bbc--2020-03-06--Jemimah Rodrigues: Why India's batting star is a social media sensation

Quick question : who is the most entertaining cricketer on social media ?
Go on ... we 'll give you a minute ...
The answer ?
India 's Jemimah Rodrigues , of course .
The 19-year-old , aka Lil ' J ( she 's trademarked this ! )
, may be small in stature - 5ft 2in - but she packs a punch on Twitter and Instagram .
Oh , and she 's seriously good at cricket - some girls get all the luck , eh ?
The world according to 'JeMEMEah ' Rodrigues Being ranked as the ninth best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for some , but not Jemimah .
Her 'work hard and play hard ' attitude spills over into the world of social media , where fun , dancing and smiles are the norm and where a new hashtag has been born : # jeMEMEah .
Her light-hearted Twitter posts and Instagram takeovers have caught the attention of cricket fans , and after she won the award for the 'Strongest Game On Social Media ' from Cricbuzz she shared 'live ' footage of the presentation ceremony ...
Stardom has n't gone to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to have fun - whether it 's busting moves from a Bollywood number with an off-duty security guard ... ... or showing everyone how to stick to those new year 's resolutions… Poor Smriti Mandhana is often the butt of Jemimah 's playful jokes ... She 's always there to keep up team spirits on the road with a tune on her guitar ... Or be THE person you need on your Cricktionary team… Jemimah was given her first bat at the age of three and she soon started accompanying her brothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the days just fielding and watching her brothers bat , though family still means mean everything to her… But she 's not afraid to meme at their expense !
In 2017 , Mumbai-born Rodrigues became only the second woman to score a double century in 50-over cricket , while in last year 's Kia Super League , she was the second highest run-scorer in the competition .
Honours continually flow her way ...
But if she ever gets tired of cricket , she could always turn her hand to reporting… In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 64,000 new followers on Instagram , and her social media fanbase continues to grow .
So much so , in fact , she appears to have recruited 16-year old Shafali Verma as her bodyguard… The world really is at her feet , as might the World Cup trophy be in Melbourne come Sunday evening .

Last updated on .From the section Women's Cricket
Jemimah Rodrigues is a star on and off the cricket field
Women's T20 World Cup final: India v Australia Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground Date: Sunday, 8 March Time: 07:00 GMT Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport website & app; in-play highlights (UK only) & live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app
Quick question: who is the most entertaining cricketer on social media?
Go on... we'll give you a minute...
The answer? India's Jemimah Rodrigues, of course.
The 19-year-old, aka Lil' J (she's trademarked this!), may be small in stature - 5ft 2in - but she packs a punch on Twitter and Instagram.
Oh, and she's seriously good at cricket - some girls get all the luck, eh?
The world according to 'JeMEMEah' Rodrigues
Being ranked as the ninth best T20 batter in the world might be enough for some, but not Jemimah.
Her 'work hard and play hard' attitude spills over into the world of social media, where fun, dancing and smiles are the norm and where a new hashtag has been born: #jeMEMEah external-link .
Her light-hearted Twitter posts and Instagram takeovers have caught the attention of cricket fans, and after she won the award for the 'Strongest Game On Social Media' from Cricbuzz she shared 'live' footage of the presentation ceremony...
Stardom hasn't gone to the teen's head as she takes any opportunity to have fun - whether it's busting moves from a Bollywood number with an off-duty security guard...
...or showing everyone how to stick to those new year's resolutions…
Poor Smriti Mandhana is often the butt of Jemimah's playful jokes...
She's always there to keep up team spirits on the road with a tune on her guitar...
Or be THE person you need on your Cricktionary team…
Sibling love
Jemimah was given her first bat at the age of three and she soon started accompanying her brothers to an all-boys academy.
Long gone are the days just fielding and watching her brothers bat, though family still means mean everything to her…
But she's not afraid to meme at their expense!
In 2017, Mumbai-born Rodrigues became only the second woman to score a double century in 50-over cricket, external-link while in last year's Kia Super League, she was the second highest run-scorer in the competition. Honours continually flow her way...
But if she ever gets tired of cricket, she could always turn her hand to reporting…
In the past month she's picked up more than 64,000 new followers on Instagram, and her social media fanbase continues to grow.
So much so, in fact, she appears to have recruited 16-year old Shafali Verma as her bodyguard…
The world really is at her feet, as might the World Cup trophy be in Melbourne come Sunday evening.
All hail India's newest - and funniest - cricketing sensation.


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Should Americans be worried?

The coronavirus that began in Wuhan , China , has now reached dozens of countries and has started to spread across the US in earnest .
So how prepared is the country ?
Thousands of new cases across the world are being reported each day , and the true scale could be 10 times higher .
There are 233 confirmed cases in the US , 48 in Canada .
Fourteen people have died in the US due to the virus .
Thirty-three new cases of Covid-19 were reported in a single weekend at the end of February .
Officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , but this could change .
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after the first reported death from coronavirus in his state .
A cruise ship carrying 3,500 people is being held off the coast of California while tests for coronavirus are carried out on dozens of passengers and crew members .
One passenger died and at least four others became infected on a previous leg of the voyage - a round trip from San Francisco to Mexico .
What do I need to know about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak How prepared is the US ?
President Donald Trump has claimed the situation is `` well under control '' , while officials at the Centres for Disease Control ( CDC ) warn the virus will spread and may severely disrupt daily life .
Concerns have deepened amid the sharp rise in the number of cases reported in the first week of March .
Nine new infections were disclosed Wednesday in New York , along with 12 additional patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also reported their first cases of coronavirus .
US health chief Alex Azar has asked Congress for $ 2.5bn ( £1.9bn ) - with over $ 1bn needed to develop a vaccine .
The rest would fund quarantine efforts and supplies , including surgical masks .
Mr Azar said the US only has 30 million - and it needs 300 million .
Congress is expected to approve a package worth $ 8.3bn for the response after it became clear that more cases were emerging .
An anonymous whistleblower at the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government workers interacting with quarantined Americans were not provided with proper safety gear , and were allowed to come and go from the secure zone freely .
Mr Azar has denied the allegations .
What are the main concerns ?
High medical costs make the virus particularly problematic - many Americans avoid doctor 's visits because of unaffordable charges .
Last month , a Florida man with symptoms had a coronavirus test and was handed a $ 3,270 bill from his insurance company .
There have also been reports of people not being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Vice-President Mike Pence , who is in charge of the task force co-ordinating the response to the crisis , has said that `` any American can be tested , no restrictions , subject to doctor 's orders '' .
Taking sick leave is another concern .
Not all employers offer paid leave and workplace culture often pushes employees to go to work ill .
This could contribute to the virus spreading , as infected people may not show significant symptoms for up to 14 days .
• Reality Check : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health as US ?
By the end of the first week of March , officials expect around 40 public health labs to be able to test for the virus .
The US has 75,000 diagnostic kits currently , Mr Azar told ABC News , with production set to `` expand radically '' .
Once these kits go out , over 100 labs should have testing capacity by early March .
The administration has also granted labs permission to develop and use their own diagnostic tests even as they are being reviewed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have been tested so far .
The CDC has faced criticism for its decision to stop disclosing the number of Americans to receive testing in recent days .
Critics say the shortage of test and facilities has contributed to the community spread of the virus and some have raised doubts that health officials can meet the demand for more tests .
The tests themselves have also had problems .
Last month , some health centres noted difficulties using CDC tests .
Kits developed at the CDC 's lab in Atlanta were contaminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturing issues have since been resolved .
What should you do ?
You should wash your hands regularly - using soap and water for at least 20 seconds , avoid contact with people who have respiratory illness symptoms and stay away from animals .
The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask if you are not sick or taking care of someone who is ill. • How worried should we be ?
It may be useful to ensure you have enough supplies - like extra water , non-perishable food and medicines - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You might want to discuss work-from-home options with your employer and plan for child care if schools need to close .

