bbc--2020-10-02--Covid: Donald Trump and Melania test positive

US President Donald Trump has said he and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus and are now self-isolating .
Mr Trump , aged 74 and therefore in a high-risk group , wrote on Twitter : `` We will get through this together . ''
It comes after Hope Hicks , one of his closest aides , tested positive .
Mr Trump 's announcement comes just over a month before the presidential elections on 3 November , where he faces Democratic challenger Joe Biden .
Ms Hicks , 31 , travelled with Mr Trump on Air Force One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Biden in Ohio on Tuesday .
Some of Mr Trump 's family members who attended the debate were seen not wearing masks .
The Biden camp has so far made no public comments on the latest developments .
A person is required to self-isolate after either showing coronavirus symptoms or a positive test .
Meanwhile , quarantine restricts the movements of those who have been in contact with an infected person , but are not themselves positive or symptomatic .
Mr Trump has mostly spurned mask-wearing and has often been pictured not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official engagements .
The coronavirus has infected more than 7.2 million Americans , killing more than 200,000 of them .
What do we know about Mr Trump 's health ?
Mr Trump 's physician , Dr Sean Conley , released a statement late on Thursday , saying the president and the first lady were `` both well at this time , and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence '' .
`` Rest assured I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated on any future developments , '' the statement said .
The physician provided no further details .
According to Mr Trump 's most recent physical examination earlier this year , he weighed 244lbs ( 110.7kg ) .
This is considered to be obese for his height of 1.9m ( 6ft 3ins ) .
But Dr Conley stated at the time that the president `` remains healthy '' .
Mr Trump will also have the best medical care available .
America 's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) says a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a positive test .
• Coronavirus : What is the risk to men over 50 ?
• US shares set to drop after Trump tests positive Is Mr Trump at particular risk because of his age ?
It is dangerous to speculate about how the virus will affect any individual person .
There are clear risk factors - the older you are the greater the risk of a coronavirus infection becoming life-threatening .
People aged 64-74 with Covid in the US are five times more likely to need hospital care and 90 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their 20s .
The CDC says eight out of 10 Covid deaths in the country have been in the over 65s .
The virus also seems to hit men and people who are overweight harder .
But that is the big picture - a pattern seen across the whole population - it is not a way of saying this is what will happen to the US president .
The health of any two 74-year-olds can be wildly different and other medical conditions massively alter how big a threat this virus poses .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has even developed symptoms .
Earlier on Thursday , Mr Trump said he and his wife , who is 50 , were going into quarantine after Ms Hicks 's positive test .
He tweeted : `` Hope Hicks , who has been working so hard without even taking a small break , has just tested positive for Covid 19 .
Terrible !
`` The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results .
In the meantime , we will begin our quarantine process ! ''
According to Bloomberg News , Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is not clear how Mr Trump 's positive test will affect arrangements for the second presidential debate , which is scheduled for 15 October in Miami , Florida .
Mr Trump is not the first world leader to have tested positive .
Earlier this year , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro were infected .
They both have since recovered , although Mr Johnson had to receive regular oxygen treatment to help his breathing during hospitalisation .
What does this mean for the US election ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to worry about Covid-19 because `` it affects virtually nobody '' except the elderly and those with heart conditions , the president himself has tested positive for the virus .
It is difficult to overstate exactly how earth-shaking a development this is , just 32 days before the US elections .
The president will have to quarantine for treatment .
Campaign rallies are off .
The next presidential debate , in two weeks , is in question .
The recurring message from the president , that the nation is `` rounding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , has been undermined by his own illness .
Just two days ago , during the first debate , Trump belittled Democratic opponent Joe Biden for frequently wearing masks and not having campaign rallies that matched his own in size .
Now , the White House and the campaign will have to answer why the president took such a seemingly cavalier attitude toward protecting himself - and how many others in the White House and the higher echelons of the US government may have been exposed .
During times of national turmoil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in support of the president .
It may not be enough to insulate him from the questions that follow , however .
Have there been other cases at the White House ?
In May , Vice-President Mike Pence 's press secretary Katie Miller tested positive and later recovered .
That same month , a member of the US Navy who was serving as one of Mr Trump 's personal valets tested positive .
But the White House said at the time that neither the president nor vice-president were affected .
National Security Adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service agents , a Marine One pilot and a White House cafeteria worker have also tested positive .
The White House tests aides and anyone else who comes into contact with the president daily .
How the US and the world have reacted ?
In a tweet , US Vice-President Mike Pence and his wife Karen wished the presidential couple well : Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter : `` My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady .
Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus . ''
Other world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu , also sent messages of support to the couple .
• How is Donald Trump doing in the polls ?
• Will we get a result on US election night ?
• Why some older Trump voters are not happy

Covid: Donald Trump and Melania test positive Published 2 October 2020
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The president says: "We will get through this together"
US President Donald Trump has said he and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for coronavirus and are now self-isolating.
Mr Trump, aged 74 and therefore in a high-risk group, wrote on Twitter: "We will get through this together."
The president has "mild symptoms" of coronavirus, White House officials say.
Mr Trump's announcement comes just over a month before the presidential elections on 3 November, where he faces Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
The development comes after Hope Hicks, one of Mr Trump's closest aides, tested positive.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Donald J. Trump Allow Twitter content? This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of twitter post by Donald J. Trump
In a tweet, Mr Biden and his wife Jill wished the first couple a swift recovery: "We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family," he said.
It is not clear whether Mr Biden is also being tested, and whether he will continue his campaign on Friday with a scheduled visit to Michigan. He stood approximately 10ft (3m) away from Mr Trump during the debate.
Debate moderator Chris Wallace said on Friday he was getting tested.
A person is required to self-isolate after either showing coronavirus symptoms or a positive test. Meanwhile, quarantine restricts the movements of those who have been in contact with an infected person, but are not themselves positive or symptomatic.
Mr Trump has mostly spurned mask-wearing and has often been pictured not socially distanced with aides or others during official engagements.
The coronavirus has infected more than 7.2 million Americans, killing more than 200,000 of them.
What do we know about Mr Trump's health?
Mr Trump's physician, Dr Sean Conley, released a statement late on Thursday, saying the president and the first lady were "both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence".
"Rest assured I expect the president to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments," the statement said.
The physician provided no further details.
However, White House officials and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin later said Mr Trump was experiencing mild Covid-19 symptoms.
According to Mr Trump's most recent physical examination earlier this year, he weighed 244lbs (110.7kg). This is considered to be obese for his height of 6ft 3ins.
But Dr Conley stated at the time that the president "remains healthy". Mr Trump will also have the best medical care available.
America's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a person must self-isolate for 10 days after a positive test.
Is Mr Trump at particular risk because of his age?
It is dangerous to speculate about how the virus will affect any individual person.
There are clear risk factors - the older you are, the greater the risk of a coronavirus infection becoming life-threatening.
People aged 64-74 with Covid in the US are five times more likely to need hospital care and 90 times more likely to die than somebody in their 20s.
The CDC says eight out of 10 Covid deaths in the country have been in the over-65s.
The virus also seems to hit men and people who are overweight harder.
But that is the big picture - a pattern seen across the whole population - it is not a way of saying this is what will happen to the US president.
The health of any two 74-year-olds can be wildly different and other medical conditions massively alter how big a threat this virus poses.
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Trump said he and his wife, who is 50, were going to self-isolate after Ms Hicks's positive test.
Image source, AFP / Getty Images Image caption, Hope Hicks has been at Mr Trump's side for years
He tweeted: "Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible!
"The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!"
According to Bloomberg News, Ms Hicks is experiencing symptoms of the disease.
It is not clear how Mr Trump's positive test will affect arrangements for the second presidential debate, which is scheduled for 15 October in Miami, Florida.
Mr Trump is not the first world leader to have tested positive. Earlier this year, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro were infected. They both have since recovered, although Mr Johnson had to receive regular oxygen treatment to help his breathing during hospitalisation.
What does this mean for the US election?
A week after Donald Trump told Americans not to worry about Covid-19 because "it affects virtually nobody" except the elderly and those with heart conditions, the president himself has tested positive for the virus.
It is difficult to overstate exactly how earth-shaking a development this is, just 32 days before the US elections.
The president will have to quarantine for treatment. Campaign rallies are off. The next presidential debate, in two weeks, is in question.
The recurring message from the president, that the nation is "rounding the turn" in its handling of the virus, has been undermined by his own illness.
Just two days ago, during the first debate, Trump belittled his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, for frequently wearing masks and not having campaign rallies that matched his own in size.
Now, the White House and the campaign will have to answer why the president took such a seemingly cavalier attitude toward protecting himself - and how many others in the White House and the higher echelons of the US government may have been exposed.
During times of national turmoil, the American public tends to rally in support of the president. It may not be enough to insulate him from the questions that follow, however.
Who else has been tested?
Vice-President Mike Pence and his wife were tested on Friday morning, and the results were negative, Mr Pence's press secretary Devin O'Malley tweeted.
Later on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who would in theory take charge of government if both the president and vice-president were incapacitated, said she had been tested on Friday morning and had not yet received the results.
Ms Pelosi, a Democrat, said "continuity plans were in place", but she herself had not been contacted by the White House about this.
Other members of the Trump family - his daughter Ivanka, son Barron and son-in-law Jared Kushner - have all tested negative.
Several White House officials have been infected previously.
In May, vice-presidential spokeswoman Katie Miller tested positive, as well as a member of the US Navy who was serving as one of Mr Trump's personal valets.
National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, a number of Secret Service agents, a Marine One pilot and a White House cafeteria worker have also tested positive.
The White House tests aides and anyone else who comes into contact with the president daily.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Covid symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate for?
How have the US and the world reacted?
In a tweet, US Vice-President Mike Pence and his wife Karen wished the presidential couple well:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 2 by Mike Pence Allow Twitter content? This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of twitter post 2 by Mike Pence
Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter: "My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus."


bbc--2020-10-02--Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Armenia 'ready' for ceasefire talks

The two former Soviet republics went to war over the territory between 1988 and 1994 , eventually declaring a ceasefire @ @ @ @ @ reached a settlement over the dispute .

