bbc--2020-04-24--ECB receives 'multiple offers' to host games abroad

The England and Wales Cricket Board has received `` multiple offers '' from other countries to help complete the domestic season .
On Friday the ECB said no cricket would be played in England or Wales before 1 July because of coronavirus .
Surrey chairman Richard Thompson earlier said Abu Dhabi had offered to host matches for the ECB .
`` We 've had offers as far away as Australia and New Zealand , '' said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison .
`` Those offers are on the table .
`` I have n't had anything from Abu Dhabi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer has n't been made . ''
The domestic season was due to begin on 12 April .
After initially being pushed back to 28 May , the latest delay means England 's three-Test series against West Indies , due to begin on 4 June , and England women 's two Twenty20 internationals against India in late June have been postponed .
In announcing the extension of the shutdown , the ECB said it will try to reschedule all men 's and women 's international cricket from July to September .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-class and limited-overs competitions , pushing the T20 Blast as far back into the summer as possible .
Any decision to take matches - either domestic of international - to another country would have to fit into men 's winter calendar that already features the T20 World Cup , tours of India and South Africa , and a potentially rescheduled two-Test series in Sri Lanka that was cut short in March .
With regard to matches that could be played in the UK this summer , Harrison said the ECB is becoming `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be crowds '' .
While he said it is too early to say exactly how cricket behind closed doors would be played , Harrison said there would be need to be `` significant testing '' , as well as moving international matches to the grounds best suited to the demands of such a scenario .
For example , Old Trafford and Southampton have hotels within the ground , where players and officials could stay on site .
`` Inevitably , behind closed doors does change the venue allocation and the mindset , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the game around the country to give fans a chance to see England in their back yard .
That shifts because there 's no-one seeing England play live at all .
`` Venues that are best suited to providing the right conditions will be in a strong position .
`` You can see what other sports are considering : allocating neutral venues for all matches and then playing in those .
That 's the lens we 're putting on this .
What 's the minimum number of grounds we need for our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for that . ''
• In a dream world , everyone would be tested - Woakes The ECB is yet to make a decision on the inaugural season of The Hundred , which was due to begin on 17 July .
An update is expected after a meeting on Wednesday .
Although Harrison said the game in England faces a `` very significant financial problem '' , he remains committed to launching The Hundred , even if it is not this season .
`` I do n't think this in any way dilutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely accelerates it and makes it something cricket needs to get behind , '' he said .
`` If anything , this crisis and the implication long term or medium term , the case for The Hundred is even more important .
`` It will generate really important commercial value for the game and it will help broaden the audience . ''
• Delay Hundred rather than play without fans - Vaughan

Tom Harrison has said the ECB is facing the "biggest challenge in its history" because of the coronavirus pandemic
The England and Wales Cricket Board has received "multiple offers" from other countries to help complete the domestic season.
On Friday the ECB said no cricket would be played in England or Wales before 1 July because of coronavirus.
Surrey chairman Richard Thompson earlier said Abu Dhabi had offered to host matches for the ECB.
"We've had offers as far away as Australia and New Zealand," said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.
"Those offers are on the table.
"I haven't had anything from Abu Dhabi, but that's not to say the offer hasn't been made."
The domestic season was due to begin on 12 April. After initially being pushed back to 28 May, the latest delay means England's three-Test series against West Indies, due to begin on 4 June, and England women's limited-overs series with India, scheduled to start in late June, have been postponed.
In announcing the extension of the shutdown, the ECB said it will try to reschedule all men's and women's international cricket from July to September.
It also said it will create windows for domestic first-class and limited-overs competitions, pushing the T20 Blast as far back into the summer as possible.
Any decision to take matches - either domestic or international - to another country would have to fit into a men's winter calendar that already features the T20 World Cup in Australia, England tours of India and South Africa, and a potentially rescheduled two-Test series in Sri Lanka that was cut short in March.
With regard to matches that could be played in the UK this summer, Harrison said the ECB is becoming "comfortable with the idea there won't be crowds".
While he said it is too early to say exactly how cricket behind closed doors would be played, Harrison said there would be need to be "significant testing", as well as moving international matches to the grounds best suited to the demands of such a scenario.
For example, Old Trafford and Southampton have hotels within the ground, where players and officials could stay on site.
"Inevitably, behind closed doors does change the venue allocation and the mindset," Harrison said.
"It goes from taking the game around the country to give fans a chance to see England in their back yard. That shifts because there's no-one seeing England play live at all.
"Venues that are best suited to providing the right conditions will be in a strong position.
"You can see what other sports are considering: allocating neutral venues for all matches and then playing in those. That's the lens we're putting on this. What's the minimum number of grounds we need for our desired international schedule and how to cater for that."
'The case for The Hundred is even more important'
The ECB is yet to make a decision on the inaugural season of The Hundred, which was due to begin on 17 July. An update is expected after a meeting on Wednesday.
Although Harrison said the game in England faces a "very significant financial problem", he remains committed to launching The Hundred, even if it is not this season.
"I don't think this in any way dilutes the case for The Hundred. It absolutely accelerates it and makes it something cricket needs to get behind," he said.
"If anything, this crisis and the implication long term or medium term, the case for The Hundred is even more important.
"It will generate really important commercial value for the game and it will help broaden the audience."
When asked if The Hundred should be postponed until 2021, England director of men's cricket Ashley Giles told BBC Sport: "There are a lot of things in play, but playing a new competition like this behind closed doors, maybe that's not the best way to launch it.
"It's going to be a great competition, but we wait to see what the board come to next week."


bbc--2020-04-24--Government urged not to 'sit on the bench' in Newcastle takeover

The government has been urged to `` take a role '' in the potential £300m Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United .
Clive Betts , the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Football , said Saudi Arabia 's alleged role in pirate network beoutQ `` should be an immediate priority for regulatory scrutiny surrounding the takeover '' .
The broadcaster has been illegally showing Premier League matches in the Middle East .
It is understood the Premier League is carrying out the necessary paperwork with regards to its owners ' and directors ' test for the proposed takeover of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied that beoutQ uses its frequencies to broadcast illegally .
Earlier this week , Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the issue was a matter for the Premier League , but Betts thinks intervention is needed and the government should `` not sit on the bench '' .
`` The government does have a responsibility .
They should be looking into it .
Football is the sport and there is a national interest in this , '' he told BBC Sport .
“ Where you have a conflict over the potential undermining of commercial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club then that 's much closer to home . ''
Betts says he is worried that broadcast rights-holders like Qatar-based beIN Sport - which has urged the Premier League to `` interrogate '' the takeover - may reconsider their partnerships if the piracy continues .
Betts added : `` Why would you sign contracts and pay money if others just take it for free ?
It undermines the whole Premier League and it 's like inviting a cuckoo into the nest .
`` While the Premier League needs to seriously look at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football club and the alleged three-year theft of UK media rights by the future owner , the government should take a role , not sit on the bench . ''
The purpose of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Football is to `` raise matters of importance with the football authorities '' .
• Who are the main people involved in the potential deal ?

Last updated on .From the section Newcastle
Newcastle were 13th in the Premier League when football was suspended indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic
The government has been urged to "take a role" in the potential £300m Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United.
Clive Betts, the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Football, said Saudi Arabia's alleged role in pirate network beoutQ "should be an immediate priority for regulatory scrutiny surrounding the takeover".
The broadcaster has been illegally showing Premier League matches in the Middle East.
It is understood the Premier League is carrying out the necessary paperwork with regards to its owners' and directors' test for the proposed takeover of the Magpies.
Saudi broadcaster Arabsat has always denied that beoutQ uses its frequencies to broadcast illegally.
Earlier this week, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the issue was a matter for the Premier League, but Betts thinks intervention is needed and the government should "not sit on the bench".
"The government does have a responsibility. They should be looking into it. Football is the sport and there is a national interest in this," he told BBC Sport.
“Where you have a conflict over the potential undermining of commercial contracts by organisations seeking to buy a club then that's much closer to home."
Betts says he is worried that broadcast rights-holders like Qatar-based beIN Sport - which has urged the Premier League to "interrogate" the takeover - may reconsider their partnerships if the piracy continues.
Betts added: "Why would you sign contracts and pay money if others just take it for free? It undermines the whole Premier League and it's like inviting a cuckoo into the nest.
"While the Premier League needs to seriously look at any potential conflict between the ownership of a football club and the alleged three-year theft of UK media rights by the future owner, the government should take a role, not sit on the bench."
The purpose of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Football is to "raise matters of importance with the football authorities".


bbc--2020-04-25--Coronavirus: Doctors dismantle Trump's treatment comments

On Thursday , during the White House coronavirus taskforce briefing , President Donald Trump attracted widespread criticism after he suggested @ @ @ @ @ be treated by injecting disinfectant into the body .
He also appeared to propose irradiating @ @ @ @ @ light , an idea dismissed by Dr Deborah Birx at the briefing .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ comments had been made `` sarcastically '' .
However , doctors warned that some people @ @ @ @ @ comments to heart .
Speaking to the BBC , Dr Jonathan Spicer warned that `` @ @ @ @ @ that melt or destroy the lining of our innards . ''

