bbc--2020-04-21--Coronavirus: Apple and France in stand-off over contact-tracing app

France is pressing Apple to let its forthcoming coronavirus contract-tracing app work in the background on iPhones without building in the privacy measures the US company wants .
The country 's digital minister confirmed the request in an interview given to Bloomberg .
France 's system would let it glean more information about participating smartphone owners than Apple and its partner Google want to allow .
`` Apple has no reason to agree to this demand and it would open the door to many other requests from other countries and entities , '' Prof Olivier Blazy from the country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As a Frenchman , I think it would be useful to avoid being dependent on the Google-Apple solution but I think it 's strange that the government strategy relies on trying to convince Apple to do something that is against its interest , with no incentive to do so . ''
Apple and Google announced on 10 April they were working together to provide a software building-block - known as an application programming interface ( API ) - that will let authorised Covid-19 contact-tracing apps work more efficiently .
Contact-tracing apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more users are close to each other for a substantial period of time .
If one device owner is subsequently diagnosed as being likely to have the virus , an alert can be sent to those they could have infected , who might be asked to self-isolate .
By using such an app in conjunction with other measures , it would in theory be possible to end wider lockdowns and still suppress the disease , so long as enough people take part .
Apple and Google 's method relies on using Bluetooth signals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberately designed it so neither they nor the apps ' creators can see who has been given a warning .
The companies have said this is to guarantee `` strong protections around user privacy '' , which in turn should encourage adoption .
By contrast , Inria - the French institute developing its StopCovid app - has developed a system of its own , called Robert ( robust and privacy-preserving proximity tracing protocol ) .
It published details about it on Sunday on the code-sharing site Github .
• Why are there doubts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan for its own contact tracing app And although the French government has promised adoption of the app will be voluntary and involve anonymised data , the document reveals there would be ways to `` re-identify users or to infer their contact graphs '' if desired .
`` It 's a misnomer to call it a privacy-preserving protocol , '' said University of Oxford computer scientist Prof Max van Kleek , who prefers the Apple-Google design .
`` It does preserve privacy between users but not between the user and the government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the government later repurposes the system to make sure that people obey a quarantine or other kinds of things the state might want to know . ''
The problem for Inria - and other countries developing their own contact-tracing apps - is Apple currently will not allow Bluetooth-based track-and-tracing to be carried out in the background .
So to work , the apps would have to remain active and on screen , limiting what else owners could do with their handsets and taking an extra toll on battery life .
The developers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get round this problem by offering a Power Save mode , which dims the display .
But users have still complained of being unable to make calls or use other apps at the same time and having accidentally bumped the app into the background when their handset was in their pocket .
And this has discouraged people from using it .
`` We 're asking Apple to lift the technical hurdle to allow us to develop a sovereign European health solution that will be tied to our health system , '' France 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg .
A spokesman for Apple referred BBC News to its earlier comments about privacy .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health NHSX - which is testing an app of its own for the UK - faces a similar quandary and remains in discussions with Apple and Google about the matter .
`` Apple and Google have a vested interest in protecting the privacy of their end-users , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's not just from governments but also from potentially malicious adversaries .
`` If you collect sensitive data , then it becomes more likely that that data will be leaked at some point , so from a cyber-security perspective there 's lots of good reasons not to do so . ''
French lawmakers will vote on whether to proceed with the app , after the country 's government backed down from an original plan to let MPs only debate but not decide the measure .
Assuming they support the initiative , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tool on 11 May .

"As a Frenchman, I think it would be useful to avoid being dependent on the Google-Apple solution but I think it's strange that the government strategy relies on trying to convince Apple to do something that is against its interest, with no incentive to do so."


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: US health official warns of dangerous second wave

A second wave of coronavirus cases in the US could be even worse than the first , the country 's top health official has warned .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) director Robert Redfield said the danger was higher as a fresh outbreak would likely coincide with the flu season .
It would put `` unimaginable strain '' on the US health care system , he said .
The US has seen more than 800,000 cases - the highest in the world .
More than 45,000 people have so far died with coronavirus across the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University .
California had its highest one-day rise in new cases on Monday while New Jersey , the worst-hit US state apart from New York , saw its highest increase in deaths in one day .
In other developments in the US : • President Trump says he will halt applications for US green cards - which give immigrants legal permanent residence and the opportunity to apply for American citizenship - for 60 days • Harvard University says it will keep an $ 8.6m-coronavirus grant despite pressure from President Trump to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus occurred much earlier than previously thought , health officials have confirmed .
A post-mortem examination has revealed that a person who died at home on 6 February in Santa Clara county is now the first known fatality in the US .
Until now , the first fatality was thought to have been a man in Washington state who died on 26 February • The US Senate has unanimously approved $ 484bn ( £392bn ) in coronavirus relief , including funds designed to help small businesses .
The legislation will go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday In an interview with the Washington Post , Mr Redfield said that `` there 's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through '' .
He urged officials in the US to prepare for the possibility of having to confront a flu and a coronavirus epidemic at the same time .
Mr Redfield stressed the importance of getting flu shots .
He said that getting vaccinated `` may allow there to be a hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may get coronavirus '' .
The CDC chief said that coronavirus had arrived in the US as the regular flu season was subsiding .
He argued that if it had arrived at the peak of the winter influenza season , `` it could have been been really , really , really , really difficult '' .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health His warning comes as several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions .
Mr Redfield said that social distancing remained key to curb the spread of the virus and urged officials to keep stressing its importance even as restrictions on movement were lifted .
He said recent anti-lockdown protests were `` not helpful '' .
• What 's behind the US demonstrations ?
He urged state and federal officials to step up tests to identify those who have coronavirus and the people they have had contact .
He said that the Centers for Disease Control planned to hire more than 650 people - more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help with contact tracing among other things .
The CDC was also exploring the possibility of using Census Bureau workers to help with contact tracing he said .

The CDC chief said that coronavirus had arrived in the US as the regular flu season was subsiding. He argued that if it had arrived at the peak of the winter influenza season, "it could have been been really, really, really, really difficult".


bbc--2020-04-22--Canada shooting: Death toll in Nova Scotia rises to 22

The toll from the worst mass shooting in Canada 's modern history , a 14-hour rampage over the weekend , has risen to 22 from 19 , police say .
Authorities are yet to determine a motive for the crime .
Police say the gunman knew some of the victims .
The gunman , a 51-year-old man , was killed in a confrontation with police .
During the attack he wore an authentic RCMP police uniform and drove a `` look-alike '' police vehicle , authorities said .
Nova Scotia RCMP updated the death toll from the attack in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timeline of the events .
Police had previously warned the number of dead could rise as they searched the 16 separate crime scenes across north and central Nova Scotia .
Their work was also slowed by the fact there were a number of fires started - about five , according to police .
They had to search through the debris of those badly burnt-out homes for remains .
The full investigation is likely to take months .
What is known about the shooting ?
The attack began around 22:30 on Saturday ( 01:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Portapique .
Police received multiple calls to the emergency services reporting gunshots , and responders found `` several casualties inside and outside of a home '' but no suspect .
They also discovered `` multiple sites in the immediate area , including structures and vehicles that were on fire '' .
The suspect 's vehicle was found at the crime scene where 23-year RCMP veteran Const Heidi Stevenson was killed in the line of duty .
Victims were also found in the communities of Wentworth , Debert , Shubenacadie/Milford and Enfield , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Little is known about what motivated the suspect , Gabriel Wortman , or why he chose his victims .
Who were the victims ?
Among the dead were a teacher , a home care nurse working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic , and an RCMP officer .
A national virtual vigil will be held this week to honour the victims of the shooting , as the province is locked-down due to the virus .
Many other virtual vigils have since sprung up on social media as people mourn the tragedy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stevenson , a 23-year veteran of the force and a mother of two .
Another was Heather O'Brien , who was caring for the elderly with the non-profit Victorian Order of Nurses ( VON ) , during the provincial-wide lockdown before she was killed near her hometown of Debert , Nova Scotia .
Another VON employee , Kristen Beaton , was also killed during the shooting .
Lisa McCully , a mother of two , was among the victims .
McCully had been a school teacher at Debert Elementary School , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victims - both men and women , according to police - have been named .
Sean McLeod and his partner Alanna Jenkins were among those killed .
Their neighbour , Tom Bagley , also died , apparently while checking in on the couple on Sunday morning .
`` He died trying to help , which if you knew him , you knew that was just who he was all the time .
I know he meant something to so many people , '' his daughter Charlene Bagley said on Facebook .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help pay for the funeral costs of a family of three , Jolene Oliver her husband Aaron ( Friar ) Tuck and their daughter Emily Tuck .
Married couple Jamie Blair and Greg Blair were killed Sunday , according to a relative .
`` My family has been through so much , no one should have ever had to deal with this .
I love you both so much , & sending all my love to my family & every other families who lost someone today , '' said Jessica MacBurnie on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morrison - was injured during the rampage but is recovering .
Police said on Tuesday they have `` information that other members of the public have been injured as well '' but did not offer more details .
What more do we know about the investigation ?
Police say the investigation is `` is detailed and complex '' .
`` The investigative team is focused on learning more about this very tragic situation , including accurate victim information and whether others may have aided the suspect , '' the RCMP said in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hunt for the gunman was hampered by the fact he was driving a vehicle that looked like a police cruiser and was wearing a police uniform .
How he procured both is part of the investigation .
The search ended around midday on Sunday when the suspected shooter was located by police at a service station in Enfield , north of the provincial capital of Halifax .
He was shot and later died .
Police have faced criticism for failing to issue a province-wide emergency alert to warn residents of the danger during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police on Twitter and Facebook during the incident , asking people to stay inside and lock their doors .
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said on Tuesday provincial authorities did not receive a request from police for a wider alert .

