie po 63 posunięciach. Walczył do końca, a zdaniem obserwatorów starcia wielu zawodników pogodziłoby się z porażką znacznie wcześniej niż Carlsen. W niedzielę natomiast Polak - grając czarnymi - musiał już uznać wyższość bardziej utytułowanego Norwega.

22-letni Arcymistrz z Wieliczki w starciach ze starszym o niespełna osiem lat mistrzem świata radzi sobie wyjątkowo dobrze. Sobotnie zwycięstwo było czwartym meczem z rzędu, w którym mistrz świata nie dał mu rady. Duda pokonał Carlsena w partii szachów szybkich w maju w turnieju, który rozgrywanym był online (Lindores Ammey Rapid Challenge zaliczany się do cyklu Magnus Carlsen Invitational). W styczniu tego roku partia szachów klasycznych w holenderskim Wijk aan Zee zakończyła się remisem, tak jak i pojedynek podczas mistrzostw świata w szachach błyskawicznych w grudniu 2019 w Moskwie. Polak wygrał w Stavanger mimo, że we wcześniejszych spotkaniach imprezy w Norwegii nie spisywał się dobrze... Po trzech porażkach i remisie mówił nawet, że jest to jego najgorszy turniej w karierze. - Wygrana trochę poprawiła mi humor - stwierdził, dodając, że nie zasłania mu to całego obrazu turnieju, w którym generalnie poniósł straty jeśli chodzi o punkty rankingowe.
>> Wypróbuj „Przegląd Sportowy" w wersji mobilnej. Najlepsze artykuły przeczytasz nie wychodząc z domu

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wypróbuj „Przegląd Sportowy" w wersji mobilnej. Najlepsze artykuły przeczytasz nie wychodząc z domu W Altibox Norway Chess bierze udział sześciu czołowych zawodników świata, a pula nagród wynosi w przeliczeniu ponad 700 tysięcy złotych.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There was something hidden by the crowds that gathered across France over the weekend.

The dramatic show of national unity - after the decapitation of teacher Samuel Paty outside Paris - hid growing dissent in some parts of the country over the nation's view of secularism and freedom of speech.

"Last year, a student told me that it was completely legitimate to kill someone who failed to show respect to the Prophet [Muhammad]," Fathia Agad-Boudjhalat, a history teacher, told French radio. "It comes from what they hear in their families."

Fathia has used cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad for years, along with cartoons of Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, to teach about freedom of speech.

But many in her profession report worrying trends among a minority of students who seem at odds with French laws and values.

State secularism - or laïcité - is central to France's national identity. It's as important as the concepts of "liberty, equality, fraternity" that make up its post-Revolutionary motto.

Laïcité decrees that the public space - whether classrooms, workplaces or ministries - should be free of religion. Curbing freedom of expression to protect the feelings of one particular community, the state says, undermines the country's unity.

But there is evidence that a growing number of people in France are uncomfortable with this argument and want the boundaries around secularism and free speech to change.

According to Michaël Prazan, a former teacher, this dissent began to grow in the early 2000s when the government banned religious symbols in schools.

Back then, he was teaching in a suburb of Paris with a high Muslim population. He believes teachers have failed to react to a growing chasm between them and some of their students.

"We need to be more responsive as soon as there is a student who poses a problem in class, such as rejoicing in a terrorist act," he told me. "We need to deal with it quickly before it spills over onto the internet and a death threat for the teacher."

Teachers say they noticed a change after 2015, when Islamist gunmen attacked the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo after it published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

"They deserved it," some students told philosophy teacher Alexandra Girat, "because the cartoons were too much - they shouldn't represent the Prophet [Muhammad] that way."

Polls suggest wider public opinion in France has hardened since the attacks, with a majority of people now supporting the magazine's decision to publish the cartoons. Previously, most said it was an "unnecessary provocation".

Meanwhile, almost 70% of Muslim respondents believe publishing the images was wrong.

But both sample groups strongly condemned the attacks themselves.

The roots of deepening divisions over religious identity and freedom of speech are complex. They include the influence of conflicts overseas and the racism and social marginalisation experienced by many descendants of Muslim immigrants here.

France's national values are hard to defend, some say, if they don't appear to apply to you.

So where does all that leave teachers like Samuel Paty, who are tasked with teaching students about freedom of speech?

One woman at Sunday's rally said France's leaders needed to act.

"We can't leave teachers alone to face these complicated religious, moral and philosophical questions," she told us. "They need direction."

We've been sounding the alarm for years," Iannis Roder, a historian and teacher, told French radio. "I hope this is a turning point in recognising the reality of what happens on the ground."

President Macron has reportedly asked the government to come up with "concrete action" and to strengthen security in schools, promising that "fear will change sides".

More than 80 people who posted online messages of support for Mr Paty's killer will be investigated by police, and associations with radical links are under fresh scrutiny too.

The government is under pressure, with one senior opposition figure criticising Mr Macron's approach and calling for "armes et non des larmes" - weapons not tears.

But after so many attacks here over the past five years, the divisions - and the disillusion - seem to grow a little more each time.

How pupils will react to the killing of Mr Paty won't be clear until early November, when schools return after a two week break leading up to the Christian holiday of Toussaint.

After the attacks in 2015, some children refused to take part in a minute's silence that was held across the nation to remember those who died.