On Thursday, during the White House coronavirus taskforce briefing, President Donald Trump attracted widespread criticism after he suggested research into whether Covid-19 might be treated by injecting disinfectant into the body.
He also appeared to propose irradiating patients' bodies with UV light, an idea dismissed by Dr Deborah Birx at the briefing.
On Friday, President Trump said his comments had been made "sarcastically".
However, doctors warned that some people might take the president's comments to heart. Speaking to the BBC, Dr Jonathan Spicer warned that "these products have corrosive properties that melt or destroy the lining of our innards."
Video Journalist: Shrai Popat


bbc--2020-04-24--Coronavirus: The junior US doctors rushing to the frontlines

Doctors now finishing at US medical schools are seeing their graduation dates moved forward in the calendar and are quickly being drafted into the battle against the coronavirus pandemic before the ink on their diplomas is dry .
With his white coat freshly pressed and his webcam poised , Patrick Lowe was ready for his graduation from medical school .
On Zoom , he recited his class ' personalised version of the Hippocratic Oath .
And in lieu of receiving his physical diploma from the University of Massachusetts , he shook his wife 's hand and gave his six-month old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's been a bit of whirlwind , '' he told the BBC .
`` It 's all pretty surreal , but also exciting . ''
The Covid-19 outbreak meant that a traditional graduation ceremony was out of the question , but the University of Massachusetts wanted to ensure that the class of 2020 was able to commemorate their achievement .
As a result , the university conferred 135 medical degrees in an online event streamed online for friends and family to watch .
Lowe and his classmates were originally meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their respective residencies soon after .
The time in between finishing up classes and graduation is usually when students brush up on their training and recuperate before starting their medical career in earnest .
`` Some use it as vacation time , '' Lowe explains .
However , for the class of 2020 , there was n't much time to rest .
As medical licences are expedited by the state , nascent doctors have been rushed to fill the gaping demands caused by the coronavirus .
The University of Massachusetts joined three other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , Boston University and Harvard University - to accelerate their students ' graduation , and allow them to enter the medical workforce immediately .
Lowe swiftly started working on the general medicine ward at the University of Massachusetts Hospital .
He deals with patients coming to hospital with conditions that are not coronavirus-related .
The aim of the acceleration is to recruit junior doctors who can handle these cases , and ultimately free up more senior residents and doctors to handle the influx of Covid-19 patients .
`` I feel I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Lowe told the BBC .
`` I 'm just one piece of the huge puzzle . ''
At their virtual graduation , Terence R Flotte , the dean of the medical school , told the graduating class that `` never before have we needed you more to join our ranks as healers and leaders of health care teams '' .
This attitude is certainly felt among graduating students .
Colleen Flanagan says she was `` thrilled to have the opportunity to work '' .
She is one of Lowe 's classmates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working in the cardiac intensive care unit at the UMass Memorial Medical Center .
Flanagan is due to move to San Francisco in June to begin her residency in vascular surgery .
Since she was unable to spend the interim period saying goodbye to her loved ones , she felt getting on the ward in Massachusetts was imperative .
`` I had no interest in sitting around at home , '' she tells BBC News .
`` I was ready to help . ''
Flanagan explained that many patients with non-Covid conditions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the hospital at a stage when they 're presenting symptoms more severely .
`` It 's heartbreaking to see someone who had a five-day old heart attack , but they did n't want to risk it , '' she says .
`` We say 'time is tissue , ' '' she added .
Flanagan noted that while these issues can be devastating , they can also be helped if they are treated as soon as possible .
She is ultimately concerned that the strain caused by Covid-19 might lead to a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too scared to come to the hospital .
In New York City , medical students also graduated early to assist with the inundation of coronavirus cases .
There are currently over 150,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the city , according to John Hopkins University .
For students like Brandon Mogrovejo at Columbia University this work has even included using 3D printers to make and assemble PPE ( personal protective equipment ) for medical workers throughout the city .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curve • ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis Mogrovejo was due to begin his residency as a paediatrician-in-training in June at Morgan Stanley Children 's Hospital , but is volunteering in the meantime .
`` It 's so tangible he said , '' he said .
`` I look at the masks piling up on the table and you know that will be going to the frontline . ''
While Mogrovejo was initially apprehensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prove useful , he soon realised that volunteer work meant he was still able to make a difference .
`` Part of the reason I got into this line of work was because I wanted to help people in need , '' he said .
`` This is part of my calling . ''

Flanagan noted that while these issues can be devastating, they can also be helped if they are treated as soon as possible. She is ultimately concerned that the strain caused by Covid-19 might lead to a number of deaths at home because people are too scared to come to the hospital.


bbc--2020-04-24--Coronavirus lockdown: How has it affected crime?

The onset of Covid-19 has changed the lives of people in the US and other countries in a dramatic fashion , shaping the behaviour of law-abiding citizens and criminals alike .
Hoodlums are now assaulting fewer people , according to police officers , and some are even following government safety guidelines .
In El Salvador , gang members are practising social distancing and forcing others to do the same .
`` It 's really about opportunity , '' says Scott Decker , a professor emeritus at Arizona State University and the author of Burglars on the Job .
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , crime goes down . ''
People are no longer out and about in the same way .
Instead they are hunkered down at home , following the recommendations of health experts .
The `` new normal '' , says Timothy Akers , a Morgan State University vice-president who focuses on epidemiological criminology , makes it harder for crooks to find people to beat and rob .
The result of less people in public is less crime .
In St Louis , Missouri , the city where criminologist Scott Decker lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and violence has fallen dramatically .
`` People are choosing not to shoot each other in the numbers that they were before Covid , '' he says .
Last year , there were 194 murders in the city ; so far this year , there have been 45 .
Crime has also dipped in Atlanta , where police usually have processed 100 to 150 crime reports at this point in April , according to news reports .
This year , they have filed only 47 .
In other places , the dynamic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 510 murders in Chicago in 2019 ( the police and the county medical examiner 's office have different ongoing tallies ) .
That is roughly the same number of people - or less - who have died from Covid-19 .
In some places outside the US too , violence has gone down .
Police in South Africa say that , comparing this time period to last year , the number of murders has dropped from 326 to 94 .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curve • ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis For some , however , the risk has increased .
Police say that they are concerned about a rise in domestic abuse since people are spending more time at home , and tempers can flare .
Some of the violence , says criminologist Scott Decker , has `` shifted to inside homes '' .
• How Latin American crime gangs are adapting to pandemic Yet for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Zach Lewis , a Sioux City , Iowa , police sergeant , used to visit a local hospital frequently during his shifts to speak with crime victims .
That has changed with the pandemic .
There were 51 reports of assaults there in February , says Jeremy McClure , a Sioux City police sergeant who compiles crime statistics .
In March , the month that residents began to hunker down at home , there were 47 .
Numbers have also begun to `` trend down '' in April , he says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people are out and about , drinking at bars , there 's less conflict , '' McClure says .
`` We 're seeing fewer assaults because of that . ''
As a result , police officers such as Zach Lewis now spend less time in the emergency room .
Lately he has been updating a police training manual on a computer in his squad car , a task he rarely found time for during his shifts before the pandemic .
`` It 's a night-and-day difference , '' he says .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , and now they are often quiet .
People stay home instead of going out , and now there are fewer bar brawls in Sioux City .
But , criminologists say the pandemic has also shaped the behaviour of some offenders , providing them with an alibi .
Toni Handy 's boyfriend , Christopher Mock , said she could not speak on the phone to her daughter because she was in quarantine .
The claim bought the North Carolina appliance repairman some time .
Authorities did not catch up with him until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he was shot and killed in a confrontation with police .
Afterwards Handy 's body was found lying under a heap of trash at their house , and the case is being investigated as a homicide .
More than 700 miles away , in Jupiter , Florida , David Anthony tried the same thing .
He sent texts from his wife 's phone , saying she was ill with the virus .
He fled the state and was later charged with kidnapping and murder .
Covid-19 gave ideas to these suspects , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absences of women they knew .
The fake alibis were yet another way that the pandemic has shaped crime and had an impact on society .
Along with a drop in crime in some places , the pandemic has had another effect - big-city police departments have been hit hard , and their ranks are depleted .
At least 30 people who work in New York police departments have died , and thousands quarantined .
Officers on duty are overworked , and they are making fewer arrests .
Detroit officers , as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the traffic violations and misdemeanours they see .
Criminologists say it is hard to gauge the long-term effects of the pandemic in terms of criminal violence , however .
Crime is likely to go up once the stay-at-home orders are lifted .
For some , though , the impact of crimes that occurred during the pandemic will be felt long after the orders are lifted and people go back to their normal routines .
Roy Dawson Jr , the younger brother of Toni Handy , says her death has been devastating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In this big old Covid universe , there 's one less good person . ''

People are no longer out and about in the same way. Instead they are hunkered down at home, following the recommendations of health experts. The "new normal", says Timothy Akers, a Morgan State University vice-president who focuses on epidemiological criminology, makes it harder for crooks to find people to beat and rob.


bbc--2020-04-24--Has Sweden got its virus science right?

