bbc--2020-04-28--Record 50.8 million internally displaced, IDMC report says

A record 50.8 million people worldwide are internally displaced due to conflict or disaster , with coronavirus posing a new threat , a report warns .
In its annual report , the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre ( IDMC ) says Covid-19 may add further risks to millions of already vulnerable people .
Over 45 million have been forced to abandon their homes due to violence .
A further five million have been displaced by natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods , the IDMC says .
It adds that the number of people internally displaced - those who flee conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries - has now reached a record high .
Contributing to the figures , it says , are 33.4 million new displacements recorded in 2019 , the highest annual figure since 2012 .
• Why are more fleeing home than ever before ?
The new coronavirus is likely to make the lives of many of these people - some already living in cramped , unsanitary conditions such as makeshift emergency shelters , informal settlements and urban slums - more difficult .
Such overcrowded conditions make it hard to implement the physical distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the deadly Covid-19 virus .
The pandemic also compromises their `` precarious living conditions by further limiting their access to essential services and humanitarian aid , '' the director of the IDMC , Alexandra Bilak , said .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • UNDERSTAND : The outbreak around the world • VACCINE : How close are we to finding one ?
• TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
But even without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people across the globe is a sign , the new report says , of collective failure .
The IDMC calls on governments to work towards solving conflicts like the civil war in Syria , where about a million people have fled their homes since December to escape a government offensive in a conflict that began nine years ago .
It also highlights conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo , Yemen , and Afghanistan .
The report suggests that more could be done to tackle climate change and to prepare for natural disasters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year by cyclones and floods .
It calls on governments to ensure that those who have become displaced be given access to healthcare during the pandemic , and in the longer term , to address the causes of displacement .
The body said it was closely monitoring the situation in Iraq , where the first coronavirus cases among displaced persons had been confirmed , and in countries including Syria , Burkina Faso and Colombia , which are already dealing with displacement crises and where infection rates are rising .
The IDMC report also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
In India , the report says , at least 600,000 migrant workers faced with nationwide lockdown `` had to walk hundreds of miles to return to their villages '' .
Internally displaced people often decide not to travel very far , either because they want to stay close to their homes and family , or because they lack the funds to cross borders .
Many end up stuck in areas that are difficult for aid agencies to reach - such as conflict zones - and continue to rely on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those governments are sometimes the reason people have fled , or - because of war - have become incapable of providing their own citizens with a safe place to stay .

The body said it was closely monitoring the situation in Iraq, where the first coronavirus cases among displaced persons had been confirmed, and in countries including Syria, Burkina Faso and Colombia, which are already dealing with displacement crises and where infection rates are rising.


bbc--2020-04-28--Tracking the global outbreak

Tracking the global outbreak

Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world , with more than three million confirmed cases in 185 countries .
At least 200,000 people have died .
The United States has more than four 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 .
The virus , which causes the respiratory infection Covid-19 , was first detected in the city of Wuhan , China , in late 2019 .
It is spreading rapidly in many countries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Note : The map and table in this page uses a different source for figures for France from that used by Johns Hopkins University which results in a slightly lower overall total .
The US has by far the largest number of cases , with nearly one million confirmed infections , according to figures collated by Johns Hopkins University .
This is more than 10 times the official number reported by China .
The US also has the world 's highest death toll , with the number of fatalities approaching 60,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK - the worst-hit European countries - have all recorded more than 20,000 deaths .
Note : The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average In China , the official death toll is just over 4,600 from about 84,000 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 .
The country 's authorities have now lifted many of the stringent measures they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , including a ban on all travel to and from Wuhan - the first place to go into lockdown .
The outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on 11 March .
This is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time .
While more than three million people are known to have been infected worldwide , the true figure is thought to be much higher as many of those with milder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New Zealand , however , says it has stopped community transmission of coronavirus , and is set to move out of its toughest level of social restrictions .
From Tuesday , some non-essential businesses , healthcare and education activity will be able to resume , but most people will still have to stay at home and avoid all social interactions .
While some other countries are also beginning to ease restrictions where disease peaks are thought to have passed , such as in Europe and South Africa , others are only now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths begin to rise .
Across Latin America , where many economies are already struggling and millions live on what they can earn day-to-day , there are concerns about the strain the growing number of virus cases could put on health care systems .
Of particular concern are Ecuador and Brazil .
Ecuador has already seen its health system collapse - thousands have died from the virus and other conditions that could not be treated because of the crisis .
While Brazil has also seen a steep rise in both cases and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's largest country affected .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health Across the world , more than 4.5 billion people - half the world 's population - are estimated to be living under social distancing measures , according to the AFP news agency .
The impact of this global shutdown is huge .
The world economy faces the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s , the International Monetary Fund has said .
And the UN World Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double the number of people suffering acute hunger .
Italy and Spain remain the worst affected countries after the US and have been in lockdown since early March .
Spain has about 230,000 confirmed cases - the second highest global figure - while Italy has the world 's second highest death toll at nearly 27,000 .
Both countries are now joining others around Europe in seeing a slowing of infection rates , which appears to show the success of quarantine measures .
Spain reported its lowest daily death toll since 20 March on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people had died of the virus - although numbers jumped slightly on Monday to 331 .
The slowing of reported cases and deaths has been followed by a lifting of some restrictions for people and businesses .
Children in Spain under the age of 14 are now allowed to leave their homes for an hour a day , after six weeks in lockdown .
Italy has started to allow certain shops and factories to reopen and the prime minister says further measures will be eased from 4 May .
In the UK , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than 21,000 deaths .
Like Spain , deaths in the UK grew rapidly at first , doubling faster than every two days .
While the rate of increase has slowed , the British government has ruled out lifting lockdown measures until at least early May .
Other European countries easing restrictions include Austria , Denmark , the Czech Republic and Germany , where facemasks have become mandatory in public transport .
In Switzerland , doctors ' surgeries , dentists , nursery schools , hairdressers , florists and garden centres were among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants remain closed .
New York remains epicentre of US outbreak With close to one million cases , the US has the highest number of confirmed infections in the world .
The country has also recorded more than 56,000 deaths .
The state of New York has been particularly badly affected , with more than 17,000 deaths in New York City alone , but Governor Andrew Cuomo says the toll `` seems to be on a gentle decline '' .
On Monday , Mr Cuomo suggested some parts of his state could begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expires on 15 May .
At one point , more than 90 % of the US population was under mandatory lockdown orders , but some states have begun to lift restrictions .
Georgia , Oklahoma , Alaska and South Carolina have all allowed some businesses to reopen in recent days following official unemployment figures that showed more than 26 million Americans have filed for jobless claims in the last five weeks .
But public health authorities have warned that increasing human interactions and economic activity could spark a fresh surge of infections just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning to ease off .
On Sunday , White House coronavirus taskforce coordinator Dr Deborah Birx said social distancing should remain the norm `` through the summer to really ensure that we protect one another as we move through these phases '' .

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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


bbc--2020-04-27--Coronavirus: What African countries are doing to help people to eat amid the lockdowns