When we arrived, the soldiers were pulling pieces of what they said was an Israeli-built rocket out of the tarmac. All the windows of the nearby buildings had been blown out. Several people had been injured but fortunately no-one killed.


bbc--2020-10-02--EU warns Turkey of sanctions over 'provocations' in Mediterranean

`` But it will only work if the provocations and pressures stop , '' she said .
`` We therefore @ @ @ @ @ on abstains from unilateral actions .
In case of such renewed actions by Ankara , @ @ @ @ @ its instruments and options available .
We have a toolbox that we can apply immediately @ @

"But it will only work if the provocations and pressures stop," she said. "We therefore expect that Turkey from now on abstains from unilateral actions. In case of such renewed actions by Ankara, the EU will use all its instruments and options available. We have a toolbox that we can apply immediately."


bbc--2020-10-02--Beirut blast: Lebanon seeks arrest of ship owner and captain

The explosion has caused outrage in Lebanon , with blame being directed not only at those in charge of the @ @ @ @ @ Lebanese authorities for failing to prevent it from happening .

The explosion has caused outrage in Lebanon, with blame being directed not only at those in charge of the ship, but also the Lebanese authorities for failing to prevent it from happening.


bbc--2020-10-02--Chinese vlogger dies after 'set on fire by ex during live stream'

A Chinese influencer has died after her ex-husband allegedly doused her in petrol and set fire to her as she was attempting to live stream , said local media reports .
Lamu was popular on Douyin , China 's version of TikTok , where she had hundreds of thousands of followers .
Lamu suffered burns on 90 % of her body and died two weeks after the attack .
The case has prompted conversation on social media about violence against women in China .
Lamu , 30 , from China 's Sichuan province , was known for her happy posts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not using make up in her videos , which had millions of likes .
According to state-media outlet the Beijing Youth Daily , Lamu 's screen went black soon after she started livestreaming on 14 September .
Her ex-husband , identified only by his surname Tang , had allegedly broken into her house armed with a knife and petrol .
A statement from Jinchuan County Public Security Bureau said that after the attack on 14 September , she was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to Sichuan Provincial People 's Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her followers for financial help and more than one million yuan ( £114,280 ) was raised in just 24 hours , according to The Paper .
What led to this ?
According to the Beijing Youth Daily , Tang reportedly had a history of domestic violence .
Lamu 's brother-in-law , identified as Mr Luo , said he had heard his wife `` mention that her sister was often beaten by Tang '' .
Lamu reportedly divorced Tang earlier this year in May - the pair have two children , and each gained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tang threatened to kill one child if Lamu did not re-marry him , said the news report .
She did , but ended up running away from him .
Unable to find her , he reportedly questioned her relatives - Lamu 's sister , who refused to reveal her whereabouts , was also beaten by Tang .
Family members said this incident was reported to the police who , according to them , took no action .
She eventually divorced him again and he gained custody of both children .
Police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspicion of `` intentional homicide '' .
A team is continuing to investigate , the statement said .
What has the reaction been ?
The case has prompted discussion on China 's social media site Weibo .
More than 70 million people have used a hashtag mentioning her death .
One user said she hopes `` women are given more security '' .
Another attacked police officials saying : `` Where were you when a report was made ?
Why did n't you care ? ''
This is not the first time a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulty in China 's legal system .
Earlier this year , a Chinese woman was beaten by her husband so brutally that she jumped from a window to escape .
She later attempted to divorce him , providing CCTV footage of the event as proof .
The court refused to grant the divorce .
She later uploaded the video on to social media where thousands rushed to her defence - the court later granted her divorce .
Earlier this year , China introduced a new 30-day `` cool-off '' period before couples are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties time to rethink their decision .
But this has sparked some concern that victims of domestic abuse could be coerced during that period to reconsider .
The law , which will come into effect in 2021 , is not applicable to families with a history of domestic violence , though rights groups say many cases are not reported to police .

Earlier this year, China introduced a new 30-day "cool-off" period before couples are granted a divorce, to allow both parties time to rethink their decision. But this has sparked some concern that victims of domestic abuse could be coerced during that period to reconsider.


bbc--2020-10-02--Brexit: PM and EU president to 'take stock' of trade talks

Boris Johnson will speak to the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday to `` take stock '' of post-Brexit trade negotiations and `` discuss next steps '' .
The UK and the EU have been holding their final formal rounds of trade talks in Brussels this week .
Both sides have said a deal needs to be agreed this month to take over from the transition period at the start of 2021 .
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick called on the EU to `` show flexibility '' .
The meeting between Mr Johnson and Ms von @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU launched legal proceedings against the UK over its plans to override sections of its Brexit divorce deal .
• What are the sticking points in Brexit trade talks ?
• Brexit deal must be made , says business boss • Trade talks : What do the UK and EU want ?
The UK formally left the EU in January , but entered a transition period - where the UK has kept to EU trading rules and remained inside its customs union and single market - to allow the two sides to negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March and continued through the pandemic , but there has been concerns over whether a plan would be agreed before that period runs out on 31 December .
Issues that have become particular sticking points between negotiators are state aid - when governments give financial support to businesses - and fishing rules .
The BBC 's Europe editor Katya Adler said there had been `` rumours of progress '' in the talks from UK officials , but they have not been confirmed by EU teams .
She added : `` The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides say they want a deal , but both say not at any price .
`` If a deal does eventually emerge , compromises will have to have been made by both sides . ''
The EU has said a deal must be reached before the end of October to allow it to be signed off by the member states before the end of the year , while Mr Johnson has said both sides should `` move on '' if agreement was not reached by the middle of the month .
If a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will go on to trade with the bloc on World Trade Organisation rules .
Mr Jenrick told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme the government was `` perfectly content to see the transition period end and us to continue to trade on the same sort of arrangements as Australia '' if agreement is not reached .

The EU has said a deal must be reached before the end of October to allow it to be signed off by the member states before the end of the year, while Mr Johnson has said both sides should "move on" if agreement was not reached by the middle of the month.


bbc--2020-10-02--Coronavirus: Australia opens 'travel zone' to New Zealanders

Australia 's federal government has pushed for domestic and international borders to be re-opened `` as soon as practical '' @ @ @ @ @ but some state governments - which have power over their own borders - have been @ @ @

Australia's federal government has pushed for domestic and international borders to be re-opened "as soon as practical" to help the economy, but some state governments - which have power over their own borders - have been more resistant.


bbc--2020-10-02--Asylum seekers: UK considered floating barriers in Channel

The government looked into putting floating barriers in the English Channel to stop asylum seekers crossing to the UK , a leaked document shows .
The Home Office approached the trade group Maritime UK over the possible use of temporary `` marine fencing '' , in a request for ideas sent over the summer .
This , it said , must be able to `` prevent a slow-moving , heavily overloaded migrant boat from making progress '' .
The government said it did not `` comment on leaks '' .
But Maritime UK said it was its `` clear view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Channel was `` not legally possible '' under the terms of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea .
• Asylum seekers could be processed on old ferries This year , almost 7,000 people have reached the UK in more than 500 small boats , often totally unsuited to the conditions .
Home Secretary Priti Patel has declared she is `` determined to stop this criminal trade '' .
The government has looked at setting up a processing centre for asylum seekers on Ascension Island , 4,000 miles from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the coast of England .
Meanwhile , the Times has reported that other proposals drawn up by the Home Office include the use of a water cannon in the Channel to create waves to push back vessels .
On Thursday , the most senior civil servant at the Home Office , Matthew Rycroft , told MPs that `` everything is on the table '' when it comes to `` improving '' the UK 's asylum system .
He added that the UK had been `` looking at what a whole host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovation into our own system '' .
An email from Maritime UK - sent on 17 September and first seen by the Financial Times - included the request put out by the government over the summer , asking `` what options are available for marine fencing and other water-based technologies that would inhibit passage to UK territorial waters '' .
These needed `` the capability to fully prevent a slow-moving , heavily overloaded migrant boat from making progress '' and had to be `` deployable to a precise location , and capable of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request added that the technology had to be `` rapidly deployable and rapidly removable '' , while being `` safe for those who come into contact with it '' and `` for those operating it '' .
The Strait of Dover - separating the Channel and the North Sea - is the world 's busiest shipping lane .
The Home Office suggested that any fencing be placed `` on the median line '' , which separates French and UK territorial waters , but `` without the equipment entering French waters '' .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greek government was planning to construct a barrier of nets to deter people crossing the Aegean by boat from Turkey .
These would use pylons connected to the seabed , leaving half a metre - topped by flashing lights - above the surface , the magazine Dezeen said .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has described some of the ideas being considered by the Home Office as `` inhumane '' and `` ridiculous '' .
When asked about the possibility of a floating wall in the Channel , a Home Office spokeswoman said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaks '' .
They also said : `` As the public will fully understand , we do not comment on operational matters because to do so could provide an advantage to the exploitative and ruthless criminals who facilitate these dangerous crossings , as they look for new ways to beat the system . ''
Ben Murray , director of Maritime UK , said : `` As the umbrella organisation for UK maritime we are a conduit between industry and government and are often asked by government for advice or input on policy matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass on a question around options to inhibit passage to UK territorial waters , which we gave to our members .
`` The clear view , which we shared with the Home Office , was that as a matter of international convention , that this is not legally possible . ''