Has Sweden got its virus science right?

Sweden 's strategy to keep large parts of society open is widely backed by the public .
It has been devised by scientists and backed by government , and yet not all the country 's virologists are convinced .
There is no lockdown here .
Photos have been shared around the world of bars with crammed outdoor seating and long queues for waterfront ice cream kiosks , and yet it is a myth that life here goes on `` as normal '' .
On the face of it little has shut down .
But data suggests the vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , which is the crux of Sweden 's strategy to slow the spread of the virus .
Usage of public transport has dropped significantly , large numbers are working from home , and most refrained from travelling over the Easter weekend .
The government has also banned gatherings of more than 50 people and visits to elderly care homes .
Around 9 in 10 Swedes say they keep at least a metre away from people at least some of the time , up from seven in 10 a month ago , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novus .
How serious is Sweden 's outbreak ?
Viewed through the eyes of the Swedish Public Health Agency , the way people have responded is one to be celebrated , albeit cautiously .
The scientists ' approach has led to weeks of global debate over whether Sweden has adopted a sensible and sustainable plan , or unwittingly plunged its population into an experiment that is causing unnecessary fatalities , and could fail to keep the spread of Covid-19 under control .
In Stockholm , the epicentre of the virus so far , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a spike at the end of this week , put down partly to increased testing .
There is still space in intensive care units and a new field hospital at a former conference venue is yet to be used .
`` To a great part , we have been able to achieve what we set out to achieve , '' says state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell .
`` Swedish healthcare keeps on working , basically with a lot of stress , but not in a way that they turn patients away . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders have fronted the national response to the crisis , Dr Tegnell has led the majority of news conferences .
His tone is typically matter of fact , with a strong focus on figures , and few mentions of the emotional impact of the crisis on victims and their families .
But the Swedish Public Health Agency has maintained high approval ratings throughout the pandemic .
Sweden 's decision to leave larger parts of society open than most of Europe came after Dr Tegnell 's team used simulations which anticipated a more limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population size than those made by other scientists , including those behind a major report by Imperial College , London .
That report apparently swayed the UK government to introduce a lockdown .
In addition , the Swedish Public Health Agency pushed the idea early on that a large proportion of cases were likely to be mild .
But it denied its strategy was based on the overall goal of herd immunity .
A core aim was to introduce less stringent social distancing measures that could be maintained over a long period time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enable parents to keep working in key areas .
All other Nordic countries opted for stricter temporary restrictions , although some of these have since been relaxed .
• Can you compare different countries ?
What do the numbers tell us ?
Sweden , with a population of 10 million , remains amongst the top 20 in the world when it comes to the total number of cases , even though it mostly only tests those with severe symptoms .
More widespread checks on key workers are now being introduced .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its population size than anywhere else in Scandinavia .
Unlike in some countries , Sweden 's statistics do include elderly care home residents , who account for around 50 % of all deaths .
Dr Tegnell admits that is a major concern .
Foreign residents , particularly those from Somalia who are more likely to live in multi-generational households , are also overrepresented in the figures .
`` There are too many people dying , '' says Claudia Hanson , an epidemiologist based at Karolinska Institutet , Sweden 's largest medical research facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's approach and argues more of society should have been temporarily shut down in March while officials took stock of the situation .
Dr Hanson is among 22 scientists who wrote a damning piece in Sweden 's leading daily last week , suggesting `` officials without talent '' had been put in charge of decision-making .
But chief state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell is broadly popular in Sweden .
An experienced scientist with more than 30 years in medicine , he is known for his relaxed demeanour and preference for pullovers .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people see him as a strong leader but not a very loud person , careful in what he 's saying , '' reflects Emma Frans , a Swedish epidemiologist and science writer .
`` I think that 's very comforting for many . ''
She argues that many national and international media have been `` searching for conflict '' within the scientific community , whereas she believes there is a consensus that Anders Tegnell 's approach is `` quite positive '' , or at least `` not worse than other strategies '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
But the latest scientific discussion is focused on the number of Swedes who may have contracted the virus without showing any symptoms .
This is important because many scientists here believe Swedes may end up with much higher immunity levels compared with those living under stricter regulations .
A public health agency report this week suggested around a third of people in Stockholm will have been infected by the start of May .
That was later revised down to 26 % after the agency admitted a calculation error .
But several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prof Johan Giesecke , ex-chief scientist of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) , believes at least half of all Stockholmers will have caught the virus by the end of the month .
It could even be up to half the population of Sweden , suggests Stockholm University mathematician Tom Baker .
And until a vaccine is developed , epidemiologist Emma Frans says immunity will `` probably be important '' for Sweden .
`` When it comes to studies and other types of coronaviruses , they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not long-term immunity , but even if we only get this kind of short-term immunity , it may be enough to stop this pandemic , '' says Dr Frans .
Why not enough is yet known The Swedish Public Health Agency believes it is still `` too early to say '' how much of an impact asymptomatic infection rates will have on protecting the general population .
`` We do n't know that much about immunity yet , '' says Dr Tegnell 's deputy , Anders Wallensten .
`` We will know more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but also the more time goes on , and if more accounts of re-infection etcetera are reported . ''
This uncertainty means there is no guarantee Swedes in areas with high infection rates will see social distancing recommendations lifted any time soon , he says .
What happens next in Sweden may largely depend on people carrying on with social distancing .
Some Swedes have responded with an `` outburst of nationalism '' and a `` sense of pride , for Sweden deviating from the European norm '' , says Prof Nicolas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Södertorn University .
`` It sort of chimes with a rather deep seated sense of Sweden 's specialness .
@ That may encourage some Swedes to follow the recommendations but the country is by no means united .
On social media there has been vocal dissent from some foreign residents championing tougher measures .
Meanwhile , there are signs that others living in Sweden believe the worst of the crisis is over .
Mobile phone data suggests Stockholm 's residents are spending more time in the city centre than a fortnight ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about overcrowding in nightlife hotspots .
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has warned it is `` not the time to relax '' and start spending more time with friends and family .
But with spring weather arriving after Sweden 's notoriously long , dark winter , that may be easier said than done .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis • AVOIDING CONTACT : @ @ @ @ @ @

"When it comes to studies and other types of coronaviruses, they have shown that people get immune. Maybe not long-term immunity, but even if we only get this kind of short-term immunity, it may be enough to stop this pandemic," says Dr Frans.


bbc--2020-04-24--Coronavirus: Should I worry about my lockdown eating?

`` You eat out of boredom and stress , '' says Chloe Taylor-Whitham , 19 , from Sheffield , `` there 's nothing else to do . ''
As the weeks of living in lockdown take their toll , many of us are raiding the fridge for comfort food .
Instead of buying something fresh on the way home from work , Taylor-Whitham has been trying to recreate the things she craves , including McDonald 's cheese bites , in recipes she finds on TikTok .
`` I 'm definitely comfort-eating more chocolate and biscuits - even though I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a release , to lift the mood , '' says Andy Lloyd , 43 , from Oldham .
His OCD medication makes him put on weight , but that 's not his main concern right now .
`` Half of me does n't really care how I look at the moment , it 's all about surviving through this terrible period .
Then when it 's all over we can get back to working out , '' he says .
When the schools closed , supply teacher Amy Hodgson , 24 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do .
`` I was always going to the fridge or the cupboards and seeing what I could eat , because I was bored .
I gained 4lb in a week , and I thought , 'How have I done that ? '
'' Having lost 5st 3lb ( 33kg ) in the past year , she did not want to put it all back on .
She realised she snacked most mid-morning , so that 's when she now exercises .
And she now cooks for the whole family .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to , '' she says .
`` It gets to about 4:30pm and I think , 'Right , I 've got to do their tea now . '
'' So are we actually eating more ?
That is one of the questions researchers at the University of East Anglia are asking .
They have just started to track our lifestyle behaviours under lockdown .
`` The best I could equate it to is what happens to us during holiday periods , when we kind of throw caution to the wind and think : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Prof Anne-Marie Minihane , from Norwich Medical School , and the study 's lead on nutrition and eating behaviour .
`` Now we think : 'Oh my God , there 's so much going on in the world , I 'm just going to not worry about my behaviour .
People use all kinds of excuses for bad behaviour , and certainly Covid-19 is a very good excuse . ''
It 's too soon to analyse the study 's findings , but Prof Minihane has anecdotal evidence that suggests people have adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kinds of foods , and drinking more .
She adds that under-eating is as bad for you as over-eating , and that especially among older adults , undernourishment is a huge problem .
There are physiological reasons for some of these behaviours , she says .
When the body is stressed it produces too much cortisol , which makes us more likely to over-eat - and not just any kind of foods , but those which are high in fat and sugar .
So what can you do if you 're concerned you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Routine is really important , so try and keep to a routine of having three meals a day , says Clare Thornton-Wood , a registered dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association .
It 's fine to have a couple of snacks , but you might then need to have slightly smaller meals .
And if snacking is a real concern , you could put your snacks for the day in a box .
If you eat them all before lunch , that 's fine , but there 's no more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we should n't feel bad about ourselves , she adds .
`` Avoid too many negative thoughts , because we are going through a really hard time .
Accept that you are going to eat differently and do n't feel too bad about it , '' she says .
Tips on how to eat more healthily during lockdown • Have a glass of water - you might be thirsty , not hungry , and sometimes we confuse the two .
• Exercise and social interaction help bring cortisol down , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like reading , meditating , going for a walk .
• Foods that are high in protein or fibre will make you feel fuller for longer - for example beans and other pulses , eggs or nuts .
• Frozen ingredients are just as good , potentially even better than fresh , and you can also use canned vegetables and fruit .
• More information about how to eat healthily during coronavirus can be found here from the British Dietetic Association .
For others , the issues around food during lockdown are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the lockdown meant her daytime treatment centre had to close .
Losing that support , as well as the early supermarket rush on canned goods - which deprived her of some of her `` safe foods '' - meant some of her symptoms re-emerged .
`` I thought : 'Well , I ca n't control what 's going on in the world right now but I can control what I 'm eating , '' she says .
Cara decided to speak to her eating disorders team and is now back on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
Feeling out of control is a huge issue for people with eating disorders , says Bernie Wright , a psychotherapist from Kent who specialises in this field .
`` What we 've got to think about is that we have got a total lack of control outside our front door , '' she says .
In response , people with eating disorders may create more rules around how they eat .
`` It 's an illusion of control , '' she says .
• 'Baking can ease the anxiety during lockdown' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the lockdown , partly because it has become more difficult for people to hide their eating disorders from their families - children can no longer pretend they had a big lunch at school , and people are suddenly discovering their partners over-exercise .
She has also heard from former clients whose symptoms have returned in response to the stress of the pandemic .
Wright says an important message to get across at this time is to have self-compassion .
`` Be kind to yourself , be compassionate , '' she says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not at all , says Clare Thornton-Wood .
She has been enjoying meals in the company of her children , who are back from university and are helping out in the kitchen .
`` One benefit that could come from this lockdown is that families are sitting down to eat together when they would n't have done previously , '' she says .
Beat , the eating disorder charity , has published advice for anyone worried about the impact of coronavirus .
Beat also has a new online support group , the Sanctuary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to talk to people with similar experiences and concerns .
If any of the issues discuss here have affected you , sources of advice and information on eating disorders can also be found on the BBC Actionline .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

