bbc--2020-09-01--Coronavirus: Apple iPhones can contact-trace without Covid app

This keeps a 14-day log of other phones detected via Bluetooth and serves an alert if one or more of their users is later diagnosed to have the virus .
However , it also gives officials the option of not developing an app of their own , in which case the user could be directed to go to a testing centre or to call a hotline for more information .
IPhone owners who become ill without having received a warning message can still cause a cascade of alerts to be sent to others .
But since they will not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this will be done by tapping on a text message sent by the public health authority to their smartphone after a positive diagnosis .
However , since it depends on health chiefs providing the criteria for which alerts should be generated - including how close two people need to have been together and for how long - it will not function without their involvement .
Until officials decide whether or not to support the initiative , users are being prompted to download a local app if one exists as an alternative or being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned on your public health authority '' .
However , only six of the 57 US States have currently adopted the technology .
The launch of ENE may encourage more to do so as it can save development time and maintenance costs .
Whichever way Apple and Google 's `` decentralised '' model is deployed , the authorities do not get to see which or how many users have received an alert .
It will go by the same name , but rather than go down the app-less route , Google has opted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app for public health authorities based on the criteria they provide .
Authorities that take advantage of this offer can still develop a more elaborate Covid-19 app of their own at a later stage if they so wish .
`` Exposure Notifications Express provides another option for health authorities to supplement their existing contact-tracing operations with technology , without compromising on the project 's core tenets of user privacy and security , '' Apple and Google said in a joint statement .

IPhone owners who become ill without having received a warning message can still cause a cascade of alerts to be sent to others. But since they will not have an app to start the process, this will be done by tapping on a text message sent by the public health authority to their smartphone after a positive diagnosis.


bbc--2020-09-01--Tony Abbott in talks over Brexit trade role with UK government

Former prime minister of Australia Tony Abbott says he has spoken to British ministers about taking on a role in post-Brexit trade talks .
`` I have had some discussions with members of the British government .
I am more than happy to help but there is nothing official as yet , '' he told MPs .
He told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee the UK should `` not fear a so-called hard exit '' from the EU .
He declined to offer details of his possible role with the UK government .
But he added : `` I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I do n't think there would be any requirement for Australian government approval . ''
• UK and Japan look to seal trade deal within month He told the committee : `` As far as I 'm concerned , it would be in both Britain 's interests and Australia 's interests to conclude a very full and comprehensive free trade deal as quickly as possible . ''
This should include `` no tariffs or quotas on goods , full mutual recognition of standards and qualifications '' and `` freeish movement of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
He said he hoped the EU `` comes to its senses '' and offers the UK `` at least a Canada-style free trade deal '' .
But he added that the UK should not fear a `` no deal '' exit , as it was `` already doing so much on a no deal basis anyway '' .
Mr Abbott , who was taking part in an online meeting with the select committee , is in the UK for 10 days .
He said he had been granted permission to travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic , but he will be spending 14 days in `` hotel quarantine '' on his return , at his own expense .
Reports that Mr Abbott , who was Australia 's prime minister between 2013 and 2015 is being lined up to work alongside International Trade Secretary Liz Truss have been met with anger from UK opposition parties and some Conservative MPs .
Labour 's shadow International Trade Secretary Emily Thornberry described Mr Abbott as a `` Trump-worshipping misogynist , '' adding that it was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would think he was `` the right person to represent our country overseas '' .
Conservative former minister Caroline Nokes , who chairs the Women and Equalities select committee , said appointing Mr Abbott to a Brexit trade talks role would be `` such a bad idea '' .
Speaking to Jo Coburn on the BBC 's Politics Live , Ms Nokes said : `` I am not sure I can come up with words for how awful I think it is .
`` But look at Liz Truss , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this government .
She is president of the board of trade and she 's being told she 's got to job share with a bloke from Australia .
`` I just think - Emily Thornberry and I seldom agree on anything - but she 's right , he 's a misogynist .
`` He has very poor views on LGBTQ rights , and I just do n't think this is a man who should be anywhere near our board of trade . ''
Mr Abbott who led Australia 's Liberal Party between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of his past comments at the select committee hearing .
Labour MP Claudia Webbe quoted remarks attributed to him in 2012 , that men were by physiology or temperament , more adapted than women to exercise authority and issue commands , and asked if , in the light of that opinion , he would have difficulty accepting the authority of Liz Truss .
Mr Abbott said he `` was n't sure '' he had ever used those words , and that it `` does n't sound like anything I 've said '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to have struck up a friendship with Mr Johnson when he was foreign secretary .
He told the committee the free trade deal he negotiated with China in 2014 , had been struck before evidence of human rights abuses , the `` bullying of other countries '' and other concerns about China `` under the current leadership '' had become apparent .
`` Maybe we were looking at China through overly rose-coloured glasses back then but certainly we are not now , '' he said , but added that the deal had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia as it has been for China '' .

"Maybe we were looking at China through overly rose-coloured glasses back then but certainly we are not now," he said, but added that the deal had "been at least as beneficial for Australia as it has been for China".


bbc--2020-09-01--Deepfake detection tool unveiled by Microsoft

Microsoft has developed a tool to spot deepfakes - computer-manipulated images in which one person 's likeness has been used to replace that of another .
The software analyses photos and videos to give a confidence score about whether the material is likely to have been artificially created .
One expert has said it risks becoming quickly outdated because of the pace at which deepfake tech is advancing .
To address this , Microsoft has also announced a separate system to help content producers add hidden code to their footage so any subsequent changes can be easily flagged .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of still images of one person and video footage of another .
Software then used this to generate a new video featuring the former 's face in the place of the latter 's , with matching expressions , lip-synch and other movements .
Since then , the process has been simplified - opening it up to more users - and now requires fewer photos to work .
But there are concerns the process can also be abused to create misleading clips , in which a prominent figure is made to say or act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for political or other gain .
Microsoft 's Video Authenticator tool works by trying to detect giveaway signs that an image has been artificially generated , which might be invisible to the human eye .
These include subtle fading or greyscale pixels at the boundary of where the computer-created version of the target 's face has been merged with that of the original subject 's body .
One technology advisor noted that deepfake videos remain relatively rare for now , and that most manipulated clips involve cruder re-edits done by a human .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention .
`` The only really widespread use we 've seen so far is in non-consensual pornography against women , '' commented Nina Schick , author of the book Deep Fakes and the Infocalypse .
`` But synthetic media is expected to become ubiquitous in about three to five years , so we need to develop these tools going forward .
`` However , as detection capabilities get better , so too will the generation capability - it 's never going to be the case that Microsoft can release one tool that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The reason for this is to prevent bad actors getting hold of the code and using it to teach their deepfake generators how to evade it .
To tackle the longer-term challenge , Microsoft has teamed up with the BBC , among other media organisations , to support Project Origin , an initiative to `` mark '' online content in a way that makes it possible to spot automatically any manipulation of the material .
Secondly , it has created a reader , to check for any evidence that the fingerprints have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content .
Microsoft says people will then be able to use the reader in the form of a browser extension to verify a file is authentic and check who has produced it .

The process worked by feeding a computer lots of still images of one person and video footage of another. Software then used this to generate a new video featuring the former's face in the place of the latter's, with matching expressions, lip-synch and other movements.


