bbc--2020-08-01--Phyllis Omido: The woman who won $12m fighting lead battery poisoners

After a decade of campaigning , Kenyan environmental activist Phyllis Omido won a court ruling that awarded $ 12m ( £9.2m ) to a community poisoned by lead pollution from a nearby factory , as the BBC 's Basillioh Mutahi reports .
When , in 2009 , Ms Omido explained to her employer that their business of battery recycling could `` end up killing '' the people living near the plant , she was asked never to talk about it again .
This was the first of many times she was told to be quiet , but she did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 , the business management graduate had just joined Kenya Metal Refineries , a firm in the coastal city of Mombasa which was recycling car batteries to extract the lead .
She had been asked to commission an environmental impact assessment , but when she presented the expert 's report the company directors did not act on its findings .
The battery melting process emitted both toxic fumes and a discharge that seeped into the neighbouring densely populated Owino Uhuru community .
It affected both the air and the water , causing illnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also had an impact on the employees .
But at that point in 2009 , Ms Omido did not know the extent of the problems - or the level of damage to the environment .
From childhood , she had always loved nature and had wanted to study something to do with the environment at university .
But her guardians in Mombasa - where she had moved after the death of her mother 15 years earlier in western Kenya - urged her to take a course that would enable her to get an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office job she had taken was with a company that did not seem to care for what she loved .
Despite concerns , Ms Omido continued working for the company and in 2010 her two-year-old son fell ill .
He underwent treatments and tests , but he did not get better and the problem could not be identified .
Things got so bad that he was admitted to hospital and it was then that a friend suggested that the child should be tested for lead poisoning .
It turned out he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood .
The discovery that her son had lead poisoning - perhaps ingested from breastmilk - shocked her .
Ms Omido was angry .
She quit her job , while pushing for the company to pay for her son 's treatment .
She also had tests done on three other children from the community .
Her fears were confirmed .
Armed with the test results , Ms Omido started writing to government agencies seeking action to stop the pollution .
They ignored her , she says .
The National Environmental Management Authority ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me and said what I was saying was fictitious and they were ready to defend it in a court of law '' , she told the BBC .
Nema had been partly responsible for licensing the factory in the first place .
She wanted to prove that it was no fiction so with funding from an environmental organisation , she organised for more lead poisoning tests to be done .
Ms Omido then felt she had the evidence , but her determination to make her case led to frequent run-ins with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day at a time .
We were just depending on goodwill .
When I was arrested for instance , I did n't even have money for bail .
And I had 17 people to bail out . ''
She was detained for one night in 2012 and charged with inciting violence after organising a march in Mombasa .
Two legal charities , Front Line Defenders and the East African Law Society , helped with the money and defence .
The campaigners were acquitted because of a lack of evidence .
Ms Omido @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very difficult time '' when she almost gave up the fight .
She was often scared because of being harassed by the authorities .
An attack by unidentified armed men just outside her home terrified her so much that she went into hiding for months .
`` I only survived because my neighbour arrived at that time .
His car lights shone on the place where I had been hit and had fallen on the ground , and my son was screaming , '' she says .
At one point , members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unhappy .
They argued that she was not being fair to her son , who saw her being mistreated by the authorities .
But the campaigner says she felt indebted to the community because `` there were so many people who believed in me and paid a very high price for that '' .
She remembers one `` heart-breaking '' incident in 2011 when the police arrived and fired tear gas after a community meeting .
`` They then ransacked people 's houses on the pretext of looking for illegal substances , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who earn so little .
I wish they would have arrested me instead . ''
You may also be interested in : • 'My battle to get clean air to breathe' • One in three children 'exposed to lead ' globally Despite the setbacks , Ms Omido fought for more than 10 years to get the case to court and get a decision to go the community 's way .
The $ 12m award is supposed to be paid jointly by the government agencies that were found to have been negligent as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which shut down in 2014 .
The judge also ordered the government to clean Owino Uhuru within four months , saying failure to act would result in a fine .
Ms Omido says that `` money can not even compensate '' for what the 3,000-strong community has been through .
Nevertheless , the funds can be used for treatment and medication .
But this may not be the end of the journey as she does not believe the money will be immediately forthcoming as the government has a poor record of paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has until the middle of September to pay up .
If it fails , then Ms Omido will not keep quiet .

But this may not be the end of the journey as she does not believe the money will be immediately forthcoming as the government has a poor record of paying compensation ordered by the courts.


bbc--2020-07-31--FA Cup: Cazorla, Parlour & Sanchez - watch Arsenal's best FA Cup final goals

Watch five of Arsenal 's best goals scored in FA Cup finals including a long-range belter from Ray Parlour , @ @ @ @ @ kick & a thunderbolt from Alexis Sanchez .
Watch the FA Cup final between Arsenal @ @ @ @ @ One & iPlayer from 16:30 BST on Saturday .

Watch five of Arsenal's best goals scored in FA Cup finals including a long-range belter from Ray Parlour, a superb Santi Cazorla free kick & a thunderbolt from Alexis Sanchez.
WATCH MORE: Aubameyang double sends Arsenal to FA Cup final
Watch the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea live on BBC One & iPlayer from 16:30 BST on Saturday.


bbc--2020-08-01--Nasa SpaceX crew return: Astronauts set for ocean splashdown

US astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have undocked their Dragon Endeavour capsule from the space station to begin their return to Earth .
The pair are expected to splash down off the coast of Florida just after 14:40 local time ( 19:40 BST ) on Sunday .
A successful landing would mean America once again has a fully serviceable , fully certified means of getting its own people into orbit and back .
This capability was lost when the country retired its shuttles in 2011 .
• What is the SpaceX Crew Dragon ?
The US space agency Nasa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have chosen a splashdown location well away from Hurricane Isaias , which looks as though it will track up the eastern coast of Florida .
Waiting recovery vessels are therefore being directed to the Gulf of Mexico , to waters off Pensacola and Panama City , in western Florida .
Mission controllers are following strict guidelines on permissible wind and wave conditions , and will study the latest forecasts before giving a final `` go '' for re-entry .
When that happens , Hurley 's and Behnken 's capsule will light its thrusters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's a high-speed descent , initially at several kilometres per second , and will see Endeavour experience heating of up 2,000C on its shielded underside as it pushes down through the atmosphere .
Two sets of parachutes are programmed to deploy - a drogue system at about 5,500m ( 18,000ft ) in altitude when the capsule is still moving at approximately 560km/h ; and then four main chutes , at 1,800m in height , which should gently deposit the vehicle on the ocean surface .
As is always the case with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few minutes of radio silence as hot gases ( plasma ) temporarily envelop the craft .
It 's 45 years since the last US crewed capsule made an ocean splashdown .
That was an Apollo vehicle which retuned to the Pacific after meeting up with a Soviet Soyuz craft above the Earth .
Doug Hurley said he 'd read the reports from the time and discovered that astronauts could experience some nausea when bobbing about on the water waiting for recovery .
`` There are bags if you need them , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters on Friday .
`` We 'll probably have some towels handy as well .
If that needs to happen , it certainly would n't be the first time .
Folks that fly in space know that sometimes going uphill can have an effect on your system and sometimes coming downhill is the same way . ''
• Who are Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken ?
• How is Nasa using commercial partners ?
The astronauts launched to the space station at the end of May .
Their ascent on a Falcon-9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ushered in a new era in American spaceflight .
Nasa has decided it will no longer own and operate crew transportation hardware in low-Earth orbit , preferring instead to buy this service off commercial partners .
California 's SpaceX company is the first provider .
Much of its hardware , including parts of the Falcon rocket , is reusable .
This approach had reduced costs , said Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine .
`` We established basically the high-level criteria , the requirements , in terms of payload and safety , but we did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We let private companies go and innovate .
That ultimately drove us to a point where we 're now reusing these rockets , reusing the capsules , and of course , we want to apply that to what we do with the Moon and eventually Mars , '' the agency official explained .
The Boeing company is also developing a `` taxi service '' to the space station , but has had to delay its introduction after encountering software problems on its Starliner capsule .
Assuming this demonstration mission is completed successfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward with routine , `` operational '' SpaceX flights , perhaps as early as the end of September .
Endeavour will go for refurbishment with the expectation it be put back on a rocket next year .
The crew for this flight , by chance , will include astronaut Megan McArthur , the wife of Bob Behnken .
The husband said he would have some tips on where best to pack personal items in the capsule .
`` Just like on any trip , if you pack things appropriately , it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But if you pack everything at the bottom of the big van that you take on vacation , and you 've got to get it all out one item at a time at various times , it can be tiring and eat into your enjoyment . ''
Hurley and Behnken are bringing back a commemorative US flag that was left on the space station by the crew of the last shuttle mission ( which happened to include Doug Hurley ) .
The Stars and Stripes also flew on the very first shuttle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go back into space again when America returns astronauts to the Moon later this decade .
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET @ bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter : @ BBCAmos

"What is not common is having passersby approach the vehicle close range with nitrogen tetroxide in the atmosphere; that's not something that is good," he said. "And we need to make sure that we're warning people not to get close to the spacecraft in the future."