There are physiological reasons for some of these behaviours, she says. When the body is stressed it produces too much cortisol, which makes us more likely to over-eat - and not just any kind of foods, but those which are high in fat and sugar.


bbc--2020-04-24--How do you fight a locust invasion amid pandemic?

A second invasion by desert locusts has hit East Africa in just a few months , as younger and more aggressive swarms hatch and spread across a region already battling hunger and coronavirus , which has made it more difficult to get supplies to kill the crop-devouring pests .
Currently , Africa 's second most-populous state , Ethiopia - along with regional economic powerhouse Kenya and politically unstable Somalia - have been worst hit .
It estimates the swarms could be up to 20 times bigger than during the first invasion -and they could become 400 times bigger by June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on pasture , irrigation plantations , even in forests , '' said Meseret Hailu , an Ethiopian government official who assessed the devastation caused by the latest invasion in the country 's northern Amhara region .
The staple grain teff - along with vegetables such as onions - have been devoured by the pests , she added .
Towards the end of 2019 , a major upsurge of swarms was seen in Ethiopia , as well as its neighbours Eritrea and Djibouti , and continued to spread , taking hold in Somalia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Sudan and Tanzania though in smaller numbers .
Governments , which have not been confronted with such large invasions for at least a quarter of a century , have had to scramble for pesticides , protective clothes , fumigators and aircraft to fly above the locust swarms , and spray them dead .
`` The scale-up of the operation has been the biggest difficulty , '' said Cyrill Ferrand from the UN 's Food and Agriculture Organisation ( FAO ) .
`` That first generation reproduced then laid eggs on the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generation that is now maturing . ''
The younger creatures are much more aggressive in devouring vegetation .
These swarms are now reported to be spreading along the borders of Kenya and Somalia and into Ethiopia .
By the start of April , they began to fly into Uganda once again - a local official estimated that just one swarm was spreading across five sq km ( 1.9 sq miles ) .
The short rainy season from February to May is the perfect time for farmers to plant their seeds in the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June .
Following the droughts of recent years , there have been good rains this time .
But the moist , humid conditions are also perfect for locust eggs to hatch .
Northern and central Kenya are not a traditional habitat for the pests .
The country has not experienced a major upsurge for more than 70 years but farmers are witnessing the mass breeding of locusts .
Jude Musili Mkulima , who lives in the town of Mwingi in central Kenya , is worried things will only get worse .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After two weeks now , they have already hatched .
They are millions more than their mothers .
These small ones are eating everything , even pastures for our cows , '' said Mr Mkulima , echoing the words of Ms Meseret in Ethiopia .
To bring the invasion under control , pesticides and the more environmentally friendly bio-pesticides are needed .
They are sourced from countries such as Japan , the Netherlands and Morocco .
But with the coronavirus pandemic grounding most flights , cargo supply chains have become less reliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about locusts : '' It has slowed down importations .
And when you are late with spraying , you know the consequences - the insects will increase .
That situation has particularly hit Kenya , '' said Dr Stephen Njoka , the executive director at the Desert Locust Control Organisation for East Africa .
Helicopters needed to track the locusts movements have also faced delays getting into the region - a shipment from Canada has not arrived yet - and pilots have to undergo quarantine when they arrive .
Protective clothes for fumigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and masks similar to those worn by teams disinfecting streets and other public places to curb the spread of the virus - come mainly from China .
UN FAO regional spokeswoman Judith Mulinge said they currently had enough stocks , but were concerned about running out if delays in deliveries persist .
The UN predicts if the outbreak is not brought under control soon , the size of swarms could grow 400 times by June , affecting mid-year harvests .
`` When the plants are emerging , desert locusts are going to eat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that all the effort to grow crops will be vanished .
We could have people with zero harvests , up to 100 % losses , '' said Mr Ferrand .
In one of the worst-hit countries , Ethiopia , the insects devoured about 200,000 hectares of cropland and more than a million hectares of pasture .
The FAO estimates that about one million people in the country have already been pushed into hunger by the locust infestation .
This worries regional experts , who point out that hunger caused by the infestation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus - could have a devastating effect on poverty levels .
Jasper Mwesigwa , a food security analyst with the regional inter-governmental body Igad , said that 25 million people in the six states that make up the group were currently struggling to feed themselves and a further five million could be threatened by hunger if the locust invasion was not contained .
`` That would be the highest number of food insecure people this region has had , '' he added .

"The mother locusts came and left eggs. After two weeks now, they have already hatched. They are millions more than their mothers. These small ones are eating everything, even pastures for our cows," said Mr Mkulima, echoing the words of Ms Meseret in Ethiopia.


