bbc--2020-03-08--Coronavirus: Are women and children less affected?

Women seem to be less likely to die from coronavirus than men ; and children appear to be less likely to die than other age groups .
Most people will get a mild infection , but the pattern is clear in the most severe cases .
So , what is going on ?
All the information we have is coming from a massive study by the Chinese Centres of Disease Control .
It looked at 44,000 people and showed 2.8 % of infected men died compared with 1.7 % of women .
And 0.2 % of children and teenagers died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the age of 80 .
Are women and children less likely to catch coronavirus ?
There are two ways of explaining the findings .
Either these groups are less likely to be infected in the first place , or their bodies are more able to cope with the virus .
`` Normally with new viruses circulating , everybody gets infected , that 's the important point , '' says Dr Bharat Pankhania , from the University of Exeter .
This is because there is no immunity to the virus as nobody has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the very early stages of an outbreak children may be less likely to catch the virus .
`` One reason we have n't seen so many cases in children is they are protected at the beginning of outbreaks , parents keep children away from the sick , '' said Dr Nathalie MacDermott , from King 's College London .
You might be surprised there 's a difference between men and women 's death rates from coronavirus , but scientists are n't .
We see the same effect in a wide range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer is men are generally in worse health than women due to lifestyle choices like smoking .
`` Smoking damages your lungs , that 's not going to be a winner , '' says Dr MacDermott .
This may be a particular problem in the China where estimates suggest 52 % of men smoke compared with just 3 % of women .
But there are also differences in the way the immune systems of men and women respond to infection .
`` Women have intrinsically different immune responses to men , women are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there is good evidence that women produce better antibodies to vaccines against flu , '' says Prof Paul Hunter , from the University of East Anglia .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• 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 Are there any risks in pregnancy ?
Officially the answer is no , but experts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the body , including weakening the immune system .
That stops their body rejecting the foetus in their womb , but it also makes women more susceptible to infection .
Pregnant women are more likely to die from flu than non-pregnant women of the same age .
The UK government says there is `` no obvious sign '' that pregnant women are more likely to be severely affected by coronavirus .
`` I 'm not so confident , '' says Prof Hunter .
`` It is based on data from nine pregnant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can say everything is fine .
`` If it was my wife I would be encouraging her to take precautions , wash hands and so on and be double careful . ''
Can children get coronavirus and what are the symptoms ?
Yes they can catch coronavirus , the youngest cases have been only days old .
There is very limited information on the symptoms of Covid-19 in children , but they appear to be mild - fever , runny nose and a cough .
You would normally expect the very young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly the case in flu when children under 5 ( and especially those under 2 ) are at higher risk of complications .
`` People tend to get more ill at the extremes of age as they have lower resilience , '' says Dr Pankhania .
There have been some cases with more severe complications and those with other health problems , such as a weakened immune system or severe asthma , will be at greater risk .
But overall the virus appears to be milder in children .
So can children 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are important differences between a child 's immune system and an adult 's .
In childhood our immune systems are immature and they tend to overreact , it is why fevers ( a high temperature ) are so common .
An immune system going into overdrive is always a bad thing because it can damage the rest of the body and is one of the reasons coronavirus can be deadly .
`` You 'd expect it to go haywire and it 's not doing that , '' said Dr MacDermott .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not as readily stimulating the immune system in children , but what that is is unclear .
`` They do n't seem to be mounting a disproportionate immune response and some seem to be asymptomatic . ''
There are some diseases that it is better to have in childhood , chickenpox being a prime example , because of the way the body responds at different points in life .
Although it is worth remembering we have relatively little information in children .
`` My concern is we have n't had enough cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly in the under ones and newborn infants , '' Dr MacDermott says .
Why is coronavirus deadly at all ?
The coronavirus starts with a fever and a cough , these are symptoms many of us will deal with at winter .
But the virus can cause the immune system to over-react .
One of the more severe symptoms is acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by widespread inflammation in the lungs .
Inflammation is how the body signals it is time to fight an infection and repair the body .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut feels sore , but it is actually a complex process throughout the body .
`` Inflammation is a fine balancing act , if it goes wrong you die , '' says Dr Pankhania .
`` The virus sets up cascading inflammation of organs ; and severely inflamed organs can not do what they 're supposed to do . ''
It leaves the lungs unable to get enough oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of the blood .
It can stop the kidneys from cleaning the blood and damage the lining of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The virus sets up such a huge degree of inflammation that you succumb ... it becomes multi-organ failure . ''
And if the immune system can not get on top of the virus then it will eventually spread to every corner of the body where it can cause even more damage to inflamed organs .
This is a combination of two things - a weaker immune system in the first place and a body less able to cope .
We know our immune system gets weaker with age .
`` The quality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 is a lot worse than when you 're 20 , '' says Prof Hunter .
And there are some suggestions older men may be more prone to high levels of inflammation which can become deadly .
Also a lifetime of wear-and-tear takes its toll on the body 's organs and that leaves you less able to survive an infection .
`` If you 're 95 and your kidney function is already at 60 % of what it used to be and then you hit it with something else then they may no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for life , '' says Dr MacDermott .

Coronavirus: Are women and children less affected? Published 8 March 2020
Image source, Science Photo Library
Women seem to be less likely to die from coronavirus than men, and children appear to be less likely to die than other age groups.
Most people will get a mild infection, but the pattern is clear in the most severe cases. So what is going on?
All the information we have is coming from a massive study by the Chinese Centres of Disease Control.
It looked at 44,000 people and showed 2.8% of infected men died, compared with 1.7% of women.
And 0.2% of children and teenagers died compared with nearly 15% of people over the age of 80.
Are women and children less likely to catch coronavirus?
There are two ways of explaining the findings.
Either these groups are less likely to be infected in the first place, or their bodies are more able to cope with the virus.
"Normally with new viruses circulating, everybody gets infected: that's the important point," says Dr Bharat Pankhania, from the University of Exeter.
This is because there is no immunity to the virus as nobody has been exposed to it before.
However, in the very early stages of an outbreak children may be less likely to catch the virus.
"One reason we haven't seen so many cases in children is they are protected at the beginning of outbreaks: parents keep children away from the sick," said Dr Nathalie MacDermott, from King's College London.
What's saving women's lives?
You might be surprised there's a difference between men and women's death rates from coronavirus, but scientists aren't.
We see the same effect in a wide range of infections, including flu.
Part of the answer is men are generally in worse health than women owing to lifestyle choices like smoking.
"Smoking damages your lungs - that's not going to be a winner," says Dr MacDermott.
This may be a particular problem in China, where estimates suggest 52% of men smoke compared with just 3% of women.
But there are also differences in the way the immune systems of men and women respond to infection.
"Women have intrinsically different immune responses to men. Women are more likely to suffer from auto-immune diseases, and there is good evidence that women produce better antibodies to vaccines against flu," says Prof Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia.
What do I need to know about the coronavirus?
Are there any risks in pregnancy?
Officially the answer is no, but experts have raised doubts.
Pregnancy does many things to the body, including weakening the immune system.
That stops the mother's body rejecting the foetus in the womb, but it also makes women more susceptible to infection. Pregnant women are more likely to die from flu than non-pregnant women of the same age.
The UK government says there is "no obvious sign" that pregnant women are more likely to be severely affected by the coronavirus.
"I'm not so confident," says Prof Hunter.
"It is based on data from nine pregnant women, so I don't think you can say everything is fine.
"If it was my wife, I would be encouraging her to take precautions, wash hands and so on and be double careful."
Can children get coronavirus and what are the symptoms?
Yes, they can catch the coronavirus: the youngest cases have been only days old.
There is very limited information on the symptoms of Covid-19 in children, but they appear to be mild - fever, runny nose and a cough.
You would normally expect the very young to be quite sick. That is certainly the case in flu when children under five (and especially those under two) are at higher risk of complications.
"People tend to get more ill at the extremes of age as they have lower resilience," says Dr Pankhania.
There have been some cases with more severe complications. Those with other health problems, such as a weakened immune system or severe asthma, will be at greater risk. But overall the virus appears to be milder in children.
So can children's immune systems contain the coronavirus?
There are important differences between a child's immune system and an adult's.
In childhood, our immune systems are immature and they tend to overreact: it is why fevers (a high temperature) are so common.
An immune system going into overdrive is always a bad thing because it can damage the rest of the body and is one of the reasons the coronavirus can be deadly.
"You'd expect it to go haywire and it's not doing that," said Dr MacDermott.
"There must be something this virus does that is not as readily stimulating the immune system in children, but what that is is unclear.
"They don't seem to be mounting a disproportionate immune response and some seem to be asymptomatic."
There are some diseases that it is better to have in childhood, chickenpox being a prime example, because of the way the body responds at different points in life.
However, it is worth remembering we have relatively little information in children.
"My concern is we haven't had enough cases to really know what the mortality is, particularly in the under-ones and newborn infants," Dr MacDermott says.
Why is coronavirus deadly at all?
The coronavirus starts with a fever and a cough. These are symptoms many of us will deal with at winter.
But the virus can cause the immune system to overreact. One of the more severe symptoms is acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by widespread inflammation in the lungs.
Inflammation is how the body signals it is time to fight an infection and repair itself. At its simplest level, it is why a cut feels sore, but it is actually a complex process throughout the body.
"Inflammation is a fine balancing act. If it goes wrong, you die," says Dr Pankhania.
"The virus sets up cascading inflammation of organs, and severely inflamed organs cannot do what they're supposed to do."
It leaves the lungs unable to get enough oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of the blood. It can stop the kidneys from cleaning the blood and damage the lining of your intestines.
Dr Pankhania adds: "The virus sets up such a huge degree of inflammation that you succumb... it becomes multi-organ failure."
And if the immune system cannot get on top of the virus, then it will eventually spread to every corner of the body where it can cause even more damage to inflamed organs.
Why are older people dying?
This is a combination of two things - a weaker immune system in the first place and a body less able to cope.
We know our immune system gets weaker with age.
"The quality of the antibodies you produce when you're 70 is a lot worse than when you're 20," says Prof Hunter.
And there are some suggestions older men may be more prone to high levels of inflammation which can become deadly.
A lifetime of wear-and-tear takes its toll on the body's organs and that leaves you less able to survive an infection.
"If you're 95 and your kidney function is already at 60% of what it used to be and then you hit it with something else, then [your kidneys] may no longer be functioning at the level required for life," says Dr MacDermott.