bbc--2020-08-01--Coronavirus: South Africa virus cases pass half million mark

More than half million coronavirus have been confirmed in South Africa , according to the country 's health minister .
Zwelini Mkhize announced 10,107 new cases on Saturday , bringing the tally to 503,290 , along with 8,153 deaths .
South Africa is the hardest-hit country on the continent and accounts for half of all reported infections in Africa .
It also has the fifth-highest number of cases in the world after the US , Brazil , Russia and India .
Researchers have said the true number of deaths in the country may be far higher .
• Russian health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccination campaign against coronavirus in October • A jobless benefit paid tens of millions of unemployed Americans expired after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach a deal • Thousands of people in Berlin took part in protests against Germany 's coronavirus restrictions • Pubs or `` other activities '' in England may need to close to allow schools to reopen next month South African health authorities have said the rate of infection is increasing rapidly , with cases currently concentrated around the capital , Pretoria .
• South Africa 's outbreak : Eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than a third of all infections have been reported in Gauteng - South Africa 's financial hub , and a province that has quickly become the epicentre of the national outbreak .
Infections are not expected to peak for another month .
South Africa imposed a strict lockdown in April and May that slowed the spread of the coronavirus .
It began a gradual reopening in June but restrictions - including a ban on alcohol sales - were reintroduced last month as infection rates began to rise again .
A state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August .
The influx of patients has put an incredible strain on South Africa 's hospitals , and a BBC investigation found an array of systematic failures that had exhausted healthcare professionals and brought the health service near to collapse .
President Cyril Ramaphosa said last month that 28,000 hospital beds had been made available for Covid-19 patients but the country still faced a `` serious '' shortage of doctors and nurses .
Last week the World Health Organization warned that South Africa 's experience was a likely a precursor to what would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• 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

The president's comments about investigations into allegations of corruption over the procurement of medical supplies - some alleged to implicate his own aides - perhaps underline the crux of the problems facing the country's health system. "It is unconscionable that there are people who may be using this health crisis to unlawfully enrich themselves," he said.


bbc--2020-08-01--Did UK Special Forces execute unarmed civilians?

At the height of the war in Afghanistan in 2011 , two senior officers from Special Forces met in a bar in Dorset to have a secret conversation .
They feared some of the UK 's most highly-trained troops had adopted a `` deliberate policy '' of illegally killing unarmed men .
Evidence is now emerging that suggests they were right .
The two senior officers were thousands of miles from the dust and danger of Helmand province in Afghanistan .
One had recently returned from the war where his troops reported their understanding that a policy of execution-style killings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The other had been at headquarters , reading reports from the frontline with growing concern .
They showed a sharp rise in the number of `` enemies killed in action '' ( EKIA ) by UK Special Forces .
Special Forces are the UK 's elite specialist troops , encompassing both the SAS ( Special Air Service ) and the SBS ( Special Boat Service ) .
After the conversation , a briefing note believed to have been written by one of the most senior members of UK Special Forces was passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message contained clear warnings for the highest levels of Special Forces and concluded that these `` concerning '' allegations merit `` deeper investigation '' to `` at worst case put a stop to criminal behaviour '' .
The documents were released to solicitors Leigh Day , as part of an ongoing case at the High Court , which will rule on whether allegations of unlawful killing by UK Special Forces were investigated properly .
The man bringing the case is Saifullah Ghareb Yar .
He says that four members of his family were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 2011 .
It follows a BBC Panorama programme last year , which reported on the deaths .
The programme worked with the Sunday Times Insight team to reveal evidence of a pattern of illegal killings by UK Special Forces .
The government maintains that the four members of Saifullah 's family were killed in self defence .
But now correspondence in the newly-released documents shows that some had grave concerns about the UK Special Forces mission .
Just hours after the elite troops had returned to base , other British soldiers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night as the `` latest massacre '' .
At 01:00 in Nawa , rural Helmand , on 16 February 2011 , Saifullah 's family were asleep in their home .
They woke suddenly to the sound of helicopter rotors , followed by shouting through megaphones .
Saifullah was still a teenager but he was about to find himself in the middle of a Special Forces `` kill or capture '' mission .
These `` night raids '' were a common tactic at the time .
They were typically carried out in partnership with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their purpose was to target senior members of the Taliban .
`` My whole body was shaking because of the fear .
Everyone was frightened .
All the women and children were crying and screaming , '' Saifullah told BBC Panorama .
He described how his hands were tied and he was put in a holding area with the women and children .
He had not been there for long when he heard gunfire .
After the troops had left , the bodies of his two brothers were discovered in the fields surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot dead in a neighbouring building .
Going back into his house , Saifullah found his father , lying face down on the ground .
`` His head , the forehead area , was shot with many bullets , and his leg was completely broken by the bullets , '' he said .
Last year , Panorama exposed how the intelligence that identified the targets for these raids was often deficient .
Philip Alston , the former UN Special Rapporteur on executions , told the programme : `` I have no doubt that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innocent people being killed ] are justified , and that we can conclude that a large number of civilians were killed in night raids , totally unjustifiably . ''
Saifullah believes his family were wrongly targeted and then executed in cold blood .
In Nawa district , there was an outcry after the killings .
The Governor of Helmand believed the victims were innocent civilians .
British military emails from the aftermath of the raid obtained by Panorama suggest that eyewitnesses from the Afghan military supported Saifullah 's version of events .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoted as having said that no one was firing at the British but the four family members were shot anyway and that `` he sees this as confirmation that innocents were killed '' .
The Afghan commander suggests that `` two men were shot trying to run away , and that the other two men were `` assassinated '' on target after they had already been detained and searched '' .
The correspondence shows that these events sent shockwaves through the British military from Helmand to London .
Emails outline concerns over Afghan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night raids because they did not believe the killings were justified .
This was not the first time that the Afghan forces had made this complaint .
One senior Special Forces officer comments that this kind of falling out `` puts at risk the [ redacted ] transition plan and more importantly the prospects of enduring UK influence '' in Afghanistan .
`` Aside from alienating our Afghan allies , the narrative of murderous British forces played right into the hands of the insurgents , '' said Frank Ledwidge , a former military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser in Helmand .
`` The actions of some Special Forces actively undermined the overall counterinsurgency mission , which was challenging enough already , '' he said .
'You could n't make it up' Among the documents released to the court is a detailed summary marked `` secret '' .
It includes an extract of the classified operational summary ( OPSUM ) , which provides the official account of what the strike team did at Saifullah 's home .
The UK Special Forces reported that after initially securing the compound they went back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Afghan men they had detained .
While there , it says he suddenly reached for a grenade behind a curtain .
`` He poses an immediate threat to life and is engaged with aimed shots .
The assault team members take cover .
The grenade malfunctions and does not detonate , '' the OPSUM says .
After the shooting , the OPSUM reports that another Afghan was moved into the neighbouring compound to help with the search of the buildings .
They say he was also shot after picking up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reported to have run away when they spotted the unit arriving .
One hid in a bush with a grenade and was shot and killed when the explosive was spotted , says the OPSUM .
The other was reported to be hiding a short distance away with a machine gun .
When he emerged from a hiding place under a blanket with the weapon , he too was shot .
This official account of the killings was met with suspicion by some in the British military .
An internal email requests a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killings and asks : `` Is this about [ redacted ] latest massacre ! ''
The reply includes a summary of the unlikely events in the official report and concludes by saying : `` You could n't MAKE IT UP ! ''
It looks as if the soldiers reading these reports had concerns that they were being falsified using near-identical cover stories .
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said `` This is not new evidence , and this historical case has already been independently investigated by the Royal Military Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also been subject to four reviews conducted by an Independent Review Team .
`` These documents were considered as part of the independent investigations , which concluded there was insufficient evidence to refer the case for prosecution .
`` The Service Police and the Service Prosecuting Authority of course remain open to considering allegations should new evidence , intelligence or information come to light . ''
'Perverting the course of justice' The suspicious pattern of similar incidents leading to the killing of Afghan men during Special Forces night raids caught the eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forces headquarters in England .
A Special Forces Major examined all of the official reports of killings by the elite troops between December 2010 and April 2011 .
He wrote to other senior officers to say the number of killings led him to conclude `` we are getting some things wrong , right now '' .
His report highlighted 10 incidents in which the similarity of the accounts in official paperwork raised his suspicions .
All involved the shooting of men who were detained before they unexpectedly grabbed a weapon during a search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found at least five separate incidents where more people were killed than there were weapons recovered .
That means either the weapons went missing or the people who were killed were not armed .
In one case , nine people had been killed and only three weapons had been recovered .
The newly-released evidence appears to support revelations in last year 's Panorama and Sunday Times investigation .
Panorama reported that a large scale Royal Military Police ( RMP ) investigation called Operation Northmoor had linked dozens of suspicious killings on night raids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saifullah 's family members .
When the RMP interviewed the Special Forces troops who took part in the raid of 16 February 2011 , all of them claimed they could not remember the specifics of the mission that night .
Operation Northmoor was investigating whether official operation reports had been falsified .
In one case , the RMP had even brought charges against members of the UK Special Forces for murder , falsifying a report and perverting the course of justice .
But the charges were dropped and the government closed down Operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Insiders said it was closed too soon for them to complete their investigation .
`` It seems to be one of the unique characteristics of British Special Forces that they are truly accountable to no-one , '' said Frank Ledwidge .
`` Accountability must apply to everyone and particularly to the senior commanders and politicians who have allowed , condoned or ignored these alleged crimes and created the environment for them to happen '' .
You can watch Panorama , War Crimes Scandal Exposed on BBC iPlayer

At the height of the war in Afghanistan in 2011, two senior officers from Special Forces met in a bar in Dorset to have a secret conversation. They feared some of the UK's most highly-trained troops had adopted a "deliberate policy" of illegally killing unarmed men. Evidence is now emerging that suggests they were right.


bbc--2020-08-01--Coronavirus: Tokyo's famous Kabuki-za Theatre reopens after five months

Tokyo 's famous Kabuki-za Theatre has reopened , after being closed for five months due to the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ been halved , and performers now wear masks and sit further apart .