bbc--2020-09-01--The other public health crisis killing Canadians

Opioid deaths have been rising again in the shadow of the pandemic , notably in the Canadian province of British Columbia , where overdose casualties have reached historic highs .
Is enough being done to end this second public health crisis ?
Every month or so , Garth Mullins has breakfast with his best friend .
They go to the same place - an aging diner in downtown Vancouver with chipped wooden booths and neon signs .
They always end up there around 1pm , talking through bites of bacon , eggs and white toast .
`` And I always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm going to get bacon eggs with him ? '
'' Mullins said .
Mullins was an injection heroin user for more than a decade , before moving to methadone .
He is now a journalist and advocate for drug users and harm reduction policies in his home of Vancouver - at the centre of the overdose crisis in the province of British Columbia [ BC ] .
When the coronavirus hit the province in March , one public health crisis collided with another , and overdose deaths began to climb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 174 deaths in May , then 177 in June , 175 in July .
So far this year , 909 people have died of an overdose in BC .
Deaths from illicit drugs continue to eclipse deaths from homicides , suicides , car crashes and Covid-19 , combined .
It 's led to Canada 's chief public health official - and the face of the country 's coronavirus response - to warn of this second health emergency .
`` Canadians should be seized with this particular crisis , '' said Dr Theresa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalating as we speak '' .
The record-breaking figures reversed a period of relative stability in the province 's battle with opioid abuse .
In 2019 , three years after the province declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency , the number of drug deaths fell by more than a third from the year before - an encouraging trend that continued into the early months of 2020 .
Then the coronavirus hit .
Experts say the necessary response to the pandemic laid the foundation for a spike in overdose deaths .
First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drugs on the street , said Dr Jane Buxton , the medical lead for harm reduction at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control .
Canada 's border closure has disrupted the country 's typical illicit drug supply chain , Dr Buxton said , leaving drugs more vulnerable to contamination as local dealers cut them with toxic additives to increase supply and lower costs .
A second factor is the clash in guidance between the two health emergencies .
Safety amid Covid-19 means social distancing and prolonged periods of isolation .
Harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone - and social distancing requirements have compelled some supervised consumption sites in Canada - where no overdose deaths have ever been recorded - to reduce capacity or shutter altogether .
And experts say some of the common side effects of the Covid-19 pandemic - anxiety , isolation and uncertainty - may drive people to use .
Mullins said Canada did n't have an effective plan to address the opioid crisis to begin with , a shortfall that has been compounded by Covid .
`` Everything is so precarious that if any one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jump up . ''
These same factors are at play in the US .
In August , the American Medical Association reported increases in opioid-related deaths in more than 40 states .
In Canada , the crisis is most pronounced in BC .
A few years ago , Mullins said , he tried to tally the number of people he had lost to an overdose .
When he got to 50 he stopped counting .
`` It 's a terrible , morbid exercise , '' he said .
Lately , the deaths feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last month , Mullins and other advocates in Vancouver gathered for a `` mass memorial '' and and eulogies for some of those who have died in recent months .
`` It 's been a crisis for so long I feel like it 's rewritten a part of my personality .
You just expect this kind of loss , '' he said .
Advocates say the response to the coronavirus outbreak and the overdose crisis has exposed a gulf between the respective public and political attitudes .
Canada 's `` bold and urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matched by that to the overdose crisis , said Leslie Mcbain , who lost her 25-year-old son Jordan in 2014 to a drug overdose after he was prescribed opioids for a back injury .
`` It 's the absolute worst thing that could happen to a family , '' she said .
`` You do n't go through it , you carry it .
We carry it forever . ''
• Why are opioids still given for chronic pain ?
• Brain implants used to fight drug addiction in US • The US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jordan 's death , Mcbain co-founded Moms Stop the Harm , a support group for families affected by substance use .
In August , both Mcbain and Mullins quit a provincial overdose response committee over what she described as governmental inaction .
`` Nothing was happening , '' she said , just as `` everything '' was being done to protect the province from Covid-19 .
`` We realised we were at the kids ' table , '' she said .
In July , BC Premier John Horgan apologised for remarks suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at any time '' , the opioid crisis involves those who made an initial `` choice '' to use drugs .
Critics say the premier 's comments signal why the overdose crisis has not received the type of muscular response summoned for the coronavirus - that those dying of an overdose were `` morally culpable '' .
`` The wrong people are dying , '' Mullins said .
Among those struggling with addiction and those in the harm reduction community , the disparity seemed clear , according to Dr Buxton .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much time , energy and money is being spent on Covid , '' Dr Buxton said .
`` There 's also that feeling of despondency : 'We 've been telling people this is an issue and nobody 's been listening and then it 's gotten worse .
So what 's being done about it ? '
'' Amid mounting deaths , authorities have suggested two principal solutions : decriminalising the possession of illicit substances and providing a safe supply of prescribed alternatives - pharmaceutical-grade medication as a substitutes to illegal drugs like heroin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocates for decades .
In recent weeks , BC provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry , Premier Horgan , the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and health officers in Toronto and Montreal have all called on the federal government to decriminalise possession .
Dr Henry has joined BC 's chief coroner Lisa Lapointe and Guy Felicella , a harm reduction campaigner and advisor with the BC Centre on Substance Abuse in advocating for prescribed alternatives .
`` Access to a safer supply remains the number one , most urgently needed intervention to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Felicella told reporters .
Early in the pandemic , the BC government announced new guidelines to allow more people - those at risk of Covid-19 infection , those with a history of ongoing substance abuse and those at high risk of withdrawal or overdose - to access prescription alternatives .
Nearly 2,000 people in the province can now use prescribed opioids .
But this figure is a `` drop in the bucket '' for a province with an estimated 55,000 to 100,000 illicit drug users , said Leslie Mcbain .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Canada rests with the federal government .
`` Even when we have a supervised consumption site [ in BC ] we have to get an exemption , '' Dr Buxton said .
`` It 's not as easy just to go in and say , 'OK we 're going to change this in BC . '
It all comes under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act , which is the federal piece . ''
Asked last month about the surge in overdose deaths , Canada 's Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing support to communities affected by opioid abuse since the party came to power in 2015 .
`` I do n't believe there is any silver bullet , '' she said , for `` ending problematic substance use , or dealing with the crisis at hand - it 's really a suite of tools that 's needed . ''
In July , Hajdu 's department announced C $ 2m ( $ 1.5m ; £1.15m ) in funding for a safe supply pilot project in BC 's Cowichan Valley .
Inside this roughly 84,000-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who have not responded to other treatments for opioid use disorder - about 25 people so far .
And the Canadian government is not currently considering the decriminalisation or legalisation of illegal drugs , said Health Canada spokesman Geoffroy Legault-Thivierge in an email .
For many advocates , including Garth Mullins , until both measures are mandated by the federal government , it wo n't be enough .
Unlike the virus outbreak , the spike in drug deaths in British Columbia was `` entirely predictable '' , according to Mullins .
Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Canada 's overdose crisis was `` a force of policy '' .

Every month or so, Garth Mullins has breakfast with his best friend. They go to the same place - an aging diner in downtown Vancouver with chipped wooden booths and neon signs. They always end up there around 1pm, talking through bites of bacon, eggs and white toast.


bbc--2020-09-01--Black Lives Matter: 'I refuse to let a slaver take my name away'

When the statue of Edward Colston was pulled down in Bristol during the UK 's Black Lives Matter protests , @ @ @ @ @ one man thousands of miles away .
Black American playwright Lee Edward Colston now wants @ @ @ @ @ shares more than a name with the 17th century slaver .
He told the BBC @ @ @ @ @ refuses to let his family name be tainted by the barbaric practices of the past @

When the statue of Edward Colston was pulled down in Bristol during the UK's Black Lives Matter protests, it had special resonance for one man thousands of miles away.
Black American actor and playwright Lee Edward Colston now wants to find out whether he shares more than a name with the 17th century slaver.
He told the BBC's Laura Foster why he refuses to let his family name be tainted by the barbaric practices of the past.
Video by Laura Foster


bbc--2020-09-01--Are US cities seeing a surge in violent crime as Trump claims?

President Donald Trump has said major US cities are seeing a spike in crime , and has offered to send in federal law enforcement to tackle the situation .
He has denounced a string of Democrat-run cities which are `` plagued by violent crime '' .
We 've looked at violent crime , and found it 's down overall in many cities , but murders and shootings have risen sharply in some .
President Trump has said the crime rate in certain cities such as New York is `` through the roof '' .
But in many major US cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent crime overall is down compared with the same time last year .
Various cities define violent crime in slightly different ways , but it usually includes murder , robbery , assault and rape .
Individual years can fluctuate but violent crime across America has been on a downward trend since the 1990s .
In April and May , violent crime in many US cities declined significantly compared with previous years , due in part to coronavirus lockdown measures .
But President Trump has pointed to a string of murders in certain cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharply in some areas .
A review of data from 27 major American cities found that Chicago led the way as homicides surged .
The president has sent more than 100 federal agents to help local law enforcement in Chicago .
As of 23 August , murders were up more than 50 % on this time last year .
President Trump has also pointed to a string of shootings in recent months , and shooting incidents in Chicago are up by more than 60 % compared to the same point last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ York - shootings have almost doubled compared to the same point in 2019 , and the murder rate is up by more than a third - although assaults , rapes and robberies are down .
New York 's murder rate has decreased significantly since the 1990s , but June saw the most shootings in a single month since 1996 , according to the New York Police Department .
President Trump has proposed expanding the deployment of federal law enforcement , as has been the case in Chicago , to New York as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia is seeing a spike in murders , while reports of other violent crimes have declined .
Murders are down elsewhere Albuquerque , New Mexico , is another city President Trump has sent dozens of federal agents into , but murders have fallen compared with previous years .
The police chief in the city has said : `` Contrary to claims by politicians in Washington DC , Albuquerque has been keeping overall violent crime flat and has reduced homicides thus far this year . ''
Murders in Albuquerque , a city of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped to 38 according to the latest data available , compared with 44 at the same point in the previous two years .
Other cities earmarked by President Trump have also seen mixed trends .
Murders are down in Baltimore , but up in Oakland and Detroit compared with the same time last year .
Why are some cities seeing a spike in murders ?
It 's hard to put it down to one reason .
Crime often rises in the summer due to a combination of reasons , such as no school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an American criminologist , says : `` Typically as weather warms up , we see an increase in street crime , including homicides . ''
This summer has also seen people re-emerging from lockdowns in various states .
The mayor of Chicago has put the rise in murders down in part to a `` perfect storm '' created by coronavirus , and the mayor of New York says the spike has been fuelled by `` horrible dislocation '' caused by the pandemic .
The ongoing pandemic has had widespread implications , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US have been closed , and some offenders have been released to stop the spread of coronavirus .
That has led `` to a feeling among offenders that they can commit crimes with impunity '' , according to a report by the Police Executive Research Forum .

