bbc--2020-07-29--Endangered tigers making a 'remarkable' comeback

Millions watched them in captivity on the lockdown TV hit Tiger King .
But in the wild , tiger populations have been in rapid decline for decades now .
There is some positive news though , because after years of concern , the number of wild tigers in some areas does now seem to be rising .
New figures by wildlife charity WWF suggest a resurgence in their numbers .
Experts are even describing it as a `` remarkable comeback '' .
In 2010 , there were as few as 3,200 wild tigers .
But now five countries - India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bhutan - have given hope for the future .
In India alone , the number of wild tigers is now estimated at between 2,600 and 3,350 animals - which makes up around three-quarters of the world 's population .
Neighbouring Nepal has seen its population of tigers is up from 121 in 2009 to 235 just under a decade later .
And it 's the same story in Russia , Bhutan and China , where increased sightings of tigers suggest conservation efforts are working .
`` Tigers can thrive happily given enough space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress is a result of tigers and their habitat being better protected , '' Becci May tells Radio 1 Newsbeat .
Becci is WWF 's UK regional manager and says while this is good news , threats still exist to the tiger population .
`` The reason why numbers have plummeted over the last 100 years or so is because of changes to land use , '' she says .
Loss of habitat , hunting and poaching remains a very real threat .
`` Wildlife populations are also devastated because of snares being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds .
Recent analysis estimates there are 12.3 million snares threatening wildlife in protected areas of Southeast Asia .
What can we do to protect tigers ?
`` We need to share our enthusiasm for tigers and tell our friends and family how important it is . ''
She says we can ensure the items we buy , such as wood and paper , do n't come as a result of illegal logging , which harms tigers .
`` If you look at the labels , you can see that if you get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be helping to protect those forests , habitats and tigers . ''
Other countries can learn from the likes of India and Nepal which have seen big increases .
`` Tiger conservation will not be successful without the support of governments and political will , '' says Becci .
`` We need the engagement and support of local communities who are actually living in the areas where the tigers live . ''
That means supporting communities and including them in the conservation efforts .
`` And with a collective effort , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tide for tigers , '' she adds .
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

"If you look at the labels, you can see that if you get it from the right source, you may be helping to protect those forests, habitats and tigers."


bbc--2020-07-29--Turkey's MPs vote to tighten grip on social media

Turkey 's parliament has passed a law to control social media platforms , a move human rights groups say poses a severe threat to freedom of expression .
The law requires social media firms with more than a million Turkish users to set up local offices and comply with requests to remove content .
If companies refuse , they face fines and may have data speeds cut .
Facebook , Twitter and YouTube have not yet commented .
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described social media sites as `` immoral '' and made no secret of his desire to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submitted by the ruling AKP and its partner the MHP , which together have a majority in parliament , and passed on Wednesday morning .
In the past Turkish authorities have temporarily cut internet bandwidth to stop citizens using social media , after terror attacks .
Under the new law , social media platforms face cuts of up to 95 % of bandwidth , rendering them unusable .
The internet remains a crucial tool for dissent in the country and critics say the move will lead to more censorship .
The hashtag # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law ) has been trending on Twitter since Tuesday .
Amnesty International describes it as `` the latest , and perhaps most brazen attack on free expression in Turkey '' .
`` The internet law significantly increases the reach of the government to police and censor content online , exacerbating risks to those who are already ruthlessly targeted by the authorities simply for expressing dissenting opinions , '' said the human rights group 's Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner .
Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin denied that the bill would lead to censorship , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal ties with the social media platforms .

The internet remains a crucial tool for dissent in the country and critics say the move will lead to more censorship. The hashtag #SansurYasasinaDurDe (Say Stop to the Censorship Law) has been trending on Twitter since Tuesday.


bbc--2020-07-29--Ecuador on alert over huge Chinese fishing fleet off Galapagos Islands

Ecuador is on alert due to the appearance of a huge fleet of mostly Chinese-flagged fishing vessels off its Galapagos Islands .
Patrols are trying to ensure the fleet - which is made up of around 260 vessels - does not enter the delicate eco-system from international waters .
Chinese vessels travel to the region each year in search of marine species .
In 2017 , a Chinese vessel was caught in the marine reserve with 300 tonnes of wildlife , most of it sharks .
`` We are on alert , [ conducting ] surveillance , patrolling to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , '' Ecuadorean Defence Minister Oswaldo Jarrin told reporters .
There was no immediate comment from the Chinese authorities when contacted by BBC News .
• Ecuador 'allows US military planes to use Galapagos island airfield' The ex-mayor of Quito , Roque Sevilla , told The Guardian that a `` protection strategy '' was being designed for the islands .
`` Unchecked Chinese fishing just on the edge of the protected zone is ruining Ecuador 's efforts to protect marine life in the Galápagos , '' he said .
President Lenin Moreno @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other Latin American countries with a coastline on the Pacific - Colombia , Peru , Chile , Panama and Costa Rica - in order to form a joint regional position concerning the `` threat '' .
`` Because of that [ natural ] wealth in that area , we suffer immense pressure from international fishing fleets , '' he was reported as saying in El Universo newspaper .
The Galapagos Marine Reserve boasts large numbers of shark species , including endangered whale and hammerheads .
The Galapagos Islands are a Unesco World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ array of plants and wildlife .
Charles Darwin made observations critical to his theory of evolution on the islands .

President Lenin Moreno has said that Ecuador will hold consultations with other Latin American countries with a coastline on the Pacific - Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama and Costa Rica - in order to form a joint regional position concerning the "threat".


bbc--2020-07-29--Coronavirus: Vietnam warns of outbreak risk across whole country

Vietnam 's government has warned that the whole country is at risk of widespread coronavirus infection , as an outbreak linked to Da Nang spreads .
After three months with no cases , Vietnam has now recorded at least 30 cases , all linked to the central beach resort city .
Da Nang was closed to tourists earlier this week and has now been ordered to go into a total lockdown .
Authorities are trying to trace and isolate anyone who spent time there .
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday warned that every province and city in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We have to act more swiftly and more fiercely in order to control the outbreak , '' state media quoted him as saying .
He told government officials that the virus strain appeared to be different to that seen in Vietnam earlier this year and that tourist hubs throughout the country should increase vigilance .
The health ministry on Wednesday reported eight new local transmissions linked to the outbreak in Da Nang , including cases in several other cities and the capital Hanoi .
Hospitals across the country have also stepped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun urging people to wear masks in public again .
• Covid-19 coma pilot warns people 'not to be blasé' • Vietnam 's British patient : ' I 'd be dead in any other country' Officials say there had been up to 80,000 domestic tourists in Da Nang at the weekend .
Prior to and after cases were confirmed there at the weekend , many travelled back to their hometowns .
Authorities are urging people to report if they were in a hotspot and then self-isolate .
Da Nang 's airport and bus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new outbreak is a significant setback for Vietnam , which has been lauded as a success story of the pandemic having acted early to close borders and enforce quarantine and contact tracing .
Unlike many other countries , Vietnam acted before it even had confirmed cases .
It closed its borders early to almost all travellers except returning citizens and requires anyone entering the country to quarantine in government facilities for 14 days and undergo testing .
It is not year clear how the virus reappeared in Da Nang .
The first confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city for some time .

Officials say there had been up to 80,000 domestic tourists in Da Nang at the weekend. Prior to and after cases were confirmed there at the weekend, many travelled back to their hometowns.


bbc--2020-07-29--Climate change: Coastal erosion 'to threaten more Australian homes'

See the damage done by waves – and the problem will only get worse with climate change , experts say @

Recent storms on Australia's coast have caused major erosion beneath beachfront homes in New South Wales.
Dr Hannah Power tells the BBC that erosion will be a worsening issue for coastal communities as sea levels rise.


bbc--2020-07-29--Meet the "Covid Hunter" of Houston

Meet the "Covid Hunter" of Houston

'We ’ re still waiting at home for them to come back' Latinos represent 18 % of the total US @ @ @ @ @ third of Covid-19 cases .