bbc--2020-04-24--Doctors share notes on hope, fear and longing

Dr Milind Baldi was on duty in a Covid-19 ward when a 46-year-old man was wheeled in with severe breathing difficulty .
The man was scared for his life and kept repeating one question : `` Will I survive ? ''
The question was followed by a plea : `` Please save me , I do n't want to die . ''
Dr Baldi assured the man that he was going to do `` everything possible to save him '' .
These were the last words spoken between the two men .
The patient was put on a ventilator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor , who works in a hospital in the central Indian city of Indore , vividly remembers the 30 `` terrifying minutes '' after the patient was brought to his hospital .
`` He kept holding my hands .
His eyes were full of fear and pain .
I will never forget his face . ''
His death deeply affected Dr Baldi .
`` It ate away my soul from inside and left a lacuna in my heart . ''
Seeing patients die in critical care wards is not uncommon for doctors like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing can compare to the psychological stress of working in a Covid-19 ward .
Most coronavirus patients are kept in isolation , which means , if they become critically ill , doctors and nurses are the only people they see in their final hours .
`` No doctor ever wants to be in this scenario , '' says Dr A Fathahudeen , who heads the critical care department at Ernakulam Medical College in southern India .
Doctors say they usually share the emotional burden of treating someone with that person 's family .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Fathahudeen says he will never forget `` the blankness in the eyes '' of a Covid-19 patient who died in his hospital .
`` He was n't able to talk .
But his eyes reflected the pain and the fear he was experiencing . ''
Dr Fathahudeen felt helpless because the patient was going to die alone .
But there was a tiny sliver of hope : the man 's wife was being treated for coronavirus in the same hospital .
So Dr Fathahudeen brought her to the ward .
She stood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her goodbye .
She never thought her 40-year marriage would end so abruptly .
The experienced doctor says the incident left him `` emotionally consumed '' .
But , he adds , there was `` some satisfaction that he did n't die without seeing his wife '' .
`` But that wo n't always happen .
The harsh truth is that some patients will die without saying goodbye to their loved ones . ''
The emotional toll is made much worse as many doctors are themselves are in a form of isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families to protect them .
As a result , Dr Mir Shahnawaz , who works at the Government Chest Hospital in Srinagar , says it 's `` not just the disease we are fighting with '' .
`` Imagine not knowing when you will see your family next , add that to the constant fear that you may get infected and you will begin to understand what we are going through . ''
Adding to the stress , is the fact that they also have to constantly deal with the emotional outbursts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we have to keep them calm - be their friend and doctor at the same time . ''
And doctors also have to make phone calls to the families of patients , and deal with their fears too .
The whole process , Dr Shahnawaz says , is emotionally draining .
`` It hits you when you go back to your room in the night .
Then there is the fear of the unknown - we do n't know how bad the situation will get . ''
Doctors are used to saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will continue to do that no matter what '' .
`` But the truth is that we are also human beings and we are also scared . ''
He says that the first coronavirus death in his hospital made his colleagues break down : it was when they realised that Covid-19 does n't afford the family a final glimpse of their loved one .
`` Family members want to remember the final moments of a patient - a faint smile , a few last words , anything really to hold on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proper burial to the dead . ''
Dr Fathahudeen says such psychological pressure needs to be addressed and each hospital needs to have a psychiatrist - both for doctors and patients .
`` This is something I have done in my hospital .
It 's important because otherwise the emotional scars will be too deep to heal .
We are staring at cases of PTSD among frontline workers . ''
It is not just those working in Covid-19 wards who are on the front line , but also the doctors , community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in contact tracing and screening suspected patients by going door-to-door in virus hotspots .
Dr Varsha Saxena , who works in the badly affected northern city of Jaipur , says she walks into grave danger knowingly every day .
Her job is to screen people for possible symptoms .
`` There is no other option .
It 's the fight of our lifetime , but one ca n't ignore the risks , '' she says .
`` But it poses great risk because we do n't know who among the ones we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds .
She says doctors like her do n't always get proper medical-grade personal protective equipment .
`` The fear of getting infected is always there and we have to live with it .
It does play on our mind and we have to fight hard to keep such negative thoughts away . ''
But her biggest fear , she says , is getting infected and not showing any symptoms .
`` Then the risk is that we may end up infecting others .
That is why field doctors also need PPE , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sometimes , also comes home .
`` It 's so draining .
My husband is also a doctor , most nights we do n't even have energy to cook and our dinner involves just bread . ''
Aqueel Khan , a bureaucrat and a colleague of Dr Saxena , acknowledges that psychological stress is a reality for all frontline workers , including officers like him who are embedded with medical teams .
The fear really comes home for these workers when somebody close to them dies .
`` I lost my uncle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , I ca n't stop thinking about them .
You ca n't stop thinking that it can easily happen to you , '' he says .
Mr Khan is also staying away from his family : this year is the first time he will miss his daughter 's birthday .
`` My heart says to go home and see her from far , but the mind tells me otherwise .
This constant struggle is very stressful .
`` But we ca n't turn our backs on the job .
We just have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we come out alive on the other side of this fight . ''
'The risk is always there' There is no respite for doctors and nurses even when they are not directly involved in the fight against coronavirus .
People with other ailments are continuing to come to hospitals .
And there has also been a surge in the number of people who are turning up at hospitals with coronavirus-like symptoms .
Dr Mohsin Bin Mushtaq , who works at the GMC Hospital in Indian-administered Kashmir , says coronavirus has `` fundamentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are seeing patients every day for other ailments .
But the risk is always there that some of them could be infected , '' he said .
And it worries him even more when he reads about doctors getting infected despite wearing PPE and dying .
A number of doctors have died in India and dozens have tested positive .
There is nothing we can do about it , he says , adding that `` we just have to be mentally strong and do our jobs '' .
Dr Mehnaz Bhat and Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital , and they say that the `` fear among patients is too much '' .
Dr Sartaz says people with a slight cold end up thinking they have coronavirus , and rush to the hospital .
`` So apart from treating them , we also have to deal with their fear , '' Dr Sartaz adds .
He recently diagnosed Covid-19 symptoms in a patient and advised him to go for testing .
But his family refused and took him away .
The patient was brought back to the hospital after Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had never imagined doing something like this in his medical career .
`` This is the new normal . ''
The way patients are examined has also changed for some doctors .
`` We really have to try and limit close interactions with patients , '' Dr Mehnaz Bhat says .
`` But it 's not what we have been trained for .
So much has changed so quickly , it 's stressful , '' she says .
And several attacks on doctors and nurses across the country have made them even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to understand why anybody would attack doctors .
`` We are saving lives , risking our lives every day .
We need love , not fear . ''
she adds .
• 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

"We really have to try and limit close interactions with patients," Dr Mehnaz Bhat says. "But it's not what we have been trained for. So much has changed so quickly, it's stressful," she says.


bbc--2020-04-24--'If I can't work I can't feed my family'

`` I 've been stuck here for almost a month , I have no money to send to my kids , no money for transport to see my kids , '' says Eugenica .
She is in the Philippines ' capital Manila in lockdown , and the survival of her children is plaguing her mind .
They live in the countryside and she ca n't get to them .
But even if she could , she has no money .
Eugenica had been working in Hong Kong as a live-in domestic helper for a family of eight for the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of having to prepare endless meals and how much strength she needed to look after such a large household .
Still , she says , she had been treated well until the Covid-19 outbreak .
When Hong Kong announced a lockdown her employers told her not to leave the house .
But after a while , they were not giving her enough to eat , so she begged them to let her leave to buy some necessities .
That was when they decided they would , as Eugenica says , `` terminate '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money to buy an air ticket to the Philippines and now has nothing else left .
Friends are giving her some food and she 's sharing a ramshackle house with many other now-unemployed maids , nannies and cleaners who have nowhere else to go .
On the other side of the world , in the United States , Lydia is worried , but also angry .
`` Right now domestic workers are on the frontline of this coronavirus health crisis .
We are close to the most vulnerable people , but if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my family , '' she says .
Lydia is a nursing assistant who cares for the elderly and disabled in their homes .
She lives in Boston but is originally from Uganda , which she left 14 years ago .
She 's lucky that her three children are with her , unlike Eugenica 's .
• ' I ca n't feed my family ' : More on this from World Business Report • The Food Chain : 'Death by cononavirus or hunger' What both women have in common is that their employers offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to stop coming to work .
Lydia says that is `` disastrous '' for her family , as she has never had any paid sick leave in her jobs .
She is an undocumented migrant , but she is keen to point out that the United States relies on an army of people like her , caring for the sick and the elderly in this crisis - yet they do n't get any help or protection from the government .
There are , however , some countries that have offered financial protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the International Labour Organisation says that the big challenge in domestic work is the high rate of informality and how many are not registered with national social security systems .
Ms Hobden says Spain is including domestic workers in its unemployment insurance .
But these benefits only apply to those workers already officially registered prior to the crisis .
That still leaves a high percentage of informal domestic workers , many of whom are migrants and undocumented , without any kind of protection .
Argentina has gone a step further to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informal , qualify for income support .
And France has passed some legislation allowing critical domestic workers to be eligible for personal protective equipment ( PPE ) and income protection .
But `` these are exceptions to the rule '' , says Ms Hobden .
The United States is not the only developed economy where many domestic workers feel they are unsupported .
Mother-of-four Michelle now lives in Essex in the UK , and like Angelica is also originally from the Philippines .
Until recently , she thought her life had been improving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical abuse '' at the hands of her previous employers .
She was a victim of modern-day slavery - being brought to the UK from Saudi Arabia without her consent .
Michelle remembers being forced to work `` almost 24 hours a day , and being lucky if you got three hours ' sleep '' .
She managed to escape from the apartment where she was being held and was allowed to stay in the UK and work legally , supported by the Voice of Domestic Workers NGO .
But now her life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michelle was working for three households , all in very upmarket parts of London : they all cancelled her employment , and as with Eugenica in Hong Kong and Lydia in Boston , did n't offer any further financial help .
Michelle last saw her children in 2014 , but felt her sacrifice was necessary .
Now she worries for her family back in the Philippines more than ever .
`` I 'm the only source of income for my family .
Now I do n't have work , I do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is not just migrant workers who are struggling in this situation .
Conservative estimates show that India has over four million domestic workers - the vast majority of them are locals .
Simy lives in Kerala , India , with her husband and their 10-year-old disabled daughter .
They survive thanks to food rations given to them by the state government .
Also , because of her daughter 's condition , her school fees are paid for .
But income has dried up and Simy is worried they might lose their home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and took a loan just before the crisis to pay for a much-needed new vehicle .
The loan is secured on their home and they have no means to pay for it .
For Simy , all she can do is wait .
`` If the lockdown continues , I do n't know how we will survive .
I am praying to God .
Everything is in God 's hands now . ''
Stories like these have prompted a degree of soul-searching among some employers of home helps .
Former maid turned bestselling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various platforms to highlight the issue , saying : `` If you had money to pay a house cleaner last month , keep paying them this month even as you shelter in place . ''
Claire Hobden from the ILO believes it is difficult to expect that every household would be able to continue paying domestic workers but hopes that the current lack of home help will highlight how dependent households are on these services .
As for the future , she says `` we must promote inclusion of domestic workers into existing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the right to the same treatment that other workers benefit from . ''
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• CONTAINMENT : What it means to self-isolate • HEALTH MYTHS : The fake advice you should ignore • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Back in the US , Lydia says there 's a need for a bills of rights for domestic workers : `` We are undocumented - we pay taxes and we do n't get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , Michelle is stuck in limbo , waiting for the pandemic to ease , her thoughts turning to the future , and her four children back home .
`` If I go back the poverty is there .
I 'm thinking of staying here until I can earn some money , save and start a business in the Philippines .
Then I can be with my kids . ''

