bbc--2020-03-05--Gender study finds 90% of people are biased against women

A new UN report has found at least 90 % of men and women hold some sort of bias against females .
The `` Gender Social Norms '' index analysed biases in areas such as politics and education in 75 countries .
Globally , close to 50 % of men said they had more right to a job than women .
Almost a third of respondents thought it was acceptable for men to hit their partners .
There are no countries in the world with gender equality , the study found .
Zimbabwe had the highest amount of bias with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender bias at all .
At the other end of the scale was Andorra where 72 % of people reported no bias .
In Zimbabwe , 96 % of people said violence against women was acceptable and the same proportion did not support reproductive rights .
In the Philippines , 91 % of people held these views .
• Reform and repression go hand in hand in Saudi Arabia • The women who dream of power-sharing According to the report , about half of the world 's men and women feel that men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 55 % of people thought men were better suited to be political leaders .
Around 39 % of people in the US , which is yet to have a female president , thought men made better leaders .
However in New Zealand , a country that currently has a female leader , only 27 % of people thought that .
The number of female heads of government is lower today than five years ago with only 10 women in such positions in 193 countries , down from 15 in 2014 .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is a slightly higher percentage of women in these roles .
Latin America and the Caribbean had the highest share of seats in parliament held by women with 31 % .
South Asian countries had the lowest percentage at just 17 % .
Pedro Conceição , head of UNDP 's Human Development Report Office said : `` We have come a long way in recent decades to ensure that women have the same access to life 's basic needs as men .
`` But gender gaps are still all too obvious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge power relations and are most influential in actually achieving true equality .
Today .
the fight about gender equality is a story of bias and prejudices . ''
Women are paid less than men and are much less likely to be in senior positions .
Globally , 40 % of people thought men made better business executives .
In the UK , 25 % of people thought men should have more right to a job than women and said men made better business executives than women did .
In India that figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UNDP gender team acting director said : `` We must act now to break through the barrier of bias and prejudices if we want to see progress at the speed and scale needed to achieve gender equality . ''

"But gender gaps are still all too obvious in other areas, particularly those that challenge power relations and are most influential in actually achieving true equality. Today. the fight about gender equality is a story of bias and prejudices."


bbc--2020-03-05--R. Kelly: Singer pleads not guilty to updated sex abuse charges

R & B singer R. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to 13 sexual abuse charges in Chicago , including allegations involving a new accuser .
The new alleged victim , referred to as Minor Six , was included as part of an updated federal indictment .
Prosecutors also said they had seized more than 100 electronic devices , such as smartphones , iPads and hard drives , after executing a search warrant .
The judge set a trial date for 13 October , six months later than planned .
The Chicago case includes several counts accusing Kelly of child pornography @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full name is Robert Kelly , has consistently denied the allegations .
The updated indictment is largely the same as the original - which also had 13 counts - but now includes a reference to Minor Six .
Prosecutors offered little detail about the new alleged victim , but said the person met Kelly in the late 1990s at the age of 14 or 15 .
The indictment said Kelly `` engaged in sexual contact and sexual acts '' with Minor Six and four others when they were aged under 18 .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date is set The R & B singer is facing several state and federal charges of sexual abuse in the US .
Kelly was arrested in Chicago in July on two sets of charges including sex trafficking , child abuse images and obstruction of justice .
He has already pleaded not guilty to more than 20 sexual offences across several US states , including prostitution charges in Minnesota .
The allegations were brought back into the spotlight following the documentary series , Surviving R. Kelly , which aired in the US at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about him pursuing teenage girls going back to the start of his career .
Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

The updated indictment is largely the same as the original - which also had 13 counts - but now includes a reference to Minor Six.


bbc--2020-03-05--Top court may investigate US troops

Top court may investigate US troops

An investigation of alleged war crimes by the US and others in the Afghan conflict can go ahead , the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) has ruled .
The ICC overturned on appeal a previous decision to block the investigation .
The actions of the Taliban , the Afghan government and US troops since May 2003 are expected to be examined .
But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the ruling was `` reckless '' and vowed to protect Americans from it .
`` This is a truly breathtaking action by an unaccountable , political institution masquerading as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` All the more reckless for this ruling to come just days after the United States signed a historic peace deal on Afghanistan , which is the best chance for peace in a generation . ''
The deal was signed with the Taliban last Saturday after more than 18 years of conflict .
The US is not a signatory of the ICC and does not recognise its authority over American citizens .
Last year the Trump administration imposed travel restrictions and other sanctions on ICC officials .
• The Afghan war : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will Taliban do after signing US deal ?
• Who are the Taliban ?
President Donald Trump has also pardoned troops prosecuted in the US for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan .
Afghanistan is a member of the court but officials there have also expressed opposition to the inquiry .
In April 2019 a pre-trial chamber at the ICC ruled that the investigation should not go ahead because it would not `` serve the interests of justice '' .
ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has been seeking a formal investigation into the alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court has long been criticised for spending far too much of its time looking at the alleged crimes of smaller - often African - nations and shying away from taking cases involving major world players .
So to this extent its investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan is an important moment .
Its remit is to look at the behaviour of the Taliban , the Afghan Government 's forces and of course the Americans .
And therein lies the problem .
The United States is not a party to the ICC and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More generally Afghanistan is still far from being at peace .
There will be those who see some kind of judicial process to hold wrong-doers to account as being an essential part of reconciliation in the country .
But the practical problems facing any ICC mission may be insurmountable .
What did the court say ?
Presiding appeals judge Piotr Hofmanski said the original pre-trial judges had made a mistake .
They had said that an investigation would not be in the interests of justice because it was unlikely to result in successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had exceeded their powers .
He said that Ms Bensouda 's request did meet the criteria , by showing there was a reasonable basis to believe crimes that fall within the court 's jurisdiction may have been committed .
What are the allegations ?
A preliminary investigation lasting more than a decade examined crimes including intentional attacks against civilians , imprisonment and extra-judicial executions .
A 2016 report from the ICC said there was a reasonable basis to believe the US military had committed torture at secret detention sites operated by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reasonable to believe the Afghan government had tortured prisoners and the Taliban had committed war crimes such as the mass killing of civilians .

And therein lies the problem. The United States is not a party to the ICC and is unlikely to co-operate with it. More generally Afghanistan is still far from being at peace.


bbc--2020-03-05--Coronavirus: Iran limits travel and urges banknote avoidance

Iran is limiting travel between its major cities as it tries to halt the spread of the coronavirus , which has killed at least 107 people there .
The country has already shut schools until April , and Health Minister Saeed Namaki said people should not use the break as an opportunity to travel .
He also urged Iranians to reduce the use of paper banknotes .
The measures come as the World Health Organization warned some countries were not doing enough to stop the virus .
But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted containment was still possible , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give up . ''
• As it happened : Italy and Iran close schools • How worried should US be over coronavirus ?
Iran is one of the worst-hit countries outside China , where the Covid-19 virus - which causes the coronavirus disease - originated .
Worldwide , authorities have confirmed more than 92,000 cases of the virus , of which more than 80,000 are in China .
More than 3,000 people have died globally , the vast majority of them in China .
What do I need to know about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
A simple guide • WAYS TO PREVENT CATCHING IT : How to wash your hands • WHERE ARE WE WITH A VACCINE ?
Progress so far • A VISUAL GUIDE TO THE OUTBREAK : Virus maps and charts The country 's official death toll on Thursday rose by 15 to 107 , and the number of confirmed cases increased by 591 to 3,513 .
But state news agency Irna said the number of dead could be higher , citing data from medical universities .
The data did not include statistics from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the hardest-hit areas .
The toll there was listed as `` unknown '' , Irna said .
Last month sources in the country 's health system told BBC Persian the death toll was at least 210 , with most victims in Tehran and the holy city of Qom .
Mr Namaki said checkpoints would go up to limit travel between major cities .
In a televised press conference , he said travel was `` very dangerous '' and reports showed `` many cars on the roads are taking the virus with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that schools and universities would remain closed until Nowruz , the Persian new year , on 20 March , which marks the beginning of a national holiday .
`` People should not consider this as an opportunity to go travelling .
They should stay home and take our warnings seriously , '' he said .
`` This virus is highly contagious .
It is a serious matter , do not joke about it . ''
Ladan , an asthma sufferer in Tehran , told the BBC increased stress was the worst aspect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It feels so unsafe now .
I quarantined myself without having any sanitizer .
I am starting to see everything like a virus .
I feel like I am becoming paranoid about whatever I buy and bring into my house , '' she said .
In the western city of Hamedan Mohammedreza said the crisis had provoked an `` epidemic of fear '' .
A doctor in western Iran who gave his name as Mehrzad told the BBC his hospital had done nothing to prepare for the outbreak as late as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended up buying extra masks and gloves out of his own pocket .
By contrast , in the central city of Isfahan , Mohammad said very few people were taking the outbreak seriously .
`` Many believe it is happening anywhere else but Isfahan .
You barely see anyone wearing masks or gloves , '' he said .
`` But what is striking is the food prices , which are rising on a daily basis - and everyone buys more than their needs as if a famine is on its way . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has announced its first two confirmed deaths - one of them in the capital Baghdad - from the virus • Israel and the Palestinian Authority have put the city of Bethlehem under quarantine after seven people were diagnosed with the coronavirus there • New York state has 22 confirmed coronavirus cases , Governor Andrew Cuomo says .
Eighteen US states now have cases • California , Washington and Florida states have all declared states of emergency .
Ten of the 11 US deaths were in Washington state • A cruise ship , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have symptoms is being held off the coast of San Francisco .
Thousands of people are aboard the vessel , which is where California 's first victim is thought to have caught the virus • The UK has recorded its first death - an older patient with underlying health conditions .
The number of UK people diagnosed with the virus has reached 116 , a rise of more than 30 since Wednesday • Italy reported 41 new deaths , the highest single-day toll so far , bringing its total to 148 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for at least 10 days • The Paris Marathon has been postponed to a later date , French media report .
About 65,000 runners were registered to take part , Le Parisien said • South Africa 's President Cyril Ramaphosa warned of a `` national crisis '' after the country confirmed its first case • The International Monetary Fund has announced $ 50bn in funding for affected countries How have you been affected by the spread of Covid-19 ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

