bbc--2020-02-20--Bloomberg lost, but who won the Democratic debate?

In a punchy debate worthy of Las Vegas , billionaire Michael Bloomberg came under attack from all sides .
The field of candidates for the Democratic Party 's presidential nomination has been shrinking for months , but on Wednesday night in Nevada , the debate stage had one significant new arrival .
For the first time since he launched his unconventional , money-suffused campaign in November , the former New York mayor directly faced off against his opponents .
And they nearly took his face off , rhetorically speaking .
Here 's how the two-hour fight for the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's election went down .
Right out of the starting gate , candidate after candidate took turns taking shots at the newcomer to the contest .
It was the political equivalent of an incredibly lopsided tag-team wrestling match .
Bernie Sanders wasted no time highlighting the mayor 's support of a stop-and-frisk New York City police policy that was heavily criticised by civil rights activists .
Elizabeth Warren brought up derogatory comments Bloomberg is reported to have made about women and the private agreements he has made to settle sexual harassment and hostile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another , '' she said , in an attempt to tie Bloomberg to Donald Trump .
Amy Klobuchar accused him of hiding behind his TV adverts , while Joe Biden highlighted his past criticism of Barack Obama 's healthcare reform .
Meanwhile , Pete Buttigieg used one answer to go after both Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders , who it should not be forgotten is leading the national polls at the moment .
He warned that if Sanders and Bloomberg are the only candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voting , Democrats will be left with two polarising figures - `` a socialist who thinks that capitalism is the root of all evil and a billionaire who thinks money is the root of all power '' .
`` We should n't have to choose between one candidate who wants to burn this party down and another candidate who wants to buy this party out , '' he added .
How did Bloomberg defend himself ?
All of Bloomberg 's opponents had their attack lines rehearsed and ready to launch , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep up .
He apologised for his stop-and-frisk policy , saying that he did n't realise how harmful it was to his city 's black community .
He stood by his decision not to drop the nondisclosure agreements that keep details of the lawsuits against his companies private , adding `` None of them have accused me of doing anything wrong , except maybe they did n't like the joke I told . ''
That solicited groans from the audience .
It 's been more than 10 years since Bloomberg has participated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday night , he cannon-balled into the deep end of a pool where the rest of the field has been doing laps for months .
He was a stroke slower ; he was aloof ; he was seemingly ill-prepared for the onslaught .
If he thought operating in the rough-and-tumble world of New York City politics would prepare him for a presidential campaign melee , he was mistaken .
His highly paid , well-staffed campaign team have a lot of work to do in the days ahead .
The Sanders campaign team may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a career of being a political outsider should never be considered a front-runner for the presidential nomination .
But what else do you call someone who leads the national polls , has the best fundraising numbers and boasts a vast , experienced campaign organisation ?
And Sanders learned on Wednesday that when you 're leading the pack , everyone can see the target on your back .
Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , took the opportunity to slam the Vermont senator on the hostility his supporters sometimes show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said was his campaign 's tolerance of them .
`` I think you have to accept some responsibility and ask yourself what it is about your campaign in particular that seems to be motivating this behaviour more than others , '' he said .
The sharpest swipes , not surprisingly came from Bloomberg - who was perhaps relieved he could regain his footing and go on the attack .
Early on , he said that there was `` no chance '' Sanders could beat Donald Trump .
He followed it up by suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to history 's dustbin .
`` We 're not going to throw out capitalism , '' he said to Sanders .
`` We tried that .
Other countries tried that .
It was called communism , and it just did n't work . ''
Sanders told Bloomberg that was a `` cheap shot , '' adding that his democratic socialism is not communism .
• Could it be Bernie Sanders v Donald Trump ?
• Five charts on the Democratic race Even Warren , who usually pulls her punches against her fellow progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders ' healthcare plan .
Past front-runners have seen their fortunes fall eventually , as the attacks gained ferocity .
Sanders benefits from being at the top at the right time - as the primary voting is underway .
If he wants to stay on top , he 's going to have to earn it .
With the primaries in full swing , it is desperate times for many of the candidates .
The debate was two-hour proof of just how tense things are getting .
Warren is normally a placid debater , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor result in New Hampshire , she went on the attack against pretty much everyone , positioning herself as a compromise between the moderates and Sanders .
`` Look , Democrats want to beat Donald Trump but they are worried , '' she said .
`` They are worried about gambling on a narrow vision that does n't address the fears of millions of Americans across this country who see real problems and want real change .
They are worried about gambling on a revolution that wo n't bring along a majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may leave her supporters wondering what might have been if she had showed this kind of fire before New Hampshire - and how much they 'd love to see this Warren face off against Donald Trump .
Speaking of the moderates , one of the most vicious series of exchanges was between Klobuchar and Buttigieg .
She accused him of mocking her intelligence .
He said she was belittling his mayoral experience .
`` I wish I were as perfect as you , Pete , '' Klobuchar said with barely concealed contempt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was all over .
In the end , the debate may leave the field as muddled as it was going in .
Given his relative strength , Sanders will probably leave Las Vegas with his momentum intact .
• What are the key issues for all the candidates ?
Bloomberg , the real wildcard , may find some of his newfound supporters wondering how to reconcile his slick appearance in his ever-present commercials with the sometimes halting , tin-eared man on stage .
Biden and Warren both showed some fire they hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too late , while Klobuchar and Buttigieg might be satisfied seeing the other consumed by flames .
In six days , they 'll get to do it all again in Charleston , South Carolina .
At this rate , security might want to screen the participants for hidden weapons .
Who will take on Trump in 2020 ?
• Find out who is still in the running and what they stand for • All you need to know about the presidential race • What are primaries and caucuses and how do they work @

He apologised for his stop-and-frisk policy, saying that he didn't realise how harmful it was to his city's black community. He stood by his decision not to drop the nondisclosure agreements that keep details of the lawsuits against his companies private, adding "None of them have accused me of doing anything wrong, except maybe they didn't like the joke I told."


bbc--2020-02-20--Coronavirus: South Korean sect identified as hotbed

A religious group in South Korea has been identified as a coronavirus hotbed , officials say , amid a sharp rise in confirmed cases in the country .
The infections among members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony ( Shincheonji ) are linked to one woman .
The sect in the city of Daegu accounts for 30 of 53 new cases , with officials warning of an unprecedented crisis .
South Korea also confirmed its first death from the disease Covid-19 .
• What you need to know about the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Hubei province , causes pneumonia-like symptoms .
China has now seen 2,118 deaths and recorded nearly 75,000 infections .
On Thursday , Japan said two of its passengers who contracted the coronavirus on board quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess had died .
The man and the woman were in their 80s .
What about the outbreak among sect members ?
South Korean health officials believe that the infections are linked to a 61-year-old woman who tested positive for the virus earlier this week .
The Korean Centre for Disease Control says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - had contact with 166 people , who were asked to self-quarantine .
At least 30 of the new Covid-19 infections were on Thursday recorded among sect members in Daegu , a city of about 2.5 million people in the south-east .
The Shincheonji , which has been accused of being a cult , said it had now shut down its Daegu branch and that services in other regions would be held online or individually at home .
The mayor of the city has described the event as an `` unprecedented crisis '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay indoors .
Commanders on a nearby US military base also imposed access restrictions , news agency AFP reported .
What is the Shincheonji ?
• Lee , now in his 80s , describes himself as `` the promised pastor '' mentioned in the Bible • Followers are taught to believe that Lee is the second coming of Jesus Christ • Shincheonji is the abbreviation from Korean of `` New Heaven and New Earth '' • Reportedly has more than 120,000 members around the world • Accused of being a cult , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries What 's the overall picture in South Korea ?
The number of confirmed cases now stands at 104 .
New cases were also reported in the capital Seoul and the nearby North Gyeongsang province .
Meanwhile , the authorities revealed that a man died on Wednesday from pneumonia believed to have been caused by the coronavirus .
The 63-year-old man - who has not been publicly named - died in hospital in the south-eastern city of Cheongdo .
He was among 15 people at the hospital who had earlier tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bedridden for more than 20 years at the hospital , Yonhap news agency reports .
What 's the latest from the Diamond Princess ship ?
The ocean liner was carrying 3,700 people in total and passengers who tested negative for the virus began leaving the ship on Wednesday after a 14-day quarantine .
Hundreds have now disembarked from the cruise liner docked in Yokohama .
Others are set to leave over the next two days .
More than 150 Australian passengers have already arrived in Darwin , where they will begin two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people from Hong Kong have also flown back to the city , where they will similarly be quarantined .
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Britons stranded on the ship would be able to board an evacuation flight home on Friday , as long as they were not showing symptoms of the virus .
Indonesia is also set to repatriate its citizens .
• Chinese nationals were barred from entering Russia as of Thursday as a precautionary measure • Australia extended until 29 February its ban on international arrivals who had been to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads to try to stop a planeload of coronavirus evacuees from China being quarantined there And what about China ?
China reported 114 new deaths on Wednesday but the number of new infections recorded was 394 compared with 1,749 on Tuesday .
• Watching loved ones die without care in Wuhan There are more than 1,000 cases outside China , including on Diamond Princess and in Singapore , South Korea and Hong Kong .
Iran says two people infected with the virus have died in the city of Qom - the first reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , Hong Kong said a 70-year-old man with underlying illnesses had become the territory 's second fatality .
Japan has three deaths attributed to the virus , while France , the Philippines and Taiwan have each reported one death .