Lydia says that is "disastrous" for her family, as she has never had any paid sick leave in her jobs. She is an undocumented migrant, but she is keen to point out that the United States relies on an army of people like her, caring for the sick and the elderly in this crisis - yet they don't get any help or protection from the government.


bbc--2020-04-24--Tracking the global outbreak

Tracking the global outbreak

Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world , with more than 2.7 million confirmed cases of coronavirus now in 185 countries .
At least 190,000 people have died .
The United States has more than four times as many confirmed cases as any other country .
This series of maps and charts tracks the global outbreak of the virus since it emerged in China in December last year .
How many deaths and recoveries have there been ?
The virus , which causes the respiratory infection Covid-19 , was first detected in the city of Wuhan , China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapidly in many countries and the number of deaths is still climbing .
The US has by far the largest number of cases , with more than 880,000 confirmed infections , according to figures collated by Johns Hopkins University .
This is more than 10 times the official number reported by China .
The US also has the world 's highest death toll , passing the grim milestone of 50,000 fatalities on Friday .
Spain , Italy and France - the worst-hit European countries - have all recorded more than 20,000 deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19,000 .
Note : The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average In China , the official death toll is just over 4,600 from about 84,000 confirmed cases .
Numbers for deaths jumped on 17 April after what officials called `` a statistical review '' .
Critics of the Chinese government have questioned whether the country 's official numbers can be trusted .
The country 's authorities have now lifted many of the stringent measures they brought in to bring the disease under control , including a ban on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first place to go into lockdown .
After the virus 's discovery late last year , the outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on 11 March .
This is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time .
While more than 2.7 million people are known to have been infected worldwide , the true figure is thought to be much higher as many of those with milder symptoms have not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now beginning to ease restrictions where disease peaks are thought to have passed , such as in Europe and South Africa , others are only now starting to impose them as cases and deaths begin to rise .
Across Latin America , where many economies are already struggling and millions live on what they can earn day-to-day , there are concerns about the strain the growing number of virus cases could put on health care systems .
Of particular concern are Ecuador and Brazil .
Ecuador has already seen its health system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and other conditions that could not be treated because of the crisis .
Mortuaries and morgues have been overwhelmed .
The country 's authorities confirmed on Thursday that the country 's coronavirus case total was twice as high as previously confirmed , with authorities adding 11,000 new infections that resulted from delayed testing .
Others suspect the numbers are much higher still .
Brazil has also seen a steep rise in both cases and deaths , with every state in South America 's largest country affected .
But there are fears that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflect the true scale of the crisis .
Cities and local authorities have imposed measures to try to prevent the virus 's spread but Brazil 's President Jair Bolsonaro has come under criticism for his own response , most recently for attending an anti-lockdown rally .
Across the world , more than 4.5 billion people - half the world 's population - are estimated to be now living under social distancing measures to slow the pandemic , according to the AFP news agency .
Among them Muslims beginning to observe the holy month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this global shutdown is huge .
The world economy faces the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s , the International Monetary Fund has said .
And the UN World Food Programme has warned the pandemic could almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health Italy and Spain remain the worst affected countries after the US , although the slowing of infection rates appears to show the success of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 219,000 confirmed cases - the second highest global figure - while Italy has the second highest death toll of nearly 26,000 .
Both countries have been in lockdown since early March , however some quarantine measures are starting to be relaxed .
Italy has started to allow certain shops to reopen and Spanish children , who have been kept indoors at home since 14 March , are expected to be allowed outside from 26 April .
In the UK , there are now more than 143,000 confirmed cases and 19,500 deaths .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapidly at first , doubling faster than every two days .
While the rate of increase has slowed , the British government has ruled out lifting lockdown measures until at least early May .
Other European countries easing restrictions include Germany , Austria , Denmark and the Czech Republic .
Despite this , German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German parliament this was `` not the end phase but still just the beginning '' and the WHO has warned that lockdowns must be lifted slowly and carefully .
A plan for injecting billions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's battered economies was agreed by EU heads this week .
Meeting via video , they agreed to set up a massive recovery fund to mobilise €1tn of investment .
They also confirmed that €540bn ( £470bn ) of financial support would be released from 1 June .
New York remains epicentre of US outbreak With about 880,000 cases , the US has the highest number of confirmed infections in the world .
The number of deaths has now surpassed 50,000 , having almost doubled in little more than a week .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly affected , with more than 16,000 deaths in New York City alone .
However , State Governor Andrew Cuomo has said the toll `` seems to be on a gentle decline '' , with deaths over the first four days of this week down a third on the same period last week .
Elsewhere in the US , a number of states , including South Carolina , Georgia and Texas , have announced plans to scale back their lockdowns , despite warnings from public health officials that the outbreak has not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) Robert Redfield has said that social distancing remained key to curb the spread of the virus .
The economic ravages of the pandemic were brought into sharp focus on Thursday by official unemployment figures that showed over 26 million Americans have filed for jobless claims in the last five weeks .
The US Congress has passed a relief package totalling $ 484bn ( £391bn ) , the fourth aid bill to clear Congress in response to the virus outbreak , bringing total federal spending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump , meanwhile , has been criticised by the medical community after suggesting research should be done into whether coronavirus might be treated by injecting disinfectant into the body .
Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested .
Even external exposure can be dangerous to the skin , eyes and respiratory system .

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


bbc--2020-04-25--Coronavirus: Some states begin to reopen as US death toll passes 50,000

Three US states have allowed some shops to reopen after measures imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus , as the country 's death toll passed 51,000 .
Salons and spas could reopen in Georgia and Oklahoma while Alaska lifted restrictions on restaurants .
On Friday , President Donald Trump walked out of a shorter than usual briefing , refusing to take questions .
He has faced criticism after suggesting that injecting household disinfectant into patients could be beneficial .
His remarks have been condemned as dangerous by doctors and manufacturers .
Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure can be dangerous to the skin , eyes and respiratory system .
Mr Trump said on Friday that the comments - made at a news conference one day earlier - were sarcastic and taken out of context .
What is happening in the three states ?
Customers visiting the newly reopened businesses in Georgia , Oklahoma and Alaska will be expected to continue adhering to social distancing measures .
But some cities and areas have decided to keep their lockdowns in place .
In Georgia , which has one of the fastest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleys , spas , hair and nail salons , tattoo parlours and other personal care businesses will be allowed to resume operations .
On Monday , dine-in restaurants and theatres will be allowed to re-open .
With unemployment claims reaching 26 million people - or around 15 % of the population - since mid-March , many US states are feeling the pressure to resume trading .
But health experts have warned that the steps might be happening too soon , amid fears they could spark another wave of infections .
After being criticised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kemp tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants .
What else happened on Friday ?
In the White House briefing that lasted just over 20 minutes , President Trump asked people to continue to follow rules around social distancing and the use of face masks .
Also on Friday , Mr Trump signed a $ 484bn ( £391bn ) economic stimulus bill into law , saying he wanted to `` rush economic relief to our citizens '' .
It is the fourth Covid-19 relief package passed by Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals and a small business loan programme .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY : How California kept ahead of the curve • ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis What are the US numbers ?
The US has by far the highest death toll and case count in the world - more than 50,000 deaths and 890,000 confirmed cases .
But European countries , including Spain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per capita than the US which has a population of 330 million .
Recent steep rises in the daily US death toll are also partly due to the inclusion of `` probable '' virus deaths - on 14 April , the US Centers for Disease Control said their case counts would include both confirmed and probable cases and deaths .
A probable Covid-19 death is one that meets clinical and epidemiological criteria but has not been confirmed by testing .
It is also important to note that many mild cases remain unreported , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the same as the disease 's overall death rate .
Testing efforts are key to tracking the actual mortality and spread of the disease .
Vice-President Mike Pence , the Covid-19 taskforce leader , said the US had conducted 4.9 million tests thus far , and that the government was working with governors to expand testing .

But health experts have warned that the steps might be happening too soon, amid fears they could spark another wave of infections. After being criticised by Mr Trump, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants.


bbc--2020-04-24--Coronavirus: Has Sweden got its science right?