It's a similar story in New York - shootings have almost doubled compared to the same point in 2019, and the murder rate is up by more than a third - although assaults, rapes and robberies are down.


bbc--2020-09-01--Huw Edwards: My grandfather, Prisoner of War

This week marks the 75th anniversary of the official end of the Second World War , when Japan signed its @ @ @ @ @ It ended six years of global conflict , which claimed the lives of more than @ @ @ @ @ the lives of hundreds of millions of others .
This week some of our colleagues @ @ @ @ @ their own families ’ experiences in contributing to the people ’ s war effort .
@ @ @ @ @ whose grandfather John Daniel Edwards was a merchant seaman , risking his life with thousands @ @ @ @ @ Atlantic Convoys .

This week marks the 75th anniversary of the official end of the Second World War, when Japan signed its deed of unconditional surrender. It ended six years of global conflict, which claimed the lives of more than 80 million people and changed the lives of hundreds of millions of others.
This week some of our colleagues at BBC News are relating their own families’ experiences in contributing to the people’s war effort. We start with Huw Edwards whose grandfather John Daniel Edwards was a merchant seaman, risking his life with thousands of others serving in the Atlantic Convoys.


bbc--2020-09-01--The nudists spreading coronavirus in a French resort

'We all know why we 're here' Known as the `` village naturiste '' , the resort is a secluded @ @ @ @ @ swinger clubs and saunas as well as erotic nightclubs that have hideaways for couples to @ @ @ @ @ of the view of others .
`` The village had been turned overnight from a @ @ @ @ @ one , '' said Nadège .
`` Sure we all have been taking risks but @ @ @ @ @ and long it was important for our wellbeing to let go . ''
'It 's @ @ @ @ @ taken more risks' '' At our age , of course , we are more cautious @ @ @ @ @ how many people we are in close contact with , '' said Allen .
`` @ @ @ @ @ who have taken more risks but it 's not just here .
There are outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ young people have been gathering . ''
'Nobody is in the mood for fun '

The nudists spreading coronavirus in a French resort Published 2 September 2020
For many of Europe's naturists, and the tens of thousands of swingers among them, Cap d'Agde has become a traditional summer destination, but a coronavirus outbreak here has shone an uncomfortable light on their alternative lifestyle.
France has seen a surge in infections, with 7,000 people recently testing positive in one day. The southern area of Hérault, and Cap d'Agde in particular, has seen some of the biggest numbers.
Home to the biggest naturist resort in Europe, it has a distinct focus on hedonism.
But now health authorities - who set up a mobile testing operation outside the village - have found 30% of the 800 naturists checked have tested positive.
'We all know why we're here'
Known as the "village naturiste", the resort is a secluded community with around a dozen swinger clubs and saunas as well as erotic nightclubs that have hideaways for couples to get intimate in or out of the view of others.
Of course not all naturists are swingers - who swap sexual partners - and some visitors prefer the quieter vast camping site opposite the main village.
Image caption, Among the Cap d'Agde clubs enticing swingers is the Balnéo-Club Le 2&2
But at Cap d'Agde there is a lot of crossover. "Everyone is in close contact all day long and of course naked," one swinger couple told the BBC.
"We all know why we are here. There are plenty of other more traditional family-based naturist camps elsewhere along the coast without the sex clubs."
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Even out of season the resort is popular. Every year hundreds of people take a traditional New Year's Eve dip
At the height of an average summer the village attracts around 45,000 people a day, and most are there for a week in a rented property with names such as Babylon, Cupid or Eden. There are also weekenders and day-trippers.
But that was before Covid.
How the outbreak began
In late August two employees at a plush hotel in the village tested positive for Covid-19.
Image caption, Two employees tested positive at this hotel
The hotel owner admitted a raunchy party had taken place on the roof terrace and social-distancing rules had disappeared.
"We have been hit doubly hard," David Masella, the manager of the "village naturiste" explained. "Forty percent of our visitors are foreign, most come from the Netherlands and Germany, followed by Italians and the British."
Image caption, Manager David Masella at the entrance to the naturist village
"With the virus, a lot of those regular foreign holidaymakers simply stayed away this year. And then of course we were hit by the virus but maybe that was inevitable.
"You need to know that, with 10,000 campsite pitches and 15,000 beds in the village itself, the population density here is seven times greater than in the nearby city of Montpellier."
How local authorities responded
French health authorities say the rate of positive tests from the mobile testing centre they set up at Cap d'Agde is four times higher than in the surrounding area.
Medical staff stressed none of the cases have required urgent hospital treatment.
Of course, as in the rest of Agde, face coverings within the village are mandatory - but masks and social distancing don't really fit in with swinging.
I met two couples over drinks and the four of them live in the village all year around.
Jérôme and Nadège, a couple in their mid-40s, met at a swingers' club in Bordeaux a few years ago and moved in together.
"The village had been turned overnight from a magic location to a tragic one," said Nadège. "Sure we all have been taking risks but the lockdown was so tough and long it was important for our wellbeing to let go."
'It's the younger crowd who've taken more risks'
Allen and his wife sat opposite me, both naked except for the transparent visors covering their faces.
They are both in their sixties and believe it is unfair to single out the village.
"At our age, of course, we are more cautious about where we go and how many people we are in close contact with," said Allen. "It's the younger crowd who have taken more risks but it's not just here. There are outbreaks everywhere across the country wherever young people have been gathering."
Image caption, The ancient town of Agde is nearby but a world away from the naturist village
The moment the outbreak emerged, the local prefect - the state's most senior representative here - temporarily shut down many of the village clubs and bars where so much physical interaction took place.
One of them was the Waiki Beach resort.
"I have just had to lay off 22 employees. The season is over," said director Karim Issartel. "For sure our club is known for its packed pool parties, and the authorities said that can't continue."
Image caption, Karim Issartel, head of the Waiki Beach club, has had to lay off 22 staff because of the outbreak
Another famous local landmark for the swinger community is Le Glamour nightclub. Associated with naked foam or mousse parties with up to 1,000 writhing bodies, it was ordered to close back in March.
Suggestive posters across the town of Agde urge clients to stay patient, with the promise that Le Glamour will re-open.
'Nobody is in the mood for fun'
Philippe Barreau has run sexy clothes stores in the village for 30 years and, as head of the 120-strong business association here, he is very gloomy.
"We are hugely important for the local economy: 300 of our 800 staff who work here have been laid off. I've lost 80% of my business and I'm not the only one.
"Right now there are just 5,000 people staying here. At this time of the year it should be 25,000. Nobody is in the mood for fun."
But the swingers I met admitted coronavirus hadn't completely brought non-monogamous sexual activity to a halt.
Several told me they had even become more exhibitionist.
On the beach, many of the women wore waist chain jewellery, while men paraded around with their body hair shaved off.
Many of those in their late fifties and early sixties clearly took pride in their appearance, and there were younger couples too.
In the evening most put on clothes to go to the open-air bars and restaurants along the beach or the village's private marina.
But their revealing outfits all proclaimed "look at me", and couples chatted to their neighbours at the next table, sometimes returning to each other's studio apartments or wandering off into the nearby sand dunes.
For now authorities are urging holidaymakers planning to visit the village to stay away.
Those leaving at the end of their holiday are being urged to get tested rapidly so they don't spread the virus on their return home.