A similar national moment is planned for Mr Paty when schools return next month. Once again, teachers will be watching to see what the response of their pupils will be.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Samuel Paty: Beheading of teacher deepens divisions over France's secular identity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There was something hidden by the crowds that gathered across France over the weekend. The dramatic show of national unity - after the decapitation of teacher Samuel Paty outside Paris - hid growing dissent in some parts of the country over the nation's view of secularism and freedom of speech.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
the future of golf could be shorter than you think - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The future of golf could be shorter than you think

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There can surely be no greater advert for golf than an 11-year-old boy hitting a hole-in-one on the inaugural tee shot at the opening of a Tiger Woods-designed short course in front of the 15-time major winner himself.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
iceland earthquake interrupts prime minister's live interview - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Well, this is Iceland': Earthquake interrupts Prime Minister

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Iceland PM Katrin Jakobsdottir was discussing the impact of the pandemic on tourism when her house started to shake.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
But he added: "Our diverse portfolio, including our government services, defence and space programmes, continues to provide some stability for us as we adapt and rebuild for the other side of the pandemic."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Boeing to cut 20% of workforce by end of 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
But he added: "Our diverse portfolio, including our government services, defence and space programmes, continues to provide some stability for us as we adapt and rebuild for the other side of the pandemic."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In Germany, it is being termed a "lockdown light" for November while in France a four-week lockdown is expected but less severe than in the spring.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to decide with state leaders whether to shut bars, leisure centres and hotels to halt the rise in infections.

President Emmanuel Macron will give details of French measures later.

Covid infections in Europe are almost as high as in the first wave, although testing now is more extensive.

Night curfews are in force in several countries. However, one French minister has complained that curfews affecting some 46 million people have failed to halt social interactions.

"[The curfew] has simply shifted them - instead of getting together at 21:00, people meet up at six," the unnamed minister was quoted as saying.

The German government is keen to enable families and friends to meet at Christmas, but daily infections have soared to a new high of 14,964 and 85 more deaths.

Ireland imposed tight measures last week with the aim of reopening before Christmas and Italy shut cinemas and gyms this week in an attempt to "save Christmas". Now the UK government is under pressure to act too.

What measures are expected?

A draft proposal seen by German media suggests a broad but limited lockdown from 4 November:

Schools would remain open

Social contacts would be limited to two households and tourism would be halted

Cinemas, theatres, leisure centres would be shut

Bars would close and restaurants would be limited to takeaways

Tattoo and massage parlours would shut but hairdressers would be allowed to stay open

In France, the defence council and cabinet were deciding the extent of the planned four-week lockdown on Wednesday, but reports suggest schools will stay open and online study will be encouraged for older children and universities.

The changes could kick in from Thursday night.

France recorded 523 deaths on Tuesday, including 235 in residential homes, and the hospital federation has appealed for as broad a lockdown as possible.

"The country is really on the verge of having its health system becoming deluged," it said, warning of significant excess mortality in the most vulnerable groups.

A new French lockdown - with differences

The French government has been taken by surprise by the virulence of this second Covid wave. Some 50,000 new cases a day are being reported and that's probably a big underestimate.

The proportion of critical beds occupied by Covid patients is now 70% in Paris. So, at 20:00 (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, President Macron is going to announce new restrictions - probably a new national lockdown, as in March, but with some key differences.

Schools for example will probably stay open. For business, it's going to be another massive blow - especially for sectors like entertainment and events - though the president will doubtless also say that extra government aid to struggling companies can also now be expected.

After the economy picked up in the third quarter, it now looks inevitable that it'll contract again between now and the end of the year, and for the whole of 2020 the government's predicting a 10% fall in GDP.

How are infections spreading?

While Western Europe has seen numbers returning to levels last seen during the initial wave, there are also big rises in Central and Eastern Europe.

In Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova has warned of a critical situation in hospital bed capacity in 16 regions. Five regions are at 95% capacity, she says. Masks are now required in crowded public places across Russia.

Poland on Wednesday announced a further 18,820 cases and 236 deaths

Belgium has reached its highest number of hospitalisations in a single day (689) since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The number of deaths has now surpassed 11,000

Spain has recorded 267 more deaths - the highest number since 1 May

Night curfews start at 21:00 today in the Czech Republic - except for working, walking the dog or urgent medical needs. Shops shut at 20:00. The country has again recorded more than 15,000 new cases

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus: Germany and France to decide on new lockdowns

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In Germany, it is being termed a "lockdown light" for November while in France a four-week lockdown is expected but less severe than in the spring. Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to decide with state leaders whether to shut bars, leisure centres and hotels to halt the rise in infections.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pakistan attack: Peshawar religious school holds prayers hours after blast

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Staff at the seminary said they wanted to show they "weren't defeated" by the fatal attack.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bank of England injects extra £150bn into economy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Policymakers keep interest rates at record low of 0.1%

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
More than 50 million mink a year are bred for their fur, mainly in China, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland. Outbreaks have been reported in fur farms in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and the US, and millions of animals have had to be culled.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Denmark to cull up to 17 million mink amid coronavirus fears

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
More than 50 million mink a year are bred for their fur, mainly in China, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland. Outbreaks have been reported in fur farms in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and the US, and millions of animals have had to be culled.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In fact, the decision of the American people every four years can transform the country's foreign policy and its approach to its allies and enemies alike.

So it's no wonder that countries around the world have been paying close attention to the neck-and-neck race for the White House.

Our colleagues from BBC Monitoring have rounded up the global reaction so far.

Relations between the US and China, which are longstanding rivals and duelling economic powers, have sunk to their lowest level in decades.

And both candidates in this election have pledged to be strong in dealing with Beijing.

With this in mind, it's perhaps unsurprising that Chinese state media branded this a "divisive, tense and chaotic" election marred by "unrest, mud-slinging and money politics".

"Many media and people worry that if the election is contested, it may trigger chaos and even social unrest," China's official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the state broadcaster CCTV featured a video report which focused on fears of post-election violence. "There is deep concern about continued social unrest," the report said.

The government, however, has said very little. On Wednesday, a spokesman said it had "no position" on the election.

It's worth remembering that US intelligence believe Russia tried to sway the 2016 election in favour of Mr Trump, an accusation Moscow has repeatedly denied.

But the two anchors on Rossiya 24 joked about potential accusations of bias towards the incumbent president. "Some comrades... will listen to us now and conclude that we have already declared Trump the winner," one presenter said, to which the other replied: "It is pure mathematics, nothing more."