A doctor in western Iran who gave his name as Mehrzad told the BBC his hospital had done nothing to prepare for the outbreak as late as a week ago. He said he had ended up buying extra masks and gloves out of his own pocket.


bbc--2020-03-05--Coronavirus: Woman in 70s becomes first virus fatality in UK

A woman with underlying health conditions has become the first person in the UK to die after testing positive for coronavirus .
The Royal Berkshire NHS Trust said the patient , understood to be in her 70s , had been `` in and out of hospital for non-coronavirus reasons '' .
She was admitted and tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday .
It comes as the number of UK people diagnosed with the virus reached 116 , a rise of more than 30 in 24 hours .
Meanwhile , the prime minister 's official spokesman said it was `` highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a significant way '' .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak The woman , who was being treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading , is believed to have caught the virus in the UK , said the country 's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty .
She is not thought to have been abroad recently , BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now trying to trace the people she was in contact with .
Prof Whitty offered his sincere condolences to her family and friends and asked that their request for privacy is respected .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said `` his sympathies are with the victim and their family '' .
Mr Johnson reiterated that the UK was `` still in the contain phase '' - the first stage of the government 's response to the outbreak .
He said scientists and medical staff are making preparations for the next phase - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the latest government figures , as of 9:00 GMT on Thursday there were 115 cases across the UK .
Another case was later confirmed in Wales .
The UK cases include 105 patients in England as well as six in Scotland , three in Northern Ireland and two in Wales .
Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool confirmed a child there had tested positive for coronavirus .
It is not known how old the child is .
Around 45 of the confirmed cases have been self-isolating at home , while 18 people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the authorities do not know how the individual was infected , said our health correspondent .
They have no links with foreign travel , he added .
Mr Johnson said the UK was still in the first phase of its four-part plan to tackle the virus outbreak , which is made up of : contain , delay , research and mitigate .
The government is still deciding what measures will be taken in the delay phase , but has previously said this could include banning big events , closing schools , encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of public transport .
Last week , a British man in Japan became the first UK citizen to die from the virus after being infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship .
Meanwhile , a 33-year-old British woman who works for the United Nations is one of four people who have been diagnosed with the virus in Senegal , after travelling there from London .
And in California , more than 140 British nationals are stranded on board a Princess Cruises ship as officials test passengers for Covid-19 .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arriving in the UK from Italy - the country in Europe that has been hit worst by the virus , with more than 3,000 cases .
On Thursday , the government said the whole of Italy - not just the north of the country - is now classed as a recognised area of concern , meaning if people develop symptoms after returning from the country they should self-isolate .
For those returning from the quarantined towns in Italy , people should self-isolate even if they do not show symptoms .
• Bank HSBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices in London has been diagnosed and it is `` deep-cleaning the floor where our colleague worked and shared areas of the building '' • UK airline Flybe has gone into administration and says coronavirus is partly to blame • Starbucks says it is `` pausing the use of personal cups '' and washable ceramic cups in their UK , US and Canadian stores because of fears of the virus • Pupils at a school in south Devon are receiving lessons online , after the school shut when a pupil was diagnosed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned retailers and traders they could be prosecuted for trying to `` exploit '' the coronavirus outbreak by selling protective products at inflated prices • ITV say travel companies are deferring their TV advertising , with advertising revenue due to drop 10 % in April • England 's Six Nations games against Italy in Rome on 14 and 15 March have been postponed - rather than taking place behind closed doors - as a response to the outbreak • Ireland records another seven cases , bringing its total up to 13 • Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March in an attempt to curb the spread Worldwide , authorities have confirmed more than 92,000 cases of coronavirus - of which more than 80,000 are in China , where the virus began .
More than 3,000 people have died globally , with the vast majority in China .
Earlier , Prof Whitty told MPs on the health and social care committee that half of all coronavirus cases in the UK are most likely to occur in just a three-week period , with 95 % of them over a nine-week period .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by people needing oxygen and some `` things may be considerably less well done '' during the peak of an epidemic .
But he said neither elderly people nor people with asthma should self-isolate yet , adding there was no evidence of `` deep harm '' in children with asthma .
Have you been affected by coronavirus ?
You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

On Thursday, the government said the whole of Italy - not just the north of the country - is now classed as a recognised area of concern, meaning if people develop symptoms after returning from the country they should self-isolate.


bbc--2020-03-05--AEW: Singing for my brother's hero 17 years after he died

How do you stay close to a loved one after they pass away ?
Some people will try and bring them up in conversation , others may even maintain the relationship by sending text messages to their number .
For Liz Rose , the answer was to keep up a hobby she shared with her brother - watching professional wrestling .
Little did she know 17 years later that she would be performing the entrance music for her brother 's favourite wrestler live as he walked to the ring .
`` My brother loved wrestling and he loved Chris Jericho @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to be a wrestler , he was planning on going to wrestling school after high school .
Then he was in a car accident .
`` Moving forward with my life as a kid , wrestling was something I could look back on and have good memories .
Going into adulthood , if I saw a match on TV I would watch it , it helped me feel connected to him . ''
For years , simply watching wrestling on television was enough for the 29-year-old to maintain a connection with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made everything change when Liz had the opportunity to become part of the choir that performed Chris Jericho 's entrance theme at the All Elite Wrestling ( AEW ) : Revolution pay-per-view on 29 February 2020 .
Chris Jericho was the first AEW world champion .
During his time with WWE , he became a six-time world champion and was the first `` undisputed '' champion .
He is also an accomplished musician with his band Fozzy .
The video to Judas , which he uses as his entrance music , has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube .
While it is uncommon for wrestlers to enter the ring to anything other than their pre-recorded theme , for a wrestler as popular as Jericho , exceptions can be made .
Fans have called the performance `` the best entrance of the year '' and `` goosebump-inducing '' , while Chris Jericho himself said it was `` the best ring entrance I 've ever had in almost 30 years in the business '' .
For Liz , her brother 's fandom of Chris Jericho made it all the more significant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
`` I 've been getting so many messages and comments from AEW fans , describing this as an important moment in wrestling , how this entrance had an impact on them .
`` Over the course of my life I felt like I processed the grief in certain ways .
It 's strange how after all this time , something like this happening can bring me back to how I felt as a kid .
`` For me to think of my brother knowing I was a part of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his hero ...
I felt close to him in a way I had not felt since he was alive . ''
The opportunity would not have afforded itself were it not for a bit of luck and a viral video .
Meredith Bell , who knew Liz from local theatre in Philadelphia , became the architect of her future when her a cappella cover of Jericho 's entrance music became a Twitter hit in January 2020 .
She told the BBC that Jericho contacted her directly and asked if she could rally up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at AEW : Revolution .
• Former boxer Anthony Ogogo signs for All Elite Wrestling Meredith contacted Liz , who leapt at the opportunity - and when she found out about the significance this performance would have for Liz , she did something to make the moment even more special .
`` Meredith had a necklace made for me before we left for the trip , '' Liz said , `` with a picture of Greg in it .
`` She made a point to acknowledge how special this was for me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ very supportive and kind .
It was extremely emotional . ''
After the performance , Meredith took to social media to share the story of Greg and Liz with the world .
And once again her post caught the eye of Chris Jericho , who called it an `` amazing story '' .
And this brought everything `` full circle '' , Liz says .
`` When he responded to the video , '' she said , `` it was shocking and overwhelming .
I said a little prayer to my brother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
`` I never would have been into wrestling if not for him .
It was an experience I got to enjoy through my love for him and his love for wrestling .
It was an amazing moment . ''