bbc--2020-09-01--Live video dating: Finding love online with an audience

Television game shows have made dating a form of entertainment for the masses for decades .
More recently reality TV has adopted the genre , with hits like Love Island and First Dates .
Now the phenomenon has moved online - and anyone can play .
`` I remember it as if it were yesterday .
I was so nervous to even say , 'Hi ' .
The first time I saw him smiling , my heart told me .
'That 's the one , I 'm going to make that man happy whatever it takes . ''
Ericka 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media ) recalling the first time she met boyfriend Lex sounds like a timeless tale of love .
But read on a bit further and it becomes apparent that this is a love story with a very modern twist : '' I think the thing that caught my attention was how he made everyone in his stream feel important and welcomed .
Not one comment was missed .
He made everyone feel like they had a purpose in his stream . ''
Ericka and Lex live in the US and met on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live from their phones and then interact with people who tune in .
This live vlogging format includes a series of live dating game shows .
Livestreamers are paired up to see if there is any chemistry between them .
Viewers comment on a `` stream '' underneath , in real time .
In fact quite a bit of the date can involve participants responding to these comments - a bit meta , but handy when the conversation runs dry .
Ericka began as what 's known as a `` lurker '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what she saw , she plucked up the courage to comment .
Then she put herself forward for the `` guest box '' , meaning she herself would have a video date with him - while others watched on .
Ericka and Lex are not the only couple to have got together this way .
Thirty-eight-year-old musician Kevan and make-up artist Haley , 22 , also met on MeetMe this year .
Neither had been on other dating sites before , but they did n't come on the platform with the intention of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They just wanted to `` stream '' and meet people .
She watched popular livestreamers for inspiration and saw Kevan .
`` I promised I would never catch feelings , but when something is right in your gut , you take it , '' she remembers .
Like Ericka , she appreciated the way she could see how Kevan behaved with different types of people on the app , which gave her a measure of him as a person .
When they met for the first time offline , in Orlando , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dream come true '' .
`` Every second was perfect .
God has blessed me in so many ways , but Kevan is my favourite prayer that he has answered . ''
They still stream together on the platform individually and as a star couple .
Sometimes they even take part in `` dates '' with other people , on the understanding that `` nothing can go beyond a crush '' .
MeetMe is part of a suite of dating apps run by US company The Meet Group .
Others include Skout , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience ) and LOVOO ( an app developed in Germany , which MeetMe bought ) .
Between them they have more than 15 million users and on average 180,000 dating games are played each day , with more than one million people watching the live dates unfold - mainly in the US , though some in the UK too .
The group 's chief executive Geoff Cook describes the platforms as `` a public version of speed dating '' and compares them to Twitch , where huge audiences watch computer gamers play and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitch , the most popular `` daters '' can make money , as audiences send them virtual gifts - suitably romantic , like roses and chocolates - which can be converted to cash .
You buy a virtual gift like you would buy someone a drink at a bar , to get that person 's attention , explains Cook .
Though a top livestreaming dater can make close to $ 1m ( £750,000 ) a year , Cook says the vast majority do n't make much money .
Most users are there to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real-life partner in their locality .
Some users are also there to harass and leave lewd comments .
So the livestreams are monitored by both human moderators and computer software , searching for abusive language .
`` Dating apps have been evolving toward ever-increasing authenticity and nothing is more authentic than live video , '' says Cook .
Lockdown has accelerated that trend , making people accustomed to live video calls for remote work and keeping in touch with family members , he reckons .
The number of dating games being played on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's fascinating to think where the live video dating trend came from , '' says dating expert Charly Lester .
It first got big in China with the Momo app , she says , even though the country has such a different culture to the US .
Lester wrote a popular dating blog in London for many years and has since worked as a consultant for dating companies .
She is not surprised by the rise of live video dating and the voyeurism that goes with it .
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I thought the only people who would be interested were other singles , but you suddenly realise that dating is something that fascinates everyone , even people in couples . ''
Being in the audience for a date on an app allows you to `` test the waters '' , she says .
There is still a little bit of a stigma around dating sites and the `` gamification '' of it helps to get round this , she thinks .
Lester reckons live dating with an audience is a new trend that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MeetMe , though more formal dating platforms , which use detailed questionnaires to match people , may resist it .
Plenty of Fish is a mainstream dating site currently offering live dating experiences .
Badoo also recently experimented with the idea .
Meanwhile , some aspiring dating stars are using other social media platforms to create their own live dating shows .
Urszula Makowska , 25 , was growing increasingly disillusioned with New York 's online dating scene .
The fashion blogger was ready to give up on apps like Tinder , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends decided - with her consent - to find some eligible bachelors , then set up a series of live dates on Instagram , using her account .
A few other influencers had broadcast dates this way too and dating app Bumble had created a weekly chat show on Instagram Live called Virtual Dating Dial In .
Some men declined the date with Urszula when they learned it would be broadcast live .
Those who took part had their charm rated by Urszula 's thousands of followers , who voted on whether there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the feedback has changed her approach to dating .
She learned that she often cuts men off mid-sentence and is now a better listener .
She also learned to be more open-minded about the kind of person she was looking for .
But was the project really about finding love , or finding new followers ?
She is after all a social media influencer , who grows more powerful as her audience increases .
`` You do n't do it to grow your followers , that 's not cool , '' says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are no longer satisfied with `` a shallow interaction like swiping and a handful of text messages '' , says Geoff Cook of the Meet Group .
Video has become by default a way to filter out people you have met on apps , to decide who you actually want to meet in person , he says .
But broadcasting these video dates themselves , as entertainment to spectators , is that not a little , well , shallow ?
The usual criticism of dating apps is the excess of choice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unlikely to commit to a relationship .
Observing how someone behaves in a livestream means you get to know the person better , he says .
`` And once you 've connected with someone , how you met is secondary . ''
Kevan and Haley , who are both committed Christians , agree on this .
Asked if they would be happy to tell any future grandchildren that they met on a live online date , Haley says : `` Everyone 's scared or embarrassed to say we met on Tinder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use these apps for bad reasons , but this is our truth so it 's what we 're going to say . ''
`` The cool thing about livestreaming , and Haley knows this , '' says Kevan , `` is we were n't looking for love .
I was committed to being single , and she changed that . ''
You can follow Dougal on Twitter : @ dougalshawbbc

Thanks to trailblazers like Tinder, online dating has gone mainstream. And mature daters want in on the action too. Lorna is 62 and lives in Edinburgh where she works as a PA. She is a divorcee with children and grandchildren and is still looking for love. "You come home from work, you want to be talking to someone about your day, it's good for your mental health," she explains. "It's the reason why I'm still dating at my age." Read more here.


bbc--2020-09-01--Iran nuclear deal: Why US 'snapback' sanctions on Iran could fail

Why does the deal matter ?
How did it all start ?
How did the other participants respond ?
What @ @ @ @ @ the nuclear deal ?
What is the snapback ?
How does the snapback work ?
@ @ @ @ @ gone ?
How has the Security Council responded ?
The other participants in the deal @ @ @ @ @ president , stating that the US had withdrawn from it and could thus not rely @ @ @ @ @ This view was supported by virtually all other members of the Council , other than @ @ @ @ @ has reflected the US position throughout .
What are the positions of the sides ?
@ @ @ @ @ the US have avoided this result ?
What happens next ?

Ironically, if the US had played by the rules negotiated by the Obama administration, it could have achieved its aims. Instead of withdrawing as a participant state in 2018, it could have alleged serious non-compliance and engaged in the required dispute settlement attempts. These having remained unsatisfactory for the US, it could then have triggered the snapback, while still being unquestionably a "participant state".


bbc--2020-09-01--Cheng Lei: Why has an Australian TV anchor been detained by China?

No charges have been filed , and the reason for Ms Cheng 's detention is unknown , said Australian officials .
Australian diplomats were allowed a meeting with Ms Cheng last week via video link .
Asked on Monday about the detention , Hua Chunying , a spokeswoman for China 's foreign ministry , told reporters she was unable to give any specifics , adding that China would handle things according to the law .
But China 's detention of yet another Western citizen has caused alarm .
Her nationality has fuelled speculation that the case might be linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To observers , Ms Cheng had been a model state TV presenter adept at staying within boundaries .
In presenting a business programme , she was generally shielded from politics , but had also been trusted to helm coverage of major political events .
With no known transgressions against the Chinese state , her detention has left friends and family shocked and confused , and facing the limbo of China 's legal system , in which people can be detained for months with no charge .
Born in China , Ms Cheng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia when she was 10 for her father to pursue a PhD programme .
Initially , she was teased for her lack of English at school , `` where there were only three Asian kids '' , she told an Australia China Business Council podcast last year .
But Ms Cheng adopted the `` Australian language and humour '' quickly , she said , and she still favours her adopted home , where her parents and two children live .
Hating her first `` boring '' finance career in Melbourne - where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to China in 2000 seeking to make the most of her bilingual and bicultural skills .
Her journalism career started at CCTV 's English-language channel in 2003 .
She then became the CNBC 's China correspondent for nine years , before rejoining CCTV - the English channel now branded CGTN - in 2013 .
Geoff Raby , a longtime friend of Ms Cheng 's and former Australian ambassador to China , described her as `` a very experienced journalist '' who had `` done the job for a long time in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting was `` thoroughly objective '' , and she worked within the constraints of the state broadcaster to be as fair as possible .
`` But also she would often push back against foreign commentators and journalists for what she regarded as commenting without understanding the situation in China or just being plain wrong , '' Mr Raby said .
Describing her as professional , smart and careful - he said she understood `` the context of which she 's operating very well and was very careful '' .
`` So it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done to have brought this upon herself , '' he said .
Such a detention was a `` rare event '' , he added .
`` It 's not an accidental or random incident in China when they decide to take action like this . ''
In turn , Beijing has been accused of retaliating with several trade blows - sanctioning Australian beef , wine and barley exports .
Analysts say Australia has also been locked out of top-level bilateral meetings in the past year .
Australian officials have been reluctant to link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia 's foreign affairs minister rejected a journalist 's assertion on Tuesday that Ms Cheng was being `` used as a pawn by China to get back at Australia '' .
`` I would not describe it in that way , '' said Marise Payne .
`` It is speculative at best to engage on that sort of premise .
Our job is to ensure we are providing her with support . ''

"I would not describe it in that way," Foreign Minister Minister Marise Payne said in August. "It is speculative at best to engage on that sort of premise. Our job is to ensure we are providing her with support."