Dr Joseph Varon is the Chief of Critical Care at UMMC Houston. He says he has adapted a treatment protocol that has given his Covid-19 patients a 95% chance of recovery.


bbc--2020-07-29--'My Tanzanian family is split over coronavirus'

BBC Tanzania reporter Sammy Awami writes that President John Magufuli 's faith-based approach to coronavirus has caused tension in his family .
Since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Tanzania in March , I have been bombarded with messages and phone calls from colleagues , friends and family members living abroad .
They 've been wondering : how did a country with some of the most relaxed coronavirus measures in Africa manage to so far escape the kind of crisis which has visited many parts of the world .
It 's a question puzzling even those of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Magufuli was among the few leaders who declined to impose any sort of lockdown and has scorned what he 's termed unnecessary panic in other countries .
Yet , despite what many of his critics - and the more anxious among us - feared was a woefully reckless approach , the nation seems to have avoided for now the catastrophic number of deaths that many anticipated .
The most confusing thing about all of this , is that no-one really knows how .
One of the issues is that we do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Magufuli chose to put statistics in lockdown rather than people .
As analyst Aidan Eyakuze said : `` He officially made the country operate in data darkness . ''
Three doctors I spoke to off record said hospitals had not been overwhelmed .
Some would argue that they support the government 's narrative because of fear of possible retaliation if they were to speak out .
The president of the Medical Association of Tanzania , Dr Elisha Osati , has said there has never been a cover up , but he now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate for the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi party .
In a situation where the government is not releasing figures and journalists can not access health facilities to investigate independently , it 's the doctors ' word against their doubters .
You may also be interested in : • Why lockdowns may not be the answer in Africa • Why Nigerians are muting their mothers on WhatsApp While some government health officials warned the public that the virus posed a real threat and urged them to follow basic hygiene guidelines , the president encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pray to God for protection .
As a devout Catholic , he told a congregation of worshippers that prayers are where `` true healing '' is found , and the disease had been been `` eliminated thanks to God '' .
The president 's stance made things awkward between me and both my immediate and extended family .
Most of my close relatives are supporters of the president and all of them are die-hard , thoroughly devout Christians .
From the very start of the outbreak , when daily reports of case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly worried about their safety .
But the creeping politicisation of coronavirus in the country made it hard to convince some of my loved ones that they needed to take precautions .
It was flooded with a cocktail of re-shared media supporting the president and pseudo-science urging people to throw caution to the wind and hope for the best .
They were also anxious about the loss of income that could result from a fierce lockdown .
• From Our Own Correspondent has insight and analysis from BBC journalists , correspondents and writers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPlayer , get the podcast or listen on the BBC World Service , or on Radio 4 on Saturdays at 11:30 And as we learnt of the police brutality used in neighbouring countries to enforce such restrictions , this was only compounded .
Take three of my uncles for instance , all of whom are full-time pastors .
For them , the church is not only their core spiritual and social community , it is also their main source of income .
My parents run a convenience store in their neighbourhood in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sole source of income and a spot where they meet with their neighbours and friends on a daily basis .
Because they are older I was concerned that their daily movements put them at risk .
So , I set out to craft WhatsApp messages tailored to older family members to try to educate them about the pandemic , and convince them to stay at home .
Unlike people living in other countries , they do have a choice .
Do they listen to me , stay at home and lose their livelihood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to carry on their business and pray for the best ?
Of course they believe the virus is deadly .
But they also believe in prayers - perhaps even more so when their earnings are on the line .
In a country where almost everyone identifies with one religion or another , and where the majority of people live hand-to-mouth , the president honed in on faith and income to promote his strategy .
The president also made sure to invent a new enemy in the fight against the pandemic - the West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` mabeberu '' , literally `` male goats '' .
The term was coined during the independence struggle which referred to a colonialist .
This resonates well with the older generation , like that of my parents and uncles .
Mr Magufuli alleged that the `` mabeberu '' and their cronies in the country were keen to use the virus to distract the country from achieving its economic goals .
In one of his freestyle speeches he even suggested that the West could plant the virus on imported goods just to hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the era of measles and the early years of HIV/Aids , reminding people of a time when some parents stopped their children from visiting neighbours , for fear that their sons and daughters would be infected .
At this point the government 's policy seems to be : `` If people are not dropping dead in the streets , then life should go on . ''
It 's a risky strategy , but one that many here are willing to accept , and pray that the government is right .
• GLOBAL TRENDS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
• SYMPTOMS : What are the symptoms of the coronavirus ?

Yet, despite what many of his critics - and the more anxious among us - feared was a woefully reckless approach, the nation seems to have avoided for now the catastrophic number of deaths that many anticipated.


bbc--2020-07-29--International students turn to food banks in lockdown

Hundreds of international students in the UK have turned to food banks after part-time work and funding from families dried up during lockdown .
Some have been unable to pay their course fees and have been threatened with suspension by their universities which would result in their visas being cancelled .
At Newham Community Project in east London , volunteers are feeding up to 600 students , most in their early 20s .
`` They 're going through a lot of hardship , '' says organiser Elyas Ismail .
`` This is their first time abroad , '' he adds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East Ham , students queue round the block on Tuesdays and Saturdays .
They 're asked to register and prove they are genuine students .
Most are taking master 's degrees and are from India .
Some fear the pandemic means they will not be able to complete their qualifications .
International students have to prove they have the funds to cover rent , fees and living expenses before being granted visas .
If they are studying full time at degree level or higher at a UK university , they are usually allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , according to Home Office guidance .
Many have lost their jobs , while their families , in countries with their own outbreaks , can struggle to send funds overseas but international students have no recourse to public funds in the UK .
`` It 's a very difficult time we are facing , '' says Rahemunnisa Shaik from Hyderabad as she piles groceries into a pram .
She is studying for a two year Masters in Business Administration at the University of East London ( UEL ) .
She arrived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course last September with her husband who was her dependent for visa purposes .
She gave birth to their first child , a baby girl , in May .
`` My husband is supporting me .
He lost his job because of coronavirus . ''
His work at KFC was halted at the start of lockdown and he has still not been called back .
They have been unable to pay the rent on their room for two months and she owes £1,500 to the university , initially due in mid-July but later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` acutely aware '' the pandemic has impacted the ability of some students to cover their costs and has provided nearly £1m in support since March .
`` To qualify for an exceptional payment extension to 15 September , students must show they have been academically engaged with their programmes and had a good record of making payments before finding themselves unable to do so because of the current global health situation , '' says the university .
Rahemunnisa hopes money will come through from her family in India soon but says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic there .
As well as handing out food , Newham Community Project has been negotiating on behalf of about 300 students who are behind with their fees at 18 universities .
About half are from UEL .
Six of the other universities have agreed flexible payment plans , most to December , but an email received by a student at Anglia Ruskin University this week and seen by the BBC is demanding payment of £4,100 within seven days .
`` If you do not pay the outstanding tuition fees you may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter warns .
The university is required to report suspended or excluded students to UK Visas and Immigration , says the letter .
`` Once reported to the UKVI it is expected that your visa will be cancelled and you 'll be required to leave the UK immediately to avoid any negative effects on your immigration record . ''
Anglia Ruskin University says it is doing everything possible to ensure students are not adversely affected during the pandemic , with a `` range of financial and pastoral support '' .
The university says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months from May to July and the letters ask students to get in touch if they are in difficulty , `` so we can work together to resolve any problems '' .
Lexiao Guan , from Chengdu in China , who has just completed a master 's in graphic design at Royal College of Art is not part of the Newham group but a month ago was unable to pay outstanding fees of £7,100 , almost a quarter of the annual amount charged to international students by the college .
He usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as a freelance graphic designer and tutor , but the work dried up during lockdown .
`` If they give me more time I can pay it , '' he says - but he too received an email suspending him and warning that after two weeks the college was required to report him to the immigration authorities .
RCA later agreed to extend the deadline and reinstate all the students affected , although they are withholding final degree results until the fees are paid .
`` We have successfully helped , via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from our hardship fund , the vast majority of those who were suspended , '' says the college .
Lexiao intends to return to China as soon as he has paid his debt but is `` shocked '' that `` the world 's number one art institution '' could put students under so much pressure while they were preparing for their final shows .
Back in Newham , Elyas says he first became aware of the problem at the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan in late May when about 50 students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food .
The numbers grew , so Newham Community Project ran a massive appeal for donations .
Before the pandemic they provided food for about 30 needy households each week but now support 20 times as many .
The Home Office has issued guidance on concessions for international students during the pandemic which is reviewed regularly , while decisions on whether to suspend students for non-payment of fees are left to individual universities .

The university says the original payment date was extended by two months from May to July and the letters ask students to get in touch if they are in difficulty, "so we can work together to resolve any problems".


bbc--2020-07-28--Saudi Hajj coronavirus curbs mean 'no work, no salary, nothing'