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bbc--2020-03-05--Tattoos: 'The more I have, the more confident I feel'

You probably know Post Malone for two things : massive hit singles and having loads of tattoos - some on his face .
He 's been chatting about his body art in a new interview , saying his tattoos come from `` a place of insecurity '' .
`` Where I do n't like how I look , I 'm going to put something cool on there , '' the rapper told GQ Magazine .
`` I can look at myself and say , 'You look cool , kid , ' and have a modicum of self-confidence when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words have rung true with other people who get tattooed to help with their self-esteem and body confidence .
People like Jamie Rutter , who spoke to Radio 1 Newsbeat from a tattooist 's chair during a six-hour ink session .
`` I feel better the more tattoos I 've got , '' the 26-year-old says .
`` If you have a tattoo , someone 's looking at the artwork , they 're not looking at you . ''
But rushing out to get a tattoo if you 're unhappy with how you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body , is n't a recommended way of dealing with self-esteem issues in the long-term .
`` People can get tattooed because they want to express something about themselves or improve their self-esteem , '' says Viren Swami , a professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University .
He studies body image and the motivations and impact of getting body art , primarily focusing on tattooing .
`` The tattoo itself is n't going to solve or get rid of the underlying issue that has caused the problem in the first place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be a short-term stopgap for some of the difficulties you 're experiencing and how you express them .
`` But those difficulties are n't going to suddenly disappear just because you get a tattoo . ''
His research has shown an improvement in body image , in the short term , by some people who have had tattoos , but he has n't studied the long-term impact .
Jamie says having tattoos improves his confidence , especially when he 's wearing a T-shirt or vest - and it also invites people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People will say , 'Oh , that 's really cool , why did you get it ? '
and then you 've got something to talk about instead of thinking about the size of your arms or stomach , '' he says . '
I could look at my arm and not feel it was ugly' Maxine Stacey , 24 , needed a boost to her confidence after she was hit by a bus while riding a scooter in Thailand in 2019 .
The accident left her with a severely broken arm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattoos on , and the surgery she had abroad left her with a `` horrible '' scar .
`` I could n't even see if I had ruined the tattoos I already had .
I could n't move any part of the right side of my body , '' Maxine says .
`` I had more surgery back in the UK to clean it up and from there I 've decorated my arm with tattoos to try and distract from the result of the accident . ''
After her injury healed , Maxine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't like to look at her arm and wanted to stop people asking about the scar .
`` I realised I could continue what I 'd already started on my arm , to distract from it and make me feel better about the whole incident , '' she says .
`` It made a massive difference to my confidence just to be able to look at my arm and not feel it was ugly . ''
'Getting a tattoo is the best feeling ever' For 23-year-old Buzz Carter , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the chance to show off his new tattoos to other people - in real life and online .
`` I 've always been a bit overweight , so I balance that out by dressing nice and having tattoos .
I 've got a beard which ties into my confidence , '' he says .
`` It makes me feel better to have something to show off . ''
He says getting a new tattoo is `` one of the best feelings ever '' .
For 20-year-old art student , Kai Speed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattoos and looking `` completely unique . ''
`` I used to not be happy with my appearance , but they have given me confidence to properly be who I should be , '' Kai says .
`` I feel best about myself when I look as different as possible to everyone else .
`` So , having tattoos helps me set myself apart even more . ''
Professor Swami says his studies have shown the positive short-term impacts from getting a tattoo may be due to the physical and financial investment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But he also warns that getting inked can have a negative impact on people 's personal and professional lives .
`` If you get a visible tattoo , it may have an impact on your relationships with others , '' he says .
`` In some employment settings it may not be appropriate to get a tattoo that 's particularly visible . ''
Having tattoos is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 , which means employers can make their own decisions on whether to hire people with them or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that for most people , getting a tattoo is a positive experience - as long as you do n't expect it to solve your self-esteem issues .
`` I generally do n't recommend getting getting tattooed simply as a means of tackling body image issues , '' he says .
`` But there is evidence to suggest that getting a tattoo does impact not just your body image , but your identity in general . ''
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

Tattoos: 'The more I have, the more confident I feel' Published 5 March 2020
Image source, Maxine Stacey, Buzz Carter, Jamie Rutter
You probably know Post Malone for two things: massive hit singles and having loads of tattoos - some on his face.
He's been chatting about his body art in a new interview, saying his tattoos come from "a place of insecurity".
"Where I don't like how I look, I'm going to put something cool on there," the rapper told GQ Magazine.
"I can look at myself and say, 'You look cool, kid,' and have a modicum of self-confidence when it comes to my appearance."
And his words have rung true with other people who get tattooed to help with their self-esteem and body confidence.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Post Malone has "Stay Away" and "Always Tired" tattooed on his face
People like Jamie Rutter, who spoke to Radio 1 Newsbeat from a tattooist's chair during a six-hour ink session.
"I feel better the more tattoos I've got," the 26-year-old says.
"If you have a tattoo, someone's looking at the artwork, they're not looking at you."
Image source, Jamie Rutter Image caption, Jamie was getting his entire arm tattooed while speaking to Newsbeat on the phone
But rushing out to get a tattoo if you're unhappy with how you look, or a part of your body, isn't a recommended way of dealing with self-esteem issues in the long-term.
"People can get tattooed because they want to express something about themselves or improve their self-esteem," says Viren Swami, a professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.
He studies body image and the motivations and impact of getting body art, primarily focusing on tattooing.
'Difficulties won't disappear'
"The tattoo itself isn't going to solve or get rid of the underlying issue that has caused the problem in the first place," he says.
"It might be a short-term stopgap for some of the difficulties you're experiencing and how you express them.
"But those difficulties aren't going to suddenly disappear just because you get a tattoo."
His research has shown an improvement in body image, in the short term, by some people who have had tattoos, but he hasn't studied the long-term impact.
Jamie says having tattoos improves his confidence, especially when he's wearing a T-shirt or vest - and it also invites people to start a conversation with him.
"People will say, 'Oh, that's really cool, why did you get it?' and then you've got something to talk about instead of thinking about the size of your arms or stomach," he says.
'I could look at my arm and not feel it was ugly'
Maxine Stacey, 24, needed a boost to her confidence after she was hit by a bus while riding a scooter in Thailand in 2019.
The accident left her with a severely broken arm, which she already had a couple of tattoos on, and the surgery she had abroad left her with a "horrible" scar.
"I couldn't even see if I had ruined the tattoos I already had. I couldn't move any part of the right side of my body," Maxine says.
"I had more surgery back in the UK to clean it up and from there I've decorated my arm with tattoos to try and distract from the result of the accident."
Image source, Maxine Stacey Image caption, Maxine's got tattoos around a scar on her arm from a bike accident
After her injury healed, Maxine says she wore long-sleeved clothes because she didn't like to look at her arm and wanted to stop people asking about the scar.
"I realised I could continue what I'd already started on my arm, to distract from it and make me feel better about the whole incident," she says.
"It made a massive difference to my confidence just to be able to look at my arm and not feel it was ugly."
'Getting a tattoo is the best feeling ever'
For 23-year-old Buzz Carter, one of the things he likes most about getting inked is the chance to show off his new tattoos to other people - in real life and online.
"I've always been a bit overweight, so I balance that out by dressing nice and having tattoos. I've got a beard which ties into my confidence," he says.
"It makes me feel better to have something to show off."
Image source, Buzz Carter Image caption, One of Buzz's tattoos is a tribute to Harambe, the gorilla who was shot and killed in Cincinnati in 2016
He says getting a new tattoo is "one of the best feelings ever".
For 20-year-old art student, Kai Speed, it's about taking pride in his tattoos and looking "completely unique."
Image source, Kai Speed Image caption, Kai says he takes pride in looking different to other people
"I used to not be happy with my appearance, but they have given me confidence to properly be who I should be," Kai says.
"I feel best about myself when I look as different as possible to everyone else.
"So, having tattoos helps me set myself apart even more."
Professor Swami says his studies have shown the positive short-term impacts from getting a tattoo may be due to the physical and financial investment of getting something permanent marked on your body.
'Don't expect tattoos to solve self-esteem issues'
But he also warns that getting inked can have a negative impact on people's personal and professional lives.
"If you get a visible tattoo, it may have an impact on your relationships with others," he says.
"In some employment settings it may not be appropriate to get a tattoo that's particularly visible."
Having tattoos is not a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, which means employers can make their own decisions on whether to hire people with them or not.
But his studies have shown that for most people, getting a tattoo is a positive experience - as long as you don't expect it to solve your self-esteem issues.
"I generally don't recommend getting getting tattooed simply as a means of tackling body image issues," he says.
"But there is evidence to suggest that getting a tattoo does impact not just your body image, but your identity in general."
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.