The Shincheonji, which has been accused of being a cult, said it had now shut down its Daegu branch and that services in other regions would be held online or individually at home.


bbc--2020-02-20--Trump criticised for appointing loyalist Grenell as acting spy chief

President Donald Trump has appointed Richard Grenell , the current ambassador to Germany , as the acting intelligence chief in charge of US spy agencies .
The move was a surprise to many given his lack of relevant experience and controversial record of pushing conservative policies as a diplomat .
But Mr Grenell is a staunch Trump loyalist and has been outspoken in his defence of the president .
Critics say this bias will impede his ability to deliver neutral facts .
As the acting Director of National Intelligence , Mr Grenell will manage the National Security Agency , FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as advise the president on intelligence concerns .
The president announced the appointment via Twitter on Wednesday , saying Mr Grenell had `` represented our Country exceedingly well '' as ambassador .
But US media report some officials and Trump allies are concerned that Mr Grenell was given the directorship based primarily on his loyalty to Mr Trump .
Mr Grenell is a former Fox News contributor and served as US spokesman at the United Nations during President George W Bush 's term .
He was confirmed by the Senate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is believed to be the first openly gay member of Mr Trump 's cabinet .
Mr Grenell will replace the current acting director , Retired Vice Admiral Joseph Maguire , who must leave the post by 12 March in accordance with federal law .
When the last director , Dan Coats , left in July , the president attempted to fill the role with another loyalist , Republican congressman John Ratcliffe .
Mr Trump eventually decided against doing so after bipartisan pushback over Mr Ratcliffe 's lack of experience and outspoken support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unlikely to be confirmed by the Senate .
There is no indication whether or not Mr Trump intends Mr Grenell to serve permanently .
A White House statement said Mr Grenell had `` years of experience working with our Intelligence Community in a number of additional positions '' and would take a `` non-political , non-partisan approach '' .
However , some in Washington were less convinced .
`` This is a job requiring leadership , management , substance and secrecy , '' former CIA officer John Sipher told the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind of background and experience we would expect for such a critical position . ''
Who else has served in the role ?
The idea of having a Director of National Intelligence had been floated since the 1950s , but the role was not created until the aftermath of 9/11 .
• John Negroponte was the first director in 2005 .
He was a career foreign service member , including serving as ambassador to the United Nations and Iraq , and was President Ronald Reagan 's deputy national security adviser • Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime intelligence professional , who was director of the National Security Agency before his appointment to the spy chief role in 2007 • Dennis Blair was a retired four-star admiral , former head of US Pacific Command and former Joint Staff director at the Pentagon ; he also served as the associate central military intelligence director under President Bill Clinton • James Clapper was a Lt Gen in the US Air Force and director of the defence intelligence agency ; he served in intelligence following 9/11 and had received an honorary doctorate from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned as Director of National Intelligence when President Barack Obama left office • Dan Coats , who left the post in 2019 , was an Army veteran , the former US Senator from Indiana and ambassador to Germany Mr Trump has feuded with the intelligence community throughout his presidency , questioning reports by US agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 election .
Last year , Mr Trump told his own intelligence chiefs to `` go back to school '' , assailing them for being `` extremely passive and naive '' over Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Russian meddling and , in his post as ambassador , been an outspoken critic of Berlin 's policies .
He has called for Germany to follow through on Mr Trump 's demands , like increasing contributions to Nato and ending business operations in Iran .
In 2018 , following his move to Berlin , Mr Grenell told the far-right publication Breitbart : `` I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe , other leaders .
I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year , he spearheaded a campaign to end the criminalisation of homosexuality worldwide .
He is expected to retain his ambassadorship while serving as acting intelligence chief .

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bbc--2020-02-20--Samsung explains mystery alert sent overnight

Samsung has apologised after it accidentally sent an alert to thousands of devices overnight .
Affected devices received a notification @ @ @ @ @ the early hours of Thursday morning .
Some customers complained on social media that it @ @ @ @ @ while others worried their device had been hacked .
In a statement , Samsung said @ @ @ @ @ unintentionally to a `` limited number '' of devices .
Thousands of customers posted on @ @ @ @ @ Reddit , many sharing screenshots of the notification and asking what it might mean .
@ @ @ @ @ on Android O or newer - including Samsung 's latest Galaxy S phones , its @ @ @ @ @ Samsung tablet computers .
The alert did not contain any meaningful text and did nothing @ @ @ @ @ Samsung said the message was the result of an internal test and that it had @ @ @ @ @ the phones that received it .


bbc--2020-02-20--Grace Millane murder: Mum confronts killer in court

The mother of a woman murdered in New Zealand has told her killer she thinks about `` the terror and pain she must have experienced at your hand '' .
A 28-year-old man , who can not be named for legal reasons , has been jailed for life for strangling Grace Millane while on a Tinder date in December 2018 .
Her mother Gillian Millane told the killer `` she died terrified and alone in your room '' .
The man was sentenced at Auckland High Court to a minimum of 17 years in jail .
Mrs Millane , speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next to a picture of her 21-year-old daughter , told the man she had wanted to take her own life because of the pain he had caused her .
She said : `` Grace was n't just my daughter .
She was my friend .
My very best friend .
`` I am absolutely heartbroken that you have taken my daughter 's future and robbed us of so many memories that we were going to create .
`` The tears I shed are never-ending at the thought of never having the chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter 's murderer held his head in his hands as he listened to the impact his `` barbaric actions '' have had on his victim 's family .
• I went on a date with Grace 's killer Sentencing the man , Justice Simon Moore described the murderer 's actions after the killing , including searching for pornography , as `` conduct that underscores a lack of empathy and sense of self-entitlement and objectification '' .
He said : `` You are a large and powerful man .
She was diminutive .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominance . ''
But he also stated the defence should not have been criticised on social media for pursuing a defence that Ms Millane had died during a consensual sex act as , even though the jury found this was not the case , this was the defendant 's right .
The killer 's lawyer argued he should be given a minimum term of 11 years as `` rehabilitation and reintegration remains a real prospect '' .
However , the judge said he could not see how the defendant could serve any less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Wickford in Essex , met her killer on the dating app while travelling in Auckland .
The pair spent the evening drinking before returning to the man 's room in the CityLife hotel in central Auckland where he killed her .
He then disposed of her body by burying it in a suitcase in the Waitākere Ranges , a mountainous area outside the city .
He was found guilty of murder last year .
Ms Millane 's brother Declan Millane told the court she `` had a smile to light up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As an older brother I felt a duty to protect my little sister .
But there was nothing I could do .
I was helpless and lost .
`` There is no reason behind this unspeakable act . ''
Det Insp Scott Beard , who led the investigation into Ms Millane 's murder , said Auckland City Police 's thoughts were with her family .
He said : `` The impact of losing their daughter on her birthday while alone in a foreign country has been significant and no matter what the outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Even though their lives have been changed forever we hope with support from family and friends they can now try in some way to move forward with their lives . ''
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But he also stated the defence should not have been criticised on social media for pursuing a defence that Ms Millane had died during a consensual sex act as, even though the jury found this was not the case, this was the defendant's right.


bbc--2020-02-20--Kitten joins owners on walks around Yorkshire

Nine-month old Arlo is experiencing more of the world than most cats , joining his owners on walks around the @ @ @ @ @ .
The Maine Coon cross domestic shorthair has climbed Scafell Pike and visited Hardcastle Crag @ @ @ @ @ owner Crissy Lister , from Halifax said : `` It 's nice to see him @ @ @ @ @ the streets .
`` We know that at the end of the lead he 's @ @ @ @ @ experience probably more than most cats would . ''

Nine-month old Arlo is experiencing more of the world than most cats, joining his owners on walks around the Yorkshire Dales and further afield.
The Maine Coon cross domestic shorthair has climbed Scafell Pike and visited Hardcastle Crag and Butterley Reservoir.
His owner Crissy Lister, from Halifax said: "It's nice to see him see the world rather than the streets.
"We know that at the end of the lead he's safe and he gets to experience probably more than most cats would."


bbc--2020-02-20--Edson Suemitsu is thought to be Brazil's only katana forger

Edson Suemitsu produces handmade katanas , a type of curved sword used by samurai in ancient Japan .
Despite a @ @ @ @ @ living in Brazil , Suemitsu is the country 's only full-time katana forger , earning @ @ @ @ @ Brazil 's last samurai . ''

Edson Suemitsu produces handmade katanas, a type of curved sword used by samurai in ancient Japan. Despite a large number of Japanese descendants living in Brazil, Suemitsu is the country's only full-time katana forger, earning him the title of "Brazil's last samurai."


bbc--2020-02-20--A goalkeeper who survived the 1994 Rwanda genocide is using football to unite the country.

Amidst the Rwandan genocide of 1994 , a Tutsi on the verge of being killed by Hutu extremists recalls how @ @ @ @ @ those who had come to kill him realised he played for one of the country @ @ @ @ @ so spared his life .
Today , Eric Murangwa Eugene uses football as a tool @ @ @ @ @ in the hope of avoiding such conflict in future .

Amidst the Rwandan genocide of 1994, a Tutsi on the verge of being killed by Hutu extremists recalls how his life was saved as those who had come to kill him realised he played for one of the country’s biggest clubs… and so spared his life. Today, Eric Murangwa Eugene uses football as a tool to bring harmony in Rwanda in the hope of avoiding such conflict in future.


bbc--2020-02-20--Hanau shooting: Has Germany done enough to tackle far-right terror threat?