They also said: "As the public will fully understand, we do not comment on operational matters because to do so could provide an advantage to the exploitative and ruthless criminals who facilitate these dangerous crossings, as they look for new ways to beat the system."


bbc--2020-10-02--Peter Webster: The 80-year-old footballer preparing to retire

`` In my first few years when you 're playing , you wake up on Sunday all bruised and it @ @ @ @ @ Now it 's Monday before I feel the bruises and it 's the following Saturday @ @ @ @ @ ''

"In my first few years when you're playing, you wake up on Sunday all bruised and it's gone by Monday. Now it's Monday before I feel the bruises and it's the following Saturday until they're gone."


bbc--2020-10-02--Covid-positive MP who made trip urged to resign

Scotland 's first minister has urged Margaret Ferrier to resign as an MP after she travelled from Glasgow to London with Covid-19 symptoms , then returned home after testing positive .
Nicola Sturgeon , who is also the SNP leader , said she had `` made clear her view '' to Ms Ferrier that she should `` do the right thing '' and step down .
Ms Ferrier has been suspended by the SNP , but can not be sacked as an MP .
She has apologised and said she `` deeply regretted '' her actions .
In a tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Ms Ferrier was a `` friend and colleague '' and she had asked her to step down `` with a heavy heart '' .
She added : `` Her actions were dangerous and indefensible .
I have no power to force an MP to resign but I hope she will do the right thing . ''
• What is self-isolation and who has to do it ?
The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West said she had experienced `` mild symptoms '' on Saturday and was tested for coronavirus .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westminster on Monday before getting her result because she was `` feeling much better '' .
She spoke for four minutes in the Commons chamber during a coronavirus debate - tweeting a video of her speech - but was told later that evening that she had tested positive for the virus .
Despite this , Ms Ferrier took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday , with SNP whips in the Commons being told about her positive test on Wednesday .
It is understood she had initially told the party she was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A spokesman for the party said : `` The SNP 's chief whip immediately informed parliament authorities .
`` The SNP only became aware on Thursday that Ms Ferrier had been tested prior to travelling to London and had travelled back to Glasgow , knowing that she had a positive result . ''
SNP sources have been reported as saying that party leader Nicola Sturgeon was only told on Thursday afternoon - after she faced opposition leaders at first minister 's questions in the Scottish Parliament .
Ms Ferrier 's actions became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 18:00 on Thursday .
SNP sources initially said they would await the result of a police investigation into her actions before deciding whether or not she would be suspended .
But the party announced her suspension about an hour later , with Ms Sturgeon subsequently tweeting that the MP 's actions had been `` indefensible '' .
One person has been identified as a close contact of Ms Ferrier 's and is now self-isolating , parliamentary authorities said .
Police Scotland confirmed they had been contacted by Ms Ferrier , saying officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and liaising with the Metropolitan Police Service .
Ms Ferrier could face a £4,000 fine for a first-time offence of coming into contact with others when she should have been self-isolating under a law that came into force on the day of her positive test .
Ian Blackford , the SNP leader at Westminster , told BBC Breakfast that Ms Ferrier had broken the law and should therefore `` reflect very carefully on whether she can continue as a Member of Parliament for her constituents '' .
He said : `` Nobody is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regulations '' and added : `` I am calling on Margaret to do the right thing . ''
Glasgow East MP David Linden , one of Ms Ferrier 's former SNP colleagues , earlier told BBC Question Time that she `` should resign '' as an MP .
SNP MPs Kirsty Blackman and Stephen Flynn have also called for her to step down .
BBC Scotland 's chief political correspondent , Glenn Campbell , said there may be a way for Ms Ferrier 's constituents to force her out if she refuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to first be suspended from the Commons for a fortnight or ten sitting days by the standards committee .
If 10 % of registered voters in her constituency then signed a recall petition within the next six weeks , her seat would become vacant and a by-election would be called .
Five days a week , every week , Nicola Sturgeon appears on TV , taking questions about her coronavirus policies and urging every one of us to abide by the rules .
So for the MP who has committed the most egregious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law - to be one of her own is acutely embarrassing .
The SNP leader who has been quick to condemn others for breaking the rules has made no attempt to defend or excuse Margaret Ferrier .
This is the first minister who fired her chief medical advisor for breaking lockdown rules back in April and who demanded the sacking of the PM 's chief advisor Dominic Cummings after he admitted to breaches of the regulations .
SNP MPs called publicly Ms Ferrier to resign and Ms Sturgeon has spoken to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should step down as an MP .
But the problem for the SNP is that they can not force the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West to leave her job .
They have already removed the party whip and suspended her from the SNP .
But that is all they can do .
Ms Ferrier was one of the MPs who called on the prime minister 's adviser Dominic Cummings to resign in the wake of the controversy over his visit to the North East of England during lockdown .
At the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermined the sacrifices that we have all been making in lockdown to protect each other from coronavirus '' and described his position as `` untenable '' .
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said Ms Ferrier 's `` reckless '' actions had put the lives of other people at risk , and has questioned the SNP 's timeline of events .
Mr Ross said : `` The SNP say they only found out about any wrongdoing on Thursday .
That means we 're supposed to accept that the SNP found out Margaret Ferrier tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The public is expected to believe SNP bosses did n't think to ask a single question , not one , about when she tested positive , where she had been or who she had been around , despite her appearance in the Commons earlier that week .
`` The SNP 's timeline is full of holes and any reasonable person can see that . ''
Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray also demanded answers from the SNP to the `` very serious questions '' surrounding the behaviour of Ms Ferrier .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scottish Labour MP wrote : `` We are faced with catastrophic , negligent actions by an MP which have put lives at risk .
`` You and your party 's slow response leaves much to be desired , and the party must come forward with a full and clear explanation .
Commons staff and the wider public deserve nothing less . ''
Ms Ferrier was first elected as an SNP MP in 2015 but lost her seat to Labour in 2017 before winning it back in last year 's general election with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What are the restrictions in Scotland ?
• LOCKDOWN : Six months that changed our lives • CASES : Where are the latest cases in Scotland ?
• NUMBERS : Four key figures to watch out for

When asked by the BBC whether he believed Ms Ferrier should quit as an MP, Sir Lindsay replied: "I would expect the member to consider what they have done, and the reckless behaviour, and how that looks to the rest of the country.


bbc--2020-10-02--Trump condemns all white supremacists after Proud Boys row

US President Donald Trump has condemned all white supremacist groups following controversy over remarks he made during the first presidential debate .
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday he explicitly condemned the Proud Boys group which in the debate he had urged to `` stand back and stand by '' .
Members of the far-right group had regarded his comment as an endorsement .
Mr Trump 's Democratic rival Joe Biden had accused the president of refusing to disavow white supremacists .
Senior Republicans also expressed unease over the remarks , and attempts by Mr Trump to walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday failed to end the controversy .
In an interview with Sean Hannity on Thursday evening President Trump said : `` I 've said it many times , let me be clear again , I condemn the KKK [ Ku Klux Klan ] .
I condemn all white supremacists .
I condemn the Proud Boys .
`` I do n't know much about the Proud Boys , almost nothing , but I condemn that . ''
• Who are Proud Boys and antifa ?
During Tuesday 's debate , moderator Chris Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacists and tell them to stand down during protests .
When Mr Trump asked who it was he was being told to condemn , Mr Biden twice said `` Proud Boys '' , referring to the far-right , anti-immigrant , all-group with a history of violence against left-wing opponents .
The president said : `` Proud Boys - stand back and stand by .
But I 'll tell you what ... somebody 's got to do something about antifa [ anti-fascist activists ] and the left because this is not a right-wing problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemn far-right groups drew criticism , Mr Trump sought to qualify his remarks during an exchange with reporters on the White House had lawn on Wednesday .
He said he did not know who the Proud boys were .
He did not clarify his use of `` stand by '' in the debate but said he wanted to `` let law enforcement do their work '' .
During his time in office , President Trump has been accused of emboldening far-right groups with his rhetoric while being more willing to openly condemn those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world reacted to the presidential debate The tone and tactics of the first presidential debate were widely criticised .
The candidates were given two minutes to answer moderator questions before being allowed to address each other 's response .
However , President Trump constantly interrupted Mr Biden leading to a series of chaotic exchanges in which both men talked over each other .
The Commission on Presidential Debates ( CPD ) - a nonpartisan body that has organised presidential debates since 1988 - has since said it will announce new measures to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining two debates .
• How is Donald Trump doing in the polls ?
• Will we get a result on US election night ?
• Why some older Trump voters are not happy