bbc--2020-03-05--TCL reveals extending smartphone concept and tri-fold tablet

A smartphone concept with an extending , `` rollable '' display has been revealed by Chinese phone-maker TCL .
It @ @ @ @ @ the company has been toying with , including a foldable tablet .
BBC Click 's @ @ @ @ @ some of the prototypes and asked the company about pricing and durability .
See more @ @ @ @ @ @ BBCClick

A smartphone concept with an extending, "rollable" display has been revealed by Chinese phone-maker TCL.
It is one of several formats the company has been toying with, including a foldable tablet.
BBC Click's Chris Fox went hands-on with some of the prototypes and asked the company about pricing and durability.
See more at Click's website and @BBCClick


bbc--2020-03-05--Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum: Who is Dubai's ruler?

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the 70-year-old billionaire ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates .
In the Middle East , he is renowned for overseeing the transformation of Dubai into a top business and tourism destination .
Elsewhere , he is perhaps best known for his connection to horseracing , as the owner of the Godolphin stables .
He has now made headlines after being found by the High Court in London to have abducted and forcibly returned two of his daughters to Dubai , and to have conducted a campaign of intimidation against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheikh Mohammed was born in 1949 at his family home in Shindagha , near Dubai Creek .
He was the third of the four sons of Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum , who ruled Dubai for 32 years from 1958 .
After finishing secondary school in 1965 , Sheikh Mohammed moved to the UK to study English at a language school in Cambridge .
The young sheikh later attended a six-month training court at the British Army 's Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot , Hampshire .
In 1968 , following his return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a meeting with the then ruler of Abu Dhabi , Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan , at which they agreed to a union that would lead to the establishment of a federation of emirates .
After the UAE gained independence from the UK in 1971 , Sheikh Mohammed was named defence minster - a position he still holds .
Sheikh Mohammed also became heavily involved in his father 's plan to compensate for Dubai 's dwindling oil reserves by diversifying its economy and becoming an international trade and financial centre , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 95 % of the emirate 's gross domestic product is non-oil-based , with tourism contributing 20 % .
Dubai 's population has also grown from about 40,000 in the 1960s to 3.3 million , including almost 3.1 million non-Emiratis , many of whom live in the hundreds of high-rise buildings filling its skyline .
In 1990 , Sheikh Rashid died after a long illness resulting from a stroke .
He was succeeded by Mohammed 's eldest brother , Maktoum .
Five years later , Sheikh Maktoum named Mohammed crown prince of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the day-to-day running of the emirate to him .
Sheikh Mohammed became ruler of Dubai and vice-president and prime minister of the UAE in 2006 , after his brother died aged 62 during a visit to Australia .
In 2008 , the emirate unveiled the world 's tallest building , the Burj Khalifa ; Dubai Mall , then world 's largest shopping centre by total land area ; and the Dubai Metro .
Such ambitious projects were , however , reliant on borrowing billions of dollars .
The global financial crisis caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in 2009 state-linked companies came close to defaulting on their debts .
Abu Dhabi stepped in and loaned the Dubai government the money it desperately needed .
Dubai 's construction boom also relied on low-paid migrant construction workers , many of whom complained that they suffered exploitation .
Sheikh Mohammed has also become famous for his involvement in horseracing , and is credited with transforming it into a global industry .
He rode horses on beaches in Dubai as a child and was introduced to the sport in 1967 in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first success as an owner .
The sheikh subsequently set up the world 's largest horseracing team , Godolphin , as well as the successful stallion breeding operation , Darley .
Godolphin - which has facilities in the UAE , England , the Republic of Ireland , Australia , Japan and the US - has won 6,000 races across the world since 1992 , including 315 prestigious Group One races .
Sheikh Mohammed frequently attends major horseracing events such as Royal Ascot , where he has been pictured with Queen Elizabeth II @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horses with his sixth and `` junior '' wife , Princess Haya bint al-Hussein , the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and half-sister of King Abdullah II .
The pair married in Amman in 2004 and had two children , Al Jalila and Zayed .
Princess Haya painted a picture of a perfect family life in interviews , but cracks began to appear in 2018 when Sheikha Latifa , one of Sheikh Mohammed 's adult daughters with another wife , tried to flee the UAE with the help of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instructor .
A boat carrying them was intercepted at sea off the coast of India and Sheikha Latifa was returned to Dubai .
In a video filmed beforehand , she alleged that she had been imprisoned for more than three years and subjected to physical abuse after another unsuccessful escape attempt in 2002 .
Associates of Sheikha Latifa said she was being held under house arrest .
But the Dubai government insisted Sheikha Latifa had been `` vulnerable to exploitation '' and was `` now safe '' .
Princess Haya echoed the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fleeing Dubai for the UK via Germany along with their children in April 2019 , sources alleged that she had become aware of new information relating to Sheikha Latifa .
Sheikh Mohammed did not comment on the breakdown of his marriage , but he did write an angry poem accusing an unnamed woman of `` treachery and betrayal '' and posted it on Instagram .
In July , Princess Haya applied for a forced marriage protection order and a non-molestation order at the UK High Court in London - as well as wardship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied for the children 's return to Dubai .
Eight months later , the High Court issued a series of fact-finding judgements that said Sheikh Mohammed had ordered and orchestrated the forcible return of Sheikha Latifa in 2002 and 2018 , as well as the unlawful abduction of her elder sister Sheikha Shamsa in 2000 .
Sheikha Shamsa fled the family 's UK estate in Surrey that year but was later recaptured in Cambridgeshire by agents of the sheikh and forcibly returned to Dubai .
A request by Cambridgeshire Police to visit Dubai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that Sheikh Mohammed `` continues to maintain a regime whereby both these two young women are deprived of their liberty '' .
It also said Princess Haya , who had an adulterous affair with a bodyguard , was now living in fear of her life after receiving numerous threats both in Dubai and in London .
These included a pistol placed on her pillow .
Sheikh Mohammed rejected the judgements and findings , and appealed unsuccessfully to keep them out of the public domain .
He said the appeal was `` made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the children '' and that the `` outcome does not protect my children from media attention in the way that other children in family proceedings in the UK are protected '' .
`` As a head of government , I was not able to participate in the court 's fact-finding process .
This has resulted in the release of a 'fact-finding ' judgment which inevitably only tells one side of the story , '' he added .