"My family has been through so much, no one should have ever had to deal with this. I love you both so much, & sending all my love to my family & every other families who lost someone today," said Jessica MacBurnie on Facebook.


bbc--2020-04-22--Will anyone ever find Shackleton's lost ship?

It 's going to take a monumental effort to locate the iconic ship of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton .
This is the conclusion of scientists who tried and failed last year to find the Endurance , which sank in 3,000m of water in the Weddell Sea in 1915 .
The team says the sea-ice in the area above the wreck site is nearly always thick and extensive .
It means most expeditions would struggle even to get close enough to begin a search .
The Weddell Sea Expedition 2019 did amazingly well , reaching the recognised wreck location and launching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to survey the ocean floor .
But this robot broke communications with the expedition research vessel , SA Agulhas II , some 20 hours into its mapping operation and was never seen again .
What it might have detected , we 'll never know .
Encroaching sea-ice forced the team to abandon its AUV and to vacate the area .
The expedition scientists have now written up an assessment of the local conditions in this unforgiving sector of the Antarctic .
They 've also provided some advice for anyone else who might want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` To finally locate the Endurance on the seafloor would require favourable sea-ice conditions in the central western Weddell Sea , including the presence of wide ( open water ) leads , '' said Dr Christine Batchelor from the Scott Polar Research Institute ( SPRI ) in Cambridge , UK .
`` In addition , a two-ship operation may be needed to break ice and successfully launch and recover an autonomous underwater vehicle , '' she told BBC News .
Shackleton 's story is one of the most extraordinary tales from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trapped in sea-ice for over 10 months , his Endurance ship drifted around the Weddell Sea until ultimately it was crushed by the floes and dropped to the deep .
How Shackleton and his men then made their escape on foot and in lifeboats is the stuff of legend .
Where the Endurance went down is well known ; the ship 's captain Frank Worsley logged the position using a sextant and a theodolite .
But reaching this part of the Weddell Sea , just east of the Larsen ice shelves on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even for modern ice-breakers .
The 2019 team used satellite data to appraise the concentration of sea-ice at the wreck site from 2002 to the present .
The group shows that in 14 of the 18 years assessed , the conditions were `` bad '' .
The nearest open water could be 200km or more away .
One of the `` good '' years was 2002 , which allowed the German research vessel Polarstern to make a very close pass and conduct some limited mapping ( echosounding ) of the seafloor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp enough to detect the Endurance but it has yielded interesting insights into the nature of the ocean bed - with encouraging implications for the likely state of the wreck .
Endurance is probably lying on flat terrain that has been undisturbed either by erosion or by underwater landslides .
Sediment deposition is also expected to be low , at a rate of less than 1mm a year .
`` So , it 's not going to be covered by sediment , '' said Prof Julian Dowdeswell , the director of the SPRI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be damaged by something coming in from the side .
And at 3,000m , it 's way below the maximum depth of any iceberg keel .
Glaciologically and geophysically - Endurance should be unharmed . ''
This all augurs well for future attempts to find what is among the most famous of all wrecks .
It 's certainly right at the top of the list of targets for David Mearns , whose expertise in finding lost ships is world-renowned .
He commented : `` It is a shame the 2019 search failed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they had the best ice conditions seen in the past 17 years .
`` This proves my long-held contention that a 'single-ship ' expedition is too risky , even with good ice conditions , and that the key to finding Endurance lies in a different approach , '' he told BBC News .
Prof Dowdeswell is pessimistic that anyone would fund a mission with the sole objective of locating the Endurance .
Most future efforts , he believes , will be `` add-ons '' to more broader scientific expeditions to the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ venture last year which had the primary objective of studying the melting and retreat of the Larsen ice shelves .
`` Yes , you want AUVs and remotely operated vehicles ( ROVs ) to search for , and to photograph , the wreck , but it 's a great opportunity to use those state-of-the-art vehicles in order to do science ; and there is no doubt that we would n't have done as much science without those pieces of kit on board , and we would n't have had that equipment on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Endurance .
It was a balance between exploration and science , '' he said .
Prof Dowdeswell and colleagues on the Weddell Sea Expedition 2019 have published their report in the journal Antarctic Science .
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET @ bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter : @ BBCAmos

"Yes, you want AUVs and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to search for, and to photograph, the wreck, but it's a great opportunity to use those state-of-the-art vehicles in order to do science; and there is no doubt that we wouldn't have done as much science without those pieces of kit on board, and we wouldn't have had that equipment on board unless we were looking for Shackleton's Endurance. It was a balance between exploration and science," he said.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Harvard rejects Trump demand to pay back aid

Harvard University has pushed back against US President Donald Trump after he demanded it pay back nearly $ 9m ( £7.3m ) in coronavirus relief aid .
The president said he was unhappy that the ultra-wealthy Ivy League college had received stimulus money .
But the university said the funds would help students facing `` urgent financial needs '' because of the pandemic .
Harvard is rated the world 's wealthiest university with an endowment fund valued at $ 40bn .
At Tuesday 's coronavirus briefing , Mr Trump told a journalist : `` I want Harvard to pay that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't do that , we wo n't do something else .
`` They have to pay it back , I do n't like it .
This is meant for workers , this is n't meant for one of the richest institutions , not only , far beyond schools in the world .
They got to pay it back . ''
In a statement that followed , Harvard acknowledged receiving its $ 8.6m through the $ 2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( Cares ) Act that Mr Trump signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it would pay the money back .
The college tweeted : `` Harvard has committed that 100 % of these emergency higher education funds will be used to provide direct assistance to students facing urgent financial needs due to the Covid-19 pandemic . ''
The university said it had already provided financial assistance to students with travel , living expenses and online education amid the pandemic .
• Universities warn of going bust without extra cash But Harvard disputed the president 's suggestion that it had received aid through the Payment Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifeline for businesses struggling amid the pandemic .
Harvard said it had instead benefited from the stimulus bill 's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund , which disburses money based on an institution 's overall number of students and how many lower-income students are enrolled .
The Cares Act reserved $ 12.5bn in federal aid to about 5,000 colleges and universities .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY : How California kept ahead of the curve • ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The good that may come out of this crisis Harvard was not the only elite university to receive a windfall under the stimulus .
Princeton , which has a $ 26bn endowment , is getting $ 2.4m , while Yale - endowment $ 30bn - is receiving $ 6.9m .
The US Senate on Tuesday approved another $ 330bn of emergency relief funds to help small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic after the original aid package of $ 350bn ran out of money last week .
The PPP was designed to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payroll during the coronavirus emergency that has left 22 million American workers claiming unemployment benefits .
But instead of going towards such small businesses , nearly $ 250bn of the initial stimulus went to publicly traded companies with market values topping $ 100m , according to analysis from Morgan Stanley , an investment bank .

"They have to pay it back, I don't like it. This is meant for workers, this isn't meant for one of the richest institutions, not only, far beyond schools in the world. They got to pay it back."


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Spanish PM Sánchez sees 'slow and gradual' end to lockdown

Spain will slowly ease its nationwide lockdown in the second half of May , the prime minister said , provided authorities stay `` on top of the virus '' .
Pedro Sánchez asked parliament in Madrid for a third extension to the state of emergency until 9 May .
The government has also announced looser restrictions on children , allowing them to leave the house .
Spain imposed its lockdown on 14 March , with some of the tightest restrictions in Europe .
Currently , children are not allowed outside for any reason .
After mounting criticism , the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aged 14 and under out for walks from 26 April .
• Madrid ’ s medical heroes in fight of their lives Construction and manufacturing businesses were allowed to resume work last week , albeit under strict new social distancing and safety measures .
Spain currently has the most confirmed coronavirus infections in Europe .
Latest data released on Wednesday show the death toll stands at 21,717 , rising by 435 in the past 24 hours - the second consecutive day-on-day rise .
The total number of confirmed cases has risen to 208,389 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Addressing parliament in Madrid on Wednesday , Mr Sánchez asked for the state of emergency to be extended for a third time by an additional two weeks .
The prime minister said Spain could then hopefully begin to ease its restrictions in the second half of May , but warned that `` de-escalation will be slow '' .
`` We must avoid missteps , '' he warned .
`` If we stay on top of the virus and our health system maintains and reinforces that impression , then we will propose another step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extension .
The measure is expected to pass , although some parties , including the far-right Vox and two from Catalonia have said they will not back it .
Mr Sánchez said he expected EU leaders to agree a common economic response to the coronavirus outbreak during a European Council video summit on Thursday .
Spain , as well as Italy and France , has called for greater support from the EU to finance member states ' economic recovery .
The opposition People 's Party leader , Pablo Casado , bitterly criticised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis as incompetent , arguing that the state of alarm should have been introduced a week earlier .
`` This is is not a war , as the government likes to compare it to , this is a human catastrophe , '' he said , adding that his uncle had died and the family were unable to bury him together .
The state of emergency imposed on 14 March had some of the tightest restrictions in Europe - including barring all children from going outside for any reason .
After weeks of confinement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers criticised the continuing restriction .
Barcelona 's mayor Ada Colau took to Facebook , demanding the government `` Free our children '' .
On Tuesday the government announced its plans to ease restrictions , saying children aged 14 and under could accompany their parents on errands .
But there was anger the authorities had not gone further .
People in Madrid took to their balconies to bang pots and pans in protest .
`` This is a government that listens and next weekend I will issue an order allowing children under 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26th , '' Health Minister Salvador Illa said .
Details about where and for how long they can walk will be released later this week .
Children will still need to be accompanied by an adult .
• Belgium has reported another 263 deaths , bringing the total to 6,262 .
More than half the latest fatalities were in nursing homes • Germany is to begin clinical trials of a new corona vaccine on humans by the end of April , involving some 200 volunteers aged 18 to 55 • In one month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £69m ) after handing out about 200,000 fines to people who flouted national virus restrictions .
It 's roughly equivalent to the national corporate tax income for the whole of February • Traffic cameras in Moscow will now check cars for digital travel permits , as the Russian capital tightens its lockdown measures .
Anyone with cold-like symptoms will also have to stay home , as will their family members • There has been a fourth consecutive night of unrest in the Paris suburb of Villeneuve-la-Garenne .
Social tensions have risen further under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association `` intends not to continue '' the top flight 's football season after the Netherlands extended a nationwide ban on major events until 1 September You may also be interested in : • A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