Stuck at home because of the lockdown , 25-year-old Ugandan Richard Kabanda is worried about feeding his family .
The motorbike taxi driver , who used to earn about $ 2 ( £1.60 ) a day , has had no work since the government banned public transport last month as part of measures to slow the spread of coronavirus .
`` We are going to die because there is nothing we can do , '' he told the BBC from his house , which is in a slum , close to the swamps by Lake Victoria .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will run out of food yet we 've been told not to leave our homes . ''
How to balance lives with livelihoods Once his savings had run out , he had hoped to benefit from a food distribution programme that the government promised to 1.5 million of those most in need .
His experience was typical of the more than four out of five African workers who survive day-to-day in the informal sector and have no access to state assistance .
Many acted swiftly with lockdowns or restrictions on movement as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the authorities are also aware of the toll these measures are taking on their citizens .
They are now grappling with how to move into the next phase of how to contain the virus and restart the economy .
`` Getting the balance right between people 's lives and livelihoods is the big trick for poorer countries , '' said Ronak Gopaldas , director of the South Africa-based risk management company , Signal Risk .
`` If people do n't work , they do n't eat .
Ongoing lockdowns are unsustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African countries have social safety nets to catch people if they lose their jobs .
The precarious existence for those workers in the informal sector , and the large numbers of relatives who rely on them , means that the halting of economic activity could spell disaster .
So what are African governments doing to cushion their citizens from the impact of unemployment ?
Looking at sub-Saharan Africa as a whole , the World Bank has predicted that the region could fall into a recession in 2020 for the first time in 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak .
Nigeria , South Africa and Angola are likely to be hit hardest , but all countries will see a slow down .
Governments and central banks have come up with a series of macro-economic measures , including tax relief and interest rate reductions , to try to avoid the worst effects .
While those may mean that some keep jobs that would otherwise have been lost , it is the help that governments can give directly to the people that may be more significant in the short-term .
South Africa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has announced the biggest action plan so far .
Last week , President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined a comprehensive $ 26bn ( £21bn ) economic package , amounting to 10 % of the country 's GDP , to help boost the economy .
He said that this would be `` equal to the scale of the disruption [ coronavirus ] is causing '' .
Jane Barrett , who works in South Africa for Wiego , an organisation that supports women in informal employment , says that things are currently `` pretty dire on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on food parcels that are being distributed by charities and civil society organisations but `` we are hearing heart-breaking stories all the time of people not being reached in rural areas and whole informal settlements where food distribution has hardly touched '' , she adds .
About $ 2.6bn of the money the government is spending will be given in the form of cash transfers to those most in need .
People who are already receiving child benefit , currently $ 23 per child per month , will get an extra $ 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money after that .
This should help 18 million South Africans - just under a third of the population .
State pensions will also be boosted and those who are not receiving either of these benefits , or unemployment insurance , could qualify for a new payment of $ 18 a month for the next six months .
This is not an insignificant amount , Ms Barrett says , `` but I 'm not sure that it 's going to be sufficient to alleviate the terrible hunger that we are seeing '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Why do African states differ over lockdowns ?
Some of the money to pay for the whole economic package will not come from loans or new taxation but will be the result of a reorganisation of spending priorities and drawing on a surplus in the unemployment fund .
But South Africa will still need to borrow more to pay for these commitments .
Other countries on the continent may find this harder as they could be reluctant to incur more debt repayment costs , says Razia Khan , chief economist for Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have announced a freeze on repayments for now , this will not last forever .
`` Given the greater formalisation of South Africa 's economy it is able to come up with its package , '' she adds .
`` But this is the difficulty for many countries - it is incredibly hard for governments across the region to reach out to those who operate in the informal sector .
This is a key hurdle . ''
Kenya 's government has used an existing cash transfer programme , Inua Jamii , to boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , who are either elderly , disabled or orphaned .
But there will still be many others among Kenya 's 51 million people who will need help .
In announcing a new scheme , known as the Covid-19 Support Stipend , President Uhuru Kenyatta said his government was adopting a `` pro-poor approach… knowing that they are disproportionately affected '' by the pandemic .
It has earmarked $ 93m for the fund that will target squatters , street hawkers , food vendors , motorbike taxi drivers and other labourers who have lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many , and exactly who , will qualify is not yet clear as the authorities need to establish the infrastructure to identify those most in need .
And $ 93m does not sound much compared to the $ 2.6bn in South Africa .
• 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 A pilot project in Kibera , a slum area of the capital , Nairobi , in which recipients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was deemed successful by the authorities .
`` This is a huge step in the right direction , '' Rachel Strohm , a researcher into poverty alleviation policies , told the BBC , as `` cash transfers are a well-proven means of supporting vulnerable people during times of crisis '' .
But she highlighted the lack of clarity over the recipients .
If it is to be distributed among all 18.6 million Kenyans who live below the poverty line of $ 2 a day , it would not last long .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This kind of cash transfer scheme does not appear to have been adopted by Kenya 's neighbours .
For example , both Rwanda and Uganda are for the moment relying on using food handouts to sustain the most needy .
But in Uganda , they may not be reaching everyone who is hungry .
The Ugandan motorbike taxi driver , Mr Kabanda , said that he had not yet received a food parcel a fortnight after the food scheme was announced .
Disaster Preparedness Minister Musa Ecweru told the BBC that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who had no income .
He added that it had been challenging to find the recipients as social distancing rules mean that the authorities have to make deliveries door-to-door in slums that have no proper addresses .
And what about Nigeria ?
Nigeria , Africa 's most populous country with some 200 million people , has ordered a lockdown in its commercial hub , Lagos , the neighbouring state of Ogun and the capital Abuja .
A trader who sells car parts in Lagos ' Ladipo market , thought to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told the BBC that he was suffering .
`` Some of us have not opened our shops for three weeks now and that 's how we get money for food , '' he said .
The government has introduced some tax relief measures and incentivised employers to retain staff .
But with more than 90 % of the workforce employed in the informal sector , according to the UN 's International Labour Organization , these policies will touch very few people .
President Muahammadu Buhari has announced a series of what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among them expanding the number of households included in a cash transfer scheme from 2.6 million to 3.6 million .
This should mean that just under 10 % of the population will receive $ 13 a month .
It is meant only for the very poorest and what happens to the rest is not clear .
But the BBC 's Nduka Orjinmo in Lagos says it is hard to see how anyone can survive on $ 13 for a month , even if it was only spent on food .
Speaking to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the government 's lockdown measures would `` bring undue hardship '' on the population but he added that the `` sacrifices are… necessary to save lives '' .
But as we emerge from the crisis , his government , and others across the continent , will need to find the policies and money to end the hardship , otherwise there is a risk that more people in Africa might die as a result of the lockdowns , than Covid-19 itself .

But as we emerge from the crisis, his government, and others across the continent, will need to find the policies and money to end the hardship, otherwise there is a risk that more people in Africa might die as a result of the lockdowns, than Covid-19 itself.


bbc--2020-04-27--Coronavirus: 'I returned my suits and spent £100 on joggers'

A few weeks ago , London-based lawyer Samantha Hewitt decided to refresh her office wardrobe , going online to buy new suits and dresses .
Then the coronavirus lockdown hit and suddenly much of Britain was forced to become a nation of home workers .
Ms Hewitt immediately sent her sober corporate gear back , and spent £100 on comfy loungewear instead .
Now the erstwhile smart dresser admits she is pretty much living in casual clothes suitable for relaxing at home , be it hoodies , joggers or pyjamas .
`` I 've found myself saying to my housemates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 'oh it does n't matter , does it ?
It 's lockdown . '
`` Usually , I 'd be quite sensitive about going out without my make-up done and wearing normal clothes , even if it 's just jeans and a t-shirt .
Now it is some variation of a jumper and loungewear bottoms , '' she says .
The 26-year-old is not the only one making the swap .
Since the lockdown a month ago , online demand for loungewear - defined as a hybrid between pyjamas and tracksuits - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to LoveTheSales.com , a shopping website that aggregates sale items from 850 retailers .
Online fashion retailer Boohoo says that sales in April are higher than a year ago .
`` People are n't really buying going-out items , but they are buying homewear - hoodies , joggers , tracksuit bottoms , '' the firm said .
Even fashion doyenne Dame Anna Wintour has been photographed working from home in her joggers .
Though , admittedly , the editor-in-chief of US Vogue looks infinitely more chic than many of us probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same room for 18 hours a day , like a lot of people will be doing , then comfort becomes quite important , '' says LoveTheSales co-founder Stuart McClure .
`` Normally , people are up and about but now you 're sort of hovering around at home even though you 're working .
So I think it is about that psychology of comfort and happiness . ''
Many retailers such as Asos and Missguided are now advertising comfort wear instead of spring dresses .
For struggling retailers , dressing down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the few categories currently growing .
LoveTheSales says the number of discounts on this type of clothing has dropped dramatically .
This time last year , people spent just over £1bn on clothes for parties and socialising and a further £855m on gear for their holidays , according to market researcher Kantar .
`` Obviously , that need has been removed from the market at the moment , '' says Glen Tooke , a consumer insight director at Kantar .
While he does n't think demand for loungewear is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores - which account for 70 % of consumer spend - are shut , Mr Tooke thinks it will allow them to retain a link with their customers .
`` The smaller or more niche categories should allow retailers to be engaged with their customers and to keep that buying habit going , '' he says .
The so-called `` influencers '' who frequent social media are also playing a part in the lockdown loungewear trend .
Search # loungewear on Instagram and watch it return hundreds of thousands of tagged posts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publish pictures of themselves in their matching tops and bottoms .
`` Suddenly you ca n't go out and take a photo of your cool dinner or the great restaurant you 're in or whatever it is , '' says Mr McClure .
`` Everything 's got to be taken at home . ''
But now that many in Britain are adjusting to working in more relaxed attire , will it be tough to transition back to traditional work clothing ?
Or were we already heading that way ?
Tamara Sender Ceron , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Prior to the coronavirus outbreak , we had already seen that loungewear and nightwear had benefitted from a shift towards more flexible working over the last two years . ''
Michael Solomon , a consumer psychologist and professor of marketing at St Joseph 's University in the US , agrees .
It is now common , for example , to see men not wearing ties in the office and sporting more casual suits .
He says : `` What happens in a crisis like this is you already have various fissures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it tends to accelerate those . ''
While it is understandable that people put comfort over smartness when working from home , could it make us less effective ?
Studies have shown that people are more likely to describe themselves as neat and strategic when wearing smart attire , and as easygoing or clumsy when dressed casually .
`` I do n't think it is necessary to have a full business suit on , but there is a lot to be said for the notion that we are what we wear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Hewitt , part of her misses dressing up for work .
`` When I 've had online court hearings or a meeting with an external client and I 've put on something smarter , it 's quite nice to feel more human again .
`` I sort of feel like I 've got a bit more of a purpose I guess . ''

"Usually, I'd be quite sensitive about going out without my make-up done and wearing normal clothes, even if it's just jeans and a t-shirt. Now it is some variation of a jumper and loungewear bottoms," she says.