In the videos, she describes how she fought back against the soldiers during her capture, before being tranquillised and flown back to Dubai. She said she was being held alone without access to medical or legal help in a villa with windows and doors barred shut, and guarded by police. The secret messages have since stopped, leading her friends to urge the UN to step in.


bbc--2020-03-05--EU-UK Brexit talks: Differences clear after first week

More than 100 British negotiators are heading home from Brussels after the first week of talks with the EU over the future relationship with the UK .
The two sides sound quite positive and appear to agree on some technicalities in areas like transport and energy .
But there are some big disagreements about some big things .
The two sides agree that their new free trade agreement should include measures to ensure fair economic competition between them .
The EU wants this to be done by referring to current EU standards in some policy areas - which are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be used as a `` reference point '' to judge whether future standards had changed or not .
The UK sees this as being asked to follow EU rules in perpetuity - `` dynamic alignment by another name '' , said a British official .
The Brits also think it would prove impossible to work out in five or 10 years ' time whether new EU and British rules were similar or not .
If the sensitive personal data of EU citizens , such as DNA or criminal records , is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime-fighting purposes , then the EU wants the European Court of Justice ( ECJ ) to be the ultimate arbiter of the rules .
The EU also wants the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR ) to apply .
The UK does not want the ECJ to be mentioned anywhere in any deal .
It also says that committing to the ECHR in an international agreement ties the government 's hands at a time when it 's carrying out its own review into the operation of human rights law in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The UK says most countries interact with the EU via a series of separate agreements covering individual policy areas .
Individual agreements come with their own terms and conditions and means of settling disputes .
This would be the easiest way to manage different areas which have different needs , London argues .
• UK-EU trade talks will be tricky from the outset • Trade talks : What do the UK and EU want ?
The EU wants one large agreement with a standard mechanism for settling disagreements , with the option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the European Court of Justice .
This would be the easiest way to manage different areas with different needs , Brussels argues .
It would also be easier to get through the European Parliament and national parliaments .
It might sound like a pedantic row but it 's a binary choice with no room for compromise , which means it could collapse the whole process .
This is turning out to be a big disagreement .
The EU wants to `` uphold '' its current rights to fish in British waters , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several years .
In theory , this is to give some predictability to a precarious industry .
It also thinks this would avoid having to have annual negotiations over all the fish stocks that exist in British and European waters , which would be impractical .
The UK wants to apply a different model called zonal attachment , where the UK would have full control over access to its waters .
A senior EU official suggested that European governments would have to decide whether to change their approach if the UK does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU is still operating under assumptions from the Theresa May era .
EU diplomats fears the UK is preparing to walk out in a few months ' time , and to blame it on Brussels .
Separately , the Joint Committee that oversees the Withdrawal Agreement will have its first meeting on 30 March .
The EU is demanding proof that the UK is implementing the Ireland protocol , which requires special treatment for Northern Ireland .
Looming over it all is the threat of disruption from coronavirus .
The negotiating teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that case .
But they have stopped shaking hands , just in case .

The EU wants one large agreement with a standard mechanism for settling disagreements, with the option of referring questions of EU law to the European Court of Justice. This would be the easiest way to manage different areas with different needs, Brussels argues. It would also be easier to get through the European Parliament and national parliaments.


bbc--2020-03-05--Ighalo double sees off Rooney's Derby and sends Man Utd into FA Cup quarters

Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo says he `` does n't care what anybody says '' about his surprise move to Old Trafford after his two goals ensured an all-Premier League FA Cup quarter-final line-up and comfortable win at Derby County .
January signing Ighalo again showed why his shock acquisition in January may yet prove to be shrewd business with two smart finishes to book a tie with Norwich at Carrow Road later this month .
The 30-year-old now has three goals from just two starts and he overshadowed a reunion with United 's all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my team-mates believe in me , the boss believes in me and the fans believe in me , I just have to keep going , '' Ighalo said .
`` I do n't care what anyone says .
We want to keep the momentum going and make sure we do great this season . ''
Rooney had his name chanted throughout by the thousands of away fans and came close with two fine free-kicks .
But from the moment left-back Luke Shaw 's deflected opener flew in the Premier League side were able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United have won the FA Cup 12 times - one behind Arsenal 's record haul - while Derby have now played in six fifth-round ties since 1999 and failed to reach the quarter-finals on each occasion .
• See the full quarter-final draw here Rooney scored 253 goals for Manchester United before leaving in 2017 and has still never scored against them throughout his career .
The 34-year-old twice went close from free-kicks though , twice denied by excellent saves from Sergio Romero .
Rooney , who led his new side in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rampaging teenage striker who was compared to Pele at his 2004 peak to a deep-lying midfielder who started the last time United won this trophy in 2016 .
For Derby he was in a similar midfield role , shielded from too much running duties by the youth of Max Bird and Louie Sibley alongside him .
The duo have a combined age of just 37 and were toddlers when Rooney was announcing himself on the world stage .
Despite a lack of mobility Rooney still remains an influence .
Not only were his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the heart of their two other best second-half chances .
First , a sweeping 50-yard crossfield pass found Jayden Bogle , and his cross was headed wide by Martyn Waghorn .
And then an even better ball from inside his own half released Rams sub Jack Marriott , but Romero was once again equal to the effort .
`` Everyone loves Wayne , all the supporters at Manchester United appreciate what he did , '' said United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer .
`` He played well .
He shows class and sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball for my liking . ''
Rooney can now turn his attentions towards helping Derby up the Championship table - although a play-off push looks ambitious at this stage .
Solskjaer - twice an FA Cup winner as a player - has now stitched together a nine-game unbeaten run to move within sight of a place at Wembley and potentially a place in the Champions League .
January signing Bruno Fernandes was again clearly a step above , a constant threat at the top of their midfield , while Shaw had an excellent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fortuitous opener after Fernandes had a shot blocked , volleying down into the ground .
The ball appeared to take a touch off the back of Jesse Lingard and loop over the head of Rams keeper Kelle Roos and in .
Another driving run from Shaw then saw him pick out Ighalo inside the area and the former Watford man got the better of two half-hearted challenges from Craig Forsyth and Max Lowe to poke home .
Shaw had a shot saved by Roos in the second half after fine play from Fernandes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roof of the net after his initial shot was blocked to seal the win .
`` When you get strikers in you want them to be happy and confident , '' Solskjaer said .
`` Ighalo has come in here and of course we still have a few injuries and it is great for us to have Odion to call upon .
He is a different striker for us and scores some good goals , there are not many who could dig that one out for his first . ''
Solskjaer is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who missed this with an ankle injury - fit for Sunday 's Manchester derby and says Ighalo could start that game .
`` He has done really well so let 's see how we are on Sunday morning , '' Solskjaer added .
United 's progress means that all eight remaining sides are from the top flight for only the fifth time - after 1894-95 , 1895-96 , 1995-96 and 2005-06 .
Nine in a row - the key stats • Manchester United have won each of their last nine FA Cup meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victories stretching back to March 1948 .
• Derby County have failed to win each of their last 13 home games against top-flight clubs in the FA Cup when the Rams themselves were playing outside of the top tier ( D5 L8 ) , including three defeats to Man Utd in this spell .
• Manchester United are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions ( W6 D3 ) , keeping seven clean sheets and conceding just two goals in total in this run .
• Derby County have lost a competitive game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal for the first time since November 2018 when they lost a Championship fixture 0-3 to Aston Villa .
• Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has scored in consecutive starts in all competitions for an English club for the first time since December 2015 for Watford , when he scored in four in a row ; tonight was also his first double for an English side since December 2015 against Liverpool for the Hornets .
Derby host Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon ( 15:00 GMT ) in the Championship while United are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derby , also on Sunday ( 16:30 GMT ) .