bbc--2020-03-08--Coronavirus: The fake health advice you should ignore

Coronavirus is emerging in more countries around the world and there 's currently no known cure .
Unfortunately that has n't stopped a slew of health advice , ranging from useless but relatively harmless , to downright dangerous .
We 've been looking at some of the most widespread claims being shared online , and what the science really says .
Lots of posts that recommend eating garlic to prevent infection are being shared on Facebook .
The WHO ( World Health Organization ) says that while it is `` a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garlic can protect people from the new coronavirus .
In lots of cases , these kinds of remedies are n't harmful in themselves , as long as they are n't preventing you from following evidence-based medical advice .
But they have the potential to be .
The South China Morning Post reported a story of a woman who had to receive hospital treatment for a severely inflamed throat after consuming 1.5kg of raw garlic .
We know , in general , that eating fruit and vegetables and drinking water can be good for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no evidence specific foods will help fight this particular virus .
YouTuber Jordan Sather , who has many thousands of followers across different platforms , has been claiming that a `` miracle mineral supplement '' , called MMS , can `` wipe out '' coronavirus .
Sather and others promoted the substance even before the coronavirus outbreak , and in January he tweeted that , `` not only is chlorine dioxide ( aka MMS ) an effective cancer cell killer , it can wipe out coronavirus too '' .
Last year , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) warned about the dangers to health of drinking MMS .
Health authorities in other countries have also issued alerts about it .
The FDA says it `` is not aware of any research showing that these products are safe or effective for treating any illness '' .
It warns that drinking them can cause nausea , vomiting , diarrhoea and symptoms of severe dehyrdation .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guide to the outbreak There have been many reports of shortages of hand sanitiser gel , as washing your hands is one key way to prevent spread of the virus .
As reports of the shortages emerged in Italy , so did recipes for home-made gel on social media .
But these recipes , alleged dupes for one of the country 's most popular brands , were for a disinfectant better suited for cleaning surfaces and , as scientists pointed out , not suitable for use on skin .
Alcohol-based hand gels usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gentler on skin , on top of their 60-70 % alcohol content .
Professor Sally Bloomfield , at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , says she does not believe you could make an effective product for sanitising hands at home - even vodka only contains 40 % alcohol .
For cleaning surfaces , the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) says most common household disinfectants should be effective .
The use of colloidal silver was promoted on US televangelist Jim Bakker 's show .
Colloidal silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in liquid .
A guest on the show claimed the solution kills some strains of coronavirus within 12 hours ( while admitting it had n't yet been tested on Covid-19 ) .
The idea that it could be an effective treatment for coronavirus has been widely shared on Facebook , particularly by `` medical freedom '' groups which are deeply suspicious of mainstream medical advice .
Proponents of colloidal silver claim it can treat all kinds of health conditions , act as an antiseptic , and state it helps the immune system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ US health authorities that there 's no evidence this type of silver is effective for any health condition .
More importantly , it could cause serious side effects including kidney damage , seizures and argyria - a condition that makes your skin turn blue .
They say that , unlike iron or zinc , silver is not a metal that has any function in the human body .
Some of those promoting the substance for general health on social media have found their posts now generate a pop-up warning from Facebook 's fact-checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pasted by multiple Facebook accounts , quotes a `` Japanese doctor '' who recommends drinking water every 15 minutes to flush out any virus that might have entered the mouth .
A version in Arabic has been shared more than 250,000 times .
Professor Bloomfield says there is absolutely no evidence this will help .
Airborne viruses enter the body via the respiratory tract when you breathe in .
Some of them might go into your mouth , but even constantly drinking water is n't going to prevent you from catching the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advice suggesting heat kills the virus , from recommending drinking hot water to taking hot baths , or using hairdryers .
One post , copied and pasted by dozens of social media users in different countries - and falsely attributed to Unicef - claims that drinking hot water and exposure to the sun will kill the virus , and says ice cream is to be avoided .
Charlotte Gornitzka , who works for Unicef on coronavirus misinformation , says : `` A recent erroneous online message ... purporting to be a Unicef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cream and other cold foods can help prevent the onset of the disease .
This is , of course , wholly untrue . ''
We know the flu virus does n't survive well outside the body during the summer , but we do n't yet know how heat impacts the new coronavirus .
Trying to heat your body or expose yourself to the sun - presumably to make it inhospitable to the virus - is completely ineffective , according to Prof Bloomfield .
Once the virus is in your body , there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body just has to fight it off .
Outside the body , `` to actively kill the virus you need temperatures of around 60 degrees '' , says Professor Bloomfield - far hotter than any bath or sauna .
Washing bed linen or towels at 60 degrees is a good idea , as this can kill any viruses in the fabric .
But it 's not a good option for washing your skin .
And having a hot bath or drinking hot liquids wo n't change your actual body temperature , which remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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bbc--2020-03-08--Coronavirus: China's classrooms without students

All schools and colleges in China have been closed for more than two weeks in the fight against coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus in China is being controlled , with new infection figures and numbers of @ @ @ @ @ John Sudworth looks at the impact of China 's efforts to deal with the virus @ @ @ @ @ online - and some of its unexpected advantages .

All schools and colleges in China have been closed for more than two weeks in the fight against coronavirus.
There are now signs that the coronavirus in China is being controlled, with new infection figures and numbers of deaths beginning to stabilise.
John Sudworth looks at the impact of China's efforts to deal with the virus across education - taking classes online - and some of its unexpected advantages.