The president said: "Proud Boys - stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what... somebody's got to do something about antifa [anti-fascist activists] and the left because this is not a right-wing problem."


bbc--2020-10-02--Playboy goes from private to public in new venture

Playboy Enterprises is going to list again on the stock market , nine years after it was taken private .
The late Hugh Hefner empire is merging with another firm , Mountain Crest , in a deal that values Playboy at $ 381m ( £296m ) and includes $ 142m of debt .
Playboy has transformed its business model and stopped printing its famous magazine earlier this year .
It now describes itself as a consumer products company that includes sexual wellness , clothing and gaming .
The magazine was first published in 1953 but shut it down as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It now puts its famous bunny logo on products such as lingerie , digital gaming and grooming .
Playboy says it has $ 3bn in consumer spending against the Playboy brand across 180 countries .
`` Playboy 's foray indicates the pivotal value of branding , '' Nirgunan Tiruchelvam , Head of Consumer Sector Equity Research at analyst firm Tellimer told the BBC .
`` Magazine publishing is a sunset business , but Playboy has transformed its business model . ''
Hugh Hefner founded Playboy Enterprises in 1953 .
The company 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monroe on the cover .
Its nude images catapulted the company to fame and the print magazine became the centrepiece of its business for decades .
But as the digital age took hold , sales declined and it moved into other ventures , such as collaborations with fashion brands such as Marc Jacobs .
Mr Hefner died in 2017 aged 91 and his family sold its 35 % stake to a tech-focused investment fund the following year .
The merger with Mountain Crest is expected to be finalised in early 2021 and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nasdaq , the US stock market index that contains tech heavyweights such as Apple , Amazon and Google 's parent company Alphabet .
Mountain Crest is a special purpose acquisition company ( SPAC ) , often referred to as a `` blank cheque company '' .
These companies are set up with the sole purpose of buying a private firm to merge with and then take public on the stock market .
It is seen as a faster route to the public markets with less scrutiny .
SPACs have raised close to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times the amount raised by this time in 2019 , according to data provider Refinitiv .
`` The intention was always to return the company to public markets , '' said Playboy chief executive Ben Kohn .
He added Playboy was already planning to make acquisitions .

These companies are set up with the sole purpose of buying a private firm to merge with and then take public on the stock market. It is seen as a faster route to the public markets with less scrutiny.


bbc--2020-10-02--Nearly 20,000 Covid-19 cases among Amazon workers

Amazon said that more than 19,816 of its frontline workers in the US have contracted Covid-19 since March .
The number equates to 1.44 % of its 1.37 million workers across Amazon and its subsidiary Whole Foods .
Amazon had faced criticism from employees , unions and elected officials , who have accused the company of putting employees ' health at risk .
But the online retailing giant said its infection rate is lower than expected .
Amazon has kept its facilities open throughout the pandemic to meet a surge in demand from shoppers stuck at home .
Staying open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm , and has added to the wealth of founder Jeff Bezos , who is the world 's richest man .
The tech giant 's sales soared 40 % to $ 88.9bn ( £67.9bn ) in the three months ending in June , and its quarterly profit of $ 5.2bn ( £4bn ) was its biggest since the company started in 1994 .
In a blog post , Amazon argued that 33,952 workers would have contracted the virus if Amazon 's infection rate had equalled the wider population 's , when accounting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures include seasonal staff and those who may have been infected outside work .
The company said that it `` introduced or changed over 150 processes '' , distributed more than 100 million face masks , and implemented temperature checks at its facilities around the world .
Amazon said it introduced social distancing measures and additional cleaning , which `` occurs across each site about every 90 minutes '' .
Amazon challenged other companies to make public their own Covid-19 statistics .
`` This information would be more powerful if there were similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to , '' Amazon said in the blog post .
Athena , a coalition that has opposed Amazon on a wide range of labour , planning and environmental issues , called on officials to investigate further .
`` Amazon allowed Covid-19 to spread like wildfire , '' Athena 's director Dania Rajendra said in a statement .

The tech giant's sales soared 40% to $88.9bn (£67.9bn) in the three months ending in June, and its quarterly profit of $5.2bn (£4bn) was its biggest since the company started in 1994.


bbc--2020-10-02--Singapore firm pushes ahead with Newcastle United bid

Singaporean-backed firm Bellagraph Nova says it is pushing ahead with its bid for Newcastle United Football Club .
One of the firm 's co-founders Evangeline Shen told the BBC her team is in regular contact with the Premier League club .
Bellagraph Nova has been the subject of a number of revelations since its bid was revealed in August .
The company has been criticised for inconsistencies about its assets and has retracted press statements .
Bellagraph Nova particularly came under fire for a photo-shopped picture of its three founders meeting former US President Barack Obama .
Revelations about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
Ms Shen co-founded Bellagraph Nova with business partners and cousins Nelson Loh and Terence Loh .
All three are directors of the Paris-based group .
The newly-merged group is a complex network of companies spread across consumer goods , luxury products and healthcare .
In an exclusive interview Ms Shen told the BBC that `` bidding for Newcastle is part of our strategy because it 's a well-known football club but still has room to improve , and we believe that improvement is good for the club as well as for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real planning for the club such as whom to hire as trainer and whom to sign for players , '' she added .
The 128-year-old football club is owned by billionaire retailer Mike Ashley , who put it up for sale in 2017 .
A £300m bid put forward by Saudi Arabia 's Private Investment Fund fell apart in August due to protracted negotiations .
Bellagraph Nova then stepped in with a £280m offer but has since become mired in controversy .
But Ms Chen is confident about the pursuit of Newcastle United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we are still very aggressive on trying to close the deal .
`` I can tell you our team just met Mike Ashley 's representative last week on the process in Paris again . ''
Out of nowhere On its corporate website , Bellagraph Nova says it has 23,000 employees and revenues for 2019 of $ 12bn ( £9.3bn ) .
Singapore-based corporate governance expert Mak Yuen Teen said it is not unusual for some companies to exaggerate their credentials or `` window-dress '' .
`` I 've seen listed companies continually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - announcing deals that are false , using fake degrees , but this is at a whole new level , '' he said .
As Bellagraph Nova and its entities are not publicly listed on any stock exchanges , apart from one linked company called Axington , their claims about revenues and employees can not be easily verified .
`` It 's quite unbelievable that a $ 12bn company with 23,000 employees appear out of nowhere .
Most likely they are claiming potential partners as part of their business , '' added Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of accounting at the National University of Singapore .
Talking about the revenue and employee figures , Ms Shen said `` the calculation we have is a generic one because we can only base on what our partner firms and our subsidiaries tell us to consolidate '' .
`` I understand the numbers may look large , but as the nature of online business , it 's very normal to have a lot of employees , '' she added .
`` The bid has turned into a shambles for the bidders and appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin McCullagh , senior analyst , Asia at SportBusiness .
`` Football clubs have always attracted colourful investors and owners , often drawn by the allure of a high-profile asset and the status it can bring , rather than a business case , '' added Mr McCullagh .
In recent years , there has been increasing interest in British football clubs from Asian investors .
English Premier League 's Wolves football club was bought by Chinese leisure group Fosun while rival Leicester City is owned by Thailand 's King Power travel retail group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment on the bid when approached by the BBC .

In an exclusive interview Ms Shen told the BBC that "bidding for Newcastle is part of our strategy because it's a well-known football club but still has room to improve, and we believe that improvement is good for the club as well as for our brand".


bbc--2020-10-01--NY Times reviews IS reporting amid hoax accusation

The New York Times has been forced to scrutinise its reporting on Islamic State ( IS ) in a popular podcast about the terror group , after a source was charged with lying about his experience .
Canadian Shehroze Chaudhry , 25 , was arrested by police on Friday , and stands accused of hoax-terrorist activity .
Mr Chaudhry was a key voice in the Times ' Caliphate series .
Police allege he made up his story .
The New York Times said it will report back following the `` fresh examination '' of how Mr Chaudhry was characterised in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chaudhry 's tales of the Islamic State first emerged after he gave interviews to Canadian and American news outlets with contradictory information .
The Canadian broadcaster CBC used his alleged jihadi name , Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi in a 2017 report , in which he described lashing a man with a whip as part of his duties for IS , but said he never killed anyone .
His account prompted a debate in the House of Commons , when the opposition questioned why he was allowed to still live in Canada .
Then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aired an interview with him on their podcast series Caliphate , in which Mr Chaudhry said he had executed people for IS .
The conflicting accounts prompted CBC reporter Nazim Baksh to doubt the veracity of Mr Chaudhry 's story .
`` I was shocked - wondering , 'Did he lie to me ? '
'' Mr Baksh said in a follow-up story in 2018 .
Mr Chaudhry was arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Friday following a lengthy investigation that uncovered no links between the Canadian and IS .
The `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically used for fake bomb threats and carries a sentence of up to five years .
`` Hoaxes can generate fear within our communities and create the illusion there is a potential threat to Canadians , while we have determined otherwise , '' said RCMP Superintendent Christopher deGale .
`` The RCMP takes these allegations very seriously , particularly when individuals , by their actions , cause the police to enter into investigations in which human and financial resources are invested and diverted from other ongoing priorities . ''
The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mr Chaudhry misled the newspaper about the dates of his travel to Syria , and the timeline of his purported radicalisation .
The newspaper said its journalists were able to geolocate a photo of Mr Chaudhry to the banks of the Euphrates river in Syria , indicating he was in the war-torn country at some point .
On Wednesday , the Times issued a statement , saying though the `` uncertainty about Abu Huzayfah 's story was explored directly '' in the Caliphate episodes he featured in , his arrest `` raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his motivations '' .
`` We 're undertaking a fresh examination of his history and the way we presented him in our series , '' it continued .
Mr Chaudhry is due to appear in court on 16 November .