The shooting dead of nine people in shisha bars in Hanau is being treated by German investigators as an act of far-right terrorism .
The attack has shocked Germany and added to fears that police may still be missing vital clues about violent racists and their networks , despite previous far-right outrages .
The ability of violent racists to remain for long periods below the police radar was exposed in the National Socialist Underground ( NSU ) case .
A neo-Nazi cell murdered 10 people , nine of them immigrants , between 2000 and 2007 , while police failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a wake-up call for the authorities , whose anti-terrorism efforts had been focused on the threat from violent Islamists .
But some now accuse the authorities of still underestimating the far-right terror threat .
The Hanau suspect has been named as Tobias R. The 43-year-old has been described as a lone gunman , and was found dead later at home next to his dead mother .
He was a licensed gun owner and had not been under investigation previously .
The attack has reignited a debate in Germany about the extent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
• Germany shooting : What we know about the Hanau attack The far-right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) - now the main opposition party - has been accused repeatedly of using inflammatory rhetoric , including in parliament .
Support for the AfD swelled after nearly a million non-EU migrants reached Germany in 2015 - portrayed by nationalists as an Islamic threat to German culture .
The head of the Social Democrats ( SPD ) , Saskia Esken , described the Hanau crime as far-right `` terror '' and said `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naming this in clear language '' .
But Björn Höcke , one of the AfD 's most controversial politicians , has used language echoing racist conspiracy theories spread by neo-Nazis , including the `` great replacement '' - the claim that Jews and liberals want `` inferior '' races to replace the white race .
He has also spoken of `` remigration '' - the racist idea of forcing non-whites to leave , because they are considered non-European .
He was at the centre of a scandal in the eastern state of Thuringia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was elected state premier thanks to AfD votes .
It has been taboo in post-war Germany to do any political deals with the far right .
The SPD 's Michael Roth , who is minister of state for Europe , said attacks like the one in Hanau were `` nourished ideologically by fascists like Höcke '' .
• October 2019 : In Halle , an attacker kills two and tries to storm a synagogue , broadcasting the assault live online .
He later admits a far-right , anti-Semitic motive for the attack • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-migrant politician , is shot in the head at close range and found dead in his garden .
A suspect with far-right links later confesses to the murder • July 2016 : An 18-year-old shoots dead nine people at a shopping mall in Munich before killing himself .
Bavarian authorities later classify the attack as `` politically motivated '' , saying the teen had `` radical right-wing and racist views '' Far-right killings since the NSU case have raised questions about Germany 's protections against neo-Nazis and other racists .
Their propaganda is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven how quickly they can use social media to mobilise their supporters .
The Halle synagogue attack last October triggered calls for better police protection of Jewish sites : no extra security had been mounted for the Jewish Yom Kippur festival , and only a thick , strengthened door prevented a bloodbath .
Germany remains haunted by the reign of terror unleashed by Hitler 's Nazi regime and their mass murder of Jews in the 1940s .
Far-right violence hits a raw nerve in a country that outlaws Nazi symbols and propaganda , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions .
The German government estimates that about 13,000 violent far-right extremists are active in Germany .
That is a huge surveillance challenge , in a country which has strong laws against violating personal privacy .
Prof Peter Neumann , a terrorism expert at King 's College , London , tweeted that the Hanau suspect published a 24-page manifesto written in excellent German , without grammatical mistakes .
It reveals that `` he hates foreigners and non-whites , '' Prof Neumann says .
`` Although he does n't emphasise Islam , he calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Africa , Middle East and Central Asia ( which all happen to be majority Muslim ) . ''
The manifesto echoes that of Stephan Balliet , the suspect charged with murder over the Halle attack .
It emerged that he had been inspired by the New Zealand mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant , who has been charged with 51 murders .

He was at the centre of a scandal in the eastern state of Thuringia this month, when a liberal politician was elected state premier thanks to AfD votes. It has been taboo in post-war Germany to do any political deals with the far right.


bbc--2020-02-20--Claims on Bloomberg’s record on crime fact-checked

Mike Bloomberg 's record as mayor of New York City and his support for the controversial stop-and-frisk policy was a huge talking point in the Democratic Party presidential candidates ' debate last night .
We 've been fact-checking some of the claims .
What is stop and frisk ?
Stop and frisk , similar to stop and search in the UK , is a police tactic to reduce violent crime .
It gives police officers powers to stop someone they suspect of committing a crime and the authority to search a person if they are suspected of carrying a weapon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` I discovered that we were doing many , many , too many stop and frisks .
We cut 95 % of it out . ''
Reality Check : The billionaire businessman was mayor of New York from 2002 to 2013 and during these years he expanded the use of stop and frisk .
Mr Bloomberg had defended this policy as recently as October 2019 .
Then in November , a week before he launched his presidential bid , he apologised for it .
In last night 's debate , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's true there was a big reduction in the number of times stop and frisk was used by police towards the end of his tenure after it had peaked in 2011 .
However , prior to that stops had grown by more than 700 % since Mr Bloomberg became mayor in 2002 .
For the 95 % figure , he appears to have picked quarterly data from the first quarter of 2012 compared with the last quarter of 2013 when numbers dropped from 203,500 to 12,485 .
Claim 2 : Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate in New York [ we think he meant number of murders ] `` from 650 , 50 % down to 300 '' .
Reality Check : The number of murders in New York City dropped by half during Mr Bloomberg 's administration , and the number of major crimes also dropped substantially by more than 45 % .
Was this due to the stop-and-frisk policy ?
City officials have argued it was key to reducing the city 's crime rate .
However , a study by the Department of Criminology at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` made almost no difference '' to crime reduction , and instead cited the increased police presence in high crime neighbourhoods as a major factor .
The numbers show that both murders and overall major crime continued to drop from 2013 onwards when stop and frisk was substantially reduced and after Mr Bloomberg left office .
More than 87 % of people stopped and frisked during Mr Bloomberg 's time as mayor were innocent and around 1.5 % of searches found a weapon .
• Reality Check : is London 's murder rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claim 3 : Bernie Sanders suggested stop and frisk targeted minorities and `` went after African American and Latino people in an outrageous way '' .
Reality Check : Almost 90 % of those stopped during the Bloomberg era were African American or Hispanic ( and this continues today ) .
These two groups combined made up around 50 % of the New York City population , according to 2010 census data .
Defenders of the policy deny there was targeting and say stops were based on the description of suspects or suspicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York judge ruled the programme was unconstitutional and ordered it to be reformed .
The ruling contained the following details : • Half of all the stops were followed by a search of the person .
A weapon was found after 1.5 % of searches • Weapons were found on 1 % of the African American people stopped , 1.1 % of Hispanics , and 1.4 % of white people Claim 4 : Joe Biden said stop and frisk led to `` throwing close to five million young black men up against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is n't true .
There were about five million stops recorded by police during Mr Bloomberg 's terms in office .
But as we 've shown , about half were of African Americans .

Democratic debate: Michael Bloomberg's record on crime in New York fact-checked Published 20 February 2020
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Mike Bloomberg (L) was criticised by Bernie Sanders for his record as New York City mayor
Mike Bloomberg's record as mayor of New York City and his support for the controversial stop-and-frisk policy was a huge talking point in the Democratic Party presidential candidates' debate last night.
We've been fact-checking some of the claims.
What is stop and frisk?
Stop and frisk, similar to stop and search in the UK, is a police tactic to reduce violent crime. It gives police officers powers to stop someone they suspect of committing a crime and the authority to search a person if they are suspected of carrying a weapon.
Claim 1: Mike Bloomberg said: "I discovered that we were doing many, many, too many stop and frisks. We cut 95% of it out."
Reality Check: The billionaire businessman was mayor of New York from 2002 to 2013 and during these years he expanded the use of stop and frisk.
Mr Bloomberg had defended this policy as recently as October 2019. Then in November, a week before he launched his presidential bid, he apologised for it. In last night's debate, he said it "got out of control".
It's true there was a big reduction in the number of times stop and frisk was used by police towards the end of his tenure after it had peaked in 2011.
However, prior to that stops had grown by more than 700% since Mr Bloomberg became mayor in 2002.
For the 95% figure, he appears to have picked quarterly data from the first quarter of 2012 compared with the last quarter of 2013 when numbers dropped from 203,500 to 12,485.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Police officers in New York City carried out about five million stops during Mr Bloomberg's three terms in office
Claim 2: Mr Bloomberg said he successfully reduced the crime rate in New York [we think he meant number of murders] "from 650, 50% down to 300".
Reality Check: The number of murders in New York City dropped by half during Mr Bloomberg's administration, and the number of major crimes also dropped substantially by more than 45%.
Was this due to the stop-and-frisk policy?
City officials have argued it was key to reducing the city's crime rate.
However, a study by the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania says stop and frisk "made almost no difference" to crime reduction, and instead cited the increased police presence in high crime neighbourhoods as a major factor.
The numbers show that both murders and overall major crime continued to drop from 2013 onwards when stop and frisk was substantially reduced and after Mr Bloomberg left office.
More than 87% of people stopped and frisked during Mr Bloomberg's time as mayor were innocent and around 1.5% of searches found a weapon.
Claim 3: Bernie Sanders suggested stop and frisk targeted minorities and "went after African American and Latino people in an outrageous way".
Reality Check: Almost 90% of those stopped during the Bloomberg era were African American or Hispanic (and this continues today).
These two groups combined made up around 50% of the New York City population, according to 2010 census data.
Defenders of the policy deny there was targeting and say stops were based on the description of suspects or suspicious behaviour.
In 2013, a New York judge ruled the programme was unconstitutional and ordered it to be reformed.
Half of all the stops were followed by a search of the person. A weapon was found after 1.5% of searches
Weapons were found on 1% of the African American people stopped, 1.1% of Hispanics, and 1.4% of white people
Claim 4: Joe Biden said stop and frisk led to "throwing close to five million young black men up against a wall".