Coronavirus: Should Americans be worried? Published 12 March 2020
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, 'The positive things we learnt from quarantine'
The coronavirus that began in Wuhan, China, has now reached dozens of countries and has started to take its toll in the US.
So how prepared is the country?
How fast is Covid-19 spreading?
Thousands of new cases across the world are being reported each day, and the true scale could be 10 times higher.
There are 1,323 confirmed cases in the US, 117 in Canada.
Thirty-eight people have died in the US due to the virus and one person has died in Canada.
Officials say risk remains low for the general US public, but is growing.
Bans on large gatherings have been announced, with national guard troops dispatched to cities on both the US East and West coasts
Several states, including Washington, have declared emergencies to deal with the outbreak. The global outbreak has now been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Stock markets around the world have been in free-fall forcing trading to temporarily halt and causing many people to worry about their retirement funds.
How prepared is the US?
President Donald Trump has claimed the situation is "well under control", while officials at the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) warn the virus will spread and may severely disrupt daily life.
Relative to other countries dealing with coronavirus, the US has done only a handful of tests.
On 6 March, the president signed an $8.3bn (£6.4bn) emergency funding bill to develop a vaccine and help states combat the virus. The UK, for instance, has allocated $38bn (£30bn) to deal with its impacts.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Coronavirus 'risk to the American people remains very low'
Concerns have deepened amid the sharp rise in the number of cases reported in the first week of March. More than half of US states have now reported cases of the sickness.
What are the main concerns?
High medical costs make the virus particularly problematic - many Americans avoid doctor's visits because of unaffordable charges.
On 10 March, Vice-President Mike Pence - who is leading the US response - announced that a group of major health insurance companies covering almost 240 million Americans have agreed not to charge patients for coronavirus testing.
They have also vowed to extend coverage for Covid-19 treatment in all benefit plans - but it's unclear what this extended coverage will entail, and it could still leave insured Americans with thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Taking sick leave is another concern. Not all employers offer paid leave and workplace culture often pushes employees to go to work ill. President Trump's claim that coronavirus patients may get better "by sitting around and even going to work" drew widespread criticism from health experts.
This could contribute to the virus spreading, as infected people may not show significant symptoms for up to 14 days.
What's happening with testing?
Mr Pence has said one million tests are available in all state labs. So far fewer than 10,000 people have been tested - compared to 20,000 per day in South Korea.
The administration has also granted labs permission to develop and use their own diagnostic tests even as they are being reviewed by the national drug agency.
Critics say the shortage of test and facilities has contributed to the community spread of the virus and some have raised doubts that health officials can meet the demand for more tests.
The tests themselves have also had problems. Last month, some health centres noted difficulties using CDC tests. Kits developed at the CDC's lab in Atlanta were contaminated, Axios reported. Officials say the manufacturing issues have since been resolved.
Where can you get tested in the US?
You will need a doctor to refer you to either the CDC or a state health department for testing. Your doctor can take a sample - a nose or throat swab - but it must be processed at a proper facility.
You should call your doctor's office first - officials advise against going to an emergency room for testing.
At least four states - California, Washington New York and Nevada - have mandated some insurers to cover tests.
Even if the test is covered, however, patients may still have to pay fees for office or emergency room visits and any other tests, as well as hospital stays.
And those who work at self-insured companies and uninsured Americans do not have these protections.
What should you do?
You should wash your hands regularly - using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid contact with people who have respiratory illness symptoms and stay away from animals.
The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask if you are not sick or taking care of someone who is ill.
It may be useful to ensure you have enough supplies - like extra water, non-perishable food and medicines - in case you need to self-quarantine.
You might want to discuss work-from-home options with your employer and plan for child care if schools need to close.
How do you self-quarantine?
If you self-isolate for 14 days, that means not going to work, school, or other public places and avoiding any public transit, including ride-shares and taxis.
Friends and family can drop off supplies, but you shouldn't have any visitors. If you share a home with others, the key is to limit contact as much as possible. Try to avoid using the kitchen when others are there and make sure you clean all surfaces daily.
While the CDC has encouraged businesses to not punish workers who self-quarantine, in the US, the decision is still ultimately left to the employers.
Many states do not have laws regarding whether an employer can fire an employee who is in quarantine, Forbes reported.
A February survey by the Business Group on Health, published by the New York Times, found 68% of employers would pay employees for a quarantine, even if they were unable to work from home, while 12% would pay only for a set amount of time. Another 20% said they had not yet made a decision.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has called for a paid sick leave bill, which he has championed in the past.


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Cruise ship turned away from Malta amid doctor threats

A cruise ship has been turned away from Malta after doctors threatened industrial action if it docked amid coronavirus concerns .
The MSC Opera 's operator said it agreed not enter the country 's port on Friday to `` avoid unnecessary public unrest '' .
The government said the decision followed `` public alarm raised by misleading information '' and blamed an unnamed local media outlet .
Both the government and the operator said there were no cases on board .
`` Despite the established facts , the Maltese government and MSC Cruises have decided to approve the re-routing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid further concern among the Maltese public , '' the government said .
The Swiss-owned vessel , which is carrying 2,302 passengers and crew , is now heading to the Italian city of Messina .
It said it would stop at the city on Sunday `` as scheduled '' .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak An Austrian passenger who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on 28 February was later diagnosed with the virus .
MSC Cruises said the passenger tested positive for Covid-19 two days after returning to Austria via northern Italy .
After leaving Italy , the ship continued its cruise to Greece and arrived in the city of Piraeus on Wednesday - the same day that the owner was alerted by Austrian authorities about the passenger who had fallen ill. MSC Cruises said the vessel was inspected by Greek health officials in both Piraeus and Corfu and given permission to sail on .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health authorities on any quarantine , '' a Greek health ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency .
`` Infectious disease specialists have told us there is no such issue . ''
So why were doctors so opposed to the ship 's disembarkation ?
Martin Balzan , president of the Medical Association of Malta ( MAM ) , had told TV Malta that if an epidemic broke out on the ship , Malta did not have the resources to `` test or provide shelter for the 2,302 persons on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolute priority to the health aspect instead of the economy , '' he was quoted as saying .
Speaking to the Times of Malta , Dr Balzan said it would be `` highly irresponsible '' to allow people off the ship .
`` If the vessel is allowed in , MAM will call for industrial action aimed at protecting patients and protecting the Maltese population , '' he said .
Another cruise ship , the Diamond Princess , saw a dramatic outbreak while being held in quarantine in Japan last month .
Six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You may also be interested in :

Coronavirus: Cruise ship turned away from Malta amid doctor threats Published 6 March 2020
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The MSC Opera approaching Corfu
A cruise ship has been turned away from Malta after doctors threatened industrial action if it docked amid coronavirus concerns.
The MSC Opera's operator said it agreed not enter the country's port on Friday to "avoid unnecessary public unrest".
The government said the decision followed "public alarm raised by misleading information" and blamed an unnamed local media outlet.
Both the government and the operator said there were no cases on board.
"Despite the established facts, the Maltese government and MSC Cruises have decided to approve the re-routing of cruise liner MSC Opera so as to avoid further concern among the Maltese public," the government said.
The Swiss-owned vessel, which is carrying 2,302 passengers and crew, is now heading to the Italian city of Messina.
It said it would stop at the city on Sunday "as scheduled".
What's the background?
An Austrian passenger who left the ship at Genoa, Italy, on 28 February was later diagnosed with the virus.
MSC Cruises said the passenger tested positive for Covid-19 two days after returning to Austria via northern Italy.
After leaving Italy, the ship continued its cruise to Greece and arrived in the city of Piraeus on Wednesday - the same day that the owner was alerted by Austrian authorities about the passenger who had fallen ill.
MSC Cruises said the vessel was inspected by Greek health officials in both Piraeus and Corfu and given permission to sail on.
"There has been no guidance from Greek health authorities on any quarantine," a Greek health ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. "Infectious disease specialists have told us there is no such issue."
So why were doctors so opposed to the ship's disembarkation?
Martin Balzan, president of the Medical Association of Malta (MAM), had told TV Malta that if an epidemic broke out on the ship, Malta did not have the resources to "test or provide shelter for the 2,302 persons on board".
"The authorities should give absolute priority to the health aspect instead of the economy," he was quoted as saying.
Speaking to the Times of Malta, Dr Balzan said it would be "highly irresponsible" to allow people off the ship.
"If the vessel is allowed in, MAM will call for industrial action aimed at protecting patients and protecting the Maltese population," he said.
Another cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, saw a dramatic outbreak while being held in quarantine in Japan last month. Six people died, with 621 infected.
You may also be interested in:


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Fear returns to stock markets

Global stock markets have fallen sharply as investors continue to worry about the broader economic effects of the coronavirus .
London 's FTSE 100 share index fell more than 3 % and there were similar declines in other European markets .
In the US , upbeat data on hiring and unemployment failed to buoy investors .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed almost 1 % lower , while the Nasdaq slumped 1.8 % and S & P 500 ended down 1.7 % .
The monthly report from the US Labor Department found US employers added 273,000 jobs in February - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate fell back to near a 50-year low of 3.5 % .
The report also revised up estimates of job gains in January and December , finding 85,000 more than previously understood .
The surveys , however , reflect data collected before the outbreak intensified .
In recent weeks , global travel has plunged , while work , school and shopping has been disrupted in many countries .
Despite the strong data , markets were focused on the impact of the virus .
`` Today 's jobs report is old news , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wells Fargo .
The economic strength signalled in the report is a `` little like the saying , the car was in fine condition before being involved in a collision '' , said Mark Hamrick , senior economic analyst for Bankrate.com .
`` The new reality , amid tremendous uncertainty , is the world has experienced a seismic shift , '' he said .
Earlier on Friday , markets in Asia had seen big falls , with Japan 's Nikkei share index dropping by 2.7 % .
The 3.6 % drop in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week on the index .
Shares in travel companies again saw some of the steepest falls .
Banks also took a hit , as investors anticipate that interest rates might be cut in order to make borrowing cheaper for companies and consumers to keep the economy buoyant .
Energy firms were under pressure as well , after the collapse of a proposal by major oil producers to keep oil supply in check sent oil prices tumbling more than 8 % .
`` The markets did n't even bother with the pretence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing another rough week to a close , '' said Connor Campbell , analyst at financial spread better Spreadex .
`` The week 's various central bank rate cuts only served to reinforce the seriousness of the situation . ''
Earlier this week , the Federal Reserve , the US 's central bank , cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percentage points to a range of 1 % to 1.25 % in an attempt to ease investor concerns .
Many analysts predict it will cut rates again - perhaps as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek less risky investments , they are turning to government bonds , sending prices higher .
The bond market - which is many times larger than the stock market - includes tradable loans to governments and businesses .
Yields - how much investors will recoup in interest from the loans - drop as the price of the loan rises .
Benchmark 10-year UK government debt now only offers a 0.24 % return - a record low .
In the US , the yield on a 10-year Treasury also fell to a record low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the 10-year Treasury yield slumping to a new record low and stock markets under pressure again today , it is questionable whether the Fed can wait until its scheduled meeting mid-month to deliver the next rate cut , '' said Paul Ashworth , chief US economist at Capital Economics .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

"With the 10-year Treasury yield slumping to a new record low and stock markets under pressure again today, it is questionable whether the Fed can wait until its scheduled meeting mid-month to deliver the next rate cut," said Paul Ashworth, chief US economist at Capital Economics.