bbc--2020-04-28--Ex-Liverpool striker & Spanish broadcaster Robinson dies at 61

Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland striker Michael Robinson has died at the age of 61 .
Robinson , who was one of Spain 's most recognisable sports broadcasters , was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2018 .
`` With tremendous sadness we tell you about Michael 's passing , '' said a post from Robinson 's account on Twitter .
`` It leaves us with a great emptiness , but also countless memories , filled with the same love that you have shown for him . ''
The message added : `` We will be eternally grateful to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he never walked alone .
Thank you . ''
Robinson helped Liverpool win the league title , European Cup and League Cup during his only season with the Reds in 1983-84 .
He also played for Preston , Manchester City , Brighton and Queens Park Rangers before settling in Spain after finishing his career with La Liga club Osasuna in 1989 .
Robinson won 24 caps for the Republic of Ireland , scoring four goals .
A Liverpool statement said they were `` deeply saddened '' by Robinson 's passing and the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` are with Michael ’ s family and friends at this sad time '' .
BBC Match of the Day presenter and ex-England striker Gary Lineker said : `` Not only a fine footballer , but was also a great success post-football in Spain , having his own television show there for many years ... and that is quite an achievement . ''
Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal tweeted a picture of him with Robinson along with a message .
He said : `` We woke up with the sad news of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You were the one who always made us happy about sport .
We are grateful to you . ''
He said : `` The world of football will feel your loss deeply .
`` Thank you for sharing your vision of football , your kindness and your intelligence with us . ''
And Spain 's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas said : `` Goodbye friend , it was a pleasure to share so many moments with you .
You leave a big mark . ''
Robinson really was truly beloved throughout Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass outpouring of sympathy and appreciation from fans , players and clubs .
Robinson 's popularity stemmed from his brilliance as a pundit : he was fabulously insightful , making every word count and possessing a unique ability to explain complex tactical ideas in a straightforward and easily understood manner .
Robinson 's broadcasts were also laced with an endearing sense of humour , allied with a natural charm and sense of fairness .
His partnership with longstanding commentary box colleague Carlos Martinez will always be cherished by Spanish football fans .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last game was last month 's Champions League game between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid .
'The Liverpool legend that got in all the Spanish homes ' - tributes paid to Robinson

Last updated on .From the section Football
Robinson won the First Division, European Cup and League Cup with Liverpool
Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland striker Michael Robinson has died at the age of 61.
Robinson, who was one of Spain's most recognisable sports broadcasters, was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2018.
"With tremendous sadness we tell you about Michael's passing," said a post from Robinson's account on Twitter.
"It leaves us with a great emptiness, but also countless memories, filled with the same love that you have shown for him."
The message added: "We will be eternally grateful to you for making this man so happy, he never walked alone. Thank you."
Robinson helped Liverpool win the league title, European Cup and League Cup during his only season with the Reds in 1983-84.
He also played for Preston, Manchester City, Brighton and Queens Park Rangers before settling in Spain after finishing his career with La Liga club Osasuna in 1989.
Robinson won 24 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring four goals.
A Liverpool statement said they were "deeply saddened" by Robinson's passing and the "thoughts of everybody" at the club "are with Michael’s family and friends at this sad time".
BBC Match of the Day presenter and ex-England striker Gary Lineker said: "Not only a fine footballer, but was also a great success post-football in Spain, having his own television show there for many years... and that is quite an achievement."
Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal tweeted a picture of him with Robinson along with a message.
He said: "We woke up with the sad news of the death of one of our own.
"You were the one who always made us happy about sport. We are grateful to you."
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu also paid tribute to Robinson.
He said: "The world of football will feel your loss deeply.
"Thank you for sharing your vision of football, your kindness and your intelligence with us."
And Spain's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas said: "Goodbye friend, it was a pleasure to share so many moments with you. You leave a big mark."
'Beloved throughout Spain'
Spanish football writer Andy West
Robinson really was truly beloved throughout Spain, and his passing has prompted a mass outpouring of sympathy and appreciation from fans, players and clubs.
Robinson's popularity stemmed from his brilliance as a pundit: he was fabulously insightful, making every word count and possessing a unique ability to explain complex tactical ideas in a straightforward and easily understood manner.
Robinson's broadcasts were also laced with an endearing sense of humour, allied with a natural charm and sense of fairness. His partnership with longstanding commentary box colleague Carlos Martinez will always be cherished by Spanish football fans.
He continued working until the end - his last game was last month's Champions League game between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.
'The Liverpool legend that got in all the Spanish homes' - tributes paid to Robinson


bbc--2020-04-28--Real Madrid, Liverpool, AC Milan? Who are the all-time champions of Europe?

Its father was Gabriel Hanot , a former French international who became the football editor of the sports newspaper L'Equipe , a platform he used to promote his idea of a continental cup competition .
So , in April 1955 , representatives of 18 European clubs - inspired by the timeless sporting curiosity to know who is best - met in Paris to agree that a European Champions ' Cup should be created .
Despite the grumblings of the English Football League , who advised their champions Chelsea not to take part , the tournament quickly gained momentum .
Scotland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , and so in mid-October 1955 their draw with Germany 's Rot-Weiss Essen was the first European Cup match to be played in Britain .
Soon one tournament was not enough .
In 1961 the Cup Winners ' Cup burst into life and another , the previously ad-hoc Inter Cities Fairs Cup , became a properly administered annual competition .
With growth has come change : in 1992 the European Cup grew into the Champions League .
In 1971 the Uefa Cup replaced the Fairs Cup , only to be reformatted again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Cup Winners ' Cup has been consigned to history , and in 2021 Uefa 's new Europa Conference League is due to begin .
For 65 years planes , trains and automobiles have transported players , fans and reporters across borders from Reykjavik to Rijeka , from Tromso to Tbilisi , with barely a pause - until now .
With planes grounded and grounds empty , let 's take stock of 65 years of action and ask that question which inspired Hanot : who 's best ?
Clearly any scoring system designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open to debate .
Other algorithms are available !
But the following system seems a fair way of calculating the all-time European elite .
The European Cup or Champions League has always been the premier competition and so winning it should be rewarded with the most points .
Should a Champions League win be on a par with a European Cup success ?
Many would argue that the European Cup was much easier to win than the Champions League , and they would probably be right .
Liverpool , for example , played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup in 1978 - they played 13 matches to win the Champions League in 2019 .
However , qualifying to play in the European Cup - when only the champion club of each country and the current European Cup holders were admitted - was far more difficult than qualifying for the Champions League , with its multiple entries from the more successful nations .
For example , such was the dominance of Real Madrid in Spain that even Barcelona had competed in the European Cup only four times before they first won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified for the Champions League on all but three occasions since .
So how to score the other cups ?
The Fairs Cup , Uefa Cup , Europa League and Cup Winners ' Cup were all broadly equal in status .
The Cup Winners ' Cup was initially heralded by Uefa as the superior competition , but the larger number of clubs entering the Uefa Cup arguably made that harder to win .
In 1972 Ajax played Rangers in the first European Super Cup , a competition unsanctioned by Uefa until the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affair between the European Cup and Cup Winners ' Cup holders of the previous season .
Occasionally the Super Cup did not take place at all ; Bayern Munich and Liverpool pulled out in 1974 and 1981 respectively , claiming fixture congestion .
Now it 's an early-season taster for the action to come and has found its place in the European calendar .
Since 1956 , a total of 172 clubs have reached a European semi-final and so make it to the full list .
Germany has the biggest representation with 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 20 clubs , followed by Spain ( 16 ) , Italy ( 15 ) , France ( 12 ) and Belgium ( 11 ) .
English clubs would have achieved even more but for the five-year ban on them playing in Europe which followed the 1985 Heysel disaster .
This was extended to a sixth season for Liverpool , but perhaps it impacted most of all upon Everton .
Howard Kendall 's exciting team had won both the English title and the Cup Winners ' Cup in 1985 but were denied the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Everton and other teams denied their crowning glory Top of the pile - Real Madrid .
They won the first five editions of the European Cup and four of the past six Champions League titles , so it 's no surprise the thirteen-time European champions top the poll .
Second placed Barca 's total of five European Cup and Champions League titles may be modest compared to Real 's - but Barcelona won the Cup Winners ' Cup four times and the Fairs Cup three times , making them the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Third placed Bayern Munich may have won fewer European Cups than AC Milan ( five compared to seven ) , but in addition to their 12 European finals , the Germans have lost 14 times in semi-finals - agonising for them , but it earns Bayern enough points to edge the Italians into fourth place .
Bayern - with Real Madrid and Ajax - are also one of only three clubs to have lifted the European Cup in three successive seasons , while AC Milan 's total of 11 European Cup or Champions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madrid .
In fifth place , Liverpool are England 's most successful club in European competition .
Their 2019 win was the sixth time they have been champions of Europe , and they boast three Uefa Cup victories too .
Only Real Madrid and Barcelona have reached more European finals than Juventus , who are in sixth place .
However , the Italians have lost 10 of the 16 finals in which they have played , including each of their past five finals in the Champions League .
Like Juventus , seventh-placed Ajax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their various guises .
That 's a feat matched by only four other clubs - Barcelona , Bayern Munich , Chelsea and Manchester United .
Eighth-placed Inter Milan won back-to-back European Cups in the mid-1960s but waited 44 years to be champions of Europe again .
They also reached four Uefa Cup Finals in the 1990s , winning three .
In ninth are Manchester United .
Who knows how much more they might have achieved but for the desperate tragedy of the Munich air disaster ?
The Busby Babes were travelling from Belgrade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1958 , having just successfully reached their second European Cup semi-final Had the team survived , they might have beaten AC Milan in that semi-final and perhaps become the first British side to be crowned European champions .
Uefa invited United to compete in the European Cup the following season , only for the authorities at the English Football League to stubbornly refuse to allow them to take part .
Busby and United would have to wait 10 more years to win the European Cup .
Atletico Madrid are the only club to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European champions .
In 1974 they became the first , and only , side to lose the European Cup final in a replay - the first of three defeats in the final of that competition .
They may yet put that right in 2020 .
But perhaps Atletico are only just beginning to learn about losing finals ?
Spare a thought for Benfica .
The Portuguese club won their first European Cup in 1961 , and promptly won it again the following season .
Since that 1962 success Benfica have reached eight more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .

Real Madrid, Liverpool and AC Milan have been among the dominant forces in European football
Sixty-five years ago this month, modern-day European club competition was born.
Its father was Gabriel Hanot, a former French international who became the football editor of the sports newspaper L'Equipe, a platform he used to promote his idea of a continental cup competition.
So, in April 1955, representatives of 18 European clubs - inspired by the timeless sporting curiosity to know who is best - met in Paris to agree that a European Champions' Cup should be created.
Despite the grumblings of the English Football League, who advised their champions Chelsea not to take part, the tournament quickly gained momentum. Scotland's Hibernian received no such "advice", and so in mid-October 1955 their draw with Germany's Rot-Weiss Essen was the first European Cup match to be played in Britain.
Soon one tournament was not enough. In 1961 the Cup Winners' Cup burst into life and another, the previously ad-hoc Inter Cities Fairs Cup, became a properly administered annual competition.
With growth has come change: in 1992 the European Cup grew into the Champions League. In 1971 the Uefa Cup replaced the Fairs Cup, only to be reformatted again as the Europa League in 2009. The Cup Winners' Cup has been consigned to history, and in 2021 Uefa's new Europa Conference League is due to begin.
For 65 years planes, trains and automobiles have transported players, fans and reporters across borders from Reykjavik to Rijeka, from Tromso to Tbilisi, with barely a pause - until now.
With planes grounded and grounds empty, let's take stock of 65 years of action and ask that question which inspired Hanot: who's best?
The scoring system
Clearly any scoring system designed to create a European league table is open to debate. Other algorithms are available! But the following system seems a fair way of calculating the all-time European elite.
The European Cup or Champions League has always been the premier competition and so winning it should be rewarded with the most points.
Winners: 12 points
Runners-up: 6 points
Beaten semi-finalist: 3 points
Should a Champions League win be on a par with a European Cup success? Many would argue that the European Cup was much easier to win than the Champions League, and they would probably be right. Liverpool, for example, played only seven games to win the European Cup in 1978 - they played 13 matches to win the Champions League in 2019.
However, qualifying to play in the European Cup - when only the champion club of each country and the current European Cup holders were admitted - was far more difficult than qualifying for the Champions League, with its multiple entries from the more successful nations.
For example, such was the dominance of Real Madrid in Spain that even Barcelona had competed in the European Cup only four times before they first won the trophy in 1992, yet Barca have qualified for the Champions League on all but three occasions since.
So how to score the other cups? The Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Europa League and Cup Winners' Cup were all broadly equal in status. The Cup Winners' Cup was initially heralded by Uefa as the superior competition, but the larger number of clubs entering the Uefa Cup arguably made that harder to win.
Winners: 8 points
Runners-up: 4 points
Beaten semi-finalist: 2 points
In 1972 Ajax played Rangers in the first European Super Cup, a competition unsanctioned by Uefa until the following season. Initially this was a two-legged affair between the European Cup and Cup Winners' Cup holders of the previous season.
Occasionally the Super Cup did not take place at all; Bayern Munich and Liverpool pulled out in 1974 and 1981 respectively, claiming fixture congestion. Now it's an early-season taster for the action to come and has found its place in the European calendar.
Winner: 1 point
Since 1956, a total of 172 clubs have reached a European semi-final and so make it to the full list. Germany has the biggest representation with 24 clubs featured. England is second place with 20 clubs, followed by Spain (16), Italy (15), France (12) and Belgium (11).
English clubs would have achieved even more but for the five-year ban on them playing in Europe which followed the 1985 Heysel disaster. This was extended to a sixth season for Liverpool, but perhaps it impacted most of all upon Everton. Howard Kendall's exciting team had won both the English title and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1985 but were denied the opportunity to test themselves in Europe again.
The top 10
Rank Team Points 1 Real Madrid 243 2 Barcelona 186 3 Bayern Munich 146 4 AC Milan 143 5 Liverpool 138 6 Juventus 129 7 Ajax 98 8 Inter Milan 97 9 Man Utd 90 10 Atletico Madrid 80
Top of the pile - Real Madrid. They won the first five editions of the European Cup and four of the past six Champions League titles, so it's no surprise the thirteen-time European champions top the poll.
Second placed Barca's total of five European Cup and Champions League titles may be modest compared to Real's - but Barcelona won the Cup Winners' Cup four times and the Fairs Cup three times, making them the most prolific winners of both those competitions.
Third placed Bayern Munich may have won fewer European Cups than AC Milan (five compared to seven), but in addition to their 12 European finals, the Germans have lost 14 times in semi-finals - agonising for them, but it earns Bayern enough points to edge the Italians into fourth place.
Bayern - with Real Madrid and Ajax - are also one of only three clubs to have lifted the European Cup in three successive seasons, while AC Milan's total of 11 European Cup or Champions League finals is second only to Real Madrid.
In fifth place, Liverpool are England's most successful club in European competition. Their 2019 win was the sixth time they have been champions of Europe, and they boast three Uefa Cup victories too.
Top 10 English clubs Rank Team Points 1 Liverpool 138 2 Man Utd 90 3 Chelsea 72 4 Arsenal 43 5 Tottenham 41 6 Leeds Utd 40 7 Nottingham Forest 27 8 West Ham Utd 14 9= Aston Villa 13 9= Manchester City 13
Only Real Madrid and Barcelona have reached more European finals than Juventus, who are in sixth place. However, the Italians have lost 10 of the 16 finals in which they have played, including each of their past five finals in the Champions League.
Like Juventus, seventh-placed Ajax have won all three European trophies in their various guises. That's a feat matched by only four other clubs - Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Eighth-placed Inter Milan won back-to-back European Cups in the mid-1960s but waited 44 years to be champions of Europe again. They also reached four Uefa Cup Finals in the 1990s, winning three.
In ninth are Manchester United. Who knows how much more they might have achieved but for the desperate tragedy of the Munich air disaster? The Busby Babes were travelling from Belgrade to Manchester via Munich on 6 February 1958, having just successfully reached their second European Cup semi-final
Had the team survived, they might have beaten AC Milan in that semi-final and perhaps become the first British side to be crowned European champions.
Uefa invited United to compete in the European Cup the following season, only for the authorities at the English Football League to stubbornly refuse to allow them to take part. Busby and United would have to wait 10 more years to win the European Cup.
Atletico Madrid are the only club to make the top 10 without ever being European champions. In 1974 they became the first, and only, side to lose the European Cup final in a replay - the first of three defeats in the final of that competition. They may yet put that right in 2020.
But perhaps Atletico are only just beginning to learn about losing finals? Spare a thought for Benfica. The Portuguese club won their first European Cup in 1961, and promptly won it again the following season. Since that 1962 success Benfica have reached eight more European finals - only to lose every time.


bbc--2020-04-28--UKA's Salazar review head Rowell to leave board a year earlier than planned

Last updated on .From the section Athletics Sarah Rowell , who led UK Athletics ' 2015 internal review into its handling of the Alberto Salazar scandal , is to step down from the governing body 's board a year earlier than planned .
`` No pressure was applied to me by the new leadership to leave , '' Rowell , who will depart at the end of this month , told BBC Sport .
The former Olympic marathon runner is the first senior departure since Joanna Coates became UKA 's new chief executive in February .
Rowell was interim chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accepted a year 's extension to her eight-year term as a board member .
She says she has now decided not to take up that extension .
`` UKA has recruited strong performance knowledge and having been chair I found it it hard to step back to just being an ordinary board member .
I had discussions earlier this year about not being involved any longer , '' she added .
Salazar was appointed as a consultant to UKA 's endurance programme in 2013 after he masterminded Farah 's 5,000m and 10,000m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Salazar was banned from the sport for four years in October 2019 after being found guilty of doping violations following an investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency ( Usada ) and a two-year court battle .
He is appealing against the ban .
The investigation began after a BBC Panorama programme in 2015 .
Salazar 's Nike Oregon Project ( NOP ) , which was home to Farah between 2011 and 2017 , has also been closed down .
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Farah , who has never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last month , UK Anti-Doping criticised UKA for not releasing the outcome of Rowell 's review , despite `` repeated '' requests .

Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Sarah Rowell was UKA interim chair from February to August 2019
Sarah Rowell, who led UK Athletics' 2015 internal review into its handling of the Alberto Salazar scandal, is to step down from the governing body's board a year earlier than planned.
The inquiry cleared Mo Farah to continue working with former coach Salazar, who was later banned from the sport in 2019 after being found guilty of doping violations.
"No pressure was applied to me by the new leadership to leave," Rowell, who will depart at the end of this month, told BBC Sport.
The former Olympic marathon runner is the first senior departure since Joanna Coates became UKA's new chief executive in February.
Rowell was interim chair from February to August last year, and accepted a year's extension to her eight-year term as a board member.
She says she has now decided not to take up that extension.
"UKA has recruited strong performance knowledge and having been chair I found it it hard to step back to just being an ordinary board member. I had discussions earlier this year about not being involved any longer," she added.
Salazar was appointed as a consultant to UKA's endurance programme in 2013 after he masterminded Farah's 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics.
Salazar was banned from the sport for four years in October 2019 after being found guilty of doping violations following an investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) and a two-year court battle. He is appealing against the ban.
The investigation began after a BBC Panorama programme in 2015.
Salazar's Nike Oregon Project (NOP), which was home to Farah between 2011 and 2017, has also been closed down.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Farah, who has never been accused of breaking anti-doping rules.
Last month, UK Anti-Doping criticised UKA for not releasing the outcome of Rowell's review, despite "repeated" requests.


bbc--2020-04-28--How much can you remember about the Premier League season so far?

It feels like a while since the last match was played in the Premier League does n't it ?
But @ @ @ @ @ about the season so far ?
Below are 15 questions about the top-flight campaign and @ @ @ @ @ figure them out .
All the stats have come from football data suppliers Opta .

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
It feels like a while since the last match was played in the Premier League doesn't it? But how much can you remember about the season so far?
Below are 15 questions about the top-flight campaign and you have 10 minutes to figure them out.
Good luck.
All the stats have come from football data suppliers Opta.


bbc--2020-04-28--A stampede for coffee in reopened New Zealand

Coffee and fast food seemed to be the first thing on the mind of New Zealanders as the country emerged from almost five weeks of strict lockdown .
The alert level has shifted to level three , allowing takeaway food shops and some non-essential business to re-open .
And it was n't long before queues formed in front of coffee shops and McDonald 's outlets as people rushed out .
`` That cup of coffee tasted amazing and I felt a sense of normality come back into my life , '' said one coffee lover .
`` Nothing beats a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Victoria Howe , who is based in Auckland , told the BBC .
Dr Samantha Keene , a New Zealander based in Wellington agreed , saying `` the ability to get a coffee and a scone made by someone else after weeks of doing it myself was a real treat '' .
But it was the re-opening of McDonald 's that got people most excited - with local media speaking to one Auckland resident who said he arrived at 04:00 .
Pictures online showed queues of cars and people posing with their fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great to have a wee treat at the end of a pretty tough period in lockdown , '' Christopher Bishop , a local MP , told the BBC , adding that his order was `` a delicious Sausage and Egg McMuffin '' .
But though the curve appears to have flattened , New Zealand 's top health expert warned against people congregating outside public spaces .
`` Like many people returning to work today , I have enjoyed a takeaway coffee .
However it is important not to congregate outside the cafes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's .
We do not want to see the sort of rebound we have seen in other countries , '' said Dr Ashley Bloomfield .
• How New Zealand turned to science and kindness Under the level three alert - a notch below its highest alert level - people have still been told to stay at home and work at home if they can , but businesses are allowed to open if they can provide contactless service .
Schools are also allowed to re-open but will have to ensure social distancing rules are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled and public venues closed .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • FACE MASKS : Should I be wearing one ?
• VACCINE : How close are we to finding one ?
New Zealand currently has 1,124 confirmed cases and 19 deaths out of a population of around five million people .
Its new cases have stayed in the single digits for several days , leading the government to say that the virus was effectively eliminated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Zealand 's apparent success in containing the virus has been attributed to its early and sweeping actions .
New Zealand brought in some of the toughest restrictions in the world on travel and activity on 19 March , early on in the global pandemic .
That helped stop cases being brought in from overseas - 33 % of New Zealand 's cases were imported .
As Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the time : `` We only have 102 cases , but so did Italy once . ''
`` If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its cases came from overseas , '' Prof Sanjaya Senanayake of the Australian National University told the BBC .
`` So it was really important to close the borders and it did that very effectively . ''
On 21 March , New Zealand introduced a new public alert system with four levels - the highest being a total national lockdown and the lowest indicating that the disease was contained but people should be prepared .
It went in at level two , which meant there was a growing risk of community transmission .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a level four alert .
Offices , schools and public spaces like beaches and playground were shut .
Bars and restaurants were also closed - including for takeaway and delivery .
The ministry of health says 80 % of close contacts of someone confirmed with the virus are now being alerted within 48 hours of the diagnosis .
That means those people can self-isolate until the incubation period has passed , and they can get tested .
Officials say 8,000 people are being tested each day .
There has been some criticism though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up even more if it 's to remain effective .
People are also being encouraged to keep a diary of people they interact with , and New Zealand is also working on a contact tracing app , similar to those in use in Singapore and Australia .
New Zealanders were not told to stick only to their households but to their `` bubble '' - a small group of close friends or family who all agreed to only see each other .
Experts say this approach can make people less restricted , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were also told early on to stay 2m ( 6ft ) away from people .
Read more on the 'social bubble ' approach to lockdown easing The government has also been praised for the clarity of its messaging throughout the crisis , with Ms Ardern and Dr Bloomfield singled out for praise .
`` I think when you hear your prime minister deliver sensible information in a calm manner that also helps you feel calm , '' said Prof Senanayake .
But he warned against lifting restrictions too early , saying people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I think the best way to lift restrictions is to do it piece by piece , watching very carefully for a surge in cases , '' he said .
`` The only way to do that is to continue surveillance and enhanced testing .
Today the restrictions have come down but if cases surge you have to consider returning to restrictions .
It 's something you have to remain vigilant about . ''

"Like many people returning to work today, I have enjoyed a takeaway coffee. However it is important not to congregate outside the cafes, the carpark of takeaway places like McDonald's. We do not want to see the sort of rebound we have seen in other countries," said Dr Ashley Bloomfield.


bbc--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: UK failed to stockpile crucial PPE

The government failed to buy crucial protective equipment to cope with a pandemic , a BBC investigation has found .
There were no gowns , visors , swabs or body bags in the government 's pandemic stockpile when Covid-19 reached the UK .
NHS staff say they are being put at risk because of the shortage of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
The government said it has taken the right steps and is doing everything it can to increase stocks .
The investigation by BBC Panorama found that vital items were left out of the stockpile when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government subsequently ignored a warning from its own advisers to buy missing equipment .
• Why some NHS workers are wearing bin bags • Are NHS staff getting enough protective gear ?
The expert committee that advises the government on pandemics , the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group ( Nervtag ) , recommended the purchase of gowns last June .
Gowns are currently one of the items in shortest supply in the UK and they are now difficult to source because of the global shortage of PPE .
Doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also shortages of the life-saving FFP3 respirator masks .
Panorama has discovered that millions of FFP3 respirator masks are unaccounted for .
There were 33 million on the original 2009 procurement list for the stockpile , but only 12 million have been handed out .
The government refuses to explain where the other masks have gone .
A government spokesperson said there was `` limited demand '' for the masks coming through the Supply Disruption Line , `` which is one reason why they have n't all been distributed '' .
They added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advisory group and would be procured for the `` future stockpile build up alongside all other necessary equipment '' .
Panorama has spoken to a number of NHS insiders about PPE who wish to remain anonymous .
`` There is a complete lack of transparency from the government .
They are creating panic , as we do n't know if they can supply us so we are scrambling to get it elsewhere , '' a head of procurement told the programme .
The government also failed to stockpile visors , the swabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed for the dead .
Professor John Ashton , a public health expert and long-standing critic of the government , told the programme the lack of preparation was breathtaking .
`` The consequence of not planning ; not ordering kit ; not having stockpiles is that we are sending into the front line doctors , nurses , other health workers and social care workers without the equipment to keep them safe , '' he said .
A government spokesperson said the stockpile was designed for a flu pandemic and that Covid-19 is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They said swabs and body bags were not recommended by Nervtag historically , but eye protection was , so the stockpile contains safety glasses .
Government minister Victoria Atkins told BBC Breakfast she was `` very , very sorry to hear '' of the Panorama report .
`` Like every other country in the world , [ the virus ] is unprecedented and the requirements for PPE have risen exponentially and we are doing our absolute best to address those needs and will continue to do so throughout this crisis , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• CONTAINMENT : What it means to self-isolate • HEALTH MYTHS : The fake advice you should ignore • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Panorama also investigated changes to the government guidance on what PPE NHS staff should wear .
In January this year , Covid-19 was officially designated a High Consequence Infectious Disease ( HCID ) .
The decision was made in consultation with a group of British experts .
A Health and Safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already recommended that all healthcare workers should wear a gown , FFP3 respirator mask and visor when dealing with HCIDs .
Those recommendations were in line with existing UK guidance .
But on 13 March this year , the government downgraded its guidance on PPE and told NHS staff they were safe to wear less protective aprons and basic surgical masks in all but the most high risk circumstances .
Panorama understands that on the same day , the government took steps to remove Covid-19 from the list of HCIDs .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be put on the list in the first place were not consulted .
Instead , the government asked its Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens ( ACDP ) .
Panorama has discovered that the ACDP was only asked to consider the matter on the morning of its 13 March meeting .
It was added to the committee 's agenda under `` any other business '' .
The committee backed the decision to remove Covid-19 from the HCID list , but sources on that committee have told Panorama that it had to be , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the availability of PPE .
It was another six days before Public Health England announced that the coronavirus was no longer considered an HCID .
A government spokesperson said Covid-19 was taken off the list because it has a low overall mortality rate and there is now greater clinical awareness and a specific laboratory test for the virus .
They added the committee 's advice that Covid-19 no longer be considered an HCID was based entirely on scientific considerations .
`` The HCID classification is used for serious infections where there are limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities , '' the spokesperson said .
`` This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it , guided at all times by the best scientific advice .
`` The government has been working day and night to battle against coronavirus , delivering a strategy designed at all times to protect our NHS and save lives . ''
You can watch the full Panorama programme , Has the Government Failed the NHS ?
on iPlayer here .