bbc--2020-09-01--The Nigerian drummer who set the beat for US civil rights

Three years before Rosa Parks ' bus boycott , Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji protested against racial segregation in the southern states of America .
He was part of a generation of Africans who played an important role in the fight for racial justice in the US - and continue to do so , writes the BBC 's Aaron Akinyemi .
`` He was committed to social activism throughout his life , '' says Robert Atkinson , who collaborated with Olatunji on his autobiography The Beat of My Drum , which was published in 2005 , two years after his death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of students boarded a racially segregated bus in Atlanta wearing traditional African clothes and were allowed to sit anywhere they wanted because they were not identified as African Americans , who had to sit at the back .
The next day , they boarded the same bus in their Western clothing and refused to sit in the back when ordered to do so by the bus driver .
Olatunji and his friends continued to challenge segregation in this way despite the threat of prison .
Olatunji 's widow , 89-year-old Iyafin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was called in to `` ease the tensions in various communities '' , such as during the aftermath in 1965 of deadly riots in the predominately black neighbourhood of Watts in Los Angeles .
You may also be interested in : Professor Louis Chude-Sokei , director of African-American studies at Boston University , says there was an intellectual and social exchange between Africans and African Americans , some of whom were inspired by newly independent African states such as Ghana and Nigeria .
`` Given that shared context of race and racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the civil rights movement , it 's not strange that African Americans and Africans are interacting culturally around issues of freedom and liberation , '' he told the BBC .
In the 1962 American Negro Leadership Conference , King drew a more direct comparison between colonialism in Africa and American segregation , saying the two were `` nearly synonymous… because their common end is economic exploitation , political domination , and the debasing of human personality '' .
Their father died in 2003 one day before his 76th birthday .
His legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successive generations , particularly contemporary Africans in America who draw on his example of bridging the continent with its diaspora .
`` We have picked up the baton from a previous generation and we 're continuing to run the race that they started , '' says Ms Tometi of BLM .
Olatunji 's biographer adds : `` This is a perfect time for people to know about Baba .
These demonstrations for justice are such a new and greater uprising of what he was part of 60 years ago . ''

"Ghana has something to say to us," King said in his first sermon upon returning to the US from Ghana. "It says to us… that the oppressor never voluntarily gives freedom to the oppressed. You have to work for it."


bbc--2020-08-31--She got ill when the pandemic hit - and still is, six months later

You may also be interested in :

As weeks went by, some symptoms swapped out for others, getting more and more bizarre. A pain in her neck was accompanied by a strange sensation in her ear, like a packet of crisps being crushed in someone's hand. Her hands went blue and she had to rush to a warm tap to try to bring the blood back into them. The doctor later asked if she had taken a picture, but it had been the last thing on her mind.


bbc--2020-09-01--Murray makes stunning US Open comeback from two sets down to beat Nishioka

Andy Murray staged a stunning comeback against Yoshihito Nishioka in the US Open first round on his long-awaited return to Grand Slam singles tennis .
The Briton , whose last major singles match was at the 2019 Australian Open before career-saving hip surgery , started flat and dispirited .
But he found his fight and saved a match point to set up an epic win .
The Scot , who eventually claimed victory in four hours 38 minutes , will face Canadian 15th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round .
• None Follow day two from the US Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirit Playing in an empty and quiet Arthur Ashe Stadium - a far cry from the noisy stage where Murray won his maiden Grand Slam title in 2012 - his early despondence was all the more noticeable .
In his BBC radio commentary David Law said `` Andy Murray does not look like Andy Murray '' , such was his manner , as he quietly trudged around with shoulders slumped as he was outplayed .
During the first two sets Murray barely berated himself for his five double faults and 30 unforced errors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before his energy levels - and his voice - began to rise towards the end of the third set .
And that was when Andy Murray began to look exactly like Andy Murray .
A roar greeted the blistering forehand that gave him two set points in the third-set tie-break and then he let it all out with a trademark `` come on ! ''
when Nishioka netted a backhand on the second .
The character that took him to three Grand Slam titles and the world number one ranking before his body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he saved a match point with a crosscourt backhand at 6-5 in the fourth .
It would be nearly an hour later until he himself carved out his own match point , needing to recover from a break down in the fifth game of the fifth - which he did with a sumptuous backhand lob in the very next game - to stay on track .
When Nishioka sent a backhand out on match point , Murray completed his 10th career comeback from two sets down and answered any lingering questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest stage .
On his last Grand Slam singles appearance in January 2019 , Murray had broken down in tears when he said he feared he might have to retire because of a hip injury .
But he went on to have surgery later that month and just five months later was back in action , playing doubles and winning the Queen 's title with Feliciano Lopez .
He played doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon that year and then made his singles return on the tour in August 2019 .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on his singles return and was then ruled out of January 's Australian Open with a pelvic injury .
Further chances to return to the Grand Slam singles stage were then lost because of the coronavirus pandemic .
He has been ticking off the 'since surgery ' milestones ever since - a first singles title ( October ) , a first win over a top-10 player ( last week ) and now he has crossed off three more .
Not only his first Grand Slam singles match , but also a first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-setter .
`` I 'm tired .
My toes are the worst part I think , '' said Murray , who had treatment on his toes at the start of the fifth set .
`` The big toes on both sides are pretty beat up .
I did alright physically .
`` At the beginning of the match I was apprehensive about playing a long match because I had n't played one in a while .
`` I was sort of pacing myself .
Once I got two sets down I had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get through . ''
He is the first player to return to singles after a hip re-surfacing operation , where the femur head is capped with metal and put into an artificial socket .
He will now find out how his new body copes with the recovery from a five-set thriller at a Grand Slam .
And he knows exactly what he needs .
`` They have an ice bath in the locker room and they said it was for emergencies , '' Murray said .
`` For me this is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see if they 'll allow me to use the ice bath .
If not I 'll try to get back to the hotel as quickly as I can .
`` That 's by far the most tennis I 've played since the Aussie Open in 2019 . ''
Interestingly , there were echoes of that last Australian Open match in this one - then , he was on the wrong end of an almost identical scoreline when he lost 6-4 6-4 6-7 ( 5-7 ) 6-7 ( 4-7 ) 6-2 to Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cagey start - pacing himself like a marathon runner , just in case the match went the distance .
And when he then lost his way completely at the start of the second set , his Grand Slam return was in danger of turning rapidly flat .
But with an audience made up entirely of star players , who were watching on from their suites in the Arthur Ashe Stadium , Murray gradually inched his way back into the match .
His toes took a pounding , but his hip held up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site he could start to imagine doing it all again on Thursday .

Andy Murray won the first of his three Grand Slam titles at the 2012 US Open
2020 US Open Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 31 Aug-13 Sept Coverage: Selected live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app.
Andy Murray staged a stunning comeback against Yoshihito Nishioka in the US Open first round on his long-awaited return to Grand Slam singles tennis.
The 33-year-old came from two sets and a break down against the Japanese to win 4-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
The Briton, whose last major singles match was at the 2019 Australian Open before career-saving hip surgery, started flat and dispirited.
But he found his fight and saved a match point to set up an epic win.
The Scot, who eventually claimed victory in four hours 39 minutes, will face Canadian 15th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.
Murray finds his voice and his spirit
Playing in an empty and quiet Arthur Ashe Stadium - a far cry from the noisy stage where Murray won his maiden Grand Slam title in 2012 - his early despondence was all the more noticeable.
In his BBC radio commentary David Law said "Andy Murray does not look like Andy Murray", such was his manner, as he quietly trudged around with shoulders slumped as he was outplayed.
During the first two sets Murray barely berated himself for his five double faults and 30 unforced errors, seeming almost resigned to his fate before his energy levels - and his voice - began to rise towards the end of the third set.
And that was when Andy Murray began to look exactly like Andy Murray.
A roar greeted the blistering forehand that gave him two set points in the third-set tie-break and then he let it all out with a trademark "come on!" when Nishioka netted a backhand on the second.
The character that took him to three Grand Slam titles and the world number one ranking before his body so cruelly let him down shone through as he saved a match point with a crosscourt backhand at 6-5 in the fourth.
It would be nearly an hour later until he himself carved out his own match point, needing to recover from a break down in the fifth game of the fifth - which he did with a sumptuous backhand lob in the very next game - to stay on track.
When Nishioka sent a backhand out on match point, Murray completed his 10th career comeback from two sets down and answered any lingering questions about whether he could still be competitive on the biggest stage.
Murray ticks off another post-op milestone
On his last Grand Slam singles appearance in January 2019, Murray had broken down in tears when he said he feared he might have to retire because of a hip injury.
But he went on to have surgery later that month and just five months later was back in action, playing doubles and winning the Queen's title with Feliciano Lopez.
He played doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon that year and then made his singles return on the tour in August 2019.
He skipped last year's US Open to focus on his singles return and was then ruled out of January's Australian Open with a pelvic injury. Further chances to return to the Grand Slam singles stage were then lost because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He has been ticking off the 'since surgery' milestones ever since - a first singles title (October), a first win over a top-10 player (last week) and now he has crossed off three more.
Not only his first Grand Slam singles match, but also a first win in one, and a first five-setter.
"I'm tired. My toes are the worst part I think," said Murray, who had treatment on his toes at the start of the fifth set. "The big toes on both sides are pretty beat up. I did alright physically.
"At the beginning of the match I was apprehensive about playing a long match because I hadn't played one in a while.
"I was sort of pacing myself. Once I got two sets down I had to start putting the after-burners on and managed to get through."
'I need an emergency ice bath'
He is the first player to return to singles after a hip re-surfacing operation, where the femur head is capped with metal and put into an artificial socket.
He will now find out how his new body copes with the recovery from a five-set thriller at a Grand Slam.
And he knows exactly what he needs.
"They have an ice bath in the locker room and they said it was for emergencies," Murray said.
"For me this is an emergency right now. I'll ask and see if they'll allow me to use the ice bath. If not I'll try to get back to the hotel as quickly as I can.
"That's by far the most tennis I've played since the Aussie Open in 2019."
Interestingly, there were echoes of that last Australian Open match in this one - then, he was on the wrong end of an almost identical scoreline when he lost 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Murray made a cagey start - pacing himself like a marathon runner, just in case the match went the distance.
And when he then lost his way completely at the start of the second set, his Grand Slam return was in danger of turning rapidly flat.
But with an audience made up entirely of star players, who were watching on from their suites in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Murray gradually inched his way back into the match.
His toes took a pounding, but his hip held up, and after an ice bath on site he could start to imagine doing it all again on Thursday.


bbc--2020-09-01--George Floyd death: What’s changed, 100 days later?