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus symptoms: What are they and how do I protect myself?

Coronavirus has spread to more than 80 countries , including the UK .
So , what is the disease and what can you do to protect yourself ?
What are the coronavirus symptoms ?
Coronavirus is a respiratory disease which seems to start with a fever , followed by a dry cough .
After a week , it leads to shortness of breath and some patients require hospital treatment .
These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
They are similar to those for much more common viruses , such as colds and flu .
Coronavirus : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe cases , coronavirus can cause pneumonia , severe acute respiratory syndrome , multiple organ failure and even death .
Older people , and people with pre-existing medical conditions ( such as asthma , diabetes , heart disease ) , are more likely to become severely ill .
The incubation period - between infection and showing any symptoms - lasts up to 14 days , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) says .
But some researchers say it may be up to 24 days .
• Coronavirus : Can it harm breastfed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I protect myself ?
Regular and thorough hand washing is crucial , health agencies say .
It is not yet known exactly how coronavirus spreads .
However , similar viruses are spread via droplets , such as those produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes .
So , coughing and sneezing into tissues , not touching your face with unwashed hands , and trying to avoid close contact with infected people are important .
Face masks do not provide effective protection against coronavirus , according to medical experts .
What should I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The NHS says an epidemic in the UK is `` likely '' .
People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the NHS 111 phone service for further advice .
They should not go to their GP , or A & E .
If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected , you may be told to self-isolate .
People needing to do so should take `` common-sense '' steps to avoid close contact with other people , says Public Health England .
Advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK from the main affected areas and some other countries , and who may need to self-isolate , has been issued .
Other countries have their own measures in place .
For example , the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention advises people showing symptoms to call their healthcare provider , and those who are mildly ill to self-isolate .
The World Health Organization has also issued advice for the public .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Will I be tested - and how ?
If you need testing in the UK , you may have to give samples of mucus , blood or faeces .
Samples will then be tested and results may be available on the same working day .
While you await your test results , you may be asked to stay at home and follow advice for self-isolation .
How deadly is coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of five people who contract coronavirus will only experience mild symptoms , a WHO examination of data from 56,000 patients says .
It suggests : The proportion dying from the disease appears low ( between 1 % and 2 % ) - but the figures are unreliable .
Thousands are still being treated but may go on to die - so the death rate could be higher .
But it is also unclear how many mild cases remain unreported - so the death rate could also be lower .
To put this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch influenza every year , with between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths .
The severity of flu changes every year .
Right now , treatment relies on the basics - keeping the patient 's body going , including breathing support , until their immune system can fight off the virus .
However , the work to develop a vaccine is under way and it is hoped there will be human trials before the end of the year .
Hospitals are also testing anti-viral drugs to see if they have an impact .
How fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases are being reported worldwide each day .
However , it is thought health agencies may be unaware of many cases .
After starting in China , coronavirus is now spreading fast in countries like South Korea , Italy and Iran .
This explainer will be regularly updated to reflect the audience 's questions about coronavirus .
Details of how to get in touch are below .
What questions do you have about the coronavirus ?
In some cases your question will be published , displaying your name , age and location as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise .
Your contact details will never be published .
Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy .
Use this form to ask your question :

Older people, and those with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure), are more likely to become severely ill. Men are at slightly higher risk of dying from the virus than women.


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Vietnam's handwashing song goes global

Authorities around the world are trying to hammer home the message that we have to wash our hands to protect @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus .
In Vietnam , they 've produced a music video along with a @ @ @ @ @ has taken the country by storm and has since gone global .

Authorities around the world are trying to hammer home the message that we have to wash our hands to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus.
In Vietnam, they've produced a music video along with a dance challenge - the tune has taken the country by storm and has since gone global.
Video by Andreas Illmer.


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Don't use vodka to sanitise hands

A rush on hand sanitiser to protect against the coronavirus has seen homemade versions spring up , including one based on a handmade vodka .
But vodka maker Tito 's quickly shot down a tweet suggesting the use of its spirits is strong enough for that purpose .
Some people are combining rubbing alcohol and aloe for a sanitiser .
That can work as long as the version is at least 60 % alcohol .
But posts on social media that suggested Texas-based Tito 's Handmade Vodka could be used instead saw the company cite the US Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly refute the idea .
`` Per the CDC , hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60 % alcohol , '' Tito 's tweeted in reply on Thursday .
`` Tito 's Handmade Vodka is 40 % alcohol , and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC . ''
The company did not immediately respond to a request for further comment .
As the coronavirus spreads globally , demand for face masks and sanitiser products has soared .
There are no official figures available for global sales since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices , schools and crowded public spaces such as airports routinely screen passengers for high temperatures and often provide hand sanitiser at entry points .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Sales of hand sanitiser saw a year-on-year increase of 255 % in February , according to UK research firm Kantar .
Interest in homemade sanitiser products has become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies running low in some countries .
Guidance from health and medical authorities such as the CDC have suggested scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds .

"Per the CDC, hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol," Tito's tweeted in reply on Thursday. "Tito's Handmade Vodka is 40% alcohol, and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC."


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: What misinformation has spread in Africa?

As cases of the coronavirus increase around the world , there 's been a flurry of misleading or false news stories emerging , as well .
There have been relatively few confirmed cases of the virus in Africa so far , but the authorities in some countries in the continent are still having to deal with misinformation .
1 .
No , you do n't need to shave your beard to protect against the virus An old graphic created by the US health authorities about facial hair and respirators has been used incorrectly to suggest men should shave off their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Nigerian Punch newspaper 's headline said : `` To be safe from coronavirus , shave your beard , CDC warns '' We have added labels to the screenshots to indicate whether the story has been found to be `` false '' or used an `` old photo '' .
• Coronavirus : Could Africa cope with an outbreak ?
The US Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) image shows dozens of examples of facial hair and which ones to avoid when wearing a respirator mask .
Beard styles such as Side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Garibaldi and French Fork can interfere with the valve and prevent the respirator working properly .
The graphic is genuine - but it was created in 2017 ( well before the coronavirus outbreak ) for workers who wear tight-fitting respirators .
Contrary to what 's been reported , the CDC has not published it recently and it does not recommend that people shave off their beards .
Similar headlines have appeared in other countries , generating thousands of shares .
Australian news outlet 7News posted on Twitter : `` How your beard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Current UK health advice is that while masks are useful for medical staff in hospitals , `` there is very little evidence of widespread benefit for members of the public '' .
An evangelical preacher who claims he can cure the virus has also been the subject of disinformation .
Stories about David Kingleo Elijah , from the Glorious Mount of Possibility Church started spreading online after a video of him saying he would move to China to `` destroy '' the virus was uploaded on YouTube and shared on other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to destroy coronavirus .
I am going to China , I want to destroy coronavirus , '' he says in the video .
A few days later , reports appeared in blogs alleging that he had travelled to China but had been admitted to hospital after contracting the virus .
The blogs refer to the pastor under a different name - Elija Emeka Chibuke .
The photo used to show him in hospital is actually a photo of Adeshina Adesanya , a Nigerian actor popularly known as Pastor Ajidara , who died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nigerian driver of a man diagnosed with coronavirus was posted on social media and shared by WhatsApp users - but is untrue .
According to the message , the taxi driver drove a `` white man '' diagnosed with coronavirus to a location that was quarantined .
The Ogun state government then told the driver to go to hospital .
It was claimed the driver then tested positive for coronavirus - but escaped from hospital and threatened to spread the virus unless his family was paid 100m nairas ( $ 274,000 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authorities .
The Ogun State government dismissed the claims in a statement , saying no patient had escaped from the isolation centre .
The original post appeared on a fake account of the private Africa Independent Television ( AIT ) network , which released a statement saying the page was not its official Facebook page .
It included a photo of the driver and named him as one Adewale Isaac Olorogun .
However , exactly the same photo appeared in a Buzzfeed article about Libya and under a completely different name - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC 's Yemisi Adegoke he was shocked to learn that he was named in the posts and was distressed by some of the comments which contained violent threats against him .
`` I have n't been moving around on my own .
Anywhere I go , I 'm moving with friends and family .
`` Ever since [ the post went viral ] it has not been easy for me to cope . ''
Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa 's first confirmed coronavirus case was an Italian man who flew into Lagos on 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 100 people who may have come into contact with him .
In Kenya , the government has had to put out a statement denouncing `` fake news '' about the coronavirus , which includes an audio recording , circulated on WhatsApp , claiming to be an official press briefing on the virus .
The recording states that there were 63 cases in the country , which is not true .
There are currently no confirmed cases in Kenya .
The health ministry said it had been part of a communications training exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made public .
Under an existing law , Kenyans risk a fine of $ 50,000 ( £39,000 ) or a two-year jail sentence for publishing or sharing fake news about an outbreak .
• Coronavirus : How can you protect yourself ?
In Nigeria , a preacher posted a video and a poster claiming that pepper soup is a cure for coronavirus .
The claim was also shared on WhatsApp .
There is no cure or specific treatment for coronavirus and the claim gives few details about the medicinal properties of pepper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The WHO says the outbreak has caused an `` infodemic '' of false and misleading information .
In Cape Verde , the tiny Portuguese-speaking West African nation , a post spread on social media claiming that a Brazilian doctor had recommended fennel tea as a cure for coronavirus .
It prompted a rush for the herb in local markets , reported AFP .
The Brazilian health ministry has warned people not to share an article suggesting fennel as a cure for coronavirus .
The World Health Organization says that thorough and regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid infection .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