bbc--2020-03-09--Shares plunge in worst day since financial crisis

The UK 's top share index is facing its worst day since the financial crisis after it fell 8 % in early trade , wiping billions off the value of major firms .
The drop follows global falls as a row between Russia and Saudi Arabia saw oil prices plunge by more than a fifth .
Shares were already reeling from fears of the impact of the coronavirus as cases globally continue to rise .
The day has already been dubbed `` Black Monday '' by analysts who described the market reaction as `` utter carnage '' .
The FTSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first few minutes of trade , before recovering slightly .
Oil prices are down more than 20 % with Brent crude trading at $ 35.98 a barrel .
`` It shows a level of nervousness in the market which I have n't seen in a long time , '' said Justin Urquhart-Stewart , co-founder of Seven Investment Management .
Investors are selling stocks at such a rate because they can not quantify what Saudi Arabia and Russia might do , he said .
Oil firms saw the biggest falls , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by about 15 % , while Premier Oil saw its shares more than halve in value .
The hefty falls were also seen elsewhere in Europe , with stock markets in France and Germany also opening more than 7 % lower .
Norway - a major oil exporter - saw its main stock exchange fall 12 % in early trade .
Why should I care if stock markets fall ?
Many people 's initial reaction to `` the markets '' is that they are not directly affected , because they do not invest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people with a pension - either private or through work - who will see their savings ( in what is known as a defined contribution pension ) invested by pension schemes .
The value of their savings pot is influenced by the performance of these investments .
Pension savers mostly let experts choose where to invest this money to help it grow .
Widespread falls in share prices are likely to be bad news for pension savers .
As much as £600bn is held in defined contribution pensions at the moment .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pension , but the advice is to remember that pension savings , like any investments , are usually a long-term bet .
The price of oil had already fallen sharply this year as the coronavirus disease began to spread internationally , with demand for fuel expected to decline .
Last week , oil exporters ' group Opec - which includes Saudi Arabia - agreed to cut production in order to support prices .
However , it also wanted non-Opec oil producers such as Russia to agree to cuts , and on Friday Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia has cut its official selling prices for oil and plans to increase production .
The move is seen as Saudi Arabia flexing its muscles in the oil market to make Russia fall into line .
Michelle Wiese Bockmann , commodities analyst and editor for Lloyds List , said that the oil market has changed over the last few years and Saudi Arabia is scrambling to maintain its position in the market .
While cuts in production from Venezuela , Iran and Libya should have sent prices up , the US and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped in at every turn , depressing prices .
`` It 's already a very volatile situation , '' she said .
The market has `` gone from an issue over economic demand into more of a political game of poker '' , Mr Urquhart-Stewart said .
Given that Saudi Arabia has some of the lowest costs of production , they can send prices down a long way before having to relent , he added .
Asian investors also reacted to a slump in Chinese export figures and the shrinking of the Japanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shanghai Composite share index fell 3 % , while in Hong Kong , the Hang Seng index sank 4.2 % .
On Saturday , China released import and export figures for the first two months of the year .
Exports fell by 17.2 % while imports dropped by 4 % .
This gave the Chinese economy a trade deficit of $ 7.1 billion as it struggles with the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak .
Japan 's economy shrank at a faster rate than initially estimated in the final three months of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An awful day for stock markets , but the oil market positively fell out of bed when the week began .
The price of crude oil is about half the level it hit in early January .
The root cause of that is the coronavirus .
It has hit demand for oil and some of the big exporters have been trying to stabilise its price .
Last week a group of them discussed production cuts .
But the biggest producer among them , Russia refused and the oil price fell further .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the biggest of the producers that were pressing Russia to agree output cuts , announced it would increase supplies and offered discounts to its buyers .
That sent the oil price into freefall .
That in turn undermined stock markets , although it was n't the only factor .
The lower oil price is a problem for the credit markets .
Many American shale producers are likely to be unviable and they have borrowed in the high risk debt market , issuing what are called junk bonds .
So there is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those bonds .
Cheaper oil is obviously a benefit for users .
Airlines have been hit by a decline in bookings , but cheaper fuel will offset that a little .
And in time , there will be an impact on the price that motorists pay , although in many countries , including Britain , tax accounts for most of what they pay .

Yet there are millions of people with a pension - either private or through work - who will see their savings (in what is known as a defined contribution pension) invested by pension schemes. The value of their savings pot is influenced by the performance of these investments.


bbc--2020-03-09--Coronavirus: Italy in 'massive shock therapy' pledge to offset virus impact

Italy 's government has pledged to further increase spending in a `` massive shock therapy '' to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak .
The country is struggling to adapt to the most restrictive measures since World War Two , introduced on Sunday .
Up to 16 million people in northern Italy now need permission to travel under quarantine rules .
With 366 deaths now confirmed , Italy is the worst-hit country in the world after China .
All of Italy 's 20 regions have confirmed cases , and the total number of infections now stands at 6,387 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Monday , Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government would pump more money to mitigate the impact of the outbreak .
He also said Italy would overcome the virus if people followed the rules , adding that the sacrifices required were for the good of all .
Separately , Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said : `` The government will spare no effort to ensure that a package of measures is agreed at the EU level in co-ordination with the whole international community . ''
On Monday morning , the main share index @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heart of the worst-affected area , opened down more than 8 % .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak What are the restrictive measures ?
The strict new quarantine measures would last until 3 April , the government said .
They affect a quarter of the Italian population , and centre on the rich northern part of the country that powers its economy .
The restrictions apply to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Modena , Parma , Piacenza , Reggio Emilia , Rimini , Pesaro and Urbino , Alessandria , Asti , Novara , Verbano Cusio Ossola , Vercelli , Padua , Treviso and Venice .
The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to these areas .
All schools and universities in the area are shut , as well as museums , cinemas and swimming pools .
The government says only those with a serious work or family reason that can not be postponed will be allowed in or out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , except temporary visitors , will have to justify themselves , as will all those arriving by plane .
There are controls at train stations to check temperatures .
Cruise ships are forbidden to dock in Venice .
The health system is under immense strain in Lombardy , a northern region of 10 million people where Milan is the main city .
People are being treated in hospital corridors in the region .
World Health Organization ( WHO ) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised Italy for making `` genuine sacrifices '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern Italy had been affected by quarantines .
On Sunday , we drove up to the edge of the exclusion zone .
We were expecting to see roadblocks or controls in place and we did n't see anything at all .
Cars were going in both directions .
It seemed as though the control of this restricted zone was quite loose , and that was a bit difficult to understand .
Is this simply too big an area to control and close off in the heart of Europe , or are the restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen pictures from inside the restricted cities , and the streets are very deserted , but we 're not seeing police checkpoints as such .
But perhaps this is going to be stepped up in the coming days because there are even penalties of three months in prison or a fine of €206 ( £179 ; $ 235 ) for breaking the rules .
The real fear is that , in the hours between the quarantine being announced and it coming into effect , people have gone from more infected areas in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities in southern Italy , far less developed than those here in the north , that are going to seriously struggle .
What is the situation elsewhere ?
The number of infections worldwide is more than 107,000 , with about 3,600 deaths .
On Monday , China , which has recorded the highest number of fatalities , reported no new locally transmitted infection outside of Hubei province , where the outbreak began , for the second consecutive day .
Although this indicates that the spread there is slowing , senior officials warned against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported the lowest number of new cases in two weeks .
Iran , one of the worst hotspots outside China , has now confirmed 6,566 infections and 194 deaths .
However , the real figure is feared to be much higher .
One report on Sunday , quoting a government envoy , said there had been 200 deaths in the northern Gilan province alone - but the figures were later removed .
In France , the virus is spreading among MPs .
Two more members of the National Assembly have tested positive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total four deputies have been infected .
Also on Sunday France reported 1,126 cases , a 19 % increase in a day and the second largest number of infections in Europe after Italy .
The French government has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people .
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 : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy policy

Prisoners set fire to a cell block after they were told that visits would be suspended, officials said. It is thought that at least two of the dead lost their lives to drug overdoses after they raided the prison hospital for the heroin substitute methadone.


bbc--2020-03-09--Coronavirus Australia: 'Did you cough at me?' row on Sydney train

A woman 's cough on a train in Sydney has sparked a row that 's since gone viral on Australian @ @ @ @ @ Corporation journalist Andy Park was sitting near two passengers when they started quarrelling over the @ @ @ @ @ Australia has seen an increase in positive cases of the coronavirus in recent weeks , @ @ @ @ @ and three deaths so far .

A woman's cough on a train in Sydney has sparked a row that's since gone viral on Australian social media.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist Andy Park was sitting near two passengers when they started quarrelling over the woman's coughing etiquette.
Australia has seen an increase in positive cases of the coronavirus in recent weeks, with more than 80 cases and three deaths so far.


bbc--2020-03-09--Flight MH17: Trial opens of four accused of murdering 298 over Ukraine