There has been no official comment from the Russian government, but the pro-Kremlin politician Vyacheslav Nikonov was unafraid to revel in the uncertainty surrounding the result.

"Whoever wins the legal battles half of Americans will not consider them the lawful president," he wrote on Facebook. "Let's stock up on large quantities of popcorn."

She said President Trump, who has vowed to challenge the election result in the courts, risked triggering "a constitutional crisis in the USA".

"[This is] something that must deeply concern us," she added.

Surveys suggest President Trump - who once claimed he'd charmed Chancellor Angela Merkel - remains deeply unpopular in Germany. And it is well reported that the government in Berlin has struggled to establish a strong working relationship with the Trump administration.

"Let's not kid ourselves: The United States has not been a friendly partner to European states for several years now," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told Radio Classique.

"Whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump is elected by Americans tonight or tomorrow, nothing changes this strategic fact," he added. "The American continent has detached itself from the European continent."

Twitter flagged a post in which he congratulated Mr Trump and accused the "mainstream media" of "denying facts". His post was labelled with a line that said: "Official sources may not have called the race when this was Tweeted."

Mr Jansa has consistently tweeted his support for the US president and his policies since he became Slovenia's prime minister earlier this year.

The "threat of civil war" was a prominent talking point, with one presenter saying that, for outside observers, the election "looks very scary".

Rolling state-run news channel IRINN also said the election had been held "under the shadow of fear of unrest".

"Trump's victory in Florida buries the prospect of a... Democratic triumph," the prominent Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo said in a headline. "Votes of Venezuelan, Cuban Latinos, and evangelicals, boosted the current president," the paper commented.

Commentators in the region said the Florida outcome showed the Republican president's strategy of associating his Democratic rival Joe Biden with socialism had found resonance among Cuban and Venezuelan exile voters.

"Trump has locked up another key electoral group in Florida: the Cuban Americans and other Hispanics convinced that only the president guarantees that they will be safe from a socialist government," Colombian daily El Espectador said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
US Election 2020: How the world is reacting to knife-edge vote

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In fact, the decision of the American people every four years can transform the country's foreign policy and its approach to its allies and enemies alike. So it's no wonder that countries around the world have been paying close attention to the neck-and-neck race for the White House.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In France, state secularism (laïcité) is central to the country's national identity. Freedom of expression in schools and other public spaces is part of that, and curbing it to protect the feelings of a particular religion is seen as undermining national unity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
France's Macron issues 'Republican values' ultimatum to Muslim leaders

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In France, state secularism (laïcité) is central to the country's national identity. Freedom of expression in schools and other public spaces is part of that, and curbing it to protect the feelings of a particular religion is seen as undermining national unity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Brexit: Top-level talks suspended after positive Covid test

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier says a member of his team has tested positive for the virus.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ski lifts are running, with a requirement to wear masks, prompting criticism from World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 envoy David Nabarro. "Once infection rates sink, and they will sink, then we can be as free as we want. But right now? Should ski resorts open? Under what conditions?"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus pandemic: Germany seeks EU deal to close ski resorts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ski lifts are running, with a requirement to wear masks, prompting criticism from World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 envoy David Nabarro. "Once infection rates sink, and they will sink, then we can be as free as we want. But right now? Should ski resorts open? Under what conditions?"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The TPLF fighters, drawn mostly from a paramilitary unit and a well-drilled local militia, are thought to number about 250,000. Analysts believe the conflict could be long and bloody given the strength of Tigray's forces.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: PM declares assault on regional capital Mekelle

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The TPLF fighters, drawn mostly from a paramilitary unit and a well-drilled local militia, are thought to number about 250,000. Analysts believe the conflict could be long and bloody given the strength of Tigray's forces.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The indictment states that 25 pilots in F-16s bombed targets in Ankara, including parliament, which was hit three times, as well as key security buildings. The bombing killed 68 people in Ankara and injured more than 200.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Turkey court jails officers over 2016 coup plot

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The indictment states that 25 pilots in F-16s bombed targets in Ankara, including parliament, which was hit three times, as well as key security buildings. The bombing killed 68 people in Ankara and injured more than 200.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
arecibo observatory in puerto rico collapses ahead of planned demolition - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Arecibo Observatory collapses ahead of planned demolition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The instrument platform of the 305-meter telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico collapsed overnight, according to the National Science Foundation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
'the lord of the rings' cast is crowdfunding to buy j.r.r. tolkien's home and turn it into a literary center - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'The Lord of the Rings' cast is crowdfunding to buy J.R.R. Tolkien's home and turn it into a literary center

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Actors including Gandalf himself, Ian McKellen, and Martin Freeman, who played Bilbo in "The Hobbit" films, have launched the "Project Northmoor" crowdfunding campaign to purchase Tolkien's home and transform it into a literary center in his honor.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By Jonathan Amos
BBC Science Correspondent

US entrepreneur Elon Musk has launched the latest prototype of his Starship vehicle from Texas.

Codenamed SN8, the uncrewed rocket lifted away from the Boca Chica R&D facility on what had been billed as a brief flight to 12.5km (41,000ft).

The 50m-tall vehicle crashed on touchdown but Mr Musk was delighted with how much the test outing achieved.

Before the flight, the tech billionaire had dampened expectations, warning his fans that some mishap was likely.

Nonetheless, Musk has big hopes for the Starship when it is fully developed. He says it is the future for his SpaceX company.

Starship will launch people and cargo into orbit, and the entrepreneur also envisages the vehicle travelling to the Moon and Mars.

The SpaceX CEO praised his team, adding that the demonstration had acquired "all the data we needed".

"Mars, here we come!!" he tweeted.

The Boca Chica facility has developed a line of ever-more complex prototypes. The philosophy has been to test each iteration until it fails. Sometimes explosively.