Tokyo's famous Kabuki-za Theatre has reopened, after being closed for five months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Capacity at the venue has been halved, and performers now wear masks and sit further apart.


bbc--2020-08-01--The British role in America's tainted past

Part of the soul-searching in the US in the two months since the killing of George Floyd has been focused on examining the history that led the country to this point .
Confederate statues have been pulled down in many cities and there are calls for a more honest look at the ways in which slavery , segregation and discrimination have shaped modern day America .
But there are those who feel that there are some beyond these shores who should be reflecting on their country 's role in it all .
`` Britain put its stamp on America from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought the first unfree Africans to this country and helped to start slavery in America , '' says Professor Cassandra Newby-Alexander , a historian at Norfolk State University in Virginia .
At Old Point Comfort , where people now fish on the nearby jetty , she points out the spot where it is believed the first ship carrying slaves came into what was then the colony of Virginia .
`` It was late August of 1619 , and it was the English vessel White Lion , '' Professor Newby-Alexander says of the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women that had been ripped from their homeland in what is now Angola .
`` Once they were here , they began to sell those individuals that they saw as part of their cargo to the leadership in the colony . ''
So started a legacy that has reverberations still being keenly felt today .
Professor Newby-Alexander readily accepts the culpability of Americans in perpetuating that legacy , but says that by the time the British ceded control , society here had already been shaped around the institution of slavery .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed .
Up until that point , everything that America created was English , including slavery , including laws on which slavery and inequality was built , '' she says .
`` It came from England .
It came from the English system .
`` If you claim that America has its foundational culture based on England , then you 've got to take it all .
That includes the systemic racism in our laws , in our practices and in our culture . ''
Policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ origins in slave patrols set up under the British in the early 1700s .
Local laws started to be drawn up that regarded black people as inferior .
`` The policing that we see that automatically assumes that a black person is a criminal , is already guilty , that started from the founding of our country that viewed Africans as systemically different . ''
Of course , centuries on , America needs to shoulder responsibility for where things are .
It won independence from Britain , but then there was civil war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep slavery .
A lot of the British elite again found themselves on the wrong side of history .
They sent supplies and arms to the confederacy , many wanting slavery to continue because of their own business interests .
Their side was defeated .
But years later , in the former confederate capital of Richmond , Virginia , that did not stop the building of imposing statues of confederate leaders .
It was part of a movement that eventually became known as `` The Lost Cause '' , a re-writing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the war as being one fought on noble grounds .
The statues in Richmond and across the southern United States also performed another function .
`` We were always told that they were built to intimidate , '' says Chelsea Higgs Wise , a community activist in Richmond .
`` We were told do n't look up at them , keep walking straight .
You do n't have to look up to that white man .
They made it that big so that you would have to hurt your neck to look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done with that , '' she says .
Ms Higgs Wise has been one of those involved in tearing down the statues that she says have haunted generations of black families here .
`` We have been talking for years about removing the Confederate monuments .
We 've had commissions .
We 've had reports .
We 've had budget lines .
But it was the young people that just came out with some rope and decided , we 're going to do this tonight and we got it done , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us to change the laws , the policies , and we could do it with rope , we would do that as well . ''
Ms Higgs Wise says that to this day the legacy of slavery pierces the consciousness of Black Americans in a way that is hard for others to understand .
She wants the plinths of those removed confederate statues , now daubed with graffiti of Black Lives Matter slogans and expletives , to remain .
Visit them now and you will see many people , young and old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of them .
`` I think it 's the most inappropriate thing to do to a statue no matter if it is Jefferson Davis or anyone else , '' says Bertram Hayes-Davis .
One of the very statues that Chelsea Higgs Wise filmed on her phone as it came down was one of Jefferson Davis , the great-great-grandfather of Bertram Hayes-Davis .
She can be heard cheering and says it was one of the most exhilarating moments of her life .
Davis had been the confederate president and after the war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he died unrepentant .
His descendent now asks that the instrumental role in the battle to keep slavery played by his ancestor , and others who are having their statues torn down , be looked at in a broader context .
`` None of the individuals that are being attacked today were solely slave perpetuationists .
They had an illustrious history associated with many more acts that may preclude that scenario of slavery , '' says Mr Hayes-Davis .
`` Our country is not perfect .
Our individuals are not perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to understand the lens of perspective of the historic times of which these people lived . ''
A statue of Jefferson Davis is one of 11 confederate statues that stands in the hallowed halls of the US Capitol Building in Washington DC .
It was put up more than 40 years before Davis had his US citizenship posthumously restored in the 1970s in what was described as an act of reconciliation .
This month , the House of Representatives voted to remove all 11 statues from The Capitol .
The nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of few national institutions that tackles head-on the horrors of slavery .
Across the southern United States in particular , even in schools , there is still a reluctance to do that .
But there is growing impatience among many for this side-stepping of uncomfortable American history , from the country 's origins to the present day .

"We were told don't look up at them, keep walking straight. You don't have to look up to that white man. They made it that big so that you would have to hurt your neck to look up to them. But we're done with that," she says.


bbc--2020-08-01--Brazil Bolsonaro: Facebook told to block accounts of president's supporters

Facebook has complied with an order by Brazil 's Supreme Court to block the accounts of a dozen top allies of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro .
The group are accused of spreading fake news against judges .
However , the social media giant said the measure was a threat to freedom of speech , and said it would appeal against the order .
Its platform has been used to call for a military coup to shut down Congress and the Supreme Court .
In May a judge ordered Facebook to block 12 accounts and Twitter another 16 .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reais ( $ 368,000 ; £280,000 ) for refusing to block worldwide access to the accounts - it had only agreed to block access to accounts that could accessed from Brazil - and a further 100,000 reais for each day it failed to comply .
It was not clear whether Twitter had also been fined .
Facebook said in a statement that the order was extreme , `` conflicting with laws and jurisdictions worldwide '' .
`` Given the threat of criminal liability to a local employee , at this point we see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision by blocking the accounts globally , while we appeal to the Supreme Court , '' it said .
Among the accounts blocked are those of Roberto Jefferson , leader of a party loyal to the president , and Luciano Hang , one of Brazil 's best known businessmen .
Facebook and Twitter are under growing pressure to tackle hate speech and false information .
In July Facebook blocked dozens of accounts on Facebook and Instagram which it said were involved in creating `` fictitious personas posing as reporters '' and `` masquerading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had linked the accounts to employees in the offices of Mr Bolsonaro , his sons Eduardo and Flávio , and others .

"Given the threat of criminal liability to a local employee, at this point we see no other alternative than complying with the decision by blocking the accounts globally, while we appeal to the Supreme Court," it said.


bbc--2020-08-01--Coronavirus: Russia plans mass vaccination campaign in October

Russian health authorities are preparing to start a mass vaccination campaign against coronavirus in October , the health minister has said .
Russian media quoted Mikhail Murashko as saying that doctors and teachers would be the first to receive the vaccine .
Reuters , citing anonymous sources , said Russia 's first potential vaccine would be approved by regulators this month .
However , some experts are concerned at Russia 's fast-track approach .
On Friday , the leading infectious disease expert in the US , Dr Anthony Fauci , said he hoped that Russia - and China - were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administering them to anyone .
Dr Fauci has said that the US should have a `` safe and effective '' vaccine by the end of this year .
`` I do not believe that there will be vaccines so far ahead of us that we will have to depend on other countries to get us vaccines , '' he told US lawmakers .
• When will we have a coronavirus vaccine ?
Scores of possible coronavirus vaccines are being developed around the world and more than 20 are currently in clinical trials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency , said that the Gamaleya Institute , a research facility in Moscow , had finished clinical trials of a vaccine and that paperwork was being prepared to register it .
`` We plan wider vaccinations for October , '' he said , adding that teachers and doctors would be the first to receive it .
Last month , Russian scientists said that early-stage trials of an adenovirus-based vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute had been completed and that the results were a success .
Last month the UK , US and Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had targeted various organisations involved in Covid-19 vaccine development , with the likely intention of stealing information .
The UK 's National Cyber Security Centre ( NCSC ) said it was more than 95 % certain that the group called APT29 - also known as The Dukes or Cozy Bear - was part of Russian intelligence services .
Russia 's ambassador to the UK , Andrei Kelin , rejected the accusation , telling the BBC that there was `` no sense in it '' .
In the UK , trials of a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can trigger an immune response and a deal has been signed with AstraZeneca to supply 100 million doses in Britain alone .

