bbc--2020-02-13--Why harbour master Georgina Carlo-Paat spent her life at sea

What is it like to spend your life at sea ?
Georgina Carlo-Paat describes how she went from ship cook to the dredging industry 's first female captain - a varied career during which she has watched penguins play on icebergs , eaten lobster in a Russian nightclub after a spell in the Baltic , and become Ilfracombe 's first woman harbour master .
I was a waitress working in Gibraltar in 1990-1991 when the captain of a ship came into the restaurant and said he was in need of a cook .
So long and short , I joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi with them .
It was full-on getting to know how the ship worked , the crew , how to make grits and eggs six different ways .
It was exhilarating , fun and scary at times .
But I fell in love with it .
Even though you are doing the same thing every day , the sea is completely different .
I loved the camaraderie among the crew , because really you are just floating on a steel box on the sea .
I thought ... this is all right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid for it .
It totally changed my perspective on what choices I had in life .
Afterwards , I went to the United States and visited some of the shipmates I had made .
One of the mothers was working for [ shipping company ] Maersk and she said if I really wanted to join the merchant navy , I should go back to England and get properly qualified .
So I did .
I applied to 98 companies but no-one would take me - I was told I was either too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman - I was told there were no facilities onboard to accommodate me and one told me they would n't let a women on board as it would cause too much trouble with the men .
After eight months , I received a call and ended up as a deck cadet and when I qualified in 1995 I was the first female officer in that company .
In the early years , I was usually the only female onboard full stop .
Coming into the male-dominated world of the merchant navy you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be there .
On my first cargo ship , I was informed that the `` captain 's girlfriend '' was n't allowed on deck .
So I called the crew together and introduced myself as the new chief mate - they had been expecting a man called George , which is what I prefer to be called .
My career has taken me from the North Sea to the Baltic ; to the Med the Caribbean and North and South America ; to the Arctic and the Antarctic .
When I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , as we transited to Nicaragua in the early hours we entered the area where the mobula rays are known to 'jump ' as the sun rises .
I was the watch-keeping chief mate and on the 4-8 shift , so there were only a few passengers about .
I got a front row seat to this spectacular event as I weaved the ship through the small islands .
When I was working on the Star Princess with Princess Cruises in 2008 we were scheduled to go down to the Antarctic - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruise ship to go there .
On one of my watches I kept seeing little black spots on an iceberg .
I got in a bit closer and I saw 20 to 30 penguins climbing up it .
Then I could see an ice slide - they had made their own little penguin playground , they were climbing up the iceberg one by one and then sliding down .
Another time we saw some whales as we were transiting down the St Lawrence Seaway .
It became apparent there were a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigational room so the captain ordered the ship to come to a stop while we waited for them to disperse .
I remember seeing humpbacks , blue , minke , fin , and belugas with the odd porpoise thrown in .
Apparently that year there was a flood of krill so they had all converged to feed - it was an amazing sight .
Working on the sea you got to know people you would never normally meet .
I used to do a regular run in the Baltic and we would dock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a challenge - getting there involves going flat out at 40mph down a narrow channel .
One night , we went ashore to a nightclub where we met some locals and they asked if we were hungry .
They took us down to a basement which was palatial , full of beautifully cut crystal and glass .
Suddenly lobster , caviar and champagne arrived - there were about 10 of us on a table and when the bill arrived it was about £10 per person .
You might also be interested in : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candlelight • The parents raising their kids on the road • The club you ca n't join without getting wet Having a family changed my outlook though , it 's why I switched from `` deep sea '' - shipping on international routes - to `` short sea '' .
I had become the first female captain in the dredging industry in 2016 and in 2018 I was given an award for services to the industry .
But after my son was born in 2013 , I decided I needed shorter trips away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case I needed to get back .
I had been living in Croyde in Devon for more than 20 years when the position of harbour master in Ilfracombe came up and it was a no brainer - the last time the job came around was 18 years ago .
I came into post in April 2018 and became the first woman in the role .
When it was first announced , there was friction that a woman was coming in , in that there was an element of disbelief .
But there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ master you will help any harbour master you can , because somewhere in the country , someone will have experienced what you are going through .
Of the 305 harbour masters , deputies or assistants in the UK , only 17 are women , according to the Harbour Masters Association .
They are `` definitely in the minority '' , said its chief executive , Capt Martin Willis .
`` However we are seeing an increase of females into this historically male-dominated industry , '' he added .
Department for Transport statistics show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at sea in 2019 were women .
A UK Chamber of Shipping spokesperson said traditionally the merchant navy `` may well have been seen as a career for men , but this is changing '' .
The Merchant Navy Training Board is promoting careers in the industry for women by giving talks at schools and colleges and a Women in Maritime Taskforce has been established by Maritime UK to address fairness , equality and inclusion across the sector .
I do n't think people realise the diversity of the job - it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the main pier , to finding space in the harbour for the visiting boats for Lundy Race .
The list is endless .
When I look back at all my companies and all the different jobs I 've done , everything has led me to this one .
Having a family is fantastic , it is very grounding .
No matter the day on the harbour , I still go home , cook dinner , do the house jobs and read my son a story at night .
He 's a bit too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six , but he comes with me if I have to come over and check the harbour during the Christmas break and is very good at spotting things .
Looking out of my window at the harbour office , it 's one of the most beautiful places in the world - and I know , because I 've been to a lot of places .
I know how lucky I am .
I 'm 50 now but I absolutely , without a doubt , want to stay working on the sea for the @ @ @ @ @ @

When I was working on the Star Princess with Princess Cruises in 2008 we were scheduled to go down to the Antarctic - at the time it was the biggest cruise ship to go there. On one of my watches I kept seeing little black spots on an iceberg. I got in a bit closer and I saw 20 to 30 penguins climbing up it. Then I could see an ice slide - they had made their own little penguin playground, they were climbing up the iceberg one by one and then sliding down.


bbc--2020-02-12--England have lessons to learn after losing to South Africa - Morgan

England have plenty to learn in the run-up to the Twenty20 World Cup after their one-run defeat by South Africa , according to captain Eoin Morgan .
The tourists failed to chase 178 in the first of a three-match series in East London .
`` We should be winning that 10 times out of 10 , '' Morgan told the Test Match Special podcast .
`` It 's about learning , going through a process we 've gone through over a number of years to try to get better . ''
After winning the 50-over World Cup last July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men 's side to hold both global limited-overs trophies simultaneously at the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November .
On Wednesday they recovered from a poor start with the ball and in the field to limit the home side to 177-8 .
They were coasting the chase when Jason Roy was making 70 from 38 balls , only to lose three wickets in four overs .
• England lose first T20 by one run Even then , Morgan 's 52 took them to needing seven from seven balls , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final delivery of the 19th over .
`` Getting out off the last ball of the 19th over was horrifically bad for me , given my experience and how many games I 've played , '' said the Irishman .
From there , England needed seven from the final over and after Lungi Ngidi had Tom Curran caught at deep mid-wicket , Moeen Ali was bowled , leaving Adil Rashid to get three from the only ball he faced , the last ball of the match .
He was run out coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced a super over , leaving England with their first one-run defeat in a T20 international .
`` I know recently we 've played in a lot of tight games , but we want to play in as many of these as we can because we want guys exposed to as much pressure as they can be , '' Morgan added .
`` You can not replicate the pressure you 'd have in the World Cup , but in situations like that we have to find a way to get over the line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of batsman Dawid Malan , who made a century in his last T20 international in New Zealand in November , likening it to the time Jonny Bairstow spent time out of the one-day team before forcing his way into the World Cup-winning side .
`` Malan is an exceptional player and given the success of the white-ball team over a short period of time , he 's a bit of a victim of that , '' said Morgan .
`` Dawid has done absolutely everything he needs to do to be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an opportunity and hopefully take that .
`` There is extreme competition for places and for captain , coach , the whole team , it 's a very healthy sign . ''

The second T20 international in the series is in Durban on Friday
England have plenty to learn in the run-up to the Twenty20 World Cup after their one-run defeat by South Africa, according to captain Eoin Morgan.
The tourists failed to chase 178 in the first of a three-match series in East London.
"We should be winning that 10 times out of 10," Morgan told the Test Match Special podcast.
"It's about learning, going through a process we've gone through over a number of years to try to get better."
After winning the 50-over World Cup last July, England will look to become the first men's side to hold both global limited-overs trophies simultaneously at the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November.
On Wednesday they recovered from a poor start with the ball and in the field to limit the home side to 177-8.
They were coasting the chase when Jason Roy was making 70 from 38 balls, only to lose three wickets in four overs.
Even then, Morgan's 52 took them to needing seven from seven balls, before the captain was caught at long-on from the final delivery of the 19th over.
"Getting out off the last ball of the 19th over was horrifically bad for me, given my experience and how many games I've played," said the Irishman.
From there, England needed seven from the final over and after Lungi Ngidi had Tom Curran caught at deep mid-wicket, Moeen Ali was bowled, leaving Adil Rashid to get three from the only ball he faced, the last ball of the match.
He was run out coming back for a second that would have forced a super over, leaving England with their first one-run defeat in a T20 international.
"I know recently we've played in a lot of tight games, but we want to play in as many of these as we can because we want guys exposed to as much pressure as they can be," Morgan added.
"You cannot replicate the pressure you'd have in the World Cup, but in situations like that we have to find a way to get over the line."
Morgan also defended the omission of batsman Dawid Malan, who made a century in his last T20 international in New Zealand in November, likening it to the time Jonny Bairstow spent time out of the one-day team before forcing his way into the World Cup-winning side.
"Malan is an exceptional player and given the success of the white-ball team over a short period of time, he's a bit of a victim of that," said Morgan.
"Dawid has done absolutely everything he needs to do to be in the squad. He just needs to wait for an opportunity and hopefully take that.
"There is extreme competition for places and for captain, coach, the whole team, it's a very healthy sign."