SN8 was the first to attempt a high-altitude suborbital flight.

The plan had been to test out some manoeuvres that mimicked a belly-facing re-entry to Earth's atmosphere, ending up with a flip back to the vertical just before touchdown.

Most of this was achieved: a clean launch off the pad, a steady climb to altitude, followed by a horizontal descent. But it was when the Starship tried to flip back to the vertical that things started to go wrong.

The vehicle came into its landing pad with too much speed, and promptly exploded on impact.

"Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD," Mr Musk explained on Twitter.

"RUD" stands for "rapid unscheduled disassembly". A crash, in other words.

Mr Musk will move swiftly on. He already has other prototypes at Boca Chica ready to take SN8's place.

Visually, SN8 looked quite different from the test articles that had gone before it.

The new vehicle was given three of SpaceX's latest methane-burning Raptor engines, a nose cone and aerodynamic control surfaces - the large flaps at its top and base.

The Starship will eventually launch atop a booster called the Super Heavy.

This will feature perhaps 28 Raptors, producing more than 70 meganewtons (16 million lbs) of thrust. That's much more than even the mighty Apollo Saturn 5 rocket, which sent men to the Moon.

Both parts of the new SpaceX system - Starship and Super Heavy booster - will stand 118m tall on the launch pad.

The two elements are being designed to be fully reusable, making propulsive landings at the end of each mission.

In June this year, Mr Musk stated that Starship was now his number-one priority, beyond the Falcon rockets he currently routinely flies for satellite companies, the US Air Force and the US space agency (Nasa).

He believes the Starship concept can transform the economics of spaceflight.

The specifications call for more than 100-tonnes to be lifted into low-Earth orbit.

This mass could include satellites, people and even hardware to build bases on the Moon and Mars.

Nasa has already asked Mr Musk to examine the possibility of landing a Starship on the lunar surface in the next few years.

The entrepreneur has in mind a higher objective and a faster timeline, however. Receiving an award last week from the Germany digital publishing group Axel Springer SE, he said he aimed to have people at Mars in the next four to six years.

The SpaceX CEO is famous for his aggressive and overly optimistic schedules. He does, however, have a habit of proving critics wrong by eventually attaining his goals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elon Musk's Starship prototype makes a big impact

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By Jonathan Amos BBC Science Correspondent US entrepreneur Elon Musk has launched the latest prototype of his Starship vehicle from Texas. Codenamed SN8, the uncrewed rocket lifted away from the Boca Chica R&D facility on what had been billed as a brief flight to 12.5km (41,000ft).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
jupiter and saturn will look like a double planet just in time for christmas - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jupiter and Saturn will look like a double planet later this month

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, are coming closer together than they have been since the Middle Ages. This close approach, called a conjunction, will happen on December 21, but it will be visible December 16 to 25.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By Jonathan Amos
BBC Science Correspondent

US entrepreneur Elon Musk has launched the latest prototype of his Starship vehicle from Texas.

Codenamed SN8, the uncrewed rocket lifted away from the Boca Chica R&D facility on what had been billed as a brief flight to 12.5km (41,000ft).

The 50m-tall vehicle crashed on touchdown but Mr Musk was delighted with how much the test outing achieved.

Before the flight, the tech billionaire had dampened expectations, warning his fans that some mishap was likely.

Nonetheless, Musk has big hopes for the Starship when it is fully developed. He says it is the future for his SpaceX company.

Starship will launch people and cargo into orbit, and the entrepreneur also envisages the vehicle travelling to the Moon and Mars.

The SpaceX CEO praised his team, adding that the demonstration had acquired "all the data we needed".

"Mars, here we come!!" he tweeted.

The Boca Chica facility has developed a line of ever-more complex prototypes. The philosophy has been to test each iteration until it fails. Sometimes explosively.

SN8 was the first to attempt a high-altitude suborbital flight.

The plan had been to test out some manoeuvres that mimicked a belly-facing re-entry to Earth's atmosphere, ending up with a flip back to the vertical just before touchdown.

Most of this was achieved: a clean launch off the pad, a steady climb to altitude, followed by a horizontal descent. But it was when the Starship tried to flip back to the vertical that things started to go wrong.

The vehicle came into its landing pad with too much speed, and promptly exploded on impact.

"Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD," Mr Musk explained on Twitter.

"RUD" stands for "rapid unscheduled disassembly". A crash, in other words.

Mr Musk will move swiftly on. He already has other prototypes at Boca Chica ready to take SN8's place.

Visually, SN8 looked quite different from the test articles that had gone before it.

The new vehicle was given three of SpaceX's latest methane-burning Raptor engines, a nose cone and aerodynamic control surfaces - the large flaps at its top and base.

The Starship will eventually launch atop a booster called the Super Heavy.

This will feature perhaps 28 Raptors, producing more than 70 meganewtons (16 million lbs) of thrust. That's much more than even the mighty Apollo Saturn 5 rocket, which sent men to the Moon.

Both parts of the new SpaceX system - Starship and Super Heavy booster - will stand 118m tall on the launch pad.

The two elements are being designed to be fully reusable, making propulsive landings at the end of each mission.

In June this year, Mr Musk stated that Starship was now his number-one priority, beyond the Falcon rockets he currently routinely flies for satellite companies, the US Air Force and the US space agency (Nasa).

He believes the Starship concept can transform the economics of spaceflight.

The specifications call for more than 100-tonnes to be lifted into low-Earth orbit.

This mass could include satellites, people and even hardware to build bases on the Moon and Mars.

Nasa has already asked Mr Musk to examine the possibility of landing a Starship on the lunar surface in the next few years.

The entrepreneur has in mind a higher objective and a faster timeline, however. Receiving an award last week from the Germany digital publishing group Axel Springer SE, he said he aimed to have people at Mars in the next four to six years.