But although high temperature steam treatment is used for industrial cleaning in places such as hospitals, inhaling it at these temperatures would be extremely dangerous to the human body, according to Keith Neal, a specialist in the spread of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham in the UK.


bbc--2020-03-07--Coronavirus: Italy reports biggest daily jump in death toll

The death toll from the new coronavirus in Italy has risen to 197 after the largest daily increase in fatalities there since the outbreak began .
Officials said 49 people had died in 24 hours , while more than 4,600 cases have been reported in total .
The country has now reported the most deaths outside of China , where the virus emerged in December .
The World Health Organization says nearly 100,000 people worldwide have contracted the coronavirus .
More than 3,000 people have died - the majority in China .
• Follow live updates from around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus `` deeply concerning '' and urged all countries to make containment `` their highest priority '' .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak What is happening in Italy ?
Officials announced the record daily death toll in a statement on Friday .
They said the number could not be officially confirmed until health officials had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
The national health institute said the average age of those who have died was 81 , with the majority suffering from underlying health problems .
An estimated 72 % of all those who have died were men .
According to government data , 4.25 % of individuals confirmed to have the coronavirus have died , the highest rate in the world .
Italy has one of the world 's oldest populations .
The government this week ordered the closure of all schools for 10 days as it battles to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serie A football matches , will also be played behind closed doors for a month .
The BBC 's Rome correspondent Mark Lowen tweeted that a resident in the quarantined Italian town of Codogno told him the most upsetting thing for many people there is that funerals are not being permitted for coronavirus victims because of the need to limit gatherings .
`` Priests are saying a couple of prayers - and that 's it , '' he wrote .
Meanwhile , the Vatican - which reported its first case of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having the Pope deliver his Angelus address on Sunday via video , rather than from a window at the Vatican , to avoid drawing a large crowd .
The Pope , who has been suffering from a cold , recently tested negative for the coronavirus , Italian media reported .
Only China , South Korea and Iran have reported more coronavirus cases than Italy .
As of Saturday , South Korea has had 7,041 cases and 46 deaths .
Iran has had about 3,500 cases and 124 deaths though these figures are believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest updates ?
Florida reported two deaths on Friday , taking the US death toll to 16 with more than 200 confirmed cases .
The other fatalities have been in the west-coast states of California and Washington State .
It came as US President Donald Trump signed an $ 8.3bn ( £6.4bn ) emergency bill to try to combat the outbreak .
In California , 21 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on the Grand Princess cruise ship that is being held off the coast near San Francisco .
The cruise liner is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was the scene of a major coronavirus outbreak while moored in Japan .
US Vice President Mike Pence said the Grand Princess would be sent to a non-commercial dock over the weekend where all its 3,533 passengers and crew would be tested .
Also in the US , the South by Southwest ( SXSW ) music and tech festival in Austin , Texas has been cancelled over growing concerns related to the outbreak .
• Serbia , Slovakia , Peru and Togo reported their first cases of the virus • A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person in the UK to die after testing positive for the coronavirus • The impact of the virus on China 's economy and global supply chains was made clear by new figures showing Chinese exports fell by 17.2 % in January-February from the same period in 2019 • Scotland Women 's Six Nations match with France at Glasgow 's Scotstoun Stadium has been postponed after a home player contracted coronavirus .
• France became the latest country to announce school closures , which will affect the worst-hit areas in the country • Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a person who had not recently left the country and had no known contact with someone infected • A cruise ship was forced to turn away from Malta after doctors threatened industrial action if it docked amid coronavirus concerns You might be interested in watching : Have you or someone you know been affected by coronavirus ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and privacy policy

The BBC's Rome correspondent Mark Lowen tweeted that a resident in the quarantined Italian town of Codogno told him the most upsetting thing for many people there was that funerals were not being permitted for coronavirus victims because of the need to limit gatherings.


bbc--2020-03-07--Saudi Arabia detains three senior members of royal family

Three senior members of Saudi Arabia 's royal family , including the king 's brother , have been arrested for unexplained reasons .
Two of the men were among the kingdom 's most influential figures .
The detentions are seen as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tightening his grip on power .
In 2017 dozens of Saudi royal figures , ministers and businessmen were confined to Riyadh 's Ritz-Carlton hotel after the crown prince ordered their arrests .
Mohammed bin Salman , a controversial figure , has been considered the de facto ruler of the kingdom after he was named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The detentions were first revealed by the Wall Street Journal newspaper , which said they took place early on Friday .
The three men arrested are the king 's younger brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz , former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef , and a royal cousin , Prince Nawaf bin Nayef .
Mohammed bin Nayef was interior minister until he was removed from his role and placed under house arrest by Mohammed Bin Salman in 2017 .
In his previous role , he was seen as a close and trusted partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mosque siege that changed the course of Saudi history Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz , 78 , is the king 's only surviving full brother .
In 2018 he made comments seen as critical of the crown prince to protesters in London but later said he had been misinterpreted .
Both men were seen as potential rivals to the 34-year-old crown prince , who is first in line for the throne .
Guards arrived at the homes of the royals wearing masks and dressed in black , and searched the properties , the Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant move by Saudi Arabia 's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate his position .
Prince Ahmed bin Abdelaziz is one of the last surviving sons of the country 's founder , King Abdelaziz , and widely respected amongst older members of the ruling family .
The other senior prince , Mohammed bin Nayef , was next in line to the throne before he was suddenly replaced three years ago .
Before that , as interior minister , he was credited with defeating the al-Qaeda insurgency that gripped Saudi Arabia in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate official confirmation or denial of the story published in the US media but palace affairs in Saudi Arabia are often shrouded in secrecy .
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman won international praise in 2016 when he promised a series of economic and social reforms to the deeply-conservative country .
However he has been embroiled in a series of scandals , including the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul in 2018 .
He has also been criticised over the continuing conflict in Yemen , where Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment of women 's rights activists .
despite the lifting of some restrictions including the right to drive .
In recent days Saudi Arabia has been taking measures to contain the spread of the deadly new coronavirus .
Foreign pilgrims have been prevented from entering the country to perform Umrah , or pilgrimage , and there are questions over whether the hugely important annual Hajj will go ahead this year , On Thursday Islam 's holiest city Mecca was emptied to allow a deep clean .
You might also be interested in :

The other senior prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, was next in line to the throne before he was suddenly replaced three years ago. Before that, as interior minister, he was credited with defeating the al-Qaeda insurgency that gripped Saudi Arabia in the 2000s.


bbc--2020-03-07--Turkey to stop migrants crossing to Greece by sea

Turkey will no longer allow migrants to cross the Aegean sea to Greece because it is unsafe , the coastguard has said .
The order from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comes a week after he said he was `` opening the doors '' for refugees to enter Europe , amid tensions over the Syrian conflict .
The EU accuses him of using migrants for political purposes .
It insists its doors are `` closed '' .
Meanwhile , clashes have again erupted at the land border .
There appears to have been no change in Turkey 's position with regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via this route .
On Saturday , Greek police fired tear gas at crowds at the border crossing at Kastanies , who responded by throwing stones and shouting `` open the gates '' , according to the AFP news agency .
The Greek authorities also accused Turkish police of firing tear gas at its police .
In 2016 , a deal was reached whereby Turkey would stop allowing migrants to reach the EU in return for funds from the bloc to help it manage the huge numbers of refugees it hosts .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Turkey have flared on various issues .
In recent weeks , a fierce onslaught by Syrian forces and their Russian backers on Idlib , the last province held by Syrian rebels , has led to clashes with Turkey , which supports some rebel groups .
Turkey already hosts some 3.7m Syrians but the conflict in Idlib has led to nearly a million more fleeing to its southern border .
Although the EU promised billions more euros in aid , Turkey was unimpressed and last week decided to open its borders with Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north-western border .
Greece said that the migrants were being `` manipulated as pawns '' by Turkey in an attempt to exert diplomatic pressure .
It has halted for a month all asylum claims from migrants who enter Greece illegally , and taken aggressive measures to deter them from entering via both land and sea .
In a 24-hour period to Saturday morning , more than 1,200 migrants attempted to cross the land border , most from Afghanistan and Pakistan , an official source told Reuters news agency .
The EU 's foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told refugees to `` avoid moving to a closed door '' .
The BBC has encountered members of self-styled militias who carry out night-time armed patrols in Greek border towns looking for migrants .
`` There are such militia along the entire region , '' said Yannis Laskarakis , a newspaper publisher in the city of Alexandroupoli who has received death threats for speaking out against armed vigilantes .
`` We have seen them with our own eyes , arresting migrants , treating them badly and if someone dares to help them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What 's the situation in the Aegean ?
Greek coastguard boats have been seen forcing migrant vessels back in recent days .
Turkey 's coastguard said it rescued 97 migrants in the sea on Thursday , accusing Greek authorities of having `` flattened three boats and left them in a half-sinking state '' .
It said on the orders of Mr Erdogan it would stop letting migrants set sail for Greece across the Aegean `` because it is dangerous '' .
`` The approach of not intervening against migrants wishing to leave Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] approach covers sea crossings because of the dangers , '' the coastguard said .