bbc--2020-02-13--Ighalo kept away from Man Utd training ground over coronavirus fears

Manchester United 's new signing Odion Ighalo is training away from the club this week as a precautionary measure following his arrival from China .
United have decided on the policy because of the risk - albeit extremely slight - posed by coronavirus .
They decided against taking the striker on their winter break training camp in Spain because of concerns he may have difficulty getting back into the UK .
Ighalo , 30 , is expected to travel with the squad for Monday 's game at Chelsea .
BBC Sport understands Ighalo has been training with support from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get him ready for the Chelsea Premier League game .
This has been done at the National Taekwondo Centre , close to the Etihad Stadium and where he has been staying since his arrival in England 11 days ago .
Ighalo joined United on loan for the rest of the season from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua .
The current medical advice is that travellers coming into the UK from specific countries , including China , quarantine themselves for 14 days .
The death toll in China from the virus is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in total .
Numerous sporting events have been cancelled in China and the Far East , including the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix .
• Cancelling Olympics 'has not been considered ' , says Tokyo 2020 chief

Last updated on .From the section Man Utd
Manchester United's new signing Odion Ighalo is training away from the club this week as a precautionary measure following his arrival from China.
United have decided on the policy because of the risk - albeit extremely slight - posed by coronavirus.
They decided against taking the striker on their winter break training camp in Spain because of concerns he may have difficulty getting back into the UK.
Ighalo, 30, is expected to travel with the squad for Monday's game at Chelsea.
BBC Sport understands Ighalo has been training with support from the club using a personalised fitness programme to get him ready for the Chelsea Premier League game.
This has been done at the National Taekwondo Centre, close to the Etihad Stadium and where he has been staying since his arrival in England 11 days ago.
Ighalo joined United on loan for the rest of the season from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua.
The death toll in China from the virus is now more than 1,350, with almost 60,000 infections in total.
Numerous sporting events have been cancelled in China and the Far East, including the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.


bbc--2020-02-12--'I thought we had the mentality... I'm being proven wrong' - Gerrard questions Rangers players

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he is being `` proven wrong '' in thinking his squad have the mentality to sustain a Scottish Premiership title push .
The Ibrox side conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 to Kilmarnock and slip 10 points behind leaders Celtic .
It is the third time Rangers have dropped points in five league games since the winter break .
`` I thought we were in a better place than what we 've shown over the last four-six weeks , '' Gerrard said .
`` I thought we had the mentality and the characters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the last four-five weeks I 'm getting proven wrong .
`` We came here tonight and it was a pressure game in a stadium where you know you are going to be under the cosh .
The reality is that we could n't cope .
`` But having said that , it 's me as well because I 'm responsible for that group of players . ''
Asked where the defeat leaves Rangers in their quest for a first league title since 2011 , Gerrard told BT Sport : `` Very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at the form of other people that are relentless right now .
`` But we keep going and try to change the situation that we put ourselves in .
There 's no denying they 're obviously in the driving seat . ''
'That 's not handball .
It 's clutching at straws' Scott Arfield 's spectacular goal had Rangers in front at the break , but Kilmarnock rallied in the second half and struck twice in the final 13 minutes .
There was some controversy around Stephen O'Donnell 's equaliser as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arm , and Alfredo Morelos has a goal ruled out for a push before Eamonn Brophy lashed in the winner for Kilmarnock .
Gerrard said he believed Morelos ' strike was `` legitimate '' but dismissed the suggestion of handball .
`` That 's not a handball .
That 's us clutching at straws , '' he said .
`` It 's a soft cross that 's going away from goal .
The kid is about 5ft 7in and I 've got three defenders going to try and clear the box and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Rangers face Livingston at Ibrox on Saturday with their title fate now out of their own hands .
And after questioning his side 's ability to handle pressure , Gerrard also admitted he also had to take responsibility for the downturn in form in 2020 .
`` I put this group together .
I coach them , they are my tactics and decisions .
So I 'm not going to sit here and try and force any blame in any other direction than myself , '' he said .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment .
We keep going , we keep fighting and see where we are .
But on the evidence of the second half tonight , it 's very worrying for me right now . ''
'The title race is over'- analysis Rangers had intensity before the break .
Is it a case that the players think that because they had two good performances against Celtic , that 's enough ?
It is n't .
I think the title race is over , I do n't think Rangers will be able to claw that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gerrard has n't had a lot of criticism , because he 's done a lot of good .
But I think we have to question that a bit because something has gone wrong .
I thought Rangers were going to put in a more genuine title challenge , I thought their squad was better than last year .
That does n't appear to be the case .
When they go to the bench , there 's not much coming off it .
You could see it coming tonight a country mile off .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to just manage the fixture , they 've not played with a tempo or an intensity since they 've come back [ from the winter break ] .

Steven Gerrard questioned his squad's mentality after defeat at Rugby Park
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he is being "proven wrong" in thinking his squad have the mentality to sustain a Scottish Premiership title push.
The Ibrox side conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 to Kilmarnock and slip 10 points behind leaders Celtic.
It is the third time Rangers have dropped points in five league games since the winter break.
"I thought we were in a better place than what we've shown over the last four-six weeks," Gerrard said.
"I thought we had the mentality and the characters to sustain a push but on the evidence of the last four-five weeks I'm getting proven wrong.
"We came here tonight and it was a pressure game in a stadium where you know you are going to be under the cosh. The reality is that we couldn't cope.
"But having said that, it's me as well because I'm responsible for that group of players."
Asked where the defeat leaves Rangers in their quest for a first league title since 2011, Gerrard told BT Sport: "Very, very tough. You've got to look at the form of other people that are relentless right now.
"But we keep going and try to change the situation that we put ourselves in. There's no denying they're obviously in the driving seat."
'That's not handball. It's clutching at straws'
Scott Arfield's spectacular goal had Rangers in front at the break, but Kilmarnock rallied in the second half and struck twice in the final 13 minutes.
There was some controversy around Stephen O'Donnell's equaliser as the ball appeared to hit Rory MacKenzie on the arm, and Alfredo Morelos has a goal ruled out for a push before Eamonn Brophy lashed in the winner for Kilmarnock.
Gerrard said he believed Morelos' strike was "legitimate" but dismissed the suggestion of handball.
"That's not a handball. That's us clutching at straws," he said. "It's a soft cross that's going away from goal. The kid is about 5ft 7in and I've got three defenders going to try and clear the box and we don't clear the box."
Rangers face Livingston at Ibrox on Saturday with their title fate now out of their own hands.
And after questioning his side's ability to handle pressure, Gerrard also admitted he also had to take responsibility for the downturn in form in 2020.
"I put this group together. I coach them, they are my tactics and decisions. So I'm not going to sit here and try and force any blame in any other direction than myself," he said.
"It's disappointing, it's frustrating at the moment. We keep going, we keep fighting and see where we are. But on the evidence of the second half tonight, it's very worrying for me right now."
'The title race is over'- analysis
Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson on Sportsound
Rangers had intensity before the break. Is it a case that the players think that because they had two good performances against Celtic, that's enough? It isn't. I think the title race is over, I don't think Rangers will be able to claw that back.
For large parts, Steven Gerrard hasn't had a lot of criticism, because he's done a lot of good. But I think we have to question that a bit because something has gone wrong.
Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds
I thought Rangers were going to put in a more genuine title challenge, I thought their squad was better than last year. That doesn't appear to be the case. When they go to the bench, there's not much coming off it. You could see it coming tonight a country mile off.
They're 1-0 up and they're trying to just manage the fixture, they've not played with a tempo or an intensity since they've come back [from the winter break].


bbc--2020-02-12--BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020 nominees - vote for your favourite

Meet the five contenders for the BBC Women 's Footballer of the Year 2020 award .
Vote here - voting @ @ @ @ @ March at 09:00 GMT .
The winner will be revealed on Tuesday , 24 March @ @ @ @ @ terms & conditions here .

Meet the five contenders for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020 award.
Voting has now closed and the winner will be revealed on Tuesday, 24 March.


bbc--2020-02-13--Coronavirus: Will someone develop a vaccine?