bbc--2020-02-20--Jota hat-trick helps Wolves thrash Espanyol

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo accepts the club 's fans may start to dream of Europa League glory after his team took a huge step towards reaching the last 16 by thrashing Espanyol .
Diogo Jota scored a hat-trick for the second consecutive game in the competition and Ruben Neves hit a stunning long-range volley as they dominated the first leg of their last-32 tie at Molineux .
It was another impressive result in the competition for Wolves , who have not looked out of place in Europe despite an absence of 40 years .
Asked whether he felt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could win the tournament , Nuno said : `` They know me , now we have to recover , rest because we play on Sunday .
`` After that we can think about other things but dreaming is for free . ''
Wolves are fifth favourites with bookmakers to win the Europa League , with Antonio Conte 's Inter Milan tipped to lift the trophy this season .
However , English sides have been in good form in the competition in recent years .
Last year 's final was an all-English one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a side from the Premier League has reached the final in three of the past four seasons .
However , Nuno is adamant Wolves can not take progress to the last 16 for granted , despite their 4-0 lead .
`` The tie is not over , '' he added .
`` Football is never over .
`` We competed well , the result is the consequences of what we did .
We were clinical and that 's what we want .
`` It 's another clean sheet , defensively we did really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Given Wolves ' recent inability to start games strongly , this proved an unusually stress-free match for them .
In fact , Jota 's opening goal after 15 minutes - his effort deflecting in off Victor Sanchez following a corner - was something of a collector 's item as it was the first time Nuno 's side have scored first in a match since the 4-0 defeat of Besiktas on 12 December , 13 games ago .
The other similarity with that game and this was Jota 's devastating finishing , scoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portuguese is the first player in eight years ( since Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for Schalke in 2012 ) to register back-to-back hat-tricks in this competition , and he has now been directly involved in 14 goals in 11 European games this season .
`` I 'm happy for him , delighted because when a player scores three goals it means he has helped a lot , '' Nuno added .
`` He did a good job , not only offensively but covering and was always organised .
Neves also scored a beautiful goal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrendering the initiative , in rather comical fashion as striker Raul Jimenez miscued what was intended to be a hefty punt downfield .
Instead , the Mexican sent the ball looping from quite a height into his own six-yard box .
Keeper Rui Patricio completely messed up two attempts to clear and was fortunate to have recovered his position by the time Facundo Ferreyra scuffed his shot and was able to keep it out .
It was a rare moment of panic on a memorable night for Wolves and the result means they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe four times this season .
Wolves ' European heritage is rich , if not particularly extensive - or recent .
This is Wolves ' eighth European campaign but their first since 1980-81 .
It was the first time they had still been involved after Christmas since 1972 , when they were beaten in the Uefa Cup final by Tottenham .
Having started in the second qualifying round against Northern Ireland side Crusaders on 25 July , they have now played 13 fixtures and while the final in Gdansk on 27 May is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's well-drilled outfit are not without hope of lifting the trophy , especially if the increasingly influential Adama Traore stays fit .
At Aston Villa and Middlesbrough , Traore appeared to have little going for him other than staggering pace .
Over the past 12 months , the Spaniard has developed his game awareness to a significantly higher degree .
Every time he took possession , a buzz of anticipation went round the stadium .
He won the corner which led to Jota 's opener and it was his cross which helped tee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And while Jota will take the headlines for the quantity of his goals , it was the quality of Neves 's strike - chesting the ball down and smashing it into the corner - which provided the real highlight of the night .
The only sour moment came just before half-time when a routine push and shove between Jota and Ander Iturraspe escalated after the former Spain midfielder appeared to make a forward movement towards the Wolves man as he stuck his forehead into him .
German referee Tobias Stieler quickly whisked out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the home supporters , who felt it was a certain red .
In the end , it mattered little and Wolves have now won 10 out of their past 11 home games in European competition , a run that stretches back to 1973 .
They may have a few more games at Molineux to play yet .
In a run stretching back to October 1973 , Wolves have won 10 of their last 11 home games in all European competition , winning to nil in each of their last three .
Neves ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Wolverhampton Wanderers have kept three successive clean sheets in all competitions for the first time since October 2019 .
• Wolves forward Jimenez has been directly involved in 30 goals in all competitions this season ( 20 goals , 10 assists ) ; three more than any other Premier League player .
• Twelve of Ruben Neves ' 15 goals for Wolves in all competitions have come from outside the box , the other three have been from the penalty spot .
Wolves ' next game is at home to the Premier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday , 23 February ( 14:00 GMT ) .

Last updated on .From the section Europa League
Diogo Jota has now scored six goals in his last two Europa League games
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo accepts the club's fans may start to dream of Europa League glory after his team took a huge step towards reaching the last 16 by thrashing Espanyol.
Diogo Jota scored a hat-trick for the second consecutive game in the competition and Ruben Neves hit a stunning long-range volley as they dominated the first leg of their last-32 tie at Molineux.
It was another impressive result in the competition for Wolves, who have not looked out of place in Europe despite an absence of 40 years.
Asked whether he felt the club's fans are right to believe they could win the tournament, Nuno said: "They know me, now we have to recover, rest because we play on Sunday.
"After that we can think about other things but dreaming is for free."
Wolves are fifth favourites with bookmakers to win the Europa League, with Antonio Conte's Inter Milan tipped to lift the trophy this season.
However, English sides have been in good form in the competition in recent years. Last year's final was an all-English one contested between Chelsea and Arsenal, while a side from the Premier League has reached the final in three of the past four seasons.
However, Nuno is adamant Wolves cannot take progress to the last 16 for granted, despite their 4-0 lead.
"The tie is not over," he added. "Football is never over.
"We competed well, the result is the consequences of what we did. We were clinical and that's what we want.
"It's another clean sheet, defensively we did really well and everything starts from there."
Jota plays starring role - again
Given Wolves' recent inability to start games strongly, this proved an unusually stress-free match for them.
In fact, Jota's opening goal after 15 minutes - his effort deflecting in off Victor Sanchez following a corner - was something of a collector's item as it was the first time Nuno's side have scored first in a match since the 4-0 defeat of Besiktas on 12 December, 13 games ago.
The other similarity with that game and this was Jota's devastating finishing, scoring hat-tricks on both occasions.
The 23-year-old Portuguese is the first player in eight years (since Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for Schalke in 2012) to register back-to-back hat-tricks in this competition, and he has now been directly involved in 14 goals in 11 European games this season.
"I'm happy for him, delighted because when a player scores three goals it means he has helped a lot," Nuno added.
"He did a good job, not only offensively but covering and was always organised. Neves also scored a beautiful goal."
Only once did Wolves look like surrendering the initiative, in rather comical fashion as striker Raul Jimenez miscued what was intended to be a hefty punt downfield.
Instead, the Mexican sent the ball looping from quite a height into his own six-yard box. Keeper Rui Patricio completely messed up two attempts to clear and was fortunate to have recovered his position by the time Facundo Ferreyra scuffed his shot and was able to keep it out.
It was a rare moment of panic on a memorable night for Wolves and the result means they have scored four goals without reply in Europe four times this season.
Wolves could win it
Wolves' European heritage is rich, if not particularly extensive - or recent.
This is Wolves' eighth European campaign but their first since 1980-81. It was the first time they had still been involved after Christmas since 1972, when they were beaten in the Uefa Cup final by Tottenham.
Having started in the second qualifying round against Northern Ireland side Crusaders on 25 July, they have now played 13 fixtures and while the final in Gdansk on 27 May is a further seven matches away, Nuno's well-drilled outfit are not without hope of lifting the trophy, especially if the increasingly influential Adama Traore stays fit.
At Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, Traore appeared to have little going for him other than staggering pace.
Over the past 12 months, the Spaniard has developed his game awareness to a significantly higher degree.
Every time he took possession, a buzz of anticipation went round the stadium. He won the corner which led to Jota's opener and it was his cross which helped tee up Neves for his stunning volley.
And while Jota will take the headlines for the quantity of his goals, it was the quality of Neves's strike - chesting the ball down and smashing it into the corner - which provided the real highlight of the night.
The only sour moment came just before half-time when a routine push and shove between Jota and Ander Iturraspe escalated after the former Spain midfielder appeared to make a forward movement towards the Wolves man as he stuck his forehead into him.
German referee Tobias Stieler quickly whisked out a yellow card to the incredulity of the home supporters, who felt it was a certain red.
In the end, it mattered little and Wolves have now won 10 out of their past 11 home games in European competition, a run that stretches back to 1973.
They may have a few more games at Molineux to play yet.
In a run stretching back to October 1973, Wolves have won 10 of their last 11 home games in all European competition, winning to nil in each of their last three.
Man of the match - Ruben Neves
Twelve of Neves' 15 goals for Wolves have been scored from outside the box. The other three were penalties
Neves' love for long-rangers - the best stats
Wolverhampton Wanderers have kept three successive clean sheets in all competitions for the first time since October 2019.
Wolves forward Jimenez has been directly involved in 30 goals in all competitions this season (20 goals, 10 assists); three more than any other Premier League player.
Twelve of Ruben Neves' 15 goals for Wolves in all competitions have come from outside the box, the other three have been from the penalty spot.
What's next?
Wolves' next game is at home to the Premier League's bottom club, Norwich, on Sunday, 23 February (14:00 GMT).