One hundred days after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , we assess its impact .

A protest movement energised, colonial symbols destroyed, brands re-evaluated and policing tactics scrutinised.
One hundred days after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, we assess its impact.
Produced by Ryan Ramgobin, graphic design by Aoife McKenna and Parveen Virdi


bbc--2020-09-01--England v Pakistan: Tourists win by five runs in final-ball thriller

Last updated on .From the section Cricket Pakistan beat England by five runs in a gripping third Twenty20 international that came down to the final ball - meaning the series is drawn 1-1 .
England required another maximum to win but Haris Rauf delivered a perfect wide yorker that Curran could not hit .
England had earlier been 69-4 before Moeen Ali 's 33-ball 61 gave the hosts hope .
He was caught and bowled with 17 needed from eight balls - Wahab Riaz bowling a brilliant 19th over that cost just three runs during which he also ran out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were left needing to score an unlikely 17 from the final over and , despite Curran 's efforts , came up short .
Mohammad Hafeez had earlier smashed 86 from 52 balls for Pakistan , while 19-year-old debutant Haider Ali hit a 33-ball 53 .
The defeat ends England 's run of five T20 consecutive series wins while Pakistan earn a first victory of their tour from the final match .
England play Australia in the first of three T20s on Friday .
A three-match one-day international series follows .
• None England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair Watmore Not to be this time for England Had England pulled off the victory it would have been their second successful chase of over 190 in the series , after they overhauled Pakistan 's 195-4 in the second T20 on Sunday .
On another excellent batting pitch , and with a short boundary to target , Moeen and then Curran almost repeated the feat .
England were dogged by the loss of early wickets - Jonny Bairstow was bowled third ball by Shaheen Afridi 's yorker , Dawid Malan holed out at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until he was involved in a mix-up that saw captain Eoin Morgan run out and was himself trapped lbw an over later on 46 .
Moeen , who had struggled for form this summer , put on 56 with Sam Billings and after the Kent batsman skied a catch to third man , continued the assault .
He smashed 19 from the following over bowled by Shadab Khan , including two straight sixes and another big maximum over mid-wicket , to swing the game back in England 's favour .
Moeen looked like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line but instead Wahab made the decisive contribution .
The 35-year-old left-armer brilliantly collected the ball in his follow-through and ran out Jordan , mixed his pace to deny Moeen boundaries and found a bouncer to take the top edge of the left-hander 's bat .
Curran was then denied by Rauf in the final over but afterwards Morgan still noted the importance of his side gaining experience in pressure situations as they build towards the 2021 T20 World Cup .
For Pakistan this was the final match in a long tour that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a quarantine period in the UK and also included a 1-0 Test series defeat .
They have competed well for the majority and were deserving of the win .
Hafeez followed 69 in the second match with another impressive knock .
The 39-year-old again targeted the leg side , consecutive hits into the stand off Rashid 's bowling being two of six sixes .
However , of greater significance could be the arrival of Haider .
He came to the crease after just seven balls and slog-swept his second ball in international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The right-hander , who is highly rated after impressing at the most recent Under-19 World Cup , continued to attack and showed a range of powerful but elegant shots .
He and Hafeez , separated by 20 years in age , shared a stand of exactly 100 as England 's bowlers , although improved from their ragged showing on Sunday , struggled for potency .
Haider became the 12th youngest player to score 50 on T20 debut and the first Pakistan batsman to make a half-century on their first T20 appearance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they said England captain Eoin Morgan : `` I think there 's a lot of positives .
Two days ago was a massive win for us .
The biggest positive today was the marked improvement from our bowlers .
They did a great job .
`` With the bat , there 's still positives .
It 's disappointing to lose but you learn more about every player in pressure situations . ''
England 's Moeen Ali : `` I tried to play like I played in my first few games for England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be busy at the crease .
`` I feel like I 've been lacking that lately and over maybe a long period of time actually , so it was nice to get out there and play well today . ''

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Third Twenty20, Emirates Old Trafford Pakistan 190-4 (20 overs): Hafeez 86 (52), Haider 54 (33); Jordan 2-29 England 185-8 (20 overs): Moeen 61 (33); Wahab 2-26 Pakistan win by five runs; series drawn 1-1 Scorecard
Pakistan beat England by five runs in a gripping third Twenty20 international that came down to the final ball - meaning the series is drawn 1-1.
Chasing 191, England needed 12 from the final two balls and Tom Curran hit the penultimate delivery for six.
England required another maximum to win but Haris Rauf delivered a perfect wide yorker that Curran could not hit.
England had earlier been 69-4 before Moeen Ali's 33-ball 61 gave the hosts hope.
He was caught and bowled with 17 needed from eight balls - Wahab Riaz bowling a brilliant 19th over that cost just three runs during which he also ran out Chris Jordan.
Curran and Adil Rashid were left needing to score an unlikely 17 from the final over and, despite Curran's efforts, came up short.
Mohammad Hafeez had earlier smashed 86 from 52 balls for Pakistan, while 19-year-old debutant Haider Ali hit a 33-ball 54.
The defeat ends England's run of five T20 consecutive series wins while Pakistan earn a first victory of their tour from the final match.
England play Australia in the first of three T20s on Friday. A three-match one-day international series follows.
Not to be this time for England
Had England pulled off the victory it would have been their second successful chase of over 190 in the series, after they overhauled Pakistan's 195-4 in the second T20 on Sunday.
On another excellent batting pitch, and with a short boundary to target, Moeen and then Curran almost repeated the feat.
England were dogged by the loss of early wickets - Jonny Bairstow was bowled third ball by Shaheen Afridi's yorker, Dawid Malan holed out at deep mid-wicket, while Tom Banton dazzled until he was involved in a mix-up that saw captain Eoin Morgan run out and was himself trapped lbw an over later on 46.
Moeen, who had struggled for form this summer, put on 56 with Sam Billings and after the Kent batsman skied a catch to third man, continued the assault.
He smashed 19 from the following over bowled by Shadab Khan, including two straight sixes and another big maximum over mid-wicket, to swing the game back in England's favour.
Moeen looked like he would drag his side over the line but instead Wahab made the decisive contribution. The 35-year-old left-armer brilliantly collected the ball in his follow-through and ran out Jordan, mixed his pace to deny Moeen boundaries and found a bouncer to take the top edge of the left-hander's bat.
Curran was then denied by Rauf in the final over but afterwards Morgan still noted the importance of his side gaining experience in pressure situations as they build towards the 2021 T20 World Cup.
A positive end for Pakistan
For Pakistan this was the final match in a long tour that began on 29 June when they arrived for a quarantine period in the UK and also included a 1-0 Test series defeat.
They have competed well for the majority and were deserving of the win.
Hafeez followed 69 in the second match with another impressive knock. The 39-year-old again targeted the leg side, consecutive hits into the stand off Rashid's bowling being two of six sixes.
However, of greater significance could be the arrival of Haider. He came to the crease after just seven balls and slog-swept his second ball in international cricket for six off Moeen's off-spin.
The right-hander, who is highly rated after impressing at the most recent Under-19 World Cup, continued to attack and showed a range of powerful but elegant shots.
He and Hafeez, separated by 20 years in age, shared a stand of exactly 100 as England's bowlers, although improved from their ragged showing on Sunday, struggled for potency.
Haider became the 12th youngest player to score 50 on T20 debut and the first Pakistan batsman to make a half-century on their first T20 appearance.
'Lots of positives for England' - what they said
England captain Eoin Morgan: "I think there's a lot of positives. Two days ago was a massive win for us. The biggest positive today was the marked improvement from our bowlers. They did a great job.
"With the bat, there's still positives. It's disappointing to lose but you learn more about every player in pressure situations."
England's Moeen Ali: "I tried to play like I played in my first few games for England; full of energy and try and be busy at the crease.
"I feel like I've been lacking that lately and over maybe a long period of time actually, so it was nice to get out there and play well today."