"This is is not a war, as the government likes to compare it to, this is a human catastrophe," he said, adding that his uncle had died and the family were unable to bury him together.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: US green cards to be halted for 60 days, Trump says

President Donald Trump has said he will halt applications of foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the US because of the coronavirus crisis .
A day after he announced the move in an ambiguous tweet , Mr Trump said the measure would protect American jobs .
It is not clear how effective it will be as most visa services have already been suspended because of the outbreak .
Critics say he is trying to distract attention away from his response to the virus .
The US has nearly 45,000 deaths .
Democrats also accuse the administration of using the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue has traditionally been a strong campaigning theme for Mr Trump , a Republican , but has taken a back seat during the crisis and in the lead-up to the November election .
At a White House coronavirus briefing , Mr Trump said the executive order with the decision was likely to be signed on Wednesday .
The ban could be extended `` much longer '' depending on how the economy was doing , he said .
• Follow our live updates from around the world After vowing to suspend `` all immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr Trump apparently changed his original plan after a backlash from some business leaders .
It would reportedly impact immigrants given temporary working visas , like farm labourers and hi-tech employees .
What did President Trump say ?
More than 20 million Americans have lost their jobs amid the coronavirus outbreak , and the president said the government had a `` solemn duty '' to ensure they regain their jobs .
`` It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that there could be some exemptions to the measure .
`` We want to protect our US workers and I think as we move forward we will become more and more protective of them '' .
The US has the highest number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the world - more than 820,000 - according to Johns Hopkins University , which is tracking the disease globally .
• They give immigrants legal permanent residence and the opportunity to apply for American citizenship • In a typical year , nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US • The majority - roughly 70 % - go to those with relatives living in the US , according to a 2018 report from the US Senate • For employment-based green cards , a common form of the residency status , roughly 80 % are issued to those already in the country , shifting from a temporary visa to permanent residence Details of Donald Trump 's `` immigration ban '' have emerged , and it turns out the proposal is not as sweeping as his tweet originally suggested .
The 60-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not temporary workers .
That means the public health rationale for the move is even more tenuous , however .
Screening immigrants for the virus would appear to be just as effective as a total halt .
As many suspected , the primary justification is economic .
In the president 's view , permanent workers compete with US citizens for jobs - and in a financial crisis , their presence is neither needed nor desired .
Many economists will be quick to disagree , arguing that the benefits of immigration outweigh the costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump will be happy to have , however .
There is also the very real possibility that the order will become bogged down in the courts - a fate that befell the president 's immigration orders made in the early days of his presidency .
Although the administration ultimately prevailed , those battles took time .
And the end of Mr Trump 's first term at this point is measured in months , not years .
The president could be betting , however , that his base will appreciate the effort - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health What has the reaction been ?
Ali Noorani , of the National Immigration Forum , said `` immigrants account for 17 % of healthcare workers and 24 % of direct care workers `` in the US .
`` It is unfortunate the president would rather scapegoat the other than building a consensus that helps all of through this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Thomas Homan , the president 's former acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement , said it made `` sense '' and would keep jobs for unemployed Americans .
While such a move would usually affect millions , travel bans to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have already effectively halted immigration , making some question how much of a difference this will really make .
`` The embassies are not open anyway , so this is like nothing new , '' Carl Shusterman , who has practiced immigration law since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press news agency as saying .
`` This announcement does n't really change anything unless the embassies were to open up next week or in the next 60 days . ''
What else is happening in the US ?
• The Senate approved on Tuesday another $ 330bn ( £269bn ) of emergency relief funds to help small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic after the original aid package of $ 350bn ran out of money last week • Harvard University has pushed back against President Trump after he demanded it pay back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and said the funds would help students facing `` urgent financial needs '' because of the pandemic • The state of Missouri is suing the Chinese government over its handling of the outbreak which it says has led to severe economic losses

That means the public health rationale for the move is even more tenuous, however. Screening immigrants for the virus would appear to be just as effective as a total halt. As many suspected, the primary justification is economic. In the president's view, permanent workers compete with US citizens for jobs - and in a financial crisis, their presence is neither needed nor desired.


bbc--2020-04-21--My life as a single mom and intensive care doctor

Dr Melanie Malloy , an intensive care doctor at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City , is also raising @ @ @ @ @ as a widow .
She balances helping patients with Covid-19 and providing her children with @ @ @ @ @ Malloy shows what a typical day is like for her .
New York is the @ @ @ @ @ over 14,600 deaths .

Dr Melanie Malloy, an intensive care doctor at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City, is also raising her children on her own as a widow.
She balances helping patients with Covid-19 and providing her children with a good upbringing.
Dr Malloy shows what a typical day is like for her.
New York is the worst affected US state with over 14,600 deaths.


bbc--2020-04-21--Who wins and who loses when oil prices fall?

A slump in oil prices is normally a cause for celebration in gas-guzzling nations .
The average American burns through 10 litres of oil or oil products per day in normal times .
But for oil producing countries - the `` global petropolis '' - such a drop in the cost of crude can spell disaster , and hardship for millions .
It 's easy to see why oil is referred to as black gold .
When the price was riding high , oil revenues filled the coffers of companies and governments in the countries that produce it .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But now , having oil can be a curse rather than a blessing .
The International Energy Agency previously warned that Ecuador , Nigeria and Iraq could be worst hit , with earnings falling by between 50 % and 85 % - and that was assuming oil prices of $ 30 a barrel .
Now , it 's less than $ 20 a barrel .
All their economies were under pressure already , all are heavily dependent on oil .
Fuel accounts for 98.5 % of Iraq 's export earnings ( gems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make up most of the rest ) .
The agency claims Iraq 's government will now face a $ 50bn spending shortfall for the year , even if it were to only pay its civil servants , rendering spending on areas like healthcare vulnerable at the worst possible time .
How much a country spends on producing oil also dictates its vulnerability .
Saudi Arabia has one of the lowest bills for extracting oil - but its dependence on the commodity means it too could face a funding shortfall of over $ 100bn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last major drop in oil prices in 2014 .
Attempts to push into areas such as tourism were insufficient to plug the gap .
It needs the oil price to be around $ 85 a barrel to balance the books on government spending .
Ironically , it was Saudi that accelerated the oil price volatility by threatening to boost production to punish its rival Russia - a country which is far less vulnerable to swings in the price of crude .
President Trump has weighed in to promise support to the US oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 650bn of subsidies the fossil fuel sector already gets ) .
While it is the issues of storage and distribution there that have caused such a marked swing in the West Texas Intermediate measure of prices , oil production makes up a far lesser proportion of the US economy than in many other nations .
And that makes the US less vulnerable .
The lower price is , in theory , a bonus to its drivers and factories - and to those elsewhere .
Typically , countries that are net users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that is very muted for most at present , given restrictions on movements and production .
But it 'll benefit oil 's biggest customer , China , which accounts for a fifth of imports and is reportedly stockpiling bargain-basement crude as it fires up its production lines again .
On the whole , as the oil price has dropped , the risk of deeper recessions for producers has grown .
However , if sustained , the fall could help the recovery in other nations further down the road .