"Like every other country in the world, [the virus] is unprecedented and the requirements for PPE have risen exponentially and we are doing our absolute best to address those needs and will continue to do so throughout this crisis," she said.


bbc--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: Mike Pence flouts rule on masks at hospital

US Vice-President Mike Pence has visited a top US hospital without wearing a mask , despite the medical centre 's own rules that visitors wear personal protective equipment .
Mr Pence appeared to be the only person present not in a facial covering at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota .
In a deleted tweet , the clinic said the vice-president had been notified in advance of its policy requiring masks .
He defended his decision as necessary in order to meet with staff and patients .
The US government 's own coronavirus-prevention advice is that people should wear face coverings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing measures are difficult to maintain '' .
The Mayo Clinic itself requires all patients and visitors to its medical centres to wear a mask or face covering .
• US Congress abandons plan to return to Washington • Five Trump claims about the virus - fact-checked Mr Pence was accompanied by commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration Dr Stephen Hahn , who wore a mask for the trip .
The visit came on the same day that the US coronavirus caseload topped one million and the number of deaths surpassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday to explain why he did not wear a mask , the vice-president said he and everyone around him are regularly tested for the coronavirus .
`` When the CDC issued guidelines about wearing a mask , it was their recognition that people that may have the coronavirus could prevent the possibility of conveying the virus to someone else by wearing a mask , '' he said .
`` And since I do n't have the coronavirus , I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to be here , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these incredible healthcare personnel , and look them in the eye and say thank you . ''
Mr Pence chose to forgo a mask earlier this month while greeting Colorado Governor Jared Polis - who did don a facial covering - on their way to the Air Force Graduation ceremony .
According to news website Axios , Mr Pence has never once worn a mask while in public since the pandemic began while continuing to travel throughout the country .
An aide to Mr Pence was the first White House member to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
President Donald Trump has himself previously said he has no plans to wear a mask .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LIKE 9/11 EACH DAY : A New York paramedic 's diary • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis

"And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible healthcare personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you."


bbc--2020-04-29--Coronavirus: US Congress abandons return to Washington

The US House of Representatives will not reconvene next week following a revolt from lawmakers who complained that it was too soon to return .
On Monday , members were told to return to the Democratic-controlled chamber .
However , House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said on Tuesday the plan was scrapped after consulting the House doctor .
The volte-face came as the confirmed number of US Covid-19 cases passed 1m .
The Republican-controlled Senate still plans to return on 4 May .
`` We made a judgement that we will not come back next week but that we hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Hoyer said , adding that the bipartisan group studying remote work options for Congress would meet on Tuesday .
`` My objective would be that we agree upon a process so that committees can do all the work they would do if they were sitting in the same room , '' he said .
Washington DC remains under a stay-at-home order until 15 May .
Officials say the infection rate is still climbing .
The Washington DC area , which includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia , have recorded over 38,000 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of Americans who have tested positive for the virus stood at 1,011,600 on Tuesday afternoon , according to Johns Hopkins University , and over 58,300 people in the US have died .
Democratic leaders were faced with a backlash from members of their own party over the plans to return next week .
On a private call with House members , Debbie Wasserman Schultz , a congresswoman from Florida , told party leaders the plan was `` dangerous '' and several complained that they had no way of managing childcare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Tuesday , Mr Hoyer announced that the return to Washington would be postponed .
`` The House physician 's view was that there was a risk to members that was one he would not recommend taking , '' he said .
• The fake health advice you should ignore • Will coronavirus go away in the summer ?
`` We had no choice , '' said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , defending the change in course .
`` If the Capitol physician recommends that we not come back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the interest of the safety of the people who work here . ''
However , there is pressure to reconvene the chamber in order to pass key legislation amid the coronavirus pandemic .
President Donald Trump , who called for Congress to return , scorned the decision , saying : `` Democrats are enjoying their vacation '' .
The questions over how to reopen Congress for business are likely to renew calls for proxy sessions and remote voting , said BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher .
Currently , rules prevent members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are efforts to change .
On Tuesday , the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms extended the ban on visitors to the capitol until 16 May .
Only lawmakers and their staff as well as credentialed journalists and visitors on official business will be allowed to enter .
The decision was made `` out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public '' , they said in a joint statement .
Some key questions remain about how lawmakers can conduct routine business on Capitol Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some lawmakers sleep in their office and rely on the gym to be open for showering .
If unable to sleep at work , lawmakers may be forced into Washington DC hotels , which are costly and could quickly become overcrowded .
It also remained unclear whether lawmakers will have their temperatures taken at the door , how they will practise social distancing in the chamber and whether any lawmakers will be permitted to vote in absentia .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LIKE 9/11 EACH DAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis

"We had no choice," said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, defending the change in course. "If the Capitol physician recommends that we not come back, then we have to take that guidance in the interest of the safety of the people who work here."


bbc--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: France mandates masks for schools and transport