Last updated on .From the section FA Cup
Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo says he "doesn't care what anybody says" about his surprise move to Old Trafford after his two goals ensured an all-Premier League FA Cup quarter-final line-up and comfortable win at Derby County.
January signing Ighalo again showed why his shock acquisition in January may yet prove to be shrewd business with two smart finishes to book a tie with Norwich at Carrow Road later this month.
The 30-year-old now has three goals from just two starts and he overshadowed a reunion with United's all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney at Pride Park.
"As long as my team-mates believe in me, the boss believes in me and the fans believe in me, I just have to keep going," Ighalo said.
"I don't care what anyone says. We want to keep the momentum going and make sure we do great this season."
Rooney had his name chanted throughout by the thousands of away fans and came close with two fine free-kicks.
But from the moment left-back Luke Shaw's deflected opener flew in the Premier League side were able to cruise into the last eight.
United have won the FA Cup 12 times - one behind Arsenal's record haul - while Derby have now played in six fifth-round ties since 1999 and failed to reach the quarter-finals on each occasion.
Roving Rooney still an influence
Wayne Rooney scored 22 goals in 40 FA Cup ties for Manchester United
Rooney scored 253 goals for Manchester United before leaving in 2017 and has still never scored against them throughout his career.
The 34-year-old twice went close from free-kicks though, twice denied by excellent saves from Sergio Romero.
Rooney, who led his new side in a pre-match huddle, has moved from the rampaging teenage striker who was compared to Pele at his 2004 peak to a deep-lying midfielder who started the last time United won this trophy in 2016.
For Derby he was in a similar midfield role, shielded from too much running duties by the youth of Max Bird and Louie Sibley alongside him. The duo have a combined age of just 37 and were toddlers when Rooney was announcing himself on the world stage.
Despite a lack of mobility Rooney still remains an influence. Not only were his two free-kicks a threat, he was at the heart of their two other best second-half chances.
First, a sweeping 50-yard crossfield pass found Jayden Bogle, and his cross was headed wide by Martyn Waghorn. And then an even better ball from inside his own half released Rams sub Jack Marriott, but Romero was once again equal to the effort.
"Everyone loves Wayne, all the supporters at Manchester United appreciate what he did," said United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
"He played well. He shows class and sometimes he has too much time on the ball for my liking."
Rooney can now turn his attentions towards helping Derby up the Championship table - although a play-off push looks ambitious at this stage.
Nine unbeaten for improving United
Solskjaer - twice an FA Cup winner as a player - has now stitched together a nine-game unbeaten run to move within sight of a place at Wembley and potentially a place in the Champions League.
January signing Bruno Fernandes was again clearly a step above, a constant threat at the top of their midfield, while Shaw had an excellent game at full-back.
He hit the fortuitous opener after Fernandes had a shot blocked, volleying down into the ground. The ball appeared to take a touch off the back of Jesse Lingard and loop over the head of Rams keeper Kelle Roos and in.
Another driving run from Shaw then saw him pick out Ighalo inside the area and the former Watford man got the better of two half-hearted challenges from Craig Forsyth and Max Lowe to poke home.
Shaw had a shot saved by Roos in the second half after fine play from Fernandes, and Ighalo lashed his second into the roof of the net after his initial shot was blocked to seal the win.
"When you get strikers in you want them to be happy and confident," Solskjaer said.
"Ighalo has come in here and of course we still have a few injuries and it is great for us to have Odion to call upon. He is a different striker for us and scores some good goals, there are not many who could dig that one out for his first."
Solskjaer is confident of having captain Harry Maguire - who missed this with an ankle injury - fit for Sunday's Manchester derby and says Ighalo could start that game.
"He has done really well so let's see how we are on Sunday morning," Solskjaer added.
United's progress means that all eight remaining sides are from the top flight for only the fifth time - after 1894-95, 1895-96, 1995-96 and 2005-06.
Man of the match - Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
After impressing recently on the left of a back three Shaw was excellent at full-back. Scored a rare goal and made the second for Ighalo
Nine in a row - the key stats
Manchester United have won each of their last nine FA Cup meetings with Derby County, a run of victories stretching back to March 1948.
Derby County have failed to win each of their last 13 home games against top-flight clubs in the FA Cup when the Rams themselves were playing outside of the top tier (D5 L8), including three defeats to Man Utd in this spell.
Manchester United are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions (W6 D3), keeping seven clean sheets and conceding just two goals in total in this run.
Derby County have lost a competitive game at Pride Park by more than one goal for the first time since November 2018 when they lost a Championship fixture 0-3 to Aston Villa.
Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has scored in consecutive starts in all competitions for an English club for the first time since December 2015 for Watford, when he scored in four in a row; tonight was also his first double for an English side since December 2015 against Liverpool for the Hornets.
What's next?
Derby host Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon (15:00 GMT) in the Championship while United are at home to rivals City in the Manchester derby, also on Sunday (16:30 GMT).


bbc--2020-03-05--Premier League ditches handshakes because of coronavirus

The Premier League has announced that the pre-match handshakes between both teams and officials will not take place until further notice because of fears over the spread of coronavirus .
The measure comes the day after the government asked the league `` to step up its contingency planning '' .
The teams will still line up as usual but the home team will walk past the away side without shaking hands .
There have been more than 90,000 cases of the virus in 87 countries .
• Valencia v Atalanta in Champions League to be played behind closed doors A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : `` The Premier League fair-play handshake will not take place between players and match officials from this weekend until further notice based on medical advice .
`` Coronavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted on to the hands and passed on via a handshake . ''
Premier League leaders Liverpool announced on Thursday that they would not be having mascots at Anfield .
They have also cancelled staff travelling to any high-risk countries and `` reminded everyone of good hygiene practices '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand sanitisers and/or antibacterial handwash in all the washrooms at Anfield '' as well as hygiene information posters .
Last week Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said the club had stopped their morning handshake ritual while West Ham boss David Moyes said the players would be fist bumping instead of shaking hands .
Southampton also banned players from signing autographs or taking selfies with fans .
League One club Sunderland have also told their players to not go abroad during their upcoming break .

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Both teams will still line up and walk past each other without shaking hands
The Premier League and EFL have said pre-match handshakes between both teams and officials will not take place until further notice because of fears over the spread of coronavirus.
The measure comes the day after the government asked the Premier League "to step up its contingency planning".
The teams will still line up as usual but the home team will walk past the away side without shaking hands.
There have been more than 90,000 cases of the virus in 87 countries.
A statement on the Premier League's website said: "The Premier League fair-play handshake will not take place between players and match officials from this weekend until further notice based on medical advice.
"Coronavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted on to the hands and passed on via a handshake."
A statement from the English Football League said: "Whilst the government guidance does remain unchanged, a decision has been taken on medical advice and as a precautionary measure.
"Matchday operations at EFL grounds are set to continue this weekend with clubs being advised to take appropriate prevention measures as per the government guidance.
"It is understood, however, that individual clubs may take decisions at a local level to help mitigate the risk of the virus spreading further ahead of this weekend's matches.
"The EFL continues to remain in regular dialogue with the government regarding the ongoing developments and is being appraised on a regular basis of developments that could potentially impact our clubs and competitions."
Pre-match handshakes before National League games have also been abandoned until further notice.
Premier League leaders Liverpool announced on Thursday that they would not be having mascots at Anfield.
They have also cancelled staff travelling to any high-risk countries and "reminded everyone of good hygiene practices".
The club also said there will be "hand sanitisers and/or antibacterial handwash in all the washrooms at Anfield" as well as hygiene information posters.
Last week Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said the club had stopped their morning handshake ritual while West Ham boss David Moyes said the players would be fist bumping instead of shaking hands.
Southampton also banned players from signing autographs external-link or taking selfies with supporters.
League One club Sunderland have also told their players to not go abroad during their upcoming break.