President Trump has weighed in to promise support to the US oil and gas industry (in addition to the $650bn of subsidies the fossil fuel sector already gets). While it is the issues of storage and distribution there that have caused such a marked swing in the West Texas Intermediate measure of prices, oil production makes up a far lesser proportion of the US economy than in many other nations. And that makes the US less vulnerable.


bbc--2020-04-22--Mozambique villagers 'massacred' by Islamists

Islamist militants have killed around 52 people in northern Mozambique , police say .
The police say that the villagers in Cabo Delgado province were `` massacred '' , with some beheaded , after some people refused to be recruited into the militant group .
Hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced during the three-year insurgency in Cabo Delgado .
No group has said it was behind the attack .
• Africa Live : Updates from around the continent A militant group calling itself al-Shabab operates in the area and last month briefly seized control of the town of Mocimboa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is linked to the significantly larger Somali movement of the same name .
The Islamic State Central Africa Province ( Iscap ) , affiliated with the Islamic State group , has said it was behind some previous attacks in Mozambique .
The attack took place in the village of Xitaxi in Muidumbe district on 7 April but only came to light late on Tuesday .
`` Recently , the criminals tried to recruit young people to join their ranks , but there was resistance on the part of the youths .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who indiscriminately killed - cruelly and diabolically - 52 young people , '' police spokesman Orlando Mudumane told state media .
Cabo Delgado is one of Mozambique 's poorest regions , but is rich in untapped mineral resources .
In 2010 , Mozambique discovered huge gas reserves in Rovuma Basin , off the Indian Ocean coast of Cabo Delgado .
Last Wednesday , national police commander Bernardino Rafael denied that any parts of the province were under the control of insurgents , reports Reuters news agency .
There is conflicting information about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which happened two weeks ago .
There have been reports that 14 local people were massacred .
The Mozambique government - which rarely offers information about this sort of attack - has now announced a much larger figure .
The timing and context of the police statement may be significant .
The so-called Islamic State group - which has sought to take credit for recent insurgent attacks in northern Mozambique - has just put out a video claiming responsibility for the downing of a military helicopter in the region .
The helicopter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several foreign security companies allegedly hired by the Mozambique government to support its counter-insurgency operations in Cabo Delgado province .
There is speculation that the Mozambique authorities are now highlighting the 7 April incident in order to deflect attention from what is widely considered a propaganda coup for IS , which is actively seeking to build `` franchise '' operations in conflict zones across Africa .
Other recent videos have tended to strengthen the theory that the insurgency in Cabo Delgado is a home-grown Islamist rebellion , fuelled largely by local grievances .

The so-called Islamic State group - which has sought to take credit for recent insurgent attacks in northern Mozambique - has just put out a video claiming responsibility for the downing of a military helicopter in the region. The helicopter is reported to belong to one of several foreign security companies allegedly hired by the Mozambique government to support its counter-insurgency operations in Cabo Delgado province.


bbc--2020-04-22--Don't forget 'deeper emergency' on Earth Day

Despite the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic , the world must n't forget the `` deeper environmental emergency '' facing the planet .
That 's the view of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres , in remarks released to celebrate Earth Day .
The toll taken by the virus is both `` immediate and dreadful '' , Mr Guterres says .
But the crisis is also a wake-up call , `` to do things right for the future , '' said the Secretary General .
• Trump 's WHO de-funding 'as dangerous as it sounds' Mr Guterres re-iterated his view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world has faced since the Second World War .
But as the world commemorates the 50th anniversary of Earth Day , the planet 's `` unfolding environmental crisis '' is an `` even deeper emergency '' , he says .
`` Climate disruption is approaching a point of no return .
`` We must act decisively to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential threat of climate disruption . ''
A long-term advocate of strong action to tackle global heating , Mr Guterres is now proposing six climate-related actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
The world has to deliver new jobs and businesses through a `` clean , green transition '' .
Taxpayers ' money , when it is used , `` needs to be tied to achieving green jobs and sustainable growth '' .
Money must be used to make people and societies more resilient to climate change , he says .
`` Public funds should be used to invest in the future not the past . ''
Fossil fuel subsidies from governments is a theme that Mr Guterres has highlighted many times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ polluters must pay for their pollution .
The world will need to work together , says the Secretary General , and climate risks will need to be factored into the financial system and be at the heart of all public policy .
The links between climate change and the coronavirus have also been highlighted by many observers and experts in the field .
`` While the pandemic will lead to a temporary dip in global greenhouse gas emissions , this must not distract from the urgent need for rapid fundamental changes in infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems to set us on a path to net zero emissions globally by 2050 at the latest , '' said Andrew Norton , director of the International Institute for Environment and Development ( IIED ) .
`` Land use change and deforestation are primary global drivers of biodiversity destruction .
They heighten the risk of further pandemics by bringing humans into contact with new threats such as the coronavirus .
Every species lost is an irreversible event that decreases the resilience of natural and human systems on a permanent basis . ''
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was first established on April 22 1970 , many researchers are keen to highlight how the threats to the planet have grown over time .
`` The Covid-19 pandemic is a reminder that our existence on Earth is fragile , '' said Dr Karen O'Neill , from Rutgers University in the US .
`` Environmentalism since that first Earth Day has expanded to recognise links between human health and ecosystems . ''
`` Degraded environments and pollution make us more likely to encounter novel viruses and to be more vulnerable to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

"While the pandemic will lead to a temporary dip in global greenhouse gas emissions, this must not distract from the urgent need for rapid fundamental changes in infrastructure, energy, land use and industrial systems to set us on a path to net zero emissions globally by 2050 at the latest," said Andrew Norton, director of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).


bbc--2020-04-22--Facebook's $5.7bn bet on India's richest man Mukesh Ambani

Facebook has said it is investing $ 5.7bn ( £4.6bn ) in cut-price Indian mobile internet company Reliance Jio , which is owned by the country 's richest person Mukesh Ambani .
The deal makes the social network the largest minority shareholder in the telecoms unit of Reliance Industries , with a 9.99 % stake .
It gives Facebook a major foothold in India , where its WhatsApp chat service has 400m users and is about to launch a payments service .
`` This investment underscores our commitment to India , and our excitement for the dramatic transformation that Jio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook said in a statement .
Facebook also said that it plans to focus on the collaboration between WhatsApp and Reliance 's e-commerce venture JioMart to enable people to connect with businesses , shops and purchase products .
In February this year WhatsApp Pay was granted permission by Indian authorities to start a phased roll-out , two years after the start of a trial version of the service .
In a separate statement Reliance Jio said the agreement will be good for both the company and the country as a whole : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development , fulfilling the needs of Indian people and the Indian economy . ''
Reliance Jio is the most valued subsidiary of Reliance Industries , the oil-to-telecoms conglomerate .
The company has been able to upend India 's telecoms market in this short span by offering very low data prices , which has allowed it to keep competition at bay .
With a presence across a suite of services such as mobile telephony , live TV , music streaming and payments , Facebook will be looking to drive synergies across services and further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal also comes in at a particularly opportune time for Mr Ambani , who has been making a concerted effort to reduce the debt on his books .
He 's ploughed in a reported $ 25 billion into Jio in recent years towards capital expenditure .
At a group level Reliance 's liabilities have jumped to $ 65 billion in financial year 2019 , from $ 19 billion in 2015 .
The Facebook deal will be a critical element of Mr Ambani 's ambitions to cut net debt to zero by March 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital new commerce platform Jio Mart will collaborate with Whatsapp in the near future to help `` mom and pop '' shops transact digitally with their customers in the neighbourhood .
Since launching in 2016 Jio has attracted some 370 million subscribers to its service .
That rapid growth has seen the company borrow large amounts of money and the deal with Facebook will help it to deliver on its plan to cut net debt to zero by March of next year .
India is seen as a key market for the growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform .
The number of internet users in the world 's largest democracy will grow to around 850m in 2022 , according to consultancy firm PwC .
The move marks a further tie-up between the Indian telecoms platform and US technology giants .
Last year Microsoft announced plans to partner with Jio to offer cloud computing to businesses .
The deals come as the Indian market has become increasingly difficult for American companies to get into , as the government has imposed new restrictions to overseas businesses operating there .

This deal also comes in at a particularly opportune time for Mr Ambani, who has been making a concerted effort to reduce the debt on his books. He's ploughed in a reported $25 billion into Jio in recent years towards capital expenditure. At a group level Reliance's liabilities have jumped to $65 billion in financial year 2019, from $19 billion in 2015. The Facebook deal will be a critical element of Mr Ambani's ambitions to cut net debt to zero by March 2021.


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Singapore's migrant workers 'living in fear'

A rising wave of infections among Singapore ’ s massive migrant worker population threatens to derail the city-state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .
About 80 % of all cases in Singapore have been linked to the dormitories @ @ @ @ @ from South Asia are housed .
Singapore has now sealed off multiple dormitories , as @ @ @ @ @ testing and tries to move healthy workers out , but questions are being raised about @ @ @ @ @ to protect them .
People living in the dorms said they were scared about getting @ @ @ @ @ the future holds for them .
We agreed to protect the identify of the workers @ @ @ @ @ .