Sweden 's strategy to keep large parts of society open is widely backed by the public .
It has been devised by scientists and backed by government , and yet not all the country 's virologists are convinced .
There is no lockdown here .
Photos have been shared around the world of bars with crammed outdoor seating and long queues for waterfront ice cream kiosks , and yet it is a myth that life here goes on `` as normal '' .
On the face of it little has shut down .
But data suggests the vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , which is the crux of Sweden 's strategy to slow the spread of the virus .
Usage of public transport has dropped significantly , large numbers are working from home , and most refrained from travelling over the Easter weekend .
The government has also banned gatherings of more than 50 people and visits to elderly care homes .
Around 9 in 10 Swedes say they keep at least a metre away from people at least some of the time , up from seven in 10 a month ago , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novus .
How serious is Sweden 's outbreak ?
Viewed through the eyes of the Swedish Public Health Agency , the way people have responded is one to be celebrated , albeit cautiously .
The scientists ' approach has led to weeks of global debate over whether Sweden has adopted a sensible and sustainable plan , or unwittingly plunged its population into an experiment that is causing unnecessary fatalities , and could fail to keep the spread of Covid-19 under control .
In Stockholm , the epicentre of the virus so far , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a spike at the end of this week , put down partly to increased testing .
There is still space in intensive care units and a new field hospital at a former conference venue is yet to be used .
`` To a great part , we have been able to achieve what we set out to achieve , '' says state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell .
`` Swedish healthcare keeps on working , basically with a lot of stress , but not in a way that they turn patients away . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders have fronted the national response to the crisis , Dr Tegnell has led the majority of news conferences .
His tone is typically matter of fact , with a strong focus on figures , and few mentions of the emotional impact of the crisis on victims and their families .
But the Swedish Public Health Agency has maintained high approval ratings throughout the pandemic .
Sweden 's decision to leave larger parts of society open than most of Europe came after Dr Tegnell 's team used simulations which anticipated a more limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population size than those made by other scientists , including those behind a major report by Imperial College , London .
That report apparently swayed the UK government to introduce a lockdown .
In addition , the Swedish Public Health Agency pushed the idea early on that a large proportion of cases were likely to be mild .
But it denied its strategy was based on the overall goal of herd immunity .
A core aim was to introduce less stringent social distancing measures that could be maintained over a long period time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enable parents to keep working in key areas .
All other Nordic countries opted for stricter temporary restrictions , although some of these have since been relaxed .
• Can you compare different countries ?
• Why Denmark is taking steps to open up again What do the numbers tell us ?
Sweden , with a population of 10 million , remains amongst the top 20 in the world when it comes to the total number of cases , even though it mostly only tests those with severe symptoms .
More widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced .
It has higher death rates in relation to its population size than anywhere else in Scandinavia .
Unlike in some countries , Sweden 's statistics do include elderly care home residents , who account for around 50 % of all deaths .
Dr Tegnell admits that is a major concern .
Foreign residents , particularly those from Somalia who are more likely to live in multi-generational households , are also overrepresented in the figures .
`` There are too many people dying , '' says Claudia Hanson , an epidemiologist based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical research facility .
She is critical of the government 's approach and argues more of society should have been temporarily shut down in March while officials took stock of the situation .
Dr Hanson is among 22 scientists who wrote a damning piece in Sweden 's leading daily last week , suggesting `` officials without talent '' had been put in charge of decision-making .
But chief state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell is broadly popular in Sweden .
An experienced scientist with more than 30 years in medicine , he is known for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He 's a low-key person .
I think people see him as a strong leader but not a very loud person , careful in what he 's saying , '' reflects Emma Frans , a Swedish epidemiologist and science writer .
`` I think that 's very comforting for many . ''
She argues that many national and international media have been `` searching for conflict '' within the scientific community , whereas she believes there is a consensus that Anders Tegnell 's approach is `` quite positive '' , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategies '' .
History will judge which countries got it right .
But the latest scientific discussion is focused on the number of Swedes who may have contracted the virus without showing any symptoms .
This is important because many scientists here believe Swedes may end up with much higher immunity levels compared with those living under stricter regulations .
A public health agency report this week suggested around a third of people in Stockholm will have been infected by the start of May .
That was later revised down to 26 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But several high-profile scientists have offered even greater numbers .
Prof Johan Giesecke , ex-chief scientist of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) , believes at least half of all Stockholmers will have caught the virus by the end of the month .
It could even be up to half the population of Sweden , suggests Stockholm University mathematician Tom Britton .
And until a vaccine is developed , epidemiologist Emma Frans says immunity will `` probably be important '' for Sweden .
`` When it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they have shown that people get immune .
Maybe not long-term immunity , but even if we only get this kind of short-term immunity , it may be enough to stop this pandemic , '' says Dr Frans .
Why not enough is yet known The Swedish Public Health Agency believes it is still `` too early to say '' how much of an impact asymptomatic infection rates will have on protecting the general population .
`` We do n't know that much about immunity yet , '' says Dr Tegnell 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will know more as more people are tested for antibodies , but also the more time goes on , and if more accounts of re-infection etcetera are reported . ''
This uncertainty means there is no guarantee Swedes in areas with high infection rates will see social distancing recommendations lifted any time soon , he says .
What happens next in Sweden may largely depend on people carrying on with social distancing .
Some Swedes have responded with an `` outburst of nationalism '' and a `` sense of pride , for Sweden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Prof Nicolas Aylott , a political scientist at Stockholm 's Södertorn University .
`` It sort of chimes with a rather deep seated sense of Sweden 's specialness . ''
That may encourage some Swedes to follow the recommendations but the country is by no means united .
On social media there has been vocal dissent from some foreign residents championing tougher measures .
Meanwhile , there are signs that others living in Sweden believe the worst of the crisis is over .
Mobile phone data suggests Stockholm 's residents are spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fortnight ago , and last weekend police raised concerns about overcrowding in nightlife hotspots .
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has warned it is `` not the time to relax '' and start spending more time with friends and family .
But with spring weather arriving after Sweden 's notoriously long , dark winter , that may be easier said than done .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise


bbc--2020-04-25--Australia and New Zealand mark Anzac Day in driveways

Thousands of people across Australia and New Zealand have stood outside their homes at dawn to mark Anzac Day , after being urged to pay tribute even amid the coronavirus lockdown .
Crowds usually gather for services , but these were cancelled last month amid wider restrictions on gatherings .
Instead people were urged to hold a candle in their driveways and live stream services .
The day of remembrance is a hugely important event for both nations .
It marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had acknowledged the disappointment in the ceremonies being cancelled for the first time in history .
`` While we can not gather in person , we join in spirit as we remember the service and sacrifice of New Zealanders in times of war and crisis , '' she said in a statement , and later joined New Zealanders in standing at the end of her driveway .
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended a closed dawn ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Friday he had told Australians : `` I look forward to the entire nation , on their driveways , lighting up the dawn , remembering our heroes and drawing inspiration from them for the task and challenge we currently face . ''
Some of the alternative , home-bound tributes reported on Saturday included musicians playing the Last Post on brass instruments in suburbs , while others shared pictures of poppy wreaths online and baked Anzac cookies at home .
Australia 's veterans group , the Returned Services League ( RSL ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men and women - to call each other in lieu of the normal marches and parades .
The two nation 's joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli in Turkey are traditionally a pilgrimage for many citizens , but these were also cancelled after travel bans were brought in .
On 25 April 1915 , soldiers from both countries landed at Gallipoli Cove in Turkey , part of an Allied effort to capture the peninsula from the Ottoman Empire .
Collectively termed Anzacs by a military clerk keen to fit the name on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After an eight-month campaign , the Allies retreated in defeat after heavy losses on both sides .
More than 87,000 Turks died , along with an estimated 44,000 men from the British Empire and France , including about 8,500 Australians and nearly 3,000 New Zealanders - one in four of the Kiwis sent to Gallipoli .
It was the Anzacs ' first major engagement on the world stage , fought by the grandfathers and great-grandfathers of today 's Australians and New Zealanders .
The first Anzac commemorations were held in 1916 .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Zealand and Turkey .

After an eight-month campaign, the Allies retreated in defeat after heavy losses on both sides. More than 87,000 Turks died, along with an estimated 44,000 men from the British Empire and France, including about 8,500 Australians and nearly 3,000 New Zealanders - one in four of the Kiwis sent to Gallipoli.


bbc--2020-04-24--Saving rare species in jungles once protected by war

Deforestation has skyrocketed in Colombia since the peace deal of 2016 .
BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner joins a team @ @ @ @ @ Botanic Gardens , Kew on a mission into virgin tropical rainforest .
They hope to @ @ @ @ @ species before they are destroyed and vanish forever .
Watch the full length documentary 'Our @ @ @ @ @ Eden ' on the BBC News Channel and BBC World .