But since then, tensions between the EU and Turkey have flared on various issues. In recent weeks, a fierce onslaught by Syrian forces and their Russian backers on Idlib, the last province held by Syrian rebels, has led to clashes with Turkey, which supports some rebel groups.


bbc--2020-03-07--Woody Allen book pulped after walkout at publisher

A US publishing house has cancelled plans to publish a memoir by Woody Allen , the award-winning film director who has been accused of sexual abuse .
Hachette Book Group ( HBG ) acted on Friday a day after its employees staged a walkout in New York and Boston to protest against the publication .
Allen 's son and daughter , Ronan and Dylan Farrow , had condemned the deal .
Mr Farrow , a journalist , wrote a book for HBG last year about how powerful men avoid punishment for misconduct .
His adopted sister , Dylan Farrow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1992 when she was seven years old .
He denies the claim , which was investigated at the time but led to no criminal charges .
What has the publisher said ?
A statement by HBG spokeswoman Sophie Cottrell called the decision to pulp Allen 's autobiography - Apropos of Nothing - `` a difficult one '' .
`` At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously , and do not cancel books lightly .
We have published and will continue to publish many challenging books , '' she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been held with staff members , which led the publisher to come `` to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible '' .
The publishing house also plans to return the rights to Allen , the statement added .
The Oscar-winning director has written and directed cult classics including Annie Hall and Manhattan .
Allen lost a four-film deal with Amazon last November following comments he made about the # MeToo movement .
How did the book controversy begin ?
The book rights seem to have been acquired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would be released in April only came this week .
Dylan Farrow released a scathing statement on Monday , accusing Hachette of betraying one of their authors , her brother Ronan Farrow , whose book about the Weinstein allegations , Catch and Kill , was published by HBG in October 2019 .
`` Hachette 's publishing of Woody Allen 's memoir is deeply upsetting to me personally and an utter betrayal of my brother whose brave reporting , capitalised on by Hachette , gave voice to numerous survivors of sexual assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This provides yet another example of the profound privilege that power , money and notoriety affords .
Hachette 's complicity in this should be called out for what it is and they should have to answer for it . ''
Mr Farrow also released a statement , accusing HBG of having concealed the book deal from him and its staff .

"This provides yet another example of the profound privilege that power, money and notoriety affords. Hachette's complicity in this should be called out for what it is and they should have to answer for it."


bbc--2020-03-07--Mick Mulvaney: Trump replaces White House chief of staff

US President Donald Trump has replaced his acting chief of staff , Mick Mulvaney , whose departure had long been rumoured .
He said North Carolina lawmaker Mark Meadows would take over .
The change had been expected for weeks .
Mr Trump said Mr Mulvaney would become US special envoy to Northern Ireland .
Mr Mulvaney was perceived to have implicated the president in last year 's impeachment inquiry in an off-the-cuff remark at the White House podium .
When Mr Mulvaney gave a rare White House press conference last October , he shrugged off criticism over an alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We do that all the time . ''
Mr Trump was reportedly outraged by the gaffe .
Mr Mulvaney then walked back his comments in a written statement that said : `` Let me be clear , there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election . ''
That same month the chief of staff was seen as having have made another slip-up while attempting to defend the president from criticism over a plan , later cancelled , to hold this year 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Florida .
Mr Mulvaney told Fox News that `` at the end of the day he still considers himself to be in the hospitality business '' , prompting the show 's host to point out that Mr Trump was president of the United States , not a hotel executive .
The role of presidential chief of staff , part gatekeeper to the Oval Office and part taskmaster for White House employees , traditionally requires ruthless efficiency and organisation , delivered with a delicate touch .
James Baker , nicknamed `` the velvet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reagan and George HW Bush , and was the model for such a role .
Donald Trump is not , however , a traditional president .
He prefers to operate on instinct and improvisation - attributes that have thwarted the best designs of his three previous chiefs .
Reince Priebus , a Republican Party functionary , was unable to control the rivalries and feuds that festered within the White House .
John Kelly , the former general , attempted to impose military discipline on the administration - and eventually clashed with the free-wheeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` let Trump be Trump '' appeared to suit the president , but his missteps during the impeachment investigation eventually sealed his fate .
Now it 's Mark Meadows 's turn .
As a congressman , the affable North Carolinian has been an ardent Trump defender in a job that does n't require the aforementioned administrative skills .
In an election year , however , vocal support and loyalty - and an ability to demand it from subordinates - may be what the president wants most .
Mr Mulvaney last week made headlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being interested in covering coronavirus because `` they think this is going to bring down the president '' .
In February , Mr Trump said reports that Mr Mulvaney would be fired were `` false '' , insisting he had a `` great relationship '' with him .
Despite his key White House role , which he assumed in January last year , he was never part of the Trump inner circle .
Shortly after he was picked to be chief of staff in late 2018 , video emerged of Mr Mulvaney making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He had said in 2016 : `` Yes , I am supporting Donald Trump , but I 'm doing so despite the fact that I think he 's a terrible human being . ''
He had also said Mr Trump was `` just as bad '' as his opponent , Hillary Clinton .
Mr Trump 's new chief of staff is a close ally of the president with a record of supporting hardline conservative causes and climate change denial in the US .
In 2012 he publicly embraced the conspiracy theory that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US but instead in Kenya .
As head of a group of conservative politicians called the Freedom Caucus , Mr Meadows lobbied the White House to close down the government 's climate change office .
But in 2019 he suggested he was `` willing to look at '' addressing climate change .
Mr Meadows will now retire from the House of Representatives .
In Friday night 's tweet Mr Trump said : `` I have long known and worked with Mark and the relationship is a very good one . ''

Mrs Foster said the US has been a "loyal friend" to Northern Ireland and the new appointment "will be important in developing that friendship" while Ms O'Neill said she hoped Mr Mulvaney could build on the work of his predecessors in supporting the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.


bbc--2020-03-07--Ronaldinho arrested in Paraguay over fake passport claims

Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho and his brother were arrested in Paraguay on Friday for allegedly using fake passports to enter the country .
Prosecutors say they were given the false documents when they landed in the capital Asuncion on Wednesday .
The pair were taken into custody just hours after a judge refused to uphold a prosecutor 's proposal for an alternative punishment .
The prosecutor argued the brothers had been tricked .
They deny any wrongdoing .
• Ronaldinho 'taken by surprise ' , prosecutor says The pair , who were questioned by police , said they thought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later searched their hotel .
In July 2019 , the player reportedly had his Brazilian and Spanish passports confiscated over unpaid taxes and non-payment of fines for illegally building on a nature reserve in Brazil .
`` I respect his sporting popularity but the law must also be respected .
No matter who you are , the law still applies '' , Paraguay 's Interior Minister Euclides Acevedo told local media this week .
The 39-year-old had travelled to Paraguay to promote a book and a campaign for underprivileged children .
Ronaldinho was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Year and reached the prime of his career at Spanish giants Barcelona .
He won the World Cup for Brazil in 2002 alongside fellow superstar forwards Ronaldo and Rivaldo .
Ronaldinho 's net worth is estimated at £80-100m and he is reported to charge around £150,000 for a single promoted Instagram post .

Ronaldinho was the 2004 and 2005 World Player of the Year and reached the prime of his career at Spanish giants Barcelona. He won the World Cup for Brazil in 2002 alongside fellow superstar forwards Ronaldo and Rivaldo.


bbc--2020-03-06--Fifa streamer Kurt0411 banned from all EA Games for 'abuse'

Entertainment giant EA Games has banned a well-known streamer from playing any of its titles , citing abusive conduct .
The company said Kurt Fenech , known online as Kurt0411 , had posted `` abusive and threatening messages '' about its employees .
It said it had banned his account and blocked his console from accessing its games .
Mr Fenech denied making abusive remarks and told the BBC he thought the ban was an `` abuse of power '' .
The gamer has more than 100,000 subscribers on YouTube and often attracted more than 10,000 viewers to his live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
The 25-year-old , from Malta , previously played Fifa professionally , competing in tournaments for cash prizes .
He was also an outspoken critic of EA Games and the Fifa games , criticising the software and its developers in his YouTube videos .
He has highlighted technical issues and frustrations with the software , which EA says has more than 10 million players .
Other players have been critical too .
The world 's top-ranked Fifa 20 player Donovan Hunt , known as Tekkz , recently said at a professional event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone can win , guys who are n't good can win at Fifa 20 and no-one enjoys playing it . ''
EA Games said it was `` open to feedback and constructive criticism '' but would not tolerate `` toxic behaviour '' .
It sent Mr Fenech a `` final warning '' in March 2019 for violating its code of conduct for professional players .
In November 2019 , Mr Fenech was banned from all competitions after EA said he made `` additional online attacks against competitors and EA employees '' , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two EA employees had their Twitter accounts hacked .
Mr Fenech responded : `` We use their slowness and delayed movements to our advantage . ''
And in a video uploaded in February , he named and criticised an EA community manager , showed doctored images of the man and called him a `` bum '' .
EA said it had banned Mr Fenech because he `` continued to post abusive and threatening messages and videos about EA employees and competitive players on social media and has encouraged others to do so '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos have been taken down from Twitch and YouTube after copyright claims purporting to be from EA Games .
Speaking to the BBC , Mr Fenech said : `` Upon reflection I could see that I definitely did push the limits and , although merited , I should n't have made it as personal as I did .
`` I accepted the initial account ban even though I deemed it harsh .
But to then realise that the ban means I can never stream Fifa ever again is absolutely ridiculous and a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The video-maker says he will continue to stream other video games and has already broadcast himself playing Pro Evolution Soccer , a rival game published by Konami .
`` I just gave my opinion - albeit harsh opinion - on everything EA has been doing wrong , but I guess in today 's world you ca n't even give that , '' Mr Fenech told the BBC .
`` The only explanation is I became too much of a threat to a company , which has an obligation to provide a decent football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past few years has stopped caring about us and is only interested in making money . ''
Several gamers posted messages of support for Mr Fenech on Twitter .
`` Community outrage does nothing to them while money pours in , '' said one Fifa streamer on Twitter .