A rising wave of infections among Singapore’s massive migrant worker population threatens to derail the city-state’s success in fighting the coronavirus.
About 80% of all cases in Singapore have been linked to the dormitories where low paid migrant workers from South Asia are housed.
Singapore has now sealed off multiple dormitories, as the government carries out extensive testing and tries to move healthy workers out, but questions are being raised about why more wasn't done to protect them.
People living in the dorms said they were scared about getting ill, and about what the future holds for them.
We agreed to protect the identify of the workers who spoke to the BBC.
Edited by Christine Hah


bbc--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Hampshire woman, 99, survives Covid-19

A 99-year-old woman is recovering at home after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus .
Carrie Pollock tested positive at @ @ @ @ @ Portsmouth , in early March after she was admitted with hallucinations and suspected pneumonia .
@ @ @ @ @ is now back at home in Hayling Island with her family and says she 's @ @ @ @ @ .
Watch more personal stories during the coronavirus outbreak : Your Coronavirus Stories

A 99-year-old woman is recovering at home after being admitted to hospital with coronavirus.
Carrie Pollock tested positive at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, in early March after she was admitted with hallucinations and suspected pneumonia.
The former Special Branch officer is now back at home in Hayling Island with her family and says she's feeling "much better".
A film by Abby Newbery
Watch more personal stories during the coronavirus outbreak: Your Coronavirus Stories


bbc--2020-04-22--BeIN Sport urges Premier League to 'fully interrogate' Newcastle takeover

The Premier League has been urged by one of its largest overseas broadcast partners to `` fully interrogate '' Newcastle United 's proposed £300m takeover .
The chief executive of the Qatar-based TV giant beIN Sport , Yousef al-Obaidly , has written to the chairs of top-flight clubs about the deal , which could see the Magpies bought by a Saudi-backed consortium .
In the letter , Al-Obaidly accuses the Saudi Arabian government of the `` facilitation of the near three-year theft of the Premier League 's commercial rights - and in turn your club 's commercial revenues - through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service '' .
`` It is no exaggeration to say that the future economic model of football is at stake , '' added Al-Obaidly , who has also written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters .
Broadcaster beoutQ has been illegally showing matches - mainly in Saudi Arabia - despite the rights to show games in the region belonging to beIN Sports , who are currently in the middle of a three-year deal with the Premier League worth £400m .
Last year football authorities attempted to shut the beoutQ service down without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied that beoutQ uses its frequencies to broadcast illegally and has accused beIN of being behind `` defamation attempts and misleading campaigns '' .
Describing the issue as `` a matter of urgency '' , Al-Obaidly continues : `` Given the crippling economic effect that coronavirus is having on the sports industry , this is all happening at a time when football clubs need to protect their broadcast revenue the most . ''
Saudi Arabia 's sovereign wealth fund the PIF ( Public Investment Fund ) is understood to be set to acquire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of a consortium including financier Amanda Staveley and billionaires the Reuben brothers .
Mike Ashley has owned Newcastle since 2007 and put them up for sale in 2017 .
In his letter to Masters , al-Obaidly says : `` To the extent the reports about the acquisition of NUFC are correct , we consider it essential for the Premier League to fully investigate the potential acquirer of the club , including all directors , officers and other representatives from the KSA PIF or other Saudi Arabian entities involved in , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There appear to be several reasons why such an investigation is being called for by other parties ; our request is purely based on Saudi Arabia 's past and present theft of your and your member clubs ' intellectual property rights . ''
The Premier League must decide whether the group of investors backed by Saudi Arabia 's sovereign wealth fund meets its owners ' and directors ' test and is understood to currently be in the process of working through paperwork connected to the deal , which could take two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Premier League in its owners ' and directors ' test to consider `` the direct role of Saudi Arabia '' in the beoutQ service , the challenge the Premier League faces in `` taking any action to protect its own intellectual property rights in the country '' and its ability to `` enforce '' its rules against `` Saudi Arabian based persons or entities '' .
This comes during a time when both Saudi Arabia and Qatar are involved in a wider diplomatic row in the Middle East .
BeIN is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Premier League , though last year the group did threaten to pull its deal with Serie A over the decision to stage the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia .
Human rights campaigners Amnesty International have also criticised the potential deal .
Amnesty UK director Kate Allen said in a separate letter to Masters : `` So long as these questions [ about Saudi Arabia 's human rights record ] remain unaddressed , the Premier League is putting itself at risk of becoming a patsy of those who want to use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cover up actions that are deeply immoral , in breach of international law and at odds with the values of the Premier League and the global footballing community . ''
BBC Sport has contacted the Saudi wealth fund and representatives of the consortium asking for a response to Amnesty 's letter .
The Premier League declined to comment on the Amnesty letter and Newcastle have also been approached by BBC Sport .
Amnesty - a non-governmental organisation which focuses on human rights - has long criticised Saudi Arabia 's human rights record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's rights , the treatment of the LGBT community and the restriction of free speech .
Western intelligence agencies also believe the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 was ordered by the Crown Prince - something he denies .
Saudi authorities blamed a `` rogue operation '' for Khashoggi 's death .
The country has also been accused of 'sportswashing ' , a term used to describe countries that try to improve their international reputation by investing in major teams or hosting big sporting events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using sporting events and personalities as a means of improving the Kingdom 's reputation following the grisly murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi - widely believed to have taken place with his approval , '' the Amnesty letter continued .
`` Such positive associations with sporting events also distract attention from Saudi 's appalling human rights record , including the imprisonment and torture of women human rights defenders . ''
Accusations of sportswashing have previously been rebuffed by the man heading Saudi Arabia 's unprecedented investment in sports , HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get people more engaged in sport , '' he said .
`` In 2015 just 13 % of Saudis took part in sports for half an hour or more each week ; we want that to be 40 % by 2030 .
This is all part of a programme designed to get people more active . ''

Newcastle United sat 13th in the Premier League when the season was suspended in March
The Premier League has been urged by one of its largest overseas broadcast partners to "fully interrogate" Newcastle United's proposed £300m takeover.
The chief executive of the Qatar-based TV giant beIN Sport, Yousef al-Obaidly, has written to the chairs of top-flight clubs about the deal, which could see the Magpies bought by a Saudi-backed consortium.
In the letter, Al-Obaidly accuses the Saudi Arabian government of the "facilitation of the near three-year theft of the Premier League's commercial rights - and in turn your club's commercial revenues - through its backing of the huge-scale beoutQ pirate service".
"It is no exaggeration to say that the future economic model of football is at stake," added Al-Obaidly, who has also written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
Broadcaster beoutQ has been illegally showing matches - mainly in Saudi Arabia - despite the rights to show games in the region belonging to beIN Sports, who are currently in the middle of a three-year deal with the Premier League worth £400m.
Last year football authorities attempted to shut the beoutQ service down without success.
Saudi broadcaster Arabsat has always denied that beoutQ uses its frequencies to broadcast illegally and has accused beIN of being behind "defamation attempts and misleading campaigns".
Describing the issue as "a matter of urgency", Al-Obaidly continues: "Given the crippling economic effect that coronavirus is having on the sports industry, this is all happening at a time when football clubs need to protect their broadcast revenue the most."
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund the PIF (Public Investment Fund) is understood to be set to acquire an 80% stake in the club as part of a consortium including financier Amanda Staveley and billionaires the Reuben brothers.
Mike Ashley has owned Newcastle since 2007 and put them up for sale in 2017.
In his letter to Masters, al-Obaidly says: "To the extent the reports about the acquisition of NUFC are correct, we consider it essential for the Premier League to fully investigate the potential acquirer of the club, including all directors, officers and other representatives from the KSA PIF or other Saudi Arabian entities involved in, or otherwise providing any financing for the acquisition.
"There appear to be several reasons why such an investigation is being called for by other parties; our request is purely based on Saudi Arabia's past and present theft of your and your member clubs' intellectual property rights."
The Premier League must decide whether the group of investors backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund meets its owners' and directors' test and is understood to currently be in the process of working through paperwork connected to the deal, which could take two to three weeks.
BeIN have asked the Premier League in its owners' and directors' test to consider "the direct role of Saudi Arabia" in the beoutQ service, the challenge the Premier League faces in "taking any action to protect its own intellectual property rights in the country" and its ability to "enforce" its rules against "Saudi Arabian based persons or entities".
This comes during a time when both Saudi Arabia and Qatar are involved in a wider diplomatic row in the Middle East.
BeIN is not thought to be considering its partnership with the Premier League, though last year the group did threaten to pull its deal with Serie A over the decision to stage the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. external-link
Amnesty criticise takeover
Human rights campaigners Amnesty International have also criticised the potential deal.
Amnesty UK director Kate Allen said in a separate letter to Masters: "So long as these questions [about Saudi Arabia's human rights record] remain unaddressed, the Premier League is putting itself at risk of becoming a patsy of those who want to use the glamour and prestige of Premier League football to cover up actions that are deeply immoral, in breach of international law and at odds with the values of the Premier League and the global footballing community."
BBC Sport has contacted the Saudi wealth fund and representatives of the consortium asking for a response to Amnesty's letter.
The Premier League declined to comment on the Amnesty letter and Newcastle have also been approached by BBC Sport.
Amnesty - a non-governmental organisation which focuses on human rights - has long criticised Saudi Arabia's human rights record, pointing to long-standing issues including women's rights, the treatment of the LGBT community and the restriction of free speech.
Western intelligence agencies also believe the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 was ordered by the Crown Prince - something he denies. Saudi authorities blamed a "rogue operation" for Khashoggi's death.
The country has also been accused of 'sportswashing', a term used to describe countries that try to improve their international reputation by investing in major teams or hosting big sporting events.
"The Crown Prince has been using sporting events and personalities as a means of improving the Kingdom's reputation following the grisly murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi - widely believed to have taken place with his approval," the Amnesty letter continued.
"Such positive associations with sporting events also distract attention from Saudi's appalling human rights record, including the imprisonment and torture of women human rights defenders."
Accusations of sportswashing have previously been rebuffed by the man heading Saudi Arabia's unprecedented investment in sports, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal.
"We want to get people more engaged in sport," he said. "In 2015 just 13% of Saudis took part in sports for half an hour or more each week; we want that to be 40% by 2030. This is all part of a programme designed to get people more active."