bbc--2020-02-20--Martial earns Man Utd first-leg draw at Club Bruges

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt his side were `` a bit sloppy '' as they drew 1-1 with Club Bruges in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie in Belgium .
The visitors started poorly and fell behind when Emmanuel Dennis lobbed Sergio Romero early in the first half .
United equalised when Anthony Martial raced through to beat ex-Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet one-on-one .
`` I do n't think it was one of the best games anyone 's seen , '' Solskjaer said .
`` It was a difficult game against a well-organised team in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away goal , we got a draw .
We go home next week so hopefully we can finish the job . ''
The game was played in heavy rain and strong wind for large periods , while Solskjaer also felt the ball that is used in Europa League games did not help improve the quality of football on display .
`` I think you can ask any of the players , that ball does n't help anyone play football , '' he added .
`` It 's just different and difficult to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try !
`` But it 's the same for the two teams , of course .
But the conditions were n't nice , the wind and the rain . ''
The two sides will meet again at Old Trafford on 27 February .
After back-to-back Premier League defeats in January , Manchester United have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks with three wins and a draw in their four games before the trip to Belgium .
An impressive 2-0 win at Chelsea on Monday gave United the ideal platform to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened to disrupt any momentum they were building and so it proved as the visitors put in a disjointed and uninspiring performance for large periods of this game .
United 's three-man defence - particularly in the opening half hour - looked fragile and exposed and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side failed to heed an early warning when Nigerian striker Dennis got in on the right before Victor Lindelof scrambled away .
Consequently , they were punished after 15 minutes when Mignolet launched a pass down the pitch and Dennis got in between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the onrushing Romero .
From then on Bruges looked certain to add to their lead as United struggled to settle but a mistake at the back was clinically pounced on by Martial as he ran on to a poor throw-in , outpaced a defender before beating Mignolet at his near post .
Martial has often struggled to live up to the high expectations placed upon him when United paid £36m to sign the forward from Monaco in 2015 , making him the most expensive teenager in world football .
However , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game and was unlucky not to add a second when Mignolet pushed his shot onto the post just before half-time .
Martial has now scored in back-to-back games and , with 14 goals to his name already , he is on course to surpass his previous best tally for a season - the 17 he scored in his debut campaign for United in 2015-16 .
Another positive to come from the game was the late cameo from Bruno Fernandes .
The Portugal midfielder - signed from Sporting Lisbon in January - was introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to get the ball and his positive , forward thinking was yet another indication that he can become a key player for United in the coming seasons .
Club Bruges went into this game as a side in form .
The Belgians are the runaway leaders in their domestic league and were unbeaten in their 12 previous games in all competitions .
The confidence such a good run provides was evident from the outset as they took the game to United , led by the hugely impressive Dennis .
The Nigeria international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the big occasions , having scored two goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League this season - before Bruges dropped into the Europa League - and he was unfortunate not to finish with a couple of goals on Thursday .
His quick feet and good close control was a constant menace to the visiting defence and he will be the player Solskjaer 's side will need to be the most wary of if they are to avoid an upset in the return leg .
'Right to make changes ' - what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` At this moment I am not concerned whether we could qualify or not next week .
We still have three games coming up in nine days .
`` At least I want my players to show courage and guts in Manchester .
It 's important for the guys to have that experience and then we will see .
We still need the same luck there as for the game today . ''
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer , speaking to BT Sport : `` It was a game with difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their goal kick and they gave us a goal from a throw in so it was two poor goals in concentration from both teams .
`` There were some moments from us where we switched off .
We were not really at the races to start with but a draw , we got the away goal so we are looking forward to next week . ''
Right to make so many changes ?
`` We needed to keep using the squad , we need to use the players and give them the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team and into form because there are so many games .
Tonight was worth making those changes .
We have a big game on Sunday against Watford . ''
• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last four away games in all competitions ( W3 D1 ) , their longest unbeaten streak on the road since March 2019 , when they won nine in a row .
• Club Bruges have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 Europa League matches , failing to do so in their last five games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Dennis ' opener against United ended the English side 's run of 408 minutes without conceding in all competitions .
• United forward Martial has been directly involved in four goals in his last four appearances on the road in all competitions ( three goals , one assist ) , as many as in his previous 10 games .
• Mignolet is the first goalkeeper to provide an assist in the Europa League since Guilherme for Lokomotiv Moscow against Sporting Lisbon in September 2015 .
Manchester United return to Premier League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday , 23 February ( 14:00 GMT ) .

Last updated on .From the section Europa League
Martial scored for the second successive game after getting the opener in Monday's 2-0 win at Chelsea
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt his side were "a bit sloppy" as they drew 1-1 with Club Bruges in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie in Belgium.
The visitors started poorly and fell behind when Emmanuel Dennis lobbed Sergio Romero early in the first half.
United equalised when Anthony Martial raced through to beat ex-Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet one-on-one.
"I don't think it was one of the best games anyone's seen," Solskjaer said.
"It was a difficult game against a well-organised team in difficult conditions.
"We got an away goal, we got a draw. We go home next week so hopefully we can finish the job."
The game was played in heavy rain and strong wind for large periods, while Solskjaer also felt the ball that is used in Europa League games did not help improve the quality of football on display.
"I think you can ask any of the players, that ball doesn't help anyone play football," he added.
"It's just different and difficult to play with. You can get one and try!
"But it's the same for the two teams, of course. But the conditions weren't nice, the wind and the rain."
The two sides will meet again at Old Trafford on 27 February.
Martial puts below-par United in driving seat
After back-to-back Premier League defeats in January, Manchester United have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent weeks with three wins and a draw in their four games before the trip to Belgium.
An impressive 2-0 win at Chelsea on Monday gave United the ideal platform to build on but six changes to that side threatened to disrupt any momentum they were building and so it proved as the visitors put in a disjointed and uninspiring performance for large periods of this game.
United's three-man defence - particularly in the opening half hour - looked fragile and exposed and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side failed to heed an early warning when Nigerian striker Dennis got in on the right before Victor Lindelof scrambled away.
Consequently, they were punished after 15 minutes when Mignolet launched a pass down the pitch and Dennis got in between two defenders before coolly lifting the ball over the onrushing Romero.
From then on Bruges looked certain to add to their lead as United struggled to settle but a mistake at the back was clinically pounced on by Martial as he ran on to a poor throw-in, outpaced a defender before beating Mignolet at his near post.
Martial has often struggled to live up to the high expectations placed upon him when United paid £36m to sign the forward from Monaco in 2015, making him the most expensive teenager in world football.
However, he was the standout United player in this game and was unlucky not to add a second when Mignolet pushed his shot onto the post just before half-time.
Martial has now scored in back-to-back games and, with 14 goals to his name already, he is on course to surpass his previous best tally for a season - the 17 he scored in his debut campaign for United in 2015-16.
Another positive to come from the game was the late cameo from Bruno Fernandes. The Portugal midfielder - signed from Sporting Lisbon in January - was introduced with nine minutes to go but his desire to get the ball and his positive, forward thinking was yet another indication that he can become a key player for United in the coming seasons.
Dennis shines for bold Bruges
Dennis was linked with a move to the Premier League in January
Club Bruges went into this game as a side in form. The Belgians are the runaway leaders in their domestic league and were unbeaten in their 12 previous games in all competitions.
The confidence such a good run provides was evident from the outset as they took the game to United, led by the hugely impressive Dennis.
The Nigeria international has shown he is a player for the big occasions, having scored two goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League this season - before Bruges dropped into the Europa League - and he was unfortunate not to finish with a couple of goals on Thursday.
His quick feet and good close control was a constant menace to the visiting defence and he will be the player Solskjaer's side will need to be the most wary of if they are to avoid an upset in the return leg.
Man of the match - Anthony Martial
Martial worked hard in a first half in which his team-mates struggled to have an impact and his goal could prove crucial
'Right to make changes' - what they said
Philippe Clement, Club Bruges coach: "At this moment I am not concerned whether we could qualify or not next week. We still have three games coming up in nine days.
"At least I want my players to show courage and guts in Manchester. It's important for the guys to have that experience and then we will see. We still need the same luck there as for the game today."
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, speaking to BT Sport: "It was a game with difficult conditions. We gave them a goal on their goal kick and they gave us a goal from a throw in so it was two poor goals in concentration from both teams.
"There were some moments from us where we switched off. We were not really at the races to start with but a draw, we got the away goal so we are looking forward to next week."
Right to make so many changes? "We needed to keep using the squad, we need to use the players and give them the chance to play their way into the team and into form because there are so many games. Tonight was worth making those changes. We have a big game on Sunday against Watford."
Mignolet makes it count - the stats
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last four away games in all competitions (W3 D1), their longest unbeaten streak on the road since March 2019, when they won nine in a row.
Club Bruges have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 Europa League matches, failing to do so in their last five games in the competition (excluding qualifiers).
Dennis' opener against United ended the English side's run of 408 minutes without conceding in all competitions.
United forward Martial has been directly involved in four goals in his last four appearances on the road in all competitions (three goals, one assist), as many as in his previous 10 games.
Mignolet is the first goalkeeper to provide an assist in the Europa League since Guilherme for Lokomotiv Moscow against Sporting Lisbon in September 2015.
What next?
Manchester United return to Premier League action this weekend as they host Watford on Sunday, 23 February (14:00 GMT).