Deforestation has skyrocketed in Colombia since the peace deal of 2016.
BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner joins a team of scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on a mission into virgin tropical rainforest.
They hope to discover and save rare plant species before they are destroyed and vanish forever.
Filmed, produced and directed by Oliver Englehart.
Watch the full length documentary 'Our World: Colombia - Saving Eden' on the BBC News Channel and BBC World.


bbc--2020-04-25--Coronavirus: India allows small shops to reopen

India has allowed small local stores to reopen more than a month after the country went into lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The interior ministry said only half of staff should work and they had to follow precautions such as wearing face masks and observing social distancing .
However shopping malls must remain closed and businesses in coronavirus hotspots will also stay shut .
The move is part of Delhi 's attempt to gradually restart economic activity .
India has nearly 25,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 780 people have died .
• Is social distancing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households depend on their local shops for their day-to-day groceries and other essentials .
All shops in rural areas except those in shopping malls were allowed to reopen from Saturday , as are stores in urban areas .
However shops in markets are to remain closed .
However officials said alcohol stores had to remain closed and online shopping platforms could only be used to buy essential items , Indian media reported .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LEADING THE WAY : How California kept ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis India 's lockdown has seen domestic and international travel banned and factories , schools , offices and all shops other than those supplying essential services shut .
The abrupt halt to economic activity prompted an exodus from big cities as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who had moved there to find work suddenly found they had way of supporting themselves .
Many began long journeys back to their home villages and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of miles .
• Could hunger kill more people than coronavirus ?
In March India announced a $ 22bn ( £19bn ) bailout for the country 's poor to help counter the economic effects of the Covid-19 outbreak - but critics noted that this amounted to just 1 % of India 's GDP - in stark contrast to the US and Singapore which spent about 10 % of their GDP on similar packages .
• 'India has not done enough for poor in lockdown' Earlier this month the World Bank said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance in 40 years because of the pandemic .
The effects would unravel decades of progress in the region 's battle against poverty , it said .
India , the biggest economy in South Asia , could see growth of just 1.5 % in its financial year , down from a figure of around 5 % , the World Bank predicted .

In March India announced a $22bn (£19bn) bailout for the country's poor to help counter the economic effects of the Covid-19 outbreak - but critics noted that this amounted to just 1% of India's GDP - in stark contrast to the US and Singapore which spent about 10% of their GDP on similar packages.


bbc--2020-04-24--Virus recovery plan 'must tackle climate change'

Tackling climate change must be woven into the solution to the Covid-19 economic crisis , the UK will tell governments next week .
Environment ministers from 30 countries are meeting in a two-day online conference in a bid to make progress on cutting greenhouse gas emissions .
The gathering is called the `` Petersberg Climate Dialogue '' .
It will focus on how to organise a `` green '' economic recovery after the acute phase of the pandemic is over .
The other aim is to forge international agreement on ambitious carbon cuts despite the postponement of the key conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November ( now without a date ) .
Alok Sharma , the UK Climate Secretary and president of COP26 , said : `` I am committed to increasing global climate ambition so that we deliver on the Paris Agreement ( to stabilise temperature rise well below 2C ) .
`` The world must work together , as it has to deal with the coronavirus pandemic , to support a green and resilient recovery , which leaves no one behind .
`` At the Petersberg Climate Dialogue , we will come together to discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action . ''
• Virus will transform UK work and travel , says AA The informal conference is co-hosted by the UK and Germany .
Developed and developing countries will attend , along with the UN Secretary General , Antonio Guterres , and members of civil society and business .
Last week , Mr Guterres warned that climate change was a deeper problem than the virus .
Campaign groups will be sceptical about the meeting .
Since the Paris deal to cut emissions , CO2 has actually been rising - although there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Covid recession .
The development charity CARE says it 's alarmed that public finance provided from rich countries to developing countries to adapt to inevitable climate change actually decreased in 2018 .
Sven Harmeling from CARE said : `` If governments fail to make their economic stimulus sustainable and equitable , they will drive our planet much deeper into the existential economic , social and ecological turmoil caused by the climate crisis . ''
The EU is already set on delivering a green stimulus .
The Commission 's Green Deal chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent on economic recovery measures after the COVID-19 crisis would be linked to the green and digital transitions .
`` The European Green Deal is a growth strategy and a winning strategy , '' he tweeted .
`` It 's not a luxury we drop when we hit another crisis .
It is essential for Europe 's future .
Meanwhile , China appears set on its current carbon-intensive development path , and President Trump says the US will rescue struggling fossil fuel firms .
Even in Europe there 's a degree of push-back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Markus Pieper , an MEP from the centre-right German CDU party , told the magazine FOCUS that the EU 's sweeping plan for investment in clean technologies would no longer be possible .
He said : `` The Green Deal was a gigantic challenge for an economy in top shape .
After the corona bloodletting , it is simply not financially viable . ''
But the UK climate economist Lord Stern told BBC News : `` The immediate priority is the current Covid crisis – but then we have to build for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump is wrong .
We should only be bailing out firms that are going to contribute to tackling climate change .
`` They don ’ t have be be ostensibly clean tech firms at the moment – but they do have to be committed to cutting their emissions in line with international targets . ''
The high-level segment on 28 April can be followed live from around 3:10 pm here .

Campaign groups will be sceptical about the meeting. Since the Paris deal to cut emissions, CO2 has actually been rising - although there's currently a blip in the trend thanks to the Covid recession.


bbc--2020-04-25--Sergio Moro: Brazil prosecutor requests Bolsonaro 'meddling' probe

Brazil 's top public prosecutor has requested clearance to investigate allegations of political interference by President Jair Bolsonaro .
It comes after Justice Minister Sergio Moro resigned on Friday , accusing the president of wanting to install a new federal police chief who would provide him with intelligence reports .
The row has thrown his administration into turmoil as it struggles to address the coronavirus crisis .
Brazil has nearly 55,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 3,700 have died , according to Johns Hopkins University in the US .
Earlier this month , the president sacked his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The minister had advocated social distancing , which Mr Bolsonaro has scorned .
How did the row develop ?
Brazil 's public prosecutor Augusto Aras has now asked the Supreme Court to allow an investigation into Mr Moro 's allegations against the president .
On Friday Mr Bolsonaro fired federal police chief Mauricio Valeixo - an ally of Mr Moro - without publishing a reason for the decision .
He was replaced by Alexandre Ramagem , chief of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency .
Earlier , on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Mr Valeixo was removed but then said he would stay if he could choose his replacement .
However he resigned on Friday , describing Mr Valeixo 's sacking `` without a genuine reason '' as `` political interference that harms my credibility and that of the government '' .
Mr Moro alleged that the president was meddling in federal police efforts to fight corruption .
He said Mr Bolsonaro had told him he was replacing Mr Valeixo to install someone with whom he had `` personal contact , whom he could call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
`` Providing this type of information is not the job of the federal police , '' he said .
Mr Moro also alleged Mr Bolsonaro had said one reason for ousting Mr Valeixo was that he was `` worried '' about some ongoing investigations .
Firing Mr Valeixo was also `` a signal that the president wanted me out '' , he added .
Mr Moro is a popular figure in Brazil .
He is a former judge who oversaw the country 's biggest anti-corruption probe , which uncovered billions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convictions of dozens of high-profile business leaders and politicians .
The sound of pot-banging protests rang out in cities across Brazil after his resignation was announced .
In a televised address , the far-right president called the claims against him `` baseless '' and said he could choose who he wanted as federal police chief .
`` The appointment is mine , the prerogative is mine and the day I have to submit to any of my subordinates I cease to be president of the republic , '' Mr Bolsonaro said flanked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ palace in Brasília .
He also accused Mr Moro of demanding a nomination to the supreme court in return for agreeing to Mr Valeixo 's replacement .
Mr Moro has denied this , saying it was `` never used as currency in exchange for me being named to '' the top court .
The departure of Jair Bolsonaro 's most popular minister is a blow to his government - Sergio Moro was a star minister .
He was seen by his supporters as an anti-corruption crusader .
It is a departure that Jair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judging by his 45-minute television address on Friday afternoon .
He recounted being snubbed by Mr Moro at the airport a few years ago , and accused him of not caring enough after he was stabbed during the campaign in 2018 .
There is no doubt Mr Bolsonaro looks weaker now than ever - the events of Friday mark one of the most dramatic days in Brazilian politics in recent years .
Many are wondering who will be next - will the likes of Paulo Guedes , his economy minister and another star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or jump to save his reputation ?
All this drama is distracting from a more urgent crisis - the number of coronavirus cases and deaths are rising ever faster each and every day .
Seen as an anti-corruption crusader , Mr Moro was a star pick when Mr Bolsonaro asked him to join the government .
Mr Moro earlier oversaw a huge corruption probe known as Operation Car Wash , which exposed billions of dollars in bribes and ended in the jailing of many powerful businessmen and politicians , including leftist former President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once said he `` would never enter politics '' , but later agreed to serve in Mr Bolsonaro 's cabinet in order to fight corruption and organised crime .
He was promised full autonomy for his department , which united the justice and public security portfolios in a so-called `` super ministry '' .

It is a departure that Jair Bolsonaro has clearly taken personally too, judging by his 45-minute television address on Friday afternoon. He recounted being snubbed by Mr Moro at the airport a few years ago, and accused him of not caring enough after he was stabbed during the campaign in 2018.


bbc--2020-04-24--Tree kangaroos: How a joey in Australia is helping save his wild cousins

Chimbu is a rare tree kangaroo joey living in an Australian zoo .
He is helping raise awareness for a @ @ @ @ @ wild tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea , as well as help local villagers develop @ @ @

Chimbu is a rare tree kangaroo joey living in an Australian zoo.
He is helping raise awareness for a conservation programme working to save wild tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea, as well as help local villagers develop sustainable income.