bbc--2020-03-05--Seven teams ask FIA for answers over Ferrari

Seven teams have written a letter to governing body the FIA demanding answers to a series of questions on the Ferrari engine controversy .
The letter is confidential but BBC Sport can reveal it contains an extensive list of queries about a confidential settlement the FIA has reached with Ferrari .
The FIA admitted on Thursday it had suspicions Ferrari 's engine was not always legal in 2019 but could not prove it .
The letter includes a deadline by which the teams have demanded the answers .
It was signed by the same seven teams who on Wednesday issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objection '' to the deal between the FIA and Ferrari , saying they would `` pursue full and proper disclosure '' and `` reserved [ their ] right to seek legal redress '' .
The teams are Mercedes , Red Bull , McLaren , Renault , Racing Point , Alpha Tauri and Williams .
The only teams not to sign it are Ferrari and their engine customers Alfa Romeo and Haas .
The seven have declined requests by BBC Sport to share the contents of the letter , which was addressed to both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F1 Group .
But the teams are known to be concerned about a number of topics , including : • why the FIA felt it was unable to prove its doubts about the Ferrari engine 's legality • why the settlement it reached was confidential rather than communicated more widely • whether the integrity of the finishing order of last year 's championship should be questioned • what the FIA 's failure to get to the facts on the question of the engine 's legality says about the governing body 's ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FIA said in a statement on Thursday that it was `` not fully satisfied '' with Ferrari 's insistence that the car was legal at all times .
The governing body said it decided not to pursue its case because `` further action would not necessarily result in a conclusive case due to the complexity of the matter and the material impossibility to provide the unequivocal evidence of a breach '' .
The FIA said its rules allowed it to look for a settlement with Ferrari , and for it to be confidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations that dictate that such deals are subject to the team in question `` cooperating with good faith '' , `` telling the whole truth '' , and `` providing genuine , total and permanent cooperation '' .
But this has not satisfied the seven teams , who still want their further questions answered .
Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko told the German newspaper Der Spiegel that the situation could have resulted in Ferrari unfairly finishing second in the championship ahead of his team .
`` The behaviour of the FIA is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We should actually have instructed Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner to sue for $ 24m in prize money that we would have been awarded for second place in the constructors ' standings if Ferrari had been punished accordingly . ''
Ferrari have insisted throughout that their engine was always legal in 2019 .
The issue has arisen at a sensitive time for the FIA and F1 as they are attempting to conclude negotiations over the terms by which the teams will sign up to take part in F1 for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No team is committed to F1 beyond the end of this season and the seven are understood to be concerned about the lack of transparency displayed by the FIA and feel it raises questions about how the sport is governed in the modern age .
Some insiders have drawn comparisons with the 1994 Benetton controversy , when Michael Schumacher 's car was found to contain illegal driver-aid software but the team were not punished on the grounds that there was no evidence it had been used .
The FIA 's investigation into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rivals - particularly Mercedes and Red Bull - about the extent of the Italian team 's advantage in straight-line speed .
A rule clarification at the US Grand Prix in October explained that interfering with the operation of the mandatory fuel-flow meter in any way that could lead it to exceed the maximum permitted rate would be against the rules .
That same day , Ferrari 's run of six consecutive pole positions came to an end and the team did not score a pole at either of the remaining two races in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit in F1 's complex turbo-hybrid engines is effectively a ceiling on the amount of power an engine can produce .
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said that apparent differences in the car 's straight-line performance seen by rivals following the ruling in Austin were unrelated to the engine and were instead caused by the team changing the way they ran the car by adding more downforce and therefore drag in an attempt to improve its relative lack of cornering performance .

Ferrari insists it has always operated within the rules
Seven teams have written a letter to governing body the FIA demanding answers to a series of questions on the Ferrari engine controversy.
The letter is confidential but BBC Sport can reveal it contains an extensive list of queries about a confidential settlement the FIA has reached with Ferrari.
The FIA admitted on Thursday it had suspicions Ferrari's engine was not always legal in 2019 but could not prove it.
The letter includes a deadline by which the teams have demanded the answers.
It was signed by the same seven teams who on Wednesday issued a collective statement expressing their "strong objection" to the deal between the FIA and Ferrari, saying they would "pursue full and proper disclosure" and "reserved [their] right to seek legal redress".
The teams are Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, Renault, Racing Point, Alpha Tauri and Williams. The only teams not to sign it are Ferrari and their engine customers Alfa Romeo and Haas.
The seven have declined requests by BBC Sport to share the contents of the letter, which was addressed to both the FIA and commercial rights holder the F1 Group. But the teams are known to be concerned about a number of topics, including:
why the FIA felt it was unable to prove its doubts about the Ferrari engine's legality
why the settlement it reached was confidential rather than communicated more widely
whether the integrity of the finishing order of last year's championship should be questioned
what the FIA's failure to get to the facts on the question of the engine's legality says about the governing body's ability to police the sport's technical regulations
The FIA said in a statement on Thursday that it was "not fully satisfied" with Ferrari's insistence that the car was legal at all times.
The governing body said it decided not to pursue its case because "further action would not necessarily result in a conclusive case due to the complexity of the matter and the material impossibility to provide the unequivocal evidence of a breach".
The FIA said its rules allowed it to look for a settlement with Ferrari, and for it to be confidential, and pointed towards clauses in its regulations that dictate that such deals are subject to the team in question "cooperating with good faith", "telling the whole truth", and "providing genuine, total and permanent cooperation".
But this has not satisfied the seven teams, who still want their further questions answered.
Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko told the German newspaper Der Spiegel that the situation could have resulted in Ferrari unfairly finishing second in the championship ahead of his team.
"The behaviour of the FIA is the real scandal," Marko said. "We should actually have instructed Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner to sue for $24m in prize money that we would have been awarded for second place in the constructors' standings if Ferrari had been punished accordingly."
Ferrari have insisted throughout that their engine was always legal in 2019.
The issue has arisen at a sensitive time for the FIA and F1 as they are attempting to conclude negotiations over the terms by which the teams will sign up to take part in F1 for the five-year period starting in 2021.
No team is committed to F1 beyond the end of this season and the seven are understood to be concerned about the lack of transparency displayed by the FIA and feel it raises questions about how the sport is governed in the modern age.
Some insiders have drawn comparisons with the 1994 Benetton controversy, when Michael Schumacher's car was found to contain illegal driver-aid software but the team were not punished on the grounds that there was no evidence it had been used.
The FIA's investigation into the Ferrari engine last year followed suspicions from rivals - particularly Mercedes and Red Bull - about the extent of the Italian team's advantage in straight-line speed.
A rule clarification at the US Grand Prix in October explained that interfering with the operation of the mandatory fuel-flow meter in any way that could lead it to exceed the maximum permitted rate would be against the rules.
That same day, Ferrari's run of six consecutive pole positions came to an end and the team did not score a pole at either of the remaining two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
The fuel-flow limit in F1's complex turbo-hybrid engines is effectively a ceiling on the amount of power an engine can produce.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said that apparent differences in the car's straight-line performance seen by rivals following the ruling in Austin were unrelated to the engine and were instead caused by the team changing the way they ran the car by adding more downforce and therefore drag in an attempt to improve its relative lack of cornering performance.


bbc--2020-03-05--Sexist remarks see Australian newspaper end comments on women's Australian rules football

An Australian newspaper says sexist remarks have forced it to remove the comments section from its coverage of women 's Australian rules football .
The Herald Sun said it had decided to shut off the comments following appeals from players , commentators and fans .
One story had received almost 300 comments of a `` sexist tone '' , it said .
Abusive comments aimed at players have plagued the sport for months .
Women began playing Australian rules football professionally in 2017 .
Last year Prime Minister Scott Morrison referred to online trolls who attacked star footballer Tayla Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , an article in the Herald Sun explained why comments had been removed from articles about women 's Australian rules football ( AFLW ) .
Herald Sun head of sport Matt Kitchin said : `` The least offensive of the comments runs to the tune of 'get back in the kitchen ' and the worst can not be repeated they are so objectionable .
`` Players , commentators , fans and clubs have all appealed to the Herald Sun to shut off the comments .
And we 've heard them . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a football player for Carlton , offered to give up her wage in order for the AFL to employ someone to monitor online bullying .
`` God damn I 'll give up my AFLW wage to employ someone to monitor this , public bullying is a ripple effect to young people in schools and communities that lead to mental health issues and suicide , '' she wrote on Twitter .
She called on the sports governing body the AFL to `` be a leader in this space '' .
`` Ignoring these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , '' she urged .
Last year Harris was targeted with derogatory comments underneath a picture of her playing for the Carlton Blues posted on social media .
The controversy also led to questions about how media companies handle abusive comments after Channel Seven deleted the picture from its website in an effort to combat the trolling .
The company reposted the photo after a backlash .
A number of Australian sportswomen have supported Harris , including former Olympic cycling champion Anna Meares .
Campaigners have also backed her , including Patty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which aims to tackle Australia 's high rates of violence against women .
The AFLW professional league was launched in 2017 , drawing sell-out crowds and TV ratings in a country that lives and breathes sport .
When the first game was held , 26,000 fans turned up to the game , forcing the gates to close and 2,000 to be locked out .
At the time , the Herald Sun wrote : `` Footy 's new female formula has a very big future . ''

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bbc--2020-03-05--Four players in quarantine after ex-Denmark international diagnosed with coronavirus