"The only explanation is I became too much of a threat to a company, which has an obligation to provide a decent football game for football fans worldwide but in the past few years has stopped caring about us and is only interested in making money."


bbc--2020-03-06--Don Carlo: Plácido Domingo withdraws from Royal Opera House shows

Plácido Domingo and the Royal Opera House have `` mutually decided '' he will withdraw from the forthcoming performances of Don Carlo this summer .
The opera singer and conductor was due to perform at the London venue in July .
However , several allegations of misconduct have been levelled against him , which he denies .
The Royal Opera House confirmed it had `` received no claims of misconduct against '' Domingo and was `` sympathetic of his reasons for stepping down '' .
`` Plácido is an outstanding singer and artist and we are hugely grateful for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' they said in a statement on Friday .
`` We will announce the casting for his role in Don Carlo in due course . ''
Last month Domingo apologised for `` causing hurt '' to the women who have accused him of sexual harassment , and also resigned as general manager of the Los Angeles Opera .
`` I respect that these women finally felt comfortable enough to speak out , '' he said in a statement issued to the Los Angeles Times .
`` I want them to know that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I caused them . ''
Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"Plácido is an outstanding singer and artist and we are hugely grateful for his support and commitment over many decades," they said in a statement on Friday.


bbc--2020-03-07--Coronavirus: 'The positive things we learnt from quarantine'

Cheryl and Paul Molesky were passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship when their holiday was interrupted by news @ @ @ @ @ Over the next month , they kept their friends and family updated through a video @ @ @ @ @ highs and lows of life on lockdown .
The BBC followed their journey from Japan @ @ @ @ @ , New York .

Cheryl and Paul Molesky were passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship when their holiday was interrupted by news of the coronavirus outbreak.
Over the next month, they kept their friends and family updated through a video diary, which charted the highs and lows of life on lockdown.
The BBC followed their journey from Japan to their home in Syracuse, New York.
Video by Shrai Popat


Week in Pictures

Elizabeth Warren makes a heart gesture as she addresses supporters at her Super Tuesday rally in Detroit , Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ her presidential campaign on Thursday following disappointing Super Tuesday results .
`` One of the @ @ @ @ @ all those little girls who are going to have to wait four more years , @ @ @ @

Image caption,
Elizabeth Warren makes a heart gesture as she addresses supporters at her Super Tuesday rally in Detroit, Michigan, US. The senator ended her presidential campaign on Thursday following disappointing Super Tuesday results. "One of the hardest parts of this is all those little girls who are going to have to wait four more years," she said.


bbc--2020-03-07--'I'm helping Indian women take financial control at home'

Women own between 20 % and 30 % of household wealth in India , compared to a global average of @ @ @ @ @ a report by Credit Suisse .
Priyanka Bhatia is trying to fight sexist attitudes in @ @ @ @ @ Her organisation , Women on Wealth , has helped women fight their financial anxieties and @ @ @ @ @ Listen to the # WorklifeIndia podcast on money management .

Women own between 20% and 30% of household wealth in India, compared to a global average of 40%, according to a report by Credit Suisse.
Priyanka Bhatia is trying to fight sexist attitudes in money management in India. Her organisation, Women on Wealth, has helped women fight their financial anxieties and take independent financial decisions.
Listen to the #WorklifeIndia podcast on money management.
Video by Medhavi Arora and Shaad Midhat


bbc--2020-03-07--The cancer patient trapped by coronavirus: What happened next?

When a cancer patient was blocked at a Chinese checkpoint , the picture of her mother 's tears went round the world .
But what happened before - and afterwards ?
With one hand , Lu Yuejin carried a bucket and a bag of clothes .
With the other , she held a duvet tight round her sick daughter .
Hu Ping needed the duvet to stay warm : she had leukaemia .
But more importantly , she needed to leave Hubei , her home province .
The 26-year-old began chemotherapy in Wuhan , the capital of Hubei , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which emerged in Wuhan late last year - had overwhelmed the hospitals .
On 28 January , the hospital told her there was no room : she had to go elsewhere .
The family tried 10 other hospitals in Hubei , but none had a bed .
Hu Ping lived near the border , so she and her mother tried to enter Jiangxi province .
But then , on a bridge over the Yangtze river , they realised they were trapped .
Wuhan was quarantined on 23 January , and the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave for medical reasons , but Hu Ping did not have the right pass .
They could not cross the bridge .
When Lu Yuejin heard the news , she started to cry .
`` Please , take my daughter , '' she said .
`` I do n't need to go past ... please , just let my daughter go past . ''
Nearby were two journalists from the Reuters agency - Martin Pollard and Thomas Peter .
`` My daughter needs to go to hospital in Jiujiang [ the Jiangxi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
`` She needs to have her treatment .
But they wo n't let us through . ''
As she spoke , the loudspeakers blared out a brutal reminder : Hubei residents , the message said , were not allowed into Jiangxi .
`` All I want to do , '' said Lu Yuejin , `` is save her life . ''
As Lu Yuejin begged and the speakers blared , Hu Ping sat on the floor , wrapped in her duvet .
After an hour , an ambulance arrived on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were allowed in .
Pollard and Peter filed their story , and the world - from the Japan Times to the Gulf News - saw Lu Yuejin 's tears .
But what happened next was unknown - until now .
After seeing Reuters ' story , the BBC tracked down Hu Ping 's family and spoke to Shi Xiaodi - her fiancé .
He tells us what happened at the border .
`` My mother-in-law cried for a long time , begging those police , '' he says .
`` The police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detail , and got to know that she [ Hu Ping ] was a severe leukaemia patient in need of treatment .
`` The police asked their boss for instructions .
The boss understood the situation clearly , and called the ambulance . ''
• The noted Wuhan victims of the coronavirus • Watching loved ones die without care in Wuhan Hu Ping was taken across the river to the Third People 's Hospital of Jiujiang University Hospital .
Finally - after all the calls , and all the visits - she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting good treatment , '' says Shi .
`` Because she is young , she is recovering quite well . ''
But their worries are n't over .
The couple are not wealthy , and cancer treatment in China can be expensive ( public health insurance does n't usually cover the full cost of treatment ) .
So , when she was diagnosed , Shi made a video : `` Bride diagnosed leukaemia , we wo n't give up . ''
They received tens of thousands of yuan in donations .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he says - but it was n't enough .
Shi has spent his 100,000 yuan ( £11,000 ; $ 14,000 ) life savings on his fiancé 's treatment but , he says , the cost will be met `` mainly by her family '' .
`` The family has no income now , '' he says .
`` Her parents are all farmers and ca n't go out to work [ because of the virus ] . ''
Shi is not critical of the Chinese government , or the hospitals that turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the doctors , the nurses - many , many of my classmates - they did n't get rest , '' he says .
`` Every day , every time , they are consistently working .
They tried very hard . ''
And he knows Hu Ping was lucky to find a bed across the border .
`` I heard from the news that one or two patients died because they ca n't get treated , '' he says .
But he knows it will be some time until life gets back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good treatment , it will take at least two or three years [ to be fully recovered ] .
And even if she comes back perfectly , it still has a chance to turn bad . ''
Shi Xiaodi met Hu Ping eight years ago at university .
They were in the same class - they both studied human resources - and have been together for three years .
They were due to get married in January , but then Hu Ping was diagnosed , and the coronavirus swept the country , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , there had been 67,592 confirmed coronavirus cases in Hubei - with 49,797 in Wuhan alone .
Almost 3,000 people have died in the province where Hu Ping and her mother were trying to leave .
That 's almost 90 % of the global total .
Shi , though , stresses the wedding is postponed - not cancelled .
`` We have the confidence to get through all this , '' he says .
`` And we will get married when she is better . ''
The proudest guest , one imagines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bride - this time crying tears of joy .