The Canadian broadcaster CBC used his alleged jihadi name, Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi in a 2017 report, in which he described lashing a man with a whip as part of his duties for IS, but said he never killed anyone.


bbc--2020-09-25--A simple guide to the US election

A simple guide to the US election

The US president has a huge influence on people 's lives both at home and abroad , so when the next election is held on 3 November , the outcome will matter to everyone .
The US political system is dominated by just two parties , so the president always belongs to one of them .
The Republicans are the conservative political party in the US and their candidate in this year ’ s election is President Donald Trump , who is hoping to secure another four years in power .
The Democrats are the liberal political party in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an experienced politician best-known for serving as Barack Obama ’ s vice president for eight years .
Both men are in their 70s - Mr Trump would be 74 years old at the start of his second term , while at 78 , Mr Biden would be the oldest first-term president in history .
How is the winner decided ?
Each state gets a certain number of electoral college votes partly based on its population and there are a total of 538 up for grabs , so the winner is the candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means voters decide state-level contests rather than the national one , which is why it ’ s possible for a candidate to win the most votes nationally - like Hillary Clinton did in 2016 - but still be defeated by the electoral college .
All but two states have a winner-takes-all rule , so whichever candidate wins the highest number of votes is awarded all of the state ’ s electoral college votes .
Most states lean heavily towards one party or the other , so the focus is usually on a dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could win .
These are known as the battleground states .
Who can vote and how do they do it ?
If you ’ re a US citizen and you ’ re 18 or over , you should be eligible to vote in the presidential election , which takes place every four years .
However , lots of states have passed laws requiring voters to show identification documents to prove who they are before they can vote .
These laws are often put into place by Republicans who say they ’ re needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats accuse them of using this as a form of voter suppression as it is often poorer , minority voters who are unable to provide ID like a driving licence .
How people vote is a contentious issue this year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Some politicians are calling for wider use of postal ballots , but President Trump has said - with very little evidence - that this could result in more voter fraud .
Is the election just about who is president ?
No .
All of the attention will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters will also be choosing new members of Congress when they fill in their ballots .
Democrats already have control of the House so they will be looking to keep hold of that while also gaining control of the Senate .
If they had a majority in both chambers they would be able to block or delay President Trump ’ s plans if he were to be re-elected .
All 435 seats in the House are up for election this year , while 33 Senate seats are also up for grabs .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It can take several days for every vote to be counted , but it ’ s usually pretty clear who the winner is by the early hours of the following morning .
In 2016 , Donald Trump took to the stage in New York at about 3am to give his victory speech in front of a crowd of jubilant supporters .
But don ’ t set your alarm clocks just yet .
Officials are already warning that we may have to wait longer - possibly days , even weeks - for the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in postal ballots .
The last time the result wasn ’ t clear within a few hours was in 2000 , when the winner wasn ’ t confirmed until a Supreme Court ruling was made a month later .
When does the winner take office ?
If Joe Biden wins the election , he wouldn ’ t immediately replace President Trump as there is a set transition period to give the new leader time to appoint cabinet ministers and make plans .
The new president is officially sworn into office on 20 January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is held on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC .
After the ceremony , the new president makes their way to the White House to begin their four-year term in office .

Click or tap on an underlined word for a short definition or explanation
The US president has a huge influence on people's lives both at home and abroad, so when the next election is held on 3 November, the outcome will matter to everyone.
The US political system is dominated by just two parties, so the president always belongs to one of them.
The Republicans are the conservative political party in the US and their candidate in this year’s election is President Donald Trump, who is hoping to secure another four years in power.
Skip Republicans The Republican Party is also known as the GOP, or the Grand Old Party. In recent years, it has stood for lower taxes, gun rights and tighter restrictions on immigration. Support for the party tends to be stronger in more rural parts of America. Former Republican presidents include George W Bush, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. End of Republicans
The Democrats are the liberal political party in the US and their candidate is Joe Biden, an experienced politician best-known for serving as Barack Obama’s vice president for eight years.
Skip Democrats The Democratic Party is best defined by its liberal stances on issues like civil rights, immigration, and climate change. It believes government should play a bigger role in people’s lives, like providing health insurance. Support for the party tends to be stronger in urban parts of America. Former Democratic presidents include John F Kennedy and Barack Obama. End of Democrats
Both men are in their 70s - Mr Trump would be 74 years old at the start of his second term, while at 78, Mr Biden would be the oldest first-term president in history.
How is the winner decided?
Both candidates compete to win electoral college votes.
Skip electoral college Like most voting systems, the electoral college has a number of pros and cons but it is widely respected because of its historical roots in the founding of the US. It usually reflects the popular vote, but it has failed to in two of the last five elections, including when Donald Trump won in 2016. End of electoral college
Each state gets a certain number of electoral college votes partly based on its population and there are a total of 538 up for grabs, so the winner is the candidate that wins 270 or more.
This means voters decide state-level contests rather than the national one, which is why it’s possible for a candidate to win the most votes nationally - like Hillary Clinton did in 2016 - but still be defeated by the electoral college.
Skip Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton was Donald Trump’s opponent in 2016. She ended up winning nearly three million more votes than Mr Trump, mainly because she picked up a high number of votes in strong Democrat states like New York and California. However, her rival comfortably beat her in the electoral college race 304 to 227 because he won several tight contests in key states. End of Hillary Clinton
All but two states have a winner-takes-all rule, so whichever candidate wins the highest number of votes is awarded all of the state’s electoral college votes.
Most states lean heavily towards one party or the other, so the focus is usually on a dozen or so states where either of them could win. These are known as the battleground states.
Skip battleground states These states, which are often referred to as swing states as well, are where voters are split relatively evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Traditional battleground states include Florida and Ohio. Other states that have been strongly Republican in the past, like Arizona and Texas, are considered battlegrounds in 2020 due to increasing support for the Democratic Party. End of battleground states
Who can vote and how do they do it?
If you’re a US citizen and you’re 18 or over, you should be eligible to vote in the presidential election, which takes place every four years.
Skip eligible to vote In 2016, about 245 million people were eligible to vote, but fewer than 140 million people actually did. According to the US Census Bureau, the majority of people who didn’t register to vote said they just weren’t interested in politics. Those who registered but didn’t actually vote said they didn’t like the candidates. End of eligible to vote
However, lots of states have passed laws requiring voters to show identification documents to prove who they are before they can vote.
These laws are often put into place by Republicans who say they’re needed to guard against voter fraud. But Democrats accuse them of using this as a form of voter suppression as it is often poorer, minority voters who are unable to provide ID like a driving licence.
How people vote is a contentious issue this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some politicians are calling for wider use of postal ballots, but President Trump has said - with very little evidence - that this could result in more voter fraud.
Skip voter fraud Critics say postal ballots are susceptible to fraud - and there have been isolated incidents involving Republicans and Democrats - but numerous nationwide and state-level studies have found no evidence of any widespread fraud. End of voter fraud
Is the election just about who is president?
No. All of the attention will be on Trump v Biden, but voters will also be choosing new members of Congress when they fill in their ballots.
Skip Congress Congress is the part of the US government that writes and passes laws. It's made up of two chambers - the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House serve two-year terms while senators serve six-year terms and are split into three groups, meaning a third of them are up for election every two years. End of Congress
Democrats already have control of the House so they will be looking to keep hold of that while also gaining control of the Senate.
If they had a majority in both chambers they would be able to block or delay President Trump’s plans if he were to be re-elected.
All 435 seats in the House are up for election this year, while 33 Senate seats are also up for grabs.
When will we find out the result?
It can take several days for every vote to be counted, but it’s usually pretty clear who the winner is by the early hours of the following morning.
In 2016, Donald Trump took to the stage in New York at about 3am to give his victory speech in front of a crowd of jubilant supporters.
But don’t set your alarm clocks just yet. Officials are already warning that we may have to wait longer - possibly days, even weeks - for the result this year because of the expected surge in postal ballots.
Skip postal ballots There are two ways to vote in the US - by going to a polling station on election day or by using a postal ballot - but the rules vary depending on which state you are in. All states offer some form of voting by post, but many require you to provide a reason for not being able to vote in person on election day. Some states are accepting the coronavirus as a valid reason to use a postal ballot, but not all of them are at the moment. End of postal ballots
The last time the result wasn’t clear within a few hours was in 2000, when the winner wasn’t confirmed until a Supreme Court ruling was made a month later.
Skip a Supreme Court In 2000, the race between Republican candidate George W Bush and Democratic candidate Al Gore was so close that it came down to the result in Florida, where just a few hundred votes separated them. There were weeks of legal battles, which triggered a recount, but eventually the Supreme Court stepped in. Mr Bush was declared the winner, giving him all 25 of Florida’s electoral college votes and leaving him with a winning total of 271 overall. Mr Gore, who won more votes nationally than Mr Bush, conceded defeat. End of a Supreme Court
When does the winner take office?
If Joe Biden wins the election, he wouldn’t immediately replace President Trump as there is a set transition period to give the new leader time to appoint cabinet ministers and make plans.
The new president is officially sworn into office on 20 January in a ceremony known as the inauguration, which is held on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC.
After the ceremony, the new president makes their way to the White House to begin their four-year term in office.