The SpaceX CEO is famous for his aggressive and overly optimistic schedules. He does, however, have a habit of proving critics wrong by eventually attaining his goals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elon Musk's Starship prototype makes a big impact

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By Jonathan Amos BBC Science Correspondent US entrepreneur Elon Musk has launched the latest prototype of his Starship vehicle from Texas. Codenamed SN8, the uncrewed rocket lifted away from the Boca Chica R&D facility on what had been billed as a brief flight to 12.5km (41,000ft).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Covid: How is Europe lifting lockdown restrictions?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Europe is gradually easing lockdown measures ahead of the tourist season.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dawn has just broken at Patanemo bay, a large white sandy beach on Venezuela's Caribbean coast.

Fishermen are cooking up breakfast on an open fire alongside their fishing shed. On the menu, fish of course: fried bonito with boiled cassava.

Some colleagues have just returned from emptying the nets from overnight. They off-load several cool-boxes of red snapper and bonito but as they start cleaning up their catch, scraping the scales off and chopping the flesh up, one fisherman tells me they are disappointed.

They will be lucky if they get $3 (£2.25) each from this haul, once they have covered their fuel costs.

Running out of fuel

Grey Barreto is one of the fishermen. He is sitting in a hammock, relaxing. Mr Barreto says that they would head back out to catch more if they could, but they cannot get hold of fuel.

In a country which has grown used to economic hardships, this year has been more brutal than most, he tells me.

But it did not start with Covid-19. "We were told the fuel was running out in February," he tells me. "This is an oil-rich country, 'how is that possible?', we thought. We didn't listen."

Then the fuel shortages started; and shortly after, the pandemic hit.

The whole country shut down. "We couldn't get anything and we had to start trading fuel for food," he says.

While fishing is their bread-and-butter, many fishermen also earn money ferrying tourists to nearby deserted beaches. But in the pandemic, that dried up. Now, it is just fish that keeps them going, but only just.

Venezuela may have the world's largest oil reserves but years of underinvestment and mismanagement, plus added pressure from US sanctions, mean production is about a third of what it should be.

About an hour along the coast from the beach, El Palito refinery encapsulates that demise. It is spewing thick black smoke into the atmosphere and the facilities look tired. It is a side of the economic struggles the government does its best to hide.

But it is impossible to cover up because, everywhere you drive, Venezuelans are queueing for petrol. This is a country whose people used to have fuel on tap, and who are used to paying next to nothing for it.

Earlier this year, President Nicolás Maduro announced a hike in fuel prices, but even that does not guarantee a tank of petrol.

Read more:

Outside a station in the centre of Valencia, one of Venezuela's biggest cities, I meet Juan Pablo Henríquez and his 78-year-old father Manuel.

They have both brought their cars to fill up and to keep each other company. It is not uncommon to have to stay several nights in the line to get that precious tank of petrol.

'I have no life'

They are five hours into their wait, and this is a good day, Manuel tells me without looking at me in the eye, so angry is he about spending his retirement sitting in queues.

"It's a disaster, the good times have gone," he says. "What hope is there? I'm about to turn 80 and I have no life."

Further up the line, Bexy is another exasperated driver. She has several snacks in the passenger seat in preparation for the long wait.

"It's absurd that in such an oil-rich country, the government has finished the industry off," she says. "It's not just petrol either, I get home from this hot queue, sweating, I want a shower, there's no water, then no electricity, it's a total mess."

Black market fuel

Later in the day, I meet Juan (not his real name). He is busy decanting petrol from a jerry can into a car's fuel tank.

Juan used to work for a multinational company. Now he spends his days sitting in queues to fill up his tank. He then sells it on the black market, asking for double the price he paid at the pump.

But there are other illicit ways of getting that liquid gold. Juan says that the military has been selling contraband fuel this past year. "They have access to everything, they're the ones in control."

Back at the beach, the fishermen tell me the same thing: the police, the military, anyone with special access is taking advantage of this precious commodity in Venezuela. Corruption is rife but people rely on it to carry on with their lives.

As night falls, the fishermen prepare for one more trip out to sea. It is their last chance for a decent catch. But an hour later they are back, with just five fish.

Today is not their day, and they have used a precious tank of petrol for nothing. And there is no guarantee tomorrow will be any better.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'A total mess': Venezuelans see little hope of improvement

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dawn has just broken at Patanemo bay, a large white sandy beach on Venezuela's Caribbean coast. Fishermen are cooking up breakfast on an open fire alongside their fishing shed. On the menu, fish of course: fried bonito with boiled cassava. Some colleagues have just returned from emptying the nets from overnight.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hungary has become the first country in the European Union to give preliminary approval to the Russian coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff confirmed both the Russian jab and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had been given the green light by the health authorities.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto is travelling to Moscow for further talks, where he is expected to discuss a shipment and distribution deal.

Early results from trials of the Sputnik vaccine have shown promising results.

Hungarian health officials are also in Beijing for talks with the Chinese authorities over the approval and immediate delivery of one million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, which is already being used in neighbouring Serbia.

Sinopharm, a Chinese state-owned company, announced last month that phase three trials of its jab showed that it was 79% effective - lower than that of Pfizer and Moderna.

But Hungary's prime minister has said the only way the country can satisfy the demand for vaccination, given the "frustratingly" slow delivery of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, is by buying from Russia and China.

At least 140,000 Hungarians have already been vaccinated. But government efforts to popularise the Russian and Chinese vaccines have already run into opposition.

The scepticism and suspicion among Hungarians is, in the public imagination at least, related to the Communist domination of the country from 1948 to 1989.

The move has also drawn criticism from the European Union, which is wary of yet another example of Mr Orban's government going its own way and undermining EU solidarity.

In the capital Budapest, outside the Allee shopping mall, views are mixed about vaccination in general. There are particularly strong feelings here about the prospect of non-EU developed vaccines being rolled out.

Orsolya Egri, a hospice worker, said she believed there was a "huge difference" between a vaccine gaining Hungarian approval and EU-wide approval.