With his head in his hands , Sajjad Malik sounds dejected .
The taxi booking office he manages near Mecca 's iconic Grand Mosque , the Masjid al-Haram , is empty .
`` There 's no work , no salary , nothing , '' he says .
`` Usually these two or three months before the Hajj ( annual pilgrimage ) me and the drivers make enough money to last for the rest of the year .
But now nothing . ''
One of his drivers , Samiur Rahman , part of Saudi Arabia 's largely foreign private workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads around the popular Mecca clock tower .
The sea of pilgrims is missing - they usually line the streets , dressed in white , with umbrellas to protect themselves from the intense heat .
Today the drivers ' people-carriers are void of passengers and the city looks like a ghost town .
Sajjad 's drivers send him videos of the pigeons filling the roads instead .
`` My drivers have no food and now they are sleeping four or five per room , in rooms designed for two , '' says Sajjad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving any government help .
`` No , no help , nothing .
I have savings , which we are spending .
But I have a lot of staff - more than 50 people were working with me - and they are suffering .
`` One of my friends called me yesterday , saying , 'Please I need some work , I do n't even care how much you want to pay me . '
Believe me , the people are crying . ''
There are severe restrictions in place for this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the biggest outbreaks of coronavirus in the Middle East and has said the two million pilgrims who normally come from around the world to Mecca will not be allowed to do so , in a bid to limit the spread of Covid-19 .
Only those already living in the country will be allowed to perform the Hajj - taking the number down to just 1,000 .
Pilgrims will not be able to freely drink from the holy Well of Zamzam , the water will all have to be bottled individually .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the three pillars in Mina , symbolising the rejection of the devil , the pebbles will have to be sterilised .
Away from Saudi Arabia itself , the huge influx of hungry pilgrims usually leads to lucrative import orders for livestock from neighbouring countries like Kenya - many of whose farmers now have herds of unsold cattle .
`` The livestock subsector in Kenya is big .
It 's the mainstay for most of the households in the country , and a way of life for most farmers , especially during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Kenya Livestock Producers Association .
On average , his members export 5,000 head of cattle to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj , he says .
`` Farmers are now diversifying in to cold storage and local markets .
`` We are concerned that it could decimate local cattle prices because all that extra produce could be dumped at cut price to local buyers for a quick sell . ''
Hajj dates back to the life of the Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago and there have been few limitations like this in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Making the pilgrimage at least once is one of the Five Pillars of Islam - the five obligations that every Muslim , who is in good health and can afford it , must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life , according to Islam .
Pilgrims gather in Mecca to stand before the structure known as the Kaaba , praising Allah ( God ) together .
They perform other acts of worship too , renewing their sense of purpose in the world .
The shock of a sudden withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also leaving many tour companies struggling .
Last year , Pakistan sent the most foreign pilgrims to Saudi Arabia .
But today in Karachi , Shahzad Tajj says his firm , Cheap Hajj and Umrah Deals , is on the brink of collapse .
`` Basically , business is zero .
Even other travel-related activities were n't going on .
Like flights , logistics , deliveries - so there was nothing to sell .
We were not , frankly , totally prepared for this .
`` We had to downsize our staff to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to sell our assets , cars and some property , to just get through this stage at least .
I help out some of my team with emergency funds , but that 's all I can offer for now . ''
Restrictions this year are putting a large financial hole in the cities of Mecca and Medina , which receive billions of dollars worth of business from the travelling pilgrims .
`` Although most of the cost to the Saudi government of hosting the Hajj will be saved this year , Mecca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 9bn- $ 12bn ( £7bn-£9bn ) worth of business , '' says Mazen Al Sudairi , head of research at the financial services firm Al-Rajhi Capital in Riyadh .
Mr Al-Sudairi says the government has stepped in to help .
`` Maybe the small and medium enterprises were suffering , but the Saudi central bank is trying to support this segment , to give them relief , by deferring their loans for a further two or three months .
`` We believe that we are facing a recovery period - we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' More than 80 % of Saudi Arabia 's national income comes from oil but prices have plummeted , forcing the country to diversify .
Yet things have n't been going so well , according to Alexander Perjessy of Moody 's Sovereign Risk Group .
`` The government announced in March 2020 it would postpone collection of various government fees , as well as Value Added Tax , for three months .
[ But ] this is not going to avert a recession in the non-oil sector of the economy - we think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he says .
In Mecca , despite the empty bookings screen in front of him , Sajjad Malik does not want to return to his native Pakistan .
Saudi Arabia has served as an economic last-chance saloon for those in neighbouring countries who were struggling to earn enough .
`` Working in Saudi for over eight years has allowed me to provide for my children and family back home .
We get free medical benefits , and when the Hajj does happen , there are great earnings , '' he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
But this country is still number one for me , praise be to God . ''

There are severe restrictions in place for this year's Hajj. Saudi Arabia has seen one of the biggest outbreaks of coronavirus in the Middle East and has said the two million pilgrims who normally come from around the world to Mecca will not be allowed to do so, in a bid to limit the spread of Covid-19.


bbc--2020-07-27--Can this Californian prison save itself from Covid-19?

California 's San Quentin State Prison had zero coronavirus cases , until an inmate transfer in May sparked one of the worst outbreaks in the state and the country .
Authorities are now scrambling to contain it .
On a typical morning , Jack Walter , 54 , begins his day by going for a walk in the yard .
At San Quentin State Prison , he and the roughly 3,500 other inmates share the communal outdoor space .
`` Four laps is around a mile , '' Jack said .
`` I walk about three miles and talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , Jack begins his work in the prison 's canteen , a privilege he earned during his 24 years behind bars .
Even as the coronavirus outbreak ravaged California this spring , Jack 's routine remained largely unchanged .
Despite fears about virus spread in prisons , as late as May San Quentin had no reported cases .
But in the last days of the month , 121 inmates from the California Institute of Men in Chino - then in the throes of its own outbreak - were transferred to San Quentin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tested for weeks prior to the move , state officials later confirmed , and the transfer sparked an outbreak that swept through more than one third of San Quentin 's inmate population .
There have now been at least 2,159 confirmed cases of Covid-19 at San Quentin and 19 deaths .
The prison , which sits in Marin County , 30 minutes north of San Francisco , is home to one of the worst outbreaks in the state and country .
On 6 July , about a month after the outbreak began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical official , Dr Steven Tharatt was fired .
Later that month , all transfers to or from San Quentin were suspended indefinitely .
Prison authorities did n't test the prisoners before the transfer , according to Marc Levine , a California assemblyman for Marin County .
`` This ended up being the worst prison health screwup in the state 's history , '' he said .
A spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ( CDCR ) declined to comment on the transfer .
Now , Jack 's morning ritual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quentin are largely limited to their cells , with the exception of communal showering .
In an attempt to curb the spread of infection , the prison 's yard is populated with tents that function as makeshift treatment sites .
Jack , who is serving a 27-year sentence for possession of a firearm , is locked in with a cellmate who recently tested positive for the coronavirus .
After three tests , he said he was still `` blessed '' to be negative .
`` But they still locked us in this cell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days later , a fourth test revealed Jack had contracted Covid-19 .
His wife , Teresa , 52 , was distraught .
`` I just feel like screaming , '' she told the BBC .
`` They never moved his celly to the tents . ''
The speed with which the virus moved through San Quentin - the oldest prison in California - was exacerbated by the facility 's swollen inmate population and decrepit infrastructure , said Dr Brie Williams , a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that works with prisons on public health problems .
`` People are living in often unsanitary conditions , often in very old buildings that have poor ventilation , '' she said .
`` These things in general are bad for health but when you put these against the backdrop of an emerging pandemic , a respiratory pandemic , then these problems become lethal . ''
Dr Williams was one of seven health experts to visit San Quentin in June , at the onset of the outbreak .
The team wrote a nine-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's physicians and healthcare staff but warned that the facility had `` profoundly inadequate resources '' , with `` dire implications for the health of people incarcerated at San Quentin '' .
In the unit that housed the transferred inmates , the `` fear and outrage '' among the prisoners was `` palpable '' , the memo said , with men heard `` yelling throughout the housing unit due to discontent about the Covid-19 situation '' .
The BBC spoke to several family members of incarcerated men , who expressed concern after speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You just hear the alarms and 'man down ' in the background , '' said the wife of an inmate on death row .
The anxiety among inmates was as endemic as the virus , Jack said .
`` You see people that are sick , but a lot of them do n't want to say they 're sick . ''
He said that some inmates concealed their symptoms after hearing rumours that they might be placed in solitary confinement .
California Department of Corrections spokeswoman Dana Simas said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation and quarantine protocols as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention '' .
She declined to comment on protocols for the newly infected , but referred to San Quentin 's coronavirus response website , which said that areas of the prison had been designated to isolate infected inmates and those who had exposure to the virus .
According to Dr Williams , the health risks inside are aggravated by San Quentin 's aging architecture .
The nearly 170-year-old prison still houses some men in units built in the 19th Century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both with a capacity of 800 people , there are five floors of cells - 5ft by 11ft - typically home to two inmates .
These cells have open-grills , meaning the men are held behind bars instead of a solid door .
`` So what you have in this particular building is hundreds of people stacked in rows above each other with open bars where everyone is sort of breathing out into a common atrium , '' Dr Williams said .
`` People are yelling , or talking or interacting through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory droplets are basically just existing in this open atrium . ''
And ventilation inside the prison was `` exceedingly poor '' , the team found , with windows welded shut and fan systems that appeared to not have been turned on in years .
There are more than 104,000 people behind bars in California 's 35 institutions , and roughly 2.3 million people locked up across the US .
Per capita , the US has more citizens behind bars than any other country .
`` Make no mistake , a public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States for decades , and that public health disaster has been mass incarceration , '' Dr Williams said .
The coronavirus outbreak had `` just opened people 's eyes '' .
This month , in an attempt to curb prison outbreaks , California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that approximately 8,000 inmates across the state could be eligible for release by the end of August .
The releases will occur on a rolling basis and will include those most vulnerable to health risks and those with less than a year to serve on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for violent crimes and domestic violence will not be eligible .
The announcement follows a series of measures taken by state authorities which reduced the prison population by roughly 10,000 since March - including the expedited release of roughly 3,500 inmates and the suspension of intake from county jails .
But some lawmakers and prison reform advocates say this number includes approximately 3,000 individuals who are already due for release each month .
`` I think that 's another piece that the public does n't understand : how many bodies churn in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , prisons or detention centers on a daily , weekly , monthly basis , '' said Emily Harris , policy director for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights .
The promised releases this summer also fall roughly 10,000 short of the number of releases needed to reduce prison capacity to 100 % .
All together , California 's prisons are operating at roughly 120 % design capacity .
Ms Simas said in an email that this number was `` well below '' a 2010 court order to address medical care within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDCR to reduce its incarcerated population to less than 137.5 % of design capacity .
She did not respond directly to questions about any state efforts to further decarcerate prisons .
At San Quentin , the current prison population makes recommended social distancing impossible , Dr Williams said .
She and other health experts are calling for dramatic reduction at the facility - cutting capacity by 50 % .
`` The first , most important thing to protect the health and lives of people incarcerated is to decarcerate as many people as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison reform advocates , the pre-existing conditions at many California facilities made coronavirus outbreaks inevitable .
`` Those of us who 've been doing work on the conditions of prisons and jails knew immediately , once we learned about the coronavirus , that prisons and jails were just going to be terrifying places for people to be living , '' Ms Harris said .
`` A lot of us felt a little bit like we 're at the top of a building and watching it burn from below , and just kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curb the spread , inmates say life inside San Quentin is becoming increasingly restricted .
Until this week , inmates at the prison were barred from making phone calls and daily showers had been reduced to one every three days .
San Quentin was `` aggressively trying to flatten the curve by eliminating all areas where infection can easily spread , '' acting warden Ron Broomfield wrote to explain the changes , according to the Families Of San Quentin website , which is used by both families of inmates and advocacy groups .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ population safe , even if it means a temporary reduction in services , '' he wrote .
Jack 's wife Teresa has exchanged countless letters over the years with her husband , spent hours on the phone with him , and made the 90-minute round trip to San Quentin more times than she can remember .
`` My husband always says that if he had n't gone to prison , he 'd probably be dead , '' she said .
According to Teresa , Jack has used his prison sentence to lay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from completing his General Education Diploma to taking anger management workshops .
The couple have plans to start a janitorial business together upon his release .
`` He has a house , loved ones , and all the tools to be a productive citizen , '' she said .
At a glance , Jack seems like a good candidate for Governor Newsom 's latest wave of releases .
But with two and a half years left he falls short of the CDCR criteria , which begins with those with fewer than 180 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners with up to a year of their sentence remaining .
When he spoke to the BBC , Jack was still hopeful about an early release .
For now , he will run the course of his coronavirus infection with his cellmate , waiting for news and trying to stay healthy in a place where there are no guarantees you can .
Some names have been changed