What the polls say

Voters in America will decide on 3 November whether Donald Trump remains in the White House for another four years .
The Republican president is being challenged by Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden , who is best known as Barack Obama 's vice-president but has been in US politics since the 1970s .
As election day approaches , polling companies will be trying to gauge the mood of the nation by asking voters which candidate they prefer .
We 'll be keeping track of those polls here and trying to work out what they can and ca n't tell us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National polls are a good guide as to how popular a candidate is across the country as a whole , but they 're not necessarily a good way to predict the result of the election .
In 2016 , for example , Hillary Clinton led in the polls and won nearly three million more votes than Donald Trump , but she still lost - that 's because the US uses an electoral college system , so winning the most votes does n't always win you the election .
With that caveat aside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in most national polls since the start of the year .
He has hovered around 50 % in recent months and has had a 10-point lead on occasions .
By contrast , in 2016 the polls were far less clear and just a couple of percentage points separated Mr Trump and his then-rival Hillary Clinton at several points as election day neared .
• A really simple guide to the US election Which states will decide this election ?
As Mrs Clinton discovered in 2016 , the number of votes you win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Most states nearly always vote the same way , meaning that in reality there are just a handful of states where both candidates stand a chance of winning .
These are the places where the election will be won and lost and are known as battleground states .
In the electoral college system the US uses to elect its president , each state is given a number of votes based on how many members it sends to Congress - House and Senate .
A total of 538 electoral college votes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to hit 270 to win .
As the map above shows , some battleground states have a lot more electoral college votes on offer than others so candidates often spend a lot more time campaigning in them .
• What is the electoral college ?
At the moment , polls in the battleground states look good for Joe Biden , but there 's a long way to go and things can change very quickly , especially when Donald Trump 's involved .
The polls suggest Mr Biden is ahead in Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Republican rival won by margins of less than 1 % to clinch victory in 2016 .
But it 's the battleground states where Mr Trump won big in 2016 that his campaign team will be most worried about .
His winning margin in Iowa , Ohio and Texas was between 8-10 % back then but it 's looking much closer in all three at the moment .
Betting markets , however , are certainly not writing Mr Trump off just yet .
The latest odds give him about a 40 % chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests some people expect the outlook to change a lot over the next few weeks .
But political analysts are less convinced about his chances of re-election .
FiveThirtyEight , a political analysis website , says Mr Biden is `` favoured '' to win the election , while The Economist says he is `` very likely '' to beat Mr Trump .
• Has Trump delivered on his promises ?
Do polls show who won the first debate ?
Donald Trump and Joe Biden went head-to-head in the first of three planned live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pundits called the debate for Mr Biden and the BBC 's Anthony Zurcher agreed , describing it as `` the political equivalent of a food fight '' with the former vice-president emerging as the man `` least covered in slop '' .
But what do the polls tell us ?
Well we 'll have to wait a few days before the bigger national and state-level polls reflect any changes , but we do have some data from more limited snap polls .
In a CBS News/YouGov poll of people in battleground states who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Biden was the winner while 41 % went for Mr Trump - a similar split to the national polling averages .
Nearly 70 % of people said the debate made them feel `` annoyed '' .
A snap CNN poll gave Mr Biden a larger winning margin , with 60 % of people saying he had won , compared to 28 % for Mr Trump .
But looking back to the first debate in 2016 , a CNN poll then gave a similar winning margin to Hillary Clinton ( 62 % -27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race ended .
The coronavirus pandemic has dominated headlines in the US since the start of the year and the response to President Trump 's actions has been split predictably along party lines .
Support for his approach peaked in mid-March after he declared a national emergency and made $ 50 billion available to states to stop the spread of the virus .
But it dropped after that point , even among Republicans .
The virus is likely to be at the forefront of voters ' minds and one leading model produced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death toll will have risen to about 240,000 people by election day .
Mr Trump may be hoping Operation Warp Speed , his administration 's vaccine initiative , can produce an `` October surprise '' - a last-minute event that turns the election upside down .
The chief scientific adviser to the initiative has said it 's `` extremely unlikely but not impossible '' that a vaccine could be ready to distribute before 3 November .
• Trump deliberately played down virus , new book says Can we trust the polls ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by saying they got it wrong in 2016 and President Trump frequently does exactly that .
But it 's not entirely true .
Most national polls did have Hillary Clinton ahead by a few percentage points , but that does n't mean they were wrong , since she won three million more votes than her rival .
Pollsters did have some problems in 2016 - notably a failure to properly represent voters without a college degree - meaning Mr Trump 's advantage in some key battleground states was n't spotted until late in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most polling companies have corrected this now .
But this year there 's even more uncertainty than normal due to the coronavirus pandemic and the effect it 's having on both the economy and how people will vote in November , so all polls should be read with some scepticism , especially this far out from election day .
• Americast : The latest news and gossip from the campaign trail What questions do you have about the US election ?
The US election process can be confusing .
The BBC is here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Please put your questions below .
Written and produced by Mike Hills and Will Dahlgreen .
Design by Irene de la Torre Arenas .
Development by Katie Hassell , Marcos Gurgel , Steven Connor and Shilpa Saraf .

On his own health, 72% of respondents said that Mr Trump did not take the "risk of contracting the virus seriously enough," while the same number said he failed to take "the appropriate precautions when it came to his personal health".


bbc--2020-10-02--US election 2020: Fact-checking Trump on coronavirus

President Donald Trump 's response to the coronavirus pandemic , in which more than 200,000 people in the US have died , has become a key issue in the forthcoming presidential election .
He has been widely criticised for playing down the virus in the early stages and for the US registering the world 's highest number of Covid-related deaths .
Now that Mr Trump has himself tested positive for Covid-19 , these issues are likely to be brought into even sharper focus during the final stages of the election campaign .
Trump : `` We have one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared mortality rates elsewhere with those of the United States , claiming they 're considerably lower .
Comparisons across countries are not straightforward as there are differing approaches to reporting coronavirus data .
The US does have both the highest number of cases and the most overall recorded deaths of any country in the world .
However , when you look at deaths per capita - as a proportion of each country 's population - it is no longer top of the list , although it does remain in the top 10 worst-hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst-hit country for deaths ?
Mr Trump has also recently pointed to the rising number of new infections across Europe , saying : `` Frankly , their numbers are at a level that are much worse than the numbers here . ''
• Where are the global hotspots ?
It 's certainly the case that some countries in Europe are experiencing a surge in new cases , but that is also true in some parts of the US .
Joe Biden : `` President Trump ordered his administration to slow down coronavirus testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump told the crowd : `` I said to my people , slow the testing down , please . ''
But he has since called his comments `` semi-tongue in cheek '' .
Dr Anthony Fauci , the White House 's top infectious-diseases expert , said : `` To my knowledge , none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing . ''
However , the president has called testing `` a double-edged sword '' and says increased testing can give an exaggerated impression of the rise in cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ hydroxychloroquine ] and I 'm still here ... what have you got to lose ? ''
In May , Mr Trump announced he was taking anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure against Covid-19 .
But there is no evidence the drug can fight the virus .
The president has consistently advocated the use of the drug , against the advice of Dr Fauci , who said : `` We know that every single good study - and by good study I mean randomised control study in which the data are firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not effective in the treatment of Covid-19 . ''
The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has advised against using the drug to treat coronavirus patients following reports of `` serious heart rhythm problems '' and other health issues .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) says `` there is currently no proof '' that it is effective as a treatment or prevents Covid-19 .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , the government agency responsible for public health in the US , has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over lockdown guidelines and other measures .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden made this comment on Twitter in July without providing context or evidence .
At the time US lawmakers were negotiating a major coronavirus relief package , and there were reports in US media that the Trump administration had been lobbying to reduce funding for the CDC .
However , the White House has denied blocking funding , saying : `` The claim from Biden 's team is false .
In our latest budget , the CDC saw an increase of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % increase . ''
This is true , and the CDC has received more money during the pandemic response .
The Trump administration 's budget proposal for the 2021 fiscal year , starting in October 2020 , did initially propose cuts to the CDC - but it is now set to increase funding , including for infectious-disease activities .
Trump : `` We surged rapid testing kits to every nursing home in America '' Testing in care homes is important , as older people are more likely to be vulnerable to coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were high numbers of deaths in care homes in the US , as in many other countries .
The White House has said Mr Trump 's statement was accurate and that 4.9 million rapid point-of-care tests had been delivered to nearly 14,000 certified nursing homes .
• How bad is the crisis in US care homes ?
According to CDC figures , there are 15,600 care homes , with 1.3 million residents .
`` Testing of nursing-home residents and staff has been challenging , as it has for other sectors of healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing in California .
`` The effort to provide testing to nursing homes is moving forward , but not without bumps in the road , '' she says .
Trump : `` If you take the blue states out ... we 're really at a very low level '' President Trump has said that Democratic-run states - known as blue states - are responsible for America 's high coronavirus death toll .
`` If you take the blue states out , we 're at a level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world would be at , '' Mr Trump said recently .
`` We 're really at a very low level . ''
`` Take New York and some of these other Democrat-run states out of it , you 'll see numbers that are unbelievable . ''
The Democratic National Committee tweeted in response : `` Covid is n't a red state or blue state issue . ''
Out of the five states that have the largest numbers of coronavirus deaths two are Republican-run `` red states '' - Texas and Florida .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage of the outbreak Democratic-run states such as New York and New Jersey were worst-hit , and accounted for the vast majority of deaths .
But as the pandemic has progressed , Republican-led states have yielded a growing proportion of fatalities .
The Washington Post reported that as 15 September , 47 % of deaths had been in `` red '' states , with 53 % in `` blue '' states .
• A simple guide to the US election • Where does Donald Trump stand on key issues ?
• How you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes

US election 2020: Fact-checking Trump and Biden on Covid Published 27 October 2020
Image source, Getty Images
President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, in which more than 200,000 people in the US have died, has become a key issue in the forthcoming presidential election.
Mr Trump has himself tested positive for Covid-19, and the issue is likely to be brought into even sharper focus during the very final stages of the campaign.
Trump: "We have one of the lowest mortality rates"
Verdict: That's not right. The US ranks high globally in terms of covid deaths per person.
The US does have both the highest number of cases and the most overall recorded deaths of any country in the world.
However, when you look at deaths per capita - as a proportion of each country's population - it is no longer top of the list, although it does remain in the top 10 worst-hit countries.
Biden: "President Trump ordered his administration to slow down coronavirus testing"
Verdict: Insufficient evidence.
At a rally in June, President Trump told the crowd: "I said to my people, slow the testing down, please."
But he has since called his comments "semi-tongue in cheek".
Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House's top infectious-diseases expert, said: "To my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing."
Trump: "We've rounded the corner [on coronavirus] - it's going away"
Verdict: No - cases and hospital admissions are rising and deaths remain high.
The White House's top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, has disputed the president's assertion that the US is turning a corner, calling the latest statistics "disturbing".
Around 69,000 new coronavirus cases a day are being reported across the US, up from around 50,000 a day at the start of October, according to the Covid Tracking Project.
There has been a 6% increase in cases in the past week, and daily deaths are averaging just under 800.
Image source, Getty Images
Biden: "The coronavirus spikes are in red states"
Verdict: That's not right. Coronavirus cases are rising in both Republican (red) and Democratic (blue) states.
Covid-19 cases are rising in more than 40 US states and these include both Republican and Democratic controlled states.
South Dakota and Montana are currently seeing the most coronavirus deaths per capita, according to the New York Times.
South Dakota is run by Republican governors, but Montana has Democratic governors - although both these states voted for President Trump in 2016.
Trump: "Did you see the World Health Organization yesterday? They said Trump was right. They said you can't make the cure worse than the problem itself. I've been saying that for a long time."
Verdict: The WHO did not say "Trump was right" and has not singled out the United States for praise in its handling of the pandemic.
President Trump appears to be referring to comments made by Dr David Nabarro, special envoy to the World Health Organisation, about lockdown measures.
Mr Trump said in August that the imposition of lockdowns "would ultimately inflict more harm than it would prevent".
Dr Nabarro said lockdowns should be the last resort for controlling the spread of the virus. "We in the World Health Organization do not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control of this virus," he said.
However, he added that lockdowns are justified for buying time to "reorganize, regroup, rebalance your resources, protect your health workers who are exhausted".
Dr Nabarro did not refer to Mr Trump or to his handling of the pandemic in the US.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Vice-President Mike Pence has been leading the US effort to tackle coronavirus
Biden: "The president said it [coronavirus] was a hoax."
Verdict: This needs context.
Joe Biden criticised President Trump's handling of the pandemic, accusing him of calling it "a hoax" and said the administration "minimised the seriousness of it".
President Trump did not directly call the virus a "hoax".
He accused Democrats in February of "politicising the coronavirus" and mentioned the impeachment process against him, calling that a "hoax".
He went on to say that criticism by Democrats of his handling of Covid-19 was "their new hoax."
Trump: "We suspended all travel from China."
Verdict: That's not right. Some people were exempt - it's estimated that thousands still flew to the US.
Mr Trump issued an order on 31 January which stopped foreign nationals who had been in China in the previous two weeks from entering the US, which came into effect on 2 February.
But the order had exemptions for US citizens, legal residents, and non-citizen relatives with close ties. Flight data analysed by the New York Times shows 40,000 people arrived in the US directly from China in the two months after President Trump's restrictions.
Biden: "As of about a month ago… 1 in 1,000 African Americans in all of America have died."
Verdict: We don't have complete data for race-related mortality, but independent research does support his claim.
Mr Biden appears to be quoting a statistic from the APM Research Lab, which tracks the impact of Covid-19 on minorities using official data and modelling.
They found that 1 in 1,020 Black Americans had died from the virus, considerably higher than other groups.
Trump: "Fauci said not to wear masks."
Verdict: This needs context.
At the start of the outbreak, Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House top infectious disease expert, recommended the US public didn't wear face coverings.
But he says his early comments have been taken out of context, claiming he was initially cautious because there was a shortage of PPE for healthcare professionals.
In early March, Dr Fauci said: "It could lead to a shortage of masks for the people who really need it." By the end of March, Fauci said recommending face coverings outside a healthcare setting was under "serious consideration".
Since April, Dr Fauci as well as the CDC have recommended the use of face coverings in certain settings to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
Biden: "We have 4% of the world's population, [but] 20% of the deaths".
Verdict: This is roughly correct.
The US population is around 328 million, which is just over 4% of the 7.7 billion global population.
There have been over 225,000 coronavirus deaths recorded in the US, according to the latest John Hopkins University data. The total number of deaths recorded worldwide is around 1,161,000.


bbc--2020-10-02--Tracking the global outbreak

Tracking the global outbreak

Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world , with 34 million confirmed cases in 188 countries and more than one million deaths .
The virus is surging in many regions and some countries that had apparent success in suppressing initial outbreaks are also seeing infections rise again .
In the table below , countries can be reordered by deaths , death rate and total cases .
In the coloured bars on the right-hand side , countries in which cases have risen to more than 5,000 per day are those with black bars on the relevant date .
Note : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chart in this page use a different source for figures for France and the UK from that used by Johns Hopkins University , which results in a slightly lower overall total .
US figures do not include Puerto Rico , Guam or the US Virgin Islands .
The US has recorded more than 200,000 deaths from coronavirus - the world 's highest official death toll .
It has also recorded more than seven million cases .
They include US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump , who both tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of daily tests has risen , with more than one million carried out several times since 19 September , according to the US-based Covid Tracking Project .
Deaths have declined , though , with the seven-day average for deaths remaining below 1,000 since the end of August .
The outbreak has had a devastating impact on the US economy , with GDP falling by a record rate of 33 % in the three months from April to June .
Where are cases and deaths rising ?
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit two million before an effective vaccine is widely in use .
New coronavirus cases have risen over the last few months in several regions , with India driving numbers in Asia .
The official number of confirmed infections in India has passed six million , the second-highest in the world after the US .
The country has , however , maintained a relatively low death rate given the size of its population .
In Latin America , newly confirmed cases in Argentina have been rising quickly and the country now has more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East , cases in Iraq have been rising steadily since June , with the country fast approaching 400,000 cases .
Cases are also continuing to rise in Indonesia and the country has recorded more than 10,000 deaths - the highest number in South East Asia .
Africa has recorded about 1.5 million confirmed cases , although the true extent of the pandemic there is not known as testing rates are low .
South Africa , Morocco and Egypt have seen the largest recorded outbreaks so far on the continent .
Several European countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of daily cases .
A number of European countries have re-imposed lockdowns and other restrictions in their worst-affected regions , and there have been fresh appeals for people to wear face coverings and follow social distancing rules .
The pattern of rising infections following the loosening of lockdown restrictions is not limited to Europe , though .
Israel has imposed a new national lockdown after recording a record number of daily cases in recent weeks .
Other countries that have seen a resurgence of the virus include Peru , Canada and Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions some of these are now seeing cases fall again .
The virus , which causes the respiratory infection Covid-19 , was first detected in the city of Wuhan , China , in late 2019 .
The outbreak spread quickly across the globe in the first months of 2020 and declared a global pandemic by the WHO on 11 March .
A pandemic is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time .
Governments across the world have been forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and venues in a bid to slow the spread of the virus .
This has had a devastating impact on the global economy .
Damage to the world 's major economies is four times worse than the 2009 global financial crisis , according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) .
Meanwhile , the United Nations has said that up to 265 million people could face starvation by the end of the year because of the impact of Covid-19 .
• LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are available ?
• JOBS : How will I be kept safe at work ?
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?
• HOLIDAYS : Where can I go away in the UK ?
The data used on this page comes from a variety of sources .
It includes figures collated by Johns Hopkins University , data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , national governments and health agencies , as well as UN data on populations .
When comparing figures from different countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that not all governments are recording coronavirus cases and deaths in the same way .
This makes like for like comparisons between countries difficult .
Other factors to consider include : different population sizes , the size of a country 's elderly population or whether a particular country has a large amount of its people living in densely-populated areas .
In addition , countries may be in different stages of the pandemic .