bbc--2020-04-22--MOTD Top 10: The Premier League's most bonkers moments

There have been some jaw-dropping moments both on and off the pitch in the Premier League era .
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer are back to discuss , alongside a very giddy Ian Wright on a subject he particularly enjoyed .
`` When you are younger , you just love things going wrong , '' he said .
`` This is my favourite top 10 and it is fantastic . ''
To hear the MOTD team 's final lists , listen to the latest Match of the Day : Top 10 podcast or watch Match of the Day on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BST .
• Match of the Day : Top 10 podcast - Premier League best overseas players • Match of the Day : Top 10 podcast - Premier League best goalkeepers • Match of the Day : Top 10 podcast - Premier League 's best goalscorers • Match of the Day : Top 10 podcast - Premier League 's best managers Manchester United forward Eric Cantona receives a red card and then jumps into the stands to kung-fu kick a fan while walking off the pitch .
Lineker : `` Eric Cantona .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ put it mildly and he did the thing that footballers are tempted to do because of the abuse from supporters .
Boy , did he exact revenge .
`` It was in my early days of punditry and they came to me on the show that night .
I was thinking , what am I going to say about this ?
I said something pathetic like , 'oh it 's totally unacceptable ' .
You just could not believe what you were seeing . ''
Wright : `` We have all had stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your soul and whatever he said to Eric Cantona , it did .
`` To have someone like Sir Alex Ferguson back you like he did and then welcome him back with open arms ... '' Shearer : `` He got sent off and put his collar down when he was walking off .
Like everyone else , I had my eyes and mouth wide opening thinking , what am I looking at here ?
Then all the players came scrambling in and it was just chaos . ''
Newcastle manager Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Ferguson 's mind games in the 1995-96 title race .
Wright : `` From the outside looking in , Newcastle and Manchester United were going at it hammer and tongs and the way Sir Alex Ferguson just threw comments ... Kevin was doing the interview and you could see his head working but getting more and more angry .
`` I fell on the floor when that happened .
That is one of the greatest things I have seen on TV .
You do n't see a manager lose it like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferguson had got to him .
Newcastle had a 12-point lead at the top of the table in February and Manchester United slowly but surely chipped away and you can imagine the pressure they were under .
He fell for it hook , line and sinker in the interview - `` he 's still got to go to Middlesbrough and get something '' .
Lineker : `` He just bit so badly . ''
Georgian Temuri Ketsbaia repeatedly kicks the advertising boards after scoring a late winner for Newcastle against Bolton .
Shearer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that day along with Temuri , Kenny Dalglish was manager and I was coming back from a long-term injury and he put me on before him .
So Temuri was not happy anyway and had the right hump .
He came on and I headed the ball back across for him to score .
I looked across and saw him going absolutely berserk .
He got his top off , started booting the advertising hoardings and tried to take his boots off too .
`` He was slightly different , hard as nails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bonding session once and he was on the opposite side , he crept up behind Aaron Hughes , pushed him on the floor and was pinging him shouting , 'stay down , stay down ' .
You could hear Aaron screaming . ''
Wright : `` That moment for me is one you watch 10 times , I ca n't watch it just the once . ''
Sheffield Wednesday 's Paolo di Canio is sent off and shoves referee Alcock to the floor before leaving the pitch .
Wright : `` I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me and Neil Ruddock did it as our celebration after I scored .
He went down in instalments , it is embarrassing .
A grown man should not go on the floor for that push but he wanted the maximum amount of punishment to be given to Di Canio .
Come on man .
`` I was at West Ham with him and he would get away with murder .
If any decisions went against him in training , he would just walk off .
He would be speaking in Italian and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
He was so intent on winning even the five-a-side games . ''
Lineker : `` There is always something mildly amusing about a referee falling over or getting hit by the ball .
This one was particularly funny .
Shearer : `` He went down easily , did n't he ?
The best part of the incident was when Nigel Winterburn went up to Paolo then flinched . ''
Ruud van Nistelrooy misses a late penalty for Manchester United and is swarmed by Arsenal players .
Shearer : `` No surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident .
When Ruud missed the penalty you could tell something was going to go off , Martin jumped straight into him . ''
Wright : `` You want Martin Keown in your team , in training he would mark me on a daily basis .
Once I left and Thierry Henry came , there were a few problems because he trains like he plays .
It was about winning , nobody getting an inch on him and dominating who he played against .
`` In that moment , you could tell how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's faces Arsenal were .
United did not come back at them like I thought they would .
It was a tell-tale sign that the transition was happening .
Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira go head-to-head in the tunnel before Arsenal host Manchester United at Highbury .
Shearer : `` You could see it , Roy was desperate to go onto the pitching saying , `` get out there and we will see '' .
The number of times people have said they are going to take you out on the pitch or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room .
`` Some of the stuff that was going on when I was a 17-18 year old kid at Southampton , there were proper fights in the dressing rooms , sometimes between players and their own manager . ''
Wright : `` It was the Keane-Vieira rivalry .
I remember Patrick 's demeanour and intensity changing in training in the week leading up to the game against United .
He went up a notch , a lot sharper .
It was brilliant to watch .
`` For the two players that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was brilliant for those times of great players going at it .
They were just winners . ''
Newcastle team-mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer trade punches on the pitch during a game against Aston Villa .
Shearer : `` This was one where I certainly lost it after the game in the dressing room .
Two team-mates fighting , incredible .
There were little bits of aggression shown in training in the lead up to the game between those two .
There were some choice words said and they were fighting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of the time .
`` It was one of those days where we got battered by Aston Villa , we were already down to 10 men .
There had been a couple of times where Kieron had not passed the ball to Lee and I could remember Lee shouting things at him .
On the last occasion he did not pass it , I just saw them going together and thought I am not seeing this right .
Then the referee sent them both off .
Everyone was in disbelief .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ berserk and then manager Graeme Souness comes in and said , 'if you two want to fight , I 'll fight both of you now .
I 'll take you both on ' .
I know who my money would have been on . ''
Wright : `` Two team-mates , where you are at the point on the pitch on a Saturday , with the world looking and fighting , that is just unacceptable in any stretch of the imagination . ''
Sunderland striker Darren Bent scores a goal which deflects into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been thrown onto the pitch .
Wright : `` It is ridiculous how the referee did not disallow that goal . ''
Shearer : `` Bent ran away celebrating the goal , I would do the same . ''
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez bites Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanonic on the arm after tangling in the box .
Wright : `` He bit him , HE BIT HIM !
He is a nibbler , he has the teeth for it .
He can eat an apple through a letterbox .
This is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursery who is a biter and you have to say to him , `` NO .
BITING ! ''
No-one said that to Suarez because he did it three times .
When you look at Ivanovic , he was screaming .
It was weird and you do n't see it . ''
Lineker : `` I remember doing Match of the Day that night and it was just an extraordinary thing . ''
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew headbutts David Meyler as the Hull midfielder attempts to retrieve the ball off the pitch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , I would not say it was a proper Scottish headbutt .
It was a really strange one from Pardew , I think he really wanted to give him a headbutt but then realised where he was . ''