Even as the coronavirus outbreak ravaged California this spring, Jack's routine remained largely unchanged. Despite fears about virus spread in prisons, as late as May San Quentin had no reported cases. But in the last days of the month, 121 inmates from the California Institute of Men in Chino - then in the throes of its own outbreak - were transferred to San Quentin. Many of the men had not been tested for weeks prior to the move, state officials later confirmed, and the transfer sparked an outbreak that swept through more than one third of San Quentin's inmate population.


bbc--2020-07-29--PFA Player of the Year: BBC pundits pick Premier League's best player of 2019-20

An extraordinary Premier League season is finally over but who was the standout individual performer over the past 12 months ?
A total of 515 players have featured in the top flight during the extended 2019-20 campaign but only one will be named the Professional Footballers ' Association 's Player of the Year .
Which man deserves that accolade ?
Twenty-four BBC pundits have made their choice , and four names are mentioned - Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne and Liverpool trio Jordan Henderson , Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk , who was last year 's winner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have picked as their best player , and vote for your choice here .
The three favourites would be De Bruyne , Henderson and Mane - and it is Henderson for me .
I picked him because the way he has led that Liverpool team this season has been magnificent .
In a season in which his club have n't won the league title , it speaks volumes that De Bruyne is still top of my mind when it comes to thinking about the PFA Player of the Year award .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest level - and that ceiling does n't look like it has yet been reached .
De Bruyne takes complete control of the game around him , plays it at his own pace and dictates the Manchester City rhythm and tempo .
Look at the stats - he is the best creator of chances in Europe .
He 's a player team-mates love to play with for his ability to provide chances and bring others into play , and he scores some great goals himself too .
I 'd love to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees the game is different .
He 's had a brilliant season with 13 goals and 20 assists in 35 league appearances .
Scores , creates and his set-piece delivery is brilliant too - he can do everything .
Henderson deserves it for what he has done in so many respects ; he is Liverpool 's captain , and is a leader on and off the pitch .
But , in the games I have watched - and I have watched a lot of them - there have been so many occasions where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the match-winner , not just with his goals but also by creating chances and problems for the opposition .
His work ethic , and the tireless pressing and running back that he does , is just remarkable considering he puts so much in going forward - and it 's his all-round game that has so often been the trigger for Liverpool 's success .
He is still the most important player in this Liverpool side .
Having a strong defence always means at least not losing , and the attack also starts there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can play , then you can not attack .
I had this debate last season - does the standout player deserve this award , or is it one of the team that wins the title ?
Last season , City won the domestic treble but Van Dijk was the winner , voted before Liverpool lifted the Champions League trophy .
Following that thinking , I am going with De Bruyne this time .
He is a ridiculously good player and he has had an incredible season - his stats put him above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you gladly pay money to watch .
Liverpool were a juggernaut in the league but it 's tough to say one of their players stood head and shoulders above the rest , while De Bruyne did .
If City can claim the Champions League next month , it 's a no-brainer .
For his consistency , his energy and his relentlessness , Mane gets my vote .
He is constantly applying pressure to his opponent and he has produced pieces of real quality too .
Out of possession , he is brilliant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pressing , and then he is so deadly in front of goal too .
I think there is a spread in the vote for the Liverpool players because you can take your pick from which attributes impress you the most .
But the fact their three leading candidates play in defence , midfield and attack show how strong they have been in every area this season .
It is hard to decide this year but , in a team where there are so many big names around him that often take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force .
His hard work has allowed those superstars to shine .
When you consider what he has had to come through , with people doubting whether he can be a leader , and whether he should even play for Liverpool or England , for him to have been such a key part of a title-winning team is extraordinary .
De Bruyne is the standout players in terms of talent but Van Dijk gets my vote because he has the greatest influence on the team that has run away with the title .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ once again the leader at the back .
The biggest point about him and Liverpool , though , is that if you take him out of that team then they are seriously going to miss him .
You could take virtually anyone else out and it would not be the case .
De Bruyne gets an honourable mention because he is a brilliant talent but , as a professional , what you do n't see from the outside is the people who make the dressing room tick , and keep the team driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a team that did n't stop until they won the league .
It has been a long road for him and he has had to win a lot of people over - even now he still gets that flak occasionally where people question his merits .
But , having worked with him for England and knowing him on a bit more of a personal level , I know his drive and focus .
He does n't drink alcohol , he does n't eat bad food - he never has a day off .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were this season until the title was won because , as a team , they never had a day off either .
He has been on another level .
His stats are incredible and so is his all-round play .
He has done it when it 's mattered too , like in the win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu .
De Bruyne has taken on the role of being the leader at City and is still improving himself .
He is right at the top of his game , and is playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a club with his heart and determination - he has achieved against all the odds and proved all the critics wrong .
He is an exceptional leader and has had an exceptional season .
De Bruyne has been the standout player with his passing range with both feet , and his vision - he has the ability in the final third to see and play the killer pass .
Then you look at his assists and goals .
Sticking with my theory that the the winner of the best player award should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say Mane .
Other than that I would definitely highlight Southampton striker Danny Ings and the amazing season he 's had .
It has got to be a Liverpool player because of the season they have had and I am going to go with Van Dijk , with a big mention for Henderson , who has won over a huge swathe of fans with his performances and leadership .
But the bottom line is that Van Dijk has played in every single league game and I do n't think they would have won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives confidence to everyone who plays around him - he has played with four different centre-backs this season and it has n't mattered , because of how good he is .
Look at how City have struggled at the back and that tells you a lot .
There is not much between the two teams going forward and , if City had Van Dijk , they would have won the league .
Henderson and Mane deserve recognition for the part they 've played in leading Liverpool to the title - Henderson for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important goals .
But De Bruyne has been the best player this season , which is why he gets my vote .
De Bruyne has been magnificent but I look at the impact that Henderson has had on his team .
Without him , Liverpool struggle a little bit .
You hear about how he is in the dressing room and how he would call people out .
He has high standards and is n't afraid to tell people what needs to be said .
In terms of leadership , he is unbelievable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just do n't see what they bring collectively to the table .
He brings so much .
De Bruyne has got quicker , stronger and more powerful but Henderson 's not just in the Liverpool team because he 's a runner .
He 's got a lot of characteristics that fit the style Liverpool play - he is a very good footballer too .
The hardest part of football is to create , and he does it the best .
He arrived at Anfield aged 20 in 2011 with a 'work in progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never doubted himself .
It feels like he has always had the confidence to keep pushing himself and those around him , while being an understated player .
He 's been absolutely critical in what Liverpool have done because when new players have arrived , like Van Dijk and Alisson , who have given them the lift in quality they needed , he has been able to establish to them what is expected in terms of their focus too .
He is still the guy most likely to make me go `` wow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this season .
I am openly biased because he is precisely the type of player I love to watch .
City without him playing are a much less impressive outfit , which says a lot .
I narrowed it down to Mane , who has been unbelievable , and Henderson but with Henderson missing the end of the season through injury I think you can see just how important he is to this Liverpool team .
Henderson has been instrumental in everything they have done this season and his leadership qualities have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What I love about him having watched him a lot is that , even when Liverpool are winning games , he has got this mentality now where he will not allow anyone 's standards to drop .
He is not afraid to have a go at any of his team-mates at any point , and they do n't answer him back now .
They have got so much respect for him that they listen intently .
His own personal performances have improved too and it is no coincidence that has come from him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fabinho now occupies to being the wider of the three on the right .
The story is that happened because he went to see Klopp and told him he was better suited in that position , which ca n't have been an easy thing to do either , but the move has been massive for him .
I 100 % endorse that Henderson is the Footballer of the Year , because that is a slightly different award - the football writers are encouraged to take into account things that happen away from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year for me is Van Dijk , for everything he has done and brings to that Liverpool team .
His pace , his stature , and how commanding he is in the air .
I watched him closely at Celtic and Southampton and I think he reached a point in his career where he matured .
He had the ability and the desire and there was a feeling of `` now we win things '' .
He has taken that next step and when I watch him play , as a former centre-half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect .
It 's because of his determination on and off the pitch .
A true professional , he has been instrumental in Liverpool 's momentum .
The maturity Jordan has shown as a leader , and for that football club , you ca n't put a price on it .
De Bruyne is my pick but that 's pure football .
De Bruyne has been head and shoulders above any other player in the league , with the consistency of his performances , how dangerous he is and how he dictates games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that just amaze me , every time I watch him .
He has still got the ability to go and win the Champions League for City this season and when he plays like he did at the Bernabeu , they have every chance .
That game against Real made me realise how good he is .
Everyone knows he is a world-class player but it is about time now we started putting him right up there with the very best , like we did with Luka Modric or we used to with Andres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different sort of player , but he is one of them - he is that good .
And the winner is ... Kevin de Bruyne