France will make face masks compulsory on public transport and in secondary schools when it starts easing its coronavirus lockdown on 11 May , Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said .
Schools will reopen gradually , starting with kindergartens and primary schools .
Pupils aged 11-15 will be expected to wear face masks .
It comes as hard-hit Spain also outlined its lockdown exit plan , aiming for what its prime minister called `` a new normality '' by the end of June .
Non-essential shops and markets will open their doors again from 11 May , but not bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to ask shoppers to wear masks , and should ensure they remain a metre ( 3ft ) apart , the prime minister said .
In a relief to many , the French will be able to go outside again without a certificate confirming their intentions , and public gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed .
Crèches will also reopen - but with a maximum of 10 children in each group .
France has suffered one of the highest Covid-19 death rates in Europe , along with the UK , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people who have died with the virus rose by 367 to 23,660 , the country 's health ministry said .
Some 129,859 people have been infected .
Hospital admissions and the number of patients in intensive care have been falling , however , giving cause for cautious optimism .
• Top two French leagues will not resume Addressing parliament , Mr Philippe said the lockdown had saved an estimated 62,000 lives in France in a month , but that it was time to ease measures to avoid an economic collapse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ live with the virus , '' he said , until a vaccine or effective treatment is available .
He summed up France 's priorities as `` protect , test , isolate '' .
Parliament backed his proposals after a debate by a large majority .
Only 75 of almost 600 French MPs were allowed into the chamber for reasons of social distancing , with others voting by proxy .
Will the lockdown definitely be lifted ?
Mr Philippe stressed that France must take strict precautions to avoid a second wave of coronavirus infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave , which would strike a weakened hospital fabric , which would impose a 're-confinement ' , which would ruin the efforts and sacrifices made during these eight weeks , is a serious risk , '' he said .
The lockdown will not be eased on 11 May if new cases do n't stay below 3,000 a day , he added .
France has seen about 2,162 new cases a day on average over the past two weeks .
The government has set a target to carry out at least 700,000 coronavirus tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister said , and will cover the cost of testing .
`` Once a person has tested positive , we will begin to identify and test all those , symptomatic or not , who have had close contact with them .
All these contact cases will be tested and will be asked to isolate themselves , '' he said .
Mr Philippe said that where possible , people should keep working from home beyond 11 May .
French central planning is at its finest in a crisis As the prime minister said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war , occupation or disease - has France had to confront such massive disruption .
And now from the best fonctionnaire brains in the land comes an exit strategy that might just measure up to the disaster .
As ever in hyper-rational France , the plan is built round numbers , categories and systems .
The key figure is 3,000 .
That is what the government reckons will be the number of daily infections in the weeks ahead .
By setting up local `` brigades '' of investigators to track the trail of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 contacts per infection - so 420,000 tests a week , which is well within planned capacity .
Those found to have the virus will be expected to self-isolate , either at home with their families or in requisitioned hotels .
And as for the rest of the population , life will very gradually resume .
Protection , testing , isolation .
That is the system .
Which is itself then conditioned by three imperatives : acceptance of the enduring nature of the virus , progressive implementation , and regional adaptation .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technocrat expounds on a plan .
But sometimes it may be exactly what the country needs .
Who will have to wear masks ?
Addressing the shortage of masks in France , Mr Philippe said they would be widely available by 11 May .
He called on all companies to provide staff with masks , and said the government would help small firms if necessary .
Masks will also be sold on the website of the French post office , and five million washable masks will be set aside each week for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using public transport , including trams , trains or the metro , will have to wear a face mask .
It comes after Germany made wearing cloth masks compulsory on public transport , and in shops in some regions .
In schools , France 's kindergarteners will not be expected to wear masks unless they start showing symptoms during the school day .
Middle school children ( aged 11-15 ) will be expected to , however , and the government will make masks available for students who ca n't access them .
Classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the prime minister said .
Elementary schools will begin opening from 11 May .
Middle schools in districts with milder outbreaks may be allowed to reopen from 18 May , and high schools at the end of the month .
The prime minister noted that some parts of the country had suffered worse outbreaks than others , and said mayors and local authorities would be allowed to adapt the government 's strategy to their locality .
The framework to decide which areas need a stricter form of lockdown easing will be fixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some areas will be categorised as `` green '' and others as `` red '' , depending on their tally of new cases , testing capacity , and the pressure on local hospitals .
Nationwide restrictions that will remain in place include : • Funerals will continue to be limited to 20 attendees • Religious ceremonies can not be organised before 2 June • France 's top two football divisions , Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 , will not resume this season You might be interested in ...

As the prime minister said, never in history - not in war, occupation or disease - has France had to confront such massive disruption. And now from the best fonctionnaire brains in the land comes an exit strategy that might just measure up to the disaster.


bbc--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: Spain plans return to 'new normal' by end of June

Spain has announced a four-phase plan to lift its stringent coronavirus lockdown and return to a `` new normality '' by the end of June .
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said each region would relax restrictions at a different pace , depending on the severity of its outbreak .
Four Spanish islands will be first to ease measures from 4 May , with the rest of Spain following a week later .
Spain 's coronavirus outbreak has so far killed almost 24,000 people .
The country has endured some of the world 's toughest containment measures since 14 March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six weeks .
There are signs the epidemic is now in decline , however .
On Tuesday Spain 's daily toll of registered virus deaths was 301 , according to its health ministry , compared to a high of 950 in early April .
The number of new infections also fell to 1,308 on Tuesday , its lowest level since Spain declared a state of alarm on 14 March .
On Sunday , Spanish children under the age of 14 were finally permitted to leave their homes - for one hour a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2 May , the rest of the population will also be allowed brief outdoor exercise and walks , if the infection rate continues to fall .
Spain has already taken an early step , allowing workers in manufacturing , construction and some services to return to work from 13 April .
On Tuesday , the prime minister outlined a fuller de-escalation plan with four phases , each expected to last about two weeks .
He said the process would take a minimum of six weeks , and hopefully no more than eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we as a country will have entered into the new normality if the epidemic remains under control , '' he said .
Before the plan kicks in , there will be a preparatory `` phase zero '' from 4-11 May , in which hairdressers and other businesses that take appointments can reopen , restaurants can offer take-away services , and professional sports leagues will go back to training .
• Can you compare different countries ?
• Madrid ’ s medical heroes in fight of their lives • WATCH : 'If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slave , you 're out' Mr Sanchez said provinces would progress to less restrictive phases based on their infection rates , local hospital capacity , and how well distancing measures were being observed .
The government wants remote working to continue wherever possible until June , when the fourth and final phase should be imposed .
Spain had avoided setting specific deadlines for lockdown easing so it would n't miss them if the situation changed , the prime minister said .
• Small businesses and hotels can open from 11 May , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though some schools will reopen in late May , most will stay closed until the new term begins in September , in line with a similar decision in Italy .
By contrast , France unveiled plans on Tuesday to gradually resume school classes from 11 May • Restaurants can start opening their terraces from mid-May , but they must not be more than 30 % full during the first phase • Religious services can resume on a limited basis from 11 May , at no more than one third of the building 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from late May , but again must be no more than a third full • Shops can open at half capacity from around the end of June , with two metres ( 6ft ) between shoppers • Beaches are expected to reopen in late June Mr Sanchez told Spaniards : `` We are starting to glimpse an outcome that will be a reward for the huge collective effort made over the past weeks . ''
But he warned that `` the virus is still lurking '' .
`` It 's up to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a journey without a precise route map .
[ ... ] What we 've accomplished is enormous , but it could all be lost if we do n't look after each other . ''
Spain 's economy has been battered by the impact of the virus , and the Bank of Spain forecasts that unemployment could rise to 21.7 % this year .
Mr Sanchez said a recession of `` extraordinary scale '' was now looming , which would require an extraordinary response from the EU .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • VACCINE : How close are we to finding one ?
• TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?

There are signs the epidemic is now in decline, however. On Tuesday Spain's daily toll of registered virus deaths was 301, according to its health ministry, compared to a high of 950 in early April. The number of new infections also fell to 1,308 on Tuesday, its lowest level since Spain declared a state of alarm on 14 March.


bbc--2020-04-28--Pentagon releases UFO videos for the record

The US Department of Defense has released three declassified videos of `` unexplained aerial phenomena '' .
The Pentagon said it wanted to `` clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real '' .
The videos had already been leaked in 2007 and 2017 .
Two were published by the New York Times , while the third was leaked by an organisation co-founded by former Blink-182 singer Tom DeLonge .
After they were first leaked , some people claimed the videos showed alien unidentified flying objects ( UFOs ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a clip from 2004 was filmed by two navy fighter pilots and shows a round object hovering above the water , about 100 miles ( 160 km ) out into the Pacific Ocean .
Two other videos filmed in 2015 show objects moving through the air , one of which is spinning .
In one , a pilot is heard saying : `` Look at that thing , dude !
It 's rotating ! ''
• The UFO sighting investigated by the police In its statement , the Pentagon said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has determined that the authorised release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems , and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena .
`` DOD [ Department of Defense ] is releasing the videos in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real , or whether or not there is more to the videos .
The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as 'unidentified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unexplained never goes away .
And the UFO phenomenon is perhaps one of the most potent of these stories , linking uncertainty about worlds beyond our own to conspiracy theories about government and especially the US government .
Down the centuries people have looked to the sky and tried to explain mysterious lights and objects .
But the modern UFO story took root in 1947 when a farmer discovered debris at Roswell , New Mexico , initially described as a flying disc , but now thought to be part of a secretive balloon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subsequently the testing base for advanced aircraft , known as Area 51 in Nevada , became the alleged centre for UFO research .
For the conspiracy theorists this was where the US government sought to harness advanced alien technology .
Over the years many of the most outlandish theories have been debunked .
But in 2017 , the Pentagon did finally admit that it had a long-standing programme , now terminated , investigating alleged UFOs .
Today , the US Navy prefers to call these unexplained sightings `` Unidentified Aerial Phenomena '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an acronym which has entered into our collective sub-conscious , prompting that fundamental question : are we really alone in the universe ?
Tweeting about the release , DeLonge thanked shareholders in his organisation , To the Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences , and said he was hoping to fund further research into the objects .
`` With today 's events and articles on my and @ TTSAcademy 's efforts to get the US Gov to start the grand conversation , I want to thank every share holder at To The Stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Next , we plan on pursuing the technology , finding more answers and telling the stories . ''
The musician co-founded the academy in 2017 in order to study UFOs and other paranormal phenomena .

"DOD [Department of Defense] is releasing the videos in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos. The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as 'unidentified'."


bbc--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: One thing that makes job loss in US so painful

More than 20 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last few weeks and for many that also means @ @ @ @ @ Kent became unemployed when the theatre she worked at closed because of coronavirus , leaving @ @ @ @ @ Americans rely on health insurance tied to their jobs so how did we get here @

More than 20 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last few weeks and for many that also means losing health insurance.
Susan Kent became unemployed when the theatre she worked at closed because of coronavirus, leaving her uninsured.
Half of Americans rely on health insurance tied to their jobs so how did we get here?
Video by Angélica M Casas


bbc--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: 98-year-old doctor working through the lockdown

Dr Christian Chenay continues to work in a high-risk environment , despite the danger of Covid-19 for someone of his @ @ @ @ @ oldest doctor is still making weekly trips to a retirement home to provide support , @ @ @ @ @ keep working is partly down to France ’ s shortage of local family doctors .