While the world worries about the spread of the deadly coronavirus , now known as Covid-19 , one would expect the major pharmaceutical firms to make millions , even billions , by rushing to develop a vaccine .
But in reality , this is not the case .
While the global vaccine market is expected to grow to $ 60bn ( £46bn ) this year , big profits are not guaranteed .
''Successfully developing a preventive vaccine or treatment for a public health crisis is difficult .
It typically takes a lot of time and money , '' says US-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive of Loncar Investments .
`` There is typically little money in it for companies that do successfully develop something , not the billions that some investors mistakenly expect . ''
• China and the virus that threatens everything The global vaccines industry is dominated by big players such as Pfizer , Merck , GlaxoSmithKline ( GSK ) , Sanofi , and Johnson & Johnson .
Worldwide sales of vaccines totalled $ 54bn last year , and have almost doubled since 2014 , according to data analysts Statista .
Driving this growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influenza , swine flu , hepatitis and Ebola .
`` One would think that the industry has the reserves to jump at this challenge .
But none of the four top vaccine companies has shown significant interest , '' says Dr Ellen 't Hoen , director at medicines law and policy at University Medical Center Groningen in Amsterdam .
Outside of the big firms , there are a handful of smaller pharma companies pushing to find a vaccine for the deadly Covid-19 outbreak , which has already claimed more than 1,000 lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes anti-HIV drugs , has announced it will trial its drug Remdesivir .
Meanwhile Kaletra , a combination of two anti-HIV drugs from pharma group AbbVie is being trialled on patients in China .
Both trials are based on existing medicines .
`` A large company like Gilead or AbbVie will be able to use an existing medicine against this as a therapeutic treatment , but it 's unlikely to be much of a needle mover from a stock market perspective for a large company like that , '' adds Mr Loncar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to spark pharma companies into action to find a vaccine .
One of the leading players is a not-for-profit organisation called the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations ( CEPI ) .
CEPI co-founders include the governments of Norway and India , the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , and the Wellcome Trust .
CEPI is supporting vaccine development programmes by Inovio Pharmaceuticals and Moderna .
Among the big pharma companies , GSK has agreed to make its technology available to the CEPI to help it create a medicine against Covid-19 .
Vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people before they are allowed to be sold .
But in 2002 and 2003 , the Sars outbreak came and went before a vaccine could be produced .
In fact , there is still no protective vaccine for Sars available .
Regarding Ebola , the first vaccine was produced by Merck , and successfully deployed in Guinea , west Africa , in 2015 .
At the time it was an unlicensed drug , yet it was rolled out in the country for `` compassionate use '' after the authorisation of the Guinean government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory approval in the US until last year .
Another Ebola vaccine by Johnson & Johnson was made available from 2019 in the Democratic Republic of Congo .
Ronald Klain served as the US Ebola response coordinator in 2014-15 .
`` I do n't work for the companies , I 'm not like a drug company fan , '' Mr Klain told a panel last week hosted by not-for-profit think-tank Aspen Institute , `` but there 's no question that a lot of them lost a lot of money trying to produce an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why vaccines often have to wait years before they are given regulatory approval is the potential for side effects .
These can also happen even when a drug has been approved .
During the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic , six million people were given the Pandemrix vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline .
However , it was subsequently withdrawn from sale after it was discovered to cause narcolepsy in some people .
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes people to fall asleep numerous times a day .
Also speaking at last week 's Aspen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said no major pharmaceutical company has come forward to say it would manufacture a vaccine for Covid-19 .
He called it `` very difficult and very frustrating '' .
`` Companies that have the skill to be able to do it are not going to just sit around and have a warm facility , ready to go for when you need it , '' Dr Fauci said .
More from the BBC 's series taking an international perspective on trade : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want better pay • What ancient Rome may teach on post-Brexit tourism • ' I have to live on $ 1,175 a year' • Why is kosher food soaring in popularity ?
• As the ice melts , Greenland considers its future Dr Fauci added that it would be at least one year before a Covid-19 vaccine would be available .
That timeline assumes a large pharma manufacturer steps up to help make the product .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) hopes a vaccine will be ready within 18 months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health crises by developing vaccines , only to have those crises fade , and to be left with significant research and development costs .
`` When we were doing this with Ebola , it was a major vaccine company that got burned who 's now pulling out of that , '' says Dr Fauci .
`` It is going to be a challenge to be able to get a major company to do that . ''
Mr Loncar sums up the mentality of the big pharma firms when he said `` most companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the long haul '' .

Pharma companies have responded to previous public health crises by developing vaccines, only to have those crises fade, and to be left with significant research and development costs. "When we were doing this with Ebola, it was a major vaccine company that got burned who's now pulling out of that," says Dr Fauci. "It is going to be a challenge to be able to get a major company to do that."


bbc--2020-02-13--Coronavirus: The Valentine messages to medics in Singapore

People in Singapore are thanking healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak with handwritten notes for Valentine 's Day .
Singapore has reported 50 cases of the virus , and the government has stepped up measures to detect and contain its spread .
Some people , including schoolchildren , have been using social media to share their messages of love and support , to help boost the morale of medical professionals .
Wally Tham is one of the people behind the Facebook group @ StandUpForSG , a page dedicated to Singapore 's social issues where the idea was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BBC he heard about possible discrimination some medics were facing and wanted to start a movement to counteract that , using the hashtag # braveheartsg .
`` I have read about Singaporeans getting out of lifts or getting off trains if there was a person in medical scrubs because of fear and paranoia that they might get coronavirus .
`` So for me this was about tackling people 's anxiety .
`` I came up with # braveheartsg as the hashtag because we need to have brave hearts .
`` We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and right now who else is doing that but the healthcare workers , '' he said The hashtag , which has been used more than 5,000 times since Saturday , has even been mentioned by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on his Facebook page .
`` Let us all do our part to help and encourage one another .
Together , we will overcome this trying time and emerge stronger , '' he posted .
Memories of the 2003 Sars crisis , which saw hundreds of infections and scores of deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city-state .
Though the Covid-19 outbreak appears less severe , the Singapore government has strenuously sought to manage public anxiety by encouraging Singaporeans to pull together .
But these efforts have not always worked - with many Singaporeans panic-buying supplies at supermarkets last week when the country raised its alert level .
Still , there are others are keen to do their part .
More than 800 notes have been sent to the StandUpForSG Facebook group so far , and Wally says they hope they can print as many as possible to distribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
Felicia Lim , 13 , shared her message of support as part of a school exercise .
`` They are fighting against the virus yet they get discriminated against as people think that they will carry the virus .
`` I am sure that they would be scared of the virus too , '' she said .
Brenda Nio , a teacher in Singapore said : `` I wanted to get involved because there 's so much fear right now .
Fear leads to selfishness and discrimination .
`` If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other .
I wanted to do what little I can to spread messages of kindness , courage , hope and encouragement , '' she said .

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bbc--2020-02-12--Coronavirus: Are cruise ships really 'floating Petri dishes'?

The largest coronavirus outbreak outside mainland China is not in a country , but on a cruise ship .
It 's been more than a week since the Diamond Princess went into lockdown , after a previous passenger tested positive for the virus after disembarking .
With almost 500 out of 3,700 people on board tested , 174 people have now tested positive for coronavirus .
Those still on board are in quarantine for another week .
But it 's not just the Diamond Princess .
On another cruise ship in Hong Kong , 3,600 passengers people were quarantined because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the virus .
They were only allowed to disembark after tests came back negative .
And a cruise ship carrying more than 1,450 passengers , which left Hong Kong on 1 February , was turned away from ports in Japan , Taiwan , Guam and the Philippines , despite having no infections on board .
It has now been told it can dock in Cambodia .
Cruise ships have for years been referred to as `` floating Petri dishes '' - places ripe for the exchange of germs , and the spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true ?
Do viruses spread more easily on cruise ships ?
There is an increased risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases on ships , says Prof Sanjaya Senanayake , an infectious diseases specialist at the Australian National University .
`` In general , you 've got passengers and crew members from different parts of the world mixing intimately and intensely for a short period of time , '' Dr Senanayake says .
`` They 've all got varying levels of immunity and so that does set things up for an infection outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread through droplets - such as from mucus or saliva - people could be infected without direct contact with a carrier .
`` Say if someone sneezed on to a table , and then someone else immediately touches that table , that could lead to infection , '' Dr Senanayake says .
`` People might not all be talking to each other - but they are in shared spaces like swimming pools , spas , dining rooms and auditoriums . ''
However , Stewart Chiron , a cruise expert , says `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different to the perception of it '' .
`` So for example , people think that when you 're queuing up at buffet lines that there 's a lot of interaction and contact between passengers , '' says Mr Chiron , who has been on board more than 250 cruise ships .
`` For the major cruise lines , that 's not true .
There are stations - if you want eggs you go to the egg station , a gloved crew member will do that for you .
`` The point is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line , and not everyone passes by every piece of food - what that does is minimise the interaction between people . ''
But what about crew members ?
If passenger interaction is minimised , crew interaction is another story .
On the Diamond Princess , at least 10 crew members are among the infected .
According to the New York Times , more than 1,000 crew members `` live and work elbow-to-elbow '' .
`` It 's likely crew members will be in very close contact with each other , perhaps even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` People will disembark the ship but the crew members often may not change .
So if there is ongoing transmission from the crew , when the next set of passengers come on that may continue . ''
How are the risks mitigated ?
According to Mr Chiron , cruises have extremely stringent cleaning and screening processes .
`` Cruises are always taking thorough readings of passengers .
If you look ill then you are subject to a secondary medical screening . ''
Probably the disease most associated with cruise ships is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contaminated food or water , or by touching contaminated surfaces .
`` Cruises have various protocols that are enabled when a norovirus case is reported , '' says Mr Chiron .
`` There 's extensive scrubbing that goes on , all the surfaces are continuously cleaned .
During the buffets there will be no food like bread baskets .
The crew are specially trained for this . ''
He adds that things have become more stringent since the outbreak of the coronavirus .
`` You can tell now they 're much more observant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at how well ships are cleaned and maintained - they are extremely thorough . ''
According to Dr Senanayake , there is an official Vessel Sanitation Program at the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) that advises ships on how to prevent and control the spread of illnesses .
`` I believe cruise ships now have got a lot of disinfection stations , and are also advising patients or crew members who are sick not to come on board , '' he says .
`` There is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but everything in life comes with risks .
[ People just have to ] practice simple [ precautionary ] measures . ''
• China and the virus that threatens everything For the Diamond Princess , Dr Senanayake says the ship is employing `` good isolation measures '' by keeping people in their rooms ( passengers are allowed onto the outdoor decks at certain times ) .
However , he adds : `` [ The ship ] needs to make sure people understand why this is happening and understand their concerns .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your life to being isolated in your room feeling very scared .
The quarantine should always be done in a very humane and compassionate way . ''
The cruise industry will definitely take a `` financial hit '' - but these cases are n't going to stop people from taking cruises , says Mr Chiron .
`` The damage they 're going to take specifically is from the cruises around China and South East Asia .
The lines themselves are cancelling routes .
`` Cruise Norwegian , for example , are cancelling all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to issue refunds , credits - we 're talking hundreds of millions of dollars .
`` But when you look at the rest of the world , Europe , Alaska , the US - people are still travelling .
Royal Caribbean revealed that just 1.5 % of enquiries they received were about people asking the virus .
`` People are concerned , yes , but they are still travelling .
Elsewhere in the world the ships are full and they are going to continue to be full . ''
Read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WE WORRY ?
Our health correspondent explains YOUR QUESTIONS : Can you get it more than once ?
WHAT YOU CAN DO : Do masks really help ?
UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD : A visual guide to the outbreak ECONOMIC IMPACT : Why much of 'the world 's factory ' remains closed