bbc--2020-09-01--Record-seeking Williams wins in straight sets at US Open

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Serena Williams began her pursuit of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a dominant 7-5 6-3 win over fellow American Kristie Ahn .
Williams gathered momentum late on , winning four straight games against the world number 96 in the second set .
`` I was really happy with how I fought for every point , '' she said .
`` No matter how I was playing , I just had to get my Serena focus back so that was what I was working on today . ''
Men 's second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been leading 7-6 ( 8-6 ) 6-3 when Spanish opponent Jaume Munar retired from the match .
Thiem , 26 , will face Indian world number 124 Sumit Nagal in the second round as he looks to capitalise on the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to win a maiden Grand Slam title .
Women 's 10th seed Garbine Muguruza sealed her place in the second round with a 6-4 6-4 win against Japan 's Nao Hibino .
Seventh seed Madison Keys is through after beating Hungary 's Timea Babos 6-1 6-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed a 6-2 6-2 victory against Belgium 's Yanina Wickmayer .
With six of the world 's top 10 absent from the women 's draw because of the coronavirus pandemic , Williams has a prime opportunity to claim the 24th title she has been chasing since her last win at the 2017 Australian Open .
The third seed will face world number 117 Margarita Gasparyan of Russia in the second round , with the trickier challenge of compatriot Sloane Stephens possibly awaiting her after that .
Williams had to overcome some inconsistencies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but brushed aside the suggestion that the lack of fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium had affected her level of play .
`` It 's quiet , '' she said .
`` It 's such a good stadium .
It 's a Grand Slam and I think I 'm still as passionate and intense out there .
`` I love my job .
I love what I do .
You ca n't do it forever even though I 've kind of been doing it just over forever .
One of these days it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out here . ''
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Serena Williams has won the US Open singles title six times
2020 US Open Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 31 Aug-13 Sept Coverage: Selected live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app.
Serena Williams began her pursuit of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a dominant 7-5 6-3 win over fellow American Kristie Ahn.
The 38-year-old went a break down in both sets but recovered to win in an hour and a half as she chases Margaret Court's Grand Slam tally.
Williams gathered momentum late on, winning four straight games against the world number 96 in the second set.
"I was really happy with how I fought for every point," she said.
"No matter how I was playing, I just had to get my Serena focus back so that was what I was working on today."
But she will not be joined in the next round by her sister Venus Williams, who lost 6-3 7-5 to Czech 20th seed Karolina Muchova.
An error-strewn performance meant that two-time champion Venus, 40, made her first ever opening-round exit at her home Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, men's second seed Dominic Thiem advanced, having been leading 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 when Spanish opponent Jaume Munar retired from the match.
Thiem, 26, will face Indian world number 124 Sumit Nagal in the second round as he looks to capitalise on the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to win a maiden Grand Slam title.
Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev is also through to the second round, comfortably beating Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-1 6-2 6-4. He will play Australia's Chris O'Connell next.
Women's 10th seed Garbine Muguruza sealed her place in the second round with a 6-4 6-4 win against Japan's Nao Hibino.
Seventh seed Madison Keys is through after beating Hungary's Timea Babos 6-1 6-1, while American second seed Sofia Kenin claimed a 6-2 6-2 victory against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.
But former world number one Kim Clijsters' return to Grand Slam tennis ended in defeat as Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia prevailed 3-6 7-5 6-1.
Belgium's Clijsters - a three-time US Open champion - was given a wildcard for the tournament after coming out of retirement earlier this year.
'I love my job' - Williams
With six of the world's top 10 absent from the women's draw because of the coronavirus pandemic, Serena Williams has a prime opportunity to claim the 24th title she has been chasing since her last win at the 2017 Australian Open.
The third seed will face world number 117 Margarita Gasparyan of Russia in the second round, with the trickier challenge of compatriot Sloane Stephens possibly awaiting her after that.
Williams had to overcome some inconsistencies, gifting Ahn two breaks of serve, but brushed aside the suggestion that the lack of fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium had affected her level of play.
"It's quiet," she said. "It's such a good stadium. It's a Grand Slam and I think I'm still as passionate and intense out there.
"I love my job. I love what I do. You can't do it forever even though I've kind of been doing it just over forever. One of these days it's going to end and I love being out here."


bbc--2020-09-01--Arsenal sign defender Gabriel from Lille for £23m

Last updated on .From the section Arsenal Arsenal have completed the signing of Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille for 26m euros ( £23.14m ) .
He joins the Gunners on a long-term contract .
`` He is a player we have been studying for a while and he was in demand from many clubs , '' said Arsenal technical director Edu .
`` Gabriel is a player of high quality and Mikel ( Arteta ) and his coaches are looking forward to integrating him into the club . ''
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said : `` We welcome Gabriel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will make us stronger as a defensive unit and as a team .
`` He has proved with Lille he is a defender with many outstanding attributes and we are looking forward to watching him grow as an Arsenal player . ''
Gabriel said he considered offers from a number of clubs before deciding to join Arsenal .
`` It was a very surreal experience , there were offers coming from a few different clubs , '' he said .
`` I spoke a lot with my family and my agents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's directors but , as I said , this club 's history and traditions and the team project for the next few years were very motivational for my decision to come here .
`` So here I am , wearing the Arsenal shirt - I will give my best for it . ''
Although it took him a relatively long time to make an impact at Lille , Gabriel left a big impression on the French club after some very impressive performances over the last 18 months .
I spoke to the club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Service radio show recently and he was full of praise for the defender on and off the pitch .
Lopez talked about his physical presence and his power but also his pace and his `` great pass quality '' .
He also told me that Gabriel is close to getting a call-up to the senior Brazil national team .
Meanwhile , Kieran Tierney will enjoy playing next to him because by all accounts he 's excellent at covering behind an attacking full-back and , unlike some centre-backs , is very comfortable when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It may take Gabriel a little time to adapt to the Premier League but for Lopez there were no doubts about his ability : `` He 's got so much talent and physical presence that he could succeed anywhere . ''
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page .

Last updated on .From the section Arsenal
Gabriel joined Lille from Brazilian side Avai in 2017
Arsenal have completed the signing of Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille for 26m euros (£23.14m).
The 22-year-old, a left-footed centre back, made 34 appearances in all competitions for Lille last season as they finished fourth in Ligue 1.
He joins the Gunners on a long-term contract.
"He is a player we have been studying for a while and he was in demand from many clubs," said Arsenal technical director Edu.
"Gabriel is a player of high quality and Mikel (Arteta) and his coaches are looking forward to integrating him into the club."
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "We welcome Gabriel to Arsenal. He has many qualities which will make us stronger as a defensive unit and as a team.
"He has proved with Lille he is a defender with many outstanding attributes and we are looking forward to watching him grow as an Arsenal player."
Gabriel said he considered offers from a number of clubs before deciding to join Arsenal.
"It was a very surreal experience, there were offers coming from a few different clubs," he said.
"I spoke a lot with my family and my agents, I also spoke with some of Lille's directors but, as I said, this club's history and traditions and the team project for the next few years were very motivational for my decision to come here.
"So here I am, wearing the Arsenal shirt - I will give my best for it."
Analysis
BBC World Service's John Bennett
Although it took him a relatively long time to make an impact at Lille, Gabriel left a big impression on the French club after some very impressive performances over the last 18 months.
I spoke to the club's president Gerard Lopez for a BBC World Service radio show recently and he was full of praise for the defender on and off the pitch. Lopez talked about his physical presence and his power but also his pace and his "great pass quality". He also told me that Gabriel is close to getting a call-up to the senior Brazil national team.
Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney will enjoy playing next to him because by all accounts he's excellent at covering behind an attacking full-back and, unlike some centre-backs, is very comfortable when he's forced into wide areas.
It may take Gabriel a little time to adapt to the Premier League but for Lopez there were no doubts about his ability: "He's got so much talent and physical presence that he could succeed anywhere."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


bbc--2020-09-01--Roglic wins thrilling finish as Alaphilippe retains yellow jersey

Last updated on .From the section Cycling Primoz Roglic offered an impressive display of his form to his fellow Tour de France contenders with victory on a summit finish on stage four .
France 's Julian Alaphilippe finished fifth to retain the yellow jersey .
`` It was quite a fast day , quite hard , '' said Roglic .
`` My team did a really good job again - I was always in a good position and in the end I could do a good sprint and I 'm really happy . ''
Vuelta a Espana champion Roglic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconds down on Alaphilippe , while Britain 's Adam Yates finished 10th to remain second overall at four seconds back .
Slovenia 's Roglic is one of the favourites for overall victory but there were doubts about his fitness coming into the race after he was forced to withdraw while leading the Criterium du Dauphine last month following a crash .
Yet despite Roglic still sporting a few bandages , he and his team reinforced why they are likely to be the main challengers to defending champion Egan Bernal and Ineos Grenadiers this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the last rider left from a six-man breakaway on the 160.5km stage from Sisteron , was caught at the start of the last climb , Jumbo-Visma did most of the work on the front .
Wout van Aert and Sepp Kuss both took turns to set a high pace and prevent attacks , with the latter leading a group of all the favourites into the final kilometre .
Cofidis rider Martin tried to catch them out but Roglic and compatriot Tadej Pogacar jumped onto his wheel , with Bernal and Alaphilippe initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then kicked again to secure his third Tour de France stage win while Pogacar held on for second with Martin third .
Bernal is only 10 seconds back on Roglic in sixth overall and there are plenty of much tougher climbs to come on which the Colombian is more likely to thrive .
But Roglic and his team will gain confidence from their show of strength on the first summit finish of this year 's race , especially with Ineos ' other protected rider Richard Carapaz losing 28 seconds to drop to 21st @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level with Peter Sagan in the points classification and will seek to take the green jersey from the Slovakian on Wednesday 's stage five , which looks likely to end in a bunch sprint .