"I do not believe that there will be vaccines so far ahead of us that we will have to depend on other countries to get us vaccines," he told US lawmakers.


bbc--2020-08-01--FA Cup final 2020: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea - Aubameyang double secures victory

Arsenal 's talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang worked his Wembley magic once again as they came from behind to beat Chelsea and win the FA Cup for a record 14th time .
Chelsea took the lead in the Heads Up FA Cup final inside five minutes through Christian Pulisic 's smart finish but then fell victim to the brilliance of Aubameyang , who was also Arsenal 's hero when he scored twice in the semi-final win over Manchester City .
The Gabon forward drew Arsenal level from the penalty spot before the break after he was fouled by Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finishing to make the defining contribution to the first behind-closed-doors FA Cup final .
Chelsea were hampered by a first-half injury to Azpilicueta and were struggling even further when they lost the outstanding Pulisic to a hamstring problem after the break .
As the Blues battled to overcome those setbacks , the brilliant Aubameyang was able to give Mikel Arteta silverware in his first season as the Gunners ' manager .
Aubameyang , who Arsenal are understandably desperate to secure on a new long-term contract , turned Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma inside out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most audacious finish , chipping over keeper Willy Caballero from an angle .
Chelsea 's agony increased further when Mateo Kovacic was very harshly sent off for a second yellow card , awarded by referee Anthony Taylor for the most innocuous of challenges on Granit Xhaka .
Arsenal closed out the win to secure a place in the Europa League next season but it was bitter disappointment for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard at the conclusion of his first campaign in charge .
• Reaction from Wembley as Arsenal beat Chelsea in the FA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How you rated the players • 'We can win titles together ' - Arteta Arteta 's delight at the final whistle was obvious as he secured his first major trophy as a manager , having only succeeded Unai Emery in December .
There have been some mixed moments - but in recent weeks , Arsenal have shown their development by defeating new Premier League champions Liverpool and ending Manchester City 's hopes of retaining the FA Cup by beating them to reach the final .
Now the Gunners have the trophy in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each game they have shown character , courage and resilience - all qualities they have regularly been accused of lacking - and have a world-class spearhead in Aubameyang .
A player of that calibre makes the difference in the big games .
Aubameyang has shown that , making Wembley his personal playground in both the semi-final and the final .
It may have been a surreal occasion , this FA Cup final played in a virtually deserted Wembley and missing so much of the traditional ceremony and atmosphere , but the joy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his players and rightly so .
And when the celebrations end , Arsenal will know with even more certainty what their summer priority must be , even above any acquisitions .
Arsenal must find a way to keep Aubameyang .
Their cause is helped by being able to offer him European football , albeit the Europa League rather than the Champions League .
He is quite simply a talent that gives Arsenal another dimension of danger .
He is a match-winner - and in this instance , an FA Cup final winner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lampard as they dominated the opening phases at Wembley and led through Pulisic 's goal .
The momentum changed after the first-half drinks break as Chelsea were undone by their own injuries , Arsenal 's vast improvement and the dismissal of Kovacic .
Chelsea lost the experience of Azpilicueta and the thrilling talent of Pulisic , who actually injured his hamstring as he raced in on goal with a very good chance , and were then fighting an uphill battle .
They tried to regain that earlier supremacy but were hit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending off of Kovacic .
The Croatia international was shown a second yellow card for a challenge with Xhaka that raised questions as to whether it was actually a foul before referee Anthony Taylor eventually produced the red card .
It more or less signalled the end of Chelsea 's hopes .
Lampard 's first season , which has contained so much promise , concludes with a place in next season 's Champions League but not a trophy .
There has been much to admire from Chelsea as Lampard has mixed youth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he must address , having added to his attacking resources with the exciting addition of Timo Werner .
Those defensive weaknesses were clear as Aubameyang preyed on them in deadly fashion .
As they trooped to collect their losers ' medals , Chelsea and Lampard will reflect on a day when little went right after that opening five minutes .
Arteta writes name into Gunners history books - the stats • Mikel Arteta has become the first person to both captain and manage Arsenal to victory in an FA Cup final .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 FA Cup final matches , with all three defeats coming against Arsenal .
• The Gunners have won each of their past seven FA Cup final appearances since 2002 - no team has had a longer run of successive final triumphs in the competition .
• Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to win a major trophy in their first season in charge of the club since George Graham in 1986-87 .
• There was just one shot on target in the whole of the second half , which was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debut for Arsenal in February 2018 , Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 70 goals in all competitions , more than any other Premier League player in that time .
• Christian Pulisic 's opener was the first FA Cup final goal scored by an American player .
• Mateo Kovacic became the sixth player to be sent off in an FA Cup final , with the last two of them being Chelsea players ( Victor Moses was dismissed , also against Arsenal , in 2017 ) .
• Willy Caballero ( 38 years 308 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play for Chelsea in an FA Cup final , while substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi ( 19 years 268 days ) became the youngest to play in the showpiece for the Blues .
• FA Cup Channel : A whole day of classics , build up and live action on BBC iPlayer • The juicy story of veggie meat : What next for plant based alternatives ?

Last updated on .From the section FA Cup
Arsenal's talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang worked his Wembley magic once again as they came from behind to beat Chelsea and win the FA Cup for a record 14th time.
Chelsea took the lead in the Heads Up FA Cup final inside five minutes through Christian Pulisic's smart finish but then fell victim to the brilliance of Aubameyang, who was also Arsenal's hero when he scored twice in the semi-final win over Manchester City.
The Gabon forward drew Arsenal level from the penalty spot before the break after he was fouled by Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, then produced a moment of world-class finishing to make the defining contribution to the first behind-closed-doors FA Cup final.
Chelsea were hampered by a first-half injury to Azpilicueta and were struggling even further when they lost the outstanding Pulisic to a hamstring problem after the break.
As the Blues battled to overcome those setbacks, the brilliant Aubameyang was able to give Mikel Arteta silverware in his first season as the Gunners' manager.
Aubameyang, who Arsenal are understandably desperate to secure on a new long-term contract, turned Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma inside out in the 67th minute before delivering the most audacious finish, chipping over keeper Willy Caballero from an angle.
Chelsea's agony increased further when Mateo Kovacic was very harshly sent off for a second yellow card, awarded by referee Anthony Taylor for the most innocuous of challenges on Granit Xhaka.
Arsenal closed out the win to secure a place in the Europa League next season but it was bitter disappointment for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard at the conclusion of his first campaign in charge.
Arteta's winning feeling
'I can't even talk' - Martinez in tears after FA Cup win
Arteta's delight at the final whistle was obvious as he secured his first major trophy as a manager, having only succeeded Unai Emery in December.
There have been some mixed moments - but in recent weeks, Arsenal have shown their development by defeating new Premier League champions Liverpool and ending Manchester City's hopes of retaining the FA Cup by beating them to reach the final. Now the Gunners have the trophy in their hands after seeing off Chelsea.
In each game they have shown character, courage and resilience - all qualities they have regularly been accused of lacking - and have a world-class spearhead in Aubameyang.
A player of that calibre makes the difference in the big games. Aubameyang has shown that, making Wembley his personal playground in both the semi-final and the final.
It may have been a surreal occasion, this FA Cup final played in a virtually deserted Wembley and missing so much of the traditional ceremony and atmosphere, but the joy of victory was still relished by Arteta and his players and rightly so.
And when the celebrations end, Arsenal will know with even more certainty what their summer priority must be, even above any acquisitions.
Arsenal must find a way to keep Aubameyang. Their cause is helped by being able to offer him European football, albeit the Europa League rather than the Champions League.
He is quite simply a talent that gives Arsenal another dimension of danger. He is a match-winner - and in this instance, an FA Cup final winner.
Lampard's Chelsea suffer Wembley pain
It all started so well for Chelsea and Lampard as they dominated the opening phases at Wembley and led through Pulisic's goal.
The momentum changed after the first-half drinks break as Chelsea were undone by their own injuries, Arsenal's vast improvement and the dismissal of Kovacic.
Chelsea lost the experience of Azpilicueta and the thrilling talent of Pulisic, who actually injured his hamstring as he raced in on goal with a very good chance, and were then fighting an uphill battle.
They tried to regain that earlier supremacy but were hit by that brilliant goal from Aubameyang and the sending off of Kovacic.
The Croatia international was shown a second yellow card for a challenge with Xhaka that raised questions as to whether it was actually a foul before referee Anthony Taylor eventually produced the red card.
It more or less signalled the end of Chelsea's hopes. Lampard's first season, which has contained so much promise, concludes with a place in next season's Champions League but not a trophy.
There has been much to admire from Chelsea as Lampard has mixed youth and experience but there is a defensive frailty he must address, having added to his attacking resources with the exciting addition of Timo Werner.
Those defensive weaknesses were clear as Aubameyang preyed on them in deadly fashion.
As they trooped to collect their losers' medals, Chelsea and Lampard will reflect on a day when little went right after that opening five minutes.
Man of the match - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang once again showed his value to Arsenal as he inspired them to their first major trophy since 2017
Arteta writes name into Gunners history books - the stats
Mikel Arteta has become the first person to both captain and manage Arsenal to victory in an FA Cup final.
Chelsea have lost three of their past 10 FA Cup final matches, with all three defeats coming against Arsenal.
The Gunners have won each of their past seven FA Cup final appearances since 2002 - no team has had a longer run of successive final triumphs in the competition.
Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to win a major trophy in their first season in charge of the club since George Graham in 1986-87.
There was just one shot on target in the whole of the second half, which was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's winning goal.
Since his debut for Arsenal in February 2018, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 70 goals in all competitions, more than any other Premier League player in that time.
Christian Pulisic's opener was the first FA Cup final goal scored by an American player.
Mateo Kovacic became the sixth player to be sent off in an FA Cup final, with the last two of them being Chelsea players (Victor Moses was dismissed, also against Arsenal, in 2017).
Willy Caballero (38 years 308 days) became the oldest player to play for Chelsea in an FA Cup final, while substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi (19 years 268 days) became the youngest to play in the showpiece for the Blues.