The trial has opened in the Netherlands of three Russians and a Ukrainian - still at large - for the murder of 298 people aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 , shot down over Ukraine in 2014 .
The Boeing 777 went down amid a conflict in eastern Ukraine , after Russian-backed rebels seized the area .
Investigators say they have proof the Buk missile system that shot it down came from a military base in Russia .
A judge called it an `` atrocious disaster '' , as proceedings began .
The trial is in a court near Amsterdam 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kuala Lumpur-bound flight .
Head judge Hendrik Steenhuis said there had been a `` tragic loss of human lives from all around the world '' .
Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in the deadly attack on 17 July 2014 .
Citizens of 10 different countries died on the airliner .
The three Russian men and one Ukrainian man from eastern Ukraine are all linked to the heavily armed pro-Moscow separatists .
Neither country extradites its citizens but one of the Russians will have a defence team in the courtroom , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept testimony from them by video link .
The roar of planes is audible .
Schiphol 's high-security justice complex is right next door to the runway where flight MH17 took off .
But no-one is expecting any of the four suspects to fly in to face justice .
This trial is the culmination of the most complex criminal investigation in Dutch history .
Two thirds of the victims were Dutch ; the Netherlands took the lead in the investigation and the trial will be held within the Dutch legal system .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will cover mostly procedural aspects and establish whether indeed the trial will be conducted in absentia , without the accused .
Victims ' relatives will have a chance to tell the court how their lives have been affected and what they see as the most appropriate punishment .
Piet Ploeg 's nephew came back in 80 pieces and Mr Ploeg keeps the list of body-parts in his safe .
His brother Alex 's remains have never been found .
Piet Ploeg has no expectation the accused will appear even via video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time if convicted of mass murder .
But the trial matters for him and so many other relatives , because for them it 's the only key to unlocking `` the truth '' .
`` We want the world to know what really happened '' , he told me , `` and to know who did it . ''
On Sunday , relatives of MH17 victims lined up 298 empty seats outside the Russian embassy in The Hague to commemorate their loved ones and protest over Russia 's stance .
Little is known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's three judges .
Unconfirmed Dutch reports say there are 13 witnesses whose identities will remain secret , but the judges may decide that anyone who has already given evidence to prosecutors may not need to appear in person .
The court will be able to hear anonymous testimony if necessary , in a trial that could take more than three years .
• MH17 plane crash in Ukraine : What we know Who are the suspects ?
Two of them allegedly have ties to Russia 's GRU military intelligence agency , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the deadly nerve agent attack on Salisbury in England .
The four men are : • Igor Girkin , also known as Strelkov .
He is a former colonel in Russia 's FSB intelligence service , given the title of minister of defence in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk , prosecutors say • Sergei Dubinsky , known as Khmury .
He was employed by Russia 's GRU military intelligence agency , according to investigators .
They say he was a deputy of Mr Girkin and in regular contact with Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is allegedly a former soldier with GRU special forces who became deputy head of the intelligence service in Donetsk • Leonid Kharchenko , known as Krot .
He is a Ukrainian national with no military background who led a combat unit as a commander in Eastern Ukraine , say prosecutors .
The four are accused of murdering 298 people and causing the MH17 crash .
Prosecutors say the men are jointly accountable for the attack because they `` co-operated to obtain and deploy '' the Buk missile launcher in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sent to all four although it is not certain that the men received them , so one early task for the court will be to decide whether sufficient effort was made to reach them .
Significantly , one of the suspects , Oleg Pulatov , will be represented by a defence team , so the court may decide he is not considered in absentia .
Igor Girkin has told the BBC he does not recognise the court 's authority .
In recent years , Russia 's usual reaction to being accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had nothing to do with the shooting down of the Boeing .
And ahead of the trial in the Netherlands , Russian officials have been trying to discredit the proceedings .
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told me she was `` 100 % certain that politics is dominating '' in the court case .
She said that Moscow had provided Dutch investigators with `` tons of materials on this case which were disregarded '' .
When I asked Russian state TV talk show host Vladimir Solovyov about the trial , his reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We want to get the truth , but how can we when the whole investigation was far from truthful ? ''
As for the suspects , three of whom are Russian citizens , they had little to fear from the international arrest warrants issued last year .
Russia 's constitution does not permit the extradition of its own nationals .
Although Russia argues it has long offered to co-operate with the inquiry , it has also presented several versions of what brought down MH17 .
Dutch officials asked Russia to submit any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one point that the information it had provided was `` factually inaccurate on several points '' .
Late last year , Russia was asked by Dutch prosecutors to arrest a Ukrainian suspect alleged to have run rebel air defences close to the missile firing site .
Instead , according to prosecutors , Russia deliberately allowed him to travel to eastern Ukraine .
The Dutch and Australian governments made clear in 2018 they held Russia responsible for the deployment of the Buk missile launcher that brought down the plane .
Audio transcripts disclosed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in eastern Ukraine had close contact with Russia at the time .
The head of the self-styled Donetsk People 's Republic was recorded a fortnight before the disaster saying he was `` carrying out orders and protecting the interests of one and only one state , the Russian Federation '' .

Court summonses were sent to all four although it is not certain that the men received them, so one early task for the court will be to decide whether sufficient effort was made to reach them.


bbc--2020-03-09--Harry and Meghan in last public engagement as working royals

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are due to make their final public appearance as working members of the Royal Family .
Prince Harry and Meghan will join the Queen and other royals at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday afternoon .
The couple have been carrying out a series of public appearances in the UK before stepping back as working royals .
From 31 March , they will stop using their HRH titles and receiving public money .
The duke and duchess will gather with the Queen - who is head of the Commonwealth - the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the central London cathedral .
It will be the first time the couple have appeared with other members of the Royal Family since announcing their intention to `` step back '' as senior royals in January .
After the service , they are expected to return to their current base in Canada , where their son , Archie , has remained during the UK trip .
It is where the couple are to begin their new life of personal independence , pursuing private commercial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Meghan will retain use of Frogmore Cottage , in Windsor , and aides have said they will be in the UK regularly .
They will still attend some royal events but these will not be classed as official duties .
The new arrangements will be reviewed next year .
The duke and duchess have conducted a farewell tour of the UK with several appearances including the Endeavour Fund Awards and a military musical festival at the Royal Albert Hall .
Meghan made a surprise visit to a school in Dagenham , east @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
Meanwhile , the duke joined Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton to visit a new motor racing museum at the Silverstone Circuit .
The couple have made supporting the Commonwealth a priority for their royal duties and overseas visits .
In stepping down as working royals , the duke will relinquish his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador .
But Harry will remain president of the Queen 's Commonwealth Trust and Meghan will still be the Trust 's vice-president .
In her Commonwealth Day message , the Queen has praised the diversity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditions `` serves to make us stronger '' .
Heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua will deliver a reflection at the service , while singers Alexandra Burke and Craig David will perform .
The Duke of York will be absent from this year 's service , having resigned from royal duties following criticism of his BBC Newsnight interview over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein .
The Commonwealth Day service will be broadcast live on BBC One from 14:15 GMT and across the BBC World Service .

Less than two years after she arrived, Meghan is walking away from royal life. And the man she married, who was born into that life, is going with her.


bbc--2020-03-09--Twitter labels edited Biden video 'manipulated tweet'

Twitter has used its new `` manipulated media '' tag for the first time on an edited video of a speech by Joe Biden .
The tag , introduced on 5 March , tells readers when a picture or video has been `` significantly altered or fabricated '' .
The footage of Mr Biden , which was posted by Dan Scavino , White House director of social media , claimed to show the democratic candidate calling for people to vote for President Trump .
The video was shared by Mr Trump twice .
The clip appeared to show Mr Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nomination , telling a crowd in Kansas City : `` We can only re-elect Donald Trump . ''
However , it had been edited to remove key parts of the sentence .
Mr Biden actually said : `` We can only re-elect Donald Trump if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here .
It 's got to be a positive campaign . ''
Mr Scavino shared the video in a tweet on Saturday .
The president then re-tweeted it , telling his followers : `` I agree with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared on Facebook - which did not flag it as false content .
Twitter 's manipulated media policy covers content that is `` likely to impact public safety or cause serious harm '' including things that have been heavily edited .
Under the policy , Twitter may remove a tweet , reduce its visibility , or label it as doctored .
However , the social media giant has been criticised for taking at least 18 hours to place a manipulated tweet tag on Mr Scavino 's post .
In that time , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the site alone .
The tag also failed to appear when people searched for the tweet .
Twitter 's spokeswoman Katie Rosborough told the Washington Post that the tag was appearing in individuals ' timelines and the company was working on a fix .
Mr Scavino has defended the video , claiming it was not manipulated .
He has also shared tweets defending him that allege the video was `` clipped , not edited '' and `` simply shortened '' .
Greg Schultz , Joe Biden 's campaign manager , called Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage a `` national crisis '' in a statement to CNN .
What are the new rules ?
Twitter uses these factors to consider whether a tweet should be labelled or removed : • Has the content been edited in a manner that alters its composition , sequence , timing or framing • Has any visual or auditory information been added or removed • Has media depicting a real person been fabricated or simulated • Is the media being shared in a deceptive manner • Is it likely to impact public safety or @ @ @


bbc--2020-03-09--Yemen: The doctor on the front line after years of war

Dr Mekkia Mahdi works at the health clinic in Aslam , an impoverished town in the north west of Yemen @ @ @ @ @ ( 37 miles ) from the border with Saudi Arabia , but is on the @ @ @ @ @ s health emergency .
The BBC has spend time with her on the morning rounds @ @ @ @ @ the progress of her vulnerable patients .
Read more : Yemen crisis : Why is @ @ @ @