And a cruise ship carrying more than 1,450 passengers, which left Hong Kong on 1 February, was turned away from ports in Japan, Taiwan, Guam and the Philippines, despite having no infections on board. It has now been told it can dock in Cambodia.


bbc--2020-02-13--Huawei: US issues new charges of racketeering and theft

The US has expanded its lawsuit against Huawei , accusing the Chinese telecoms giant of a `` decades-long '' plan to steal technology from US firms .
Prosecutors said Huawei had violated the terms of partnerships with US companies and stolen trade secrets such as source code and robot technology .
It adds to a list of other charges brought by the US last year .
Those accused Huawei of violating US sanctions and stealing technology from T-Mobile .
Huawei has denied the claims .
The firm , one of the world 's biggest smartphone makers , said the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a threat to American business interests .
Meng Wanzhou , its chief financial officer and the daughter of the company 's founder , is still being held in Canada where she is fighting extradition to the US .
She is wanted there on charges of fraud and sanctions violations - claims she denies .
`` This new indictment is part of the Justice Department 's attempt to irrevocably damage Huawei 's reputation and its business for reasons related to competition rather than law enforcement , '' the company said .
In the updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racketeering and trade secret theft , and gives more detail about the firm 's efforts to evade US rules on doing business with Iran and North Korea .
Prosecutors also said Huawei offered bonuses to staff who obtained `` confidential information '' from its competitors .
`` As a consequence of its campaign to steal this technology and intellectual property , Huawei was able to drastically cut its research and development costs and associated delays , giving the company a significant and unfair competitive advantage , '' prosecutors said .
Huawei said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' of claims that have already been litigated in civil court .
`` The government will not prevail on these charges which we will prove to be both unfounded and unfair , '' the company said .
The new charges , filed in federal court in Brooklyn on Thursday , suggest the US is not backing away from its fight over Huawei , which has added to tensions between the US and China , and complicated American relationships with allies .
The US has pushed partners such as the UK to ban Huawei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company 's equipment could be used for spying by China .
Despite the pressure , the UK last month announced it would continue using Huawei technology in its growing 5G networks , but with restrictions .

The new charges, filed in federal court in Brooklyn on Thursday, suggest the US is not backing away from its fight over Huawei, which has added to tensions between the US and China, and complicated American relationships with allies.


bbc--2020-02-13--Amazon wins injunction in US 'Jedi' contract fight

A judge has hit pause on a major US government contract in a win for Amazon , which had challenged the award .
The tech giant , which had been favoured to win the cloud computing deal , sued last year after the US Defense Department gave the opportunity to arch-rival Microsoft instead .
Amazon has accused officials of bowing to pressure from Donald Trump .
The US president has often attacked Amazon and boss Jeff Bezos , who also owns the Washington Post newspaper .
Amazon had asked the court to block the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 10bn over 10 years .
The company is also seeking to question Mr Trump as part of the lawsuit .
On Thursday , Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith of the US Federal Claims Court agreed to the first demand , ordering the US to halt its Jedi activities , which are aimed at making the US Defence Department more technologically agile .
She also ordered Amazon to set aside $ 42m for costs if future proceedings found she was wrong to have issued the injunction .
• Amazon ’ s fight with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10bn Amazon declined to comment .
In seeking the injunction the firm had said it was `` important that the numerous evaluation errors and blatant political interference that impacted the Jedi award decision be reviewed '' .
Microsoft said it was `` disappointed with the additional delay '' .
`` We have confidence in the Department of Defense , and we believe the facts will show they ran a detailed , thorough and fair process , '' it said .
The contract in question , for cloud computing services for the military , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it drew legal challenges over the procurement terms even before it was awarded .
Among other things it is intended to improve the military 's remote access to data and technology , and help it host classified military secrets .
Amazon and Microsoft are industry leaders among cloud services providers .
Last year , Mr Trump told reporters that the US was looking closely at the contract , noting that he had been getting `` tremendous complaints '' from several companies about it .
The Defense Department has denied claims of bias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a company has accused Mr Trump of improperly swaying the federal government 's decision-making due to his objections to media coverage .
Telecoms operator AT & T made similar claims after the US took action to block its takeover of Time-Warner , which owns CNN .
The court blocked the firm from pursuing White House records , but ultimately approved that deal on other grounds .

Amazon had asked the court to block the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract, known as Jedi, which is worth up to $10bn over 10 years. The company is also seeking to question Mr Trump as part of the lawsuit.


bbc--2020-02-13--Where will the Yang Gang go next?

Where will the Yang Gang go next?

He raised tens of millions , qualified for all but one Democratic debate , and laid claim to a devoted fan following : the so-called Yang Gang .
But entrepreneur Andrew Yang , the self-declared `` Asian math guy '' , has suspended his presidential bid after a lacklustre finish in the New Hampshire primary .
While his White House dreams have dimmed , the politically novice Mr Yang managed to out-perform many of the seasoned politicians in the field .
Announcing his departure from the 2020 race Tuesday night , he told supporters : `` While we did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting started .
This is the beginning .
This movement is the future of American politics . ''
But where exactly does that leave the Yang Gang , and where will they go next ?
The tech entrepreneur was virtually unknown when he entered the Democratic race more than two years ago , in November 2017 .
But the story of Mr Yang 's long-shot campaign is one of unexpected success .
He outlasted a New York City mayor , former and current governors and several prominent US senators , including Cory Booker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political outsider , Mr Yang used his signature self-deprecating humour to sell his chief campaign proposal : universal basic income .
He proposed a $ 1,000 ( £770.00 ) monthly `` freedom dividend '' to all Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 as a financial cushion against job losses due to increased automation .
At a Democratic debate in September , Mr Yang announced he would be giving away a total of $ 120,000 throughout the year to 10 American families , as part of a pilot programme for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach earned him a loyal following - especially among young people - who travelled to campaign for him for around the country .
According to a January Morning Consult poll , 71 % of his supporters were under the age of 45 - compared to 42 % of Democratic primary voters overall - outstripping even Bernie Sanders , the septuagenarian Vermont senator famously adored by young voters .
He warned against the dangers of automation and emphasised data-driven solutions , drawing support from famous Silicon Valley figures like Tesla 's Elon Musk and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chapelle , rapper Childish Gambino and actor Nicolas Cage were among the celebrities who backed him .
When Mr Yang announced he was leaving the race , Mr Dorsey tweeted that he was `` Really sad Andrew is dropping out . ''
Mr Yang was `` an incredibly authentic person who was focused on solving the big existential problems facing the world , '' Mr Dorsey wrote .
`` # yanggangforever . ''
Farewell to the leader of the 'Yang Gang' Yang opened a new chapter of history as the first prominent Asian-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white , I believe he 'd be even more popular than Pete Buttigieg now , as Yang has unique ideas , '' Bing Zhang , a Chinese-American Yang supporter told me .
But , he said , Yang 's campaign had far exceeded the expectations of many people .
Yang won support from both progressives and conservatives , from former supporters of Bernie Sanders to former Donald Trump voters .
His exit means the presidential race now has one less candidate from a racial minority .
And the remaining presidential hopefuls will try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very young and energetic base .
Mr Yang also mobilised Asian Americans , who have been traditionally among the least active voters , though participation is rising .
According to the non-partisan Pew Research Centre , about 40 % of Asian Americans voted in the 2018 midterms - about a 13 % increase from 2014 but still among the lowest of all ethnic groups in the US .
Mr Yang 's has been the among most prominent presidential campaign run by an Asian American candidate .
Will Hsu , a Wisconsin farmer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself in Mr Yang .
Like the candidate , Mr Hsu 's parents were Taiwanese immigrants .
Though he leans Republican , `` If you had put me in the ballot box with Yang on the Democratic ticket and Trump on the Republican ticket , I would have voted Yang , '' Mr Hsu said .
So where will the Yang Gang go now ?
After Mr Yang left the race , Twitter was flooded with tributes from his young followers , declaring their continued devotion to the Yang Gang .
Some vowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write-in candidate , others circulated the hashtag # Yang2024 .
`` I dropped out of school to do this , my passion for Yang is growing every single day , '' Kai Watson , an university-age student , told his 9,000 Yang Gang YouTube channel subscribers .
`` This is just the beginning , '' he said .
`` I can not wait for what 's to come . ''
However , Mr Yang 's departure from the race bodes ill for Democrats .
Many of the supporters who rallied to him were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no party affiliation before supporting his campaign .
For someone like Mr Hsu , without Mr Yang in the race may mean abandoning the Democratic field altogether .
`` I do n't know that there 's a candidate that I can identity with on the Democratic side , '' he said .
`` It 's really tough right now . ''
An Emerson College poll from late January found that 42 % of Yang supporters would refuse to support any other Democratic nominee .
Out of the nine percent of supporters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 % said they would back Joe Biden and 27 % said they would support Mr Sanders .
Mr Yang supported the senator in 2016 .
While his candidacy is over , Mr Yang 's run has shifted the political conversation .
Support among Democrats for universal basic income , for example , jumped from 54 % to 66 % between February 2018 and September 2019 - loosely mirroring Mr Yang 's ascent to the public stage .
And while it did n't translate into votes , future candidates may consider how , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - a loyalty seemingly noticed by Bernie Sanders surrogate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who commended Mr Yang on `` a great race '' , and praised his trademark policy by name .
`` Your campaign focused on the future , '' wrote the progressive New York congresswoman on Twitter .
`` Thank you for bringing up ideas like [ Universal Basic Income ] and opening a discourse on how we better value undervalued work like caregiving . ''
The statement may be strategic .
Supporters of Mr Yang - who branded himself as a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gravitate to Bernie Sanders , the other anti-establishment candidate who also has appealed to youthful voters looking for a change from traditional Democratic politics , says the BBC 's Anthony Zurcher .
As for the former candidate , Mr Yang 's departure announcement came with a heavy hint that he would be back on the public stage .
`` We have touched and improved millions of lives and moved this country we love so much in the right direction , '' he said on Tuesday , later tweeting : `` We 'll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet clear , but campaign officials said they believe there is room for a political comeback .
He has been approached by other campaigns for endorsements , according to US media , and the entrepreneur told CNN he would be `` honoured '' to serve as someone 's running mate .
`` I would n't rule anything out , '' he said .