bbc--2020-08-01--Coronavirus: Thousands protest in Germany against restrictions

Thousands of people in the German capital Berlin have taken part in a protest against the country 's coronavirus restrictions .
Demonstrators said measures including the wearing of facemasks violated their rights and freedoms .
Police broke up the protest , saying organisers had not respected coronavirus hygiene regulations .
Germany has been less badly affected by the pandemic than some European countries , but cases are rising .
On Friday it recorded more than 900 new cases and seven deaths .
What happened at the protest ?
Officials say about 20,000 people attended the Berlin protest on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of freedom '' from months of coronavirus restrictions .
Demonstrators held up banners featuring such slogans as `` Corona , false alarm '' and `` We are being forced to wear a muzzle '' .
The BBC 's Damien McGuinness said some participants were from the far right and some were conspiracy theorists who do not believe Covid-19 exists , but others were ordinary people who simply object to the government 's approach to the pandemic .
While the mood at the demonstration was peaceful , hardly anyone was wearing a face-covering or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correspondent reported .
`` Our demand is to go back to democracy .
Away with these laws that have been imposed on us , away with the masks that make us slaves , '' one woman said .
Police ordered demonstrators to disperse at the end of the afternoon .
They said they had launched legal action against organisers for not respecting coronavirus hygiene rules .
Health Minister Jens Spahn criticised people for failing to adhere to regulations , including the 1.5m ( 5ft ) social distancing requirement .
`` Yes , demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But not like this , '' he wrote on Twitter .
Social distancing rules and hygiene requirements apply throughout the country , and people must wear face-coverings in shops and on public transport .
Mandatory testing has been introduced for holidaymakers returning from high-risk areas .
Germany has had more than 210,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 9,000 related deaths since the pandemic began .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to @ @ @ @ @

The BBC's Damien McGuinness said some participants were from the far right and some were conspiracy theorists who do not believe Covid-19 exists, but others were ordinary people who simply object to the government's approach to the pandemic.


bbc--2020-08-01--India toxic alcohol: Dozens die in Punjab poisoning

At least 86 people have died in recent days as a result of drinking illegally-made alcohol , officials in the northern Indian state of Punjab say .
On Saturday , police carried out more than 100 raids , confiscating supplies of the suspected liquor and making 25 arrests .
The number of dead has steadily risen in the last few days .
Hundreds of people die in India each year after drinking bootleg alcohol from backstreet distilleries .
On Friday , Punjab 's Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered an inquiry into the deaths .
Reports suggest the illegal liquor may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roadside cafe owners and then distributed to local communities .
The case follows reports on Friday of the deaths of 10 people - said to have alcohol addictions - who drank hand sanitiser in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh .
Deaths from illegally produced alcohol , which is much cheaper than branded spirits , are common in parts of rural India .
Bootleggers often add methanol - a highly toxic form of alcohol sometimes used as an anti-freeze - to their mixture to increase its strength .
If ingested in even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , liver damage and death .

The case follows reports on Friday of the deaths of 10 people - said to have alcohol addictions - who drank hand sanitiser in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.


bbc--2020-08-01--TikTok: US general manager Pappas says app 'here for the long run'

The US general manager of TikTok has said the Chinese-owned video-sharing app is `` here for the long run '' , after President Donald Trump said he would ban it in the US .
Vanessa Pappas told TikTok users in a video statement that its staff were building `` the safest app '' .
Mr Trump said he could soon sign an executive order , amid concerns the app could be used to collect Americans ' personal data .
The fast-growing app has up to 80 million active monthly users in the US and the ban would be a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns it .
It was not immediately clear what authority Mr Trump has to ban TikTok , how that ban would be enforced and what legal challenges it would face .
• How would the US go about banning TikTok ?
• Should we be worried about TikTok ?
Reuters news agency reported on Saturday that ByteDance had agreed to completely divest TikTok 's US operations .
Previously the Chinese company had sought to keep a minority stake , with Microsoft reportedly in talks to buy the app .
But sources quoted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Microsoft Corp would take over TikTok in the US .
The move to ban TikTok comes at a time of heightened tensions between the Trump administration and the Chinese government over a number of issues , including trade disputes and Beijing 's handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
What did Ms Pappas say ?
TikTok 's US general manager said the company had heard an `` outpouring of support '' for the app , and thanked the `` millions of Americans '' who used it every day .
`` We 're not planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Addressing concerns about data security , she said TikTok was behaving responsibly .
`` When it comes to safety and security , we 're building the safest app , because we know it 's the right thing to do , '' she said .
`` We 're here for the long run , continue to share your voice here and let 's stand for TikTok . ''
The platform has exploded in popularity in recent years , mostly with people under 20 .
They use the app to share 15-second videos that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routines and unusual editing tricks .
These videos are then made available to both followers and strangers .
By default , all accounts are public , although users can restrict uploads to an approved list of contacts .
TikTok also allows private messages to be sent but this facility is limited to `` friends '' .
The app is reported to have around 800 million active monthly users , most of whom are in the US and India .
India has already blocked TikTok as well as other Chinese apps .
Australia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment-maker ZTE , is also considering banning TikTok .
Trump 's dislike of TikTok goes further than just privacy concerns .
In India TikTok was banned after a border skirmish with China - it was caught up in a geopolitical feud .
And that 's what 's happened here , too .
Trump 's sights are set firmly on China - and this should be seen through that lens .
TikTok says that it does n't keep any data in China and would never give it to China .
But , in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , the fact that they are owned by a Chinese 's company is guilt enough .
Not to be overlooked either is Trump 's previous experience with TikTok .
Last month users claimed to have scuppered his Tulsa rally after signing up to tickets they had no intention of using .
And although there are Republican and conservative voices on TikTok , the profile of users in the US is generally young and liberal/left .
It 's hard to believe that 's not a factor here .
Why is the US concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have raised concerns data collected by ByteDance via TikTok may end up being passed to the Chinese government .
TikTok operates a similar but separate version of the app in China , known as Douyin .
It says all US user data is stored in the US , with a backup in Singapore .
• TikTok sent US user data to China , lawsuit claims • TikTok : We are not 'under the thumb ' of China This week , TikTok told users and regulators it would observe a high level of transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are not political , we do not accept political advertising and have no agenda - our only objective is to remain a vibrant , dynamic platform for everyone to enjoy , '' the CEO of TikTok , Kevin Mayer , said in a post this week .
`` TikTok has become the latest target , but we are not the enemy . ''

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bbc--2020-08-01--Barakah: UAE starts up Arab world's first nuclear plant

The United Arab Emirates has launched operations at the Arab world 's first nuclear power plant , on the Gulf coast just east of Qatar .
Nuclear fission has begun in one of four reactors at the Barakah plant , which uses South Korean technology .
The plant was expected to open in 2017 but the start-up was repeatedly delayed because of various safety issues .
The oil-rich UAE wants Barakah to meet a quarter of its energy needs , as it adopts more sustainable energy sources .
Just two weeks ago the UAE sent a probe on a mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Gulf nation .
The UAE is also investing heavily in solar power - a plentiful energy source in the Gulf .
Some energy experts question the logic of Barakah - which means `` blessing '' in Arabic .
They argue that solar power is cleaner , cheaper and makes more sense in a region plagued by political tensions and terrorism .
Last year Qatar called the Barakah plant a `` flagrant threat to regional peace and environment '' .
Qatar is a bitter regional rival of the UAE and Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostile to the UAE , and subject to US sanctions because of its controversial nuclear programme .
Dr Paul Dorfman , head of the international Nuclear Consulting Group , wrote last year that `` the tense geopolitical environment in the Gulf makes nuclear a more controversial issue in this region than elsewhere , as new nuclear power provides the capability to develop and make nuclear weapons '' .
The London-based scientist also highlighted the risk of radioactive pollution in the Gulf .
UAE leaders hailed the start-up on Saturday as a symbol of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barakah plant was developed by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation ( ENEC ) and Korea Electric Power Corporation ( KEPCO ) .
Energy will be generated by 1,400-megawatt pressurised water reactors , designed in South Korea , called APR-1400 .
The International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) - the nuclear industry 's main oversight body - praised Barakah in a tweet , saying the plant 's Unit 1 had `` achieved its first criticality '' - that is , generation of a controlled fission chain reaction .
`` This is an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy .
IAEA has been supporting [ United Arab Emirates ] from the beginning of its nuclear power programme . ''
The leader of Abu Dhabi , Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan , tweeted his congratulations `` marking this milestone in the roadmap for sustainable development '' .