Dr Mekkia Mahdi works at the health clinic in Aslam, an impoverished town in the north west of Yemen.
It is only 60km (37 miles) from the border with Saudi Arabia, but is on the front line of Yemen’s health emergency.
The BBC spent time with her on the morning rounds, as she checked on the progress of her vulnerable patients.
Produced by Lyse Doucet and Tony Brown
Filmed by Dave Bull
Read more: Yemen crisis: Why is there a war?


bbc--2020-03-09--Afghanistan: Rival 'presidents' plan rival inaugurations

Two political rivals in Afghanistan - who both claim they won the presidential election - plan to hold inauguration ceremonies on Monday .
Abdullah Abdullah said he would postpone his ceremony - but only if incumbent Ashraf Ghani followed suit .
But Mr Ghani 's team said their inauguration would go ahead this afternoon , suggesting both ceremonies will still take place .
Both politicians are old rivals who held roles in the previous government .
Mr Ghani has been president since 2014 .
Afghanistan 's election commission said he won the election , but Mr Abdullah has disputed this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's team said they would be prepared to cancel their ceremony , following the intervention of US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad .
But Mr Ghani 's team later told Reuters news agency : `` The guest arrival has just started and we will have our ceremony in a few hours . ''
That was confirmed in a later tweet from his spokesman , Sediq Sediqqi .
Both men issued invitations to their parallel ceremonies last week .
• What will Taliban do after signing US deal ?
• US and Taliban sign deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections in September last year but the Electoral Commission only announced Mr Ghani as the winner in February .
Mr Abdullah accused the government of fraud and vowed to form his own parallel government .
`` It 's impossible to have two presidents in one country , '' one Afghan man told news agency AFP .
`` Instead of [ both ] holding oath-taking ceremonies they should talk to each other to find a solution . ''
The political showdown comes days after Mr Abdullah escaped unharmed from an attack that saw at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State targeted a ceremony attended by top Afghan politicians in Kabul , which was meant to commemorate the death of an Afghan Shia leader .
It was the first major attack in the capital since the US and Taliban signed a deal in late February .
Under the terms of the agreement , the US and its Nato allies will withdraw their troops within 14 months .
In return , the Taliban will hold talks with the Afghan government .
But experts now say the political rivalry will `` gravely affect the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
`` Unity is the only way [ forward ] if they want to win on the negotiating table , '' political analyst Atta Noori told AFP .
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Mr Abdullah held his ceremony a short distance away at Sapedar Palace, which he used as his office during his tenure as Afghanistan's chief executive in the last government. The ceremony went ahead despite his team earlier saying they would be prepared to cancel it, following the intervention of Mr Khalilzad.


bbc--2020-03-09--Coronavirus: Foreigners leave N Korea on first commercial flight for weeks

Around 80 foreigners who were quarantined for weeks in the North Korean capital , Pyongyang , have finally left the country .
The Air Koryo flight to Vladivostok is the first commercial flight to leave North Korea in over a month , said specialist news site NK News .
Flight KOR271 landed in the far-eastern Russian city on Monday morning .
The embassy staff who left had been confined to their compounds for weeks during February and early March .
Among those onboard were diplomats from Germany , Russia , France , Switzerland , Poland , Romania , Mongolia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea said in a Facebook post .
Russia said it had issued visas to diplomats and `` representatives of international and national humanitarian organisations ... as well as foreign businessmen '' .
North Korea quarantined hundreds of foreigners in the capital earlier this year , in an attempt to stop the coronavirus from breaking out .
Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora described the conditions as `` morally crushing '' .
There have been no reported cases of coronavirus in North Korea , though some experts have cast doubt on this .
North Korea borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and South Korea , where there has been a major outbreak .
Flight KOR271 left Pyongyang at 08:40 local time on Monday ( 23:40 on Sunday ) and arrived in Vladivostok at 10:47 , said flight tracking site FlightAware .
It 's not known how or when the passengers will return to their home countries .
The British ambassador to North Korea tweeted early on Monday that he was `` sad to say farewell to colleagues from [ the ] Germany Embassy and French Office '' .
Colin Crooks added that other embassies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embassy would remain open .
North Korea had previously quarantined around 380 foreigners - mostly diplomats and staff in Pyongyang - in their compounds for at least 30 days .
It lifted the restrictions last week after more than a month .
Swedish ambassador Joachim Bergstrom reacted by tweeting a selfie with the caption : `` I have never been happier standing on Kim ll Sung Square . ''
However , foreigners ' interactions with locals were still restricted , said NK News , as they were not allowed to visit restaurants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city .
There are concerns that North Korea , which is subject to international sanctions , lacks the health infrastructure to test and treat those infected .
The number of infections worldwide is more than 107,000 , with about 3,600 deaths .
• 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

However, foreigners' interactions with locals were still restricted, said NK News, as they were not allowed to visit restaurants, shops, gyms and hotels in the city.


bbc--2020-03-09--Sudan PM Abdalla Hamdok survives assassination attempt

Sudan 's prime minister has survived an assassination attempt after his convoy was attacked in the capital , Khartoum .
`` I would like to assure the people of Sudan that I am safe and in good shape , '' Abdalla Hamdok has tweeted .
Mr Hamdok was appointed to head Sudan 's transitional government last August , a few months after the overthrow of long-time President Omar al-Bashir .
He said the attack only served as `` an additional push to the wheel of change in Sudan '' .
It is not yet clear who carried out the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is precarious as last year 's political transition led to many once-powerful individuals , especially in the military , being sidelined .
• BBC Africa Live : More on this and other stories What happened in the attack ?
Pictures on state television show several damaged vehicles at the site of the blast .
Ali Bakhit , the director of the prime minister 's officer , said in a Facebook post that no-one was hurt in the attack , the AFP news agency reports .
Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kober bridge , which connects Khartoum North to the city centre , where the prime minister 's office is based .
`` I saw the moment of the explosion and the strike , and the strike came from a high building , '' one of them said .
Information Minister Faisal Salih said investigations had begun to find out who was behind what he called a `` terrorist attack '' .
`` Terrorist attempts and dismantling the old regime will be dealt with decisively , '' Reuters quoted him as saying .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was appointed by Sudan 's Sovereign Council , which is made up of six civilians and five military officers .
The make-up of the council was the result of months of negotiations between the military and civilian protesters , who demanded that the army return to barracks after ousting Mr Bashir in April 2019 .
It is intended to lead a three-year transition to civilian rule .
According to Reuters , since the appointment of Mr Hamdok , his government has come up against resistance as it tries to implement economic reforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his motorcade would not stop the road of transition .
`` We paid a hefty price for this revolution for a better tomorrow and for sustainable peace .
Our revolution should always be guarded by its peacefulness , '' he tweeted .


bbc--2020-03-09--International Women's Day: Clashes mar Mexico City march

Police in Mexico have clashed with protesters , following a huge march marking International Women 's Day .
About 80,000 people took to the streets to highlight the country 's rising levels of violence against women .
The rally began peacefully , but police say some groups threw petrol bombs and officers responded with tear gas .
More than 60 people were injured .
Tensions are high ahead of a strike in Mexico on Monday when women will strike in protest at gender-based violence .
An estimated 10 women are killed each day in the country and police are investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , the killing of women .
Last month , hundreds of women protested against the murder of 25-year-old Ingrid Escamilla , who was allegedly stabbed and mutilated by her partner .
• The women killed in one day around the world What happened at the march ?
Most protestors marched peacefully in Mexico City , city officials said .
Participants shouted `` Alive they took them , Alive we want them '' and wrote Ingrid Escamilla 's name on the walls of buildings .
`` I came here to represent and march @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , '' one woman told EFE news agency .
But some groups of people wearing masks threw petrol bombs and set fire to parts of the route , including a door to Mexico 's National Place and the president 's residence , city officials said .
Seven people were arrested for attacking a group of protestors .
Most of those hurt suffered minor injuries , they said .
Thirteen people were taken to hospital .
The problem of violence against women in Mexico is getting worse and the government is being accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , a 20-year-old student was murdered after a family birthday party and her body was found close to the workplace of the man she was last seen with .
Within a day , three men who had been with her in her final moments were released without charge and key evidence was lost .
There has been decades of indifference and widespread impunity in Mexico over such killings , says Maria de la Luz Estrada , President of the National Citizens ' Observatory on Femicide .
President López Obrador was criticised in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manipulating '' the problem .
He later said his government was attentive to the issue .
Millions of women will take part in a one-day strike on Monday called `` A Day Without Us '' to call for more action and show how public life looks without them .
Women and men across the world staged marches on Sunday to mark International Women 's Day .
Events have taken place for more than a century and grew out of a trade union movement that demanded political and economic rights for women .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to campaign to close the gender pay gap and celebrated the Me Too movement .
Marches in several countries were marred by clashes .
In Pakistan , Islamists threw stones and shoes at demonstrators .
In Kyrgyzstan protesters were attacked by masked men who tore up their banners , and in Istanbul Turkish police fired tear gas at a group of women .