Shi, though, stresses the wedding is postponed - not cancelled. "We have the confidence to get through all this," he says. "And we will get married when she is better."


bbc--2020-03-07--Aurat March: Pakistani women face violent threats ahead of rally

Conservative groups in Pakistan are often heard to invoke a famous saying : the proper place of a woman is in her `` chadar aur char diwari '' - meaning veiled and within the four walls of her home .
But this weekend , in the face of violent threats and legal petitions , women across Pakistan are preparing to demand their rights in direct defiance of that belief .
Since 2018 , Aurat March - Urdu for Women 's March - has been held in many cities across Pakistan to coincide with International Women 's Day on 8 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conservative Muslim country where many women often do n't feel safe in public places because of the harassment they often endure .
Those who took part last year faced intense backlash , especially online .
Some said they had received death and rape threats afterwards .
And this year , voices on both sides of the debate have grown louder in the lead-up .
While religious and right-wing groups have said the march goes against Islam , even moderate factions have taken issue with what the marchers themselves acknowledge is a provocative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict in the society that we live in , about the right of women to ask for their rights ; to be mobile , to be out in the streets , '' says a 38-year-old organiser in Karachi , who did not want to be identified .
• The transgender woman who almost broke free The idea for Aurat March began when a few women decided to mobilise their networks and gather in a park in the port city of Karachi on International Women 's Day to ask for an end to violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a wider movement , including transgender people , demanding better laws to protect women and enforcement of existing laws , as well as raising awareness and changing attitudes .
The march took inspiration from similar events in the US , but has been further fuelled by incidents at home .
The `` honour killing '' of social media star Qandeel Baloch by her own brother and other incidents have shone a light on violence against women in recent years .
`` The need for younger feminists to have a voice was already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was part of that original group of women .
`` We are challenging the status quo .
We 're challenging the regressive elements in our society . ''
This year the key demand is economic justice for women , as highlighted in the manifesto .
But it was the slogans and signs held up in 2019 which drew wider attention to the movement .
Participants faced criticism and abuse in the mainstream media , alongside intense trolling online .
It was the rallying cry `` mera jism , meri marzi '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice , in particular which touched a nerve last year and continues to cause controversy ahead of this year 's march .
Aurat March proponents have argued it is about a woman 's control over her own body , but the phrase was seen by critics as obscene , having a sexual connotation and going against the highly prized expectation of modesty in a woman .
It 's also contributed to the voices saying the movement is too Western in its ideals .
The story behind `` mera jism meri marzi '' ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( not her real name ) created a poster with these words for last year 's march .
She came up with the slogan because she wanted to highlight the right of women to have agency , to choose what she wants to wear and do with her own body , without fear of harassment or rape .
She says the negative reaction has scared her so much that she now finds it difficult to speak with her real name .
Those involved acknowledge the slogans and signs are provocative , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are trying to change social norms .
`` One way [ to address issues ] is to continue slowly working , and hope to achieve a result maybe a few decades later .
The other approach is to just snatch your rights because it has been too long , it has been too hard and it has been too traumatic , '' says a 28-year-old volunteer , who identifies as gender fluid .
There have been attempts by the group to explain the ideas behind the movement through their social media channels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't seem to have prevented the deep divisions and tense exchanges ahead of this year 's event .
If anything they 've grown more vitriolic .
Posters and murals put up by organisers have been vandalised .
Social media posts asking for volunteers have unleashed a barrage of misogynistic abuse .
`` We are probably going faster than the society can digest ... but we are helping them unlearn the toxicity that was taught to them by the society , culture and religion and we are trying to make them learn a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The controversy has even reached the court in Lahore , where a petition was filed last month to stop the march from going ahead , arguing that its aim was to `` spread anarchy , vulgarity , blasphemy and hatred '' of Islam .
The court ruled it should proceed - but said organisers needed to ensure people participating adhere to `` decency and moral values '' .
And as the march gets closer , the battle appears to be intensifying .
The debate reached a fever pitch this week when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verbally abused a female rights activist during a panel on Aurat March on live television .
While there was condemnation of his outburst , the same people cautioned organisers on their messaging .
Mahira Khan , one of Pakistan 's most famous actresses , said on Twitter that she supported the march but warned against using provocative placards .
But international human rights groups have come out to support the march , with Amnesty International condemning `` the horrific threats of violence , intimidation and harassment of the marchers '' .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their human rights without being put in very real danger underscores just how important the Aurat March is . ''
The volunteer says they are fearful of acid attacks , bomb threats , stalkers and even doxxing - the publication of someone 's personal details online .
`` We are scared .
But if we are not scared , if we do n't have fear , how do we expect the change to come ? ''
Come Sunday , even the fear wo n't keep them confined to the veil and four walls @ @

Noor (not her real name) created a poster with these words for last year's march. She came up with the slogan because she wanted to highlight the right of women to have agency, to choose what she wants to wear and do with her own body, without fear of harassment or rape.


bbc--2020-03-07--Sweden's Melfest: Why a national Eurovision show won global fans

`` It 's something that unites Swedes , '' explains 2015 Eurovision winner Mans Zelmerlow .
To represent Sweden at the song contest he first had to win Melodifestivalen - a six-week long competition .
Celebrating its 60th year , Melodifestivalen - or Melfest to fans - has been Sweden 's most-watched TV show since 2000 .
It 's developed a global interest , with fans flying to Stockholm from across Europe for Saturday 's final .
`` This is my second time going to Melfest , '' explains 20-year-old Luke Hardwick .
`` I love all the tension , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main event and it 's great to meet other fans from around the world counting down to May . ''
It took time to convince his friends to try Melfest , but now they 're avid fans too and he 's travelled to the Swedish capital this year with four others .
Luke watches other national selection shows but says `` nothing beats '' the Swedish version .
`` Being on Melodifestivalen had been a childhood dream of mine , '' Zelmerlow tells the BBC .
`` Eurovision broke Abba worldwide and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want that to repeat again . ''
The winner is able `` to get as close to the Olympics '' as a musician can , he says - with 41 countries taking part in this year 's Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands .
It 's estimated more than 70 % of Sweden 's 10.3m population watched this year 's heats - more than a million more than even Eurovision gets in the Scandinavian country .
Support for Melfest has grown from outside of Europe , and it was described last week as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' by James Corden during a segment on his US late-night chat show - uploaded to 23 million subscribers on YouTube .
One of this year 's Melfest finalists , 2010 winner Anna Bergendahl , believes platforms like Twitter and YouTube have played a huge part in increasing the show 's fanbase outside Sweden .
`` Back in 2010 social media was not a thing , '' the 28-year-old tells the BBC .
`` Coming back , all these fans from around the world started emerging who I did n't know existed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ business '' after she failed to qualify from the Eurovision semi-finals in 2010 , making it the only time Sweden has not reached the final in the contest .
`` It would be such a full circle if I was to represent Sweden 10 years later , '' she explains .
`` My biggest goal right now is to finally redeem myself . ''
This year 's favourite to win , Dotter , entered Melfest `` to show the world my song '' and she believes a win would be huge for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this in the biggest spotlight possible , '' says the 32-year-old singer .
`` I did n't want to just release it on Spotify , because then I would only get 200,000 streams . ''
Twenty-two-year-old teacher Eliza Moore , who watches the show on a live stream in North-East England , believes Melodifestivalen is one of the reasons Sweden consistently does well at Eurovision .
`` You become really enthusiastic for them because you go through a journey with them watching Melfest , '' she tells the BBC .
Melfest has discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past 10 years .
Its most famous act was undoubtedly Bjorn , Anni-Frid , Agnetha and Benny .
1999 : Charlotte Nilsson - Take Me to Your Heaven Another of Melfest 's winners was Malena Ernman , whose song The Voice came 21st in Eurovision in 2009 .
She is perhaps better known nowadays as the mother of climate change activist Greta Thunberg .
Sweden has become a huge player in modern pop music , with producers such as Max Martin and RedOne creating global hits for acts like Taylor Swift , Lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're proud of our music scene here , '' Dotter , who 's performing Bulletproof , explains .
`` I just feel glad I get this chance to be part of it . ''
The final of Melodifestivalen begins at 19:00 GMT on Saturday .
It can be streamed internationally here .

Support for Melfest has grown from outside of Europe, and it was described last week as "the techno version of the primaries" by James Corden during a segment on his US late-night chat show - uploaded to 23 million subscribers on YouTube.