Danish side Brondby have quarantined 13 people , including a player and their assistant coach , after former Denmark international Thomas Kahlenberg was diagnosed with coronavirus .
Brondby director of communications Christian Schultz says Kahlenberg contracted the virus in Amsterdam last weekend and was at Brondby 's game against Lyngby on Sunday .
Defender Joel Kabongo , 21 , is in quarantine alongside assistant coach Martin Retov , while Lyngby also have three players in isolation .
Schultz told BBC Radio 5 Live that Kabongo met Kahlenberg after the game because they were former team-mates and they `` shook hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data analyst , psychologist and nine members of staff , including their chief executive Ole Palma , were in isolation .
Lyngby midfielder Martin Ornskov , right-back Kasper Jorgensen and left-back Patrick da Silva are also in 14-day quarantine after meeting Kahlenberg after the game .
Schultz said Kahlenberg was `` very , very sorry for the commotion he 's caused '' but he was in `` good spirits '' .
He also revealed former Liverpool midfielder and now Ajax assistant coach Christian Poulsen is in quarantine after being with Kahlenberg in Amsterdam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting that exercise physiologist Alessandro Schoenmaker and one of the Ajax physiotherapists are in quarantine .
There have been more than 90,000 cases of the virus in 88 countries .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Kahlenberg made 47 appearances for Denmark scoring five goals
Danish side Brondby have quarantined 13 people, including a player and their assistant coach, after former Denmark international Thomas Kahlenberg was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Brondby director of communications Christian Schultz says Kahlenberg contracted the virus in Amsterdam last weekend and was at Brondby's game against Lyngby on Sunday.
Defender Joel Kabongo, 21, is in quarantine alongside assistant coach Martin Retov, while Lyngby also have three players in isolation.
Schultz told BBC Radio 5 Live that Kabongo met Kahlenberg after the game because they were former team-mates and they "shook hands".
Schultz also confirmed that their data analyst, psychologist and nine members of staff, including their chief executive Ole Palma, were in isolation.
Lyngby midfielder Martin Ornskov, right-back Kasper Jorgensen and left-back Patrick da Silva are also in 14-day quarantine after meeting Kahlenberg after the game.
Schultz said Kahlenberg was "very, very sorry for the commotion he's caused" but he was in "good spirits".
He also revealed former Liverpool midfielder and now Ajax assistant coach Christian Poulsen is in quarantine after being with Kahlenberg in Amsterdam.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf are also reporting external-link that exercise physiologist Alessandro Schoenmaker and one of the Ajax physiotherapists are in quarantine.
There have been more than 90,000 cases of the virus in 88 countries.


bbc--2020-03-05--Coronavirus: Should Americans be worried?

The coronavirus that began in Wuhan , China , has now reached dozens of countries and has started to spread across the US in earnest .
So how prepared is the country ?
Thousands of new cases across the world are being reported each day , and the true scale could be 10 times higher .
There are 176 confirmed cases in the US , 34 in Canada .
Eleven people have died in the US due to the virus .
Thirty-three new cases of Covid-19 were reported in a single weekend at the end of February .
Officials say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , but this could change .
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after the first reported death from coronavirus in his state .
The Coast Guard will be delivering testing kits via helicopter to a cruise ship being held off the California coast with eleven passengers and 10 crew members potentially infected with the virus .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has claimed the situation is `` well under control '' , while officials at the Centres for Disease Control ( CDC ) warn the virus will spread and may severely disrupt daily life .
Concerns have deepened amid the sharp rise in the number of cases reported in the first week of March .
Nine new infections were disclosed Wednesday in New York , along with 12 additional patients in Washington .
New Jersey and Tennessee have also reported their first cases of coronavirus .
US health chief Alex Azar has asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - with over $ 1bn needed to develop a vaccine .
The rest would fund quarantine efforts and supplies , including surgical masks .
Mr Azar said the US only has 30 million - and it needs 300 million .
Congress is expected to approve a package worth $ 8.3bn for the response after it became clear that more cases were emerging .
An anonymous whistleblower at the Department of Health and Human Services has complained that government workers interacting with quarantined Americans were not provided with proper safety gear , and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure zone freely .
Mr Azar has denied the allegations .
What are the main concerns ?
High medical costs make the virus particularly problematic - many Americans avoid doctor 's visits because of unaffordable charges .
Last month , a Florida man with symptoms had a coronavirus test and was handed a $ 3,270 bill from his insurance company .
There have also been reports of people not being able to arrange to be tested for the virus .
Vice-President Mike Pence , who is in charge of the task force co-ordinating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that `` any American can be tested , no restrictions , subject to doctor 's orders '' .
Taking sick leave is another concern .
Not all employers offer paid leave and workplace culture often pushes employees to go to work ill .
This could contribute to the virus spreading , as infected people may not show significant symptoms for up to 14 days .
• Reality Check : Does UK spend half as much on health as US ?
By the end of the first week of March , officials expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to test for the virus .
The US has 75,000 diagnostic kits currently , Mr Azar told ABC News , with production set to `` expand radically '' .
Once these kits go out , over 100 labs should have testing capacity by early March .
The administration has also granted labs permission to develop and use their own diagnostic tests even as they are being reviewed by the national drug agency .
At least 3,600 people have been tested so far .
The CDC has faced criticism for its decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive testing in recent days .
Critics say the shortage of test and facilities has contributed to the community spread of the virus and some have raised doubts that health officials can meet the demand for more tests .
The tests themselves have also had problems .
Last month , some health centres noted difficulties using CDC tests .
Kits developed at the CDC 's lab in Atlanta were contaminated , Axios reported .
Officials say the manufacturing issues have since been resolved .
What should you do ?
You should wash your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for at least 20 seconds , avoid contact with people who have respiratory illness symptoms and stay away from animals .
The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask if you are not sick or taking care of someone who is ill. • How worried should we be ?
It may be useful to ensure you have enough supplies - like extra water , non-perishable food and medicines - in case you need to self-quarantine .
You might want to discuss work-from-home options with your employer and plan for child care if @ @ @ @ @

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


bbc--2020-03-05--Coronavirus information: How to stay safe

Public health experts have been giving out lots of advice to try to stop the spread of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ ?
What are the symptoms ?
What should I do if I feel unwell ?
@ @ @ @ @ know about the coronavirus ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
@ @ @ @ @ prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own powers over coronavirus rules and guidance, which may differ to government advice for England. But here's a reminder of the basic steps to keeping yourself and others safe.


bbc--2020-03-05--Coronavirus: How close are we to a vaccine?

Coronavirus has spread to more than 60 countries and the UK government says more cases are `` likely '' .
There is currently no vaccine available to protect people against the disease .
But when could that change ?
When will there be a coronavirus vaccine ?
Researchers have developed vaccines and are starting to test them on animals , and if that goes well there could be human trials later in the year .
But even if scientists can celebrate having developed a vaccine before Christmas , there is still the massive job of being able to mass-produce it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be ready until at least the middle of next year .
All of this is happening on an unprecedented timescale and using new approaches to vaccines , so there are no guarantees everything will go smoothly .
Remember there are four coronaviruses that already circulate in human beings .
They cause the common cold , and we do n't have vaccines for any of them .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Would it protect people of all ages ?
It will , almost inevitably , be less successful in older people .
This is not because of the vaccine itself , but aged immune systems do not respond as well to immunisation .
We see this every year with the flu jab .
All medicines , even Paracetamol , have side effects .
But without clinical trials it is impossible to know what the side effects of an experimental vaccine may be .
Until a vaccine is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent infections and the best way of doing that at the moment is good hygiene .
If you are infected by coronavirus , then for most people it would be mild .
There are some anti-viral drugs being used in clinical trials , but we can not say for sure that any of these work .
How do you create a vaccine ?
Vaccines harmlessly show viruses or bacteria ( or even small parts of them ) to the immune system .
The body 's defences recognise them as an invader and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the body is ever exposed for real , it already knows how to fight the infection .
The main method of vaccination for decades has been to use the original virus .
The measles , mumps and rubella ( MMR ) vaccine is made by using weakened versions of those viruses that can not cause a full-blown infection .
The seasonal flu jab is made by taking the main strains of flu doing the rounds and completely disabling them .
The work on a new coronavirus vaccine is using newer , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and play '' vaccines .
Because we know the genetic code of the new coronavirus , Sars-CoV-2 , we now have the complete blueprint for building that virus .
Some vaccine scientists are lifting small sections of the coronavirus 's genetic code and putting it into other , completely harmless , viruses .
Now you can `` infect '' someone with the harmless bug and in theory give some immunity against infection .
Other groups are using pieces of raw genetic code ( either DNA or RNA depending on the approach ) which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should start producing bits of viral proteins which the immune system again can learn to fight .

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