In one case in 2016, a 20-year-old student was murdered after a family birthday party and her body was found close to the workplace of the man she was last seen with.


bbc--2020-03-09--HSBC's gender pay gap hits 47% as City split widens

Many financial firms are paying the average man almost 25 % more than the average women , with HSBC posting an overall pay gap of 47.8 % .
It is the third year UK organisations with more than 250 employees have been legally required to publish a snapshot of their gender pay gap .
Of the financial and insurance firms reporting so far , the gap has risen to 23.1 % , from 22.2 % two years ago .
Across all employees and sectors , the ONS estimates the gap is 17.3 % .
The gender pay gap is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women across an organisation .
So far , only a quarter of financial firms have reported their figures , less than one month before the deadline .
The BBC looked at a company 's median pay gap - that is the difference in pay between the middle-ranking woman and the middle-ranking man .
Which banks have cut their the pay gap ?
HSBC says its pay gap - averaged out across its eight divisions and 40,000 strong workforce - was 47.8 % in 2019 , almost identical to a year earlier .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ high paid senior leadership roles and more women working in junior positions , it said .
`` It will take time to redress the imbalance and the results of our work today may not fully be realised until today 's pipeline of new joiners becomes tomorrow 's business leaders , '' the bank said in its supporting statement .
• Lloyds Bank and Santander 's UK retail operations have closed their gap by more than 2 % , but are still above the sector average at 40.5 % and 26.6 % respectively • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % and Barclay 's retail operation had a small increase to 14.5 % • Both the investment firm Aberdeen Asset Management ( which has since merged with Standard Life ) and HBOS reported 1.6 % increases .
• Reporting for the first time , NatWest posted a gender pay gap of 34.1 % while the gap at HSBC 's UK retail arm was 18.7 % Dame Helena Morrissey , one of the City 's most high profile women , and founder of the Diversity Project , says some firms are merely complying with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-existent '' plans to improve .
`` I think the initial year of naming and shaming has become a blunted instrument because so many have such a bad [ gender pay gap ] number , '' she said .
`` Personally I feel it is very hard to engineer the closing of the gap , because even if you attract women in , if they are not happy in the industry they will leave . ''
Analysis of financial firms shows the average gender pay gap for bonuses is 37.7 % .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago .
Aberdeen Asset Manager , Barclays ' commercial arm , NatWest and Standard Life Investments were all paying out bonuses that are over 50 % higher for men , on average .
Bonus payments are recorded separately , but can form a substantial part of employee salaries at financial institutions .
Ann Cairns , executive vice-chair of MasterCard , is global co-chair of the 30 % Club , which aims to boost the number of women in senior leadership .
She says that on the ground , she sees companies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's more transparent out there at the moment and it affects whether people want to work for you - it affects your perception in the market , and investors are starting to pay a lot more attention to it , '' she says .
`` There are probably firms out there who think ' I really care , but I do n't know how to change and it takes a lot of time and effort ' .
You are not going to change the corporate culture or mix of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quota , because you can make people do something , but if you have n't changed the underlying culture I do n't think anybody feels good about that . ''
But she adds `` if you ca n't change the trajectory in 3-5 years then you have to start asking yourself questions .
This whole thing that you ca n't find qualified women - I do n't think that 's true '' .
The median pay gap is the difference in pay between the middle-ranking woman and the middle-ranking man .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working at a company in two separate lines in order of salary , the median pay gap will be the difference in salary between the woman in the middle of her line and the man in the middle of his .
The mean pay gap is the difference between a company 's total wage spend-per-woman and its total spend-per-man .
The number is calculated by taking the total wage bill for each and dividing it by the number of men and women employed by the organisation .
The gender pay gap is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay is giving women less than men for the same work .
That has been against the law since the Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1970 .
A company 's gender pay gap can also be caused by other things , for example fewer women in senior or highly-paid roles or more women in part-time jobs .

If you line up all the men and women working at a company in two separate lines in order of salary, the median pay gap will be the difference in salary between the woman in the middle of her line and the man in the middle of his.


bbc--2020-03-09--Skywhale: Controversial hot air balloon returns to Canberra

A controversial public artwork has risen again for Canberra ’ s Balloon Spectacular .
The Skywhale hot air balloon was @ @ @ @ @ 2013 , with its design and cost causing major debate .
Its return to the @ @ @ @ @ eager to see the balloon for the first time in seven years .

A controversial public artwork has risen again for Canberra’s Balloon Spectacular.
The Skywhale hot air balloon was commissioned by local government in 2013, with its design and cost causing major debate.
Its return to the festival has drawn crowds, eager to see the balloon for the first time in seven years.


bbc--2020-03-09--MH17 disaster: My nephew's body came back in 80 pieces

Piet Ploeg 's nephew , brother and sister-in-law were among the 298 people killed in the MH17 disaster when a @ @ @ @ @ 2014 .
Nearly six years on and ahead of the trial of four men charged @ @ @ @ @ on board , Mr Ploeg pays tribute to his `` nerd '' nephew and shares @ @ @ @ @ what happened .
He also described the grim reality that his nephew 's body returned @ @ @ @ @ that his brother 's remains have never been found .

Piet Ploeg's nephew, brother and sister-in-law were among the 298 people killed in the MH17 disaster when a missile struck the plane in 2014.
Nearly six years on and ahead of the trial of four men charged with the murder of all on board, Mr Ploeg pays tribute to his "nerd" nephew and shares his hopes for finding out what happened.
He also described the grim reality that his nephew's body returned home in many pieces and that his brother's remains have never been found.
Video production: Anna Holligan, Maarten Willems and Kate Vandy.


bbc--2020-03-09--Idlib before the war: Carpets, olives and handcrafts

The last rebel-held province in Syria - Idlib - has been devastated by years of war and the displacement of millions of people .
Here two residents recall what Idlib was like as a place to live when Syria was at peace .
Before the revolution , Idlib was famous for olive trees and olive oil - lots of Syrian provinces got their olive oil from Idlib .
Citizens here used to work in agriculture and in planting olive trees .
They would pickle olives and sell them locally and to Arab states such as Iraq .
We also had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glass and other handcrafts .
The city was famous for the ruins of [ the ancient city of ] Ebla in the east .
Tourists and archaeologists from all over the world visited them .
We remember our schools and our friends who have died or emigrated .
Every person here still has some of their old friends but most memories have been destroyed by the war and we have lost a lot of dear people .
• Why is there a war in Syria ?
• Why does the battle for Idlib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed for us .
The biggest difference is in the state of our lives .
We only have electricity for about three hours a day now .
We live on generators which provide power .
There is a lack of water and there is no cleanliness or rubbish disposal .
The streets are always dirty and there are no street lights .
We miss hanging out at night , being able to walk in a well-lit street and spend the whole night there with friends , laughing and eating .
We ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment the revolution started [ in 2011 ] , I knew that things would change in the country , but I did n't expect it to change for the worse .
Idlib has lost its people , lost the children playing outside , the families that lived here for generations .
A lot of people came here to escape other parts of the country where there was fighting , but the city misses its sons and daughters who were born and bred here .
One of the most memorable moments for me growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hafez al-Assad came to power [ in 1971 ] and visited Idlib .
He was attacked by people who threw tomatoes at him .
In retribution , the city was excluded from many things such as infrastructure projects , social development and even political participation .
We were never able to speak about politics .
Elders used to tell us to shut up and that politics was not our business , every time we tried to voice our concerns .
• The town with more cats than people During school , we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ] scouts .
We could not refuse , we had to do this , everyone had to .
They used to treat us as if we were an army .
We were punished for every mistake .
It might have been good to make us stricter and tougher in life , but in my opinion the negatives outweighed the benefits .
Idlib was one of the first cities to start the revolution .
Most of the city 's people are known for their opposition to [ President Bashar al- ] Assad and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We all know how Idlib 's people welcomed his father .
At the beginning of the revolution , I lived in Aleppo and I watched on TV what was happening .
There were a lot of images which portrayed the rebels as criminals .
But when I came into the city , I saw that those were lies from the government media .
Therefore , I started to become an activist but without revealing it to anyone .
In 2012 , there were attacks on the area where I was living in in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib and then I started to participate more in the activities .
When the rebels took over the city , my participation in the revolution became public .
Idlib has changed between my childhood and now .
Now we are free , before we lived in fear and said `` the walls have ears '' .
We used to be afraid to speak and now there is more expression and freedom .
Even though we are subjected to death , air strikes and murder , the revolution still lives with us .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know all about politics .
We used to only study about the Baath party and its rule , but now I know about elections , about running in elections , the duties of the president , democracy .
I do n't have any pictures or anything left of my younger days and this is because I took them with me to Aleppo and I had to flee from the war and could n't bring them back with me to Idlib .
This hurts so much .
What hurts me most is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to go back .
I had pictures of my kids and my husband , and I will never get any of them back .