bbc--2020-02-20--Mercedes confident new steering 'trick' within rules

Mercedes believe a trick steering innovation which could give them an advantage in 2020 is within the rules .
Technical director James Allison said it `` introduces an extra dimension for steering which we hope will be useful '' .
He said governing body the FIA was aware of it .
`` The rules are clear about what 's permitted on steering systems .
We 're pretty confident that it matches those requirements , '' he said .
He declined to elaborate further on the purposes of the system .
Alfa Romeo 's Kimi Raikkonen was fastest on the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of Racing Point 's Sergio Perez , Renault 's Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull 's Alexander Albon .
World champion Lewis Hamilton said of the system : `` We 're trying to get on top of it , understand it , but safety wise no problem today and the FIA are OK with the project .
`` For me it 's really encouraging to see that my team is continuing to innovate and stay ahead of the game , and I think that 's down to the great minds in the team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our benefit . ''
The system is known as 'dual-axis steering ' and Allison said : `` It is an innovative idea which allows the drivers an extra dimension of control on the steering system . ''
The Mercedes system came to light from on-board camera footage on the second day of the first pre-season test at Spain 's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya .
Hamilton could be seen pulling the steering wheel towards him at the start of straights , which appeared to change the angle of the front wheels by moving their forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , before the next corner , he would push the steering wheel away from him again , which changed the angle back so the leading edge of the front wheels was angled further away from the car .
The system allows the driver to alter the 'toe-in ' of the front wheels - or their angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the car - while driving .
All F1 cars run a degree of 'toe-out ' - which effectively means that the front part of the tyres are turned outwards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneficial when the driver turns in to the corner as it gives them more grip and stability .
The exact purposes of the Mercedes system are not clear .
However , as 'toe-out ' means the wheels are not perfectly parallel to the car , it creates a degree of 'tyre scrub ' on the straights , where the tyre is being dragged slightly at an angle .
This can cause problems with tyre temperature , which is a crucial area of F1 car performance .
Allison refused to explain how the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 'll forgive me for not expanding further .
I 'm pleased we got it on the car , it seems to be useful , and we 'll see over the coming days how it benefits us . ''
Ferraris ' Sebastian Vettel said the system had caught his team by surprise .
`` It looks interesting , '' he said .
`` I guess the fact that they are running with it means that it is legal .
I do n't know if it works .
`` I guess there is quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the track it is probably not as easy as it looks for the driver to work with it .
But we will see .
For sure it was a novelty for us to see . ''
But he said he did not think the system on its own was the difference between winning and losing .
`` I do n't think it will give you much , '' he said .
`` Maybe I am underestimating it but I do n't think it is the ticket to win .
I think there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a competitive car .
But for sure it is an innovation and we will see whether it is something everyone has to pick up on or not . ''
F1 teams are always searching for design innovations within the boundaries of the rules that can give them a decisive advantage over their rivals .
If the system makes the Mercedes quicker - and they would not have put it on the car if not - it could take other teams weeks or even months before they can negate that advantage with their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year aiming to win a seventh world title , which would equal the all-time record of Michael Schumacher , while Mercedes are bidding to expand their record of six consecutive driver and constructors ' championship doubles into a seventh year .

The driver can pull and push the steering wheel to operate the system
Mercedes believe a trick steering innovation which could give them an advantage in 2020 is within the rules.
Technical director James Allison said it "introduces an extra dimension for steering which we hope will be useful".
He said governing body the FIA was aware of it. "The rules are clear about what's permitted on steering systems. We're pretty confident that it matches those requirements," he said.
He declined to elaborate further on the purposes of the system.
Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkonen was fastest on the second day of the first pre-season test, ahead of Racing Point's Sergio Perez, Renault's Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull's Alexander Albon.
Typically the front wheels on an F1 car are mounted at an outward-facing angle to help with cornering - this system adjusts them to be more centred (red line) when travelling down the straights
World champion Lewis Hamilton said of the system: "We're trying to get on top of it, understand it, but safety wise no problem today and the FIA are OK with the project.
"For me it's really encouraging to see that my team is continuing to innovate and stay ahead of the game, and I think that's down to the great minds in the team and so hopefully that'll work to our benefit."
The system is known as 'dual-axis steering' and Allison said: external-link "It is an innovative idea which allows the drivers an extra dimension of control on the steering system."
The Mercedes system came to light from on-board camera footage on the second day of the first pre-season test at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Hamilton could be seen pulling the steering wheel towards him at the start of straights, which appeared to change the angle of the front wheels by moving their forward edges towards the centreline of the car.
Then, before the next corner, he would push the steering wheel away from him again, which changed the angle back so the leading edge of the front wheels was angled further away from the car.
The system allows the driver to alter the 'toe-in' of the front wheels - or their angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the car - while driving.
All F1 cars run a degree of 'toe-out' - which effectively means that the front part of the tyres are turned outwards by a few millimetres. This is beneficial when the driver turns in to the corner as it gives them more grip and stability.
The exact purposes of the Mercedes system are not clear.
However, as 'toe-out' means the wheels are not perfectly parallel to the car, it creates a degree of 'tyre scrub' on the straights, where the tyre is being dragged slightly at an angle.
This can cause problems with tyre temperature, which is a crucial area of F1 car performance.
Allison refused to explain how the system worked, saying: "I hope you'll forgive me for not expanding further. I'm pleased we got it on the car, it seems to be useful, and we'll see over the coming days how it benefits us."
Ferraris' Sebastian Vettel said the system had caught his team by surprise.
"It looks interesting," he said. "I guess the fact that they are running with it means that it is legal. I don't know if it works.
"I guess there is quite a lot of work to bring it to the track it is probably not as easy as it looks for the driver to work with it. But we will see. For sure it was a novelty for us to see."
But he said he did not think the system on its own was the difference between winning and losing.
"I don't think it will give you much," he said. "Maybe I am underestimating it but I don't think it is the ticket to win. I think there is a lot more elements to building a competitive car. But for sure it is an innovation and we will see whether it is something everyone has to pick up on or not."
F1 teams are always searching for design innovations within the boundaries of the rules that can give them a decisive advantage over their rivals.
If the system makes the Mercedes quicker - and they would not have put it on the car if not - it could take other teams weeks or even months before they can negate that advantage with their own versions of the design.
Hamilton is this year aiming to win a seventh world title, which would equal the all-time record of Michael Schumacher, while Mercedes are bidding to expand their record of six consecutive driver and constructors' championship doubles into a seventh year.


bbc--2020-02-20--Copenhagen 1-1 Celtic: Fraser Forster saves penalty to secure draw

Fraser Forster 's dramatic late penalty save ensured Celtic 's away goal gives them a narrow advantage after their Europa League last-32 stalemate in Copenhagen .
Odsonne Edouard earned Neil Lennon 's team a deserved lead in the first leg before the hosts launched a second-half surge .
Dame N'Doye levelled before Forster acrobatically denied Jens Stage from the spot after a VAR penalty check .
The return is in Glasgow next Thursday .
Edouard 's 24th strike of the season was the first away goal Celtic have scored in the knockout stage of a European competition since Henrik Larsson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lennon 's side had to grind out large spells of the second half , but he will be frustrated his team only went into half-time just one goal to the good as Edouard had two one-on-one efforts saved by Karl-Johan Johnsson .
• 'We could have score more ' - Lennon First impressions can be so deceptive .
It took all of 25 seconds in the Parken Stadium for the apparent direction of travel to be established in this match and arguably the tie .
When Edouard was played in behind the Copenhagen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has watched him banging in the goals for fun this season was expecting the net to bulge .
Only a fine save from Johnsson denied him .
Within the first three minutes , the goalkeeper had already laid down solid credentials for a man-of-the-match award .
Another fine block to deny the rampaging Edouard and a follow-up save to keep out the Frenchman 's compatriot Olivier Ntcham thrust him into the thick of the action .
Hurricane Edouard was at the forefront of Storm Celtic .
How long could Copenhagen weather the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer was 14 minutes .
A flowing move was started by a pass out of defence from Christopher Jullien .
Ryan Christie and James Forrest were then involved before the goal was sumptuously scored by Edouard with the deftest of delicate chips over the advancing keeper .
Nearly 4,000 Celtic fans celebrated wildly and urged their side to keep up the pressure .
Another fine move shortly after the goal sent Forrest scampering towards the penalty area but he pulled his shot wide .
It was too early to suggest it was game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoyed a more comfortable first 45 minutes away from home in the latter stages of European competition .
Would they be made to pay a price for their profligacy ?
Within seven minutes of the restart , Copenhagen delivered their answer .
Ntcham dallied needlessly outside his own area , the ball was fed to N'Doye and from around 10 yards , on an angle , his finish was true off the inside of Forster 's right-hand post .
Suddenly the home side were level and totally re-energised .
Callum McGregor then blasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had Christie to his right and Edouard to his left , Copenhagen 's cover stretched to the limit .
Had his decision making been better , Celtic 's lead would surely have been restored .
A game the visitors had in the palm of their hand was all of a sudden up for grabs .
The ebb and flow made for compulsive viewing but still the chances mainly fell Celtic 's way .
A Christie cross almost made its way straight into the net .
A break involving Christie and Jonny Hayes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big chance of the game - an instinctive first-time toe-poke - brought out the third big save from Johnsson .
The feeling that things may slip away from Celtic grew when captain Scott Brown went off injured , replaced by Nir Bitton .
Another substitute , Mikkel Kaufmann , caused big problems instantly when he came on for Copenhagen .
Drawing a fine block from Jullien when played into the area , then winning the corner from which the game 's major talking point emerged .
Celtic 's first encounter with the Video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty awarded for handball by Christie who will now miss the second leg due to his booking - as he jumped with his arm out in an aerial joust .
The spot-kick taken by Stage was tipped brilliantly on to his right-hand post by Forster .
It was remarkable , given the first half , that Celtic were now clinging on to a draw .
A late chance for Forrest that he squandered from a tight angle could have changed the narrative once more .
So Celtic fail to win a match for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their numerous chances .
The positive thing from their point of view ?
They have 90 minutes in Glasgow in front of their home fans to secure safe passage to the last 16 .
They could have made the return leg all but a formality .
Instead , their fate still hangs in the balance .
• Celtic are without a win in 10 knockout stage away games in major European competition ( D2 L8 ) , since beating Boavista 1-0 in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup semi-final .
• Copenhagen have won just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home games ( D3 L4 - excluding qualifiers ) , beating FC Lugano 1-0 on MD1 of this season 's campaign .
• Celtic have registered just one clean sheet in their last 10 European games ( excluding qualifiers ) .
• Odsonne Edouard has been directly involved in four goals in his last four Europa League appearances for Celtic ( 2 goals , 2 assists ) , after managing just two ( 2 goals ) in his previous 10 for the club .