bbc--2020-03-07--Tiara and scandals: The 'Dancing Marquess' of Anglesey

A diamond tiara that once belonged to one of Britain 's most extravagant aristocrats is up for sale on Saturday at a prestigious European art fair .
The Anglesey Tiara was at one time owned by Henry Cyril Paget - fifth Marquess of Anglesey .
It is expected to fetch a six-figure sum at the event in the Netherlands .
But behind the jewel-encrusted treasure lies a story of squandered wealth , Edwardian scandal , and an accusation of `` erasing Welsh queer history '' .
The tiara dates from about 1890 , and was left to Paget in 1898 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the same time , he acquired the family title , and family estates in Staffordshire , Dorset , Anglesey and Derbyshire .
The fourth marquess left the 20-something Paget an estate worth £535,000 - equivalent to about £60m today .
In addition , the family homes and estates generated an annual income of £120,000 - worth some £13m in 2020 .
But in the space of just over five years , the marquess had blown the lot , been declared bankrupt , and died from complications of tuberculosis in Monte Carlo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ news of Lord Anglesey 's death was received at Bangor with much regret , as Lord Anglesey , despite his peculiarities , was much liked there . ''
Some would certainly view the Eton-educated Lord Anglesey as embodying the word eccentric .
He had married his cousin Lillian Chetwynd in the January of 1898 before inheriting his new title .
But even then , he displayed a magpie-like obsession with all that glittered , reputedly buying the entire contents of a Paris jewellery shop to adorn his new bride .
His continued extravagance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1900 - with the marriage annulled , reportedly due to non-consummation .
Then in another twist , the annulment was withdrawn at the request of Lady Anglesey - though they remained estranged .
Effectively freed from marriage , Paget continued to throw himself into the loves of his life - spending and theatre .
He renamed the family estate near Llanfairpwll on Anglesey from Plas Newydd to Anglesey Castle .
The family chapel was gutted and replaced by a 150-seat theatre .
He then hired a professional theatre company , and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all to see - for free .
Playing centre stage in every performance was Paget , who became known as `` The Dancing Marquess '' by the newspaper gossip sheets .
He used every show to put on a `` butterfly dance '' display , adorned by costumes which would literally cost millions of pounds today .
`` He did n't understand the concept of costume jewellery - he thought it all had to be real , '' explained actor and writer Seiriol Davies , who wrote and performed an acclaimed musical show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some estimate a diamond-encrusted costume for the pantomime Aladdin was worth at least £10,000 at the time - or an eye-popping £1m at current prices .
`` That costume was worth more than the house - and it was just left in a dressing room and somebody nicked it - and he had another one made , '' added Davies .
An occupational hazard for the marquess , it would appear .
His French valet was jailed in 1901 for stealing what would be worth the equivalent today of £2m in jewels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detective disguised as Paget arrested a gang in a Parisian cafe trying to sell some of the booty - including a pear-shaped pearl worth £1.2m alone , if valued today .
The list of Paget 's extravagance went on and on .
`` He bought a car that converted the exhaust fumes into rose-scented perfume , he had a fleet of poodles .
He made a ping-pong jacket and wanted it to be green - so he made it out of real emeralds , '' added actor Davies .
Records for one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Pullman train carriage , with revolving armchairs , tables , cabinets and solid silver fittings - at the bargain price of £2,500 - or just £265,000 if you could afford it today .
The spending continued unabated - until the inevitable happened .
Paget ran out of money .
In the summer and autumn of 1904 , bankruptcy proceedings were started against him .
He had debts of about £560,000 - or almost £60m in 2020 .
Trustees were appointed to run his estates - and then began 40 days of auctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected over the previous five years .
One day alone was set aside to sell his collection of dogs - from poodles to collies .
Another day saw 900 lots of silk-lined suits and fur coats put under the hammer .
He departed for a new life in France on what he would have viewed as a meagre allowance of £2,000 a year .
Today , that translates to roughly £210,000 a year .
He told a French journalist : `` In six years , I have run through that fortune , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Perhaps his £3,000-a-year bill for underwear revealed the extent of his spending problems .
`` I had braces woven of threads of gold instead of the usual elastic webbing that other men rely upon to support their trousers , '' he said .
`` The buckles were of gold too ...
It is not hard to see where a good deal of my money went . ''
His travels took him to Monte Carlo , where one newspaper pronounced he had invented a new gambling system to take on the casinos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But on 14 March , 1905 , it was there he succumbed to TB-induced pneumonia and died .
He was just 29 .
Newspapers bleakly stated there were no family members to greet his coffin when it returned to the UK - or even at the station on Anglesey ahead of a strictly private funeral .
As an only child , his title was inherited by his cousin Charles Henry Alexander Paget .
By August of the same year , his beloved theatre at Anglesey Castle had been removed and was once again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every trace that Paget had been the fifth marquess disappeared .
The family estate was once again named Plas Newydd .
His letters , diaries and papers were set alight and destroyed by the family .
His musical stage biographer Seiriol Davies said the Victorian and Edwardian values of high British society acted against the fifth marquess .
There was also the elephant-in-the-room - perceptions about his sexuality .
While there is no concrete evidence to pinpoint he ever had same-sex relationships , Davies said the hints of a queer identity were there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an Oscar Wilde play , that would have been quite daring in that period , '' said Davies .
It was only a few years since Wilde himself was jailed for gross indecency , before he died in Paris in 1900 .
`` It 's not just a story about a whacky man who splashed money up the wall - it 's also about a man who was erased from history , '' said Davies .
In 2017 , the National Trust - who are guardians of Plas Newydd - featured John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examine its own LGBTQ+ history , and that of the properties and those who lived there .
Now the tiara - one of the few items not sold off to pay debts - is being put up for sale by the family exactly 115 years after his death .
`` If jewels could talk , this tiara would have a fascinating story to tell .
It was undoubtedly worn by the Marquess in his productions , '' said Guy Burton , from Hancocks London , who are exhibiting the tiara at the Maastricht @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece in every way . ''

"If jewels could talk, this tiara would have a fascinating story to tell. It was undoubtedly worn by the Marquess in his productions," said Guy Burton, from Hancocks London, who are exhibiting the tiara at the Maastricht exhibition.


bbc--2020-03-06--Coronavirus: Advice for people with health conditions

Coronavirus can affect anyone , but people with pre-existing health problems and older people are thought to be at greater risk of developing severe symptoms .
Many of the thousands of deaths so far - mostly in China - have involved elderly patients with underlying medical conditions , such as heart disease .
If you have a long-term health condition you may be feeling anxious .
Who is at risk ?
Having a health condition does not make you more likely than anyone else to contract coronavirus , but it is important that you take precautions to avoid the infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should you get sick .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak It appears that people who are older , those with weakened immune systems and people who have underlying chronic conditions including asthma , diabetes or heart disease are more at risk of severe effects .
Most people recover from coronavirus quickly after a few days ' rest .
For some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , in rare cases , life-threatening .
Experts say the NHS is well-prepared to care for people with coronavirus .
There are a number of hospitals around the UK with specialist facilities .
The main practical thing at the moment is to carry on taking sensible steps to reduce your risk of picking up infections .
The virus is thought to be spread by coughs and via contaminated surfaces , such as handrails and door handles in public places .
Good hygiene can stop the virus spreading between people : • Cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or your sleeve ( not your hands ) when you cough or sneeze • Put used tissues in the bin immediately • Wash your hands with soap and water often - use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available • Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell • Do n't touch your eyes , nose or mouth if your hands are not clean The British Lung Foundation says : `` We do not recommend using a face mask to protect yourself as there is n't enough evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also , for people living with a lung condition wearing a face mask can make breathing more difficult . ''
Do I need to avoid public places ?
Most people can continue to go to work , school and other public places .
You only need to self-isolate and stay away from other people if you are advised to by a medical professional .
What should I do if I feel ill ?
The symptoms of coronavirus are : These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
Dr Jonathan Leach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said : `` The most important thing for patients is not to be alarmed .
It is still more likely that anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms will have the flu or a bad cold , not Covid-19 . ''
If you think you might have coronavirus , you should contact your doctor over the phone or use the online NHS 111 coronavirus service .
Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
Philippa Hobson , senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation said : `` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and call 111 for advice .
Make sure you eat well , stay hydrated and get plenty of rest . ''
What about my medication ?
It is important that even if you are unwell , you continue to take your prescribed medication .
If you need to collect prescriptions while unwell , ask a friend or family member to collect them for you .
Prof Peter Openshaw , from Imperial College London , says people should plan to have at least four weeks ' supply of medicine .
It might also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food provisions in - but there is no need to panic-buy .
Coronavirus is an entirely different virus to flu , but flu can also make you sick and can be severe in certain people .
If you have not yet had your flu jab there is still time to get one .
People aged 65 and over , pregnant women and children and adults with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems can get one for free on the NHS .
I have asthma .
What should I do ?
Asthma UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( usually brown ) daily as prescribed .
This will help cut your risk of an asthma attack being triggered by any respiratory virus , including coronavirus .
Carry your blue reliever inhaler with you every day , in case you feel your asthma symptoms flaring up .
If your asthma is getting worse and there is a risk you might have coronavirus , contact NHS 111 .
I have diabetes .
What should I do ?
Those living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes could be at greater risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of care at Diabetes UK , said : `` Coronavirus or Covid-19 can cause complications in people with diabetes .
`` If you have diabetes and you have symptoms such as cough , high temperature and feeling short of breath , you need to monitor your blood sugar closely and call the NHS 111 phone service . ''
What if I have a different chronic health issue ?
Those with underlying medical issues like high blood pressure , lung complaints and weakened or compromised immune systems are more likely to develop serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Children 's Cancer and Leukaemia Group ( CCLG ) advise that parents of young people with cancer should speak to the medical team treating their child for guidance on the best course of action to take .
To lower their risk of catching coronavirus , the British Liver Trust advises high-risk patients to strictly follow NHS hygiene guidance to lower their risk of catching coronavirus .
Those who begin to show symptoms should immediately contact their GP or NHS 111 for advice .
There is no evidence yet that pregnant women are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they should take steps to avoid infection .
Deborah Arnott , chief executive of public health charity , Ash , advises that those who smoke heavily should either cut back or try to quit entirely to lower their risk .
`` Smokers are more likely to get respiratory infections and twice as likely to develop pneumonia as non-smokers , '' she said .
`` Quitting smoking is good for your health in so many ways and smokers should see coronavirus as further motivation to give quitting a go to build up their body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the UK . ''
I 'm elderly and am concerned - should I self-isolate ?
The latest advice from the government 's chief medical adviser is that pensioners currently do not need to be self-isolating .
Caroline Abrahams , charity director at Age UK , advises that those with elderly friends and relatives make sure they check on them regularly .
`` If you have any concerns about their health or need more information about coronavirus call NHS 111 or visit the NHS website , '' she said .
Older people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Advice for free on 0800 169 65 65 to find out how the Age UK network can help someone who may be feeling lonely .

If you have these symptoms you should stay at home for seven days and continue taking your medication. Do not go to a GP practice, pharmacy or hospital, even if you have a hospital appointment. Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, your condition gets worse or your symptoms do not get better after seven days.