During school, we were forced to join the Baath [ruling party] scouts. We could not refuse, we had to do this, everyone had to. They used to treat us as if we were an army. We were punished for every mistake. It might have been good to make us stricter and tougher in life, but in my opinion the negatives outweighed the benefits.


bbc--2020-03-09--Fury fuels historic women's strike in Mexico

Shocking femicide statistics have prompted a furious reaction from women 's rights groups in Mexico .
Anger over the violence is a key part of a one-day national women 's strike in the country .
In the hours before she was murdered , Abigail Guerrero Mondragon had been enjoying her nephew 's sixth birthday .
At the low-key family gathering , the 20-year-old law student had been happily playing with the boy and chatting to guests at her mother 's house .
The next morning , her lifeless body was found near some football pitches where the last man she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new boyfriend 's buddy , Juan Velazquez , was detained along with the boyfriend , Ivan , and his cousin , all of whom had been with Abigail in her final moments .
Yet within a day , all three were released without charge .
Key pieces of evidence , including used condoms taken from the scene , were lost or never properly recorded .
`` ( Velazquez ) was caked with mud and there was blood on his clothes , '' recounts Abigail 's mother , Araceli Mondragon , between deep sobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And because the authorities here in Mexico are so heartless , they forced me to make a statement when I still did n't even understand what had happened to my daughter , when I could n't make sense of anything . ''
Abigail 's killing on 11 December 2016 was just one of 10 murders of women and girls that day - crimes which take place every single day in Mexico .
It is a statistic which has prompted anger in the capital in recent weeks , especially from Mexico 's feminist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been 8,000 murders of women in the last two years alone , around half of which show the traits of gender-based violence against women , '' explains Maria de la Luz Estrada , President of the National Citizens ' Observatory on Femicide which provides legal support to victims ' families .
The first was the gruesome killing of a young woman , Ingrid Escamilla , by a man she lived with .
He stabbed her , then skinned her body and removed her organs in an attempt to hide the evidence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city , seven-year-old Fátima Cecilia Aldrighett was abducted from the school gates , sexually abused and murdered . '
I do n't want to be afraid' Both stories are stomach-churning and appalling .
In the subsequent protests in Mexico City , some of the most radical demonstrators clashed with riot police and sprayed graffiti on statues of independence heroes and the walls of historic buildings .
The also daubed paint on the Mariana Door , the heavy 19th Century wooden gate of the National Palace .
`` I ask all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't paint on our doors and our walls , we are working to stop femicides , '' said President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador , who has been roundly criticised as out of touch and insensitive .
In perhaps his most misjudged comments since taking office , he blamed `` neoliberalism '' for the murder of seven-year-old Fátima .
Maria de la Luz Estrada believes President Lopez Obrador has missed the point entirely .
`` Mexico 's young women are saying `` I do n't want to be afraid '' and `` I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
They are demanding that the new government fulfil its promise to act differently because they said they would n't turn away like previous administrations . ''
There was a media and journalism dimension to the demonstrations too .
Several of Mexico 's sensationalist newspapers printed photographs of Ingrid Escamilla 's mutilated body , including on their front pages .
Outside the offices of one of the newspapers in question , La Prensa , demonstrators set fire to their vehicles and chanted slogans .
An established voice in Mexican gender politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hide her exasperation at the criticism being levelled , primarily by men , at young feminist activists .
Their outrage goes beyond the murder of Ingrid or Fátima or Abigail , she says .
It is about decades of indifference and widespread impunity in Mexico over the killing of women : '' We have taken to the streets in the past .
We have denounced the violence and have never been listened to . ''
The new generation has simply had enough , she says .
`` They 're saying : 'if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to listen to us . '
If women keep being harmed and the authorities wo n't act , then we 'll just have to protect ourselves . ''
But for Araceli Mondragon , this is an intensely personal battle .
Since Abigail was murdered on a football field that December night , she has had nothing but obstruction and obfuscation from the authorities .
It was only thanks to support from women 's rights groups that the criminal case against the perpetrator managed to inch forwards .
Juan Velazquez has now been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his two alleged accomplices are still free .
`` I go to these marches and we take action because we 're tired '' , says Araceli , spitting out the words with barely-contained disgust .
`` We 're full of fury .
Why ?
Because they were our daughters whose lives were taken away in the cruellest way , '' her voice breaks again .
`` Those who judge us would do well to pray that they 're never in our shoes .
Because the day that they are , then they 'll @ @ @

The next morning, her lifeless body was found near some football pitches where the last man she had been seen with worked. Her new boyfriend's buddy, Juan Velazquez, was detained along with the boyfriend, Ivan, and his cousin, all of whom had been with Abigail in her final moments.


bbc--2020-03-09--The tech boss who lost more than a billion

The BBC 's weekly The Boss series profiles different business leaders from around the world .
This week we speak to UK technology pioneer Andrew Rickman .
How would you feel if you lost more than £1.4bn ( $ 1.81bn ) almost overnight ?
That was the situation faced by Andrew Rickman back at the end of 2000 , when the dotcom bubble spectacularly burst , sending shares in his company Bookham Technology plummeting .
`` It was like a nuclear winter , '' he says looking back .
Andrew had set up Bookham in 1988 in the kitchen of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 28 .
It grew to become one of the world 's leading providers of optical components for the telecommunication and computer industries .
In very simple terms , its technology allowed data to be transferred very quickly using lasers and glass fibres .
By the late 1990s its sales were booming as more and more homes and businesses were being connected to the internet , and mobile phone networks were being rolled out .
The good times were , well , so good , that after Bookham floated on the London Stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , within two months it had joined the FTSE 100 index .
This is the list of the 100 firms on the exchange with the largest market capitalisation - the combined value of all their shares .
Such was the surge of Bookham 's share price that Andrew , who owned the largest stake in the business , became the UK 's first technology billionaire .
This sent the UK 's tabloid newspapers into a frenzy , and the softly spoken , modest 40-year-old was suddenly a reluctant celebrity .
Journalists excitedly told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Paul McCartney combined .
Looking back , he says he was `` embarrassed '' by all the coverage .
At the peak of Bookham 's share price in the summer of 2000 , Andrew was worth more than £1.5bn .
Then the dotcom bubble burst , and before the end of the year Bookham 's share price - and Andrew 's wealth - had collapsed .
This thrust him back into the papers , which now gleefully reported his downfall .
`` I did n't think particularly much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Andrew , now 59 .
`` The money was n't an issue , because it was only on paper .
Being the first dotcom billionaire was n't a reality to me .
`` The thing that was difficult to deal with , as a human being , was the massive change of circumstances for the company and our technology .
It was an emotionally difficult thing to handle for many different reasons . ''
The big problem for Bookham was that its cutting-edge optical equipment was expensive .
And after the dotcom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms building all the new networks - switched to using cheaper , simpler technology instead .
But before you feel sorry for Andrew , he still had some £50m in his bank account , and he was able to slowly build Bookham back up again .
This involved delisting from the LSE , and moving the company to Silicon Valley to get around the then high price of sterling , and be closer to key customers .
Andrew eventually left the business in 2004 , to start a new career as a technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his latest business - Rockley Photonics .
Based in Oxford , with a 150-strong workforce , it designs a product called silicon photonic chips .
These are like standard microchips , but with one key difference - they beam light around the chip instead of sending an electronic current .
Although the photonic chip industry is still in its infancy , the advantage is said to be that they can process a lot more data , more quickly .
Photonic chips are now increasingly being used in everything from data centres to sensor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest mobile phones .
Andrew says that Rockley now has an annual turnover in the `` tens of millions '' , but with the potential of increasing this to billions .
Veteran electronics journalist Peter Clarke says that Andrew `` is one of a group of UK engineering visionaries that also carry the entrepreneurial gene '' .
`` Rickman is smart in an intense , academic way , and a good advert for the UK higher education system . ''
( He was educated at Imperial College in London , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boss putting an end to empty homes • ' I reinvented the hair tie from my uni halls' • ' I remember the roaches walking across the floor' Looking back on the dotcom bust , does Andrew think he should have predicted it ?
`` Hindsight is a great thing , '' he says .
`` I do n't think many people were prepared for that sort of boom and bust , they never seem to be .
`` The span of time between boom and busts tends to be sufficient for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But we were one of very , very , very few firms in our area that survived .
`` One thing I did learn at that time was to have an eye to a more analytical view of the world around us .
So from that point on I 've always had what I would describe as an analysis team ...
They sit there and they basically analyse the environment the whole time , so , if you like , they become a sensitive seismic monitor .
`` And I 'm not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming , I 'm looking for the things that are going to explode [ in a good way ] . ''