Dr Paul Dorfman, head of the international Nuclear Consulting Group, wrote last year that "the tense geopolitical environment in the Gulf makes nuclear a more controversial issue in this region than elsewhere, as new nuclear power provides the capability to develop and make nuclear weapons".


bbc--2020-08-01--Crashed plane packed with cocaine was bound for Australia, police say

Police say a small plane that crashed shortly after take-off in Papua New Guinea had been overloaded with cocaine destined for the Australian market .
Officers say the `` greed '' of the drugs gang played a part in their downfall .
It is believed the Cessna had been carrying more than 500kg ( 1,100lb ) of cocaine worth A $ 80m ( $ 57m ; £44m ) when it crashed on Monday .
Five men , all allegedly members of a Melbourne-based crime syndicate , have been arrested .
In a statement , Australian police said the gang had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The light plane had taken off from Mareeba in North Queensland on Sunday and flew at a low altitude to avoid radar detection before landing at a remote airfield at Papa Lea Lea , north of Port Moresby .
Police say it was then loaded up with drugs for the return flight to Australia .
`` The AFP ( Australian Federal Police ) alleges greed played a significant part in the syndicate 's activities and can not rule out that the weight of the cocaine had an impact on the plane 's ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The wreck of the plane was found abandoned and empty a short distance from the airfield .
The drugs , in 28 bags , together with an unspecified amount of Australian currency were later retrieved by Australian and Papua New Guinea police .
The pilot - an Australian - handed himself in to the Australian Consulate in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday , police added .
He was arrested and has been charged with an immigration offence .
Police said the five men had links to Italian organised crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly after the plane took off for Papua New Guinea .
If convicted , they face life imprisonment .
`` These arrests prove no matter how sophisticated or opportunistic organised crime 's attempts are , or the methods they use , law enforcement is keeping pace and causing maximum damage to these criminal ventures , '' AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney said .

In a statement, Australian police said the gang had been under surveillance for two years. The light plane had taken off from Mareeba in North Queensland on Sunday and flew at a low altitude to avoid radar detection before landing at a remote airfield at Papa Lea Lea, north of Port Moresby.


bbc--2020-08-01--Coldstream Guards 'brawled with Queen's footmen'

Three Coldstream Guards are being investigated by police after they were reportedly involved in a fight with the Queen 's @ @ @ @ @ aged 20 and 21 , were taken to hospital after the incident at the Greenwood @ @ @ @ @ , Westminster , on 24 July .
The victims ' injuries were not life threatening @ @ @ @ @ Ministry of Defence spokesman said the guardsmen were being investigated by the Metropolitan Police .
@ @ @ @ @ have happened about 800m from Buckingham Palace as a group of royal footmen were attending @ @ @ @ @ Guards have a ceremonial role as protectors of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace .
It @ @ @ @ @ regiment in the British Army and is based at Victoria Barracks in Windsor , west @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman said : `` We can confirm that three guards are being investigated by the @ @ @ @ @ in London on 24 July . ''

An MoD spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that three guards are being investigated by the Met Police following the incident in London on 24 July."


bbc--2020-08-01--Conservative MP arrested on suspicion of rape

A Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape .
According to the Sunday Times , the allegations were made by a former parliamentary employee .
The Met Police said the allegations relate to four separate incidents alleged to have taken place between July 2019 and January 2020 .
The MP has been released on bail .
The Conservative Party said it `` takes all allegations of this nature extremely seriously '' .
The Sunday Times , which first reported the story , said the complainant , a woman in her 20s , alleges that the MP assaulted her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital .
The Metropolitan Police said it had launched an investigation into the allegations .
`` On Friday , 31 July , the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault , '' the force said in a statement .
`` These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster , Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020 .
`` A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has been released on bail to return on a date in mid-August . ''
A Conservative Party spokesman said : `` We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously .
As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further . ''

The Sunday Times, which first reported the story, said the complainant alleges that the MP had assaulted her, forced her to have sex and left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital.


bbc--2020-08-01--An underwater webcam in the port of Miami has become a lockdown sensation.

Marine biologist and artist Colin Foord set up a webcam in the industrial port of Miami , in the city @ @ @ @ @ Since February the Coral City Camera has documented more than 100 fish species .
Foord @ @ @ @ @ campfire that we can all sit around '' .
It became a sensation during lockdown @ @ @ @ @ its undisputed star , a tailless doctorfish called Oval .
Listen to the podcast of @ @ @ @ @ beauty in a murky world ' on BBC World Service 'Outlook ' .

Marine biologist and artist Colin Foord set up a webcam in the industrial port of Miami, in the city's busiest shipping canal.
Since February the Coral City Camera has documented more than 100 fish species. Foord calls it an "underwater campfire that we can all sit around". It became a sensation during lockdown, thanks in part to its undisputed star, a tailless doctorfish called Oval.
Listen to the podcast of 'The coral crusaders: finding beauty in a murky world' on BBC World Service 'Outlook'.
Produced by Clayton Conn, Alice Goia, Maryam Maruf and Ellen Tsang.


bbc--2020-08-01--Coronavirus: 'When will this Covid curse be finished?'

Around one million Rohingya Muslims are estimated to live across 34 refugee camps in the area of Cox ’ s @ @ @ @ @ world ’ s largest concentration of refugees .
Of those , it ’ s believed @ @ @ @ @ and above , with many suffering chronic health issues like diabetes , cardiovascular problems and @ @ @ @ @ happens when coronavirus forces people to self-isolate , or into lockdown , in such conditions @ @ @ @ @ fears it could become `` a death valley '' .

Around one million Rohingya Muslims are estimated to live across 34 refugee camps in the area of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh – the world’s largest concentration of refugees.
Of those, it’s believed around 40,000 are aged 60 and above, with many suffering chronic health issues like diabetes, cardiovascular problems and respiratory conditions.
But what happens when coronavirus forces people to self-isolate, or into lockdown, in such conditions?
Medical volunteer Shah Dedar fears it could become "a death valley".


bbc--2020-08-01--Re-learning how to walk 289 days after surviving a deadly virus

Mekala Osborne caught a Cambodian forest virus , which caused necrotising pneumonia , while travelling in South East Asia last @ @ @ @ @ into a coma and moved her to Singapore , where she was given a 5 @ @ @ @ @ The 22-year-old was then flown back to Edinburgh where she ’ s been recovering ever @ @ @ @ @ positive on her own under lockdown – and she ’ s been learning to walk @ @ @ @ @ This is her recovery story .
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays @ @ @ @ @ .

Mekala Osborne caught a Cambodian forest virus, which caused necrotising pneumonia, while travelling in South East Asia last September.
Doctors put her into a coma and moved her to Singapore, where she was given a 5% chance of survival.
The 22-year-old was then flown back to Edinburgh where she’s been recovering ever since – trying to stay positive on her own under lockdown – and she’s been learning to walk again after nine months.
This is her recovery story.
Video by Imran Rahman-Jones
Interview by Manish Pandey
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.


bbc--2020-08-01--FIRE: The people trying to retire as early as possible

FIRE stands for Financial Independence , Retire Early .
It 's a movement that encourages people to be frugal and @ @ @ @ @ income as they can , reaping the rewards in an early retirement .
For some @ @ @ @ @ - travelling more and giving back to society in ways outside of work .
For @ @ @ @ @ minimum can be too much .