"If [it is only approved] by the Hungarian authorities, I would not dare," she said. "I don't trust the Hungarian government [or the] health system either."

Ms Egri has already received the Pfizer vaccine, because of the nature of her work, but she is especially concerned about her elderly parents who might have no choice about which vaccine they receive.

"I've had the Pfizer [vaccine] already, and I would recommend it to anyone," Alexandra Tarhazy, a dentist's assistant, said. "I trust it more because Hungarians were involved in developing it."

Katalin Kariko, a biochemist who left Hungary for the US in 1985, played a key role in developing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

"I'm fit, I avoid all jabs. I just hope they don't force it on us," said Jozsef, who was making motorbike food deliveries to supplement lost income from his day job. "I don't trust any of them."

In fact, Hungarians are among the most vaccine-sceptical people in Europe. Only 49 percent are willing to be vaccinated, according to the latest Eurobarometer poll.

Some blame this reluctance on the government's enthusiasm for Moscow and Beijing, as well as its hostility to all things European.

"The foreign policy line is that we have to be on good terms with the big eastern powers," said Anita Elo, health correspondent for the independent conservative portal, Valasz. "But the degree of vehemence with which the government has communicated that is scaring people off."

Some polls suggest only seven percent of Hungarians would accept the Russian vaccine, while acceptance of the Chinese version has been measured as low as one percent by some surveys.

The government, however, fiercely refutes criticism of the jabs.

"No vaccine can come to the Hungarian market that is not up to the standards that would make it safe [and] reliable," government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told me. "Don't look for any kind of conspiracy here."

The criticism of Hungary for striking vaccine deals with eastern allies is proof of "double standards" in the West, he insisted. Mr Kovacs noted that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin had held talks on the same issue.

Russia is funding and building a major expansion of Hungary's nuclear power station at Paks. The Chinese Fudan University is also due to open a campus in Budapest in 2024, and plans are advancing for a high-speed Chinese railway that would link Budapest to Thessaloniki and bring Chinese goods to Europe.

Meanwhile, a senior doctor told the BBC that 6,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine will be administered to 3,000 paid Hungarian volunteers in phase three of a clinical trial in the coming weeks.

"The vaccine is good," he said. "But please don't let the government know I've been talking to you."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus: Hungary first in EU to approve Russian vaccine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hungary has become the first country in the European Union to give preliminary approval to the Russian coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V. On Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff confirmed both the Russian jab and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had been given the green light by the health authorities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Two suicide bombers have killed at least 28 people at a Baghdad market by luring shoppers towards them before setting off the devices they were carrying.

The strike on Thursday was the first in the Iraqi capital in three years, provoking fears of a resurgence of the kind of violence the country endured in the years after the 2003 US invasion and the Islamic State era.

Dozens of civilians were wounded in the mid-morning blast at a secondhand clothes bazaar. The interior ministry said the first bomber had claimed he was ill and when crowds gathered to help, he detonated his bomb. "The second suicide bomber blew himself up when people gathered to move the wounded from the first explosion," the ministry said.

Video footage of the second blast, uploaded to social media, depicted chaotic scenes on a street outside the market and a powerful explosion.

The ministry ordered the city's hospitals, already overwhelmed by the coronavirus epidemic, to treat the wounded. Bodies lined a corridor of at least one central hospital.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the strike bore the hallmarks of the Isis terror group, whose remnants had melted back into towns and cities after its defeat in Iraq and Syria in early 2019. Isis has been attempting to reorganise in Iraq's western deserts and near its eastern border. Though its leadership and rank and file were decimated, it retains the capacity to launch small but devastating attacks.

The military on guard in Baghdad after the bombings. Photograph: Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty

At the height of Isis's powers the terror group reached the approaches to Baghdad and was held back by a counter-offensive by militia groups and the Iraqi military, which had been splintered by Isis's rapid gains. As the national military regrouped, Isis gradually withered, resorting to suicide bombings and killing officials. Since 2017 it has rarely been able to penetrate security cordons near central Baghdad.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, successive Iraqi governments struggled to assert themselves. Widespread social unrest in late 2019 resulted in the rise of the current prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who this week delayed national elections from June until 10 October.

Kadhimi, a former national intelligence chief who led Iraq's fight against Isis, has faced a sustained challenge to his authority from militia groups backed by Iran and from lawmakers in his administration tied to Tehran. He was backed by the Trump administration and is held in good stead by senior officials in the new US government.

Several Iraqi MPs suggested a political vacuum had led terror groups to sense vulnerability in Baghdad after years of relative security stability.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Two suicide bombers kill 28 shoppers in first Baghdad strike in three years

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Two suicide bombers have killed at least 28 people at a Baghdad market by luring shoppers towards them before setting off the devices they were carrying. The strike on Thursday was the first in the Iraqi capital in three years, provoking fears of a resurgence of the kind of violence the country endured in the years after the 2003 US invasion and the Islamic State era.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
He signed one order on boosting food assistance and another on raising the federal minimum wage to $15.

Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, said the action would "provide a critical lifeline" to millions of families.

It comes a day after the new US president signed a raft of orders to boost the fight against coronavirus.

This included expanding testing and accelerating vaccine distribution.

Mr Biden said it would take months to defeat the pandemic but America would "get through this" if people stood together.

The Trump administration was widely accused of failing to get to grips with the pandemic.

The US has recorded the highest coronavirus death toll of any country in the world, with more than 410,000 fatalities, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University. It has recorded more than 24.6 million cases.

Mr Biden signed the two executive orders on Friday.

The first increases food aid for children who rely on school meals as a main source for nutrition, but are unable to access them because of remote learning.

It also creates a guarantee that workers can access unemployment benefits if they refuse a job on the grounds that it could jeopardise their health.

The second is aimed at expanding protections for federal workers, by restoring collective bargaining rights and promoting a $15 (£11) hourly minimum wage.