But before you feel sorry for Andrew, he still had some £50m in his bank account, and he was able to slowly build Bookham back up again. This involved delisting from the LSE, and moving the company to Silicon Valley to get around the then high price of sterling, and be closer to key customers.


bbc--2020-03-09--The monks who bought their own Scottish island

Twenty years ago , an order of Catholic monks bought a small Orkney island where they could practise the Latin Mass .
They are continuing a religious tradition which gave Papa Stronsay its name .
Brother Nicodemus Mary loves to pray in private in the ruins of St Nicholas ' Chapel .
It dates back to the 11th Century , but this Orkney island 's religious links run even deeper .
It is thought that monks worshipped on the island back in the time of St Columba , in the 6th Century .
Vikings settled there in the 8th Century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means Priests ' Island of Stronsay .
The original monastery was abandoned in the 16th Century - but for the last 20 years the island has once again been home to monks who celebrate Holy Mass in the language which would have been used by priests many centuries ago .
The order - the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer , also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists - was founded in the late 1980s to maintain the practice of celebrating the liturgy in Latin .
At the time the Roman Catholic Church was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use local languages - so insisting on the old ways was seen as an act of rebellion .
But the monks are now back in full communion with the Diocese of Aberdeen and the worldwide church .
They bought Papa Stronsay after the order 's founder , Father Michael Mary , and some of the priests and brothers visited Orkney on holiday .
Father Michael - whose grandmother had lived in Orkney - said they had originally wanted to find a small house they could use for retreats and study leave .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ them the details of the island , which was being sold by local farmer Charles Smith .
`` On the back of the particulars of Papa Stronsay , it had some of the history of the island .
So we thought : 'Could we buy it ' ?
`` We came out here on Valentine 's Day and as soon as we stepped on the island , we thought : 'We 've got to come here ' , '' Father Michael told BBC Radio Orkney .
But there was one stumbling block - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Smith agreed to reduce the asking price from £250,000 to £200,000 .
`` That was fantastic .
He was very very kind , but we still did n't have any money , '' said Father Michael .
The community , which was then based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent , embarked on nine days of prayer and fundraising - which left them about £30,000 short of the total they needed .
But then the phone rang and someone offered to donate the rest of the money .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we had all the money to buy Papa Stronsay , '' recalled Father Michael .
There are currently about a dozen members of the order living on the island .
It has a similar number at its other base in New Zealand .
For the monks , a typical day starts at 05:00 with an hour of individual meditation in their cells , followed by two hours of prayer in the chapel .
After breakfast , the morning is spent in study and work before a bell rings at midday to remind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to themselves as an act of private devotion .
That 's followed by another service and then lunch , during which the brothers listen to improving readings and sacred texts .
The remainder of the day includes prayers , work and possibly some relaxation , before supper , more prayers and then the `` great silence '' .
The lights and generator are switched off at 21:30 .
Brother Nicodemus says it is very special to think that they pray the same prayers , in the same language , in the same places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We share a brotherhood with them in a very tangible way '' , he says .
`` It 's an entire life , an entire sacrifice , an entire mindset , an entire faith .
It 's everything .
The centuries do n't really separate us at all . ''
Father Magdala Maria , the rector of the community in Papa Stronsay , said it was `` a privilege '' to visit sites used by their predecessors .
`` It continues that procession , that chain , of people who 've been here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The monks who lived here in the 7th and 8th centuries ?
We would n't be able to speak to them .
But we 'd be able to pray with them . ''

The original monastery was abandoned in the 16th Century - but for the last 20 years the island has once again been home to monks who celebrate Holy Mass in the language which would have been used by priests many centuries ago.


bbc--2020-03-09--Coronavirus spread: Indian Wells cancelled because of concerns

The Indian Wells tournament has been cancelled because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus .
The tournament , a combined ATP and WTA event which is one of the biggest and most prestigious outside of the Grand Slams , was due to start this week .
Health officials in California said there was `` too great a risk '' to hold a `` large gathering of this size '' .
`` We are prepared to hold it on another date and will explore options , '' said tournament director Tommy Haas .
• Coronavirus : Timeline of how it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's leading players , including men 's world number two Rafael Nadal , have already arrived in California for the event .
Qualifying was set to start on Monday with the main draw matches beginning on Wednesday .
The tournament draws more than 400,000 fans each year to Indian Wells , which is 130 miles east of Los Angeles .
The decision to call off the tournament was made after one case of coronavirus was confirmed in the local Coachella Valley area .
A public health emergency has been declared by medics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest of fans , players and neighbouring areas for this tournament to proceed , '' said Dr David Agus , professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California .
`` We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak . ''
Coronavirus - a fast-moving infection originating in China - has spread to more than 100 countries and claimed more than 3,800 lives .
`` We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place , but the health and safety of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteers , sponsors , employees , vendors , and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance , '' added Haas , the former world number two .
WTA chief executive Steve Simon told the New York Times there had been discussions to hold the event behind closed doors but that option was rejected by tournament officials .
What has been the reaction of the players ?
Spain 's Nadal , 33 , was among the first to react to the news , calling the outbreak of the virus `` sad '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the decision would force other major tournaments to be postponed .
`` Does n't bode well for the tour if Indian Wells cancelled for one confirmed case in Coachella Valley , '' said the 34-year-old Scot .
British number two Heather Watson set up a vote on her Twitter account asking whether the decision was an `` overreaction '' or a `` good decision '' .
Belgian player Kirsten Flipkens criticised the WTA for not holding an emergency meeting of the players , with Romanian Sorana Cirstea adding she was only told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world number three Pam Shriver , now a leading television analyst , believes it is a `` brave , tough but correct decision '' .
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu won last year's WTA title at Indian Wells
The Indian Wells tournament has been cancelled because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
The tournament, a combined ATP and WTA event which is one of the biggest and most prestigious outside of the Grand Slams, was due to start this week.
Health officials in California said there was "too great a risk" to hold a "large gathering of this size".
"We are prepared to hold it on another date and will explore options," said tournament director Tommy Haas.
Many of the world's leading players, including men's world number two Rafael Nadal, have already arrived in California for the event.
Qualifying was set to start on Monday with the main draw matches beginning on Wednesday.
The tournament draws more than 400,000 fans each year to Indian Wells, which is 130 miles east of Los Angeles.
The decision to call off the tournament was made after one case of coronavirus was confirmed in the local Coachella Valley area. A public health emergency has been declared by medics.
"It is not in the public interest of fans, players and neighbouring areas for this tournament to proceed," said Dr David Agus, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California.
"We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak."
Coronavirus - a fast-moving infection originating in China - has spread to more than 100 countries and claimed more than 3,800 lives.
"We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local community, fans, players, volunteers, sponsors, employees, vendors, and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance," added Haas, the former world number two.
WTA chief executive Steve Simon told the New York Times external-link there had been discussions to hold the event behind closed doors but that option was rejected by tournament officials.
What has been the reaction of the players?
Spain's Nadal, 33, was among the first to react to the news, calling the outbreak of the virus "sad".
British doubles player Jamie Murray questioned whether the decision would force other major tournaments to be postponed.
"Doesn't bode well for the tour if Indian Wells cancelled for one confirmed case in Coachella Valley," said the 34-year-old Scot.
British number two Heather Watson set up a vote on her Twitter account asking whether the decision was an "overreaction" or a "good decision".
Belgian player Kirsten Flipkens criticised the WTA for not holding an emergency meeting of the players, with Romanian Sorana Cirstea adding she was only told about the news on Twitter.
Former world number three Pam Shriver, now a leading television analyst, believes it is a "brave, tough but correct decision".