An extraordinary Premier League season is finally over but who was the standout individual performer over the past 12 months?
A total of 515 players have featured in the top flight during the extended 2019-20 campaign but only one will be named the Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year.
Which man deserves that accolade? Twenty-four BBC pundits have made their choice, and four names are mentioned - Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne and Liverpool trio Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk, who was last year's winner.
Scroll down to find out who they have picked as their best player, and vote for your choice here.
If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app please click here to vote.
1. Alan Shearer: Jordan Henderson (Henderson's 1st vote)
Match of the Day: Alan Shearer & Micah Richards' discuss player of the year
The three favourites would be De Bruyne, Henderson and Mane - and it is Henderson for me. I picked him because the way he has led that Liverpool team this season has been magnificent.
2. Ian Wright: Kevin de Bruyne (1)
Kevin de Bruyne has created the most chances of any player in Europe's big five leagues in 2019-20. On average, he made a chance every 21 minutes, which also gave him the best minutes-per-chance ratio. Since that statistic was first measured in 2006-07, only Dimitri Payet has had a better ratio, when he made a chance every 19 minutes for Marseille in Ligue 1 in 2017-18.
In a season in which his club haven't won the league title, it speaks volumes that De Bruyne is still top of my mind when it comes to thinking about the PFA Player of the Year award. He is an elite footballer who is playing to the highest level - and that ceiling doesn't look like it has yet been reached.
De Bruyne takes complete control of the game around him, plays it at his own pace and dictates the Manchester City rhythm and tempo.
Look at the stats - he is the best creator of chances in Europe. He's a player team-mates love to play with for his ability to provide chances and bring others into play, and he scores some great goals himself too.
I'd love to have played with him. The way he sees the game is different. He's had a brilliant season with 13 goals and 20 assists in 35 league appearances. Scores, creates and his set-piece delivery is brilliant too - he can do everything.
3. Danny Murphy: Sadio Mane (1)
Sadio Mane's 18 Premier League goals for Liverpool in 2019-20 have earned his side 18 points - only Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (20) and Raul Jimenez of Wolves (19) have won more points with their goals this season
Henderson deserves it for what he has done in so many respects; he is Liverpool's captain, and is a leader on and off the pitch.
But, in the games I have watched - and I have watched a lot of them - there have been so many occasions where Sadio has been the game-changer, and the match-winner, not just with his goals but also by creating chances and problems for the opposition.
His work ethic, and the tireless pressing and running back that he does, is just remarkable considering he puts so much in going forward - and it's his all-round game that has so often been the trigger for Liverpool's success.
4. Ruud Gullit: Virgil van Dijk (1)
Virgil van Dijk pictured with Vivianne Miedema after the Dutch pair won the PFA's men's and women's Player of the Year awards last year. Van Dijk was the first defender to win the men's award since Chelsea's John Terry in 2004-05.
He is still the most important player in this Liverpool side.
Having a strong defence always means at least not losing, and the attack also starts there. If you have no good defenders who can play, then you cannot attack.
5. Leon Osman: Kevin de Bruyne (2)
I had this debate last season - does the standout player deserve this award, or is it one of the team that wins the title?
Last season, City won the domestic treble but Van Dijk was the winner, voted before Liverpool lifted the Champions League trophy. Following that thinking, I am going with De Bruyne this time.
Kevin de Bruyne made 20 Premier League assists in 2019-20, equalling the record set by Arsenal's Thierry Henry in 2002-03 for the most in a single season
He is a ridiculously good player and he has had an incredible season - his stats put him above the rest and he is a player you gladly pay money to watch.
Liverpool were a juggernaut in the league but it's tough to say one of their players stood head and shoulders above the rest, while De Bruyne did.
If City can claim the Champions League next month, it's a no-brainer.
6. Matt Upson: Sadio Mane (2)
For his consistency, his energy and his relentlessness, Mane gets my vote. He is constantly applying pressure to his opponent and he has produced pieces of real quality too.
Out of possession, he is brilliant and he embodies Liverpool's whole ethos with his pressing, and then he is so deadly in front of goal too.
I think there is a spread in the vote for the Liverpool players because you can take your pick from which attributes impress you the most.
But the fact their three leading candidates play in defence, midfield and attack show how strong they have been in every area this season.
7. Alex Scott: Jordan Henderson (2)
It is hard to decide this year but, in a team where there are so many big names around him that often take the limelight, Henderson has been a driving force. His hard work has allowed those superstars to shine.
Liverpool win 2019-20 Premier League title: Henderson on 'amazing feeling' of lifting Premier League trophy
When you consider what he has had to come through, with people doubting whether he can be a leader, and whether he should even play for Liverpool or England, for him to have been such a key part of a title-winning team is extraordinary.
8. Chris Sutton: Virgil van Dijk (2)
De Bruyne is the standout players in terms of talent but Van Dijk gets my vote because he has the greatest influence on the team that has run away with the title.
When it mattered, Van Dijk was once again the leader at the back.
The biggest point about him and Liverpool, though, is that if you take him out of that team then they are seriously going to miss him. You could take virtually anyone else out and it would not be the case.
9. Rob Green: Jordan Henderson (3)
De Bruyne gets an honourable mention because he is a brilliant talent but, as a professional, what you don't see from the outside is the people who make the dressing room tick, and keep the team driving forward.
Henderson has done that with a team that didn't stop until they won the league.
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson on how manager Jurgen Klopp celebrated with his players
It has been a long road for him and he has had to win a lot of people over - even now he still gets that flak occasionally where people question his merits.
But, having worked with him for England and knowing him on a bit more of a personal level, I know his drive and focus. He doesn't drink alcohol, he doesn't eat bad food - he never has a day off.
That transfers over into the way Liverpool were this season until the title was won because, as a team, they never had a day off either.
10. Michael Brown: Kevin de Bruyne (3)
He has been on another level. His stats are incredible and so is his all-round play. He has done it when it's mattered too, like in the win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
De Bruyne has taken on the role of being the leader at City and is still improving himself. He is right at the top of his game, and is playing with unbelievable confidence.
Football Focus: Phil Foden hails Man City's 'perfect balance' of Silva & De Bruyne
11. Mark Schwarzer: Jordan Henderson (4)
Henderson defines Liverpool as a club with his heart and determination - he has achieved against all the odds and proved all the critics wrong.
He is an exceptional leader and has had an exceptional season.
12. Philip Neville: Kevin de Bruyne (4)
De Bruyne has been the standout player with his passing range with both feet, and his vision - he has the ability in the final third to see and play the killer pass. Then you look at his assists and goals.
13. Joleon Lescott: Sadio Mane (3)
Sticking with my theory that the the winner of the best player award should play for the title-winning team I would say Mane.
Other than that I would definitely highlight Southampton striker Danny Ings and the amazing season he's had.
I just want to win the Premier League - Mane speaks to BBC World Service
14. Mark Lawrenson: Virgil van Dijk (3)
It has got to be a Liverpool player because of the season they have had and I am going to go with Van Dijk, with a big mention for Henderson, who has won over a huge swathe of fans with his performances and leadership.
But the bottom line is that Van Dijk has played in every single league game and I don't think they would have won the title without him.
With 33 goals conceded in 38 games, Liverpool had the best defensive record in the Premier League this season
His presence gives confidence to everyone who plays around him - he has played with four different centre-backs this season and it hasn't mattered, because of how good he is.
Look at how City have struggled at the back and that tells you a lot. There is not much between the two teams going forward and, if City had Van Dijk, they would have won the league.
15. Micah Richards: Kevin de Bruyne (5)
Henderson and Mane deserve recognition for the part they've played in leading Liverpool to the title - Henderson for his leadership and Mane because he has scored important goals.
But De Bruyne has been the best player this season, which is why he gets my vote.
Manchester City were top scorers in the Premier League this season with 102 goals from 38 games. With 13 goals and 20 assists, De Bruyne was involved in 33 of them - the most of any Premier League player in 2019-20.
16. Karen Carney: Jordan Henderson (5)
De Bruyne has been magnificent but I look at the impact that Henderson has had on his team.
Without him, Liverpool struggle a little bit. You hear about how he is in the dressing room and how he would call people out. He has high standards and isn't afraid to tell people what needs to be said.
In terms of leadership, he is unbelievable. There are some players where people just don't see what they bring collectively to the table. He brings so much.
Liverpool with and without Henderson in the PL 2019-20 With Without 30 Games 8 27 Wins 5 2 Draws 1 1 Losses 2 2.2 Av. goals for 2.25 0.6 Av. goals against 1.75 90 Win % 63% 2.8 Points per game 2
De Bruyne has got quicker, stronger and more powerful but Henderson's not just in the Liverpool team because he's a runner. He's got a lot of characteristics that fit the style Liverpool play - he is a very good footballer too.
17. Chris Waddle: Kevin de Bruyne (6)
The hardest part of football is to create, and he does it the best.
The making of Belgium's De Bruyne
18. Rachel Brown-Finnis: Jordan Henderson (6)
He arrived at Anfield aged 20 in 2011 with a 'work in progress' sign around his neck but he never doubted himself.
It feels like he has always had the confidence to keep pushing himself and those around him, while being an understated player.
He's been absolutely critical in what Liverpool have done because when new players have arrived, like Van Dijk and Alisson, who have given them the lift in quality they needed, he has been able to establish to them what is expected in terms of their focus too.
19. Pat Nevin: Kevin de Bruyne (7)
He is still the guy most likely to make me go "wow" and has done so many times this season. I am openly biased because he is precisely the type of player I love to watch.
City without him playing are a much less impressive outfit, which says a lot.
20. Stephen Warnock: Jordan Henderson (7)
I narrowed it down to Mane, who has been unbelievable, and Henderson but with Henderson missing the end of the season through injury I think you can see just how important he is to this Liverpool team.
With Jordan Henderson in the side, Liverpool did not lose a single game in the Premier League this season until they had secured the title. Their only defeat when he played came against Manchester City on 2 July.
Henderson has been instrumental in everything they have done this season and his leadership qualities have made the difference on so many occasions.
What I love about him having watched him a lot is that, even when Liverpool are winning games, he has got this mentality now where he will not allow anyone's standards to drop.
He is not afraid to have a go at any of his team-mates at any point, and they don't answer him back now. They have got so much respect for him that they listen intently.
His own personal performances have improved too and it is no coincidence that has come from him moving from the deep-lying midfield role that Fabinho now occupies to being the wider of the three on the right.
The story is that happened because he went to see Klopp and told him he was better suited in that position, which can't have been an easy thing to do either, but the move has been massive for him.
21. Martin Keown: Virgil van Dijk (4)
I 100% endorse that Henderson is the Footballer of the Year, because that is a slightly different award - the football writers are encouraged to take into account things that happen away from the field.
But the player of the year for me is Van Dijk, for everything he has done and brings to that Liverpool team. His pace, his stature, and how commanding he is in the air.
I watched him closely at Celtic and Southampton and I think he reached a point in his career where he matured. He had the ability and the desire and there was a feeling of "now we win things". He has taken that next step and when I watch him play, as a former centre-half myself, I think he is almost perfect.
Out of 180 players with 200+ duels in the Premier League this season, Van Dijk has the highest success rate - winning 232/311. The next best is James Tarkowski of Burnley (299/440 so 68%). Van Dijk also has won the highest percentage of aerial duals - out of 45 players who have competed for 150+ balls in the air, he has won 76% (184/243).
22. Lindsay Johnson: Jordan Henderson (8)
It's because of his determination on and off the pitch. A true professional, he has been instrumental in Liverpool's momentum.
23. Tim Cahill: Kevin de Bruyne (8)
The maturity Jordan has shown as a leader, and for that football club, you can't put a price on it.
De Bruyne is my pick but that's pure football.
24. Jermaine Jenas: Kevin de Bruyne (9)
De Bruyne has been head and shoulders above any other player in the league, with the consistency of his performances, how dangerous he is and how he dictates games with his quality.
He does things that just amaze me, every time I watch him. He has still got the ability to go and win the Champions League for City this season and when he plays like he did at the Bernabeu, they have every chance.
That game against Real made me realise how good he is. Everyone knows he is a world-class player but it is about time now we started putting him right up there with the very best, like we did with Luka Modric or we used to with Andres Iniesta and Xavi. He is a different sort of player, but he is one of them - he is that good.
And the winner is... Kevin de Bruyne