You can rank you most bonkers Premier League moment after reading your the choices
There have been some jaw-dropping moments both on and off the pitch in the Premier League era - and we asked you to rank 10 of the most memorable.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have also made their choices, alongside a very giddy Ian Wright on a subject he particularly enjoyed.
"When you are younger, you just love things going wrong," he said. "This is my favourite top 10 and it is fantastic."
To find out the MOTD team's final lists, watch Match of the Day: Top 10 on iPlayer.
Meanwhile, here are the 10 in order, as selected by BBC Sport readers - you can still make your own ranked list at the bottom of the page.
1. January 1995: Cantona kung-fu kicks fan
Cantona jumped into the stands at Selhurst Park
Manchester United forward Eric Cantona receives a red card and then jumps into the stands to kung-fu kick a fan while walking off the pitch.
Lineker: "Eric Cantona. Extraordinary footballer, slightly eccentric bloke to put it mildly and he did the thing that footballers are tempted to do because of the abuse from supporters. Boy, did he exact revenge.
"It was in my early days of punditry and they came to me on the show that night. I was thinking, what am I going to say about this? I said something pathetic like, 'oh it's totally unacceptable'. You just could not believe what you were seeing."
Wright: "We have all had stick but then you get something which cuts to your soul and whatever he said to Eric Cantona, it did.
"To have someone like Sir Alex Ferguson back you like he did and then welcome him back with open arms..."
Shearer: "He got sent off and put his collar down when he was walking off. Like everyone else, I had my eyes and mouth wide opening thinking, what am I looking at here? Then all the players came scrambling in and it was just chaos."
2. April 2005: Bowyer and Dyer fight
Bowyer and Dyer had to be separated by both opposition players and their own team-mates
Newcastle team-mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer trade punches on the pitch during a game against Aston Villa.
Shearer: "This was one where I certainly lost it after the game in the dressing room. Two team-mates fighting, incredible. There were little bits of aggression shown in training in the lead up to the game between those two. There were some choice words said and they were fighting for the same place in the team a lot of the time.
"It was one of those days where we got battered by Aston Villa, we were already down to 10 men. There had been a couple of times where Kieron had not passed the ball to Lee and I could remember Lee shouting things at him. On the last occasion he did not pass it, I just saw them going together and thought I am not seeing this right. Then the referee sent them both off. Everyone was in disbelief.
"Back in the dressing room I go berserk and then manager Graeme Souness comes in and said, 'if you two want to fight, I'll fight both of you now. I'll take you both on'. I know who my money would have been on."
Wright: "Two team-mates, where you are at the point on the pitch on a Saturday, with the world looking and fighting, that is just unacceptable in any stretch of the imagination."
3. April 2013: Suarez bites Ivanovic
This was one of three biting incidents in Suarez's career
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez bites Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanonic on the arm after tangling in the box.
Wright: "He bit him, HE BIT HIM! He is a nibbler, he has the teeth for it. He can eat an apple through a letterbox. This is what happens when you have a kid at nursery who is a biter and you have to say to him, "NO. BITING!" No-one said that to Suarez because he did it three times. When you look at Ivanovic, he was screaming. It was weird and you don't see it."
Lineker: "I remember doing Match of the Day that night and it was just an extraordinary thing."
4. September 1998: Di Canio shoves referee Alcock
Sheffield Wednesday's Paolo di Canio is sent off and shoves referee Alcock to the floor before leaving the pitch.
Wright: "I was at West Ham at the time and me and Neil Ruddock did it as our celebration after I scored. He went down in instalments, it is embarrassing. A grown man should not go on the floor for that push but he wanted the maximum amount of punishment to be given to Di Canio. Come on man.
"I was at West Ham with him and he would get away with murder. If any decisions went against him in training, he would just walk off. He would be speaking in Italian and his arms would be waving all over the place. He was so intent on winning even the five-a-side games."
Lineker: "There is always something mildly amusing about a referee falling over or getting hit by the ball. This one was particularly funny.
Shearer: "He went down easily, didn't he? The best part of the incident was when Nigel Winterburn went up to Paolo then flinched."
5. October 2009: Bent goal deflects off beach ball
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina did not know which ball to dive for
Sunderland striker Darren Bent scores a goal which deflects into the net via a beach ball that had been thrown onto the pitch.
Wright: "It is ridiculous how the referee did not disallow that goal."
Shearer: "Bent ran away celebrating the goal, I would do the same."
6. April 1996: Keegan 'will love it' rant
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan falls for Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's mind games in the 1995-96 title race.
Wright: "From the outside looking in, Newcastle and Manchester United were going at it hammer and tongs and the way Sir Alex Ferguson just threw comments... Kevin was doing the interview and you could see his head working but getting more and more angry.
"I fell on the floor when that happened. That is one of the greatest things I have seen on TV. You don't see a manager lose it like that."
Shearer: "Sir Alex Ferguson had got to him. Newcastle had a 12-point lead at the top of the table in February and Manchester United slowly but surely chipped away and you can imagine the pressure they were under. He fell for it hook, line and sinker in the interview - "he's still got to go to Middlesbrough and get something".
Lineker: "He just bit so badly."
7. March 2014: Pardew headbutts Meyler
Pardew was fined £100,000 by Newcastle for the incident
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew headbutts David Meyler as the Hull midfielder attempts to retrieve the ball off the pitch.
Wright: "When you watch this one, I would not say it was a proper Scottish headbutt. It was a really strange one from Pardew, I think he really wanted to give him a headbutt but then realised where he was."
8. February 2005: Keane and Vieira tunnel bust-up
Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira go head-to-head in the tunnel before Arsenal host Manchester United at Highbury.
Shearer: "You could see it, Roy was desperate to go onto the pitching saying, "get out there and we will see". The number of times people have said they are going to take you out on the pitch or offered to fight you in the dressing room.
"Some of the stuff that was going on when I was a 17-18 year old kid at Southampton, there were proper fights in the dressing rooms, sometimes between players and their own manager."
Wright: "It was the Keane-Vieira rivalry. I remember Patrick's demeanour and intensity changing in training in the week leading up to the game against United. He went up a notch, a lot sharper. It was brilliant to watch.
"For the two players that they were, the incident in the tunnel was brilliant for those times of great players going at it. They were just winners."
9. September 2003: Arsenal players swarm Van Nistelrooy
Keown was one of the main protagonists in the 'Battle of Old Trafford'
Ruud van Nistelrooy misses a late penalty for Manchester United and is swarmed by Arsenal players.
Shearer: "No surprise that Martin Keown was involved in that incident. When Ruud missed the penalty you could tell something was going to go off, Martin jumped straight into him."
Wright: "You want Martin Keown in your team, in training he would mark me on a daily basis. Once I left and Thierry Henry came, there were a few problems because he trains like he plays. It was about winning, nobody getting an inch on him and dominating who he played against.
"In that moment, you could tell how much more aggressive and in Man Utd's faces Arsenal were. United did not come back at them like I thought they would. It was a tell-tale sign that the transition was happening.
"Arsenal players just descended into anarchy."
10. January 1998: Ketsbaia loses his temper
Even his own team-mates struggled to contain Ketsbaia during his celebrations
Georgian Temuri Ketsbaia repeatedly kicks the advertising boards after scoring a late winner for Newcastle against Bolton.
Shearer: "I was on the bench that day along with Temuri, Kenny Dalglish was manager and I was coming back from a long-term injury and he put me on before him. So Temuri was not happy anyway and had the right hump. He came on and I headed the ball back across for him to score. I looked across and saw him going absolutely berserk. He got his top off, started booting the advertising hoardings and tried to take his boots off too.
"He was slightly different, hard as nails. We went paintballing on a team bonding session once and he was on the opposite side, he crept up behind Aaron Hughes, pushed him on the floor and was pinging him shouting, 'stay down, stay down'. You could hear Aaron screaming."
Wright: "That moment for me is one you watch 10 times, I can't watch it just the once."


bbc--2020-04-22--Gronkowski to come out of retirement and reunite with Brady at Bucs

Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is to come out of retirement to reunite with superstar quarterback Tom Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
Gronkowski , 30 , retired from the NFL in March 2019 - weeks after helping the Patriots to victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53 .
Gronkowski had a year remaining on his contract when he retired so the Pats still held his rights , which they have now traded to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round draft pick , NFL.com reports .
The Patriots will also give up a seventh-round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Rob Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends in NFL history and he plays the game with the type of passion and desire that sets him apart , '' said Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht .
`` Rob has played his entire career alongside Tom Brady and their accomplishments speak for themselves - together they have developed the type of chemistry on and off the field that is crucial to success .
`` Rob combines elite-level skills as both a receiver and blocker but what really makes him special is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who brings that championship mindset and work ethic . ''
Three-time Super Bowl winner Gronkowski has stayed fit in retirement and recently performed in the WWE , winning the 24/7 title at Wrestlemania 36 earlier this month .
• Sharing a locker room with OJ & starring for the Bucs - the last Irishman in the NFL A five-time Pro Bowl selection , Gronkowski caught 521 passes for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns in 115 games from 2010-18 .
He added 81 catches for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 postseason contests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a big story in its own right , but reuniting with Brady - with whom he shared so much success across nine seasons in New England - means the media focus on the Bucs next season will be intense .
Brady , 42 , joined the Buccaneers in March after 20 years with the New England Patriots .
He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time , having won the Super Bowl six times - more than any other player .

Last updated on .From the section American Football
Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is to come out of retirement to reunite with superstar quarterback Tom Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Gronkowski, 30, retired from the NFL in March 2019 - weeks after helping the Patriots to victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53.
Gronkowski had a year remaining on his contract when he retired so the Pats still held his rights, which they have now traded to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round draft pick, NFL.com reports. external-link
The Patriots will also give up a seventh-round pick as part of the deal.
"Rob Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends in NFL history and he plays the game with the type of passion and desire that sets him apart," said Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.
"Rob has played his entire career alongside Tom Brady and their accomplishments speak for themselves - together they have developed the type of chemistry on and off the field that is crucial to success.
"Rob combines elite-level skills as both a receiver and blocker but what really makes him special is the fact that he's a proven winner who brings that championship mindset and work ethic."
Three-time Super Bowl winner Gronkowski has stayed fit in retirement and recently performed in the WWE, winning the 24/7 title at Wrestlemania 36 earlier this month.
A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Gronkowski caught 521 passes for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns in 115 games from 2010-18.
He added 81 catches for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 postseason contests.
His move to Tampa Bay would be a big story in its own right, but reuniting with Brady - with whom he shared so much success across nine seasons in New England - means the media focus on the Bucs next season will be intense.
Brady, 42, joined the Buccaneers in March after 20 years with the New England Patriots. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, having won the Super Bowl six times - more than any other player.


bbc--2020-04-22--NRL: Wayne Pearce says 28 May resumption has government permission