An Emerson College poll from late January found that 42% of Yang supporters would refuse to support any other Democratic nominee. Of the nine percent of supporters who said they were willing to switch, 30% said they would back Joe Biden and 27% said they would support Mr Sanders. Mr Yang supported the senator in 2016.


bbc--2020-02-13--Canadian rail system shut over blockade

Canadian rail system shut over blockade

A major Canadian rail company is shutting down trans-continental train services amid blockades protesting a pipeline in British Columbia .
CN Rail says it will be forced to shut down its eastern network , which will effectively stop all cross-country freight trains .
The stoppage will also affect passenger trains nationwide , which use CN tracks .
More than 150 routes had been cancelled previously amid protests against the Coastal GasLink pipeline .
Blockades against the proposed pipeline , which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's government says invigorate natural gas exports in British Columbia , began last week .
JJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the train stoppage a `` regrettable '' situation , but said the cancellations were due to circumstances `` beyond our control '' .
`` Our shutdown will be progressive and methodical to ensure that we are well set up for recovery , which will come when the illegal blockades end completely , '' Mr Ruest said .
Some 5 million Canadian commuters use Via , the passenger rail arm of CN , each year , and thousands have already been forced to find alternative means of travel .
CN said the stoppage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has written to the indigenous leaders at the heart of the rail blockade , and promised to send ministers to help reach an agreement .
`` As you know , our government has been clear that there is no more important relationship to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous peoples , '' Mr Trudeau wrote .
What is the issue ?
The Coastal GasLink pipeline is a 670km ( 416 miles ) pipeline that would ship natural gas from north-eastern part of the province to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 4.5bn , £4bn ) project in a remote part of the province about a day 's drive from Vancouver has been in the works since 2012 .
Some 28 % of the pipeline route passes through Wet'suwet'en lands .
Coastal GasLink said it has reached deals with 20 elected indigenous councils along the route to move ahead with construction , including some Wet'suwet'en councils .
But Wet'suwet'en chiefs oppose it and say they , not the community 's elected officials , hold authority over traditional lands .
They have warned that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For years , protesters have erected camps have been erected along the proposed pipeline route to prevent access to construction sites .
In February , police enforced a court injunction and cleared the camps , arresting people in the process .
Meanwhile , other blockades have been erected across the country in solidarity , disrupting rail lines and ports .

"As you know, our government has been clear that there is no more important relationship to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous peoples," Mr Trudeau wrote.


bbc--2020-02-13--Woman who learned English from Jeopardy! becomes contestant

A woman who learned English as a child by watching Jeopardy !
has fulfilled her dream by becoming a contestant on the game show .
Kristyna Ng , who moved to Canada from China when she was eight , appeared on the game show some 30 years later .
Although she came in second place , she said : `` I feel like I won the lottery just by being on the show . ''
She has watched the programme nearly every day since she was a little girl , and it was one of the things she and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
has been the soundtrack of my life , '' she told the BBC .
Ms Ng did well on Tuesday 's episode , trailing front-runner Danyelle Long-Hyland by just $ 600 ( £460 ) before going into the Final Jeopardy , where contestants place bets on whether they get the correct answer .
She said she began watching the show when she was a child and had just moved to Canada with her family .
She did not speak a word of English , and watching Jeopardy !
and Wheel of Fortune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped her figure out some of the language 's trickier quirks , like the difference between minute ( a measure of time ) and minute ( very small ) .
She said Jeopardy !
was especially helpful , because it helped her learn things about a wide variety of subjects , from music to sports .
`` It helps you build a stronger vocabulary , but it also helped me build a lot of cultural contexts and general knowledge to be not only a fully participating Canadian citizen , but also a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has since gone on to earn her Master 's degree in public administration , and now works for the city of Calgary .
She was initially encouraged to try out for the show by a friend she and her husband had made while playing trivia on board a cruise ship .
She got a little help on this week 's episode from her friend 's daughter , who bought her a Jeopardy !
quiz book for good luck .
One of the questions in the book was `` What is a spinnaker ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the show .
But one mispronunciation cost her big .
A clue asked for the name of former Polish Prime Minister Lech Walesa .
She was close , but confused the consonants in the name , saying `` Lawensa '' instead .
Her answer was initially accepted , but the judges later reversed that decision , which cost her $ 4,000 .
On the Final Jeopardy , Ms Ng guessed correctly , but her bet was too conservative to overtake the show 's winner , Ms Long-Hyland .
The clue : After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a job offer from George Washington , this man took the job .
Ms Ng 's appearance on the show was especially meaningful because of host Alex Trebek , she said .
Mr Trebek , 78 , has been hosting the popular game show since 1984 , and recently revealed he was battling stage four pancreatic cancer .
In a statement uploaded to the Jeopardy !
YouTube channel , he said that `` normally the prognosis for [ his cancer ] is not very encouraging '' .
`` But I 'm going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep working , and with the love and support of my family and friends , and with the help of your prayers also , I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease . ''
Ms Ng said he was `` a genuine , humble and courageous '' person .
Between takes , he chatted with the audience about everything from his cancer treatment to his leaf-blower .
`` I could not have had a better experience , to be standing on the same stage of the great Alex @ @ @ @ @ @

She said she began watching the show when she was a child and had just moved to Canada with her family. She did not speak a word of English, and watching Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, which played back-to-back every weekday, helped her figure out some of the language's trickier quirks, like the difference between minute (a measure of time) and minute (very small).


bbc--2020-02-13--Terni: Italian home of St Valentine seeks US partner city

The Italian birthplace of Saint Valentine is looking for a `` romantic '' new sister city in the US .
Officials in Terni , in the Umbrian hills , told the BBC that they already have twin cities elsewhere in Europe .
`` But we have never had a sister city in the US , so we thought , why not see if we can build a relationship , '' Omero Mariani , Terni 's head of tourism , said .
US cities will be able to apply from 14 February , and the winner will be announced on Valentine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is working with language learning app company , Babbel , on the project and has invited its US-based CEO to be on the judging panel , alongside the Mayor of Terni , Leonardo Latini .
Mr Mariani told the BBC that their future partner does n't necessarily have to be romantic - they just need to show they have something in common with Terni .
A nearby waterfall , for example , would be similar to Terni 's Marmore Falls .
But either way , he hopes more people will link Valentine 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole world celebrates Valentine 's Day , but nobody is linking Valentine to his hometown Terni , '' he said .
Saint Valentine , it is believed , was a third century priest who became the Bishop of Terni at the age of 21 .
He was known for secretly conducting marriages that had been banned by the Roman Emperor Claudius II , who is said to have claimed that married men made poor soldiers .
• Why cafe culture has rich Italian flavour in Wales • Only goose in village gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been martyred in Rome on 14 February , 273 AD , and his relics are now kept in Terni 's Basilica San Valentino .
Mr Mariani said the city holds a month-long festival every year around Valentine 's Day , and that they are expecting about 100,000 people to attend this year .
`` Every year , cities across Italy claim they are the most romantic , or that they are the city of love , '' he said .
`` But actually , Terni is the real deal - it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @

"Every year, cities across Italy claim they are the most romantic, or that they are the city of love," he said. "But actually, Terni is the real deal - it is the birthplace of Saint Valentine."