bbc--2020-07-29--PFA Player of the Year: England or Miedema? BBC pundits' WSL verdict

The Women 's Super League season ended prematurely following the outbreak of coronavirus but there were still a number of stunning individual performances .
Who was the standout player throughout the campaign ?
Only one will be named the Professional Footballers ' Association 's Player of the Year .
Eight BBC pundits , including commentators , writers and former players have all given their views and it 's a two-horse race between Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea 's Bethany England .
Norway international Guro Reiten , who joined Chelsea last summer , was also given a mention so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and keep reading to see who the pundits chose as their number one ... 1 .
Alex Scott ( former Arsenal and England defender ) - Bethany England ( first vote ) It 's close between England and Miedema .
But England had a really special season .
When you look at the way she left Chelsea on loan , then came back and really fought as an English striker to prove herself and break into the national team , then you can see how hard she has worked for her success .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her in the limelight along with Fran Kirby , Ji So-yun and the other Chelsea stars .
She deserves it , and all the plaudits she gets .
• From 'not fitting in ' to prolific striker 2 : Lindsay Johnson ( former England and Everton defender ) - Vivianne Miedema ( first vote ) Technically , Miedema is the best finisher .
Even when she is not involved in the game , she has always got a goal in her .
It 's not just been a prolific season for England , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with her being top goalscorer for Chelsea and making it into the England squad .
She has put herself on the map and it has been really nice hearing her voice , explaining how she feels she has improved and how Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has been a huge part in that , in giving her that real self-belief she needed .
That is what has helped Beth really kick on since she first signed for Chelsea in 2016 and went back out on loan .
She seems to me to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she has done shows the difference it makes when you have that confidence to go with your ability .
Having seen her play at Doncaster Belles and during that loan at Liverpool when she did not get a chance at Chelsea , initially , to see her now going toe-to-toe with her team-mate Sam Kerr , who is touted as one of the best forwards in the world , has really made me smile .
It is great to see a new star announce themselves in the game , and it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the scene , she has really had to dig deep , and think about how she needed to improve to get the best out of herself , and that is what we 're seeing now .
I feel really proud of what she 's done and what the team around her have done to help her make that happen .
At this stage of the women 's game 's growth , inspirational players are invaluable to the sport .
Young players and fans need idols and - in so many ways - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is effortlessly brilliant , yet not arrogant ; lethal in front of goal , yet unselfish ; in constant demand for autographs , selfies and interviews , yet polite , unassuming and grounded .
Then of course there are her goals - relentless in their frequency and each illustrating her intelligence off the ball - but her world-class abilities are better exemplified by her deft first touch , her clever movement and her instinctive eye for a precise through ball .
All of those qualities came together in unison on 1 December 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most devastating individual performance we have seen since the Women 's Super League began , netting six goals and providing four assists in Arsenal 's 11-1 victory over Bristol City , without even appearing to break a sweat .
Iconic .
When Beth first came to Chelsea , you could see all the talent was there but the timing was n't quite right and she needed to build more confidence .
She went on loan to Liverpool and she was like a different player when she came back .
She has every element @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can hold the ball up , she is strong , she is quick and her finishing has improved loads .
To do it for Chelsea and have the confidence to keep doing it when someone like Sam Kerr joined in January ... she just cracked on with her business .
Some players can crumble at that pressure .
And I still think there is a lot more to come .
She was a massive part in Chelsea 's success this season .
I watched her goal at Stamford Bridge in the first game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
It looked like she had a point to prove .
6 .
Vicki Sparks ( BBC Match of the Day and Radio 5 Live commentator ) - Vivianne Miedema ( 3 ) England has had a great season but if you look at what Miedema has done on the world stage too , she has been unreal .
The Bristol City game ... she scored six goals and got four assists !
What more can you say about that !
It 's so clear that her and Arsenal fit together well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage with the Netherlands too because the way those teams play just suits Miedema 's style so well .
It 's clear that she is really settled and is enjoying her football .
I love the way she is so relaxed when she plays .
Everything she does - her movement and her finishing - is so natural .
She is a predator in front of goal but she is more than that because of the way she sees the game and moves .
It 's remarkable that she has only just turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goalscorer for the Netherlands .
Her numbers are absolutely staggering .
It 's frightening that she is so young and is finding that consistency in goals .
It 's just exciting to have her in the WSL .
England had an incredible season as well and it 's been great to see her really develop and blossom with Chelsea .
She 's clearly been the second standout player just behind Miedema .
England had a fantastic season and scored in pretty much every important fixture .
She scored two in the Continental Cup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City , scored against defending champions Arsenal at home , netted at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend ... People were a little bit worried when Kerr arrived - a world superstar - and whether that would affect England .
But she has raised her game and dealt with it .
She gives Chelsea that X-factor .
She scores different types of goals too and has grown .
That 's why I am putting her ahead of Miedema .
She 's not a born star but has really worked hard , taken her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robyn Cowen ( BBC Match of the Day and Radio 5 Live commentator ) - Bethany England ( 5 ) With England , it 's all about her consistency .
After that loan spell at Liverpool , she has been constantly scoring goals and getting in the right positions .
She looks athletic , confident and calm .
I feel like she has been transformed .
She was probably not quite ready to play for Chelsea before she went out on loan .
But now England scores all types of goals .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first game of the season and she scored that screamer against Tottenham and she is one of those players where she has improved so much on both feet , that you ca n't tell which is her preferred shooting foot now .
She has just been really proficient in her skill set .
There is pretty much nothing she ca n't do in terms of all-round centre-forward play .
With Kerr coming in too , Hayes has done brilliantly to play them together and England has even shone brighter than Kerr so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much time to settle but her link-up play with England is developing .
It 's really exciting for Chelsea .
Miedema and Reiten have also had great seasons .
Miedema 's goalscoring ability is second-to-none and she has done incredible stuff on the international stage but England is a late bloomer and that makes me like her even more .
She has shown that you can still do it if you work hard .
She has spoken about her struggles on loan and how she has dealt with her mental health .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fantastic footballer , but a really inspirational leader and person in football .
• England on building her on confidence And the winner is ... Bethany England England wins by five votes to three - will the Women 's Super League players agree with our pundits ' though ?