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It's a movement that encourages people to be frugal and save as much of their income as they can, reaping the rewards in an early retirement.
For some this spells a fun retirement - travelling more and giving back to society in ways outside of work.
For others, living on the minimum can be too much.
Video journalist: Thomas Mason


bbc--2020-08-01--Coronavirus lockdown: Ditching conventional living for a van

A 100-day DIY project , one musician 's live-in transport and a couple 's `` staycation-mobile '' - four people share their `` advantures '' and show us inside the fruits of their lockdown labour .
'Furloughed , but still in work mode' When Jennifer McKechnie , a personal trainer from Belfast , was furloughed on 21 March , she decided to use her time in lockdown to fulfil a lifelong goal .
Jennifer , an avid skier , had dreamed of one day converting a van or minibus and travelling to the French Alps with her two huskies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a self-proclaimed novice , said she had `` no clue '' where to start when she began converting her 2005 Iveco Daily .
She set herself the goal of converting her van into a liveable space within 100 days .
Jennifer began work on the Daily on 22 March and finished on 30 June .
`` After I got the news I was furloughed , I went straight to get supplies and began the project , '' Jennifer told BBC News NI .
Using YouTube tutorials , Jennifer began slowly stripping away the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jennifer said it was great to concentrate on something productive during such a stressful and uncertain time .
`` It was great to have that focus , I set myself a work routine and stuck to it , '' Jennifer explained .
`` I was furloughed from work , but I was still in work mode , '' she added .
As the ongoing pandemic means a trek to the Alps is currently off the cards , Jennifer and her two huskies have temporarily parked plans to head for the slopes , opting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
Like many musicians , Caolán McLaughlin was hit hard by the pandemic .
The singer from Londonderry , who relies heavily on the gig economy , decided to take his show on the road when work started to dry up .
`` I always knew my first house would be a camper , so that 's me on the property ladder now , I guess , '' Caolán said .
He scoured social media for shows , festivals and even garden parties , looking for `` basically anywhere that will let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Renault Master camper , Rosie , as a base , the 34-year-old set his sights overseas and was offered a gig at a music festival in Denmark .
However , when BBC News NI caught up with him he had just broken down beside a road near the Danish border on his way to the festival .
`` I set off from Derry to Belfast , Belfast to Liverpool , then to Harwich , then Holland to Denmark and now I have fallen at the last hurdle , '' he explained .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirits as he waited for roadside assistance .
`` Just my luck to break down at the last hour , but sure it 'll make for a good story , '' he said .
Caolán had to spend the night in a hostel in Flensburg , Germany , while the van spent the night in a garage , but he hopes to continue gigging `` once Rosie is alive and kicking '' .
Postman Jonny Moore , 26 , and optical technician Megan Douglas , 23 , are both avid surfers .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together so that they could travel around Ireland 's beaches catching waves while saving money on accommodation .
Before lockdown , neither knew how to convert a van , but thought the experience would be fun .
`` We finished off the build just as lockdown restrictions started to ease , '' explained Jonny .
When restrictions were eased in July , the couple decided now `` was a good a time as any to hit the road '' .
The pair travelled along the Wild Atlantic Way catching waves and staying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
They said it was a `` strange experience '' , as they found towns and villages still mostly deserted due to the pandemic .
However , both said they enjoyed having such places `` all to themselves '' - for a while .

As the ongoing pandemic means a trek to the Alps is currently off the cards, Jennifer and her two huskies have temporarily parked plans to head for the slopes, opting instead for a travel holiday around Northern Ireland.


bbc--2020-08-01--Are US cities seeing a surge in violent crime as Trump claims?

President Donald Trump has said US cities are seeing a spike in crime , as he sends in federal law enforcement agents to tackle the situation .
He has denounced a string of Democrat-run cities which are `` plagued by violent crime '' .
We 've looked at violent crime , and found it 's down overall in many cities , but murders have risen sharply in some .
In many major US cities , including Chicago and New York , violent crime overall is down compared with the same time last year .
Various cities define violent crime in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes murder , robbery , assault and rape .
Individual years can fluctuate but violent crime across America has been on a downward trend since the 1990s .
A study by the New York Times found violent crime from the start of this year through to the beginning of June was down 2 % across 25 large American cities , compared with the same period in 2019 .
In April and May , violent crime in many US cities declined significantly compared with previous years , due in part to coronavirus lockdown measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a string of murders in certain cities , and homicides in contrast have increased sharply in some areas .
A review of data from 27 American cities found that Chicago led the way as homicides surged through to the end of June .
The president has sent more than 100 federal agents to help local law enforcement in Chicago .
As of 26 July , murders are up more than a 50 % from this time last year .
President Trump has proposed expanding the deployment of federal law enforcement to the north-eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia is seeing a spike in murders , while reports of other violent crimes have declined .
It 's a similar trend in New York , as although rapes and robberies are down , the murder rate is up more than 50 % compared with the same point in 2019 .
New York 's murder rate has decreased significantly since the 1990s , but June saw the most shootings in a single month since 1996 , according to the New York Police Department .
Murders are down elsewhere Albuquerque , New Mexico , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozens of federal agents into , but murders have fallen compared with previous years .
The police chief in the city has said : `` Contrary to claims by politicians in Washington DC , Albuquerque has been keeping overall violent crime flat and has reduced homicides thus far this year . ''
Murders in Albuquerque , a city of more than half a million people , have dropped to 38 compared with 44 at the same point in the previous two years .
Other cities earmarked by President Trump have also seen mixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , steady in Oakland , but up in Detroit compared with this time last year .
Why are some cities seeing a spike in murders ?
It 's hard to put it down to one reason .
Crime often rises in the summer due to a combination of reasons , such as no school and more outdoor activity .
Richard Rosenfield , an American criminologist , says : `` Typically as weather warms up , we see an increase in street crime , including homicides . ''
This summer has also seen people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The mayor of Chicago has put the rise in murders down in part to a `` perfect storm '' created by coronavirus , and the mayor of New York says the spike has been fuelled by `` horrible dislocation '' caused by the pandemic .
The ongoing pandemic has had widespread implications , including for law enforcement .
Many courts in the US have been closed , and some offenders have been released to stop the spread of coronavirus .
That has led `` to a feeling among offenders that they can commit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a report by the Police Executive Research Forum .

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


bbc--2020-08-01--Greenback returns: How dollar stores came back to Cuba

Benito Morejón arrived at the supermarket before dawn to claim a spot near the front of the queue .
The supermarket in Havana is one of a number of shops opened by the Cuban government on the island in which basic food and hygiene products can be paid for with the currency of its ideological enemy : the US dollar .
When the police eventually opened the gates several hours later , he was fourth in a line that stretched back hundreds of metres along Third Avenue in Havana 's Playa district .
The queue was hardly surprising .
Inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much-needed essentials from baby milk to shower gel .
However , the catch was that the only acceptable form of payment was in a foreign currency .
For years , an inefficient , centrally controlled economy and a decades-long US economic embargo have made scarcity and queuing regular features of daily life in Cuba .
Recently , though , things have become especially tough .
Cuba is overly dependent on imports , which account for some 80 % of what the nation consumes .
Despite largely controlling the coronavirus outbreak , lockdown has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the resulting drop in foreign exchange earnings means fewer dollars to pay for imports .
• Cubans warned of imminent severe fuel crisis due to US sanctions • US bans cruise ship travel to Cuba amid new restrictions Many supermarket shelves are almost bare .
Meanwhile , the Trump administration has spent the past four years ramping up the embargo and imposing harsher sanctions on shipping , travel and remittances .
To make up for the shortfall in dollars , the government took a step it would probably have avoided under normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5,000 state-run shops in Cuba into `` dollar stores '' .
When he emerged from one of them , Benito Morejón struggled to push his cart , weighed down with meat , cheese , cleaning products and personal hygiene items .
`` There was no chicken breast which I was hoping to find but other than that , the choice on offer was good , '' he said from behind his facemask .
Inside the stores , customers do not hand over foreign banknotes at the tills .
Rather , they must pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Cuban bank account with deposits in a foreign currency or using an international debit or credit card , except those from US banks .
`` I can afford to come about once a month , '' said Mr Morejón .
`` I 'd have bought more but I need to deposit more dollars into my account '' , said another customer , Leno Fernández , with a resigned laugh .
Mr Fernández touched on one of the key criticisms of the measure .
Critics say Cuban society is becoming increasingly divided into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currency and those with access to dollars or euros .
Certainly most people on the island do not have a regular income in hard currency , especially those without family members abroad .
The customers who spoke to the BBC outside the dollar supermarkets broadly welcomed the move , with Mr Morejón expressing confidence that his foreign currency would contribute towards restocking all Cuban supermarkets .
However , others were more critical .
`` Not everyone can get hold of dollars , not even close , '' said Luis Rodríguez , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Nor can the state afford to start paying the workers in dollars .
I do n't think this is the solution . ''
`` It 's not logical for a country which does n't pay people in dollars to be charging people in dollars , '' echoed his friend , Roberto .
To break the overreliance on imports , the island 's supermarket shelves would need to be stocked with Cuban products .
But self-sufficiency in agricultural production remains a distant goal .
Iris Fonseca graduated in agronomy in 1989 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of post-Cold War austerity and scarcity known as the Special Period .
She spent 25 years working for the state before joining Finca Vista Hermosa , a privately run organic farm outside Havana .
Often heralded as a model of a well-run Cuban agribusiness when compared to the creaking inefficiency of many state-owned farms , Vista Hermosa is an exception , not the rule .
It supplies the state with an annual quota of milk and cattle and then sells its cheese , pork products , organic vegetables and fruit to private individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me around the farm 's plentiful fields , she said they were `` better prepared '' for the current economic crisis than during the Special Period .
`` Back then , we made mistakes in cattle production , for example , '' she explained .
`` We produced Holstein cows for milking and without the regular containerfuls of corn , soya and wheat from the Socialist Bloc to make their feed , many animals died . ''
Today , they work with a different breed , the Siboney de Cuba , better suited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on king grass , produced on the farm itself .
`` Imports will always be present in Cuba '' , says Ms Fonseca .
`` But we can reduce them by cultivating the land better , improving our farming techniques , our science and technology . ''
Back in the supermarket queues , customers wait patiently under umbrellas to protect themselves from the searing sun and tropical downpours .
The Cuban government denies the new stores are part of a wider `` dollarisation '' process - that is , turning the US dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Panama , Ecuador or El Salvador .
Perhaps not .
But judging by the queues outside the banks and dollar stores , it is fast becoming the island 's currency of choice .
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However, others were more critical. "Not everyone can get hold of dollars, not even close," said Luis Rodríguez, who was in a park near the dollar store. "Nor can the state afford to start paying the workers in dollars. I don't think this is the solution."