The National Rugby League ( NRL ) has been given the go-ahead by the Australian government to resume on 28 May , Australian Rugby League ( ARL ) commissioner Wayne Pearce has said .
The 2020 season was halted after two rounds of fixtures because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Teams will now be able to return to training from 4 May .
Pearce also confirmed that the table and points would remain the same as prior to the suspension on 23 March .
The Project Apollo working group , set up by the governing body to ensure a safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has agreed that all NRL measures will be `` more stringent than government restrictions '' and those measures `` will be reviewed every time federal and state governments review their protocols '' .
However , the chief executive of the Rugby League Players Association says further clarity is required before 28 May is `` considered a definitive date '' to restart the season .
Clint Newton , a former Hull KR player , added : `` These fundamental areas include assurances and protections relating to the health and safety of our members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation that players will have access to the appropriate medical facilities and services should they be injured , are paramount before reaching a definitive return date .
`` The collaborative process between the NRL , clubs and players remains critical in ensuring we make informed decisions in what is a challenging landscape . ''
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys said : `` Right from the start we said player , staff and officials ' health and safety would be the priority and we would base the rules on the advice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the toughest possible protocols but they need to be to ensure our playing group and staff stay healthy and the game can continue . ''
• Sign up for live match notifications on the BBC Sport app Pearce , who has been heading the Project Apollo group , added : `` We have permission from the government and we 're allowed to play , providing we adhere to the public health guidelines .
`` We intend to exceed what the public health guidelines are .
`` What we achieved today ( Wednesday ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical process and what those protocols are .
`` Everyone is supportive of what we 're doing .
Everyone is unified into getting back on the field .
`` We feel like we owe it to not just the players and coaches but the thousands of staff members at various clubs and associated industries that are out on the unemployment lines too . ''
Australia 's deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly had previously questioned the ability of the NRL to return by 28 May , given the ongoing coronavirus precautions .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition was still to be finalised and there were still details to be agreed upon regarding the league 's only non-Australian team , the New Zealand Warriors , as to whether they will be able to re-enter at the same time .
`` We are working with the government authorities to get them over here and get them through a quarantine period and have them ready with the other teams for the start of the competition , '' Pearce added .
`` We 're working through all those details , we have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updates come two days after Todd Greenberg , resigned as chief executive of the NRL .

Last updated on .From the section Rugby League
Early matches were played behind closed doors before the NRL season was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic
The National Rugby League (NRL) has been given the go-ahead by the Australian government to resume on 28 May, Australian Rugby League (ARL) commissioner Wayne Pearce has said.
The 2020 season was halted after two rounds of fixtures because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams will now be able to return to training from 4 May.
Pearce also confirmed that the table and points would remain the same as prior to the suspension on 23 March.
The Project Apollo working group, set up by the governing body to ensure a safe return for rugby league in Australia, has agreed that all NRL measures will be "more stringent than government restrictions" and those measures "will be reviewed every time federal and state governments review their protocols".
However, the chief executive of the Rugby League Players Association says external-link further clarity is required before 28 May is "considered a definitive date" to restart the season.
Clint Newton, a former Hull KR player, added: "These fundamental areas include assurances and protections relating to the health and safety of our members.
"The outstanding matters, such as confirmation that players will have access to the appropriate medical facilities and services should they be injured, are paramount before reaching a definitive return date.
"The collaborative process between the NRL, clubs and players remains critical in ensuring we make informed decisions in what is a challenging landscape."
Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys said: external-link "Right from the start we said player, staff and officials' health and safety would be the priority and we would base the rules on the advice of the experts.
"These will be the toughest possible protocols but they need to be to ensure our playing group and staff stay healthy and the game can continue."
Pearce, who has been heading the Project Apollo group, added: "We have permission from the government and we're allowed to play, providing we adhere to the public health guidelines.
"We intend to exceed what the public health guidelines are.
"What we achieved today (Wednesday) was a lot more clarity around the medical process and what those protocols are.
"Everyone is supportive of what we're doing. Everyone is unified into getting back on the field.
"We feel like we owe it to not just the players and coaches but the thousands of staff members at various clubs and associated industries that are out on the unemployment lines too."
Australia's deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly had previously questioned the ability of the NRL to return by 28 May, given the ongoing coronavirus precautions.
Meanwhile, Pearce said the format of the competition was still to be finalised and there were still details to be agreed upon regarding the league's only non-Australian team, the New Zealand Warriors, as to whether they will be able to re-enter at the same time.
"We are working with the government authorities to get them over here and get them through a quarantine period and have them ready with the other teams for the start of the competition," Pearce added.
"We're working through all those details, we haven't finalised that yet."
The latest updates come two days after Todd Greenberg, resigned as chief executive of the NRL.


bbc--2020-04-21--Tracking the global outbreak

Tracking the global outbreak

There are now more than 2.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in 185 countries as the disease continues to spread .
At least 171,000 people have died .
The United States has more than three times as many confirmed cases as any other country .
This series of maps and charts tracks the global outbreak of the virus since it emerged in China in December last year .
How many deaths have there been ?
The virus , which causes the respiratory infection Covid-19 , was first detected in the city of Wuhan , China , in late 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the death toll is still climbing .
Note : Johns Hopkins University puts total global cases at just over 2.5 million , however the map and table in this page use a different source for France which results in a slightly lower overall total .
The US has by far the largest number of cases , with more than 788,000 confirmed infections , according to figures collated by Johns Hopkins University .
This is more than nine times the number reported by China .
The US also has the world 's highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including more than 14,000 in New York City alone .
Spain and Italy - the worst hit European countries - have each recorded more than 20,000 deaths , while France and the UK have suffered more than 20,000 and 17,000 respectively .
In the UK new data has shown deaths in England and Wales have almost doubled above what would be expected for the week up to 10 April , with some 30 % of all deaths in England and Wales linked to Covid-19 .
Note : The past data for new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's official death toll from the outbreak is just over 4,600 from some 83,800 confirmed cases .
Numbers for deaths jumped on 17 April after what officials called `` a statistical review '' .
Critics of the Chinese government have questioned whether the country 's official numbers can be trusted .
China has now lifted many of the stringent measures it took to bring the disease under control , including a ban on all travel to and from Wuhan .
The outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time .
The WHO said it took more than three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases worldwide , but it took less than a week for the number to double from 500,000 to a million .
It then took two weeks to top two million .
While more than 2.4 million people are known to have been infected worldwide , the true figure is thought to be much higher as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been tested and counted .
Governments across the world have halted flights , locked down towns and cities and urged people to stay at home .
More than 4.5 billion people - half the world 's population - are estimated to be now living under social distancing measures to slow the pandemic , according to the AFP news agency .
The pandemic could almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger , the UN World Food Programme has warned .
And the oil market continued to collapse on Tuesday a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative for the first time in history .
Oil producers have been paying buyers to take the commodity off their hands over fears that , with demand shrinking , storage capacity could run out in May .
The global economy faces the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s , the International Monetary Fund has said .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health Italy and Spain remain the worst affected countries after the US , although the slowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success of social distancing , Italy will unveil an `` exit plan '' from lockdown this week , Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte said on Tuesday , a day after the release of figures showing a very slight fall in infections .
Spain has more than 204,000 confirmed cases - the second highest global figure - while Italy has the second highest death toll of more than 24,000 .
Both countries have been in lockdown since early March , however some quarantine measures are starting to be relaxed .
Spanish children , who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , are expected to be allowed outside on 27 April .
In the UK , there have now been about 130,000 confirmed cases and more than 17,000 deaths - however hopes have risen that the outbreak has peaked .
Like Spain , deaths in the UK grew rapidly at first , doubling faster than every two days .
While the rate of increase has slowed , last week the British government ruled out lifting lockdown measures for another three weeks .
Many European countries have slowly started to ease their restrictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Czech Republics now allowing certain businesses to reopen .
There is no co-ordination at EU level however , and the WHO has warned that lockdowns must be lifted slowly and carefully .
`` Individuals and society need to be ready for a new way of living , '' Takeshi Kasai , WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific , said on Tuesday .
New York is epicentre of US outbreak With more than 788,000 cases , the US has the highest number of confirmed infections in the world .
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state of New York has more confirmed cases than anywhere else in the world , and there have been more than 14,000 deaths in New York City alone .
Although the infection rate appears to be levelling off in New York , the US has seen more than 25,000 new cases per day over the last week , the New York Times reports .
President Trump has announced that he will suspend all immigration to the US because of the coronavirus .
On Twitter the president cited `` the attack from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls the virus , and the need to protect the jobs of Americans , but did not give details .
Over the last month a record 20 million Americans have registered for unemployment benefits .
A number of states , including South Carolina , Georgia and Texas , have announced plans to scale back their lockdowns , despite warnings from public health officials that the outbreak has not yet peaked .
Much of the planet is on lockdown Strict lockdowns were imposed around the world as the outbreak took hold .
From Argentina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to South Africa , cities were shut down , restricting how often people could leave their homes and for what reason .
India told the country 's 1.3 billion residents to stay at home .
In Paris , authorities banned exercise during the day to reduce the number of people out on the streets .
Data on planned journeys in major cities , from the travel app Citymapper , shows how people in places like London , Madrid , Istanbul and New York are now moving around far less than they were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that while Milan in northern Italy has been locked down for weeks , many other cities have been restricting movement for a much shorter period .
While movement is also down in the South Korean capital Seoul , the city has n't ground to a halt like European capitals , despite South Korea facing a surge in cases in February and March .
The data highlights South Korea 's strategy of large-scale testing and focused contact tracing , rather than imposing a lockdown .
In Sweden , the government has avoided strict measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Stockholm 's chart shows passenger numbers on subway and commuter trains far below normal , Sweden has recorded the highest number of infections in Scandinavia .

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