The Women's Super League season ended prematurely following the outbreak of coronavirus but there were still a number of stunning individual performances.
Who was the standout player throughout the campaign? Only one will be named the Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year.
Eight BBC pundits, including commentators, writers and former players have all given their views and it's a two-horse race between Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema and Chelsea's Bethany England.
Norway international Guro Reiten, who joined Chelsea last summer, was also given a mention so you can choose from those three selections below and keep reading to see who the pundits chose as their number one...
If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app please click here to vote.
1. Alex Scott (former Arsenal and England defender) - Bethany England (first vote)
Bethany England scored a 92nd-minute winner against Arsenal in the Continental Cup final in February
It's close between England and Miedema. But England had a really special season.
When you look at the way she left Chelsea on loan, then came back and really fought as an English striker to prove herself and break into the national team, then you can see how hard she has worked for her success.
The goals she has scored have put her in the limelight along with Fran Kirby, Ji So-yun and the other Chelsea stars. She deserves it, and all the plaudits she gets.
2: Lindsay Johnson (former England and Everton defender) - Vivianne Miedema (first vote)
Vivianne Miedema has already won the Football Writers' Women's Footballer of the Year award this year
Technically, Miedema is the best finisher.
Even when she is not involved in the game, she has always got a goal in her.
3. Rachel Brown-Finnis (former England and Everton goalkeeper) - Bethany England (2)
It's not just been a prolific season for England, it's been a breakthrough campaign too, with her being top goalscorer for Chelsea and making it into the England squad.
She has put herself on the map and it has been really nice hearing her voice, explaining how she feels she has improved and how Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has been a huge part in that, in giving her that real self-belief she needed.
That is what has helped Beth really kick on since she first signed for Chelsea in 2016 and went back out on loan.
She seems to me to be the perfect professional so I think what she has done shows the difference it makes when you have that confidence to go with your ability.
Vivianne Miedema finished as the top scorer in the Women's Super League for the second successive season
Having seen her play at Doncaster Belles and during that loan at Liverpool when she did not get a chance at Chelsea, initially, to see her now going toe-to-toe with her team-mate Sam Kerr, who is touted as one of the best forwards in the world, has really made me smile.
It is great to see a new star announce themselves in the game, and it is not as if she has just come on to the scene, she has really had to dig deep, and think about how she needed to improve to get the best out of herself, and that is what we're seeing now.
I feel really proud of what she's done and what the team around her have done to help her make that happen.
4. Tom Garry (BBC Sport reporter) - Vivianne Miedema (2)
Vivianne Miedema pictured with Virgil van Dijk after the Dutch pair won the PFA's men's and women's Player of the Year awards last year.
At this stage of the women's game's growth, inspirational players are invaluable to the sport. Young players and fans need idols and - in so many ways - Miedema is the perfect idol.
She is effortlessly brilliant, yet not arrogant; lethal in front of goal, yet unselfish; in constant demand for autographs, selfies and interviews, yet polite, unassuming and grounded.
Then of course there are her goals - relentless in their frequency and each illustrating her intelligence off the ball - but her world-class abilities are better exemplified by her deft first touch, her clever movement and her instinctive eye for a precise through ball.
All of those qualities came together in unison on 1 December 2019, when the Netherlands striker produced the most devastating individual performance we have seen since the Women's Super League began, netting six goals and providing four assists in Arsenal's 11-1 victory over Bristol City, without even appearing to break a sweat. Iconic.
5. Karen Carney (ex-England and Chelsea midfielder) - Bethany England (3)
When Beth first came to Chelsea, you could see all the talent was there but the timing wasn't quite right and she needed to build more confidence.
She went on loan to Liverpool and she was like a different player when she came back. She has every element you want as a striker. She can hold the ball up, she is strong, she is quick and her finishing has improved loads.
To do it for Chelsea and have the confidence to keep doing it when someone like Sam Kerr joined in January... she just cracked on with her business. Some players can crumble at that pressure.
And I still think there is a lot more to come. She was a massive part in Chelsea's success this season. I watched her goal at Stamford Bridge in the first game and I feel like that kicked her on. It looked like she had a point to prove.
6. Vicki Sparks (BBC Match of the Day and Radio 5 Live commentator) - Vivianne Miedema (3)
England has had a great season but if you look at what Miedema has done on the world stage too, she has been unreal.
The Bristol City game... she scored six goals and got four assists! What more can you say about that!
It's so clear that her and Arsenal fit together well. You see it on the international stage with the Netherlands too because the way those teams play just suits Miedema's style so well. It's clear that she is really settled and is enjoying her football.
I love the way she is so relaxed when she plays. Everything she does - her movement and her finishing - is so natural. She is a predator in front of goal but she is more than that because of the way she sees the game and moves.
It's remarkable that she has only just turned 24 and is already the all-time leading goalscorer for the Netherlands. Her numbers are absolutely staggering. It's frightening that she is so young and is finding that consistency in goals.
It's just exciting to have her in the WSL. England had an incredible season as well and it's been great to see her really develop and blossom with Chelsea. She's clearly been the second standout player just behind Miedema.
7. Joshua Adu-Donkor (BBC Radio 5 Live commentator) - Bethany England (4)
England had a fantastic season and scored in pretty much every important fixture.
She scored two in the Continental Cup final, scored a worldie against Manchester City, scored against defending champions Arsenal at home, netted at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend...
People were a little bit worried when Kerr arrived - a world superstar - and whether that would affect England. But she has raised her game and dealt with it.
She gives Chelsea that X-factor. She scores different types of goals too and has grown. That's why I am putting her ahead of Miedema. She's not a born star but has really worked hard, taken her chance and been excellent.
8. Robyn Cowen (BBC Match of the Day and Radio 5 Live commentator) - Bethany England (5)
Chelsea were named winners of the Women's Super League title on a points-per-game ratio
With England, it's all about her consistency. After that loan spell at Liverpool, she has been constantly scoring goals and getting in the right positions.
She looks athletic, confident and calm. I feel like she has been transformed. She was probably not quite ready to play for Chelsea before she went out on loan.
But now England scores all types of goals. I was at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's first game of the season and she scored that screamer against Tottenham and she is one of those players where she has improved so much on both feet, that you can't tell which is her preferred shooting foot now.
She has just been really proficient in her skill set. There is pretty much nothing she can't do in terms of all-round centre-forward play. With Kerr coming in too, Hayes has done brilliantly to play them together and England has even shone brighter than Kerr so far.
Kerr has obviously not had that much time to settle but her link-up play with England is developing. It's really exciting for Chelsea.
Miedema and Reiten have also had great seasons. Miedema's goalscoring ability is second-to-none and she has done incredible stuff on the international stage but England is a late bloomer and that makes me like her even more.
She has shown that you can still do it if you work hard. She has spoken about her struggles on loan and how she has dealt with her mental health.
And now she has turned into not only a fantastic footballer, but a really inspirational leader and person in football.
And the winner is... Bethany England
England wins by five votes to three - will the Women's Super League players agree with our pundits' though?