bbc--2020-08-01--Melanie C: 'People think I'm mouthy, but I'm really quiet and gentle'

This time last year , Mel C was bouncing around the UK 's football stadiums , bringing the Spice Girls back to life for a celebratory run through their biggest hits and craziest outfits .
Then , as soon as she stepped off the stage with Geri , Emma and Mel B at Wembley , she jetted off on a global tour of Pride events with LGBTQ collective Sink The Pink .
And once that wrapped up , she went straight into the studio to work on her eighth solo album , and kept going until lockdown hit .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , you could n't get more different , '' she says .
`` You know , I was travelling all over the world , I was playing stadiums with the Spice Girls , and now I 'm barely ever out of my pyjamas . ''
Today is n't one of those days .
The singer joins us from her home in Hampstead , North London , surrounded by scatter cushions , hair scraped back to reveal her earbuds , and wearing a chic , marble-effect t-shirt .
`` It 's another day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Oh my God , I 'm so over it . ''
Her Zoom ID , incidentally , is n't Sporty Spice or Mel C or Melanie Jayne Chisholm .
It is n't even Melanie C , as she styles herself these days .
Instead she 's stuck with Scarlett , her 11-year-old daughter 's name .
`` Agh !
I have to change it back every time I do something , '' she laughs .
`` I do n't know how you get it to stick . ''
Like many families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quarantine .
Chisholm confesses they 've managed `` the bare minimum '' .
`` I hate it , '' she says .
`` My little girl 's pretty smart but she just ca n't be bothered .
`` And you know , someone said quite early on in this whole thing : 'Think about how difficult it is , as an adult to motivate yourself at home - so imagine being a kid . '
`` After that I thought , 'OK , that 's good .
As long as she 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing . '
'' It was only when school resumed on a limited basis at the end of June that Chisholm fully understood how lockdown had affected her daughter .
`` She got so moody and uninspired .
It was hard even to motivate her to go and have a walk , which is so out of character , '' she says .
`` When they had the opportunity to go back ... having a routine , socialising with her friends , I got my little girl back . ''
'Plain one at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trite comparison , but rediscovering yourself after a period in the emotional wilderness is the theme of Chisholm 's new album .
The 46-year-old has always sung about her issues with self-acceptance , from the title track of her 1999 solo debut Northern Star to her 2017 album Version Of Me .
This time , though , there 's a newfound strength and resolve .
`` When I look in the mirror , I finally like who I see , '' she declares on the opening track , Who I Am .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about letting go of old hang-ups , having nothing left to hide and refusing to conform to expectations .
`` I do n't want to be your acceptable version of me , '' goes the refrain of roller-disco jam Overload .
Her struggles with depression and eating disorders are well-documented .
They began in the midst of the Spice Girls ' mind-boggling run of chart and media dominance in the late 90s .
The band sold 31 million records , scored nine number one singles and upended music industry conventions about the viability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best dancer and strongest singer , but she was caricatured in the tabloid press as `` the plain one at the back , who does n't really do much '' .
She did n't recognise the person who was being portrayed in the media , amplifying her feelings of inadequacy .
`` Because I had this tomboy image and I loved my football , people thought I was a bit mouthy , a bit loud , part of that ladette culture .
`` And , you know , I 'm really quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was hard for me for a few years .
I found it really confusing . ''
Her road to recovery began with therapy for clinical depression in the early 2000s .
The arrival of her daughter in 2009 also marked a turning point .
`` Being a mum was so liberating because for the first time in my adult life , it was n't all about me , '' she says .
`` It made me not only realise I had a huge responsibility to her but I have a huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher , I had to treat myself better . ''
But the care-free positivity of the new album can really be attributed to re-connecting with the Spice Girls last year .
Although the band had reunited before , in 2007 , Chisholm had to be convinced to do it .
This time around , everything felt different .
`` Being on stage with the girls made me feel so buoyant and so positive .
We did n't really get the whole legacy and the impact until last year .
`` And then doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was such a joyous year of finding the self-acceptance I 'd always been searching for .
`` I spent many years having so much regret about the personal issues I had with depression and eating disorders and I just thought , do you know what ?
Rather than being ashamed of that time and seeing it as a failure , I think it 's time say : ' I was there and I got myself through it and here I am to tell the tale ' . ''
Chisholm 's new-found confidence also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been inspired to `` go bigger '' with this album , embracing the pop sensibility that she 'd been `` a little bit embarrassed '' about in her 20s and 30s .
`` Working with the girls last year reminded me of this whole world , '' she says .
`` We were so fortunate to have this international appeal and I 'd love to tour all those places again . ''
She 's chosen her collaborators carefully , working predominantly with female artists on the cool , credible fringes of British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rae Morris and grime star Nadia Rose .
All of them are young enough to have been first-wave Spice Girls fans , which caused a few awkward moments in the studio .
`` There was quite a lot of , 'Let me just get my fangirling out of the way and then we can get down to business , ' '' the singer smiles , stressing that she gets `` nervous all the time , '' too .
Working with Rose was a highlight .
They hooked up after one of Chisholm 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concept for their duet , Fearless , on a car journey .
`` We started talking about being a woman in the music industry , pursuing your dreams , and how petrifying so many things are , whether it 's turning up to somebody 's house you 've never met to do a writing session , or going out on stage in front of thousands of people .
`` And I said , 'You know , you have to be fearless , ' and we just felt like that was such a beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our fans ] to do , because we 'd both found the strength to be fearless at times . ''
For her part , Rose ca n't quite believe the song exists .
`` As a massive Spice Girls fan , like a huge Spice Girls fan , that will never actually register as real to me , '' she says , `` as much as it has happened , and it is real . ''
`` But it was an incredible experience and she is so cool . ''
Release plans for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown - but Chisholm announced the record 's completion last week with the release of In And Out Of Love , a lightwave beam of pure disco .
The video was shot in a deserted Alexandra Palace three weeks ago , with the star sharing a socially-distanced dancefloor with some of the crew from the Spice Girls tour .
It was a relief , she says , to be doing something outside the house .
`` I hate videos sometimes .
They 're so bloody boring and exhausting .
But this one was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was n't in my living room on Zoom . ''
Attentive listeners will hear nods to Rozalla 's 90s dance classic Everybody 's Free ( To Feel Good ) as well as Dua Lipa 's retro-pop anthem Do n't Start Now - but Chisholm knows it 'll be hard to compete in the current pop landscape .
`` Obviously , I 'm making a pop-dance record and I 'm a mature artist , so I have to accept that some radio stations are not going to be playing me anymore .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want people to enjoy this album , I want people to dance to it , I want people to be empowered by it .
And when coronavirus has finally done one , I want to get out there and perform it live . ''
She 's also open to another Spice Girls tour , saying the band are `` talking about it constantly '' , although fans should n't hold their breath .
`` Trust me , it 's a miracle we ever do anything , because we 're impossible , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , it 's like the stars align and magic happens '' .
There are good reasons to put the band back together , too .
Not least because Five became Four for last year 's shows .
`` Not having Victoria on stage last year , you know , it was bittersweet , '' she says .
`` The shows were phenomenal but there was someone missing . ''
Besides , the band realised too late they should have filmed the 2019 tour for posterity .
`` We shied away from having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all over the world and they saved and they spent all this money to see us , so there 's part of you that wants it to be a unique experience , this magical moment in time .
`` But so many people have been upset about it - and we are too , actually , because it 'd be lovely just to look back and enjoy it all over again .
`` So hopefully , if we get our act together , we 'll make another time to get up there and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ C 's self-titled album is out on 2 October .
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"I spent many years having so much regret about the personal issues I had with depression and eating disorders and I just thought, do you know what? Rather than being ashamed of that time and seeing it as a failure, I think it's time say: 'I was there and I got myself through it and here I am to tell the tale'."