Mr Deese said the orders were "not a substitute" for a $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill that Mr Biden wants Congress to pass, but an essential lifeline for people who need immediate assistance.

"The American people cannot afford to wait," he told reporters. "So many are hanging by a thread. They need help, and we're committed to doing everything we can to provide that help as quickly as possible."

What else has Biden done?

The day after taking office, Mr Biden signed 10 executive orders as part of a sweeping "wartime" Covid action plan.

This included increasing vaccinations and testing, and expanding the production of essential equipment.

Mr Biden said that the "bold practical steps" that he was taking would not come cheaply.

"Let me be clear - things will continue to get worse before they get better," he said, adding that he expected the number of dead to top half a million by next month.

"This is a wartime undertaking," he said, repeating that more Americans had already died in the pandemic than in the whole of World War Two.

He mentioned the vaccine, saying that its rollout had been a "dismal failure so far", and described his plan for 100 million jabs in his first 100 days in office as "one of the greatest operational challenges our nation has ever taken on".

But when challenged by a reporter who suggested the target might be too low, he snapped back: "When I announced it you all said that it's not possible. Come on. Give me a break, man."

Some US media commentators have argued that Mr Biden's goal of one million doses administered daily to Americans is not ambitious enough.

The daily average for coronavirus vaccine doses over the last week, including under the Trump administration, already sits at 980,000, according to the Bloomberg vaccine tracker.

Mr Biden also promised to be transparent about setbacks, and allow scientists to work free from political interference.

"I'm convinced the American people are ready to spare no effort to get this done," he concluded. "We can do this if we stand together."

Speaking separately chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci spoke about the vaccine rollout, saying the Biden administration was "amplifying" the programme that was already there.

If, as hoped, 70-85% of the population was vaccinated by the end of summer, there would be "a degree of normality" by autumn, he said.

Dr Fauci said his main concern was persuading people who were sceptical about the vaccine to take it.

He added that the administration was in talks with manufacturers to produce more vaccine, amid reports of supply problems. Some regional officials say they have run out of available vaccine.

Nearly 20 million shots have been administered so far.

Dr Fauci, who served under Mr Trump, also welcomed the new administration's emphasis on science.

"The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know and what the evidence, what the science is... it is something of a liberating feeling," he said, whereas under Mr Trump, "you didn't feel that you could actually say something and there wouldn't be any repercussions".

What is Biden's Covid plan?

The Trump administration had been criticised for a lack of strategy at the federal level.

"The American people deserve an urgent, robust and professional response to the growing public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak," an introduction to the plan said.

It said Mr Biden believed the government "must act swiftly and aggressively to help protect and support" essential workers and the most vulnerable.

Although executive orders do not require congressional approval, much of the funding for the planned measures is contained in the $1.9tn stimulus package announced by Mr Biden last week.

He will need co-operation from the Senate and House of Representatives for the package to be adopted smoothly.

The aim is to reopen most schools safely within 100 days, and establish vaccine centres at stadiums and community facilities.

International travellers will need to test negative before departing for the US and self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

On top of the already announced rules on wearing masks and social distancing on all federal government property, face coverings will become mandatory in airports and on many planes, trains and buses.

There will be more funding for state and local officials to help tackle the pandemic, and a new office will be established to co-ordinate the national response.

The Defense Production Act will be used to speed up production of personal protective equipment and essential supplies needed for vaccine production. Mr Trump used the same piece of legislation to compel the production of items in short supply last year.

In a further break with the previous administration, Dr Fauci said the US would join the Covax scheme designed to deliver Covid vaccines to poor countries.

Speaking by video call to the World Health Organization in Geneva, he also stressed that the US would continue to provide funding for the WHO, in line with Mr Biden's move to reverse Mr Trump's decision to leave.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Covid: Biden signs executive orders on food aid and worker protections

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
He signed one order on boosting food assistance and another on raising the federal minimum wage to $15. Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, said the action would "provide a critical lifeline" to millions of families. It comes a day after the new US president signed a raft of orders to boost the fight against coronavirus.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
US President Joe Biden has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin about election meddling in their first call as counterparts, the White House says.

The conversation also included a discussion about the ongoing opposition protests in Russia.

A Kremlin statement did not refer to any points of friction, saying the call was "businesslike and frank".

Both sides reportedly agreed to extend the countries' last remaining nuclear deal during the call.

Former US President Donald Trump sometimes undercut his own administration's tough posture on Russia and was accused by some of being too deferential to Mr Putin.

But Mr Trump's predecessor Barack Obama - under whom Mr Biden served as vice-president - was also criticised for failing to check Russia as it annexed Crimea, supported rebel forces in eastern Ukraine and backed the government of warn-torn Syria.

What did the White House and Kremlin say?

"President Biden made clear that the United States will act firmly in defence of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies," the White House said in a statement, referencing the main talking points of Tuesday afternoon's call but listing no further details.

The US said that the two presidents also discussed the massive SolarWinds cyber-attack, which has been blamed on Moscow; reports that the Kremlin placed bounties on US soldiers in Afghanistan; and the poisoning of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

The Kremlin statement about the call said their president had "noted that the normalisation of relations between Russia and the United States would meet the interests of both countries and - taking into account their special responsibility for maintaining security and stability in the world - of the entire international community".

The leaders also discussed the New Start treaty, an Obama-era accord that limits the amounts of warheads, missiles and launchers in the two countries' nuclear arsenals.

It had been due to expire on 5 February, but both sides reportedly agreed to extend the treaty during Tuesday's call.

The Trump administration, however, had refused to sign it and talks over an extension stalled.

On Wednesday, Russia's parliament ratified a five-year extension of the treaty. Mr Putin said the move was a "step in the right direction" to reducing global tensions.