bbc--2020-07-29--Inter want to sign Man Utd striker Sanchez after loan

Inter Milan want to sign Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez on a permanent deal .
The Chile striker , 31 , has impressed during his loan spell in Italy and scored his third goal in eight games during Saturday ’ s 3-0 win at Genoa .
Sanchez was involved again on Tuesday night as Inter maintained their push to finish second in Serie A with a 2-0 win over Napoli .
Inter have not finished in Serie A 's top three since 2011 .
The player ’ s United contract – thought to be around £400,000 a week – is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not want to keep the former Barcelona forward for next season .
• I was lost as a player and person - Lingard United have been paying a sizeable portion of Sanchez ’ s wages since he moved to Italy last summer and the former Arsenal man ’ s contract is not due to expire until 2022 .
Any deal would almost certainly require some kind of pay off from United and a willingness by Sanchez to take a wage cut .
There is uncertainty over how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be involved in Inter ’ s Europa League campaign .
The BBC understands Sanchez will be available for the last-16 tie with Getafe on 5 August but with United also still in the competition , the existing deal would see the player then return to Old Trafford .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Alexis Sanchez has scored four times in 28 matches in all competitions during his loan spell with Inter Milan
Inter Milan want to sign Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez on a permanent deal.
The Chile striker, 31, has impressed during his loan spell in Italy and scored his third goal in eight games during Saturday’s 3-0 win at Genoa.
Sanchez was involved again on Tuesday night as Inter maintained their push to finish second in Serie A with a 2-0 win over Napoli.
Inter have not finished in Serie A's top three since 2011.
The player’s United contract – thought to be around £400,000 a week – is beyond Inter’s reach but Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not want to keep the former Barcelona forward for next season.
United have been paying a sizeable portion of Sanchez’s wages since he moved to Italy last summer and the former Arsenal man’s contract is not due to expire until 2022.
Any deal would almost certainly require some kind of pay off from United and a willingness by Sanchez to take a wage cut.
There is uncertainty over how long the player will be permitted to be involved in Inter’s Europa League campaign.
The BBC understands Sanchez will be available for the last-16 tie with Getafe on 5 August but with United also still in the competition, the existing deal would see the player then return to Old Trafford.


bbc--2020-07-29--Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google face claims of 'harmful' power

The heads of some of the world 's biggest tech companies have appeared before Washington lawmakers to defend their firms against claims they abuse their power to quash competitors .
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos said the world `` needs large '' firms , while the heads of Facebook , Apple and Google argued their companies had spurred innovation .
The appearance comes as lawmakers consider tougher regulation and competition probes are under way .
Some critics want the firms broken up .
Democrats pressed the tech titans on competition issues , while Republicans were more concerned about how they managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views .
Congressman David Cicilline , the Democrat leading the congressional committee holding the hearing , said a year-long investigation by lawmakers had showed the online platforms had `` wielded their power in destructive , harmful ways in order to expand '' .
He said he was convinced the firms were monopolies and called for action .
`` Some need to be broken up and all need to be properly regulated , '' he said at the end of more than five hours of testimony .
Facebook 's Mark Zuckerberg , Amazon 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Tim Cook of Apple insisted they had done nothing illegal and stressed the American roots and values of their firms .
What are the main concerns about the tech giants ?
At the hearing , lawmakers accused Google of having stolen content created by smaller firms , like Yelp , in order to keep users on their own web pages .
Amazon 's treatment of sellers on its site , Facebook 's acquisition of competitors such as Instagram , and Apple 's App store also drew attention .
Mr Cicilline said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since it both hosts sellers and competes against them by offering similar products .
Such practice has also come under scrutiny from European regulators .
`` Amazon 's dual role ... is fundamentally anti-competitive and Congress must take action , '' he said .
However , some Republicans signalled they were not prepared to split up the firms or significantly overhaul US competition laws , with one committee member saying `` big is not inherently bad '' .
Republican concerns focused on perceived political bias at the firms , which they accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll just cut to the chase - big tech is out to get conservatives , '' said Congressman Jim Jordan , a Republican from Ohio .
Four of the world 's top technology company executives may have been testifying before the Judiciary Committee from a distance , but they were still caught in the middle of a political storm on Wednesday afternoon .
The stated purpose of the hearing was to address whether existing anti-trust laws provide sufficient regulation of transnational tech Goliaths .
The reality , however , was that the proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving five minutes to speak - were more akin to a feeding frenzy , as corporate chiefs faced criticism from every direction Democrats expressed concern that the companies were abusing their power by disadvantaging competitors or buying them out entirely .
Republicans accused the witnesses of insufficient patriotism and being too cosy with the Chinese .
Both sides expressed outrage over how the companies managed speech and expression on their platforms .
They did n't go far enough in removing hateful rhetoric and false information , Democrats said .
They singled out conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Through it all , the witnesses thanked the questioners and took their lumps , perhaps confident that they could soon log off and get back to their work .
While all the politicians seemed to agree that the big tech companies were a problem , their chances of arriving at any kind of solution seems unlikely .
What did the companies say ?
Appearing by remote video , the executives defended their companies , saying their products helped smaller businesses and they remained vulnerable to competition from newcomers .
Apple boss Tim Cook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitive I would describe it as a street fight for market share in the smartphone business '' .
Mr Bezos , in his first appearance before Congress , denied that Amazon 's multiple roles were a conflict of interest , but he admitted the firm was reviewing its handling of sales data from sellers on the site .
The company has been accused of using such information to launch its own version of hot-selling products .
Mr Bezos said Amazon rules forbid staff from looking at sales data from individual companies , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had violated the policy .
`` We are investigating that , '' he said .
• A day of reckoning for US tech giants ' CEOs • Will the US break up the tech giants ?
• Elon Musk calls for 'break up ' of Amazon In his prepared remarks , Mr Bezos said Amazon faced significant competition from firms such as Walmartand noted that the company lost money for years as it branched out into new areas .
`` I love garage entrepreneurs - I was one .
But , just like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also needs large ones .
There are things small companies simply ca n't do , '' he said .
What has Donald Trump said ?
US President Donald Trump is a long-time critic of Amazon and threatened his own action on Twitter , writing : `` If Congress does n't bring fairness to Big Tech , which they should have done years ago , I will do it myself with Executive Orders . ''
He also told reporters that White House officials would be watching the hearing closely .
`` There 's no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are doing is very bad , '' he said .
Tech analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities said `` storm clouds '' were building in Washington but he thought it was unlikely that Congress will come together on new legislation that would force tech companies to change , '' We think a legislative fix is the only one that creates a potential for limitations on these companies ' ability to conduct business , whether that takes the form of higher taxes or new rules regarding market concentration , '' he wrote .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't see meaningful change in regulation , although future acquisitions will most certainly be scrutinized and more difficult to close . ''

Through it all, the witnesses thanked the questioners and took their lumps, perhaps confident that they could soon log off and get back to their work. While all the politicians seemed to agree that the big tech companies were a problem, their chances of arriving at any kind of solution seems unlikely.


bbc--2020-07-29--US to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany in 'strategic' move

The US is set to withdraw almost 12,000 troops from Germany in what it described as a `` strategic '' repositioning of its forces in Europe .
About 6,400 troops will be sent home , with the rest moved to other Nato countries such as Italy and Belgium .
President Donald Trump said the move was a response to Germany failing to meet Nato targets on defence spending .
But it has attracted widespread opposition in Congress from those who believe it will embolden Russia .
• What does the US do for Nato ?
`` We do n't want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday shortly after the move was announced .
`` We 're reducing the force because they 're not paying their bills ; it 's very simple . ''
Mr Trump has long complained that European members of Nato should spend more on their own defence .
He has said that Nato members should no longer be relying so heavily on the US to shoulder the costs of maintaining the alliance .
The argument between the allies focuses around the target agreed by all alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of GDP ( gross domestic product , the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country ) by 2024 .
Germany , along with many other countries , has yet to meet this target .
Defence Secretary Mark Esper struck a different tone when announcing the decision , suggesting it was part of a broader plan to reposition US forces in the region .
He said it was `` a major strategic and positive shift '' that would `` unquestionably achieve the core principles of enhancing US and Nato @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is set to cost the US government several billion dollars and will reduce the country 's military presence in Germany by more than 25 % .
A squadron of fighter jets would be moved to Italy while some troops could be relocated to Poland , Mr Esper said .
The decision was criticised by German officials , with the chairman of the country 's foreign affairs committee suggesting it would `` weaken the Nato alliance '' .
And the head of the German state of Bavaria , Markus Soeder , said he regretted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burden on the German-American relationship , '' he told reporters .
There was also bipartisan criticism in Washington .
`` This is a self-inflicted wound ... against American interests , '' Democratic Senator Jack Reed said .
Republican Senator Mitt Romney described the decision to remove troops from Germany as a `` grave error '' and a `` a slap in the face at a friend and ally '' .
The plan was first announced by Mr Trump last month , when he accused Berlin of being `` delinquent '' in its payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of treating the US `` very badly on trade '' .
He also claimed that Germany was profiting from having the troops there because soldiers spend their money in the country .
The US military presence in Germany is a legacy of the post-World War Two Allied occupation of the country .
Germany currently hosts by far the largest number of US forces in Europe , followed by Italy , the UK and Spain .
Some US personnel based in Europe support non-Nato operations and US military numbers fluctuate as forces are rotated @ @ @ @ @ @

The argument between the allies focuses around the target agreed by all alliance members that defence spending should reach 2% of GDP (gross domestic product, the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country) by 2024. Germany, along with many other countries, has yet to meet this target.