bbc--2020-02-13--US Senate votes to curb Trump's war powers on Iran

US President Donald Trump 's ability to wage war on Iran without congressional approval has been limited in a Senate bill passed by his fellow Republicans .
The Iran war powers resolution was approved by a vote of 55-45 - hours after Mr Trump warned that it would make America less safe from Iran .
The House passed a version of the bill in January , after Mr Trump ordered the killing of a top Iranian general .
Mr Trump is expected to veto the bill once it reaches the White House .
On Thursday eight Republicans bucked the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate , to vote in favour of forcing Mr Trump to consult with Congress before conducting military operations against Iran .
A day before the vote , Mr Trump tweeted : `` It is very important for our Country 's SECURITY that the United States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution . ''
`` We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness ...
If my hands were tied , Iran would have a field day .
Sends a very bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party . ''
What does the resolution require ?
The resolution requires Mr Trump to remove troops who are engaged in hostilities with Iran unless Congress declares war or passes a resolution allowing the specific use of force .
It adds that no part of the resolution `` shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack '' .
The war powers resolution passed the Senate hours after the US Navy announced that it had seized weapons believed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea .
In a statement , the US military said the USS Normandy seized `` 150 'Dehlavieh ' anti-tank guided missiles '' as well as `` three Iranian surface-to-air missiles , Iranian thermal imaging weapon scopes , and Iranian components for unmanned aerial and surface vessels '' .
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine , who co-sponsored the legislation , cheered the resolution 's passage .
`` If we 're to order our young men and women in uniform to risk their lives and health in war , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ careful deliberation , '' he said .
Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker tweeted his disagreement , writing : `` At this pivotal moment , the President needs the ability to act quickly and not to be micromanaged by Congress . ''
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee , who co-sponsored said the bill that it is in line with Mr Trump 's priorities .
`` I support what the President is doing with our foreign policy , '' Mr Lee said .
`` For me , this is about supporting President Trump in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that we do n't get involved too easily , too quickly , in an unconstitutional way , in any war .
This is entirely consistent with his policy . ''
Last month 's US assassination of General Qasem Soleimani , believed to be Iran 's second most powerful man , sent tensions between the two countries soaring and raised fears of an all-out war .
Iran retaliated by attacking a US base in Iraq , causing traumatic brain injuries to 109 US service personnel .
Washington and Tehran have long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 1979 , when Iran 's US-backed shah was overthrown and the country became an Islamic republic .
That year , amidst the fallout from the revolution , dozens of Americans were taken hostage inside the US embassy in the capital Tehran .
Relations have been frosty ever since .
There were signs of a diplomatic thaw in 2015 , when Iran agreed a landmark deal to limit its nuclear programme , allaying international concerns .
It did so in return for the lifting of tough economic sanctions .
But Mr Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US sanctions against Iran .

"We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness... If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party."


bbc--2020-02-13--Mike Bloomberg campaign pays influencers for memes

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg is paying social media influencers to back him in the hope of reaching younger voters .
His campaign has commissioned some of the internet 's top-viral creators to generate content about him that has reached tens of millions of followers .
The former New York Mayor 's campaign director said its meme strategy was new to presidential politics .
He has already spent more than $ 300m in his bid to win the White House .
Mr Bloomberg , a former Republican , is one of eight remaining contenders vying to become the Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November 's election .
• Bloomberg on tape : All crime is in minority areas • A simple guide to US primaries and caucuses • The Democratic 2020 race - in five charts Sabrina Singh , Mr Bloomberg 's national spokeswoman , said : `` Mike Bloomberg 2020 has teamed up with social creators to collaborate with the campaign , including the meme world .
`` While a meme strategy may be new to presidential politics , we 're betting it will be an effective component to reach people where they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital operation . ''
What are the posts saying ?
The campaign has been working with Meme 2020 , a company that represents some of the biggest social media accounts in the so-called influencer economy .
@ GrapeJuiceBoys - an account that often posts memes about black culture and has 2.7m followers - confirmed to the BBC it had produced paid content for the Bloomberg campaign , but said it did not personally endorse the candidate .
Posts about Mr Bloomberg have also appeared in @ Tank.Sinatra ( 2.3m followers ) and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followers ) , as well as several others .
The ads all show that they were paid for by the Bloomberg campaign , a disclaimer required under the US Federal Election Commission 's rules on paid online political posts .
Meanwhile , a post on Tribe - an online marketplace that connects `` micro-influencers '' ( those with 1,000 to 100,000 followers ) to brands - is advertising a $ 150 payment for posts supporting Mr Bloomberg .
It encourages influencers to mention why `` we need a change in Government '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself ! ''
the listing adds .
Food and travel blogger Alycia Chrosniak told Reuters news agency she had been offered money to post on Mr Bloomberg 's behalf , but chose not to do so .
`` It feels weird to put out an ad supporting a person versus a product , '' said Ms Chrosniak , who normally posts sponsored content for restaurants and hotels .
She said Mr Bloomberg was not her `` top choice '' .
This is not the first time that Mr Bloomberg 's campaign social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic debate in January , in which he failed to qualify for a spot , his campaign account tweeted fake `` # BloombergFacts '' including an image of the candidate 's face photoshopped on to a meatball .
Can Bloomberg meme himself to the White House ?
Mike Bloomberg meme 's campaign is the most innovative digital strategy we 've seen to connect with voters under the age of 25 , who are notoriously hard to reach .
In the 2008 election , many candidates used Twitter to reach millennials .
In 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Instagram meme accounts is a fresh tactic curated for Generation Z ( those born in the late-1990s ) .
The Bloomberg digital team knows he ca n't win this audience through television ads or on Facebook , as many Gen Z-ers prefer Instagram , Snapchat , VSCO and TikTok .
To put the size of the meme audience in perspective , the Oscars had 23.6 million viewers this year .
Collectively , the accounts that posted the Bloomberg memes have over 60 million followers .
By asking the accounts to release the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-hour period on Wednesday evening , the campaign ensured legions of young people who scroll Instagram accounts before going to sleep would learn his name .
A billionaire paying for memes could deter young people from voting for him , of course .
But even if they do n't vote for Mr Bloomberg maybe their parents or grandparents will vote for him if the Gen Z-er who saw this content tell the oldies they thought it was cool .
By using self-deprecating humour and leaning into his billionaire status , he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can beat Donald Trump .
How much is Bloomberg spending ?
Mr Bloomberg 's ad spending has so far out-paced Mr Trump 's , according to advertising data .
In the past two weeks alone , Mr Bloomberg has splurged more than $ 1m ( £768,000 ) per day on Facebook ads , mostly targeting Super Tuesday states that will vote on 3 March .
That 's more than five times what Mr Trump has spent over the same period , according to NBC News .
According to Forbes , the co-founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 62bn .
Mr Trump 's own fortune is estimated at $ 3.1bn .
Mr Trump disparaged his fellow New York billionaire on Thursday , tweeting : `` Mini Mike Bloomberg is a LOSER who has money but ca n't debate and has zero presence , you will see . ''
In response , Mr Bloomberg said the people of New York City `` laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown '' .
Earlier in the week , Mr Trump called Mr Bloomberg `` a total racist '' after an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making incendiary comments while defending the controversial `` stop and frisk '' policing policy .
Who will take on Trump in November ?
• Choose your candidate and filter by category • All you need to know about the presidential race • Could this be the start of a Bernie Sanders boom ?

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bbc--2020-02-13--Coronavirus: No change in outbreak despite China spike, WHO says

Coronavirus cases are not rising dramatically outside China despite a spike in Hubei province , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) says .
The only exception was on a cruise liner docked in Japan , where 44 new cases were reported , bringing the total there to 218 .
There was also no major shift in the coronavirus 's pattern of mortality or severity , according to the WHO .
Hubei recorded 242 deaths on Wednesday , the deadliest day of the outbreak .
There was also a huge increase in cases , with 14,840 people diagnosed but most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a broader definition to diagnose people , said Mike Ryan , head of WHO 's health emergencies programme .
`` This does not represent a significant change in the trajectory of the outbreak , '' he said .
• What are the symptoms of coronavirus ?
Outside China there had been two deaths and 447 cases in 24 countries , he said .
On Thursday Japan announced its first coronavirus death - a woman in her 80s who lived in Kanagawa , south-west of Tokyo .
The woman 's diagnosis was confirmed after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link to China 's Hubei province , the epicentre of the outbreak , Japanese media reported .
On Thursday , the US state department said it was `` deeply concerned '' about the possible effect of an outbreak in North Korea , which has so far not reported any cases .
The US would facilitate assistance from US and international aid organisations to the country , the department said .
What is happening on the Diamond Princess ?
The vessel is in quarantine in Yokohama .
Not all the 3,700 people on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus are taken to hospitals on land to be treated , while those on board are largely confined to their cabins .
However on Thursday Japan said it would allow those aged 80 or over who have tested negative for the coronavirus to disembark .
Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said they could be allowed off the ship as early as Friday but would have to stay in accommodation provided by the government , the Japan Times reported .
• Cruise ship rejected by five ports docks at last • Why a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile another cruise ship - the MS Westerdam - carrying more than 2,000 people docked in Cambodia after being turned away by ports in Japan , Taiwan , Guam , the Philippines and Thailand despite having no sick patients on board .
Until Wednesday 's increases , the number of people with the virus in Hubei was stabilising .
The new cases and deaths in the province have pushed the national death toll above 1,350 with almost 60,000 infections in total .
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said there had been `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases .
`` We 're a little disappointed in the lack of transparency coming from the Chinese , these numbers are jumping around , '' he said .
The Trump administration was also disappointed that China had not accepted a US offer to send experts to help China respond to the outbreak , Mr Kudlow said .
China sacked two top officials in Hubei province hours after the new figures were revealed .
Mr Ryan , from the WHO , said the spike reflected a change in the way cases were diagnosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a period going back over days and weeks and are retrospectively reported as cases since sometimes back to the beginning of the outbreak itself , '' he said .
Only Hubei province - which accounts for more than 80 % of overall Chinese infections - is using the new definition to diagnose new cases .
The final members of a WHO team were expected to arrive in China over the weekend to investigate the epicentre of the outbreak , Mr Ryan said .
Can we trust the numbers ?
Just about everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus numbers has been able to see that they have been incomplete .
Government officials know this too .
There 's no way they 've accounted for everybody infected .
How could they ?
But at least we had what appeared to be a trend .
We could observe the pattern to try and estimate the trajectory of outbreak .
Now that 's gone too .
You can understand why it has been decided that people who have virus symptoms , plus a CT scan showing chest infection , are now being counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , this has thrown the trend mapping into chaos .
Over the past 24 hours in Hubei alone , nearly 15,000 people were moved into the infected column .
This would have sent shockwaves around the world , but actually , if you consider Wednesday 's cases by the old definition , the rate could well mean another day of decline : a completely different picture .
So now , we 're scratching our heads : do we start looking at the pattern all over again from Thursday onwards ?
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real death rate must have been over recent weeks and the extent to which we should be treating the overall figures seriously anyway .
• In the UK , officials are attempting to trace the contacts of the latest person to be diagnosed with coronavirus .
The woman , who flew into London Heathrow from China a few days ago , is the ninth case to be confirmed • Australia has extended its ban on people coming from mainland China for another week , to 22 February • Hong Kong 's most high-profile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as the Singapore Sevens , are expected to be postponed • China said it would stagger the return of children to school - several provinces have closed schools until the end of February • In Vietnam , which borders China , thousands of people in villages near the capital , Hanoi , have been put under quarantine after several cases were discovered .
Vietnam has now confirmed at least 16 cases • The Red Cross has called for sanctions relief for North Korea , which would allow the aid agency to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kits and protective clothing are urgently needed to prepare for a possible outbreak , it says • British rap star Stormzy has postponed the Asian leg of his tour - he had been due to play in locations including Shanghai , Hong Kong , Singapore and Malaysia in March • A Russian woman - who was put into a coronavirus quarantine but escaped - is resisting attempts by officials to bring her back to hospital by force .
Alla Ilyina , 32 , has been refusing to open the door of her St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and its impact SHOULD WE WORRY ?
Our health correspondent explains YOUR QUESTIONS : Can you get it more than once ?
WHAT YOU CAN DO : Do masks really help ?
UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD : A visual guide to the outbreak Are you in Hubei ?
Or do you have information to share ?
Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy policy