Last updated on .From the section Europa League
Odsonne Edouard was denied twice before opening the scoring
Fraser Forster's dramatic late penalty save ensured Celtic's away goal gives them a narrow advantage after their Europa League last-32 stalemate in Copenhagen.
Odsonne Edouard earned Neil Lennon's team a deserved lead in the first leg before the hosts launched a second-half surge.
Dame N'Doye levelled before Forster acrobatically denied Jens Stage from the spot after a VAR penalty check.
The return is in Glasgow next Thursday.
Edouard's 24th strike of the season was the first away goal Celtic have scored in the knockout stage of a European competition since Henrik Larsson's winner against Boavista in 2003.
Lennon's side had to grind out large spells of the second half, but he will be frustrated his team only went into half-time just one goal to the good as Edouard had two one-on-one efforts saved by Karl-Johan Johnsson.
Early blitz fails to offer killer finish for Celtic
First impressions can be so deceptive. It took all of 25 seconds in the Parken Stadium for the apparent direction of travel to be established in this match and arguably the tie.
When Edouard was played in behind the Copenhagen defence inside the first minute, anyone who has watched him banging in the goals for fun this season was expecting the net to bulge. Only a fine save from Johnsson denied him.
Within the first three minutes, the goalkeeper had already laid down solid credentials for a man-of-the-match award. Another fine block to deny the rampaging Edouard and a follow-up save to keep out the Frenchman's compatriot Olivier Ntcham thrust him into the thick of the action.
Hurricane Edouard was at the forefront of Storm Celtic. How long could Copenhagen weather the waves of yellow and green? The answer was 14 minutes.
A flowing move was started by a pass out of defence from Christopher Jullien. Ryan Christie and James Forrest were then involved before the goal was sumptuously scored by Edouard with the deftest of delicate chips over the advancing keeper.
Nearly 4,000 Celtic fans celebrated wildly and urged their side to keep up the pressure. Another fine move shortly after the goal sent Forrest scampering towards the penalty area but he pulled his shot wide.
It was too early to suggest it was game over, but rarely will Celtic have enjoyed a more comfortable first 45 minutes away from home in the latter stages of European competition. Would they be made to pay a price for their profligacy? Within seven minutes of the restart, Copenhagen delivered their answer.
Ntcham dallied needlessly outside his own area, the ball was fed to N'Doye and from around 10 yards, on an angle, his finish was true off the inside of Forster's right-hand post. Suddenly the home side were level and totally re-energised.
Callum McGregor then blasted over from just outside the box when he had Christie to his right and Edouard to his left, Copenhagen's cover stretched to the limit. Had his decision making been better, Celtic's lead would surely have been restored.
A game the visitors had in the palm of their hand was all of a sudden up for grabs. The ebb and flow made for compulsive viewing but still the chances mainly fell Celtic's way. A Christie cross almost made its way straight into the net. A break involving Christie and Jonny Hayes then set up Edouard. His fourth big chance of the game - an instinctive first-time toe-poke - brought out the third big save from Johnsson.
The feeling that things may slip away from Celtic grew when captain Scott Brown went off injured, replaced by Nir Bitton.
Another substitute, Mikkel Kaufmann, caused big problems instantly when he came on for Copenhagen. Drawing a fine block from Jullien when played into the area, then winning the corner from which the game's major talking point emerged.
Celtic's first encounter with the Video Assistant Referee went against them - a penalty awarded for handball by Christie who will now miss the second leg due to his booking - as he jumped with his arm out in an aerial joust. The spot-kick taken by Stage was tipped brilliantly on to his right-hand post by Forster.
It was remarkable, given the first half, that Celtic were now clinging on to a draw. A late chance for Forrest that he squandered from a tight angle could have changed the narrative once more.
So Celtic fail to win a match for the first time this year, despite their numerous chances. The positive thing from their point of view? They have 90 minutes in Glasgow in front of their home fans to secure safe passage to the last 16.
They could have made the return leg all but a formality. Instead, their fate still hangs in the balance.
Celtic's away knockout wait continues - statistics
Celtic are without a win in 10 knockout stage away games in major European competition (D2 L8), since beating Boavista 1-0 in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup semi-final.
Copenhagen have won just one of their last eight Europa League home games (D3 L4 - excluding qualifiers), beating FC Lugano 1-0 on MD1 of this season's campaign.
Celtic have registered just one clean sheet in their last 10 European games (excluding qualifiers).
Odsonne Edouard has been directly involved in four goals in his last four Europa League appearances for Celtic (2 goals, 2 assists), after managing just two (2 goals) in his previous 10 for the club.


bbc--2020-02-20--Australian dominance, Thailand's debut and a Katy Perry-led finale - the Women's T20 World Cup previ

Australian dominance, Thailand's debut and a Katy Perry-led finale - the Women's T20 World Cup preview

Australian dominance , Thailand 's debut and Katy Perry - the Women 's T20 World Cup gets under way on Friday , and there 's loads to be excited about .
The 10 best teams compete in the 17-day tournament across Australia , with the final to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 8 March .
Defending champions Australia are the heavy favourites on home soil in a tournament they have won four times .
England are bidding to become double world champions , while Thailand are playing in their first major competition after coming through qualifying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 08:00 GMT , while England begin their campaign against South Africa two days later ( 11:00 GMT ) .
The final will be held on International Women 's Day , with tournament organisers aiming to break the attendance record for a women 's sporting event .
Test Match Special will have commentary of all the matches on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and there will be live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app , with in-play highlights available to UK users .
There will also be a regular Test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England 's World Cup winner Alex Hartley .
Who are the favourites ?
It is hard to look beyond Australia - Meg Lanning 's team are the world 's top-ranked Twenty20 side and are arguably the best women 's team in any sport at the minute .
They begin the tournament having won 26 of their last 31 T20 internationals and they still clinched the recent tri-series against England and India despite some uncharacteristic performances .
In Ellyse Perry they have the world 's best all-rounder , captain Lanning is solid with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one T20 bowler , leads their attack .
Their only concern may be over opener Alyssa Healy .
The usually destructive batter , so important to Australia 's strong starts , has scored only 24 runs in her past six innings .
West Indies are the only team apart from England and Australia to have won the tournament , in 2016 , but they are winless in their past 11 T20 matches and do not have much experience of Australian conditions .
India and New Zealand have firepower in their batting line-ups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rely on certain players for runs , while South Africa have reached the semi-finals just once in six appearances .
Thailand could struggle against world-class bowling line-ups but their growth - coming through qualification with a team that have largely been together since they were teenagers - is promising for future tournaments .
How will England do ?
This is a fresh start for England as they enter their first global tournament under new head coach Lisa Keightley .
England won the 50-over World Cup and reached the World T20 final in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they endured a poor home Ashes series last summer .
There are positive signs for Heather Knight 's side .
Sophie Ecclestone 's stock has risen and her left-arm spin is key for England , while Knight had a career-best Women 's Big Bash League performance .
Openers Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt also impressed in the BBL - although they struggled in the tri-series - and Natalie Sciver 's all-round game has developed hugely .
However , England have yet to settle on their batting line-up and there are questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole battling injury in recent months .
Who are the players to look out for ?
Sophie Ecclestone ( England ) : The left-arm spinner shone in the tri-series against India and Australia , taking five wickets in four games , and her consistency allows her to dictate the middle overs .
Ashleigh Gardner ( Australia ) : Gardner is typical of the strength in depth Australia have .
The explosive batter is crucial at the end of an innings for the hosts .
Sophie Devine ( New Zealand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exciting batters around , the White Ferns skipper cracked a century against South Africa in the build-up to the tournament and only four women have taken more T20 World Cup wickets than her 26 .
Shafali Verma ( India ) : Aged 15 , Verma broke Sachin Tendulkar 's 30-year record to become the youngest Indian to score an international half-century .
She and opening partner Smriti Mandhana could bludgeon many bowling attacks during the tournament .
Chloe Tryon ( South Africa ) : Tryon 's recent composure to help South Africa narrowly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batting has become .
She is mostly used in the final overs and can help the Proteas reach those imposing targets .
What 's Katy Perry got to do with it ?
The record attendance for a women 's sporting event is 90,185 , achieved at the football World Cup final between United States and China in 1999 .
The iconic , 100,024-seater MCG holds the record for the biggest cricket crowd , when 93,013 people attended the 50-over World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand in 2015 .
A # FillTheMCG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will perform a pre and post-match concert at the venue , with tickets priced at A $ 20 ( £10.34 ) for adults and A $ 5 ( £2.58 ) for children .
`` Regardless of whether we 're there , it 'll be an incredible moment for women 's cricket , '' Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry said .
`` We recognise we have a great opportunity ahead of us and we 're looking forward to getting into the event . ''