Dr Christian Chenay continues to work in a high-risk environment, despite the danger of Covid-19 for someone of his age.
France’s oldest doctor is still making weekly trips to a retirement home to provide support, and says his decision to keep working is partly down to France’s shortage of local family doctors.
(Photo: Dr Christian Chenay in Paris. Credit: BBC)
Video produced by Daniel South and Lisa Louis.
Watch more personal stories during the coronavirus outbreak: Your Coronavirus Stories


bbc--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: Putin admits PPE shortage as lockdown extended

Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that there is a shortage of protective kit for medics as the country battles the coronavirus .
This was despite a big increase in production and imports , he said .
Mr Putin warned that the peak of the coronavirus infection rate had not yet been reached in the country , and the population must remain vigilant .
Russia 's lockdown aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19 was extended until 11 May .
It has more than 93,000 coronavirus cases , with 867 recorded deaths .
What did Putin say ?
The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment for health workers on the frontline of the crisis .
`` Compared to before , [ we 're producing ] a lot .
But compared what we need , it 's still not enough , '' he said during a televised briefing .
`` Despite increased production , imports - there 's a deficit of all sorts of things , '' he added .
• Is Covid-19 being used for power grab in Europe ?
Medics have complained about working without proper protective clothing , especially in Russia 's regions .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medics per day , up from 3,000 a day in March , he said .
Production of masks has also increased more than 10 times , to 8.5 million per day in April .
Mr Putin said that while the government had managed to `` slow the spread '' of the epidemic , Russians would have to self-isolate for longer .
He said the lockdown would continue for two more weeks , though he instructed the government to draw up recommendations by 5 May for a gradual easing of restrictions .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
After a month under lockdown , Russians are already getting restless ; the streets are getting busier again .
So this speech from Vladimir Putin was at once a dangled hope and a warning .
The government will now come up with an exit strategy to be implemented gradually , carefully - at some point .
But the peak infection rate has n't passed here , and the risk from this epidemic remains high .
So the restrictions on movement will stay in place - until after the long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not pleasant , Mr Putin , acknowledged .
But thinking the threat has passed would be dangerous .
Russia currently ranks eighth in the world for confirmed cases .
Around half of those diagnosed with Covid-19 in the country are now in hospital .
That 's over 20,000 in Moscow , which is putting the healthcare system under great strain .
A military theme park and an Expo centre are now being converted into temporary hospitals as the number of cases continues to rise .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

But the peak infection rate hasn't passed here, and the risk from this epidemic remains high. So the restrictions on movement will stay in place - until after the long May holidays at least.


bbc--2020-04-28--Syria war: Dozens killed in truck bomb attack at Afrin market

At least 40 people have been killed in a bomb attack in the north-western Syrian city of Afrin , Turkey says .
The governor of the neighbouring Turkish border province of Hatay said a fuel tanker rigged with a hand grenade exploded at a crowded market place .
He and Turkey 's defence ministry blamed a Kurdish militia group , the YPG , which they see as linked to Kurdish militant groups inside Turkey .
Afrin is controlled by Turkish forces and allied Syrian opposition factions .
In 2018 , they launched a joint operation to drive the Syrian Kurdish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militia out of the city and its surrounding region .
The Turkish government accuses the YPG of being an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers ' Party ( PKK ) , which is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey , the US and EU .
The YPG , which the US relied on to defeat the jihadist group Islamic State ( IS ) in Syria , says they are separate entities .
The fuel tanker exploded at an open air market in the central Souk Ali area of Afrin on Monday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices , according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , a UK-based monitoring group .
The market is usually full of shoppers in the hours before Muslims break their daily fasts for the holy month of Ramadan .
Images from the scene showed thick black smoke rising above a residential area , and cars and food stalls on fire .
The Turkish defence ministry said all of those killed in the attack were civilians and that they included 11 children .
Forty-seven other civilians were wounded , it added .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted innocent civilians in Afrin , '' the ministry tweeted , without providing any evidence .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 40 civilians were killed along with six Syrian opposition fighters allied to Turkey .
The Syria Civil Defence , whose rescue workers are commonly known as the White Helmets , denounced the `` horrific massacre '' of civilians .
It put the death toll at 42 .
It said the attack was `` just one more nail in the coffin of the Syrian people '' and called for `` international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
There was no immediate comment from the YPG .

It said the attack was "just one more nail in the coffin of the Syrian people" and called for "international intervention to save lives and protect innocents".


bbc--2020-04-28--Khashoggi fiancée calls for Premier League to block Newcastle Saudi takeover

The fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has urged the Premier League to block the takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia .
Khashoggi , a dissident Saudi columnist , was killed in 2018 inside Saudi Arabia 's consulate in Turkey .
Western intelligence agencies believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered his death - which he denies .
Saudi Arabia 's Public Investment Fund , led by the prince , looks set to acquire an 80 % stake in the club .
But lawyers speaking on behalf of Hatice Cengiz , Khashoggi 's fiancée , said the takeover should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do we know about the takeover ?
Mike Ashley has owned Newcastle since 2007 and put the club up for sale in 2017 .
The proposed Saudi takeover is thought to be worth some £300 million .
But it has already caused much controversy .
• Who are the main people involved in the potential deal ?
The Saudi government has been accused of facilitating the theft of Premier League commercial rights , while Amnesty International has criticised the potential deal due to the country 's dire human rights record .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , a term used to describe countries that try to improve their international reputation by investing in major teams or hosting big sporting events .
But these accusations have been rebuffed by the Saudi government , which claims it wants to get more of its people engaged in sport .
What has Khashoggi 's fiancée said ?
Lawyers for Ms Cengiz said in a letter on her behalf that the Premier League should block the takeover .
`` It is undoubtedly the right , proper and lawful action for you ( chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League to take , especially in light of the ruthless killing of Ms Cengiz 's fiancée , '' the letter said .
There should be no place in English football for anyone `` involved in such abhorrent acts '' , it said .
`` The standing of both the Premiership and English football in general would be tarnished by your connection with those who commit the most appalling crimes and then seek to whitewash them , and who seek to use English football as a way of improving their image and hiding their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had gone into self-imposed exile in the US in 2017 - went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 , seeking papers to marry Ms Cengiz .
• Jamal Khashoggi : All you need to know about his death Investigators believe that as she waited outside , the 59-year-old was murdered and then dismembered .
Khashoggi 's remains have never been found .
The gruesome killing shocked the world and UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard said there was credible evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed and other high-level Saudi officials were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabia last year sentenced five people to death and jailed three others over his murder .
Turkey has separately charged 20 suspects over the murder .

Khashoggi fiancée calls for Premier League to block Newcastle Saudi takeover Published 28 April 2020
Image source, AFP Image caption, Hatice Cengiz has called on the Premier League to block the takeover
The fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has urged the Premier League to block the takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia.
Khashoggi, a dissident Saudi columnist, was killed in 2018 inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey.
Western intelligence agencies believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered his death - which he denies.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, led by the prince, looks set to acquire an 80% stake in the club.
But lawyers speaking on behalf of Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancée, said the takeover should be blocked over the killing.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Newcastle were 13th in the Premier League when football was suspended indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic
What do we know about the takeover?
Mike Ashley has owned Newcastle since 2007 and put the club up for sale in 2017. The proposed Saudi takeover is thought to be worth some £300 million.
But it has already caused much controversy.
The Saudi government has been accused of facilitating the theft of Premier League commercial rights, while Amnesty International has criticised the potential deal due to the country's dire human rights record.
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.
But these accusations have been rebuffed by the Saudi government, which claims it wants to get more of its people engaged in sport.
What has Khashoggi's fiancée said?
Lawyers for Ms Cengiz said in a letter on her behalf that the Premier League should block the takeover.
"It is undoubtedly the right, proper and lawful action for you (chief executive Richard Masters) and the Premier League to take, especially in light of the ruthless killing of Ms Cengiz's fiancée," the letter said.
There should be no place in English football for anyone "involved in such abhorrent acts", it said.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Mohammed bin Salman is asked: "Did you order the murder of Jamal Khashoggi?"
"The standing of both the Premiership and English football in general would be tarnished by your connection with those who commit the most appalling crimes and then seek to whitewash them, and who seek to use English football as a way of improving their image and hiding their transgressions."
What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?
The journalist - who had gone into self-imposed exile in the US in 2017 - went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018, seeking papers to marry Ms Cengiz.
Investigators believe that as she waited outside, the 59-year-old was murdered and then dismembered. Khashoggi's remains have never been found.
The gruesome killing shocked the world and UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard said there was credible evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed and other high-level Saudi officials were individually liable.
A court in Saudi Arabia last year sentenced five people to death and jailed three others over his murder.