Primoz Roglic finished fourth in the 2018 Tour de France
Primoz Roglic offered an impressive display of his form to his fellow Tour de France contenders with victory on a summit finish on stage four.
His Jumbo-Visma team dictated the pace on the final climb before Roglic countered an attack by Guillaume Martin to leave his rivals behind and win in Orcieres-Merlette.
France's Julian Alaphilippe finished fifth to retain the yellow jersey.
"It was quite a fast day, quite hard," said Roglic.
"My team did a really good job again - I was always in a good position and in the end I could do a good sprint and I'm really happy."
Vuelta a Espana champion Roglic has moved up to third overall, seven seconds down on Alaphilippe, while Britain's Adam Yates finished 10th to remain second overall at four seconds back.
Slovenia's Roglic is one of the favourites for overall victory but there were doubts about his fitness coming into the race after he was forced to withdraw while leading the Criterium du Dauphine last month following a crash.
Yet despite Roglic still sporting a few bandages, he and his team reinforced why they are likely to be the main challengers to defending champion Egan Bernal and Ineos Grenadiers this year.
After Latvia's Krists Neilands, the last rider left from a six-man breakaway on the 160.5km stage from Sisteron, was caught at the start of the last climb, Jumbo-Visma did most of the work on the front.
Wout van Aert and Sepp Kuss both took turns to set a high pace and prevent attacks, with the latter leading a group of all the favourites into the final kilometre.
Cofidis rider Martin tried to catch them out but Roglic and compatriot Tadej Pogacar jumped onto his wheel, with Bernal and Alaphilippe initially unable to do the same.
Roglic then kicked again to secure his third Tour de France stage win while Pogacar held on for second with Martin third.
Bernal is only 10 seconds back on Roglic in sixth overall and there are plenty of much tougher climbs to come on which the Colombian is more likely to thrive.
But Roglic and his team will gain confidence from their show of strength on the first summit finish of this year's race, especially with Ineos' other protected rider Richard Carapaz losing 28 seconds to drop to 21st overall.
Ireland's Sam Bennett drew level with Peter Sagan in the points classification and will seek to take the green jersey from the Slovakian on Wednesday's stage five, which looks likely to end in a bunch sprint.
Stage four result
1. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) 4hrs 07mins 47secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) Same time
3. Guillaume Martin (Fra/Cofidis)
4. Nairo Quintana (Col/Arkea-Samsic)
5. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Deceuninck-Quick-Step)
6. Miguel Angel Lopez (Spa/Astana)
7. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers)
8. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)
9. Mikel Landa (Spa/Bahrain McLaren)
10. Adam Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott)
General classification after stage four
1. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Deceuninck-Quick-Step) 18hrs 07mins 04secs
2. Adam Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) +4secs
3. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) +7secs
4. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +11secs
5. Guillaume Martin (Fra/Cofidis) +13secs
6. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) +17secs
7. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Jumbo-Visma) Same time
8. Esteban Chaves (Col/Mitchelton-Scott)
9. Nairo Quintana (Col/Arkea-Samsic)
10. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col/Astana)


bbc--2020-09-01--PSG bid for Bellerin but face competition - Wednesday's gossip

Last updated on .From the section Gossip Paris St-Germain have made a bid of £25m plus £5m in add-ons for Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin , with Bayern Munich and Juventus also interested in the 25-year-old Spain defender .
( Guardian ) Chelsea have given N'Golo Kante an £80m price tag with Inter Milan interested in the 29-year-old France midfielder .
( Express ) However , former Leicester player Kante is keen to stay at Chelsea .
( Goal ) Leicester have agreed a deal worth £22m to sign Belgium full-back Timothy Castagne , 24 , from Atalanta .
( Telegraph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 , is keen on a move to Arsenal but the Gunners need to offload players before meeting the Ghana midfielder 's £44.5m release clause .
( Goal ) Monaco have expressed an interest in Watford 's French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure after Everton failed with a bid for the 27-year-old .
( Evening Standard ) Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is ready to sell the club 's record signing , 23-year-old France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele .
( Sun ) Newcastle are attempting to structure a deal for Bournemouth 's Callum Wilson , 28 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejoin the Cherries , but Aston Villa are also keen on the England striker .
( Sky Sports ) PSG have made contact with Inter and Slovakia defender Milan Skriniar , 25 , who is also a target for Tottenham .
( Calciomercato - in Italian ) Crystal Palace have rejected an offer in the region of £20m for Norway forward Alexander Sorloth , 24 , from RB Leipzig .
( Mail ) Juventus want Barcelona and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez , 33 , or Roma 's Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko , 34 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian ) Spain 's Kepa Arrizabalaga , 25 , is prepared to stay and fight for his Chelsea place , even if the club are successful in signing a new goalkeeper .
( Telegraph ) Al Nassr have offered Arsenal 's German playmaker Mesut Ozil , 31 , a 20m euros ( £18m ) contract to join the Saudi Arabian side .
( Fanatik - in Turkish ) Tottenham have announced former Swansea chairman Trevor Birch as their new director of football operations .
( Evening Standard )

Last updated on .From the section Gossip
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi's father has arrived in Spain to hold talks with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu about the Argentina international's future. (Sky Sports) external-link
Messi, 33, has agreed a five-year deal with City Football Group worth £623m that will see him spend three seasons at Manchester City before joining MLS side New York City FC. (Record) external-link
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, 29, has agreed a three-year contract to join Barcelona for about 15m euros (£13.3m). (Sport - in Spanish) external-link
However, the Reds say they have had no contact from the Spanish club about the Netherlands international. (Goal) external-link
Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kai Havertz, 21, had a medical at Chelsea on Sunday, with a £72m deal for the Germany international expected to be confirmed imminently. (Telegraph - subscription required) external-link
Manchester United will not give up in their attempts to sign Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, 20, until the England winger publicly says he wants to stay in Germany. (Sun) external-link
Paris St-Germain have made a bid of £25m plus £5m in add-ons for Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin, with Bayern Munich and Juventus also interested in the 25-year-old Spain defender. (Guardian) external-link
Real Madrid and Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez and Napoli's Brazil midfielder Allan, both 29, will both have medicals at Everton on Wednesday before completing moves to Goodison Park. (Sky Sports) external-link
Is Messi as good as ever or in decline? He wants to leave Barcelona but is he still the best in the world?
Newcastle United are hoping to sign Scotland winger Ryan Fraser, 26, on a free transfer after his departure from Bournemouth. (Chronicle) external-link
Premier League clubs will vote on Thursday on a curtailment plan to be used to determine final league positions if future seasons are abandoned. (Mail) external-link
A second vote on the use of five substitutes in the Premier League next season is facing defeat at Thursday's meeting. (Times - subscription required) external-link
Chelsea want £80m for on N'Golo Kante with Inter Milan interested in the France midfielder. (Express) external-link
However, 29-year-old Kante is keen to stay with the Blues. (Goal) external-link
West Ham United have accepted a £20m bid from Premier League newcomers West Bromwich Albion for English midfielder Grady Diangana, 22. (Mail) external-link
The Baggies are also close to completing a £1m deal for Ivorian defender Cedric Kipre from Wigan Athletic. (Sun) external-link
Leicester City have agreed a deal worth £22m to sign Belgium full-back Timothy Castagne, 24, from Atalanta. (Telegraph - subscription required) external-link
Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey, 27, is keen on a move to Arsenal but the Gunners need to offload players before meeting the Ghana midfielder's £44.5m release clause. (Goal) external-link
Monaco have expressed an interest in Watford's French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure after Everton failed with a bid for the 27-year-old. (Evening Standard) external-link
Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho is ready to sell the club's record 60m euros (£53.8m) signing, 23-year-old France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, who only joined the club in July 2019. (Sun) external-link
Spain's Kepa Arrizabalaga, 25, is prepared to stay and fight for his Chelsea place, even if the club are successful in signing a new goalkeeper. (Telegraph - subscription required) external-link
Newcastle are attempting to structure a deal for Bournemouth's Callum Wilson, 28, that would see 30-year-old Scotland winger Matt Ritchie rejoin the Cherries, but Aston Villa are also keen on the England striker. (Sky Sports) external-link
Fulham boss Scott Parker will sign a new three-year contract after guiding the London club back to the Premier League. (Sun) external-link
PSG have made contact with Inter Milan and Slovakia defender Milan Skriniar, 25, who is also a target for Tottenham. (Calciomercato - in Italian) external-link
Crystal Palace have rejected an offer in the region of £20m for Norway forward Alexander Sorloth, 24, from RB Leipzig. (Mail) external-link
Juventus want Barcelona and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez, 33, or Roma's Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko, 34. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian) external-link
Al Nassr have offered Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil, 31, a 20m euros (£18m) contract to join the Saudi Arabian side. (Fanatik - in Turkish) external-link
Tottenham have announced former Swansea chairman Trevor Birch as their new director of football operations. (Evening Standard) external-link
Fulham are looking into possibility of signing Burkina Faso winger Bertrand Traore, 24, from Lyon. (Sky Sports) external-link