Biden doesn't want a confrontation

Joe Biden had indicated he would be tougher on Vladimir Putin than Donald Trump, who refused to take on the Kremlin and frequently cast doubt on Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

On that matter Mr Biden made his sharpest break with Mr Trump, reportedly telling Mr Putin that he knew Russia had tried to meddle in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. He also warned the Russian president that the US was ready to defend itself against cyber-espionage, and any other attacks.

Despite Mr Trump's conciliatory approach, the Kremlin did not benefit from his presidency, because his administration heavily sanctioned Russians for issues ranging from Ukraine to attacks on dissidents. Joe Biden and his foreign policy team will take a robust position on human rights and Mr Putin's intentions in Europe.

But they are not looking for a confrontation.

Rather, they hope to manage relations and co-operate where possible. In that vein, the two presidents agreed to work at completing the extension of the New Start arms control treaty before it expires next month.

What does the New Start treaty actually do?

The treaty, signed in 2010, limits each side to 1,550 long-range nuclear warheads, a lower number than under the previous deal.

Each country is allowed, in total, no more than 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear arms.

Another 100 are allowed if they are not operationally deployed - for example, missiles removed from a sub undergoing a long-term overhaul.

Again, this is a significant reduction from the original treaty.

You may also be interested in:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Biden raises election meddling with Putin in first phone call

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
US President Joe Biden has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin about election meddling in their first call as counterparts, the White House says. The conversation also included a discussion about the ongoing opposition protests in Russia. A Kremlin statement did not refer to any points of friction, saying the call was "businesslike and frank".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It has spent years being investigated by regulators across the globe including those in the US, UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.In total, Goldman's dealings with 1MDB cost the bank more than $5bn.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Goldman Sachs boss gets $10m pay cut for 1MDB scandal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It has spent years being investigated by regulators across the globe including those in the US, UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.In total, Goldman's dealings with 1MDB cost the bank more than $5bn.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Two rescued Chinese miners have spoken of their ordeal while trapped underground for two weeks, with one saying he "feels reborn".

The men also described how they managed to make contact with rescuers by knocking on pipes, in their first comments since their dramatic rescue.

They were among 11 people pulled out alive after a 10 January blast in their gold mine in China's Shandong province.

Rescuers are still searching for one miner who remains unaccounted for.

Nine others have been found dead, while another died last week in the mine after falling into a coma.

Speaking from his hospital bed, a miner identified as Du An told state media outlets: "When we heard the drills for the shaft nearing us, all of us stood up... we were too excited."

"There are no words to describe this feeling. I feel like I am reborn."

"We were trapped nearly 600m below ground, it was a daunting task," said another man, identified as Wang Kang. "We are so happy."

The miners also gave more details to the media about what happened to them after the blast.

The group of 22 men had been working on different parts of the mine, around 600m (2,000ft) beneath the surface, when the unexplained explosion happened, severely damaging entry to the mine and cutting off communication.

Recalling the first moments of the explosion, Mr Wang said that he could not see anything clearly when it happened. "It blasted us really far away, and our safety helmets cracked. After it was over, we quickly tried to look for other people."

For days, Mr Wang and Mr Du's group of 11 miners waited in vain to be rescued - they would only learn afterwards that company officials had reported the accident after a 30 hour delay. They had no food and sustained themselves only on water.

"There was plenty of water down there, but it's not very suitable for drinking. So we would only drink a little bit of it to survive," said Mr Du.

But he said they tried to keep up spirits throughout. "We comforted each other with encouraging words. That's how we pulled through."

The group tried to seek help by knocking on the drill pipe every day.

Finally on 17 January, as Mr Wang knocked on the pipe five times - to indicate that they were in the fifth section of the mine - they were finally heard by rescuers. It was first sign of life from underground, said state media.

The rescuers knocked back in response. "I heard over 20 knocks, but I didn't understand," said Mr Wang.

"I went back to discuss it with the other miners. We thought that could mean the number of miners underground, so I returned [to the pipe] and responded with 22 knocks."

How did the miners survive?

Rescuers eventually drilled a long, thin communication shaft down which they sent food, medicine, paper and pencils.

A paper note was then sent up on a rope from the group of 11 miners and a 12th trapped further below. A telephone line was also later established.

After that, contact with the 12th miner was lost, while one of the group of 11, who had fallen into a coma after sustaining a head wound in the explosion, was confirmed dead.

The miners received porridge and nutritional liquids, and a few days before their rescue, requested a traditional meal of sausages.

Rescue efforts had been expected to take weeks, but took a "big step forwards" on Sunday morning when "a huge obstacle blocking the well suddenly fell to the bottom of the shaft," lead rescue worker Du Bingjian told the state-run Global Times.

As rescuers attempted to reach the main group of miners, they found another man who was still alive and was trapped in a different part of the gold mine.

TV footage showed him being lifted out as emergency workers cheered. He was blindfolded to protect his eyes from the light and was immediately taken to hospital for treatment, with his condition described as "extremely weak".

About an hour after that, rescuers reached the main group and pulled them out.

Several of them were seen walking by themselves, supported by rescue workers, before being transported to hospital.

The nine other miners who died were believed to have been in the "Sixth Central Section" of the mine, but details of how they were located are not yet known.

Officials are still searching for one last miner, while battling rising levels of groundwater flooding the mine.

Mining accidents are not uncommon in China, where the industry safety regulations can be poorly enforced. In December last year, 23 miners died after a carbon monoxide leak at a coal mine.

In September, 16 workers were killed at another mine on the outskirts of Chongqing, also due to carbon monoxide. In December 2019, an explosion at a coal mine in Guizhou province, south-west China, killed at least 14 people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rescued Chinese miners 'feel reborn' after harrowing ordeal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Two rescued Chinese miners have spoken of their ordeal while trapped underground for two weeks, with one saying he "feels reborn". The men also described how they managed to make contact with rescuers by knocking on pipes, in their first comments since their dramatic rescue.