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This information is regularly updated but may not reflect the latest totals for each country.
** The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average. Due to revisions in the number of cases, an average cannot be calculated for this date.
Source: Johns Hopkins University and national public health agencies


bbc--2020-09-25--How close are we to a vaccine?

How close are we to a vaccine?

Coronavirus still poses a significant threat , but there are no vaccines proven to protect the body against the disease it causes - Covid-19 .
However there are around 40 different coronavirus vaccines in clinical trials - including one being developed by the University of Oxford that is already in an advanced stage of testing .
The virus spreads easily , and the majority of the world 's population is still vulnerable to it .
A vaccine would provide some protection by training people 's immune systems to fight the virus so they should not become sick .
This would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and social distancing to be relaxed .
What sort of progress is being made ?
Research is happening at breakneck speed .
About 240 vaccines are in early development , with 40 in clinical trials and nine already in the final stage of testing on thousands of people .
• Trials of the Oxford vaccine show it can trigger an immune response , and a deal has been signed with AstraZeneca to supply 100 million doses in the UK alone .
• The first human trial data back in May indicated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US study all produced antibodies that could neutralise the virus .
• A trial using viral proteins to develop an immune response is underway .
• A group in China showed a vaccine was safe and led to protective antibodies being made .
It is being made available to the Chinese military .
• Other completely new approaches to vaccine development are in human trials .
However , no-one knows how effective any of these vaccines will be .
When will we have a coronavirus vaccine ?
A vaccine would normally take years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Researchers hope to achieve the same amount of work in only a few months .
Most experts think a vaccine is likely to become widely available by mid-2021 , about 12-18 months after the new virus , known officially as Sars-CoV-2 , first emerged .
That would be a huge scientific feat , and there are no guarantees it will work .
But scientists are optimistic that , if trials are successful , then a small number of people - such as healthcare workers - may be vaccinated before the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that four coronaviruses already circulate in human beings .
They cause common cold symptoms and we do n't have vaccines for any of them .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• SOCIAL DISTANCING : What are the rules now ?
• SUPPORT BUBBLES : What are they and who can be in yours ?
• FACE MASKS : When do I need to wear one ?
• TESTING : What tests are available ?
• JOBS : How will I be kept safe at work ?
What still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have designed potential vaccines .
However there is much more work to do .
• Trials need to show the vaccine is safe .
It would not be useful if it caused more problems than the disease • Clinical trials will also need to show vaccines provoke an immune response , which protect people from getting sick • A way of producing the vaccine on a huge scale must be developed for the billions of potential doses • Medicines regulators must approve it before it can be given • Finally there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunising most of the world 's population The success of lockdowns has made the process slower .
To know if the vaccine works , you need people to actually be infected .
The idea of giving people the vaccine and then deliberately infecting them ( known as a challenge study ) would give quicker answers .
The concern is that it is too dangerous and would not be ethical at this stage to carry them out - although some think it should not be off the table.. How many people need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without knowing how effective the vaccine is going to be .
It is thought that 60-70 % of people needed to be immune to the virus in order to stop it spreading easily ( known as herd immunity ) .
But that would be billions of people around the world even if the vaccine worked perfectly .
• Coronavirus lockdown : All you need to know about new measures • Human trial of new vaccine begins in UK How do you create a vaccine ?
Vaccines harmlessly show viruses or bacteria ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immune system .
The body 's defences recognise them as an invader and learn how to fight them .
Then if the body is ever exposed for real , it already knows what to do .
The main method of vaccination for decades has been to use the original virus .
The measles , mumps and rubella ( MMR ) vaccine is made by using weakened viruses that can not cause a full-blown infection .
The seasonal flu jab takes the main strains of flu doing the rounds and completely disables them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , are using this approach .
There is also work on coronavirus vaccines using newer , and less tested , approaches called `` plug and play '' vaccines .
Because we know the genetic code of the new coronavirus , Sars-CoV-2 , we have the complete blueprint for building it .
The Oxford researchers have put small sections of its genetic code into a harmless virus that infects chimpanzees .
They appear to have developed a safe virus that looks enough like the coronavirus to produce an immune response .
Other groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( either DNA or RNA depending on the approach ) which , once injected into the body , should start producing bits of viral proteins which the immune system can learn to fight .
However , this approach is completely new .
Would a vaccine protect people of all ages ?
It will , almost inevitably , be less successful in older people , because aged immune systems do not respond as well to immunisation .
We see this with the annual flu jab .
It may be possible to overcome this by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside a chemical ( called an adjuvant ) that gives the immune system a boost .
Who would get a vaccine ?
If a vaccine is developed , then there will be a limited supply , at least initially , so it will be important to prioritise .
Healthcare workers who come into contact with Covid-19 patients would top the list .
The disease is most deadly in older people so they would be a priority if the vaccine was effective in this age group .
The UK has also said other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially included those with some conditions or from certain ethnicities - may be prioritised .

Covid vaccine update: Those that work - and the others on the way Published 28 May 2021
Image source, Getty Images
Covid vaccination campaigns are under way in the UK and across the world.
A range of vaccines are being used to reduce people's chances of getting sick, needing hospital treatment or dying.
Why do we need a vaccine?
It is more than a year since the virus first emerged, yet many people are still vulnerable.
The restrictions on our lives help keep the virus in check as they reduce opportunities for the virus to spread.
Vaccines teach our bodies to fight the infection and are "the" exit strategy from the pandemic.
The big three - Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca
The three vaccine frontrunners are those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford-AstraZeneca.
Pfizer and Moderna both developed RNA vaccines - a new approach that is incredibly quick to design.
They inject a tiny fragment of the virus's genetic code into the body, which starts producing part of the coronavirus and pushes the body to mount a defence.
These have been approved for use in the UK, Europe and the US.
The Oxford vaccine is subtly different as it uses a harmless virus to carry the same genetic material into the body. This has been approved in the UK and Europe.
It is the easiest of the three to use as it can be stored in a fridge, rather than needing very cold temperatures.
All three are supposed to be given as two doses.
Janssen and Novavax
A single-dose Covid vaccine made by Janssen has now been approved for use in the UK.
Twenty million doses of the jab, which was 85% effective in stopping severe illness from Covid-19 in trials, will arrive later this year.
Because only one dose is needed - and the vaccine can be stored in a fridge - it could have a significant impact around the world. A billion doses are planned this year.
Another jab, Novavax, is also being reviewed by drugs regulators.
It uses a different, old-school, approach to vaccines - proteins from the virus and a chemical to prime the immune system are injected into the body.
What is the rest of the world doing?
There are other noteworthy vaccines, even if they are not being used in Europe and the US.
The Sinovac, CanSino and Sinopharm vaccines have been developed by scientists in China and deals have signed with other countries in Asia and South America. Around one million people in China are reported to have been given the Sinopharm injection.
The Sputnik V vaccine, developed by Russia's Gamaleya Research Centre, is also effective according to late stage trial results published in The Lancet. Some people have been immunised.
The vaccine, which works in a similar way to the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines has also been deemed to be safe - and offer complete protection against hospitalisation and death.
Are they all equally effective?
It is hard to compare one company's results with another as their trials will have been conducted in slightly different ways and at different points in the pandemic.
However, all the main vaccines seem to have a large impact on your chances of needing hospital treatment or dying from Covid.
Nonetheless, one of the most important questions - do they stop you spreading the virus - remains unknown.
Understanding which method produces the best results will be explored in challenge trials where people are deliberately infected with the virus.
What about variants?
New versions of the coronavirus are emerging in countries around the world.
However, there is a warning sign from Janssen and Novavax, which have the first "real-world" data on the new variants.
Both showed a dip in their overall effectiveness in South Africa, where a new and worrying variant has been spreading.
The results were still good and clearly better than no vaccine at all, but they emphasise how coronavirus is a moving target.
We may need to change the vaccines we use in the future.
What still needs to be done?
Huge-scale manufacturing to produce billions of doses and distribute them around the world
Research to find out how long protection lasts
Research to discover what effect vaccine have on the spread of the virus