On Thursday, the US state department said it was "deeply concerned" about the possible effect of an outbreak in North Korea, which has so far not reported any cases.


bbc--2020-02-13--UK chancellor quits amid Cabinet reshuffle drama

Sajid Javid has shocked Westminster by quitting as chancellor in the middle of Boris Johnson 's cabinet reshuffle .
Mr Javid rejected the prime minister 's order to fire his team of aides , saying `` no self-respecting minister '' could accept such a condition .
He has been replaced as chancellor by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak - who just seven months ago was a junior housing minister .
Mr Javid had been due to deliver his first Budget in four weeks ' time .
The former home secretary was appointed chancellor by Mr Johnson when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignation follows rumours of tensions between Mr Javid and the prime minister 's senior adviser Dominic Cummings .
• Cabinet reshuffle : Who is in Boris Johnson 's new cabinet ?
• Who is new Chancellor Rishi Sunak ?
Mr Javid said his advisers had worked `` incredibly hard '' and he could not agree to them being replaced .
`` I felt I was left with no option but to resign , '' he said , adding that Mr Sunak and the rest of the government retained his `` full support '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Javid explained that he could not accept the PM 's conditions saying : `` I believe it is important as leaders to have trusted teams that reflect the character and integrity that you would wish to be associated with . ''
Downing Street said there would now be a joint team of economic advisers for both the chancellor and prime minister .
• Former Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay becomes chief secretary to the Treasury • Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith has been replaced by Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis • Amanda Milling replaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Conservative Party chairman • Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Housing Minister Esther McVey are out of government • Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers is sacked and replaced by George Eustice , who resigned as a minister last year over Theresa May 's Brexit plans • Attorney General Geoffrey Cox was asked to resign by the PM .
He is replaced by former Brexit Minister Suella Braverman International Development Secretary Alok Sharma has been appointed business secretary and minister for the upcoming climate conference COP26 , in Glasgow .
He is being replaced at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan .
There is a return to government for former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt , who becomes paymaster general .
Meanwhile , Mr Cleverly is made a joint minister in the Foreign Office and Department for International Development .
Cabinet members remaining in place include Home Secretary Priti Patel ; Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab ; Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove ; Health Secretary Matt Hancock ; International Trade Secretary Liz Truss ; Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ; Defence Secretary Ben Wallace ; Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg ; and Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of women in the full cabinet from seven to six .
Mr Johnson is expected to appoint a new minister to oversee the building of the HS2 rail line , final approval for which was given this week .
Meanwhile , a former adviser to Mr Javid said Downing Street had misjudged the reshuffle and that the Budget could be delayed as a result .
Salma Shah told BBC Newscast she thought No 10 estimated Mr Javid would take up an offer to remain in his post , despite a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier Mr Sunak tweeted that he felt `` honoured '' to become chancellor , adding that Mr Javid had done a `` fantastic job '' and been `` a pleasure to work with '' .
Commenting on Mr Javid 's resignation , Labour 's shadow chancellor John McDonnell said : `` This must be a historical record with the government in crisis after just over two months in power .
`` Dominic Cummings has clearly won the battle to take absolute control of the Treasury and install his stooge as chancellor . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbours in Downing Street is vital in any government .
The relationship between Sajid Javid and Boris Johnson , as individuals , has been OK but there have been clashes between their wider teams .
This is a massive elevation for Rishi Sunak - a year ago he was one of the most junior ministers in the communities department .
A step up to chancellor this quickly is a huge ask .
He has not been tested in any significant way - but was seen as a reliable performer during the general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after he brokered the deal which restored the power-sharing administration in Stormont - was greeted with shock in Northern Ireland .
The former minister said on Twitter that doing the job had been `` the biggest privilege '' and he was `` extremely grateful '' to have been given the chance to serve `` this amazing part of our country '' .
Ireland 's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar called Mr Smith `` one of Britain 's finest politicians of our time '' .

In his resignation letter, Mr Javid explained that he could not accept the PM's conditions saying: "I believe it is important as leaders to have trusted teams that reflect the character and integrity that you would wish to be associated with."


bbc--2020-02-13--Prankster hangs Putin portrait in Moscow lift

Bashir Dokhov hung a portrait of Vladimir Putin in a Moscow lift to gauge public opinion on the Russian president @ @ @ @ @ a camera to the apartment block lift to film the reaction of residents .
He @ @ @ @ @ why he did it .

Bashir Dokhov hung a portrait of Vladimir Putin in a Moscow lift to gauge public opinion on the Russian president.
The YouTuber also attached a camera to the apartment block lift to film the reaction of residents.
He spoke to BBC Russian about why he did it.


bbc--2020-02-13--France's César Academy board quits en masse amid Polanski row

The entire board of the César Academy , which distributes France 's equivalent of the Oscars , has resigned following backlash over nominations for a film by Roman Polanski and demands for reform .
Polanski 's An Officer and a Spy swept the nomination list for the César awards , sparking calls for a boycott .
The Polish-French director has been wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl since the 1970s .
Hundreds of actors , producers and directors have also called for change .
In an open letter this week , they denounced `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opacity in its management .
In a statement on Thursday night , the academy said the board had `` unanimously decided to resign '' to `` honour those men and women who made cinema happen in 2019 , to find calm and ensure that the festival of film remains just that , a festival '' .
`` This collective decision will allow complete renewal of the board , '' it added .
A general meeting is set to be held after this month 's ceremony to elect a new board , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institution .
Culture Minister Franck Riester said the César Academy must operate democratically , in the spirit of `` openness , transparency , parity and diversity '' .
The César Academy has faced controversy in recent months .
Many called for a boycott when Polanski 's film An Officer and a Spy , or J'accuse in French , received 12 award nominations .
The Polish-French director fled the US after his rape conviction in the 1970s , and has since faced other accusations of sexual assault .
`` I am shocked .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination have applauded Polanski with 12 nominations - 12 is also the number of women today who accuse Roman Polanski of rape .
This is not the field of morality , this is the field of justice , '' Céline Piques , spokeswoman for French feminist organisation Osez le Féminisme ( Dare to be Feminist ) told French TV channel LCI at the time .
France 's equality minister and film critics also condemned the decision to nominate Polanski 's film .
But the Césars defended the nominations , arguing that the body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in giving awards .
In an open letter this week , hundreds of film professionals , including actors and directors , called for `` profound reform '' at the academy .
They complained of a lack of democracy in the institution and said the founding statutes of the Césars had not changed `` for a very long time '' .
In response , the academy 's board said it would ask for a mediator to be appointed by a culture ministry agency to oversee reforms of its statutes and governance .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced controversy .
In 2017 , Polanski was picked to head the award 's jury , but stepped down after the move sparked outrage .