Last updated on .From the section Women's Cricket
The Women's T20 World Cup final will be held at the MCG on International Women's Day
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 Venues: Sydney, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne Dates: 21 Feb - 8 March Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on all games on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport website & app; in-play highlights (UK only) & live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app
Australian dominance, Thailand's debut and Katy Perry - the Women's T20 World Cup gets under way on Friday, and there's loads to be excited about.
The 10 best teams compete in the 17-day tournament across Australia, with the final to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 8 March.
Defending champions Australia are the heavy favourites on home soil in a tournament they have won four times.
England are bidding to become double world champions, while Thailand are playing in their first major competition after coming through qualifying.
Australia open the tournament against India at 08:00 GMT, while England begin their campaign against South Africa two days later (11:00 GMT).
The final will be held on International Women's Day, with tournament organisers aiming to break the attendance record for a women's sporting event.
Test Match Special will have commentary of all the matches on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and there will be live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, with in-play highlights available to UK users.
There will also be a regular Test Match Special podcast, with analysis from England's World Cup winner Alex Hartley.
Who are the favourites?
Deandra Dottin and Meg Lanning are among the previous winners, while Suzie Bates reached the final in 2009 & 2010 with New Zealand
It is hard to look beyond Australia - Meg Lanning's team are the world's top-ranked Twenty20 side and are arguably the best women's team in any sport at the minute.
They begin the tournament having won 26 of their last 31 T20 internationals and they still clinched the recent tri-series against England and India despite some uncharacteristic performances.
In Ellyse Perry they have the world's best all-rounder, captain Lanning is solid with the bat and Megan Schutt, the world number one T20 bowler, leads their attack.
Their only concern may be over opener Alyssa Healy. The usually destructive batter, so important to Australia's strong starts, has scored only 24 runs in her past six innings.
West Indies are the only team apart from England and Australia to have won the tournament, in 2016, but they are winless in their past 11 T20 matches and do not have much experience of Australian conditions.
India and New Zealand have firepower in their batting line-ups, but both teams have a tendency to rely on certain players for runs, while South Africa have reached the semi-finals just once in six appearances.
Thailand could struggle against world-class bowling line-ups but their growth - coming through qualification with a team that have largely been together since they were teenagers - is promising for future tournaments.
How will England do?
England will be sporting their new red T20 kit at the tournament
This is a fresh start for England as they enter their first global tournament under new head coach Lisa Keightley.
England won the 50-over World Cup and reached the World T20 final in 2018 under Keightley's predecessor Mark Robinson, but they endured a poor home Ashes series last summer.
There are positive signs for Heather Knight's side. Sophie Ecclestone's stock has risen and her left-arm spin is key for England, while Knight had a career-best Women's Big Bash League performance.
Openers Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt also impressed in the BBL - although they struggled in the tri-series - and Natalie Sciver's all-round game has developed hugely.
However, England have yet to settle on their batting line-up and there are questions over their seam attack, with both Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole battling injury in recent months.
Who are the players to look out for?
Sophie Ecclestone (England): The left-arm spinner shone in the tri-series against India and Australia, taking five wickets in four games, and her consistency allows her to dictate the middle overs.
Ashleigh Gardner (Australia): Gardner is typical of the strength in depth Australia have. The explosive batter is crucial at the end of an innings for the hosts.
Sophie Devine (New Zealand): Probably one of the most exciting batters around, the White Ferns skipper cracked a century against South Africa in the build-up to the tournament and only four women have taken more T20 World Cup wickets than her 26.
Shafali Verma (India): Aged 15, Verma broke Sachin Tendulkar's 30-year record to become the youngest Indian to score an international half-century. She and opening partner Smriti Mandhana could bludgeon many bowling attacks during the tournament.
Chloe Tryon (South Africa): Tryon's recent composure to help South Africa narrowly beat New Zealand emphasised how powerful her batting has become. She is mostly used in the final overs and can help the Proteas reach those imposing targets.
What's Katy Perry got to do with it?
A mural of Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry and Katy Perry has been painted in Melbourne's Hosier Lane
The record attendance for a women's sporting event is 90,185, achieved at the football World Cup final between United States and China in 1999.
The iconic, 100,024-seater MCG holds the record for the biggest cricket crowd, when 93,013 people attended the 50-over World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
A #FillTheMCG campaign has been launched and Katy Perry will perform a pre and post-match concert at the venue, with tickets priced at A$20 (£10.34) for adults and A$5 (£2.58) for children.
"Regardless of whether we're there, it'll be an incredible moment for women's cricket," Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry said.
"We recognise we have a great opportunity ahead of us and we're looking forward to getting into the event."


bbc--2020-02-12--Meet Women's Footballer of the Year nominee Megan Rapinoe

We are profiling each of the five nominees for the BBC Women 's Footballer of the Year 2020 award .
You can vote for your winner on the BBC Sport website until Monday , 2 March at 09:00 GMT .
The result will be revealed on Tuesday , 24 March on BBC World Service .
Did you know ?
• An advocate for numerous causes , including LGBTQ rights • Her partner is four-time Olympic champion and three-time WNBA champion basketball player Sue Bird In her own words '' Standing on the podium and lifting the World Cup trophy as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you dream of .
That 's what all this is all about .
I 'm getting a lot of accolades and success but it 's all down to them . ''
`` The 1999 USA World Cup team blew up in all of our worlds , girls who played soccer at that time .
They transcended sport .
And Michael Jordan .
He was my jam .
I 'm a big Bulls fan , such a swag about him . ''
Most impactful moment of your career ?
`` I ruptured my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back for the Olympics but was terrible , I really should n't have been on the roster , and the team did n't do well .
I was n't myself at all and was a shell of a player .
With what I had to do to get back to my old self , I blew past where I ever was before .
It was a pivotal moment .
`` Meeting Sue .
She 's like Benjamin Button - I 'm like , whatever she 's doing I 'm going to do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habits , level of professionalism .
Without all of that I 'm definitely not in this position . ''
When have you been star struck ?
`` I do n't normally geek out on stars but I love Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper .
They 're political analysts so I totally geeked out on them .
I love their shows .
I think they 're both brilliant - total trailblazers in their own right . ''
`` I guess in a footballing sense , nobody 's ever had World Cup and Olympics back-to-back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a reason .
You know once you win a World Cup , there 's a million things you have to do - celebrating .
You do n't have that moment after the World Cup where you 're like ' I 'm going to win the Olympics and like nothing else matters ' .
So that would be incredible .
`` In life , everything .
Equal pay would be a really nice one .
It 's the cherry on top if that happens .
In general , continuing to push the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female professional footballer has anything left to prove - it 's just everyone else figuring it out . ''
How was life growing up ?
`` Middle school and high school were weird for me because I did n't know I was gay and then as soon as I figured this out I was like - why did n't someone tell me ?
Luckily I had sport .
Getting into college I became myself .
Getting into this team , whenever you 're elite as a woman you 're alone so to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a team that has 23 women who are just as elite as you gives us space to build each other up , challenge each other .
It 's normal to be big bold and wild - for us , it 's just normal .
We are like this all the time , growing up and empowering each other . ''
Who would play you in a film ?
`` Tilda Swinton - I hope .
I do n't know if she can play football but I love her hair .
She 's got @ @ @ @ @ @ @

BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020: Megan Rapinoe profile
We are profiling each of the five nominees for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020 award. Voting closed on Monday, 2 March. The result will be revealed on Tuesday, 24 March on BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website.
Age: 34 Position: Forward Plays for: Reign FC and USA
Achievements in 2019
Won World Cup for second time
Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner at World Cup
Named Best Fifa and Ballon d'Or winner
Did you know?
Twin sister, Rachael, also played professionally
An advocate for numerous causes, including LGBTQ rights
Her partner is four-time Olympic champion and three-time WNBA champion basketball player Sue Bird
In her own words
Highlight of 2019?
"Standing on the podium and lifting the World Cup trophy as joint-captain. It's the iconic moment that you dream of. That's what all this is all about. I'm getting a lot of accolades and success but it's all down to them."
Heroes growing up?
"The 1999 USA World Cup team blew up in all of our worlds, girls who played soccer at that time. They transcended sport. And Michael Jordan. He was my jam. I'm a big Bulls fan, such a swag about him."
Most impactful moment of your career?
"I ruptured my ACL in 2015. I made it back for the Olympics but was terrible, I really shouldn't have been on the roster, and the team didn't do well. I wasn't myself at all and was a shell of a player. With what I had to do to get back to my old self, I blew past where I ever was before. It was a pivotal moment.
"Meeting Sue. She's like Benjamin Button - I'm like, whatever she's doing I'm going to do that, changing my training habits, eating habits, level of professionalism. Without all of that I'm definitely not in this position."
When have you been star struck?
"I don't normally geek out on stars but I love Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper. They're political analysts so I totally geeked out on them. I love their shows. I think they're both brilliant - total trailblazers in their own right."
Remaining ambitions?
"I guess in a footballing sense, nobody's ever had World Cup and Olympics back-to-back wins, so it's very difficult for a reason. You know once you win a World Cup, there's a million things you have to do - celebrating. You don't have that moment after the World Cup where you're like 'I'm going to win the Olympics and like nothing else matters'. So that would be incredible.
"In life, everything. Equal pay would be a really nice one. It's the cherry on top if that happens. In general, continuing to push the game forward. I don't think any female professional footballer has anything left to prove - it's just everyone else figuring it out."
How was life growing up?
"Middle school and high school were weird for me because I didn't know I was gay and then as soon as I figured this out I was like - why didn't someone tell me? Luckily I had sport. Getting into college I became myself. Getting into this team, whenever you're elite as a woman you're alone so to be able to grow up and mature on a team that has 23 women who are just as elite as you gives us space to build each other up, challenge each other. It's normal to be big bold and wild - for us, it's just normal. We are like this all the time, growing up and empowering each other."
Who would play you in a film?
"Tilda Swinton - I hope. I don't know if she can play football but I love her hair. She's got swag, an interesting look."