The academy, which numbers 4,680 cinema professionals, has also been criticised for being out of touch and dominated by older men. Only 35% of the members are women and to be part of it you have to have had two sponsors and taken part in three films in five years.


bbc--2020-02-13--New Horizons spacecraft 'alters theory of planet formation'

Scientists say they have `` decisively '' overturned the prevailing theory for how planets in our Solar System formed .
The established view is that material violently crashed together to form ever larger clumps until they became worlds .
New results suggest the process was less catastrophic - with matter gently clumping together instead .
The study appears in Science journal and has been presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Seattle .
The study 's lead researcher , Dr Alan Stern , said that the discovery was of `` stupendous magnitude '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late 1960s of violent collisions and a more recent emerging theory of gentle accumulation .
One is dust and the other is the only one standing .
This rarely happens in planetary science , but today we have settled the matter , '' he told BBC News .
The claim arises from detailed study of an object in the outer reaches of the Solar System .
Named Arrokoth , the object is more than six billion km from the Sun in a region called the Kuiper belt .
It is a pristine remnant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago , with two bodies combining to form a larger one .
Scientists obtained high-resolution pictures of Arrokoth when Nasa 's New Horizons spacecraft flew close to it just over a year ago .
It gave scientists their first opportunity to test which of the two competing theories was correct : did its components crash together or was there gentle contact ?
The analysis by Dr Stern and his team could find no evidence of violent impact .
The researchers found no stress fractures , nor was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objects were squashed together gently .
`` This is completely decisive , '' said Dr Stern .
`` In one fell swoop , the flyby of Arrokoth was able to decide between the two theories . ''
He is bullish because these so-called Kuiper belt objects have largely remained the same since the formation of the Solar System .
They are , in effect , perfectly preserved fossils from this distant time .
The newer gentle clumping theory was developed 15 years ago by Prof Anders Johansen at Lund Observatory in Sweden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ PhD student .
The idea emerged from computer simulations .
After speaking to Dr Stern , I broke the news to Prof Johansen that his theory had been confirmed .
There was a pause on the line before he replied that he `` felt great '' .
He added : `` It is a special moment .
I remember when I was a PhD student and feeling very nervous about these new results because they were very different to the ones before .
I was worried that there was an error in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculation error .
`` And then when you see these results confirmed from actual observations it is a real relief . ''
Prof Johansen commemorated the occasion with a pizza and coke with his family .
Engineer Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock , who co-presents the BBC 's Sky at Night programme , cautioned against toppling a theory based on the observation of one object , but said that Dr Stern 's interpretation `` makes a lot of sense '' .
`` It is nice to have this evidence because the crashing together theory was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some challenges to it .
Why did the objects stick together and not bounce apart .
There was a lot that did n't add up . ''
When Arrokoth was discovered six years ago , it was known only by its designation 2014 MU69 .
At the time of the New Horizons flyby , it had been given the informal name Ultima Thule .
While that name came from a classical and medieval term for a far-off place at the borders of the known world , its use by Nazi occultists as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversy .
The official name Arrokoth is a Native American term meaning `` sky '' in the Powhatan/Algonquian language .

When Arrokoth was discovered six years ago, it was known only by its designation 2014 MU69. At the time of the New Horizons flyby, it had been given the informal name Ultima Thule. While that name came from a classical and medieval term for a far-off place at the borders of the known world, its use by Nazi occultists as the mythical homeland of the Aryan race caused controversy.


bbc--2020-02-13--US doctor cites vaccination 'regrets' in suicide note

A doctor who took his own life in Chicago left a note suggesting he had become `` averse '' to vaccinations and may have falsified records .
The doctor , Van Koinis , may have left children unvaccinated , the Cook County Sheriff 's Office said .
Van Koinis expressed regret for his actions but his note was ambiguous .
Officials are investigating if the much-loved paediatrician forged records so that anti-vaccination parents could obtain documents required for schools .
Dr Koinis reportedly wrote that he had become averse to immunisation in his last decade of work .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it was the only thing he mentioned in the suicide note .
It was this and only this , '' Chicago Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart told US media , adding that the note was `` cryptic '' .
`` The biggest issue is parents who are under the impression their children are immunised when they are not , '' Sheriff Dart told the Chicago Sun-Times .
• What are vaccines , how do they work and why are people sceptical ?
• US teen who defied parents over vaccine warns of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned from the past Former patients of Dr Koinis are now being advised to talk to a physician about their vaccination records .
Blood tests can determine if patients have received some immunisations , but not all , according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Dr Koinis , who died in September last year , was highly regarded in his community in Chicago , with more than 1,000 reviews and a five-star rating on a physician ranking forum .
Several parents have defended him following the latest revelations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-vaccine beliefs , and others say they witnessed him administer shots .
`` My children and I love him so much .
He is like part of our family , '' one woman , who said she had been bringing her children to Dr Koinis for 23 years , wrote on Facebook , the Washington Post reported .
He was also known to refuse payments when families were unable to pay and check up on children 's health out-of-hours , the Post said .

"He was incredibly regretful for what he did and it was the only thing he mentioned in the suicide note. It was this and only this," Chicago Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart told US media, adding that the note was "cryptic".


bbc--2020-02-13--US-Taliban talks: Pompeo hails 'pretty important breakthrough'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says there has been a `` pretty important breakthrough '' in peace talks with the Taliban in recent days .
Defence Secretary Mark Esper earlier said they had `` negotiated a proposal '' for a week-long reduction in violence .
The two sides have long been engaged in negotiations aimed at ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan .
But they have been fraught with challenges .
President Donald Trump declared the talks `` dead '' in September .
On Thursday , Mr Pompeo said the US president had given the go-ahead for further talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the negotiations were complicated and that a peace deal had not yet been reached .
`` We hope we can get to the place where we can get a significant reduction in violence , not only on a piece of paper , '' he said .
`` If we can get there and we can hold that posture for a while , we may well be able to begin the serious discussion which is all the Afghans sitting at a table finding a true reconciliation . ''
• The Afghan war : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the Taliban ?
• What could peace in Afghanistan look like ?
His comments came after Mr Esper told reporters about the proposal for a `` seven-day reduction in violence '' .
`` We 've said all along that the best , if not only , solution in Afghanistan is a political agreement .
Progress has been made on this front and we 'll have more to report on that soon , '' he said .
`` It will be a continual evaluative process as we go forward - if we go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partial truce was set to begin were not immediately clear , but a Taliban official told AFP news agency that the group would begin a `` reduction of violence '' on Friday .
Mr Trump has made withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan a key foreign policy aim .
Some 13,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan after the US intervention to oust the Taliban in 2001 .
How did we get here ?
In December 2018 , the Taliban announced they would meet US officials to try to find a `` roadmap to peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse to hold official talks with the Afghan government , whom they dismissed as American `` puppets '' .
Following nine rounds of US-Taliban talks in Qatar , the two sides seemed close to an agreement .
Washington 's top negotiator announced in September that the US would withdraw 5,400 troops from Afghanistan within 20 weeks as part of a deal agreed `` in principle '' with Taliban militants .
But days later , Mr Trump said the talks were `` dead '' , after the militant group admitted to killing a US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to kill people to put themselves in a little better negotiating position '' , he told reporters , calling the attack `` a big mistake '' .
In the months since the deal collapsed , there has so far been no let-up in fighting .
The Taliban has warned that the US would `` lose the most '' by cancelling the talks .
The announcements by the US on Thursday came after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he had been informed of `` notable progress '' in the talks , which his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's the background to the Afghan war ?
The Taliban , or `` students '' in the Pashto language , emerged in the chaos that followed the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1989 .
They took Kabul in 1996 and were in charge of most of the country within two years , practising their own austere version of Sharia , or Islamic law .
The Afghan war began when the US launched air strikes a month after the 11 September 2001 attacks and after the Taliban refused to hand over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The US was joined by an international coalition and the Taliban was quickly removed from power .
However , they turned into an insurgent force and continued deadly attacks , destabilising subsequent Afghan governments .
The coalition ended its combat mission in 2014 , staying only to train Afghan forces .
But the US continued its own , scaled-back combat operation , including air strikes .
Meanwhile , the Taliban has continued to gain momentum .
In 2018 , the BBC found they were active across 70 % of Afghanistan .

"We hope we can get to the place where we can get a significant reduction in violence, not only on a piece of paper," he said. "If we can get there and we can hold that posture for a while, we may well be able to begin the serious discussion which is all the Afghans sitting at a table finding a true reconciliation."


bbc--2020-02-13--Wanted: New astronauts for Nasa Moon mission

Going into space is a dream shared by children and adults around the world .
Although humans have not stepped foot on the Moon in almost half a century , Nasa hopes to change this .
It plans to land the first woman - and the next man - on the lunar surface by 2024 .
And now the US space agency is looking for candidates to take part in its future missions .
So with applications opening from 2 to 31 March , what does it take to become an astronaut ?
Since the 1960s , Nasa has selected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 48 currently in the active astronaut corps .
But as it is a US federal agency , the first requirement to join Nasa is American citizenship , although dual nationals are also eligible to apply .
This rule has not put everyone off : late British astronaut Piers Sellers left the UK and became a US citizen as part of his dream to become an astronaut , and later flew on three space shuttle missions .
A science background is another key requirement .
New recruits are expected to hold a master @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject , including engineering , biological science , physical science , computer science , or mathematics .
Qualified medical doctors or people who have completed a nationally recognised test pilot programme may also apply .
• To the Moon and beyond And education alone is not enough : two years of related professional experience , or a minimum of 1,000 hours of flying time as lead pilot in a jet aircraft , are also required .
What happens next ?
After completing an online application , candidates who make it through to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For those who are selected , becoming an astronaut candidate means a further two years of training and evaluation .
During this time , candidates take courses in military water survival , technical skills , robotics training and Russian language .
People who do not successfully pass the training period may still be selected for different roles within Nasa , the agency says .
What if I can not apply ?
If you are not eligible to work for Nasa , there are other opportunities to travel into space .
While 151 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time on the International Space Station have been US nationals , dozens of others from across the world have also travelled there .
And if you can not spare the time to complete Nasa 's training and money is no object , Virgin Galactic is due to become the first private company to take tourists into space later this year .